Claire de Mézerville López welcomes Nikki Fynn, Ed.D., to the Restorative Works! Podcast.

We are joined by Dr. Nikki Fynn, a restorative education and leadership consultant whose journey through guilt, grief, and shame has reshaped her approach to healing, leadership, and human-centered systems. She shares with us a pivotal moment from 2018, when a mentor's story about a monkey trapped by its own grip opened a new path for self-examination. That metaphor sparked a deep exploration into the "pulp" she was holding, false beliefs about worthiness, over-functioning, hyper-independence, and the emotional labor she thought she owed the world. Her narrative invites us to reflect on the stories that keep us stuck and to imagine what becomes possible when we finally let go.

She explains how expressive arts, attunement, and holding space became essential tools in her healing and now shape her consulting work with nonprofits, leaders, and communities. Dr. Fynn reminds us that transformation doesn't happen through correction, but through connection, presence, and being truly seen.

With 20 years of trauma-informed education experience, Dr. Fynn taught inclusion to pre-service teachers, supported neurodiverse students through transitions, and secured funding for education and enrichment programs that serve youth of all ages. Equipped with a doctorate in education leadership, a certification in expressive arts, and a master's in public health, she hosts "Words of Heart" sessions for adults to help them with relational issues that influence their professional success. Dr. Fynn's personal restorative work has shaped her leadership approach as a compassionate disruptor in dysfunctional systems. She applies her expertise to grant writing, capacity building, and burnout prevention in nonprofit organizations.

Tune in to hear Dr. Fynn's message: when we reclaim our nervous systems, embrace our differences, and examine our patterns with compassion, we build healthier teams, stronger communities, and more humane organizations.

• View "Words of Heart" sessions: https://restorativeducation.carrd.co/
• View art from restorative sessions: https://www.redbubble.com/people/GrowthUP/shop?asc=u
• Linktree: https://linktr.ee/GrowthUpEducation
• Email: [email protected]
• LinkedIn @ Nicole Penelope Fynn