Why Edify: The Teacher Wellness and Resilience Podcast - Strategies and Classroom Resources

Jeremy Jorgensen

Teacher podcast with burnout solutions for sustainable teaching careers. Practical strategies for teacher stress management, classroom resilience, work-life balance, and educator wellness. Weekly episodes blend Stoic philosophy, Ikigai principles, and the STRONG Framework to help K-12 teachers, administrators, and paraprofessionals prevent burnout and thrive without sacrificing excellence. Topics: classroom management, teacher mental health, self-care strategies, professional development, and building resilient teaching practices. For teachers who are great at their job but exhausted by it.

  1. 97. Teachers, Your Attention Is Being Stolen — And You're Letting It Happen

    5D AGO

    97. Teachers, Your Attention Is Being Stolen — And You're Letting It Happen

    Teachers, Your Attention Is Being Stolen — And You're Letting It Happen Your Attention Is Being Stolen — And You're Letting It Happen | Why Edify What got most of your attention yesterday? Not your time — your actual, focused, present-with-it attention? For many teachers, the honest answer isn't their students. It's the inbox at 7am. A difficult conversation looping in the background all morning. A data report nobody actually asked them to do anything with. Epictetus warned us: "You become what you give your attention to." That's not a productivity slogan. It's a warning. In this episode (week 2 of 4 in the Built From Within series), we get into what's actually competing for your mental bandwidth — and why it's not a personal failing that your attention is scattered. The system is designed to fragment it. Johann Hari spent years documenting this in Stolen Focus. The fix has to be structural, too. But that doesn't mean dramatic overhaul. Five honest, low-friction practices — starting with one question you can ask yourself every single day. 00:00 What Stole Your Attention 00:59 The Gap and Epictetus 01:47 You Become What You Notice 03:10 Why Focus Gets Fragmented 04:46 One Daily Attention Check 05:28 Five Simple Practices 08:03 Curiosity Shapes Who You Are 09:14 Next Episodes and Wrap Up --- 🔗 Links: → Weekly newsletter (free, Wednesdays): https://www.jeremyajorgensen.com/newsletter/ → The Provocation: https://www.jeremyajorgensen.com/the-provocation/ --- Why Edify helps teachers be excellent without being exhausted. New episodes weekly. Subscribe so you don't miss Ep. 3 — the hardest conversation in the series. #TeacherWellbeing #TeacherBurnout #Stoicism #WhyEdify #STRONGFramework #Epictetus #TeacherPodcast #TeacherMindset #BuiltFromWithin 📬 Get Involved: ✉️ Sign up for the Friday Five Newsletter for Teachers: https://www.jeremyajorgensen.com/newsletter 🛍️ Shop the Why Edify Amazon storefront — stuff I actually use and recommend (affiliate link, small commission to me at no cost to you): https://www.amazon.com/shop/whyedify-jeremyjorgensen 💪 Take the 30-Day Educator Challenge (Mind, Body & Spirit): https://bit.ly/3PS4zM7 ☕ Support Why Edify: https://buymeacoffee.com/whyedify 🤝 Connect with Jeremy: https://linktr.ee/whyedify 👕 Shop Why Edify Gear: https://www.bonfire.com/store/why-edify/

    12 min
  2. 96. Compassion Is Not Soft — It's Survival (The Science Teachers Need to Hear)

    APR 3

    96. Compassion Is Not Soft — It's Survival (The Science Teachers Need to Hear)

    Compassion Is Not Soft — It's Survival (The Science Teachers Need to Hear) Check out the STRONG Teachers Core: https://www.jeremyajorgensen.com/strong-teacher-core/ There's a quote from Amanda Gorman that I keep coming back to: "There is no better compass than compassion." Not a destination. Not a cure. A compass — something that orients you when everything else feels like noise. If your week has been loud — the grading, the emails, the meetings that should have been emails — this one's for you. In this episode, I break down the actual science behind compassion: what it does to your body, your students, and your career. Not the poster-in-the-hallway version. The real version — backed by researchers at Berkeley, NYU, the University of Buffalo, and the Max Planck Institute. Here's what surprised me most: the things that feel like they cost you something might be giving something back. In this episode: - Why Darwin was actually making a case for compassion (not just survival of the fittest) - The inflammation research that connects meaning, purpose, and your long-term health - Jonathan Haidt's "elevation effect" — and what it means for the emotional climate of your classroom - A 7-minute practice that changes how connected you feel to the people around you - One simple thing to try before you leave your building today Compassion is always in your circle — even on the hard days. 📬 Get Involved: ✉️ Sign up for the Friday Five Newsletter for Teachers: https://www.jeremyajorgensen.com/newsletter 🛍️ Shop the Why Edify Amazon storefront — stuff I actually use and recommend (affiliate link, small commission to me at no cost to you): https://www.amazon.com/shop/whyedify-jeremyjorgensen 💪 Take the 30-Day Educator Challenge (Mind, Body & Spirit): https://bit.ly/3PS4zM7 ☕ Support Why Edify: https://buymeacoffee.com/whyedify 🤝 Connect with Jeremy: https://linktr.ee/whyedify 👕 Shop Why Edify Gear: https://www.bonfire.com/store/why-edify/ 🌐 Connect with Jeremy Jorgensen: 👉 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/why_edify/ 👉 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremy-jorgensen321/ 👉 Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/why-edify.bsky.social

    9 min
  3. 95: The 90-Second Window That Changes Everything for Burned-Out Teachers

    MAR 30

    95: The 90-Second Window That Changes Everything for Burned-Out Teachers

    The 90-Second Window That Changes Everything for Burned-Out Teachers Something happened this week that followed you home. The person who caused it? Already moved on. You haven't. Join us in the STRONG Teachers Lounge: https://www.skool.com/the-strong-teachers-lounge-3476/about Read the episode newsletter: https://www.jeremyajorgensen.com/the-provocation/ After 26 years in the classroom, I know this pattern. Something hits — something that doesn't deserve the mental real estate we give it — and it follows us anyway. Into the car, into dinner, sometimes into the next morning. This is episode 1 of 4 in a new series called Built From Within, built around Epictetus and The Art of Living. Epictetus was a Stoic philosopher — and also a slave with almost no external control over his life — who built an entire philosophy around what a person can control: the mind, and what you choose to do with what hits you. In this episode: - What Epictetus called the "discipline of assent" — and why I just call it the gap - The neuroscience of the 90-second stress window (and what it means when you're still feeling it after that) - 5 gap-creating practices for real school-day situations — not theory This series runs four episodes. Each week goes one level deeper. Next week: you become what you give your attention to — and why that idea might be the most important one in the series. Timestamps: 00:00 - How external events can ruin your day and the importance of mental space 00:27 - Epictetus’s insight: harm is caused by believing you're harmed 00:57 - Introduction to Stoicism and Epictetus’s life as a former slave 01:40 - The control we have over our reactions versus external circumstances 02:10 - Overview of the podcast series exploring Epictetus’s teachings 02:49 - The concept of "the gap" — separating what happens from what you do 03:34 - The control of interpretation: focusing on the mind 04:19 - The importance of managing energy and attention in a chaotic environment 04:59 - Neuroscience insight: stress lasts approximately 90 seconds 05:57 - Practical strategies for teachers to create the gap during challenging moments 07:29 - How asking "What do I actually need?" shifts responses 08:24 - Taking two seconds before reacting in tense situations 08:56 - Using intentional speech to reframe replaying negative events 09:24 - The next episodes will dive into attention, self-worth, and external impact 10:41 - Resources and community engagement: books, guides, and discussion groups 11:11 - Invitation to join the Built From Within series with other teachers 📬 Get Involved: ✉️ Sign up for the Friday Five Newsletter for Teachers: https://www.jeremyajorgensen.com/newsletter 🛍️ Shop the Why Edify Amazon storefront — stuff I actually use and recommend (affiliate link, small commission to me at no cost to you): https://www.amazon.com/shop/whyedify-jeremyjorgensen 💪 Take the 30-Day Educator Challenge (Mind, Body & Spirit): https://bit.ly/3PS4zM7 ☕ Support Why Edify: https://buymeacoffee.com/whyedify 🤝 Connect with Jeremy: https://linktr.ee/whyedify 👕 Shop Why Edify Gear: a href="https

    12 min
  4. 94. Teacher Burnout: Redefining True Persistence

    MAR 8

    94. Teacher Burnout: Redefining True Persistence

    Teacher Burnout: Redefining True Persistence Persistence and pushing through aren't the same thing. We use them like they are — in staff meetings, on motivational posters, in the well-meaning advice people give burned-out teachers — but confusing the two could be costing you more than you realize. One of them sustains a career. The other just sustains the suffering. In this episode, I break down the real difference between persistence and endurance, what the Stoics actually meant when they talked about persevering, and three questions that help you figure out which races are actually worth running. If you've ever gotten to the end of a school year wondering what exactly you were holding on for — this one's for you. What we cover: - Why "pushing through" and "persistence" are not interchangeable - Walter Elliott's reframe that dismantles everything we were taught about endurance - Amor fati — and the part everyone skips - The honest question most teachers have never asked themselves - Three filter questions to separate what's worth persisting toward from what you're just enduring out of habit 📬 Subscribe to The STRONG Teacher Newsletter (free, every Wednesday): https://www.jeremyajorgensen.com/newsletter/ 🏫 Join The STRONG Teachers Lounge — community + courses for teachers who are great at their job but exhausted by it: https://www.skool.com/the-strong-teachers-lounge-3476/about 🎙️ Why Edify Podcast — available wherever you listen to podcasts. Intro: Distinction between persistence and pushing through — 0:00 What persistence is, what it isn’t, and the Stoics’ view — 0:51 Name what you’re persisting toward; amor fati — 1:03 Practical filter: three questions to tell if you’re persisting toward something meaningful — 5:37 Real persistence looks boring and purposeful — 8:14 Not a long race: it’s many short races — 9:49 Reflective takeaway: think about what you’re persisting toward — 10:49 📬 Get Involved: ✉️ Sign up for the Friday Five Newsletter for Teachers: https://www.jeremyajorgensen.com/newsletter 🛍️ Shop the Why Edify Amazon storefront — stuff I actually use and recommend (affiliate link, small commission to me at no cost to you): https://www.amazon.com/shop/whyedify-jeremyjorgensen 💪 Take the 30-Day Educator Challenge (Mind, Body & Spirit): https://bit.ly/3PS4zM7 ☕ Support Why Edify: https://buymeacoffee.com/whyedify 🤝 Connect with Jeremy: https://linktr.ee/whyedify 👕 Shop Why Edify Gear: https://www.bonfire.com/store/why-edify/ 🌐 Connect with Jeremy Jorgensen: 👉 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/why_edify/ 👉 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremy-jorgensen321/ 👉 Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/why-edify.bsky.social #teacherlife #teacherwellness #teacherburnout #educatorwellbeing #STRONGteacher #whyedify #stoicteacher

    13 min
  5. 93. Why 'Just Push Through' Is Terrible Advice for Teachers (Do This Instead)

    MAR 6

    93. Why 'Just Push Through' Is Terrible Advice for Teachers (Do This Instead)

    Why 'Just Push Through' Is Terrible Advice for Teachers (Do This Instead) Someone is going to say it to you this week. Just push through. Nobody ever finishes the sentence. Push through to what, exactly? There's no finish line — just next Monday, and the one after that. In this episode, I'm talking about why the push-through mentality is some of the worst advice circulating in schools right now — and what a former enslaved philosopher from 2,000 years ago offers instead. Join the STRONG Teacher Community: https://www.skool.com/the-strong-teachers-lounge-3476/about What you'll get out of this episode: → Why exhaustion worn as a badge is just poor fuel management → The Stoic Dichotomy of Control — and why it's more useful than 26 years of professional development → A 3-minute two-column exercise to redirect your energy where it actually matters → An honest acknowledgment that frameworks don't fix broken systems — but they do stop you from burning what's left on things that were never going to budge 📧 Free newsletter → https://www.jeremyajorgensen.com/newsletter/ 🏫 Join The STRONG Teacher's Lounge → https://www.skool.com/the-strong-teachers-lounge-3476/about 📬 Get Involved: ✉️ Sign up for the Friday Five Newsletter for Teachers: https://www.jeremyajorgensen.com/newsletter 🛍️ Shop the Why Edify Amazon storefront — stuff I actually use and recommend (affiliate link, small commission to me at no cost to you): https://www.amazon.com/shop/whyedify-jeremyjorgensen 💪 Take the 30-Day Educator Challenge (Mind, Body & Spirit): https://bit.ly/3PS4zM7 ☕ Support Why Edify: https://buymeacoffee.com/whyedify 🤝 Connect with Jeremy: https://linktr.ee/whyedify 👕 Shop Why Edify Gear: https://www.bonfire.com/store/why-edify/ 🌐 Connect with Jeremy Jorgensen: 👉 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/why_edify/ 👉 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremy-jorgensen321/ 👉 Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/why-edify.bsky.social

    13 min
  6. 92. 33 Years of Teaching Taught Me This | Dan Tricarico, The Zen Teacher

    FEB 23

    92. 33 Years of Teaching Taught Me This | Dan Tricarico, The Zen Teacher

    33 Years of Teaching Taught Me This | Dan Tricarico, The Zen Teacher Dan Tricarico has been teaching English at West Hills High School in San Diego for 33 years. Same school. Same classroom. And somewhere around year 20, he started burning out—with 10 more years to go before retirement. Instead of quitting, he started writing. That writing became The Zen Teacher—a platform, two books, and a movement around teacher self-care that's been going for over a decade. In this conversation, Dan shares the earned wisdom that kept him going: what he learned from a student teacher about Greek mythology, why 40 stories are sitting in those 40 desks, and how the Five S's—stillness, silence, space, subtraction, and slowing down—can make the job feel human again. We also get into poetry, photography, hot chocolate walks, and why gratitude isn't toxic positivity. It's just noticing what's real. What You'll Hear: - The mindset shift that changed how Dan sees every student (and why it took a decade to figure out) - The Five S's framework for sustainable teaching - Why "subtraction" might be the most underrated tool in your self-care kit - The difference between a calling and an identity—and why mixing them up causes burnout - Dan's go-to book recommendation for any teacher who's ever had a lesson crash and burn - One song for the Teacher Commuter Playlist 🎵 Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Teaching and Experience 02:36 Learning from Colleagues and Students 05:16 The Importance of Self-Care in Teaching 07:55 Understanding the Role of Teachers in Society 10:51 The Impact of Teaching on Students 13:28 Creating a Supportive Community for Teachers 16:13 The Zen Teacher Platform and Its Mission 18:56 Reflections on a Teaching Career 23:15 The Challenges of Teaching Alone 24:21 Finding Balance: The Five S's for Teachers 27:56 The Importance of Slowing Down 29:52 Navigating Toxic Positivity 32:38 The Connection Between Mindfulness and Creativity 37:13 The Courage to Teach: Embracing Imperfection 40:50 The Role of Music in Teaching 📘 Dan's Books: - The Zen Teacher: Creating Focus, Simplicity, and Tranquility in the Classroom - https://geni.us/LR7uAl - Sanctuary: Self-Care Secrets for Stressed-Out Teachers - https://geni.us/vt0Vsny - Write Here and Now: Teaching Writing Through the Lens of Mindfulness - https://geni.us/sMaj232 (The links above are affiliate links. Every purchase helps support this podcast. Thank you!) Shop the Why Edify Amazon storefront — stuff I actually use and recommend (affiliate link, small commission to me at no cost to you): https://www.amazon.com/shop/whyedify-jeremyjorgensen 📬 Dan's Substack: [Find it by searching "The Zen Teacher"] 📷 Instagram: @thezenteracher (or search Dan Tricarico) 📧 Free newsletter → https://www.jeremyajorgensen.com/newsletter/ 🏫 Join The STRONG Teacher's Lounge → https://www.skool.com/the-strong-teachers-lounge-3476/about 📬 Get Involved: ✉️ Sign up for the Friday Five Newsletter for Teachers: https://www.jeremyajorgensen.com/newsletter ☕ Support Why Edify: https://buymeacoffee.com/whyedify 🤝 Connect with Jeremy: https://linktr.ee/whyedify 👕 Shop Why Edify Gear: a href="https://www.bonfi

    51 min
  7. 91. Five Real Causes of Teacher Burnout (Not What You Think)

    FEB 14

    91. Five Real Causes of Teacher Burnout (Not What You Think)

    5 Real Causes of Teacher Burnout (Not What You Think) Join the STRONG Teachers Lounge: https://www.skool.com/the-strong-teachers-lounge-3476/about It's late on a Tuesday. You're still at school. You've been here since 7 AM—11.5 hours—and you'll be back tomorrow at seven to do it again. This isn't burnout yet. For many teachers, this is just Tuesday. Teacher burnout isn't caused by a lack of self-care or gratitude journals. It's caused by systemic issues that most advice conveniently ignores. In this video, we're breaking down the 5 REAL causes of teacher burnout. 🎯 KEY TAKEAWAYS - Emotional labor = work that drains you completely (but isn't counted) - Burnout happens when you're responsible for things you can't control - The reward for competence is often just more work - Teachers now do 3+ jobs that used to be separate positions - You need artificial finish lines because the work never ends 💡 WHAT ACTUALLY HELPS ✓ Name the emotional labor out loud ✓ Weekly control audit (circle what you actually control) ✓ 4 PM hard stop—and leave ✓ Say "no" to one thing every week ✓ Create artificial finish lines ✓ Redefine success: "I showed up and did what I could" This is about sustainable teaching without toxic positivity. Small changes, real impact. Receive Email Updates (free): https://www.jeremyajorgensen.com/newsletter/ Key Points: 0:00 - Introduction to teacher burnout and its symptoms. 1:13 - Systemic issues causing burnout. 2:09 - Emotional labor in teaching. 5:09 - Lack of control over success determinants. 7:40 - Infinite expansion of teaching responsibilities. 10:34 - Performing multiple roles in teaching. 13:07 - The absence of a finish line in teaching. 15:03 - Summary of the five causes of burnout and encouragement. 📬 Get Involved: ✉️ Sign up for the Friday Five Newsletter for Teachers: https://www.jeremyajorgensen.com/newsletter 💪 Take the 30-Day Educator Challenge (Mind, Body & Spirit): https://bit.ly/3PS4zM7 ☕ Support Why Edify: https://buymeacoffee.com/whyedify 🤝 Connect with Jeremy: https://linktr.ee/whyedify 👕 Shop Why Edify Gear: https://www.bonfire.com/store/why-edify/ 🌐 Connect with Jeremy Jorgensen: 👉 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/why_edify/ 👉 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremy-jorgensen321/ 👉 Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/why-edify.bsky.social 👉 Website: https://www.jeremyajorgensen.com/

    18 min
  8. 90. The Power of Boring: How Repetition Creates Sustainable Excellence in Teaching and Life (STRONG Teacher Report #2)

    FEB 12

    90. The Power of Boring: How Repetition Creates Sustainable Excellence in Teaching and Life (STRONG Teacher Report #2)

    The Power of Boring: How Repetition Creates Sustainable Excellence in Teaching and Life (STRONG Teacher Report #2) The secret to teaching for 26+ years? Embrace boring. Same morning routine. Same Sunday reset. Same practices over and over. In this week's STRONG Teachers Report, I'm sharing: - Updates from The STRONG Teacher's Lounge - What's new at Why Edify - Three truths about sustainable teaching that have been on my mind Chapters 00:00 Embracing the Power of Routine 02:12 Updates from the Strong Teachers Lounge 04:52 Leveraging AI in Education 07:15 Sustainable Practices in Teaching 09:37 Reflections on Teacher Energy and Discipline 12:27 Designing Your Own Systems for Success Resources Mentioned: 📚 Blog Posts: The Power of Boring:https://www.jeremyajorgensen.com/the-power-of-boring/ When a Student Says "I Can't": https://www.jeremyajorgensen.com/when-a-student-says-i-cant/ Teacher Energy and the Budget Approach: https://www.jeremyajorgensen.com/teacher-energy-the-budget-approach/ 🎓 Join The STRONG Teacher's Lounge: Free community access: https://www.skool.com/the-strong-teachers-lounge-3476/about 📧 Why Edify Newsletter: Sign up for weekly teacher support: https://www.jeremyajorgensen.com/newsletter/ 🎧 Podcast Episode Mentioned: Classroom Management Without Yelling: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0999O5Yk48rp4zhulzVk6R?si=x6C7_n27SWqRM_IoL-g3IQ About The STRONG Teachers Report: A weekly update sharing what's happening in The STRONG Teacher's Lounge, new content from Why Edify, and philosophical reflections on sustainable teaching practice. About Why Edify: Helping teachers achieve excellence without exhaustion through the STRONG Framework—integrating Stoicism, Ikigai philosophy, and research-backed wellness practices. 📬 Get Involved: ✉️ Sign up for the Friday Five Newsletter for Teachers: https://www.jeremyajorgensen.com/newsletter 💪 Take the 30-Day Educator Challenge (Mind, Body & Spirit): https://bit.ly/3PS4zM7 ☕ Support Why Edify: https://buymeacoffee.com/whyedify 🤝 Connect with Jeremy: https://linktr.ee/whyedify 👕 Shop Why Edify Gear: https://www.bonfire.com/store/why-edify/ 🌐 Connect with Jeremy Jorgensen: 👉 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/why_edify/ 👉 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremy-jorgensen321/ 👉 Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/why-edify.bsky.social 👉 Website: https://www.jeremyajorgensen.com/

    16 min
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Teacher podcast with burnout solutions for sustainable teaching careers. Practical strategies for teacher stress management, classroom resilience, work-life balance, and educator wellness. Weekly episodes blend Stoic philosophy, Ikigai principles, and the STRONG Framework to help K-12 teachers, administrators, and paraprofessionals prevent burnout and thrive without sacrificing excellence. Topics: classroom management, teacher mental health, self-care strategies, professional development, and building resilient teaching practices. For teachers who are great at their job but exhausted by it.

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