The Teacher's Lounge Live

Zo Johnson, Matt Jones, Chris Dunham
  • 5.0 (1)
  • COMEDY INTERVIEWS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Welcome to The Teachers Lounge—where the coffee’s cold, the kids are wild, and the teachers are… barely holding it together. Let’s laugh through the chaos!

  1. 1D AGO

    Teacher Credential Programs Are Gaslighting Us | Teacher’s Lounge Ep. 61

    Welcome back to **The Teacher’s Lounge** — the only place where teachers microwave tuna in the dark, debate communism vs credential programs, and compare public schools to Gotham City. In Episode 61, the Three Amigos dive into: * Why the teacher lounge is basically abandoned * Credential programs that feel like a two-year indoctrination obstacle course * Remote learning chaos * Why behavior consequences disappeared * And whether Batman could survive a public middle school (Superman absolutely couldn’t) We also shout out: * **Takis** (middle school nicotine) * **Slim Jims** (mechanically separated Tesla chicken parts) * **GreatSchools.org** (the Yelp of school survival) * **Napster + Linkin Park** (middle school emotional support era) If you’ve ever felt like you were being professionally gaslit while trying to teach fractions… this episode is for you. Grab your hard-boiled eggs. Shut the lights off. Let’s complain responsibly. --- 00:00 – Intro & welcome back 00:38 – Does anyone actually use the teacher’s lounge anymore? 03:19 – First graders = herding cats in a gymnasium 04:07 – Takis are the cigarettes of middle school 05:20 – Slim Jims & “mechanically separated chicken parts” 08:33 – “It’s always your fault” – Teacher gaslighting culture 10:18 – How much of credential training actually matters? 15:22 – Online class disaster: 15 enrolled, 5 show up 18:55 – Public vs Private school reality check 22:12 – Catholic school experience & rising to the occasion 30:24 – 33-year veteran teacher comment: consequences disappeared 37:52 – Teaching 50 kids vs stand-up for 30,000 people 40:11 – Why suspensions disappeared & “equal right to education” debate --- #teachersloungepodcast #teacherpodcast #teacherlife #teacherburnout #educationcomedy #classroommanagement #MiddleSchoolChaos #teachertalk #catholicschools --- If this episode made you laugh, rage, nod aggressively, or whisper “yep, that’s my school”: 👉 Like the video so other exhausted teachers find the lounge 👉 Subscribe for weekly therapy disguised as comedy 👉 Drop a comment with your worst credential horror story 👉 Share this with a coworker who secretly agrees but won’t publicly like it Some of y’all can’t publicly like us… but we see the shares. We see you. Silent support counts too. ---

    43 min

  2. 6D AGO

    Teachers Are Security Guards Without Handcuffs, School Smells | The Teacher’s Lounge Ep. 60

    Welcome back to **The Teacher’s Lounge**, where the staff is exhausted, the kids are feral, and the district is running standardized testing like it’s the Olympics…except nobody’s winning and everyone’s crying. In **Episode 60**, the Three Amigos are back to unpack: * Why **i-Ready testing** basically turns teachers into test proctors with trauma * How credential programs are the **bar exam for teachers** * Why admin and “education gatekeepers” * Snacks being banned because districts are terrified of lawsuits * The legendary **toilet seat hall pass** * Middle school hygiene crimes * And why teaching is basically being a **security guard with no pepper spray, no authority, and no money** Class is in session. --- 00:00 – Intro & welcome back 06:03 – Six straight days of i-Ready testing madness 08:13 – Edgy Skate nonprofit shoutout (skateparks in schools) 09:03 – CALTPA cycle = bar exam for teachers 12:11 – Education gatekeepers who couldn’t hack the classroom 13:39 – Snacks banned because the district fears lawsuits 15:24 – “Kids are starving”… but refuse the burrito you bought 23:14 – Bathroom pass system turns school into TSA 23:58 – Toilet seat hall pass: the greatest invention in education --- #teacherpodcast #teacherlife#educationcomedy #teacherburnout #schoolstories #classroommanagement #publiceducation #facultylounge --- If this episode made you laugh, cringe, or relive your own classroom trauma: 👉 **Hit Like** (so YouTube knows teachers are still alive) 👉 **Subscribe** for more lounge sessions every week 👉 **Comment** your worst bathroom pass story (or the worst smell you’ve ever survived) 👉 **Share** this with a teacher who’s one i-Ready session away from quitting We appreciate y’all. The lounge stays open because of YOU. ---

    47 min

  3. FEB 2

    Teachers Have ZERO Power (But Infinite Stress) | Middle School Chaos | Teacher’s Lounge Ep. 59

    Welcome back to **The Teacher’s Lounge**, where the faculty is tired, the kids smell like Hot Cheetos, and somehow we’re still expected to submit attendance on time. In **Episode 59**, the Three Amigos are back together, running on fumes and ranting about the real middle school experience: * Hosting family in LA like you’re a Four Seasons tour guide * Credential hoops that feel like the teacher bar exam * Snacks being banned because… liability, of course * Bathroom pass policies turning schools into TSA checkpoints * And the truth: teaching is basically law enforcement stress… without the handcuffs If you’ve ever felt like a security guard trapped in a bouncy house full of hormones… welcome home. Pull up a chair. The lounge is open. --- 00:00 – Intro & welcome back 05:41 – Viewer comments + getting into teacher life 13:39 – Snacks banned because districts fear lawsuits 15:24 – Kids are “starving”… but refuse the burrito you buy 20:16 – Attendance stress + kids asking 14 questions at once 22:15 – Bathroom pass madness = Six Flags steam bath line 23:14 – Strict hall pass system + dean sign-offs 29:32 – Square school pizza causes hemorrhoids (apparently) 45:17 – Cutting WiFi is the ultimate parenting discipline 47:32 – Final thanks + keep sending questions --- #teachersloungepodcast #teacherpodcast #teacherlife #educationcomedy #teacherburnout #classroomstories #schoolculture #funnypodcast #teachinginamerica #publiceducation #facultylounge --- If this episode made you laugh, cringe, or whisper *“yep… that’s teaching”*: 👉 **Like** the video so more exhausted teachers find the lounge 👉 **Subscribe** for weekly therapy disguised as comedy 👉 **Comment** your worst bathroom-pass or interruption story 👉 **Share** with a coworker who smells like dry erase markers and despair We’re building the lounge one stressed-out educator at a time. ---

    48 min

  4. JAN 26

    Teacher Burnout, Coreys, & Why Schools Feel Like Gotham City | The Teacher's Lounge Live | Ep. 58

    Welcome back to **The Teacher’s Lounge**. In this episode, Chris and Matt spiral (lovingly) through the absolute madness of modern teaching: **high-needs classrooms, behavior chaos, co-teaching, stress eating, caffeine addiction, and why teachers can’t even turn their backs for two seconds without Gotham City breaking out behind them.** We also get into: * Why LA is full of “slash people” (comedian/actor/entrepreneur/mentally ill) * Why small class sizes should be the standard (16 kids max, fight us) * Teacher lounge horror stories (powdered donut vomit… yes, really) * Bathroom crimes committed by adults who apparently were raised by raccoons If you’re a teacher: this episode is a pressure valve. If you’re not: congratulations — you’re about to understand why we look exhausted in every photo. --- **00:00 – Intro & welcome back** Testosterone talk already happened off-camera 💀 **00:04:02 – Matt’s short week + TPUs stress begins** Teacher credentialing chaos explained **00:10:25 – The REAL fix: class sizes should be 16 max** High needs + low scores = behavior fireworks **00:11:43 – Low scores = higher behavior (every time)** And you finally feel like you’re actually teaching **00:14:03 – iPad + Apple TV = never turn your back again** Teacher tech survival strategy **00:15:26 – Teacher lounge story: powdered donut vomit** Stress + sugar = instant regret **00:25:06 – Coreys vs Gordons explained (again, because it’s real)** Coreys = chaos, Gordons = quiet wall-staring kings **00:33:17 – Least Restrictive Environment explained** Longest leash possible before they burn it down **00:41:28 – District “experts” who couldn’t hack teaching** They write books instead **00:49:58 – Outro + sketches coming back after TPUs** New sketches every week once Matt survives --- #teachersloungepodcast #teacherpodcast #educationpodcast #teacherburnout #teacherlife #teacherhumor #publicschoolsystem #classroommanagement #teachermentalhealth #teachercommunity #comedypodcast #schoolstories --- If this episode made you laugh, cringe, or whisper **“bro SAME”** under your breath — hit **LIKE**, **SUBSCRIBE**, and drop a comment with your most unhinged teacher moment. Share this with: * A teacher who’s surviving on caffeine and vibes * A coworker who has “Coreys” every period * Or someone who thinks teaching is “easy” because we sit down all day 😌 ---

    51 min

  5. JAN 19

    Why Teachers Are Quitting and How to Survive the Classroom - The Teacher's Lounge Live | Ep. 57

    Welcome back to **The Teacher’s Lounge** — the only podcast where grown adults talk about teaching, stress, and classroom chaos...while also debating whether being too good-looking is a curse. (It is. Apparently.) In this episode, Matt, Chris, and Zo are back in full teacher mode, breaking down what it’s *really* like being “on” all day, managing stress, dealing with impossible expectations, and trying not to lose your mind because a kid just broke a table and another one is chewing on a Chromebook like it’s beef jerky. We also dive into: * Why attractive people are “untrustworthy” (science apparently said so) * Teacher life being like celebrity life (except with less money and more trauma) * How first-year teachers survive (union reps, mentors, and LETTING GO) * The difference between a “Gordon,” a “Corey,” and a “John-John” in your classroom ecosystem * Why teachers don’t hate teaching… they hate being forced to be security guards, therapists, and firefighters If you’re a teacher, this episode is group therapy. If you’re not a teacher… welcome to the circus. 🎪 --- **00:00 – Intro & welcome back** Immediate chaos, immediate vibes **00:00:08 – The Teacher’s Lounge intros + “middle schoolers hate everything”** Teaching theater to kids who don’t care about anything **00:01:04 – Phone caddy drama = relationship stress** “Put your phone up… but my girl texted me!” **00:01:22 – Good-looking guy trust issues (apparently scientific)** Too handsome to be believed **00:02:26 – The hot mugshot criminal phenomenon** Crime is wrong… unless you’re fine **00:03:18 – Parent-teacher conferences must be wild for attractive teachers** Respectfully, focus is impossible **00:04:16 – Matt gets measured at the doctor’s office** Breaking news: he’s taller than he thought **00:06:14 – Posting younger selves (and looking mentally unwell)** “I look like a serial killer” 💀 **00:07:18 – Back to school stress check-in** Everyone is busy, everyone is cooked **00:08:04 – CBD explained + Charlotte’s Web mention** Relaxation without the “I’m in space” part **00:09:22 – Teaching is like being a celebrity (but sadder)** Ben Affleck energy but in a classroom **00:12:14 – CalTPA stress + teaching full-time + school full-time** The “I’m losing my mind” speedrun **00:13:09 – The week was fine… until someone broke a table** And then it all went downhill on a sled **00:14:19 – Standing 5.5 hours a day + teacher body fatigue** Also: eating anything and not gaining weight?? **00:16:22 – Kids watching teachers like zombies through blinds** No privacy, ever **00:17:01 – Viewer comment: 24-year-old teacher having a breakdown** Real advice for surviving year 1–3 **00:18:16 – The #1 survival skill: LET IT GO** Control what you can, release what you can’t **00:18:55 – Union reps + mentors + therapy support** Practical help teachers forget exists **00:20:10 – You can’t save every kid (and it’s not a movie)** Even Robin Williams couldn’t fix everything **00:20:44 – Classroom archetypes: Gordons, Coreys, John-Johns, Angels** The Teacher’s Lounge Extended Universe expands **00:23:05 – If your school sucks… leave it** GreatSchools ratings and “shop around” **00:24:15 – The guilt teachers carry (“the kids need you”)** You can’t pour from an empty cup **00:25:15 – Angry comment: “Teachers should reach every kid”** Teachers get blamed for EVERYTHING **00:31:00 – Grade inflation: it’s not teachers, it’s policy** Equitable grading explained **00:34:20 – Social promotion + No Child Left Behind** Why grades “don’t matter” until they do **00:41:09 – Google Gemini makes retake tests insanely easy** Instant test + answer key = teacher cheat code **00:43:14 – “We don’t hate teaching… we hate the extra jobs”** Security guard, therapist, firefighter = not in the contract **00:46:20 – Teacher self-care reality check** You cannot survive on donuts and Netflix alone **00:47:01 – Outro + gratitude to the community** Support teachers, share clips, stay alive --- #teachersloungepodcast #teacherpodcast #educationpodcast #teacherburnout #teacherlife #teacherhumor #comedy #publicschoolsystem #classroommanagement #stress #teachermentalhealth #schoolstories #teachercommunity #comedypodcast --- If you laughed, related, or felt your eye twitch because this episode is TOO REAL… **hit LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and drop a comment** so we know you’re out there surviving too. Share this with: * A first-year teacher who’s currently in fight-or-flight * A veteran teacher who’s mastered “calm but dead inside” * Or a non-teacher who thinks we “get summers off” 😌 ---

    47 min

  6. JAN 12

    Teaching Burnout Is Real (And It’s Getting Worse) - The Teacher's Loung Live | Ep. 56

    Welcome back to **The Teacher’s Lounge Podcast**, where winter break ends, stress returns instantly, and everyone pretends they’re “fine” for about three days. In this episode, the crew comes back from break to unpack **adulthood, teaching burnout, classroom chaos, discipline (the scary word), and why public schools feel like an insane asylum with bells**. This episode hits the sweet spot between hilarious and deeply concerning. We talk about: * Why LA keeps you emotionally 17 forever * Teaching as psychological water torture * Discipline becoming a forbidden word * Why teachers are expected to be therapists, security, nurses, and magicians * And the harsh truth: you can love kids *and* hate the system If you’re a teacher, this episode is therapy. If you’re not — welcome to the classroom. We’re tired. --- **00:00 – Intro & welcome back** Winter break amnesia hits hard **00:00:24 – Miami Vice vacation energy** Vacation shirts and fake confidence **00:00:42 – LA hate vs LA worship** Why everyone has an opinion on Los Angeles **00:01:59 – Running into hometown critics** Buffalo Wild Wings reality check **00:02:21 – Why LA keeps you young forever** No seasons, no aging, no accountability **00:03:01 – From Olive Garden to substitute teaching** The accidental path into education **00:04:20 – Parents love “normal jobs”** Why teaching calms artist parents instantly **00:09:26 – Students assuming pregnancy rumors** Instagram + middle school math **00:10:25 – Winter Academy & mental health** Knowing when to say no **00:15:08 – Teaching = golden handcuffs** Why it’s hard to leave and harder to stay **00:16:42 – Public schools as insane asylums**No consequences, all blame **00:18:52 – Verbal abuse with zero accountability** When kids cross lines and nothing happens **00:20:40 – Managing stress in real time** Breathing through chaos **00:22:00 – Discipline disappearing from schools** Lord of the Flies energy **00:23:29 – Discipline becoming a dirty word**And why that’s dangerous **00:25:18 – Learned behavior from home** Why schools inherit parenting gaps **00:28:32 – Calling home: the only real tool**Why teachers avoid it anyway **00:31:01 – “Gordon” kids explained** Old souls as classroom stabilizers **00:34:07 – Why schools need MORE funding** Equity explained without buzzwords **00:36:31 – Teachers can’t be therapists** 40 kids, one adult, impossible expectations **00:39:33 – Burnout vs caring** You can feel both at the same time **00:42:02 – Why class size actually matters** 32 kids is the breaking point **00:44:35 – How long can teachers survive?** One day at a time **00:49:01 – Career advice teachers actually give** Why trade school keeps coming up **00:52:20 – Teacher New Year’s resolutions**Realistic goals only **00:53:23 – Final thoughts & sign-off** Inspiring kids, surviving systems --- #teacherburnout #educationpodcast #teaching #humor #teachermentalhealth #classroomchaos #educationsystem #teachercomedy #podcastclips #schoolculture --- If this episode made you laugh, nod aggressively, or question your career choices — **hit like, subscribe, and leave a comment** so YouTube knows teachers still exist. Share this with: * A teacher who’s counting the minutes * A parent who thinks schools “don’t discipline anymore” * Or anyone who’s ever said, *“Well if it’s so hard, why don’t you quit?”* Class dismissed. 🛎️

    54 min

  7. JAN 5

    Quick Announcement

    New episodes will resume next week. We can't wait to see you in 2026. Thanks! -The Teacher's Lounge

    1 min

  8. 12/29/2025

    Why Teachers Are Hamsters on a Wheel | Music, Burnout & Race in Schools | Teacher’s Lounge | Ep. 55

    !!WARNING - Santa Ana winds got us early and knocked out the power - its a short sweet episode - but we will finish what we started, until then (drum roll) - Welcome back to The Teacher’s Lounge — still technically a podcast, still live, and still one snapped sword-swing away from being edited in post. In Episode 55, the lounge pulls up an extra chair as Kip (8th grade English teacher & musical mastermind) joins the crew for one of the most honest conversations we’ve had yet. We get into: * Why teaching can feel like running endlessly on a hamster wheel * The reality of loving students but knowing the job won’t love you back * Time, burnout, and why teachers aren’t financially built to “win” * Music, rhythm, and why kids remember songs better than math * Being more than a stereotype as a teacher * Race, segregation, redlining, and uncomfortable truths inside schools * Why schools avoid tough conversations until something explodes This episode is funny, uncomfortable, thoughtful, and exactly what happens when teachers talk **after the bell rings** — when the admin isn’t listening. Pull up a chair. This one matters. --- 00:00 – Intro & welcome back 00:01:50 – Is teaching burnout inevitable? 00:02:11 – Why Kim plans to leave teaching (eventually) 00:03:28 – Teaching hypocrisy & telling kids to dream big 00:05:13 – Is teaching actually bad for your body? 00:06:11 – Kim’s music industry past 00:07:05 – Learning through rhythm & beats 00:08:05 – Being more than a stereotype to students 00:09:02 – Race, segregation & LA schools 00:11:11 – Racism, accountability & classroom reality 00:13:35 – Admin “nose blindness” & microaggressions 00:15:36 – Assimilation myths & generational poverty 00:16:31 – Integration & uncomfortable truths 00:17:28 – Test scores, race & dangerous narratives --- #teachersloungepodcast #teacherpodcast #TeacherLife #EducationComedy #TeachingCulture #teacherburnout #SchoolStories #EducationPodcast #ClassroomReality #TeachingInAmerica #TeacherTalk #publiceducation #FacultyLounge --- If this episode made you laugh, pause, or quietly say “yeah… that’s real”: 👉 **Like** the video so more teachers find the lounge 👉 **Subscribe** for weekly conversations they don’t let us have on campus 👉 **Comment** — especially if this episode hit close to home 👉 **Share** with a teacher who’s questioning year 21 This space exists because teaching is hard — and pretending it isn’t helps no one. ---

    18 min
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About

Welcome to The Teachers Lounge—where the coffee’s cold, the kids are wild, and the teachers are… barely holding it together. Let’s laugh through the chaos!

Information

  • Creator
    Zo Johnson, Matt Jones, Chris Dunham
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    61
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © TheTeachersLoungeLIve
  • Show Website
    The Teacher's Lounge Live