Teachers Next Door Podcast

teachersnextdoorpodcast

What happens when two veteran teachers, former administrators, and sports moms finally hit "record"? You get the unpolished truth about life in the classroom. Because let’s be honest: no one survives the school day alone. I’m Michelle, and I’m Nicole.  Whether you’re looking for a fresh perspective on pedagogy, a safe place to vent, or just a friendly voice to remind you that you’re doing a great job in the trenches, you’ve found your people. Welcome to the Neighborhood. The door is always open.  Join our online community: Instagram @teachersnextdoorpodcast www.teachersnextdoorpodcast.com.

  1. 6d ago

    Part 1: We Were Never Meant To Do This Work Alone with Laurie McIntosh

    She's our most requested guest, and we were thrilled when she accepted our invite to join us on the Teachers Next Door podcast.  We are incredibly honoured to welcome Laurie McIntosh, aka Mrs. Mac's Kinders, to the show!  Laurie is a kindergarten teacher, author, speaker, and advocate who brings pure heart and relentless joy to education. In this first part of our conversation, Laurie takes us through her winding journey into teaching, one that includes rejection, heartbreak, healing, and ultimately falling in love with kindergarten.  Together, we talk about giving kids voice and choice, the difference between knowing your students and actually using what you know about them, why we need to stop "awfulizing" and start celebrating wins, and the one mindset shift every teacher could bring into the classroom this year. Laurie also shares what's next for her: a new role with Outside Pin Consulting, and preparing future educators at the University of Lethbridge. Grab a cup of coffee and press play. This episode is special. You can find Laurie online at https://www.lauriemcintosh.ca/ and of course, at @mrsmacskinders on Instagram. Thank you for being here!   You can still browse our LinkTree Shop!  As Amazon Associates, we do earn commission from purchases made through these links. https://linktr.ee/teachersnextdoorpodcast 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.

  2. Aug 11

    Back-to-School Must-Haves: Classroom Supplies We Swear By

    In this episode, Nicole and Michelle each share their personal, tried-and-true lists of classroom essentials heading into a new school year. From Flair pens to electric pencil sharpeners, magnetic manipulatives to dry-erase pocket sleeves, they're revealing the tools, gadgets, and supplies they genuinely can't teach without. Nicole is heading back into the classroom and Michelle is making the move into administration so their lists overlap in some fun and surprising ways. Plus, they dish on the great pencil sharpener debate (do you let the kids use it?), the legendary "Woah Boa," must-have teacher snacks, and the student who doubled as a personal AirTag. Whether you're a new teacher building your classroom from scratch or a veteran replenishing your go-tos, this episode is packed with practical ideas and a few laughs along the way.   Coming up next week: a brand new episode that you won’t want to miss!  Thank you for being here!   All of the items mentioned can be found in our Linktree Shop: https://linktr.ee/teachersnextdoorpodcast As Amazon Associates, we do earn commission from purchases made through these links.   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.

  3. Aug 4

    From Neighbours to Guests: Teachers Next Door Stop By After The Bell

    This week, Michelle and Nicole join The Stunt Brothers, Martin and Roy, as guests on the After the Bell podcast for a lively podcast crossover conversation about teaching, podcasting, and the incredible friendships that exist behind both shows. They dive into class sizes, the invisible workload of teaching, favourite classroom moments, and the joy of finding "your people" in this profession.  Funny, honest, and full of heart, this ‘podcast within a podcast’ is a must-listen for teachers everywhere!   You can find the After The Bell podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and anywhere you listen to your favourite podcasts!    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, too!  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.

  4. Jul 28

    The Summer Reset Series Part 4: The Gentle Runway - Back On Your Terms

    In the final episode of their summer series, Michelle and Nicole explore what it really means to ease back into the school year without losing the peace you worked so hard to find this summer. They chat about who's actually listening to the podcast (surprise: it's not just teachers), why the "all or nothing" approach to back-to-school is overrated, and the small, intentional shifts they're each making this year — from asking for help setting up classrooms, to refusing to let summer "end" just because the bell rings. If you're worried about school starting up in the fall, this episode is your permission slip to take off on your own terms instead of feeling launched out of a cannon. Coming up next week: Michelle and Nicole are podcast guests for the very first time when they join the Stunt Brothers on the After the Bell podcast!  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.

  5. Jul 21

    The Summer Reset Series Part 3: Letting Go of Teacher Guilt

    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.

  6. Jul 14

    The Summer Reset Series Part 2: Reclaiming Your Identity

    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.

  7. Jul 7

    The Summer Reset Series Part 1: The Art of the Clean Break

    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.

  8. Jun 30

    Never Say Never: Our Journeys In and Out of Administration

    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.

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About

What happens when two veteran teachers, former administrators, and sports moms finally hit "record"? You get the unpolished truth about life in the classroom. Because let’s be honest: no one survives the school day alone. I’m Michelle, and I’m Nicole.  Whether you’re looking for a fresh perspective on pedagogy, a safe place to vent, or just a friendly voice to remind you that you’re doing a great job in the trenches, you’ve found your people. Welcome to the Neighborhood. The door is always open.  Join our online community: Instagram @teachersnextdoorpodcast www.teachersnextdoorpodcast.com.

Information

  • Creator
    teachersnextdoorpodcast
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    22
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Teachers Next Door Podcast

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