TAUGHT

Send us Fan Mail In this week’s Taught episode, I talk with researcher Amanda Hiner, PhD student in Industrial-Organizational Psychology, about the Total Teacher Health project and what happens when schools move beyond surface-level “wellness” and start tackling root causes. When the Total Teacher Health Project began collecting data across six New England schools, the results were hard to ignore:...

Send us Fan Mail How do we create schools where neurodivergent students and their teachers can thrive? In this episode, psychodynamic counsellor Liessa Callahan (United Kingdom) draws on three decades as a teacher and special educational needs coordinator to reveal the invisible struggles in today’s classrooms. From sensory overwhelm to unsustainable curriculum demands, she explains how outdated s...

Send us Fan Mail Workplace culture strategist and corporate attorney Luaskya Nonon, author of Embracing the Future of Work , joins us this week for a powerful conversation on what it really takes to build thriving organizations. Luaskya shares how well-intentioned workplace initiatives often fail to reach everyone and what leaders can do differently. Drawing from her expertise as an Afro-Latina at...

Send us Fan Mail Educator burnout is a compounding global crisis, yet many wellness efforts focus solely on individual strategies while ignoring the systems that contribute to stress and exhaustion. In this episode, Misty Bonta shares her journey from school psychologist to founder of Get Psyched Inc. She reflects on how early career burnout shaped her advocacy for systemic solutions to educator w...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, trauma recovery coach Amy Huggins breaks down the powerful concept of neuroception —our nervous system’s behind-the-scenes radar that’s constantly scanning for safety or threat. We talk about what trauma really is (hint: it’s not just the event, but our body’s response to it), and why two educators can experience the same stressful moment—like a student flipping d...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when we prioritize the well-being of those who care for our children? In this episode, Lisa Dee Gonzalez, Senior Health Promotion Coordinator at the University of Colorado School of Public Health, shares how school wellness programs can support both student nutrition and teacher well-being. Through initiatives like the School Wellness Program and Fostering Resilience...

Send us Fan Mail In this powerful episode, Heather Vaughn, EdS, Transformative Leader and Educator, shares her journey from early-career burnout to leadership grounded in humanity and wellness. During our conversation, Heather reveals both the dangerous reality of burnout culture and practical pathways to organizational change. We explore high-functioning depression, the cost of overachievement, a...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when the very traits that fuel your success lead to collapse? In this raw and powerful episode, Army veteran and coach Craig Madden shares how years of emotional suppression in the British military led to physical and mental breakdown, and how he rebuilt his life from the ground up. Now “The Dad Stress Coach,” Craig challenges toxic norms around masculinity and leader...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever wondered why so many passionate, dedicated professionals across industries eventually burn out? The answer may lie not in individual failings but in our workplace systems and leadership structures. In this conversation with Snezana Djuric, a globally experienced executive coach and leadership trainer, we uncover the universal challenges that professionals face regard...

Send us Fan Mail What if the key to combating burnout isn't found in productivity hacks or wellness programs, but in how deeply we connect with one another? In this episode, award-winning slam poet Andre Bradford takes us on a journey through the landscape of purposeful empathy and its transformative power in educational settings and beyond. As owner and performer at SC Says Poetry, Andre did...

Send us Fan Mail Something profound is happening in education systems worldwide. Beneath lesson plans and standardized tests lies a deeper crisis: burnout is pushing devoted educators to their breaking points—and beyond. TAUGHT is evolving to meet this critical moment. In this special transition episode, original creator and host Melissa LeFort passes the torch to Amy Schamberg, signaling a powerf...

Send us Fan Mail Educator burnout isn’t just an individual struggle—it’s a global public health crisis. Season 2 of Taught shifts the focus from personal stories to evidence-based strategies, exploring how to prevent burnout, strengthen educator well-being, and build healthier school systems. In this trailer, new host Amy Schamberg—a school psychologist, board-certified health and wellness coach,...

Send us Fan Mail Ready to transform your relationship with time? Meet sKedule sUther, the revolutionary yet remarkably simple tool helping burnt-out professionals reclaim control of their schedules without adding more stress to their lives. When burnout expert Jamie London-Wahlberg found himself overwhelmed by competing priorities and multiple collaborations, he turned to sales veteran Tess Wall f...

Send us Fan Mail What's it worth to reclaim your happiness? For Rudy, it meant leaving behind a prestigious tech career and the only country he'd ever called home. Tech burnout has reached crisis levels, with nearly 60% of workers reporting feeling overwhelmed by responsibilities beyond their capacity. Behind these statistics are real people trapped in unsustainable cycles of overwork. R...

Send us Fan Mail Joe McQueen, author of "Calming Young Minds," doesn't just talk about education—he lives it every day. After 27 years working with youth that others often turn away from, Joe brings a raw authenticity to this powerful conversation about seeing the world through students' eyes and the systemic issues driving teacher burnout. "We forget that our kids develop...

Send us Fan Mail When Lynita Mitchell-Blackwell collapsed from exhaustion, her six-year-old daughter found her, covered her with a Disney princess blanket, and whispered goodnight. That moment should have been rock bottom. But like so many high-achievers, Lynita took a long weekend and went right back to her impossible schedule – until stage four endometriosis and fibroids the size of grapefruits...

Send us Fan Mail This episode dives into the often-unspoken struggles of teachers amid a landscape riddled with burnout and emotional turmoil. Join Diestene Williams, an established educator and advocate for teacher wellness who shares her powerful journey navigating the complexities of teaching, trauma, and recovery. In this conversation, we dissect the cultural pressures that lead to burnout and...

Send us Fan Mail Dive into the compelling world of education where passion meets challenge. Join us as we address the pressing issue of teacher burnout from a unique perspective. This episode features Rob Macleod, a seasoned educator who brings with him a wealth of experience and insight into the dynamics of teaching. We explore how misalignments between personal teaching styles and school culture...

Send us Fan Mail After grappling with years of uncertainty and misdiagnosis, Tristan finally received clarity when she was diagnosed with sunflower syndrome at 34. Her story is a testament to the resilience required when navigating life with a rare neurological condition. In this episode, we explore how such chronic health conditions extend beyond physical symptoms, intertwining with emotional exh...

Send us Fan Mail Ever wondered how students and staff navigate the traumatic aftermath of school shootings? Join me, Melissa Lefort, as I engage with two incredible women, Kaela and Michela, who have experienced this harrowing reality firsthand. Explore the depths of their resilience and discover the untold stories of teachers assuming unexpected leadership roles during crisis situations. Together...

Send us Fan Mail Discover how to transform math education and combat teacher burnout with insights from Jerry Knoellke, a retired high school math teacher and former AT&T business researcher. Jerry brings his wealth of experience to the table, discussing the hurdles educators face and offering his PRESS method, found in his book, Math Is Not Magic, as a practical solution to make math less int...

Send us Fan Mail Imagine waking up daily feeling utterly exhausted, yet pretending everything is fine. That's a reality many of us, especially educators, face with burnout. Together with burnout expert and spiritual guide, Jamie London Wollberg, we explore the roots of burnout and discuss powerful tools like the self-love audit and Healing Beyond Burnout webinar that can lead to genuine trans...

Send us Fan Mail After navigating my own frustrations with the traditional education system, I've found a deep passion for exploring non-traditional education paths, which led to the creation of "Taught." This episode is a part of my mission to build a community that speaks out about the state of education. Joining me is Joel Felsenstein, an inspiring music educator and advocate for...

Send us Fan Mail This episode delves into experiences of teacher burnout from a unique perspective—through the eyes of a student, Mimi. As she shares her transition from the U.S. school system to education in Portugal, listeners gain insight into the pressures faced by both students and educators in a modern educational landscape.  Support the show Read the Episode Transcript on the TAUGHT website...

Send us Fan Mail Could the silent struggles of educators be the key to understanding the widespread issue of teacher burnout? Join us, as we navigate the complex landscape that many teachers face, particularly in special education. Our conversation pulls back the curtain on the unspoken agreements that keep educators from voicing their genuine concerns and aspirations. We dive into the emotional t...