A Work of Heart: Human Intelligence in Education

In this special episode of A Work of Heart, Dr. Ilana Nankin and Michael Fenchel celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week by moving beyond pizza parties to explore the radical impact of gratitude. Research shows only 25% of teachers feel recognized—we’re here to close that gap. Learn how shifting your mindset to an "Attitude of Gratitude" can enhance your well-being, rekindle your passion, and create a more connected classroom. We share three tangible practices from our Master’s program that you can use immediately to "fill your own cup" and support your students.Best MomentsWhy gratitude is a functional tool for surviving the burnout crisis in education.Ilana shares the "miracle" of her recovery after a 44ft climbing fall and how it changed her perspective on being alive.The moving story of Susan Givens and how gratitude sustained her through her final days.A live "Pure Cheer" exchange between Ilana and Michael that demonstrates the power of being truly seen.What You’ll LearnThe 3 Depths of Gratitude: How to apply appreciation to yourself, your relationships, and the world at large.Grateful For Me: A simple 4-step practice to honor your own mind, body, and heart.The Treasure Chest: A visualization tool to store and recall moments of joy during challenging times.Pure Cheer: How to give and—more importantly—actually receive appreciation without brushing it off.Episode Timestamps 00:00 — Closing the Teacher Recognition Gap 02:33 — Collective Breaths of Gratitude 03:18 — The Science and Power of a Gratitude Mindset 11:04 — Practice #1: Grateful For Me 17:50 — Practice #2: The Treasure Chest (Attitude of Gratitude) 26:44 — Practice #3: Pure Cheer (Giving and Receiving) 30:55 — Live Practice: Michael and Ilana’s ExchangeAbout Breathe For Change We empower educators to unlock Human Intelligence through our accredited Master’s program. When you learn to breathe, the whole system changes.Connect With Us Subscribe to A Work of Heart on your favorite platform. Learn more about our Master’s of Education at BreatheForChange.com and follow our community’s journey on social media.

In this episode of A Work of Heart, Dr. Ilana Nankin sits down with Dr. Salina Gray, a veteran educator whose career spans over three decades across middle, high, and elementary school settings, and now, special education. Salina’s story is a profound example of the "Transformation of Self." She shares her vulnerable journey from an unconsciously dysregulated teacher—who unintentionally caused harm while trying to "fix" her students—to becoming a trauma-informed educator who leads with presence, compassion, and mindful listening. If you have ever felt like you are carrying too much or wondered how your own state of being impacts your classroom, this conversation offers a powerful roadmap for healing and sustainable, heart-centered teaching.Best Moments from the EpisodeSalina describes the pivotal shift from asking, "What is wrong with me/my students?" to "What happened to me?" and how that language change unlocked her ability to heal.We discuss the courage required to face past pedagogical mistakes, apologize to former students, and accept responsibility for unintended harm.Salina shares why "Mindful Listening"—witnessing without the urge to fix, judge, or advise—is the single most transformational practice in her classroom.You will hear how rituals, play-based learning, and morning affirmations have created a classroom culture so regulated that students who struggle with attention are able to engage in rigorous academic work for 30–45 minutes at a time.The conversation highlights how the same tools used for trauma-informed teaching are naturally aligned with supporting neurodiverse students in a Special Day Class (SDC) setting.What You’ll Learn in This Episode You will learn why the most effective tool in your classroom is your own regulated nervous system. We explore the practice of mindful listening as a strategy for building deep social-emotional intelligence and how to implement it even with the youngest learners. You will gain insight into how to structure a classroom day—from morning tubs to affirmations—that builds agency and safety. Finally, you will hear how one educator’s commitment to her own internal "excavation work" led to a professional rebirth, allowing her to serve her students with more clarity and joy than ever before.Meet Your Guest Dr. Salina Gray is a veteran educator with over 30 years of experience, having taught in middle, high, and elementary school settings. She holds a PhD in Education from Stanford University and currently works with neurodiverse students in a Special Day Class (SDC). A dedicated member of the Breathe For Change community, Dr. Gray is a passionate mentor, faculty member, and advocate for trauma-informed, somatic-based education that honors the wisdom of the body.Episode Timestamps00:00 — A 30-Year Career: From Middle School to Special Education02:19 — Healing the Self: "What Happened to Me" vs. "What is Wrong With Me"09:57 — The Mirror of the Past: Realizing Unintended Harm16:04 — The Breathe For Change Transformation25:57 — Mindful Listening: The Ultimate Game Changer33:46 — Inside Dr. Gray’s Classroom: Rituals, Play, and Regulation37:32 — How to Enable Academic Stamina Through ConnectionAbout Breathe For Change We are on a mission to unlock the Human Intelligence in every educator and student through our accredited master's program and certification. When you learn to breathe again, the whole system begins to change.Connect With Us Subscribe to A Work of Heart on your favorite platform. You can learn more about the Breathe For Change Masters of Education on our website and follow our community's journey of transformation on social media.

In this episode of A Work of Heart, Dr. Ilana Nankin sits down with Adriana Robertson to explore the transformative power of Somatic Intelligence. For many educators, the body is treated as a separate entity from the mind, but our internal states actually dictate our ability to connect, regulate, and lead. If you have ever felt bottled up or overwhelmed by classroom chaos, this conversation offers a warm and practical path back to your own vitality. You will learn how to honor the messages your body sends and discover why interoception and regulation are the keys to thriving in the classroom and beyond. Adriana Robertson is a somatic educator and curriculum developer at Breathe For Change. She works to create transformative learning experiences that empower educators to embody their wellness. With a deep passion for the wisdom of the body, Adriana is dedicated to helping teachers and students reconnect with themselves and each other. She believes that when we bridge the gap between mind and body, we unlock the resilience, regulation, and joy that make teaching sustainable and transformative.Best Moments from the EpisodeYou will hear why the body is an essential tool for teaching and how the physical sensations you feel serve as vital data for your experience.We discuss rewiring for vitality through neuroplasticity and how you can transform old ways of being into new patterns that support your daily energy.The conversation offers practical ways to manage outbursts and shutdown states by first stabilizing your own nervous system.We explore interoception in action and how learning to listen to your body improves your capacity for personal regulation with your students.Finally, we discuss the gift of somatic practice and why teaching students to honor their bodies is a radical act of empowerment.What You Will Learn in This Episode You will understand how to implement somatic practices to regulate your own nervous system before your school day begins. We explore the connection between interoception and your ability to respond with calm and compassion when student behaviors become challenging. You will learn why the principle of firing together and wiring together applies to your emotional health and how you can begin the process of rewiring your brain for sustainable teaching. We also discuss how to create a classroom environment where students feel safe to move, breathe, and embody their own wisdom.Episode Timestamps 00:04 — Recognizing the Need for Somatic Intelligence 00:43 — Overcoming Classroom Dysregulation through Personal Regulation 01:19 — The Power of Attunement and Connecting to Your Body 12:30 — Understanding Interoception as a Foundational Skill 25:15 — Moving from Burnout to Vitality 35:54 — Neuroplasticity: Rewiring Old Ways of Being 36:47 — Practical Strategies for Integrating Movement into Your Day 59:30 — Final Thoughts on Living Life Inside OutAbout Breathe For Change We are on a mission to unlock the Human Intelligence in every educator and student through our accredited master's program and certification. When you learn to breathe again, the whole system begins to change.Connect With Us Subscribe to A Work of Heart on your favorite platform.Learn more about the Breathe For Change Masters of Education.https://breatheforchange.com/degrees-certificates/masters-of-education/

In this moving episode of A Work of Heart, Dr. Ilana Nankin sits down with her lifelong friend and brilliant psychiatrist, Dr. Beatrice Rabkin, to discuss the mental health crisis currently facing our schools. They move past multiplication tables and surface-level wellness to explore what it really means to hold space for suffering while maintaining your own well-being. Whether you are navigating student hopelessness or your own professional exhaustion, this conversation offers a warm and practical path back to your humanity.Here are some of the best moments from the episode:The Power of Presence: Why simply "witnessing" a student's experience can be the catalyst for their healing journey.Naming the Crisis: A look at why 75% of students are reporting deep sadness and how educators can respond without burning out.Understanding Moral Distress: Dr. Beatrice explains why the pain of being unable to help is a real clinical experience for teachers.Vulnerability as Strength: Reimagining your "humanity" not as a liability, but as your most effective teaching tool.The Second Grade Connection: A heartwarming look at how a lifelong friendship informs a shared mission to heal education.What You’ll Learn in This EpisodeYou'll discover why vulnerability is your greatest tool for connection in the classroom.Dr. Beatrice Rabkin explains the concept of "moral distress" and why your care for others shouldn't have to cost you your health.You'll learn how to implement a "Two-Word Check-In" to gauge the emotional pulse of your community and yourself.We discuss practical ways to reconnect with your purpose when the systems around you feel dehumanizing.Episode Timestamps00:42 — Reconnecting from Second Grade: A Lifelong Friendship01:32 — The Mental Health Crisis in Today’s Classrooms05:15 — Moving Beyond "Self-Care Sundays" to Real Healing12:40 — Defining Moral Distress in the Teaching Profession22:10 — The Importance of Being a "Witness" to Student Suffering35:50 — Reclaiming Purpose Through Human Intelligence48:15 — Practical Strategies for Holding Space Without Depletion59:30 — Closing Thoughts: Why the Future of Education is HumanAbout Our Guest Dr. Beatrice Rabkin is a psychiatrist and mental health advocate dedicated to supporting the well-being of individuals within high-stress systems.About Breathe For Change We're on a mission to unlock the Human Intelligence in every educator and student through our accredited master's program and certification. When you learn to breathe again, the whole system begins to change.Connect With UsSubscribe to A Work of Heart on your favorite platform.Learn more about the Breathe For Change Masters of Education.

What does it really mean to trust yourself — especially when the system you work in doesn't trust you back? In this episode, Dr. Ilana Nankin and Michael Fenchel sit down with Justin Dent, founder and CEO of Our School, for a deeply human conversation about radical trust as a practice, a pedagogy, and a way of leading. Justin opens his heart and shares how losing both of his parents within three years became the crucible that revealed just how strong his inner foundation was — and what it truly means to choose trust when the world falls out from underneath you. This is a conversation for every educator who has ever silenced their inner knowing in favor of what the system demands, and who is ready to lead from the inside out.Here are some of the best moments from the episode:The Earthquake and the Foundation: Justin reflects on how losing his mother and then his father two years later tested his trust in himself like nothing else — and ultimately revealed that the foundation he had quietly built would hold.Opening the Window: A powerful metaphor for the moment Justin chose to let universal intelligence in — and how that single act became the doorway to everything that followed.The Education System Doesn't Trust Itself: Justin and Ilana name the hard truth — when schools are built around performance and compliance, they strip trust from educators, who then can't model it for students or families.Why Giving Families Money Wasn't Enough: Justin shares a pivotal lesson from his work at Out School — families in under-resourced communities didn't use enrichment funds, not because they didn't care, but because they didn't trust themselves to make the right choice.Deficit Beliefs in the Classroom: Ilana shares her PhD research revealing how educators' unconscious beliefs about Black and brown families lowered student expectations — and how awareness alone began to transform outcomes.Children and Elders as Spiritual Anchors: Justin draws on indigenous wisdom — that children and elders are the closest to universal knowing — and asks why our education system so often silences both.Listen to this episode of A Work of Heart and sit with this question before your next lesson: what would it look like to trust yourself fully in the classroom today — not despite the system, but through it? Start small. Notice when you override your inner knowing. Notice when you listen to it. That distinction is where radical trust begins to take root. Thank you for the courageous, human-centered work you do every day. When educators lead from within, students learn to do the same.Breathe for Change is on a mission to transform education by developing the full Human Intelligence of every educator. Through our accredited Master's program and Human Intelligence Certification, we give educators the human skills, science-backed practices, and community they need to thrive — so their students can too.Earn your Master's in Human-Centered Education (FAFSA-eligible, 100% online, 12–18 months): https://www.breatheforchange.com/masters-programGet certified in Human Intelligence (13 weeks, online): https://www.breatheforchange.com/human-intelligence-certification

In this episode of A Work of Heart, Dr. Ilana Nankin and Sam Levine dive into the heart of Human Intelligence: Emotional Intelligence. They move beyond the traditional definition of "managing" feelings to explore a more profound goal—wholeness. This conversation is an invitation to stop suppressing the "difficult" emotions like anger, shame, and anxiety, and instead cultivate an empowering relationship with every feeling that arises.If you have ever felt like you had to leave your emotions at the classroom door, this hour is for you. Ilana and Sam discuss how our emotions hold essential wisdom and how teaching students to "notice and name" their feelings can literally change the trajectory of their lives. They share personal stories of educator burnout, the "righteous" feeling of classroom anger, and the life-changing power of simply feeling heard.Here are some of the best moments from the episode:The Power of Being Seen: Why research shows a student only needs one consistent person who believes in them to change their entire life path.Wholeness Over Happiness: Moving away from "acceptable" vs. "unacceptable" emotions to embrace every part of our human experience.The Two-Word Check-In: A simple, 60-second practice to build emotional literacy and settle a classroom.Affective Awareness: The science of "noticing and naming" and why granular language (beyond just "mad" or "sad") relaxes the nervous system.The Weather Report Metaphor: Using nature to help students (and adults) express internal states when they don't have the exact words.Breaking the Silence on Shame and Anger: Sam’s personal journey with "toxic masculinity" and the "simmering anger" that many male educators are taught to suppress.Meaning Making: Understanding the stories we tell ourselves about our emotions—like moving from "I'm a bad teacher" to understanding an unmet need.The Responsibilities of the "First Responder of the Soul": Why educators are uniquely positioned to teach the emotional skills that AI can never replicate.Healing the Educator First: Why Ilana’s own burnout led to the realization that an educator’s well-being is the foundation for student success.The "Rainbow in the Thunderstorm": How to honor your current emotional "weather" without trying to force it to change.Listen to this episode of A Work of Heart and try a Two-Word Check-In with your students or colleagues this week. Notice how the simple act of naming a feeling creates the space for a more human connection. Thank you for the heart-centered work you do every day. When teachers come alive, students do too.Episode Timestamps00:00 — The Gift of Being Deeply Heard 01:10 — The "One Person" Rule: Changing a Student's Trajectory 02:18 — Practice: The Two-Word Check-In 04:09 — The Origin of the Human Intelligence Framework 06:53 — Beyond Cognitive Intelligence: The Wisdom of the Body09:07 — Addressing Inequities Through a Broader Lens of Intelligence11:54 — Wholeness: Creating an Empowering Relationship with Every Emotion14:20 — Sam’s Journey: Making Peace with Anger and Shame18:47 — The "Burnout" Catalyst: Why Ilana Started Breathe For Change21:19 — Competency 1: Affective (Emotional) Awareness25:13 — Practice: The Internal Weather Report28:32 — Using Emotional Pulse-Checks to Improve Teaching30:39 — Competency 2: Meaning Making and the Stories We Tell33:01 — From Righteous Anger to Vulnerable Truth

The first episode of A Work of Heart is a foundational conversation for anyone who believes that the future of education starts with the human beings in the classroom. Dr. Ilana Nankin and Michael Fenchel dive into the first layer of the Human Intelligence Framework to explore how we can reclaim our agency in a world that feels increasingly driven by data and artificial intelligence. They move beyond the outdated models of memorization to show how focusing on our internal well-being actually enhances our professional practice.If you are navigating the pressure of standardized testing while trying to stay connected to your students, this conversation offers a way forward. We explore how to turn AI from a replacement brain into a thought partner and how the simple act of reclaiming your focus can transform a chaotic classroom into a space of shared creativity. Dr. Ilana Nankin and Michael Fenchel remind us that while the education system is in a period of intense change, the skills that technology cannot replicate such as empathy, presence, and collective innovation are exactly what our schools need most right now.Here are some of the best moments from the episode:Why human intelligence is the essential partner to artificial intelligence in the modern classroomHow to navigate the cognitive overload of the current education system without burning outThe shift from treating AI as a replacement brain to using it as a collaborative thought partnerWhy focus is the necessary foundation for all forms of learning and student engagementHow critical thinking helps us find truth within the information overload students face dailyThe power of agency and how our mindsets dictate the quality of our daily decisionsWhy intelligence is collective rather than individual and how to foster collaborationThe origin story of Breathe for Change and the poem that sparked a movementHow innovation serves as the ultimate expression of cognitive intelligence and professional actionA practical Attention with Intention practice to help you stay present when the day feels overwhelmingListen to this episode of A Work of Heart and try taking the Attention with Intention practice into your classroom this week to see how it shifts the energy for you and your students. Thank you for the vital work you do every day. When teachers come alive, students do too.🧘🏽‍♀️Breathe For Change offers the world’s only Mindfulness, Social-Emotional Learning, and Yoga Teacher Training designed specifically for educators and changemakers. Improve the mental health of you and your students through research-backed mindfulness and SEL strategies. Become a Certified Yoga Teacher and Social-Emotional Learning Facilitator, all from the comfort of your own home.✨Join an upcoming cohort today: https://www.breatheforchange.com/digital-yoga-teacher-training👩🏻‍🏫Start your free trial of our Educator Wellness & SEL Platform here: https://www.breatheforchange.com/educator-wellness-sel-platform#SEL #socialemotionallearning #educator #teacherlife #teachersday #teacherappreciationweek #teacherappreciation #teachersofinstagram #teachertraining #teacherresources #classroomteaching #classroomactivity #teachingideas #k12education #k12community #teachingstrategies #teacherburnout #educators

Teaching is the most burned out profession in America. And Beth Schreiber lived that statistic for two decades before finding her way back.Beth is a 20-year classroom teacher, Master's degree graduate of Breathe for Change's inaugural cohort, and now Director of Curriculum for her entire district in Montana. She walked into her career with her whole heart and spent years pouring everything she had into her students, until the year she finally had nothing left. In this warm and deeply honest conversation, Beth shares how discovering Breathe for Change in her hardest year transformed not just her classroom, but her entire relationship with herself, her colleagues, and the work she was always meant to do.Ilana met Beth in 2022 during her very first Breathe for Change training, and has had the privilege of watching her go from depleted classroom teacher to keynote speaker at the Montana State Administrative Conference, to faculty in the Master's program she once graduated from. Along the way, Beth conducted original research that showed how just six weeks of simple wellness practices dramatically reduced stress and reignited job satisfaction in the educators at her school.This episode is a deeply human exploration of what it means to practice Human Intelligence as an educator:Somatic intelligence to finally listen to what your body needsEmotional intelligence to name what you feel and stop running from itSocial intelligence to find community when isolation is making everything harderUniversal intelligence to reconnect with the purpose that pulled you into teaching in the first placeYou will learn:Why Beth was ready to leave after 20 years and what changed everything in just six weeksThe research data that showed stress and job satisfaction can completely flip in a single semesterHow bringing simple wellness practices to her colleagues transformed the culture of her entire schoolWhat the "itty bitty shitty committee" is and how to stop letting it run the showWhy student apathy is not a student problem, and what happens when we ask them what they care aboutHow Beth went from one classroom to keynoting her state's administrative conferenceThe three practices you can start using tomorrow that take under five minutes eachWhy filling your own cup first is the most generous thing you can do for your studentsIf you have ever felt like you were running on empty and wondered how much longer you could keep going, this episode will make you feel seen, validated, and ready to give something back to yourself. 💜Check out the full episode, then share it with an educator in your life who needs permission to fill their cup first.

Public education is under pressure. And Dr. Alex Marrero is leading right in the center of the storm.Dr. Marrero is the first Latino superintendent of Denver Public Schools, Colorado’s largest district, and he’s not here to “win every moment.” He’s here to make decisions he can live with indefinitely. In this conversation, Alex takes us inside the real job of leadership: the backlash, the weight, the loneliness, the moral math, and the courage required to stay anchored in what he calls the “best interest of students.”Ilana met Alex five years ago during a leadership development program at the height of Covid, when Ilana was guiding him through breathing practices and mindful movement in one-on-one sessions. Since then, Alex has stepped into a superintendent role he says he “did not know what he was signing up for,” inherited a “district of schools,” and helped move Denver toward coherence, shared expectations, and record graduation rates.This episode is a masterclass in Human Intelligence for educators and leaders:- Cognitive intelligence to think clearly through noise- Emotional intelligence to stay grounded under attack- Somatic intelligence to regulate the body before making high-stakes calls- Social intelligence to build trust and real community power- Universal intelligence to stay anchored in purpose when it gets hardYou’ll learn- The mindset shift Alex uses to survive criticism: “I have to live with my decisions indefinitely”- How he thinks about community power, choice, and why families can “make or break” a district- The difference between community engagement, involvement, and real empowerment- What it means to “relinquish power” without losing leadership- How Denver moved from a “district of schools” to a real school district with coherence and shared expectations- Why he keeps “Fire Marrero” signs as motivation (and what it taught him about leadership)- How to stay true to yourself when pressure, privilege, and politics try to bend you- The quiet-time practices and trusted colleagues that help him make better decisions- The origin story behind community hubs that became a lifeline for families, including thousands of new arrivalsIf you lead a classroom, a school, or a district, this episode will make you feel seen and give you language for the moments when doing the right thing is unpopular.Check out the full episode, then share it with a leader in education who needs a little more courage right now.

What if cynicism and optimism are actually two sides of the same broken coin? Dr. Allison Briscoe-Smith (clinical psychologist, trauma expert, Senior Fellow at UC Berkeley's Greater Good Science Center, and co-architect of Breathe For Change's Human Intelligence framework) joins Sam and Ilana for a conversation that might just change how you show up in your classroom tomorrow.Allison defines cynicism not as pessimism, but as 100% certainty that everything will be terrible: a definition that reveals something surprising. It requires exactly zero action on your part. Just like toxic optimism. Both strip you of agency. Both move you toward learned helplessness. And both are spreading fast through schools right now.The antidote is curiosity. It can be used as a daily practice for educators: asking "what happened?" instead of "what's wrong?", wondering instead of knowing, and building the muscle of hopeful skepticism one degree at a time.Sam and Allison also dig into co-regulation, resilience, the difference between protection and preparation, why kids always assume your bad mood is their fault, and what it looks like to show up as a fully human educator (without oversharing or shutting down).If you've ever felt burned out, jaded, or like your best days in the classroom are behind you, this one's for you.Episode Timestamps:0:00 — Cynicism is 100% surety everything will be terrible7:20 — How the system accelerates teacher burnout14:30 — Curiosity as the antidote: hopeful skepticism in practice21:40 — Trauma-informed care: asking "what happened?" not "what's wrong?"28:00 — Co-regulation, mirror neurons, and how educators' emotions travel35:10 — When should educators share how they're really feeling?41:00 — Resilience: the difference between a shield and a bounce-back47:30 — Why boredom is a skill we've stopped teaching52:00 — Three steps back from burnout: awareness, inventory, curiosity56:15 — Resilience stories as resistance: finding hope in a heavy moment

What happens when a superintendent watches her teachers burn out and decides to get 200-hour certified in yoga instead of handing them another curriculum?Dr. Barbara Malkas, the 2024 Massachusetts Superintendent of the Year, transformed the post-pandemic education crisis. And her secret wasn't stricter policies, better test prep, or a new academic program. It was three deep breaths.When Barbara saw her educators completely fried in 2021, she made a radical choice: she trained with Breathe For Change, opened up her school library on Friday afternoons, and invited her staff to join her on the mat. What started with 10 teachers doing yoga together turned into a district-wide movement that changed everything.The results were remarkable: an 11% drop in chronic absenteeism, a Golden Basketball Award from the Boston Celtics for ranking in the top 10 for attendance statewide, and a fourth-grade classroom that went an entire year with zero disciplinary referrals. Perhaps most powerful? Third-graders started asking each other, "Are you angry or frustrated right now?”The data tells a clear story: when we invest in human intelligence, emotional regulation, self-awareness, empathy, and connection, schools transform in measurable ways.In this episode, Barbara breaks down why educator wellness is a must-have, how to implement SEL practices district-wide (even with pushback), the difference between human intelligence and artificial intelligence in education, and what it really means to regulate before you educate.If you're an educator feeling the weight of burnout, a parent worried about your child's engagement, or a leader wondering how to create real, lasting change: this conversation is for you.You can't pour from an empty cup. But you CAN fill it back up. And Barbara shows you exactly how.Episode Timestamps0:00 - Intro: The Golden Basketball & what mindfulness did for attendance1:57 - How it all started8:30 - Leading Friday yoga in the library13:47 - From a small pilot to 46 certified teachers districtwide15:16 - Caring for the whole educator, not just the whole child19:00 - The data: fewer office referrals, faster de-escalation, better attendance26:00 - How to get buy-in from teachers, parents & school boards32:57 - Handling skeptics & navigating the controversy around yoga in schools43:30 - Human intelligence vs. AI48:55 - Barbara's legacy & what's next after 36 years in education

What if we’ve misunderstood intelligence all along? In this powerful and deeply personal episode, Ilana Nankin sits down with Dr. Michael Jacob, a neuroscientist and psychiatrist at UCSF and her cousin, to explore what it really means to be human in the age of AI.Michael has spent his career studying how the brain, heart, and body communicate and how meaning, emotion, and creativity shape our minds. Together they unpack why the brain isn’t a machine, how heart-brain coherence changes the way we experience stress and learning, and why connection and belonging are as vital to cognition as logic or memory.Along the way, you’ll learn:- Why test scores and IQ barely scratch the surface of *real* intelligence- The science behind how breathing and awareness can rewire your nervous system- What distinguishes human intelligence from artificial intelligence- How art, music, and story awaken the brain’s creative potential- Practical ways educators can nurture emotional and somatic awareness in the classroomThis is a love letter to humanity and how educators can transform their roles in their students’ lives from the inside out. Because as Michael reminds us: our brains don’t just compute… they create.

Parker J. Palmer is a legend in education. He’s the author of The Courage to Teach, Let Your Life Speak, and Healing the Heart of Democracy, founder of the Center for Courage & Renewal, mentor to generations of educators, and now in his mid-80s, he remains one of the clearest voices reminding us that teaching begins with who we are. He had essentially stopped doing interviews. He said yes to this conversation because he loves teachers and believes what we are doing together at Breathe for Change matters.If you teach, this hour is for you. We talk about classrooms that breathe, why student stories belong at the center, how vulnerability can strengthen authority, and the simple practices that rebuild relational trust when a day is running on fumes. Parker also offers a blessing every educator deserves to hear: you are valued, you are treasured, you are loved.Here are some of the best moments from the episode:- Why “we teach who we are” is not philosophy, it is practice you can feel- How to stop “phoning it in” and re-enter the room with presence in 60 seconds- A definition of truth that turns lessons into living conversations- How student stories “warm up” the big ideas so learning sticks- What appropriate vulnerability looks like, and how it builds authority- The link between educator well-being and student outcomes, and what to do when you are depleted- Somatic tools that regulate nervous systems before you teach (three breaths, longer exhale)- Two-way teaching: why great mentors learn from their students- How to move from rows to circles and make belonging the baseline for rigor- A communal view of legacy: the change we co-create and carry forward togetherListen to this episode of “A Work of Heart” with Parker Palmer and try taking one practice into your classroom this week, and tell us what changed. Thank you for the work you do every day. When teachers come alive, students do too.Episode Timestamps00:00 — Not at Home in Academia00:26 — Failing Organic Chemistry → Finding Purpose00:53 — The Power of Vulnerability in Teaching01:43 — Ilana’s Dream Guest Becomes Reality03:38 — Education as a Communal Act08:57 — Parker’s Definition of Truth11:18 — Learning in Circles, Not Rows13:54 — From College Circles to Pre-K Classrooms15:15 — Self-Care as Stewardship17:42 — Teaching with Your True Self22:53 — The Story of Failure Every Student Needs to Hear26:44 — Turning Pain Into Presence29:49 — The Sacred Space of Being Heard33:34 — Carrying Parker’s Legacy Forward37:20 — All Good Work Is Relational43:43 — Students See Who We Are46:13 — Teachers as First Responders of the Soul48:07 — The Art of Self-Care and Small Steps53:37 — Parker’s Final Message to Educators57:58 — “Keep Breathing. Keep Loving. Keep Teaching.”

A few months ago, Ilana nearly died. Eight days later, we hit record.After a 44-foot rock-climbing fall that should have ended in tragedy, Ilana sits with co-host and co-founder Michael to share what happened in the air, in the ER, and inside her body. The accident made something very clear. We teach Human Intelligence for a reason. When life gets loud, we need tools that bring us back to center. Regulate first. Then learn.This launch episode sets the tone for the series. We explore the five layers of Human Intelligence and how they live in real classrooms and real lives. Cognitive for clarity. Emotional for awareness. Somatic for breath and body. Social for belonging. Universal for meaning and purpose. You will hear the story behind why this show has been ten years in the making and how a second shot at life made it urgent.Coming up this season: legendary educator Parker J. Palmer on the inner life of teaching, neurologist Michael Jacob, MD PhD, on what stress does to learning, and superintendents from across the country on building cultures that heal and help students thrive.You’ll hear:The moment Ilana realized she was falling and what happened nextHow three breaths with a longer exhale shifted her nervous system in the ambulanceWhy secondhand trauma shows up in families and classrooms and how to name itThe gratitude practice that quieted the inner critic after crisisWhat Universal Intelligence means when it is not theoreticalThe five layers of Human Intelligence and how to translate them into schoolThree simple regulation practices any teacher can use tomorrowEpisode Timestamps00:00 — Cold open and intention05:10 — “Last week, I nearly died”11:54 — Michael’s reaction and his own brush with danger12:50 — The fall, the rope, and the ER’s disbelief16:43 — How high is 44 feet and what that means for the body17:28 — The unexpected hip change18:30 — In the gurney, back to breath with a longer exhale21:59 — Four days of calm and a tidal wave of community23:22 — Gratitude and the quieting of the inner critic25:44 — Universal Intelligence lands as a lived experience29:09 — A new anchor for perspective and presence30:40 — Trauma in the body and parenting after the fall34:03 — Secondhand trauma for families and for teachers35:47 — The case for well-being first in school37:22 — The tool: three breaths, then respond from awareness41:11 — Origin flashback and why this movement exists45:39 — Call to action and what comes next—Listen now to the launch episode of A Work of Heart and subscribe for weekly episodes that give you tools you can use to reinvent education.