Episodes

Welcome to the Inspired Teacher podcast! In this very personal episode, I look back on nearly four years and 273 episodes of hitting “record,” sharing ideas, and growing alongside educators across the U.S. and Canada. I talk about why I started the show back in 2022, what I’m most proud of, and why I’m now making a big pivot out of the education podcast space. This isn’t goodbye to teaching—it’s an expansion into mental performance work with wrestlers, athletes, and their parents. Drawing on my ...

Welcome to the Inspired Teacher podcast! It’s been a while, and in this episode, I talk about why I’m back behind the mic and how this podcast still fits into my life right now. I share my love for that quiet stretch between Christmas and New Year’s—a rare bit of downtime to slow down, read, and reflect—and how a short piece called "Float" from Mike Travisano’s Refuge and Small Things really hit home as I was preparing to head back to school. January can feel heavy for a lot of educators and stu...

Welcome to the Inspired Teacher Podcast! In today’s episode, I’m talking about something I think we all wrestle with—our tendency to chase comfort and try to avoid anything that feels tough or unpredictable. The truth is, life’s never going to be smooth sailing, and as Marcus Aurelius reminds us, what stands in the way can actually become the way. As teachers, we see this every day in those lessons that go sideways or those students who surprise us in the best possible ways. So let’s dive into w...

Welcome to the Inspired Teacher Podcast! This week, I’m coming to you from Cary, North Carolina, just a few days before the school year kicks off. I’m here with my two sons for a big baseball tournament—one competing on the field, the other supporting from the stands while still rehabbing an injury from months back. Watching one play and the other choose to show up for his brother—even though it wasn’t easy—filled me with pride in ways I can’t fully describe. Later that weekend, a conversation w...

Welcome to the Inspired Teacher podcast! In today’s episode, I talk about starting restorative practices at our school and the powerful reminder that it’s not the big, flashy events that build relationships—it’s the small, intentional moments we share with our students, our colleagues, and even ourselves. I connect this to the Stoic wisdom of Zeno, who taught that well-being is built little by little, and how that truth applies as I begin a new school year. From recovery and mobility, to better ...

Welcome to the Inspired Teacher podcast! In this episode, I reflect on a question my son Gray asked me about what separates the most successful wrestlers I’ve coached from the rest. After more than 20 years in the wrestling room, I’ve had the privilege of coaching some incredible athletes—state medalists, champions, and even guys who went on to compete at the highest levels. At first, I thought the answer was simply about controlling the controllables, but the more I reflected, the more I realiz...

Welcome to the Inspired Teacher Podcast! In this episode, I talk with Bryon Carpenter—a fellow educator, podcaster and lifelong learner who’s all about showing up, reflecting, and growing a little bit every day. We dive into why paying attention to your experiences matters, how consistency (even in small ways) can lead to big change, and how podcasting helps him process and share what he’s learning. Bryon’s not doing it for likes or followers—he’s doing it to make a difference, and it’s a messag...

Welcome to the Inspired Teacher Podcast! Today’s episode comes to you from the beach—one of the few places where I consistently feel calm and grounded. But wouldn’t it be great if we could find that kind of peace everywhere? Inspired by a powerful reply from Dr. Nate Fulton to a quote from Yung Pueblo, we’re digging into what it means to truly “protect your peace.” As teachers, parents, and people, it’s so easy to let the energy of those around us dictate how we feel. But calm isn’t something th...

Welcome to the Inspired Teacher Podcast! Today’s episode is a special one—an honest, heartfelt, and wide-ranging conversation with Chris Nesi, the "EduPodfather" himself. Chris opens up about his journey in education and podcasting, the importance of showing up with integrity, and how being a great educator—or parent—is about letting others catch you in the act of doing good. We talk coaching, content creation, overcoming imposter syndrome, and why sometimes the bravest thing you can do is simpl...

Welcome to the Inspired Teacher Podcast! In this episode, we look at the story of General Dan Sickles at Gettysburg—a leader who made a bold move that helped slow down the enemy, but came at a huge cost to his own men. Was it brave or reckless? We dig into that question and connect it to a powerful message from Admiral William McRaven’s book The Wisdom of the Bullfrog. As teachers, we know we can’t just play it safe all the time. We need to try new things and take smart risks—but always with car...

Welcome to the Inspired Teacher podcast! I’m beyond excited to share this episode with you—it’s the first-ever interview on the show! After over a year of planning, I finally sat down with none other than Jake Miller of Educational Duct Tape. We talk about everything from shared friendships and classroom strategies to cellphones and what keeps us inspired. Fair warning: I accidentally recorded with my laptop mic—but hey, you’re really here for Jake anyway!

Welcome to the Inspired Teacher Podcast! Last week, we talked about Admiral William McRaven’s advice to take things one step at a time—and this week, we’re building on that by asking an important question: what are we actually growing toward? Growth without direction isn’t just unproductive—it can be harmful. In this episode, I break down Dr. Joe Dispenza’s three components to excellence that he shared on an episode of Tom Bilyeau’s Impact Theory Podcast—confidence, accountability, and vision—an...

Welcome to the Inspired Teacher podcast! In this episode, I share a powerful lesson from Navy SEAL training that can transform how we handle the tough days in teaching. When my son faced a challenging injury, I found myself caught up in the anxiety...

Welcome to The Inspired Teacher Podcast! I’m so glad you’re here. In today’s episode, we’re diving into the power of language in a conversation I’m calling “Words Are Important.” This topic was sparked by a recent training I attended on Restorative Practices, where we spent a lot of time reflecting on how the words we choose can either build connection or create distance. Around the same time, I started reading Don’t Believe Everything You Think by Joseph Nguyen, and it really drove the point ...

Welcome to The Inspired Teacher Podcast! This week’s episode is a real-life reflection on those long, draining May days when exhaustion runs deeper than just being tired—it comes from how we react to the daily challenges of teaching. I share a recent moment when I found myself overwhelmed by student behavior and how a simple line from a meditation—“respond, rather than react”—helped reframe my thinking. It’s easy to fall into old patterns and respond out of habit, but taking a pause to check in ...

Welcome to The Inspired Teacher Podcast! You know that person who always has the best story, knows the best restaurant, and never misses a chance to prove they know more than you? Yeah... don’t be that person. In this episode, we’re digging into the power of intellectual humility—why admitting “I don’t know” can be one of the smartest things you do as an educator. Inspired by a sharp quote from Charlie Munger and grounded in the wisdom of Marcus Aurelius, we’ll explore how curiosity, not certain...

Welcome to The Inspired Teacher Podcast! In this episode, I’m diving into my winding journey with journaling—from Ryan Holiday’s Daily Stoic Journal to blank Moleskines and even a couple rounds with Permission to Pause . While I’ve loved parts of each, I often find myself craving something new. That’s when I stumbled upon a simple, effective journaling protocol shared by Andrew Huberman. Originally designed to support recovery, it’s actually perfect for anyone looking to build positive hab...

Welcome to the Inspired Teacher Podcast! Today, I want to be honest about something I think a lot of us struggle with—this constant drive to grow, improve, and be “better.” It sounds noble, right? But if you’re anything like me, that mindset...

Welcome to The Inspired Teacher Podcast! Today’s episode starts with a confession—I used to hate lunch duty. Even worse, I was asked to help clean up afterward, and I’ll admit it: I was kind of a jerk about it. I was annoyed, even angry, and...

Welcome to The Inspired Teacher Podcast! Lately, the weather here in southeastern Pennsylvania  has been just about perfect, and I’ve been making a point to enjoy it—with no earbuds, no distractions, just fresh air. It’s been good for the...

Welcome to The Inspired Teacher Podcast! Today, I’m reflecting on how my relationship with time has changed—from lingering in hallways with friends to rushing through the day just to get home. Inspired by Oliver Burkeman’s , I explore the idea...

Welcome to the Inspired Teacher Podcast! In this episode, I’m sharing a moment from right before spring break when I had a big plan for a Socratic Seminar… and then totally bailed on it. But here’s the thing—I’ve got an awesome grade-level...

Welcome to The Inspired Teacher Podcast! Last time, we talked about how important it is to surround yourself with the right people—but today, I want to flip that around a little. What about when you feel like the one bringing the bad vibes?...

Welcome to The Inspired Teacher Podcast! In today’s episode, I share a powerful reminder of why teaching is such a gift: getting to witness our students grow into the people they’re meant to be—and sometimes, if we’re lucky, cheering them on...