The Next Level Teacher Podcast

Brenna Nelson | The Next Level Teacher
  • 5.0 (6)
  • COURSES
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

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. 4D AGO

    96. Your Brain Believes What You Repeat — Not What’s True

    Episode 96: Your Brain Believes What You Repeat — Not What’s TrueWhat if the biggest thing shaping your teaching experience isn’t your students, your schedule, or your school… but the thoughts you practice every day?In this episode, Brenna explores a powerful truth from psychology and neuroscience: your brain doesn’t believe what’s objectively true — it believes what you repeat. Whatever you rehearse in your mind becomes familiar, believable, and eventually shapes how you feel, how you act, and the results you create in your classroom.Using the self-coaching model — thoughts create feelings, feelings drive actions, and actions create results — Brenna shows how repeated thinking can quietly reinforce stress, overwhelm, and self-doubt for teachers. She also explains why visualization and intentional thought practice can literally rewire the brain and create new emotional and behavioral patterns.You’ll learn how your brain filters your classroom experience through the stories you tell yourself, why negative default thinking feels so convincing, and how to begin training your mind with purpose instead of letting it run on autopilot.This episode is for teachers who:✴️ Feel stuck in negative thought loops about teaching✴️ Want to feel calmer and more confident in the classroom✴️ Struggle with overwhelm, anxiety, or self-doubt✴️ Are ready to take ownership of their inner world✴️ Want to create a more intentional teaching experienceYour brain is always learning — the question is what you’re teaching it.🎧 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:✅ Why your brain believes repetition more than truth✅ How thoughts create emotions and drive your classroom behavior✅ The role of visualization in rewiring your brain✅ Why default thinking leads to stress and intentional thinking leads to agency✅ Simple steps to begin practicing new thoughts on purpose✅ How small repetitions create powerful change over time.Teaching doesn’t have to feel driven by stress and self-doubt. When you learn to manage your thoughts intentionally, you create a calmer, more empowered classroom experience — from the inside out.Ready for More Help?⭐ Free Mini-Coaching Session ⭐Feeling Stuck? Bring any problem or challenge you're facing at school to a complimentary one-on-one coaching session with Certified Life Coach, Brenna Nelson. Click HERE to find a time that works for you!📧 Weekly Teacher Tips 📧Want weekly inspiration? Sign up to get weekly inspiration and teacher mindset tips to help you better navigate the ups and downs of life in the classroom! Click HERE to gain free access!😠 How to Deal with Difficult People Masterclass 😠Struggling with that "one" person at school? Not sure how to navigate a toxic situation? Dread interacting with that overly zealous parent? I've got you covered. Sign up for my "How to Deal with Difficult People Masterclass" and approach those tricky situations with calm, confidence, and clarity! Click HERE to learn how to show up as your best self (even when others don't)!

    12 min

  2. FEB 20

    95. When to Push and When to Rest - A Skill Every Teacher Needs

    Episode 95: When to Push and When to Rest — A Skill Every Teacher NeedsTeachers are constantly walking a tightrope between pushing through and burning out. One voice says, “Try harder.” Another says, “You need to stop.” But how do you know which one is right?In this episode, Brenna explores one of the most important emotional skills a teacher can develop: learning when to push through productive discomfort and when to honor real limits.You’ll discover why the question isn’t simply push or rest, but why you’re choosing either one. Brenna explains how fear, guilt, and “shoulds” often disguise themselves as discipline or self-care — and how awareness helps you choose with intention instead of reacting on autopilot.With relatable classroom examples and coaching-based insight, this episode helps teachers build discernment, emotional intelligence, and self-leadership so teaching can feel more sustainable and aligned with their values.This episode is for teachers who:👉 Feel torn between trying harder and needing a break👉 Wonder if they’re being lazy or genuinely exhausted👉 Want to grow without burning out👉 Are ready to make choices based on clarity instead of fearThere is a middle path between hustle and collapse — and it starts with awareness.🎧 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:☑️ Why wellness advice often misses the mark for teachers☑️ How to tell the difference between emotional resistance and true exhaustion☑️ When pushing yourself leads to growth — and when it leads to burnout☑️ Why rest can be an act of courage, not weakness☑️ How self-awareness creates sustainable teaching☑️ The key question that helps you decide: push or restTeaching will always have challenges — but it doesn’t have to be fueled by guilt, fear, or constant depletion. With the right skills, you can lead yourself with intention and build a teaching life that feels steadier and more sustainable.Ready for More Help?⭐ Free Mini-Coaching Session ⭐Feeling Stuck? Bring any problem or challenge you're facing at school to a complimentary one-on-one coaching session with Certified Life Coach, Brenna Nelson. Click HERE to find a time that works for you! 📧 Weekly Teacher Tips 📧Want weekly inspiration? Sign up to get weekly inspiration and teacher mindset tips to help you better navigate the ups and downs of life in the classroom! Click HERE to gain free access!😠 How to Deal with Difficult People Masterclass 😠Struggling with that "one" person at school? Not sure how to navigate a toxic situation? Dread interacting with that overly zealous parent? I've got you covered. Sign up for my "How to Deal with Difficult People Masterclass" and approach those tricky situations with calm, confidence, and clarity! Click HERE to learn how to show up as your best self!

    11 min

  3. FEB 13

    94. Your Brain is Making Teaching Harder

    Teaching is demanding — but what if some of the stress you feel every day isn’t coming from your students, your admin, or your workload… but from your brain?In this episode, Brenna shares a powerful truth: your brain’s default settings are designed to look for danger and problems — not peace and possibility. While this once kept humans safe, it now keeps many teachers stuck in cycles of overwhelm, anxiety, and emotional exhaustion.You’ll learn why your brain naturally focuses on what’s wrong, how this affects your emotions and nervous system, and why it becomes harder to problem-solve or respond intentionally when you’re stuck in fight, flight, or freeze mode.Using relatable classroom examples and a memorable metaphor, Brenna explains how unmanaged thinking can create unnecessary suffering — and how you can begin stepping out of that pattern with awareness and simple mental skills.This episode is for teachers who:➡️ Feel emotionally drained by the school day➡️ Notice constant stress or anxiety around emails, evaluations, or student behavior➡️ Want to feel calmer, more confident, and in control of how they show upAre you ready to stop reacting and start leading your life with intention?There is a better way to teach — one that feels lighter, more sustainable, and more aligned with who you want to be in the classroom.🎧 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:✅ Why your brain’s default mode makes teaching feel harder than it has to be✅ How negative thoughts create emotional overwhelm and limit problem-solving✅ What happens when your nervous system stays in fight, flight, or freeze✅ The difference between unavoidable challenges and unnecessary suffering✅ Why resilient teachers aren’t born that way — they build skills✅ How managing your mind can transform your teaching experience💛 Ready to Feel Calm and Confident in the Classroom?If you’re ready to stop metaphorically “sitting on the tack” and start leading your classroom with clarity and calm, Brenna’s course Calm in the Classroom: Modern-Day Solutions to Teacher Stress, Overwhelm, and Anxiety is designed to help you do exactly that.In this course, you will learn how to:✨ Manage stress and emotional overwhelm✨ Regulate your nervous system✨ Show up confidently in difficult situations✨ Build resilience no matter what your classroom throws your way🎉 Use code PODCAST for 25% off Visit: brennanelsoncoaching.com/calmteacherYou don’t have to keep suffering through teaching. There is a better way — and it starts with learning how to manage your brain.Ready to uplevel your teacher life? Click HERE to learn how!

    11 min

  4. FEB 6

    93. Intentionally Creating Joy as a Teacher (Why Joy Doesn’t Have to Wait for Summer)

    In this episode of The Next Level Teacher Podcast, we’re talking about something many teachers unknowingly postpone: joy.If you’ve ever caught yourself thinking, “I’ll feel better in June,” this episode is for you.Teaching is demanding, emotional, and deeply meaningful work—and joy doesn’t magically appear when stress disappears. Joy is something teachers can intentionally create, even during busy and imperfect school days.In this episode, you’ll learn:✨ Why so many teachers unintentionally postpone joy until summer✨ How your thoughts—not your circumstances—create your emotional experience at school✨ A simple breakdown of The Life Coach School Model and how it applies to teaching✨ How to reframe daily tasks (like grading) without pretending teaching is easy✨ Three daily practices that help teachers intentionally create joy—without adding to their to-do list✨ Common mindset traps that keep teachers stuck in stress and how to step out of them✨ Why productivity doesn’t equal joy—and what actually doesYou’ll walk away with practical tools you can start using today to feel lighter, more grounded, and more connected to what matters most in your classroom.✅ Want support practicing this in real time? Join me for a free coaching call, where we’ll apply these tools directly to your real teaching challenges.👉 Sign up here: www.brennanelsoncoaching.com/free💛 Take This With You: Joy isn’t accidental. It’s intentional. And as teachers—the people shaping future humans—you deserve to feel it now, not just in summer.

    13 min

  5. JAN 30

    92. Pre-Suffering: Why Worrying Ahead of Time Makes Teaching Harder

    In this episode of The Next Level Teacher Podcast, we’re talking about something that quietly makes teaching feel harder than it already is: pre-suffering.Pre-suffering is what happens when we emotionally suffer over things that haven’t happened yet—worrying about lessons going wrong, difficult student behavior, parent emails, administrator observations, or even larger concerns outside of school.While those concerns may be real and valid, constantly worrying about them doesn’t prevent problems or prepare us—it only doubles our stress and drains our energy in the present moment.In this episode, you’ll learn:👉 What pre-suffering is and why teachers are especially prone to it👉 How worrying ahead of time increases anxiety and reduces effectiveness in the classroom👉 Why pre-suffering doesn’t prevent problems or make them easier to handle👉 How anxiety shuts down problem-solving and creative thinking👉 Practical ways to return to the present moment and regulate your nervous system👉 Simple actions that help break the cycle of rumination and worryStaying grounded in the present moment is one of the most powerful ways to reduce teacher stress and create a more sustainable teaching experience. You don’t need to stop caring—you just don’t need to suffer twice.✨ Want support breaking the cycle of worry? Join me for a free coaching call where I’ll help you work through stress, anxiety, and overthinking in real time.👉 Sign up here:  www.brennanelsoncoaching.com/free Spots are limited, so grab a time that works for you.

    8 min

  6. JAN 23

    91. The Conversations That Used to Ruin My Entire Day (And How Teachers Can Stay Calm With Difficult People)

    In this episode of The Next Level Teacher Podcast, we’re talking about the kind of conversations that can hijack your entire day as a teacher.You know the ones:➡️ The email that makes your stomach drop.➡️ The coworker or administrator whose name alone triggers tension.➡️ The hallway you avoid to prevent running into that one teacher.The interaction may only last a few minutes… but lingers emotionally for hours.In this episode, I’m sharing a personal story about a professional relationship that once left me feeling small, defensive, and emotionally drained—and the realization that changed everything.In this episode, you’ll learn:🌟 Why certain interactions feel so overwhelming (and why it’s not a personal flaw)🌟 How your nervous system plays a role in difficult conversations at school🌟 Why “just don’t take it personally” doesn’t actually work🌟 The internal skills that help teachers stay calm, grounded, and confident—even when the other person is tense or difficult🌟 How to stop handing your peace over to someone else’s mood or reactionsIf you’re a teacher who feels emotionally hijacked by certain people at work—students, parents, coworkers, or administrators—this episode will help you see those interactions differently and give you a more empowering way forward.🎓 Want more support? I created a masterclass called Dealing With Difficult People, designed specifically for teachers who want to feel steady, confident, and in control of themselves at work—no matter who they’re dealing with.👉 Learn more and sign up HERE: www.brennanelsoncoaching.com/difficult The goal isn’t to avoid difficult people—it’s to become steady inside yourself. And that’s a skill you can learn. Get started here.

    11 min

  7. JAN 16

    90. How to Deal with Difficult People at School

    Difficult people at school—whether coworkers, parents, administrators, or recurring student situations—can drain a teacher’s energy faster than lesson planning or grading. If you’ve ever dreaded an email, replayed a meeting in your head, or felt emotionally hijacked by a conversation at work, this episode is for you. In this episode of The Next Level Teacher Podcast, we delve into why dealing with “difficult people” can feel overwhelming for teachers and what actually helps. You’ll learn why the problem isn’t just the other person’s behavior, but what’s happening inside your brain during those interactions—and how shifting your thinking can completely change your experience. This episode breaks down how the brain reacts to conflict, why social interactions can feel threatening even when we’re physically safe, and how relying on instinct alone often keeps teachers stuck in cycles of frustration, avoidance, or rumination. Most importantly, you’ll discover where your real power is—and how to use it. In this episode, you’ll learn: ☑️Why relationships are one of the biggest sources of teacher stress☑️How powerless thinking keeps difficult situations stuck☑️Why your brain reacts so strongly during conflict at school☑️The difference between reacting vs. responding with intention☑️How to stay emotionally steady when others are not☑️Why struggling with difficult people is a skill gap—not a personal flawYou’ll also hear how learning the right emotional and communication tools can transform the way you handle tough conversations—without becoming more confrontational, people-pleasing, or emotionally exhausted. ✨ Want practical tools you can use right away? I created a teacher-only masterclass called How to Deal with Difficult People to help you: 🌟 Understand why certain people trigger you🌟 Separate facts from the stories your brain creates🌟 Take back emotional ownership🌟 Set boundaries without guilt or anger🌟 Approach difficult conversations with clarity and confidenceThis short, practical masterclass is designed specifically for real school scenarios—coworkers, parents, administrators, and everyday interactions that teachers face. It’s currently just $13 and gives you immediate access to tools that can make teaching feel calmer and more manageable. 👉 Learn more and sign up at brennanelsoncoaching.com/difficult You don’t need other people to change for teaching to feel better.You don’t need to become someone else.You just need the right tools.Get them HERE!

    13 min

  8. JAN 9

    89. How to Approach the New Year as a Teacher (Without Burnout or Pressure)

    The new year often comes with a lot of pressure for teachers—to fix classroom management, be more patient, work harder, or finally “get it all together.” But what if the problem isn’t your goals… it’s the way you’re approaching them? In this episode of The Next Level Teacher Podcast, we talk about how to approach the new year as a teacher in a way that actually feels supportive, sustainable, and realistic. Whether you love New Year’s resolutions or secretly dread them, this conversation will help you reset your mindset without piling on guilt, shame, or unrealistic expectations. You’ll learn why so many teacher goals fall apart by February, how pressure-based motivation works against long-term change, and why self-compassion—not self-criticism—is the key to calmer classrooms and a more sustainable teaching career. In this episode, you’ll learn: 🎆 Why New Year’s resolutions can help—or hurt—teachers🎆 How pressure, perfectionism, and shame block real change 🎆 The difference between goals driven by self-love vs. self-judgment 🎆 How to create change that feels lighter, not heavier 🎆 Why your thoughts matter more than the goal itself 🎆 How small mindset shifts can improve classroom management and teacher well-beingIf you’re feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, or like you should be doing more this year, this episode offers a gentler, more effective way forward—one that supports your nervous system, your energy, and your future self. ✨ Want support with a gentle reset? Calm in the Classroom: Modern-Day Solutions to Teacher Stress, Overwhelm, and Anxiety is designed to help teachers feel calmer, more grounded, and more in control—without toxic positivity or hustle culture. Learn more at brennanelsoncoaching.com/calmteacher.

    10 min
See All (96)

5
out of 5
6 Ratings

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
    96
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Brenna Nelson Coaching
  • Show Website
    The Next Level Teacher Podcast