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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!

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

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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

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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

Send us a text

This week on Teachers in Transition, we’re diving into one of Vanessa’s favorite underdog films—The Replacements—to explore what it really means to get a second chance. Spoiler: it’s not about parades or endorsement deals. It’s about the quiet, often-overlooked moments of greatness that shape who we are—and who we’re becoming.

Vanessa breaks down how this lighthearted football flick offers surprisingly deep insights on career pivots, self-doubt, and the metaphorical “quicksand” that keeps us stuck. If you’ve been feeling lost in your job search, grieving your teaching identity, or just trying to find solid ground—this episode is for you.

What You’ll Learn:

• How The Replacements mirrors the emotional rollercoaster of career transition
• The “quicksand” metaphor and how to recognize if you’re stuck in it
• Practical, actionable strategies for overcoming fear, reframing failure, and finding unexpected opportunities
• Why the greatness you’ve built in the classroom already makes you a strong candidate—even outside of education

🔥 Quote of the Week:
"Greatness, no matter how brief, stays with a man." — Coach Jimmy McGinty, The Replacements

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

Send us a text

In this episode of Teachers in Transition, host Vanessa Jackson explores the heartwarming 2003 film Secondhand Lions and what it reveals about identity, respect, and rewriting your personal story. Through the lens of this quiet classic, Vanessa draws deep parallels between the character Walter’s journey and the experience of burned-out educators who are questioning their place in the classroom.

Vanessa encourages teachers to examine the stories they've been told—or have told themselves—about their worth, their career options, and their future. With empathy and clarity, she offers actionable reflection prompts and a powerful reframing exercise to help educators reconnect with their skills, strengths, and sense of purpose.

Whether you're feeling stuck, misunderstood, or just ready for something different, this episode is a call to consider your own second act—and to know it’s never too late to be taken seriously or to begin again.

In this episode:

• A breakdown of Secondhand Lions and its career-relevant themes
• The link between storytelling and self-concept in career decisions
• How teachers can reframe classroom experiences into leadership language
• A guided journaling prompt for LinkedIn summaries or personal clarity
• Why your “middle chapter” isn’t the end—and how to shape what comes next

🔗 Resources & Links:

• Secondhand Lions (IMDb)
• Download the episode transcript or copy from the Buzzsprout page
• Explore Vanessa’s free 5Ps Framework
• Book a free Discovery Call or Coffee Chat with Vanessa

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

Send us a text

In this episode of Teachers in Transition, Vanessa Jackson welcomes Dr. Shaun Woodly, award-winning educator, speaker, and founder of Teach Hustle Inspire. Dr. Woodly dives deep into the science of behavior, explaining how classroom challenges are often misunderstood signals—not personal failures.

Together, they unpack:

· The five survival drives that fuel student behavior

· Why fear-based classroom management fails—and what to do instead

· How to reframe “class clown” behavior as a cry for belonging

· Strategies for fostering student engagement through curiosity and psychological safety

· Why behavior changes with environment, and how to use that to your advantage

If you've ever felt burned out by behavior management or unsupported by your administration, this episode is your permission slip to do things differently

Connect with Dr. Shaun!
On LinkedIn
Instagram and Threads - @teachhustleinspire
Check out his LinkTree!
His website at teachhustleinspire.com – check out the books tab to find his books!

Favorite Quote:

"If you can understand the conditions that influence someone to feel better, you'll get them to do better." – Dr. Shaun Woodly

If today’s episode struck a chord—maybe you love teaching but hate the stress—you don’t have to figure it all out alone. Whether you're deciding to stay, shifting roles, or planning an exit strategy, I'm here to help.

📥 Download the FREE 5Ps Guide to help with you decision at TeachersinTransition.com

And if you found this episode helpful, share it with a teacher friend—because none of us should have to navigate burnout alone.

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!

⭐Rate & Review

Enjoying the podcast? Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It helps more teachers find this supportive space.

The transcript to this podcast was create by AliceIO and is found on the episode’s homepage at Buzzspout

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In this episode of Teachers in Transition, Vanessa Jackson takes a fun dive into the 1987 movie The Secret of My Success, starring Michael J. Fox. Although it’s an 80s classic with some retro charm, the movie holds valuable lessons on networking, standing out, and navigating the grind of job hunting—lessons that can resonate deeply with teachers transitioning into new careers. Listen in as Vanessa breaks down key themes from the movie and offers insights on how they can help you as you move forward in your career transition. Get ready for a combination of movie magic and practical career advice!

• The Grind of Job Hunting: Frustration and persistence in applying for jobs, even when it feels like you’re not quite there yet.
• Standing Out in the Job Market: The importance of doing something simple but memorable to stand out, like Brantley Foster’s Xeroxed face business card.
• Networking: The power of networking, and how Brantley Foster's success is tied to his aunt’s connections. Don’t be afraid to ask for help and make those connections!
• Overcoming Imposter Syndrome: Why women tend to hesitate when applying for jobs and how to overcome that fear, using transferable skills that you’ve already developed as a teacher.
• Confidence in Transferable Skills: The skills you’ve developed in education—communication, leadership, problem-solving—are highly valued in other industries.

Resources & Links:

• Teachers in Transition – Your resource for career transition support.
• Watch Brantley get turned down at interviews
• The 5Ps Framework – Not sure whether it’s time to leave teaching? Check out the framework at the top of the Teachers in Transition homepage to get clarity.
• Amazon Rental – The Secret of My Success – If you haven’t seen the movie yet or want to revisit it, you can find it available for rental for under $4 on Amazon.

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.

Send us a text

In this buzz-tastic episode of Teachers in Transition, Vanessa explores what we can learn from bees about burnout, neglect, and leadership. She shares how long-term emotional neglect manifests for educators, how to begin reversing it with intentional self-care, and what transformation might look like when teachers are finally nourished the way they deserve.

You’ll also hear a practical, soul-nurturing hack for “sharpening the saw,” and an in-depth walk through Vanessa’s 5 Ps Decision Framework - a simple but profound tool to help you decide if it’s time to stay in teaching, shift your role, or start building your exit strategy.

If you want to scoot over to the framework section, that starts at 16:03.

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