In this episode of the Empower Students Now podcast, Amanda explores the complexities of working with physical, mental, and emotional pain, drawing from the teachings of mindfulness expert Christiane Wolf MD. The discussion covers the prevalence of chronic pain, differentiates between pain and suffering, and introduces techniques for managing pain using mindfulness and meditation. The episode includes a guided meditation designed to help listeners identify and manage pain more effectively, aiming to offer valuable insights and alleviation strategies for both educators and anyone experiencing chronic pain or the grief of the loss of a loved one.

00:00 Introduction to Working with Pain
00:05 Meet Christian Wolf: Mindfulness Expert
01:11 Personal Experiences with Chronic Pain
01:35 Understanding Pain: Physical and Mental
04:50 Cultural Attitudes Towards Pain
09:15 The Two Arrows of Pain
12:22 Practical Techniques for Managing Pain
23:24 Guided Meditation for Pain Relief

Resources: 

https://www.christianewolf.com/

Meditation Mini Lesson 3rd-5th Grade:
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Meditation-Mini-Lesson-for-3rd-5th-Grade-13806933?utm_source=Podcast%20Episode%20%2389&utm_campaign=Podcasting%20Series%20on%20Meditation%20and%20Minfulness
 
Meditation Mini Lesson 6th-8th Grade:
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Meditation-Mini-Lesson-6th-8th-Grade-13815439?utm_source=Podcast%20Episode%20%2389&utm_campaign=Podcasting%20Series%20on%20Mindfulness%20and%20Meditation


91. Understanding Pain: A Mindfulness Based Perspective

In the final episode of this eight-part mindfulness and meditation series, Amanda Werner brings it all together—sharing how to weave mindfulness, self-compassion, and simple rituals into your daily life. From experimenting with small, accessible practices to cultivating deep calm and balance (equanimity) amidst stressful lives, this episode offers practical wisdom and heartfelt reflection for teachers, parents, students, and anyone seeking peace in a busy world.

Amanda also shares personal updates about her journey away from the classroom, homeschooling her daughter, and navigating life with chronic pain—all while finding ways to stay grounded and openhearted.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

The four keys to sustaining mindfulness: experimentation, ritual, equanimity, and self-compassion.

How to create simple rituals that bring grounding and meaning to your day.

Why equanimity—calm in the midst of chaos—is the heart of a sustainable mindfulness practice.

Ways to integrate mindful breathing, body awareness, and compassionate self-talk into your work and home life.

A guided meditation to help you embody balance, presence, and peace.

Timestamps

00:00 – Welcome & updates on Amanda’s journey

04:00 – Series recap: seven practices that build a foundation for mindfulness

20:00 – The four pillars to incorporating these practices: experimentation, ritual, equanimity, and self-compassion

35:00 – Guided meditation for balance and presence

Resources & Links

🖤 Explore resources: https://amandawritenow.com

🖤 Review and share the podcast on Apple Podcasts
 to help more educators find these tools

Meditation Mini Lesson 3rd-5th Grade:
🖤 https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Meditation-Mini-Lesson-for-3rd-5th-Grade-13806933?utm_source=Podcast%20Episode%20%2389&utm_campaign=Podcasting%20Series%20on%20Meditation%20and%20Minfulness
 
Meditation Mini Lesson 6th-8th Grade:
🖤 https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Meditation-Mini-Lesson-6th-8th-Grade-13815439?

92. Key Takeaways from the Mindfulness and Meditation Series for Educators

In this episode of the Empower Students Now podcast, Amanda addresses a common issue faced by teachers: students who are disengaged. Drawing from personal experiences as a teacher and a parent of a neurodivergent child, the Amanda discusses the importance of moving away from the traditional way of approaching these kinds of unwanted behaviors and instead focusing on a different approach. Amanda describes how in her experience, building strong, positive relationships with students can make a difference in the quality of life for both the teacher and student. Emphasizing that all behavior is a form of communication, Amanda advocates for a collaborative approach with children, involving honest conversations with students about their behavior and motivations. The episode underscores the critical role of relationships and emotional connections in fostering a conducive learning environment.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction: Addressing Student Apathy

01:12 The Traditional Approach to Classroom Management

01:56 A Shift in Perspective: Understanding Student Behavior

06:49 The Power of Building Relationships

12:16 The Importance of Free Time and Mental Health

12:58 Conclusion: Embracing Vulnerability and Change

https://amandawritenow.com/listener-favorite-a-new-way-to-think-about-apathetic-unmotivated-and-defiant-students/

93. Listener Favorite: A New Way to Think About Apathetic, Unmotivated, and Defiant Students

In this episode Amanda reflects on her journey with AI chatbots since the release of ChatGPT in 2022. She shares her mixed feelings about the impact of AI in education, discussing initial excitement and later deep concerns. The episode covers her efforts to integrate ChatGPT into her classroom last school year and how she handled the pervasive cheating issues she encountered in her English classroom. Amanda also reveals plans to delve deeper into the downsides of AI in future episodes, so stay tuned! 

Episodes to the Previous AI Series from 2022:

7 Ways Chatgpt Will Impact Education Positively
https://amandawritenow.com/chatgpt-impact-on-education/

How to Prevent Plagiarism with Chatgpt
https://amandawritenow.com/my-best-ideas-to-prevent-cheating-with-chat-gpt-how-to-handle-plagiarism-suspects/

How to Talk to Students about Chatgpt
https://amandawritenow.com/how-to-talk-to-students-about-chat-gpt-and-increase-academic-honesty-too/

00:00 Introduction and Initial Thoughts on AI
00:40 The Impact of AI on Education
02:34 Personal Reflections and Experiences Using AI in the Classroom
09:58 Teaching Ethics and Responsible AI Use
16:18 Challenges and Consequences of AI in the Classroom
21:35 Conclusion and Upcoming Topics

94. I'm Not Okay with AI Anymore: The Hypervigilant Teacher

Amanda Werner on AI in Teaching and Teacherpreneurship: Part 2

In this episode, Amanda Werner, former teacher and current teacherpreneur, dives into her evolving perspective on AI, specifically chatbots like ChatGPT. After initially embracing AI for classroom use and her online business, Amanda shares why she has grown skeptical about the ethical implications of AI, particularly concerning content creation and copyright issues. She discusses her personal experiences with various AI tools and their impact on her professional life, while also touching on broader societal concerns over AI’s influence. This is Part 2 of a series, with the next episode focusing on her viewpoint as a parent.

00:00 Introduction and Support
01:51 Podcast Overview and AI Concerns
05:53 Teacherpreneur and AI Tools
09:26 Ethical Dilemmas with AI
17:28 Copyright Issues and AI
26:56 Conclusion and Next Episode Preview

Articles Mentioned:  
https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2024/02/generative-ai-lawsuits-copyright-fair-use/677595/

https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2025/03/libgen-meta-openai/682093/

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/jun/04/reddit-lawsuit-ai-startup-anthropic-data

95. The Hypervigilant Teacherpreneur

Amanda has been a passionate full time classroom teacher for 14 years. She’s worked in a wide range of educational settings teaching students grades 3rd-8th. Amanda worked for a Title I, charter, magnet, and National Blue Ribbon school and now she homeschools her twice exceptional daughter.

No matter what type of school or grade she’s taught, engaging and empowering students has always been at the forefront of her work as an educator and teacher author.

Amanda understands that helping students find their voice is core to being an effective teacher and social justice advocate.

Even with a teacher willing to listen, there are many barriers that exist and hinder movement towards more equitable schools. Amanda has experienced first hand the many problems that exist in K-12 education. Listening to students is only the first step on a long road ahead. Amanda’s website, courses, lesson resources, and podcast are dedicated to supporting teachers and students in this important work for change.

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