Claire de Mézerville López welcomes Natasha Akery to the Restorative Works! Podcast. Natasha joins us and introduces her original framework, the “Restorative Compass,” a forward-looking alternative to the Compass of Shame. Designed to help students and educators navigate difficult emotions and conversations, the Restorative Compass guides users from reactivity toward engagement, self-compassion, and acknowledgment of others. In the classroom, she repurposes restorative questions to examine literary conflict, inviting students to explore who is impacted, how relationships shift, and how characters might repair harm. The result? Deeper learning, more critical thought, and powerful public speaking skills. From circle time with 9th graders to one-on-one conversations with overwhelmed educators, Natasha models what it means to be restorative in every interaction. She shares practical insights, real classroom stories, and how building a culture of safety and curiosity helps students thrive. Natasha is a high school English language arts teacher and professional developer who brings a restorative lens to literary analysis, classroom culture, and continuing education for teachers. Passionate about ancient literature, mythology, and folklore, she explores how stories can help build empathy and community. Natasha is also conducting graduate research on the impact of restorative literary analysis in secondary education, and her “Restorative Compass” framework has been a resource for faculty members of the IIRP and teachers across the country. She believes that when students feel seen and heard, powerful learning can happen. Tune in to hear more from Natasha and her passion for mythology, folklore, and ancient texts. She uses restorative practices to help students connect emotionally and intellectually with stories, fostering empathy, deep analysis, and meaningful relationships.