Join host Rachel for an inspiring conversation with Elizabeth Sweet, a talented journalist and the passionate founder of Fill The Stands. Liz has carved a unique path by blending her love for sports and her storytelling prowess.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• Liz's journey into the world of journalism and her early passion for the field.

• The powerful story behind Fill The Stands: how Liz, a former female athlete, was inspired to create a non-profit empowering students to promote women's sports and boost attendance at their events.

• Insights into Liz's successful career as a freelance journalist, writing for renowned publications like The Wall Street Journal, Milwaukee Magazine, Dwell Magazine, and more, covering both sports and architecture/home design.

• How the core skills of a journalist – storytelling, research, and communication – were instrumental in persevering through the challenges of launching and running a non-profit.

In this heartfelt solo episode, Rachel explores the idea that we are all mentors—whether we realize it or not—and reflects on the unexpected teachers who have shaped her life in powerful ways. Inspired by a passage from Siri Lindley’s Finding a Way, she dives into the lessons she’s learned from three deeply personal influences: her grandmother, her significant other, and her biological parents.

Rachel also shares the profound insight she’s gained over the past 90 days and how she's preparing to continue learning as she transitions into a new professional and personal chapter. Through stories and thoughtful reflection questions, you’ll be invited to consider your own life lessons and the people—good or bad—who helped teach them.

In this episode of Life’s Next Lesson Plan, I sit down with Laura Flowers, a former school psychologist turned life coach and Reiki master. Laura and I connected through a podcasting group, and I recently had the pleasure of being a guest on her show, Rediscovering You. Like me, she’s passionate about helping people navigate crossroads, reconnect with their values, and live authentically.

After 18 years in education, Laura found herself at a breaking point—disconnected from her purpose and feeling like she was doing the work, but not the right work. She made a bold decision to step away, investing in herself, energy healing, and personal growth. Now, she helps women stop playing small and start living with confidence, alignment, and purpose.

This week, I’m facing a huge milestone—my daughter, my only child, is turning 18. And in just a few short months, she’ll be heading off to college in another state. While I always knew this day would come, the reality of it has hit me in a way I wasn’t entirely prepared for.

In today’s episode, I’m sharing my personal journey through the stages of parenting that led to this moment—co-parenting, divorce, shifting family dynamics—and how I’m embracing this transition with trust and optimism. I’ll also explore the unexpected joys that come with an empty nest, from rediscovering personal passions to redefining what home and family mean in this next phase of life.

If you’re navigating—or preparing for—this major life shift, this conversation is for you. Let’s figure out how to move forward with purpose, curiosity, and maybe even a little excitement.

In this episode of Life’s Next Lesson Plan, I sit down with Tracy Weber, a Transformational Nurse Health & Wellness Coach, to discuss her journey from traditional nursing to holistic health, the healing power of nature, and how hiking can be a path to wellness.

With over two decades of experience in nursing, massage therapy, yoga, meditation, and somatic emotional release, Tracy has created a comprehensive wellness practice that empowers clients to take control of their health. But her journey wasn’t always clear-cut—she shares how burnout led her to explore alternative healing, the challenges of changing career paths, and the surprising ways that hiking helped her navigate stress, personal loss, and major life transitions.

In this special episode, the tables are turned as I step into the guest seat on Rediscovering You with life coach and school psychologist Laura Flowers. Rediscovering You is dedicated to empowering women to break free from feeling stuck—whether in career, relationships, or personal growth.

Laura and I dive deep into my decision to leave my long teaching career behind, the emotions and challenges that come with such a major life shift, and how I’m navigating my next steps with intention. We explore the power of manifestation, storytelling, and aligning my future with my core values. If you’ve ever faced a career transition or felt the pull to redefine your purpose, this conversation is for you!

I also answer my juiciest question yet for Ask the Teacher Anything! You guys went THERE!

In this episode of Life’s Next Lesson Plan, I sit down with Brittany Emond, a former student whose career journey has taken her from aspiring magazine journalist to a thriving role in employer branding. Brittany shares her personal story of self-discovery, career pivots, and valuable lessons learned along the way.

Have you ever caught yourself scrolling through social media, wondering why someone else’s life seems so perfect? The career success, the happy family, the dream vacations—it can feel like everyone else has it all figured out. But here’s the truth: comparison is stealing your joy.

In this episode, I’m sharing my personal struggles with comparison—how it shaped my self-perception and the steps I’ve taken to break free. We’ll dive into why we compare, how it impacts our mental and emotional well-being, and most importantly, how to shift from external validation to internal fulfillment.

If you’ve ever felt stuck in the comparison trap, this conversation is for you. Let’s let go of unrealistic expectations and start embracing our own unique paths.

In this episode of Life’s Next Lesson Plan, host Rachel engages in a compelling conversation with Starr Sackstein, an educational consultant, TED speaker, and author renowned for her innovative approaches to assessment and student empowerment. Starr shares her journey from classroom teacher to educational leader, offering insights into transforming traditional education models.

This episode is different. It’s raw. It’s personal. And it’s something I’ve been holding in for a while. Today, I’m setting aside my planned script and following my heart.

I’m sharing my journey—one of resilience, anxiety, transformation, and finding my way forward after decades of living in survival mode. Inspired by Siri Lindley’s book Finding a Way, I’ll explore how the values we live by (or ignore) shape our lives and how we can realign ourselves with what truly matters.

If you’ve ever felt trapped by expectations, fear, or burnout—this episode is for you. You are not alone.

In this episode, I sit down with my second cousin, Reagan Zimmerman, a brilliant MIT graduate and engineer at Ford Motor Company. We dive into her journey from high school robotics to racing cars and breaking barriers as a woman in STEM. Reagan shares the unexpected way she ended up at MIT, her experiences in a male-dominated field, and the lessons she’s learned about work-life balance while building an exciting career.

What if I told you that managing time isn’t the secret to a fulfilling, high-performing life—but managing your energy is? All this time, I was aiming to create more time when maybe I’ve had it wrong.

In this episode, we break down key takeaways from The Power of Full Engagement by Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz and explore how your energy—not your time—is your most precious resource. Learn how aligning your Performance Pyramid of physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual energy can unlock performance, health, and happiness like never before.

In this episode of Life’s Next Lesson Plan, host Rachel sits down with award-winning educator, author, and speaker Michael Hernandez to explore innovative strategies for fostering authentic learning experiences in today's AI-driven educational landscape. Michael shares insights from his latest book, Storytelling With Purpose: Digital Projects to Ignite Student Curiosity, and discusses his online course, Uncheatable Assessments, which aim to enhance student engagement and integrity in the classroom.

I’m sharing something extra special—a sneak peek into the very first episode of my Live & Learn Patreon Podcast.

My Patreon is designed for content that deserves to be behind a paywall—more intimate stories from my life, deeper dives into topics we all wrestle with, and exclusive offers just for my Live & Learn Patreon community.

Like the episodes you hear here, these Patreon episodes include a thoughtful lesson, an engaging activity to help you connect with the topic, and some optional homework or action steps for you to take.

In this episode I follow up on a topic I mentioned back in Episode 3 of Life’s Next Lesson Plan: probably the most powerful writing lesson I taught in my 29 years in the classroom. This lesson reveals some deeply personal details about my childhood and, honestly, it’s probably the most engaging writing experience I ever shared with my students.

In this episode, I have another unbelievably inspirational former student story to share with you from Blake Leeson, who is now a professional volleyball player in Europe. Blake’s story will reinforce my main message of this podcast that taking that chance to live out your dreams means living with no regrets. His wisdom reaches far beyond any lesson I could teach, and I am honored to have him here to share his story and his life lessons with you

In today's episode, we'll explore how embracing action over hesitation can lead to remarkable achievements.

In this episode, we delve into the transformative power of small, consistent actions in achieving significant health improvements. Our guest, Traci D. Mitchell, a Mayo Clinic Certified Health and Wellness Coach and author of the national bestseller, The Belly Burn Plan, shares her personal journey and professional insights into women's health, nutrition, and wellness.

In this episode, we build upon the foundation laid in Episode 11, exploring advanced strategies to elevate your side hustle using social media. We'll discuss crafting compelling content, selecting effective platforms, and utilizing analytics to drive growth.

In this heartfelt episode of Life’s Next Lesson Plan, Rachel sits down with Ann Cook, a former educator turned mindfulness advocate, to explore the art of transitioning gracefully into the next chapter of life. Ann shares her journey from teacher to nomad, her discovery of mindfulness after a panic attack post-retirement, and how being present in the moment has helped her embrace change. Whether you're contemplating your next steps or just looking for inspiration, this episode is packed with wisdom and actionable takeaways.

Tired of feeling overwhelmed by endless to-do lists and daily decision-making? In this episode, I reveal how AI tools like ChatGPT and Google Gemini can transform mundane tasks into moments of creative genius—so busy professionals and parents can reclaim precious time and reduce stress! Learn how to simplify meal planning, manage your schedule, and even plan vacations effortlessly.