Between Teacher and Self

Dr. Cathy White
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Education

Between Teacher and Self explores the relationship between who we are as people, who we become as teachers, and the experiences and systems that shape both. Over time, teaching can become intertwined with identity. We become the reliable teacher, the fixer, the one who can handle anything, the person everyone comes to, the teacher who always cares a little more or takes on a little more. Those identities can bring competence, purpose, connection, and success, but they can also shape what we believe we're allowed to need, refuse, question, or change. Hosted by educator and author Dr. Cathy White, Between Teacher and Self looks beneath familiar experiences in teaching to ask different questions: Why can setting a reasonable boundary feel like being a bad teacher? What happens when competence becomes part of your sense of self? Why can the same person thrive in one school and struggle in another? And how do you know which parts of your teaching identity are truly yours? This isn't a podcast about becoming a better, more productive, or more resilient teacher. It's a podcast about understanding the person inside the role, because the work shapes who we become and who we become shapes how we do the work.

Episodes

  1. Aug 16

    Between Teacher and Self Trailer

    Send us Fan Mail If you’re enjoying Between Teacher and Self, follow the show so new episodes appear automatically in your podcast app. You can also help more teachers find the show by rating or reviewing it and sharing an episode with someone who might recognize themselves in the conversation. Between Teacher and Self is hosted by educator and author Dr. Cathy White. 🌐 Learn more: drcathywhite.com The work shapes who we become, and who we become shapes how we do the work.

  2. Aug 16

    When Being Good at Your Job Becomes Who You Are

    Send us Fan Mail What happens when being a good teacher stops being something you do and starts becoming part of who you are? For years, I knew I was good at my job. I could teach, lead, present, solve problems, and handle difficult situations. Then I spent a year in an environment that slowly made me question all of it. In this first episode of Between Teacher and Self, I explore how competence becomes part of teacher identity, and what can happen when the feedback loop that once reinforced that identity suddenly changes. We’ll look at why one difficult school, a new administrator, a career transition, or even a new grade level can make an experienced teacher feel unexpectedly unsteady. We’ll also talk about the difference between skills, which can change depending on the environment, and values, which provide a much more stable foundation for who we are. You can still care about being a good teacher. The goal is to make sure teaching isn’t the only place your identity has roots. A question to think about after this episode: If you woke up tomorrow and were suddenly no longer good at teaching, who would you still be? If you want to explore that question more deeply, download the free Values Map to identify the values that belong to you and not just to your role as a teacher. 👉 Download the Values Map: tools.drcathywhite.com/values If this episode resonated with you, follow Between Teacher and Self so you don’t miss the next episode, where we’ll ask: Who decided what a “good teacher” looks like, and how much of that definition actually belongs to you? If you’re enjoying Between Teacher and Self, follow the show so new episodes appear automatically in your podcast app. You can also help more teachers find the show by rating or reviewing it and sharing an episode with someone who might recognize themselves in the conversation. Between Teacher and Self is hosted by educator and author Dr. Cathy White. 🌐 Learn more: drcathywhite.com The work shapes who we become, and who we become shapes how we do the work.

    When Being Good at Your Job Becomes Who You Are

Trailer

About

Between Teacher and Self explores the relationship between who we are as people, who we become as teachers, and the experiences and systems that shape both. Over time, teaching can become intertwined with identity. We become the reliable teacher, the fixer, the one who can handle anything, the person everyone comes to, the teacher who always cares a little more or takes on a little more. Those identities can bring competence, purpose, connection, and success, but they can also shape what we believe we're allowed to need, refuse, question, or change. Hosted by educator and author Dr. Cathy White, Between Teacher and Self looks beneath familiar experiences in teaching to ask different questions: Why can setting a reasonable boundary feel like being a bad teacher? What happens when competence becomes part of your sense of self? Why can the same person thrive in one school and struggle in another? And how do you know which parts of your teaching identity are truly yours? This isn't a podcast about becoming a better, more productive, or more resilient teacher. It's a podcast about understanding the person inside the role, because the work shapes who we become and who we become shapes how we do the work.

Information

  • Creator
    Dr. Cathy White
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    2
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Between Teacher and Self
  • Show Website
    Between Teacher and Self