Episode 3: Self-Regulation
In this episode of Mostly Regulated, host Dylan Sulzer, founder of Not Just A Teacher Education, unpacks the truth about self-regulation. Not the social media version of calm, but the evidence-based, deeply human process that shapes how we manage stress, emotions, behaviour and connection in everyday life.
You’ll hear what happens in the brain and nervous system when you become overwhelmed, why emotions feel contagious through mirror neurons and how dysregulation shows up in relationships, classrooms, workplaces and families. Dylan breaks down how self-regulation develops across childhood, adolescence and adulthood, what each stage actually needs, and why co-regulation is one of the most powerful tools for parents, teachers and leaders.
We’ll explore:
Why self regulation is not about “staying calm”, but about steering your nervous system when your stress response activates.
How the amygdala, prefrontal cortex and stress hormones like cortisol shape emotional reactions.
Why mirror neurons make other people’s emotions so infectious, especially in families, teams and classrooms.
What children, teens, young adults and adults need at different developmental stages to regulate well.
How parents, educators and leaders influence emotional safety through their own regulation.
Practical tools and simple rituals that support emotional regulation.
How reframing your internal story can shift emotional triggers and reduce stress long term.
Why finding joy in simple, accessible moments is one of the most underrated mental health strategies we have.
Blending relatable stories, neuroscience you can actually understand and everyday strategies you can use immediately, Dylan reveals why self-regulation is not an innate talent, but a learnable emotional intelligence skill that improves wellbeing, performance and relationships.
If you’ve ever thought, “Why do I react like this” or “I wish I could catch myself sooner”, this episode is your roadmap back to clarity, steadiness and emotional control.
