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The Why Distance Learning? podcast is for educators who are engaged with live virtual learning experiences, whether they be content providers who produce and facilitate or educators who want to complement their curriculum and learn more about the medium. We interview content providers, industry professionals, field experts and educators who love and use live virtual learning.
Dive deep with Seth, Allyson, and Tami into the rapidly growing world of synchronous virtual and online education. Through in-depth interviews, explore how educators are leveraging videoconferencing, interactive virtual learning, and other education technologies like virtual field trips to revolutionize remote and distance learning. Discover the benefits and challenges of teaching at a distance. Learn how virtual engagement can enhance traditional instruction. Hear from distance learning experts using the latest EdTech tools to create unique remote learning opportunities for students and teachers alike. From content providers to administrators to EdTech entrepreneurs, this podcast reveals the human stories and innovative technologies shaping the future of virtual and online education. For anyone interested in transforming classrooms and learning through remote digital platforms, Why Distance Learning? charts a path forward.
Hosted by Seth Fleischauer of Banyan Global Learning and Allyson Mitchell and Tami Moehring of the Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration.
Seth Fleischauer (00:01.198)
Hello everyone and welcome to the why distance learning podcast the podcast for educators who are engaged with live virtual learning experiences whether they be content providers who produce and facilitate or educators who want to complement their curriculum and learn more about the medium we interview content providers industry professionals field experts and educators who love and use live virtual learning and this week our case and This week our guest is Heidi Clements Heidi. Welcome
Allyson (00:29.687)
Yay.
heidi clements (00:30.003)
All right, thanks for having me.
Seth Fleischauer (00:31.886)
We're so happy you're here and I will admit that this is a bit of a reach for us. We typically have people who are educators in the sense that they find themselves in front of classrooms teaching in somewhat of a traditional way even if it's innovative. But you are currently an Instagram influencer with I think my last count was like 70k followers. Is that right?
heidi clements (00:58.171)
No, 700 ,000.
Seth Fleischauer (00:59.95)
Sorry, I got a mess. Goodness, I got an order of 10 off there. My goodness, you are 10 times cooler and more popular than I thought you were.
Allyson (01:00.875)
YEEEE EEEE E
heidi clements (01:06.579)
It's okay.
Allyson (01:07.439)
Hehehe
heidi clements (01:10.035)
And if you count TikTok, it's actually well over.
Seth Fleischauer (01:13.55)
Wow, okay, yeah, so I only digest your stuff on Instagram because of my paranoia about the Chinese government, but that's for another podcast. And so, you know, when I had dinner with you the other day, because we've known each other for over a decade now, and we were discussing your approach to what you do with your content on TikTok and Instagram, it made me realize that there's a ton of overlap.
Allyson (01:14.351)
YAY!
Seth Fleischauer (01:40.11)
between what you are doing and what we are trying to do in our space as distance educators. And so this conversation is a bit of an experiment. We are here to try out something that is sort of beyond the realm of what we typically talk about, but then bring that back into the world of our listeners. So I'm so excited for you to be the experiment. And I'm hoping that you can start by just kind of introducing yourself. Who are you? How do you find yourself? Where you are?
heidi clements (02:07.923)
Well, I have to say my life has been a bit of an experiment, so it's a perfect place to be here today. And what I do is a bit of distance learning because I do speak to a lot of college students actually through my Instagram. And I did just do a little lecture for a college that was really interesting through Zoom. I am a writer by trade.
Allyson (02:11.919)
You
heidi clements (02:36.529)
When the pandemic hit and then the writer's strike happened, I had taken a job that I just did not enjoy. And so I just created a side hustle, which was to start getting dressed and to help people get dressed. Because I thought one of the little things that you can do every day after you make your bed is just put something on and you will feel better about your life and head out into the world with a little bit more purpose.
And it sort of grew into this storytelling portion of getting dressed, which is me talking about all of the things that I have done wrong in my life or right in my life or lessons that I've learned and trying not to be preachy about it, but just to help people sort of see that, you know, you can get to 63, you can be single, you can be childless, although people like to say child free, I don't know why.
I have less children, I don't think that's insulting. And to be a little bit of a pro -ager because that also seems to be a horrific situation in this country that the use of the words anti -aging is insane. So I'm a storyteller, writer, a fashion addict, and I do it all while dancing in my underpants on TikTok and Instagram at age 63.
Like I said, life is an experiment.
Seth Fleischauer (04:04.526)
I do have to tell a little funny story, which is that, you know, my wife was peering over my shoulder the other day when I was on the part of Instagram where it gives you all the like suggestions. And it was all of these like women in their underwear. And I was like, I don't I don't know why, huh. And then I was like, Heidi, it's it's Heidi. It's because I engage with Heidi stuff.
heidi clements (04:26.387)
And I would also like to tell a funny story about Seth, which is when I first started doing this, he sent me a text message and said, I really like what you're doing. I think this is so great. And then about a week later, he said, my God, I didn't have the sound on. I had no idea you were telling stories. And I was like, shit, what? But because of that, I started using captions.
Seth Fleischauer (04:42.83)
Yeah, well I didn't
Allyson (04:50.319)
Yeah!
Seth Fleischauer (04:55.598)
Heheheheh
heidi clements (04:56.305)
A lot of people did not know that I was spilling my soul every day.
Seth Fleischauer (05:01.806)
And this is how, you know, in the distance learning world, we have like all these different ways of reaching students who have different abilities and not. And in this case, it's the ability to unmute, which sometimes I can't do because I'm like scrolling in bed and my wife is sleeping or.
Allyson (05:12.141)
Yeah.
heidi clements (05:18.203)
That's why I use captions now and it's been because of you. So thank you for that. People are very grateful.
Allyson (05:20.399)
Yeah.
Allyson (05:24.815)
I'm sorry.
Seth Fleischauer (05:24.846)
Amazing. And so I wonder like, you know, 700 ,000 followers, obviously something you're doing is resonating. What what do you think that is? Right. So what is the secret sauce of what you're putting out there that has people wanting to follow you, wanting to engage with you? What is it that you're giving them that they're not getting somewhere else?
heidi clements (05:46.579)
I think it's my actual vulnerability and my willingness to share that and not have shame about the things in my life that I have done wrong. I think people are really hard on themselves. I think our youth is very hard on themselves. And there's a lot of mental health issues because of social media. And so I think the fact that I try to use it.
for good instead of evil and tell people it's okay to be human, it's okay to make choices that are different from what everyone else tells you is just what's made me more popular. And I think people understand that I am being 100 % authentic. Like I am not giving you a little rosy look at a life that doesn't exist when the camera shuts off. Like you're actually seeing who I am.
Allyson (06:41.743)
I think that's so powerful, especially in the idea of what you're teaching. You said you reach out to college students often. And when you think in this world with so much opportunity to create that responsibility of being a creator and being your authentic self and getting there, that is exciting to learn how to do, especially for the younger generations that are consuming this content. And that idea of the real is truly.
highlight of in most cases the best of the best experience or moment. So that being able to capture that vulnerability and explain that that's part of storytelling is such, especially in the world where we have photojournalists just walking down the street with what's in their phone or what they want to be able to put out. So I'm excited to learn from you and just have this conversation because I think that's what people need to know no matter what, especially in this.
heidi clements (07:20.819)
Yeah.
Allyson (07:36.511)
this age of automation and all of the technology coming up, you still need to find that authenticity to use it correctly as a tool.
heidi clements (07:44.275)
I mean, I think people are afraid to be themselves. And I think that part of why I do what I do easily is the fact that number one, I'm really lucky and I do not get a lot of shade. I think it's because I'm older or maybe people sense that underneath my kind exterior that I'm presenting, I will cut you if you don't.
Allyson (08:00.801)
I'm gonna go.
Seth Fleischauer (08:09.582)
Hahahaha
heidi clements (08:12.307)
And I I do I I had it out last night with somebody who actually sent me the words Do you hear yourself and I went off in a private? I Was just like wow, I can't I Wow, so I think you know, I'm lucky in that sense it's easy for me to share because I haven't gotten a lot of hate and I think maybe it would be different if I did but I
Seth Fleischauer (08:20.238)
...
heidi clements (08:40.371)
The reason I'm able to do what I do is because I grew up without social media. You know, I got to become a human being without the scrutiny of others and or at least knowing the scrutiny of others because they would have to come up to me and tell me to my face. And I think social media has really damaged a lot of people and they're trying to figure out how to use it for good. And
Allyson (08:53.519)
Ha ha ha.
heidi clements (09:05.523)
And it's hard to be vulnerable when I read some of the comments on other people's pages and I am just boggled that anybody would actually say what they say. I don't, I don't get it. So I feel very grateful. I would love to know why I don't get hate. I mean, I don't want it, but I'm grateful. I think it's interesting. That's the most interesting part is that people don't come for me. I mean, there's a couple of like lately there's a couple of, you know,
Allyson (09:24.943)
haha
Seth Fleischauer (09:25.166)
Hehehehe
heidi clements (09:35.075)
Why don't you ask for a ceasefire and why don't you support the people of Gaza? And that is just a conversation I am not willing willing to dive into on social media because it's a cesspool for that particular topic.
Seth Fleischauer (09:48.206)
Yeah, yeah, I think it's, it's so interesting that you, you know, use the word vulnerability. Part of the process of being vulnerable is simply knowing yourself and me knowing you. I know that you've done a whole lot of work to get there, but I think that something that teachers can pull out of this is this idea that there's, there is some subset of information about yourself that goes a little bit further than what you might be comfortable sharing.
heidi clements (09:56.187)
Thank you.
Seth Fleischauer (10:17.23)
that may be the difference maker for pulling in a student, for gaining that trust, for making them feel connected to you and therefore connected to the content that you're working with. And so I know that part of it, I think, is your age, right? You're 63 years old. You've done all this work on yourself. And so you understand yourself in a way that a lot of 20 -year -olds probably look up to and admire.
and I think that like the, the process of putting that out there is one also of understanding like what your own boundaries are. and I assume, you know, you just, so is that true? Is that true? Like, would you, would you, you would, you would share absolutely anything? I mean, obviously we just talked about an example of something.
heidi clements (10:56.275)
I have none.
Allyson (10:57.645)
Hahaha!
heidi clements (11:06.003)
I mean, I just shared something. I just did a week long series about being celibate for over two decades and I thought that was going to crush me. And I was like, that was kind of fun to put that out there because the response has been truly unbelievable from other people who feel that way. And I think, you know, probably one of the reasons why you're successful as an educator is your kindness and willing to meet people where they are and willing to understand that we're all different.
especially when you're teaching students that aren't American, you know, and I think I have to think about that too, that I try to do it in a way that I'm just talking about my life. I'm not telling you how to live your life and make people understand, but I'm here and I'm available. I do read all of the comments. I do respond to all of the DMs. It takes forever, but I feel like that's part of the responsibility of being a sort of
educator, creator, as far as educating people about my own life. And, you know, a lot of the work that I did besides, you know, what we had done, ayahuasca was, was distance learning on a computer was, was signing up for a meditation class that helped me almost more than anything else I've ever done. so there's a lot of value in not having to just go walk into a classroom, but.
Seth Fleischauer (12:33.742)
Hehehehe
Allyson (12:34.255)
Right, the bridges that can be built. I wonder just what made you pick up the, it's so exciting to hear you think about, hear you say, you know, this is a responsibility or responsibility or vulnerable, and also that people, you know, need to learn how to actually engage in this manner. So what made you go into Instagram and find that as your medium?
heidi clements (12:34.483)
Yeah.
Allyson (13:02.031)
You said fashion too, so how did that all come together, I wonder. I know you and Seth know each other well, but I just wonder how you got to get all of your followers and just share your story.
heidi clements (13:06.675)
Yeah.
So when I first started, I used to post, right during the pandemic, I started posting pictures of my outfits every day with the hashtag just get dressed. And my friend Krista Allen, who was big on TikTok said, you really should do this on TikTok. And I said, hell no, those kids will eat me alive.
but I got an account and I started doing it and I started showing my outfits and then I started telling stories and then one day I went viral and then I went viral again. It all happened on TikTok. And the funny thing about the whole thing is, and then I started sharing it to Reels and Reels blew up and now Reels is a much bigger community than TikTok is because TikTok hides my content all the time. I don't know why, but.
The amazing thing about it and the biggest lesson I learned was I never thought about the outcome. I never thought, what will this lead to? I just did something that I really enjoyed, which was getting dressed and telling stories about my life that no producer wanted to buy in script form. And I thought,
As I went along, I thought, wow, maybe I can reverse engineer my life as a writer and make myself a brand and make them want to make a TV show about me. And I think that's kind of sort of happening.
Allyson (14:38.829)
my goodness. Yeah, that's so exciting. And also the idea of getting dressed, because in the pandemic it was so easy. I was calling it like the work mullet where you had like a professional top on and then it was like, what are you wearing? Like what's going on on the bottom here based on Seize It.
Seth Fleischauer (14:51.598)
I'm
heidi clements (14:51.987)
I didn't even have that.
I didn't even know that, I had sweatsuits for days.
Allyson (14:58.669)
Yeah. And I mean, and I love a good sweatsuit, you know, and depending on the day and if it's like cold out, like let's make this fashion. But then I also realized once it was over and kind of, or not over, just life was changing in the way that we were all living. That the idea of getting redressed became not that daily habit that it used to be when you're leaving your house all the time and you're not consciously, you know, thinking about everything else that could go on.
Seth Fleischauer (14:58.798)
Hehehehe
heidi clements (15:01.555)
We do, but...
heidi clements (15:15.743)
Thank you.
heidi clements (15:21.875)
Yeah.
Allyson (15:27.311)
in the world. So yeah.
heidi clements (15:27.443)
I get dressed to go to the couch. I get dressed to to the supermarket. You know, somebody, I was doing a closet clean for somebody and they said, I'm saving that for a special occasion. And I said, life is the special occasion. Let's get dressed. Let's get you.
Seth Fleischauer (15:39.854)
Hmm.
Allyson (15:40.527)
Yes. And it's just such a simple concept. And it's exciting to think about that because it is kind of how you can find yourself a little bit, finding your style or what's that thing that is your unique piece. I'm usually an all -black and my only pop of color is a scarf because I worked in an art museum too long and I never wanted to distract from the paintings. But now I'm like, my gosh, I can wear color. I'm not standing next to this huge. Yeah.
heidi clements (16:03.763)
Thank you. You are the painting. Now you are the painting. Make yourself a piece of art.
Seth Fleischauer (16:09.614)
LAUGHS
Allyson (16:10.583)
Exactly. And I think that that message, that idea is that social and emotional learning that we talk about being infused into every subject and to any type of way you're using distance learning or any type of educational medium. It is how do you make that person feel comfortable to help ignite that passion or that light or that interest or help them grasp the concept. So.
Seth Fleischauer (16:13.934)
You
Seth Fleischauer (16:39.246)
part of it.
heidi clements (16:39.347)
I think most of that is to make people feel safe where they are. And it's a comment that I get very often is this feels so safe. Your page feels so warm, like a hug. And I try to speak that way. I said, no, it's not my natural way of being. I'm kind of loud and obnoxious and curse a lot. But I mean, part of me is.
Allyson (16:39.471)
It's just really empowering.
Allyson (16:43.789)
Yes!
heidi clements (17:05.075)
obviously the part that I present, but I do make a conscious effort to make people feel safe about being in my environment.
Seth Fleischauer (17:13.166)
Yeah.
Allyson (17:13.487)
And it's not easy to cultivate that in from a distance, whether it's live, pre -recorded, or for someone to feel that comfort. And I think that's such an important tool for teachers, no matter where you are that comfort, whether you're in person or you have that bridge of technology, it really is building opportunity for comfort. So it's great to hear how you do that with social.
heidi clements (17:18.963)
Yeah.
heidi clements (17:35.027)
Yeah, I mean it.
If a teacher walked into a classroom and started their lesson with, you know, I just want to tell you, I have not slept. I am exhausted, but I am here for you. I hope you are here for me. You know, just be human and not a robot teacher like so many of mine were. Although back in, in junior high school, my teachers were.
so human. It was amazing. I think that's probably something that's changed a lot. Listen, I think teachers are the most underpaid people in the world. I think it is the most difficult and most important job there is.
Seth Fleischauer (18:11.342)
Yeah and what you've talked about here, you know, I'm just gonna kind of try to pull out some of these threads of things that teachers do that you're also doing. You know, when you say that you make people feel comfortable, I think what you're really doing is you're modeling comfort and so again there's that personal journey that is behind that being able to get to a point where you can model comfort. But...
you know, any given teacher can kind of take that mindset and apply it to their classroom of like, you know, what energy am I trying to bring into this situation, you know, that can be critical to how a lesson is going to go. And then another part of it, which I'd like to dig into a little bit is the storytelling aspect. You know, we have been telling stories as a species for like, you know, millennia, if not millions of years. I'm not sure when language developed, but somewhere around there.
Allyson (18:53.411)
Haha.
heidi clements (18:59.952)
Bye.
Allyson (19:00.239)
I was going to say, there's an argument that 5 ,000 years ago.
Seth Fleischauer (19:02.67)
But you know, the original form of learning of education was sitting around a campfire and listening to stories being told, you know, myths and ritual, like all these things like have stories embedded into them. And as a storyteller, I'm wondering if you can give advice to our teachers out there, like what makes a good story? Like how do I know?
heidi clements (19:06.547)
Laughter
Seth Fleischauer (19:28.462)
that the thing that I'm sharing about myself is not just gonna land like a dud and make me even lamer to my junior high students versus something that is gonna be juicy and hook them. And you know, if you can talk about like what that good story is and how it relates to what you do now.
heidi clements (19:44.371)
Well, it's funny that you say the campfire because that is how I learned to tell a story when I worked for a tabloid Rupert Murdoch magazine show back in the day. All the Australians told me how to tell a story, which was you want.
to, I was an, I wrote the, the anchor leads. So I would lead you into the story and then the tags out of the story for like Maury Povich and Maureen O 'Boyle. And then I went to do it for Mary Hart and every entertainment show that I ever worked on. I was the anchor writer. And he said to me, your job is, you know, they are the person who is standing around a campfire saying, come listen to my story. I have a story to tell you. And that the best aspects of a story.
work, journalistic rules, tell them what you're going to tell them, tell them, and then tell them why you told them. And that should be every story that you tell.
Seth Fleischauer (20:47.982)
Yeah, I think that that's super powerful because that why...
heidi clements (20:50.769)
Alison's having an Ipsum fit about there.
Allyson (20:52.847)
I'm like trying to not have the sparkles of excitement jump through the screen. I'm like, yes, I'm seeing a diagram of it. I'm like, that's so cool.
Seth Fleischauer (20:54.35)
I'm not going to that.
heidi clements (21:02.003)
But but it is I don't I mean, I don't know. Can you do that with education? I mean, I think you can. It's that that hook at the top is tell them what you're going to tell them. You know that 4000 years ago, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. And then you tell them the whole story. And then it's I told you this because 4000 years ago, this happened. And that's why.
Seth Fleischauer (21:02.702)
Yeah
Seth Fleischauer (21:09.358)
Absolutely, yeah.
Seth Fleischauer (21:15.532)
Yeah.
Allyson (21:16.623)
and to -
Seth Fleischauer (21:28.302)
And that white.
heidi clements (21:28.339)
And it really is the best way to tell a story, whether it's 30 seconds, three minutes, three hours.
Seth Fleischauer (21:34.478)
Yeah, and that, sorry, that why is so important, right? And that's something that we talk about in education a lot. A lot of students feel disconnected from the content that they're currently learning. A lot of teachers feel disconnected from the content that they're currently teaching. And so an exploration of the why and really a renegotiation of what we teach in the first place, which is part of the issue.
Allyson (21:34.511)
Right, and it's really, sorry, go ahead, Seth.
heidi clements (21:57.659)
Yeah. Imagine if you could ask why to all the things I learned that I don't use like math.
Seth Fleischauer (22:06.382)
Yeah, but so but that that hook part, I think that I imagine that after years of doing this work that you kind of just know, but I'm wondering if you can like, can you take that out of like the gut feeling at all? Can you break that down for people? Because like the lesson plan hook, that's something that we talk about as teachers, right? How are we going to grab them? Is it different for every story? Like how like I know it just feels like in your gut, but like.
heidi clements (22:15.771)
Mm -hmm.
heidi clements (22:31.475)
I think it's different for every story, but if you gave me an example of something that you're going to teach a subject matter, like give me a subject matter that you would teach a particular class.
Seth Fleischauer (22:50.382)
So yesterday I was doing a live virtual field trip from my kitchen There's students that are actually making videos of like they're making like food videos and they're teaching people how to make They're they're teaching people how to make a given meal because they're studying a Like fusion food and how like culture mixes together and and food is an emblem of that. So I had a taco bar
heidi clements (23:00.755)
Okay.
Seth Fleischauer (23:15.246)
in my kitchen and I was having students make choices about like which protein should we do and which vegetable and I had my kids in there too. That was pretty fun. They ate it. My son like drank some hot sauce. It was fun.
heidi clements (23:21.651)
Don't lie.
heidi clements (23:27.251)
So I would do something like I was 46 years old when I discovered that the sriracha I used in my taco was made in blank. Or, you know, I was 42 years old before I ever had a taco and guess where I ended up? In an emergency room. Anyway, and then I would, you know, it's just some hook to some funny story, personal story.
Seth Fleischauer (23:46.286)
Hahaha
heidi clements (23:54.643)
that people are gonna wanna hear the end of.
Allyson (23:58.831)
Right, and I think it's also exciting for teachers to think about how do you want to motivate students to construct knowledge? The idea that if you're in math class, you're not going to have all of the answers because that's part of a larger movement, the progression of time that's represented in a variety of subjects. So for students, it's almost like...
heidi clements (24:15.483)
I'm sorry.
Allyson (24:22.255)
This challenge is the synthesizing, bringing everything together, analyzing, and being able to take those different parts of the subject to find their path. And it's interesting to see how you're putting the storytelling with social because it really can apply to any type of field or subject. It's just about...
heidi clements (24:32.901)
Yeah.
Allyson (24:42.031)
What made you motivated to stay in it? It sounds like you're saying like, what's that story that you're like, even though it's great successes, you still have challenges and the challenges are usually why you're feeling successful. So.
heidi clements (24:49.811)
Yeah, of course. You know, you're talking about math and it's like, I just want you all to know that I grappled with what I'm about to teach you for 20 years before I got it. But when I did, I made a million dollars in one week. Here's how it works.
Allyson (24:58.639)
Thank you.
Seth Fleischauer (24:59.694)
So what I'm hearing from Heidi is lies. Lies make good stories.
Allyson (25:03.051)
Exactly!
heidi clements (25:08.019)
Yes, exaggerate the truth. how do you know I didn't make a million dollars? but yeah, I'm just, I am, you know, reaching for, for subject, but yeah, it's about, it's about, I mean, I do think it's about being personal and a personal story and why this matters to you to make it matter to them. and I think that, you know, if you,
Allyson (25:14.511)
Yeah.
Seth Fleischauer (25:14.846)
Teaching math?
Seth Fleischauer (25:29.102)
Hmm. Yeah.
heidi clements (25:36.339)
A lot of people don't want to give themselves and don't want to be vulnerable, but I think that if you can be more vulnerable about who you are and why you do what you do, it will mean more to your students as an educator. You know, like, why am I here? Because I give a shit about you. I don't, I'm not just here to say that three plus three is six. It is right. I'm. I'm.
Seth Fleischauer (25:56.334)
Mm -hmm.
Allyson (26:00.399)
Mm -hmm.
Seth Fleischauer (26:01.422)
Yeah.
heidi clements (26:03.603)
here because I care about you, I care about your future, I'm a dad, I have children, I want the world to be a better, you know what I mean? It's about just being more of a human being, I think, in all aspects, especially with distance. They don't want to just turn on and hear a lesson that you're not connected to.
Seth Fleischauer (26:24.302)
Yeah.
Allyson (26:24.431)
Yeah, and to know that you're like, you're really living in the moment too. Cause sometimes people can think you're just like a, you're not, you're a character. So when they're seeing you out in the world, like out in the wild, they're like, my gosh, you're out of the box. And I'm just used to seeing you in, or the way that I'm consumed.
heidi clements (26:41.287)
Yeah, when people see me in Santa Barbara, their reaction is incredible. Actually, they're like, my God, you're exactly like you are on camera. Yeah, I know that's weird, but I am.
Seth Fleischauer (26:49.037)
Hehehehe
Allyson (26:49.327)
Yeah!
Seth Fleischauer (26:51.79)
How often does that happen? That's cool. Awesome.
Allyson (26:52.655)
That's how it should be.
heidi clements (26:54.675)
I actually do want to hug you very often. It's bizarre.
Allyson (26:59.951)
That is cool.
Hehehehe
Seth Fleischauer (27:03.598)
I want to zoom in on one other aspect which I think is really similar to what we do. It wasn't intended. It just happens sometimes. Which is the engagement with your audience, right? So when we are teaching at a distance, there is this challenge to engage with people in the same way or in a analogous way as to how you would if you were there in person with.
heidi clements (27:07.735)
Zoom in, I get it.
Allyson (27:10.511)
Intended.
Yay, the universe!
Seth Fleischauer (27:31.886)
And what you do provides an extra layer of a synchronicity where you're engaging with them, not in real time, but I mean, sort of in real time, right? Cause you do it every day. I'm wondering if you can kind of take us through your process of responding to people, what you're kind of looking for there and what you're trying to provide them through the interaction.
heidi clements (27:54.131)
well, there's two ways that people can reach me. They can either, well, three ways actually, they can either comment on the actual post and I read and respond to every single comment. Even the hateful ones. Sometimes I do block and delete. There are a couple here and there. and then there is private messaging on Instagram or Tik TOK.
and I also respond to all of those. I just want people to know that I see them, that I am not posting and ghosting, that this is a commitment I am making to them. And I will do it as long as I can do it because I've decided to make this sort of a career right now. I will respond to people.
And people are like every message starts with, I know you'll never see this, but, and I do see it. It matters to me because I would not be here without them. And I will respond as best I can without really giving advice, but just saying like, this is what worked for me. Maybe you could try this.
Seth Fleischauer (28:52.782)
Hmm.
heidi clements (29:11.251)
But it is remarkable the things that people have reached out to me to say. I also just get a lot of messages from people who say things like, you've changed my life. I quit drinking because of you. I got out of an abusive relationship because of you. I feel less afraid to be old because of you. And I want to respond to those people because it means so much to me that this just average human.
you know, that somehow messed everything up and got to 63 is actually nurturing people, especially for somebody who was so un -nurtured in her own life. It just means a lot to me. And so I just take the time to go through it as often as I can, as much as I can. Sometimes it takes me a few weeks to go back to post because I can't even find.
The amount of where the comments are and I also started a youtube. So now there's a whole bunch of comments there I haven't responded to yet, but i'm going to get there so I don't know if that answered your question did that answer your question? Yeah
Allyson (30:10.991)
Yes, you will.
Tami Moehring (30:11.017)
Heidi.
Seth Fleischauer (30:16.718)
Yeah, absolutely. Tammy, you had a question.
Tami Moehring (30:19.401)
Yeah, I was just gonna ask, do you plan out what you're going to say? Like, this is my calendar, this is what, or do you just, in the moment, I'm gonna go for it, and that inspirational, inspiration just comes to you and you go with it?
heidi clements (30:34.739)
Yeah, I do. I write it every morning. I write something every morning and I usually tape the outfit the day before. And so I don't sometimes it's odd how the outfits match what I'm saying. It is completely unplanned. I just sort of get up and think about things or what's popping into my head. I did a series last week and I'm going to do another series on Monday about my Ayahuasca journey, journeys.
because a lot of people were really interested in that. I mean, it got like 700 comments with people saying, yes, they wanted to hear it. So I don't know what, I don't know. I just sort of, you know, a long time ago, I realized that I wasn't the only person writing my stories, that the universe was tapping in here and there. And I...
do what I call channel writing, which is I try not to even think about it. And I just sort of start typing and see what happens. I've written entire scripts where I've gone back and looked at them and went, wow, that's a funny joke. Don't remember writing that. So I think there's a little bit of that at play too. I think you have to just be an open vessel sometimes for learning, for writing, for teaching, for all kinds of things and not...
say no, but just always say yes.
Allyson (32:03.887)
Yeah, when you said that earlier about how this just happened, it made me think about the idea of setting intention and manifesting and the idea that everything comes when it's supposed to come. It just comes at the time the universe brings in that opportunity for energy. And I think the opportunity to learn from you and think it allows you to kind of connect as an educator to think about you as a human. What are those things that have been your opportunity?
to lead you to become a teacher. And sometimes that teacher isn't just with kids, it can be teaching your peers, it can be teaching your community. So it sounds like you're also a teacher as well as a writer and an influencer in your own right.
heidi clements (32:46.739)
It feels that way. It's really been the most rewarding thing I've ever done and I didn't plan any of it. So, you know, that's the advice that I give to people. Just do it. Just get started. It doesn't have to be neat or clean. It can be messy. You can figure it out as you go, but you have to take the baby steps towards your dream, towards what you want to do.
Seth Fleischauer (33:07.406)
Yeah. Kind of like this podcast, right? We were just like, Hey, hey, let's do, let's do this. Yeah. we, we do have one question that we ask everybody. and I think that it is, it's, you can bend it to your unique, experience, lived experience here. but the title of the podcast is why distance learning.
heidi clements (33:10.611)
Yeah. Just do it. Do it live. We're doing it live.
Allyson (33:10.895)
Yes. Yes. Yes. It's all in the stars. Yes.
heidi clements (33:18.547)
But I agree 100%.
heidi clements (33:24.071)
Okay.
Seth Fleischauer (33:35.286)
you know, we can extend the definition of that to these experiences where you are in one place and you're impacting people in an entirely different place through, you know, some sort of educational experience. So Heidi Clements, why distance learning?
heidi clements (33:53.459)
Because nothing should stop you from expanding your mind, whether that is in a classroom, on a computer, however it is that you can learn something new and stay curious about life is the way that you should do it. Nothing should hinder your process, even if it means that you're 10 ,000 miles away from the person who's trying to teach you something.
Seth Fleischauer (34:18.798)
Hmm, beautiful. Tammy, Allison, any last thoughts for Heidi?
Allyson (34:24.815)
Just so grateful. Thank you so, so much for coming on, sharing your story. You gained another follower. I was following on TikTok, but I'm going onto the Instagram. I'm trying my best. But no, just so excited. And I hope that we can stay connected. There's so many different, so many conversations that I would love to have with you and continue to learn from you. Thank you for your time.
Seth Fleischauer (34:31.47)
Hahaha
heidi clements (34:35.301)
Thank you so much.
Seth Fleischauer (34:37.23)
You
heidi clements (34:46.067)
Please, I am available. Thank you so much and thank you Seth for even thinking that I could fit this square peg into your round hole. It sounds kind of dirty, but.
Seth Fleischauer (34:53.39)
Hehehe
Allyson (34:54.351)
You
Tami Moehring (34:54.505)
Yeah, yes.
Seth Fleischauer (34:56.11)
Yeah, I mean it makes me want to seek more square pegs. So thank you. Thank you for being the first attempt here. I think you knocked it out of the park. You tap danced very well as you said before we started recording here. Well, thank you so much for coming on. For our listeners, if you'd like to support the podcast, please do tell a friend, follow us, leave a rating or a review. Thank you as always to our producer. Sorry, to our. Thank you as always to our.
heidi clements (35:08.499)
Thanks.
Seth Fleischauer (35:25.934)
editor Lucas Salazar and then there's a sorry there's a thing that I say that I actually did not put in this thing and now I have to go to another thing and then I go get and if you want to know the answer to why distance learning check out the people we highlight on this podcast these are the people who are leveraging this amazing technology to truly transform the learning experience why distance learning because it's accessible and it's awesome see you next time.