PODCAST · education
Upgrade My Classroom
by Kevin Mecchella
Thank you for listening to the Upgrade My Classroom Podcast! Kevin Mecchella, youth speaker and behavior change specialist uncovers the social and emotional strategies that help teenage students make great decisions and mitigate bad ones. On this show, you'll learn from experts in the field of education, youth leadership and behavioral psychology how to create positive, lasting change for your teens. Our kids are faced with so many challenges and we have a responsibility to guide through the choices they have in front of them. Whether it's bullying, drugs or their own mental health, students need our help.So whether you're a teacher, school administrator or youth group organizer, this podcast is a fantastic resource to help your teens succeed. You'll hear a mix of expert interviews, training from Kevin and coaching calls. Subscribe to the show and let's help make an impact in our schools and communities!
Episodes
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Ep: 153 - Helping Teen Performing Artists Navigate Their Mental Health With Erin Pompa
Teenagers all share the same stress and anxiety but teen performing artists (musicians, dancers, singers, etc) have an extra layer on top. They often connect their self worth to their craft and when they encounter a poor audition or recital, the negative self talk becomes deafening. It's hard to...
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Ep: 152 - Why Teens Are So Afraid To Make A Mistake (And Ways We Can Help)
I've had so many conversations lately with both teens and adults where I've realized the fear of failure is alive and well no matter your age! People are so scared of making mistakes and it unfortunately keeps them stuck from moving fast. Moving fast is the only way we learn and grow. So today…
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Ep: 151 - Freshman Year Of College: How To Redefine Yourself And Embrace A Fresh Start
Do you remember that time that everyone laughed at you because you had toilet paper stuck to your shoe? Or that nick name that stuck with you in 4th grade? You may remember but you know who doesn't...everyone at college! Students are about to embark on a entirely new chapter in their life. For…
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Ep: 150 - Acknowledging the Six Human Needs in Educational Settings
Today I'd like to reflect on a personal story from my childhood—a deep-seated obsession with Superman and the significance it held for me. I was a product of the Christopher Reeves Superman (ahhemm....the best one) and it was a few things. Sure it was the way he carried himself but at the age of…
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Ep: 149 - Essential Tips for Students Moving from High School to College Life
Most of us can remember the first few months of our undergraduate experience. It was not easy! It's a big shift for many different reasons so when we talk about our student's mental health, this is a very pivotal point and an important transition. Today we'll chat about the challenges students…
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Ep: 148 - How To Break Down Social Cliques In High School
Do you remember the last few months of your senior year?! All of a sudden everyone started talking to each other, everyone became friendly, and all social cliques began to to break down! We realized that our future has arrived. There was no more next steps and for most part, you were not going to...
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Ep: 147 - A Mental Health Morning Routine...For Teens!
The saying goes "if you win the morning, you win the day". And morning routines are not just for adults! There are many great benefits from a teen implementing some personal development tactics before they head out to school. Today I'll share some practical strategies to help teenagers enhance...
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Ep: 146 - Unpacking the CASEL Framework: Strategies for SEL and Mental Health From Communities To Classrooms
May is Mental Health Awareness Month so today we'll be unpacking the CASTLE SEL framework which is a key component of social and emotional learning. I'll provide an in-depth breakdown of the framework's five core competencies, along with discussing the settings that SEL can be taught which are...
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Ep: 145 - Beyond the Surface: How To Invest Time in Students Who Appear Self-Reliant
I recently had a student come up to me after a talk and said "I want to be like you"... I assumed that he meant he wanted to be a speaker. I was wrong. He continued to say "I want to speak and I want people to finally hear me". I realized that this student has so much to say and so much to share...
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Ep: 144 - Picking The Right Major To Avoid The Rat Race And Find Purpose
When I was in high school I KNEW that I was going to be a high school band director.... Clearly I was mistaken. When 16 and 17 year old children are asked what they want to do with the rest of their lives (AKA picking a major), there are a lot of variables and situations to think about. Whether...
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Ep: 143 - The Student Loan Decision And The Monthly Breakdown Students Need
When a student is thinking of taking a student loan, what does $50,000 really mean to them. Well if they're anything like me, nothing! I had no personal finance education and the number seemed so vague. Plus you've probably also heard things like... Everyone has to take them I won't have to pay...
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Ep: 142 - Help Change A Teen's Subconscious Beliefs Using The Story Cycle
If we tell ourselves a certain story, we're going to make certain decision. If we change that story, our decisions will change as well. Today we're going to break down the Story Cycle. This simple yet extremely powerful concept has been taught by many personal development and productivity gurus....
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Ep: 141 - Preventing Teen Substance Abuse: The Power of Setting Clear Boundaries
Today I start with a story. It's actually one of the earliest memories I have. It was a contract that my mother and my teacher made me sign... As someone who is NOT an expert on addiction, drugs and alcohol or substance abuse, this is simply one man's experience with early prevention. Take a…
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Ep: 140 - Confronting Regret: Empowering Teens to Make Better Decisions in Life
Today we're going to try a slightly different format. I will be playing a short clip from one of my recent talks at Dobbs Ferry High School in Westchester, NY. This clip highlights some of the selfish choices a teen can make when they tell themselves a limiting story. Today I'll discuss 3…
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Ep: 139 - Decoding The 3 Truths Behind Our Decisions
Throughout my time as a teacher, coach and speaker, I've learned quite a bit about how teens make decisions. One major realiztion I've had is that our decisions are governed by three fundamental truths. No matter what age and what circumstance, these principles are what guide and shape our...
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Ep: 138 - Self-Confidence, Personal Growth, And Empowerment: A Conversation With M&P Presentations
When it comes to high amounts of energy, there are no better people that Matt and Phil from M&P Presentations. This dynamic youth speaking duo has been working with teens for over a decade. They have a truly unique perspective considering both Matt and Phil work professionally in the field of...
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Ep: 137 - When Students Fail: The Evaluation And Revision Of Their smartER Goal
At some point every teen will fail at something. The issue is that students are facing this idea of perfectionism that is engineered from social media and the constant connection to all their peers. So how can we help them and what strategies can we give them to work through their failures? Today...
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Ep: 136 - What Are Your Teen's Actions To Achieve Their S.M.A.R.T.E.R. Goals?
The SMART or SMARTER goal framework is fairly common among professionals and executives but how about teens? Has you student ever formally tried to sit down and create a detailed goal? Considering it's the first episode of the year, the conversation on everyone's minds is always New Year's...
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Ep: 135 - How Students Can Find Their Purpose By Asking One Question
It's a hard question...what do I do for the rest of my life? Even harder when you have to make that decision at 16 when applying for colleges. I have embarked on a few different entrepreneurial pursuits in my life. While I believe they all kind of stemmed from the same purpose, they were…
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Ep: 134 - Find The Root Of Your Problem By Asking Why...5 Times!
I was recently watching a video from Ali Abdaal, one of the most successful productivity Youtubers. He was going through a lot of higher level thinking and figuring out what direction to take his business next. This is where he dropped a gem! If you're having trouble with achieving a goal or not...
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Ep: 133 - Teaching Students How To Prioritize (College Applications)
This is crunch time for college applications. That means that students will need to shift their priorities. Here are a few things that can help your students to reprioritize. 1. Mindset Reframing: It's important for students to understand that they won't be able to get everything done, and that's...
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Ep: 132 - Educator Spotlight Series: Will Elliot - Teen Life Coach
Today is another Educator Spotlight Series! Join me as we dive into the world of Will Elliott, a 25-year-old teen life coach. When Will first appeared in my feed, I was conflicted with the thought of a 25 year old life coach. On one hand I said "he's still a kid himself"! On the other hand I...
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Ep: 131 - Asking Jocko Willink A Question On Discipline
I recently saw a video of Jocko Willink where he attempted to answer a question from a listener. The question was revolved around discipline and how to develop it when you come from a undisciplined household. I found it really interesting to say the least... Today we'll unpack the crucial aspect…
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Ep: 130 - From Practice to Progress: Empowering Students To Take Consistent Repetition and Dedication
As a musician for a huge part of my life, practice has always been something that is necessary. Even if I don't have a specific gig coming up, I always have to practice to get better at the craft and to keep my endurance at a high enough level. In today's quick episode, I'm digging into a…
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Ep: 129 - Failure as Feedback: Teaching Students to Learn from Setbacks and Embrace Failure
As a youth speaker and coach, I'm well aware of how crucial it is to teach teenagers the art of embracing failure and navigating the challenges it presents. It's all about helping them understand that failure isn't the end of the road but rather a stepping stone towards eventual success. It took...
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Ep: 128 - What Students Lack In Experience, They Can Gain In Perspective
High school can be challenging. One of the biggest problems is that students are still so young. They haven't lived enough yet to gain the best tool in the toolbox...experience! So instead of trying to step into a time machine, I have three simple ways that students can gain the next best thing....
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Ep: 127 - Motivation Is Easy...When It's Easy
Have you ever come across those intense, aggressive, and highly popular motivational videos on YouTube? You know the kind, the ones that feature people running and lifting weights while some voice over dude screams in the background?! But have you ever wondered why these videos don't show people...
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Ep: 126 - The Value of Extracurriculars in Fostering Social Skills and Emotional Awareness
As teachers, administrators, and anyone involved in education, we can probably all recall the impact these activities had on our own lives and why they are so important for our students. From theater to sports, from music to student government, extra curricular activities teach our kids so much…
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Ep: 125 - Educator Spotlight Series: Dr. Justin Baeder
Today is a first experiment of the spotlight series. This will be a series on this podcast where we highlight individuals who are making a difference in the world of education. Today, we turn the spotlight on Doctor Justin Baeder, a former principal turned administrator mentor, who is helping...
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Ep: 124 - Starting the Year Off Right: Prioritizing Mental and Physical Health in the Classroom
Last week I recorded an episode about the conflicting feelings of going back to school. I figured I would continue down of talking about the beginning of the year. As educators, we have the power to not only teach academic subjects but also to prioritize our students' mental and physical health....
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Ep: 123 - How To Actually Enjoy The Last Few Weeks Before School
August is always a strange month for me. Whether I was in high school myself or as a teacher, I always had mixed feelings about going back to school. On one hand, I was so excited! I can literally smell the excitement in the air! I was pumped to see my friends, all the after school activities...
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Ep: 122 - Why High School Students Are Terrified To Make The Wrong Decision
I've noticed a recurring theme – this fear of making the wrong decision. And trust me, I get it. High school is a time of change. But here's the thing – it's absolutely okay to be wrong sometimes. In fact, making mistakes is an essential part of growth and learning. That's why I believe it's...
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Ep: 121 - Why Adaptability is Crucial for Students & How to Cultivate it
In today's fast-paced and ever-changing world, adaptability has become a crucial skill for success, particularly for high school students. Being adaptable means having the ability to adjust and thrive in different situations, allowing students to navigate the challenges they face both…
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Ep: 120 - Beyond Words: The Importance of Nonverbal Communication
On this episode, we explore the power of nonverbal communication through vocal inflection, hand gestures, facial expressions, and physical stance. We break down the box they are in and show them how to excel in communication and become successful students! Remember, communication is more than…
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Ep: 119 - Balancing Discipline and Mental Health: An Assistant Principal's Reflections
Today I sat down with Scott Wisniewski, a high school assistant principal and winner of the NJPSA/NASSP NJ Assistant Principal of the Year, to dissect how Wayne Schools is investing in the mental health of their students. We had a wide ranging conversation including what it's really like being an...
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Ep: 118 - How To Audit Your Phone For Your Mental Health
In today's fast-paced world, our phones have become an integral part of our lives. They offer us a plethora of utilities and allow us to stay connected with the world at large. However, the excessive use of phones can also lead to stress and anxiety in our student's lives. Today we're going to…
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Ep: 117 - David Flood Teaches Students How To Be Selfless
David Flood, a youth motivational speaker joins us to chat about his experiences helping students unlock kindness and compassion for one another. David shares his insights on why the word "love" and the influential figure that used this word so eloquently. David opens up about his son Justin who…
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Ep: 116 - SEL Exercises For Your Classroom With Scott Todnem
I came across a teacher online who was doing some fantastic SEL exercises with his students and posting them online…I had to have him on as a guest to learn more! Scott Todnem is the author of "Growing Up Great! The Ultimate Puberty Book for Boys" and "Sex Education: A Parent's Guide." Scott has...
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Ep: 115 - Student Leader Stress (And Ways To Manage It)
Student Leader Stress is a real thing. Teens have a lot going on in their lives. They face high expectations and often put unrealistic pressure on themselves to be the best version of themselves. These expectations may be self-imposed or put on them by others in positions of authority in their...
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Ep: 114 - A Simple Formula For Teens To Develop A Growth Mindset
Carol Dweck's work on fixed and growth mindsets is incredibly important for educators to understand, as it can help them better support their students. A fixed mindset is one in which an individual believes that their physical body, intelligence, or ability at a certain skill is fixed and limited...
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Ep: 113 - How To Build Resilience In Our Children
Bullying is an unfortunate reality for many students, and it can have serious effects on their mental health and wellbeing. In this episode I'll explain how we as teachers and youth professionals can help our students build resilience and deal with bullies in a healthier way with a simple three…
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Ep: 112 - Help Your Children By Understanding The 4 Stages Of Parenting
As education professionals we know that we are, unfortunately, a small part of the success of our students. An overwhelmingly large factor is the influence parents have over their children. The routines, the values and the guidelines a parent instills at home all have a huge impact on the social...
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Ep: 111 - Reaching Teens Through A Balance Of Fact And Funny With Matt Bellace PhD.
Reaching teens can be tough. I found someone who has figured out how to do it…very well! Today on the show I sit down with Dr. Matt Bellace and learn how he uses comedy to present scientific evidence regarding substance abuse. We discuss his background as a clinical psychologist and the…
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Ep: 110 - Helping At-Risk Youth Look At Their Time As Preparation...Not Punishment With Michy E. Morillo
At-risk youth are students who need help avoiding the school to prison pipeline. This is what our guest Michy Morillo shares with us today on the show. Michy E. Morillo is an author, youth coach, and acclaimed keynote speaker with lived experience navigating the juvenile justice system. As a…
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Ep: 109 - Teach Teens To Manipulate Their Social Media Algorithm
Social media has become a hotly debated topic, and as teachers and youth coaches, it's important to discuss the pros and cons it provides. On the one hand, social media gives teens instant and broad access to their peers and interests, plus the opportunity to make real money. It also offers…
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Ep: 108 - How To Help Students Redefine Stress
How we redefine stress can literally make stress a non issue! When it comes to our students dealing with the stress and anxiety that comes with things like college admissions, making the school team, or dealing with bullies, it's important that we teach students to redefine the stress by changing...
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Ep: 107 - Advice For Parents From A CTE Teacher With Khristen Massic
A CTE teacher has a lot on their plate. For that matter, teachers in general have a lot on their plate! But when it comes to multiple prep teachers, there are other organizational challenges that are much more obvious. I can somewhat relate from my previous career as a music teacher. At the end…
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Ep: 106 - Teaching Students To Recognize Their Worth And Value With Kate Garnes
No matter how old you are, I think we can all relate to not feeling worthy at certain times. The feelings of not being good enough, strong enough or smart enough are somewhat natural emotions that are designed to keep us in place which ultimately is designed to keep us safe. The problem is we are...
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Ep: 105 - How To Regulate Your Nervous System With Molly Rasanen
Teacher Burnout is a real problem and has been on the rise for the past few years. The pandemic has certainly expedited this issue. So today on the show we learn how to prioritize our own well-being as teachers and education professionals. Our guest, Molly Rasanen, is a holistic coach who...
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Ep: 104 - How To Teach Students Perspective Of Time
To teach students perspective of time is tricky. How can you teach students perspective when they have so little life experience to actually "have" perspective? On this episode, I discuss the importance of understanding our relationship with time, and how this is especially important for high...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Thank you for listening to the Upgrade My Classroom Podcast! Kevin Mecchella, youth speaker and behavior change specialist uncovers the social and emotional strategies that help teenage students make great decisions and mitigate bad ones. On this show, you'll learn from experts in the field of education, youth leadership and behavioral psychology how to create positive, lasting change for your teens. Our kids are faced with so many challenges and we have a responsibility to guide through the choices they have in front of them. Whether it's bullying, drugs or their own mental health, students need our help.So whether you're a teacher, school administrator or youth group organizer, this podcast is a fantastic resource to help your teens succeed. You'll hear a mix of expert interviews, training from Kevin and coaching calls. Subscribe to the show and let's help make an impact in our schools and communities!
HOSTED BY
Kevin Mecchella
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Upgrade My Classroom have?
Upgrade My Classroom currently has 153 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Upgrade My Classroom about?
Thank you for listening to the Upgrade My Classroom Podcast! Kevin Mecchella, youth speaker and behavior change specialist uncovers the social and emotional strategies that help teenage students make great decisions and mitigate bad ones. On this show, you'll learn from experts in the field of...
How often does Upgrade My Classroom release new episodes?
Upgrade My Classroom publishes regularly with 153 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Upgrade My Classroom?
You can listen to Upgrade My Classroom on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Upgrade My Classroom?
Upgrade My Classroom is created and hosted by Kevin Mecchella.
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