.png){kind=spacer}
What Can We Learn from the Montessori Way
- Kira Troilo
- Jun 24
- 3 min read
What can the theater learn from the Montessori method, and how can it help us build more inclusive, empowered, creative spaces?
Educator, consultant, and Montessori practitioner Maati Wafford joins me for a thought-provoking conversation about what happens when we stop centering control and start designing for agency, healing, and care.
We explore how Montessori’s core principles, like prepared environments, self-directed learning, and adult transformation, can inform the way we create and lead in theater. From Maati’s early experiences with exclusion to her current work blending DEI, mental health, and Montessori philosophy, this episode offers a powerful framework for those seeking more intentional, equity-driven spaces in the arts.
We also talk about why DEI work must go deeper than checklists, how adult self-awareness shapes every learning environment, and what it means to lead from your “cosmic task.” Plus, a very special appearance from my 7-year-old son Levi, who shares what makes his Montessori classroom feel like home (and reads one of his favorite books with me).
If you’ve ever wondered how educational philosophy can inspire cultural change, or how to build creative spaces that center trust, growth, and belonging… this conversation is a generous starting point.
Here's what we cover:
What Montessori philosophy teaches us about empowerment, structure, and adult accountability
How Maati’s lived experiences inform her work across DEI, mental health, and education
The idea of “prepared environments” in both classrooms and rehearsal spaces
Why healing and embodiment are essential to meaningful anti-bias work
How to align your leadership with your values, and help others do the same
Why performative inclusion fails without personal reflection and organizational clarity
How curiosity (not defensiveness) leads to real cultural change
A sweet cameo from Levi, who shares what leadership and community look like in his school
Whether you’re an educator, a theater maker, or someone navigating inclusion work within your organization, this episode serves as a reminder that transformation begins with how we show up and the spaces we’re willing to create for others.
What would change in your creative practice if you built spaces the way Montessori classrooms do: with intention, with trust, and with love?
More About Maati Wafford
Maati, Founder and Principal Consultant of Radiant Mind Solutions, strengthens schools and elevates practice through education, coaching, and curated communities of care.
She advocates for equity by creating avenues for the coexistence of science, spirit & social justice. Her leadership focuses on building trust through radical honesty, authentic conversations, and actions.
Maati firmly believes in divine intelligence and understands that we all sit at the very center of that space!
Related Episodes
Connect with Maati
Connect with Kira
Thanks for joining me on this episode of Inclusive Stages! If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on Apple or Spotify to help me reach even more theater makers, theater artists, and theater lovers who want to make our industry a better place for everyone.
Thanks to our music composer, Zachary McConnell, and our producer, Leah Bryant.
More about the Inclusive STAGES Podcast
Inclusive STAGES™ Building Healthy Arts Spaces is the podcast for theater makers, creatives, and arts leaders who believe we can build a better industry—one brave, emotionally intelligent, and trauma-informed space at a time. Hosted by Kira Troilo, founder of Art & Soul Consulting, each episode explores what it really takes to create inclusive, healthy creative environments in today’s rapidly changing performing arts landscape.
Whether you're a theater artist, an arts administrator, an educator, a creative leader, or a producer, this show will help you answer big questions like:
What is inclusive leadership in the arts, and how do I practice it?
How can performing arts organizations promote diversity and inclusion?
What does “representation matters” mean in theater and beyond?
How can venues make performances more accessible?
What tools do I need to lead with care—and still make bold, brilliant work?
Through honest conversations, industry insights, and practical tools, Inclusive STAGES™ empowers you to reduce burnout, dismantle harmful norms, and build the kinds of creative spaces where everyone can thrive.
New episodes every week. Follow now and join the movement toward healthier, more sustainable arts spaces.
留言