Adjust the Flame: Exploring Anger and Emotional Intelligence in Schools with Dr. Mitch Abrams

About this episode

Dr. Joey Weisler and Dr. Mitch Abrams discuss the complexities of anger and emotional intelligence in educational settings.

📝 Episodic Synopsis ‼️ PROFANITY LANGUAGE ALERT in this episode ‼️ What if anger itself isn’t the problem? In this powerful episode of Classroom Narratives: Healing in Education, Dr. Joey Weisler speaks with psychologist and anger specialist Dr. Mitch Abrams to unpack one of the most misunderstood emotions in education and society. Drawing from his book I’m Not F cking Angry: Adjust the Flame to Get What You Want and Need*, Dr. Abrams challenges the idea that anger should simply be suppressed or feared. Instead, he explores the critical distinction between anger and aggression, the relationship between trauma and emotional dysregulation, and why emotional intelligence must be intentionally taught—not assumed. Together, Joey and Dr. Abrams examine classroom power dynamics, teacher burnout, school violence, emotional validation, and the hidden psychological realities shaping student behavior. From Parkland to Sandy Hook, from prisons to classrooms, this conversation confronts the difficult truths educators quietly carry while offering practical strategies for emotional regulation and healthier school culture. This episode is not about “staying calm at all costs.” It is about…

People in this episode

Host: Dr. Joey Weisler

Guest: Dr. Mitch Abrams

Topics covered

• anger
• emotional intelligence
• education
• teacher burnout
• school culture
• trauma
• emotional regulation

Keywords

• anger
• emotional intelligence
• education
• teacher burnout
• school violence
• emotional regulation
• trauma

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: I’m Not F*cking Angry: Adjust the Flame to Get What You Want and Need

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