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.
- Update frequency
- every 7 days
- Average duration
- 59 minutes
- Episodes
- 17
- Years Active
- 2024 - 2025
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 experiencâŚ
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 pulâŚ
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 behiâŚ
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 beginsâŚ
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 wrâŚ
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 thâŚ
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, studentsâŚ
Episode 10: Pacing, Pop Culture, and the 30-Second Reprimand
đď¸ Playing Teacher Ep. 10 â Pacing, Pop Culture, and the 30-Second Reprimand
Description:
In this episode of Playing Teacher, Matt recounts a jaw-dropping moment when he was called out inâŚ
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 paâŚ
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 showdoâŚ
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 theâŚ
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 wasâŚ
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, tâŚ
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 theateâŚ
Episode 5: Are We Okay? (Spoiler: Probably Not)
Teaching, Sanity, and the Fine Line Between Passion and Burnout
In this episode of Playing Teacher, we ask the question that lingers behind every empty coffee cup, every hallway meltdownâŚ
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 windoâŚ
Episode 1: The "Expert" Teacher
âOk, if itâs so easy you teach my class..please show me the way.â Ah, the fantasy of every teacher. Imagine a scenario where youâre told to change roles and write up your supervisor whâŚ