Shows
Thrive in ELTTrailer: How You can Thrive in ELTDo you want to thrive in your English language teaching life? Learn about the Thrive in ELT podcast and how the practical episodes can help you reduce stress and find more time to breathe by getting organized. Connect with your host, Heather Johnston: Website LinkedIn Facebook
2025-01-0401 minThrive in ELTWhat I've Been Working On This SummerA new academic year is on its way, and so is a new season of the Thrive in ELT podcast. Listen to this short update episode to find out: what's coming next at the Thrive in ELT podcast and how you can set yourself up for a calmer, more sustainable semester. Resources: Book your Power Hour with Heather and prepare your Plan B for this academic year by going to: https://www.eltresourceroom.com/resources Connect with Heather: Website LinkedIn Facebook
2024-08-1302 minThrive in ELTHow Organization Can Impact Your ELT LifeWhat do you have control of in your ELT life? Relationships? The environment? What and how you teach? Your professional development? In whole or in part, some of these aspects you probably can control while others you can’t. But one thing you absolutely can control? Your organization. When I became more aware of what I was spending my time on, how often I was completing certain tasks, and what was frustrating me the most, I realized that I could choose to make my ELT life better – by organizing the different areas of my l...
2023-09-1209 minThrive in ELTHow to Take Advantage of Small Bits of Time in Your Teaching ScheduleWhen you look at your teaching schedule, do you see small bits of time scattered throughout? Maybe 15 minutes here and 45 there. Your life in ELT makes for an interesting schedule, doesn’t it? Your calendar is filled with classes, office hours, meetings, and plenty of other to-dos. It can be especially challenging when activities are broken up throughout the day that leave you with small bits of time in between to get things done. Is there any way to take advantage of the situation? Fortunately, there is. In this episode, discover where these sma...
2023-06-2706 minThrive in ELTAchieving Organizational Consistency as an EAP/ESL Teacher [Ep. 50]If you’ve ever gotten something organized in your ELT life, felt good about it, and then over the course of a semester slowly fell out of the habit, you’re not alone. Being consistent in maintaining organizational systems can pose a challenge. It often takes several tries (aka practice) to make systems work, and that equals time and effort. But with the benefits of organization being so great, you’ll find that it’s worth it. In this episode I discuss those benefits as well as walk you through an example organizational issue and how cons...
2023-06-1307 minThrive in ELTImplementing Meaningful Activities at Every Stage in the Semester with Hall HoustonHow much time do you spend looking for or creating meaningful activities for your students throughout the semester? Maybe you’ve spent hours searching for that “just right" activity a time or two, which can be extremely frustrating and exhausting. Well, in today’s episode, you’re going to hear from Hall Houston, Lecturer at National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences in Taipei, Taiwan. It was in the fall of 2022 when I discovered his book, 101 EFL Activities for Teaching University Students. I found myself going back to it time and again throughou...
2023-05-3019 minThrive in ELTReorganizing Your Physical Space at the End of a TermHave you ever gotten to the end of a term, breathed a sigh of relief, and then looked at your physical space, the relief quickly dissipating? You chose to prioritize – planning and meeting with students were more important than making sure extra handouts were put away. This is certainly a logical choice, and one I’ve made myself multiple times over the years. But sometimes what you see after exams and grading are done can be visually and mentally overwhelming. Instead of ignoring the chaos or waiting until the next term starts (dreading it al...
2023-05-1607 minThrive in ELTHow to Avoid Tech Tool OverwhelmIf you sat down right now and made a list of every tech tool you use, how many do you think you’d come up with? 10, 15, 25, more than that? As an English language teacher, you’ve probably tried all kinds of tech tools that promise to improve your students’ learning and make your life easier. There are certainly many tools that actually do deliver on their promises, but sometimes, all of the options can simply become overwhelming. Instead of stressing out over trying to use the latest thing – or everything – join me in figuring out...
2023-04-1807 minThrive in ELT4 Essential Elements of Organized Teaching [Ep. 45]How organized is your EAP/ESL teaching? Maybe your answer depends on the type of task or even the day of the week. Getting organized certainly takes time, effort, and intention as well as an openness to learning new things. It also takes knowing about what can be organized and why. Without a purpose, why organize? When it comes to teaching (and I include the preparation and follow-up here too), my purpose is to ensure that I have everything I need so that I’m ready to teach, my classes go as s...
2023-04-0409 minThrive in ELTThe Pros and Cons of a To-do ListTo-do lists really aren’t all that effective. Have you heard that before? Most people, including me, use to-do lists, but there is some truth in that statement. The point of a to-do list is to help you get things done. Yet do you have a list (or have had one in the past) and it feels like you never really make any headway? Perhaps it gets lost in the shuffle over time or you simply ignore it. If a to-do list doesn’t actually do what it’s supposed to do, th...
2023-03-2107 minThrive in ELTWhat to Do When You're Overwhelmed with "Stuff"How much “stuff” do you have? You know, things like file folders, binder clips, textbooks, and even course materials on your computer. And how much do you have to do? Think of meetings, reviewing student work, lesson planning, and filling out forms required by your institution. It can be difficult to keep up with everything every day. If you’re feeling overwhelmed with all of your “stuff”, you’re not alone, and you don’t need to feel ashamed or embarrassed for struggling to keep up. I know what it’s like when y...
2023-03-0708 minThrive in ELT4 Tips for Cutting Down on Your Working HoursHave you ever felt like you just couldn’t give anymore of your time to your teaching job? Maybe you were overwhelmed with the workload. Or stressed out because of unexpected changes. There will likely always be fluctuations in your working hours due to factors outside of your control like student enrollment, staff turnover, and contractual expectations. Even your own beliefs about how much time you ought to be putting into your work come into play. No matter the reason though, even including the reasons that are out of your control, there are way...
2023-02-2108 minThrive in ELTHow to Clean Up Your Digital Files"What can I do about all of the digital files that keep piling up?" A participant asked this question at the end of a training session I provided for ELT freelancers a couple of months ago. It’s a really good one, isn’t it? Over time it’s only natural to accumulate quite a collection, which can become an overwhelming part of your ELT life. So what can you actually do about all of those digital files that keep piling up? Tune in to today's episode to discover the two aspects...
2023-02-0707 minThrive in ELTTurning Your ELT Goals into Reality [Ep. 40]Want to turn those ELT goals into reality? Whether big or small, the aspirations you have for improving the lives of your students and yourself are worthy. But sometimes, it can be a challenge to actually see them through. You think: Do I really have time to do this? Let’s do this thing! (2 months later…) Wait, what was it that I wanted to do? There’s no way this would work. Instead of jumping right in or completely dismissing the ideas you have, listen to today’s episode for the three steps you can take that...
2023-01-2409 minThrive in ELTHow to Make Systematic Improvements to Courses You TeachYou want to make improvements to a course you’re teaching. You think, "Ugh, that lesson could have been better." Or perhaps it's more like, "I can't wait until I can start this course all over again." Instead of feeling overwhelmed or guilty, allow yourself to celebrate the fact that you're noticing and reflecting, both of which are necessary parts to thriving in ELT. When it comes to making changes to a course, it doesn't have to be a stressful and overwhelming experience. In fact, when you do it systematically, it can be quite...
2023-01-1009 minThrive in ELTSaying Yes or No: When Is One Better Than the Other?Have you ever noticed that the word no doesn't have a very good reputation in certain situations? Saying yes, on the other hand, often gets accolades. There are some situations that are really easy to say no to. But when it comes to everyday ELT life, many things come up where you're probably more likely to say yes. Whichever you decide, either yes or no, you want your answer to work for you. This doesn’t mean that you choose in a selfish way, but rather, that you choose in a reasonable way.
2022-12-1310 minThrive in ELTWhy the Mundane Tasks Matter and What to Do about ThemMundane tasks. Those ordinary, day-to-day things you have to do but don't consider all that exciting or motivating. (Maybe they even make you sigh, roll your eyes, or grit your teeth a little?) As an EAP/ESL teacher, some of your mundane tasks may include: reading, writing, or responding to certain emails; filling out your timesheet or leave report; reviewing student work; preparing for meetings; or completing administrative forms. The truth is though, all of these can be just as significant to complete as those tasks you might classify as urgent or important. ...
2022-11-2908 min
The Creative Pivot - Actionable Inspiration for MidlifeEnneagram 9 Party with Sharon Nichols & Kristina Brummer- Grow Your Heart Centered Business SeriesSharon Nichols joins Kristina Brummer and Heather Johnston on the 9th and final episode of the Grow Your Heart Centered Business Series on The Creative Pivot. Sharon is an Enneagram 9 who loves the insight she’s gained through the Enneagram and encourages others to explore and discover their own type. A few resources include:Complete the RHETI assessment at The Enneagram Institute.Read The Essential Enneagram, a scientifically developed Enneagram personality test & self-discovery guide.Sharon is the founder of Grow Love With Words (GLWW). GLWW began several years ago as an idea that just wouldn’t go away...
2022-11-181h 03Thrive in ELTThe Do's and Don'ts of Google DriveWhat do you use Google Drive for as an EAP/ESL teacher? Creating course documents? Collaborating with an ELT colleague for an upcoming conference presentation? Sharing ideas and giving feedback? Google Drive has a ton of great features, but … it can be a bit overwhelming and frustrating at times. In today’s episode, I share 5 tips on what you want to do and don’t want to do when using Google Drive. For full show notes of this episode, visit https://www.eltresourceroom.com/podcast/36-the-dos-and-donts-of-google-drive Book a free 15-minute c...
2022-11-1509 min
The Creative Pivot - Actionable Inspiration for MidlifeClearing Your Mind for Better Productivity - Grow Your Heart Centered Business SeriesThis week on the Grow Your Heart Centered Business Conversation, Kristina and Heather discuss ways to declutter and organize your thoughts to improve your productivity and create more time for you. By clearing our minds we allow ourselves to move away from the "I'm too busy to find time for self-care, rest, and fun" mentality that we can easily fall into as entrepreneurs. Bios:Heather JohnstonIn the summer of 2019, Heather took a leap, without a safety net. She was burnt out and left her job of over a decade to ta...
2022-11-1144 min
The Creative Pivot - Actionable Inspiration for MidlifeCommunication Tips for New Entrepreneurs - Grow Your Heart Centered Business SeriesAs heart centered entrepreneurs we always want our authentic voice to shine, but how do we do that? What things do you do, or wish you did, to talk with your clients about the ways your business can make their lives better?Bios:Heather JohnstonIn the summer of 2019, Heather took a leap, without a safety net. She was burnt out and left her job of over a decade to take a chance on herself. It was scary, and at 45 she had spent the last decade building her career in technology...
2022-11-0449 minThrive in ELTWhy Organization is About Being Flexible and Not FixedOne definition of organization is that it’s “the quality of being arranged in a way that is sensible and useful.” Did you notice that it doesn’t say anything about being perfect … or fixed? Sometimes we EAP/ESL teachers can be really strict with ourselves thinking that we have to stick with a specific formula for any number of reasons. But in today’s episode, I share why your organizational systems should allow you to be flexible and not make you feel forced to be rigid with yourself or a situation, especially when pivotin...
2022-11-0107 min
The Creative Pivot - Actionable Inspiration for MidlifeWhat's Your Calling Card - Grow Your Heart Centered Business SeriesWatching an episode of Downton Abbey we were intrigued by the idea of people leaving their calling cards when visiting. Our conversation today is all about what our calling cards are and what they say to those around us. would the modern-day equivalent of your calling card be? Is it your website, your email, or your Instagram bio? When people speak about you and your business to others are you confident that they can describe what you do, who you serve, and the solutions you provide?Bios:Heather JohnstonIn the s...
2022-10-2141 min
The Creative Pivot - Actionable Inspiration for MidlifeHuman Design and Soul Care - Stacy CordovaDo you have an activity or tool that always brings you back to feeling aligned? That works so well in helping you to learn more about who you are, what you do, and why you love the things you love?You may call it self care, but what about calling it soul care? Stacy Cordova is our guest on the podcast and she talks about her journey to discovering human design as her soul care alignment tool. Heather has experienced a Soul Map Human Design reading from Stacy and if you visit her website you can find...
2022-10-1932 minThrive in ELTWhat Really Needs to Be on Your DeskRemember how you started off the new semester feeling refreshed and ready to go? Your desk was one area you got prepared. You were happy with the newly tidied and organized space, and you were determined to keep it that way. Now you’re full on in the semester though, and maintaining an organized desk area is not always at the top of your priority list. Yet if the items on your desk aren’t helping you stay focused and productive, then it may be time to look at what you’ve got and de...
2022-10-1808 min
The Creative Pivot - Actionable Inspiration for MidlifeRecovering People Pleasers - Grow Your Heart Centered Business SeriesPeople-pleasing is the strong urge to please others even when they may be putting their own needs at risk. People-pleasers may have the tendency to take on responsibilities that are not asked of them. These actions can lead to higher levels of burnout as both an employee and an entrepreneur. On this week's episode in the Growing Your Heart Centered Business Special Series, Kristina and Heather discuss their own patterns of people pleasing and ways that you can recognize when you slip into a people-pleasing role. Referenced in our conversation: TedX University of Toronto talk...
2022-10-1436 min
The Creative Pivot - Actionable Inspiration for MidlifeHow Are You Using Your Time? Grow Your Heart Centered Business - Special SeriesHow are you using your time? Do you hear the words, "I'm so busy", coming out of your mouth on a regular basis?This episode we talk about our own time management quirks, our real thoughts on why time is one of our greatest assets, and the importance of paying attention to where you are spending your time. Bios:Heather JohnstonIn the summer of 2019, Heather took a leap, without a safety net. She was burnt out and left her job of over a decade to take a chance...
2022-10-0731 min
The Creative Pivot - Actionable Inspiration for MidlifeJourney to Self Care with Amanda Ferrat, Advanced EFT PractitionerWhat if your journey to self-care led you to your dream career? That is what happened to my guest Amanda Ferrat, Advanced EFT Practitioner. What started off as a somewhat toxic relationship with self-care led her to discover the tool that became her self-care tool of choice, and now she helps others through the practice of EFT and wellness counseling. Amanda Ferrat, founder of Value Yourself Counseling, is a certified Advanced EFT Practitioner and emotional wellness counselor that uses her compassion, empathy, intuition, and skills to help women break barriers and limitations to build new thought patterns a...
2022-10-0539 minThrive in ELT5 Steps for Managing an Overwhelming Week“How am I going to get all of this done?” Once you settle into a new term, you figure out what to expect from week to week. But occassionally there’s a week that sneaks in that isn’t quite so normal, and the stress level starts to rise. You've ... agreed to substitute for two of your colleagues. got a conference presentation on Thursday, which happens to be your busiest teaching day. just noticed after going through your emails that you forgot to put a committee project deadline on your calendar … and it’s in thre...
2022-10-0409 min
The Creative Pivot - Actionable Inspiration for MidlifeFive Projects Too Many? Grow Your Heart Centered Business SeriesKristina Brummer and Heather Johnston are back with the second episode in the Grow Your Heart Centered Business Series. This episode Heather introduces the Five Projects Rule, a concept discussed by Charlie Gilkey, the founder of Productive Flourishing, in his book Start Finishing. This concept or rule was discovered on Jenny Blake's podcast Free Time.This episode came on the heels of our first episode. We started talking about time management and taking on too many projects. We hit record once we realized that it was a perfect conversation for all of the heart-centered leaders a...
2022-09-3028 min
The Creative Pivot - Actionable Inspiration for MidlifeGrow Your Heart Centered Business - What We Wish We Would Have KnownKristina Brummer and Heather Johnston are back with another episode in our Grow Your Heart Centered Business Series. This conversation is a juicy one as we talk about the lessons we learned from starting our businesses. We are sharing our top tips to help you get started with your heart-centered business. I'm not going to give any spoilers you will need to listen to the episode to get all the details. When we were planning this episode we realized that it was a perfect combination of the Why, What, and How that you need to kee...
2022-09-2357 minThrive in ELTSetting Boundaries in Your ELT Life (and Not Feeling Guilty About It)In your experience teaching academic English, have you ever … stayed late at the office? worked on a weekend a time or two (or more than you can count)? Maybe you’ve done so because it was the only way to get everything done. Maybe it's because you consider yourself a dedicated ELT professional. Or perhaps it's because working long and hard is just part of the job. On their own, there's nothing wrong with being dedicated to your profession and working late. But when the choices you make in your ELT life cause you t...
2022-09-2009 min
The Creative Pivot - Actionable Inspiration for MidlifeGrow Your Heart Centered Business - Special SeriesEpisode 53 and it is a special one as it kicks of the Grow Your Heart Centered Business Series with Kristina Brummer, Founder of The Spectacular Middle, a full service virtual support agency for entrepreneurs.Kristina is a heart-centered entrepreneur building a small business, and she knows first hand how it feels to get lost in the weeds of the day-to-day operations of your business. She started her agency after a successful corporate career. In the creative pivot fashion she changed the trajectory of her life.Together, Heather Johnston & Kristina Brummer, we will be having a...
2022-09-1624 minThrive in ELTA Teaching Contingency Plan: What Is It, and Do You Need One?What if …? We make contingency plans for all kinds of moments in our lives. These plans provide us with an opportunity to experience less stress and overwhelm when the possibilities become realities. The probability of needing contingency plans in your ELT life is no less likely than in any other part of life. What if … your car won’t start? you or your child is sick and you have to stay home? your home heating system all of sudden quits and it’s in the dead of winter? In today’s...
2022-09-0609 minThrive in ELTMaking Space to Lesson Plan at the Beginning of a New TermHave you ever noticed that no matter where you are in a term, planning never really stops? Weeks into it, you’re still adding and refining, and at the end, you find yourself making notes about things you want to change for next time. So if it’s the case that you’re always planning, then why is it so important to make space for it before a term even begins? Well, it’s at this point in time that you have the opportunity to really set the stage for an effective learning and teach...
2022-08-2308 minThrive in ELTUsing Your Time Wisely When You’ve Got an EAP Teaching Schedule That’s All Over the PlaceThere’s nothing that says you teach English for Academic Purposes quite like your schedule, right? Classes, office hours, meetings, training sessions, and the list goes on. It can be really hard to get things done when you’re constantly on the move with few opportunities for extended periods of concentrated work time. Those dreams of teaching in the mornings and planning in the afternoons do come true sometimes, but when they don’t, you need a plan. In today’s episode, I share just two steps that will help you be as foc...
2022-08-0909 minThrive in ELTGetting Your Digital Space to Work For You and Not Against YouFiles, folders, the cloud … If you're like me, you couldn’t survive as an ELT professional without them! But when you open your storage system, what do you see? Three to five main folders? Or hundreds of individual files? How long would it take to find that shared presentation from the latest conference? Five clicks in five seconds? Or five minutes because you forgot where you saved it (and the file name)? As great as digital storage is for all that you do, it can also be overwhelming and frustrating. Instea...
2022-07-2611 minThrive in ELTMaking the Most of Your "You" Time: How Organization Can HelpHave you ever been taking care of all the things that need to get done at the beginning or end of a term and realized that you haven’t left the building all week except to go home? Have you ever had so many PD events lined up that you’ve forgotten one or two (or three)? Have you ever gotten into a routine that doesn’t include time for YOU? When we’re in work mode, it can be really easy to tell ourselves that we should only focus on the work every day...
2022-07-1213 minThrive in ELTHow to Organize Your Administrative Tasks So You Can Actually Work on Your WorkGoing through all of your email messages not your favorite thing to do? Overwhelmed with thinking about all the things that need to get done … tomorrow? Wish you had gathered progress updates on your students for today’s meeting a bit earlier? It can be easy to let administrative tasks like these slide when there are so many other more important things that need to get done – like lesson planning, conferencing with your students, or working toward that next professional development goal. Yet they’re a part of our ELT lives that we can...
2022-06-2813 minThrive in ELTGetting Your Physical Space Organized for Focus, Productivity, and Reduced StressDo you ever wish that the lesson materials sitting on your desk would find their own way back to the shelf? Or have you ever been ready to file away those important student documents from weeks ago but can’t find them now? Our brains like it when our work spaces have order to them. We can put all of our attention on the important task at hand, and time is spent more productively with fewer distractions and less stress. In today’s episode, I discuss three areas of your physical work space to g...
2022-06-1412 minThrive in ELTOrganization in Your ELT InstructionWhen you think of English language teaching, this is probably the part that comes to mind first – instruction. It’s what we do, right? Yet instruction involves so much more than the time we spend with our learners in a single lesson. To even get to that point, we have to plan. But what happens when your plans aren’t organized? I know what happens to me – I forget things, lose focus, and feel overwhelmed. These do not make an instructor feel assured! So, what can you do to keep your focus, save time, an...
2022-05-3114 minThrive in ELT4 Areas in Your ELT Professional Life Where Organization Is KeyOn a scale of 1-10, how organized would you say you are? And how organized would you like to be? Not being organized leads to clutter, stress, constant busyness, and feeling overwhelmed. But being organized brings relief, greater focus and productivity, and a reclaiming of time. In today’s episode, I’m sharing four areas in your ELT professional life where organization is key. Whether you love organizing or you’d rather be doing something else, I encourage you to evaluate these four areas and discover ways to set yourself up for more enjoyab...
2022-05-1711 min
Dr. PatientEp 6. How Doctoring Used to BeDate: 5-17-22Name of podcast: Dr. PatientEpisode title and number: 6 How Doctoring Used to Be Episode summary:In the old days of medicine, doctors had more time and more freedom to practice their art as they saw fit. Nowadays many doctors are affiliated with big hospitals or groups, and have lost the freedom to design their day so to speak. Many don’t have a say over how much time they get with patients, how billing works and more. In this story you’ll hear a...
2022-05-1730 min
The Creative Pivot - Actionable Inspiration for MidlifeThinking Again, Changing Our Minds, Midife CrisisThis episode is a special one, we talk about giving yourself permission to change your mind, midlife reassessment (midlife crisis if you want to call it that), and big changes coming up for the podcast and redefining success.Changes are afoot but still going one step at a time.Interested in learning more about Creative Pivot Coaching visit my websiteThecreativepivot.comSchedule a 1-on-1 session with Heather JohnstonSchedule NowFollow along with The Creative PivotInstagramFacebookLinkedInJoin my newsletter here
2022-05-0413 minThrive in ELTHow to Get Through the Challenging Moments in Your ELT LifeHave you ever been unmotivated to go to class even though your learners are terrific? Or have you ever wondered why you aren’t enthusiastic about going in to work despite your supportive colleagues? Have you felt guilty for feeling that way? I’ve been there, and it’s not a fun place! In today’s episode, I share four things you can do to get through the challenges in your ELT life: Give yourself time and permission to feel what you're feeling. Write down or talk with someone else about what you are feeling. Thrive by recall...
2022-05-0311 min
The Creative Pivot - Actionable Inspiration for MidlifeSay Yes to You at Camp Yes - Marli WilliamsWhen was the last time you said yes to yourself? Do you have a creative idea that is brewing? Want to try a new career but worried about what others may think? Never underestimate the power of a community that just wants you to say yes to yourself, to your ideas, to the person that you want to show up as in this world. My guest today is Marli Williams, the founder and Head Camp Counselor at Camp Yes for Women. In September 2021, I showed up for me at Camp Yes and I think I have become...
2022-04-2741 min
The Creative Pivot - Actionable Inspiration for MidlifeCreating a Sustainable Business - Antje Gillard, Null RefilleryWant to start a side business from a sustainable angle? Have a career that you love but feel pulled when you recognize something missing from the market? This episode is for you as I interview Antje Gillard, the Founder of Null Refillery, a small scale refill business in Portland, OR.Who is Antje? Founder of Null Refillery and avid refiller. Antje couldn't find a business in Portland that refilled home cleaning & body supplies, like the shop she discovered in Germany. Reducing single use plastics is the goal.As currently practicing neurological physical therapist, Antje felt compelled...
2022-04-2049 minThrive in ELTCollaboration in Professional Development with Ashley MicklosDoes just thinking about presenting or working on certain professional development activities by yourself make you feel a little nervous or overwhelmed? What if instead of going it alone you made strides toward growth with someone? In today’s episode you’re going to get a lot of good insight about PD collaboration from Ashley Micklos, the Curriculum Director and an instructor at the Wisconsin ESL Institute in Madison, Wisconsin. In our conversation, Ashley talks about her own professional development journey in ELT and how collaboration has been a part of that process. She also shar...
2022-04-1921 min
Dr. PatientEp 2. A Day in the Life, DoctorDate: 4/19/22Name of podcast: Dr. PatientEpisode title and number: 2 A Day in the Life, DoctorEpisode summary:Let me take you through a day in the life of a busy primary care doctor. Hear about his main challenge of the day, time, and what he needs to do to fit everything in.Guest:Andrew Johnston MD, Site Director, Open Door Fortuna Community Health Center (yes, he's my brother)Key Terms:MyChart [17:07] - an example of...
2022-04-1821 min
The Creative Pivot - Actionable Inspiration for MidlifeThe Live a Nature Filled Life Pivot - Angie V. from Angel's ExcursionsHost: Heather JohnstonGuest: Angie V. from Angel's ExcursionsAngie is a photographer, writer and outdoor enthusiast who lives full-time in her van, Peter Parker. The founder of Girls Who Hike Florida, Angie created the hiking community to teach women how to safely recreate in the outdoors. She loves being in outside and believes nature is a way to create deeper connections to herself and the world around her. She travels to different states each Summer to work as a seasonal worker in the Outdoor Industry as a guide. Her ultimate goal is to continue exploring...
2022-04-0649 minThrive in ELTWhy You Should Be Presenting and Not Just Attending Professional DevelopmentDid you know that our brains are actually hard-wired to take the easy way out? I don’t know about you, but that makes me feel a little bit better about some of my professional decisions! Although I'm not suggesting you go all in, taking a small step forward on the less easy path can encourage necessary growth. In today’s episode, I give examples of what “presenting” can look like. (Hint: Conference presentations are just one of many.) Then I share two reasons why presenting, and not only attending, PD can be a next st...
2022-04-0512 min
Dr. PatientSeason 1 TrailerWelcome to Dr. Patient podcast, where I examine the doctor-patient relationship and all that it entails. Episodes coming up feature both patients and doctors, telling their stories about a day in their life, finding humanity in the hospital, doctors that go above and beyond, and more.I am Heather Johnston MD; I was a practicing pediatrician for 10 years and left medicine in 2012. After having some serious health problems myself, I'm circling back to the world of medicine with this podcast to investigate my favorite topic, the doctor-patient relationship.Podcast website: www.drpatientpodcast.com
2022-04-0201 min
The Creative Pivot - Actionable Inspiration for MidlifeThe Podcast Pivot - How to start a podcastHost - Heather JohnstonMany of you have reached out and asked if you could pick my brain about starting a podcast, I figured it might be of interest to others in the audience. I think that all women should be sharing their stories, there is power in our voices, and we don’t often share them enough. I am also a huge advocate for women of a certain age sharing their stories, showing their faces, lighting up the world. So this episode is for anyone looking for the basics of creating a podcast. I could do a w...
2022-03-3029 min
The Creative Pivot - Actionable Inspiration for MidlifeThe Van Life Pivot - Bex of Out Seeking RainbowsHost: Heather JohnstonGuest: Bex of YouTube Out Seeking RainbowsHave you watched the van life videos and wondered how you could get started with a more nomadic life? Do you wish you saw more Gen-X women on YouTube representing our awesomeness? Meet Bex from the YouTube channel Out Seeking Rainbows. Bex along with her dog, Lady, have just started their solo van life pivot. After traveling with her daughter, Loui of Adventure Time Loui, all over the lower 48 they purchased land in Alaska in mid 2021 and started a new adventure as land owners. At the...
2022-03-2343 minThrive in ELT3 Steps to Maximizing Your PD Follow-UpWhat do you do after a professional development event? Do you make an immediate plan to put what you’ve learned into action? Or do you set aside the notes and thoughts telling yourself you’ll get to them later? I’ve done both, and I’m sure we’d agree on which one is more difficult! If you’re a person who values professional growth, then you have to be intentional about following up on the PD opportunities in which you take part. In today’s episode I take you through three steps – three so...
2022-03-2212 min
The Creative Pivot - Actionable Inspiration for MidlifeSelling Your Home - How to Pivot - Erin MonahanHost: Heather JohnstonGuest: Erin Monahan Selling your home can be such an emotional journey. If you are looking at moving locations as part of your own life pivot, having a trusted realtor can make the process much less daunting. Much like having a coach to help you move from burnout to possibility, having a realtor who can coach you through the selling process makes all the difference in your dreams becoming a reality.Erin Monahan is a professional realtor and photographer who specializes in the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area, and is adding the Northern O...
2022-03-1646 min
The Creative Pivot - Actionable Inspiration for MidlifeInjecting Heart Into Your Business - Darcy LeeHost: Heather JohnstonGuest: Darcy LeeThis episode speaks to the importance of injecting your heart into everything you do. Your heart is connected to your purpose, having a purpose will lead to a successful business. Lack of heart or purpose for your work can lead to higher levels of burnout and overwhelm. Lesson for pivoters, always do your purpose driven work, fall in love with the work you are doing, feel the connection of your work to the community around you.Make sure you subscribe to the podcast, leave us a review, and s...
2022-03-0943 minThrive in ELT4 Reasons Why You Need a Personal Professional Development PlanWhere are you on your ELT professional development journey? Do you know the direction in which you’re headed? Do you know why you’re going there? There’s a lot more to choosing PD opportunities than simply choosing. You need a personal PD plan – a plan that’s created just for you, your preferences, and needs. A plan that’s created by you. In today’s episode I share four important reasons why you need your own PD plan. Connect with Heather: Website LinkedIn Facebook Page
2022-03-0811 min
The Creative Pivot - Actionable Inspiration for MidlifeIs Your Self Worth Trashed? - Tressa Yonekawa BundrenHost: Heather JohnstonGuest: Tressa Yonekawa BundrenOur conversation on this episode of the podcast is a juicy one, self worth, and society's wiring to pay attention to the trauma. A salve for our anxiety is to seek out the beauty, wonder, and hope. We chat about if our self worth is trashed, how we can learn to be more inclusive, and that we, as humans, all long to be seen as able, capable, and successful. Make sure you subscribe to the podcast, leave us a review, and share with your friends. I...
2022-03-021h 00Thrive in ELTProblems with Professional Development and How to Solve ThemWhy do you choose to participate in professional development? To learn something new? To grow in a particular area? Professional development is a necessary and beneficial activity you can, and should, participate in. But sometimes, it can pose problems that get in the way of taking part. In this episode I talk about the problems that can keep you from saying yes to an opportunity or from even wanting to say yes. I also suggest several practical solutions so you can get past the issues and move forward growing in your role as an E...
2022-02-2215 minThrive in ELTFinding Your Place in ELT Professional DevelopmentHave you seen (and maybe even participated in!) more professional development opportunities than you ever imagined before 2020? With all of the conferences, webinars, and available recordings, it can be easy to find yourself overwhelmed with deciding which ones to attend and even if you should participate. In today’s episode I’m going to share what my own professional development journey has looked like over the years and what you can do to take your next step toward growing as an ESL or EFL instructor. You’ll want a pen and notepad for this o...
2022-02-0812 min
The Creative Pivot - Actionable Inspiration for MidlifeEveryone is a Creative - Kristi NellorKristi Nellor is a Soul Consultant, Life Coach, Branding & Marketing Strategist, and a Hell Yes Sister. Kristi's creative journey started in Kansas and took her to RISD, NYC, San Francisco, and most recently LA where she is planting her roots with the rest of her brood, husband, two kids, and a rock eating puppy (we talk about that story). Kristi firmly believes that everyone is a creative, and she helps tap into those strengths of her clients as she helps guide them through transition to reinvention.http://kristinellor.comKristi was a contributor to...
2022-01-271h 05Thrive in ELTUsing Textbooks in English Language Courses: A Benefit or Drawback?Textbooks. They can provide you with a foundation when teaching a new course, structure for lesson planning, and ideas for supporting activities. But you may have also felt bound by them at one point or another. In today’s episode, I’m answering four questions I’m often asked when it comes to using ELT textbooks: How is it possible for me to get through all of this? Do I need to cover everything, or can I pick and choose what to use? How do I know what I should use? Do I have to use the textbook? The answers lead to co...
2022-01-2512 min
Thrive in ELTHow to Get Motivated for a New SemesterYour extended break was so good – you’re rested and your brain isn’t foggy. Why? Because there was no weekday alarm and you could enjoy that favorite hot beverage at a leisurely pace! But a new semester is approaching and you’re starting to feel a bit stressed and maybe even a little gloomy. And it’s not that you don’t like what you do. In fact, you really enjoy it. It’s just that you know that alongside the satisfying moments comes busyness and ultimately, stress. When you start to dread going bac...
2022-01-1109 min
Thrive in ELTWhen Serving Your Students Means Serving YourselfWhat does it look like when you serve your students well? Is it well-planned, engaging lessons? Opportunities for students to practice with meaningful resources? Talking through questions and challenges both in and out of the classroom? It’s definitely all of these and more. But at what cost? One of my core value statements in serving you is: Service to students and self must be balanced. This is not an easy thing to do! While you’re grateful for your role as an instructor in ELT, you’re also exhausted and frustrated at times...
2021-12-2810 min
Thrive in ELTThe Semester Is Over. Now What?Do you ever ask yourself that question? Following week after week of planning lessons – and then changing them – your teaching world comes to a screeching halt. You have no classes to prepare for or lessons to teach. It’s the transitional time between one semester and another. The odd part is that you can’t stay in the past and you can’t move toward the future without taking the steps to link the two. So how do you do that? You focus on thriving. In today’s episode I share six steps to...
2021-12-1409 min
The Creative Pivot - Actionable Inspiration for MidlifeHow to build a business without the hustle - Kerstin MartinInterested in making a creative midlife pivot of your own? Visit www.thecreativepivot.com and schedule a time to chat with me, Heather Johnston.Kerstin Martin is a leading Squarespace Expert and Online Business Educator who helps service providers simplify their business tech so they can focus on working with their clients. Kerstin also publishes the popular Eule Planner®, an analog business planner specifically designed for digital entrepreneurs. As an HSP and empath Kerstin’s approach to teaching and running an online business is calm and gentle, with a focus on delivering high quality content, service and tra...
2021-12-1047 min
Thrive in ELT5 Tips for Teaching Academic WritingWhat has been your experience teaching academic writing in the ELT setting? What are the strategies you find yourself using over and over again? In this episode I’ll be sharing five tips to help you stay focused and keep moving forward in your academic writing instruction. I’ll also share a not so uncommon experience of overwhelm -- starting something new or getting back into something you haven’t done in a long time. Be sure to check out the full show notes for links to the resources I mention in today’s episode.
2021-11-3014 min
Thrive in ELTGratitude in ELTWhat was your most recent gratitude-filled ELT moment? Where were you? What were you doing? Who were you with? Being grateful when teaching can be difficult. Stress and exhaustion can set in, and sometimes the things we even enjoy doing -- like looking for supplemental resources and catching up on the latest issue of a professional journal -- can feel monotonous. In today’s episode I share with you some interesting findings I came across not long ago about the benefits of being grateful. I’ll also tell you how I went from having mostly negati...
2021-11-1609 min
Thrive in ELTHow to Choose the (So-Called) Best ELT MaterialsWhere do you go to find reliable materials for your adult students? What’s your process for choosing the right ones? In today’s episode I talk about the process for choosing the (so-called) best resources. But what really defines “best”? As instructors, you and I don’t want just “okay” or “pretty good.” That’s not going to serve our students or ourselves well. However, what’s good for me might not necessarily be good for you. What’s important is that you look at your unique situation: your students, your curriculum, and your expectations. Aft...
2021-11-0210 min
Thrive in ELTEssential Resources for Teaching OnlineWhat resources do you have to teach your ESL/EFL students online? Are they providing you with everything you need right when you need it most? In the world of ELT, resources are your support system. They can help you introduce an idea, extend upon previous lessons, or reinforce a specific skill. Using resources to help you teach in person is probably second nature to you. But what happens when the materials you were using in person no longer work -- or at least as easily -- online? In today’s episode I share wi...
2021-10-1915 min
Thrive in ELT3 Strategies That Promote Successful Online TeachingWhat procedures do you have in place for your online teaching? Are they helping both you and your students succeed? While our situations aren’t exactly the same, I would bet that we have more in common than we might think. Today I’ll be talking about my key takeaways from teaching online in the 2020-2021 academic year. The three strategies that I’ll be sharing with you -- establishing routines, building rapport, and creating activities that allow students the opportunity to interact with materials -- made my online life more manageable and ultimately more success...
2021-10-0513 min
Thrive in ELTHow to Make Online Teaching Work for YouAre you providing online instruction again this academic year? By now it’s been a year and a half of teaching classes online for many in the ELT profession. We’ve certainly learned a lot, but there are still challenges that cause overwhelm and frustration. Probably like you, I spent much of last year teaching online. While things did get better, it wasn’t always easy. In this episode, I talk about how to make online teaching work for you. I don’t propose a one-size-fits-all solution, but instead provide questions to ponder and strat...
2021-09-2118 min
Thrive in ELTWhat It Takes to Thrive in ELTHow often do you reflect on your teaching and students’ learning? Do you ever unfairly critique yourself? When was the last time you celebrated your ELT life? Each of these questions relates to the third phase in the Plan, Do, Thrive Process, which I’m talking about in this episode. We often think of thriving as being successful. While success is definitely part of it, thriving doesn’t necessarily mean everything is perfect or that an end goal has been met. Thriving means you're in the act of growing and developing. Here are the thr...
2021-09-0711 min
Thrive in ELTImplementing Your Plan: ELT Instructional ModeWhat do materials, sequencing, and timing all have in common? They’re the components we use every day to create quality, engaging lessons and courses for our students. There are many things that may come to mind when you think about instruction -- giving information, asking and answering questions, or providing students with time to practice, think and discover rules and ideas on their own. You most likely spend a lot of time planning, so the Do phase is when you honor yourself by following through with your intentional, realistic, committed, and timely effort. This doesn...
2021-08-2410 min
Thrive in ELTThe Why, How, and When of PlanningDo you have everything you need to provide quality instruction to your students throughout the term? Is there anything in your course or lesson that requires students to know how to do before they can practice what they’ve learned? How many days prior to the start of a course or lesson do you usually begin planning? These are just some of the many reflective questions I’ll be posing to you in today’s episode where I go deeper into the first phase of the Plan, Do, Thrive Process. Planning is the foundational phase. It’s wh...
2021-08-1015 min
Thrive in ELTThe Three-Phase Process for Focused ELTDo you ever feel like you’re not as focused as you’d like to be when it comes to planning, instruction, and reflection? The ELT profession requires an ability and willingness to adapt to a variety of changes. What doesn’t change, though, is the need to support our students and ourselves so we can continue moving forward. A focused process is necessary to get you through all of the weeks, months, and years you will serve your students in the classroom. In this episode, I’m going to share with you the three-phase process I...
2021-08-1012 min
The Creative Pivot - Actionable Inspiration for MidlifeHow Breathwork Can Lead to Breakthrough - Susan Giddens,"Breathwork is a door to step through to find out what I believe about me" says Susan Giddens. Coach Suz is a Breathwork Facilitator, Personal Growth Coach, Podcast Host, Author, Speaker, Adventure Seeker, and Aunt to an amazing niece and two incredible nephews. Many years ago, as a leader in biotechnology, Susan found her passion in coaching. Today, she melds coaching and breathwork together to help people expand and grow; to help them dig deep within to live fulfilling passionate purpose-driven lives.Her six week program called The Quest, starts on June 3rd. Sign up at the...
2021-05-2945 min
The Creative Pivot - Actionable Inspiration for MidlifeHow to Build A Community by Sharing Your Work - Pamela BatesHave you connected with @pamelajbates? If you haven't then let me introduce you to one of my favorite, tell it like it is, women.She has a pivot tale to tell. At 49 she found her passion, and she didn't know it was missing. She walked into the Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston, and saw the painting, El Jaleo by John Singer Sargent and she could feel it in her soul. The calling of the paint and the brush were already inside, she just hadn't heard it until that day.Since that moment Pam has been...
2020-12-0942 min
The Creative Pivot - Actionable Inspiration for MidlifeCreating a Social Media Company, Saving Puppies, and Living in Mexico - Stacey BirchStacey Birch is the founder of the travel blog "Hot Flashes and Boarding Passes" as well as the Instagram account of the same name. She is a travel blogger that has loved to travel. She turned that passion into her creative pivot and started of the year in Bali at the Institute of Code to learn all about how to code and create her own website. As Stacey says on her site, "I'm a witty, mid lifer, who is here to help you ladies discover that it's never too late to grab a hold of those boarding passes and...
2020-12-0227 min
The Creative Pivot - Actionable Inspiration for MidlifeCreating a Sustainable Home Organizing Business - Cathy KingCathy King is The Sustainable Organizer, a professional organizer who serves women who are overwhelmed by their stuff. In addition to being a NAPO trained professional organizer she holds an MBA in Sustainability from Northeastern University. She was born and raised in New England and has a passion for problem solving, health & wellbeing, gardening and certainly organizing.She is the holistic reset button for women who are overwhelmed by clutter. As Cathy says, "Most people see organizing as cleaning up clutter, but the clutter is only created because of the holes in the other areas of our...
2020-11-1846 min
The Creative Pivot - Actionable Inspiration for MidlifeHow Can You Activate Your Super Powers - Chiquita Martin McCoyChiquita, a dreamer and believer in all things are possible who is a career educator with a proven history of advocacy for all learners, educators and families. Determined visionary and freedom coach who is an expert at helping others find and follow their true purpose and love in life.Chiquita's Next Offer:I am interviewing for my winter mastermind launch in December to support nine to fivers who know they can no longer continue in the same way at work and still maintain good health due to stress likely caused by racism, sexism or ageism...
2020-11-1256 min
The Creative Pivot - Actionable Inspiration for MidlifeHow You Can Create an Art Practice and Business on the Side - Angie BaileyAngie is a Calligraphy & Lettering Artist based in Ontario, Canada. At the age of 12, she taught herself Calligraphy using a Speedball Calligraphy kit that her sisters bought her as a birthday gift. She practiced & enjoyed calligraphy for many years. Eventually, her life got busy with a demanding nursing career and a busy young family. In 2017 she set out on a creative healing journey, & after putting her practice on the back burner, picked up her pen again & has been lettering on anything & everything since. She spends her time, when not working her day job, enthusiastically teaching calligraphy & lettering to...
2020-11-0452 min
The Creative Pivot - Actionable Inspiration for MidlifeHow to Take Care of Yourself and Your Soul - Stacy CordovaFor the past 25 years, Stacy Cordova has worked in education. She has worked as a teachers assistant, special education teacher and administrator. After experiencing burnout, dealing with a traumatic family event and seeing the pandemic wreak havoc on her family, friends, coworkers and students' families she started Self Care Commune to help heal herself and help all those around her to focus on adding more self-care to their daily lives. Her goal is to put more positivity out into the world.During this episode we discuss burnout, the importance of daily self care, her book that she is...
2020-10-2236 min
The Creative Pivot - Actionable Inspiration for MidlifeHow to Create a Heart Aligned Life - Heather JohnstonI'm Heather Bea, or at least that's what I secretly loved to be called when I was younger, you can also call me Heather Johnston, and I am the host and creator of The Creative Pivot. The Creative Pivot is all embracing your 40s, 50s, and beyond. Not waiting for retirement to live out your dream life. To make midlife amazing! And OMG it is my turn to tell you my story. This is about me looking at the journey of a young girl who dreamed of being an architect, but later found that as a coach I am...
2020-09-2422 min
The Creative Pivot - Actionable Inspiration for MidlifeGetting Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable - Kimblyn HarrisKimblyn Harris is creating a movement to inspire others for self-reflection, empowerment and healing. Mom of two boys, 23 and 25 who's using her story of coming through depression, abuse and unworthiness to help inspire others. A techie by trade, artist and creative by passion, Kimblyn operates in her hard fought joy that is both contagious and inspiring. Her non-profit Artfully Healed seeks to create spaces of intention to allow the community to share, to heal and to come together under the philosophy that we are not alone and we are better together. Her newest endeavor Release 2 Receive works with the pow...
2020-08-2652 min
The Creative Pivot - Actionable Inspiration for MidlifeFrom Project Manager at Google to Teaching the Craft of Weaving - Tien ChiuTien Chiu's career began with a background in mathematics, took a little turn as a technical project manager in the software industry, but it wasn't until a trip to Southeast Asia during the dot com bust that she realized she had the heart of an artist. It was there that she discovered her love of textiles and weaving. That love led her to eventually leave her position at Google, to be a full time artist and educator. She used her blog to grow her audience and you can now find her array of online classes on her website, WarpandWeave...
2020-08-2149 min
The Creative Pivot - Actionable Inspiration for MidlifeWhen You Almost Lose What You Love the Most, Your Life is Changed - Lisa SpectorWhen Lisa Spector fractured her hand a few years ago, she was afraid she might never play piano again. This was the worst day of her life and at the same time the best, because she realized she had lost touch with what she loved the most, her music. Listen in as Lisa talks about how she fell in love with the piano, attended Julliard, USC, and then taught in the university and private level before creating a music company that created calming music for pets. She has been doing what she loves her whole life, but she had...
2020-08-1044 min
The Creative Pivot - Actionable Inspiration for MidlifeHow Quitting Her Job and Travelling the World Led to the Career of Her Dreams - Kelly AbandaKelly Abanda, M.A. is an expert in pivoting- having learned to lean in to opportunities and adventure over the last 30 years. In 2016 she left her cushy job--along with perfectionism and overthinking-- to travel the world and that choice ended up leading her on a three-year adventure to over 23 countries around the world. She is obsessed with embracing adventure and passion instead of safety and comfort--and with helping others do the same.Through workshops, online courses, 1:1 coaching, and group coaching she creates a safe space for perfectionists, overthinkers, and high achievers to get out of their own wa...
2020-08-0558 min
The Creative Pivot - Actionable Inspiration for MidlifeHow a Trip to Kenya Changed Her Life - Cindy RodriguezNever underestimate the power of one person to make a difference, that small ripple can grow into a wave. Cindy Rodriguez founder of Elimu-USA believes in education and empowerment of women and girls. She focuses on the development project of ElimuGirls and is passionate about access to education and creating pathways for female entrepreneurship. Providing a voice, choice, and a bank account to marginalized female communities will disrupt the cycles of poverty, child bride rituals, and female genital mutilation practices. As a thought leader in education, a prior teacher & K-8 administrator, Cindy’s education background promotes ElimuGirls reaching their fu...
2020-07-2954 min
The Creative Pivot - Actionable Inspiration for MidlifeFinding the Magic Within Through Heart Centered Coaching - Connie Anne HolmanThis is episode 11 of The Creative Pivot Podcast and I was lucky enough to interview Connie Anne Holman. Connie is a spiritually aligned and divinely guided heart centered coach and psychotherapist. She helps clients’ give themselves permission to live empowered, healed, and heart-led lives. Always one to look for the magic in things, she helps others by listening to what their heart is telling her. Connie Anne Holman InstagramAbout The Creative Pivot:Hi there! I’m Heather and I help women just like you to create a life that you love. Taking care o...
2020-07-2442 min
The Creative Pivot - Actionable Inspiration for MidlifeHow to Find Your "Why" and Don't Give Up - Jami GabbardThis podcast is all about women having a midlife revolution, not a midlife crisis. They are striking out on their own, starting businesses, and creating their own path in this second half of their lives.I hope you subscribe to this podcast and follow The Creative Pivot on Instagram to be a part of this awesome community.This episode is special because my guest is Jami Gabbard. She is a teacher with a 23 year career and is now adding children’s book author to her resume. Her book “Little Miss Raya’s Big Adventures: All About...
2020-07-2235 min
The Creative Pivot - Actionable Inspiration for MidlifeGrief Led Her Back to Music - Abby WolfAbby Wolf is a singer-songwriter and actor based out of Los Angeles. Growing up in Albuquerque, she began fronting indie college rock bands when she was just 14. In the late 90s she relocated to Los Angeles to pursue her own solo music. Wolf hung up her guitar for many years while mothering two children, but after using music to help process grief she was going through, she came back on to the music scene. She has exploded back with songs that reflect the passion and turbulence of modern adult life in America.Photo credit: Rachael Porter Photography
2020-07-1534 min