2025 Summer Institute Fireside Chat: Bad Bunny to Swifty – Hooking Students on Econ & History
Objective
Teachers will be able to:
- Discover creative curriculum strategies
- Explore interdisciplinary tools and technologies
- Understand how to build lessons that reflect students’ lived experiences and interests
Standards

Description
Join us for a dynamic virtual fireside chat exploring how pop culture icons like Taylor Swift and Bad Bunny can be powerful entry points for teaching economics and history. This engaging session will feature innovative educators who are reimagining the classroom by blending music, culture, and historical context with academic rigor.
Panelists:
Kara Reynolds, Professor of Economics at American University, will share insights from her groundbreaking course Swiftonomics: The Economics of Taylor Swift. Discover how she uses fan-favorite music and artist-driven economics to ignite student interest in trade policy, microeconomics, and global markets.
Serena Robinett, former NYC public school educator and Product Marketing Manager at Soundtrap for Education, brings a creative and practical lens to student engagement. Learn how audio storytelling, music production, and podcasting can deepen understanding of complex topics, encourage student voice, and foster cross-disciplinary learning.
Together, they’ll discuss how cultural relevance and creativity can be leveraged to make economics and history more relatable, accessible, and exciting—especially for today’s students. Expect practical strategies, real-world examples, and inspiration to remix your own curriculum.
Don’t miss this lively conversation that bridges the classroom with the charts—where teaching meets trending.