Getting your sh*t together + why do "good” when the world feels BAD (ft. history teacher Mkunde Mtenga)

we need hope rn (except not >50% of americans i guess).. and this episode will be giving (it). Teachers. We've all had em AND spent most of our pre-adult life outside of family with them (crazy!). In the wake of the election in which we ROYALLY DROPPED THE BALL + SHATTERED IT YET AGAIN, it’s time for a picking-up-the-pieces kind of episode. where do we go from here? how do we LIVE in the CONTEXT of ALL this utter BS? how do we feel and do “good” when it all feels meaningless? In one of my first ever interviews, I talk with MKUNDE MTENGA, 15-year teacher, educator of the year, and self-proclaimed cynic. We talk about what it’s like looking back at her 20s now that she’s 40 (+ available, fellas), how she does one of THEE hardest jobs in the world so damn well, and how to actually keep going when the world’s problems feel overwhelming and make you want to freeze yourself into an ice block for the next 4 years. Feeling lost, pessimistic, numb, hopeless, cynical, and/or MAD? The #conscientious queen herself has a lesson to teach us. And no, it’s not about mitochondria.. CHAPTERS (0:00) WTF America? (4:15) Why I chose a teacher for this one (6:30) Mkunde / Ms. Mtenga (8:30) Teaching is amazing + also the worst (12:40) CONSCIENTIOUSNESS IS KEY (15:35) The importance of not being liked (17:50) NO SO TRUE MOMENT (19:49) Being 40 (23:10) Teaching today (29:20) Lessons on HISTORY (32:00) Being EFFECTIVE and EXCELLENT (36:00) Teaching is so hard (40:15) Optimism and pessimism (42:08) FINDING her career + embracing accidents (46:20) Mkunde’s BEST quotes (49:10) Look good, feel good (52:50) What she’s proudest of (54:20) SURPRISE- THE STUDENTS SPEAK (57:50) I miss it.. feeling purpose