Send us Fan Mail

Burnout doesn’t show up because teachers “aren’t organized enough.” It shows up because your nervous system has been carrying too much for too long. We sit down with Dr. Julie Merriman, a licensed professional counselor supervisor, counselor educator, and former public school teacher, to name what so many educators feel but rarely get language for: living past capacity on a daily cocktail of adrenaline and cortisol.

We dig into three root causes of teacher burnout and compassion fatigue: the floating head of competence (living from the neck up and abandoning the body), leaking life force (overgiving until you’re empty), and going behind glass (a numb, disconnected state tied to dorsal vagal shutdown). From there, we tackle the boundary problem. “Just say no” sounds easy, but when your body doesn’t feel safe, holding a boundary can feel terrifying, especially for lifelong people pleasers. Regulation changes the game because a calmer baseline makes boundaries feel natural instead of guilt-driven.

You’ll also get a practical, school-day-friendly nervous system reset you can do in about 60 seconds between class periods: feet grounded, one hand on chest and one on belly, soften jaw and shoulders, inhale for four and exhale for eight like a straw, then ask yourself, “What do I need right now?” We also talk about bringing these somatic tools into the classroom to help students settle after lunch or recess and support a calmer learning environment.

If you want real educator wellness strategies that don’t require a shopping cart, this conversation is for you. Subscribe, share this with a teacher friend, and leave a review so more educators can find nervous system support that actually works.

https://www.juliemerrimanphd.com/desire

She's the author of Are We Gonna Have Sex or What? and In Pursuit of Soul Joy as well as the host of the Sexy After 50 podcast and the Compassion Fatigue Cure podcast.

Thanks for listening!

Send us Fan Mail

Money stress is loud, even when you never say a word about it, and for educators it can spill into sleep, focus, and the energy you bring to students. We sit down with Scott Fritz, a longtime elementary teacher who got pulled into personal finance out of necessity while adopting two children, and we talk through what actually helps when money feels tight and confusing. He’s practical, honest, and focused on the habits that reduce stress instead of adding more rules to your life.

We start with the foundation: budgeting that begins by tracking your expenses for a few months, then sorting them into categories so you can see patterns clearly. From there, Scott explains how defining what you truly value makes it easier to cut spending that does not serve you, and why it matters that a partner shares the same vision. We also dig into automation and visibility using budgeting and personal finance apps that aggregate accounts, with examples like YNAB, Monarch Money, and Fidelity Full View.

Then we get tactical: building an emergency fund of about three to six months of living expenses, using a separate high-yield online savings account, and understanding the basic difference between CDs and a Roth IRA. For newer teachers juggling student loans, rent, and credit cards, Scott walks through the debt avalanche method, calculators that clarify your payoff timeline, and a simple 24-hour rule to slow impulse buys in an Amazon-ready world.

We close with big-picture teacher financial planning: learning your contract and salary scale, starting early with options like a 403(b) or 457(b), when a fee-only financial advisor can help, and why estate planning and digital passwords are an overlooked form of wellness. Scott will be back in January, so send us the questions you want answered, then subscribe, share this with a colleague, and leave a review so more educators can find it.

Scott Fritz's Information Below:

Financial Literacy for Employees of Pennsylvania Public Schools

Scott was a guest on the following podcasts:

Financially Independent Teachers Podcast (episode #49 aired 1/23/2022)

Teach and Retire Rich Podcast (episode 302 aired on 12/29/2023)

The Teacher Money Store (episode 104 aired on 12/10/2025)

Budgeting apps mentioned include YNAB (You Need A Budget),

Monarch Money, and Every Dollar

Thanks for listening!

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!