#44 Leveraging Literature to Teach Cultural Competence with Sheetal Sheth

In this episode of Make It Mindful, host Seth Fleischauer sits down with author, actress, and producer Sheetal Sheth. They explore the impact of Sheth's children's books, including her Anjali series and Raashi's Rakhis, and discuss how her stories highlight cultural competence and representation for young readers.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Sheth’s journey from acting to writing children's literature.
• The importance of diverse representation in children's books.
• How storytelling can foster empathy and understanding in classrooms.
• Approaching sensitive topics in children's literature without shying away from tough conversations.
• Tips for teachers on incorporating diverse stories into classroom settings.

Call to Action:
Listen to this episode to learn how to use diverse stories to enrich classroom experiences and teach cultural competence.

Episode Links:

1. Sheetal Sheth's Website – www.sheetalsheth.com
2. Sheetal Sheth's Instagram – @beneaththesheetz
3. Reading is Fundamental (RIF) – www.rif.org
4. Be Podcast Network – www.BePodcast.network

Guest Bio:
Sheetal Sheth is an actress, producer, and the author of the Anjali series, the first children's book series featuring a South Asian hero. Her latest book, Raashi's Rakhis, continues her mission of creating engaging, inclusive stories for children.

Host Bio:
Seth Fleischauer: Learn more about Seth’s work at Banyan Global Learning, where he helps educators bring cultural and digital competence and transformative learning into classrooms worldwide.

Creators and Guests

SF

Host

Seth Fleischauer

What is Make It Mindful: Insights for Global Learning?

Make It Mindful: Insights for Global Learning is a podcast for globally minded educators who want deep, long-form conversations about how teaching and learning are changing — and what to do about it.

Hosted by former classroom teacher and Banyan Global Learning founder Seth Fleischauer, the show explores how people, cultures, technologies, cognitive processes, and school systems shape what happens in classrooms around the world. Each long-form episode looks closely at the conditions that help students and educators thrive — from executive functioning and identity development to virtual learning, multilingual education, global competence, and the rise of AI.

Seth talks with teachers, researchers, psychologists, and school leaders who look closely at how students understand themselves, build relationships, and develop the capacities that underlie deep learning — skills like perspective-taking, communication, and global competence that are essential for navigating an interconnected world. These conversations surface the kinds of cross-cultural experiences and hard-to-measure abilities that shape real achievement. Together, they consider how to integrate new technologies in ways that strengthen—not replace—the human center of learning.

The result is a set of ideas, stories, and practical strategies educators can apply to help students succeed in a complex and fast-changing world.