Send us Fan Mail

I hit publish on my first YouTube video and immediately learned a humbling lesson: the first frame that showed up on Facebook had my face frozen in the weirdest expression. No editor, no tech team, no shortcuts. Just me, rereading instructions, fixing the thumbnail, and reminding myself that growth often looks awkward at first. If you’ve ever felt intimidated by technology, nervous about being seen, or tempted to quit when something looks imperfect, you’ll feel very understood here.

We also zoom out from the tech moment into what it represents: courage, identity beyond the classroom, and the power of dreams to protect our wellness. I dedicate the video to my dad on his 98th heavenly birthday, share why Durham, North Carolina, has become the top listener city, and talk about what it means to put your passion out into the world even when you don’t know who’s listening. Along the way, I reflect on travel goals, the idea that experiences can make us “richer,” and why educators need something to look forward to that is not tied to grading, meetings, or email.

Then I get honest about the dreams that didn’t happen: a bed and breakfast, becoming a flight attendant, even being in a commercial. Each near-miss becomes proof that disappointment can redirect you rather than defeat you. The dream that stayed with me for 30 years is educator wellness: encouraging teachers, helping schools build wellness programs, and walking beside educators as they learn sustainable self-care and work-life balance.

If you want a motivational reset for the school year, a nudge to keep dreaming, and a reminder that you need to be well to teach well, press play. Subscribe, share with a fellow educator, and leave a review so more teachers can find this support.

YouTube Video

https://youtu.be/_96_M-tCIzU

Thanks for listening!

Send us Fan Mail

Walls go up fast at school. Bridges take courage, patience, and a decision to keep connecting even when it would be easier to shut down. As we open season four of Wellness for Educators, I’m sharing the mindset that’s guiding me into the 2026-27 school year: become a bridge builder, because you need to be well to teach well.

I tell the story of doing something that genuinely scared me, climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and why that kind of bravery translates to classrooms and staff rooms. We talk about leaning on colleagues, mentors, friends, and family, and how a new school year is your clean slate to adjust what didn’t work last year. If you want practical teacher self care, this starts with small choices: breathe, stay calm, set clear expectations, and refuse to take every tough moment personally.

We also dig into one of the biggest drains on educator wellness: difficult relationships. I share ways to build connection with disruptive students and how to work toward unity with coworkers you don’t always see eye to eye with. You’ll hear the “radiators vs drainers” idea for protecting your energy, plus a reminder to look for tiny joys you might be missing. I also introduce you to Frida, a 100-year-old “radiator” who models warmth and encouragement, and I wrap with a lighthearted teacher survival kit you can keep in your back pocket.

If this gives you a boost, subscribe, share it with a fellow educator, and leave a review so more teachers can find support. What bridge will you build first this year?

Thanks for listening!

Send us Fan Mail

We close out season three by naming the real stress of the final school weeks and choosing a mindset that honors what went right for us and our students. We also pull together the most practical wellness takeaways from the season so we can step into summer with more rest, more joy, and less burnout.
• end-of-year stress reframed through gratitude, student growth, and small wins
• simple connection habits like board games and phone-free time
• resilience through determination and support systems
• healthier food choices and cutting back on processed foods
• the power of silence for nervous system reset
• doable self-care steps and using insurance perks
• fitness snacks, posture, and core focus for sustainable movement
• courage, clarity, and community that turn dreams into reality
• supporting student anxiety while protecting educator energy
• summer recovery through rest, play, nature, and laughter
• using leftover energy to organize, donate, and prep for next year

If you have a friend who you think could benefit from this podcast, please pass it along.
Until that time, please practice self care.

Thanks for listening!