Shows
The Legacy Project PodcastHow to Forgive Yourself in Your Story Featuring Don Fessenden and Harper SmithSend us a text "Welcome back to The Legacy Project Podcast, the space where life stories become legacies and everyday reflection becomes timeless wisdom. I’m your host, Don Fessenden, and I’m excited to introduce someone new who’ll be joining us from now on—Harper Smith, our thoughtful and curious intern who’ll be asking the kinds of questions many of you are probably thinking as you listen. Welcome to the podcast, Harper." TheLegacyProject.mePurchase copies of The Legacy Project book at Amazon.comYou can also get a copy of Se...2025-05-2705 minThe Legacy Project PodcastHow to Write About Moments of Fear or DoubtSend us a text"Welcome back to The Legacy Project Podcast, where we explore the power of storytelling to preserve truth, pass on wisdom, and connect hearts across generations. I’m your host, Don Fessenden, and today we’re digging into one of the most vulnerable and powerful parts of any life story: how to write about moments of fear or doubt.These are the parts of our stories we often hesitate to share—the questions we didn’t have answers to, the decisions we weren’t sure about, the nights we lay awake wondering if we were...2025-05-2305 minThe Legacy Project PodcastDocumenting Family Heirlooms and Their SignificanceSend us a text"Welcome to The Legacy Project Podcast, the show where your memories, mementos, and milestones become the foundation of a lasting family legacy. I’m your host, Don Fessenden, and today we’re exploring a powerful and often overlooked part of storytelling: documenting family heirlooms and the stories behind them.Every family has objects—sometimes simple, sometimes ornate—that carry meaning far beyond their physical form. Maybe it’s your grandmother’s wedding ring, your father’s toolset, a faded quilt, a recipe card, or even a military medal. These items don’t just sit on sh...2025-05-1206 minThe Legacy Project PodcastHow Your Story Can Inspire Positive ChangeSend us a text"Welcome to The Legacy Project Podcast, where we explore how your life story—your truth, your journey, your experiences—can become a powerful legacy. I’m your host, Don Fessenden, and today, we’re stepping into one of the most personal and transformative reasons to write: the therapeutic benefits of writing your story.You don’t need to be a published author to find healing in your words. Writing your story can offer clarity, peace, and perspective. It can help you make sense of the past, find strength in the present, and shape...2025-04-1406 minThe Legacy Project PodcastThe Therapeutic Benefits of Writing Your StorySend us a text"Welcome to The Legacy Project Podcast, where we explore how your life story—your truth, your journey, your experiences—can become a powerful legacy. I’m your host, Don Fessenden, and today, we’re stepping into one of the most personal and transformative reasons to write: the therapeutic benefits of writing your story.You don’t need to be a published author to find healing in your words. Writing your story can offer clarity, peace, and perspective. It can help you make sense of the past, find strength in the present, and shape...2025-04-1106 minThe Legacy Project PodcastSharing Stories of Intergenerational WisdomSend us a text"Welcome to The Legacy Project Podcast, where we explore the art of storytelling and the lasting power of personal history. I’m your host, Don Fessenden, and today we’re talking about one of the richest forms of storytelling you can pass down: sharing stories of intergenerational wisdom.Every family has its keepers of knowledge—grandparents, elders, aunts and uncles who lived through experiences we can only imagine. Their voices carry lessons not found in textbooks. Their stories offer insights forged through time, hardship, joy, and change. And when we listen—really l...2025-04-0407 minThe Legacy Project PodcastHow to Write About Family Without Causing ConflictSend us a text"Welcome to The Legacy Project Podcast, where we explore the art of telling your story in a way that honors the past, reflects the present, and inspires the future. I’m your host, Don Fessenden, and today we’re talking about something that every storyteller eventually faces—how to write about your family without causing conflict.When you sit down to write your life story, your family inevitably becomes part of it. Parents, siblings, children, cousins—they’ve shaped your journey. But what happens when your truth doesn’t paint everyone in the best...2025-04-0306 minThe Legacy Project PodcastCapturing the Emotions Behind Major Life EventsSend us a text"Welcome to The Legacy Project Podcast, where we explore the power of storytelling and how sharing your journey can create a lasting impact. I’m your host, Don Fessenden, and today, we’re talking about something that every storyteller struggles with at some point: how to capture the deep, raw emotions behind major life events.We all have defining moments—times when our world shifted, when we experienced love, loss, triumph, or transformation. But how do we translate those powerful emotions onto the page in a way that feels real? How do we...2025-02-2708 minThe Legacy Project PodcastHow to Incorporate Humor Into Your StorySend us a text"Welcome to The Legacy Project Podcast, where we explore the power of storytelling and the importance of preserving your journey with heart, depth, and meaning. I’m your host, Don Fessenden, and today we’re diving into a topic that can add energy, charm, and authenticity to any story: humor.Now, I know what some of you might be thinking—'I’m not a comedian. I don’t know how to be funny in writing.' And that’s okay. The truth is, humor in storytelling isn’t about writing jokes—it’s abo...2025-02-2508 minThe Legacy Project PodcastCreating a Daily Writing RoutineSend us a text"Welcome to The Legacy Project Podcast, where we explore the power of storytelling and the art of preserving your journey for future generations. I’m your host, Don Fessenden, and today, we’re talking about one of the most important habits every writer can develop: creating a daily writing routine.If you’ve ever said, 'I want to write, but I just don’t have the time,' you’re not alone. Life is busy. Responsibilities pile up. And somehow, the thing we say matters most—writing our stories—gets pushed to the bottom...2025-02-2008 minThe Legacy Project PodcastThe Role of Gratitude in StorytellingSend us a text"Welcome to The Legacy Project Podcast, the show where we explore the art of storytelling and how to preserve your life’s journey in a meaningful way. I’m your host, Don Fessenden, and today, we’re diving into a powerful and transformative topic: the role of gratitude in storytelling.Gratitude is more than just saying thank you—it’s a mindset, a way of seeing the world and reflecting on your experiences. When you bring gratitude into your storytelling, you don’t just recount events—you honor the people, moments, and lessons th...2025-01-1007 min
Teaching with Valor Podcast: A Veteran Teachers PerspectiveTeaching with Valor Podcast: Final Episode - Thank You and FarewellSend us a text"Hello, and welcome to what will be the final episode of Teaching with Valor. I’m your host, Don Fessenden. Today’s episode is a bittersweet one. We’re here to reflect, to express gratitude, and to bid farewell to a project that has meant so much to me, and I hope, to those of you who have joined me on this journey.From the very beginning, Teaching with Valor was a labor of love.It was about celebrating the incredible work of teachers, tackling the challenges they face, and inspir...2024-11-2906 minThe Legacy Project PodcastStarting Small: Capturing a Single MemorySend us a text"Welcome to The Legacy Project Podcast, the show where we explore the art of preserving and sharing your story, one chapter, one moment at a time. I’m your host, Don Fessenden, and today, we’re going to strip away the overwhelm, quiet the doubts, and dive into one of the simplest yet most powerful ways to start writing your story.Today’s episode is called Starting Small: Capturing a Single Memory. If you’ve ever felt paralyzed by the enormity of writing your life’s story—if the thought of starting fro...2024-11-2907 minThe Legacy Project PodcastHow to Overcome the Fear of Writing Your StorySend us a text"Welcome back to The Legacy Project Podcast, the show where we explore the transformative power of storytelling and guide you in crafting a legacy that will last for generations. I’m your host, Don Fessenden, and today we’re going to tackle something that stops so many would-be storytellers in their tracks: fear.If you’ve ever felt that tight knot of doubt in your stomach when you think about writing your story, you’re not alone. That fear can show up in so many ways. Maybe you’re worried you don’t have...2024-11-2807 minThe Legacy Project Podcast"Why Your Story Matters: The Power of Legacy"Send us a text"Welcome to The Legacy Project Podcast, the show where we explore the art of preserving and sharing your story. I’m your host, Don Fessenden, here to guide you on a journey to honor your past, embrace your present, and inspire your future. Every story matters—yes, including yours—and together, we’ll explore practical tips, heartfelt reflections, and creative tools to help you craft a legacy that will endure for generations.Today’s episode is all about Why Your Story Matters: The Power of Legacy. Whether you’re just beginning your storyte...2024-11-2707 minTeaching with Valor Podcast: A Veteran Teachers PerspectiveMastering Time Management with Digital PlanningSend us a text"Welcome to the Teaching with Valor Podcast, where we explore actionable strategies to empower educators, inspire parents, and create impactful learning experiences. I’m your host, Don Fessenden.Today, we’re diving deep into a game-changing tool for teachers: the digital planner. If you’ve ever felt like you’re racing against the clock, drowning in deadlines, or juggling lesson plans with personal obligations, this episode is for you."TeachingwithValor.comDJFessenden.com Stay tuned for more episodes, and remember, every student is unique, and every cla...2024-11-2007 minTeaching with Valor Podcast: A Veteran Teachers PerspectiveTips for Writing Effective Emails to ParentsSend us a text"Welcome back to Teaching with Valor, the podcast where we tackle the real-life questions that teachers face daily with practical advice and actionable strategies. I’m your host, Don Fessenden, and today, we’re exploring one of the most powerful tools for communication in education: email.Email has become the cornerstone of how we communicate with parents. It’s fast, efficient, and allows us to connect with parents outside of the traditional school day. But while email is convenient, it’s also tricky. Without the tone of voice or body language that com...2024-11-1911 minTeaching with Valor Podcast: A Veteran Teachers PerspectiveHow Do I Handle Parents Who Are Upset About Their Child's Grades?Send us a text"Hello, and welcome back to Teaching with Valor, where we dive deep into the questions and challenges that teachers face every day in their classrooms. I’m your host, Don Fessenden, and today, we’re going to talk about an issue that every teacher faces sooner or later: How do I handle a parent who disagrees with my teaching methods?As teachers, we each bring our unique approach to the classroom. We develop teaching methods that we believe best support learning, foster engagement, and build confidence in our students. However, not ever...2024-11-1811 minTeaching with Valor Podcast: A Veteran Teachers PerspectiveWhat is the Best Way to Handle a Parent-Teacher Conference?Send us a textHello, and welcome to Teaching with Valor, where we dive into the real-life challenges teachers face in the classroom. I’m Don Fessenden, your host, and today’s episode is all about one of the most crucial touchpoints between teachers and parents: the parent-teacher conference.We’ve all been there. The clock is ticking, you have just 15 or 20 minutes with each parent, and you need to convey important information, answer questions, and build a positive relationship—all within that short time frame. It’s no small task, but a well-executed parent-teacher conference...2024-11-1414 minTeaching with Valor Podcast: A Veteran Teachers PerspectiveHow Do I Handle a Parent Who is Over-Involved?Send us a text"Welcome back to Teaching with Valor, the podcast where we dive into real-world questions that teachers everywhere encounter daily. I’m your host, Don Fessenden, and today, we’re tackling an interesting one: How do I handle a parent who is over-involved?In the world of teaching, we know that parental involvement can be incredibly beneficial. Parents who are engaged in their child’s education can make a significant difference in a student’s learning journey. But what happens when involvement goes a bit too far? When parents constantly reach out, second-g...2024-11-1313 minTeaching with Valor Podcast: A Veteran Teachers PerspectiveHow Do I Handle a Parent Who Disagrees with My Teaching Methods?Send us a text"Hello, and welcome back to Teaching with Valor, where we dive deep into the questions and challenges that teachers face every day in their classrooms. I’m your host, Don Fessenden, and today, we’re going to talk about an issue that every teacher faces sooner or later: How do I handle a parent who disagrees with my teaching methods?As teachers, we each bring our unique approach to the classroom. We develop teaching methods that we believe best support learning, foster engagement, and build confidence in our students. However, not ever...2024-11-0814 minTeaching with Valor Podcast: A Veteran Teachers PerspectiveWhat Should I Do if a Parent is Unresponsive?Send us a text"Hello, and welcome back to Teaching with Valor, where we tackle the real questions that teachers face in their classrooms every day. I’m your host, Don Fessenden, and today we’re diving into a challenging topic: What should I do if a parent is unresponsive?In education, we talk a lot about the importance of communication between teachers and parents. We know that when parents are actively involved in their child’s education, it can make a significant difference in that child’s academic performance and well-being. But what happens when you...2024-11-0714 minTeaching with Valor Podcast: A Veteran Teachers PerspectiveHow Do I Respond to Parent Complaints or Concerns?Send us a text"Welcome back to Teaching with Valor, the podcast dedicated to guiding educators on their journey to becoming the best they can be, one lesson, one day at a time. I’m your host, Don Fessenden, and today, we’re tackling a topic that every teacher encounters: How do I respond to parent complaints or concerns?Whether you’re a brand-new teacher or a seasoned veteran, there’s always a moment when a parent reaches out with a concern, a complaint, or just a bit of feedback that catches you off guard. And hand...2024-11-0613 minTeaching with Valor Podcast: A Veteran Teachers PerspectiveHow Do I Handle Difficult Conversations with Parents?Send us a text"Welcome back to Teaching with Valor, the podcast that dives deep into the challenges, rewards, and strategies of being an educator. I’m your host, Don Fessenden, and today we’re discussing a topic that’s essential for every teacher, no matter their experience level: How do I handle difficult conversations with parents?As teachers, we know that communication is key to fostering a strong partnership between school and home. Most of the time, our conversations with parents are positive or neutral—we’re sharing updates on student progress, celebrating successes, or providi...2024-11-0513 minTeaching with Valor Podcast: A Veteran Teachers PerspectiveHow Do I Introduce Myself to Parents at the Beginning of the Year?Send us a text"Welcome back to Teaching with Valor, the podcast where we dive deep into the heart of teaching, exploring strategies and insights to support educators at every stage of their journey. I’m your host, Don Fessenden, and today, we’re talking about one of the most important first steps of the school year: introducing yourself to parents.The beginning of the school year is all about setting the tone—not just in your classroom but also in the relationships you’ll build with families. That first introduction to parents is your chance t...2024-11-0414 min