What is your WHY?

In this episode, Lori asks the question, “What is your why for teaching and supporting school health education?” She then shares her own answer, highlighting three reasons that inspire her work.

Click here to watch this on the School Health Educators podcast channel.

To be a guest on the School Health Educators’ Podcast or to contact Lori about other things, email her at schoolhealtheducators@gmail.com or check out her websites at: www.schoolhealtheducators.org and www.lorireichel.com.

Missed These? The Current School Health Educators 2026 Episodes

Before you dive into your next year of teaching health education, why not explore the School Health Educators’ Podcast? In this episode, Lori gives a quick, engaging roundup of every episode released so far this year, making it easy to discover the conversations, strategies, and teaching ideas that can inspire your classroom. Whether you’re looking for fresh lesson ideas or practical tips, you’ll find the perfect episode to press play on.

Remember you can watch this episode on the School Health Educators YouTube channel here.

To be a guest on the School Health Educators’ Podcast or to contact Lori about other things, email her at schoolhealtheducators@gmail.com or check out her websites at: www.schoolhealtheducators.org and www.lorireichel.com.

Body-Mind-Spirit Healing of the Nervous System with Dr. Paula Youmell

Dr. Paula Youmell returns to the podcast to discuss how teachers can reset their nervous system over this or any school break. Her ideas include being in nature, eating real foods including healthy fats, getting sunlight and moonlight, and performing inner conscious connection activity (ex. doing yoga, breathing exercises, knitting, praying).

Remember you can watch this episode on the School Health Educators YouTube channel here.

Email Dr. Paula Youmell at pyoumell@gmail.com and/or check out her website at:  https://www.paulayoumellrn.com/

Paula’s previous episode can be found here.

To be a guest on the School Health Educators’ Podcast or to contact Lori about other things, email her at schoolhealtheducators@gmail.com or check out her websites at: www.schoolhealtheducators.org and www.lorireichel.com.

FHK Reminders for Puberty Lessons

In this episode, Lori reminds listeners of the typical changes children go through during puberty. She also suggests two standards to guide the development of a skill-based unit that incorporates functional health knowledge about puberty, along with resources to support planning these units and lessons.

Remember, you can watch this episode on the School Health Educators YouTube channel here.

To be a guest on the School Health Educators’ Podcast or to contact Lori about other things, email her at schoolhealtheducators@gmail.com or check out her websites at: www.schoolhealtheducators.org and www.lorireichel.com.

Applied Neuroscience for Building Resiliency with Dr. Donna Volpitta

Resiliency is a skill set that helps students of all ages with adaptability, creative problem-solving, and positive interpersonal relationships. In this episode, Dr. Donna Volpitta describes the Resilient Mindset Model™, an applied neuroscience framework that helps you build resilience in yourself and those around you.

Contact Dr. Donna Volpitta at: donna@pathwaystoempower.com

Pathways to Empower https://www.pathwwaystoempower.com

You can watch this episode on the School Health Educators YouTube channel here.

To be a guest on the School Health Educators’ Podcast or to contact Lori about other things, email her at schoolhealtheducators@gmail.com or check out her websites at: www.schoolhealtheducators.org and www.lorireichel.com.

Activity for Identifying Emotional Health vs. Mental Health

In this episode, Lori, the host of the School Health Educators’ podcast, shares a simple matching activity she created to help students distinguish the difference between emotional health and mental health. This activity was developed because these aspects/dimensions of wellness are connected yet represent different concepts.

Click here for the Emotional Health vs Mental Health Matching Sheet

Please remember that you can watch this episode on the School Health Educators YouTube channel here.

To be a guest on the School Health Educators’ Podcast or to contact Lori about other things, email her at schoolhealtheducators@gmail.com or check out her websites at: www.schoolhealtheducators.org and www.lorireichel.com.

The Vagus Nerve Explained with Dr. Paula Youmell, RN

The Vagus Nerve has gotten more attention over the past years, including how to tone it to improve one’s overall health and wellness. As explained by Dr. Paula Youmell, this episode’s guest, this parasympathetic nerve supports us to relax, recover, and self-heal. We need to, and can,  teach young people habits to help this nerve be healthy.

Email Dr. Paula Youmell at pyoumell@gmail.com and check out her website at:  https://www.paulayoumellrn.com/

The document she shared at the NYS AHPERD 2025 Conference is found here: 5 Spinal Movements for Vagus Nerve Health

Remember you can watch this episode on the School Health Educators YouTube channel here.

To be a guest on the School Health Educators’ Podcast or to contact Lori about other things, email her at schoolhealtheducators@gmail.com or check out her websites at: www.schoolhealtheducators.org and www.lorireichel.com.

SEL Tools for HE Teachers

Feeling like you need some ideas for feeling positive and/or motivated this December? Consider checking out the four (4) SEL “tools” shared in this episode, in which Lori, the host of the School Health Educators’ Podcast, describes:

To be a guest on the School Health Educators’ Podcast or to contact Lori about other things, email her at schoolhealtheducators@gmail.com or check out her websites at: www.schoolhealtheducators.org and www.lorireichel.com.

Remember, you can watch this episode on the School Health Educators YouTube Channel.

Grateful To My HE Colleagues As Well As 3 Health Apps

Happy Thanksgiving! In this week’s School Health Educators podcast episode, Lori conveys her appreciation to all Health Education Professionals involved with PreK-12 students. She also highlights three health apps she values highly: the Healthy Minds Innovations app, the Yoga-Go app, and the 10K Runner- Couch to 10K Run app.

4 Do’s and Don’ts for Back-to-School Events (plus the 4 Most Asked Questions)

Many educators are starting to get ready for the Back-to-School Event, where students’ family members will be present. In this segment, Lori discusses her top four “do’s and don’ts” along with the four questions that are most frequently asked during these gatherings.

Remember you can watch this episode on the School Health Educators YouTube channel.

To contact Lori, email her at schoolhealtheducators@gmail.com or check out her websites at: www.schoolhealtheducators.org and www.lorireichel.com.