SO... WHAT'S THE SHOW ALL ABOUT?

Welcome to The Balancing Act, a podcast straight out of Central New Jersey where two seasoned teachers take on the ultimate juggling act—balancing careers, parenting, aging parents, and supporting their families, all while navigating the ever-changing demands of teaching in a post-COVID world. Join us as we explore the challenges, triumphs, and humor that come with being full-time educators and full-time family members.

"The Balancing Act" isn’t just about sharing stories; it’s about building a community of listeners who understand the challenges of juggling life’s responsibilities. Whether you're a fellow teacher, a busy parent, or just another human striving to make it all work, we get you. Each week, we sit down with special guests and dive into timely education topics— so grab your coffee, earbuds, and maybe even your running shoes, and join us on this journey of finding harmony in life’s beautiful chaos. 

We'd love to hear your questions, topic requests, guest inquiries and feedback— shoot us an email at PodTheBalancingAct@gmail.com or through our contact form!

About the Hosts

Joseph Vitale Profile Photo

Joseph Vitale

Educator / Parent / Podcaster

Joe Vitale is a passionate middle school teacher with 26 years of classroom wisdom. Joe has been married to his incredible wife, Tracy, since 2003, and together they are navigating the thrilling journey of raising twins who are currently juniors in high school. Parenting teens is an adventure all its own, and the podcast shares relatable moments and insights that come with it.

Outside the classroom and the podcast studio, Joe enjoys soaking up the joys of summertime, exploring new places, hitting the golf course, and staying active by running. Life has a way of keeping him on his toes—whether it’s engaging with students, spending quality time with his family, or finding moments of self-care.

Jamie Wanko Profile Photo

Jamie Wanko

Educator / Parent / Podcaster

Jamie Wanko is a public school teacher with 24 years classroom experience, and will freely admit she still loves her day job. Married since 2005 to fellow educator Jason, she is deeply invested in exploring how to balance work, home, caring for aging parents, and all that goes along with managing the “crazy” that life has to offer. Proud Mom to a high school son, and identical twin middle school daughters, each day in the Wanko house is a revolving door of art projects, car pools, and the always eager question of “What’s for dinner?”

A self proclaimed beach bum, Jamie loves reading, flying down the bay on her jet ski, annual trips to Disney World, and the joy of sliding into deep social media and TV binging holes with her beloved Shih Tzu, Jingle, by her side. Educational theory junkie and devoted observer of humans, Jamie mixes humor, curiosity, and wide eyed enthusiasm into this podcast adventure.