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Teaching can be an emotionally and physically stressful career. I've been in the classroom for 14 years and my body has kept score: weight gain, migraines, health conditions, and burnout. This podcast is where I share real stories about trying to feel better in my own skin while figuring out what that means as a teacher. You’ll hear plenty of honesty, a little humor, and maybe a few whimsical detours along the way.
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Send us a text “When It’s Time to Leave And How to Do It with Dignity” Sometimes the healthiest choice is the hardest one: leaving a toxic school. In the final part of this series, we talk about how to recognize when it’s time to go and how to do it in a way that protects your mental health, your finances, and your future. In this episode, we cover: Signs it’s time to leave: when the environment is harming your health or identityPreparing to exit: emotional, financial, and logistical steps to...
Send us a text “How to Survive a Toxic School Without Losing Yourself” You can’t always fix a toxic school, but you can protect your peace. Part 4 of the Toxic Schools Mini-Series is all about real, doable survival strategies that help you stay grounded, healthy, and yourself. In this episode, we talk about: Micro-boundaries you can set this week: small shifts that create real breathing roomFinding allies & emotional support & why community is essentialReclaiming your power:&nbs...
Send us a text What Toxic Schools Do to Teachers: Mind, Body & Heart In Part 3, we’re shifting the focus to you: your health, your emotions, your identity as a teacher. Toxic schools don’t just make work hard. They seep into your body, your confidence, and your self-worth. In this episode, we explore: Physical burnout & chronic stress: headaches, insomnia, anxiety, and the Sunday dreadSelf-doubt & feeling unappreciated: how toxic systems make great teachers feel “not ...
Send us a text Hidden Cultural Red Flags That Make School Emotionally Unsafe Some toxicity isn’t loud: it’s quiet, subtle, and woven into the culture of a school. In Part 2 of the Toxic Schools Mini-Series, we’re talking about the emotional undercurrents that drain teachers’ confidence, joy, and mental health. In this episode, we unpack: Gossip, negativity, and cliques — the staffroom dynamics that make school feel tenseMicromanagement & lack of trust — when leadership watches every...
Send us a text The Big 3 Structural Red Flags Your School Might Be Toxic In this first episode of the Toxic Schools Mini-Series, we’re looking at the structural issues that create unhealthy school environments: the big-picture problems that can make any teacher feel overwhelmed, drained, or defeated. If you’ve ever wondered, “Is it me… or is it my school?” — this episode will help you name what’s really going on. In this episode, we cover: Workload that never ends: chronic understaffing, nons...
Send us a text In this episode of Healthy Teacher Happy Teacher, Jess shares the real story behind her Australia trip: the one that was supposed to be magical, adventurous, and full of teacher-travel joy… but ended up turning into a crash course in listening to her body. What begins as an exciting journey across the world quickly shifts when Jess gets unexpectedly sick far from home. Through humor, honesty, and a whole lot of vulnerability, she unpacks what that experience taught her about re...
Send us a text In this episode of Healthy Teacher Happy Teacher, Jessica dives into one of the most common and painful experiences educators face: emotionally draining friendships, burnout from “being the strong one,” and why highly empathetic teachers often attract people who take more than they give. You’ll learn the psychology behind why emotionally avoidant or self-centered people gravitate toward warm, grounded teachers, how to recognize the early signs of one-sided relationships, and pr...
Send us a text In this episode of Healthy Teacher Happy Teacher, Jess breaks down one of the most damaging myths in education: the belief that teachers earn their worth by absorbing endless stress. She opens up about what this year has taught her — that exhaustion isn’t a character flaw, burnout isn’t “negativity,” and struggling doesn’t make you weak. Jess explores how school culture conditions teachers to push beyond their limits, hide their feelings, and carry responsibilities that no sing...
Send us a text This episode is all about how teachers can take tiny little actions or change thoughts into seeing true progress each day. The truth is that we're all progressing, but happy and healthy teachers are the ones feeling it, noting it and growing from it!
Send us a text This episode discusses why teachers transfer schools or positions and what happens when they do. A lot of teachers still feel unhappy at their new positions and this episode talks about what to do if you are feeling this way.
Send us a text In this episode, Jess dishes on why she hasn't podcasted in 2 years and what's happening with her career right now. She also opens up about her struggles with diabetes and having to use a prescription medication called Ozempic. Stay and listen to this fun and whimsical welcome back episode and feel free to reach out to Jess about your own ozempic journey!
Send us a text I think all teachers would love to feel like they are thriving instead of just surviving in their career. I see a couple of ways to feel thriving and successful sometimes, and I share these ideas with you in this podcast!
Send us a text On this episode, I dish on my international trips with Bookbag Tours and share my big takeaways from visiting Egypt this last summer. Egypt was nothing like I imagined! It was so different and in this episode I attempt to share my experience!
Send us a text I recently transferred from a 4th grade classroom position to a position in an elementary school library where I teach grades K-5 daily! Here are the ups and downs of my journey so far as a licensed librarian.
Send us a text This episode is all about why I left this podcast hanging for over a year! Teaching is so hard and we all have a different story. This is mine.
Send us a text There are so many problems in the teaching career right now. Every source of media complains about the world of education constantly, and it can be hard to see any positive aspects to the teaching career right now. In this episode, Jess (the whimsical teacher) talks about how to identify problems and use 4 different activist- based pathways to living your best teacher life. So many avenues, so little time~! Let's get on with the show!
Send us a text In this episode, Jess discusses the year of pandemic teaching and how it impacted her teaching and career. The episode is chalked full of insight, healing, and lessons learned.
Send us a text Teacher Life is not for the faint of heart. There are a lot of hard parts. If you struggle, listen to this episode, and you might walk away with something that can help your daily routine!
Send us a text I am coming up on the one year anniversary of buying a house in Las Vegas, so I thought that I'd give an honest review of the city and my teaching situation.
Send us a text Listen to this episode for some hot tips about leaving the classroom.
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Hey! Are you still doing this show? Also looked for your social media on Instagram. Wish I could find you!