Episodes

How do you stop being so hard on yourself when you make a mistake? In this episode of The Language of Behavior, Josh and Charle explore why so many of us get stuck in guilt, shame, rumination, and harsh self talk after something goes wrong. Whether it is an awkward moment at work, a difficult conversation, a mistake in front of others, or criticism that keeps replaying in your mind, our brains often hold on to the negative far longer than the positive. Josh and Charle discuss the importance of ...

What changes are you noticing in the students and adults around you? In this episode of The Language of Behavior, Josh and Charle discuss how stress and mental health needs often begin to show up as the school year gains momentum. They explore why October can be an important time to notice shifts in behavior, mood, engagement, attendance, organization, and energy. The conversation reminds educators that they are not responsible for diagnosing students. Their role is to notice meaningful changes...

In this episode of The Language of Behavior, Josh and Charle explore practical ways educators can create environments that help students feel safe, supported, and ready to learn before behavior escalates. They discuss the power of predictable routines, clear expectations, visual cues, relationship building, and using fewer words when students need direction. Josh and Charle also talk about the impact of the physical and social environment. From lighting, noise, and classroom setup to tone of vo...

What do you do when a student may be thinking about suicide? In this episode of The Language of Behavior, Josh and Charle have an important conversation about suicide prevention in schools. They discuss why educators and staff need the confidence to recognize shifts in student behavior, ask direct questions, and know exactly what to do next when a student discloses suicidal thoughts. Josh shares a personal experience from his time as an administrator, while Charle explains why teachers do not ...

What should you do when a student shuts down? In this week's episode of The Language of Behavior, Josh and Charle explore what it looks like when a student becomes emotionally overwhelmed and shuts down. From glossy eyes and stiff posture to a student putting their head down or pulling up their hoodie, these behaviors are often signs of a nervous system in need of time and space, not defiance or disrespect. Josh and Charle discuss why immediately demanding compliance can escalate the situation,...

Are you managing your stress, or simply powering through it? In this week's episode of The Language of Behavior, Josh and Charle talk about what happens when the demands of work start to take over and why work life balance is not the answer. As the school year ramps up, they explore the idea of building capacity under pressure, staying present, and making sure reactivity does not take over when stress starts to rise. The conversation focuses on practical ways to prepare before chaos hits, inclu...

In this week's episode of The Language of Behavior, Josh and Charle dig into what it really means to build capacity under pressure. As the school year ramps up and work-life demands start swinging hard, they explore why balance is a myth, why reactivity drains us, and how staying grounded in the present moment can help us protect our energy, relationships, and well-being. The conversation focuses on practical strategies for navigating high-pressure seasons, including noticing your stress signal...

What if overthinking is not a weakness, but a protection strategy? In this week's episode of The Language of Behavior, Josh and Charle talk about rumination, overthinking, and why so many people get stuck in thought loops when they are trying to protect themselves from uncertainty. The conversation explores how overthinking often shows up as a way to fill in blanks with worst case scenarios, especially in leadership, parenting, and education. Josh and Charle also share practical ways to interru...

In this week's episode of The Language of Behavior, Josh and Charlie dive into the question of how to tell when someone is lying. They explain why there is no perfect tell, why body language alone can be misleading, and why the most helpful approach is to look for clusters of behavior that deviate from a person’s baseline. The conversation explores eye movement, stress responses, confirmation bias, and the importance of asking more questions instead of jumping to conclusions. Josh and Charlie r...

In this week's episode of The Language of Behavior, Josh and Charlie are joined by middle school educator and leader David James to discuss the impact of cell phones in schools and why strong, consistent policies matter. David shares how his district implemented a “way for the day” approach, why teacher support and top down consistency are essential, and how removing cell phones from the classroom has improved engagement, collaboration, and student focus. The conversation also explores how tech...

In this week's episode of The Language of Behavior, Josh and Charlie explore a question that affects students, adults, and leaders alike: why do good people lie? They unpack the many reasons people stretch the truth, including fear of consequences, shame, protecting their ego, avoiding embarrassment, and trying to gain approval or belonging. The conversation also looks at what lies are really protecting beneath the surface, and why honesty is often tied to safety, trust, and self image. Josh an...

Are screens really changing kids’ brains, behavior, sleep, and mental health? In this episode of The Language of Behavior, Joshua Stamper and Charlie Peck explore what screens are really doing to kids’ brains, behavior, sleep, and mental health. They break down why screen time can lead to more anxiety, distraction, emotional dysregulation, and conflict at home and school. The conversation also offers practical ways parents and educators can set healthy boundaries, build better routines, and help...

What if a student’s lack of attention is not defiance, but overload? In this episode of The Language of Behavior, Josh and Charlie respond to a question about student attention and engagement in the classroom. They explore why what looks like disengagement is often confusion, overwhelm, or a need for more predictable routines and clearer expectations, especially for neurodivergent learners. The conversation also connects attention to executive functioning, impulse control, and emotional capacit...

In this episode of The Language of Behavior, Joshua Stamper and Charlie Peck respond to a question many educators and leaders have quietly wondered themselves: what if students, staff, or even adults really are just being jerks? Together, they unpack why labels are tempting, especially when emotions are high and behavior is hard to manage, but why understanding the story behind the behavior is far more powerful than trying to define a person by one moment. Joshua and Charlie explore how exhaust...

In this solo episode of The Language of Behavior, Joshua Stamper shares what school leaders should expect when implementing the strategies from the book, especially during year one. He explains why staff often feel discomfort during change, how old beliefs about punishment and control can create resistance, and why building a shared language around behavior, consequences, and responses is the first critical step. Joshua also breaks down the importance of identifying staff champions, using inten...

In this special announcement episode of The Language of Behavior, Josh and Charle share exciting news about their upcoming book project, The EQ Impact. They discuss why emotional intelligence is more important than ever in schools, workplaces, families, and relationships, and why the future of sustainable change depends on helping people build practical, usable skills for responding to stress, conflict, and reactivity. Josh and Charle explain how this new resource will expand their work beyond ...

In this episode of The Language of Behavior, Josh and Charle respond to a timely question about how to support students who keep returning to unhealthy relationships and friendships. They explore how anxious attachment, social pressure, and emotional reactivity can keep adolescents stuck in cycles that feel intense but are not actually healthy. Charlie and Josh share strategies for helping students slow down, track patterns, and separate fact from assumption so they can better understand what i...

In this episode of The Language of Behavior, Joshua Stamper and Charle Peck dig into one of the most common challenges in education and beyond: how to navigate difficult conversations with adults without escalating conflict. Charle explains why people in distress lose access to skills before they lose access to emotion, and why lowering the threat, slowing the pace, and keeping your tone calm can make all the difference. Josh and Charle break down practical strategies for de-escalation, includi...

In this special replay from the 2026 Student Behavior Summit, Brad Waid interviews Josh Stamper and Charle Peck about the work behind The Language of Behavior and why emotional intelligence matters now more than ever in schools. Together, they unpack the connection between adult behavior and student behavior, common misperceptions about discipline and consequences, and the importance of simplifying behavior support so it is actually sustainable for educators. Josh and Charle also share how thei...

In this newly formatted episode of The Language of Behavior, Josh and Charle switch things up with a fun and honest “educational hot takes” conversation. From narcissistic tendencies in education to why email may be the devil, they unpack some of the most frustrating dynamics educators face and share practical ways to protect your mental health and stability. Charlie breaks down the difference between narcissistic behavior and a clinical diagnosis, why it is so important not to label kids too e...

What is really happening in your body and brain when panic hits, and what can you do about it? In this episode of The Language of Behavior, Josh and Charle tackle a question that is deeply relevant for educators, students, and adults alike. They unpack panic through a nervous system lens, explaining how trauma, stress, and unresolved experiences can trigger intense physical responses that feel overwhelming and even frightening. Josh and Charle explore the difference between generalized anxiety...

How much is stress impacting the way you show up at work and at home? In this episode of The Language of Behavior, Josh and Charle explore how chronic stress narrows performance, increases reactivity, and affects the brain, body, and nervous system. They share practical ways to respond intentionally, including rapid resets, identifying triggers, and using small, consistent steps to reduce stress before it escalates. They also talk about the importance of building capacity inside the system, no...

What if the behavior crisis in your school is not a student problem — but a system problem? In this episode of The Language of Behavior, Josh and Charle respond to a question straight from the NCMLE conference: "We are seeing behavior spike in the spring — how do we address this as a whole system?" The answer is not more programs or more staff. It is about stabilizing a flooded, reactive system before trying to fix it — using the people and resources already in place. Josh and Charle unpack wh...

In this episode of The Language of Behavior, Josh and Charle tackle a bold listener question straight from their NCMLE conference session: "Do we need compliance when we work in a school system?" The answer is more nuanced than you might think. Josh and Charle unpack why compliance-first thinking ignores what students are actually communicating through their behavior, creates unnecessary power struggles, and prioritizes short-term control over long-term growth. They are clear that expectations ...