the title says it all – this has been a wonderful experimentation playground and all good things come to an end.
special thanks to all my guests
and to everyone who has tuned in, thanks for rockin with me.
it's time I step into another light <3
with love, angela
of course we’re furious
of course we’re disappointed
of course we’re worried
but if we wield shame in the same way it’s been used to oppress us, then we end up engaging in a zero-sum game.
i’ve also been seeing a lot on the internet about media literacy, specifically about the ability to understand nuance. this type of empathy and compassion is hard to access but is necessary for us to move away from how domain and culture has taught us to believe in punishment. everything that’s big, is made of the small: notice how zero-tolerance policies in education can extrapolate into what we’re witnessing now. it’s all connected!
we need people to be accountable and that doesn’t involve shame or isolation. if we want different, we also have to do different. and that mess is hard but not impossible.
I woke up this morning and decided to let my thoughts flow freely! It seems like clinical licensure is just one of those things that we're just supposed to willingly accept for what it is. But I'm not okay with that and I explain my rationale in this episode.
Shoutouts and Resource Credits go to:
Capital Storytelling
Leese Renee Hall, author of Inner Field Trip
Dr. Jennifer Mullan of Decolonizing Therapy
TheRealHotGirlJay on TikTok
Sonny Jane Wise, author of We're All Neurodiverse [@livedexperienceeducator on IG]
Dr. Kirk Honda of Psychology In Seattle Podcast
Join me and Maggie in a heartfelt discussion as we delve into the delicate balance of being called in by loved ones out of concern about carrying toooo much school drama, leveraging power and privilege to address harm in schools, and the crucial role of school social work in making mental health services accessible to students and families.
We also explore the importance of staying up-to-date with slang to connect with students on a deeper level, even if that makes us "cringey". Tune in for insightful perspectives and practical insights into fostering empathy and understanding in educational settings.
You can connect with Maggie on IG @magpiesandwich
Grab your favorite brew ☕ and tune into this ep of Coffee with the School Social Worker podcast!
In this episode, I'm reflecting on a year out of the field and why social work truly belongs in schools. From critical reflection to creating inclusive spaces, social workers are indispensable advocates for equity, justice, and student well-being. Pour yourself a cup and let's dive into the indispensable role of social workers in education!
#SchoolSocialWork #EquityInEducation #CoffeeBreak
"Wading through the waiting," came to mind in conversation with an educator. I was complaining about how uncomfy uncertainty can be and said, "it's like wading through a pool of waiting," and it just stuck.
AH HA, I found the very phrase I needed to make sense of the jumbled mess of thoughts up here!
I hope it resonates with you too <3
In this episode, we delve into the vibrant world of youth development, play therapy, and the magic of children's wisdom. We explore the transformative impact of play on restoration and healing, uncovering the seeds of growth planted through our interactions with kids.
We also navigate the intersection of entrepreneurship and clinical social work because being your own boss sounds cool until you have to actually do it!
We're sharing insights into harnessing the power of play to foster leadership, autonomy, and resilience in young minds. From embracing the fun side of learning to recognizing the profound impact of our work, we invite you into an engaging conversation that celebrates the pivotal role of school social workers in understanding the micro and macro perspectives of child development.
Join me and Sarah for thoughtful discussions, anecdotes, and strategies that highlight the restorative benefits of play and the profound wisdom that children impart. Get ready to be inspired and empowered to embrace the joyful journey of working with kids, where every interaction plants a seed of positive change.
You can connect with Sarah in IG @healwithplay
Find the 50% off discount code for KINSHIP CLUB in the link in my bio on IG @socialworkforschools [expires 12/31/2023]
*content warning: you're gonna hear me cry, let's cry together*
When I started this podcast back in August, I did so with the intention to connect with others and to show up wholly and truly. Things were scary then and even scarier now. And yet, we mustn't lose sight and we mustn't turn away from one another.
In this episode, I read some snippets of the book I've been reading recently, "We Heal Together: Rituals and Practices for Building Community and Connection," by michelle cassandra johnson; I hope it all resonates with you.
none of us are free until we're all free.
none of us are safe until we're all safe.
Are you at the point in your social work career where you're feeling tired, uninspired, unmotivated, maybe even burned out?
Well... it might be time for a PIVOT*!
On this episode, I'm chatting with Alissa Adler – very earnestly – about the many pivots and shake ups that happen in social work. We're here to normalize the twists and turns, we're here to hold space for navigating the directionally challenged, we're here to tell you you're allowed to grieve the role you wanted to make space for a new adventure.
I definitely went through it when I decided to leave school social work. I felt like such a hypocrite, a fraud, a quitter. But in that pivot from school social work, I've been able to make space for work that is still school social work adjacent AND be more intentional about the creative work I engage in AND be more present with myself and loved ones.
I'm sure there will be more pivots to come; change is the only constant.
Be sure to check out Alissa's bombie IG @socialtwerkers, snag some @socialtwerkers merch on Etsy, and if you're feeling like you need some guidance through your pivotal social work moment, confide in Alissa's coaching services – 10/10 do recommend
*In case you're wondering, the word pivot was said 11 times in this episode. I counted so you don't have to xoxo
Reflection has gotta be one of the very first steps in healing; without it, we can't acknowledge what's going on to then figure out how to transform.
On this episode, I'm doing exactly that with Kelli Shoemake in our conversation about how her multi-faceted role at her school lends itself to practicing transformative justice. As both the school social worker and behavioral interventionist, Kelli is committed to working against the policing of students by doing what social workers do best, honoring her student's dignity and worth.
Part of that work also involves reflection. In "Teaching to Transgress," bell hooks says, "[educators] must be actively committed to a process of self-actualization that promotes their own well-being." By reflecting on our own inner-workings we can heal and show up as the healing works-in-progress that we are for the students and youth we serve.
Although Kelli keeps her social media private, you're still welcome to reach out @kelli_shoemake
This one's a double feature, y'all!
In this episode, I'm chatting with Damaris Rodriguez and Jasmin Lisowski about practicing social work from a harm reduction standpoint, BIPOC representation and affinity groups, the complexity of navigating the diverse needs of a school with diverse demographics, student and staff autonomy alike, interdisciplinary collaboration, and tips for decreasing burnout. Each of these topics could have its own podcast episodes honestly! But what's abundantly clear is that Damaris and Jasmin lead with love and passion. This conversation filled my consciousness!
You can find Damaris on IG as both @damnrod @darmotivation [this is a new account where Damaris is offering coaching for Latinas of all ages; it's about cultivating a sense of empowerment and embracing the rich culture, language, and values. DAR Motivation embodies a philosophy that Damaris holds dear: the power of dreams. The mantra is simple yet profound, "Dream, Achieve, Repeat."
Damaris' website: darmotivation.com --> schedule your complimentary Dream Discovery consultation today!
And you can find Jasmin on IG @jliso2
A quick Google search tells me that Chaotic Good describes "characters that are strong individualists marked by a streak of kindness and benevolence. They believe in all the virtues of goodness and right, but they have little use for laws and regulations." In this episode, you're going to hear about new ideas, failure as lessons and never as mistakes, accessibility, systemic issues, transitions from school social work, TikTok as market research, and so much more. The energy is gorgeously unhinged and cannot be contained because what good would chaos be if it could!?
You can reach Sara on IG @unfiltered.socialworker, and grab yourself a copy or five of her book, "A Kids Book About Therapy," while you're there!
In this episode, I'm chatting with Vanessa Robles about the importance of Latine representation in schools. It's important that we show up proudly and authentically not only to honor our ancestors but also to inspire students to embrace their culture too. We got to gas each other up for taking up space in spaces where we normally wouldn't be represented, while also recognizing the immense responsibility of such labor.
Since Vanessa is an LCSW-S, I took advantage of the opportunity to learn about what I'll need to keep in mind as I go into a supervisory role for the first time. I definitely gained so much insight from this conversation and I hope you do too!
You can find Vanessa on IG @roblesehealth; Vanessa offers clinical supervision to BIPOC social workers and EMDR consultation
In this episode, I chat with my first guest, Maria Dibs who is a master of social work student and inner-child healing coach. We got to talk about what inner-child healing work means to her and how it will influence her work as a future school social worker. Maria picked my brain a bit as we got into what school social workers are and aren't and how that all actually plays out in practice. We landed on the importance of modeling behavior, relationships, consistency, and safety. We also did our best at naming Yonce-inspired coffee drinks just in case we ever need to pivot careers and open up a coffee shop to compete with Dutch Bros.
You can find Maria on IG @dibsonselfcare