• Why Teachers Are Quitting and How to Survive the Classroom - The Teacher's Lounge Live | Ep. 57
    Jan 19 2026
    Welcome back to **The Teacher’s Lounge** — the only podcast where grown adults talk about teaching, stress, and classroom chaos...while also debating whether being too good-looking is a curse. (It is. Apparently.) In this episode, Matt, Chris, and Zo are back in full teacher mode, breaking down what it’s *really* like being “on” all day, managing stress, dealing with impossible expectations, and trying not to lose your mind because a kid just broke a table and another one is chewing on a Chromebook like it’s beef jerky. We also dive into: * Why attractive people are “untrustworthy” (science apparently said so) * Teacher life being like celebrity life (except with less money and more trauma) * How first-year teachers survive (union reps, mentors, and LETTING GO) * The difference between a “Gordon,” a “Corey,” and a “John-John” in your classroom ecosystem * Why teachers don’t hate teaching… they hate being forced to be security guards, therapists, and firefighters If you’re a teacher, this episode is group therapy. If you’re not a teacher… welcome to the circus. 🎪 --- **00:00 – Intro & welcome back** Immediate chaos, immediate vibes **00:00:08 – The Teacher’s Lounge intros + “middle schoolers hate everything”** Teaching theater to kids who don’t care about anything **00:01:04 – Phone caddy drama = relationship stress** “Put your phone up… but my girl texted me!” **00:01:22 – Good-looking guy trust issues (apparently scientific)** Too handsome to be believed **00:02:26 – The hot mugshot criminal phenomenon** Crime is wrong… unless you’re fine **00:03:18 – Parent-teacher conferences must be wild for attractive teachers** Respectfully, focus is impossible **00:04:16 – Matt gets measured at the doctor’s office** Breaking news: he’s taller than he thought **00:06:14 – Posting younger selves (and looking mentally unwell)** “I look like a serial killer” 💀 **00:07:18 – Back to school stress check-in** Everyone is busy, everyone is cooked **00:08:04 – CBD explained + Charlotte’s Web mention** Relaxation without the “I’m in space” part **00:09:22 – Teaching is like being a celebrity (but sadder)** Ben Affleck energy but in a classroom **00:12:14 – CalTPA stress + teaching full-time + school full-time** The “I’m losing my mind” speedrun **00:13:09 – The week was fine… until someone broke a table** And then it all went downhill on a sled **00:14:19 – Standing 5.5 hours a day + teacher body fatigue** Also: eating anything and not gaining weight?? **00:16:22 – Kids watching teachers like zombies through blinds** No privacy, ever **00:17:01 – Viewer comment: 24-year-old teacher having a breakdown** Real advice for surviving year 1–3 **00:18:16 – The #1 survival skill: LET IT GO** Control what you can, release what you can’t **00:18:55 – Union reps + mentors + therapy support** Practical help teachers forget exists **00:20:10 – You can’t save every kid (and it’s not a movie)** Even Robin Williams couldn’t fix everything **00:20:44 – Classroom archetypes: Gordons, Coreys, John-Johns, Angels** The Teacher’s Lounge Extended Universe expands **00:23:05 – If your school sucks… leave it** GreatSchools ratings and “shop around” **00:24:15 – The guilt teachers carry (“the kids need you”)** You can’t pour from an empty cup **00:25:15 – Angry comment: “Teachers should reach every kid”** Teachers get blamed for EVERYTHING **00:31:00 – Grade inflation: it’s not teachers, it’s policy** Equitable grading explained **00:34:20 – Social promotion + No Child Left Behind** Why grades “don’t matter” until they do **00:41:09 – Google Gemini makes retake tests insanely easy** Instant test + answer key = teacher cheat code **00:43:14 – “We don’t hate teaching… we hate the extra jobs”** Security guard, therapist, firefighter = not in the contract **00:46:20 – Teacher self-care reality check** You cannot survive on donuts and Netflix alone **00:47:01 – Outro + gratitude to the community** Support teachers, share clips, stay alive --- #teachersloungepodcast #teacherpodcast #educationpodcast #teacherburnout #teacherlife #teacherhumor #comedy #publicschoolsystem #classroommanagement #stress #teachermentalhealth #schoolstories #teachercommunity #comedypodcast --- If you laughed, related, or felt your eye twitch because this episode is TOO REAL… **hit LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and drop a comment** so we know you’re out there surviving too. Share this with: * A first-year teacher who’s currently in fight-or-flight * A veteran teacher who’s mastered “calm but dead inside” * Or a non-teacher who thinks we “get summers off” 😌 ---
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    47 Min.
  • Teaching Burnout Is Real (And It’s Getting Worse) - The Teacher's Loung Live | Ep. 56
    Jan 12 2026
    Welcome back to **The Teacher’s Lounge Podcast**, where winter break ends, stress returns instantly, and everyone pretends they’re “fine” for about three days. In this episode, the crew comes back from break to unpack **adulthood, teaching burnout, classroom chaos, discipline (the scary word), and why public schools feel like an insane asylum with bells**. This episode hits the sweet spot between hilarious and deeply concerning. We talk about: * Why LA keeps you emotionally 17 forever * Teaching as psychological water torture * Discipline becoming a forbidden word * Why teachers are expected to be therapists, security, nurses, and magicians * And the harsh truth: you can love kids *and* hate the system If you’re a teacher, this episode is therapy. If you’re not — welcome to the classroom. We’re tired. --- **00:00 – Intro & welcome back** Winter break amnesia hits hard **00:00:24 – Miami Vice vacation energy** Vacation shirts and fake confidence **00:00:42 – LA hate vs LA worship** Why everyone has an opinion on Los Angeles **00:01:59 – Running into hometown critics** Buffalo Wild Wings reality check **00:02:21 – Why LA keeps you young forever** No seasons, no aging, no accountability **00:03:01 – From Olive Garden to substitute teaching** The accidental path into education **00:04:20 – Parents love “normal jobs”** Why teaching calms artist parents instantly **00:09:26 – Students assuming pregnancy rumors** Instagram + middle school math **00:10:25 – Winter Academy & mental health** Knowing when to say no **00:15:08 – Teaching = golden handcuffs** Why it’s hard to leave and harder to stay **00:16:42 – Public schools as insane asylums**No consequences, all blame **00:18:52 – Verbal abuse with zero accountability** When kids cross lines and nothing happens **00:20:40 – Managing stress in real time** Breathing through chaos **00:22:00 – Discipline disappearing from schools** Lord of the Flies energy **00:23:29 – Discipline becoming a dirty word**And why that’s dangerous **00:25:18 – Learned behavior from home** Why schools inherit parenting gaps **00:28:32 – Calling home: the only real tool**Why teachers avoid it anyway **00:31:01 – “Gordon” kids explained** Old souls as classroom stabilizers **00:34:07 – Why schools need MORE funding** Equity explained without buzzwords **00:36:31 – Teachers can’t be therapists** 40 kids, one adult, impossible expectations **00:39:33 – Burnout vs caring** You can feel both at the same time **00:42:02 – Why class size actually matters** 32 kids is the breaking point **00:44:35 – How long can teachers survive?** One day at a time **00:49:01 – Career advice teachers actually give** Why trade school keeps coming up **00:52:20 – Teacher New Year’s resolutions**Realistic goals only **00:53:23 – Final thoughts & sign-off** Inspiring kids, surviving systems --- #teacherburnout #educationpodcast #teaching #humor #teachermentalhealth #classroomchaos #educationsystem #teachercomedy #podcastclips #schoolculture --- If this episode made you laugh, nod aggressively, or question your career choices — **hit like, subscribe, and leave a comment** so YouTube knows teachers still exist. Share this with: * A teacher who’s counting the minutes * A parent who thinks schools “don’t discipline anymore” * Or anyone who’s ever said, *“Well if it’s so hard, why don’t you quit?”* Class dismissed. 🛎️
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    54 Min.
  • Quick Announcement
    Jan 5 2026
    New episodes will resume next week. We can't wait to see you in 2026. Thanks! -The Teacher's Lounge
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    1 Min.
  • Why Teachers Are Hamsters on a Wheel | Music, Burnout & Race in Schools | Teacher’s Lounge | Ep. 55
    Dec 29 2025
    !!WARNING - Santa Ana winds got us early and knocked out the power - its a short sweet episode - but we will finish what we started, until then (drum roll) - Welcome back to The Teacher’s Lounge — still technically a podcast, still live, and still one snapped sword-swing away from being edited in post. In Episode 55, the lounge pulls up an extra chair as Kip (8th grade English teacher & musical mastermind) joins the crew for one of the most honest conversations we’ve had yet. We get into: * Why teaching can feel like running endlessly on a hamster wheel * The reality of loving students but knowing the job won’t love you back * Time, burnout, and why teachers aren’t financially built to “win” * Music, rhythm, and why kids remember songs better than math * Being more than a stereotype as a teacher * Race, segregation, redlining, and uncomfortable truths inside schools * Why schools avoid tough conversations until something explodes This episode is funny, uncomfortable, thoughtful, and exactly what happens when teachers talk **after the bell rings** — when the admin isn’t listening. Pull up a chair. This one matters. --- 00:00 – Intro & welcome back 00:01:50 – Is teaching burnout inevitable? 00:02:11 – Why Kim plans to leave teaching (eventually) 00:03:28 – Teaching hypocrisy & telling kids to dream big 00:05:13 – Is teaching actually bad for your body? 00:06:11 – Kim’s music industry past 00:07:05 – Learning through rhythm & beats 00:08:05 – Being more than a stereotype to students 00:09:02 – Race, segregation & LA schools 00:11:11 – Racism, accountability & classroom reality 00:13:35 – Admin “nose blindness” & microaggressions 00:15:36 – Assimilation myths & generational poverty 00:16:31 – Integration & uncomfortable truths 00:17:28 – Test scores, race & dangerous narratives --- #teachersloungepodcast #teacherpodcast #TeacherLife #EducationComedy #TeachingCulture #teacherburnout #SchoolStories #EducationPodcast #ClassroomReality #TeachingInAmerica #TeacherTalk #publiceducation #FacultyLounge --- If this episode made you laugh, pause, or quietly say “yeah… that’s real”: 👉 **Like** the video so more teachers find the lounge 👉 **Subscribe** for weekly conversations they don’t let us have on campus 👉 **Comment** — especially if this episode hit close to home 👉 **Share** with a teacher who’s questioning year 21 This space exists because teaching is hard — and pretending it isn’t helps no one. ---
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    18 Min.
  • Teachers Are Held Together by Coffee, Comfortable Shoes & Pure Survival | The Teacher’s Lounge Ep.54
    Dec 22 2025
    If you’ve ever dragged yourself to class like a zombie, contemplated a vow of silence, or prayed “please don’t let me get sick before break,” this episode is for you. Welcome to the lounge — we’re at capacity, but spiritually, there’s room for you. --- ⏱️ Class Schedule 00:00 – Intro & welcome back 00:01 – Surviving the final stretch before Christmas break 00:02 – Directing kids in theater is controlled chaos 00:03 – “1,000 babies and 1,500 electrical outlets” 00:05 – Why the last two weeks feel painfully slow 00:06 – Calling parents like a telemarketer 00:07 – Teachers doing Verizon-level customer service 00:08 – Electives = children’s TV host energy 00:09 – Kids showing up late & classroom chaos 00:11 – Texting parents without losing your sanity 00:13 – Payday parents & lawsuit culture 00:16 – ChatGPT officially gets detention 00:18 – Gold Star: the most comfortable teacher shoes 00:22 – Air Max 90s vs dress shoes vs Chuck Taylors 00:27 – Shoes that literally hurt your back 00:30 – Gifts from students (and subtle bribes) 00:34 – Candy cane corruption & political analogies 00:38 – The most impressive teacher gift ever 00:40 – Viral teacher talk & fear of getting sick 00:44 – Holiday break plans: doing absolutely nothing 00:47 – Holiday send-off & teacher solidarity --- 📢 If this episode made you laugh, nod aggressively, or whisper *“yep, that’s accurate”* — do us a favor: 👉 **Like** the video (it tells the algorithm we’re not alone) 👉 **Subscribe** so you don’t miss future lounge sessions 👉 **Comment** with your worst pre-break story or shoe recommendations 👉 **Share** with a teacher who’s one cough away from snapping This show exists for teachers, parents, and anyone who’s ever survived a school hallway in December. - #teacherpodcast #teacher #stories #humor #education #comedy,
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    48 Min.
  • Navigating Burnout In the Seasons of Life with Dr. O-Ep. 53
    Dec 15 2025
    Welcome back to The Teachers Lounge — the podcast where burnt-out educators, comedians, and deep thinkers sit down to ask the *big questions*… and occasionally roast the education system while doing it. It's our 53 episode and if you've made it this far we have a very special guest -- we’re joined by the one and only Dr. O — minister, theologian, former professor, editor-in-chief, and all-around spiritual heavyweight — for a wide-ranging conversation that starts with teacher burnout and somehow (naturally) ends up in African mystical Christianity, initiation rituals, divine consciousness, and why religion keeps getting it wrong. Today we chat about: * Why teaching burns people out * How academia eats its own * Why being human might be the whole point * And why the education system gaslights teachers harder than admin PD buzzwords Plus: stories from Nigeria, Chicago, Claremont, Venice, and the kind of wisdom you only get after **56 years of teaching humans**. If you’ve ever felt exhausted, disillusioned, or like the system is broken — this one’s for you. --- The syllabus to today's episode: 00:00 – Intro & welcome back 01:06 – Introducing Dr. O 01:26 – Teaching as a lifelong calling 01:51 – Ministry, churches, and spiritual mentorship 04:53 – Becoming a college professor 05:56 – Academia burnout & entitled students 07:38 – Being underestimated in higher education 09:13 – Teachers as counselors, therapists, and emotional dumpsters 10:23 – Why calling matters (and why burnout happens) 11:15 – The four types of people in ministry 12:32 – Education jargon & gaslighting teachers 13:38 – Being watched, judged, and misunderstood 14:00 – Why religion focuses on “don’ts” instead of healing 15:08 – Thick skin, public roles, and codependency 16:02 – Leaving academia with no backup plan 17:38 – Professors eating each other alive 18:16 – Resigning with tenure on the table 18:55 – The elevator moment that changed everything 19:44 – From professor to publishing executive 20:10 – Teaching millions without a classroom 21:09 – Why modern religion turns people off 24:36 – Why the Protestant Bible is shorter 30:48 – Caste systems, racism, and history 32:24 – Meditation, levitation & early Christians 36:02 – Personal experience vs religious coercion 41:37 – Divinity and humanity 45:33 – “God became human” explained 46:42 – Humanity struggling to like itself 50:32 – Speaking with intention 52:09 – Believing in humanity 56:01 – Alignment with who you are 01:00:13 – “It’s not them, it’s me” (teachers, listen) 01:06:01 – The question every religion must answer 01:08:29 – Human choices & cosmic consequences --- #teachersloungepodcast #teacherpodcast #burntoutteachers #educationhumor #teacherlife #podcastclips #deepconversations #faithandculture #africanhistory #christianity #unfiltered #spiritualitypodcast #burnout #religionandculture #parents #comedians --- If this episode hit home, like the video, drop a comment, and subscribe so you don’t miss future conversations that start in a classroom and end somewhere spiritually unhinged. Share this with: * A teacher who’s exhausted * A friend who hates religion but loves questions * Or someone who still thinks PD acronyms solve everything 🌐 Website: www.aactev8.com 📸 Instagram: @activateinternational
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    1 Std. und 28 Min.
  • Returning From Break Is a Trap | Teachers Lounge Podcast | Ep 52
    Dec 8 2025
    Welcome back to The Teachers Lounge Live — the only podcast where exhausted teachers and comedians try to survive the week without rage-quitting, rage-eating, or rage-baiting middle schoolers. Matt and Chris break down the emotional rollercoaster of returning from Thanksgiving break, why teachers age like bananas, why sleep hits different after 30, and why Los Angeles is scientifically proven to remove 12 years from your life. They also talk about: • Middle school chaos • Admin who *actually* deserve a gold star • Why every teacher secretly doubles as a security guard, therapist, busboy, hostage negotiator, and sometimes… Shakespeare director • Whether teachers should date other teachers (the answer is unhinged but honest) • Their most viral Teacher Talks of the week • Why kids think glue is a beverage • Why 16 boys in every class want to reenact historical assassinations Make sure to drop your questions in the comments so we can read them *on-air* next episode — **as long as they’re school appropriate** (we say that phrase 900 times a day, so don’t make us say it again). --- You can skip chapters - but don't skip class: 00:00 – Intro & welcome back 00:08 – “We are LIVE!” + teacher intros 00:29 – Why being a teacher matters (…apparently) 00:49 – Teachers = stressed, viewers = stressed, everyone = stressed 01:11 – “This podcast is AA for teachers” 02:11 – Post-Thanksgiving chill… kind of 02:33 – The luxury of teaching 10–12 kids at once 02:52 – Shoutout to missing co-host Zo (tech week chaos) 03:13 – Fashion roast: Zo is always best dressed 03:30 – Matt’s squeaky retirement sneakers from Shoe Carnival 04:05 – Teacher mood cycle: Mon = good → Thu = furious → Fri = in love 04:44 – Why teachers need Olympian-level sleep 05:24 – “One McChicken can ruin your whole week after 30” 05:51 – Chris admits his ACTUAL age (47) 06:13 – Detention of the week: Our middle-school selves 07:12 – Why middle-school boys reenact every assassination 07:31 – Matt deserved detention for being “annoying, not mean” 08:15 – Small-town fame & childhood chaos 08:38 – Did young Matt do well academically? (…kinda) 09:31 – When high school flips a switch and you discover reading 10:29 – “Every book is a self-help book if you read it right” 12:08 – Russian literature teaches psychological self-defense 13:10 – Viewers join in — live chat shoutouts! 14:02 – Chris: “I was voted Most Talkative” 15:20 – Gold Star of the week: *Good admin* (yes they exist) 16:22 – Why admin gets blamed for everything 17:13 – Worst subbing experience of Matt’s life 18:12 – Best subbing experience: admin who actually helped 19:19 – What good admin *actually* looks like 20:14 – Checking in with the live chat 20:34 – Viewer Q: “Have you always been this stressed?” 22:08 – Why living in Los Angeles shaves years off your life 23:38 – How does anyone live to 100 in L.A.? 24:18 – Chris on managing stress like a Stoic philosopher 25:15 – Matt’s reality: “I’m a security guard trying to teach Shakespeare” 26:33 – Why drama class = pure chaos 27:17 – Rage-baiting: The new middle-school sport 27:57 – The Great Gum Debate 29:00 – Why adults who’ve never taught don’t get it 30:25 – Next viewer question: “Would you date another teacher?” 31:09 – Matt on proposing + dating comics 31:56 – Chris’s rule: “Not if they work at my school” 33:08 – Why breakups + same workplace = chaos 34:03 – Dating teachers at UTLA meetings (Chris’s new plan) 34:28 – Why teacher-teacher relationships *can* actually work 35:11 – Why dating in the same creative field is complicated 35:53 – Teaching couples vs comedy couples 36:12 – Dating someone outside the teacher bubble 38:26 – Highlighting this week’s top Teacher Talks 39:05 – Why Zo’s teacher talks are taking off 40:12 – Sketch comedy & stand-up clips coming soon 41:15 – Remember: they *are* actually funny 42:04 – The balance between honesty & humor 42:29 – Favorite Teacher Talks of the week 43:23 – Matt’s rant on educational jargon 44:05 – Chris’s “How many days till winter break?” talk 44:22 – Can you get work done the last week before break? 45:25 – Final sign-off & reminders --- #teacherpodcast #teacherhumor #comedians #middleschoolteachers #teacherlife #educationcomedy #teachertalks #classroomchaos #teachersupport #livepodcast #comedypodcast #teachertok #educatorlife --- If this episode made you laugh, cry, or briefly consider a career at Shoe Carnival, smash that LIKE button, drop your wildest classroom moment in the COMMENTS, and hit SUBSCRIBE so you never miss a meltdown. Share this with a stressed-out teacher friend — it might save a life. Or at least their sanity. ---
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    46 Min.
  • Teacher Confessions: Friendship Breakups, Book Fair Crimes & Identity Crises | Ep. 51
    Dec 1 2025
    Welcome back to The Teacher’s Lounge, the only show where classroom chaos meets unhinged comedy, and somehow we all leave feeling better about our lives. In Episode 51, the crew dives into: • Zoe’s “kid with 35-year-old energy” • Chris’s ongoing identity crisis between “Christopher” and “Chris” • Matt’s self-esteem getting destroyed by middle schoolers • Sneaky Book Fair bandits • What teachers REALLY fight about • And the question: **Why are students eating school lunch like Olympic speed-eaters?** Plus — the group breaks down the psychology of *friendship breakups*, why the talent-show era is the peak teacher-life arc, and how much teachers lie when they’re 3 hours deep into rehearsals. If you’re new: welcome to the chaos. If you’re returning: welcome home. --- 00:00 – Intro & welcome back 02:06 – Matt gets roasted by students 04:16 – Kids who look grown but act 7 04:57 – “He’s built like a Marvel character but cries like a toddler” 05:44 – The danger of being TOO honest as a teacher 06:05 – Teacher guilt when you correct the wrong kid 08:36 – The Book Fair crime ring begins 11:38 – Why teacher directions always sound like threats 12:14 – Talent show ERAS — “This is my peak!” 16:09 – Why teachers lie during rehearsals 17:00 – Kids sprinting through lunch like they’re in a contest 18:05 – Gold Star!!! 18:47 – Kids dumping best friends over pencils 19:28 – Adult friendship breakups are REAL 20:16 – Zoe’s “What’s the lesson?” moment 21:37 – Listener Q&A: “Should I move schools?” 22:44 – Teacher burnout mental math 23:28 – The wisdom: if your community sucks, LEAVE 25:27 – Trauma bonding in the teacher’s lounge 26:18 – When coworkers trauma-dump at 7 a.m. 27:11 – School lockdown drill story 29:55 – Outro and thank you --- #teachersloungepodcast #teachercomedy #teacherlife #teacherproblems #MiddleSchoolTeachers #BookFair #ClassroomStories #Teaching2025 #teacherhumor #SchoolLife #EducatorStruggles #comedypodcast #FriendshipBreakups #TalentShowDrama #EastCoastHumor #teacherburnout #classroomchaos #teachersoftiktok #teachersupport #podcastclips --- If this episode made you laugh, cry, or look at a child and think “you’re 35,” then do us a favor: 👉 **LIKE the video** 👉 **SUBSCRIBE to the channel** 👉 **DROP a comment** with the funniest thing a student has ever said to you 👉 **SHARE this episode** with a teacher who deserves a break Teachers deserve joy — thanks for letting us be part of yours. ---
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    49 Min.