The Mindful Schools Podcast

Our team closes the season with this final podcast episode. We're talking about impermanence and transitions. Argos, Megan, and Alan share mindful strategies that support them to meet transitions with resilience, courage, and grace.

In a "normal" year, schools and educators have response plans in place. If this, then this. But what happens in a year like 2020-2021? How can we support our students and communities? The Mindful Schools team candidly discusses what's arising in their communities and how they're unpacking a year's worth of challenges during *yet another* transition back to school.

We're living amidst many challenges right now. What's supporting you, right now? Alan, Argos, and Megan talk candidly about the role that mindfulness plays in acknowledging and embracing emotions, and perhaps being with them in a more skillful way.Created by educators, for educators. Learn more about Mindful Schools at www.mindfulschools.org.

Mindfulness is spreading. Even toy companies are starting to get into the mix. In this episode, we explore the opportunities and pitfalls that come with the commercialization of mindfulness.Created by educators, for educators. Learn more about Mindful Schools at www.mindfulschools.org.

Shelter-in-place has challenged Mindful Schools to deeply rethink how we support educators at our in-depth, week-long (and typically in-person) mindfulness retreats––a focal element of our Mindful Teacher Certification Program. Megan, Argos, and Alan discuss how the shift to virtual-at-home retreats has opened new doors to support and empower educators to integrate mindfulness into daily life.

When we first watched countries sheltering-in-place in the spring, many of us experienced disbelief. I could never do that, many thought. Yet here we are, again, riding another wave of shelter-in-place. Megan, Argos, and Alan discuss interesting similarities––both delights and struggles––of social distancing and silent mindfulness retreats.Silent retreat is an impactful element of the Mindful Schools Mindful Teacher Certification Program and Schoolwide Implementation Program. Learn more about these immersive year-long programs.

We're all feeling the effects of sustained uncertainty, stress, and social distancing. When does this all amount to burnout? What does mindfulness and self-care have to do with self-preservation in the face of burnout?This episode highlights Crystal McCreary's recent talk on burnout with our current Mindful Schools Mindful Teacher Certification Program and Schoolwide Implementation Program cohorts. Listen and get a window into these immersive programs.

Myth: mindfulness is about me and my inner world. Alan and Crystal talk about how walking in someone else's shoes––being radically empathetic––can support us to move toward ‘we' in these disconnected and divided times.

Discussing something you're passionate about can be difficult––whether you're at work, at school, or at home. This week we're talking about the willingness to listen, to disagree, to be open, and to be uncomfortable. Explore this resource: Three Elements of Mindful Communication from Mindful Schools.

How can communication norms and agreements help us feel supported as we have conversations (and disagreements) with one another? This week, we talk about the Mindful Schools relational agreements and how they show up in our Mindful Teacher Certification Program and our work together.

Polarization runs so deep right now. It feels like everything we do is a political act. What does it mean to hold a teaching space, where you can bring your full self, and be loving, even when point of views are different?

This week, we talk about how to work with expectations, especially while many families are juggling virtual and hybrid learning during the pandemic. As educators and parents, when is “good enough” good enough?

This time of year, we're anticipating returning to school––faculty calls, juggling, busyness, overwhelm. There is so much to do. This week, Megan, Alan, and Argos talk about their go-to strategies that support them during overwhelm.

The anticipation of back-to-school is amplified tenfold because, this year, we're in a pandemic and navigating online and hybrid learning and a lot of unknowns. How can we bring our focus to connection and to what is certain?

Meet our Mindful Schools faculty and podcast hosts, Megan Sweet, Argos Gonzalez, and Alan Brown.