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What can a 2004 sci-fi film teach us about modern AI—and our careers? In this episode, Vanessa Jackson breaks down I, Robot, explores the Two Wolves metaphor, and reveals how teachers can use AI ethically to reclaim time, clarity, and direction offering real-life ways to work with AI instead of fearing it.

💡 Not sure what your next step should be? Start with the DECIDE Workshop.
👉 https://teachersintransition.com

✨ Book your free discovery call to learn more.

Follow Vanessa on Instagram: @teachersintransition

Connect with Vanessa

Vanessa@TeachersinTransition.com

Leave a voicemail or text at 512-640-9099

Connect with Vanessa on LinkedIn!

Schedule a free Discovery Session with Vanessa here

Follow Vanessa on Bluesky @beyondteaching.bsky.social

Visit the homepage at TeachersinTransition.com to learn more!

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Please share this podcast with someone that you think might like what it has to say – many teachers are aching to find a way to a new career. You can help them. People find new podcasts mostly because they’ve been recommended by someone they know.

The transcript to this podcast is found on the episode’s homepage at Buzzspout

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Your Job Search as a Goonies Adventure
This week, Vanessa dives into what The Goonies and your own nickname history can teach you about career pivots, found family, and the power of not doing it alone. If you’ve

In This Episode:

• Why some nicknames hit differently
• What the Goonies can teach us about teamwork, courage, and weirdness
• Thunderbolts as the grown-up, world-weary version of the same journey
• How to find your own codename—and why that matters in transition
• Why your career pivot deserves a crew
  

📌 Links & Resources Mentioned:

· Brad Upton’s Gen X nickname comedy clip: Watch here

· Download the Codename Generator Worksheet: Click here

Ready to Build Your Team?
Vanessa offers coaching, strategy sessions, and self-paced courses to help burned-out teachers transition into careers that give back.

Book a Free Discovery Call
Explore Courses

💌Connect with Vanessa
📬 Email: Vanessa@teachersintransition.com
📱 Text or Voicemail: 512-640-9099
🌐 Website: TeachersinTransition.com
📘 Facebook: Follow here
🧵 Instagram & Threads: @teachers.in.transition
🟦 Bluesky: @beyondteaching.bsky.social
🔗 LinkedIn: Vanessa Jackson

Help Grow the Podcast!

Please share this podcast with someone that you think might like what it has to say – many teachers are aching to find a way to a new career. You can help them. People find new podcasts mostly because they’ve been recommended by someone they know.

The transcript to this podcast is found on the episode’s homepage at Buzzspout

Send us a text

Episode Overview

In this episode, Vanessa explores How to Train Your Dragon through a powerful lens: not just as a fantasy adventure, but as a roadmap for reclaiming agency, curiosity, and purpose in career transitions. The conversation covers how Hiccup from a collection of children’s books to a live-action movie, themes of belongings, the Huge different between ‘couldn’t’ and ‘wouldn’t’, and finally some career transition tips that are fireproof – even on the inside!

See for Yourself

Animated How to Train Your Dragon (2010) is streaming now on:

• Max (max.com)
• Rent or buy via Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, Microsoft Store

💡 Vanessa tip: I encourage checking out the live-action remake in the theaters. It’s an excellent live-action update.

Links

• Read up on Cressida Cowell’s original book series at Wikipedia
• Watch Cressida talk about her newest books
• Music by John Powell – soundtracks on Spotify/Apple Music
• DIY Career Courses Coming Soon – email Vanessa directly for early access to DECIDE, CLARITY, and BUILD at a special reduced rate for the first few enrollees

🗝️ Key Takeaways for Teachers in Transition

• Belong while true to yourself — your unique perspective is your superpower.
• Choice = Power — shifting from “couldn’t” to “wouldn’t” restores control and motivation.
• Lead with empathy — the kindest solutions often bring the strongest outcomes.
• Music moves us—don’t underestimate the power of emotional connection, even in career work.

Connect with Vanessa

Vanessa@TeachersinTransition.com

Leave a voicemail or text at 512-640-9099

Connect with Vanessa on LinkedIn!

Schedule a free Discovery Session with Vanessa here

Follow Vanessa on Bluesky @beyondteaching.bsky.social

Visit the homepage at TeachersinTransition.com to learn more!

Help Grow the Podcast!

Please share this podcast with someone that you think might like what it has to say – many teachers are aching to find a way to a new career. You can help them. People find new podcasts mostly because they’ve been recommended by someone they know.

The transcript to this podcast is found on the episode’s homepage at Buzzspout