EPISODES & TRANSCRIPTIONS

We speak with Jason Hunt, a former educator and school administrator who now trains and speaks about people-centered leadership. We discuss how relationships, care, and influence shape leadership, and how pausing to practice discernment can help us make more deliberate choices instead of reacting to constant pressure. We explore ways to build trust and influence at work, shift school or workplace culture through manageable changes, and set clear expectations in personal relationships. Jason also discusses how discernment supports decisions across his leadership work, business, and family life.

We mark our fourth annual Halloween special by sharing family and community traditions, school-year routines and fall-break plans. We compare spooky Halloween scenarios with everyday teaching challenges, read teachers’ accounts of classroom “hauntings,” and discuss unsettling school situations, checking in with young people, and responding to mistreatment. We close with Halloween confessions and reflect on work-related worries, including grading, remembering students’ names and feeling confident in our roles.

In this episode we speak with New Jersey Senator Cory Booker about his background, his path through public service, and the people and places that shaped him. He shares how growing up in New Jersey, with support from teachers, coaches, and neighbors, influenced his sense of responsibility to give back. We also discuss public education, including teacher pay, student debt, and classroom expenses. Senator Booker explains his RAISE Act and argues that public schools are central to opportunity and democracy, while also reflecting on Newark, his family’s connection to education, and what he sees as distinctly New Jersey about himself.

Senator Andy Kim discusses his background in South Jersey, his path from public service and diplomacy to Congress, and how the September 11 attacks shaped his focus on national security and public service. He outlines his priorities on foreign policy, health care, and support for families, and describes his MediKids proposal to automatically enroll children in a child-focused health program with an opt-out option. He also talks about the connection between children’s health and learning, the need for more access to pediatric, dental, vision, and mental health care, and his concerns about federal education policy and IDEA funding for students with disabilities. The interview ends with brief personal questions about teachers, New Jersey sports, and favorite local spots.

Joe and Jamie are back to talk about Joe’s foot injury and the importance of comfortable footwear for teachers who spend long days on their feet. We also share personal updates, including a book club pick, reactions to a thriller, and how the podcast has grown through new visuals, more time spent on the show, and recent appearances. Jamie discusses starting hormone replacement therapy and perimenopause, including how much better it has made us feel and the need for support from spouses, friends, and others. We also recap our experience at the New Jersey Hall of Fame induction event, where we handled interviews, met public figures and student ambassadors, and spoke with people connected to New Jersey organizations.

This episode we speak with Jere Chang, also known as @mrschanggifted, about her work as a classroom teacher, gifted education teacher, speaker, and author. We discuss her teaching path from university administration to high school English and ESOL, and then into elementary and gifted education while balancing family life. We also talk about her book, *Becoming the Teacher I Needed*, which draws on her own experiences with disability, being LGBTQIA, and not fitting in at school, alongside practical advice for teachers. She shares themes from her talks on teacher well-being, retention, school climate, advocacy, and creative thinking in gifted education. We cover her advice on boundaries, support, and managing workload, including limiting work email and being intentional about time off. We also discuss working conditions in schools, the balance between school and family responsibilities, and common misunderstandings about teachers and their workload.

We talk with Stephanie Lachenauer, the 2025 New Jersey Teacher of the Year, about her work as a middle school teacher and her focus on global leadership, skills for success, and teen mental health. We also discuss her travel experiences in southern Africa and her participation in an international student program focused on environmental stewardship. We talk about her book, *Let the Glitter Settle*, and the glitter jar metaphor she uses to teach mindfulness and emotional regulation through a workbook format for students. We also cover her classroom routines, her emphasis on sleep and structure, and the practical systems she uses to manage work, schedules, and daily responsibilities.

The interview features educator Nicholas Ferroni discussing his recent travel in Europe, where visits to historic sites and schools reinforced his interest in history, preservation, and teaching. He also talks about his current projects, including preparing for the school year, creating teacher-focused content, and continuing his series *Historically Correct*. Ferroni then addresses education issues such as teacher pay, school funding, attendance, grading, technology, and AI. He says teachers need more support, students should meet academic standards, and AI should be treated as a tool rather than a replacement for teachers.

In this episode we kick off season four from the New Jersey Hall of Fame and talk about recording in a new space, upcoming guests, and new opportunities connected to education and public policy. We also reflect on changes in our own lives over the summer, including empty nesting, grief, recovery, rest, and time with family. We discuss the value of bringing students to the Hall of Fame and helping them connect New Jersey people and places to what they already know. We also imagine what would belong in a Teacher Hall of Fame, share thoughts on cafeteria duty and school supply lists, and talk about New Jersey food, culture, and the routines and priorities we are balancing now.