CITATION: Wientjes, Liz, dir. 2024. #34 Tentacular Pedagogy: Navigating Embodied Justice and Neurodiversity in HE with Kai Syng Tan. Podcast and video recording. The Embodied Educator. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_xUTfTQiV0.
DESCRIPTION BY PODCAST DIRECTOR DR LIZ WIENTJES (bold mine):
Allow me to introduce you to this multi-passionate, award-winning artist and academic who’s transforming the international landscape of Cultural Arts Higher Education with her artful, fierce and embodied approach!
In this fresh new #34 episode we take a deep dive into TentacularPedagogy 
With her uniquely tentacular perspective as a neurodivergent migrant and academic, Kai is all about “𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦”. Her research into leadership as a #Decolonial, #Co-Created, #NeuroQueerPractice is evidence of her commitment to championing 𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗶-𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻.
And she brought lifework together in her most recent book: “𝘕𝘦𝘶𝘳𝘰-𝘍𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘮 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘙𝘦-𝘐𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 : 𝘈𝘯 𝘈-𝘡 𝘛𝘰𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘴 𝘊𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘓𝘪𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯”. I recommend reading it and checking her website as it showcases a myriad of accomplishments on a deeper level of #inclusivity in teaching + learning + communicating + designing in a #neurodiverse landscape. One where our historical imprints in our bodies are addressed and allowed to surface and be seen.
Kai’s perspective is a breath of fresh air, as she advocates for breaking down traditional educational boundaries. “𝘐𝘵’𝘴 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘭𝘦𝘥𝘨𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴” she says, urging educators to embrace a holistic approach that respects diverse perspectives.
Her philosophy could usher in a dynamic shift from static learning methods to vibrant, interactive experiences. And on a systemic level she openly addresses the challenges faced by 𝗻𝗲𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗱𝘂𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗲𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀. She advocates for voicing one’s needs, stressing, “𝘐 𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘬 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘮𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯”. By doing so, she highlights the broader responsibility for fostering inclusive and supportive work and learning spaces.
How would that look like you might wonder? “𝘉𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘪𝘢𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘶𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱, 𝘦𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘮𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘴 𝘴𝘢𝘧𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘷𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘦𝘥. 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘰 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘭𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘦𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯,” emphasizes Kai, urging educators to take part in this #transformativelearningjourney.
If you are curious what the link is between Octopussy and Tentacular Pedagogy, 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼 
𝗼𝗿 
It has something to do with this fascinating adaptable creature . I promise it won’t bore you – as this artful academic has the ability to bring theory and concepts to life.