156. Reignited By Community: How Two Educators Turned Conversation Into a Career Highlight with David Berner and Jeremy Mikla from Integrate This! Podcast
Jul 21, 2026
Sometimes the thing that reignites your passion for teaching isn't a keynote or a new tool — it's a conversation. Recorded live at ISTE, this episode flips the mic: I'm joined by David Berner and Jeremy Mikla, hosts of the Integrate This podcast, for a conversation about how talking to other educators — through podcasting, networking, and just showing up at events like this — has become one of the most powerful sources of professional growth in their careers.
We get into how two ed tech coordinators from different corners of Minnesota turned a shared connection into a podcast, why David calls podcasting some of the best professional learning he's had in 27 years in education, and honest stories of burnout — from juggling a master's degree with a full teaching load, to hitting a wall trying to help a colleague who resisted every new idea. We also talk about why conferences like ISTE can feel like "waking up" after years of only hearing the same conversations in your own building, and why being an introvert doesn't mean you can't thrive at an event like this — recovery just looks different.
CONNECT WITH DAVID & JEREMY:
- Integrate This Podcast: YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts
RELATED RESOURCES:
CONNECT WITH BRITTANY:
- Connect with Brittany on Instagram @itsbrittanyblackwell
- Learn more on TikTok with Brittany @itsbrittanyblackwell
MORE ABOUT THE RESILIENT TEACHER PODCAST:
The Resilient Teacher Podcast is the show that will give overwhelmed educators the support, tools, and mindset to reduce teacher burnout and keep teaching sustainable. Each week, Brittany Blackwell, M.Ed. & her guests will share inspiration and actionable steps to avoid or recover from the dreaded teacher burnout.
Stay connected with news and updates!
Join our mailing list to receive the latest news and updates from our team.
Don't worry, your information will not be shared.
We hate SPAM. We will never sell your information, for any reason.
Hey, y'all! I'm Brittany!
