Home Podcasts No Silly Questions- An Education Podcast for Parents
No Silly Questions- An Education Podcast for Parents

No Silly Questions- An Education Podcast for Parents

Danielle Freilich and Jordana Fruchter 83 Episodes Aug 23, 2026

Two New York City educators and school leaders, Danielle Freilich and Jordana Fruchter, host this podcast to answer education-related questions from parents. They cover topics like pedagogical approaches, developmental milestones, and how to support a child's learning needs. The show features interviews with experts such as pediatric neuropsychologists, school officials, ed-tech entrepreneurs, and play advocates. Its goal is to provide parents with relatable, research-based insights and strengthen their parenting toolkit.

Episodes

What is Selective Mutism? With Dr. Rachel Busman
What is Selective Mutism? With Dr. Rachel Busman Aug 23, 2026 2973 Many children may be shy or slow to warm—someone who hangs back in a new setting, takes a little longer to join in, or needs time before feeling comfortable speaking up. But how do we know when that’s simply a child’s temperament, and when there may be something more complex at play?That’s what we’re exploring in today’s episode: how to distinguish between a child who needs a little more time to w
What is a Classical Education? With Rabbi Abraham Unger, Ph.D.
What is a Classical Education? With Rabbi Abraham Unger, Ph.D. Aug 16, 2026 2918 As AI and EdTech infiltrate our schools, a paradoxical trend is also emerging- a resurgence of classical education. But don’t be fooled. These philosophies are not necessarily in conflict with each other, as today's guest helps us understand. As he puts it , by mastering the classical arts of grammar, rhetoric and logic, students will have the habits of mind necessary for clear reasoning, str
Just ask Brooke! With Brooke Parker, Education and Parenting Consultant
Just ask Brooke! With Brooke Parker, Education and Parenting Consultant Aug 9, 2026 3268 Today we’ve compiled all of your quick-hit “No Silly Questions” and brought on an expert known for having the answers in a pinch.We’re talking about Brooke Parker from “Just Ask Brooke.” This wide-ranging conversation covers common questions - from routines, to reading, and more- and we’re confident Brooke’s signature combination of research and reliability will benefit all of you tuning in.Brooke
What does it mean for a child to be gifted? With Samantha Gabrielli, Lower School Head of the Speyer Legacy School, and Dr. Jordan Zelinger, School Psychologist
What does it mean for a child to be gifted? With Samantha Gabrielli, Lower School Head of the Speyer Legacy School, and Dr. Jordan Zelinger, School Psychologist Aug 2, 2026 2217 All children are special and excel in different ways. But today, we are seeking to gain a precise understanding of what exactly “giftedness” means as a designation in a school context. We are so grateful to be joined by two prominent educators from the Speyer Legacy School to break it down for us.BIODr. Jordan Zelinger is a Licensed Psychologist and practices as a School Psychologist at The Speyer
What is Russian Math? With Russian School of Mathematics founder Inessa Rifkin, and Masha Gershman, VP of Outreach
What is Russian Math? With Russian School of Mathematics founder Inessa Rifkin, and Masha Gershman, VP of Outreach Jul 26, 2026 2770 If there’s any enrichment program we get asked about the most- it’s got to be Russian Math. And if you have school-aged children, it’s likely you’ve heard of the Russian School of Math program too and may even be wondering if it’s worth it to you to sign your child up. On today’s episode, we’re thrilled to have a rare interview with the founder of RSM, where we break it all down for you.Www.nosill
Is EdTech good for learning? With Caroline Bryk, Senior Director at Tikvah
Is EdTech good for learning? With Caroline Bryk, Senior Director at Tikvah Jul 19, 2026 3220 Your child is 6. It’s their first day of kindergarten. And instead of a desk full of papers and pencils, and a backpack with books, they’ve got, well, their tablet. Times have changed since we millennials were in grade school- and a key hallmark of that change has been the introduction of educational technology into the classroom. But are these technologies helping or hindering learning? On today’
Season 6 Solo Episode: Can we learn more about the No Silly Questions podcast hosts? With Danielle Freilich and Jordana Fruchter
Season 6 Solo Episode: Can we learn more about the No Silly Questions podcast hosts? With Danielle Freilich and Jordana Fruchter Jul 12, 2026 2316 Today we are doing something different and releasing our first episode together- without a guest- to launch the 6th season of No Silly Questions podcast. We will be opening up more about our own thinking and our own experiences as parents.Topics include: why and how we started the podcastthe guests and episodes that have really made an impact on our parentingthe guests and episodes that have chall
Executive functioning and how can parents prepare for back to school? With Dr. Liz Angoff
Executive functioning and how can parents prepare for back to school? With Dr. Liz Angoff Aug 17, 2025 2179 It’s 7:30 AM. Your child comes to the door ready to go to school, but there’s one shoe on, things are falling out of their backpack because it’s unzipped, and the homework folder is nowhere to be found. If you’ve ever found yourself wondering why your child may struggle to stay organized, follow directions, or manage transitions, this episode is for you. Today, we’re talking about executive functi
How can parents support their boys’ development? With Michael G. Thompson
How can parents support their boys’ development? With Michael G. Thompson Aug 10, 2025 2329 “My problem with gentle parenting is it’s too much parental talking - when you’re raising a boy you’ve got to learn how to do it  in a sentence or two.”This is just one insight that today’s guest, Michael Thompson, shares for how we can support our boys’ development, as well as our relationship with them, in and out, of the classroom. Michael G. Thompson, Ph.D., is an internationally recognized cl
What are charter schools and what are the politics around them? With Lisa Sun, Chief Learning Officer at Success Academy Charter Network
What are charter schools and what are the politics around them? With Lisa Sun, Chief Learning Officer at Success Academy Charter Network Aug 3, 2025 2845 If you’re at all curious about the full scope of parent choice when it comes to schools, this episode is for you. Though Jordana has been in education for a long time, her personal knowledge base on charter schools is limited and this conversation, with two experts - Danielle being one of them - expanded her understanding of the promise of charter schools, specifically Success Academies, the large
Do I qualify for financial aid? With Alisa Evans of Mission Enrollment
Do I qualify for financial aid? With Alisa Evans of Mission Enrollment Jul 27, 2025 3795 The good news is that parents may not have to pay for the whole independent school tuition themselves. In this episode, Alisa provides clarification around the process of financial aid - and how it’s changing - to create opportunities for more families. Through Alisa, we learn that a private school education is more attainable than many understand it to be- and may be worth investigating for your
How are we miseducating the American elite? With William Deresiewicz
How are we miseducating the American elite? With William Deresiewicz Jul 20, 2025 1714 Educational environments should foster exploration, healthy self development, and ripe opportunities to think independently. Instead, as our guest today puts it, we see that our youth experience a ‘poverty of the self,” leading to group think, pressure to conform and a lack of strength and stability from within. On today’s episode, we’ll unpack this idea and discuss how parents can drive against t

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