Podcast
How To Survive The Classroom
Catalog
Episodes
- "O Captain, My Captain": A Dead Poets Society Deep DiveOct 19, 2026 · 53 minThis week Molly joins us in a gold chain and Miami-bright shirt from Tourist Day of homecoming week, we spiral into the John Pork meme and Gen Alpha's weird chaos humor, debate what school spirit really means for teachers, and then stand on our chairs for Mr. Keating. We rank Dead Poets Society, wrestle with the ending, reflect on Robin Williams' legacy, and Gerry weighs in with a very strong opinion about one specific forehead-kiss scene.
Takeaways:
School spirit is bigger than Spirit Week.
You don't have to dress up every day, but if Spirit Week doesn't even cross your mind as a teacher, that's probably worth examining.
Dead Poets Society holds up as one of the great teacher movies.
Keating's whole message is that art and poetry are what make life worth it.
If you or someone you love is struggling, 988 is the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
-
Knoword is an online tool for creating fun vocabulary games. Visit Knoword.com to learn how it fits into your classroom.
--
Teachers’ night out? Yes, please! Come see comedian Educator Andrea…Get your tickets at teachersloungelive.com and Educatorandrea.com/tickets for laugh out loud Education!
—
Don’t Be Shy Come Say Hi: www.podcasterandrea.comWatch on YouTube: @educatorandreaA
Human Content Production
Chapter:
0:00 - Intro
2:14 - Molly's Wild Outfit8:17 - Homecoming Week15:50 - School Spirit Debate26:25 - Dead Poets Society32:27 - Spoiler Alert44:45 - Parenting & Mental Health
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Teacher Hangovers Are RealOct 12, 2026 · 51 minMolly's back in sunglasses with a full-on teacher hangover, Gerry looks incredible (his words), and I've got a 50,000-student IU football tailgate story that involves a feverish six-year-old, a college guy leaning on our truck for an hour, and the Midwestern dads who live to direct parking lot traffic. We update on Scam Gate (the PSA is officially saving people), launch a new segment where we're breaking down Dead Poets Society next episode, debate whether applesauce is actually a sauce, and I share the moment my son made walrus teeth out of Twizzlers through his tighty-whities and then started eating them. Plus Gerry's mechanical bull weight-loss countdown, he's at 317.5 and the goal is 300.
Takeaways:
Sharing your embarrassing moments publicly matters. Molly's "Scam Gate" PSA has already kept multiple other professionals from falling for the exact same scam. The vulnerability is worth it.
Teacher burnout isn't always about the kids. Molly's class is great, the exhaustion is coming from the extracurriculars, grad school, and the sheer sensory overload of the week. Watch for it, name it, nap through it.
Honking at strangers leaning on your car is a gendered experience. Every man said "beep the horn immediately," every woman said "I'd just freeze." Pick your side.
Take the parenting win where you can. Also, take the Twizzlers out of the child.
Next episode we're breaking down Dead Poets Society as a teacher movie. Rewatch it this week so you can play along.
-
Knoword is an online tool for creating fun vocabulary games. Visit Knoword.com to learn how it fits into your classroom.
--
Teachers’ night out? Yes, please! Come see comedian Educator Andrea…Get your tickets at teachersloungelive.com and Educatorandrea.com/tickets for laugh out loud Education!
—
Don’t Be Shy Come Say Hi: www.podcasterandrea.comWatch on YouTube: @educatorandreaA
Human Content Production
Chapter:
0:00 - Intro
3:50 - Scam Gate Returns
8:26 - IU Tailgate Chaos
24:22 - Twizzlers in the Undies
30:50 - Teacher Movie Club
36:10 - Hills to Die On
42:32 - Show & Tell
45:35 - The Bull Bet
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- In Memory of Brooke Eby: The ALS Advocate Who Made the World LaughOct 9, 2026 · 1 hrThis week we're rereleasing my interview with Brooke Eby, who passed on October 1st after her powerful public fight with ALS. Brooke turned a terminal diagnosis into a platform for humor, visibility, and fundraising.
In this conversation we talk about her journey from her first limp at 29 to diagnosis at 33, the dating-with-a-cane content that put her on everyone's TikTok, why she worked so hard to put a young face on an "old man's disease," and how a single Salesforce LinkedIn post turned into a half-million-dollar fundraiser and a nonprofit. Brooke always asked people to do one thing: give money so ALS research can finally move forward. Please donate at als.org in her memory.
Takeaways:
ALS research is still painfully underfunded.
90% of ALS cases are NOT genetic.
Brooke's genius was making a terrifying diagnosis approachable.
"You should always just ask." Brooke didn't want people walking on eggshells.
ALS Together, is a huge part of her legacy. Visit alstogether.org to learn more.
-
Knoword is an online tool for creating fun vocabulary games. Visit Knoword.com to learn how it fits into your classroom.
--
Teachers’ night out? Yes, please! Come see comedian Educator Andrea…Get your tickets at teachersloungelive.com and Educatorandrea.com/tickets for laugh out loud Education!
—
Don’t Be Shy Come Say Hi: www.podcasterandrea.comWatch on YouTube: @educatorandreaA
Human Content Production
Chapter:
0:00 - Tribute to Brooke Eby
2:15 - Meeting Brooke4:48 - First Symptoms8:21 - ALS Misconceptions13:36 - Salesforce & Advocacy26:41 - ALS Resources36:35 - Funding & Trials47:00 - What NOT to Say
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- The Worst Depictions of Teachers in MediaOct 5, 2026 · 57 minThe three of us are diving into everything from the trending "cringe teacher" videos going around TikTok to my viral Edgar Allan Poe lip sync to the very real truth that cringe teachers are the ONLY teachers our students actually remember 20 years later.We also unpack the horror weekend of my life. An off-brand YMCA where I fell 20 inches off a box jump onto my back and no one came to help me, followed by a Sunday that included both kids simultaneously vomiting AND having diarrhea, every drain in my house clogging, and my dog pooping on the carpet. My voodoo doll was dipped in feces, apparently.Then we get into the moment my six-year-old told two of my college students what he thinks is required for true love and bad teacher depictions in TV and movies
Takeaways:
Cringe teachers are memorable teachers.
Kids build their own logic from what they see.
Teachers, ask for help when you fall.
Bad on-screen teacher depictions have real consequences
If you can't handle a hypothetical conversation about student trauma, self-harm, or mental health crises, you cannot handle the reality of the classroom.
--
Knoword is an online tool for creating fun vocabulary games. Visit Knoword.com to learn how it fits into your classroom.
--
Teachers’ night out? Yes, please! Come see comedian Educator Andrea…Get your tickets at teachersloungelive.com and Educatorandrea.com/tickets for laugh out loud Education!
—
Don’t Be Shy Come Say Hi: www.podcasterandrea.comWatch on YouTube: @educatorandreaA
Human Content Production
Chapter:
0:00 - Intro
3:23 - Cringe Teacher TikTok7:23 - Is It Skin Cancer?9:09 - YMCA Box Jump Fail14:33 - The Weekend from Hell23:32 - My Son Said WHAT?!48:20 - Hill to Die On
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Teaching Kindergarten vs High School: The Overlap is RealSep 28, 2026 · 50 minHey teacher besties! This week I'm checking in with Molly on the aftermath of ScamGate, because you can't just get scammed that badly and not give the people an update. We also covered some very real scam PSAs, including the family "safe word" trick. Then Molly showed me this TikTok trend of students clowning on cringey teachers, and listen... it's a little humbling. Watching kids react to teacher enthusiasm from their POV is not for the weak.
We also got into Molly's audience question box comparing what high school teachers and kindergarten teachers actually say out loud to manage a classroom on a daily basis (spoiler: it's basically the same), and Molly detailed the specific chaos of getting handed an entire freshman class of almost all boys. As always, we closed out with our hills to die on, which somehow turned into Gerry showing me a picture I wish I could unsee (and if you're watching on YouTube, you will too).
Takeaways:
Sometimes the universe rewards you with a random celebrity sighting right when you need it most; case in point, Molly's gym run-in with Rob from Love Island.
Teachers say many of the same phrases to high schoolers that kindergarten teachers say to five-year-olds, from "keep your hands to yourself" to "don't put that in your mouth."
Viral TikToks showing students' unfiltered reactions to "cringey" teacher behavior can be a humbling mirror for educators.
All-boys classrooms tend to bring more physical horseplay, while all-girls classrooms tend to bring more emotional intensity, in our personal experience.
My hill to die on: If someone sends me something inappropriate online, I'll track down a family member with the same last name and send them a screenshot.
--
Knoword is an online tool for creating fun vocabulary games. Visit Knoword.com to learn how it fits into your classroom.
--
Teachers’ night out? Yes, please! Come see comedian Educator Andrea…Get your tickets at teachersloungelive.com and Educatorandrea.com/tickets for laugh out loud Education!
—
Don’t Be Shy Come Say Hi: www.podcasterandrea.comWatch on YouTube: @educatorandreaA
Human Content Production
Chapter:
0:00 - Intro
1:05 - ScamGate Update12:03 - Cringey Teachers on TikTok24:00 - High School vs Kindergarten33:38 - All-Boys Freshman Class Walk43:13 - Hills to Die On
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Molly Got Scammed, Do We Laugh or Cry?Sep 21, 2026 · 56 minTeacher besties, buckle up for this one, because Molly got scammed (and I mean SCAMMED) out of a shocking amount of cash in one of the most diabolical phone scams I've ever heard. We're talking a fake sheriff's department, a fake warrant for her arrest, and four and a half hours of driving between Walgreens, CVS, and Walmart. Molly walks us through the entire unhinged saga blow by blow, and hopefully we can all learn something from this to protect ourselves from potential future scams.
After that, we get into something a little less terrifying and a lot more annoying: the absolutely wild hate comments we got on a video about men telling female teachers, "I wish I was your student." We break down why that phrase is creepy, not flattering, why some men got so defensive about being called out, and what actually impresses a teacher.
Takeaways:
Molly lost a significant amount of cash to an elaborate phone scam involving a fake sheriff, a fake arrest warrant, and repeated cash deposits at multiple stores.
Scammers used psychological pressure tactics, like threatening a felony charge for talking to anyone and speaking with firm authority, to keep Molly isolated and compliant during the call.
A Google search of "paying a warrant over the phone" immediately flagged it as a common scam, which is what finally ended the call.
Comments telling female teachers "I wish I was your student" cross a line because they sexualize a profession that works with children, regardless of intent.
The most effective way to compliment a teacher is genuine admiration and curiosity about their work, not sexualized comments tied to their job.
--
Knoword is an online tool for creating fun vocabulary games. Visit Knoword.com to learn how it fits into your classroom.
--
Teachers’ night out? Yes, please! Come see comedian Educator Andrea…Get your tickets at teachersloungelive.com and Educatorandrea.com/tickets for laugh out loud Education!
—
Don’t Be Shy Come Say Hi: www.podcasterandrea.comWatch on YouTube: @educatorandreaA
Human Content Production
Chapter:
0:00 - Intro2:21 - Molly Got Scammed31:38 - "I Wish I Was Your Student"41:40 - How to Flirt with Teachers50:50 - Dolly Tribute
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Paul Revere is a Fraud!Sep 14, 2026 · 36 minHey teacher besties, it's just me and Gerry this week since Molly's out, and we're covering a lot of ground. I got a review on my book that called out my millennial "hey besties" energy, which, fair. I also just got back from Boston, where I learned Paul Revere never actually said "the British are coming" and apparently moonlighted as a dentist between silversmithing gigs, which honestly explains a lot about colonial-era medicine. We also had to address the elephant in the room: the shirtless pooping clip has become one of our best performing clips ever, which came with its fair share of internet chaos, including someone genuinely threatening Gerry over using a handicap bathroom.
Then we get into some real teacher talk: side hustles we've actually done (technical writing, Uber driving, coaching, etc), and how my retired coworker came back to help co-teach my new class, which honestly saved me. We also get into a good debate about AI in the classroom and whether districts should be blocking Teachers Pay Teachers, and Gerry makes a point I hadn't fully considered about how getting mad at AI online just feeds the algorithm more.
Takeaways:
When a more experienced teacher offers help or shares resources with you, take it.
Teachers often have side hustles like tutoring, coaching, freelance writing, or selling resources on Teachers Pay Teachers.
Some districts block sites like Teachers Pay Teachers for legitimate cybersecurity reasons, which is valid, but I maintain that they shouldn't ban it just to restrict teacher resources.
Teachers should be trusted as professionals to choose which resources, including AI tools, work best for their own classrooms.
Publicly engaging with AI content you dislike, even to criticize it, can actually cause algorithms to push more of that content out.
--
Knoword is an online tool for creating fun vocabulary games. Visit Knoword.com to learn how it fits into your classroom.
--
Teachers’ night out? Yes, please! Come see comedian Educator Andrea…Get your tickets at teachersloungelive.com and Educatorandrea.com/tickets for laugh out loud Education!
—
Don’t Be Shy Come Say Hi: www.podcasterandrea.comWatch on YouTube: @educatorandrea
A Human Content Production
Chapter:
0:00 - Intro1:56 - Harry Wong's Book4:03 - Boston Trip & Paul Revere9:01 - Gerry's Teaching Update & Viral Clip13:14 - Andrea's Co-Teaching Experience19:47 - Teacher Side Hustles23:26 - Teachers Pay Teachers
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Girls' Night: Fangirling, Laptop-in-Rice Trick, & Bed BugsSep 7, 2026 · 54 minHey teacher besties, it's just me and Molly this week since Gerry's off doing a show, so consider this a girls' night. I'm coming off a genuinely rough first day back, because my mentor and work bestie of decades has retired, and I had to walk into work knowing she wouldn't be there. I'm now teaching her old class, trying to live up to a legacy I know I can't fully replace. We also do a very necessary lice update (still lice-free, but the vigilance continues), debate the hotel bedbug-checking habits of functioning adults, and Molly gives me a very touching pep talk about becoming the next legend myself.
Then Molly tells me about her professional development, including the incredibly humbling moment she got used as a live example of what not to do with your school laptop, twice, since she's somehow gone through three MacBooks in one year. I also share my first day activity recommendations for anyone who needs a low-stakes icebreaker, and then I tell you guys about the best night of my year: going backstage at a Bowling for Soup and Simple Plan concert, meeting one of my favorite comedians, and somehow introducing myself as "professionally a fan" of him. It did not go how I hoped, but it made for a great story, which Molly says is the lore that makes me fun to talk to.
Takeaways:
I've found that students and colleagues tend to prefer teacher names that are three syllables or fewer, which is part of why I'm comfortable going by "Ms. Forcum" instead of the longer "Dr." or "Mrs." titles.
A simple poster board rotation activity, where students respond to prompts as a group in short timed bursts, is a great low-pressure way to build classroom community on the first day.
Laptops and liquids do not mix, and putting a laptop in rice does NOT work.
Being kind and respectful to your school's IT staff and other support staff will pay off tenfold when something inevitably breaks.
Even a well-intentioned compliment can go sideways under pressure, as my "professionally a fan" moment with one of my favorite comedians proves.
--
Knoword is an online tool for creating fun vocabulary games. Visit Knoword.com to learn how it fits into your classroom.
--
Teachers’ night out? Yes, please! Come see comedian Educator Andrea…Get your tickets at teachersloungelive.com and Educatorandrea.com/tickets for laugh out loud Education!
—
Don’t Be Shy Come Say Hi: www.podcasterandrea.comWatch on YouTube: @educatorandrea
A Human Content Production
Chapter:
0:00 - Intro
1:40 - Losing a Teaching Legend
10:57 - Lice Update & Bedbug Horror Stories
19:56 - Molly's First Day Back at School
23:31 - First Day Classroom Activities
28:13 - Molly's Computer Disasters
36:30 - Backstage at a Rock Concert
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Help Us Save School Spirit WeekAug 31, 2026 · 46 minHey teacher besties, we're starting this one off with a real crisis, because I just found out I might have lice after spending a week in California with my whole extended family, and I am spiraling. Somehow we end up debating whether chest hair can get lice, and we also give Gerry exactly 60 seconds to nerd out about his Marvel figure collection.
Then we get into some real teacher chaos: my kids catching random spiders in high school, Molly's cockroach-on-the-mouth horror story that may or may not be a lie, and an incredibly detailed debate about whether you'd rather poop your pants in public or eat a live cockroach. We also help Molly brainstorm ideas to boost school spirit at her school, swap our worst pajama day stories, and Gerry tells us about the time he dropped it low in front of his coworkers. We close it out with a hill Molly's dying on this week, that people are boring because they don't embarrass themselves enough, so go do something new.
Takeaways:
Lice can apparently spread through an entire extended family within days, and adults are just as vulnerable as kids.
Simple, low-cost spirit week themes, like anything-but-a-backpack day or decades day, tend to get more student participation than overly complicated ones.
Pajama day can create real dress code challenges for both students and teachers.
Trying something new that you know you'll be bad at is a great way to build funny stories and a growth mindset.
Class or grade-level competitions, like themed dress-up days tied to a fun concept, tend to build long-term school spirit and tradition
--
Knoword is an online tool for creating fun vocabulary games. Visit Knoword.com to learn how it fits into your classroom.
--
Teachers’ night out? Yes, please! Come see comedian Educator Andrea…Get your tickets at teachersloungelive.com and Educatorandrea.com/tickets for laugh out loud Education!
—
Don’t Be Shy Come Say Hi: www.podcasterandrea.comWatch on YouTube: @educatorandreaA Human Content Production
Chapter:
0:00 - Intro
1:17 - Andrea might have lice
4:57 - 60 seconds of Spider-Man
7:24 - Homework & celebrity DMs
11:07 - Classroom pest horror stories
16:28 - Would you rather: cockroach or poop your pants
22:33 - Best & worst spirit days
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Back to School Fears, DebunkedAug 24, 2026 · 1 hrHey teacher besties, we are deep in back-to-school season! My kids are starting a brand new school after their old one shut down (yes, that's apparently a thing that can happen), and thanks to our vacation timing, they're going to miss their actual first day. Gerry and Molly assure me this is fine, and I'm choosing to believe them. We also get into Gerry's actual classroom rules, and guys, I would pay real money to be a fly on the wall when he lays down the law. We spend a good chunk of this episode trying to figure out why it works so well for him and why my crash outs just get me giggled at instead of feared.
Then we get into some real advice for new teachers, because Molly and I both remember exactly how terrifying that first summer is when you don't even know what your first unit is supposed to be. We share some of our favorite first week icebreaker activities too, so steal those if you need them. And then, because we can never end an episode without at least one hill to die on, Molly gives an incredible rant about men who say creepy things to teachers, and I finally get to publicly drag my husband for something he said to me eighteen years ago about cheerleading. You're welcome.
Takeaways:
Gerry's classroom management style leans heavily on intimidation and clear boundaries from day one, and he swears by it.
New teachers often think everyone else has it all figured out, but the reality is most teachers, even veteran ones, are making it up as they go.
Simple icebreaker activities, like two truths and a lie or investigating the classroom for clues about the teacher, are great low-stakes ways to build community in the first week.
Telling a teacher you would have had a crush on them if they'd been your teacher is creepy and predatory, not flattering, so please just don't.
Screen time rules can and should be thrown out the window the second you're on a plane or road trip, no guilt required.
--
Knoword is an online tool for creating fun vocabulary games. Visit Knoword.com to learn how it fits into your classroom.
--
Teachers’ night out? Yes, please! Come see comedian Educator Andrea…Get your tickets at teachersloungelive.com and Educatorandrea.com/tickets for laugh out loud Education!
—
Don’t Be Shy Come Say Hi: www.podcasterandrea.comWatch on YouTube: @educatorandreaA Human Content Production
Chapters:
0:00 - Intro
2:54 - Gerry's Classroom Rules
7:04 - Is It a Gender Thing?
10:35 - Kicking Kids Out
18:09 - Missing the First Day
26:14 - New Teacher Fears
45:45 - Hills to Die On
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Are You a Good Teacher Just Because You Worried About It?Aug 17, 2026 · 41 minHey teacher besties, buckle up because this one starts rough. Gerry left me a voicemail after last episode that I simply had to share with all of you, and it involves Jersey Mike's, a very close call, and some deeply unhinged bathroom habits I did not know existed until today. We fully unpack the fact that Gerry takes his shirt off to poop (sometimes his pants too), and then my own kid hops on to side with Gerry and betray me completely.
Once we recover from that, we get into some real talk. I rant about a Facebook quote that's been living rent-free in my head (the "if you worry you're a bad teacher, you're actually a good one" nonsense), which spirals into a genuinely great debate with Gerry and Molly about self-awareness, comedians, narcissism, and Principal Lamb’s haters. Then Molly brings the hill she's dying on this week: teenagers' out-of-control screen time and caffeine intake, and honestly, it broke my heart a little. We close it out by checking our own screen time live on air, and let's just say we are all a little ashamed (well, maybe not Gerry).
5 Takeaways:
Gerry takes his shirt off (and sometimes fully undresses) to use the bathroom, and my own kid apparently agrees with him.
Just because you worry about being a good teacher doesn't automatically mean you are one, some people genuinely aren't cut out for it.
Principal Lamb's haters say more about themselves than they do about him, and I stand by that.
Teens are averaging alarming amounts of caffeine and screen time at night, and it's genuinely hurting their ability to function at school.
Content creators' screen time numbers are inflated by actual work, but scrolling is still scrolling, and we all need to check ourselves.
--
Knoword is an online tool for creating fun vocabulary games. Visit Knoword.com to learn how it fits into your classroom.
--
Teachers’ night out? Yes, please! Come see comedian Educator Andrea…Get your tickets at teachersloungelive.com and Educatorandrea.com/tickets for laugh out loud Education!
—
Don’t Be Shy Come Say Hi: www.podcasterandrea.comWatch on YouTube: @educatorandreaA Human Content Production
Chapters:
0:00 - Intro
1:08 - Gerry's Voicemail
10:48 - Molly's Master's Degree Meltdown
16:07 - The "Good Teacher" Quote That Set Andrea Off
30:33 - Kids' Screen Time Is a Real Crisis
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Why Colonoscopies Are UnderratedAug 10, 2026 · 56 minHey teacher besties! This week is a big one because Molly is officially, permanently part of the podcast now, so it's me, Gerry, and Molly for the long haul. I catch you all up on the first ever Teacher Talk Sycamore Summit I hosted (mimosas, a rage room dream for next year, and Gaspar Randazzo doing a fully clean set), and then we get into some real teacher talk: professional development horror stories, including Molly's unforgettable superintendent-with-a-50-slide-clip-art-deck story. We also swap first week of school stories, Gerry's "I'm a warden" intimidation tactics, plus Molly's mortifying tale of teaching an entire day with her sleeves completely ripped off and not knowing it.
Then things get a little unhinged, because that's just how we do it. I tell you guys about the time I genuinely thought there was a man in a ski mask behind my house (spoiler: I grabbed scissors and did absolutely nothing useful with them), Gerry one-ups me with his own naked-scissors home defense story, and somehow we end up giving out medical advice about colonoscopies and IBS. We close it out with our hills to die on, because apparently off-brand crayons and back-to-school-night-the-night-before-school are both worth fighting for. It's a chaotic one, guys, but I loved it.
ORDER MY NEW BOOK (AVAILABLE NOW)!!! — https://bit.ly/49CZ5A0
Takeaways:
Molly is officially a permanent co-host on the podcast now, and I could not be more excited about it.
Bad professional development, minor disasters, and embarrassing moments genuinely make the best content if you can laugh at yourself.
Gerry's classroom management strategy involves a lot of scaring kids and occasionally flipping a desk for emphasis.
Real talk: get your colonoscopy, guys, because colon cancer is scary and it's showing up younger than people think.
I will always stand firm on my hill that off-brand crayons and colored pencils are simply unacceptable.
--
Knoword is an online tool for creating fun vocabulary games. Visit Knoword.com to learn how it fits into your classroom.
--
Teachers’ night out? Yes, please! Come see comedian Educator Andrea…Get your tickets at teachersloungelive.com and Educatorandrea.com/tickets for laugh out loud Education!
—
Don’t Be Shy Come Say Hi: www.podcasterandrea.com
Watch on YouTube: @educatorandrea
A Human Content Production
Chapters:
1:08 - Intro
3:33 - Sycamore Summit Recap
10:23 - Gerry Gets Licensed
24:11 - First Week of School Stories
36:06 - Ski Mask Neighbor & Home Defense Chaos
42:11 - Colonoscopy PSA
48:12 - Hills to Die On
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Welcome Back To SchoolAug 3, 2026 · 41 minWe are BACK, teacher besties, and I have SO much to catch you up on. It's the season three premiere of How to Survive the Classroom, and Gerry has arrived with a NEW nose ring, a PASSED edTPA, and a very concerning number of years since his last dentist appointment. Buckle up.
We recap Gerry's full edTPA journey and then get into a real conversation kicked off by my 100-year-old grandpa, who was a teacher for seven years before he quit, largely because he was frustrated that pay was tied to years of service instead of actual skill. Fifty years later, that same debate is still going, and we dig into merit-based pay, the limits of standardized testing, and why electives teachers get left out of the conversation entirely.
Then we jump into back-to-school fan questions: what NOT to do your first year, the worst icebreakers ever, and how new teachers can actually protect their time. Plus, an unhinged Two Truths and a Lie round where Gerry casually mentions being present for an Easter Sunday prison riot and I have some follow-up questions.
ORDER MY NEW BOOK (AVAILABLE NOW)!!! — https://bit.ly/49CZ5A0
Takeaways:
Do NOT coach your first year of teaching. Even if you love the sport, the workload will bury you. Wait until year two if you can.
Please do not become a teacher just because you want to coach. Coaching is its own career path, teaching kids just to earn a whistle isn't fair to the students in your classroom.
Watch your icebreakers. Two Truths and a Lie in a class of 30 will take the entire period AND leave you exposed to whatever wild thing a student wants to reveal. Choose carefully.
Do the work at school. Grading, prep, and lesson planning inside the building beats opening your laptop at 9 PM every night. Protect your home time.
The teacher pay debate has been the same conversation for 50+ years. Both skill and years of service matter, but standardized test scores mostly measure the poverty level of an area, so any "merit-based" system needs a smarter way to measure real impact.
--
Teachers’ night out? Yes, please! Come see comedian Educator Andrea…Get your tickets at teachersloungelive.com and Educatorandrea.com/tickets for laugh out loud Education!
—
Don’t Be Shy Come Say Hi: www.podcasterandrea.com
Watch on YouTube: @educatorandrea
A Human Content Production
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- edTPA Survival GuideJun 29, 2026 · 51 minTeacher besties, we made it. This is the season finale of How to Survive the Classroom, and we're going out with a BIG one. Gerry has NEWS, he submitted his edTPA. Like, two hours before the Pacific Time deadline news. (He fully Patoka'd it.) He walks me through his 4 Ps of marketing lesson plan, we trauma-bond over watching yourself teach on video, and he reveals that his comedy tell when a joke bombs is just saying "Hell yeah" into the mic, which will now live rent-free in my head for the rest of my life.
Then we tackle fan questions. How to actually land a teaching job, what to ask in the interview, and which AI tools and books are actually worth your time.
We also get into the Roast of Kevin Hart and why lazy jokes never land, why Tires might be the funniest sitcom on TV right now, and the ongoing saga of my mom genuinely believing Gerry has face tattoos.
Gerry's hill to die on this week: the edTPA needs to go. Mine: every single teacher is allowed to COUCH ROT this summer with zero guilt. We'll see you back in August for the next season.
ORDER MY NEW BOOK (AVAILABLE NOW)!!! — https://bit.ly/49CZ5A0
Takeaways:
The "side door" is a legit way into the classroom. Subbing, long-term subbing, and instructional assistant roles can absolutely lead to full-time teaching jobs, and often build the relationships that get you hired.
In a job interview, ask about adjunct duties (lunch, bus, coverage) AND whether they're paid. Knowing your district's coverage policy before you sign saves you a lot of resentment later.
AI tools like Magic School AI and Diffit can be genuine time-savers for lesson planning, generating questions, and differentiating materials, as long as you're using them to support your work, not replace your thinking.
The edTPA may have its place in traditional teacher prep, but for lateral-entry teachers who have already been in the classroom for years, the hoop-jumping starts to feel pointless. Worth pushing back on.
Teachers: you are allowed to do absolutely NOTHING this summer. Couch rotting is a valid, evidence-based recovery method. (Source: me.)
--
Teachers’ night out? Yes, please! Come see comedian Educator Andrea…Get your tickets at teachersloungelive.com and Educatorandrea.com/tickets for laugh out loud Education!
—
Don’t Be Shy Come Say Hi: www.podcasterandrea.com
Watch on YouTube: @educatorandrea
A Human Content Production
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- New Teacher Survival GuideJun 22, 2026 · 43 minIt is officially summer, teacher besties, and I have made a HUGE mistake. I decided I wasn't going to pay for summer camp this year, which means I'm home with my own children, who can apparently sense when I'm overstimulated and somehow get closer AND louder. This week's How to Survive the Classroom is a wide-ranging chat that takes us from Gerry's truly unhinged childhood Holocaust summer camp, to the ethics of ghost tours, to the dark history of New Orleans, to the new-teacher essentials you do (and definitely DON'T) actually need.
Then I get on a soapbox about the real hill this week: the federal Department of Education said it was going away, and somehow Linda McMahon is still posting mandates on Instagram. We also briefly fall down the rabbit hole of Stone Cold Steve Austin running for office and the MMA stadium being built on the White House lawn, because of course we do.
ORDER MY NEW BOOK (AVAILABLE NOW)!!! — https://bit.ly/49CZ5A0
Takeaways:
New teachers, save your money. Highlighters, fancy turn-in baskets, and elaborate organizational systems are mostly overrated. Focus your energy on a bathroom-pass system you'll actually use.
The most underrated new-teacher skill is teaching classroom routines on purpose. If kids walk in wrong, make them walk in again. They'll be annoyed, but it works.
The "everyone else has it together" myth is a lie. Even veteran teachers are pivoting, guessing, and occasionally throwing on Shark Tank when the copies didn't get made.
Year seven is when you officially become a veteran teacher, with bonus dog years for anyone who taught through the pandemic or wore multiple hats early in their career.
When the federal government says it's dismantling the Department of Education but is somehow still issuing mandates, it's worth paying attention and worth pushing back, no matter where you sit politically.
--
Teachers’ night out? Yes, please! Come see comedian Educator Andrea…Get your tickets at teachersloungelive.com and Educatorandrea.com/tickets for laugh out loud Education!
—
Don’t Be Shy Come Say Hi: www.podcasterandrea.com
Watch on YouTube: @educatorandrea
A Human Content Production
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Winston Hodges on Working With Autistic Students & Going Viral on Funny AFJun 15, 2026 · 50 minGerry and I are joined by Funny AF top six finalist and stand-up comedian Winston Hodges, who, before he was making Kevin Hart, Chelsea Handler, and Kumail Nanjiani laugh on Netflix, spent four years teaching at a school for kids on the autism spectrum in Virginia.
Winston shares some of the wildest classroom stories I've heard on this pod, whether it's getting hit with a globe mid-Civil War lecture, becoming the school's unofficial crisis negotiator, or the one-month average staff retention that meant his coworker Marissa quit on day TWO. He also explains why special education teachers are tough as nails, and how working with kids on the autism spectrum made him weirdly elite at managing other comedians' meltdowns.
Then we go fully behind the scenes of Funny AF. Who ran the light by ten full minutes and genuinely thought they killed, the conversation about his late dad that got cut, why some sets got edited harder than others, and how he handled the brutal Threads discourse around the show.
ORDER MY NEW BOOK (AVAILABLE NOW)!!! — https://bit.ly/49CZ5A0
Takeaways:
Special education teachers are some of the toughest, most skilled humans in the building. The "sweet and gentle" stereotype misses the patience, paperwork, and de-escalation skills the job actually demands.
Crisis de-escalation is a transferable superpower. Working with autistic students made Winston better at handling hecklers, talking comics off the ledge, and the kind of active listening most people don't get in their day-to-day life.
Reality TV editing is real, but Funny AF wasn't a hit piece. Winston says the team genuinely loved comedy and worked to make everyone look good, even when they could have done the opposite.
Don't trust the algorithm to tell you when your favorite comic is in town. Get on their email list, or you'll be the person commenting "when are you coming to my city?" two days after they leave.
Comedy used to feel like a brotherhood, comics could trash-talk each other privately but had each other's backs publicly. That solidarity is slipping, and it's a bummer for the whole craft.
--
Teachers’ night out? Yes, please! Come see comedian Educator Andrea…Get your tickets at teachersloungelive.com and Educatorandrea.com/tickets for laugh out loud Education!
—
Don’t Be Shy Come Say Hi: www.podcasterandrea.com
Watch on YouTube: @educatorandrea
A Human Content Production
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Classroom Management Hacks That BackfireJun 8, 2026 · 44 minI bombed a comedy show in New Orleans this weekend, and Gerry and I are unpacking every chaotic detail on this week's How to Survive the Classroom, from the venue surprise-merging me with another show, to the broken mic, to me literally apologizing to Kevin Hart in my anxiety dream that night.
Then we finally dive into the Canvas hack and how Gerry's school was down for FIVE days. We dig into how the breach actually happened, why district-issued phishing tests are honestly the pettiest thing in education, and the unhinged disgruntled-employee email saga I once lived through that the district quietly scrubbed from every inbox overnight.
ORDER MY NEW BOOK (AVAILABLE NOW)!!! — https://bit.ly/49CZ5A0
Takeaways:
Comedians are often nicer to you after a bad set than a good one, which honestly says everything you need to know about the industry (and frankly, teaching, too).
The Canvas hack was resolved because Instructure paid up. The breach started with a free for-teacher account, so treat suspicious emails like the threat they are.
"I'll wait" classroom management only works if you're ready for it NOT to work. Always have a real Plan B for the class that calls your bluff.
Telling students you'll be absent is a gamble. Some classes will plan accordingly, others will use it as permission to check out before you even leave.
We may need to rethink the kindergarten / fifth grade / preschool graduation industrial complex. Save the bedazzled cap energy for moments that actually mark a meaningful transition.
--
Teachers’ night out? Yes, please! Come see comedian Educator Andrea…Get your tickets at teachersloungelive.com and Educatorandrea.com/tickets for laugh out loud Education!
—
Don’t Be Shy Come Say Hi: www.podcasterandrea.com
Watch on YouTube: @educatorandrea
A Human Content Production
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Is Anyone Thinking Critically? Homeschool and AIJun 1, 2026 · 39 minAre these new teacher red flags or green flags? This week we play a back-to-school hallway game ranking the behaviors that tell you exactly what kind of colleague you're dealing with, from Bitmoji classrooms to teachers who don't drink caffeine to anyone clickety-clacking down the hallway in stiletto heels.
Then we get into a question I have been wrestling with hard: should teachers use AI to grade essays? We dig into what AI gets right, what it gets wrong, and the bigger danger of "internet consensus" quietly replacing real critical thinking in our classrooms.
ORDER MY NEW BOOK (AVAILABLE NOW)!!! — https://bit.ly/49CZ5A0
Takeaways:
Teacher hallway red flags are real. Lifelong-learner energy on PD day, brand-new Bitmoji classrooms in 2026, no caffeine ever, and stiletto heels in the hallway all earn the side-eye.
AI essay grading (like Magic School AI) can be useful for big class loads and reducing bias, but it's a tool, not a replacement for your eyes on the page.
ChatGPT is a people pleaser. It will agree with you even when it's wrong, which is exactly why teaching kids critical thinking around AI matters more than ever.
If you homeschool, you should be the loudest advocate for better public schools. A strong, well-funded public education system is foundational to a strong democracy.
When enrollment shrinks, push your district to keep class sizes small instead of cutting teachers. Smaller classes are a tangible win you can advocate for right now.
--
Teachers’ night out? Yes, please! Come see comedian Educator Andrea…Get your tickets at teachersloungelive.com and Educatorandrea.com/tickets for laugh out loud Education!
—
Don’t Be Shy Come Say Hi: www.podcasterandrea.com
Watch on YouTube: @educatorandrea
A Human Content Production
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- They Didn’t Have My Subject In School with Steven RogersMay 25, 2026 · 55 minHave you ever booking a show in New York City only to realize there are so many comedy giants there that you can barely sell a dozen tickets ? Because that is exactly the humbling moment I’m bonding over with today's guest, the insanely talented Steven Rogers! Steven works with absolute legends like Nate Bargatze and Brian Regan (who actually produced his special), but he had to cancel a New York show tonight for the exact same reason . Talk about a fast kinship .
We are diving deep into what it truly means to "work clean" in a business that often relies on shock factor, why Steven refuses to change his jokes just to fit a late-night TV slot, and don't worry, we bring it right back to the classroom . Gerry highlights how 13 years of comedy writing mirrors teaching perfectly: if you stick to the exact same routine and refuse to change with the world around you, you lose your connection with your audience.
Plus, Steven shares why he was bored out of his mind in school but always got along best with his teachers, including his 10th-grade math teacher who still comes to his shows !
ORDER MY NEW BOOK (AVAILABLE NOW)!!! — https://bit.ly/49CZ5A0
Takeaways:
The New York Humbling: Andrea and Steven connect over the brutal reality of trying to sell tickets in New York City, proving that even headliners get beaten up by the market .
The Math of Clean Comedy: Why Steven Rogers chose to write exclusively clean sets from day one, rather than rewriting a joke 200 times just to get a late-night TV slot .
Order and Chaos in Writing: Steven breaks down his loose, structured-yet-chaotic joke writing process, which involves emptying anxieties onto a notebook page so he can observe the world clearly .
The Constant Lesson Plan: Gerry links Steven’s 13-year comedy journey to public education, arguing that teachers constantly have to adapt their frameworks to avoid getting left behind .
Team Cat Content: Andrea tries to convince Steven to turn his hairless cats into viral content superstars because the algorithm is practically begging for it .
--
Teachers’ night out? Yes, please! Come see comedian Educator Andrea…Get your tickets at teachersloungelive.com and Educatorandrea.com/tickets for laugh out loud Education!
—
Don’t Be Shy Come Say Hi: www.podcasterandrea.com
Watch on YouTube: @educatorandrea
A Human Content Production
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- The Mental Resilience of Taking Big SwingsMay 18, 2026 · 41 minI’m wrapping up my semester and Gerry is surviving quarter four, but honestly, we’re both just exhausted from a weekend of comedy. Gerry has been out here opening for Joe Dombrowski and doing guest spots with Josh Johnson from The Daily Show, no big deal!
We’re getting real about the "success through failure" mindset and how that translates to the classroom. Sometimes you take a big swing with a lesson plan and it just... doesn't hit. We dive into the "apathy epidemic" teachers are facing right now and why some of us are just too tired to cajole students who have mentally checked out.
Also, things get a little... messy. Gerry shares the most embarrassing story involving a Target, a classroom chair, and a gamble on a fart that he definitely lost. Plus, my dog may or may not have used my pant leg as a fire hydrant before I went to work. Write in and tell us: what’s the most embarrassing thing you’ve done in public while "surviving" the week?
ORDER MY NEW BOOK (AVAILABLE NOW)!!! — https://bit.ly/49CZ5A0
Takeaways:
Failing Upward: Why you have to fail more times than you succeed to make it in comedy or in a middle school math class.
The Apathy Epidemic: Andrea and Gerry discuss the struggle of motivating students post-pandemic and why "begging and cajoling" isn't always the answer.
Gerry’s Comedy Streak: From Cleveland to Columbus, Gerry recounts his weekend performing with some of the biggest names in the business.
The Wrong Rental Key: A classic comedy club mishap involving Joe Dombrowski and a car key that looked right but definitely didn't start the engine.
A Messy Situation: Gerry finally tells the full story of his "Target Incident" and why you should never trust a snack-sized bag of Takis.
--
Teachers’ night out? Yes, please! Come see comedian Educator Andrea…Get your tickets at teachersloungelive.com and Educatorandrea.com/tickets for laugh out loud Education!
—
Don’t Be Shy Come Say Hi: www.podcasterandrea.com
Watch on YouTube: @educatorandrea
A Human Content Production
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Raising Gerry: A Mother’s Day SpecialMay 11, 2026 · 41 minWe are back with part two of our Mother's Day special, and this time the spotlight is on Gerry’s mom, Melanie Potoka!. Not only is she the woman who raised Gerry, but she’s also a fellow educator who’s been in the game for 10 years teaching fifth-grade math and science. Melanie drops some major truth bombs about Gerry’s childhood, including the fact that she was actually shocked he became a teacher since she figured he’d be a preacher or a sports broadcaster.
We dive into Gerry’s legendary costume phase (Elvis! Pirates! The Situation from Jersey Shore!) and why he currently has five Spider-Man "dolls" within arms reach while we're recording. Plus, Melanie spills the tea on Gerry’s high school days, including the time a teacher threatened to kick him out for saying the book The Giver sucked, and honestly, Gerry still stands by that review.
We also talk about the "gummy bear war" and the "little man" catchphrase that has been haunting their family car rides for years. Happy Mother’s Day to all our teacher moms out there, we hope you're getting some quiet time (and maybe a coloring book) today!
ORDER MY NEW BOOK (AVAILABLE NOW)!!! — https://bit.ly/49CZ5A0
Takeaways:
The Career Surprise: Why Melanie never saw Gerry's teaching career coming, despite his natural gift for gab and remembering random facts.
"The Situation" at Spirit Halloween: The hilarious story of the year Gerry chose the most "wild" Halloween costume possible and ended up on the local news.
The Giver Debate: Gerry recounts the first time he was almost kicked out of a classroom for his very vocal (and very negative) literary critique.
The Surgery Incident: Melanie and Andrea discuss a "medicated" Gerry post-kidney surgery, involving an exposed hospital gown and some very questionable comments to the nurses.
Mom as the #1 Fan (and Heckler): Why Melanie’s "delayed laugh" and tendency to guess punchlines makes her the most stressful audience member at Gerry’s comedy shows.
--
Teachers’ night out? Yes, please! Come see comedian Educator Andrea…Get your tickets at teachersloungelive.com and Educatorandrea.com/tickets for laugh out loud Education!
—
Don’t Be Shy Come Say Hi: www.podcasterandrea.com
Watch on YouTube: @educatorandrea
A Human Content Production
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Raising Andrea: A Mother’s Day SpecialMay 4, 2026 · 46 minI have a very special guest today, the woman, the myth, the legend: my mom, Candi Neal (aka Mama Neal).
Mama Neal is here to spill all the tea on what I was really like before the PhD and let's just say, eighth grade was a "spicy" season. From my mom literally snitching on my dress code violations to the principal to her calling me out for being a "pill" on a school trip, we are diving deep into my "rule-follower to a fault" childhood. Plus, I finally show off my weirdest special skill: rolling my tongue like an ocean wave.
We also discuss why my husband Steven is basically the real-life Ron Swanson and how my mom used to hide rotten bananas to magically turn them into banana bread. Happy Mother's Day!
ORDER MY NEW BOOK (AVAILABLE NOW)!!! — https://bit.ly/49CZ5A0
Takeaways:
The Snitch on the School Board: Why Mama Neal didn't just enforce the dress code, she called the principal to make sure Andrea got busted the second she stepped out of the car.
The President of South America: Gerry digs up a "subpar geography" moment from Andrea's past that involves a very embarrassing question about George W. Bush.
The "Worst Student" Overachiever: How Andrea went from a disorganized middle schooler who stuffed her locker until it wouldn't shut to having a PhD and two Master's degrees.
Gerry’s Exit Interview: Why Andrea's daughter gave Gerry a "condolences card" level of shade and asked him to leave their house during a Sunday hang.
The Benjamin Button Finger: Andrea reveals the story behind her "child-sized" pinky and the genetic quirk she shares with her mom and daughter.
--
Teachers’ night out? Yes, please! Come see comedian Educator Andrea…Get your tickets at teachersloungelive.com and Educatorandrea.com/tickets for laugh out loud Education!
—
Don’t Be Shy Come Say Hi: www.podcasterandrea.com
Watch on YouTube: @educatorandrea
A Human Content Production
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- We Are Your Mother NowApr 27, 2026 · 45 minThe box finally arrived. My book is officially here! I’ve worked on it for years, but now that I’m holding it, I’m having a total crisis.. I can’t even look at the pages without feeling nauseous.. Gerry, of course, thinks I should just popcorn read it to my students like it's a fifth-grade class and carry it around like a dictionary..
Speaking of things that make me want to disappear, we’re talking about "insane" professional development.. I’m sharing my trauma of being forced to pass Fruit Loops from person to person using a toothpick during a high school assembly, which, from a distance, looks exactly like you're making out with a 50-year-old colleague.. It was a dark time..
Plus, Gerry is coming for the "anonymous" commenters in his local teacher Facebook group.. If you’re going to talk smack about your school or your coworkers, Gerry has a message for you: put your name on it and stand on business.
ORDER MY NEW BOOK (AVAILABLE NOW)!!! — https://bit.ly/49CZ5A0
Takeaways:
The Book Paradox: Andrea finally has her book in hand, but the thought of actually reading it out loud or discussing it makes her feel physically sick..
The "Fruit Loop" Assembly: Why Andrea’s first year of teaching included a viral-worthy moment that made her look like she was making out with a stranger in a dusty gym..
Facebook Beef: Gerry explains why posting anonymously in a 9,000-person private forum isn't a "point of view", it’s just slander..
The $43,000 Speaker: Andrea recounts the time her school paid a speaker an entire year's teacher salary for one hour of work, only for her to never return..
Sycamore Summit: Andrea’s vision for a teacher conference that doesn't suck, featuring mimosas, bloody marys, and, hopefully a rage room for stressed educators.
--
Teachers’ night out? Yes, please! Come see comedian Educator Andrea…Get your tickets at teachersloungelive.com and Educatorandrea.com/tickets for laugh out loud Education!
—
Don’t Be Shy Come Say Hi: www.podcasterandrea.com
Watch on YouTube: @educatorandrea
A Human Content Production
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Will Robots Ever Replace Teachers?Apr 20, 2026 · 33 minHave you heard the news? Apparently, the First Lady thinks we might need a robot in the classroom. Today, Gerry and I are breaking down the "AI humanoid robot" pitch and why we’re a little skeptical that a faceless machine can handle a middle schooler with a paperclip and a dream. Gerry is convinced that unless the robot has lasers to keep the kids in line, it’s basically just an expensive target for classroom chaos.
We also dive into the networking vibes of Gerry’s recent comedy festival, where he successfully dodged seeing any students or parents in the wild. Plus, I’m getting heated about the "subject matter expertise" myth. Just because you have a degree in biology doesn’t mean you know what to do when a student starts crawling under desks or picks a "pee corner" in your room.
Write in and let us know: would you rather have a robot co-teacher or a random person off the street? Because I’m pretty sure the robot would at least follow the safety protocols while the desk is being flipped.
ORDER MY NEW BOOK (AVAILABLE NOW)!!! — https://bit.ly/49CZ5A0
Takeaways:
Gerry’s Comedy Showcase: How Gerry spent his weekend networking and hosting in Raleigh without getting recognized by a single student's mom.
The "Robot" Teacher: Andrea and Gerry react to the White House's introduction of a humanoid AI tutor and why they think the battery would die before first period ends.
Laser-Focused Management: Gerry’s "devil’s advocate" theory on why a robot with laser eyes might actually be the ultimate classroom management tool.
The "Pee Corner" Reality: Why knowing the mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell won't help you when the classroom environment gets... biological.
Subject Matter vs. Teaching: Andrea’s "hill to die on" regarding new state policies that think nine credits are enough to prepare someone for the chaos of K-12.
--
Teachers’ night out? Yes, please! Come see comedian Educator Andrea…Get your tickets at teachersloungelive.com and Educatorandrea.com/tickets for laugh out loud Education!
—
Don’t Be Shy Come Say Hi: www.podcasterandrea.com
Watch on YouTube: @educatorandrea
A Human Content Production
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Knife to the Heart: Kindergartner Insults with Jayson CrossApr 13, 2026 · 41 minHave you ever booked a hotel so sketchy that even the Uber driver took one look and canceled the ride? Because that was my weekend in Essington, Pennsylvania. I’m joined by Chicago-based interventionist and comedian Jayson Cross, who, despite being 47, looks like he’s microdosing youth because he hasn’t aged a day since 2001.
We’re settling a major debate: is it worse to bomb in front of 30 paying comedy fans or 30 middle schoolers who have to see your face every day for the next six months?. Jayson breaks down the "cleanup crew" life of an interventionist, and Gerry admits he’s basically a classroom dictator because "whatever gets you to follow me on Instagram" is his new motto.
Also, we’re back on our medical nonsense (sorry, not sorry). Gerry finally learns that he does, in fact, have a prostate, while I try to explain why a kindergartner’s insult feels like a literal knife to the heart
ORDER MY NEW BOOK (AVAILABLE NOW)!!! — https://bit.ly/49CZ5A0
Takeaways:
The "Crack Den" Hotel: Andrea recounts her harrowing stay in Essington where the hotel room looked like a middle schooler’s backpack and the Uber drivers fled on sight.
The Fountain of Youth: Comedian Jayson Cross reveals he’s 47, leaving Gerry and Andrea spiraling over how he looks twenty years younger than he actually is.
Classroom Weapons: Andrea reveals why the humble stapler is the most dangerous item in a classroom, leading to some truly disturbing "nail bed" stories.
The "Taco" Dealer: Andrea recalls a student who was running a foil-wrapped taco empire in her class—which is a much better alternative to the actual drugs teachers usually find.
Gerry the Dictator: Why Gerry refuses to feel guilty about losing his temper unless he "went too hard," and why he’s leaning into his "dictator" reputation in the comments.
--
Teachers’ night out? Yes, please! Come see comedian Educator Andrea…Get your tickets at teachersloungelive.com and Educatorandrea.com/tickets for laugh out loud Education!
—
Don’t Be Shy Come Say Hi: www.podcasterandrea.com
Watch on YouTube: @educatorandrea
A Human Content Production
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- The Birds and the Bees EpisodeApr 6, 2026 · 37 minI have a confession to make: I am officially eating my words from last week. My husband, who actually went to Yale for medicine, informed me that basically everything Ms. Dugan and I said about male anatomy was 100% wrong. We had the confidence of straight white men, but we were batting zero.
In this episode, Gerry updates us on his "stroke of thunder" snow day (which was actually just a regular storm) and his new hobby of doing glamor shots for his Spider-Man "dolls", excuse me, action figures. Plus, we dive into the world of "Fuglers," which are quite possibly the most upsetting stuffed animals I’ve ever seen, yet Gerry owns five of them.
We’re also talking about the "food desert" of healthy fast food. Gerry is officially on his health king journey, but he’s ready to crash out over the fact that a side of fruit at Chick-fil-A costs more than a literal chicken combo.
ORDER MY NEW BOOK (AVAILABLE NOW)!!! — https://bit.ly/49CZ5A0
Takeaways:
The "Dolls" Photoshoot: Jerry spent his afternoon house-sitting and using "cinematic vision" to pose Marvel figurines in empty rooms.
The Anatomy Apology: Andrea sets the record straight after her husband (the Yale-educated PA) completely obliterated her medical "facts" from the last episode.
Winston the Mascot: Get ready for a new addition to the classroom—an English Bulldog puppy named Winston is joining the pod family.
Stranger Danger Sex Ed: Why a certain school district brings in retired teachers to give eighth graders the birds-and-the-bees talk instead of their regular biology teachers.
The $14 Fruit Cup: Jerry’s "hill to die on" involves the literal crime of Chick-fil-A charging $5 extra just to swap fries for grapes.
--
Teachers’ night out? Yes, please! Come see comedian Educator Andrea…Get your tickets at teachersloungelive.com and Educatorandrea.com/tickets for laugh out loud Education!
—
Don’t Be Shy Come Say Hi: www.podcasterandrea.com
Watch on YouTube: @educatorandrea
A Human Content Production
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Quality of Life vs The Teaching Crisis with Miss Molly DuganMar 30, 2026 · 58 minPRE-ORDER MY NEW BOOK (OUT MAY 5, 2026)!!! — https://bit.ly/43BquPd
Today, we're joined by my fellow high school English teacher and total girl’s girl, Miss Molly Dugan. We’re diving into the absolute chaos of being a teacher on the internet, from people trying to pit us against each other to the "sourdough baddie" comments that have basically become an inside joke at this point.
We also get into the trauma of being bullied by our own students. Molly shares a story from her early teaching days about getting "dumped" and having 28 eighth graders basically tell her she’s going to die alone. Plus, Gerry explains why he crashed out in his classroom this week.
Write in and tell us: Have your students ever bullied you into changing your life?
Takeaways:
The Comedy Trap: Andrea explains why being asked to "do a joke" in a room full of 11:00 AM business majors is actually a form of torture.
Medical Mysteries with Gerry: Gerry realizes he might have skipped a few too many units during his time teaching health when the topic of male anatomy comes up.
Sub Day Sabotage: Why coming back to a three-page sub note is the fastest way to make a teacher "crash out" on a Friday.
The "Reverse Spider-Man": Andrea recounts a legendary (and slightly scarring) prank from a senior trip to Europe.
Molly’s Student Roast: How a group of eighth graders managed to turn Molly’s breakup into a "mentor moment" that ended in them suggesting she needs therapy.
--
Teachers’ night out? Yes, please! Come see comedian Educator Andrea…Get your tickets at teachersloungelive.com and Educatorandrea.com/tickets for laugh out loud Education!
—
Don’t Be Shy Come Say Hi: www.podcasterandrea.com
Watch on YouTube: @educatorandrea
A Human Content Production
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- The Advice Every New Teacher NeedsMar 23, 2026 · 41 minMy kids were sick. My husband was sick. My babysitter got sick. Somehow I was the only one left standing, which honestly felt suspicious.
Meanwhile, I was traveling for shows in Washington, DC and Philadelphia, performing for teachers… and accidentally for a group of 40 people who absolutely did not know who we were.
So naturally Gerry and I had a lot to discuss. We talk about the chaos of teaching during flu season, the truly unhinged things students say to teachers’ faces, and the advice every new teacher should hear before stepping into a middle school classroom.
There’s also a heated debate about movie theater etiquette, a surprisingly philosophical conversation about insults from students, and the passive-aggressive teacher phrases that somehow become second nature after a few years in the classroom.
And somewhere in the middle of all of that… we discover that Gerry’s students think he looks like a thumb.
ORDER MY NEW BOOK (AVAILABLE NOW)!!! — https://bit.ly/49CZ5A0
Takeaways:
The advice new teachers get before facing middle schoolers for the first time.
The insult students discovered about me that I didn’t even know was a thing.
Gerry’s experience watching a classic movie… with the worst possible audience.
The passive-aggressive phrases teachers secretly love using.
The unexpected comedy audience that had absolutely no idea who we were.
--
Teachers’ night out? Yes, please! Come see comedian Educator Andrea…Get your tickets at teachersloungelive.com and Educatorandrea.com/tickets for laugh out loud Education!
—
Don’t Be Shy Come Say Hi: www.podcasterandrea.com
Watch on YouTube: @educatorandrea
A Human Content Production
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Gerry Shot His Shot on the PodcastMar 16, 2026 · 40 minGerry came to my house for the Indianapolis show, insulted my daughter’s dental hygiene via the Tooth Fairy, may or may not have been exposed to Flu B, and then drove 11 hours home fueled almost entirely by marshmallows.
So yes. We have a lot to unpack.
We talk about the Terre Haute experience (including Gerry’s pilgrimage to the Larry Bird statue), the movies Gerry somehow managed to avoid his entire life, and why he believes Monty Python and the Holy Grail might be one of the worst films ever made, which is an absolutely unhinged opinion.
There’s also a very important moment where Gerry publicly shoots his shot with one of my friends, a discussion about the truly shocking things parents would hear if they spent one day in a classroom, and multiple interruptions from my children who apparently believe recording a podcast is the perfect time to ask for snacks or show me injuries.
PRE-ORDER MY NEW BOOK (OUT MAY 5, 2026)!!! — https://bit.ly/43BquPd
Takeaways:
The unexpected road snack that immediately became a terrible idea.
Gerry’s extremely controversial movie take that I refuse to accept.
The one thing parents would be shocked to hear happening in classrooms.
The on-air romantic confession I absolutely did not see coming.
Why recording a podcast with kids in the house is… unpredictable.
--
Teachers’ night out? Yes, please! Come see comedian Educator Andrea…Get your tickets at teachersloungelive.com and Educatorandrea.com/tickets for laugh out loud Education!
—
Don’t Be Shy Come Say Hi: www.podcasterandrea.com
Watch on YouTube: @educatorandrea
A Human Content Production
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- I Said Don’t Come Down Unless It’s an EmergencyMar 9, 2026 · 43 minTeacher besties… I turned 39. Which means, naturally, I decided to spiral publicly and create “52 Weeks Until 40” as content instead of processing my feelings privately like a normal person.
This episode has everything. Gerry trying to convince me to buy Crocs as a personality pivot. A listener question about burnout that feels way too real this time of year. My best life achievement (which unfortunately involves a cafeteria and questionable liquid). A very honest conversation about doing less in your classroom and surviving licensure requirements without losing your mind. And… a confession from Gerry that I genuinely did not see coming.
We talk about burnout while trying to become a teacher, why you do not have to Dead Poets Society every single lesson, and what student behaviors absolutely would not survive in corporate America.
Somewhere in the middle of all of that, we discover that sometimes the worst day of your life is just the worst day so far.
PRE-ORDER MY NEW BOOK (OUT MAY 5, 2026)!!! — https://bit.ly/43BquPd
Takeaways:
The 52-week challenge I may regret starting.
The burnout advice I give my graduate students when they’re drowning.
Why you absolutely do not need to grade everything.
The classroom behavior that would end most adult careers instantly.
A confession from Gerry that changes how you’ll hear the rest of this episode.
--
Teachers’ night out? Yes, please! Come see comedian Educator Andrea…Get your tickets at teachersloungelive.com and Educatorandrea.com/tickets for laugh out loud Education!
—
Don’t Be Shy Come Say Hi: www.podcasterandrea.com
Watch on YouTube: @educatorandrea
A Human Content Production
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- From Basement Book Shipping to Book Tour Cities with Matt EicheldingerMar 2, 2026 · 54 minPRE-ORDER MY NEW BOOK (OUT MAY 5, 2026)!!! — https://bit.ly/43BquPd
Matt Eicheldinger is back and somehow since the last time he was on, he’s casually signed over a dozen book contracts, written across multiple age ranges, and is now launching a dystopian trilogy. Meanwhile, I’m still over here arguing with copy editors about commas.
We talk about what self-publishing actually looks like, what happens when Kirkus reviews decide your book is either brilliant or from the devil himself, and how middle schoolers might actually be the toughest literary critics alive.
Matt shares the premise of his new YA trilogy, a flooded world, a foster teen, hardcore preppers, and a mysterious place called “The Hill”, and we get into what it feels like to pivot from autobiographical humor to dystopian survival.
Takeaways:
The version of self-publishing nobody romanticizes.
The Kirkus review line that absolutely sent me.
Why Matt’s “violent” middle grade series is more autobiographical than I realized.
The unexpected inspiration behind a flooded dystopian trilogy.
The workplace interaction that reminded me kindness is free and somehow still controversial.
Teachers’ night out? Yes, please! Come see comedian Educator Andrea…Get your tickets at teachersloungelive.com and Educatorandrea.com/tickets for laugh out loud Education!
—
Don’t Be Shy Come Say Hi: www.podcasterandrea.com
Watch on YouTube: @educatorandrea
A Human Content Production
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- My Most Irrational Classroom Pet PeeveFeb 23, 2026 · 40 minTeacher besties… this episode has everything: licensure panic, conspiracy theories about teacher testing companies, medical dramas I probably shouldn’t have described in detail, and one first-year teacher who is being absolutely swarmed during passing period.
Gerry is in his final form of teacher paperwork chaos, grinding through the edTPA like it personally offended him, and I may or may not have gone on a small rant about why some of these hoops exist in the first place.
We also debate whether PE teachers really need a Praxis (Gerry has thoughts), spiral into television recommendations that absolutely should not be watched with children nearby, and answer a classroom management question that I know so many of you are living right now: how do you survive those first five minutes of class without losing your mind?
Plus, we share irrational classroom pet peeves, discuss why students absolutely cannot “just do it at home,” and Gerry unveils what might be his final, grand Potoka.
PRE-ORDER MY NEW BOOK (OUT MAY 5, 2026)!!! — https://bit.ly/43BquPd
Takeaways:
Why Gerry believes this is the edTPA’s toughest opponent yet.
My completely unverified theory about who really benefits from teacher testing requirements.
The one classroom management move that will instantly stop the passing-period swarm.
The pet peeve that will make Gerry physically lock a door.
Why “I’ll just do it at home” is one of the most dangerous lies in education.
--
Teachers’ night out? Yes, please! Come see comedian Educator Andrea…Get your tickets at teachersloungelive.com and Educatorandrea.com/tickets for laugh out loud Education!
—
Don’t Be Shy Come Say Hi: www.podcasterandrea.com
Watch on YouTube: @educatorandrea
A Human Content Production
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- My Husband Is Funnier Than MeFeb 16, 2026 · 45 minGerry is back after what can only be described as the Ice Age: Wake County Edition, we compare notes on barely meeting our students, and I realize, once again, that trusting Facebook teacher groups might be a dangerous choice.
We also talk about something huge in my life: my husband decided to try stand-up comedy for the very first time… during my show… with zero warning to anyone. Watching him crush five minutes on stage somehow made me more nervous than any set I’ve ever done myself, and Gerry’s reaction alone was worth it.
From there, we spiral (naturally) into comedy venues that feel like side quests, students who refuse to pay to see their professors perform, the deeply unserious idea of giving extra credit for attending comedy shows, and the absolute audacity of calling planning time a “gift.”
And yes, I climb onto a hill I’m fully prepared to die on, this time involving taxes, reading levels, and why being educated shouldn’t feel like a trap.
PRE-ORDER MY NEW BOOK (OUT MAY 5, 2026)!!! — https://bit.ly/43BquPd
Takeaways:
The moment I realized my husband might secretly be good at stand-up comedy.
Why teacher Facebook groups should never be treated as primary sources.
The phrase administrators use that makes my eye twitch instantly.
The awkward truth about students, professors, and paid entertainment.
The hill I’ll die on involving taxes, literacy, and common sense.
--
Teachers’ night out? Yes, please! Come see comedian Educator Andrea…Get your tickets at teachersloungelive.com and Educatorandrea.com/tickets for laugh out loud Education!
—
Don’t Be Shy Come Say Hi: www.podcasterandrea.com
Watch on YouTube: @educatorandrea
A Human Content Production
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- When People Demand You “Say Something”Feb 9, 2026 · 27 minTeacher besties… this episode is a little heavier than usual, but it’s one I felt I needed to record exactly as it is.
Lately, the news cycle has been overwhelming, and as teachers, we don’t get the luxury of tuning it out, because our students bring it straight into our classrooms. In this episode, I talk honestly about what it feels like to be asked to “say something,” why nuance disappears online, and how impossible it can feel to hold space for kids who are scared, angry, confused, or all three at once.
I share why structure can be one of the most compassionate things we give students during chaotic times, how I’ve navigated these conversations in my own classroom, and why empathy has to come before ideology when kids are involved.
Then, we pivot, because life doesn’t stop. I respond to a first-year English teacher who is cheering out loud while grading student writing (yes, really), reflect on the power of what we say to kids, and explain why words from teachers can echo for decades.
PRE-ORDER MY NEW BOOK (OUT MAY 5, 2026)!!! — https://bit.ly/43BquPd
Takeaways:
Why “just stay neutral” isn’t as simple as people think for teachers.
The classroom strategy that can ground students when the world feels unsafe.
A grading moment so joyful it startled a janitor.
The reminder of how deeply a teacher’s words can shape a student’s future.
The grading policy hill I am fully prepared to die on.
--
Teachers’ night out? Yes, please! Come see comedian Educator Andrea…Get your tickets at teachersloungelive.com and Educatorandrea.com/tickets for laugh out loud Education!
—
Don’t Be Shy Come Say Hi: www.podcasterandrea.com
Watch on YouTube: @educatorandrea
A Human Content Production
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- The Snapchat Story That Got A Teacher ArrestedFeb 2, 2026 · 40 minI’m fresh off Teacher’s Lounge shows in Seattle and Portland (cities I was told to fear, but absolutely adored), and Gerry is coming back to work after a winter break so long it fully erased his sense of time, purpose, and identity.
We talk about Pacific Northwest vibes and play a game that asks the important question: is this a student insult… or a Portland restaurant?
Then we pivot into teacher reality: the story of a teacher arrested over a “private” Snapchat, what that means for how we vent, joke, and exist online, and why context doesn’t always save you anymore.
We also dive into the grossest things we’ve ever seen in student backpacks, hypothetical snakes in classrooms, science teachers with emotional-support lizards, and the hills we are absolutely prepared to die on as we stumble back into the school year.
PRE-ORDER MY NEW BOOK (OUT MAY 5, 2026)!!! — https://bit.ly/43BquPd
Takeaways:
The restaurant names that made me question reality in Seattle and Portland.
Why “private” messages aren’t actually private and what teachers need to consider now.
The backpack discovery that permanently altered my brain chemistry.
How different teachers react to wildlife in the classroom (and why some people scare me).
The workday expectations that make absolutely no sense after a long break.
--
Teachers’ night out? Yes, please! Come see comedian Educator Andrea…Get your tickets at teachersloungelive.com and Educatorandrea.com/tickets for laugh out loud Education!
—
Don’t Be Shy Come Say Hi: www.podcasterandrea.com
Watch on YouTube: @educatorandrea
A Human Content Production
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- The Names Kids Call You When You’re Not ListeningJan 26, 2026 · 27 minTeacher besties… this episode is what happens when you let me and Gerry talk long enough to uncover each other’s secret side quests.
I found out Gerry is casually coaching middle school basketball, we unpack why coaching parents somehow feel less terrifying than classroom parents, and I confess that my basketball career was built almost entirely on effort, fouls, and one accidental broken nose.
We also get into musical theater respect, drama teacher burnout, the teacher red flags that instantly make you question the vibes, and the deeply humbling experience of hearing what students really think you look like.
Plus, we tackle a Would You Rather that exposes the fantasy of “saying whatever you want at work,” debate poop patrol versus state testing, and I plant my flag firmly on a hill involving people who describe themselves as “just blunt.”
PRE-ORDER MY NEW BOOK (OUT MAY 5, 2026)!!! — https://bit.ly/43BquPd
Takeaways:
The secret coaching gig that somehow flew completely under my radar.
Why some teacher fashion choices immediately feel like a red flag.
The student comparisons that emotionally scar you forever.
A Would You Rather that reveals how broken school incentives really are.
The personality trait people brag about that is actually just a warning sign.
--
Teachers’ night out? Yes, please! Come see comedian Educator Andrea…Get your tickets at teachersloungelive.com and Educatorandrea.com/tickets for laugh out loud Education!
—
Don’t Be Shy Come Say Hi: www.podcasterandrea.com
Watch on YouTube: @educatorandrea
A Human Content Production
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Why Gerry Wasn’t Invited to FloridaJan 20, 2026 · 42 minTeacher besties… this episode officially marks a new era, and honestly? It’s already unhinged. I’m joined by Gerry (yes, that Gerry), and we immediately get into important topics like whether Terre Haute feels like witness protection, why Florida keeps rewarding me while Jerry watches from afar, and how I accidentally ended up hanging out with an NSYNC member in a fancy room full of extremely rich people.
We also talk about New Year’s resolutions that feel suspiciously like punishment, the ongoing grading spiral, why middle school books sometimes hit harder than “grown-up” books, and the eternal debate of which boy band you’d actually want to survive a tour with.
Plus, we dive into airplane etiquette (someone flossed), teacher Would You Rather questions that reveal way too much about school systems, and why Gerry’s geography confidence remains… ambitious.
It’s chaotic. It’s conversational. And it’s exactly the energy this podcast is moving into.
PRE-ORDER MY NEW BOOK (OUT MAY 5, 2026)!!! — https://bit.ly/43BquPd
Takeaways:
The moment I realized I had crossed into a tax bracket I do not belong in.
Why Gerry is still recovering emotionally from Florida.
The airplane behavior that deeply horrified my husband (and will probably horrify you).
A teacher “Would You Rather” that exposes just how broken school coverage systems are.
The book recommendations that prove middle-grade fiction absolutely still slaps.
--
Teachers’ night out? Yes, please! Come see comedian Educator Andrea…Get your tickets at teachersloungelive.com and Educatorandrea.com/tickets for laugh out loud Education!
—
Don’t Be Shy Come Say Hi: www.podcasterandrea.com
Watch on YouTube: @educatorandrea
A Human Content Production
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- When Your Recess Turns Into a Protest RallyJan 12, 2026 · 32 minPRE-ORDER MY NEW BOOK (OUT MAY 5, 2026)!!! — https://bit.ly/43BquPd
Teacher besties… I am recording this episode with teeth that feel like exposed electrical wiring, so if I sound unwell, it’s because I am unwell. I decided to get my teeth professionally whitened, and let’s just say the pain level was somewhere between “natural childbirth with a broken epidural” and “why did I do this to myself.”
But vanity drama aside, this week I’m talking about the real chaos. Second graders chanting suspicious initials, a recess mystery that may or may not have involved children unknowingly shouting a swear word, the ongoing saga of my unfortunate last name, and the moment my husband revealed he once ran a black-market lamination scheme to get into a basketball game.
Plus, I’m sharing why now is the perfect time to be your classroom’s Agent of Chaos, the website that gives you instant science/math magic for K-8, and the massive show update I’ve been waiting to announce.
Takeaways:
The cosmetic decision that almost made me collapse in the Lowe’s parking lot.
The recess chant that had teachers whispering, “Wait… what did they just say?”
Why my husband’s teenage criminal enterprise involved a stolen lamination machine.
How to inject the perfect amount of chaos into your classroom to survive winter.
The huge announcement about the future of the show (and the beloved guest joining me full-time).
--
Teachers’ night out? Yes, please! Come see comedian Educator Andrea…Get your tickets at teachersloungelive.com and Educatorandrea.com/tickets for laugh out loud Education!
—
Don’t Be Shy Come Say Hi: www.podcasterandrea.com
Watch on YouTube: @educatorandrea
A Human Content Production
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Why Class Sizes Are the Real Crisis No One Is FixingJan 5, 2026 · 32 minTeacher besties… this episode I’m talking about hosting nearly 30 people for Thanksgiving (including a self-appointed “Director of Thanksgiving”), discovering my husband’s family may have some intense World War II memorabilia, and the moment I suddenly had to ask, “Was he… on the right side?”
And then, because the universe wasn’t done with me, we dive into a student who shotgunned a seltzer in the middle of a lesson like he was training for a frat he cannot legally join yet… and another student who thought it would be hilarious to make his teacher’s mom his Chromebook wallpaper.
Plus, I’m climbing onto a hill that I know is going to get me fired up, because if we don’t fix this issue in education, nothing else even matters.
PRE-ORDER MY NEW BOOK (OUT MAY 5, 2026)!!! — https://bit.ly/43BquPd
Takeaways:
The unexpected family “heirloom” that made me question everything I knew about my husband’s family tree.
The seventh grader who cracked open a seltzer like he was at a tailgate… during a lesson on industrialization.
Why I now fully believe middle schoolers work for the FBI.
A brain break resource that turns even high-schoolers into unhinged backup dancers.
The one education issue that will ruin every reform effort until we actually address it.
--
Teachers’ night out? Yes, please! Come see comedian Educator Andrea…Get your tickets at teachersloungelive.com and Educatorandrea.com/tickets for laugh out loud Education!
—
Don’t Be Shy Come Say Hi: www.podcasterandrea.com
Watch on YouTube: @educatorandrea
A Human Content Production
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- The Teacher With a Degree in Vibes with Gerry PotokaDec 29, 2025 · 44 minPRE-ORDER MY NEW BOOK (OUT MAY 5, 2026)!!! - https://bit.ly/43BquPd
Teacher besties… this week I brought on one of my favorite chaotic humans: the hilarious Gerry Potoka, comedian, teacher, and man of mysteriously undefined licensure.
In this episode, Gerry and I try to pinpoint what he actually teaches, debate whether PE tests are secretly impossible, unpack his “desk art collection,” and discover that his lowercase k is actually a cursive crime.
We also react to a voice memo that had both of us questioning the ethics of having “favorite students,” accidentally stumble into a conversation about charcuterie boards and disease vectors, and play a game of Would You Rather: Teacher Edition that reveals way too much about our tolerance for cafeteria behavior.
Takeaways:
The shocking subject Gerry may, or may not, actually be licensed to teach.
Why his lowercase k started an existential crisis in the teacher’s lounge.
The voice memo that made us both rethink “favorite students” forever.
Kinder field trips vs. middle school dances: the battle of true horrors.
A charcuterie board, a stomach bug, and a chain reaction that absolutely nobody survived.
--
Teachers’ night out? Yes, please! Come see comedian Educator Andrea…Get your tickets at teachersloungelive.com and Educatorandrea.com/tickets for laugh out loud Education!
—
Don’t Be Shy Come Say Hi: www.podcasterandrea.com
Watch on YouTube: @educatorandrea
A Human Content Production
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- When All Your Students Misunderstand the Assignment… Guess Who’s the Problem?Dec 22, 2025 · 26 minPRE-ORDER MY NEW BOOK (OUT MAY 5, 2026)!!! — https://bit.ly/43BquPd
This week I’m talking about the grading spiral that made me question my entire career, the wild field-trip confessions my five-year-old brought home, and the absolute unhinged energy that middle schoolers bring into any art room with a blank sheet of paper.
And the voice memos? Oh, they’re next-level. One features a crime scene so disgusting I almost logged off my own podcast. The other… well, let’s just say a substitute made a choice that will go down in school-wide legend, and not in a good way.
Plus, I’m climbing up on a hill I fully expect to die on, and it involves legal loopholes, teenagers, and why this country needs to get its act together.
Takeaways:
The surprisingly delicious St. Louis food that healed my pre-show stomach disaster.
How a grading pile-up turned into a full-on identity crisis.
Why elementary crushes feel like Shakespearean monologues now.
The most unhinged classroom vandalism case I’ve ever heard—and the wild “investigation” that followed.
The legal hill I did not expect to die on this week… and why I’m standing on it anyway.
—
Teachers’ night out? Yes, please! Come see comedian Educator Andrea…Get your tickets at teachersloungelive.com and Educatorandrea.com/tickets for laugh out loud Education!
—
Don’t Be Shy Come Say Hi: www.podcasterandrea.com
Watch on YouTube: @educatorandrea
A Human Content Production
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- This Is the Most Hard-Core Thing I Do Before a ShowDec 15, 2025 · 32 minIn this episode, I’m unpacking how something as innocent as kombucha sent my entire life into chaos… how my own child managed to humiliate me in public with the confidence of a man three times his size… and why I found myself saluting a complete stranger at a gas station like we’d been through battle together.
Plus, your stories this week? Unhinged. We’re talking ski masks, mystery backpacks, “not again” from a school counselor (which is never the phrase you want to hear), and one of the wildest parent–interpreter–admin conferences I have ever imagined.
And because I can’t help myself, I’m also taking a moment to climb atop a hill I’m fully prepared to die on, one that every creative, teacher, and comedian should probably hear.
Takeaways:
The kombucha incident that nearly destroyed my dignity and a mom-and-pop gas station bathroom.
How my child chose a random truck driver as his “best friend” and shared my darkest secret.
A ski mask mix-up that absolutely no administrator wants to explain.
The classroom situation that made a counselor say, “Not again…”
Why bitterness has no place in comedy—and what I’ve learned from watching others rise.
--
Teachers’ night out? Yes, please! Come see comedian Educator Andrea…Get your tickets at teachersloungelive.com and Educatorandrea.com/tickets for laugh out loud Education!
—
Don’t Be Shy Come Say Hi: www.podcasterandrea.com
Watch on YouTube: @educatorandrea
A Human Content Production
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Please Put Your Shirt Back OnDec 8, 2025 · 26 minIn this episode, I’m talking about everything from a wildly out-of-place operatic performance at my dinner table… to a voice memo that had me reconsidering every teacher’s unspoken job description… to the moment I accidentally confessed to a German felony because I couldn't understand what anyone was saying.
And yes, there’s a story in here about nipples. And lotion. And regret.
Plus, I’m finally sharing the unexpected resource that has completely reshaped how I think about reading instruction… and honestly, I want to know what you think about it.
Takeaways:
Why context is the difference between a beautiful performance… and a crime scene.
The unexpected way a Japanese festival turned one teacher into a local legend.
How I found myself explaining German law at 4 AM while crying in a police station.
The moment a student’s “self-care routine” derailed an entire classroom.
The literacy podcast that has me rethinking the way we teach reading, yes, even outside ELA.
--
Teachers’ night out? Yes, please! Come see comedian Educator Andrea…Get your tickets at teachersloungelive.com and Educatorandrea.com/tickets for laugh out loud Education!
—
Don’t Be Shy Come Say Hi: www.podcasterandrea.com
Watch on YouTube: @educatorandrea
A Human Content Production
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- How Did a Safety Talk Turn Into a Crime Plot?Dec 1, 2025 · 29 minThis week, I owe Texas an apology. Between discovering that Tex-Mex might be the best food on Earth and listening to a kindergarten voicemail about baby mama drama, I had no idea where this episode would go.
But then my kids started planning how to get rid of a body, a student declared his future as a midwife, and somehow we still managed to end with a heartwarming story about my sister’s new baby and a resource to help your students love writing again.
Takeaways:
Andrea finally admits she was wrong about Texas and Tex-Mex might be elite cuisine.
A kindergartener exposes her “husband’s other babies” in the classroom.
Andrea’s kids invent a disturbingly creative plan for “body disposal.”
A student’s career quiz leads to a midwife meltdown and a hilarious OB-GYN story.
Andrea gets personal about her sister’s baby’s birth, gratitude for NICU staff, and the importance of helping kids embrace discomfort.
--
Teachers’ night out? Yes, please! Come see comedian Educator Andrea…Get your tickets at teachersloungelive.com and Educatorandrea.com/tickets for laugh out loud Education!
—
Don’t Be Shy Come Say Hi: www.podcasterandrea.com
Watch on YouTube: @educatorandrea
A Human Content Production
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- BONUS EPISODE: A Thanksgiving Special: Gratitude and Turkey Butts with Denver RileyNov 27, 2025 · 1 hr 6 minA re-release from last years thanksgiving episode!
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, and relatable teaching stories. We also discuss Denver’s “Jersey Shore” spirit day look, the challenges of historical memory, and the little moments that make teaching worth it.
Takeaways:
Thanksgiving Fun Facts Gone Wrong: Andrea and Denver tackle Thanksgiving trivia, with some hilarious (and incorrect) guesses on everything from turkey consumption to historical dates.
Teacher Humor and Real Talk: The episode highlights the lighter side of teaching, where even everyday classroom mishaps can make for memorable stories.
Celebrating Spirit Week in Style: Denver’s “Jersey Shore” inspired spirit day outfit brings humor and nostalgia, showing the fun side of school traditions.
The Perils of Classroom Management: Through laughter, Andrea and Denver reflect on how to balance classroom humor with the need to stay grounded.
Learning Through Laughter: Even as teachers, Andrea and Denver show that learning new facts—especially holiday-related ones—can be fun, relatable, and full of surprises.
—
Want to Learn more about Denver Riley?
Instagram: @keepingupwithms.b_
Tiktok: @keepingupwithms.b_
—
Don’t be shy come say hi: andrea@human-content.com and podcasterandrea.com
Watch on YouTube: @educatorandrea
Listen Anywhere You Podcast: Apple, Spotify, PodChaser, etc.
—
A Human Content Production
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- The Day “Keep Your Hands to Yourself” Took on a New MeaningNov 24, 2025 · 28 minThis week’s episode had me clutching my pearls and questioning everything I thought I knew about middle schoolers. We got a voicemail about a student caught doing something unthinkable during class and somehow, it gets worse. Teachers, you are not paid enough for this level of trauma.
Then, I share the foreword from my upcoming book They Never Taught Us That, talk about what inspired it, and reveal a resource that actually helps teachers get feedback that matters. Spoiler: it’s not from your administrator.
Takeaways:
The most uncomfortable voicemail of all time and Andrea’s horrified (but honest) reaction.
Why middle school might just be the most chaotic age in human history.
A sneak peek into Andrea’s upcoming book, including her emotional foreword about what teaching really teaches you.
A resource that helps educators gather feedback that’s actually useful not just bureaucratic.
Andrea’s reflection on surviving awkwardness, embarrassment, and burnout with humor (and caffeine).
--
Teachers’ night out? Yes, please! Come see comedian Educator Andrea…Get your tickets at teachersloungelive.com and Educatorandrea.com/tickets for laugh out loud Education!
—
Don’t Be Shy Come Say Hi: www.podcasterandrea.com
Watch on YouTube: @educatorandrea
A Human Content Production
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Smart People Can Be Terrible TeachersNov 17, 2025 · 32 minThis week I learned that parenting might actually be harder than teaching. It started with my five-year-old asking questions about his “balls,” escalated into my husband giving a full anatomy lesson, and ended with me praying his kindergarten teacher doesn’t get a surprise lecture about semen.
Then we hear from a teacher whose classroom window literally exploded mid-class (because of a rogue lawnmower rock, obviously), and I share one of my favorite free classroom tools for teaching grammar, plus the hill I will die on: college professors should be required to learn how to teach.
Takeaways:
The “anatomy conversation” that got way more detailed than Andrea intended.
Why middle school classrooms feel like a mix of chaos, zoo smells, and budding philosophers.
The voicemail about a lawnmower rock that shattered a teacher’s window mid-class.
A free, AI-powered grammar resource that actually works (Quill.org).
Andrea’s unfiltered hill to die on: professors should have to learn to teach, too.
--
Teachers’ night out? Yes, please! Come see comedian Educator Andrea…Get your tickets at teachersloungelive.com and Educatorandrea.com/tickets for laugh out loud Education!
—
Don’t Be Shy Come Say Hi: www.podcasterandrea.com
Watch on YouTube: @educatorandrea
A Human Content Production
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- What Happens When Algebra Meets Abandonment Issues?Nov 10, 2025 · 34 minThis week’s voicemails took me on a ride I did not see coming. First up: a sub walks into a high school on eighties day and witnesses a kid try to smash his phone with weights and somehow sets off the fire alarm in the process. Then another teacher shares a story that starts like a simple math problem and ends in the darkest dad joke ever written on a whiteboard.
Somewhere between bathroom popcorn hustles, entrepreneurial students, and emotional damage disguised as equations, we unpack why teachers are equal parts stand-up comedians and hostage negotiators.
Takeaways:
A substitute teacher’s unbelievable day: a phone, a dumbbell, and a fire alarm.
The student-run popcorn speakeasy that actually made money.
The eternal mystery of why schools shut down every student side hustle.
A math lesson that turned into an emotional roast of one missing dad.
Andrea’s take on why chaos might actually be a sign of creative genius.
--
Teachers’ night out? Yes, please! Come see comedian Educator Andrea…Get your tickets at teachersloungelive.com and Educatorandrea.com/tickets for laugh out loud Education!
—
Don’t Be Shy Come Say Hi: www.podcasterandrea.com
Watch on YouTube: @educatorandrea
A Human Content Production
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Teachers Deserve Hazard Pay For Moments Like TheseNov 3, 2025 · 31 minThis week’s voicemails reminded me why teachers deserve Oscars for keeping it together. One teacher shares the horror of being publicly asked if she’s pregnant and another walks us through a “balloon” disaster that turned out to be something… very not balloon-like. Plus, I unpack the best advice I ever got from an administrator about what to do when kids say something so wild you have to literally turn and face the wall.
Takeaways:
A choir teacher’s nightmare: a seventh grader publicly asking if she’s pregnant, complete with hand motions.
The admin advice that changed how Andrea handles those can’t-laugh-right-now moments.
Why students will always “rather seem like a badass than a dumbass.”
A “balloon” story that turned into the world’s most awkward cleanup.
The lesson every teacher learns eventually: if it’s round, floating, and suspiciously slippery… don’t kick it.
--
Teachers’ night out? Yes, please! Come see comedian Educator Andrea…Get your tickets at teachersloungelive.com and Educatorandrea.com/tickets for laugh out loud Education!
—
Don’t Be Shy Come Say Hi: www.podcasterandrea.com
Watch on YouTube: @educatorandrea
A Human Content Production
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Why Is This Man Eating Placenta Soup?!Oct 27, 2025 · 36 minThis week started with a gut punch, my course evaluations. Let’s just say a few of my college students think I should “go back to teaching middle school.” Ouch. But you know what? They might have a point.
Somewhere between grading, crying, and doom-scrolling, I stumbled into a TikTok hole about a guy making something called “perpetual stew.” (Spoiler: it involves placenta. You’re welcome.)
Then I found joy again through the weirdest toy ever made, the Fugglers, and two teacher voicemails that prove no classroom (or online class) is ever boring. Oh, and a story about a teen giving birth mid-class that somehow leads to me oversharing about my own labor story.
We’ll end with a TED Talk reminder about being a champion for your students… and a hill I will absolutely die on: letting kids live online before they can legally be left alone is one of the biggest mistakes we’re making as parents.
Takeaways:
Andrea opens up about getting roasted in her course evaluations and why she actually agrees with some of the criticism.
The placenta stew TikTok saga that you won’t be able to stop thinking about (for better or worse).
A hilarious (and horrifying) teacher voicemail about a car “stolen by a tow truck” and a class of sixth graders trying to cheer their teacher up.
A second voicemail that takes a wild turn when a student’s water breaks during last period.
Andrea’s final reflection on Rita Pierson’s “Every Kid Needs a Champion” TED Talk and her hill to die on: protecting kids from early internet exposure.
--
Teachers’ night out? Yes, please! Come see comedian Educator Andrea…Get your tickets at teachersloungelive.com and Educatorandrea.com/tickets for laugh out loud Education!
—
Don’t Be Shy Come Say Hi: www.podcasterandrea.com
Watch on YouTube: @educatorandrea
A Human Content Production
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Regulars
Browse comedians →