Angela Watson's Truth for Teachers

Angela Watson

Truth for Teachers is designed to speak life, encouragement, and truth into the minds and hearts of educators and get you energized for the week ahead.

  1. 13H AGO

    It took me years to realize I'm not lazy. I'm neurodivergent.

    Growing up, every report card comment and parent conference involved my teachers expressing some version of the following: "Angela is smart, but not working to her potential." "Angela needs to focus and apply herself." "Angela is a capable student but does not put forth effort." "Angela could do the work if she wanted to but she appears lazy and unmotivated." I shared a little of this story a few years back, and how I was labeled as gifted at first, and then diagnosed with a learning disability in math: EP163: I was a disengaged student who nearly failed high school For years, I believed something was fundamentally wrong with the wiring in my brain. Despite everything I'd accomplished, I felt inconsistent, unfocused, and unable to just ... do the thing like everyone else seemed to. Normal adulting tasks felt like they required herculean effort. It took decades to understand: I'm not lazy. I'm neurodivergent. And that changes everything. In this episode, I'm sharing my journey of understanding my brain, from my bipolar diagnosis in my early 20s to discovering CBT and mindset work, to finally creating the resource I wish I'd had all along.  I'll tell you about Motivation Lab, a new coaching app I've built that translates the neuroscience principles from my Finding Flow curriculum into a format for teens, young adults, and anyone who's ever felt like traditional productivity systems just don't work for their brain. This is the story of why I created Motivation Lab, who it's really for (hint: maybe not you, but possibly someone you care about), and why I'm asking for your help in getting it to the people who need it most. If you've ever wondered why consistency is so hard, why motivation feels unpredictable, or why no single productivity system works for everyone, I think you'll relate to what I'm sharing. Check out Motivation Lab here: studio.com/motivationlab/ Read or share the blog post. The first official podcast ep of 2026 will be out on January 11th. Thank you for listening to this interlude / announcement!

    22 min
  2. You Might Also Like: On Purpose with Jay Shetty

    13H AGO · BONUS

    You Might Also Like: On Purpose with Jay Shetty

    Introducing Rob Dial: Want to Actually Achieve Your Goals in 2026? Use THIS Action-Based Goal System to Get Back on Track (Even If You Fall Off!) from On Purpose with Jay Shetty. Follow the show: On Purpose with Jay Shetty Jay sits down with Rob Dial for a powerful conversation about discipline, purpose, and why so many people stay stuck even when they know exactly what they should do. Rob reframes discipline not as punishment or pressure, but as an act of self-respect, explaining why choosing discomfort today is often the deepest form of self-love. From building consistency to reshaping identity, he reveals why real change has nothing to do with motivation or willpower, and everything to do with designing a life where doing the right thing becomes automatic. Drawing from his own journey, Rob shares hard-earned lessons on following curiosity, embracing failure, and staying consistent long before results appear. He challenges the idea that purpose is something you “find” all at once, offering instead a more grounded path—one built through action, experimentation, and committing fully to the season you’re in. Together, Jay and Rob explore how fear, past pain, and self-judgment quietly hold people back, and how small, imperfect steps can begin healing old wounds while building confidence, competence, and momentum in the present. In this interview, you'll learn: How to Build Discipline When Motivation Disappears  How to Stay Consistent Even When You Fall Off Track How to Focus on One Habit for 100 Days How to Design Your Environment for Better Habits How to Turn Discipline Into Self-Love How to Not Quit Even When You Don’t See Results  How to Make 2026 Your Best Year by Doing Less, Not More Focus on what you can control today. Do one thing well. Create habits that support the person you want to become, and be patient with yourself as you grow into them. If You Listen to The Mindset Mentor with Rob Dial on your favorite podcast app. With Love and Gratitude, Jay Shetty Join over 750,000 people to receive my most transformative wisdom directly in your inbox every single week with my free newsletter. Subscribe here.  Check out our Apple subscription to unlock bonus content of On Purpose! https://lnk.to/JayShettyPodcast  What We Discuss: 00:00 Intro 00:58 How Can You Actually Get Ahead in Life? 04:44 Should You Do What You Love? 11:45 What to Do When You’re Unhappy at Work 20:57 Why We Talk Ourselves Out of Our Passions 28:05 Understanding Your True Motivation 32:39 How to Build a New Skill From Scratch 38:01 How to Stay Consistent When Changing Your Life 46:26 Focus on One Thing for 100 Days  51:25 How to Set Lasting Goals for the New Year 56:23 How to Stop Fixating on the Negative 01:00:49 How to Take Control of Your Life 01:02:50 A New Way to Think About Aging   01:05:00 The Power of Believing It’s Already Yours  Episode Resources: Rob Dial | Website Rob Dial | Instagram Rob Dial | Facebook Rob Dial | YouTube Rob Dial | TikTok See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to team@podroll.fm.

  3. 11/16/2025

    EP338 Looking ahead to 2026: A new direction beyond Truth for Teachers

    It's the final episode of the 2025 season, and I want to leave you with something meaningful. I'm sharing some personal thoughts as I prepare to step away for my December internet sabbatical. I'm thinking deeply about alignment, presence, and what it means to move forward with clarity and purpose. If you've been feeling the tension between what you have to do and what you're called to do … this episode might resonate. Key highlights: Why I'm shifting directions in 2026 to focus on deeper connections with educators (and serving more than just folks in K-12) How my personal life has come into greater alignment after moving and establishing new daily practices My launch of teacher retreats after years of dreaming and planning (you're invited!) An introduction to Due Season Press, my new website showcasing retreats, retreat/event planning services, editing and publishing support for authors, and more Opportunities for schools and districts to host custom retreat experiences Reflective questions to help you find your own alignment and mission heading into 2026 Get the shareable article/transcript for this episode here. This episode is brought to you by MiaTiagoBooks.com. P.S. If you'll miss having new episodes to listen to from now until January, here's a way to work back through the archives without having to scroll endlessly through episode titles. I have a set of recommended Truth for Teachers playlists you can access. They're a careful curation of the episodes I'm most proud of—and that I think will help you most—from my ten years of podcasting. I've organized the playlists around four topics: The Encouragement Playlist, if you need a boost of inspiration and motivation The Productivity Playlist, if you want practical strategies for time management and getting things done The Student Engagement Playlist, if you want tools for building relationships with students and enhancing your lessons The Greatest Hits Playlist, which covers a wide variety of topics that have been really popular over the years but aren't necessarily connected to any larger theme. The Greatest Hits playlist offers a really nice variety of episodes. If you're a longtime listener and accessed one of these playlists a while back, know that I updated them this month so they include newer episodes, too. Go to TruthforTeachers.com/playlists and enter your email address to receive the playlist you want. I'll send you a PDF with a description of each episode, a link to its blog post/transcript, and a link to the MP3 file for listening. It also shares some special bonuses and other related resources I think you might like.

    35 min
  4. 11/02/2025

    EP337 Restorative practices aren't a strategy–they're a way of being (with Marisol Quevedo Rerucha)

    "The adults in the building need healing just as much as the kids do. Self-compassion isn't soft. It's the most radical act of self-preservation an educator can practice."  That's a quote from my guest in this episode, Marisol Quevedo Rerucha. She's the author of Beyond the Surface of Restorative Practices and the CEO of Heartset Consulting Group. A former teacher, principal, and district leader, she now supports individuals, communities, and systems in building high-trust, equity-centered spaces. Together, Marisol and I explore what a restorative way of being looks like, how to build a classroom culture rooted in belonging and accountability, and why self-compassion is a foundational part of this work. Marisol also shares her personal story of healing, offers real classroom examples, and closes with an unforgettable metaphor about facing life's hardest moments with courage and community. In this powerful conversation, Marisol Revucha shares why so many educators feel disillusioned with restorative practices and what needs to shift for true transformation to occur. Whether your school is fully immersed in restorative practices or you're just starting to explore what it means, this conversation offers both heart and strategy. You'll walk away with a clearer vision for what's possible—not just for your students, but for yourself. Topics include: Why restorative justice often fails in schools How to build a culture of repair and accountability The role of self-compassion in restorative work Real-time responses when students act out Restorative practices for staff—not just students "Being the buffalo": facing the storm together Get the shareable article/transcript for this episode here. This episode is brought to you by MiaTiagoBooks.com.

    51 min
  5. 09/14/2025

    Join me for live PD this winter: Unlocking Teacher Productivity

    SCHEDULE CHANGE! I'm partnering with Rocket PD to offer a live-virtual cohort called Unlocking Teacher Productivity starting in late January. (Originally when this announcement was released, I mentioned October, but we've pushed things back to accomodate a major release in federal funding that won't reach schools until later this fall.) Unlocking Teacher Productivity isn't a self-paced course you sign up for and maybe forget about. It's a deep-dive, interactive experience where we'll meet every TUESDAY for five 90-minute sessions: NEW 2026 DATES: JAN 27, FEB 3, 10, 17, 24 7:00-8:30 PM Eastern / 4:00-6:30 Pacific Here's how it works: each week, we'll meet over Zoom. There will be a mix of my teaching (you'll see my face and slides), short periods for quiet reflection—meaning I'll pause periodically for you to complete exercises so you don't have to do them afterward on your own time—and opportunities for discussion with other educators during the 90-minute session if that's something that appeals to you. I'll also answer questions afterward if you'd like personalized advice. We're going to cover practical systems and strategies to help you get control over your time and your work. You'll learn how to: Get your email under control once and for all. Organize your digital files so you can actually find what you need. Build a to-do list system that doesn't live in your brain 24/7. Plan lessons in advance in a way that's flexible and responsive to your students—no more scrambling the night before. Prioritize high-impact work so you can spend less time on busywork and more time on what really matters for learning. Explore time-blocking, AI tools, productivity for students, and more. Now, if you've taken my 40 Hour Teacher Workweek Full Year course, yes—there's some overlap in concepts, like the target number planner. But this cohort is live and interactive, rather than self-paced, and has built-in accountability because we meet each week and check in to see how the strategies are working for you. And, it's only a five-week commitment. I'll give a variety of options for "homework" between sessions: stuff you can just reflect on if that's all you have time for, easy actionable steps to try out, and deep dives if you really want to get results. Regardless of which option you choose, you'll have time each week to reflect, discuss how to apply what you're learning, and report back the next week. It's accountability in the best sense—you're not just consuming information; you're actively putting it into practice. Remember, you don't have to attend every live session. You'll get recordings of every session plus a downloadable workbook. Templates, systems, and strategies are all included—it's ready to implement immediately. Plus, you'll receive a nationally recognized PD certificate for CEUs. This cohort is designed to be practical and doable: real solutions that will stick with you for your whole K-12 teaching career, no matter what or where you teach in the future.  This is only offered once per year, so if you've been waiting for a chance to finally get your teaching life organized, to feel on top of your time, and to plan ahead without burnout—this is it. Spaces are limited. Sign up below for my cohort or others happening this fall, winter, and spring: https://rocketpd.com/cohorts/unlocking-teacher-productivity-with-angela-watson/

    6 min
4.8
out of 5
1,251 Ratings

About

Truth for Teachers is designed to speak life, encouragement, and truth into the minds and hearts of educators and get you energized for the week ahead.

You Might Also Like