
Teaching through Emotions: psychological strategies and resources for educators
by Betsy Burris, PhD, MSW - Psychodynamic Coach & Education Expert
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Summer TTE Throwback: Rethinking assumptions about our negative emotions
Jun 25, 2026
49m 43s
Ending The School Year: Reviewing the state of education + TTE updates!
Jun 11, 2026
1h 06m 40s
Resistant to Joy? How to welcome and transform negative emotions
May 28, 2026
1h 22m 25s
To Care or To Detach? Finding the emotional balance in teaching
May 14, 2026
1h 01m 27s
Teacher Observation Strategies: Can evaluations actually bring joy?
Apr 30, 2026
55m 41s
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| Date | Episode | Topics | Guests | Brands | Places | Keywords | Sponsor | Length | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6/25/26 | ![]() Summer TTE Throwback: Rethinking assumptions about our negative emotions | So something happens that irritates you and you berate yourself for being too judgmental, eh? It might be time to rethink that judgment.Teaching through Emotions is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.In this episode, which is the one you, dear listeners, listened to the most this season, Joe and I talk about a simple, probably all-too-common story of a teacher who condemns herself for having negative feelings in school. You might be surprised by our conclusions! Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.We discuss* Psychology of Boundaries: Why personal space in a busy classroom isn’t just a preference, it’s a psychological need.* Reframing “Judgment”: Why we mislabel valid annoyance as a character flaw.* Failure: How to view conflict as data instead of a disaster.* Overcoming Self-blame: The power of asking for what you need rather than internalizing the problem.Beyond the classroom? You don’t have to be a teacher to enjoy this episode! Too many of us turn our legitimate annoyance against ourselves. Hearing how someone (who happens to be a teacher) reframed her negative experience into open-hearted understanding is good for everyone!Connect & ShareGot a story to share? Ever had a moment when you might have misunderstood your feelings? Leave me a voicemail at (413) 239-4158. Joe and I can unpack it confidentially in one of our episodes and maybe, maybe offer a different and helpful perspective!Support the Show: If this conversation resonated, please consider leaving a rating or review on your podcast app. Your feedback helps others find us.Get full access to the community: [www.teachingthroughemotions.com/subscribe]It’s summer summer summertime! I hope you’ve already begun relaxing. If you’re looking for ways to reflect on your year, consider re-listening to other TTE podcast episodes. There’s lots of food for thought here just waiting for you!CreditsFounder and Host: Betsy BurrisCo-Host: Joe JohnsonProducer: Jullian Androkae of PodVisionAudience Development: Andreea Coscai of PodVisionMusic: Tom Burris/Jabbering TroutTeaching through Emotions is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.teachingthroughemotions.com/subscribe | 49m 43s | ||||||
| 6/11/26 | ![]() Ending The School Year: Reviewing the state of education + TTE updates!✨ | end of school yearstate of education+4 | Joe | Teaching through EmotionsApple Podcasts+1 | United States | educationschool year+5 | — | 1h 06m 40s | |
| 5/28/26 | ![]() Resistant to Joy? How to welcome and transform negative emotions✨ | emotional workhealthy relationships+4 | Erin McQuade-Wright | Vitalist CoachingThe Brave and Balanced Fundraiser | — | negative emotionsjoy+5 | — | 1h 22m 25s | |
| 5/14/26 | ![]() To Care or To Detach? Finding the emotional balance in teaching✨ | emotional balance in teachingcaring vs. detachment+3 | Rachel Branham | — | — | emotional balancecaring in education+3 | — | 1h 01m 27s | |
| 4/30/26 | ![]() Teacher Observation Strategies: Can evaluations actually bring joy?✨ | teacher observationtrust-building+3 | Craig Randall | Trust-Based ObservationsA Nation at Risk | — | teacher observationtrust+3 | — | 55m 41s | |
| 4/16/26 | ![]() Actively Hating Students: How to rebalance your classroom✨ | teacher emotionsclassroom management+3 | Hari Kumar | — | — | teacher hateclassroom dynamics+3 | — | 1h 10m 26s | |
| 4/2/26 | ![]() Toxic School? Diagnosing narcissistic organizations and changing school culture✨ | narcissistic organizationsschool culture+3 | Jerry Fromm | Teaching through Emotions | — | toxic schoolleadership whisperer+3 | — | 1h 00m 45s | |
| 3/19/26 | ![]() The Frustrations of Having a Teaching Assistant: Managing the benefits and drawbacks✨ | Teaching AssistantsCo-teaching+3 | Sarah | Teaching through EmotionsApple Podcasts+1 | — | Teaching Assistantco-teaching+3 | — | 1h 01m 24s | |
| 3/5/26 | ![]() Radical Love: Rethinking care and professional love in the classroom✨ | early childhood educationprofessional love+3 | Carol Garboden Murray | Wimpfheimer Laboratory Nursery SchoolIlluminating Care: The Pedagogy and Practice of Care in Early Childhood Communities+2 | — | early childhoodcaregiving+3 | — | 1h 08m 03s | |
| 2/19/26 | ![]() Ego in Teaching: What are the psychological benefits of having an ego?✨ | ego in teachingself-regard+3 | Joe | — | — | egoteaching+4 | — | 57m 47s | |
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| 2/5/26 | ![]() From Fear to Success: Another podcaster’s journey✨ | podcastingemotions+5 | Felicia Keller Boyle | The Bad Therapist ShowWhat Your Therapist Thinks | — | podcastingemotions+7 | — | 56m 01s | |
| 1/22/26 | ![]() The Meowing Student: Understanding weird behavior in the classroom | In this episode, Joe and I unpack the story of a teacher who was so fed up with a student who was a huge “pain in the ass” that she wanted to quit. Right then and there. And I’ll be damned if she didn’t turn that relationship around in the most dramatic way.Joe and I talk about the difficult circumstances surrounding this teacher’s and this student’s situation and the hypotheses she and I came up with that helped her return to school and dig into their relationship. It’s kind of a miraculous story imho.Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.We discuss:- Students and Negative Attention: Understanding the "cry for help" behind super irritating or provocative actions.- The "Nefarious Savior": How to support a struggling student without falling into a self-serving hero complex.- Classroom Aikido: How to use a student’s "negative" energy to redirect toward connection.- The Fine Line of Caring: Finding the sweet spot between emotional over-investment (burnout) and detachment.Connect & ShareGot a story to share? What is the "meowing" in your life right now? Leave me a voicemail at (413) 239-4158.Support the Show: If this conversation resonated, please consider leaving a rating or review on your podcast app. Your feedback helps others find us.Get full access to the community: [www.teachingthroughemotions.com/subscribe]And there's more…I’m so eager to hear from you that my team and I have put together [a survey](https://forms.gle/i8LjC1DDJH4jypLC7!) to get a mid-season formative assessment from my listeners. I really want to hear what you like, don’t like, want to hear or read, etc. Please take a few minutes to give me your honest feedback! I’m a therapist, so I can take the truth.As incentive, anyone who responds will have their email address put in a nice hat from which I will pull a winner — of a TTE “Stay in Your Effin’ Garden” T-shirt! I myself have one (as you might imagine), and I love it. Soft, perfect fit, extremely useful message. Get to that survey as soon as is humanly possible — we’ll pull the winner on Valentine’s Day. Wow! What a love-ly gift!!CreditsFounder and Host: Betsy BurrisCo-Host: Joe JohnsonProducer: Jullian Androkae of PodVisionAudience Development: Andreea Coscai of PodVisionMusic: Tom Burris/Jabbering Trout This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.teachingthroughemotions.com/subscribe | 54m 03s | ||||||
| 1/8/26 | ![]() Are Robots Winning? Managing teacher anxiety over AI in schools | In this episode, I sit down with Jesse Dukes, producer of the magnificent podcast on AI in schools called The Homework Machine. We discuss the findings his podcast team lays out about the complicated ins and outs of a “drunk guy” (as I put it) who has “crashed the party” (as Jesse and The Homework Machine puts it). Jesse (not the drunk guy) is so articulate and so sensitive to the information his team’s research gathered and reported that listening to him talk is just plain enjoyable! Whether you care about AI in schools or not!But you should care.This is a super important and complicated issue. Please listen. It’s food for thought we really need to digest.Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.We discuss:The “Drunk Guy”: Why AI feels so intrusive and chaotic right now.More Than Tech: Unpacking the “disruptions” hitting schools (it’s not just the bots).The District: The shocking reality of how school districts are (or aren’t) handling the AI wave.The Kids: How students are actually using and responding to AI, and why their perspective might just give you hope.Feeling hopeless about the future? Jesse’s advice is simple: “If you want to feel hopeful, talk to a teenager.” If you’re not an educator but if you’re a parent, a boss or just someone trying to keep up, this episode will give you a grounded perspective on navigating an increasingly artificial world.External linksRand report: “AI Use in Schools Is Quickly Increasing but Guidance Lags Behind”Stanford article: “Cheating: The AI Elephant in the Classroom”Teaching Systems Lab, MITTeach Lab podcastThe Homework MachineConnect & ShareGot a story to share? What’s your experience with AI in the classroom? in your kids’ lives? in your own life? Add to the crucial conversation about the social and educational impacts of this insidious technology. Leave us a message about it. 413.239.4158. We’d love to play it on the air, confidentially if you prefer, so others can gain from your thoughts.Support the Show: If this conversation resonated, please consider leaving a rating or review on your podcast app. Your feedback helps others find us.Get full access to the community: [www.teachingthroughemotions.com/subscribe]CreditsFounder and Host: Betsy BurrisCo-Host: Joe JohnsonProducer: Jullian Androkae of PodVisionAudience Development: Andreea Coscai of PodVisionMusic: Tom Burris/Jabbering Trout This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.teachingthroughemotions.com/subscribe | 55m 38s | ||||||
| 12/18/25 | ![]() Angry Parents? How teachers can handle conflict | It’s a good thing when parents are involved in their children’s educations. When parents establish routines for getting homework done. When parents attend Back-to-School nights, parent-teacher conferences, and student performances. When parents contact teachers with concerns or questions about their children’s experiences at school.But it’s a bad thing when parents go all nuclear on their children’s teachers. In this episode, Joe and I chew on a teachers’ story of a parent who decided the right thing to do one night, right around dinner time, was to send an angry, accusatory email to their child’s teacher. Sound familiar? I fear it does to too many of you. In which case, this episode is for you!Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.Teaching through Emotions is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.We discuss:* Ghost Moose: What on earth a ghost moose is, and what it can teach us about unseen stressors and human behavior.* Bad Behavior: The psychological, unconscious explanations for why parents act out.* The Gift of Anger: Why a passionate (read: “pissed-off”) parent is actually a gift to your teaching practice.* Staying Connected Anyway: Practical strategies for how to effectively communicate with people you desperately want to hate.For my non-teachers out there: This episode is helpful for parents whether you have a child in school (and might be tempted to go ballistic on a teacher someday) or don’t (and might be tempted to go ballistic on someone else someday). Or if someone has gone ballistic on you! There’s good stuff for everyone in this episode.Connect & ShareGot a story to share? Have you ever successfully defused a terrifying parent? Or did it go spectacularly wrong? I’d love to hear your stories. Leave me a voicemail at (413) 239-4158 and we might feature your perspective in a future episode!Support the Show: If this conversation resonated, please consider leaving a rating or review on your podcast app. Your feedback helps others find us.Get full access to the community: [www.teachingthroughemotions.com/subscribe]CreditsFounder and Host: Betsy BurrisCo-Host: Joe JohnsonProducer: Jullian Androkae of PodVisionAudience Development: Andreea Coscai of PodVisionMusic: Tom Burris/Jabbering TroutThanks so much for listening.Happy holidays, everyone! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.teachingthroughemotions.com/subscribe | 52m 09s | ||||||
| 12/5/25 | ![]() From Teacher of the Year to Burnout: A healing story | In this episode, I’m joined by physics and math teacher Stephanie Watroba. You’ll get to hear her dramatic journey through burnout — what it was like, why it happened, and how she got through it. She went from Teacher of the Year to burnout and depression to “the best year of school that I’ve ever done.” It’s an informative and intense conversation.Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.We discuss:- Daily Burnout: Understanding that exhaustion isn't a straight line, and how to recognize the shifts in your energy.- The Psychology of the Teachers' Lounge: What negative talk among staff reveals about systemic stress and the need for support.- The Internal Critic: How high-achieving teachers use self-criticism as fuel until it leads to burnout.- Warning Signs: Identifying the red flags before they spiral into depression.- "Making Friends" with Burnout: Why fighting your burnout doesn't work, and how Stephanie learned to listen to her burnout as a signal for change.It’s not just teachers who experience burnout, of course. This episode is for everyone who gets depleted and cannot care for themselves when they’re not meeting their own and others’ high expectations. Stephanie’s experience and insights are universally valuable.About Stephanie: Ms. Stephanie Watroba started working at Berkshire Arts & Technology Charter Public School in 2013 as a physics teacher. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Physics with a minor in Mathematics from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and is a proud member of Sigma Pi Sigma, the physics honors society. She has held the titles of math team leader, science team leader, and teacher of the year in her prior years at BART. She currently teaches physics, calculus, and pre-calculus. In her spare time, she enjoys video games, dungeons and dragons, horseback riding, and ballet.Connect & ShareGot a story to share? Does Stephanie’s story resonate? What’s your story of burnout? Leave me a voicemail at (413) 239-4158.Support the Show: If this conversation resonated, please consider leaving a rating or review on your podcast app. Your feedback helps others find us.Get full access to the community: [www.teachingthroughemotions.com/subscribe]CreditsFounder and Host: Betsy BurrisCo-Host: Joe JohnsonProducer: Jullian Androkae of PodVisionAudience Development: Andreea Coscai of PodVisionMusic: Tom Burris/Jabbering Trout This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.teachingthroughemotions.com/subscribe | 49m 46s | ||||||
| 11/21/25 | ![]() PSA Preview: Boys and Emotions | This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.teachingthroughemotions.comI’m on a roll with the boys-and-men-in-trouble theme here. My last rant dropped two weeks ago, on November 7th. It was about a bunch of youngish Republicans (all over 30 years old, apparently) who texted each other racist, misogynistic, anti-Semitic and generally hate-filled messages with evident glee. Today’s rant is about school-age boys and their rel… | 1m 42s | ||||||
| 11/20/25 | ![]() Redefining Emotions in the Classroom, with my daughter Mae | Here is a guarantee: You will never hear an interview like this one anywhere else. Because it’s a family affair! A Holiday Family bonus episode of TTE! In which my beloved daughter and I chit-chat about basically the things that matter the most to us.Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.We discuss:* The Soul in Teaching: What it means to live (and teach) in a rigid system while staying in touch with your soul.* The Sin of Schooling: An interesting definition of “sin” and how traditional education encourages it.* The Benefits of Hating: Why feeling hatred isn’t inherently wrong.* The Divine Nature of Teaching: How spirituality shows up in the messy, everyday moments of teaching.And much, much more. Listen to the very end where Mae gives us an assignment and I invite you to share your work right here in the comments:For my non-teachers out there: The topics in this episode aren’t limited to teaching. I mean, souls? sin? hatred? the divine? Who wouldn’t want to listen in? If you do, thank you. As always.Note: A regular TTE podcast episode will not drop next Thursday because it is, of course, Thanksgiving. The next regular episode will appear in your inboxes the following Thursday, December 4th. And it’s a(nother) good one! About burnout! Be sure to tune in!Have a loving Thanksgiving.Connect & ShareGot a story to share? Has a system ever asked you to compromise your soul? Or have you had a moment of “organismic learning” where everything just clicked? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Leave me a voicemail at (413) 239-4158 and we might feature your perspective in a future episode!Support the Show: If this conversation resonated, please consider leaving a rating or review on your podcast app. Your feedback helps others find us.Get full access to the community: [www.teachingthroughemotions.com/subscribe]CreditsFounder and Host: Betsy BurrisCo-Host: Joe JohnsonProducer: Jullian Androkae of PodVisionAudience Development: Andreea Coscai of PodVisionMusic: Tom Burris/Jabbering Trout This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.teachingthroughemotions.com/subscribe | 53m 11s | ||||||
| 11/13/25 | ![]() Stop Taking it Personally: Detaching from classroom conflict | This episode is really fun because the teacher whose story we wrestle with, Donna, is actually in the virtual studio with us! What you get to hear is a simulation of a (very small) Teacher Support Group where Joe and I ask the types of questions we would ask in a real TSG and work with the data Donna’s answers provide. Listening will bring you into the world of TSGs, where teachers and I get to unpack difficult experiences with curiosity, compassion, and perspective-changing psychodynamic insights! Wahoo!!!Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.We discuss:- The Anatomy of Sarcasm: What is a student actually saying when they use sarcasm? (You won’t want to miss Joe’s analogy)- Transference in the Classroom: How students use teachers as proxies for their parents and why their anger might not actually be about you.- Healthy Detachment: Why detaching from hurtful experiences doesn’t mean you “don’t care”.- The "Bulletproof" Teacher: Should teachers be expected to have thick skin?- The Urge for Revenge: The human desire to "get back" at a difficult student and how to redirect that energy.Connect & ShareGot a story to share? Has a student’s sarcasm ever gotten to you? Do you have a story you’d like us to unpack in an episode? Leave me a voicemail at (413) 239-4158.Support the Show: If this conversation resonated, please consider leaving a rating or review on your podcast app. Your feedback helps others find us.Get full access to the community: [www.teachingthroughemotions.com/subscribe]CreditsFounder and Host: Betsy BurrisCo-Host: Joe JohnsonProducer: Jullian Androkae of PodVisionAudience Development: Andreea Coscai of PodVisionMusic: Tom Burris/Jabbering Trout This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.teachingthroughemotions.com/subscribe | 42m 37s | ||||||
| 10/30/25 | ![]() Zen Mode: How teaching is a spiritual journey (and why it matters) | Yep, I’m biased: I am certain that teaching is spiritual. Not because teachers need to be religious but because the tasks of teaching human beings require heart-based skills: faith, care, love, “unconditional positive regard for difference” — skills that do not necessarily come naturally all the time and therefore demand care and attention themselves.In this episode, I explore this question and others with Mark Longhurst, an inspiring pastor, writer, and publications manager for Richard Rohr’s Center for Action and Contemplation. Together, we explore how to view teaching (and parenting) not just as a task list, but as a spiritual practice.Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.We discuss:Flowing with Chaos: How to stay grounded when the classroom (or home) feels out of control.The “Holy Ordinary”: Why the most mundane moments hold the most spiritual weight.Detachment for Connection: The paradox of detaching from our “teacher identity” to develop healthy attachment with students.Somatic Teaching: The importance of bringing a “settled body” into the classroom.Sacred Spaces: The benefits, and perils, of viewing your classroom as holy ground.External Linksthe holy ordinary by Mark Longhurst (Substack)The Holy Ordinary: A Way to God (Book)My Grandmother’s Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies by Resmaa MenakemFierce Love: A Bold Path to Ferocious Courage and Rule-Breaking Kindness that Can Heal the World by Dr. Jacqui LewisConnect & ShareGot a story to share? Where are you on your spiritual journey? How do you notice and celebrate the holy ordinary in your everyday life? How do you make your classroom a sacred space? Leave us a message! 413.239.4158. This is an underappreciated perspective on teaching (and living). We’d love to share your wisdom!Support the Show: If this conversation resonated, please consider leaving a rating or review on your podcast app. Your feedback helps others find us.Get full access to the community: [www.teachingthroughemotions.com/subscribe]CreditsFounder and Host: Betsy BurrisCo-Host: Joe JohnsonProducer: Jullian Androkae of PodVisionAudience Development: Andreea Coscai of PodVisionMusic: Tom Burris/Jabbering Trout This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.teachingthroughemotions.com/subscribe | 45m 39s | ||||||
| 10/16/25 | ![]() Total Dumpster Fire: Can teachers actually change a toxic school culture? | Have you ever sat in a staff meeting that felt like a total waste of time? Just endless complaining and blame? What if that chaos wasn’t just “bad behavior” but a clue to the entire school’s dysfunction?This episode takes us back to a Teacher Support Group I led over a decade ago at a school steeped in chaos. What seemed like an unproductive, blame-filled space was actually an unconscious mirror of the school’s deep dysfunction—a fascinating concept called parallel process. Joe and I examine how systemic issues infiltrate individual classrooms and what teachers can do to cultivate a healthy learning environment against incredible odds.Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.We discuss:The “Parallel Process”: How your staff meetings and support groups unconsciously mirror the wider school culture.Recognizing Dysfunction: What actually makes a school’s “holding environment” chaotic?The Blame Game: Unpacking the gendered patterns of blame that show up when systems break down.Reclaiming Your Classroom: Empowering strategies to build a safe space for learning, even when the school around you feels like a dumpster fire.Work in a toxic office? For my non-teachers out there: The dynamics of group behavior, the impact of leadership, and the power of individual action within a dysfunctional system apply far beyond school walls.Connect & ShareGot a story to share? I know there is a lot of toxicity out there. Everywhere. But definitely in schools. If you’ve got an example to share, leave us a message about it. 413.239.4158. We’d love to talk about it on the air, totally confidentially, so other teachers can hear, at the very least, that they’re not alone.Support the Show: If this conversation resonated, please consider leaving a rating or review on your podcast app. Your feedback helps others find us.Get full access to the community: [www.teachingthroughemotions.com/subscribe]CreditsFounder and Host: Betsy BurrisCo-Host: Joe JohnsonProducer: Jullian Androkae of PodVisionAudience Development: Andreea Coscai of PodVisionMusic: Tom Burris/Jabbering Trout This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.teachingthroughemotions.com/subscribe | 53m 19s | ||||||
| 10/10/25 | ![]() Bonus: Can a school get any more dysfunctional than this? | This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.teachingthroughemotions.comHappy World Mental Health Day! Given that we’ve got 24 hours to focus on mental health the world over, I thought I’d offer a bonus episode for TTE’s paid subscribers. This one celebrates the day by sharing a story of an unbelievably dysfunctional school administration. A story that might sound sadly familiar to some of you.But it’s not just a story of dysfunction! This episode offers suggestions for busting through the bullshit in which mentally unwell administrators can steep their employees. You might have a wacko running your school, but that doesn’t mean you can’t do something.You’ll hear me* define “defensiveness” and “aggression” in ways that might surprise you* suggest ways to address accusations that are meant to shut you down* talk about scapegoats in schools* offer some advice to assholes | 4m 50s | ||||||
| 10/2/25 | ![]() Don't Blame Me! The psychology of holding educators accountable without shame | “Accountability.” It’s a buzzword that usually makes educators tense up, fearing punishment or judgment. But what if holding someone accountable was actually an act of care?In this episode, I chat with two phenomenal leaders from a unique Vermont town academy: Meg Kenny, Associate Head of School, and Jen Hyatt, Academic Dean. We hear about their journeys to senior administration, daily challenges, and the fine balance between accountability and human connection. Listen for a real conversation about how to build thriving school cultures.Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.We discuss:Culture over Compliance: How to cultivate real belonging, care, and trust in a school setting.“Bad” News: The power (and necessity) of giving honest, negative feedback without shame.Gender & Leadership: Navigating gender dynamics in school administration.Leading with Love: Why courage and presence are better tools than control.Hate Conflict? For my non-teachers out there, you can hear two good humans talk about having difficult conversations in effective, honest, caring ways.Connect & ShareGot a story to share? I know there is a lot of conflict-avoidance out there! Holding anyone accountable, holding the line, can be scary because we fear the consequences. People will consider us rude or bossy or controlling or mean. We won’t be liked. If you’ve had a negative experience with holding someone at your school (or any other place) accountable, leave us a message about it. 413.239.4158. Or share a positive experience you’ve had. We can play it on the air — confidentially — and maybe add a comment or two that might be helpful.Support the Show: If this conversation resonated, please consider leaving a rating or review on your podcast app. Your feedback helps others find us.Get full access to the community: [www.teachingthroughemotions.com/subscribe]External linksBennington CollegeJoin me on Substack: Teaching Through Emotions.CreditsFounder and Host: Betsy BurrisCo-Host: Joe JohnsonProducer: Jullian Androkae of PodVisionAudience Development: Andreea Coscai of PodVisionMusic: Tom Burris/Jabbering Trout This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.teachingthroughemotions.com/subscribe | 59m 35s | ||||||
| 9/18/25 | ![]() Handling Teacher Guilt: Are you being too judgmental of yourself? | Do you feel guilty when you get annoyed at a fellow teacher or student? Do you label yourself as “too judgmental” when, actually, you just want personal space?In this co-hosted episode, Joe and I unpack a teacher’s struggle with feeling “too judgmental” after her classroom space was taken over. We explore how what seems like simple annoyance can reveal critical needs. We describe how a teacher moved beyond self-blame to embrace her emotions as signals that allowed for more intentional, connected teaching.Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.We discussPsychology of Boundaries: Why personal space in a busy classroom isn’t just a preference, it’s a psychological need.Reframing “Judgment”: Why we mislabel valid annoyance as a character flaw.Failure: How to view conflict as data instead of a disaster.Overcoming Self-blame: The power of asking for what you need rather than internalizing the problem.Beyond the classroom? You don’t have to be a teacher to enjoy this episode! Too many of us turn our legitimate annoyance against ourselves. Hearing how someone (who happens to be a teacher) reframed her negative experience into open-hearted understanding is good for everyone!Connect & ShareGot a story to share? Ever had a moment when you might have misunderstood your feelings? Leave me a voicemail at (413) 239-4158. Joe and I can unpack it confidentially in one of our episodes and maybe, maybe offer a different and helpful perspective!Support the Show: If this conversation resonated, please consider leaving a rating or review on your podcast app. Your feedback helps others find us.Get full access to the community: [www.teachingthroughemotions.com/subscribe]CreditsFounder and Host: Betsy BurrisCo-Host: Joe JohnsonProducer: Jullian Androkae of PodVisionAudience Development: Andreea Coscai of PodVisionMusic: Tom Burris/Jabbering Trout This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.teachingthroughemotions.com/subscribe | 48m 17s | ||||||
| 9/4/25 | ![]() The Empathy Trap: When is compassion dangerous for school leaders? | It is so fun to talk with kindred spirits! That’s what the inaugural episode of TTE’s Season 3 is: an interview with Jim and Story Leonard, founders of Coaching@Altitude and two extraordinary coaches who share a lot of wisdom and insight into the lives and worlds of school administrators (and, therefore, of teachers, students, and schools).Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.We discuss:- The Boardroom: Why working with School Trustees and Boards can be emotionally draining and how to maintain distance during difficult meetings.- Energy Management: Managing your personal battery. How to identify which interactions are charging you and which are not.- Toxic School Cultures: How empathy can actually fuel toxicity if leaders are too scared to set boundaries.- Leading Through Conflict: Managing conflict between staff, parents, and administrators without taking the emotional hit yourself.- Senior Administration: Advice for those who feel the pressure to hold everyone else’s emotions.Even non-teachers will enjoy this discussion. Because managing relationships, being our best selves especially under conditions of stress, and getting life-changing support are relevant for everyone! I hope you like it — and…welcome to a new school year and TTE’s Season 3!!External LinksCoachability: The Leadership Superpower: thecoachableleader.comSaboteurs assessment: www.positiveintellience.com/saboteurs/Marita Fridjhon, relationship systems intelligence: crrglobal.comShirzad Chamine, positive intelligence: positiveintellience.comCoaching@Altitude: coachingaltitude.comGot a story to share? Leave me a voicemail at (413) 239-4158 and we might feature your perspective in a future episode!Support the Show: If this conversation resonated, please consider leaving a rating or review on your podcast app. Your feedback helps others find us.Get full access to the community: [www.teachingthroughemotions.com/subscribe]CreditsFounder and Host: Betsy BurrisProducer: Jullian Androkae of PodVisionAudience Development: Andreea Coscai of PodVisionMusic: Thom Burris/Jabbering Trout This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.teachingthroughemotions.com/subscribe | 56m 00s | ||||||
| 8/21/25 | ![]() Get ready for Season 3! | Season 3 of Teaching through Emotions, a Women Who Podcast award-winner, begins in two weeks! Get ready for thought-provoking interviews, mind-bending discussions of difficult teaching moments, and pithy stories about teacher successes made possible by the invaluable psychodynamic perspective.And, starting this season, we’re eager to hear from you! Give us a call at 413.239.4158 and leave a message telling your own terrible teaching story. We’d love to put your voice on the air! And we’d love to think through your experience in hopes that it might help you and other teachers who are dealing with similar situations. That’s what we’re about here at TTE: working together to help teachers feel better. We can’t do it without you!We’re really excited about Season 3. To get a sense of all that you’re in for this year, listen to the trailer!CreditsFounder and host: Betsy BurrisCo-host: Joe JohnsonProducer: Jullian AndrokaeAudience development: Andreea CoscaiMusic: Tom Burris/Jabbering Trout This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.teachingthroughemotions.com/subscribe | 3m 13s | ||||||
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