The urgency of looking beyond our badges, metrics, and algorithms to see who we really are will be the starting point for Allan Dias Castro’s participation in the Bett Nordeste Conference, taking place on August 19 and 20, 2026, at the Recife Expo Center in Recife (PE). You can register for the event here.

A poet, best-selling author, and one of the leading figures in spoken word poetry in Brazil, Castro will argue that sensitivity, active listening, and self-awareness are fundamental elements for strengthening mental health and human relationships.

In this interview with the Bett Blog, he discusses how poetry became a path to self-discovery, analyzes the impact of the logic of productivity on identity formation, and shares reflections on caring for educators.

Bett Blog – Your career as a poet, writer, and communicator shows that sensitivity can spark deep reflection. How did poetry and art become part of your life and influence the way you relate to people?

Allan Dias Castro: For a long time, this sensitivity remained tucked away, almost hidden deep within my heart. Poetry emerged as a balm, a form of healing for this accumulation of feelings and words that had been bottled up. Since much of what I write is in the first person, my texts reflect both realities I have already experienced and quests that are still part of my journey.

I believe in having the courage to offer others what I, too, need. While poetry helped me unclog the emotions stuck in my throat, I was also seeking this healing process in my own life. This directly influenced the way I began to relate to people, from those closest to me to the many friendships that poetry has brought me. I am deeply grateful to art for this opportunity for healing through the discovery of vulnerability as a human strength.

Bett Blog – In a world driven by metrics, productivity, and algorithms, why has it become so important to look at who we are beyond the results and the roles we play?

Allan Dias Castro: I talk a lot about personal reconnection. This rediscovery of our identity cannot happen through an external perspective, nor by using metrics that serve interests far greater than we often realize.

I believe that comparison is one of the main factors contributing to illness in our society. Social media presents a distorted reality and ends up imposing a standard of success and happiness as if there were only one possible path. Looking at who we truly are is, for me, a form of liberation. What if you were just who you are? Relief comes when we realize that this “just” is already enough.

See also:

• Recife is preparing to host the Bett Northeast Conference
• Pedro Cortella: "Teachers today must be creators of intellectual friction"

Bett Blog – Self-care is often seen as an individual practice, but its effects also strengthen relationships with others. Based on your experience, what helps an educator maintain their sensitivity, creativity, and ability to inspire their students?

Allan Dias Castro: The pressure on educators is immense, while the recognition they receive is far from proportional. Given this, self-care often seems impossible and ends up being mistaken for selfishness.

Change begins with learning to truly respect and value education professionals. That way, they won’t have to give the world what they themselves don’t receive. We need to strengthen this foundation to address the shortcomings that have accumulated over time. Only then will educators be able to pour that care into the work they do and the relationships they build with their students.

Bett Blog – At the Bett Nordeste Conference, you’ll have the opportunity to engage with educators and administrators from a variety of settings. What do you consider to be the most pressing issue for those who wish to foster a culture of care, active listening, and collaboration in schools?

Allan Dias Castro: The most urgent thing to keep in mind is that, behind every demand and expectation, there is a human being who needs to be seen, heard, and respected. It is with that human being behind the name tag that I want to talk during our meeting at the Bett Nordeste Conference.

When we acknowledge and respect the struggles each person faces—struggles that are often invisible to those around them—we are able to create more welcoming and caring environments. This movement begins with each individual, extends to the classroom, and, little by little, is reflected in society as a whole.

Share on social media: