Teachers Next Door Podcast

You survived another school year and now it's time to thrive this summer without the guilt. In this episode, Michelle and Nicole dive into the real, year-round phenomenon of teacher guilt and why it hits extra hard once the school year ends. 
They unpack why teachers struggle to switch off (spoiler: there's no "shutoff valve" built in to the job), how the "back to school" content cycle creeps in way too early, and why comparison on social media can quietly steal your rest. 
Drawing a parallel to high-performance athletes, they reframe rest as an essential part of doing the job well, and share practical boundary-setting strategies to help you actually recharge this summer. They also chat about the wild response to their husbands' guest episode before wrapping up with a preview of the 4th segment of their series: “The Gentle Runway”, which is all about stepping back into the classroom on your own terms.
Thank you for being here!  
Can you please help us grow the Teachers Next Door Podcast?
Please rate & review on Apple Podcasts: 
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/teachers-next-door-podcast/id1887084571
Please rate & review on Spotify: 
https://open.spotify.com/show/7bBmnnzYtjqIa4IdHjJqgZ?si=cf8d766e8c5a4759
Join our online community on Instagram @teachersnextdoorpodcast.
You can also find us on Facebook, Youtube and Tiktok! Please like and subscribe!
Do you have a question or a topic you would like us to explore?  Please visit our website www.teachersnextdoorpodcast.com or email us at hello@teachersnextdoorpodcast.com.

Who are you when you're not teaching?
Michelle and Nicole take on their toughest challenge yet: a whole conversation with zero talk of school! Trading questions back and forth, they rediscover the people behind the "teacher" label: the yogi, the outdoor enthusiast, the creator, the competitor, and of course, the friend. A candid, joyful look at what fills their cups outside of work, and why reclaiming your own identity might be the best thing you do this summer!
Find one of your friends or family members, and use some of these questions as your guide while you rediscover your identity outside of teaching this summer: 
If you had to give an elevator pitch about who you are, but you aren't allowed to include your profession what would you say?
If you had a completely free weekend, with zero family, zero household, zero professional obligations, what's the very first thing you would choose to do?
What's a physical activity, sport, or hobby you love the feeling of playing regardless of whether you win or lose or you get a specific result?
If you were forbidden to talk about your career and couldn't talk about your family, what would you say really brings you joy?
What did you love doing when you were 10 or 12 years old before life got really structured and scheduled?
 Where do you feel the most grounded and at peace when you're outdoors?
What does true rest look like for you when you're not just trying to recover from exhaustion? What does rest look like when you're trying to actually fill your tank up with joy?
Thank you for being here!  
Can you please help us grow the Teachers Next Door Podcast?
Please rate & review on Apple Podcasts: 
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/teachers-next-door-podcast/id1887084571
Please rate & review on Spotify: 
https://open.spotify.com/show/7bBmnnzYtjqIa4IdHjJqgZ?si=cf8d766e8c5a4759
Join our online community on Instagram @teachersnextdoorpodcast.
You can also find us on Facebook, Youtube and Tiktok!
Do you have a question or a topic you would like us to explore?  Please visit our website www.teachersnextdoorpodcast.com or email us at hello@teachersnextdoorpodcast.com.

In this first episode of our four-part Summer Reset Series, Michelle and Nicole dive into the art of the clean break: why it's so hard for educators to switch off after 10 months of go-go-go, and how they're each navigating the transition into summer this year. 
From swapping "teachery" wardrobes for shorts and sundresses, to cleaning out classrooms (and teacher bags) for good, to the surprisingly emotional goodbyes on the last day of school, this episode is a candid, funny, and heartfelt look at what it really takes to decompress. They also share practical rituals—removing school email from their phones, planning slow mornings or lunch dates with friends, and giving themselves grace and credit for a job well done—to help you fully unplug and recharge. Plus, a sneak peek at what's coming next in the series: reclaiming your identity outside the classroom.
Grab a coffee, kick off your shoes, and join Michelle and Nicole as they give themselves (and you) permission to truly rest this summer.
 
Thank you for being here!  
Can you please help us grow the Teachers Next Door Podcast?
Please rate & review on Apple Podcasts: 
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/teachers-next-door-podcast/id1887084571
Please rate & review on Spotify: 
https://open.spotify.com/show/7bBmnnzYtjqIa4IdHjJqgZ?si=cf8d766e8c5a4759
Join our online community on Instagram @teachersnextdoorpodcast.
You can also find us on Facebook, Youtube and Tiktok!
Do you have a question or a topic you would like us to explore?  Please visit our website www.teachersnextdoorpodcast.com or email us at hello@teachersnextdoorpodcast.com.

Have you ever felt a calling so strong it scared you, but you couldn't stop thinking about it?
In this episode of The Teachers Next Door, Michelle and Nicole answer one of their most frequently asked questions: what led them into school administration, and what brought them back to the classroom?
Both hosts share their honest, heartfelt journeys from the unexpected paths that drew them into leadership roles, to the quiet niggle that pulled them both back into the classroom, and the parallels they re-discovered between teaching and administration along the way.
In this episode, Michelle and Nicole discuss some upcoming changes for the next school year, too! Whether you're a teacher curious about administration, an administrator longing to head back into the classroom, or simply considering a career change within education, this episode is for you!
Thank you for being here!  
Please join our online community on Instagram @teachersnextdoorpodcast.
Do you have a question or a topic you would like us to explore?  Please visit our website www.teachersnextdoorpodcast.com or email us at hello@teachersnextdoorpodcast.com. 

It's June and if you're a teacher, you already know what that means. Report cards, field trips, end-of-year concerts, and a brain so full it starts leaking into your real life. This week, Nicole and Michelle get real about all the balls they're currently dropping (and the ones they're barely keeping in the air).
From tornado nightmares and forgotten permission slips to golf shoes at the ball diamond, June is officially in full effect. Nicole and Michelle break down the chaos across three areas of life: school, home, and just being a human being with friends and feelings.
If you've ordered Skip the Dishes twice this week, sent a child to school with a yogurt tube and a prayer, or found yourself lying awake at 11pm wondering if you booked your summer appointments, this episode is your life raft.
Because here's the truth: none of these dropped balls are made of glass. The kids will be fine. The school year will wrap up. And you are going to make it to the other side.
Come paddle across the finish line with us. 
Thank you for being here!  
Please join our online community on Instagram @teachersnextdoorpodcast.
Do you have a question or a topic you would like us to explore?  Please visit our website www.teachersnextdoorpodcast.com or email us at hello@teachersnextdoorpodcast.com. 

🎉 You're almost there!  Put down the pen, close that computer, and grab your iced coffee — because summer is HERE and we are celebrating YOU.
In this episode, Michelle and Nicole are diving into the ultimate teacher summer bucket list, and trust us, it's got a little something for everyone. We're talking total relaxation, rediscovering who you are outside of the classroom, and just a sprinkle of low-key inspiration for next year (emphasis on low-key).
Nicole is dreaming about time at the lake, and Michelle is already booking massages before the school year is officially over — because why wait until July to start feeling human again?
If you're the type who hits June running on fumes and then spends the first two weeks of summer wondering why you still can't relax… this episode is your permission slip to slow down, recharge, and actually enjoy the summer you've been dreaming about.
Let’s dive in. You've more than earned it. ☀️
Thank you for being here!  
Please join our online community on Instagram @teachersnextdoorpodcast.
Do you have a question or a topic you would like us to explore?  Please visit our website www.teachersnextdoorpodcast.com or email us at hello@teachersnextdoorpodcast.com. 

June is here, the energy is off the charts, and teachers everywhere are asking the same question: how do we make these last few weeks memorable while keeping everyone sane?
In this episode, Michelle and Nicole dive into their favourite end-of-year classroom activities, games, and traditions — the ones that don't break the bank but create memories that stick.
From Floor Is Lava days and glow parties to shaving cream on desks, summer bucket lists, and enjoying popsicles outside, this episode is packed with simple, joy-filled ideas to help you and your students finish the year strong. Whether you keep things routine right until the last bell or go all-out with themed days, there's something here for every classroom. Tune in, get inspired, and send your students off into summer with a smile. You ALL deserve it!
 
Thank you for being here!  
Please join our online community on Instagram @teachersnextdoorpodcast.
Do you have a question or a topic you would like us to explore?  Please visit our website www.teachersnextdoorpodcast.com or email us at hello@teachersnextdoorpodcast.com. 

We're keeping it in the family this week! For our very first guest appearance on Teachers Next Door, we're handing the mic to the men who know us best — our husbands.
What did they think they were signing up for when they married a teacher? (Spoiler: lots of vacation time.) What do they actually deal with? (Spoiler: late nights, report card season, and a very organized household.)
From the real hours teachers put in, to the strict rules, to who's making dinner during parent-teacher interview week — Brandon and Derek hold nothing back. It's honest, it's funny, and it might just make every teacher spouse out there feel very seen.
Tune in for a fun and candid conversation about life on the other side of the classroom.
Thank you for being here!  
Please join our online community on Instagram @teachersnextdoorpodcast.
Do you have a question or a topic you would like us to explore?  Please visit our website www.teachersnextdoorpodcast.com or email us at hello@teachersnextdoorpodcast.com. 

This week, Michelle and Nicole are celebrating their 10th episode - with their favourite diet sodas, of course!  Then, they get right into an animated discussion about the hills they will absolutely die on as educators, and the ones they're willing to walk right on past.
From the power of relationships and rapport to equitable learning, smaller class sizes, the importance of play and outdoor time, and the sacred phrase "I'll wait" — Nicole and Michelle are drawing their hard lines in the sand and sharing why these beliefs shape everything they do in the classroom.
Whether you're a new teacher or a seasoned pro, this episode will have you nodding along — and maybe rethinking a few hills of your own.  
Thank you for being here!  
💌 What hills will you die on? What hills are you willing to walk right on by?  Drop us a line and let us know!
Please join our online community on Instagram @teachersnextdoorpodcast.
Do you have a question or a topic you would like us to explore?  Please visit our website www.teachersnextdoorpodcast.com or email us at hello@teachersnextdoorpodcast.com.

Behind every breakthrough and every career choice, there is a teacher who saw our potential before we did.  Teachers don’t just deliver curriculum—they help build people.
This week, your Teachers Next Door get personal!  Michelle and Nicole reflect on some of the educators and mentors who shaped who they are today—the ones who provided safety, sparked confidence, and showed up when it mattered most. It’s a tribute to the quiet heroes and the legacy they leave behind.
Who is the teacher you’ll never forget? Whether they gave you the courage to speak up or the safety to fail, we want to honor them. Join the conversation by sending us a DM on Instagram or an email—we’re sharing your stories of the educators who go above and beyond.
Thank you for being here!  
Please join our online community on Instagram @teachersnextdoorpodcast.
Do you have a question or a topic you would like us to explore?  Please visit our website www.teachersnextdoorpodcast.com or email us at hello@teachersnextdoorpodcast.com.