🎙️ Featured on Teachers' Lounge: Joe & Jamie on life as teachers & podcasters
The Balancing Act

Teaching, Parenting, Life in the Real World... Can You Really Balance It All?

Fun Fact: If you draw a venn diagram of the circus and being an educator you get a perfect circle! At least, that’s what Jamie and Joe have learned. Straight out of Central New Jersey, join two seasoned teachers as they try to make sense of balancing their teaching careers with parenting multiple children, helping with aging parents, supporting their loving spouses, and navigating the very strange landscape of education in a post-Covid world. With guest interviews, deep dive explorations on contemporary topics, and so much more – we’re here to look at the highs and the lows that come with being an educator. Whether you’re fresh to the job or a seasoned vet, we can’t wait to share in this journey together!

Contact: podthebalancingact@gmail.com

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Season 3 is brought to you by our principal sponsor Teachers' Insurance Plan.

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Teachers' Insurance Plan: Auto insurance that brings exclusive educator savings and exceptional customer care to New Jersey and Pennsylvania Educational Employees.

 

Select Season 3 episodes are also sponsored by NJSchoolJobs.com.

Looking for a job in education? Teacher, principal, school support or coaching opportunities? Check out their website below for up-to-date job postings.
  

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Reviews

Great listen - Relatable

"Jamie and Joe do a great job of discussing things that hit home for teachers in this day and age. They are eloquent and funny!"

kizdachef | Aug. 30, 2023
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About the Hosts

Joseph Vitale Profile Photo
Joseph Vitale

Educator / Parent / Podcaster

Joe Vitale is a passionate middle school teacher with 26 years of classroom wisdom. Joe has been married to his incredible wife, Tracy, since 2003, and together they are navigating the thrilling journey of raising twins who are currently juniors in high school. Parenting teens is an adventure all its own, and the podcast shares relatable moments and insights that come with it.

Outside the classroom and the podcast studio, Joe enjoys soaking up the joys of summertime, exploring new places, hitting the golf course, and staying active by running. Life has a way of keeping him on his toes—whether it’s engaging with students, spending quality time with his family, or finding moments of self-care.

Jamie Wanko Profile Photo
Jamie Wanko

Educator / Parent / Podcaster

Jamie Wanko is a public school teacher with 24 years classroom experience, and will freely admit she still loves her day job. Married since 2005 to fellow educator Jason, she is deeply invested in exploring how to balance work, home, caring for aging parents, and all that goes along with managing the “crazy” that life has to offer. Proud Mom to a high school son, and identical twin middle school daughters, each day in the Wanko house is a revolving door of art projects, car pools, and the always eager question of “What’s for dinner?”

A self proclaimed beach bum, Jamie loves reading, flying down the bay on her jet ski, annual trips to Disney World, and the joy of sliding into deep social media and TV binging holes with her beloved Shih Tzu, Jingle, by her side. Educational theory junkie and devoted observer of humans, Jamie mixes humor, curiosity, and wide eyed enthusiasm into this podcast adventure.