Videos

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 Happy New Year. We will return in…

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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 applicable to ensure our listeners make their way…

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Dec. 3, 2024

Teacher Pay with K - Season 2 Episode 14

Join our hosts as they speak to a fellow New Jersey teacher and influencer getting to the root of the root and the bud of the bud of this thing called, Money. Teacher Pay with K talks about all things pension, contracts and what a strong union means to the…

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Nov. 26, 2024

Gobble Gobble, It’s Time to Talk Turkey - Season 2 Episode 13

Can you guess what was the first Thanksgiving food to be grown in space? How much did the largest pumpkin pie weigh? Join our hosts as they review their favorite parts and pieces for the upcoming holiday. Jamie and Joe talk sides, turkey, balloons and their plans for their Thanksgiving…

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Nov. 19, 2024

Employable Teens? Dishin’ out advice w/Nicholas Creamery owner Jodie Edwards - Season 2 Episode 12

Listen in as marketing and hiring expert Jodie Edwards sits with our hosts to provide insight into developing employable teens. The best generation? It's quite possible that you might be underestimating the wide open spaces your teen has yet to conquer. Co-owner of the popular New Jersey ice cream chain…

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Nov. 12, 2024

Tech Break? Helpful or nearly impossible? - Season 2 Episode 11

We are discussing the town of Kenilworth, New Jersey, who recently implemented a tech free school day. All educators continually discuss the implications of tech on students and wonder if it is causing more harm than help. Listen in as we applaud Kenilworth public schools for trying something different and…

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Nov. 5, 2024

Timmy Ho!!! It's our Canadian amie, Dawn Wiseman - Season 2 Episode 10

Dawn Wiseman is officially our first international guest. Bonjour to our new amie (that’s French for friend) Dawn Wiseman who has been teaching for 17 years, and has morphed into an AI enthusiast. Her tips and tricks for teachers on how to maximize their AI experience with multiple platforms will…

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Oct. 29, 2024

To Halloween or Not to Halloween - Season 2 Episode 9

Jamie and Joe wax poetic about Halloween past, and what it was like to be a Mom in the 80’s before the invention of Trunk o Treat. Should schools promote Halloween activities or not? Favorite candy and memories of the holiday make us all nostalgic for the romanticized version of…

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Oct. 20, 2024

The Queen of Mean Girl Moms, Dr. Noelle Santorelli - Season 2 Episode 7

Join us for an enthralling conversation with relationship and Mean Girl Mom expert Dr. Noelle Santorelli as we unravel the generational issues faced by those in the know, how to navigate being a mom, or a dad in today's culture parenting of exclusivity.

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Oct. 20, 2024

Coworkers: True Friends or Trauma Bonded? Season 2 Episode 8

Our hosts discuss coworkers: true friends or trauma bonded? Which is a topic close to their hearts. Are your co-workers really your true friends, or are you just not that close? Listen as they share their point of view and experiences in different schools with various groups of coworkers who…

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Oct. 8, 2024

Ho Ho Homework - Season 2 Episode 6

To homework or not to homework, that is the question. But why is it always the question? Teachers across America face this ongoing dispute and data of whether homework is good, bad or does little to improve students' understanding of the material covered in class. Our hosts give their input…

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Sept. 29, 2024

Theeeee Dee Hankins - Season 2 Episode 5

Left coast sensation and inspirational speaker Dee Hankins wows the hosts with his life experiences and optimistic approach to each day. Dee talks about parenting, challenges, and the ever changing students in the United States. Mr. Hankins uses his sass and humor to inspire, enthrall, and educate on how we…

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Sept. 24, 2024

There will always be time for canoodling - Season 2 Episode 4

Joe and Jamie talk about the new school year and the ongoing use of technology in their classrooms. Tune in for the continued debate on exactly how to be relevant, how to be fun, and just when exactly gamification in the classroom goes too far.

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Sept. 17, 2024

AI in the classroom: A Learning Revolution - Jonathan Mast Season 2 Episode 3

Part Two: The AI Guy, Jonathan Mast In Part Two, the AI guy talks classroom usage and real world applications of AI with our hosts, while offering numerous AI suggestions. Join Jamie and Joe as they learn tons of new and applicable techniques and processes for searching and understanding how…

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Sept. 10, 2024

Teacher's and AI - Jonathan Mast (Season 2 Episode 2)

Part One: The AI Guy, Jonathan Mast AI and all of its newness is a hot topic for everyone, whether in education or not. Our hosts agree to start slowly to understand the moral implications of its use along with some of the ideology behind AI from the point of…

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Sept. 3, 2024

Season Two Premiere! - And We're Back!!!! Season 2: Episode 1

Drumroll please… we are now a weekly podcast! Joe and Jamie are back with big news… they are now dropping weekly episodes. Summer has come to a close, and the hosts are ready to explore new topics with fantastic guests. Join the Balancing Act hosts for an exciting new season…

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Aug. 20, 2024

Best of Season 1: Host Picks - Episode 28

In our final best of episode of the summer, we look back at the important topics that we discussed during season 1. These 4 clips speak to our passion, our life, and what drives us as educators. Get a glimpse of some of the struggles that we deal with as…

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Aug. 6, 2024

Episode 27 Best of Season 1 Parenting Tips

On this best of episode from Season 1, let’s look back with our hosts as they listen to some of Season One's top guests as they talk about how to parent, how to help parents, and how they strive to guide their own children in this ever changing world that…

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July 23, 2024

Best of Season 1: New Teacher Advice - Episode 26

Episode 26 Best of Season One Let’s rewind the year and check out bits and pieces of the best of the best with Jessica Hawk, Tyler Tarver and Andrea Forcum. Our episode will highight some of the great advice they have for first year teachers. Our best of episodes are…

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July 9, 2024

Season One Finale: Summer…She is finally here!Episode 25

Let’s talk about how to recharge the batteries, because teachers are solar powered! Listen as Joe and Jamie reflect on the first season of The Balancing Act podcast, and how much the discussions informed and influenced the hosts' lives. Special thanks to all of the wonderful guests who stopped by…

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June 25, 2024

An Interview with M.C. Reckognize: Mrs. Phyllis Reckhow - Episode 24

Steps away from her final year of teaching we meet to talk to the formidable and beloved bestie-buddy of our co-host Jamie. Call her Reckie, Reckless, MC Reckognize, or Phyllis, the long time “student favorite” language arts teacher sits with us and happily shares wisdom, laughter and much needed perspective…

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June 11, 2024

Closing out the Year with a Skibbidy - Episode 23

Let’s look back at the good, the bad, and the “skibbidy” of the 23-24 school year. Self reflection, exit surveys, and a giant thumbs up from students means that the summer is heading this way. Join in and hear what worked, what didn’t and what the “gyat” might mean.

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May 28, 2024

Empathy, Sympathy and Adulting - Episode 22

The pod is back to update listeners about some of the ongoing family struggles that have continued throughout the course of the school year. In this heart to heart listen as our hosts share the ongoing difficulties that led to the development of the podcast. The hosts share how they…

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May 14, 2024

Tuh Tuh Tuh Teacher Face, Jessica Hawk - Episode 21

On this episode of The Balancing Act, we happily welcome influencer Jessica Hawk as she shares her 32 years of wisdom and experience inside and out of her New Jersey classroom. On her self proclaimed victory tour, Jessica is approaching retirement with bittersweet memories of her years as a high…

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