Send us a text Teachers in Transition – Episode 260: What School of Life Teaches Us About Time, Teaching, and Taking the Leap What if the best career advice came from a forgotten 2005 TV movie starring Ryan Reynolds in red Chucks? In this episode, we unpack the under-the-radar gem School of Life —a story that holds unexpected wisdom about purpose, time, and finding joy in teaching. Why Mr. D’s lessons hit harder than any PD you’ve sat through What this movie reveals about teacher grief, freedom,...
Jul 16, 2025•19 min•Ep. 260
Send us a text What can a 2004 sci-fi film teach us about modern AI—and our careers? In this episode, Vanessa Jackson breaks down I, Robot , explores the Two Wolves metaphor, and reveals how teachers can use AI ethically to reclaim time, clarity, and direction offering real-life ways to work with AI instead of fearing it. 💡 Not sure what your next step should be? Start with the DECIDE Workshop . 👉 https://teachersintransition.com ✨ Book your free discovery call to learn more. Follow Vanessa on...
Jul 09, 2025•17 min•Ep. 259
Send us a text Your Job Search as a Goonies Adventure This week, Vanessa dives into what The Goonies and your own nickname history can teach you about career pivots, found family, and the power of not doing it alone. If you’ve In This Episode: Why some nicknames hit differently What the Goonies can teach us about teamwork, courage, and weirdness Thunderbolts as the grown-up, world-weary version of the same journey How to find your own codename —and why that matters in transition Why your career ...
Jul 02, 2025•17 min•Ep. 258
Send us a text Episode Overview In this episode, Vanessa explores How to Train Your Dragon through a powerful lens: not just as a fantasy adventure, but as a roadmap for reclaiming agency, curiosity, and purpose in career transitions. The conversation covers how Hiccup from a collection of children’s books to a live-action movie, themes of belongings, the Huge different between ‘couldn’t’ and ‘wouldn’t’, and finally some career transition tips that are fireproof – even on the inside! See for You...
Jun 25, 2025•19 min•Ep. 257
Send us a text This week on Teachers in Transition , we’re diving into one of Vanessa’s favorite underdog films— The Replacements —to explore what it really means to get a second chance. Spoiler: it’s not about parades or endorsement deals. It’s about the quiet, often-overlooked moments of greatness that shape who we are—and who we’re becoming. Vanessa breaks down how this lighthearted football flick offers surprisingly deep insights on career pivots, self-doubt, and the metaphorical “quicksand”...
Jun 18, 2025•23 min
Send us a text In this episode of Teachers in Transition , host Vanessa Jackson explores the heartwarming 2003 film Secondhand Lions and what it reveals about identity, respect, and rewriting your personal story. Through the lens of this quiet classic, Vanessa draws deep parallels between the character Walter’s journey and the experience of burned-out educators who are questioning their place in the classroom. Vanessa encourages teachers to examine the stories they've been told—or have told them...
Jun 11, 2025•17 min
Send us a text In this episode of Teachers in Transition , Vanessa Jackson welcomes Dr. Shaun Woodly , award-winning educator, speaker, and founder of Teach Hustle Inspire . Dr. Woodly dives deep into the science of behavior , explaining how classroom challenges are often misunderstood signals —not personal failures. Together, they unpack: · The five survival drives that fuel student behavior · Why fear-based classroom management fails—and what to do instead · How to reframe “class clown” behavi...
Jun 04, 2025•31 min•Ep. 254
Send us a text In this episode of Teachers in Transition , Vanessa Jackson takes a fun dive into the 1987 movie The Secret of My Success , starring Michael J. Fox. Although it’s an 80s classic with some retro charm, the movie holds valuable lessons on networking, standing out, and navigating the grind of job hunting—lessons that can resonate deeply with teachers transitioning into new careers. Listen in as Vanessa breaks down key themes from the movie and offers insights on how they can help you...
May 28, 2025•17 min•Ep. 253
Send us a text In this buzz-tastic episode of Teachers in Transition , Vanessa explores what we can learn from bees about burnout, neglect, and leadership. She shares how long-term emotional neglect manifests for educators, how to begin reversing it with intentional self-care, and what transformation might look like when teachers are finally nourished the way they deserve. You’ll also hear a practical, soul-nurturing hack for “sharpening the saw,” and an in-depth walk through Vanessa’s 5 Ps Deci...
May 21, 2025•25 min•Ep. 252
Send us a text In this empowering episode of Teachers in Transition , Vanessa delves into the transformative journey of recognizing and embracing your unique value, especially during career transitions. Drawing inspiration from Secretariat's legendary Triple Crown victory, we explore how traits perceived as different or even weird can be your greatest strengths. We also discuss the challenges teachers face in valuing their worth and provide practical strategies to manage time effectively amidst ...
May 14, 2025•17 min•Ep. 251
Send us a text In this episode, Vanessa talks with Jenny Long - former teacher turned professional artist. Jenny details her journey from Covid to Long Covid through the grief of leaving teaching and how she has found a career she can love that meets her current needs. Jenny talks about the process through which she learned and art, developed the infrastructure for the business side of things, and shares how the business has grown. Connect with Jenny! https://dotalongAK.com Find her on Instagram...
May 07, 2025•25 min•Ep. 250
Send us a text In this episode, Vanessa talks with Ryan Hennessey about his journey out of the classroom, through self-discovery, and into entrepreneurship. Ryan does adventure retreats, wellness coaching, and still does some math and science tutoring in collaborative sessions through his multi-faceted company. Connect with Ryan! · Check out his Substack at @IAmRyanHennessey · Navigate to his website and see what he offers at https://Ryan-Hennessey.com LAST WEEK TO REGISTER FOR THE WORKSHOPS! Ge...
Apr 30, 2025•26 min•Ep. 249
Send us a text Feeling buried in classroom chaos? In this episode, Vanessa tackles the teacher hoard, shares a clever space-creating hack, and breaks down how to spot toxic job red flags before saying yes to your next gig. It’s part spring cleaning, part soul-saving truth-telling. Take a breath, clear some space, and tune in. Episode Highlights: Vanessa’s back (pollen and all!) with a three-part episode to help teachers feel lighter—physically and emotionally. This week, we’re digging into: 🧹 Y...
Apr 23, 2025•21 min
Send us a text Feeling stuck in your career transition during this economic dumpster fire? You’re not alone. In this episode, I’m breaking down five toxic myths that are holding job seekers—especially teachers and mid-career professionals—hostage in a broken system. We’ll talk about: Why now is still a good time to pivot How “overqualified” is code for “we don’t know what to do with your brilliance” Alternatives to the traditional 9-to-5 The power of the hidden job market And the lie that teachi...
Apr 16, 2025•16 min
Send us a text Feeling overwhelmed? You're not alone. In this episode of Teachers in Transition , Vanessa shares practical tools to combat stress, avoid burnout, and build your future—one pause at a time. Learn how to manage your energy, set boundaries, and prepare for career moves during uncertain times. Plus, don’t miss the announcement of two FREE workshops: one on resume writing (May 3) and one on optimizing your LinkedIn profile (May 4). 🎧 teachersintransition.com “A Certain Degree of Dete...
Apr 09, 2025•14 min
Send us a text This is just a quick update to let everyone know that we are moving our drop day from Saturday to Wednesday. Also, mark those calendars! On May 3rd, Vanessa will host a Resume Workshop and on May the 4th, she’ll host a workshop on LinkedIn Optimization. Both workshops will be 2:00PM central and are absolutely free to attend! Connect with Vanessa Vanessa@TeachersinTransition.com Leave a voicemail or text at 512-640-9099 Connect with Vanessa on LinkedIn ! Schedule a free Discovery S...
Apr 06, 2025•54 sec
Send us a text In this episode of Teachers in Transition , host Vanessa Jackson explores the concept of branching out rather than narrowing focus in career transitions. She reflects on how traditional education once encouraged broad exploration, whereas today’s systems push students toward early specialization. Vanessa emphasizes the importance of rediscovering curiosity, exploring new interests, and allowing career transitions to unfold organically. Joining Vanessa is Elizabeth “Liz” Houston, a...
Mar 30, 2025•20 min•Ep. 245
Send us a text In this episode of Teachers in Transition , Vanessa Jackson dives into the challenges of gaslighting in the classroom, how unchecked behavior can escalate, and why teachers should trust their instincts. She also shares a powerful mindset shift: scheduling fun to avoid burnout and maintain well-being. Finally, Vanessa uses a gardening analogy to explore the patience required in a job search, emphasizing preparation, persistence, and strategic networking. Plus, don’t miss her invita...
Mar 24, 2025•15 min
Send us a text In this episode of Teachers in Transition , host Vanessa Jackson shares a humorous and insightful story about navigating mishaps as a musician—specifically, how a well-intentioned plan to play Handel’s Messiah on the organ went hilariously off the rails due to an unexpected tech glitch. With laughter and grace, Vanessa reminds listeners that when things go wrong in public, sometimes the best approach is to step back, admire the "egg you've laid," and move forward. In the second se...
Mar 16, 2025•16 min•Ep. 243
Send us a text In this episode of Teachers in Transition, host Vanessa Jackson explores the inspiring lessons we can learn from the Iditarod and how they relate to leadership, trust, and resilience—both in and out of the classroom. Vanessa reflects on the crucial role of lead dogs in a sled team and connects their responsibilities to the challenges faced by teachers navigating career transitions. She also discusses an exciting new feature in ChatGPT—word clouds —and continues with Step 4 of her ...
Mar 10, 2025•20 min•Ep. 242
Send us a text In this episode of Teachers in Transition , Vanessa Jackson explores the themes of creativity, resilience, and unconventional problem-solving using cars as a metaphor for teamwork and thinking outside the box. Vanessa also discusses the reality of career success, highlighting that it’s rarely a straight path. She emphasizes the importance of adapting to change, recognizing one’s value, and making small but impactful adjustments. Drawing from her recent car-buying experience, she r...
Mar 02, 2025•16 min
Send us a text In this episode of Teachers in Transition , Vanessa Jackson explores the power of perspective, resilience, and community in navigating the stress and overwhelm that comes with teaching—especially for those contemplating a career change. She begins with a powerful story about how helping others can instantly boost our mood, sharing a real-life experience of lending a hand and seeing the positive impact firsthand. Then, she shifts focus to the concept of pointillism, using art as a ...
Feb 23, 2025•19 min
Send us a text In this episode, Vanessa talks with Donna King from 360BalanceLiving about her transformation and leap of faith in entrepreneurship. Donna helps women in middle-age and beyond to feel good about themselves again through good food choices, movement, and working towards mental health. Donna shares how she works with her clients to accomplish that and has a great check-up tool for our listeners to see how they are doing in their life. The Wellness Wheel at 360Balanced Living Connect ...
Feb 17, 2025•26 min
Send us a text In this episode of Teachers in Transition , Vanessa Jackson explores the mindset of optimism and pessimism, how these perspectives shape our decisions, and how they influence career transitions. With a mix of humor, self-reflection, and insightful analysis, she shares personal anecdotes about her own tendencies, from hoarding supplies and skills to embracing lifelong learning. Vanessa begins by discussing the nature of optimism and pessimism, illustrating how they exist on a conti...
Feb 10, 2025•21 min•Ep. 238
Send us a text This week, Vanessa focuses on managing stress, understanding the impact of yelling, and keeping up with evolving resume trends. Designed for educators transitioning to new career paths, this episode provides actionable insights and practical tips. In Our Segment on Stress Management: Vanessa talks about how yelling, whether literal or metaphorical, can activate stress responses such as fight, flight, freeze, or fawn, leading to feelings of anxiety, guilt, or withdrawal. Recognizin...
Jan 26, 2025•18 min•Ep. 237
Send us a text In the segment on stress management, Vanessa starts with a quote by Thich Nhat Hanh, using the metaphor of a leaf's journey to emphasize resilience, adaptability, and interconnectedness. We are leaves on the wind. Our hack today is all about how phoning a friend can make things better using basic math principles. And in the segment on career transition and job search, Vanessa explores entrepreneurship as a potential, albeit a little bit scary, career path. While acknowledging the ...
Jan 19, 2025•14 min
Send us a text In this episode, Vanessa explores the top transferable skills that teachers already possess, making them highly competitive for jobs in 2025. These skills include emotional intelligence (EQ), data literacy, adaptability, project management, strong communication, and problem-solving. Vanessa explains how these abilities align with various career paths outside of education, such as project management, instructional design, user experience research, event planning, and more. She emph...
Jan 12, 2025•22 min•Ep. 235
Send us a text In this podcast episode, Vanessa mixes of storytelling, sci-fi references, and actionable advice to emphasize the transformative power of discomfort in personal and professional development. Inspired by Michael Easter’s quote, “Do not go too comfortably into 2025,” She shares actionable strategies and personal stories that demonstrate how stepping outside our comfort zones leads to meaningful growth. Vanessa underscores the rewards of embracing fear and pushing through discomfort....
Jan 06, 2025•18 min
Send us a text In this episode of Teachers in Transition , Vanessa Jackson reflects on the often underestimated impact educators have on their students and communities, even when the recognition doesn't come immediately. She shares a personal story of reconnecting with a former student, realizing the lasting effect her teaching had – even when it wasn’t best teaching. Vanessa encourages teachers to recognize their contributions and the ripple effects of their work, regardless of the challenges t...
Dec 29, 2024•22 min
Send us a text Vanessa explores the fascinating philosophical question of identity through the lens of the Ship of Theseus, connecting it to modern-day concepts like biological renewal, trauma's lingering effects, and societal perceptions. Drawing on inspiration from Gretchen Rubin's "Little Happier" segment and Marvel's WandaVision, Vanessa argues that identity evolves while retaining its essence. She further delves into the profound lessons from the monkeys and bananas experiment, challenging ...
Dec 22, 2024•21 min•Ep. 232
