teacher

Strategies for Personal and Professional Progress

July 15, 2020

John Neral, MA, CPC reawakens, energizes, galvanizes and innovates the mind think of employees, corporations, associations and systems. He is a celebrated executive/career and professional development coach and an in-demand, mindset-shifting public speaker.

Prior to this, John served as a professional development manager of an instructional coaching program in the District of Columbia Public Schools system (DCPS); a mathematics educator for 16 years, and a state educational assessment specialist (DC). He’s also been a longstanding corporate consultant for Fortune 500 giant, Casio America, Inc. and a Training and Staffing Director for an Educational Non-Profit (AIR). He now leads John Neral Coaching, LLC, one of the most progressive, mindset-shifting professional and organizational coaching and public speaking firms in the U.S. and is the author of the new book, SHOW UP – Six Strategies to Lead a More Energetic and Impactful Career.

Contact and follow John through his website, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram orTwitter.

Connect with Damianne through Changes BIG and small website, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or YouTube

You can find all the past episodes of the podcast on the website and subscribe to automatically receive new episodes every week. If you’ve enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend or family member. I am sending you best wishes for good health and happiness. Have a great week.

Find the full show notes at https://changesbigandsmall.com/40

Join the Changes Big and Small Facebook group – https://www.facebook.com/groups/changesbigandsmall1/

Read More
Cover art for episode 39 of Changes Big and Small with Sebene Selassie

The Only Way Out is Through

July 8, 2020

Sebene Selassie is a teacher, author, and speaker who explores the themes of belonging and identity through meditation, creativity, and spirituality. Born in Ethiopia and raised in Washington, DC Sebene began studying Buddhism 30 years ago as an undergraduate at McGill University, where she majored in comparative religious studies. She has an MBA from the new school where she focused on race and cultural studies. For over 20 years, Sebene works with children, youth, and families, nationally and internationally for small and large not for profits. Her work has taken her everywhere from the Tenderloin in San Francisco to refugee camps in Guinea, West Africa. A strong believer in the power of arts-based learning, she has planned, coordinated and taught a variety of creative programs, including intergenerational photography, digital storytelling, and youth media. Sebene is a three-time cancer survivor of stage three and four cancer. Her first book You Belong: A Call for Connection will be released by HarperOne in August.

You can connect to Sebene on her website, sebeneselassie.com. She’s a teacher also on the 10% Happier app. And there are lots of great meditations from one minute to much longer ones.

You can connect to me on the Changes BIG and small website, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube. You’re also invited to join the Changes BIG and small Facebook community.

Remember that change begins with one small step. Have a lovely week.

Find the full show notes at https://changesbigandsmall.com/39

Read More

Listen to your Gut with Deirdre Nelson ep. 31

May 13, 2020

Correction: Queen Sono is the first original African series. It is South African, not Nigerian as I mentioned in the podcast.

I interviewed Deirdre Nelson on March 13, 2020. When we spoke, Prague was in the first stages of lockdown, and restaurants were still open until 8pm. There were only a handful of cases of people with coronavirus in Winnipeg, where Deirdre lives. In Prague, there were 141 cases. Since that time, both Canada and Czech Republic have tightened lockdowns and most people in both Prague and Winnipeg are still working from home. Prague, however, has loosened the lockdown and is continuing to do so. In a follow-up episode, Deirdre will share how coronavirus has affected her life.

This episode is not about the coronavirus pandemic, but as I listened back to our banter, much of which didn’t make it into the final edit of the podcast, I was reminded of how much has changed in a relatively short time. If you or someone you love has been touched by the coronavirus pandemic, I hope that you are doing better. If you’re grieving about loss at this time, I’m sorry for your loss. I discuss grief and supporting yourself or others who are grieving in episode ? of the podcast.

For the past few weeks, I’ve interviewed various people about life in the time of coronavirus while also discussing other significant changes in their life. As countries and individuals look at how to transition out of lockdown, we’re beginning to look forward to change and improvement so that we are not confined to our home.

Listen to this wide ranging conversation between me and Deirdre about travel, teaching English in Korea, making friends, changing tastes. We even get into a discussion about The Cosby Show and other shows from the 80s. Through it all, Deirdre shares an important message, to follow your heart. Listen to this episode as inspiration to think through what is holding you back, and how you can find your way to living your life.

I hope that you enjoyed listening to this episode. Please go to changesbigandsmall.com to connect with me. You can find all the past episodes there as well and subscribe to automatically receive new episodes every week.

I’ve received quite a few submissions to be on the podcast and am working through them. If you’ve applied, I’ll be getting back to you soon.

Please share this episode with a friend or family member that you think might benefit. And for access to more resources and support from a community focused on change and progress, join the Changes Big and small Facebook community.

I am sending you best wishes for good health and happiness. Have a great week.

Find the full show notes at https://changesbigandsmall.com/31

Join the Changes Big and Small Facebook group – https://www.facebook.com/groups/changesbigandsmall1/

Read More
cover art for episode 29 Life in the Time of Coronavirus with Lani V Cox

Life in the time of Coronavirus – Lani V Cox ep. 29

April 29, 2020

In this episode of Changes Big and Small, Lani and I discuss some of the changes she’s made in her life. She shares how getting fired affected her and how she’s built her life. She also shares some advice for coping during coronavirus.

Find the full show notes at https://changesbigandsmall.com/2020/04/28/life-in-the-time-of-coronavirus-lani-v-cox/

Join the Changes Big and Small Facebook group – https://www.facebook.com/groups/changesbigandsmall1/

Read More
cover art for life in the time of coronavirus episode 28

Life in the Time of Coronavirus – Samira ep. 28

April 22, 2020

In this episode of Changes Big and Small, I speak with Samira Bello to find out how her life has changed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Listen for a glimpse of life in Prague. Our conversation ends on a positive and hopeful note.

Find the full show notes at https://changesbigandsmall.com/28

Join the Changes Big and Small Facebook group – https://www.facebook.com/groups/changesbigandsmall1/

Read More

Challenging Prejudice and Building a Life of Purpose ep. 24

March 25, 2020

In this episode of Changes Big and Small, I chat with Avril Matsui. Born in the UK, Avril has lived in Japan for the past 26 years. We speak about race and prejudice, and what it’s like living as a black woman in Japan. She also shares her purpose and how she discovered it.

Listen to this episode to learn some great strategies for finding your purpose and making positive changes in your life. Avril inspires us with questions that we can ask to help us make sure that we are living full lives, in our integrity.

Find the full show notes at https://changesbigandsmall.com/24

Join the Changes Big and Small Facebook group – https://www.facebook.com/groups/changesbigandsmall1/

Read More
cover art for episode 22 on Using Free Websites for Learning

Using Free Websites for Learning ep. 22

March 11, 2020

In this episode of Changes Big and Small, I recommend 3 online courses and three general websites where you can learn online. There are also lists of resources in the show notes web page.

Find the full show notes at https://changesbigandsmall.com/2020/03/11/using-free-websites-for-learning/

Join the Changes Big and Small Facebook group – https://www.facebook.com/groups/changesbigandsmall1/

Read More

How to Cope with Grief ep. 20

February 26, 2020

In this episode of Changes Big and Small, I discuss grief. Learn how you can cope with grief after losing a loved one through death, or how to support someone else who is grieving. Many of the tips also apply to other types of grief.

Find the full shownotees at https://changesbigandsmall.com/2020/02/26/how-to-cope-with-grief/

Join the Changes Big and Small Facebook group – https://www.facebook.com/groups/changesbigandsmall1/

Read More

Trust That Things Will Get Better ep. 19

February 19, 2020

In this episode of Changes Big and Small, Angela shares her journey in the past few years.

Angela is open and vulnerable in this chat. We talk about the challenge of moving back to your parents home as an adult. We also discuss the difficulty of repatriation. Angela would like to move back to Canada, so we end by thinking through some of the possible ways that she can realize this dream.

Find the full shownotees at https://changesbigandsmall.com/2020/02/19/trust-that-things-will-get-better/

Join the Changes Big and Small Facebook group – https://www.facebook.com/groups/changesbigandsmall1/

Read More

Find Your Way to Represent Your Authentic Self

February 5, 2020

In this episode of Changes Big and Small, I chat with Sue. Sue is a librarian at a school in Tokyo, Japan. She shares about some of the leaps that she’s taken in her life and the challenge she is now facing.

How do you redefine yourself and put yourself first after years of living life by someone else’s rules? Sue shares her journey to help us consider the seasons of life, and how we might embark on a new chapter.

Find the full shownotees at https://changesbigandsmall.com/2020/02/05/find-your-way-to-represent-your-authentic-self/

Join the Changes Big and Small Facebook group – https://www.facebook.com/groups/changesbigandsmall1/

Read More
Emily Episode Art for Changes Big and Small

Find Something That Makes You Happy ep. 6

November 20, 2019

Thank you for listening to Changes BIG and small. This week, I’m speaking with Emily Sliman. Although she’s a teacher like Ryan, who I chatted with last week, their paths have been quite different. Emily started out working as a software engineer before changing to be a pastry chef. She didn’t find the passion that she was seeking there, and instead found it as a high school Math teacher. Along the way, Emily’s lived in 8 countries. In that time, she’s learned to embrace change and to say yes to new experiences. She also faced one of the biggest challenges of her life in the past few years. Join us to learn about Emily’s journey. I hope that you will connect with her message and find inspiration to pursue your own dreams.

Read the show notes and comment here – https://changesbigandsmall.com/2019/11/19/6emily-sliman-find-something-that-makes-you-happy/‎

Join the Changes Big and Small Facebook group – https://www.facebook.com/groups/changesbigandsmall1/

Read More
Ryan Mallone Changes Big and Small episode art

Say Yes to Finding the Possible

November 13, 2019

On this episode of Changes BIG and small, I’m chatting with Ryan Mallonne. Ryan currently works as a classroom teacher at an international school in Prague. He loves teaching Grade 4. Having lived in several countries since his early twenties, Ryan shares some fascinating experiences such as serving in the Peace Corps and his two week silent retreats in Thailand. Listen on to find out his thoughts about change and why he thinks he can live in a cardboard box. 

Access the shownotes at https://changesbigandsmall.com/2019/11/12/5-ryan-mallonne-finding-the-possible/‎

Join the Changes Big and Small Facebook group – https://www.facebook.com/groups/changesbigandsmall1/

Read More