Dr. Brielle Harbin helps educators prepare to practice civic courage. She supports faculty and leaders that it’s okay to feel discomfort. Learn why it’s necessary to practice ‘civic courage,’ a term she coined.
Discomfort and difference is a natural part of the learning process. Dr. Brielle Harbin found ‘civic courage’ better emphasizes the importance of embracing that discomfort instead of minimizing or avoiding it.
Yes, it feels safer to retreat from discomfort, feelings like:
- Racing heartbeat
- Your body tensing up
- A feeling in your stomach
- Rolling your eyes
- A tinge of irritation
Dr. Brielle Harbin says, “You have to acknowledge the idea that it actually feels safer to retreat, but decide to not do it anyway.”
When people embrace the power of connection, when we share our ideas and engage in conversations, we can help more people. I’m delighted to share this conversation about civic courage with you. This is The Social Academic podcast with Jennifer van Alstyne. Thank you!
0:00 Dr. Brielle Harbin on Civic Courage for Educators
1:37 Dr. Harbin’s Path to Empowering Educators and Recognizing Burnout
6:04 Coining Civic Courage: Leaning into Discomfort for Growth
10:02 Building Community Through Substack (Notes From A Work Friend)
15:57 The Power of One: Amplifying Voices and Serving Others Online
26:32 Developing Civic Courage: A Journey of Worthiness and Unlearning
30:42 Embracing Authenticity and Engaging with Dr. Brielle Harbin
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Bio
Dr. Brielle Harbin is a political scientist, award-winning educator, and keynote strategist who helps colleges and faculty cultivate civic courage and sustainable academic systems. As the founder of Your Cooperative Colleague LLC, Brielle partners with higher education leaders to move their institutions from compliance and burnout toward belonging, creativity, and care. Her work centers nervous-system-aligned writing, ethical leadership, and faculty well-being as catalysts for innovation.
Through her flagship programs—Faculty Writing Rituals Unlocked, Steady Strides, and Steady in the Storm—she helps educators build restorative, purpose-driven writing practices that last beyond the semester.
A former tenured associate professor and public scholar, Brielle’s research and consulting focus on civic courage as a framework for leading change inside systems not built for everyone’s thriving. Her weekly newsletter, Notes From a Work Friend, offers practical and soulful reflections for faculty navigating the realities of academic life.
You can learn more about her work at YourCooperativeColleague.com
Or, on Substack at NotesFromAWorkFriend.substack.com