Two Wacky Teacherpreneurs Tell All

Jessica Martin & Amanda Werner
  • 5.0 (6)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Weekly

Jess and Amanda have been friends and teacherpreneurs for over ten years! They are excited to share their silly banter and business acumen with teachers who are looking to start a business and begin making recurring revenue online! 

  1. 6d ago

    TPT Forward 2026 Recap: The Biggest Takeaways Every Seller Needs to Hear (Even If You Didn't Go)

    Jess went to TPT Forward 2026 in Las Vegas — and came back with a notebook full of takeaways, a renewed love for TPT, and intel that every seller needs to hear whether they were there or not. In this episode of Two Wacky Teacherpreneurs Tell All, Jess debriefs Amanda on everything: the sessions that blew her mind, the data TPT shared about what's actually driving (and killing) sales, the platform's strategy for fighting AI search engines, and the emotional moment when she realized 60–70% of the room was still full-time classroom teachers — just like her. This is the conference recap episode you've been waiting for. If you couldn't make it to Las Vegas, consider this your crash course. In this episode, you'll learn: The preview revelation: TPT's internal data shows that 60% of products don't have previews, and products without previews aren't selling. Your preview — not your description — is what teachers look at before buying. It should show every page and function as your sales page.The first 300 words matter most: With AI search engines pulling snippets from product listings, TPT recommends front-loading your first 300 words with exactly what teachers search for — no upselling, no links to other products, and include every variation of your grade level (6, sixth, grade six)The $100K freebie strategy: One presenter traced how she made $100,000 by linking paid resources on the first page of her freebie using UTM codes to track performance — a strategy most sellers have never triedHow TPT is fighting AI search: TPT is building landing pages optimized for AI search engines so that teacher queries land on TPT blog content first, funneling them to products. Their message: "We'll be here in 20 years. We're never selling."IXL's commitment: The IXL CEO addressed the room directly — they are not selling TPT, they're investing long-term, and they believe in the teacher-author modelThe One Thing Strategy from closing keynote speaker Erin Waters: stop working on 20 projects. Pick the one product idea that keeps popping into your head — the one you want to pull over and write down — and go all in on it. Her math game bundle, born from this philosophy, still makes up 70% of her revenueThe power of bundles: Seller advisory board members revealed they create mega-bundles of their entire store priced at $500–$900, feature them in their top four products, and sell a few per yearThe 60% surprise: When the room was polled, 60–70% of attendees were still full-time classroom teachers — a shift from previous years that made Jess feel like she belonged againSearch behavior changes by season: TPT data shows teachers search differently as the year progresses — complete sentences and formal terms in August, slang and abbreviations (like "LANG" instead of "English Language Arts") by May. Top sellers adjust their titles accordinglySnapseed: A free app for product photography — the session taught sellers how to make paper-on-a-table photos look professional by adjusting individual colors and white balanceAI isn't replacing TPT — it's complementing it: Amanda's take on why Claude's slide-making capabilities are impressive but "still not good enough," and why teachers use ChatGPT AND TPT together, not one or the otherClaude was named the best AI for business analytics at the AI advisory board session — ahead of competitors, though the landscape shifts every few monthsShoutouts: Nancy / The Apple Basket Teacher (37 years of third-grade teaching)Ashley Bible (money mindset session)The Techy Chick (product photography session)Erin Waters (closing keynote — The One Thing)Tools mentioned: Snapseed (free photo editing app)A Color Story (photo editing, free trial)YDP — Your Data Playbook (TPT analytics)Claude by AnthropicWatch this episode on YouTube to see Amanda's and Jess's TPT storefront screenshots as backgrounds — and compare their follower counts if you dare. Subscribe and leave a five-star review — and remember, if you share this podcast with 10 other people, you'll have good luck forever.

  2. Jul 10

    Your TPT Products Could Be Books: How to Pivot From Digital Resources to E-Books and Audiobooks

    What if every TPT product you've ever made could also be a book? In this episode of Two Wacky Teacherpreneurs Tell All, Jess shares everything she learned from a published author in her sci-fi social club who created an entirely new genre of fiction, self-published it across multiple platforms, and built a business around it — and Amanda asks the questions every teacherpreneur is thinking: how hard is this, how much does it cost, and could we actually do it? From Amazon KDP royalty splits to Audible's ruthless quality audio standards to the trilogy strategy that e-book millionaires use to hook readers and build income, this episode is a crash course in digital publishing for teacherpreneurs who are looking for revenue streams beyond TPT. In this episode, you'll learn: The real story behind "relief fiction": how one author invented an entirely new genre inspired by Dr. Pimple Popper, self-published it, and built a multi-platform business around short stories about satisfying bodily experiencesAmazon KDP royalty breakdown: Amazon takes 30% of your profits, and you make even less on print editionsThe exclusivity decision: if you check "sell exclusively on Amazon," they push your book to more Kindle readers — but you can't sell it anywhere else, including your own websiteBookFunnel ($300/year): the service that lets authors deliver e-books directly to readers, manage giveaways, and bypass Amazon entirelyThe real cost of self-publishing: Kajabi ($400/month), BookFunnel ($300/year), Zapier for integrations, ElevenLabs for AI voice, Epidemic Sound for audio, Canva for covers, and a voice actor ($1,200+ for an audiobook)Why Audible is the hardest platform to publish on: they reject anything with background noise, imperfect sound quality, or amateur production — every second is reviewedThe trilogy strategy that e-book millionaires use: release book one for free or $0.99, end on a cliffhanger, then sell books two and three for $3–$10 eachWhy Jess says the millionaire e-books she bought "weren't the bestest" — and why that's actually encouraging for teacherpreneurs who think they're not good enough writersHow teacherpreneurs could apply the trilogy model to nonfiction: units of study, professional development series, or progressive curriculum guidesWhere to sell: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Audible, your own website (via Kajabi, WooCommerce, or Etsy), and even TPTTools and platforms discussed: Amazon KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing)AudibleBookFunnel (e-book delivery and distribution)Kajabi (website and course platform)Zapier (integration and automation)ElevenLabs (AI voice generation)Epidemic Sound (royalty-free sound effects and music)Canva (cover design)Claude by Anthropic (used live for research)Mentioned in this episode: Relief Fiction Publishing by Kai Quill — reliefstories.comWatch this episode on YouTube to see Amanda's e-reader background and Jess's science fiction club enthusiasm in full effect. Subscribe and leave a five-star review — and remember, if you share this podcast with 10 other people, you'll have good luck forever.

  3. Jul 3

    Jess is Going to the TPT Conference! TPT Forward 2026: Picking Sessions, Planning Strategy, and Finding Your People

    Jess said she might not go. She went to Germany for a month. She was worried she'd come back with a "weird disease." But Jess is officially going to TPT Forward 2026 — and in this episode of Two Wacky Teacherpreneurs Tell All, she and Amanda go through the entire 27-page conference guide, session by session, debating what's worth attending, what to skip, and how to make the most of three days at the Las Vegas Hilton at Resorts World. Whether you're heading to TPT Forward yourself or living vicariously through Jess from your couch (like Amanda, who's watching from Uruguay), this episode is your unofficial conference companion — complete with honest takes on most of the sessions, insider tips from someone who's been to six of these conferences, and a sprinkle pool! In this episode, you'll learn: Jess's full session picks for Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday — and Amanda's picks for the ones she'd go to if she weren't 5,000 miles awayThe sessions they're most excited about: Free Resources That Actually Sell, TPT Templates for Thumbnails and Previews, the AI Advisory Board session, Blogger's Boot Camp, and Creating Loyal Super FansWhy Amanda thinks the store audit sessions are gold but Jess doesn't want to be "put on the spot like a big buffoon"The AI Advisory Board session breakdown: is it about AI agents or AI consulting tools? Amanda and Jess debate what it actually covers and whether the session is about Claude-style agents or something else entirelyInsider conference tips from a veteran: join the Facebook group early (but be prepared to send receipts), make game-time decisions based on hallway buzz, and don't underestimate the networking breakfast by grade bandJess's conference origin story: how TPT Forward changed her entire business the first time she went — and the time she left her purse (with truck keys, house keys, school keys, and all credit cards) in a Disney Sports hotel in Orlando and was stranded in Salt Lake CityThe IXL CEO and TPT product team session: why hearing directly from the source is always worth your timeYour Guide to the Search Universe from Team TPT: understanding how TPT search actually worksThe ice cream museum meetup: Jess organized a group outing to a giant swimming pool full of sprinkles, and Miss Whimsy is planning to come:)Why Jess thinks collaboration over competition is the real conference takeaway — and how she's already connecting with sellers who have similar store namesComing next episode: should you scrap your social media and start over? Plus a full TPT Forward recapConference details: TPT Forward 2026: July 7–9, Las Vegas Hilton at Resorts WorldKeynote speaker: Ayo JonesFollow along: Jess on Instagram: @the_whimsical_teacher (for conference stories and the sprinkle pool)Amanda on Instagram: @theculturedmom (for propane-truck-disguised-as-ice-cream-truck content from Uruguay)Subscribe and leave a five-star review — and remember, if you share this podcast with 10 other people, you'll have good luck forever.

  4. Jun 26

    Should Jess Go to the TpT Conference in Vegas?

    TPT Forward 2026 takes place July 7–9 at the Las Vegas Hilton at Resorts World — and Jess lives in Las Vegas. So she's going, right? Maybe. In this episode of Two Wacky Teacherpreneurs Tell All, Jess and Amanda go through the entire TPT Forward 2026 conference guide session by session, debating which ones are worth attending, which ones sound like recycled advice, and whether the conference is still valuable for a seller who's been to five or six of them already. What starts as a simple "should I go?" turns into one of the most honest conversations about the TPT seller community you'll ever hear — covering the haves-and-have-nots dynamic at conferences, the role of generational wealth in TPT success, why the advice that changed Jess's career came from her very first conference, and whether blogging is dead in the age of AI. In this episode, you'll learn: The full TPT Forward 2026 session lineup, reviewed and ranked by two veteran sellers: everything from "From Resource to Unit to Curriculum for Secondary Sellers" to "Your AI Advisory Board" to "Blogger's Boot Camp"Jess's origin story: how her first TPT conference launched her entire social media career — the trifecta advice (blog + Pinterest + social media → TPT store) that started everythingThe haves and have-nots: Jess's candid take on the wealth display at TPT conferences — the Louis Vuitton bags, the Louboutin heels, and what it feels like to be a smaller seller in that roomThe generational wealth conversation: why some sellers start from a higher elevation and how access to capital for websites, virtual assistants, and business tools creates an uneven playing fieldWhy Jess would attend: the Canva product creation session, Ashley Bible's money mindset talk, the AI advisory board session, and the thumbnails workshopWhy Jess might skip: email funnels she can't build, sessions that don't differentiate between novice and advanced sellers, and post-trip exhaustion from a month in GermanyAmanda's conference frustration as a neurodivergent attendee: over-excitability, information overload, and wanting concise quick wins instead of hour-long deep divesThe "is blogging dead?" debate: Amanda argues AI is just a fancy search engine that still links to blogs; Jess isn't sure anymoreWhy Amanda wants Jess to go: the gossip, the learnings, and the vicarious conference experience from UruguayThe sessions Amanda is most curious about: AI advisory board, thumbnails, and product partnersConference details: TPT Forward 2026 runs July 7–9 at the Las Vegas Hilton at Resorts WorldSessions cover resource creation, marketing, productivity, data, and more, with a keynote from Teacher-Author AYO JonesWatch this episode on YouTube to see Amanda's AI-generated entourage of conference-ready ladies and Jess trying not to sneeze on camera. Subscribe and leave a five-star review — and remember, if you share this podcast with 10 other people, you'll have good luck forever.

  5. Jun 19

    The Clip Economy Explained: Why Teacherpreneurs Need to Make Shorts (And the Tools to Make Them)

    Most people don't listen to full podcast episodes anymore — they watch the 10-second clip that got pulled from it. Welcome to the clip economy. In this episode of Two Wacky Teacherpreneurs Tell All, Amanda and Jess dive into one of the biggest shifts in content distribution right now and figure out what it means for teacherpreneurs who are creating long-form content but getting almost no traction from it. Inspired by a recent episode of The Atlantic's Galaxy Brain podcast featuring Ed Elson on the rise of the clip economy, Amanda shares what she learned about why short-form clips have become the primary way people consume content — not just a promotional tool, but the content itself. She and Jess then do what they do best: open up Claude, research tools live on screen, and try to figure out how teacherpreneurs can actually pull this off without losing their minds. In this episode, you'll learn: What the clip economy is and why short-form clips have overtaken long-form content as the primary way people discover and consume podcasts, videos, and social mediaThe 10-to-50 rule: why posting 10–50 clips per day is becoming the standard for visibility — and why that number isn't as insane as it sounds when you have the right toolsThe Andrew Tate (we hate this guy!) clipping strategy: how paying armies of people to create and post clips on your behalf became a mainstream content distribution model (and what teacherpreneurs can learn from it without the toxic baggage)Jess's friend who went from 500 to 100,000+ Facebook followers by posting 10 times a day — proof this strategy works even outside of videoThe best tools for creating clips from podcast episodes: Opus Clip (free tier available, paid plans from $19/month), Descript, CapCut, Podclip ($5), and more — researched live with Claude during the episodeThe difference between clipping tools (which pull highlights from long-form content) and scheduling tools (which post on autopilot) — and why you need bothTools discussed: Opus Clip (AI-powered clip generation)Descript (editing, transcription, and clips)CapCut (video editing and clips)Podclip ($5 app for sharing podcast clips)Claude by Anthropic (used live to research tools)Podcast mentioned: Galaxy Brain by The Atlantic (Ed Elson episode on the clip economy)Watch this episode on YouTube to see Amanda in front of the Golden Gate Bridge for one of the last times before she moves to Uruguay, and Jess's wall of colorful books. Subscribe and leave a five-star review — and remember, if you share this podcast with 10 other people, you'll have good luck forever.

  6. Jun 12

    How to Create a One-Pager That Sells Your PD to Schools (Selling to Schools, Part 2)

    You've built a course, a membership, or a year-long curriculum — but how do you actually get a school to pay for it? In Part 2 of the Selling to Schools series on Two Wacky Teacherpreneurs Tell All, Amanda screen-shares the actual one-pager she created to sell her Empowered English Classroom course to schools, and she and Jess break down what goes on it, why it works, and how teacherpreneurs can use the same approach to get their offerings in front of principals — even if the idea of cold-emailing a school district makes them want to hide under a desk. This is a short, practical episode focused on the nuts and bolts: what to include on a one-pager, how to handle purchase orders, why you should go through teachers instead of approaching administrators directly, and where the hidden money in school budgets actually lives. In this episode, you'll learn: Amanda's one-pager walkthrough: what she included at the top (total PD hours), in the middle (course overview, goals, learning outcomes), and at the bottom (pricing, payment options, and address for purchase orders)Why listing total PD hours matters — teachers and administrators think in time chunks, and this is the first thing they look forJess's design takeaway: keep it clean, bold headings, easy to scan — more like a professional resume than a Canva templateThe "go through the teachers" strategy: instead of cold-emailing principals, give teachers a one-pager they can hand to their administrator to request school fundingWhy Amanda frames it as "I don't want you paying for this out of your own pocket" — and how that positions you as an ally, not a salespersonHidden school budgets: why many schools have $250+ per teacher set aside for PD that goes unspent and gets shuffled elsewhereThe end-of-year budget panic: why March and April are prime time for schools that need to spend money before they lose itJess's in-person approach: dropping off flyers with treats and pens for office staff to get your offering in front of decision-makersHow to create a purchase order using Canva templates — and why keeping it basic (not cutesy) matters for secondary schoolsThe LLC question: do you actually need one to sell to schools? Amanda and Jess's honest take on the costs ($700–$800/year in California), the legal protection, and whether it's worth it for a small teacherpreneur businessWhy even in a year of slashed budgets and teacher layoffs, there's still room to sell — a $1,000 course for five teachers is nothing compared to a teacher's salaryTools mentioned: Canva (for creating one-pagers and purchase orders)Kajabi (Amanda's former course platform)This is Part 2 of a two-part series. Listen to Part 1 first for the big-picture overview of selling PD to schools, pricing tiers, real contract numbers, and whether this pivot is right for your personality. Watch this episode on YouTube to see Amanda's screen-share of the actual one-pager, her poppy-sized-head background, and Jess's brick wall vibes — plus an unexpected detour into Arizona mobile home real estate. Subscribe and leave a five-star review — and remember, if you share this podcast with 10 other people, you'll have good luck forever.

  7. May 30

    Selling to Schools Instead of Teachers: How Teacherpreneurs Can Land PD Contracts (Part 1)

    What if instead of selling a $5 product to one teacher, you could sell a $10,000–$58,000 package to an entire school? In this episode of Two Wacky Teacherpreneurs Tell All, Amanda and Jess explore one of the biggest untapped opportunities for teacherpreneurs: selling professional development and curriculum directly to schools and school districts. Neither Amanda nor Jess is doing this full-time right now — and that's exactly what makes this episode valuable. Instead of a polished pitch from someone selling a course on how to do it, you're getting an honest, exploratory conversation between two teacherpreneurs who have dabbled in it, turned down opportunities, learned from friends who do it successfully, and are trying to figure out whether it's the right move. If you've ever wondered whether your expertise could translate into school-level contracts, this is the episode that lays out what's actually involved. In this episode, you'll learn: The three pricing tiers every teacherpreneur should start with when selling PD to schools: a one-hour talk, a half-day session, and a full-day workshopReal contract numbers: Get Your Teach On charges $58,000 for a year of school PD, and the Seven Habits program costs around $50,000 — what does that actually include?Why writing a book (even self-published) is one of the fastest ways to establish the credibility schools look for when hiring PD providersAmanda's experience being contacted by principals who were in her membership — and why she turned down PD opportunities despite the moneyThe honest reality of selling to schools: purchase orders, district contracts, billing delays of 3 months to a year, and why it's a long gameWhy Zoom-based PD is a real option — even major curriculum companies deliver training virtually, so teacherpreneurs can tooJess's case for why now — when budgets are being slashed and PD is getting cut — is actually the perfect time to build your PD offeringAmanda's niche sweet spot: helping ELA teachers navigate AI and student writing, delivered via Zoom from UruguayThe personality factor: why selling to schools isn't for everyone (Amanda's honest take on why teaching adults makes her uncomfortable as an autistic person)Monica Genta and Jen Manley Consulting as examples of teacherpreneurs who've built successful school-facing businessesMentioned in this episode: Get Your Teach On (PD conference company)The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens (school PD program)Monica Genta, author of 180 Days of AwesomeJen Manley Consulting (Instagram)Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel (Jess's current read — no relation to PD, just vibes)Stay tuned for Part 2, where Amanda and Jess will break down what goes on a landing page and one-pager when you're pitching your PD or curriculum to school administrators. Watch this episode on YouTube to see Amanda's leaf close-up background, Jess's galaxy background, and the existential question of what that says about their mindsets. Subscribe and leave a five-star review — and remember, if you share this podcast with 10 other people, you'll have good luck forever.

  8. May 22

    How to Build an Email List as a TPT Seller (Even If You've Failed Before)

    Every successful TPT seller Amanda and Jess have ever talked to credits the same thing for their success: their email list. Not their TPT store. Not their social media. Their email list. So why is it the one thing most teacherpreneurs never actually follow through on? In this episode of Two Wacky Teacherpreneurs Tell All, Amanda and Jess have a raw, numbers-on-the-table conversation about building, neglecting, and trying to revive an email list — including what it actually costs, what a good conversion rate looks like, and why Jess keeps starting over while Amanda hasn't emailed her list of 5,000 subscribers in two years. This isn't a polished masterclass. It's two teacherpreneurs doing math on screen, confessing their email marketing failures out loud, and trying to figure out the next move together. In this episode, you'll learn: How Amanda originally built her email list using Mailchimp, WordPress, and OptinMonster — and the pop-up strategies that actually workedThe real cost of email list tools: OptinMonster ($313/year), ConvertKit pricing tiers, and why Kajabi at $200/month wasn't worth it for JessMailerLite as the best free starting point: 1,000 subscribers free, recommended by Claude for teacherpreneurs just getting startedWhat a good email opt-in conversion rate actually is (3–5% is solid) and how to calculate yoursJess's real numbers: 100 subscribers in one weekend from Instagram stories, a 2.5% conversion rate, and why she still felt like a failureAmanda's real numbers: a 28.5% conversion rate on her podcast-to-opt-in campaign — but only 7 total visitors (and why that's still useful data)Why Amanda is mining her 5,000-subscriber list for her top 1,000 "super fans" (à la Pat Flynn) instead of emailing everyoneThe critical difference between owning your audience (email list) and renting it (TPT, Instagram, Facebook) — and what happens if a platform disappears tomorrowHow to scrub a dormant email list and re-engage cold subscribers without getting flagged as spamAmanda's secret locked page strategy: using podcast episodes to drive listeners to a hidden page with editable slides behind an email opt-inAI agents for email: Amanda's vision (and fear) of using Claude Code to automate email replies and list managementWhy big lists aren't everything — and why Amanda would rather have 1,000 people who love her than 35,000 strangersTools and platforms discussed: OptinMonster (pop-ups and opt-in forms)ConvertKit (email marketing platform)MailerLite (free for first 1,000 subscribers)Mailchimp, AWeber, ActiveCampaign (alternatives)Kajabi (course platform with built-in email)Claude by AnthropicSuperfans by Pat FlynnWatch this episode on YouTube to see Amanda surrounded by puppies (and one is her real dog) while Jess interrogates her about email strategy. Subscribe and leave a five-star review — and remember, if you share this podcast with 10 other people, you'll have good luck forever.

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About

Jess and Amanda have been friends and teacherpreneurs for over ten years! They are excited to share their silly banter and business acumen with teachers who are looking to start a business and begin making recurring revenue online! 

Information

  • Creator
    Jessica Martin & Amanda Werner
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    80
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Two Wacky Teacherpreneurs Tell All
  • Show Website
    Two Wacky Teacherpreneurs Tell All

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