EPISODES & TRANSCRIPTIONS
June 9, 2025
Hallway. Now. Before I Start Laughing.
This week, I had a full-circle moment as a burnt-out teacher turned soccer momā¦ and then immediately pivoted to unpacking a story where a fourth grader threw up peace signs and declared his love for a very adult body part during writing time.
You knowābalance.
Weāre talking about teachers surā¦
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June 2, 2025
He Threatened to Poop on My Desk
Itās Episode 50, and honestlyā¦ what better way to celebrate than with a voicemail about a student who threatened to poop on a teacherās desk?
This week, Iām unpacking end-of-year exhaustion (May energy is real and itās violent), plus the wildest school stories you sent ināincluding kids confessiā¦
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May 26, 2025
The Ballad of Bastards and Grammy Nominee, Five for Fighting
This week, Iām talking to literal Grammy-nominated musical legend John Ondrasikāaka Five for Fightingāabout education, mentorship, Costco carts, and how heās working to put real music teachers back in underfunded schools. (Also, I tried not to ugly cry while listening to ā100 Yearsā on loop. Mostlyā¦
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May 19, 2025
There Will Be Smoke
Teachers, you know it's gonna be a weird week when you're prepping comedy for a room full of principalsā including ones you still have to work with. Am I nervous? Yes. Am I planning to open with āremember your whyā? Also yes. Let chaos reign.
This week, Iām sharing my behind-the-scenes prep for ā¦
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May 12, 2025
Shrek Is Still Haunting Me
So, we changed the name. Welcome to How To Survive the Classroom āyouāre exactly where youāre supposed to be.
In this kickoff to the new era, Iām diving into two of the most unhinged teacher submissions Iāve ever heardāone involving a movie mishap that will haunt you and another featuring a hallā¦
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May 5, 2025
The Secret Tapes of a Teacher with Charles Fournier
What do a lead-painted door, a rubberized body part in a middle school backpack, and the KKK showing up to a school in the ā80s have in common? Absolutely nothingāexcept theyāre all packed into this episode.
Today, Iām kicking things off solo with chaotic home improvement updates (including whicā¦
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May 5, 2025
I Accidentally Pressed Play on WHAT?!
So, we changed the name. Welcome to How To Survive the Classroomāyouāre exactly where youāre supposed to be.
In this kickoff to the new era, Iām diving into two of the most unhinged teacher submissions Iāve ever heardāone involving a movie mishap that will haunt you and another featuring a hallwā¦
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May 2, 2025
Season Two: Teachers Gone Wild
Weāre back! No, youāre not crazy ā weāve got a new title (How to Survive the Classroom) and a new mission in life. Thanks to your feedback (and my teamās deeply concerning need for gossip), weāre kicking off Season Two with a brand new twist: real call-ins, real confessions, and real chaos from eduā¦
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Feb. 6, 2025
Thatās a Wrap! The End of Season 1 (But Not Goodbye)
This is our Season 1 finale! Come reflect on the first year of podcasting with me, where I share my gratitude for this amazing journey so far and tease what's to come for Season 2.
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Jan. 30, 2025
Beware of Koala Chlamydia with Denver Riley
In this wild episode, Denver and I dive into our travel adventures filled with unexpected twists and valuable life lessons. From Denverās dreamy yet disastrous trip to Australiaāfeaturing koala chlamydia myths, and rental car strugglesāto my questionable choices while backpacking through Europe, noā¦
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Jan. 23, 2025
Idiocracy in Education with Denver Riley
In this lively episode I talk with Denver Riley about everything from classroom humor to the challenges teachers face post-pandemic. We also reflect on the new administration's pick for Secretary of Education and the similari...
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Jan. 16, 2025
Edutainment Done Right with Jerry Kolber
In this episode I talk with Jerry Kolber, the creative mind behind hit edutainment shows like Brain Games and Brainchild. With a background in reality TV and a passion for making learning interactive, Jerry shares how he transformed passive viewing experiences into engaging, educational content. Weā¦
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Jan. 9, 2025
Managing Student Trauma Dumps with Care with Denver Riley and Lauren Antonio
In this episode Denver Riley and Lauren Antonio join me for a heartfelt and humorous discussion about teaching, empathy, and navigating unexpected challenges. From recounting chaotic airport experiences in Newark to exploring the emotional weight teachers carry in the classroom, we reflect on the iā¦
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Jan. 2, 2025
The Secrets Behind Writing a Bestseller with Jeneva Rose
In this captivating episode I welcome New York Times bestselling author Jeneva Rose to share her journey from aspiring writer to literary sensation. Known for her hit thriller The Perfect Marriage, Jeneva talks about her writing process, balancing multiple genres, and the thrill of creating memorabā¦
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Dec. 26, 2024
Loose Meats and Radiator Cuisine with Gaspare Randazzo and Denver Riley
In this chaotic and laugh-out-loud episode I am joined by Denver Riley and Gaspare Randazzo for an unforgettable conversation about teaching, creativity, and hilariously unconventional approaches to classroom life. From Gaspareās infamous āradiator cuisineā featuring Ziploc-bagged pizza and loose hā¦
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Dec. 19, 2024
Swiping Right with ALS with Brooke Eby
In this heartfelt and humorous episode Brooke Eby, social media advocate and ALS warrior, shares her journey of living with and raising awareness about ALS. From her initial symptoms to her diagnosis years later, Brooke talks candidly about the misconceptions surrounding ALS, her work with Salesforā¦
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Dec. 12, 2024
The Art of Social Correction with Denver Riley
In this episode Denver Riley returns to explore the hidden meanings behind teacher language, focusing on the art of social correction and phrases that say one thing but mean another.
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Dec. 5, 2024
Unforgettable Freak-Outs with Tyler Jackowski
In this high-energy episode I am joined by Tyler Jackowski, an educator and content creator, for a hilarious and heartfelt conversation about teaching, ADHD, mental health, and the wild world of classroom chaos. From memorable classroom moments to advice on thoughtful teacher gifts and even the uneā¦
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Nov. 28, 2024
A Thanksgiving Special: Gratitude and Turkey Butts with Denver Riley
In this special Thanksgiving episode I sit down with Denver Riley to dive into a blend of holiday trivia, teacher humor, and unexpected insights. As we tackle Thanksgiving history questions (with some questionable accuracy), Denver and I find ourselves navigating through fun facts, turkey anatomy,ā¦
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Nov. 21, 2024
The Stories That Connect Us with Upworthy's Gabriel Reilich and Lucia Knell
In "The Stories That Connect Us", I sit down with Gabriel Reilich and Lucia Nell from Upworthy to discuss their heartwarming book, Good People: Stories from the Best of Humanity. We explore the power of small acts of kindness, the impact of storytelling, and how positivity can counteract the negatiā¦
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Nov. 14, 2024
The Problem with Sleepy Stickers: A Teacherās Perspective with Denver Riley
This week Denver Riley is back to dive into the quirky and chaotic moments that make up daily life in the classroom. From a ābagel banā created by Denverās students to navigating E.E. Cummings' poetry with skeptical high schoolers, they share the ups and downs of engaging students. Denver recalls bā¦
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Nov. 7, 2024
Family Trolls and Hosting Goals
This week I welcome my sister Becca Cousins, creator of Host in Your Home, for a lively discussion about the ups and downs of party hosting. From family trolling on social media to sharing tips on how to host stress-free gatherings in less-than-perfect homes, this episode has it all. Becca and I diā¦
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Oct. 31, 2024
Haunted Classrooms and Mormon Wives with Denver Riley
This week Denver Riley and I tackle the rollercoaster of being a teacher, from Denverās near-miss with HR over a missing credential to the spooky fun of Halloween in the classroom. But the real fun begins when they hilariously compare the cast of Secret Lives of Mormon Wives to the types of teacherā¦
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Oct. 24, 2024
Homework Horror Stories: When Parents Say āNo Way! with Gabe Dannenbring
This week I chat with Gabe Dannenbring about the challenges of modern-day education. From managing work-life balance post-pandemic to evolving classroom dynamics, we explore how teachers and students alike are navigating an ever-changing landscape. Gabe shares his perspective as a middle school teaā¦
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