Rethinking what workplace wellness in education really means.
TAUGHT is the podcast that explores real solutions to the educator burnout crisis- because we can’t self-care our way out of systemic dysfunction.
TAUGHT: The Podcast
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Season 2
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TAUGHT: The Podcast | Season 2 |
SEASON 2 | TRAILER: The Truth About Educator Burnout
Season 2 of TAUGHT kicks off with a bold shift from burnout stories to systemic solutions. Host Amy Schamberg unpacks why educator burnout is a public health issue- not a personal failing- and invites listeners to reimagine what workplace wellness in schools should really look like.
S2 Episode 10 | Practical Solutions from the UK: Overcoming Invisible Struggles in Education with Liessa Callaghan
In this episode, psychodynamic counsellor Liessa Callahan (United Kingdom) draws on three decades as a teacher and special educational needs coordinator to reveal the invisible struggles in today’s classrooms. From sensory overwhelm to unsustainable curriculum demands, she explains how outdated systems harm both learners and educators, and why small, practical shifts can transform outcomes.
S2 Episode 9 | Embracing the Future of Work with Luaskya Nonon, Esq.
Workplace culture strategist and corporate attorney Luaskya Nonon, author of Embracing the Future of Work, joins us this week to explore why belonging, equitable opportunity, and psychological safety must come before wellness programs can succeed. We discuss how to uncover blind spots in program design, why middle managers hold the keys to safe environments, and how servant leadership, authentic communication, and personal accountability can reshape organizational wellbeing.
S2 Episode 8 | Reimagining Mental Health Support in Schools with Misty Bonta
In this episode, Misty Bonta shares her journey from school psychologist to founder of Get Psyched Inc. She reflects on how early career burnout shaped her advocacy for systemic solutions to educator well-being. We discuss the importance of professional community, data-informed practices, and gradual culture change within schools.
S2 Episode 7 | Understanding Neuroception: How Trauma Training Can Transform Schools with Amy Huggins
Trauma recovery coach Amy Huggins unpacks neuroception and how it shapes our responses to stress in the classroom. We explore why two educators can react so differently to the same moment, and how small, practical strategies can help build resilience. This is an important conversation on nervous system regulation, emotional awareness, and creating psychologically safe spaces in schools.
S2 Episode 6 | Chopping Veggies & Changing Lives: From Student Nutrition to Teacher Well-being with Lisa Dee Gonzales
In this episode, Lisa Dee Gonzalez, Senior Health Promotion Coordinator at the University of Colorado School of Public Health, shares how school wellness programs can support both student nutrition and teacher well-being.
S2 Episode 5 | Beyond the Badge of Burnout: Leading by Example with Heather Vaughn
In this powerful episode, Heather Vaughn, EdS, Transformative Leader and Educator, shares her journey from early-career burnout to leadership grounded in humanity and wellness. We explore high-functioning depression, the cost of overachievement, and how small daily actions can shift school culture. Heather helps us see that educator wellness isn’t just optional- it’s a leadership responsibility.
S2 Episode 4 | From Military Collapse to Men's Mental Health Champion with Craig Madden
What happens when the very traits that fuel your success lead to collapse? In this raw and powerful episode, Army veteran and coach Craig Madden shares how years of emotional suppression in the British military led to physical and mental breakdown, and how he rebuilt his life from the ground up.
S2 Episode 3 | Leaders Who Listen: How Great Management Mitigates Teacher Burnout with Snezana Djuric
In this conversation with Snezana Djuric, a globally experienced executive coach and leadership trainer based in Serbia, we uncover the universal challenges that workers face regardless of country or industry. Drawing from her background in education, linguistics, and over a decade leading cross-cultural teams in the IT and gaming sectors, Snezana shares actionable approaches to addressing burnout at multiple levels.
S2 Episode 2 | Finding Connection through Purposeful Empathy with Andre Bradford
"Vulnerability is one of the most powerful ways to connect with others." In this engaging episode, award-winning slam poet Andre Bradford shares how purposeful empathy—built on curiosity and vulnerability—can transform our workplaces and schools. A must-listen for leaders struggling with burnout culture.
S2 Episode 1 | Passing the Torch: The Evolution of TAUGHT with Melissa LeFort
In this special transition episode of TAUGHT, original host Melissa LeFort passes the mic as the podcast evolves from sharing stories of educator burnout to spotlighting systemic solutions. The conversation reflects on the show’s deeply personal origins and sets the stage for a new season focused on reimagining what workplace well-being in education can look like.
Research-Based Resources for Educator Well-being
Total Worker Health: A New Direction In Supporting Teacher Well-being
Learn how the Total Worker Health® approach offers schoolwide, systemic solutions to improve educator well-being—because burnout isn’t personal, it’s organizational. Read the brief.
Promoting Mental Health and Well-Being in Schools: How to Get Started
This CDC resource helps K–12 leaders reflect, prioritize, and plan actionable mental health and well-being strategies that are most relevant to the needs of your school or district. Get the PDF guide.
The role of teacher autonomy in enhancing job satisfaction and mitigating burnout
This study highlights how autonomy, administrative support, and job satisfaction impact teacher burnout and why leadership matters for retention. Read the study.
Free Support from the University of Colorado Anschutz Department of Psychiatry
A platform dedicated to supporting Colorado's educational workforce with free mental health resources designed to assist you in navigating the challenges of the school year. Explore the collection.
A Common Language: Defining Wellness, Burnout, Resilience & Occupational Well-being
This clickable guide offers clear, research-based definitions of wellness, burnout, resilience, and occupational well-being - building shared language across education, health, and workplace settings.
What do we know about interventions to improve educator wellbeing?
A systematic literature review published in 2023 in the Journal of Educational Change identifies which interventions show the most promise for improving educator wellbeing. Access the article here.