SUMMARY

We are re-releasing this conversation with Rockwall ISD leader Dr. Shanon Zais because late October can feel like a grind for educators. This is the moment when stamina dips, the calendar is packed, and a reset matters. Shanon offers embodied, practical wisdom on rest, boundaries, and community care that lands differently right now. On re-listen, we also reflect on why this message is urgent, including Chris’s honest update about navigating breast cancer and the reminder that you do not have to, and cannot, do this work alone.

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Shanon distills four core values, take care of yourself and each other, be professional, plan for success, and have fun. She shows what this looks like in real life, PLC time inside the workday, quiet spaces for nervous system resets, and her 36-marbles practice that keeps each week intentional. The throughline is simple, rested adults drive healthy schools.

If you listened the first time, listen again, new lines will jump out. If this is your first time, welcome, we are glad you are here!

CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction and Context of the Re-release
02:59 The Importance of Rest and Well-being in Education
06:03 Shannon Zeiss: A Leader's Journey and Philosophy
08:55 Community and Support: The Power of Togetherness
11:37 Core Values and Their Impact on School Culture
14:45 The Role of Fun and Connection in Education
17:58 The Significance of Intentional Leadership
20:41 The 36 Marbles: A Visual Representation of Time
23:30 Final Thoughts and Reflections on Leadership and Rest

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SUMMARY

What would it look like for your calendar to reflect your deepest values, not just your obligations? In this powerful follow-up to Part 1, Michelle Kinder shares 10 practical attention management practices that support mental health and nervous system regulation. From reframing to-do lists to breaking up with notifications, each practice offers a small shift that can spark real change. Whether you’re overwhelmed, overstretched, or just ready for more peace, this episode offers simple ways to live more aligned with what matters most.

CHAPTERS

00:00 – Introduction & Radical Hope Recap

02:10 – Practice 1: Calendar Your Values

06:30 – Practice 2: Single Task in Small Blocks

10:30 – Practice 3: Automate What Drains & Sustains You

14:30 – Practice 4: Master To-Do + Done-for-the-Day Lists

18:30 – Practice 5: Unsubscribe Relentlessly + Offline Emailing

22:30 – Practice 6: Break Up with Notifications

25:30 – Practice 7: Practice a Positive No

28:00 – Practice 8: Memento Mori (Remember You Will Die)

30:00 – Practice 9: Build Tech-Free Rituals

32:00 – Practice 10: Attention as Generosity

35:00 – Final Reflections & Listener Invitation

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Oxygen for Educators is proudly sponsored by Tacky Box.

Follow on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/oxygen-for-educators/id1775510846

Follow on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2i21QueuqVqmEPmI7gzFfQ?si=1bef3354bff2402c

Follow on Audible: https://www.audible.co.uk/podcast/Oxygen-for-Educators/B0DKL68DLX?source_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdp

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Thank you to our sponsor, Tacky Box!

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SUMMARY

This one feels like a deep breath. Sharon Bradley lets us into the story that made her an educator, teaching her brother what school hadn’t, and how that love widened into a career of pulling kids in instead of pushing them out. She shows us why “take care of the big people so they can take care of the little people” isn’t a slogan; it’s a strategy.

We talk about practical care for adults (the kind that actually fits in a school day), her S.E.L.F. check-in, Start, Experiment, Let go, Finish, and the moment a stage-three cancer diagnosis at 36 made “health is wealth” non-negotiable. Sharon names the boundary work, the permission leaders must give, and the simple changes (leave on time, ask stay-interview questions, build community care) that make classrooms calmer and lives lighter. If you’re running on fumes, this conversation is a hug and a nudge: you are allowed to be well, and when you are, everyone in your care benefits.

CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guest
02:48 Sharon Bradley's Journey in Education
05:47 The Importance of Social-Emotional Learning
08:56 Supporting Educators' Well-Being
11:54 Creating a Supportive Environment for Students and Staff
14:40 The Impact of Personal Health on Professional Life
17:27 The Role of Community in Education
20:48 Practical Strategies for Educators
23:46 The Power of Pause and Reflection
26:37 Stay Interviews and Teacher Retention
29:33 Final Thoughts and Conclusion

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Oxygen for Educators is proudly sponsored by Tacky Box.

Follow on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/oxygen-for-educators/id1775510846

Follow on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2i21QueuqVqmEPmI7gzFfQ?si=1bef3354bff2402c

Follow on Audible: https://www.audible.co.uk/podcast/Oxygen-for-Educators/B0DKL68DLX?source_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdp

Subscribe on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEdbuPy-L7p4RZKZ_VWKCXwK_j8vbjZF2&si=7SHeSWZRllrseygs

Website: https://www.tackybox.com/podcast

Thank you to our sponsor, Tacky Box!

Website: https://tackybox.com/

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