The Inclusion Podcast

Ep. 61 F%$# you! Now what?

When a student swears at you or lashes out, it’s easy to react. In this powerful episode, Julie and Kristie help you build a personalized response plan that prioritizes connection, not punishment—even in moments of shock or hurt. Discover mantras, phrases, and actions to keep dignity and trust at the center. Download the free worksheet: Build Your Own Response Plan at inclusiveschooling.com/download61. 

Ep. 60 Non-Verbal Ways to Support Behavior in the Moment

What your body says in the classroom matters just as much as your words—sometimes more. In this episode, Julie and Kristie break down how your posture, pace, tone, and eye contact can either regulate or escalate behavior. Learn to scan your body and send signals of safety and calm. Download the free tool: Nonverbal Body Scan at inclusiveschooling.com/download60.

Ep. 59 Mini-Moments that Matter: Building Trust Without Tons of Time

Building trust with students doesn’t require big gestures—it’s about intentional mini moments woven into everyday interactions. Julie and Kristie share 23 simple ways to connect with students while teaching, even in packed classrooms. Learn how quick check-ins can boost regulation, trust, and inclusion. Download the free handout: 23 Connection Starters at inclusiveschooling.com/download59.

Ep. 58 Why Running and Refusing Aren’t the Real Problem

What if a student runs? Or refuses to participate? In this episode, Julie and Kristie go beyond labels to focus on nervous system states, explaining why behaviors like eloping or shutting down are signs of dysregulation—not defiance. Download the free resource: Human Ways of Being at inclusiveschooling.com/download58.

Ep. 57 Stop Looking for a Trigger: What Behavior is Really Communicating

Sometimes behavior isn’t about a trigger—it’s about what’s happening beneath the surface. In this episode, Julie and Kristie unpack why searching for a single cause of behavior often leads us in the wrong direction, and how we can shift to listening beneath behavior instead. Learn how to identify the real messages behind actions like yelling out or withdrawing, and respond with empathy and clarity. Download the free resource: Listening Beneath the Behavior at inclusiveschooling.com/download57. 

Ep. 56 Inclusion and Safety Can Coexist

This courageous and nuanced conversation dives into one of the biggest fears around inclusion: safety. Julie and Kristie name the fear, challenge ableist assumptions, and provide seven steps to help educators feel equipped, empowered, and proactive when facing concerns about safety in inclusive settings. With humor and honesty, they tackle myths, share research-backed practices, and guide listeners through a shift from exclusion-based thinking to supportive, inclusive responses. Bonus: the handout at inclusiveschooling.com/download56 includes de-escalation techniques, student support plan templates, and strategies to track “success minutes.”

Special Episode of The Inclusion Podcast: The Behavior Reset Every School Leader Needs

Tired of behavior challenges draining your team’s energy and stalling learning? In this special episode, we reveal why outdated approaches keep failing, what actually works, and how to shift mindsets across your staff—without adding another initiative to your plate. Walk away with clarity, strategies you can use tomorrow, and access to our free Behavior 360 Bonus Dashboard—packed with ready-to-use tools, mindset shifts, and practical solutions you can share with your team today. Get instant access at inclusiveschooling.com/360-podcast. 

Ep. 55 Paraprofessionals: How to Hide in Plain Sight

Julie and Kristie explore how paraprofessional support can be both effective and unobtrusive. With humor, heart, and powerful metaphors (yes, including Harry Potter's invisibility cloak!), they unpack what it means for paraprofessionals to “hide in plain sight.” The episode offers strategies to increase student independence, dignity, and social connection by camouflaging support and avoiding over-reliance. With resources like “20 Ways to Provide Invisible Support” and “110 Ways Paras Can Help,” this episode is full of practical tools and radical shifts in mindset. Download the robust 29-page guide at inclusiveschooling.com/download55.

Ep. 54 Five Small Moves for a Big Shift in School Culture

In this episode, Julie and Kristie invite listeners to put on their creativity hats and explore five small yet powerful shifts that can profoundly improve school culture. They focus on the “feel” of a school—how it welcomes students, families, and educators—and how small tweaks, like changing a sign from “You are late” to “We’re glad you’re here,” can radically shift emotional tone and engagement. From morning greetings to creative cafeteria strategies, this episode empowers listeners to build inclusive culture through intentional micro-moves. Download the companion resource at inclusiveschooling.com/download54 for practical steps to begin your journey.

Ep. 53 Ten Quick Inclusion Wins: Reset and Refresh

Feeling like your inclusive practices need a boost? You're not alone—and you're in the right place. In this energizing episode, Julie and Kristie share 10 quick inclusion wins that can help you reset, refresh, and re-engage at any point in the school year. Whether it’s the start of a new term or you’re navigating a mid-year slump, these simple but powerful strategies are designed to rebuild relationships with students and staff, add novelty and choice to assignments, rethink participation beyond “raise and respond,” realign and clarify roles with paraprofessionals, and celebrate the progress you’ve already made. Each idea comes with practical tools and bonus resources, including a jam-packed downloadable guide full of embedded supports and strategies. It’s like hitting a reset button for your inclusive classroom or school. Grab your free resource at inclusiveschooling.com/download53, then hit play and get inspired to try just one win today—your future self (and your students) will thank you.