Run Your Life Show With Andy Vasily

Send us a textIn this episode, Arsenal Soccer School coach, Tim Jones, shares his journey and the valuable lessons he has learned that have led him on the current path that he is. Tim is a deeply reflective coach who places great emphasis on developing personal and social wellness within his players through specific structures that he implements in each practice session. Although there is still great focus on skill acquisition, Tim creates the conditions that help to develop the whole player in an effort to better prepare them for being part of a team while not lose sight of the importance of their own individual development. Through extensive study, Tim continually refines his craft by genuinely inquiring into who he is as a coach and what he needs to do to be a better version of himself. In this episode, Tim provides us with a deeper insight into the role that a coach plays in the lives of their players and how growth, learning, and change are of paramount importance in better developing our professional practice. Tim’s journey actually began in the field of music having completed a university degree in Music and Computer Sound Design from the University of Surrey in the UK. It was through the experience of symphony and playing the viola that Tim learned valuable lessons about creativity and flow. Although he was passionate about music, he began to gravitate more toward soccer and ultimately coaching as this sport has also been a big part of his life for many years. Hope you enjoy this episode with coach Tim Jones. Tim’s BioTim is a soccer coach currently working for Arsenal Soccer Schools in Saudi Arabia. His professional career has spanned ten years and five countries as he has sought out professional and learning opportunities. This has included work in the grassroots, charity, University and elite environments, most recently with the Bristol Rovers FC Academy and the University of South Wales Women’s 1st team.Hailing originally from the British island of Jersey, he was first exposed to coaching through his older brother assisting his sessions with local teams. Indeed it wasn’t until a change of staff at the club, that he was presented with the opportunity for him to take the helm of an adult female team. It was from successes here and a developing love for the craft of coaching that sparked the progression to where he is today.It was the wish of Tim that it should be noted that all views expressed by him are his own rather than a reflection of his current, or past employers.Connect With TimTwitter: @coachtimjonesThemes Discussed:Timely Feedback, Participation vs Performance, Social and Personal Wellness, Constraints Led Coaching, Music, Lifelong Learning

Send us a textIn this 75th episode of the Run Your Life podcast, well-known author/educator, Frank Stepnowski, shares the ‘what’ and the ‘why’ behind his latest book, Retribution: A Teacher Strikes Back. As a very committed and passionate educator with over 25 years of experience, Frank speaks from the heart about the obstacles and roadblocks that stand in the way of teachers in America, and other parts of the world, from operating at their best for the students whom they serve. In this episode, we delve into many important facets of what being a great educator means. Accountability, reflection, relevance, and the importance of feedback all entered the radar of this discussion. Frank has loads of insight that he shares, based on his own story of being an educator in America. Frank’s wisdom comes through loud and clear as does his endless desire to keep making a difference in our field. Regardless of what you teach or your role in education, you are sure to find great value in this discussion with the one and only Frank Stepnowski. Frank’s BioFrank (Step) Stepnowski is a father, husband, teacher, author, and iconoclast. He is a 25-year veteran of the teaching trenches and an outspoken advocate for educators everywhere. He has written four books championing teachers and shedding light on their daily struggles and the broken system in which they work. His voice is unapologetic, often prescient, occasionally controversial, but always entertaining. “Why Are All the Good Teachers Crazy?”,“S.C.R.E.W.E.D., An Educational Fairytale”,“Teaching Sucks, But We Love It,” and his newest release: “RETRIBUTION: A Teacher Strikes Back” are all available online wherever kick-ass books are sold.Connect With Frank:Twitter: @Frankstep1 Themes Discussed: Critical Reflection, Advocacy, Obstacles, Failure, Vulnerability, Accountability, Purpose, Hope, Vision 

Send us a textToday’s episode is a special one as my friend, Christina Polatajko, shares her deeply personal story with addiction. As a well-known physical/health educator, Christina has made a huge impact on our profession through her work and her presentations. Teaching is an extremely personal endeavor that requires us to know our strengths and limitations and to learn as much as we can about ourselves in order to have the impact that we desire through our work. Often times people mask their inefficiencies by hiding their truth, whatever that truth may be. Christina shares her journey with us in order to move forward in her life. She has made it very clear that if sharing her story in this episode impacts just one person who is suffering from addiction, it will be well worth it. Making ourselves vulnerable and sharing who we really are can make a huge difference in the lives of others. Christina continues to shine and thrive in our profession through the bonds that she has created with others, but in her heart, she knows that sharing her story is the next step needed for her to continue to move forward in her life and to pursue excellence. Addiction kills and destroys people both mentally and physically. The more we can openly talk about these things, the more of an impact it will have on providing support to those who need it most. Christina is committed to life-long learning and her struggle with addiction and hardship serve to help her teach in a way that impacts the body, mind, and spirit or every student that walks through her gymnasium doors. Who in your life suffers from addiction? Who in your life do you need to reach out to and better support? In listening to this episode, think of who that person might be. Thanks for tuning into this episode with Christina. About ChristinaChristina has been a physical educator for 8 years now as a Health and P.E coordinator in Melbourne, Australia. She pursued this career with a passion for making a difference and to have an impact. She hopes that the resources and techniques she has created will help other teachers in also making a difference in the classroom. She blogs at http://missphysicaleducation.com/blog/.Christina believes that we all have the greatest opportunity to make a difference every day through our work and is a very driven and determined learner and human being. She has presented nationally and internationally both online and in person. Connect With ChristinaTwitter: @cpola17 Website: missphysicaleducation.comThemes Discussed: Vulnerability, Addiction, Connection, Hope, Purpose, Masking Truth, Motivation, Desire to Improve

Send us a textIn today’s episode, Neila and Andy have a great mindfulness chat with a renowned educational consultant, Mark Church. Some of the questions explored in this chat are: Is mindfulness a stance we take in life or something we have to practice day in and day out? What role does daily gratitude for our present body play in helping us to better appreciate what we sometimes fail to notice? How can we be more mindful and present in our daily interactions to not miss out on important moments that help us to grow and develop ourselves? In what ways is evolution predicated and dependent on stress? How does this stress help us evolve into our better selves? This conversation was more about delving into making more sense of what mindfulness can mean in our lives and the role it plays in helping to better understand and appreciate ourselves. Mark offers lots of insight into his own thinking, not by having answers, but asking more questions to better explore the meaning that mindful thinking and actions can play in our lives. Hope you enjoy our episode with special guest, Mark Church. About MarkMark Church works with educators throughout the world striving to create cultures of thinking in their classrooms and schools.  Mark challenges teachers to foster thinking dispositions in students in service of deep understanding.  He invites teachers to promote a discourse of thinking in their classrooms that communicates value to student sense-making.  Mark encourages teachers to make their classroom environments rich with the documents of student thinking processes.  Mark is currently a consultant with Harvard Project Zero’s Making Thinking Visible and Cultures of Thinking initiatives worldwide, drawing upon his own classroom teaching experience and from the perspectives, he has gained working with educators throughout North America, Australia, Asia, and Europe.  Mark enjoys helping teachers examine opportunities for student thoughtfulness, use thinking routines as supports and scaffolds, interact with students in ways that demonstrate an interest in and respect for students’ thinking, and send clear expectations about the importance and value of thinking in learning.  Together with Ron Ritchhart and Karin Morrison, Mark is co-author of the book Making Thinking Visible:  How to Promote Engagement, Understanding, and Independence for All Learners (Jossey-Bass, 2011).Connect With Mark:Website: http://www.pz.harvard.edu/projects/cultures-of-thinkingAbout Andy and NeilaNeila Steele and Andy Vasily are international educators who have worked at fully authorized IB schools in 5 different countries over the past 18 years (Japan, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, China and Saudi Arabia). Both Andy and Neila now work at the KAUST School in Saudi Arabia. Andy is also a consultant, workshop leader, presenter, and speaker. Neila presents and leads multiple workshops in the area of mindfulness. They have devoted themselves to sharing the powerful effects that mindfulness has on promoting greater mental, social, emotional, and physical well-being. Connect With Neila and AndyNeilaTwitter: @neilasteeleWebsite: www.mindfulandpresent.comAndyTwitter: @andyvasilyWebsite: www.pyppewithandy.comThemes Discussed: Meaning Making, Being Present, Body Awareness, Gratitude, Purpose, Relationships, Connection

Send us a textIn the 17th installment of 4 X Mindfulness, Neila Steele and Andy Vasily discuss the themes of monitoring, assessing, and changing habits by bringing more self-awareness to our daily lives. In the first seed of mindfulness, Neila shares the work of the author, Laura Vanderkam, and the strategy of the 168-hour weekly spreadsheet that she created to assess where people spend their time each week. It is a great strategy to record and redirect energy in ways that lead to greater satisfaction, happiness, and health. For Neila’s second seed of mindfulness, she shares two excellent websites related to self-improvement, Coach.me, as well as Leo Babauta’s work with Zen Habits. Both of these websites are excellent resources to help focus on making improvements in both our personal and professional lives. The third seed of mindfulness is rooted in the work of well-known psychologist, Dr. Martin Seligman and his work related to creating a more positive mental framework to operate our daily lives by. Andy explains the story behind his research and the specific strategies Seligman and his team of researchers have developed. This leads nicely into the 4th seed of mindfulness which is all about being more self-aware of our emotional state, to look deeply at the root causes of these emotions and the stories that we tell ourselves about these emotions. In becoming more self-aware of these stories, we position ourselves to change our narratives and reframe our daily experiences. Hopefully, you’ll find an insight or two from this episode that will be applicable in your own life. Thanks for listening. BiosNeila Steele and Andy Vasily are international educators who have worked at fully authorized IB schools in 4 different countries over the past 17 years (Japan, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, China and Saudi Arabia). Andy is a consultant, workshop leader, presenter, and speaker. Neila presents and leads multiple workshops in the area of mindfulness. They have devoted themselves to sharing the powerful effects that mindfulness has on promoting greater mental, social, emotional, and physical well-being. Both Neila and Andy work at Gardens Elementary School on the King Abdullah Campus of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia. Connect With Andy and NeilaNeilaTwitter: @neilasteeleWebsite: www.mindfulandpresent.comAndyTwitter: @andyvasilyWebsite: www.pyppewithandy.comThemes Discussed:Zen Habits, Dr. Martin Seligman, Mindset, Laura Vanderkam, Habit Awareness,

Send us a textDr Karl Morris is one of Europe’s leading Mind Coaches, delivering cutting-edge methods of peak performance and goal achievement to a range of clients across sports and business.From the world of golf, he has worked with players such as Darren Clarke, David Howell, Lee Westwood, Paul McGinley, Graeme McDowell and Louis Oostehazen among many others in both the PGA and LPGA. As a consultant to the PGA of Great Britain and Europe, Karl has presented seminars all over the world to the Australian PGA, South African PGA, German PGA, Swedish PGA, Dutch PGA,  Belgian PGA and the Hong Kong Golf Association.I feel lucky to have had Karl on my podcast and in this episode, we dig into a variety of themes related to peak performance. Although Karl works mostly in the arena of professional golf, he also brings his peak performance model to athletes in other sports and into the corporate world as well. Karl firmly believes that good coaching or teaching is never telling people what they should do but instead to ask the right questions in order to unlock the potential held within. Karl involves his clients in the co-construction of their own learning ultimately helping them to unpack the answers themselves and it's in the process of this unpacking that they better lead themselves toward mastery of their craft. In this episode, There are so many parallels to great teaching in the world of education which we also discuss, such as the importance of building relationships, differentiated instruction, and finding every student’s entry point to learning. You are sure to glean some great insight from this episode that can be applied in both your personal and professional life and if you are a golfer, you’ll find even more value in our discussion. Thanks for listening. About KarlKarl Morris is a regular feature writer for a host of publications including Golf World, Todays Golfer, Golf International, National Club Golfer, Chip and Spin, as well as the author of ‘Golf – The Mind Factor’ with Darren Clarke.He has a passion to demystify psychology and to provide a range of practical and applicable tools to assist performance breakthrough at all levels.The Karl Morris MIND FACTOR approach to golf has been proven to help people transform their game in the only environment that really matters – THE REAL WORLD.Connect with KarlWebsite: https://themindfactor.net/Twitter: https://twitter.com/Karl_MorrisFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/themindfactor/Themes Discussed: Peak Performance, Mindset, Asking Good Questions, Learning From Failure, Visualization, Mindfulness, Being Present

Send us a textTwo-time mountaineering world record holder, Colin O’Brady, joins me in today’s episode to share his major lessons learned through hardship and adversity that served to inspire him to strive for both personal and professional excellence in his life. Not only was Colin a top level triathlete for seven years, he currently holds the world record for being the fastest mountaineer to climb the highest peak on each of the seven continents and journey to both the north and south poles (The Explorer’s Grand Slam challenge). Not only did he become the fastest person in history to do this, he accomplished this incredible feat in 139 days which was 60 days faster than anyone else had ever done. Despite being almost burned to death in a traumatic accident ten years ago in Ko Tao, Thailand and suffering serious burns to 25% of his body, Colin was able to overcome these injuries by setting small achievable goals and work toward these goals every day. In this episode, we dig into Colin’s work ethic and the specific strategies he has put into action that have allowed him to achieve excellence through his work. As well, Colin shares the work that he and his wife, Jenna, do with their non-profit organization, Beyond 7/2. As Colin states in this episode, the number one goal that they have for their organization is to inspire young people to lead healthy lives by being active and by believing in their own ability to accomplish anything that they set their mind to. Colin is wise beyond his years and his insight will surely inspire anyone listening to take more action in their own lives to be the very best that they can be. Colin’s BioColin O’Brady  was born in Olympia, Washington on March 16th, 1985. The son of an eagle scout, Colin spent his childhood exploring the wilderness of the pacific northwest with his family. He learned about healthy living from his father, an organic farmer and from his mother and step-father, co-founders of a local, natural foods grocery chain. Through passion, dedication, and hard work, Colin grew into a youth sports star. He won Oregon State Championships and received national honors in both swimming and soccer. Colin was recruited to swim at Yale University where he swam all four years.During his time in college, Colin took a leave of absence to pursue a semester-long course with the National Outdoors Leadership School, mountaineering and kayaking in remote Patagonia, Chile. Later, while studying African economic development in college, he traveled to Tanzania, where he caught a glimpse of Africa’s highest peak, Mount Kilimanjaro. That day, a dream was born: to climb the Seven Summits.In 2006, Colin graduated from Yale with a BA in economics. The day after graduation, he embarked on a 4000-mile cycling journey from Connecticut to Oregon, with the aim to raise money and awareness for Habitat for Humanity.Before beginning his career in finance, Colin left to explore the world on a backpacking trip. While in Thailand, Colin suffered a tragic accident and was severely burned in a fire. His injuries covered nearly 25% of his body, primarily damaging his legs and feet.Doctors warned him he might never walk again normally, but Colin was determined to beat the odds. He focused not only on walking again, but set himself a goal: to complete a triathlon following his recovery. A mere 18 months after his accident while working as a trader in Chicago, Colin amazed the racing world when he placed first overall amateur at the 2009 Chicago Triathlon.His victory in triathlon sparked a new path. Colin turned pro, and fulfilled his childhood dream of being a professional athlete. Over the last five years, he has represented the United States in triathlon competitions in 22 countries and on six continents. Meanwhile, the distant peaks still called to him: Colin finally summited Mount Kilimanjaro following a race in East

Send us a textThis podcast series is devoted to sharing good teaching practice at Gardens Elementary School which is located on the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology campus in Saudi Arabia. At GES, our student population is multi-cultural, diverse, enthusiastic, engaging and confident. They are also fun loving and happy.Through the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) we provide opportunities for students to develop an understanding of essential concepts, skills, knowledge and attitudes that will enable them to be lifelong learners. Our students are actively involved in authentic inquiry-based learning across all the curriculum areas. They develop confidence in their abilities, think for themselves, question, express their opinions and respect the opinions of others. As students learn to reflect on their learning, they become critical thinkers. We encourage students to voice their ideas and to take action to improve the school and the community. Student achievement and progress is shared through regular assemblies, parent conferences, open houses and activities aimed at making the school a stimulating center for the community.This Episode is With Siobhan WestbrookResponsive ClassroomIn this episode, Siobhan discusses what Responsive Classroom is and how she is using different elements of this approach with her grade 4 students in order to strengthen the relationships she has with students. By using specific strategies related to Responsive Classroom, Siobhan has seen the impact it has on building trust amongst her students and better connecting them with one another. Not a day goes by when Siobhan does not use Responsive Classroom routines and approaches which is important in embedding this experience into the culture of the classroom. Listen to this episode to learn specific things you can do to immediately apply Responsive Classroom strategies with your students. Siobhan’s BioSiobhan spent her formative years growing up in Ghana and attended the Valco School in Tema for Grades K-5 before returning to the U.S.  This may explain why, once she became a teacher, she chose to teach internationally.  Siobhan has 25 years’ experience teaching grades 1-4 in Sudan, Pakistan, China, England, Bangladesh, Nigeria,  and India.  She joined the KAUST School in August of 2017.  Siobhan is passionate about developing a strong sense of community within her class and the school.  Siobhan enjoys traveling and exploring with her husband, Mike and two children Hayley, who attends Lynn University in Fla. and Matt, who is a 10th Grader at The Kaust School. Connect With Siobhan:Email: siobhan.westbrook@kaust.edu.saConnect With Gardens Elementary SchoolTwitter: @GESatKAUSTWebsite: http://tks.kaust.edu.sa/Message-from-the-Principal-GESThemes Discussed:Responsive classroom, Building Trust, Routines, Structure, Strengthening Relationships

Send us a textIt was great to sit down with Jo Bailey and record this episode live in Dubai at the Connected PE  Conference last month. Jo brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the field of physical education and has devoted herself to learning and continually refining her teaching practice. Jo shares her thoughtful stance on what quality physical education means and the major lessons that she has learned over the last few years that have greatly impacted the work she does. Jo’s ability to be critically reflective about her own practice has allowed her to look at her own teaching with fresh eyes in order to ensure that she continually challenges herself to improve and get better. Jo has a unique perspective that has been shaped by living in different parts of the world which has helped her to develop a truly internationally minded outlook on life and on  teaching. Jo’s BioJo Bailey teaches Physical Education at D.C. Everest Senior High in Weston, WI., USA. Originally from the UK, Jo spent much of her life in Hong Kong and taught in the both the UK and Hong Kong for several years before moving to the USA in 2004. Jo is is a National Board Certified Teacher, a Google Certified Innovator, and was the 2013 Midwest SHAPE America High School Physical Education Teacher of the Year. An avid technology and gadget lover, Jo is always looking for ways to improve workflow, enhance learning (often through gamification), and leave more time for being active! She is committed to helping students find their fun through Physical Education. Jo blogs at http://lovephyed.blogspot.com/ Connect with Jo: Twitter: @lovephyedGoogle +:  +Jo Bailey    Themes Discussed: Quality PE, Assessment, Meaning and Purpose, Connected PE, Good Teaching Practice, Major Lessons Learned

Send us a textDr. Shane Pill and I recorded this episode live while in Dubai together last month. Shane and I were both keynote speakers/presenters at Jarrod Robinson’s Connected PE conference. I’ve been meaning to have Shane on my show for quite some time, but we thought it would be even better to sit in person together to record the episode you are about to listen to. We dive into many areas of our profession, but in particular, the vision and philosophy that Shane has in regards to maximizing the impact that we can have on our profession and on the students that we teach. Shane brings a wealth of experience and knowledge with him and has a unique approach that focuses on empowering students to find joy and love of movement through specific approaches that he brings with him in the work that he does. Having come to know many researchers from around the world in the field of physical education, I know that they are all very passionate about the work that they do. Although I have always been aware of the work that Shane does and have learned from him in the past, sitting down together and really digging into his specific vision allowed me to better understand his purpose and his desire to make a difference by equipping physical education teachers with the tools necessary to make a difference in the lives of the students that they teach. I hope you take the time to listen to this episode with Shane Pill. You’ll have immediately takeaway that can be applied to the work that you do. About ShaneShane previously worked for 18 years as a science and physical education teacher in schools in Perth and Adelaide where he held various leadership positions including HPE Coordinator, Sport Coordinator, Year Level Coordinator, Director of School Administration and Deputy Principal. Since 2006, Shane lectures at Flinders University in curriculum studies, physical education and sport studies and his research interests include curriculum design and enactment, pedagogy and instructional strategies for games and sport teaching, sport coaching and curriculum leadership. Shane is the author of six ACHPER published books on game sense teaching and coaching, and the concept of Play with Purpose. He is a Life Member of the Australian Council for Health, Physical Education, and Recreation (ACHPER); was an ACHPER Australia Board Member 2004-2009, and ACHPER(SA) Branch President 2002-2015. Shane is internationally recognised for his research into sport teaching and coaching, and he was a major contributing writer to the Cricket Australia S’Cool Cricket resource, the Tennis Australia Hot Shots Tennis resource and the revised AFL Sport Education program. Shane is a coach with the West Adelaide Football Club in the SANFL.Connect With Shane: Twitter: https://twitter.com/pilly66Themes Discussed: Timely Feedback, Assessment in PE, Teacher Reflection, Refining Teacher Practice, Careful Design of Teaching & Learning, Connecting to Community