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 honest conversation about the unseen weight educators carry every day. Nicholas shares his journey into education, the thousands of decisions teachers make daily, and how leadership, culture, and community directly shape student outcomes.

After the conversation, Michelle and Chris Kent Phelps return to break down the moments that mattered most, reflecting on what educators can take with them as they lead, teach, and serve their communities.

CHAPTERS

00:00The Art of Teaching: Decision-Making in Education 02:52Nicholas Ditto: A Journey from Law to Education 05:56The Impact of Education on Justice and Opportunity 09:00Understanding the Role of Zip Codes in Education 12:00The Importance of School Choice and Options 14:56Building a Joyful Culture of High Expectations 17:59Mistakes as Learning Opportunities in Education 20:48The Residency Model: Supporting New Educators 23:57The Future of Fort Worth STEAM Academy 27:01Community Partnerships and Student Pathways 29:55Wellbeing Rituals and Staying Grounded 32:59The Life and Death Urgency of Education 35:57Elevating Educators and Their Impact *********************************************************************************************

Oxygen for Educators is proudly sponsored by Tacky Box.

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SUMMARY

In part two of our conversation with filmmaker and logotherapist Alex Vesely, grandson of Viktor Frankl, we explore what it really means to live a life of meaning as an educator. Alex unpacks burnout through a logotherapy lens, shares powerful stories about suicide and hope, and invites us to ask a different question, not "What is in it for me?" but "Who am I still here for?" This one is a North Star episode for anyone feeling overwhelmed, misaligned, or called to pick up the "right letter" on the conveyor belt of their life.

CHAPTERS

• 00:00 – What am I still here for?

• 00:32 – Welcome back: Alex Vesely Part 2

• 01:17 – Who is Alex? Grandson, filmmaker, logotherapist

• 02:15 – More than mind and body: the noetic dimension

• 06:21 – Self-transcendence, good teaching, and burnout

• 15:02 – The "right seat" and picking up the right letter

• 24:15 – Despair, suicide, and the question of meaning

• 31:07 – The grandmother, two granddaughters, and a life-saving reframing

• 39:18 – Making logotherapy accessible: Viktor Frankl Institute of the Americas

• 43:26 – Educating toward responsibility and true conscience

• 46:40 – Ellie Frankl's "abnormal integrity" and partnership with Viktor

• 50:56 – What Viktor Frankl modeled for his grandson

• 54:09 – New baby, late-night recording, and gratitude

• 55:37 – Debrief: pianist and piano, meaning as North Star for educators

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Oxygen for Educators is proudly sponsored by Tacky Box.

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SUMMARY

We're re-releasing this conversation with Alex Vesely because it has never felt more needed. In a moment when so many educators are exhausted and searching for steadiness, Alex brings a rare clarity about meaning, purpose, and why our inner life matters.

This is Part 1 of a powerful two-part conversation. Part 2 drops next Friday.

LINKS:

• Man Search For Meaning: https://a.co/d/iS2XrjX

Logotherapy-online.com

• Logotherapy Institute of America Courses: https://courses.viktorfranklamerica.com/

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Meaning is a protective factor against life's challenges
• Educators play a crucial role in fostering meaning in students' lives
• Young people are naturally inclined to seek meaning
• Freedom to choose comes with the responsibility of those choices
• Navigating modern stressors requires a return to one's purpose
• Living with purpose can transform stress into a positive force
• Questions about life purpose can guide students' journeys
• Educators can create environments that encourage exploration of meaning

CHAPTERS:

00:00 The Pursuit of Meaning Over Happiness

03:02 Introducing Alex Vesely and His Legacy

05:49 Viktor Frankl's Life and Work

08:55 The Essence of Logotherapy

11:47 The Role of Meaning in Education

14:52 Navigating Modern Challenges with Meaning

18:13 The Search for Meaning in Youth

21:05 The Freedom to Choose Meaning

23:58 Finding Solace in Purpose

27:01 Internal Cues for Meaningful Living

29:51 The Importance of Responsibility in Freedom

37:02 The Meaningful Role of Educators

38:45 Exploring the Concept of Meaning

39:40 The Protective Power of Meaning

43:02 Viktor Frankl's Insights on Suffering

46:07 The Pursuit of Meaning in Education

49:10 Creating a Meaningful Environment for Students

51:45 The Shift Towards Meaning Over Pleasure

54:12 Flipping Maslow's Hierarchy

57:31 Finding Meaning in Attitudes and Actions

01:00:44 Navigating Chaos with Purpose

01:02:59 The Essence of Meaning in Life

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Oxygen for Educators is proudly sponsored by Tacky Box.

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SUMMARY

Jose "Joe" Villaseñor has one of the most unexpected paths into education you'll ever hear: TV production, seminary, bail bonds, school counseling, and now leading Employee Wellness at Irving ISD. In this conversation, he shares how those turns shaped his deep empathy for people in hard places and how that shows up in real, practical supports for educators today, from yoga and fitness classes to laughter workshops and campus wellness champions. If you've ever wondered what it looks like when a district truly cares for the adults in the building, this episode will give you both a vision and doable ideas you can borrow.

CHAPTERS

• 00:00 – Cold open: "There's always a reason people do what they do"

• 00:15 – Welcome to Oxygen for Educators + intro banter

• 01:32 – Meet Jose "Joe" Villaseñor: A true Renaissance educator

• 04:02 – Jose's path into education: CIS, first graders, and cowboy boots

• 09:24 – Teaching across Texas, Tennessee, and Georgia + dinosaur vs. dragon

• 14:03 – "You need to do this": Friends and family nudging him toward education

• 17:29 – From TV to seminary to almost–Secret Service (and why his dad said no)

• 22:26 – School counselor, district leader, and the road to employee wellness

• 25:35 – Launching wellness before COVID and growing through the pandemic

• 27:35 – Visionary leadership: Superintendent Magda Hernandez and work–life harmony

• 29:23 – Sponsor spotlight: Tacky Box

• 30:10 – What educators are hungry for now: Movement, connection, and community

• 32:08 – Fitness classes, social hours, and wellness champions on every campus

• 35:36 – The rising weight on educators and state demands

• 38:01 – Making wellness easy to access: Lunch-and-learns, meditation, journaling, stretching

• 39:36 – The power of laughter: Connecting with every kind of student

• 41:33 – Stress as both signal and motivator + doing the inner work

• 43:05 – Lessons from seminary and bail bonds: Radical non-judgment and empathy

• 47:04 – Mental health as everyday care, not a last resort

• 49:53 – Host debrief: Pants-leg stories, unexpected joy, and work–life harmony

• 1:03:00-ish – Closing reflections, gratitude, and disclaimer

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SUMMARY

After losing her 16-year-old son David to suicide following relentless cyberbullying, Maurine Molak turned her grief into advocacy. She has led the passage of groundbreaking laws protecting children from online harm and now champions federal reform through the Kids Online Safety Act. Her story is one of heartbreak, courage, and a mother's determination to protect every child.

CONTACT CONGRESS TO HELP PASS THE KIDS ONLINE SAFETY ACT HERE

( https://actionnetwork.org/letters/tell-congress-passkosa )

David's Legacy Foundation

( davidslegacy.org )

EMAIL: [email protected]

Parents SOS

( https://www.parentssos.org/ )

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Before Radical Hope resumes in the new year, Michelle offers a moment of reflection and gratitude. Drawing from The Small Work in the Great Work by Victoria Safford, she honors educators who keep showing up with heart and humanity, even when things are uncertain, and reminds us that the smallest acts often become the great work.

************************************************************************************************

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SUMMARY

What if the secret to transforming a school isn't a new program, but a new perspective? In this re-released conversation, Dr. Maricela Helm—now Executive Director of Student Services at Whitehouse ISD—shares how shifting from discipline to relationship, and from pressure to presence, changes everything.

She and host Michelle Kinder explore how mindset becomes freedom, joy becomes evidence of system health, and the most powerful learning happens when kids see the adults around them as fellow learners.

Revisit this episode for the reminder we all need midyear: the connection you build today is shaping the world your students will lead tomorrow.

💌 Don't forget to claim your free subscription to the new Oxygen for Educators magazine, packed with interviews and reflections to keep you grounded all year long. Opt in here.

CHAPTERS

00:00 — Welcome + Magazine Announcement 02:17 — Why We're Re-Releasing This Episode 04:49 — Introducing Dr. Maricela Helm 06:50 — Early Career & Finding Purpose 10:37 — The Heart of Principalship 12:26 — Mindset as Freedom 16:17 — Let Kids See Your Hard 19:54 — Redefining the Discipline Department 22:11 — Systems, Predictability & Belonging 24:31 — Restorative Circles That Actually Work 28:47 — Building Community Agreements 33:50 — Responding to Crisis with Humanity 35:14 — How Education Has Evolved 39:48 — Kids Today: Capable and Emotional 41:15 — "Right Now, You're Great" 43:10 — Leading Leaders with Empathy 45:07 — Joy as a Leadership Indicator 47:53 — The Truth About Bullying Work 49:54 — Self-Care as a Mindset 53:39 — Closing with Gratitude 58:38 — Reflection with Michelle & Chris 01:01:57 — Perspective and Freedom 01:04:01 — Silver Lining Exercise 01:05:25 — Play, Perspective, and Purpose 01:06:16 — Letting Students See Imperfection 01:07:58 — Final Reflections and Takeaways

************************************************************************************************

Oxygen for Educators is proudly sponsored by Tacky Box.

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SUMMARY

We're zooming out for a big-picture view of the Radical Hope series so far, what patterns are emerging, what ideas keep echoing, and what it all adds up to. Michelle Kinder walks us through five simple but powerful themes: safety, awareness, compassion, flexibility, and attention.

This isn't just reflection for reflection's sake, it's a roadmap for staying steady, even when everything around us is shifting.

💌 Don't forget to claim your free subscription to the new Oxygen for Educators magazine, packed with interviews and reflections to keep you grounded all year long. Opt in here.

CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction to Radical Hope 01:03 The Cycle of Inner Work

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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 is the moment when stamina dips, the calendar is packed, and a reset matters. Shanon offers embodied, practical wisdom on rest, boundaries, and community care that lands differently right now. On re-listen, we also reflect on why this message is urgent, including Chris's honest update about navigating breast cancer and the reminder that you do not have to, and cannot, do this work alone.

Educators, we're gifting you the Oxygen for Educators keepsake magazine. Opt in here: https://forms.gle/AmdrpsnP1GNKXEag8

Shanon distills four core values, take care of yourself and each other, be professional, plan for success, and have fun. She shows what this looks like in real life, PLC time inside the workday, quiet spaces for nervous system resets, and her 36-marbles practice that keeps each week intentional. The throughline is simple, rested adults drive healthy schools.

If you listened the first time, listen again, new lines will jump out. If this is your first time, welcome, we are glad you are here!

CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction and Context of the Re-release 02:59 The Importance of Rest and Well-being in Education 06:03 Shannon Zeiss: A Leader's Journey and Philosophy 08:55 Community and Support: The Power of Togetherness 11:37 Core Values and Their Impact on School Culture 14:45 The Role of Fun and Connection in Education 17:58 The Significance of Intentional Leadership 20:41 The 36 Marbles: A Visual Representation of Time 23:30 Final Thoughts and Reflections on Leadership and Rest

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Coming early 2026: Get your FREE copy of Oxygen for Educators magazine — radical hope delivered straight to your home, no strings attached. Opt in here.

SUMMARY

What would it look like for your calendar to reflect your deepest values, not just your obligations? In this powerful follow-up to Part 1, Michelle Kinder shares 10 practical attention management practices that support mental health and nervous system regulation. From reframing to-do lists to breaking up with notifications, each practice offers a small shift that can spark real change. Whether you're overwhelmed, overstretched, or just ready for more peace, this episode offers simple ways to live more aligned with what matters most.

CHAPTERS

00:00 – Introduction & Radical Hope Recap

02:10 – Practice 1: Calendar Your Values

06:30 – Practice 2: Single Task in Small Blocks

10:30 – Practice 3: Automate What Drains & Sustains You

14:30 – Practice 4: Master To-Do + Done-for-the-Day Lists

18:30 – Practice 5: Unsubscribe Relentlessly + Offline Emailing

22:30 – Practice 6: Break Up with Notifications

25:30 – Practice 7: Practice a Positive No

28:00 – Practice 8: Memento Mori (Remember You Will Die)

30:00 – Practice 9: Build Tech-Free Rituals

32:00 – Practice 10: Attention as Generosity

35:00 – Final Reflections & Listener Invitation

************************************************************************************************

Oxygen for Educators is proudly sponsored by Tacky Box.

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