Oxygen for Educators™
Episodes
Radical Hope: Make Room for Joy and Play
24 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
When the world feels heavy, joy and play can feel out of reach—or even inappropriate. This episode explores how small moments of lightness and freed...
Deb Dana: Befriending Your Nervous System
17 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
If you've ever wondered why you can't access your patience, clarity, or purpose when it matters most—this episode explains why. In this conversation...
Radical Hope: What Helps Us Stay
10 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Most of us aren't asking, "What is my purpose?" We're asking, "Does this matter—and how do I keep showing up when it's hard?" This episode explores ...
Dr. Rick Flores: From Detention to Doctorate
03 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
As a child, Ricky Flores sometimes got detention on purpose — because staying after school meant he would get something to eat. What he didn't know ...
Radical Hope: Belonging Without Shrinking
27 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
We all want to belong. But in many environments, belonging can come with an unspoken cost: becoming slightly less yourself. In this episode, we explor...
Amanda Carroll The Case for Relational Leadership
20 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Supporting students means supporting the people who care for them. In this episode, we talk with counseling leader Amanda Carroll about what it means ...
Radical Hope: Holding What Hurts Without Losing Yourself
13 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Sometimes we don't feel like ourselves — but nothing dramatic has happened. In this episode, we explore the quiet losses that shape us, the grief th...
Alejandra Barbosa
06 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we sit down with Alejandra Barbosa, CEO of The Educator Collective, to explore leadership, complexity, and why supporting the human b...
Radical Hope: Spinning a Web of Support
27 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Self-care steadies us, but it was never meant to carry the whole load. In this episode, we explore community care, distributed strain, and how strengt...
Zara Jones
20 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Join us for a conversation with 22-year-old Zara Jones, who brings an intergenerational lens to self-care, resilience, and how educator regulation sha...
Radical Hope: Co-Regulation-We Were never meant to Do This Alone
13 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Self-care matters — and it has limits. In this episode, we explore co-regulation, the science of shared safety, and why nervous systems were never m...
Dr. Lindsay Whorton
06 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when school leadership jobs become impossible to do, well, no matter how capable the people holding them are? In this conversation, Miche...
Chris and Michelle Talk 2026
30 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Chris and Michelle share personal news and plans for 2026. ------------------------ Visit the Oxygen for Educators website to learn ...
Oxygen Replay - Amanda Muhammad, MA
23 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Michelle Kinder and Chris Kent Phelps interview mindfulness-based stress management consultant Amanda Muhammad, exploring preventativ...
Oxygen Replay - Dr. Laura Lockhart
16 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This episode offers a practical conversation with Dr. Laura Lockhart about how educators can manage stress, understand their triggers, and show up wit...
Nicholas Ditto
19 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
SUMMARY In this episode of Oxygen for Educators, Michelle Kinder sits down with Nicholas Ditto, founder and CEO of Fort Worth STEAM Academy, for an ho...
Oxygen Replay - PART 2 Alex Vesely-Frankl, Viktor Frankl's Grandson
12 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Opt in HERE for your gifted copy of the Oxygen for Educators magazine! ( https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdj3tz0r6L2KIAJJ5dTnzx3CfXka2fq...
Oxygen Replay - PART 1 Alex Vesely-Frankl, Viktor Frankl's Grandson
05 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Don't forget to opt in HERE for your gifted copy of the Oxygen for Educators magazine! ( https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdj3tz0r6L2KIAJJ...
Jose Villasenor
28 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
SUMMARY Jose "Joe" Villaseñor has one of the most unexpected paths into education you'll ever hear: TV production, seminary, bail bonds, school cou...
Maurine Molak
21 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Educators, we're gifting you the Oxygen for Educators keepsake magazine. Opt in here: https://forms.gle/AmdrpsnP1GNKXEag8 SUMMARY After losin...
Radical Hope Update
14 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Educators, we're gifting you the Oxygen for Educators keepsake magazine. Opt in here: https://forms.gle/AmdrpsnP1GNKXEag8 Before Radical Hope re...
Oxygen Replay - Dr. Maricela Helm
07 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Coming early 2026: Get your FREE copy of Oxygen for Educators magazine — radical hope delivered straight to your home, no strings attached. Opt i...
Radical Hope: How to Stay Steady When Everything is Shifting
31 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Coming early 2026: Get your FREE copy of Oxygen for Educators magazine — radical hope delivered straight to your home, no strings attached. Opt i...
Oxygen Replay-Dr.Shanon Zais
24 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
SUMMARY We are re-releasing this conversation with Rockwall ISD leader Dr. Shanon Zais because late October can feel like a grind for educators. This ...
Radical Hope: Attention Management for Mental Health PART 2
17 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Coming early 2026: Get your FREE copy of Oxygen for Educators magazine — radical hope delivered straight to your home, no strings attached. Opt in h...
Sharon Bradley M.Ed.
10 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
SUMMARY This one feels like a deep breath. Sharon Bradley lets us into the story that made her an educator, teaching her brother what school had...
Radical Hope: Attention Management for Mental Health PART 1
03 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
SUMMARY In Radical Hope: Attention Management for Mental Health (Part 1), Michelle Kinder explores how the way we direct our attention shapes not o...
Rebecka Peterson
26 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
SUMMARY: The way you see students today can change a trajectory tomorrow. In this episode of Oxygen for Educators, 2023 National Teacher of the Year ...
Radical Hope: Coping Flexibility
19 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
SUMMARY: In this Oxygen for Educators Radical Hope episode, Michelle Kinder gets practical about "coping flexibility," the everyday skill of noticing ...
Claudia Vega
12 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
SUMMARY In this episode of Oxygen for Educators, Claudia Vega, former Dallas principal and founder of Whose Books and ARCO, walks us through building ...
Radical Hope: Inner Critic, Inner Mentor
05 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
SUMMARY Educators are carrying more than ever, and in the middle of all that noise, the inner critic often shouts the loudest. In this episode of th...
Heather Junker
29 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
SUMMARY In this episode of Oxygen for Educators, we sit down with Heather Junker to talk about what it really means to be a lifelong learner in educat...
Radical Hope: Tender and Fierce Self-Compassion
22 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
SUMMARY Michelle Kinder unpacks what self-compassion really looks like in everyday life. She talks about both the tender, nurturing side we usually th...
Brenda Scott, M.S Ed
15 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
SUMMARY This episode feels like sitting down for coffee with someone who's walked the walk and really cares about people. Brenda Scott, now the Dir...
Radical Hope: Your Nervous System's Hidden Radar
08 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
SUMMARY Ever feel like some days you're calm and grounded, and others you're just… barely holding it together? In this episode of Radical Hope, Mi...
Tausha Nickleberry
01 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
SUMMARY Get ready to meet a woman whose story will stay with you long after the episode ends. In this raw and transparent interview, Michelle Kinder s...
Radical Hope: Befriending Your Nervous System
25 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
SUMMARY Join host Michelle Kinder in this episode of Radical Hope as she explores the transformative practice of befriending your nervous system. Di...
Dr. Shanon Zais
18 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
SUMMARY In this episode, we sit down with the wise, wholehearted, and purpose-driven Dr. Shanon Zais, principal of Rockwall High School's ninth-grade ...
Radical Hope: Balancing Realism and Possibility
11 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
SUMMARY In this special mini-sode, host Michelle Kinder launches Radical Hope: Inner Work with a Ripple Effect—a new short-form series from Oxygen f...
Helping Kids Cope with the Texas Floods
08 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
SUMMARY Texas is grieving. Even for those once or twice removed from the direct impact, it's hard to think about anything other than the catastrophic ...
Dr. Summer Rose
04 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
SUMMARY In this episode, we sit down with the radiant and deeply grounded Dr. Summer Rose, a clinical psychologist and leader at Communities In School...
Rob Kowalski
27 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
SUMMARY In this episode, we sit down with the thoughtful and deeply grounded Rob Kowalski, an eighth-grade humanities teacher at Parish Middle School ...
Dr. Laura Lockhart
20 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
SUMMARY In this episode, we sit down with the wise and wonderful Dr. Laura Lockhart to talk about something every educator wrestles with—how we show...
Brent Beasley
13 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
SUMMARY: In this conversation, Brent shares his journey from ministry to education philanthropy, offering deep insight into the role of love, communi...
Dr. Laura Latta
06 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Chris and Michelle introduce the brilliant Dr. Laura Latta, Executive Director of the Tulsa Higher Education Consortium—who Chris h...
Mrs. Careli Lopez
30 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
SUMMARY "When You Love the Student First" For the first time on Oxygen for Educators, the guest was nominated by students—and not just any student...
Dr. Maricela Helm
23 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
SUMMARY This episode is extra special—our producer, Katie Worden, had the privilege of working under the incredible leadership of Dr. Maricela Hel...
Dr. Jeannie Stone
16 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
SUMMARY This episode is a special one. Michelle Kinder sits down with Dr. Jeannie Stone, a former superintendent and fierce advocate for equity in ...
Robert Selders Jr.
09 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
SUMMARY In this rich and layered episode, Michelle Kinder and Chris Kent Phelps kick things off with a heartfelt introduction before handing the mic t...
Dr. John Gasko
02 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
SUMMARY In this episode, Michelle Kinder sits down with Dr. John Gasko for a raw and powerful conversation about what it really takes to show up wel...
Kathryn Kennedy, PhD
25 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
SUMMARY In this conversation, Michelle Kinder sits down with Katherine Kennedy to unpack the real challenges educators face—burnout, secondary traum...
PART 2 Alex Vesely-Frankl, Viktor Frankl's Grandson
18 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
SUMMARY: In this uninterrupted episode, hosts Michelle Kinder and Chris Kent Phelps present part 2 of their interview with Alex Vesely-Frankl, Viktor ...
PART 1 Alex Vesely-Frankl, Viktor Frankl's Grandson
11 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
SUMMARY: In this special episode, we interview Alex Vesely, grandson of the legendary Viktor Frankl. Alex continues his grandfather's impactful work...
Byron Sanders
04 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
SUMMARY Byron Sanders shares his journey from Oak Cliff to becoming a champion for educational equity. He discusses the urgent need for trauma-infor...
Amanda Muhammad, MA
28 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
SUMMARY In this episode, Michelle Kinder and Chris Kent Phelps introduce an insightful interview with Amanda Muhammad, a mindfulness-based stress ma...
Mark Crotty, MLA
14 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
****Mark mentioned that although he hasn't done public writing since leaving his job in Dallas in 2019, his blog with old posts is still available ...
BONUS: Tacky Box Time for Adults
24 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This is a reflection exercise from Ripplemaker Project, led by Michelle Kinder, inspired by Tacky Box Time. It guides participants through a structure...
Telisa Brown, M.Ed
21 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Oxygen for Educators, hosts Michelle Kinder and Chris Kent Phelps engage in a heartfelt conversation with Talisa Brown, an educator...
Kem Edwards, M.S., LPC-S
31 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Summary In this conversation, Michelle Kinder and Kem Edwards delve into the challenges educators face, highlighting the importance of mental health ...
Dr. Tom Brandt
17 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
SUMMARY "You can do both. You can have this job and self-care." "Self-care is not selfish; it's essential." "Burnout is a real thing." In this episo...
What Kids Need in Times of Crisis and Uncertainty
13 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Summary In this conversation, Michelle Kinder discusses how to support children during times of crisis, particularly in the context of natural disaste...
Jackie Orr, M.Ed, CSC
27 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Oxygen for Educators, hosts Michelle Kinder and Chris Kent Phelps engage with Jackie Orr, a school counselor celeb...
Eric Chandler, M.Ed. Leadership
13 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Oxygen for Educators, hosts Michelle Kinder and Chris Kent Phelps break down the insightful interview with Eric Chandler, the leade...
The Art of Rest
02 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Michelle Kinder discusses the importance of self-care and well-being for educators, inspired by a quote from Nadia Bolzweber. The con...
Dr. Sylvia Lopez
11 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This conversation explores the critical challenges faced by educators and students, emphasizing the need for strong support systems and resources for ...
5 Ideas to Ground You Post-Election
06 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It's the day after the election and our country finds itself in a moment of major transition that will be elating for some and trigger despair for oth...
Coming Soon, Oxygen for Educators!
17 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to our new podcast! We're diving into the overwhelming demands placed on today's educators, demands that too often lead to burnout and exhaust...
BONUS: An Interview with Our Sponsor, the Original Tacky Box Kid
16 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this conversation, Emory Phelps, known as the original Tacky Box Kid, shares her perspective of growing up with Tacky Box, which promotes kindnes...