A Work of Heart: Human Intelligence in Education is a podcast hosted by Dr. Ilana Nankin, co-founder of Breathe for Change. After certifying 20,000 educators and impacting millions of students, we're digging deeper into what really drives learning: Human Intelligence. Each week,we explore how empathy, presence, and purpose can help educators rediscover joy, belonging, and balance, and reimagine education from the inside out.
A Work of Heart: Human Intelligence in Education
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21 episodes
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Podcast Overview
A Work of Heart: Human Intelligence in Education is a podcast hosted by Dr. Ilana Nankin, co-founder of Breathe for Change. After certifying 20,000 educators and impacting millions of students, we're digging deeper into what really drives learning: Human Intelligence. Each week,we explore how empathy, presence, and purpose can help educators rediscover joy, belonging, and balance, and reimagine education from the inside out.
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
2/3/2026
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Recent Episodes
June 24, 2026
Why Play Matters More Than Ever for Educators
<p>What if play isn't just something children need?</p><p>What if it's one of the most important capacities we have as human beings?</p><p>As educators transition into summer, many find themselves moving from months of constant activity into a season of unexpected space. And while that space can feel restorative, it can also feel uncomfortable. Without lesson plans, meetings, and endless to-do lists, many educators are left asking:</p><p><strong>What do I do now?</strong></p><p>In this thought-provoking conversation, Dr. Ilana Nankin sits down with neuroscientist, psychiatrist, and cousin Dr. Michael Jacob to explore the neuroscience of play, creativity, imagination, and possibility.</p><p>Together, they examine why play is far more than a childhood activity, how it has shaped human evolution, and why creating space for wonder, curiosity, and exploration may be essential for our well-being.</p><p>They also explore what makes us uniquely human in an age of artificial intelligence and why creativity, compassion, imagination, and purpose remain at the heart of education.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>SHOW HIGHLIGHTS</strong></p><p>00:00 - Episode Hook: Play is Possibility</p><p>01:06 - Breathe for Change Intro</p><p>01:11 - Welcoming Michael: Neuroscience Meets the Classroom</p><p>01:41 - The Summer Crash: Why Teachers Collapse After Nine Months</p><p>03:36 - Circadian Rhythms & The Cortisol Biological Shift</p><p>04:59 - Balancing the Autonomic Nervous System</p><p>07:21 - Human Beings vs. Human Doings: Sifting Through Control</p><p>09:55 - Deconstructing Play Beyond Child’s Rug Activities</p><p>11:25 - Play in the Gears: The Mechanical Metaphor</p><p>13:22 - Terrence Deacon & The Evolutionary Biology of Play</p><p>17:43 - The Play Deficit & The Student Mental Health Crisis</p><p>23:26 - Daydreaming Circuits: Activating the Default Mode Network</p><p>26:11 - Moving From Brain Jargon into Vulnerable Artistic Mediums</p><p>30:04 - Anthropology of the Heart: Compassion as a Biological Co-Evolution</p><p>32:27 - The Five Layers of the Human Intelligence Framework</p><p>33:31 - Human Creativity vs. Large Statistical Language Models</p><p>45:39 - DeepMind Insights: Why LLMs Can't Make Radical Leaps</p><p>47:39 - John Searle's Chinese Room Thought Experiment</p><p>49:10 - The Standardized Testing Trap & John Dewey’s Vision</p><p>52:44 - The ChatGPT Birthday Lesson: Meaning Requires Human Intention</p><p>56:53 - Summer Offerings: Stepping Far Outside Your Comfort Zone</p><p>58:39 - From Kung Fu Expeditions to Living in Spain</p><p>01:00:18 - Letting Go of Control & Rainbow Heart Earrings</p><p><strong>Best Moments in This Episode</strong></p><ul><li>Why summer can feel surprisingly difficult for educators</li></ul><ul><li><p>The biological importance of rest and recovery</p></li><li><p>Michael's powerful definition of play as "possibility"</p></li><li><p>What neuroscience teaches us about creativity and imagination</p></li><li><p>The connection between play and mental health</p></li><li><p>Why curiosity and wonder matter for learning</p><p>What separates human intelligence from artificial intelligence</p><p>How educators can create more space for play this summer</p></li></ul><ul><li><p><strong>What You'll Learn</strong></p><ul><li>Why play is essential for human development and well-being</li></ul></li></ul><ul><li><p>How imagination and creativity support learning</p></li><li><p>The role of rest, recovery, and open space in innovation</p></li><li><p>Why play isn't just for children</p></li><li><p>What neuroscience reveals about curiosity and possibility</p></li><li><p>How to reconnect with joy, wonder, and creativity</p></li><li><p>Why the most human skills may become even more important in the future</p></li></ul><p>#TeacherWellness #Play #Education #HumanIntelligence #Creativity #Mindfulness #BreatheforChange</p><p><br></p>
June 18, 2026
How Teachers Can Actually Recover This Summer
<p>In this restorative conversation, Dr. Ilana Nankin sits down with longtime educator and Breathe for Change faculty member Beth Schrieber to explore one of the most overlooked aspects of educator well-being: the intelligence of the body.As the school year comes to a close, many educators find themselves carrying exhaustion, stress, compassion fatigue, and the emotional weight of supporting students for months on end. Yet few have been taught how to listen to their bodies, understand what they need, or intentionally restore their energy.Together, Ilana and Beth unpack the foundations of Somatic Intelligence and share practical tools for helping educators reconnect with themselves, regulate their nervous systems, and move from depletion to vitality.Through guided body scans, grounding practices, breathwork, and reflection, this episode offers simple yet powerful ways to create a more restorative, joyful, and sustainable summer.Whether you're feeling energized, overwhelmed, exhausted, or somewhere in between, these practices can help you reconnect with what your body has been trying to tell you all along.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>CHAPTER MARKERS</strong></p><p>00:00 - The Reality of Summer Fatigue for Educators01:10 - Welcome & Taking a Collective Breath Together04:44 - Acknowledging the Daunting Transition to Summer06:59 - Shifting from Total Collapse to Integration12:42 - Introduction to the Human Intelligence Framework16:19 - Competency 1: Interoception (Noticing Your Body)19:15 - How to Practice a Quick Turn-In Body Scan22:20 - Competency 2: Attunement (Decoding Your Body's Signals)25:20 - Guided Practice: The Full Body Scan Experience30:15 - Guided Practice: Tuning In to What You Need Right Now35:38 - Competency 3: Regulation (Adapting dynamically to Your Body)38:00 - Guided Practice: Feeling Your Roots (Grounding with Mother Earth)44:00 - Guided Practice: The 4-to-6 Breath (Calming the Nervous System)50:45 - Guided Practice: The 6-to-4 Breath (Activating Energy)54:00 - Guided Practice: Sun Breaths (Invigorating Joy & Spinal Expansion)56:45 - Guided Practice: Tension Release & Shaking It Out59:00 - Competency 4: Co-Regulation (Your Regulatory Impact on Others)1:04:20 - Competency 5: Vitality (Reconnecting to Aliveness)1:05:32 - Blueprint: Beginning, Middle, and End of Day Practices1:09:05 - Closing Practice: Setting & Embodying Your Daily Intention1:11:05 - Final Thoughts & Wishing You a Restorative Summer<strong>Best Moments in This Episode</strong></p><p> - Why so many educators feel depleted when summer begins - Understanding compassion fatigue and nervous system exhaustion - The power of body awareness and attunement - Guided somatic practices for stress relief and restoration - Grounding techniques educators can use anywhere - Breathwork for calming and energizing the nervous system - How Somatic Intelligence supports long-term educator well-being<strong>What You'll Learn</strong></p><p> - What Somatic Intelligence is and why it matters - How to recognize the signals your body is sending - The difference between awareness, attunement, and regulation - Practical tools for restoring your energy this summer - How to support your nervous system during times of stress - Why vitality begins with listening to your body</p>
June 10, 2026
What Educators Need to Teach in the Age of AI
<p>Artificial intelligence is transforming education faster than most schools can adapt.</p><p>As AI becomes increasingly integrated into our daily lives, educators are faced with an important question:</p><p><strong>What skills will students need to thrive in a world where information, answers, and expertise are more accessible than ever before?</strong></p><p>In this thought-provoking conversation, Dr. Ilana Nankin sits down with her husband, longtime collaborator, and early-stage investor Danh Trang at South Park Commons to explore the future of education in an AI-powered world. Together, they examine both the promise and the challenges of emerging technologies and what they mean for students, teachers, and schools.</p><p>From personalized learning and critical thinking to creativity, resilience, communication, and purpose, this conversation highlights why human skills may become even more valuable as technology continues to evolve.</p><p>Rather than asking whether AI belongs in education, Ilana and Danh explore how educators can thoughtfully integrate these tools while continuing to cultivate the uniquely human qualities that help students thrive.</p><p><br /></p><p><strong>Best Moments in This Episode</strong></p><ul><li>Why optimism and curiosity matter in times of rapid change</li><li>The skills that will remain essential in an AI-driven future</li><li>How AI can support teachers by reducing workload and increasing personalization</li><li>Why critical thinking may become more important than ever</li><li>The opportunities and risks of integrating AI into schools</li><li>What students are telling us about their relationship with AI</li><li>How human intelligence complements artificial intelligence</li><li>Why purpose, creativity, and connection remain at the heart of education</li></ul><p><br /></p><p><strong>What You'll Learn</strong></p><ul><li>How AI is changing the future of teaching and learning</li><li>Why resilience, communication, empathy, and critical thinking are still essential</li><li>Ways educators can thoughtfully integrate AI into the classroom</li><li>How AI can support differentiated and personalized instruction</li><li>The role of educators in helping students navigate emerging technologies</li><li>Why human-centered skills may become even more valuable in the years ahead</li><li>How curiosity can help us navigate uncertainty and change</li></ul><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><strong>Episode Highlights</strong></p><p>00:00 Rethinking the Future of Work & Education</p><p>00:01:46 Intro</p><p>00:01:52 Meeting at 14: Our Origin Story</p><p>00:04:18 Is Modern Education Keeping Up with AI?</p><p>00:06:46 Core Human Skills vs. Cognitive Automation</p><p>00:10:32 The Story of the AI Walkie-Talkie</p><p>00:13:12 Holding Two Truths: AI Safety vs. Great Potential</p><p>00:14:54 Teacher Burnout & Saving 6 Hours a Week with AI</p><p>00:17:07 The Gap: Student AI Use vs. Explicit Teacher Guidance</p><p>00:21:10 Why Reading & Writing Matter More Than Ever</p><p>00:24:20 The Mental Model of the Always-On Personalized Tutor</p><p>00:30:00 The Screen Time Debate & The Encyclopedia Analogy</p><p>00:33:31 Democratizing Education & Supporting All Learners</p><p>00:37:47 Workflow Efficiency: Brisk Teaching & Core AI Platforms</p><p>00:41:41 Beyond Cognitive Learning: The 4 Layers of Intelligence</p><p>00:45:24 Giving Kids Creative Agency to Build and Innovate</p><p>00:46:27 Navigating Student Anxiety & Classroom Dissonance</p><p>00:50:11 What an Early-Stage Investor Looks For in Founders</p><p>00:54:13 Designing the Ideal Future School for Our Kids</p><p>00:56:45 Finding Your "Founding Story" in Everyday Moments</p><p>00:59:22 Outro: Splicing Home Conversations onto the Mic</p><p><br /></p><p><strong>About Breathe for Change</strong></p><p>Breathe for Change empowers educators, school leaders, and changemakers with research-backed tools to enhance well-being, strengthen relationships, and transform teaching and learning.</p><p><br /></p><p>Through the accredited Master’s of Education in Human Intelligence, educators cultivate the skills needed to help students thrive while reconnecting with their own purpose and well-being.</p><p><br /></p><p><strong>Learn More</strong></p><p>Learn more about the William Jewell College Master’s of Education in partnership with Breathe for Change and discover how to bring these practices into your classroom, career, and life.</p><p><br /></p><p><strong>Connect With Us</strong></p><p>Website: <a href="breatheforchange.com" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">breatheforchange.com</a></p><p>Instagram: @breathe4change</p>
21 total episodes available
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