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Playing Teacher

Matthew Cade, Rob Monahan, and Jeannine Brugge

🎙️ 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

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Episodes

32 episodes

  1. Episode 32: The Nightmare Before Thanksgiving Break 43:48
  2. How Much “You” Belongs in Your Classroom? 49:51
  3. Summer Break? Do Teachers Deserve It? 1:15:25
  4. Episode 29: Caps, Gowns, and Grown-Up Drama: Graduation Behind the Curtain 1:03:23
  5. Episode 28: The Best Bagel in Town: A talk with veteran teacher, Michelle Henriquez. 59:03
  6. Episode 27: The Hidden Job Description: School Safety, Student Chaos, and Teacher Survival 57:23
  7. Epsiode 26: From the Classroom to the Central Office: A Conversation with Dr. Neill Alleva 1:02:56
  8. Episode 25: Stats, Laughs, and Staff Bathroom Scandals 58:44
  9. Episode 24: Desk Jockeys: The Hidden Politics of Classroom Furniture 48:14
  10. Episode 23: AI in the Classroom: Tool, Threat, or Teacher? 1:03:45
  11. Episode 22: The Aging Educator: Sweet Spots, Second Winds, and the Retirement Countdown 50:11
  12. Episode 21: Body Odor, Bad Falls & Behind-the-Scenes Book Building 1:01:57
  13. Episode 20: Teachers vs. NYC Parking: The Ultimate Urban Survival Story 1:06:51
  14. Episode 19: Teachers, Titles, Telehealth, and Trust 1:23:43
  15. Episode 18: Fortnight to Fortnite (Culture as Curriculum) 1:25:25
  16. Episode 17: Teachers on the Move: Diets, Fitness, and Fresh Starts 57:50
  17. Episode 16: Behind the Curtain: How Teachers Really Get Hired in New York City 1:27:59
  18. Episode 15: Why We Left Teaching (and Where We Hid While We Stayed) 57:02
  19. Episode 14: Field Trip Fails, Emergency Room Runs, and Outback Steakhouse 1:09:10
  20. Episode 13: The Secret Game of Calling Out...Rules, Risks & Ridiculousness 1:01:07
  21. Episode 12: Teacher Headlines, DOE Dreams & The 50-Minute Flop 58:43
  22. Episode 11: Field Day, Minecraft Battle & Upstanders 45:41
  23. Episode 10: Pacing, Pop Culture, and the 30-Second Reprimand 1:00:30
  24. Episode 9: Carrots, Sticks, and the Art of Motivation in the Classroom 1:11:31
  25. Episode 7: Remember When… (Memorable Moments & Movie Magic) 1:00:22
  26. Episode 8: Teaching and Learning During COVID in NYC 53:14
  27. Episode 6: I Did It My Way: Authenticity in a System That Doesn’t Always Want It 38:24
  28. Episode 5: Are We Okay? (Spoiler: Probably Not) 58:18
  29. Episode 4: Roll Film: Cinema, Memory, and Metaphor in the Classroom 57:33
  30. Episode 3: The Hook: The Art of Captivation 42:27
  31. Episode 2: Preps and Lunches (and Superpong) 36:54
  32. Episode 1: The "Expert" Teacher 1:31:02