Welcome to the Podcast
Empower Students Now
Championing Kids’ Dreams: An Education Intervention in the Age of AI
In this final episode in a four part series, Amanda Werner talks with Adrian Martinca about the critical pivot period we are in because of AI...
The 80/20 Vision: What Education Could Become When AI Handles the Rest
Host, Amanda Werner, continues her interview with Adrian Martinca in this episode. Adrian is a technologist and activist working tirelessly on...
When AI Replaces Jobs: Pivoting Towards a Purpose Economy
In this episode, Amanda Werner and Adrian Martinca discuss the fundamental contradictions faced by educators and parents in preparing children for a...
AI Is An Alien Among Us–Not Good or Bad, It’s How We Use It That Matters
Part 1 of a 5-Part Series: Your Guide to Navigating AI's Impact on Kids, Education, and the Future Host Amanda Werner and guest Adrian Martinca dive...
I’m Not Okay with AI Anymore: The Hypervigilant Parent
In this episode of the Empower Students Now podcast, the host Amanda Werner, delves into the heavy topics of suicide and self-harm in relation to AI...
I’m Not Okay with AI Anymore: The Hypervigilant Teacherpreneur
Amanda Werner on AI in Teaching and Teacherpreneurship: Part 2 In this episode, Amanda Werner, former teacher and current teacherpreneur, dives into...
I’m Not Okay with AI Anymore: The Hypervigilant Teacher
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...
Understanding Pain: A Mindfulness Based Perspective
In this episode of the Empower Students Now podcast, Amanda explores the complexities of working with physical, mental, and emotional pain, drawing...
Listener Favorite: A New Way to Think About Apathetic, Unmotivated, and Defiant Students
In this episode of the Empower Students Now podcast, Amanda addresses a common issue faced by teachers: students who are disengaged. Drawing from...
Key Takeaways from the Mindfulness and Meditation Series for Educators
In the final episode of this eight-part mindfulness and meditation series, Amanda Werner brings it all together—sharing how to weave mindfulness,...
Teaching and Living from the Heart with the Practice of Loving Kindness (Metta)
In this episode of the Empower Students Now Podcast, your host, Amanda Werner, delves into the practice of Metta or Loving Kindness Meditation. As...
The Transformative Power of Self-Compassion
In this episode of the Empower Students Now podcast, Amanda shares a deeply emotional talk on the importance of compassion, particularly...
A New Way to Think About Thinking
In this fourth episode of an eight-part series on meditation and mindfulness, the discussion focuses on being mindful of thoughts. Amanda recently...
How to Bring More Awareness to Your Body
In this episode, part two of an eight-part series, Amanda discusses her journey through the Mindfulness and Meditation Teacher Certification Program...
The Art of Empowering Students: An Interview with Jen Chieco
In this episode, Amanda welcomes Jen Chieco, a former teacher who transitioned into becoming a life coach who specializes in empowering teens. They...
Finding Calm Amongst the Chaos of Life: The Breath as Your Anchor
Amanda returns after a long hiatus, excited to start a new season focused on mindfulness, neurodiversity, equity, and student engagement. In this...
A Mother’s Day Meditation
Close your eyes, dear mother, and allow the world to soften around you. Breathe in deeply, inviting calm into your space, and exhale slowly,...
Navigating Adult ADHD: A Personal and Professional Journey
Show Notes In this episode of "Empower Students Now," host Amanda interviews Vanessa Jones, an English teacher, writer, and voice actor who has...
The Revealing Reality Struggling Readers Face within the U.S. Education System
In this episode of Empower Students Now, host Amanda interviews her sister Shelly Gonsalves, who opens up about her lifelong struggle with reading...
I Found Out I Have ADHD at Age 40
In this episode of the Empower Students Now podcast, host Amanda Werner shares her personal journey of discovering that she has ADHD and the...
Essential Takeaways from Reading Reconsidered by Doug Lemov
Do you want to teach your students how to read more effectively and prepare them for college and life? In this podcast episode, Amanda discusses the...
Essential Takeaways from The Anti-Racist Writing Workshop by Felicia Rose Chavez
Are you an English teacher looking to create an anti-racist writing workshop that prioritizes student voices and celebrates diversity? Look no...
Essential Takeaways from Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain by Zaretta Hammond
In this episode of the Empower Students Now podcast, host Amanda shares her summer plans and introduces a series of episodes where she provides...
How to Increase Student Engagement with Equitable Teaching Practices
In this episode of the Empower Students Now podcast, Amanda introduces her new course, The Empowered English Classroom, which aims to increase...