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Tech trouble, Mario cosplay, workplace mishaps, and way too many stories about falling down.

In this episode, Robert, Matthew, and Brugge dive into a chaotic mix of muted microphones, Halloween go-kart adventures, deodorant disasters, acting auditions, and the everyday physical hazards of working in schools. From stepping in dog poop to tripping in crowded hallways, the team shares honest (and hilarious) stories from classrooms, childhood, and beyond.

They also dig into their ongoing creative projects—including book design, AI-generated descriptions, and gathering early reviewers. If you've ever worked in a school, acted on a stage, or simply had “one of those days,” this episode will feel like home.

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Every NYC teacher has a horror story — but this one starts with a parking meter.

In this episode, Matthew, Brugge, and Robert tackle the ultimate urban educator struggle: finding a parking spot in New York City. From 4:30 AM commutes to warehouse parking hacks, $200 lots, and alternate-side madness, the trio shares hilarious, relatable stories about how teachers navigate one of the most stressful parts of their day — getting to work.

Along the way, the conversation takes some wild detours (in true teacher fashion):

• AI-illustrated children’s books like “Grandpa Sneezes Trains” and “Wing It”
• Bird encounters and the mysterious NYC pigeon curse
• Writing and acting on subway rides
• Fried watermelon and fair food adventures
• Teacher burnout, SEL, and life balance

What starts as a talk about teacher parking nightmares turns into an honest, funny, and heartfelt look at the teacher experience — where humor, exhaustion, and creativity all collide.

Would you risk a ticket for a good parking spot? Tell us in the comments

Featuring: Rob, Matt, and Brugge

Topics: NYC teacher commutes, alternate-side parking, creative classroom life, and the art of laughing through chaos.

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Overview

In this milestone episode, the hosts celebrate reaching 500 podcast downloads and reflect on personal experiences that reveal how trust, credentials, and communication shape everyday life — from healthcare visits to professional identity. The discussion balances humor and insight as they explore the quirks of the healthcare system, telehealth mishaps, and the nuanced meaning of titles like “Doctor” in both education and medicine.

Healthcare Experiences & Telehealth Confusion

Matthew opened up about a recent telehealth appointment that turned unexpectedly chaotic — he was directed to a physical office only to discover it was actually a virtual session. The group dissected the confusion, inefficiency, and lack of clear communication in modern healthcare systems.

Brugge and Robert related this to common frustrations in other areas of life, comparing the uncertainty of waiting for a doctor’s call to waiting endlessly during job interviews. Matthew drew further parallels to his experience teaching online during the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizing how digital interactions can amplify misunderstandings.

Professional Titles and Academic Credentials

The hosts dove into an engaging discussion about the use of professional titles — when and why to call someone “Doctor,” and how context matters. Brugge questioned whether titles should always be used among peers, while Robert and Matthew shared their own experiences navigating formal and informal norms in education.

Robert explained his motivation for pursuing a doctorate in education, not as a measure of teaching quality but as a gateway to new academic opportunities, particularly in higher education. The group reflected on how uncommon doctoral degrees are in elementary education and how the New York City education system offers no salary differential for advanced degrees like PhDs or EdDs.

Credentials vs. Experience

Robert and Brugge explored society’s overreliance on credentials and how it can overshadow genuine expertise and practical experience. They drew parallels between medicine and education, noting how the public often trusts degrees more than proven ability.

Matthew contributed personal stories of medical mistakes and the human side of healthcare — reminding listeners that even highly trained professionals can err. The group emphasized the importance of critical thinking, humility, and personal advocacy, encouraging listeners to question and verify rather than blindly defer to authority.

Medical Decision-Making & Awake Surgery

In one of the episode’s most gripping moments, Robert recounted undergoing awake surgery, a rare and deeply personal experience. He described the intense physical sensations, the pain management process, and the necessity of remaining conscious to assist the surgeon during the operation.

Robert highlighted how this decision stemmed from his commitment to thorough research and multiple consultations with specialists — combining surgical and functional medicine perspectives before making a final choice. He also recalled a prior medical scare involving a benign cyst, reinforcing his belief in seeking multiple opinions and maintaining an informed, proactive role in one’s healthcare decisions.

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A glitchy start becomes a candid systems-level conversation about age dynamics and professional identity across schools and clinics. After wrangling audio issues, the team unpacks how age and experience shape credibility, communication, and decision-making—from first-year teachers to veteran administrators, from protocol-driven residents to diagnostically agile physicians. They trace the “hidden curriculum” that governs status signals, masking, and code-switching at work, then examine how cultural references (from Fortnite to K-dramas) succeed—or fail—as pedagogical bridges. Along the way, Robert reflects on mimicking admired mentors as a deliberate practice for skill acquisition, and everyone weighs the 5–10 year “sweet spot” in teaching effectiveness. The episode closes with practical next steps: health checks, tech fixes, and a teaser for Robert’s awake-surgery debrief.

Why listen: If you lead PD, coach teachers, or navigate intergenerational teams, this episode offers concrete lenses for diagnosing friction points (scripts vs. sensemaking, authority vs. authenticity) and redesigning culture for human connection.

Key themes: age/experience dynamics; masking & code-switching; instructional authenticity; clinical vs. classroom protocols; cultural capital in teaching analogies.

Action items:

• Jeannine: Schedule Doppler + echocardiogram (HTN/heart work-up).
• Matthew: Troubleshoot mic chain and eliminate echo.

Suggested chapter markers:
00:00 Cold open & tech troubles
06:30 Age dynamics in schools
18:45 Experience curve (5–10 year window)
27:10 Young leaders, manualized leadership vs. authentic talk
36:40 Clinics as mirrors: protocol vs. reasoning
47:20 Masking, code-switching, and credibility
57:05 Pop-culture references as pedagogy
1:04:30 Teaser—awake surgery debrief next episode

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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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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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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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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 begins with a subway disaster—Matthew describes watching a class trip unravel on public transit, complete with unsupervised elementary students and overwhelmed teachers. That story kicks off a deep (and hilarious) dive into the real logistics, emotional toll, and occasional absurdity of planning field trips as educators.

Brugge brings the heat with a list of classic class trip tales, including the time a second-grade class learned about Australian culture at... Outback Steakhouse. She also recalls her very wrong turn in Philadelphia, being lost during a track team trip, and managing Minecraft and cheerleading excursions gone sideways. Rob reflects on the stress of real emergencies, recounting moments where students weren’t picked up after events or had to be taken to the hospital—situations that blur the line between teacher and crisis responder.

The team shares their own memories from childhood trips (or lack thereof), reflects on how school trip culture has changed, and closes with some lighter moments, including a teetering school bus on a concrete divider, He-Man nostalgia, and Brugge's upcoming job interview.

If you've ever planned a field trip, survived one, or just want to hear what it's really like from the teachers' side of the clipboard, this one’s for you.

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