Educate & Rejuvenate: The Podcast
by Kelsey Sorenson, Elementary Teacher, Homeschool Mom, and Life Coach
Being an educator is beyond a full-time job. Whether you’re a teacher or a homeschool parent, the everyday to-do list is endless. Between lesson planning, grading, meetings, and actually teaching, it probably feels impossible to show up for your students without dropping the ball in other areas of your life. Educate & Rejuvenate: The Podcast is the show that will bring you the teacher tips, practical strategies, and inspiration that you need to relieve the stress and overwhelm of your day-to-day. Your host, Kelsey Sorenson, is a former teacher and substitute turned homeschool mom, business owner, and life coach (certified through The Life Coach School). Tune in weekly to hear Kelsey and her guests cheer you on and help you thrive as a wife, teacher, and mommy. Because with a little support and community, you can do it all. For access to every single Wife Teacher Mommy resource, join the club at www.wifeteachermommy.com/club.
Episodes
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How I Backed Up 1,500 TPT Purchases Using Claude AI
Worried about what happens to your Teachers Pay Teachers purchases? Get my free TPT Backup Toolbox (the Claude skill, the prompt, and a step-by-step guide) here: https://educateandrejuvenate.com/op/free-resource-backup-toolbox/ You may also want to visit this episode on YouTube, since there are a...
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Why Teachers Struggle to Say No (And Why Scripts Don’t Work)
You know you need better boundaries at school. You saved the Instagram posts with "10 ways to say no," practiced the scripts in front of the mirror, and promised yourself you wouldn't take on extra duties. Yet when the moment comes, your mind freezes, or worse, you actually say "no" and then…
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Before You Say Yes at School, Do This
Your coworker walks into your classroom during your 30-minute prep period asking for "just a quick favor." You had planned to grade lessons, but before you can even check your to-do list, your brain starts frantically rearranging your entire schedule to help her. If you find yourself constantly...
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Admin Asked for Volunteers. Nobody Spoke Up... So You Did.
It's Friday afternoon at 4:00 PM, and your admin asks for "one quick volunteer" to lead Spirit Week. Silence fills the room—and before you even think about it, you hear your own voice say, "I can do it." If you struggle with setting boundaries as a teacher, teacher people-pleasing, or constantly...
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School ended. Why is your brain still there?
School ended hours ago, so why was your brain still there? You're standing at the stove making dinner, and instead of hearing about everyone's day, you're replaying the comment your admin made in the hallway after lunch. You left the building at 3:30, but your Teacher Brain is still standing in...
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What to Do When You Fall Off Track as a Teacher (Without the Shame Spiral)
Title: What to Do When You Fall Off Track as a Teacher (No Shame Required) Maybe you set a goal to leave school by a certain time, or to finally hold a boundary, or to do something that would help you live the life you actually want, inside and outside the classroom. Then a week or two later, you...
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How To Know What You Want as a Teacher (Even If You're a People Pleaser)
If you're a teacher and someone asked you right now what you actually want, could you answer? Most teachers can't. You can tell me exactly what your students need, what your admin needs, what your own kids need. Ask what you want, and it's silence. This is part 2 of a 3-part replay series pulled...
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The Real Reason You're Burned Out (It's Not Teaching)
Teacher burnout isn't actually about teaching. Here's what it really is, and where to start. This is part 1 of a 3-part replay series pulled from the exact episodes that came out with my book two years ago, and they still hold up completely. We're covering the first step of what I now call the...
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How To Motivate "Lazy" Students or the "Bad" Kids (2026)
Have you ever caught yourself calling a student lazy, unmotivated, or "the bad kid" even just in your head? In this episode from the archives, Kelsey walks you through where that label really comes from and what to do instead. Using the thought model (one tool inside the Inside Out Teacher...
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You Don't Have to Do It All (Featuring Pickleball Injuries, Notice-and-Do, and the Sandwich Generation) with Joe & Jamie
What happens when you’re teaching full time, raising kids, caring for aging parents, and trying to keep approximately a million other plates spinning? In this episode, Kelsey is joined by Joe Vitale and Jamie Wanko, hosts of The Balancing Act Podcast, for a funny, honest conversation about what…
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How to Delegate More This School Year 2026
What if you could lighten your load this school year without hiring a personal assistant? In this episode, Kelsey shares practical ways to delegate more, from collaborating with your teaching team and creating better systems at home to using done-for-you resources, technology, and AI. You’ll...
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Relieve Back-to-School Stress with the Urgency Matrix
Does your back-to-school to-do list make you want to pull your hair out? In this episode, Kelsey breaks down the Urgency Matrix, a simple but powerful tool for separating what's actually urgent from what just feels urgent thanks to teacher brain running the show. Kelsey walks through all four...
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Before & After: Teachers Share What Made the Difference
Ever wonder what actually changes when a teacher finally sets a boundary? In this episode, Kelsey shares a panel she hosted live at the Educate & Rejuvenate Summer Refresh, featuring a group of teachers (and one homeschool mom!) from the Educate & Rejuvenate Club. Each of them answers one simple...
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The 4 Types of Decisions (And the One Most Teachers Skip)
Ever catch yourself reacting on autopilot when a parent email hits your inbox or your admin drops a last-minute request? In this episode, Kelsey shares a session she taught live at Summer Refresh in front of 1,000 teachers, all about making decisions before you're tired and stretched thin — not…
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The Sneaky Way Your Teacher Brain Steals Your Last Weeks of Summer
The Sneaky Way Your Teacher Brain Steals Your Last Weeks of Summer If you're down to your last couple of weeks of summer and staring at a list of everything you meant to get done, this episode is for you. Kelsey shares a live coaching clip from this year's Summer Refresh event, over 1,000…
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The 3 Questions Every Student Needs Answered in the First 3 Days of School
Fresh off the Summer Refresh, Kelsey is sharing a special crossover episode from the Teacher Approved Podcast, hosted by sisters Heidi and Emily of Second Story Window. This episode is the perfect classroom-side companion to everything we talk about here at E&R because you can't build a classroom...
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Real Teachers Answer Your Biggest Questions About Burnout, Boundaries, and What Actually Helps
Tired of hearing what works in theory? This episode is all about what's actually working, for real teachers, in real classrooms, right now. Kelsey shares a live panel recording from the Summer 2025 event featuring Educate & Rejuvenate Club members who show up and tell it straight: how they've...
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Declutter Your Mind And Your Space (2026)
You can't organize your way out of a cluttered mind. In this episode, Kelsey pulls back the curtain on a top-requested coaching workshop from the Educate & Rejuvenate Club and gives you the inside scoop on what actually makes decluttering work and why it has to start with your thoughts, not your...
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The Simple Mindset Hack to Uplevel Your Life (2026)
Does your brain ever get in your own way? In this episode, Kelsey revisits one of her most beloved archives — a 2023 episode she recorded just one hour after signing her book deal — and shares the simple mindset hack that has carried her through every hard season since. Using a hilarious story…
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The Balancing Act of Teaching & Life (Featuring Beach Stories, Gilmore Girls, and Real Talk) with Joe & Jamie (2026)
Some conversations just make you feel less alone, and this is one of them. Kelsey sits down with Joe Vitale and Jamie Wanko of the Balancing Act Podcast for a warm, hilarious, and deeply relatable conversation about what it really means to balance life as a teacher. They talk beach mishaps…
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How To Have a Purposeful Teacher Summer (2026)
Burn out all year. Crash all summer. Repeat. Sound familiar? This episode breaks that cycle. Kelsey is back with a tried-and-true archive episode on how to have a purposeful teacher summer, not just one where you're recovering. She covers the two summer mistakes most teachers make, how to set…
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How to Take More Off Your Plate This Winter [182]
What if the key to surviving winter wasn’t doing more...but doing less? In this episode, Kelsey shares how she’s lightening her mental load this season by simplifying on purpose. Plus, the tiny shifts that are making a big difference in her work and home life. From meal planning hacks and chore...
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Winter Reset 2025 Event Reveal Party: Keynote, Speaker Lineup, and Surprises!
🎉 The Educator Winter Reset You’ve Been Waiting For Is HERE! 🎉 What if your professional development felt like a cozy night in… with major inspiration, fresh ideas, and a whole lot of fun? This special episode is a replay of our LIVE 2025 Reveal Party, where we officially opened registration…
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The Balancing Act of Teaching & Life (Featuring Beach Stories, Gilmore Girls, and Real Talk) with Joe & Jamie
Ever tried to balance teaching, family, and life—and felt like you’re spinning a dozen plates at once? In this heartfelt (and hilarious!) conversation with Joe and Jamie from The Balancing Act Podcast, we explore everything from beach mishaps and Gilmore Girls binges to hallway hugs and burnout....
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When The Student Comes Back from the Principal's Office with a Treat
🎧 Replay: Open Coaching Call — The Real Shift Beneath Classroom Chaos In our opening public coaching call, we explored The Self-Coaching Model together—and how it applies to real, everyday challenges educators face. One powerful scenario came up that become our main focus: when a student gets…
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Plan Like The Empowered Educator You Are!
Want to walk into this school year feeling clear, grounded, and in control—not overwhelmed before it even begins? Join Kelsey live for a real-time walkthrough of the Educate & Rejuvenate Planner. You’ll learn how to plan in a way that supports your values, energy, and nervous system—not just your...
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Meet Your AI Coach Team: The Tools You Didn’t Know You Needed (Until Now!)
Get ready for an exciting live demo where Kelsey introduces the 4 new GPT-powered Educate & Rejuvenate Coaches—custom-built to help you save time, reduce stress, and actually feel supported in your week. These are a BRAND NEW BONUS inside the Educate & Rejuvenate Club! (NOTE: This bonus is for…
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Educate & Rejuvenate Summer 2025 Full Tour
The countdown is officially ON! Educate & Rejuvenate 2025 starts TOMORROW—and whether you’ve already grabbed your ticket or you’re still on the fence, this episode is for YOU. In this special pre-event message, Kelsey breaks down: ✨ Exactly how to access your sessions (yes, replays are included!)…
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Educate & Rejuvenate Summer 2025 Kickoff Party [#181, Summer Sips Series]
In this jam-packed episode, Kelsey Sorenson is joined by a group of amazing presenters from the upcoming Educate & Rejuvenate 2025 event, happening July 15–21! This special speaker panel gives you a behind-the-scenes look at what’s coming, who’s speaking, and why this event is exactly what…
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Teaching In Sync: The AI-Powered Moves Every Co-Teacher Needs w/ Erica Terry + Dr Lynea Laws [#180, Summer Sips Series]
🎶 Ready to get your co-teaching groove on? Ready to remix your co-teaching routine? Join Erica Terry and Lynea Laws—authors of Teaching In Sync: The Ultimate Playlist for Co-Teaching Success—for a high-energy conversation on all things collaboration, classroom harmony, and AI-powered lesson...
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What Works in Inclusive Classrooms with Rebekah Poe [#179, Summer Sips Series]
Student motivation can feel like a mystery—especially when we’re trying to reach every learner in an inclusive classroom. In this episode, I’m joined by returning E&R speaker and special education expert Rebekah Poe to unpack what really works when it comes to boosting engagement, building…
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Our Top Secret to a Joyful Math Block with Ashleigh Smith from Rainbow Sky Creations [#178, Summer Sips Series]
What if your math block became the most joyful part of your teaching day? In this inspiring episode, I’m joined by the brilliant team from Rainbow Sky Creations to share six practical strategies you can implement right away to bring more joy, creativity, and clarity to your math lessons. Whether...
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When Art & Augmented Reality Meet Emotions with Tricia Fuglestad [#177, Summer Sips Series]
🎨🤖 What do you get when you mix robots, emotions, and augmented reality? A wildly creative new way to teach SEL through art and tech—and this week’s guest is leading the charge. In this Summer Sips episode, I’m joined by Tricia Fuglestad, award-winning art teacher, tech integration specialist,...
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Ditch the Guilt, Decode the Cravings with Laura Banks [#176, Summer Sips Series]
Ever feel like food has way too much control over your day? Former teacher and certified Health Coach Laura Banks (of bhealthyhabits) joins me for a down-to-earth convo on why cravings happen, what they really mean, and why willpower isn’t the answer. We’re breaking down: ✔️ The two types of...
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Finding Success in Your Writing Block with Susan Swensen [#175, Summer Sips Series]
Feeling overwhelmed every time writing block rolls around? You're not alone. In this special co-hosted episode, I’m joined by Susan Swensen—elementary teacher and host of The Shared Teaching Podcast—to chat about simple, effective ways to take the stress out of writing instruction. We’re talking...
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Creating Lifelong Learners with Kami Wamous [#174, Summer Sips Series]
Helping Kids Take Ownership of Their Learning What if your homeschool or classroom could feel less overwhelming—and more inspired? In this Summer Sips episode, I’m joined by Kami Wanous, homeschool mentor and creator of The Freedom Scholar, to talk about building a family learning culture that...
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Regulate, Then Educate with Jenn Adams [#173, Summer Sips Series]
Emotional regulation isn’t just a personal growth tool—it’s one of the most powerful classroom management strategies you have. In this episode, I’m joined by Jenn Adams from Teach Love Autism to explore how your ability to regulate your own emotions can transform student behavior, reduce…
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Educate & Rejuvenate Summer Sips Kickoff Party [#172]
Ready to sip on something sweet this summer? In this special kickoff episode of the Educate & Rejuvenate Podcast, Kelsey spills all the tea (and coffee!) on the 2025 Summer Event, the new Summer Sips podcast series, and the mission fueling a movement in education. Whether you're a classroom...
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Savor Your Summer: What Do You Actually Want? [#171]
Key themes from Savor Your Summer: What Do You Actually Want?: The power of intentionality: What happens when we slow down and choose how we want to spend our summer? People-pleasing vs. authentic desires: Kelsey shares a personal bike accident story that hilariously (and insightfully!)…
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Judging Yourself for Feeling Burned Out? Let’s Talk [#170]
You’ve made it to the final stretch of the school year, and while summer break is right around the corner, you might still be carrying mental baggage from the classroom. That inner voice telling you, “You should’ve done more,” or “You’re not allowed to feel this burned out”—yep, that’s exactly…
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Laughing Through the Chaos: An Interview with Anna Kowal [#169]
What if the chaos of teaching was actually the perfect setup for a good laugh? In this heartwarming and hilarious episode of Educate & Rejuvenate: The Podcast, Kelsey sits down with middle school reading teacher, content creator, and comedy queen Anna Kowal. Together, they explore how laughter…
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Curiosity Over Control- What If You Didn’t Need to Force It? [#168]
As we near the end of the school year, many teachers and homeschool parents are feeling the pressure to hold it all together. You know the feeling: “If I can just fix this one thing… If I can just make it through the next two weeks… then I’ll be okay.” But in this episode of Educate & Rejuvenate:...
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Educate & Rejuvenate Summer 2025 Reveal Party! [#167]
You KNOW I’ve been bursting at the seams to share this… it’s time for the Educate & Rejuvenate 2025 SPEAKER REVEAL PARTY! 🎉 In this special (and super cozy) episode, I went live to spill all the deets on our summer event—including our keynote speaker, the incredible speaker lineup, and some...
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Why You Don't Need to Fix Everything Right Now [#166]
End-of-year chaos? Check. ✅ That nagging “I’ll feel better once I fix…” thought? Also check. ✅ But what if the very act of trying to fix everything is what’s making it all feel so overwhelming? Welcome to Educate & Rejuvenate: The Podcast, where we’re kicking off a brand-new series called Ease…
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4 Simple Ways to Relieve End-of-Year Stress [#165]
The final stretch of the school year can feel like a marathon where you’re somehow expected to sprint the whole way. Testing season, classroom cleanup, IEPs, assemblies, final grades—and the emotional rollercoaster that comes with saying goodbye to your students. It’s no wonder that so many...
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The Ideal Week: The Secret to Getting Things Done (Without Burning Out) [#164]
Do you ever feel like you're constantly putting out fires instead of making real progress in your teaching? Do you end the day feeling exhausted, wondering where all of your time went? If so, you're not alone. In today’s post, we explore the “urgency effect” and share practical insights on how to...
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Why We’re Taking a Break (and Why You Should Embrace Seasons in Your Life Too) [#163]
Embracing the Beauty of Seasons: A New Chapter for the Podcast Life, teaching, and even podcasts flow through seasons. There’s beauty in these cycles, offering opportunities to pause, reflect, and grow. In this spirit, the Educate and Rejuvenate podcast is entering a new phase, one of intentional...
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How to Create Goals In Teaching & Life That ACTUALLY Stick in 2025! [#162]
Did you know that most people abandon their New Year’s goals within just two weeks? Shocking, right? But it doesn’t have to be your story this year. Whether it’s professional milestones or personal aspirations, I’m here to share strategies that will help you break the cycle and build goals that...
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Educate & Rejuvenate Winter '24-'25 Reminder!
Winter Educate & Rejuvenate 24'/25' has begun, have you joined us yet? Pre-recorded sessions are available in the app and live sessions are happening January 7, 8, & 9, 2025. Download the app today to get started! Download from the App Store Download from Google Play Desktop app link
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Thrive in 2025- Prioritize Yourself While Transforming Your Teaching [#161]
2025 is your year to thrive—inside and outside the classroom. It starts with one powerful mindset shift that puts your well-being first without sacrificing your impact. This mindset is the cornerstone of my three-step framework. Whether you're a classroom teacher, a homeschool parent, or an...
About this show
Being an educator is beyond a full-time job. Whether you’re a teacher or a homeschool parent, the everyday to-do list is endless. Between lesson planning, grading, meetings, and actually teaching, it probably feels impossible to show up for your students without dropping the ball in other areas of your life.
Educate & Rejuvenate: The Podcast is the show that will bring you the teacher tips, practical strategies, and inspiration that you need to relieve the stress and overwhelm of your day-to-day. Your host, Kelsey Sorenson, is a former teacher and substitute turned homeschool mom, business owner, and life coach (certified through The Life Coach School). Tune in weekly to hear Kelsey and her guests cheer you on and help you thrive as a wife, teacher, and mommy. Because with a little support and community, you can do it all.
For access to every single Wife Teacher Mommy resource, join the club at www.wifeteachermommy.com/club.
Hosted by
Kelsey Sorenson, Elementary Teacher, Homeschool Mom, and Life Coach
Categories