EPISODES & TRANSCRIPTIONS
June 24, 2025
Major Monumental Moments from Season 2
Join Joe and Jamie as they review and reminisce on Season 2 episodes of the Balancing Act Podcast. They will reveal their top three moments of the season, guests that left a lasting impression, and all the ways they plan to continue this journey in September with Season 3 of the podcast that has he…
The player is loading ...
June 17, 2025
Part II with Dr. Noelle Santorelli, Relational Aggression and Mean Girl Moms
One session with doctor Noelle Santorelli was simply not enough, we needed a part II. Join our hosts Joe and Jamie as they talk to Dr. Noelle Santorelli about her research and work into the topic of relational aggression, and what it means for parenting styles, relationships, and systems within fam…
The player is loading ...
June 10, 2025
Part I with Dr. Noelle Santorelli, Relational Aggression and Mean Girl Moms
Join our hosts Joe and Jamie as they talk to Dr. Noelle Santorelli about her research and work into the topic of relational aggression, and what it means for parenting styles, relationships, and systems within families and schools as people earnestly try to navigate this new way of dealing with eve…
The player is loading ...
June 3, 2025
What is exhausting the teachers?
Teachers in this country are perpetually exhausted. But why?? Join our veteran host teachers with over 50 years of teaching experience between them to explore the reasons behind why teachers are so tired. Both in and out of the classroom, teachers are more tired than ever, but why? Our hosts have s…
The player is loading ...
May 27, 2025
How much tech is too much? With Merve Lapus from Common Sense Media
Is this a tech “eat” tech world? Just how much tech is too much?Listen to our hosts discuss Ed Tech, social media and cell phones in schools, with Common Sense Media’s voice of reason, Merve Lapus. Lapus has a next level approach to how to parent and teach using tech, and some strong words of advic…
The player is loading ...
May 20, 2025
And One More Thing: Teachers are the Reason for all the Extras in Schools
Jamie and Joe revisit the topics connected to parent volunteers in public schools, as well as the weight of judgement between working and non working parents. Such hot topics in the education space overlap into the parenting space and include how much of the “extra” that exists in education is from…
The player is loading ...
May 13, 2025
Bianca and Chelsea from the NJAEA Pod Squad: Recruiting and Retaining Teachers
Bianca and Chelsea from the “NJEA Aspiring Ed PodSquad” podcast join us this week in an exciting pod swap experience. As hosts in their own right, these two ladies are navigating the education space and taking New Jersey by storm. TCNJ students and future teachers, Chelsea and Bianca share with Joe…
The player is loading ...
May 6, 2025
What Makes a “Good” Parent? Even Kelly Clarkson doesn't know.
In today's society being a parent can be amongst the most difficult of all of life’s challenges. Raising children is not for the faint of heart, and Jamie and Joe discuss some of the issues facing parents these days that make them both say, I don’t get it! Being a good parent is everyone’s goal, bu…
The player is loading ...
April 29, 2025
Why are Students not Successful in School? with Mitch Weathers
Educator, speaker and author Mitch Weathers joins the pod to discuss his method for maximizing student success with the Organized Binder method. Students, teachers and parents have noticed the cognitive load placed on our kids year after year, but are baffled as to the process in which to build the…
The player is loading ...
April 22, 2025
Middle School Minds Need Organized Systems
Whether it's grading, studying, or even navigating google classroom, organized systems don’t really exist for our students. How can we expect them to succeed when they have to adapt and change every hour of the day? Joe and Jamie discuss their methods for teaching and learning with middle schoolers…
The player is loading ...
April 15, 2025
Never stop dating… your co teacher?
Jennifer Mazzochi joins the pod this week to discuss co teaching connections. Special education teacher and coteaching aficionado Jennifer Mazzochi explains how to make the unique relationship between co teachers thrive in the best interest of the partnership and the students in their charge.
The player is loading ...
April 8, 2025
The Kids are Not Alright, but Why?
The kids are not alright— learned helplessness and lack of perseverance and grit are plaguing our schools and children across America— but why? Join Jamie and Joe as they explore possible reasons and solutions to the very big questions that keep many educators and parents awake each night.
The player is loading ...
April 1, 2025
We’re Not Foolin’, We love AnnaK
Joe and Jamie welcome Insta sensation AnnaK, also known as ReadAwaywithMissK, as they share their love of teaching, reading, and being funny. Anna shares her experiences in the classroom beginning in the Bronx and continuing all the way down to Louisville. Anna shares with us her love of teaching…
The player is loading ...
March 25, 2025
What Grinds Our Gears
Jamie and Joe are all about balance… and sometimes you need to bark out all your pettiest complaints to a friendly and compassionate ear to find your sense of zen. Listen to their hysterical banter as they swat things that drive each of them nuts both in and out of school.
The player is loading ...
March 18, 2025
Believe’ment is Achievement with Ed DeShazer
Director Edward DeShazer joins us to discuss teacher well being, how to maintain boundaries and his latest book, Closing the Believe’ment Gap. His powerful belief in positive behaviors, teacher support and pouring it back into the teachers of America will inspire even the most critical cynic.
The player is loading ...
March 4, 2025
Middle School Maniacs with Courtney Varner
Join Instagram and TikTok teacher/comedian Courtney Varner as she waxes poetic on all things she loves about teaching middle school. Straight from the snowy streets of Missouri, @Hi_Its_Me_Mrs._V joins forces with our hosts to share her secret to laughing her way through middle school.
The player is loading ...
Feb. 25, 2025
No Tech Teaching Review
Listen as our hosts discuss their “no tech teaching experience” when their boss challenged them to discard their student chromebooks for weeks. Hear their open and honest reviews of their time without tech in their classrooms.
The player is loading ...
Feb. 18, 2025
The Child Code with Dr. Danielle Dick
In this episode, we delve into child development with Dr. Danielle Dick, professor at Rutgers University and author of "The Child's Code." She discusses the genetic and environmental factors influencing children's behaviors, drawing from her experience as a mother of a high-risk child.
The player is loading ...
Feb. 11, 2025
Cell Phones and Valentine’s
In this episode of the Balancing Act podcast, we humorously discuss our personal food favorites, including nostalgic tomato soup. The conversation shifts to the impact of recent cold weather in New York on societal behavior and local traditions like Groundhog Day. We address NJ Governor Murphy's pr…
The player is loading ...
Feb. 4, 2025
Tech-Spert Wisdom with Dr. Tyler Tarver
Join Joe and Jamie as they gab it up with fellow educator Tyler Tarver, and watch as they fan-girl over every bit of wisdom he has to share about his vast educational experiences. Whether it's YouTube teaching, administration experience or A.I. in the classroom, keep all eyes and ears focused towa…
The player is loading ...
Jan. 28, 2025
Shocked, Shooketh, Shaken. Why don’t these kids like me? Season 2 - Episode 19
Lack of respect for teachers is an ongoing issue for most of us in our daily classroom experiences and it leaves many of us wondering "Why don’t these kids like me?". Are there any tips or tricks to help change relationship habits when it comes to mean students? Join Jamie and Joe as they hash out …
The player is loading ...
Jan. 14, 2025
New Year, Same Old Friends - Season 2 Episode 17
New Year’s Resolutions? Are they a thing of the past, or a goal setting achievement? Join co-hosts Jamie and Joe as they recap their winter holiday vacations spent with family and friends, and listen in as they discuss what is coming up in 2025. Big...
The player is loading ...
Dec. 17, 2024
2nd Annual Holiday Special - Season 2 Episode 16
Join co-hosts Jamie and Joe as they discuss their favorite holiday traditions from ornaments to dinners to gift giving galore. In the last episode of 2024, the Balancing Act podcast wishes you and yours a happy and healthy holiday season and a very...
The player is loading ...
Dec. 10, 2024
Holiday Stress? The Teachers Health Coach is in Session - Season 2 Episode 15
Join our hosts as they get some great guidance and advice from their new pal Charley Burley, who comes to the pod all the way from across the pond. Known as the.teachers.health.coach Charley, an educator himself provides advice and methods that are...
The player is loading ...
