In this episode of The EMpowered Podcast, we’re diving into a topic every teacher can relate to: stress.

While a little bit of stress can be healthy, chronic stress can leave us feeling overwhelmed, dysregulated, and depleted. I’ll share three actionable strategies to help you reduce your stress levels, balance your body, and feel more in control of your wellbeing.

What You’ll Learn:

• How to notice when your body budget is out of balance and what to do about it.
• How to regulate quickly using your breath
• Simple ways to decompress after school and leave work stress behind.
• How to reframe the connection between 'busy' and 'stress.'
• A clever tool I use to help me focus on what I can control and where my energy goes

Follow me on Instagram @em_gentle

Learn more about our Signature Online Program 'The EMotionally Intelligent Educator' HERE

In this episode of The EMpowered Podcast, I’m diving into some of the most common questions I hear from beginning teachers, especially as they prepare for their first year.

This one is for all my new and graduate teachers feeling the overwhelm of getting started, don’t worry, I’ve got you!

We cover everything from setting up your classroom and planning lessons to prioritising your wellbeing and navigating behaviour support. It’s a jam-packed episode filled with practical tips and encouragement to help you thrive in your first year of teaching.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

• How to approach the school holidays

  What you should and shouldn’t be doing to prepare, and what should be your top priority.

• Creating an intentional learning environment

  How to design a space that is functional, calming, and welcoming.

• Planning for success

  What to plan over the holidays and how far in advance

• Navigating behaviour management

  How to align with your school’s policies while adopting a compassionate, non-punitive approach to behaviour support.

• Setting boundaries and preventing burnout

  How to protect your energy, set non-negotiables, and learn to switch off from work and why it is critical in your first year.

• The growth mindset you need to succeed

  How to reflect on your teaching, embrace imperfection, and focus on resilience and self-compassion as you navigate the challenges of being a new teacher.

I also share exciting updates about TGGM Grow, my Signature Program for Pre Service and Graduate Teachers, which is now available as a self-paced course to support you at any time.

Plus, keep an eye out for our Black Friday offers, and don’t forget to grab the New Teacher Toolkit—your free guide to setting yourself up for success in 2025.

• Learn about TGGM Grow- Our Signature Program for PST’s and Beginning Teachers HERE
• New Teacher Toolkit (FREE Guide)
• Follow me on Instagram @em_gentle

If this episode has been helpful, I’d love for you to leave a review and share it with a friend or colleague who might need it. 

Keep shining, and I’ll see you in the next episode. 

Em x

Consequences in the classroom - where do you even start? In this episode, I'm diving into one of the biggest questions I get from teachers: “How can I support student behaviour without falling back on punishments?” I go through what really works (and what really doesn’t) when it comes to behaviour, boundaries, and creating a connected classroom. I know that as educators who are committed to supporting children’s wellbeing, there can be a lot of confusion around how to handle consequences, boundaries, and behavioural support without leaning into punitive methods. Here’s what you’ll learn:

• How traditional punitive consequences (think: timeouts, detentions, and taking away recess) affect student teacher relationships
• Why traditional consequences rarely address the root causes of behaviour.
• What logical and natural consequences can look like in the classroom, how they differ from punishments, and why understanding a student’s unmet needs is key to effective behaviour support.
• Why boundaries help students feel secure and connected rather than ashamed or anxious.
• Strategies to set up a classroom that minimises the need for reactive measures by promoting positive behaviour proactively.
• When and how to use boundaries effectively to create a culture of respect without relying on shame or control.

There are so many proactive behaviour strategies to support students to help make a classroom ‘management’ feel natural, and not forced

Resources for you

• Check out my Creating Conscious and Compassionate Classrooms bundle, which is a 10-part guide to behaviour support grounded in connection and empathy. It’s packed with resources to help you create a trauma-informed, neuro-affirming classroom that supports students holistically. Just $47 and full of actionable, real world strategies.

Connect with Em

• Website: emmagentle.com.au
• Instagram: @em_gentle
• LinkedIn

Today, I’m diving into how to find a school that truly matches your philosophy on non-punitive, trauma-informed practices. If you want to work somewhere that values real student and teacher wellbeing, but don’t know where to start, this one’s for you.

Here’s what you’ll learn

• How to use CRT (Casual Relief Teaching) as a way to ‘test drive’ a school’s culture before committing long-term.
• Why the right leadership and wellbeing focus are essential in creating a school environment that truly supports teachers and students.
• What key questions to ask and what to look for in a school’s values, social media, and programs to ensure they align with a non-punitive, trauma-informed approach.
• How to leverage word of mouth and intuition to gather insights on a school, while avoiding common biases and misconceptions.
• Why it’s okay to prioritise your own wellbeing over job security when choosing a school environment that aligns with your values.
• Why its okay to switch schools if it doesn’t align with your values.

Resources for you:

• The RCG (Regulate, Connect, Guide) Framework is designed to help parents, educators, and leaders effectively support children during and after big emotions. DOWNLOAD HERE

Connect with Em

• Website: emmagentle.com.au
• Instagram: @em_gentle
• LinkedIn

In this episode, we welcome Chelsea Luker, an Autistic ADHD psychologist, author, and advocate for neurodiversity-affirming practices. Chelsea dives deep into what it means to adopt a neurodiversity-affirming approach, her journey as a parent to neurodivergent children, and her impactful work at Connect Us Psychology. Chelsea also discusses her book, Square Me Round World, a collection of stories designed to reflect and validate the experiences of neurodivergent children. From addressing the challenges in mainstream education to advocating for more inclusive environments, Chelsea offers invaluable insights for educators, parents, and anyone interested in supporting neurodivergent individuals.

Resources Mentioned:

• Chelsea’s Book: Square Me Round World - Fictional stories designed to resonate with neurodivergent children and their families.
• Connect Us Psychology Website: Connect Us Psychology
• Yellow Ladybugs: Resources supporting autistic women and gender-diverse individuals in Australia.
• Reframing Autism: Free courses and materials on neurodiversity and autism for educators and parents.

Connect with Chelsea:

• Connect Us Psychology – Explore her services, book resources, and access the educator’s guide for neurodivergent support.
• If you’re a teacher, leader or work with children and you want to learn more about how to build your emotional intelligence, support your children or your students in the classroom with their emotions, and how to understand why you react the way you do to behaviours and emotions, then I have a course for you. You can find out more HERE
• ‘Creating Conscious and Compassionate Classrooms Bundle’ FIND HERE

Connect with Em

• Website: emmagentle.com.au
• Instagram: @em_gentle
• LinkedIn

This episode is a personal one about why we’re not meant to do it all, and what happens when we try to keep going without help.

Parenting isn’t meant to be a solo act. Especially when life throws in a few curveballs or even just the regular chaos of life.

If you’ve ever found yourself losing it with the kids or feeling like you’re juggling too many balls (and dropping a few), this episode is for you.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

• Why knowing all the emotional intelligence tricks is one thing, but actually applying them is a different story.
• The importance of connection over correction when supporting your child’s behaviour (whether at home or in the classroom).
• How to use self-awareness to catch your own triggers before you react, and why this makes all the difference.
• Why it’s okay to drop some of the balls you’re juggling, and how to figure out what’s really important.
• Practical steps for making sure you’re filling up your own cup, because you can't pour from an empty one.

Even though it can feel like you’re the only one who’s overwhelmed and barely holding it together, you’re not. We’re all in this together, and we need each other’s support.

You might know all the techniques, but practicing them in the moment is the real challenge….and that’s okay.

Be kind to yourself as you work through it.

Resources Mentioned:

• If you missed the masterclass with Lael Stone and Dr. Billy Garvey, the replay is available. Find out more to see how we’re flipping behaviour support on its head – no more reactive strategies, no more bandaid solutions. Here’s the link!
• Learn more about my self paced course, The Emotionally Intelligent Educator, and how it can help you reduce stress, build confidence, and change the way you show up as a parent or teacher.

Connect with Em

• Website: emmagentle.com.au
• Instagram: @em_gentle
• LinkedIn

In this episode, I sit down with the incredible Michelle Mitchell, who’s spent years working with teens, tweens, and their families.

Supporting kids at this stage can feel overwhelming, especially when it seems like they’ve got that wall up and are shutting you out. There is so much more going on beneath the surface.

Michelle Mitchell is a former teacher turned tween and teenage expert, with years of experience running youth programs, mentoring young people, and supporting families.

She’s all about helping adults to see what’s really going on in the hearts and minds of tweens and teens and helping them build the kind of connections that truly make a difference.

We talk about how we can really see and support teens and tweens in this phase of their development. It’s not about being cool or getting it right all the time.

What you’ll learn from Michelle:

• Why what you see on the surface isn’t the full story when it comes to teenagers.
• The importance of connection and how teens are wired to crave it, even when they push you away.
• How play can help upper primary and secondary students regulate their emotions (and why we should never cut it out too soon)
• The differences between tweens and teens, and why treating them the same is a massive mistake.
• How to work with social media, not against it, and create a school environment where teens feel safe to unplug and actually be present. There are smart, compassionate ways to help teens balance their online and offline worlds, with boundaries that actually feel good to them.
• Why the shift from primary to secondary school is huge and why this transition needs more attention.

Michelle’s no stranger to the challenges of this developmental phase and she’s here to help you navigate them with compassion and clarity.

No matter how tough your teen or tween acts, what they need most is to feel connected to the adults around them.

Resources for you:

• If you missed the masterclass with Lael Stone and Dr. Billy Garvey, the replay is available. Find out more to see how we’re flipping behaviour support on its head. Here’s the link!
• Learn more about my self paced course, The Emotionally Intelligent Educator, and how it can help you reduce stress, build confidence, and change the way you show up as a parent or teacher.

Connect with Michelle

• Website: michellemitchell.org
• Instagram: @michellemitchell.author

Connect with Em

• Website: emmagentle.com.au
• Instagram: @em_gentle
• LinkedIn

In this episode, I’m joined by Jacquie Ward, a psychologist who specialises in child and adolescent mental health.

We talk about the realities of mental health in schools, and this conversation doesn't happen nearly enough.

If you’ve ever wondered how mental health and anxiety show up in your classroom or why children some children feel things so deeply, then this episode is for you.

Jacquie and I talk about:

• The real signs of mental health struggles in children often get missed.
• Why the ‘big behaviours’ might be masking anxiety and how to shift your lens to catch it early
• The difference between highly sensitive children and anxiety and how to support these kids without burning yourself out.
• How to catch the subtle (and not-so-subtle) signals that a child is struggling with anxiety, whether they’re acting out or quietly shutting down.
• What does it mean to be highly sensitive, and how is it different from anxiety
• How teachers can adjust their classroom environment to cater to anxious or highly sensitive children without adding more work or stress to your day.
• How to manage anxiety and help children self regulate so the whole classroom can function better.

The way we’ve been taught to support behaviour isn’t working because we are not addressing what’s going on underneath for these children. I am hosting a masterclass with two AMAZING guests leading the way in this space next week.

We’ll show you how you CAN create classrooms where kids feel safe, connected and ready to learn. Grab your ticket here

Resources Mentioned

• Hey Warrior by Karen Young - A brilliant book that breaks down how anxiety shows up in children and what we can do about it

Connect with Jacquie

• Website: jacquieward.com.au
• Instagram: @jacquie_ward_
• Billy’s Brilliant Butterflies - Jacquie’s new children's book

Connect with Em

• Website: emmagentle.com.au
• Instagram: @em_gentle
• LinkedIn

In this episode, I sit down with Marg Thorsborne, an international consultant specialising in the implementation of restorative and trauma-informed practices. Marg shares her journey from a biology teacher and school guidance officer to becoming a leading expert in creating positive cultural change in schools and workplaces. We dive deep into the principles of restorative practice, the importance of psychological safety, and why building a connected culture is crucial for both students and adults.

Connect with Marg:

• Linkedin: Margaret Thorsborne
• Website: thorsborne.com.au
• Marg’s new book: Restorative Educator: Practical Skills to Change Culture and Behavior, co-authored with Joe Brummer.

Connect with Em

• Website: Emma Gentle
• Instagram: @em_gentle
• LinkedIn

In this episode, I dive into how both children and adults handle and express uncomfortable feelings and why it’s important to understand them, and how to express them in healthy ways.

As an emotional intelligence coach, working with both children and adults, I have seen firsthand the impact of understanding and navigating uncomfortable emotions.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Three ways both adults and children deal with uncomfortable behaviours.
• What behaviours can signal emotion suppression and how to recognise these to help us
• Why someone might respond to emotion with aggression, and what can be done to mitigate these reactions
• How expressing your emotions more effectively can improve your mental health and relationships
• How your upbringing and parental influence shapes your emotional responses.

Resources Mentioned:

• UPCOMING EVENT OCTOBER 8th: Changing Schools From The Inside Out: How educators and schools can implement a connected and compassionate approach to student behaviour and mental well being. I have two amazing guests, Lael Stone and Dr Billy Garvey joining me, you won’t want to miss it! Grab your ticket here
• If you’re a teacher, leader or work with children and you want to learn more about how to build your emotional intelligence, support your children or your students in the classroom with their emotions, and how to understand why you react the way you do to behaviours and emotions, then I have a course for you. You can find out more HERE

Connect with Em

• Website: emmagentle.com.au
• Instagram: @em_gentle
• LinkedIn