Life’s Next Lesson Plan Podcast

With 29 years of teaching behind her and 58 podcast episodes under her belt, Rachel wraps up season one of Life’s Next Lesson Plan with an open letter to you—her listeners. This episode isn’t about interviews or expert advice. It’s about reflection, gratitude, and a little bit of humor.

Whether you're a fellow educator, a lifelong learner, or standing at your own personal crossroads, this heartfelt solo episode is an invitation to pause, reflect, and maybe even laugh at the growing pains of change. Rachel shares what she’s learned (and unlearned) while making this podcast—and what’s next as she steps into a whole new lesson plan.

What You’ll Hear:

• Rachel’s honest reflections on ending her teaching career
• 5 life lessons for anyone in transition
• The funny (and humbling) things she’s learned from podcasting
• A thank-you to her community of listeners
• A free journal to help you navigate identity shifts
• What might come next for Rachel—and the podcast

Mentioned in This Episode:

🎁 Download the Free Identity Journal: 👉 lifesnextlessonplan.com/freebies

📺 Follow Rachel’s post-classroom journey: Instagram: @lifesnextlessonplan YouTube: Life’s Next Lesson Plan

Thank you for being here. Keep learning. Keep listening. And don’t be afraid to rewrite the plan.

With love, Rachel

In today’s episode, I sit down with the incredibly brave and authentic Sammy Christofferson, whose career journey is a perfect reminder that sometimes the degree you earned isn’t the life you’re meant to live forever.

After just a few years in the classroom, Sammy knew something wasn’t sitting right — with her evaluations, the lack of flexibility, and the system that didn’t fully value her as an educator and individual. With the support of her fiancé (now husband), Sammy made the difficult but empowering decision to leave education and create her own version of success.

We dive into:

• What pushed Sammy to walk away from teaching
• How she made the transition without a full plan in place
• The importance of time freedom, especially as a mom of two young kids
• How she built her businesses as a Virtual Assistant and Hugh & Grace representative
• The role a strong mentor played in helping her prepare for change
• The power of trusting your gut when something isn’t right

If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s crazy to leave behind a steady career in search of something more aligned with your life, this episode is for you.

Sammy’s biggest takeaway? You are never as stuck as you think you are — and your happiness is worth chasing.

Homework (Takeaway for Listeners): Have open conversations with your partner or support system when you feel those tugs toward change. They want to support you, but they can’t read your mind.

Connect with Sammy on Instagram: @sammy.christofferson

Connect with Me: 👉 Download my free Identity Journal: lifesnextlessonplan.com/freebies 👉 Follow on Instagram & YouTube: @LifesNextLessonPlan

Hey friends, This episode is raw, real, and—let’s be honest—brutally honest.

After 29 years in the classroom, I’m down to my final days as a teacher. This isn’t just a farewell; it’s a reckoning. I’m pulling back the curtain to share what I built, what I loved, what nearly broke me, and what I’m carrying with me into whatever comes next.

✨ Whether you’re a fellow educator, someone navigating a major life pivot, or just curious about what it’s like to walk away from a decades-long identity—this one’s for you.

In this three-part episode, I unpack:

📚 Part 1: What I’m Taking With Me From matchmaking students during literary analysis to decoding Axe body spray clouds in the hallway—these are the skills, stories, and soul-shaping moments I’ll never forget. Deep listening, classroom improv, open mics, student-driven learning, and the ability to build community through Buzzfeed quizzes and literary tears alike.

📸 Part 2: What I’m Leaving Behind Let’s get honest: I’m leaving behind the mental load, the never-ending grading, the guilt, the martyrdom, the impossible standards, and yes—staff meeting icebreakers. (IYKYK.) Also not missing: mystery vapes in the bathroom, forgotten SD cards, and “How many points is this worth?” echoing in my nightmares.

🌀 Part 3: Becoming Rachel Again Who am I when I’m not “Ms. Rauch”? I’m finding out—slowly, awkwardly, and with a surprising amount of joy. This ending is creating space for something new. A new identity. New rhythms. New ways to use my voice and talents—without bells or bells schedules. And I’m finally learning to measure worth by something other than awards and productivity.

💬 Quote to Hold Onto: "Sometimes the most important lesson isn’t what we teach others—but how we ourselves learn and grow along the way."

🛎️ Tune in as I ring the bell one last time—and invite you to turn the page with me.

🔗 Connect with Me → Website: lifesnextlessonplan.com → Instagram and YouTube: @lifesnextlessonplan

In today’s episode, Sydney Benson takes us on a journey from high school rejection to becoming an influential PR professional working with top-tier brands like Aveda, Sherwin-Williams, and Xfinity. Sydney shares how a moment of disappointment—being rejected from her high school dance team—became the catalyst for discovering her true passion in journalism and public relations. Join us as we explore the power of unexpected turns, the importance of mentorship, and how showing up with value—even when unsure—can change your career. Whether you're at a crossroads or looking for a boost of inspiration, this episode is a reminder that life’s detours often lead to the most rewarding destinations.

What do you do when you're standing at the edge of something new... but you have no idea what comes next?

In this heartfelt solo episode, Rachel gets honest about the scary, foggy space between letting go and beginning again. Building on her transition out of a 29-year teaching career (as shared in Episode 35), she explores what it means to sit with the unknown—and why rushing toward answers may cost us clarity.

You’ll hear:

• Why “the five-year plan” is a myth that often adds pressure, not peace
• How Rachel navigated a very real season of uncertainty after resigning
• Wisdom from authors and thought leaders like Emily P. Freeman, William Bridges, Bruce Feiler, and Glennon Doyle
• Practical tools to help you reflect, journal, and take the next small, courageous step

This episode is for anyone who’s in-between chapters—grieving the old, unsure about the new, and learning to trust the process.

📌 Resources Mentioned:

• The Next Right Thing by Emily P. Freeman
• Transitions by William Bridges
• Life Is in the Transitions by Bruce Feiler
• Untamed by Glennon Doyle
• Rachel’s Free Identity Journal → lifesnextlessonplan.com/freebies

💬 Listener Reflection Prompts:

• What if you stopped trying to "figure it out" and just tuned into what’s tugging at your heart?
• What’s one small step you can take today?
• It’s one year from now and you’re thriving—what do you wish you’d started today?

✨ “If you’re in the in-between, you are not broken. You are becoming.”

What if your biggest block to wealth isn't in your bank account—but in your beliefs?

In this powerful episode of Life’s Next Lesson Plan, I sit down with Rebekah Kiger, a trauma-informed money mindset coach who helps women rewrite their financial stories and create abundance without burnout. From growing up in generational poverty to becoming a sought-after mentor and creator of the ALIGN Method®, Rebekah shares her personal journey, the mindset shifts that changed everything, and how you can start transforming your own relationship with money—right now.

🔑 In this episode, we discuss:

• Rebekah’s journey from financial survival to financial freedom
• How trauma and upbringing impact our money mindset
• Her 5-pillar ALIGN Method® for healing your relationship with money
• The power of mentorship and energetic alignment
• Practical advice for anyone feeling stuck or afraid to take the leap
• How to stop chasing success through burnout and start building sustainable wealth

💬 Rebekah’s Big Lesson: True wealth isn’t about working harder—it’s about aligning with your values, clearing old blocks, and stepping into your worth. It starts with awareness, then taking inspired, aligned action.

📒 Homework for Listeners: Reflect on your current money mindset. What stories were you told about wealth growing up? Where might you be holding on to beliefs that no longer serve you?

🔥 Explore Rebekah’s Work: Website: https://www.risewithrebekah.com YouTube: Rise with Rebekah Instagram: @risewithrebekah

💡 Feeling stuck in your current role or afraid to pivot careers like I was? Download my free Identity Journal to help explore your next step: 👉 https://www.lifesnextlessonplan.com/freebies

🎧 Subscribe & Share: Don’t forget to follow Life’s Next Lesson Plan wherever you listen to podcasts, and leave a review if this episode resonated with you. Your next chapter is waiting—and it starts now.

After 29 years in the classroom, I made the hardest decision of my life: to walk away from teaching—with no pension, no benefits, and no clear plan forward. In this deeply honest episode of Life’s Next Lesson Plan, I’m sharing what it really looks like to start over in your 50s.

From the fear of leaving job security and identity behind to navigating the unknown of midlife career reinvention, I walk you through the emotional, mental, and practical shifts that helped me leave “Rachel the Teacher” behind and begin the journey toward something new.

We’ll talk about:

• How to face a career change after 50
• Why your skills are more transferable than you think
• The role of grief, intuition, and courage in career pivots
• How I’m redefining success and finding purpose in midlife
• My new role, the unconventional approach I took to get it and what my days will look like in my new position

This episode is for anyone wondering: “Am I too old to start over?” Spoiler alert—you're not.

💡 Download my free Identity Journal to help you reflect on your next chapter: https://www.lifesnextlessonplan.com/freebies

In this reflective and inspiring episode, I sit down with Betsy Korbinyr, a retired social worker, self-proclaimed umbraphile and the author of Time, Beauty, and Grief: A Hike Through Wisconsin’s 50 State Parks. At 65, Betsy set out on a transformative year-long Quest to hike five miles in each of Wisconsin’s state parks—an adventure of physical resilience, emotional healing, and profound self-discovery.

Together, we explore:

• How hiking and nature became a pathway for grief, growth, and self-reflection
• Why “time, beauty, and grief” are the pillars of Betsy’s story—and how we can embrace those themes in our own lives
• The value of doing a “Life Review” before the end of life and how it builds clarity and integrity
• What it means to challenge yourself later in life and live with curiosity and courage
• The joys of being an umbraphile (eclipse-chaser!) and finding awe in the world around us

Betsy’s story reminds us that adventure isn’t just for the young—and that sometimes, a hiking trail can be the map back to yourself.

📚 Learn More About Betsy’s Book: Time, Beauty, and Grief: A Hike Through Wisconsin’s 50 State Parks → Buy on Amazon → Mentioned in Isthmus: Year in Books → Best Indie Book Awards – Winner, Best Travel Book 2024

💚 20% of all proceeds are donated to Friends of Wisconsin State Parks.

✨ Takeaways & Homework:

• Challenge yourself—at any age—with something new.
• Reflect on your life through journaling or a Life Review.
• Hike your own version of a “50 Park Quest” (even if it’s just your local trails).
• Let nature remind you of your own resilience.

📢 Like what you heard? Please rate, review, and share the episode—and follow Life’s Next Lesson Plan wherever you get your podcasts.

Have you ever introduced yourself and realized your job title or your child's name came before your own? In today's episode, I’m getting deeply personal as I explore what it means to reclaim your identity beyond being a parent, spouse, or employee. As I prepare to leave my teaching career and watch my daughter head off to college, I’m asking myself: Who am I now? If you’ve ever felt lost when life shifts, this episode is for you.

In This Episode, You'll Learn: ✨ How society pushes us to define ourselves by roles — and why that’s dangerous ✨ The emotional risks of tying your identity to a career, relationship, or parenting role ✨ Why developing a strong personal identity builds resilience, confidence, and deeper fulfillment ✨ Real-life "boom" moments that force us to confront identity loss ✨ Practical steps to rediscover and rebuild your authentic self ✨ How cultivating your true identity can lead to healthier relationships and a stronger sense of self-worth

Plus: 📝 A special FREEBIE: My brand new "Finding Your Voice Through Writing" journal guide to help you reconnect with who you truly are at your core. https://www.lifesnextlessonplan.com/freebies

Join host Rachel for an inspiring conversation with Elizabeth Sweet, a talented journalist and the passionate founder of Fill The Stands. Liz has carved a unique path by blending her love for sports and her storytelling prowess.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• Liz's journey into the world of journalism and her early passion for the field.
• The powerful story behind Fill The Stands: how Liz, a former female athlete, was inspired to create a non-profit empowering students to promote women's sports and boost attendance at their events.
• Insights into Liz's successful career as a freelance journalist, writing for renowned publications like The Wall Street Journal, Milwaukee Magazine, Dwell Magazine, and more, covering both sports and architecture/home design.
• How the core skills of a journalist – storytelling, research, and communication – were instrumental in persevering through the challenges of launching and running a non-profit.

Key Lesson: Liz shares a powerful lesson about the importance of persevering and following your intuition, illustrating how combining her passions has led to a truly fulfilling career.

Actionable Takeaway: Liz encourages listeners to pay attention to those inner "tugs" and explore the directions they feel drawn to, as these might lead to unexpected and rewarding paths.

If you're looking for inspiration on following your passions, the power of perseverance, and the impact of combining your skills with a cause you believe in, this episode with Elizabeth Sweet is a must-listen!

Follow Liz Sweet's Work: ElizabethSweet.com | Fill The Stands Sports + Architecture Journalist | Advocate for Women’s Sports

Telling stories that capture the heart, hustle, and humanity of design and sport. Discover her latest work.

Instagram: @elizabethsweetid | @fillthestands

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• Follow Life's Next Lesson Plan on your favorite podcast platform.
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