Uploaded September 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 day ago
What does it mean to keep leaping into the unknown, even when fear and self-doubt try to hold you back? Educator, author, and publisher Tara Martin has built her career on answering that question. From her breakthrough children’s book Cannonball In to her powerful framework in Be REAL, Tara reminds us that teaching and living with authenticity requires courage, vulnerability, and a willingness to keep jumping.
In This Episode, You’ll Hear About:
Tara’s journey from classroom teacher to instructional coach, district leader, and now Director of Publishing at Dave Burgess Consulting.
Why mentors who see potential in us can change the entire trajectory of our lives.
The Be REAL framework (Relatable, Expose vulnerability, Approachable, Learning through life) and why it matters in every relationship.
Lessons from Cannonball In about fear, confidence, and tuning out the “dabblers” who sit on the sidelines.
How Tara sustains her energy and creativity through systems: journaling, fitness routines, accountability groups, and her “ups and downs” T-chart.
The importance of self-care and giving yourself permission to put your needs on the calendar first.
The healing power of story and why fitting in is the opposite of true belonging.
Why Listen:
If you’ve ever felt torn between giving everything to your work and finding space for yourself, Tara’s perspective offers both inspiration and practical strategies. This conversation is about teaching, yes — but it’s also about building a life where you can thrive.
Resources & Links:
Connect with Tara: Website | Twitter/X
Tara’s books: Be REAL: Educate from the Heart | Cannonball In
Join the Conversation:
What’s the “jump” you need to take in your own classroom or life?
Share your reflections in the comments or tag me and Tara on social media.
Listen & Subscribe:
[Apple Podcasts] | [Spotify] | [YouTube] | [Simplecast]
Access the Show
All platforms & past episodes: coffeeforthebrain.com/podcasts
Direct Link to This Episode: coffeechug.simplecast.com/episodes/215
What does it mean to keep leaping into the unknown, even when fear and self-doubt try to hold you back? Educator, author, and publisher Tara Martin has built her career on answering that question. From her breakthrough children’s book Cannonball In to her powerful framework in Be REAL, Tara reminds us that teaching and living with authenticity requires courage, vulnerability, and a willingness to keep jumping.
In This Episode, You’ll Hear About:
Tara’s journey from classroom teacher to instructional coach, district leader, and now Director of Publishing at Dave Burgess Consulting.
Why mentors who see potential in us can change the entire trajectory of our lives.
The Be REAL framework (Relatable, Expose vulnerability, Approachable, Learning through life) and why it matters in every relationship.
Lessons from Cannonball In about fear, confidence, and tuning out the “dabblers” who sit on the sidelines.
How Tara sustains her energy and creativity through systems: journaling, fitness routines, accountability groups, and her “ups and downs” T-chart.
The importance of self-care and giving yourself permission to put your needs on the calendar first.
The healing power of story and why fitting in is the opposite of true belonging.
Why Listen:
If you’ve ever felt torn between giving everything to your work and finding space for yourself, Tara’s perspective offers both inspiration and practical strategies. This conversation is about teaching, yes — but it’s also about building a life where you can thrive.
Resources & Links:
Connect with Tara: Website | Twitter/X
Tara’s books: Be REAL: Educate from the Heart | Cannonball In
Join the Conversation:
What’s the “jump” you need to take in your own classroom or life?
Share your reflections in the comments or tag me and Tara on social media.
Listen & Subscribe:
[Apple Podcasts] | [Spotify] | [YouTube] | [Simplecast]
Access the Show
All platforms & past episodes: coffeeforthebrain.com/podcasts
Direct Link to This Episode: coffeechug.simplecast.com/episodes/215
