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Send us Fan Mail What happens when a friendship you thought would last forever… just ends? In today’s episode, I’m sharing something I never expected to go through in my 40s—the sudden loss of a best friend of many years (a span of decades). This wasn’t a slow drift or a mutual fading out. We were talking every day, sharing life, making plans… and then it ended in two emails. No conversation. No closure. Just silence. In this episode, I walk through what that experience has actually felt like—the confusion, the grief, the disbelief—and why losing a close friend can be just as painful (if not more) than a romantic breakup. I also reflect on some of the things I’ve been learning along the way: the moments I ignored when I didn’t feel fully supportedhow different attachment styles (anxious vs. avoidant) can shape relationshipswhy closure doesn’t always come from the other personand what it looks like to rebuild your life when a core relationship disappearsThis isn’t a perfectly wrapped-up story. I’m still in it. Still processing. Still healing. But if you’ve ever lost a close friend and struggled to make sense of it—you are not alone. In this episode: What it’s like to lose a best friend suddenly after years of daily connectionWhy this kind of heartbreak feels so disorientingThe “red flags” I didn’t fully recognize at the timeAnxious vs. avoidant dynamics (and how they might show up in friendships)The reality of healing when there’s no clear explanationRebuilding identity and connection after a major friendship loss If This Resonates If you’ve ever experienced a friendship breakup, I’d love to hear from you. These kinds of losses aren’t talked about enough, and you’re not as alone as it can feel.

Send us Fan Mail In this deeply personal episode, I share the story behind my quieter presence over the past six years. Since moving to Las Vegas, I’ve taught at three very different schools and experienced a wide range of leadership, support, and challenges. Teaching in new environments reshaped not only my professional life, but my emotional capacity and creative energy. This episode is an honest reflection on how difficult seasons, leadership experiences, and personal growth can change how  and whether...we show up publicly. If you’ve ever felt like you’ve lost momentum, changed as a teacher, or needed to step back to protect your well-being, this episode is for you. Sometimes going quiet isn’t disappearing. Sometimes it’s surviving, recalibrating, and healing.

Send us Fan Mail “When It’s Time to Leave And How to Do It with Dignity” Sometimes the healthiest choice is the hardest one: leaving a toxic school. In the final part of this series, we talk about how to recognize when it’s time to go and how to do it in a way that protects your mental health, your finances, and your future. In this episode, we cover: Signs it’s time to leave: when the environment is harming your health or identityPreparing to exit: emotional, financial, and logistical steps to takeHealing afterward: rediscovering joy and rebuilding your teacher identityThis episode is filled with compassion, honesty, and permission. No shame, no guilt: just clarity and support.

Send us Fan Mail “How to Survive a Toxic School Without Losing Yourself” You can’t always fix a toxic school, but you can protect your peace. Part 4 of the Toxic Schools Mini-Series is all about real, doable survival strategies that help you stay grounded, healthy, and yourself. In this episode, we talk about: Micro-boundaries you can set this week: small shifts that create real breathing roomFinding allies & emotional support  & why community is essentialReclaiming your power:  small ways to find joy, creativity, and autonomy againThis is the “you can do this” episode: compassionate, practical, and designed to bring you a little relief right away. If you're interested in a life coach after this episode, please check out https://www.jenchieco.com/services

Send us Fan Mail What Toxic Schools Do to Teachers: Mind, Body & Heart In Part 3, we’re shifting the focus to you:  your health, your emotions, your identity as a teacher.  Toxic schools don’t just make work hard. They seep into your body, your confidence, and your self-worth. In this episode, we explore: Physical burnout & chronic stress: headaches, insomnia, anxiety, and the Sunday dreadSelf-doubt & feeling unappreciated: how toxic systems make great teachers feel “not enough”Emotional fatigue & moral injury: carrying the weight of a broken system while trying to care for kidsThis episode is a giant exhale.  If you’ve been feeling tired in ways you can’t explain… this one will make you feel seen.

Send us Fan Mail Hidden Cultural Red Flags That Make School Emotionally Unsafe Some toxicity isn’t loud: it’s quiet, subtle, and woven into the culture of a school.  In Part 2 of the Toxic Schools Mini-Series, we’re talking about the emotional undercurrents that drain teachers’ confidence, joy, and mental health. In this episode, we unpack: Gossip, negativity, and cliques — the staffroom dynamics that make school feel tenseMicromanagement & lack of trust — when leadership watches every move instead of empowering teachersBlame culture — fear-based environments where mistakes aren’t allowedIf your school feels emotionally heavy or “off,” this episode will help you understand why.  This is the toxicity you feel even if you can’t always describe it.

Send us Fan Mail The Big 3 Structural Red Flags Your School Might Be Toxic In this first episode of the Toxic Schools Mini-Series, we’re looking at the structural issues that create unhealthy school environments: the big-picture problems that can make any teacher feel overwhelmed, drained, or defeated. If you’ve ever wondered, “Is it me… or is it my school?” — this episode will help you name what’s really going on. In this episode, we cover: Workload that never ends: chronic understaffing, nonstop initiatives, and a culture of overworkLeadership chaos: shifting rules, unclear expectations, and inconsistent communicationUnfairness & favoritism: when opportunities, support, and treatment aren’t equalThis episode will help you realize: you are not the problem: the system might be. Let’s break down these red flags and bring clarity to the chaos.

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Healthy Teacher Happy Teacher, Jess shares the real story behind her Australia trip: the one that was supposed to be magical, adventurous, and full of teacher-travel joy… but ended up turning into a crash course in listening to her body. What begins as an exciting journey across the world quickly shifts when Jess gets unexpectedly sick far from home. Through humor, honesty, and a whole lot of vulnerability, she unpacks what that experience taught her about rest, burnout, and the way teachers push themselves long past their own limits. This episode dives into: Why teachers wait until they’re forced to restHow our bodies whisper before they screamWhat happens when adventure and exhaustion collideThe guilt we feel when we actually slow downPractical ways to rest before reaching a breaking pointJess connects the dots between travel burnout and teacher burnout, reminding listeners that rest isn’t something we earn: it’s something we need in order to stay human. If you’ve been running on fumes, pushing through every ache, or telling yourself “I’ll rest when things calm down,” this episode will feel like a deep exhale. Come for the story, stay for the reflection, and leave feeling seen, understood, and a little bit softer toward yourself.

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Healthy Teacher Happy Teacher, Jessica dives into one of the most common and painful experiences educators face: emotionally draining friendships, burnout from “being the strong one,” and why highly empathetic teachers often attract people who take more than they give. You’ll learn the psychology behind why emotionally avoidant or self-centered people gravitate toward warm, grounded teachers, how to recognize the early signs of one-sided relationships, and practical strategies for protecting your mental health, setting clear boundaries, and rebuilding your confidence after a friendship fallout. Jessica shares personal insights, emotional recovery tools, and uplifting reminders that help teachers reconnect with their worth, refocus their energy, and create healthier, more balanced connections. If you’ve ever felt used, dismissed, or drained—inside or outside the classroom—this episode will help you understand what happened, validate your feelings, and guide you toward friendships that feel supportive, reciprocal, and real. Keywords: teacher wellness, teacher burnout, friendship breakup, boundary setting, emotional avoidance, healthy relationships, empathic teachers, teacher mental health, toxic friendships, emotional labor, educator self-care.

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Healthy Teacher Happy Teacher, Jess breaks down one of the most damaging myths in education: the belief that teachers earn their worth by absorbing endless stress. She opens up about what this year has taught her — that exhaustion isn’t a character flaw, burnout isn’t “negativity,” and struggling doesn’t make you weak. Jess explores how school culture conditions teachers to push beyond their limits, hide their feelings, and carry responsibilities that no single human should be expected to manage. She reframes the truth: your capacity is not your identity. Your worth doesn’t rise and fall with your workload, your productivity, or your ability to remain cheerful in impossible circumstances. Listeners will learn simple, compassionate ways to reclaim their emotional space, challenge the martyr myth, and remind themselves that they are more than what they can carry. This episode is a soft landing for any teacher who’s tired, overwhelmed, or quietly questioning whether they’re “enough.” You don’t have to be strong to be worthy. You don’t have to handle everything to be valuable. You are enough — on your best days, your messy days, and every day in between.

Send us Fan Mail This episode is all about how teachers can take tiny little actions or change thoughts into seeing true progress each day.  The truth is that we're all progressing, but happy and healthy teachers are the ones feeling it, noting it and growing from it!

Send us Fan Mail This episode discusses why teachers transfer schools or positions and what happens when they do.  A lot of teachers still feel unhappy at their new positions and this episode talks about what to do if you are feeling this way.

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Jess dishes on why she hasn't podcasted in 2 years and what's happening with her career right now.  She also opens up about her struggles with diabetes and having to use a prescription medication called Ozempic.  Stay and listen to this fun and whimsical welcome back episode and feel free to reach out to Jess about your own ozempic journey!

Send us Fan Mail I think all teachers would love to feel like they are thriving instead of just surviving in their career.   I see a couple of ways to feel thriving and successful sometimes, and I share these ideas with you in this podcast!

Send us Fan Mail On this episode, I dish on my international trips with Bookbag Tours  and share my big takeaways from visiting Egypt this last summer.  Egypt was nothing like I imagined!  It was so different and in this episode I attempt to share my experience!