Purposeful Empathy is a Youtube channel dedicated to conversations with people spreading more empathy in the world.
Join Anita Nowak, empathy expert, author, award-winning educator, international speaker and certified coach, to learn how like-spirited people around the world are turning up the volume on empathy through purposeful action.
Drawing from neuroscience, spirituality, leadership studies, positive psychology and the frontlines of social action, Purposeful Empathy explores the intersection of personal development
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From Homeless to Advocate: Mark Horvath on Solving Homelessness w/Anita Nowak - Purposeful Empathy
Season 19 · Episode 2
Thursday, October 9, 2025 • Duration 01:04:13
Homelessness is solvable. In this special series devoted to widening our circle of empathy for people who often feel marginalized or misunderstood, watch this inspiring episode featuring Mark Horvath, founder of Invisible People.
Mark shares his firsthand experience being unhoused, and highlights how rising rents, broken policies, and public apathy fuel the homelessness crisis and why political activism, public education, and community action are essential to solving it.
Together, they discuss:
The realities of being unhoused and unseen
How storytelling can shift public perception
Concrete steps for ending homelessness at the policy level
Why empathy is essential for addressing homelessness
The power of human connection to drive social change
If you’ve ever wondered how you can help or what role empathy plays in solving social problems, this conversation will leave you informed and inspired.
00:00 Preview
01:16 Introduction
02:35 About Mark Horvath
08:12 Mark’s backstory
14:23 Homelessness 101
18:13 The dark reality of anti-homeless laws
23:08 What is “Mobile Homelessness”?
28:55 Unhoused veterans - how can that be?
32:26 Why LGBTQ+ teens are more likely to face homelessness
40:18 Why many can’t break free from homelessness without support
44:00 The power of “Eviction Prevention”?
47:32 Mark’s personal story of being unhoused
55:47 Actions you can take to help solve the homelessness crisis
01:01:03 Mark Horvath’s Purposeful Empathy story
CONNECT WITH ANITA
✩ Email purposefulempathy@gmail.com
✩ Website https://www.anitanowak.com
✩ Buy a copy of Purposeful Empathy http://tiny.cc/PurposefulEmpathyCA
From Neo-Nazi to Deradicalization Champion Ft. Arno Michaelis w/Anita Nowak - Purposeful Empathy
Season 19 · Episode 1
Wednesday, October 8, 2025 • Duration 01:07:03
Extremist ideologies are a social poison. In this special series devoted to widening our circle of empathy for people who often feel marginalized or misunderstood, watch this powerful episode featuring Arno Michaelis, a former neo-Nazi and author of My Life After Hate.
Once the frontman of a hate metal band, Arno shares how violence nearly destroyed his life. He describes how he walked away from white nationalism and is now committed to helping others abandon extremist ideologies, on the political left and right.
Together, we discuss:
Why hate must be treated as a public health issue
Why empathy and forgiveness are keys to breaking cycles of violence
The road to transformation, redemption and healing
How our shared humanity can help bridge deep divides
The power of human connection to drive social change
If you’ve ever wondered what leads people to hate and violent extremism, and how it’s possible to deradicalize someone, this conversation will leave you informed and inspired.
00:00 Preview
01:16 Introduction
02:57 About Arno Michaelis
05:16 Arno’s backstory
08:52 Becoming a bully in elementary school
12:50 Why (and how) are people drawn to extremist ideologies?
16:35 Arno’s journey of redemption
22:57 Why hate should be considered a public health issue
27:22 What the “old Arno” would say listening to the “new Arno”
29:24 How Arno’s life changed after his daughter was born
Why Students Need Presence & Play Ft. Aija Simmons w/Anita Nowak - Purposeful Empathy
Season 18 · Episode 12
Thursday, September 25, 2025 • Duration 47:23
In the final episode of this special series devoted to empathy in education with leaders and fellows of Transformative Educational Leadership (TEL), watch this episode to discover how SEL (social and emotional learning) can transform classrooms into spaces of co-regulation, belonging, and joy—especially for students who need it most.
Aija Simmons, Program Director at 21st Century California School Leadership Academy, shares how raising a neurodivergent child, teaching in inner-city schools, and leading California’s Universal Transitional Kindergarten (TK) Initiative have shaped her understanding of education. She also advocates for play-based learning and joy in the classroom, as well as at home.
00:00 Preview
01:12 Introduction
01:47 About Aija Simmons
03:35 Aija’s backstory
06:39 Aija’s understanding of Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
10:15 How teachers can help students navigate their emotions through co-regulation
14:17 Bringing more joy into classrooms—and why that’s important
18:33 Talking about SEL with skeptics
20:35 What folks misunderstand about SEL
24:32 SEL for parents
29:11 What growing up with an incarcerated parent taught Aija?
36:28 The power of play in early childhood education
39:40 Why teachers need to learn more about their students
43:05 The role of empathy in education
45:02 Aija Simmons’s Purposeful Empathy story
Teaching At-Promise Students with Love Not Labels Ft. Al Rabanera w/Anita Nowak - Purposeful Empathy
Season 18 · Episode 11
Thursday, September 18, 2025 • Duration 48:13
In a special series devoted to empathy in education with leaders and fellows of Transformative Educational Leadership (TEL), watch this episode to learn why SEL (social emotional learning) practices are key to humanizing classrooms.
Dr. Al Rabanera, an award-winning high school math educator in California, reflects on his mission to support At-Promise Students through identity-affirming teaching and advocacy. He also shares how his personal journey as the son of Filipino immigrants informs his commitment to fostering greater equity and a sense of belonging in schools.
00:00 Preview
00:46 Introduction
01:21 About Dr. Al Rabanera
03:29 Al’s backstory
06:18 How does a lack of belonging impact learning and self-perception?
08:51 Addressing the growing resistance to DEI (diversity, equity, inclusion)
13:57 What does “At-Promise” mean and why does it matter in education?
16:33 Ways in which leadership roles impact “At-Promise” students
21:06 Humanizing the classroom experience
27:23 Math as a tool to develop identity
33:08 Navigating marginalization in education leadership
38:25 The role of empathy in education
41:27 What is Al’s go-to self-empathy practice?
43:04 Al Rabanera’s Purposeful Empathy Story
CONNECT WITH ANITA
✩ Email purposefulempathy@gmail.com
✩ Website https://www.anitanowak.com
Why Schools Need Restorative Practices Ft. Sima Savdharia w/Anita Nowak - Purposeful Empathy
Season 18 · Episode 10
Thursday, September 11, 2025 • Duration 58:09
In a special series devoted to empathy in education with leaders and fellows of Transformative Educational Leadership (TEL), watch this episode to learn how restorative justice and trauma-informed somatic practices lead to collective healing.
Sima Savdharia, founder of Square Root Mediation & Facilitation, reflects on their work bridging conflict resolution, spirituality, and education. They also share how their journey from studying abroad in Honduras to supporting youth in Oakland has shaped their commitment to Dr. King’s vision of Beloved Community—grounded in empathy, dialogue, and love.
00:00 Preview
01:11 Introduction
01:46 About Sima Savdharia
04:08 Sima’s backstory
07:05 Sima’s understanding of a “Beloved Community”
10:51 Understanding conflict and why it’s not inherently bad
14:51 Generational trauma and emotional triggers
18:40 Why does “Psychological Safety” matter?
20:12 Restorative practices in corporate world
28:11 Why social media detoxing is a radical act of self-care
30:22 The power “Restorative Circles”— and how to do them
34:43 Why grounding the nervous system matters in conflict resolution
37:31 What is “non-violence” in conflict resolution?
41:12 Why is self-awareness the first step to restorative justice?
45:35 Lessons from restorative practices and why schools need to slow down?
50:01 The role of empathy in education
53:34 Sima Savdharia’s Purposeful Empathy story
Decentering Whiteness For True Inclusion Ft. Lex Rodriguez w/Anita Nowak - Purposeful Empathy
Season 18 · Episode 9
Thursday, September 4, 2025 • Duration 54:55
In a special series devoted to empathy in education, watch this episode to learn why SEL (social emotional learning) starts with the 10% minority; not the 90% majority.
Lex Rodriguez, an educator and PhD candidate at the University of Colorado, reflects on how culturally sustaining (not culturally sensitive) practices better support BIPOC and LGBTQ+ youth. She also shares insights from her teaching and research on identity, access needs, and the power of empathy to create classrooms in which every student feels seen and safe.
00:00 Preview
01:00 Introduction
01:34 About Lex Rodriguez
03:36 Lex’s backstory
04:47 Why is Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) so Important?
09:31 How does SEL create a safe space for students and teachers?
14:22 Empathy starts by asking questions; not making assumptions
16:16 Why empathy and curiosity are essential for systemic change
19:51 What happens to education when we erase empathy from community?
23:35 Culturally sustaining vs. culturally sensitive: what’s the difference?
28:27 What SEL educators need beyond curriculum?
32:58 How expanding the frame of SEL creates true inclusion
35:11 Why does inclusive SEL start with the 10% minority; not the 90% majority?
37:45 Discussing the resistance to inclusive education
39:50 Decentering whiteness in education
43:20 The role of empathy in education
50:24 Lex Rodriguez’s Purposeful Empathy story
Learning to Feel Not Fight, Flight or Freeze Ft. Mychal Mills w/Anita Nowak - Purposeful Empathy
Season 18 · Episode 8
Thursday, August 28, 2025 • Duration 01:13:52
In a special series devoted to empathy in education with leaders and fellows of Transformative Educational Leadership (TEL), watch this episode to learn how to help students “feel more to heal more.”
Mychal Mills, co-founder of K.Y.D.S (Kids Conscious Youth Development and Service), shares how his personal journey of loss led him to founding a nonprofit that has impacted over 40,000 youth and educators across New Jersey. He also reflects on the power of mindfulness, sound healing, and Beloved Community as pathways to resilience and collective care.
00:00 Preview
00:59 Introduction
00:34 About Mychal Mills
05:38 Mychal’s understanding of a “Beloved Community”
08:25 Mychal’s backstory
13:37 The origin story of K.Y.D.S.
21:13 Inviting youth into healing: What parents and educators need to know
27:31 How educators can practice non-violence every day
35:32 Inviting kids to feel in a world that teaches them to be numb
41:43 What is sound healing?
46:30 Why sound is a universal language of healing
49:41 The role of empathy in education
54:37 Empathy as a spiritual practice
01:06:30 The importance of holding space for grief, grace and gratitude
01:09:12 Mychal Mills’s Purposeful Empathy story
CONNECT WITH ANITA
✩ Email purposefulempathy@gmail.com
Why Students Learn When They Feel Loved Ft. Kandace Stallings w/Anita Nowak - Purposeful Empathy
Season 18 · Episode 7
Thursday, August 21, 2025 • Duration 52:00
In a special series devoted to empathy in education with leaders and fellows of Transformative Educational Leadership (TEL), watch this episode to learn how vulnerability and love can transform classrooms into spaces of belonging, healing, and hope.
Kandace Stallings, a faith leader and SEL (social emotional learning) Specialist in Chicago, reflects on the power of mentorship and unconditional support to help students thrive. She also shares how her own lived experiences now guide her commitment to empathic leadership—in classrooms and beyond.
00:00 Preview
01:04 Introduction
01:39 About Kandace Stallings
03:18 Kandace’s backstory
06:48 The role of empathy in education
12:04 Why kids can’t learn in school if they don’t feel loved
16:04 How are Black women educators holding each other up in 2025?
19:11 Kandace’s self-empathy strategies
22:54 Finding strength in vulnerability: The power of safe relationships
26:40 Why Kandace’s faith deepened after a conversation with her mother
29:58 The cycle of empathic leadership: From being mentored to mentoring others
33:01 How to overcome imposter syndrome and lead with confidence
36:24 Kandace’s natural hair journey
40:47 How Kandace overcome self-doubt
46:40 Kandace Stallings’s Purposeful Empathy story
CONNECT WITH ANITA
✩ Email purposefulempathy@gmail.com
Breathwork for Trauma-informed Teaching Ft. Nichole Fuller w/Anita Nowak - Purposeful Empathy
Season 18 · Episode 2
Thursday, August 14, 2025 • Duration 47:50
In a special series devoted to empathy in education with leaders and fellows of Transformative Educational Leadership (TEL), watch this episode to learn why mindfulness practices—especially breathwork—are transformational, especially within educational settings.
Nichole Fuller, an art educator in New York who curates and facilitates wellness experiences for students, educators, families and communities, shares how she discovered the healing power of breathwork through her own personal healing journey. She also explains why somatic work offers a gateway to greater health and well-being.
00:00 Preview
01:03 Introduction
01:37 About Nichole Fuller
03:44 Nichole’s backstory
06:40 The power of breathwork
12:48 How does breathwork regulate our nervous system?
17:05 How breathwork builds self-awareness and deepens empathy
24:55 Why did breathwork save Nichole’s life?
28:54 Nichole’s art: a reflection of healing and growth
31:24 Bringing trauma-informed teaching and breathwork into the classroom
33:55 Supporting teachers through group breathwork and self-care sessions
36:04 How can schools better support teachers’ well-being?
40:18 The role of empathy in education
43:13 Nichole Fuller’s Purposeful Empathy story
CONNECT WITH ANITA
✩ Email purposefulempathy@gmail.com
✩ Website https://www.anitanowak.com
Authenticity Is Every Teacher’s Superpower Ft. José Jiménez w/Anita Nowak - Purposeful Empathy
Season 18 · Episode 5
Thursday, August 7, 2025 • Duration 58:52
In a special series devoted to empathy in education with leaders and fellows of Transformative Educational Leadership (TEL), watch this episode to hear how a queer, Cuban-born educator’s decision to come out at school has informed his pedagogy, leadership philosophy, and doctoral research.
José Jiménez, Deputy Superintendent of District 24 in Queens, NYC, shares how he moved from Miami to NYC to pursue a career in filmmaking and discovered his love for teaching. As a registered Yoga teacher and Vipassana meditator, he also explains why he’s a staunch advocate for student wellness and describes his doctoral research in Urban Education, Policy Studies and Leadership at CUNY.
00:00 Preview
01:00 Introduction
01:35 About José Jiménez
04:18 José’s backstory
08:04 What role do educators play in welcoming newcomers to school?
14:11 Why SEL (social emotional learning) is essential to inclusive education
20:01 Bridging the gap between teachers and administrators through empathy
25:11 What parents need to know about the complexity of teaching
29:34 José’s self-care practices for managing stress and burnout
33:44 How authenticity transforms classrooms and school culture
37:40 José’s PhD research in Urban Education
46:32 The role of empathy in education
53:06 José Jiménez’s Purposeful Empathy story
CONNECT WITH ANITA
✩ Email purposefulempathy@gmail.com
36:25 From rock star to rock bottom: Why did Arno walk away from a life of hate?
42:28 How did Arno start to drift away from hate?
47:30 How can parents help prevent hate and violent extremism from taking root?
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