Teachers Unify

The Teachers Unify podcast is hosted by Sarah Lerner, a co-founder of Teachers Unify To End Gun Violence. A 22-year educator in Florida, Sarah is a teacher-survivor from the shooting on Feb. 14, 2018 at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland. The show works to address issues of gun violence and how it impacts schools & communities.

Survivor Stories: Teachers Unify Crisis Intervention & Support Team

This episode features members of the Teachers Unify To End Gun Violence Crisis Intervention & Support Team who attended the inaugural Summit in Philadelphia from Nov. 7-9, 2025, under the leadership of Dr. Michael Schultz. The voices in the episode include survivors from Columbine High School, Sandy Hook School, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Sparks Middle School, Santa Fe High School, as well as a licensed clinical professional counselor. They each share their experiences with gun violence, what the Summit meant to them, how the Crisis Intervention & Support team will be able to help others, and more.

12-13
32:12

Voices for Change: Elyse Thulin

This episode features Dr. Elyse Thulin, an assistant research professor at the University of Michigan. She works for the Institute for Firearm Injury Prevention, the Department of Health Behavior and Health Equity and the Institute for Social Research. She talks about her extensive research on social media platforms, firearm violence, anonymous reporting systems, and more.

10-21
33:21

Survivor Stories: Cindy Carlson

This episode features Cindy Carlson, a Sandy Hook School survivor. She talks about her experience from Dec. 14, 2012, her work in the gun violence prevention space and much more.

10-13
01:00:09

Voices for Change: Michael Cotey

This episode features Michael Cotey, the creator of Enough: Plays To End Gun Violence. He talks about his organization, his work with Change the Ref and Manny & Patricia Oliver, what he hopes people glean from the plays, and much more.

09-28
34:14

Survivor Stories: La-Shanda West

This episode features La-Shanda West, an educator & Teachers Unify Ambassador. She talks about her activism, navigating life as a child-survivor of gun violence and why she remains in the gun violence prevention space.

07-21
22:06

Voices for Change: Karen Dunholter

This episode features Karen Dunholter, a school social worker in Michigan. She talks about her experiences working with families impacted by homicide, losing a student to suicide at school, her school safety task force and more.

07-13
40:11

Voices for Change: Karen McDonald

This episode features Karen McDonald, a former educator & judge, current Oakland County prosecutor & candidate for Michigan Attorney General. She talks about her time in the classroom, the Oxford shooting trials, how she worked to create a foundation in the gun violence prevention space, and more.

06-30
55:40

Survivor Stories: Nadia Murillo

This episode features Nadia Murillo, a survivor from both Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in 2018 & Florida State University in April 2025. She talks about her experiences, how she kept her own students safe, her healing journey, plans for the future, and more.

06-22
36:47

Survivor Stories: Flo Rice

This episode features Flo Rice, a former substitute teacher & injured survivor from the shooting at Santa Fe High School in Texas in May 2018. She talks about her experience from that day, how she’s used her story to bring about change, the different connections she’s made, and much more.

06-08
31:31

Stories of Loss: Debra Hixon

This episode features Debra Hixon, a former educator, current school board member and wife of Chris Hixon, who was killed at MSD in 2018. She talks about her life with Chris, her time in education, work she’s done to make schools safer, and much more.

05-25
52:13

Survivor Stories: Paula Reed

This episode features Paula Reed, a retired English teacher & current Jefferson County School Board member, who survived the Columbine High School shooting in April 1999. She shares her experience from that day, how she’s moved through trauma & healing, her experiences helping others, and much more.

05-11
01:23:48

Voices for Change: Nikki Fried

This episode features Nikki Fried, the former Florida Commissioner of Agriculture & current Chair of the Florida Democratic Party. She talks about her role in public service, her support for the gun violence community, how people can get involved to make change, and much more.

05-04
30:38

Voices for Change: Rhiannon Murphy

This episode features Rhiannon Murphy, a lifelong Bronx resident and mom who worked to end gun violence in her community. She shares how she moved her daughter upstate near Buffalo for her education & safety, her forthcoming book, her work in community organizing & activism, and much more.

03-24
37:59

Stories of Loss: Audrey Brianne

This episode features Audrey Brianne, a stylist based in Los Angeles. She shares her experiences in being in close proximity to gun violence & the loss of a dear friend, how she sees gun violence in Black & Brown communities and much more.

02-23
32:32

Survivor Stories: Stacey Lippel (Part 2)

This two-part episode features Stacey Lippel, a teacher/survivor from the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Feb. 2018. She shares her experience from that day, how she’s been able to help others, her journey through mental health and much more.

02-04
34:52

Survivor Stories: Stacey Lippel (Part 1)

This two-part episode features Stacey Lippel, a teacher/survivor from the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Feb. 2018. She shares her experience from that day, how she’s been able to help others, her journey through mental health and much more.

02-03
43:50

Stories of Loss: Kristin Song & Robin Fox

This episode features Kristin Song & Robin Fox, who came together in the aftermath of the death of Kristen’s son Ethan in January 2018. They share their own stories and connections to gun violence, Kristen’s work with Ethan’s Law and safe storage initiatives, the work they’ve done collaboratively through “Trust Talk For Teens,” and much more.

12-01
41:44

School Stories: Rori Abernethy

This episode features Rori Abernethy, a teacher from the Oakland/San Francisco area. She speaks about being a child of the Black Panther Party, her experience as a teacher dealing with school & community gun violence and her hopes for the future.

11-17
49:54

Survivor Stories: Eric Garner

This episode features Eric Garner, a teacher/survivor from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. He speaks about what brought him to education, his experience from Feb. 14, 2018, his journey through healing & why it’s important to use your voice.

11-10
53:16

Back to School: Randi Weingarten, Greg Jackson & Rob Wilcox

This episode was recorded from a Teachers Unify To End Gun Violence Back To School Zoom held on Sept. 12, 2024. Hosted by Teachers Unify co-founders Abbey Clements and Sarah Lerner, the special guests were American Federation of Teachers President, Randi Weingarten and White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention Deputy Directors Greg Jackson & Rob Wilcox.

09-26
41:01

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