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Playing Teacher
đď¸ What is a teacher, really?
And whatâs it actually like inside a New York City school?
Welcome to Playing Teacher, where veteran educators Matt and Robâwith over 40 years of combined experience teaching in NYCâpull back the curtain on the myths, realities, and moments that make education unforgettable (for better or worse). From the mysterious teacherâs lounge to the myth of âsummer off,â they explore what really happens when the classroom door closes.
This isnât a shiny brochure version of school. Itâs the real deal:
đ§ Learning vs. schooling.
â¤ď¸ What kids actually carry with them.
đĽ How teachers and counselors survive systems built to burn them out.
And when weâre lucky enough to have her, weâre joined by Beanieâschool counselor, educator, and recurring co-hostâwho brings powerful insight, grounded compassion, and the kind of perspective only someone who's worked both inside and around the classroom can offer.
đĽ Guests range from teachers, students, and administrators to learning scientists, former kids (yes, really), and other unexpected voices from the world of education.
Whether you're in the classroom, supporting from the sidelines, or just trying to make sense of how we learn and why it mattersâthis is your hallway pass to the inside.
Episodes
26 episodes
Epsiode 26: From the Classroom to the Central Office: A Conversation with Dr. Neill Alleva
In this episode, the Playing Teacher team sits down with Dr. Neil for a wide-ranging conversation about education, leadership, and the relationships that shape a career in schools. The discussion moves from the early days of teaching and school...
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Episode 25: Stats, Laughs, and Staff Bathroom Scandals
In this milestone 25th episode of Playinâ Teacher, the crew looks back at the podcastâs growth, biggest episodes, and where listeners are tuning in from around the world. What starts as a stats check quickly turns into something bigger...
Episode 24: Desk Jockeys: The Hidden Politics of Classroom Furniture
In Episode 24 of Season 1, the Playing Teacher team explores the surprisingly loaded topic of desks in schools. From bizarre desk drawer discoveries to classroom desk placement strategies, the conversation moves from humorous teacher stories to...
Episode 23: AI in the Classroom: Tool, Threat, or Teacher?
Episode 23 of Playing Teacher tackles one of the biggest questions in education today: What happens when classrooms become dominated by screens, software, and artificial intelligence?Robert, Matthew, and Brugge discuss the post-...
Episode 22: The Aging Educator: Sweet Spots, Second Winds, and the Retirement Countdown
What actually happens in a teacherâs final years in the classroom?In this episode, Matt, Robert, and Jeannine dig into the lived reality of the aging educatorânot as a comparison to younger teachers, but as its own unique...
Episode 21: Body Odor, Bad Falls & Behind-the-Scenes Book Building
Tech trouble, Mario cosplay, workplace mishaps, and way too many stories about falling down. In this episode, Robert, Matthew, and Brugge dive into a chaotic mix of muted microphones, Halloween go-kart adventures, deodora...
Episode 20: Teachers vs. NYC Parking: The Ultimate Urban Survival Story
Every NYC teacher has a horror story â but this one starts with a parking meter.In this episode, Matthew, Brugge, and Robert tackle the ultimate urban educator struggle: finding a parking spot in New York City. From 4:30 ...
Episode 19: Teachers, Titles, Telehealth, and Trust
OverviewIn this milestone episode, the hosts celebrate reaching 500 podcast downloads and reflect on personal experiences that reveal how trust, credentials, and communication shape everyday life â from healthcare visits to...
Episode 18: Fortnight to Fortnite (Culture as Curriculum)
A glitchy start becomes a candid systems-level conversation about age dynamics and professional identity across schools and clinics. After wrangling audio issues, the team unpacks how age and experience shape credibility, communication, and dec...
Episode 17: Teachers on the Move: Diets, Fitness, and Fresh Starts
In this episode, Matt, Rob, and Brugge share candid reflections on the challenges of maintaining health and balance as educators. The conversation spans from their high school experiences to their ongoing efforts with weight loss, diet p...
Episode 16: Behind the Curtain: How Teachers Really Get Hired in New York City
Getting hired in the New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) isnât just about what you knowâitâs often about who you know. In this episode of Playing Teacher: The Podcast, we pull back the curtain on the hiring process in the la...
Episode 15: Why We Left Teaching (and Where We Hid While We Stayed)
In this episode of Playing Teacher, Robert, Matthew, and Brugge dive deep into the bittersweetâand sometimes hilariousâworld of teachers leaving their jobs and the hidden realities behind the classroom door.They talk about:<...
Episode 14: Field Trip Fails, Emergency Room Runs, and Outback Steakhouse
In this unforgettable episode of Playing Teacher, Rob, Brugge, and Matthew take us behind the scenes of one of the most chaotic rituals in education: the school field trip.It all begins with a subway disasterâMatthew desc...
Episode 13: The Secret Game of Calling Out...Rules, Risks & Ridiculousness
In Episode 13 of Playing Teacher, we pull back the curtain on one of the most absurd realities of working in education: calling out sick. From planning sub folders while mid-fever to writing emergency plans in a NyQuil haze, we ...
Episode 12: Teacher Headlines, DOE Dreams & The 50-Minute Flop
đ Episode Description:In this episode of the Playing Teacher Podcast, we debut a brand-new segment: đ¤ Teacher Headlines with Janine Brugge, where we explore whatâs really going on in the world of education...
Episode 11: Field Day, Minecraft Battle & Upstanders
In this episode of the Playing Teacher Podcast, we delve into the vibrant world of education, sharing personal anecdotes and professional insights that resonate with educators, students, and lifelong learners alike.đŻ Episode ...
Episode 10: Pacing, Pop Culture, and the 30-Second Reprimand
đď¸ Playing Teacher Ep. 10 â Pacing, Pop Culture, and the 30-Second ReprimandDescription:In this episode of Playing Teacher, Matt recounts a jaw-dropping moment when he was called out in front of students...
Episode 9: Carrots, Sticks, and the Art of Motivation in the Classroom
In this episode of Playing Teacher, we unpack one of the most familiar â and controversial â strategies in elementary education: rewards and incentives. From treasure boxes and pizza parties to Dojo points and public pr...
Episode 7: Remember When⌠(Memorable Moments & Movie Magic)
In this episode of Playing Teacher, we talk about the moments that stickâthe scenes from our lives as educators that play in our minds like movies. You know the ones: the hallway showdown, the field trip fiasco, the spontaneous dance p...
Episode 8: Teaching and Learning During COVID in NYC
In this episode of Playing Teacher, we rewind to one of the most surreal, exhausting, and defining chapters in modern education: COVID in New York City. Teaching during the pandemic wasnât just about pivoting to Zoomâit was abou...
Episode 6: I Did It My Way: Authenticity in a System That Doesnât Always Want It
In this episode of Playing Teacher, we talk about something every educator feels at some pointâwhat it means to be yourself in a school system that often prefers you to color inside the lines. Whether itâs...
Episode 5: Are We Okay? (Spoiler: Probably Not)
Teaching, Sanity, and the Fine Line Between Passion and BurnoutIn this episode of Playing Teacher, we ask the question that lingers behind every empty coffee cup, every hallway meltdown, and every wildly creative bullet...
Episode 4: Roll Film: Cinema, Memory, and Metaphor in the Classroom
In this episode of Playing Teacher, we pull back the curtain on a not-so-secret weapon in our teaching toolbox: cinema. Whether we were screening something in our makeshift movie theater during lunch or showing a film to an enti...
Episode 3: The Hook: The Art of Captivation
In this episode of Playing Teacher, we dive into The Hookâthat elusive, electric moment when a teacher pulls students in and makes them want to learn. Itâs the magic trick, the spark, the wink across the room that say...
Episode 2: Preps and Lunches (and Superpong)
In this episode of Playing Teacher, Matt, Rob, and Brugge crack open one of the most sacred and underrated parts of the school day: preps and lunches. More than just breaks, these windows of time were life-saving lifelines