The Next Level Teacher Podcast

Brenna Nelson | The Next Level Teacher
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Welcome to The Next Level Teacher Podcast—a show for educators ready to break free from burnout and step into a calmer, more confident classroom life. Hosted by a teacher, life coach, and resilience expert, Brenna Nelson, this podcast helps K–12 teachers manage stress, protect their energy, and find practical tools for emotional regulation, nervous system support, and mindset mastery. Each episode delivers simple, science-backed strategies for teachers who want more than just survival. You'll learn how to set boundaries, regulate your nervous system, shift your thought patterns, and build real resilience—so you can teach with clarity, confidence, and calm.  When you rise, the classroom rises with you. Become the teacher who changes everything—by changing yourself first.Join the movement and step into the next level version of you today!✨ Topics include: * Teacher burnout recovery* Emotional resilience for educators* Nervous system regulation strategies* Mindset coaching for teachers* Sustainable, effective self-care for teachers* How to thrive in the classroom (not just survive) Whether you're a new teacher or a seasoned educator, you'll walk away from every episode with tools to help you show up for your students and yourself. 🎧 Ready to become the next level version of yourself—in and out of the classroom? Hit follow and start your journey today.

  1. 1D AGO

    104. Take Back Control of Your Teaching Day

    What if the thing that’s making teaching feel so heavy… isn’t your students, your admin, or your workload—but where you’re placing your focus?In this episode of The Next Level Teacher, I’m breaking down one simple but powerful concept that can completely change how you experience your day in the classroom: your locus of control.Because here’s the truth—teaching will always be unpredictable. But when you learn to shift your focus from what you can’t control to what you can, everything starts to feel lighter, more manageable, and a whole lot more empowering.If you’ve ever found yourself thinking, “Why did that one moment ruin my entire day?” or “I just wish I could feel more in control…”This episode is for you.✨ What You’ll Learn in This Episode: * The difference between your outer circle (what you can’t control) and your inner circle (what you can)  * Why focusing on student behavior, admin decisions, or “perfect lessons” keeps you feeling stuck  * The subtle mindset shift that helps you feel more grounded—even on hard days  * How your brain’s “story” about a situation shapes your entire experience  * A simple, in-the-moment question that can instantly shift your perspective  * 3 practical ways to start reclaiming your energy and emotional control in the classroom 🔑 Key Takeaway:You don’t control what happens in your classroom.But you do control how you show up to what happens.And that’s where your power is.❤️ Why This Matters for Teachers:When your sense of a “good day” depends on everything going smoothly, you’ll constantly feel off-balance.But when you anchor yourself in what’s actually yours to manage—your thoughts, your reactions, your perspective—you create stability, even in the chaos.🎧 Ready to Feel More in Control of Your Teaching Day?Press play and start noticing where your power really lives.🔗 Next Steps:If this episode resonated with you and you’re ready to take this work deeper, check out my course:Calm in the Classroom: Modern-day Solutions to Teacher Stress, Overwhelm, and Anxiety, in which I teach you exactly how to manage your thoughts and emotions so you can feel calmer, more confident, and more in control (no matter what your students are doing).

    11 min

  2. APR 17

    103. The Simple, Free Stress-Reliever for Teachers

    In today's conversation, Brenna breaks down a powerful (and surprisingly simple) stress-relief tool that most teachers already have access to—but likely aren’t using in a way that actually supports their nervous system. Spoiler: it’s not another routine, strategy, or time-consuming habit. It’s reading. But not the kind you do for lesson plans, grading, or professional development. We’re talking about reading for you. In this episode, you’ll learn: ✅ Why most self-care strategies only treat symptoms—not the root cause of stress ✅The difference between “escape-based” habits (like scrolling) and true nervous system regulation  ✅ What research says about reading and stress reduction (including a study showing up to a 68% decrease in stress)  ✅ How reading signals safety to your brain and helps you exit the stress response  ✅ Why teachers especially need this kind of mental reset  ✅ How reading can improve emotional regulation, empathy, and overall well-being  Want to learn more about effective, long-lasting self-care? Grab the free training for teachers! Click HERE!

    14 min

  3. APR 10

    102. Teachers, You Don't Have to Fix Everything

    Episode Title: You Don’t Have to Fix Everything There’s a quiet pressure many teachers carry: the belief that if something is wrong in the classroom, it must be their responsibility to fix it. A struggling student.A difficult behavior.A child’s emotions.A situation that feels bigger than you. Because teachers care deeply, it’s easy to start carrying the weight of everything that happens in the classroom. But that level of responsibility isn’t sustainable—and it was never meant to be your job. In this episode, Brenna talks about the difference between supporting students and owning their struggles, and why learning that distinction can dramatically lighten the emotional load teachers carry every day. You’ll learn: Why teachers often feel responsible for everything that happens in their classroomWhat actually is your responsibility as a teacher—and what isn’tA powerful mindset shift that helps you care without carrying the weight of it allHow setting emotional boundaries can help you show up with more patience and energyYou can be a caring, committed teacher without trying to fix every problem. Sometimes, the most sustainable way to teach is learning how to support students without carrying everything on your shoulders.

    6 min

  4. APR 3

    101. Why Teachers Should Celebrate the Small Wins

    Episode 101: Celebrating Small Classroom Victories Teaching is built on thousands of small moments—but most teachers move so quickly from one responsibility to the next that they rarely pause long enough to notice when something actually goes well. In this episode, Brenna shares a recent personal “small win” and explains why it’s so important for teachers to intentionally recognize the quiet victories that happen every day. Our brains naturally focus on mistakes, problems, and what still needs fixing. That’s helpful for problem-solving, but it can also make it feel like nothing we do is ever enough. When we intentionally pause to notice a small win—whether it’s a calm response to a challenging moment, a student finally participating, or simply getting through a hard day with kindness—we begin to train our brains to see a fuller picture of our impact. In this episode you’ll learn: Why teachers’ brains naturally overlook their successesHow small wins shape your experience of teachingOne simple reflection question to ask yourself at the end of the dayBecause the life of a teacher isn’t defined by one big breakthrough. It’s shaped by the small victories we choose to see. Reflection Question: What is one small win from today?

    7 min

  5. MAR 27

    100. What I Wish I Could Share with Every Teacher!

    This episode marks a milestone—Episode 100 of The Next Level Teacher Podcast.So I asked myself a simple question:If I could teach every teacher in the world just one thing… what would it be?The answer might surprise you.It’s not a classroom management strategy.It’s not a behavior system.And it’s not another productivity trick.It’s this:You have more control over your experience in the classroom than you think you do.Not because you control your students or the system—but because you can learn to work with the most powerful tool you bring into the classroom every day:Your brain.In this episode, we explore how the thoughts your brain practices shape your daily teaching experience—and how small shifts in focus can dramatically change how teaching feels.Same classroom. Same students. Same circumstances.But a completely different experience.In this episode, you’ll learn:• Why two teachers can have completely different experiences with the same students • How your brain determines what feels stressful in the classroom • Why joyful and calm teachers aren’t just “naturally positive” • Simple ways to start training your brain for more peace and resilience • Small daily practices that can transform how teaching feels🎉 Celebrating Episode 100 🎉To celebrate 100 episodes, I’m offering $100 off my course Calm in the Classroom where I teach these exact skills in depth. Click HERE to get the tools!Use code 100 for a limited-time discount.👉 Learn more: brennanelsoncoaching.com/calmteacher

    13 min

  6. MAR 20

    99: How to Calm Your Teacher Brain Chatter

    Episode 99: How to Calm Your Teacher Brain ChatterDo you ever replay a difficult classroom moment over and over in your mind?Maybe it’s something a student said, a parent email, or a moment in class you wish you had handled differently.Hours later—sometimes even after you get home—you’re still thinking about it.In this episode, we’re talking about the brain chatter that keeps teachers stuck in those loops of rumination and stress.In the previous episode, we talked about how rumination often masquerades as “processing,” when in reality we’re just replaying the same moment again and again. Today, we take that conversation one step further and explore how to quiet the mental chatter that creates those emotional spirals in the first place.You’ll learn why your brain keeps offering those repetitive thoughts (hint: it’s actually trying to help you), why rumination keeps teachers feeling tense and exhausted, and what you can do to gently interrupt the cycle.When you understand how your brain works—and learn how to guide it with more intention—you can stop feeding the mental loops that keep you stuck and start creating more calm and clarity in your day.In this episode, you’ll learn:• Why your brain replays difficult classroom moments on repeat• The difference between processing emotions and ruminating • How rumination feeds stress and keeps your nervous system activated • Simple ways to interrupt the mental loop when your mind won’t let something go • How presence and awareness help quiet the brain so you can actually solve problems • Small daily practices that help retrain your brain for calmThis episode is a powerful reminder that your brain is not the enemy—it’s simply running on default settings that were designed to protect you.But when you learn how to guide your thinking instead of automatically believing every thought your brain offers, you can create a much calmer teaching experience.Because the truth is you don’t have to listen to every negative story your brain tells you.

    12 min

  7. MAR 13

    98. You're Not Processing Your Teacher Stress; Your Ruminating

    Episode 98: You’re Not Processing Your Teacher Stress — You’re Replaying ItWhat if the reason teaching feels so heavy isn’t because of what happened today… but because your brain keeps replaying yesterday?In this episode, we’re talking about the difference between ruminating and actually processing emotions—and why so many teachers stay stuck in stress without realizing it.Teachers are natural problem-solvers. So when something goes wrong—a difficult student interaction, a tough parent email, or a lesson that flops—our brains go straight into analysis mode. We replay it, dissect it, and try to “figure it out.” It feels productive… but often, it’s just practicing distress.In this episode, you’ll learn:➡️ Why rumination feels like emotional work but actually keeps stress stuck➡️ The key difference between thinking about your feelings and feeling them➡️ How unprocessed emotions pile up and make teaching feel heavier over time➡️ Why processing emotions is faster (and kinder) than ruminating➡️ A simple way to recognize when you’re looping vs. releasingIf you’ve ever found yourself replaying a classroom moment at 1 a.m., this episode will help you understand what’s really happening—and how to finally let it move through instead of living rent-free in your head.🎧 Tune in to learn how to stop practicing distress and start creating emotional relief—one feeling at a time.

    12 min

  8. MAR 6

    97. Teach Like an Olympic Champion

    Episode 97: Teach Like an OlympianYou Don’t Have to Be an Olympian to Rewire Your Brain What if the key to becoming a calmer, more confident teacher had nothing to do with classroom management strategies—and everything to do with how you train your brain? In this episode, Brenna shares an inspiring story from Olympic gold medalist Eileen Gu, who credits much of her success not just to physical training, but to mental training—intentionally shaping how she thinks under pressure. And here’s the powerful truth:You don’t have to be an elite athlete to benefit from this same process. Teachers can use neuroplasticity—the brain’s ability to rewire itself—to create more calm, confidence, and joy in the classroom. In this episode, you’ll learn: What neuroplasticity really means (in simple, human language)How your daily thoughts are shaping your teaching experienceWhy teachers are especially vulnerable to stress-based thinking patternsHow to train your brain for patience, emotional regulation, and resilienceWhy thought work is just like building muscle—small reps done consistentlyHow to stop living on “default mode” and start living intentionallyIf you’ve ever thought: “I’m exhausted.”“This is too much.”“I don’t have enough time.”“My students are impossible.”This episode will show you how to gently retrain your brain—without toxic positivity or pretending teaching is easy. Your brain is the most powerful tool you bring into your classroom every day. And when you learn how to use it intentionally, teaching doesn’t have to feel so heavy.  🔗 Resources Mentioned Calm in the ClassroomLearn how to use your brain to work for you instead of against you.Visit: https://www.brennanelsoncoaching.com/calmteacherUse code PODCAST for 25% off30-day money-back guarantee

    12 min
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About

Welcome to The Next Level Teacher Podcast—a show for educators ready to break free from burnout and step into a calmer, more confident classroom life. Hosted by a teacher, life coach, and resilience expert, Brenna Nelson, this podcast helps K–12 teachers manage stress, protect their energy, and find practical tools for emotional regulation, nervous system support, and mindset mastery. Each episode delivers simple, science-backed strategies for teachers who want more than just survival. You'll learn how to set boundaries, regulate your nervous system, shift your thought patterns, and build real resilience—so you can teach with clarity, confidence, and calm.  When you rise, the classroom rises with you. Become the teacher who changes everything—by changing yourself first.Join the movement and step into the next level version of you today!✨ Topics include: * Teacher burnout recovery* Emotional resilience for educators* Nervous system regulation strategies* Mindset coaching for teachers* Sustainable, effective self-care for teachers* How to thrive in the classroom (not just survive) Whether you're a new teacher or a seasoned educator, you'll walk away from every episode with tools to help you show up for your students and yourself. 🎧 Ready to become the next level version of yourself—in and out of the classroom? Hit follow and start your journey today.

Information

  • Creator
    Brenna Nelson | The Next Level Teacher
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    104
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Brenna Nelson Coaching
  • Show Website
    The Next Level Teacher Podcast