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Playing Teacher

Playing Teacher

By: Matthew Cade Rob Monahan and Jeannine Brugge
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🎙️ What is a teacher, really?
And what’s it actually like inside a New York City school?

Welcome to Playing Teacher, where veteran educators Matt and Rob—with over 40 years of combined experience teaching in NYC—pull back the curtain on the myths, realities, and moments that make education unforgettable (for better or worse). From the mysterious teacher’s lounge to the myth of “summer off,” they explore what really happens when the classroom door closes.

This isn’t a shiny brochure version of school. It’s the real deal:
🧠 Learning vs. schooling.
❤️ What kids actually carry with them.
🔥 How teachers and counselors survive systems built to burn them out.

And when we’re lucky enough to have her, we’re joined by Beanie—school counselor, educator, and recurring co-host—who brings powerful insight, grounded compassion, and the kind of perspective only someone who's worked both inside and around the classroom can offer.

👥 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 matters—this is your hallway pass to the inside.

© 2025 Playing Teacher Philosophy Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Episode 17: Teachers on the Move: Diets, Fitness, and Fresh Starts

    Episode 17: Teachers on the Move: Diets, Fitness, and Fresh Starts
    Aug 31 2025

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    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 experiences to their ongoing efforts with weight loss, diet programs, and creative fitness routines, whether it’s sprinting empty hallways, dusting off a pogo stick, or sticking to intermittent fasting. Along the way, they reminisce about potluck traditions, school gym memories, and the temptation of diner pancakes and mocha lattes. With Brugge preparing for a new school, and Matt and Rob revisiting past projects like PBIS posters, the trio emphasizes the importance of sustaining both physical and mental well-being while navigating the demands of teaching.

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    58 mins
  • Episode 16: Behind the Curtain: How Teachers Really Get Hired in New York City

    Episode 16: Behind the Curtain: How Teachers Really Get Hired in New York City
    Aug 18 2025

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    Getting hired in the New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) isn’t just about what you know—it’s often about who you know. In this episode of Playing Teacher: The Podcast, we pull back the curtain on the hiring process in the largest school system in the country. From the nerve-wracking interviews to the networking that makes a difference, we explore the good, the bad, and the ugly of how teachers land jobs in the NYCDOE. Whether you’re an aspiring educator or a veteran looking to understand the system better, this candid conversation reveals the realities behind one of the most competitive hiring landscapes in education.

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    1 hr and 28 mins
  • Episode 15: Why We Left Teaching (and Where We Hid While We Stayed)

    Episode 15: Why We Left Teaching (and Where We Hid While We Stayed)
    Jul 3 2025

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    In this episode of Playing Teacher, Robert, Matthew, and Brugge dive deep into the bittersweet—and sometimes hilarious—world of teachers leaving their jobs and the hidden realities behind the classroom door.

    They talk about:

    • The emotional chaos of packing up years of teaching memories into giant bags
    • The secret hideouts teachers swear by to survive the school day (side lab supremacy, anyone?)
    • Epic hide-and-seek strategies for teachers and kids alike
    • Professional development’s most uncomfortable moments—including yoga sessions gone very wrong
    • Recession Santa horrors and gifts no one wanted


    It’s raw, funny, and painfully real—because sometimes the hardest lesson is knowing when to walk away. And sometimes… you just need to hide under a desk.

    🎧 Tune in for stories only teachers could tell—and some you definitely shouldn’t tell at staff meetings.

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    57 mins
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