The Buzz from Thriving Students Collective

Let’s be real — working in education right now can feel like trying to pour from an empty cup… that’s somehow also on fire. 🔥☕

Between staff shortages, budget cuts, cancelled mental health grants, policy changes, and the everyday emotional weight of caring for students in a complex world, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Add in standardized testing season (and students who are mentally already on summer vacation), and May can easily turn into what I call “May-hem.”

That’s why this May, during Mental Health Awareness Month, at Thriving Students Collective, we’re doubling down on our commitment to care for the caregivers with free tools, trainings, and tiny habits that help you and your students breathe easier, connect more deeply, and thrive.

🎙️ Launch Alert: Teddy Talks® Podcast is LIVE! 🐻🎉

Back in spring 2020, during the height of pandemic stress, I was working as a school psychologist, spending my days helping caregivers and educators talk to kids about hard things (while quietly giving myself pep talks to hold it together as I ran zoom meetings in my car in my “gar-office”).

One day, I casually floated the idea of a family podcast for emotional wellness to called “Teddy Talks” to my friend Suzanne Tucker, an early childhood educator and founder of Generation Mindful. And I swear, she nearly jumped through the Zoom screen into my gar-office with excitement. With a huge smile, she said, “Yesssss! It could be Big IDEARS for Little EARS!” And just like that, the spark was lit.

Soon after, we teamed up with the top storytelling podcast network for kids, GoKidGo and that’s when the beary magical collaboration began—complete with big feelings, big fun, and of course…plenty of bear puns.

So without further ado…

We’re thrilled announce that Teddy Talks®—our brand-new podcast for kids—is finally out of hibernation and streaming in all the places!

Co-hosted by me and our fuzzy emotional wellness ambassadors, Grizzle and Grizzlette, Teddy Talks® helps kids build coping skills and connection through play, pawsitivity, and pint-sized bear wisdom.

Each episode is crafted to support emotional regulation, anxiety management, and resilience, thorough stories (and a healthy dash of humor for the adults so they can co-listen and learn too!).

Featuring special guests–movers, shakers, and change-makers–who share their wisdom and lived experiences, Teddy Talks® sparks meaningful conversations around big feelings (and especially around tricky-to-talk-about mental health topics).

Teddy Talks® is perfect for calm-down corners, therapy sessions, morning meetings, or cozy car rides! In the podcast we talk it out, and then we play it out with FREE downloadable activities you can do with children for each episode!

🎧 Listen with your kids on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube!

And don’t miss our grown-up companion podcast, Teddy Talks® After Hours on YouTube, where we “paws” and unpack each episode with actionable tips for parents, caregivers, and educators.

Because sometimes, the best mental health conversations start with a friend, a story, and a virtual bear hug. 🐻💬

And speaking of little things that make a big difference…

Microhabit of the Month: Anchoring

Each month in the Thrive Archive, I share a microhabit for educator wellness that is something small we can do to protect themselves from burnout and chronic stress. This month, we’re talking about “Mindful Anchoring.”

Anchoring is the practice of pairing a small, meaningful action to something you’re already doing automatically, turning the ordinary into an opportunity for presence and self-compassion.

☕ Brewing your morning coffee? → Set a one-word intention for your day.

🔔 Hear the recess bell? → Take one deep breath and come back to now.

🚘 Clicking your seatbelt? → Ask yourself, “What clicked today?” and tap into gratitude.

It’s not about squeezing in something extra. It’s about transforming what’s already happening into a mindfulness moment that rewrites your story:

“I am the kind of educator who protects my peace, even when the world feels chaotic.”

Small anchors. Big shifts. That’s the name of the game.

Free Microhabits Workshop Series for Educators!

Want more microhabits? Last month, we hosted the second of our four workshops in our FREE series, “Too Small to Fail: 10 Microhabits for Educators,” with bite-sized practices to reduce stress.

Couldn’t attend live? The replay is now available! Sign up for the series hereand get instant access to the replays to watch on your own time at your own pace until the next live session.

Whether you watch on Sunday night for a pep talk, check it out on a coffee break for a cuppa inspiration, or listen on the phone on the commute home to decompress, these workshops give practical tips from educators for educators.

Speaking of free webinars to support educators…

Upcoming Webinar: “Can AI Write My School Psych Reports for Me?”

School psychologists—you’ve been asking, and the answer might just surprise you!

Join me for a free webinar where I’ll show you how tools like LilyAssist are changing the game—helping you write faster, better, and without sacrificing your nights and weekends.

📅 Date: Thursday, May 22nd 4-5PM PST

📍 Register here: thrivingstudents.com/AIforPsychs

School psychs, if you’re tired of feeling like you are shackled to your laptop during May-hem, this one’s for you! Get back to doing what you love—supporting students, not formatting reports. Sign up here!

You + Me in 3D: Where We’ve Been and Where We’re Going!

I’ve been hitting the road (and the skies!) lately, and I couldn’t be more grateful to connect with many of you in real life:

🗽 New York City – Speaking with incredible counselors from the United Federation of teachers (UFT) about AI, burnout prevention, and mental health innovation in schools.

🌴 California – Collaborating with superintendents across the state to find real, scalable solutions for “Tier Zero” educator burnout and student support.

🛫 Delaware – Hosting an all-day workshop for school psychologists at the Delaware Association of School Psychologists (DASP) Convention—talking all things thriving, not just surviving.

If we crossed paths this spring—thank you for showing up, for doing the hard work, and for believing that change is possible, even in challenging circumstances.

I’m intentionally taking May to stay at home with my family and recharge (a rare moment where I practice what I preach!)—but there will be more 3D adventures to come this summer!

In June, you can find me in Albuquerque at the Central Region Educational Cooperative speaking on executive functioning in early childhood education. If you’re an early childhood educator in New Mexico, join me at CREC for my keynote, “Tiny Humans, Big Skills: Unlocking Executive Functioning in Preschoolers.” 🙂

Cringe TikTok of the Month: Teddy Talks® Edition!

Every month, I share a cringe-worthy TikTok, and this month… it’s a beary fun behind-the-scenes look at #TeddyTalksPodcast. Let’s just say… it’s less “fancy studio podcasting” and more silly Zen Den reality show. (And yes, my teddy bears do all their own stunts.)

🎧 Watch the clip from the “Zen Den” on TikTok or Instagram!

🎙 Then come see why educators, therapists, and families are loving Teddy Talks® on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube! (Plus check out our BONUS YouTube channel just for grown-ups where we paws to unpack the episode with our amazing guests on Teddy Talks® After Hours!)

One Last Thing…

This May, don’t just honor Mental Health Awareness Month from the sidelines. Because you deserve to thrive—not just for your students, but for YOU too!

And if you’re out there trying to do more for your students with less, I’d love to connect and share innovative ways our organization Thriving Students Collective is supporting districts across the country, even in difficult funding situations.

Book a chat here with me and my fabulous VP of Partnerships, Stacey Stallings so we can support you and your schools with mental health support for all….we are here for you.

Take care (for reals),