Homelessness is solvable. In this special series devoted to widening our circle of empathy for people who often feel marginalized or misunderstood, watch this inspiring episode featuring Mark Horvath, founder of Invisible People.
Mark shares his firsthand experience being unhoused, and highlights how rising rents, broken policies, and public apathy fuel the homelessness crisis and why political activism, public education, and community action are essential to solving it.
Together, they discuss:
The realities of being unhoused and unseen
How storytelling can shift public perception
Concrete steps for ending homelessness at the policy level
Why empathy is essential for addressing homelessness
The power of human connection to drive social change
If you’ve ever wondered how you can help or what role empathy plays in solving social problems, this conversation will leave you informed and inspired.
00:00 Preview
01:16 Introduction
02:35 About Mark Horvath
08:12 Mark’s backstory
14:23 Homelessness 101
18:13 The dark reality of anti-homeless laws
23:08 What is “Mobile Homelessness”?
28:55 Unhoused veterans - how can that be?
32:26 Why LGBTQ+ teens are more likely to face homelessness
40:18 Why many can’t break free from homelessness without support
44:00 The power of “Eviction Prevention”?
47:32 Mark’s personal story of being unhoused
55:47 Actions you can take to help solve the homelessness crisis
01:01:03 Mark Horvath’s Purposeful Empathy story
CONNECT WITH ANITA
✩ Email purposefulempathy@gmail.com
✩ Website https://www.anitanowak.com
✩ Buy a copy of Purposeful Empathy http://tiny.cc/PurposefulEmpathyCA
✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/anitanowak/
✩ Instagram https://tinyurl.com/anitanowakinstagram
✩ Podcast Audio https://tinyurl.com/PurposefulEmpathyPodcast
✩ Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/anitanowak.bsky.social
CONNECT WITH MARK
✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/mhorvath/
SHOW NOTES
✩ Invisible People http://invisiblepeople.tv
Video edited by Green Horizon Studio
Extremist ideologies are a social poison. In this special series devoted to widening our circle of empathy for people who often feel marginalized or misunderstood, watch this powerful episode featuring Arno Michaelis, a former neo-Nazi and author of My Life After Hate.
Once the frontman of a hate metal band, Arno shares how violence nearly destroyed his life. He describes how he walked away from white nationalism and is now committed to helping others abandon extremist ideologies, on the political left and right.
Together, we discuss:
Why hate must be treated as a public health issue
Why empathy and forgiveness are keys to breaking cycles of violence
The road to transformation, redemption and healing
How our shared humanity can help bridge deep divides
The power of human connection to drive social change
If you’ve ever wondered what leads people to hate and violent extremism, and how it’s possible to deradicalize someone, this conversation will leave you informed and inspired.
00:00 Preview
01:16 Introduction
02:57 About Arno Michaelis
05:16 Arno’s backstory
08:52 Becoming a bully in elementary school
12:50 Why (and how) are people drawn to extremist ideologies?
16:35 Arno’s journey of redemption
22:57 Why hate should be considered a public health issue
27:22 What the “old Arno” would say listening to the “new Arno”
29:24 How Arno’s life changed after his daughter was born
36:25 From rock star to rock bottom: Why did Arno walk away from a life of hate?
42:28 How did Arno start to drift away from hate?
47:30 How can parents help prevent hate and violent extremism from taking root?
56:28 The Gift of Our Wounds by Arno Michaelis & Pardeep Singh Kaleka
01:02:34 Arno Michaelis’s Purposeful Empathy story
CONNECT WITH ANITA
✩ Email purposefulempathy@gmail.com
✩ Website https://www.anitanowak.com
✩ Buy a copy of Purposeful Empathy http://tiny.cc/PurposefulEmpathyCA
✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/anitanowak/
✩ Instagram https://tinyurl.com/anitanowakinstagram
✩ Podcast Audio https://tinyurl.com/PurposefulEmpathyPodcast
✩ Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/anitanowak.bsky.social
CONNECT WITH ARNO
✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/arnomichaelis/
✩ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/arnomichaelis/?hl=en
SHOW NOTES
✩ My Life After Hate https://www.amazon.com/Life-After-Hate-Michaelis-Arno/dp/0983129096
✩ The Gift of Our Wounds https://www.amazon.com/Gift-Our-Wounds-Supremacist-Forgiveness/dp/1250107547
✩ Refuge, Arno’s film project http://refugemovie.com/
✩ Serve 2 Unite https://www.parents4peace.org/
✩ US Insider Clip https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-g3Z8IWsdU
Video edited by Green Horizon Studio
In the final episode of this special series devoted to empathy in education with leaders and fellows of Transformative Educational Leadership (TEL), watch this episode to discover how SEL (social and emotional learning) can transform classrooms into spaces of co-regulation, belonging, and joy—especially for students who need it most.
Aija Simmons, Program Director at 21st Century California School Leadership Academy, shares how raising a neurodivergent child, teaching in inner-city schools, and leading California’s Universal Transitional Kindergarten (TK) Initiative have shaped her understanding of education. She also advocates for play-based learning and joy in the classroom, as well as at home.
00:00 Preview
01:12 Introduction
01:47 About Aija Simmons
03:35 Aija’s backstory
06:39 Aija’s understanding of Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
10:15 How teachers can help students navigate their emotions through co-regulation
14:17 Bringing more joy into classrooms—and why that’s important
18:33 Talking about SEL with skeptics
20:35 What folks misunderstand about SEL
24:32 SEL for parents
29:11 What growing up with an incarcerated parent taught Aija?
36:28 The power of play in early childhood education
39:40 Why teachers need to learn more about their students
43:05 The role of empathy in education
45:02 Aija Simmons’s Purposeful Empathy story
CONNECT WITH ANITA
✩ Email purposefulempathy@gmail.com
✩ Website https://www.anitanowak.com
✩ Buy a copy of Purposeful Empathy http://tiny.cc/PurposefulEmpathyCA
✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/anitanowak/
✩ Instagram https://tinyurl.com/anitanowakinstagram
✩ Podcast Audio https://tinyurl.com/PurposefulEmpathyPodcast
✩ Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/anitanowak.bsky.social
CONNECT WITH AIJA
✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/aijeron-simmons/
SHOW NOTES
✩ Transformative Educational leadership https://www.teleadership.org/
✩ Artesian Wellness Coaching http://www.artesianwellcoaching.com
✩ Universal Transitional Kindergarten https://www.csba.org/en/GovernanceAndPolicyResources/ResearchAndPolicyBriefs/Universal-Transitional-Kindergarten#gsc.tab=0
Video edited by Green Horizon Studio
In a special series devoted to empathy in education with leaders and fellows of Transformative Educational Leadership (TEL), watch this episode to learn why SEL (social emotional learning) practices are key to humanizing classrooms.
Dr. Al Rabanera, an award-winning high school math educator in California, reflects on his mission to support At-Promise Students through identity-affirming teaching and advocacy. He also shares how his personal journey as the son of Filipino immigrants informs his commitment to fostering greater equity and a sense of belonging in schools.
00:00 Preview
00:46 Introduction
01:21 About Dr. Al Rabanera
03:29 Al’s backstory
06:18 How does a lack of belonging impact learning and self-perception?
08:51 Addressing the growing resistance to DEI (diversity, equity, inclusion)
13:57 What does “At-Promise” mean and why does it matter in education?
16:33 Ways in which leadership roles impact “At-Promise” students
21:06 Humanizing the classroom experience
27:23 Math as a tool to develop identity
33:08 Navigating marginalization in education leadership
38:25 The role of empathy in education
41:27 What is Al’s go-to self-empathy practice?
43:04 Al Rabanera’s Purposeful Empathy Story
CONNECT WITH ANITA
✩ Email purposefulempathy@gmail.com
✩ Website https://www.anitanowak.com
✩ Buy a copy of Purposeful Empathy http://tiny.cc/PurposefulEmpathyCA
✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/anitanowak/
✩ Instagram https://tinyurl.com/anitanowakinstagram
✩ Podcast Audio https://tinyurl.com/PurposefulEmpathyPodcast
✩ Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/anitanowak.bsky.social
CONNECT WITH AL
✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/al-rabanera-ed-d-ab855910/overlay/contact-info/
SHOW NOTES
✩ Transformative Educational leadership https://www.teleadership.org/
✩ Math in SEL https://mathissel.com/
Video edited by Green Horizon Studio
In a special series devoted to empathy in education with leaders and fellows of Transformative Educational Leadership (TEL), watch this episode to learn how restorative justice and trauma-informed somatic practices lead to collective healing.
Sima Savdharia, founder of Square Root Mediation & Facilitation, reflects on their work bridging conflict resolution, spirituality, and education. They also share how their journey from studying abroad in Honduras to supporting youth in Oakland has shaped their commitment to Dr. King’s vision of Beloved Community—grounded in empathy, dialogue, and love.
00:00 Preview
01:11 Introduction
01:46 About Sima Savdharia
04:08 Sima’s backstory
07:05 Sima’s understanding of a “Beloved Community”
10:51 Understanding conflict and why it’s not inherently bad
14:51 Generational trauma and emotional triggers
18:40 Why does “Psychological Safety” matter?
20:12 Restorative practices in corporate world
28:11 Why social media detoxing is a radical act of self-care
30:22 The power “Restorative Circles”— and how to do them
34:43 Why grounding the nervous system matters in conflict resolution
37:31 What is “non-violence” in conflict resolution?
41:12 Why is self-awareness the first step to restorative justice?
45:35 Lessons from restorative practices and why schools need to slow down?
50:01 The role of empathy in education
53:34 Sima Savdharia’s Purposeful Empathy story
CONNECT WITH ANITA
✩ Email purposefulempathy@gmail.com
✩ Website https://www.anitanowak.com
✩ Buy a copy of Purposeful Empathy http://tiny.cc/PurposefulEmpathyCA
✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/anitanowak/
✩ Instagram https://tinyurl.com/anitanowakinstagram
✩ Podcast Audio https://tinyurl.com/PurposefulEmpathyPodcast
✩ Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/anitanowak.bsky.social
CONNECT WITH SIMA
✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/sima-savdharia-976151246/
✩ Website http://simasavdharia.com
SHOW NOTES
✩ Transformative Educational leadership https://www.teleadership.org/
Video edited by Green Horizon Studio
In a special series devoted to empathy in education, watch this episode to learn why SEL (social emotional learning) starts with the 10% minority; not the 90% majority.
Lex Rodriguez, an educator and PhD candidate at the University of Colorado, reflects on how culturally sustaining (not culturally sensitive) practices better support BIPOC and LGBTQ+ youth. She also shares insights from her teaching and research on identity, access needs, and the power of empathy to create classrooms in which every student feels seen and safe.
00:00 Preview
01:00 Introduction
01:34 About Lex Rodriguez
03:36 Lex’s backstory
04:47 Why is Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) so Important?
09:31 How does SEL create a safe space for students and teachers?
14:22 Empathy starts by asking questions; not making assumptions
16:16 Why empathy and curiosity are essential for systemic change
19:51 What happens to education when we erase empathy from community?
23:35 Culturally sustaining vs. culturally sensitive: what’s the difference?
28:27 What SEL educators need beyond curriculum?
32:58 How expanding the frame of SEL creates true inclusion
35:11 Why does inclusive SEL start with the 10% minority; not the 90% majority?
37:45 Discussing the resistance to inclusive education
39:50 Decentering whiteness in education
43:20 The role of empathy in education
50:24 Lex Rodriguez’s Purposeful Empathy story
CONNECT WITH ANITA
✩ Email purposefulempathy@gmail.com
✩ Website https://www.anitanowak.com
✩ Buy a copy of Purposeful Empathy http://tiny.cc/PurposefulEmpathyCA
✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/anitanowak/
✩ Instagram https://tinyurl.com/anitanowakinstagram
✩ Podcast Audio https://tinyurl.com/PurposefulEmpathyPodcast
✩ Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/anitanowak.bsky.social
CONNECT WITH LEX
✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandra-rodriguez-b7799046/
✩ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lunar.visual.design/
SHOW NOTES
✩ Transformative Educational Leadership https://www.teleadership.org/
Substack https://lunarvisualdesign.substack.com/
Video edited by Green Horizon Studio
In a special series devoted to empathy in education with leaders and fellows of Transformative Educational Leadership (TEL), watch this episode to learn how to help students “feel more to heal more.”
Mychal Mills, co-founder of K.Y.D.S (Kids Conscious Youth Development and Service), shares how his personal journey of loss led him to founding a nonprofit that has impacted over 40,000 youth and educators across New Jersey. He also reflects on the power of mindfulness, sound healing, and Beloved Community as pathways to resilience and collective care.
00:00 Preview
00:59 Introduction
00:34 About Mychal Mills
05:38 Mychal’s understanding of a “Beloved Community”
08:25 Mychal’s backstory
13:37 The origin story of K.Y.D.S.
21:13 Inviting youth into healing: What parents and educators need to know
27:31 How educators can practice non-violence every day
35:32 Inviting kids to feel in a world that teaches them to be numb
41:43 What is sound healing?
46:30 Why sound is a universal language of healing
49:41 The role of empathy in education
54:37 Empathy as a spiritual practice
01:06:30 The importance of holding space for grief, grace and gratitude
01:09:12 Mychal Mills’s Purposeful Empathy story
CONNECT WITH ANITA
✩ Email purposefulempathy@gmail.com
✩ Website https://www.anitanowak.com
✩ Buy a copy of Purposeful Empathy http://tiny.cc/PurposefulEmpathyCA
✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/anitanowak/
✩ Instagram https://tinyurl.com/anitanowakinstagram
✩ Podcast Audio https://tinyurl.com/PurposefulEmpathyPodcast
✩ Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/anitanowak.bsky.social
CONNECT WITH MYCHAL
✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/mychalmills/
✩ Website www.mychalmills.com
✩ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/journey_inn/?hl=en
SHOW NOTES
✩ Transformative Educational Leadership https://www.teleadership.org/
✩ KYDS https://www.konscious.org/
Video edited by Green Horizon Studio
In a special series devoted to empathy in education with leaders and fellows of Transformative Educational Leadership (TEL), watch this episode to learn how vulnerability and love can transform classrooms into spaces of belonging, healing, and hope.
Kandace Stallings, a faith leader and SEL (social emotional learning) Specialist in Chicago, reflects on the power of mentorship and unconditional support to help students thrive. She also shares how her own lived experiences now guide her commitment to empathic leadership—in classrooms and beyond.
00:00 Preview
01:04 Introduction
01:39 About Kandace Stallings
03:18 Kandace’s backstory
06:48 The role of empathy in education
12:04 Why kids can’t learn in school if they don’t feel loved
16:04 How are Black women educators holding each other up in 2025?
19:11 Kandace’s self-empathy strategies
22:54 Finding strength in vulnerability: The power of safe relationships
26:40 Why Kandace’s faith deepened after a conversation with her mother
29:58 The cycle of empathic leadership: From being mentored to mentoring others
33:01 How to overcome imposter syndrome and lead with confidence
36:24 Kandace’s natural hair journey
40:47 How Kandace overcome self-doubt
46:40 Kandace Stallings’s Purposeful Empathy story
CONNECT WITH ANITA
✩ Email purposefulempathy@gmail.com
✩ Website https://www.anitanowak.com
✩ Buy a copy of Purposeful Empathy http://tiny.cc/PurposefulEmpathyCA
✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/anitanowak/
✩ Instagram https://tinyurl.com/anitanowakinstagram
✩ Podcast Audio https://tinyurl.com/PurposefulEmpathyPodcast
✩ Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/anitanowak.bsky.social
CONNECT WITH KANDACE
✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/kandace-stallings-859aa977/
✩ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/tdl_kanday/
SHOW NOTES
✩ Transformative Educational leadership https://www.teleadership.org/
Video edited by Green Horizon Studio
In a special series devoted to empathy in education with leaders and fellows of Transformative Educational Leadership (TEL), watch this episode to learn why mindfulness practices—especially breathwork—are transformational, especially within educational settings.
Nichole Fuller, an art educator in New York who curates and facilitates wellness experiences for students, educators, families and communities, shares how she discovered the healing power of breathwork through her own personal healing journey. She also explains why somatic work offers a gateway to greater health and well-being.
00:00 Preview
01:03 Introduction
01:37 About Nichole Fuller
03:44 Nichole’s backstory
06:40 The power of breathwork
12:48 How does breathwork regulate our nervous system?
17:05 How breathwork builds self-awareness and deepens empathy
24:55 Why did breathwork save Nichole’s life?
28:54 Nichole’s art: a reflection of healing and growth
31:24 Bringing trauma-informed teaching and breathwork into the classroom
33:55 Supporting teachers through group breathwork and self-care sessions
36:04 How can schools better support teachers’ well-being?
40:18 The role of empathy in education
43:13 Nichole Fuller’s Purposeful Empathy story
CONNECT WITH ANITA
✩ Email purposefulempathy@gmail.com
✩ Website https://www.anitanowak.com
✩ Buy a copy of Purposeful Empathy http://tiny.cc/PurposefulEmpathyCA
✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/anitanowak/
✩ Instagram https://tinyurl.com/anitanowakinstagram
✩ Podcast Audio https://tinyurl.com/PurposefulEmpathyPodcast
✩ Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/anitanowak.bsky.social
CONNECT WITH NICHOLE
✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/fuller-nichole-3b861580/
✩ FaceBook https://www.facebook.com/nichole.fuller.12
SHOW NOTES
✩ Transformative Educational leadership https://www.teleadership.org/
Video edited by Green Horizon Studio
In a special series devoted to empathy in education with leaders and fellows of Transformative Educational Leadership (TEL), watch this episode to hear how a queer, Cuban-born educator’s decision to come out at school has informed his pedagogy, leadership philosophy, and doctoral research.
José Jiménez, Deputy Superintendent of District 24 in Queens, NYC, shares how he moved from Miami to NYC to pursue a career in filmmaking and discovered his love for teaching. As a registered Yoga teacher and Vipassana meditator, he also explains why he’s a staunch advocate for student wellness and describes his doctoral research in Urban Education, Policy Studies and Leadership at CUNY.
00:00 Preview
01:00 Introduction
01:35 About José Jiménez
04:18 José’s backstory
08:04 What role do educators play in welcoming newcomers to school?
14:11 Why SEL (social emotional learning) is essential to inclusive education
20:01 Bridging the gap between teachers and administrators through empathy
25:11 What parents need to know about the complexity of teaching
29:34 José’s self-care practices for managing stress and burnout
33:44 How authenticity transforms classrooms and school culture
37:40 José’s PhD research in Urban Education
46:32 The role of empathy in education
53:06 José Jiménez’s Purposeful Empathy story
CONNECT WITH ANITA
✩ Email purposefulempathy@gmail.com
✩ Website https://www.anitanowak.com
✩ Buy a copy of Purposeful Empathy http://tiny.cc/PurposefulEmpathyCA
✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/anitanowak/
✩ Instagram https://tinyurl.com/anitanowakinstagram
✩ Podcast Audio https://tinyurl.com/PurposefulEmpathyPodcast
✩ Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/anitanowak.bsky.social
CONNECT WITH JOSE
✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jose-jimenez/
SHOW NOTES
✩ Transformative Educational leadership https://www.teleadership.org/
Video edited by Green Horizon Studio
In a special series devoted to empathy in education with leaders and fellows of Transformative Educational Leadership (TEL), watch this episode to learn why “racial literacy” is key to fostering belonging and connection in schools.
Jasmine Locke, a School Support Specialist at West View High School in Oregon, shares insights from her doctoral research about educational liberation and putting strategies into practice to center student’s voices. She also describes effective student advocacy, and uplifts self-carer practices to nurture resilience in students.
00:00 Preview
00:56 Introduction
01:30 About Jasmine Locke
02:56 Jasmine’s backstory
08:05 Jasmine’s reflections on the DEI (diversity, equity, inclusion) backlash
10:57 Grounding practices for nurturing emotional resilience
15:06 What biomimicry teaches us about diversity and collective thriving?
21:33 What is “Educational Liberation”?
25:50 What is “Racial Literacy”?
28:21 Why SEL (social-emotional learning) is more important than ever
31:36 Knowing our history: the first step to collective liberation
34:13 The role of empathy in education
39:21 Has empathy become a buzzword?
43:51 How experiencing empathy at school prepares students to change the world
49:44 Challenges of teaching empathy in a world of ubiquitous media
54:49 Jasmine Locke’s Purposeful Empathy Story
CONNECT WITH ANITA
✩ Email purposefulempathy@gmail.com
✩ Website https://www.anitanowak.com
✩ Buy a copy of Purposeful Empathy http://tiny.cc/PurposefulEmpathyCA
✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/anitanowak/
✩ Instagram https://tinyurl.com/anitanowakinstagram
✩ Podcast Audio https://tinyurl.com/PurposefulEmpathyPodcast
✩ Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/anitanowak.bsky.social
SHOW NOTES
✩ Transformative Educational leadership https://www.teleadership.org/
Video edited by Green Horizon Studio
In a special series devoted to empathy in education with leaders and fellows of Transformative Educational Leadership (TEL), watch this episode to learn how to foster human flourishing in a variety of academic and organizational contexts.
YooNa Kim, Director of Well-being and Culture for citiesRISE—a global platform focused on transforming mental health policy and practice—reflects on how academic and workplace pressures shape mental health outcomes. She also describes the co-creation work she is doing in India, Kenya, South Africa, and Sweden.
00:00 Preview
00:53 Introduction
01:29 About YooNa Kim
03:37 YooNa’s backstory
09:37 How does academic pressure impact kids’ mental health?
14:26 If YooNa could reinvent education, what would she do?
17:18 About citiesRISE
22:47 Classroom interventions for gratitude, kindness and hope across cultures
28:04 The power of self-affirmations
34:08 How is empathy defined within different cultural contexts?
40:16 The difference between being nice and being kind
43:13 What role does empathy play in education?
48:50 YooNa Kim’s Purposeful Empathy story
CONNECT WITH ANITA
✩ Email purposefulempathy@gmail.com
✩ Website https://www.anitanowak.com
✩ Buy a copy of Purposeful Empathy http://tiny.cc/PurposefulEmpathyCA
✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/anitanowak/
✩ Instagram https://tinyurl.com/anitanowakinstagram
✩ Podcast Audio https://tinyurl.com/PurposefulEmpathyPodcast
✩ Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/anitanowak.bsky.social
CONNECT WITH YOONA
✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/yoonakimcareer/
SHOW NOTES
Video edited by Green Horizon Studio
In a special series devoted to empathy in education with leaders and fellows of Transformative Educational Leadership (TEL), watch this episode to learn why connection and belonging are game-changers for schools and classrooms.
Marquin Parks, Academic Engagement and Social Emotional Learning Officer, shares how small acts of kindness like fist bumps, humor, and calming spaces can make or break a student’s experience at school. He also reflects on “Positive Breathing Journeys”, self-empathy practices for educators, and why every child deserves to feel seen, supported, and safe at school. If you care about kids, this is a must-see.
00:00 Preview
00:59 Introduction
01:34 About Marquin Parks
03:12 Marquin’s backstory
08:16 Empathy in action: How Marquin build trust with students
11:24 Message to parents on behalf of teachers
15:45 How to make kids feel safe at school?
20:45 The upsides to teaching kids about emotional regulation
24:02 The role of mindfulness in transforming school culture
29:57 Why do kids need more than discipline in schools?
35:22 Practices for educators to manage stress and cultivate self-empathy
38:12 About “Wrinkles Wallace,” a book by Marquin Parks
43:14 What is the “Pause and Breath Journey”?
45:00 The role of empathy in education
48:03 Marquin Parks’ Purposeful Empathy story
CONNECT WITH ANITA
✩ Email purposefulempathy@gmail.com
✩ Website https://www.anitanowak.com
✩ Buy a copy of Purposeful Empathy http://tiny.cc/PurposefulEmpathyCA
✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/anitanowak/
✩ Instagram https://tinyurl.com/anitanowakinstagram
✩ Podcast Audio https://tinyurl.com/PurposefulEmpathyPodcast
✩ Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/anitanowak.bsky.social
CONNECT WITH MARQUIN
✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/marquin-parks-3518a552/
SHOW NOTES
✩ Wrinkles Wallace https://wrinkleswallace.blogspot.com/
Video edited by Green Horizon Studio
In a special series devoted to empathy in education with leaders and fellows of Transformative Educational Leadership (TEL), watch this episode to learn more about the power of tenderness.
Meena Srinivasan, Director of TEL, explores how tenderness fosters prosocial behavior, psychological safety, mental health, and gratitude. She also reflects on many of the challenges that educators face today, and why true transformation happens within a beloved community.
00:00 Preview
00:41 Introduction
01:15 About Meena Srinivasan
03:45 Meena’s backstory
05:58 Meena’s mission
11:40 How did a meditation lead Meena to the science of tenderness?
15:23 About Meena’s TEDx talk: Unlocking the Secret Powers of Tenderness
20:24 What are the hidden barriers to tenderness?
27:52 The somatic nature of tenderness and how it deepens empathy & compassion
31:00 What is Transformative Educational Leadership (TEL)?
36:12 The role of empathy in education
41:05 How deep transformation always happens in beloved community
44:45 Meena Srinivasan’s Purposeful Empathy story
CONNECT WITH ANITA
✩ Email purposefulempathy@gmail.com
✩ Website https://www.anitanowak.com
✩ Buy a copy of Purposeful Empathy http://tiny.cc/PurposefulEmpathyCA
✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/anitanowak/
✩ Instagram https://tinyurl.com/anitanowakinstagram
✩ Podcast Audio https://tinyurl.com/PurposefulEmpathyPodcast
✩ Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/anitanowak.bsky.social
CONNECT WITH MEENA
✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/meenasrinivasan/
✩ Website https://www.meenasrinivasan.com/
SHOW NOTES
✩ Transformative Educational Leadership
✩ TED Talk
Video edited by Green Horizon Studio
Watch this episode featuring Caroline Stiernstedt Sahlborn, Chair of the Inner Development Goals, to learn how you can get involved with the IDG movement.
In this heartfelt conversation, Caroline discusses the significance of “Bridging Polarities” – this year’s IDG Summit theme, and underscores the importance of reflection and humility, especially as the IDG movement continues to grow rapidly. She also describes why inner development is crucial to mental health, especially for emerging adults.
00:00 Preview
00:41 Introduction
01:19 About Caroline Stiernstedt Sahlborn
03:31 Caroline’s backstory
05:09 Why Caroline is passionate about youth mental health
08:06 The impact of loneliness
15:10 What is the origin story of the Inner Development Goals?
21:33 Why are the IDGs relevant to emerging adults?
26:33 The importance of slowing down–even for the IDG movement
31:35 Why movements need humility, not perfection
37:11 About the IDG Summit 2025 and how you can participate
40:26 Caroline Stiernstedt Sahlborn’s Purposeful Empathy story
CONNECT WITH ANITA
✩ Email purposefulempathy@gmail.com
✩ Website https://www.anitanowak.com
✩ Buy a copy of Purposeful Empathy http://tiny.cc/PurposefulEmpathyCA
✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/anitanowak/
✩ Instagram https://tinyurl.com/anitanowakinstagram
✩ Podcast Audio https://tinyurl.com/PurposefulEmpathyPodcast
✩ Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/anitanowak.bsky.social
CONNECT WITH CAROLINE
✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/caroline-stiernstedt-sahlborn-94412012/
SHOW NOTES
✩ Inner Development Goals Framework
✩ Eskaret Foundation
Video edited by Green Horizon Studio
Watch this episode featuring Dr. Clementine Msengi, author of Spared, to learn how the IDG skill “Perseverance” helped her overcome unimaginable adversity and loss.
In this deeply moving conversation, Clementine shares her harrowing — and miraculous — journey of survival during the 1994 Rwandan genocide. She also explores how faith and inner strength can lead to profound personal growth and inspire compassion, even in the face of grief.
00:00 Preview
00:40 Introduction
01:18 About Dr. Clementine Msengi
03:47 History of the Rwandan genocide
06:50 How the IDG definition of “Perseverance” resonates with Clementine
09:40 About Clementine’s book, Spared
14:47 How Clementine survived an assassination attempt in her final year of high school
19:51 How did Clementine escape the prison checkpoint?
25:43 Choosing compassion in the face of unspeakable horror
26:38 How faith underpinned Clementine’s journey of loss and survival
32:02 Finding purpose in a refugee camp
39:02 How one small act of kindness helped to restore her faith in humanity
43:43 The significance of attending a “fish funeral”
44:28 The power of “Perseverance” through trauma
54:38 Dr. Clementine Msengi’s Purposeful Empathy story
CONNECT WITH ANITA
✩ Email purposefulempathy@gmail.com
✩ Website https://www.anitanowak.com
✩ Buy a copy of Purposeful Empathy http://tiny.cc/PurposefulEmpathyCA
✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/anitanowak/
✩ Instagram https://tinyurl.com/anitanowakinstagram
✩ Podcast Audio https://tinyurl.com/PurposefulEmpathyPodcast
✩ Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/anitanowak.bsky.social
CONNECT WITH CLEMENTINE
✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/clemmsengi/
✩ Website http://www.drclem.com
SHOW NOTES
✩ Spared
Video edited by Green Horizon Studio
Watch this episode featuring Zoe Weil, co-founder of the Institute for Humane Education, to learn how the IDG skill “Optimism” can inspire hope and agency through the power of solutionary thinking.
In this insightful conversation, Zoe shares her journey into humane education and introduces the framework behind her book The Solutionary Way, which empowers people to address systemic challenges with compassion and creativity. She also emphasized the importance of cultivating self-awareness, systems thinking, and collaboration to sustain optimism and create meaningful change in the world.
00:00 Preview
00:31 Introduction
01:08 About Zoe Weil
03:18 Zoe’s backstory
06:42 Restoring optimism in youth through purpose-driven education
11:06 The role of ethical thinking in empowering changemakers
13:56 What is a solutionary’s solution?
17:29 How ‘solutionaries’ are different from a problem-solver, an activist, or a humanitarian?
20:37 Cultivating “Optimism” through collaboration and thinking
25:48 How the IDG definition of “Optimism” resonates with Zoe
30:50 Is hope a verb?
33:22 Why self-awareness is key to a solutionary mindset
38:47 Zoe Weil’s Purposeful Empathy story
CONNECT WITH ANITA
✩ Email purposefulempathy@gmail.com
✩ Website https://www.anitanowak.com
✩ Buy a copy of Purposeful Empathy http://tiny.cc/PurposefulEmpathyCA
✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/anitanowak/
✩ Instagram https://tinyurl.com/anitanowakinstagram
✩ Podcast Audio https://tinyurl.com/PurposefulEmpathyPodcast
✩ Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/anitanowak.bsky.social
CONNECT WITH ZOE
✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/zoe-weil-3749b4a/
✩ Website https://humaneeducation.org/
SHOW NOTES
✩ The Solutionary Way by Zoe Weil
Video edited by Green Horizon Studio
Watch this episode featuring Dr. Asta Raami, a leading expert on the role of intuition in creative processes, to learn how the IDG skill “Creativity” can fuel innovation.
In this fascinating conversation, Asta shares insights from her book Intuition Unleashed and offers practical tools like the "archery" technique and the "traffic light" metaphor to help harness our innate capacity for intuition. Asta also highlights stories of visionary inventors like Nikola Tesla and Barbara McClintock, who used intuition and empathy to make groundbreaking discoveries.
00:00 Preview
00:45 Introduction
01:22 About Dr. Asta Raami
03:40 How the IDG definition of “Creativity” resonates with Asta
07:04 The overlooked power of intuition in solving complex problems
12:12 Practices for developing intuition
16:08 How do inventors leverage intuition?
20:44 How to add an extra cognitive layer to thinking
23:37 How can we make intuition accessible to everyone?
28:49 The three B’s of “Creativity”
33:19 Empathy as a bridge to intuition
37:38 Why being open makes you more creative?
42:01 How to use intuition to expand our capacity for “Creativity”?
47:02 Dr. Asta Raami’s Purposeful Empathy story
CONNECT WITH ANITA
✩ Email purposefulempathy@gmail.com
✩ Website https://www.anitanowak.com
✩ Buy a copy of Purposeful Empathy http://tiny.cc/PurposefulEmpathyCA
✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/anitanowak/
✩ Instagram https://tinyurl.com/anitanowakinstagram
✩ Podcast Audio https://tinyurl.com/PurposefulEmpathyPodcast
✩ Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/anitanowak.bsky.social
CONNECT WITH ASTA
✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/asta-raami/
✩ Website https://www.innerversity.org/
SHOW NOTES
Video edited by Green Horizon Studio
Watch this episode featuring Dr. Margie Warrell, author of The Courage Gap, to explore why the IDG skill "Courage" is essential for leading with integrity, making values-driven decisions, and taking action despite fear and uncertainty.
In this compelling conversation, Margie shares her journey from rural Australia to global leadership, and offers strategies to overcome imposter syndrome. She also emphasizes that courage is not the absence of fear —it’s taking action in spite of it.
00:00 Preview
00:42 Introduction
01:19 About Dr. Margie Warrell
02:32 Margie’s backstory
04:01 How the IDG definition of “Courage” resonates with Margie
06:19 Margie’s story of “Courage”
10:10 How does “Courage” fuel values, alignment and well-being?
15:15 Strategies for overcoming self-doubt and anxiety
19:12 The inner work behind impactful leadership
23:42 Ways to practice “Courage” and take courageous decisions
29:11 How does stress impact decision-making?
32:24 Dr. Margie Warrell’s Purposeful Empathy story
CONNECT WITH ANITA
✩ Email purposefulempathy@gmail.com
✩ Website https://www.anitanowak.com
✩ Buy a copy of Purposeful Empathy http://tiny.cc/PurposefulEmpathyCA
✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/anitanowak/
✩ Instagram https://tinyurl.com/anitanowakinstagram
✩ Podcast Audio https://tinyurl.com/PurposefulEmpathyPodcast
✩ Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/anitanowak.bsky.social
CONNECT WITH MARGIE
✩ Website https://margiewarrell.com/
✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/margiewarrell/
SHOW NOTES
✩ TED Talk
Video edited by Green Horizon Studio
Watch this episode featuring Nipun Mehta, Founder of ServiceSpace, to discover why the IDG skill "Mobilisation" is not just about organizing—it's a key to creating meaningful, transformational change rooted in kindness.
In this engaging conversation, Nipun shares his journey from Silicon Valley to founding a global community focused on small acts of generosity. He also highlights the importance of shifting from transactional to relational approaches in social movements.
00:00 Preview
00:43 Introduction
01:20 About Nipun Mehta
04:02 Nipun and Anita’s Karma Kitchen experience
10:04 Nipun’s big career shift: From tech to service
16:17 What Nipun learned on a 1,000 miles walking pilgrimage in India with his wife
19:53 The transformative power of compassion
23:07 How inner transformation can redefine personal goals and larger systems
30:25 How the IDG definition of “Mobilisation” resonates with Nipun
34:20 How Nipun’s spontaneous act of kindness sparked a street movement in India
38:01 Different forms of wealth
40:16 What is “Deep Casting”?
43:16 Why we need laddership, not leadership
47:51 Why the best leaders don’t always lead
53:22 n integrating social change in a society
58:17 Nipun Mehta’s Purposeful Empathy story
CONNECT WITH ANITA
✩ Email purposefulempathy@gmail.com
✩ Website https://www.anitanowak.com
✩ Buy a copy of Purposeful Empathy http://tiny.cc/PurposefulEmpathyCA
✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/anitanowak/
✩ Instagram https://tinyurl.com/anitanowakinstagram
✩ Podcast Audio https://tinyurl.com/PurposefulEmpathyPodcast
✩ Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/anitanowak.bsky.social
CONNECT WITH NIPUN
✩ Website https://nipun.servicespace.org/
✩ Company https://www.servicespace.org/
SHOW NOTES
✩ TED Talk
Video edited by Green Horizon Studio