This Ain't What I Planned

Future Ready, Imagining Black Classrooms Beyond Harm

Today, we’re going to look forward waaay forward and dream about what a world could look like if we stopped tinkering with broken systems and started building new ones rooted in liberation, technology justice, and joy. This… is Afrofuturism in action. And this… is what leadership looks like when we refuse to accept harm as the cost of learning.”

The "Gap"

Today, we’re not focusing on ‘achievement gaps.’ We’re addressing harm. Yes, I said it harm. When we talk about an achievement gap, it often sounds like some kids just didn’t try hard enough. But what if I told you that the ‘gap’ isn’t between students — it’s between the world they deserve and the world they received? I read a powerful article by Dr. Bettina Love in Education Week that changed how I think about this. She said: ‘Stop talking about gaps — talk about harm.’ And she’s right. Because if we can’t identify the harm, we can’t fix it. Today, I want to bring this conversation out of academic journals and into the real world. Because I’ve seen it, I’ve lived it, and I know the difference between a “have” and a “have-not” school… and it goes much deeper than test scores.

When Super hero's cant put their capes down!

In this powerful episode of My Life Ain’t Perfect, Rodrick C. Johnson opens up about the quiet exhaustion that comes with being the strong one. From leading schools and supporting teachers to showing up for family and community, Rodrick reflects on the moments he realized even superheroes need rest.

Teach the Curriculum an explanation!

In this BONUS episode, I unpack a few thoughts around my viral post. This is Part 1, as I have a lot more to say, and I haven't even addressed the comment section yet. Thank you for listening. Don't worry, you will still receive your episode on Sunday! If you want to join my teacher PLC, please use this link to register:https://bit.ly/teacherPLC

This Ain't What I Planned

“What do you do when the life you pictured doesn’t match the one you’re living? Welcome back to My Life Ain’t Perfect, the podcast that doesn’t wait for the highlight reel. We unpack what’s real—what hurts, what heals, and what helps us get back up. I’m your host, Rodrick C. Johnson. And today… this episode? This one’s about detours. It’s called This Ain’t What I Planned. And if you’ve ever had to let go of a dream, shift directions, or grieve something you thought would happen—you’re not alone. I’ve been there. Still walkin’ through it. Let’s talk.”