Rethinking Steiner: Chloe Weise on Waldorf Schools

Today’s episode is sponsored by BetterHelp.

If you had a good Waldorf experience, we’re thrilled for you. Not all the schools are the same. Just like not all churches are the same. Don’t get your knickers in a knot. But if there are things about Waldorf that chap your ass, pour yourself some tea because we have just the guest for you.

In this episode Chloe Weise sheds light on her decade and a half in a Waldorf School before leaving for college and grad school. Now steeped in the scientific method and working in the tech industry, Chloe raises questions about Waldorf’s founder, Rudolf Steiner, and teachings openly called “Occult Science.”

Was Rudolf Steiner an early 20th Century German mystic, or an arrogant semi-Christian evangelist for things like astral bodies, clairvoyance, and overtly racist pseudoscience. We're here to find out what Chloe thinks. This is Chloe’s first time speaking publicly about her misgivings with Waldorf. We’re honored she trusted us with her experience. Without further adieu, here’s our chat with Chloe Weise.

NOTES:

Chloe Weise holds an MS in Evolutionary Biology and is a data analyst at Lumen Energy. Her research on paper wasps and logical reasoning was published in Proceedings B, the Royal Society’s flagship biological research journal. You can find links to Chloe’s research on Twitter.

Chloe’s Instagram: @chloeweise

Chloe’s Twitter @WeiseChloe

Waldorf Watch: https://sites.google.com/site/waldorfwatch/welcome

Jennifer Sapio, PhD on why she “wouldn’t drink the kool-aid”: https://medium.com/age-of-awareness/waldorf-schools-are-inherently-racist-cults-91193d1fbef6

Please note, this series includes details of sexual abuse. Listener discretion is strongly advised. If you, or someone who know, is a survivor of sexual assault, abuse, grooming, child abuse, or human trafficking, RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline offers support at 800.656.HOPE (4673).

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Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony Ames

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