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 Director of Cultural Intelligence for SMU Athletics, shares her story from being a first-generation college student to becoming a leader who helps others reach their full potential. She talks about why cultural intelligence matters, how truly seeing and understanding someone’s background can change everything, and why relationships are the heartbeat of student success.

Through personal stories and hard-earned wisdom, Brenda reminds us that educators can be real-life superheroes, creating safe spaces, celebrating milestones, and giving students the confidence to dream bigger. It’s an inspiring conversation that will leave you thinking about the small, intentional ways we can make others feel seen, supported, and capable of more than they imagined.

Brenda Scott is the author of All I Need Is My Tablet, a great story for children when it comes to technology and family. She is also the founder of BScott Visions, LLC, a company dedicated to helping people reach their full potential and improve their quality of life. Her work emphasizes building strong structures, safe, supportive environments where individuals can discover their strengths, develop skills, and prepare for the future.

You can connect with Brenda on LinkedIn or reach her by email at bscottvisions@gmail.com or brendas@smu.edu.

CHAPTERS

00:00 The Impact of Educators
03:01 Introducing Brenda Scott
06:08 Brenda's Journey and Mission
09:04 Cultural Intelligence in Education
11:47 Advice for Educators
14:54 Building Relationships in the Classroom
17:44 Understanding Different Backgrounds
20:55 Navigating Current Challenges
23:44 The Importance of Belonging
26:54 Personal Stories and Legacy
29:56 Real-Life Impact of Support
32:42 The Role of Educators
35:37 Cultural Language and Connection
38:42 The Power of Empathy
41:35 Magic Wand for Cultural Intelligence
44:36 The Role of Teachers as Superheroes
47:32 Final Thoughts and Reflections

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Oxygen for Educators is proudly sponsored by Tacky Box.

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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, Michelle Kinder unpacks neuroception, your nervous system’s built-in radar that constantly scans for danger or safety (without you even knowing it).

She explains how our state creates our story, when we’re stressed or shut down, we see the world differently than when we feel safe and connected.

“Sometimes long after the threat has passed, we’re still carrying the cat hair.”
Even subtle past experiences can shape how we show up today.

Michelle shares tools for tuning into your nervous system and stacking your day with moments that move you toward calm, connection, and purpose. It’s not about mastering your nervous system, it’s about being in relationship with it.

Short, powerful listen. Totally worth it.

CHAPTERS

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 sits down with Tausha Nickleberry—an educator, leader, and fierce believer in the transformative power of connection and hope. Tausha’s journey from a traumatic childhood marked by domestic violence and instability, through a life-altering teen pregnancy at 16, to becoming a passionate advocate for students and school communities, is nothing short of remarkable.

She shares how one caring adult—her high school’s teen pregnancy social worker—offered her not solutions, but something far more lasting: a safe space and unwavering belief. That quiet act of showing up sparked a ripple effect that changed Tausha’s trajectory and, years later, that of her son—now a teacher and coach himself. Her story is a testament to the unseen impact educators can have, even when they feel like they aren’t doing enough.

Michelle and co-host Chris Kent Phelps unpack the conversation with awe and admiration, calling Tausha’s life a “love letter to educators.” They explore the power of vulnerability, the quiet force of hope, and how deeply seeing another person can be the most radical, life-changing act.

This episode is more than inspiring—it’s a reminder that every moment of connection matters. Listen in and be reminded why the work you do has the power to transform lives.

CHAPTERS

00:00 The Power of Connection and Hope
05:53 Tasha's Journey: Overcoming Adversity
16:55 The Impact of Educators
21:48 The Ripple Effect of Hope
29:21 Seeing Potential in Others
38:59 The Importance of Understanding Behavior
47:34 Embracing Our Stories
54:11 The Role of Self-Care in Education

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Oxygen for Educators is produced by Ripplemaker Project and proudly sponsored by Tacky Box.

Follow on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/oxygen-for-educators/id1775510846

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Website: https://www.tackybox.com/podcast

Thank you to our sponsor, Tacky Box!

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SUMMARY

Join host Michelle Kinder in this episode of Radical Hope as she explores the transformative practice of befriending your nervous system. Discover how understanding and nurturing your inner state can lead to steadiness, interrupt shame spirals, and reconnect you with your truest self. Drawing from the insights of polyvagal theory, Michelle shares practical ways to move from survival mode into a state of clarity, compassion, and connection. Tune in to learn how this daily practice can unlock your potential and help you deliver your unique gifts to the world.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• “Befriending your nervous system changes everything.”
• “You can’t give what you don’t have, and you don’t have what you’re disconnected from.”
• Burnout is not a personal failure—it's a sign that something deeper needs care.
• Rest, presence, and boundaries aren’t luxuries—they’re lifelines.

CHAPTERS

00:00 – Regulated Leadership and Nervous System Wisdom
03:18 – The Science of Safety and Belonging
07:12 – The Inner Work of Showing Up
11:44 – Recognizing Burnout and Shame
15:06 – You Don’t Have to Abandon Yourself
18:39 – Discomfort vs. Danger
22:03 – Practical Tools for Reconnection
26:55 – Slowing Down the Urgency
30:41 – Boundaries, Compassion, and Capacity
34:17 – Regulation as Contagious Leadership
38:26 – Final Reflections on Hope and Healing

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Oxygen for Educators is produced by Ripplemaker Project and proudly sponsored by Tacky Box.

Follow on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/oxygen-for-educators/id1775510846

Follow on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2i21QueuqVqmEPmI7gzFfQ?si=1bef3354bff2402c

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Website: https://www.tackybox.com/podcast

Thank you to our sponsor, Tacky Box!

Website: https://tackybox.com/

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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 for Educators. These shorter episodes are designed to offer grounded, actionable insights for educators navigating complex realities with courage and heart.

Michelle opens this first installment with a powerful question:
How do we hold the truthiest truth about what is—without abandoning what could be?

With clarity and compassion, she explores what it means to practice radical hope, not as a feeling, but as a decision and a daily practice. Drawing on the work of Charles Snyder, David Emerald, Donna Zajonc, and bell hooks, Michelle shares a roadmap for how to hold space for both realism and possibility—while remaining tethered to community, creativity, and purpose.

This episode is a breath of fresh air for anyone feeling the weight of uncertainty, burnout, or disillusionment. It reminds us that radical hope is not naive—it’s a bold and strategic act of leadership.

💥 Impactful Takeaways:

• Hope is not fluffy—it’s a teachable, research-based strategy grounded in goals, pathways, and agency.

• The discomfort of dynamic tension is actually creative fuel—it means you care.

• Community is essential—radical hope thrives in connection, not isolation.

• Leadership begins with presence, truth-telling, and a commitment to what’s possible.

• None of us were meant to carry hope alone.

CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction to Radical Hope
02:46 Balancing Realism and Possibility
05:48 Hope Theory: A Cognitive Process
08:59 Dynamic Tension Fuels Change
11:51 The Power of Community in Hope

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Oxygen for Educators is produced by Ripplemaker Project and proudly sponsored by Tacky Box.

Follow on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/oxygen-for-educators/id1775510846

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Website: https://www.tackybox.com/podcast

Thank you to our sponsor, Tacky Box!

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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 flooding in Central Texas and the rising death toll. Each life lost represents a devastated family, a shaken community, and a school doing its best to help children make sense of the senseless.

We’re re-releasing an episode we originally recorded for educators and parents in California during the recent wildfires, in hopes that it might now support Texas families as they process the devastation from this past weekend’s flooding.

• "Be gentle with yourself as the adult."
• "Hope is powerful medicine in times of crisis."
• "We hold hope and believe in love."

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Oxygen for Educators is produced by Ripplemaker Project and proudly sponsored by Tacky Box.

Follow on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/oxygen-for-educators/id1775510846

Follow on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2i21QueuqVqmEPmI7gzFfQ?si=1bef3354bff2402c

Follow on Audible: https://www.audible.co.uk/podcast/Oxygen-for-Educators/B0DKL68DLX?source_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdp

Subscribe on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEdbuPy-L7p4RZKZ_VWKCXwK_j8vbjZF2&si=7SHeSWZRllrseygs

Website: https://www.tackybox.com/podcast

Thank you to our sponsor, Tacky Box!

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In this episode, we sit down with the radiant and deeply grounded Dr. Summer Rose, a clinical psychologist and leader at Communities In Schools of the Dallas Region. With warmth, clarity, and conviction, she shares her story from aspiring “baby doctor” to becoming a fierce advocate for youth mental health and educator well-being.

Dr. Rose opens up about the systems that shape young people’s lives—from child welfare to education—and the urgent need to support the adults who serve them. She reflects on the emotional toll educators face, the mental health crisis among students, and the power of proximity, presence, and community in healing and transformation.

This conversation is a powerful reminder that leadership rooted in love, listening, and staying close to the work can change lives. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the weight of what students and educators are carrying, this episode will remind you that you’re not alone—and that there’s a lifeboat waiting for you.

💥 Impactful Takeaways:

• Everyone wants to be heard—listening is the first step toward healing and action.
• Educators are carrying more than ever—supporting them is essential to student success.
• Proximity matters—leaders must stay close to the work and the people doing it.
• Students need to see what’s possible—exposure to diverse futures expands hope.
• Community is a lifeline—especially for those leading through crisis.
• Mental health support must be accessible, integrated, and responsive to real needs.

00:00 Virtual Hugs and Warmth
01:15 Summer’s Journey from Science to Psychology
04:00 Discovering Her Calling Through CPS and Child Welfare
07:12 Graduate School and the Power of Systems Work
08:20 The Intersection of Mental Health and Education
09:41 A Story That Changed Everything: Catching a Student Mid-Jump
10:28 Equipping Adults to Support Youth Mental Health
11:29 What Communities In Schools Does
13:05 Expanding Mental Health Services Post-COVID
14:28 Family Engagement and Post-Secondary Success
15:41 Helping Students See All Their Options
17:32 What the Public Gets Wrong About Schools
18:18 Educator Burnout and Unrealistic Expectations
19:24 Parenting in a Digital World
20:14 Bridging the Gap Between Parents and Kids
21:40 The Power of Being Heard
22:27 Nervous System to Nervous System: Co-Regulation in Action
23:37 Transition Team: Moving Toward a New Normal
24:43 Finding Strength in Community and Shared Leadership
26:04 Lifeboats and Unexpected Support
28:43 What Keeps Her Up at Night: The Education Funding Crisis
30:02 What Gets Her Out of Bed: Her Team
31:13 How She Supports Her Staff with Presence and Love
32:37 Staying Proximate to the Work
33:03 Olaf, Warm Hugs, and Showing Up in Crisis
34:08 Final Reflections and Gratitude
35:16 A Prayer and a Promise

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Oxygen for Educators is produced by Ripplemaker Project and proudly sponsored by Tacky Box.

Follow on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/oxygen-for-educators/id1775510846

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Thank you to our sponsor, Tacky Box!

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