Teaching through Emotions

Betsy Burris

Teaching through Emotions is a Women Who Podcast award-winning podcast that provides a rare form of relief for educators. Rare because it looks at bad feelings and bad behavior as *meaningful* and *useful*. We share stories of real-life terrible teaching moments, sprinkled with commentary and a ton of empathy, then show you how to transform those moments into happy endings. You also get to hear interviews with remarkable people about their unique takes on education. Created and hosted by Betsy Burris, PhD, teacher educator and psychotherapist. Co-hosted by Joe Johnson, long-time Spanish teacher. Episodes come out every two weeks. Get full access and become a paid subscriber to Teaching through Emotions at [www.teachingthroughemotions.com/subscribe]. Listen to build up your psychodynamic muscles by hearing about other brave teachers’ wins when they thought nothing, NOTHING, would change. www.teachingthroughemotions.com

  1. Is teaching spiritual? You bet your ass!

    OCT 30

    Is teaching spiritual? You bet your ass!

    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. How can teachers (hell, and parents and other caregivers) develop and sustain these skills amidst the chaos of everyday life? 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. We talk about teaching, parenting, and just living as a spiritual practice, how seeing the “holy ordinary” in daily classroom moments can activate deeper meaning and aliveness for teachers and students. 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 talk about * Flowing with the chaos of parenting and teaching * Detaching from identities to promote healthy attachment * The benefits and perils of viewing the classroom as a sacred space * Embracing the quest for aliveness in teachers and students * The importance of “settled bodies” in classrooms For my non-teachers out there: The “holy ordinary” is everywhere! Where can you tune into it in your own lives? What keeps you from it? Got a story about your own holy ordinary? Send me your thoughts: (413) 239-4158. If you found something valuable here, consider leaving a rating or review wherever you get your podcasts. And share this episode with your friends! All of it really helps. External Links the 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 Menakem Fierce Love: A Bold Path to Ferocious Courage and Rule-Breaking Kindness that Can Heal the World by Dr. Jacqui Lewis Credits Founder and Host: Betsy Burris Co-Host: Joe Johnson Producer: Jullian Androkae Audience Development: Andreea Coscai Music: 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

    46 min
  2. Can teachers change a toxic school?

    OCT 16

    Can teachers change a toxic school?

    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. Teaching through Emotions is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. We talk about * how the group’s dynamic echoed the school’s wider culture of chaos * what makes school holding environments chaotic * a gendered pattern of blame * empowering strategies for teachers to cultivate healthy classroom cultures 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. Have a story about your school’s culture, or a time you navigated chaos? Share it with me: 413.239.4158. If you enjoyed this episode, consider leaving a review or rating on your podcast app. It helps us reach more teachers! External Links teachingthroughemotions.com Credits Founder and Host: Betsy Burris Co-Host: Joe Johnson Producer: Jullian Androkae Audience Development: Andreea Coscai Music: Tom Burris/Jabbering Trout Thanks for reading Teaching through Emotions! This post is public so feel free to share it. 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

    53 min
  3. Holding educators accountable

    OCT 2

    Holding educators accountable

    In this episode, I chat with two phenomenal leaders: Meg Kenny, Associate Head of School, and Jen Hyatt, Academic Dean, from a unique town academy in Vermont. 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. 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 * Cultivating a culture of belonging, care, and trust * Gender dynamics in schools * The power of giving honest negative feedback * The roles of courage, presence, and love in administration For my non-teachers out there, you can hear two good humans talk about having difficult conversations in effective, honest, caring ways. 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 and maybe add a comment or two that might be helpful. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review or rating wherever you listen. It really helps. External links Bennington College Join me on Substack: Teaching Through Emotions. Credits Founder and Host: Betsy Burris Producer: Jullian Androkae Audience Development: Andreea Coscai Music: Tom Burris/Jabbering Trout Thanks for reading Teaching through Emotions! This post is public so feel free to share it. 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

    1 hr
  4. Too judgmental? I think not!

    SEP 18

    Too judgmental? I think not!

    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 a 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. We discuss * The importance of personal boundaries in a busy classroom * Why we mislabel our annoyance as "being judgmental" * How conflicts are not “failures” * The power of asking for what you need rather than internalizing blame 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! Got a story to share about a moment you felt you might have misunderstood your feelings? Leave me a voicemail at (413) 239-4158. Joe and I can unpack it in one of our episodes and maybe, maybe offer a different and helpful perspective! If this conversation resonated, please consider leaving a rating or review on your podcast app. Your feedback helps others find us. Credits: Founder and Host: Betsy Burris Co-Host: Joe Johnson Producer: Jullian Androkae of PodVision Audience Development: Andreea Coscai of PodVision Music: 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

    48 min
  5. The dangers of empathy for school leaders

    SEP 4

    The dangers of empathy 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) We talk about * working with senior administrators in independent schools (relevant for public school leaders, too) * working with school trustees!! (God, boards can be so difficult) * the energy model * combating toxic school cultures * managing interpersonal conflict 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 Links Coachability: The Leadership Superpower: thecoachableleader.com Saboteurs assessment: www.positiveintellience.com/saboteurs/ Marita Fridjhon, relationship systems intelligence: crrglobal.com Shirzad Chamine, positive intelligence: positiveintellience.com Coaching@Altitude: coachingaltitude.com Credits Founder and Host: Betsy Burris Producer: Jullian Androkae of PodVision Audience Development: Andreea Coscai of PodVision Music: 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

    56 min
  6. Teacher tips that'll make the first days back way easier!

    AUG 19

    Teacher tips that'll make the first days back way easier!

    Ever considered visualizing your entire teaching day before you even get to school? Thinking it can make it so! Ohm, baby! Joe and I cooked up this special episode just for you, dear listeners, as you move into another wonderful and stressful school year. We know that the first day back can be… well, lots of things. That’s why we cut right to it, offering quick, actionable ways to get your mind right, manage the classroom, and even understand those tricky student dynamics before the school year gets rolling. We’ve pulled some great ideas from our teaching friends, mixed in our own thoughts, and kept it short and sweet. Know a teacher? They might appreciate your sharing these tips with them! You’ll hear about * creative approaches to the first day * self-care on and after the first day * what to do with dread * what psychodynamic shenanigans to look for Teaching through Emotions is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. For my non-teachers out there: Get some good tips on how to approach any new beginning. Self-care, planning, managing dread, applying psychodynamic wisdom — it’s all relevant to all of us all of the time! Credits Founder and host: Betsy Burris Co-host: Joe Johnson Producer: Jullian Androkae Audience development: Andreea Coscai Music: 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

    42 min
4.6
out of 5
11 Ratings

About

Teaching through Emotions is a Women Who Podcast award-winning podcast that provides a rare form of relief for educators. Rare because it looks at bad feelings and bad behavior as *meaningful* and *useful*. We share stories of real-life terrible teaching moments, sprinkled with commentary and a ton of empathy, then show you how to transform those moments into happy endings. You also get to hear interviews with remarkable people about their unique takes on education. Created and hosted by Betsy Burris, PhD, teacher educator and psychotherapist. Co-hosted by Joe Johnson, long-time Spanish teacher. Episodes come out every two weeks. Get full access and become a paid subscriber to Teaching through Emotions at [www.teachingthroughemotions.com/subscribe]. Listen to build up your psychodynamic muscles by hearing about other brave teachers’ wins when they thought nothing, NOTHING, would change. www.teachingthroughemotions.com

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