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Teachers Deserve It: Real Talk - Podcast

Teachers Deserve It: Real Talk

Welcome to Teachers Deserve It: Real Talk! Each week, we amplify the voices of educators with real stories, insights, and strategies. Hosted by the Teachers Deserve It team, we feature authentic conversations with teachers, administrators, and school leaders navigating the rewards and challenges of education. Tune in for practical strategies, work-life balance tips, and inspiring stories that empower educators at every stage.

Education How To
Update frequency
every 4 days
Average duration
17 minutes
Episodes
55
Years Active
2025
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Breakdown Bonus Episode: What if

Breakdown Bonus Episode: What if

BONUS EPISODE:

Doing nothing feels safe—but it’s the costliest decision a school can make.

In this episode of Teachers Deserve It: Real Talk, Rae Hughart breaks down the hidden toll of “waiting until …

00:04:54  |   Tue 09 Sep 2025
What If You Do Nothing? The Hidden Cost of Waiting to Support Your Staff

What If You Do Nothing? The Hidden Cost of Waiting to Support Your Staff

Doing nothing feels safe—but it’s the costliest decision a school can make.

In this episode of Teachers Deserve It: Real Talk, Rae Hughart breaks down the hidden toll of “waiting until next year” to i…

00:20:24  |   Tue 09 Sep 2025
5min Breakdown of Grant Tips for PD Support

5min Breakdown of Grant Tips for PD Support

Only have 5 min? Watch this quick video or listen in.

Then, snag your FREE Playbook at: https://tdi.thinkific.com/products/digital_downloads/TDIGrants

00:05:40  |   Wed 03 Sep 2025
The Easy Button for PD Funding

The Easy Button for PD Funding

Most schools are spending thousands on professional development that teachers forget in two weeks—while leaving untapped grant money sitting on the table. It doesn’t have to be this way.

In this episo…

00:27:16  |   Mon 01 Sep 2025
3 Things No Teacher Has Time for in Month 1

3 Things No Teacher Has Time for in Month 1

The first week of school is chaos... routines aren’t set, emails are piling up, and staff are already exhausted from “one more thing.” Teachers don’t hate PD… they hate wasted time.

In this episode of…

00:23:12  |   Mon 25 Aug 2025
Copy. Paste. Or Just Screenshot This: PD Tools That Actually Work

Copy. Paste. Or Just Screenshot This: PD Tools That Actually Work

This week we’re pulling back the curtain on one of the simplest—but most powerful—things we do at Teachers Deserve It: designing plug-and-play tools that schools can use instantly to make professiona…

00:17:17  |   Mon 18 Aug 2025
If You Wait, You’re Choosing Stress

If You Wait, You’re Choosing Stress

In this week’s Teachers Deserve It Podcast, Rae Hughart gets real about the final stretch before back-to-school—and why “waiting” to make a professional development plan isn’t just procrastination, i…

00:14:08  |   Mon 11 Aug 2025
You Could Be Done with PD Before Your Coffee Gets Cold

You Could Be Done with PD Before Your Coffee Gets Cold

Still staring at your PD plan like it might finish itself? This episode is your wake-up call and your shortcut. Rae Hughart kicks off the back-to-school leadership series with real talk about the cha…

00:14:53  |   Mon 04 Aug 2025
Let Student Curiosity Lead with Kevin J. Butler (Part 6)

Let Student Curiosity Lead with Kevin J. Butler (Part 6)

We’ve made it to Part 6 of our Teacher-Tested Hacks for Smarter Days launch series—and we’re closing strong with educator, author, and coach Kevin J. Butler.

Kevin’s strategy? Use student questions as…

00:18:21  |   Fri 01 Aug 2025
Reclaiming Joy in the Classroom with Kim Strobel (Part 5)

Reclaiming Joy in the Classroom with Kim Strobel (Part 5)

Part 5 of our Teacher-Tested Hacks for Smarter Days series gets to the heart of it all: your joy.

In this episode, happiness coach and education consultant Kim Strobel shares a mindset shift that can …

00:19:22  |   Thu 31 Jul 2025
The PPQ Method: Passion + Practice = Power (Part 4 – Featuring Mickey Smith Jr.)

The PPQ Method: Passion + Practice = Power (Part 4 – Featuring Mickey Smith Jr.)

It’s launch day—and Part 4 of our Teacher-Tested Hacks for Smarter Days series is bringing the 🎺 brass and the brilliance.

This episode features award-winning educator, speaker, and musician Mickey Sm…

00:14:39  |   Wed 30 Jul 2025
You Can. You Will. You Must. (Part 3 – Featuring TA)

You Can. You Will. You Must. (Part 3 – Featuring TA)

Part 3 of our 6-part spotlight series is here—and if you’ve been waiting for the mindset boost that actually hits? This is it.

This episode features Timothy Alexander—better known as TA—an educator, c…

00:17:34  |   Tue 29 Jul 2025
The 60-Second Reset Every Educator Needs

The 60-Second Reset Every Educator Needs

When everything feels loud, fast, and on fire—what if all you needed was one intentional minute?

In Part 2 of our 6-part launch series for Teacher-Tested Hacks for Smarter Days, Rae spotlights contrib…

00:19:35  |   Mon 28 Jul 2025
Office Hours with TDI 07/24

Office Hours with TDI 07/24

Join us weekly for Office Hours in the TDI Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/tdimovement

00:33:17  |   Fri 25 Jul 2025
Why PD Fails... and What We’re Doing About It

Why PD Fails... and What We’re Doing About It

Let’s be honest: most professional development leaves teachers burned out, bored, or straight-up bewildered. In Part 1 of our 6-part series launching Teacher-Tested Hacks for Smarter Days, Rae Hughar…

00:13:36  |   Tue 22 Jul 2025
Making PD Work with Your Contract (Not Against It)

Making PD Work with Your Contract (Not Against It)

Too many schools are wasting contract hours on PD that doesn’t actually support teachers. This episode flips that on its head.

Rae walks through the truth behind most professional development frustrat…

00:15:06  |   Wed 16 Jul 2025
The Only Back-to-School Checklist You’ll Actually Use

The Only Back-to-School Checklist You’ll Actually Use

Feeling the July pressure to build the perfect PD plan, support paras, and magically align your whole staff before August hits?

This episode walks through the full Back-to-School Checklist Series—four…

00:30:28  |   Mon 07 Jul 2025
The Budget Reset is Here - Now What?

The Budget Reset is Here - Now What?

Budgets reset July 1 and suddenly every decision feels high-stakes. In this episode, Rae shares a true story from a principal’s office that perfectly captures the pressure school leaders are facing r…

00:14:38  |   Mon 30 Jun 2025
On-the-Job Confidence: Real Tools Every Para Deserves

On-the-Job Confidence: Real Tools Every Para Deserves

Paraprofessionals are the glue of our schools—but most are expected to lead without real training. In this episode, Rae walks through Part 2 of the Teachers Deserve Para Support series, featuring thr…

00:12:14  |   Tue 24 Jun 2025
If PD Feels Pointless This Is Why

If PD Feels Pointless This Is Why

In this episode of TDI: Real Talk, Rae Hughart breaks down what real professional development looks like and why most schools are getting it wrong. From surviving slideshow sessions to finally buildi…

00:19:02  |   Mon 16 Jun 2025
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