My Year In Reflection And My Intentions For 2025
EMpowered
In this episode, I’m reflecting on a massive 2024, both personally and professionally and sharing my intentions for 2025. 2024 was full of growth, messy moments, and beautiful lessons. I hope my reflections inspire you to take stock of your own year and step into 2025 with intention and purpose. Here’s what you’ll hear: How I balanced personal growth, professional milestones and unexpected challenges Why aligning your work with your passions is key to avoiding burnout How reflecting on what worked and what didn’t helps you set meaningful intentions for the year ahead. How educators,...
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3 Life Changing Habits To Adopt These School Holidays
EMpowered
Welcome back beautiful human! In this episode, I’m sharing three simple habits that can truly improve your wellbeing over the holidays and into 2025. These strategies are designed to help you relax, recharge, and step into the new year with clarity, calm, and purpose. Here’s what you’ll learn How these three habits can help you process the year, find clarity, and connect with the person you want to become. Simple techniques to regulate your nervous system, reduce stress, and avoid burnout. How shifting your mindset can improve your relationships, reduce stress, and boost your overall...
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How to End the Year on a High
EMpowered
In this episode, I want to help you wrap up the school year with intention and positivity. Whether 2024 has been your best year yet or one filled with challenges, this episode will guide you through reflecting, processing, and planning so you can head into the holidays rested and recharged. Here’s what you’ll learn Learn how to celebrate your successes, process what didn’t go as planned, and uncover lessons to carry forward into 2025. Practical tips for closing the classroom from organising, letting go of emotions that no longer serve you because you deserve to start the new year with a...
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Becoming a Trauma-informed Restorative Educator with Marg Thorsborne & Joe Brummer
EMpowered
In this episode, I sit down with Marg Thorsborne and Joe Brummer, two incredible thought leaders in trauma-informed and restorative practices. Together, they’ve written two books, Becoming a Trauma-Informed Restorative Educator and Becoming a Trauma-Informed Restorative School - Practical Skills to Change Culture and Behaviour. It’s all about creating safer, more connected classrooms that focus on collaboration and wellbeing rather than compliance and punishment. We talk about the critical shift from punitive approaches to relational ones, how trauma-informed and restorative practices work...
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3 Ways Teachers Can Reduce Stress NOW
EMpowered
In this episode of The EMpowered Podcast, we’re diving into a topic every teacher can relate to: stress. While a little bit of stress can be healthy, chronic stress can leave us feeling overwhelmed, dysregulated, and depleted. I’ll share three actionable strategies to help you reduce your stress levels, balance your body, and feel more in control of your wellbeing. What You’ll Learn: How to notice when your body budget is out of balance and what to do about it. How to regulate quickly using your breath Simple ways to decompress after school and leave work stress behind. How to...
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Beginning Teachers: Your Questions Answered!
EMpowered
In this episode of The EMpowered Podcast, I’m diving into some of the most common questions I hear from beginning teachers, especially as they prepare for their first year. This one is for all my new and graduate teachers feeling the overwhelm of getting started, don’t worry, I’ve got you! We cover everything from setting up your classroom and planning lessons to prioritising your wellbeing and navigating behaviour support. It’s a jam-packed episode filled with practical tips and encouragement to help you thrive in your first year of teaching. Here’s what you’ll learn: How to...
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Unpacking Consequences in the Classroom: Do Students Need Them?
EMpowered
Consequences in the classroom - where do you even start? In this episode, I'm diving into one of the biggest questions I get from teachers: “How can I support student behaviour without falling back on punishments?” I go through what really works (and what really doesn’t) when it comes to behaviour, boundaries, and creating a connected classroom. I know that as educators who are committed to supporting children’s wellbeing, there can be a lot of confusion around how to handle consequences, boundaries, and behavioural support without leaning into punitive methods. Here’s what...
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How to Find the Right School 'Fit'
EMpowered
Today, I’m diving into how to find a school that truly matches your philosophy on non-punitive, trauma-informed practices. If you want to work somewhere that values real student and teacher wellbeing, but don’t know where to start, this one’s for you. Here’s what you’ll learn How to use CRT (Casual Relief Teaching) as a way to ‘test drive’ a school’s culture before committing long-term. Why the right leadership and wellbeing focus are essential in creating a school environment that truly supports teachers and students. What key questions to ask and what to look for in a...
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Embracing Neurodiversity with Chelsea Luker, Psychologist & Author
EMpowered
In this episode, we welcome Chelsea Luker, an Autistic ADHD psychologist, author, and advocate for neurodiversity-affirming practices. Chelsea dives deep into what it means to adopt a neurodiversity-affirming approach, her journey as a parent to neurodivergent children, and her impactful work at Connect Us Psychology. Chelsea also discusses her book, Square Me Round World, a collection of stories designed to reflect and validate the experiences of neurodivergent children. From addressing the challenges in mainstream education to advocating for more inclusive environments, Chelsea offers...
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You're Not Supposed to Go it Alone
EMpowered
This episode is a personal one about why we’re not meant to do it all, and what happens when we try to keep going without help. Parenting isn’t meant to be a solo act. Especially when life throws in a few curveballs or even just the regular chaos of life. If you’ve ever found yourself losing it with the kids or feeling like you’re juggling too many balls (and dropping a few), this episode is for you. Here’s what you’ll learn: Why knowing all the emotional intelligence tricks is one thing, but actually applying them is a different story. The importance of connection over correction...
info_outlineThis episode is a personal one about why we’re not meant to do it all, and what happens when we try to keep going without help.
Parenting isn’t meant to be a solo act. Especially when life throws in a few curveballs or even just the regular chaos of life.
If you’ve ever found yourself losing it with the kids or feeling like you’re juggling too many balls (and dropping a few), this episode is for you.
Here’s what you’ll learn:
- Why knowing all the emotional intelligence tricks is one thing, but actually applying them is a different story.
- The importance of connection over correction when supporting your child’s behaviour (whether at home or in the classroom).
- How to use self-awareness to catch your own triggers before you react, and why this makes all the difference.
- Why it’s okay to drop some of the balls you’re juggling, and how to figure out what’s really important.
- Practical steps for making sure you’re filling up your own cup, because you can't pour from an empty one.
Even though it can feel like you’re the only one who’s overwhelmed and barely holding it together, you’re not. We’re all in this together, and we need each other’s support.
You might know all the techniques, but practicing them in the moment is the real challenge….and that’s okay.
Be kind to yourself as you work through it.
Resources Mentioned:
- If you missed the masterclass with Lael Stone and Dr. Billy Garvey, the replay is available. Find out more to see how we’re flipping behaviour support on its head – no more reactive strategies, no more bandaid solutions. Here’s the link!
- Learn more about my self paced course, The Emotionally Intelligent Educator, and how it can help you reduce stress, build confidence, and change the way you show up as a parent or teacher.
Connect with Em
- Website: emmagentle.com.au
- Instagram: @em_gentle