Educating Mindfully Learncast

Episode Overview: Presence and embodiment are the two core areas of Educating Mindfully's Mindfulness-Based Learning Framework that are at the root of each of the framework's components. 

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Lindsey Frank explored the relationship between mindfulness, presence, and embodiment through core skill components while sharing personal examples of how disconnection can impact teaching, leading, and student engagement. 

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She provided practical strategies for cultivating presence and embodiment in educational settings, including mindfulness practices and resources for further learning and professional development.

Reflection Questions:

• When during your day do you most notice yourself becoming disconnected—either from your body, breath, or the people around you? What helps you “catch it, check it, and change it” to return to presence?

• Reflect on one quality or mindful skill you hope to nurture in others (students, staff, or family). How might you more fully embody that quality in your own actions, words, and way of being this week?

• Think of a recent moment when your own level of presence or regulation influenced the energy of a room or group. What did you notice shift—and what does that teach you about the ripple effect of your embodiment within your learning community?

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Episode Resources: 

Educating Mindfully's Book (Lindsey mentioned Chapter 21)

Mindfulness Toolbox Free Download (Senses resource included) 

The Butterfly Within Website (Lindsey's Transformational Coaching)

Big Change, Better You, Beautiful World (Lindsey's children's book she shared)

Catch It, Check It, Change It (Strategy Lindsey mentioned) 

Guest Bio: Lindsey Frank, M.Ed. is the President and Operational Team Director of the Coalition of Schools Educating Mindfully, where she led the co-creation of Educating Mindfully's Mindfulness-Based Learning Framework and Mindfulness-Based Learning Micro-Credential Program. Lindsey has served in learning communities across age ranges and roles as a learning behavior specialist, interventionist, classroom teacher, districtwide climate and social-emotional learning coach, and has her master’s in Educational Leadership. Lindsey was instrumental in her former district in developing the district SEL team, was one of the first SEL coaches in her state, and has mentored new SEL coaches on their journeys.  Inspired by her years and passion in education to support well-being, Lindsey developed her company, The Butterfly Within®, empowering heart-centered changemakers of all ages, especially educators and leaders, to cultivate courageous, calm, and connected communities. She is an award-winning children’s book author and has received specialized certifications in transformational coaching, yoga, mindfulness, and meditation. Her life motto is, “Be generous with your time, go where others are afraid to go, give it all you’ve got, and love what you do.”

Episode Overview: The episode is focused on the framework component of Culturally Affirming and Equitable Practices within Educating Mindfully's Mindfulness-Based Learning Framework.

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Lindsey Frank and Dr. Kristi Morale explored culturally affirming and equitable practices in education, discussing how to build mindful learning communities where all members feel seen, heard, and valued. 

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They examined the intersection of mindfulness and cultural competence, emphasizing the intersection's role in supporting identity affirmation and creating safe spaces for students.

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The conversation concluded with practical recommendations for educators, including the importance of personal sharing, incremental changes, and resources for implementing culturally affirming mindfulness practices in the classroom.

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Reflection Questions:

• Which of the four mindfulness-based learning skills: self-regulation, self-connection, decision-making, or social connection feels most alive in your practice right now?

• Which one could use more attention?

Episode Resources: 

Educating Mindfully's Book (Chapters 4, 10, 32, 36, 40)

The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Kristi's Company)

The TeachHER Podcast (Kristi's Podcast)

Unearthing Joy: A Guide to Culturally and Historically Responsive Curriculum and Instruction (Kristi mentioned Dr. Gholdy Muhammad's work)

Cultivating Genius (Dr. Gholdy Muhammad)

Values Identification Activity from Brené Brown

Values Identification Activity from Elena Aguilar 

Dr. Sharroky Hollie's work (VABBing: Validate, Affirm, Build, Bridge)

Band-Aid Equity Lesson (any grade level)

Community Tree Lesson Inspiration (any grade level) 

Guest Bio: Dr. Kristi Morale is a passionate educator, speaker, and advocate for equitable, healing-centered schools. With over 15 years in education, she began her career in elementary classrooms before transitioning to social-emotional learning (SEL) and behavior support. She holds degrees from Dillard University, the University of Southern California, and Texas Southern University, where her dissertation examined how SEL practices affect the discipline rates of Black middle school girls. Kristi is the founder of The Innocent Brown Girl Project and host of The TeachHER Podcast. She currently supports middle school students and staff as a Guidance Facilitator and serves on the board of Educating Mindfully.

Episode Overview: Lindsey Frank and Kalee Thompson discussed trauma-supportive practices in education. They defined trauma and emphasizing the importance of using intentional language when discussing trauma. Kalee explained that emotional safety is essential and shared powerful strategies for co-regulating.

Reflection Questions:

• How do consequences differ in trauma-supportive vs. traditional systems?

• What energetic boundaries do you have in place to support your nervous system? How do you hold those boundaries, even when things get stressful?

• What practices help avoid re-traumatizing marginalized students?

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Episode Resources: 

Educating Mindfully's Book (Chapters 6, 7, 33, 38)

Mood Meter

RULER Approach

Zones of Regulation

Window of Tolerance

Trauma-Sensitive Mindfulness

The Deepest Well

Restorative Conversations

Trauma-Informed Teaching Strategies

Color and Psychological Functioning: A Review of Theoretical and Empirical Work

The Psychology of Color

The National Child Traumatic Stress Network

MindUp 

Guest Bio: As the Lower School Coordinator of Health and Wellness at Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School, Kalee Thompson is a heart-centered counselor and holistic educator with a passion for whole-school wellness. She holds a master's degree in Social Work and has extensive experience as a school counselor and teacher in schools across the U.S. and India, including six years at the American Embassy School in New Delhi. She is a certified yoga teacher and mindfulness guide, as well as the creator of a student-led mindfulness program. She is also the author of the upcoming book, One Breath at a Time, which focuses on educator wellness.

Episode Overview: Host Lindsey Frank and guest Stephanie Letourneau explore Stephanie’s REST framework—Resilience, Emotional Wellness, and Sustainable Teaching. They advocate that self-care is a strategic necessity, not a luxury, and share eight health pillars (like sleep, hydration, and awareness) to prevent burnout and model mindfulness.

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Reflection Questions:

• Which type of rest do you find yourself neglecting most often, physical, emotional, mental, sensory, social, creative, or spiritual? How does that show up in your daily life?

• What signals does your body or mind give you when you’re running on empty, and how can you respond sooner next time?

• What is one small, meaningful change you could make this week to honor your need for rest at work, at home, or in your relationships?

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Episode Resources: 

Educating Mindfully's Book 

Breathe 4 Change

Stephanie's Self-Care Tracker

Stephanie's Book: The Educator's Guide To REST

Lindsey's Book: Big Change, Better You, Beautiful World 

Lindsey's Book: The Superpower of Your HEART 

Work-Life Integration Voices Blog Post

Educating Mindfully's Self-Care Session Youtube Playlist

Dr. Christopher Willard's website

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Guest Bio: Stephanie Letourneau, M.Ed., RYT-500, is a veteran educator with over 20 years of experience in Methuen Public Schools and an adjunct professor at Merrimack College. She holds master’s degrees in Reading (Endicott College) and in Social-Emotional Learning, Yoga, and Mindfulness (Breathe For Change). As creator of the REST (Resiliency, Emotional Wellness, and Sustainable Teaching) framework, she leads research-based workshops and graduate courses that promote educator well-being. A frequent conference presenter, she advocates for mindfulness and brain-based wellness in schools. Her forthcoming book, The Educator’s Guide to REST, will be published by Routledge in February 2026. Certified in SEL, Mindfulness, Yoga, and Brain Longevity®. 

Connect at mindfulteacherstephanie@gmail.com.

Episode Overview: The episode is focused on the framework component of Mindful Self-Connection within Educating Mindfully's Mindfulness-Based Learning Framework.

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Matt and Lindsey distinguished how mindful self-connection is different from self-awareness by emphasizing embodiment. They highlighted that this process is not linear but a continuous cycle. Matt emphasized that mindful self-connection requires flexibility and understanding that transformation can occur at any stage.

They explored strategies and how educators' internal states and emotional literacy influence school climates, the importance of self-connection for fostering safety in educational settings, barriers to mindful self-connection, and the importance of mindful self-connection in the face of technological and societal changes.

Reflection Questions:

• In what ways do you tend to define yourself by what you do rather than who you are? How does that shape your daily experience?

• What signals (physical, emotional, or mental) let you know when you’ve drifted out of self-connection?

• What daily rituals or micro-practices help you return to yourself, especially in moments of stress, hurry, or doubt?

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Episode Resources: 

Educating Mindfully's Book (Chapters 27, 29, 33, 34, 35, 40)

How We Feel App

Feelings Wheel Example

Restorative Practices Resource

Nonviolent Communication Tool

Tethered & Whole Podcast and Newsletter (MatthewWeld.com)

Books: 

Atlas of the Heart: Mapping Meaningful Connection and the Language of Human Experience

Set Boundaries, Find Peace: A Guide to Reclaiming Yourself

Permission to Feel 

How Emotions are Made

Mindfulness in Plain English

Full Catastrophe Living

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Guest Bio: Matthew Weld is the Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Coach for Illinois’ SEL Hub #5, where he leads regional and statewide initiatives to strengthen educator well-being, mindfulness, and emotional resilience. Through workshops, coaching, and his weekly Jumpstart SEL newsletter, he empowers educators to integrate self-awareness and regulation into their classrooms and lives. Matt also directs TeachIllinois.org, chairs the New Directions in Education Conference, and hosts the Tethered & Whole podcast. His book is Tethered and Whole: Avoiding Educator Burnout With Skills to Build Resilience. A Registered Yoga Instructor, Google Certified Trainer, and former Educating Mindfully Board Member, Matt helps build healthier school cultures by modeling calm leadership, compassionate communication, and mindful professional practice. Connect at matthewweld.com.

Episode Overview: The episode is focused on the framework component of Mindful Self-Regulation within Educating Mindfully's Mindfulness-Based Learning Framework.

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Carrie and Lindsey discussed the importance of Mindful Self-Regulation in educational settings. Carrie shared her personal experiences as a former classroom teacher and her current work as a professional learning facilitator. They explored how mindful self-regulation supports other elements of the Mindfulness-Based Learning Framework. Carrie emphasized the need for educators to create their own "menu" of regulatory practices that work for them, while Lindsey highlighted the importance of creativity and autonomy in implementing these practices. They also discussed how transitions and systemic pressures can impact educators' ability to regulate themselves and their students. 

This inspiring episode validated our emotions and our path, and affirmed that "We all can become a mountain range of presence together." through Mindful Self-Regulation. 

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Invitations: 

• Saying, "I choose to..." 

• Creating a menu of practices that cultivate Mindful Self-Regulation 

• Taking a minute to intentionally transition before/after learning 

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Episode Resources: 

Educating Mindfully's Book (Chapters 27, 28, 34, 35)

Harvard Health Article: Self-regulation for adults: Strategies for getting a handle on emotions and behavior

NARM-Informed Professional Training

Dr. Dan Siegel's Window of Tolerance

Guest Bio: Carrie Rohrbach is an educational, writing, and spiritual thought-partner, offering support to individuals and communities. She is a former classroom teacher with over 20 years of experience teaching and tutoring. Carrie is pursuing her doctorate in Transformative Action in Education and her dissertation considers the use of Tarot cards as a means of mindful self-inquiry to heal from the trauma of educational burnout and systemic oppression. She is a NARM trained trauma-informed professional and a registered yoga teacher and social-emotional learning facilitator through Breathe for Change. Carrie currently works as a professional learning facilitator at a Sacramento-based nonprofit. Connect at empoweringeducator.org.

Episode Overview: The episode is focused on the framework component of Mindful Social-Connection within Educating Mindfully's Mindfulness-Based Learning Framework.

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Erin Shook and Lindsey Frank discussed the importance of mindful social connection for happiness and well-being. They shared the difference between social awareness and social connection. Their conversation included the impact of technology, disconnection, supportive strategies, and embedding play for students AND adults. 

Episode Resources:
The Anxious Generation
Let’s Mingle Cards (guided question prompts)
First Five (daily email that promotes socialization between students—it’s FABULOUS!)
Loosli Learning TPT (Erin highly recommends these resources!)

Self-related:
Reclaim Reflection Questions (one of the focus points of her Educator Mom Group coaching program)
Boundary Podcast (She loves this short analogy from Matt Weld’s podcast--Matt was on our Learncast, too!)
Overwhelm Podcast (great Mel Robbins podcast)

Guest Bio: Erin Shook is a high school teacher with over 17 years of experience, and is passionate about creating supportive environments where students thrive academically and personally. Known for her innovative teaching that combines psychology content with life skills, like self-awareness and social connection, she also brings her perspective as a mom of four to help educators balance career, family, and well-being. Erin is committed to promoting mental and physical wellness for teachers and students alike, fostering connection, self-awareness, and personal growth both inside the classroom and beyond.

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If you’re interested in learning more about building mindful social connections with your students or self, please feel free to reach out to Erin Shook at teachwell.bewell6@gmail.com. She also has a LinkedIn and Instagram account where I post teacher-wellness related content @teachwell.bewell

Coming soon