SUMMARY 

Join host Michelle Kinder in this episode of Radical Hope as she explores the transformative practice of befriending your nervous system. Discover how understanding and nurturing your inner state can lead to steadiness, interrupt shame spirals, and reconnect you with your truest self. Drawing from the insights of polyvagal theory, Michelle shares practical ways to move from survival mode into a state of clarity, compassion, and connection. Tune in to learn how this daily practice can unlock your potential and help you deliver your unique gifts to the world.

KEY TAKEAWAYS 

• "Befriending your nervous system changes everything."
• "You can't give what you don't have, and you don't have what you're disconnected from."
• Burnout is not a personal failure—it's a sign that something deeper needs care.
• Rest, presence, and boundaries aren't luxuries—they're lifelines.

CHAPTERS

00:00 – Regulated Leadership and Nervous System Wisdom
03:18 – The Science of Safety and Belonging
07:12 – The Inner Work of Showing Up
11:44 – Recognizing Burnout and Shame
15:06 – You Don't Have to Abandon Yourself
18:39 – Discomfort vs. Danger
22:03 – Practical Tools for Reconnection
26:55 – Slowing Down the Urgency
30:41 – Boundaries, Compassion, and Capacity
34:17 – Regulation as Contagious Leadership
38:26 – Final Reflections on Hope and Healing

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Oxygen for Educators is produced by Ripplemaker Project and proudly sponsored by Tacky Box.

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