My Life Aint Perfect

Rodrick Johnson
  • 5.0 (11)
  • EDUCATION
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Welcome to My Life Ain’t Perfect, the podcast where we talk about the moments that almost broke us—but somehow built us. I’m your host, Rodrick C. Johnson: literacy coach, author, CEO, and more importantly—a human who’s been through some stuff. You may know me for transforming classrooms, coaching educators, or writing books like Joey’s Journey: A Long Way Home. But before all that, there’s a backstory. One not filled with neat bows or highlight reels—but resilience, pain, discovery, and grace. So if you’re showing up messy, healing, tired, or powerful and don’t even know it—this space is for you.

  1. For Good!

    12/01/2025

    For Good!

    “For Good” In this deeply personal episode, I open the door to a chapter of my life shaped by fear, resilience, and the journey toward being fully seen. Inspired by the story of Elphaba from *Wicked*, I reflect on what it means to live as “the other,” to carry labels you never asked for, and to find yourself trapped in a jail built from survival, silence, and shadows of your own making. But this isn’t a story of despair. It’s a story of rising. “For Good” explores how being ostracized can ignite a fire that transforms you, how hiding can lead to healing, and how embracing your truth—out loud—can free not just you, but everyone watching from the sidelines. Together, we walk through the parallels between a misunderstood fictional heroine and a real-life journey toward liberation, identity, and impact. Listeners will leave this episode encouraged to reflect on their own stories—where they have dimmed their light, played small, and where it's finally time to step forward with courage. This one is for anyone who has ever felt unseen, unheard, or underestimated. You’ll walk away with renewed hope, a deeper understanding of your worth, and a reminder that even the hardest chapters can shape you… *for good.*

    11 min
  2. Future Ready, Imagining Black Classrooms Beyond Harm

    11/23/2025

    Future Ready, Imagining Black Classrooms Beyond Harm

    Today, we’re going to look forward waaay forward and dream about what a world could look like if we stopped tinkering with broken systems and started building new ones rooted in liberation, technology justice, and joy. This… is Afrofuturism in action. And this… is what leadership looks like when we refuse to accept harm as the cost of learning.”

    17 min
  3. The "Gap"

    11/02/2025

    The "Gap"

    Today, we’re not focusing on ‘achievement gaps.’ We’re addressing harm. Yes, I said it harm. When we talk about an achievement gap, it often sounds like some kids just didn’t try hard enough. But what if I told you that the ‘gap’ isn’t between students — it’s between the world they deserve and the world they received? I read a powerful article by Dr. Bettina Love in Education Week that changed how I think about this. She said: ‘Stop talking about gaps — talk about harm.’ And she’s right. Because if we can’t identify the harm, we can’t fix it. Today, I want to bring this conversation out of academic journals and into the real world. Because I’ve seen it, I’ve lived it, and I know the difference between a “have” and a “have-not” school… and it goes much deeper than test scores.

    11 min
  4. When Super hero's cant put their capes down!

    10/26/2025

    When Super hero's cant put their capes down!

    In this powerful episode of My Life Ain’t Perfect, Rodrick C. Johnson opens up about the quiet exhaustion that comes with being the strong one. From leading schools and supporting teachers to showing up for family and community, Rodrick reflects on the moments he realized even superheroes need rest.

    11 min
  5. The Power of Affirmations

    10/19/2025

    The Power of Affirmations

    Today’s episode is about words. Not just any words, the ones you speak over your own life. The affirmations that become armor when the world tries to tell you who you’re not. Because the truth is… before I ever built a business, wrote a book, or coached a teacher, I had to learn how to speak life into myself.” Here is a guide to engage with this weekhttps://docs.google.com/document/d/1THHMZvEZxSs3z6yyHACznN0f0a97xPK9JuKr_TxSfQw/copy

    9 min
  6. The Book That Healed ME!

    10/12/2025

    The Book That Healed ME!

    “Some stories don’t start on paper. They start as scars. They live in our memories, in our silence, in the questions we asked when no one had answers. Welcome back to My Life Ain’t Perfect, the podcast where we turn our most challenging moments into healing lessons. I’m Rodrick C. Johnson—literacy coach, speaker, educator, and today… storyteller. In this episode, we’re talking about Joey’s Journey: A Long Way Home. A children’s book that came from the pieces of my own past… and became one of the most powerful healing tools I’ve ever held.”

    14 min
  7. The Day I almost Quit

    10/05/2025

    The Day I almost Quit

    Welcome back to My Life Ain’t Perfect the podcast where we get honest about the mess behind the mission. I’m your host, Rodrick C. Johnson, and today’s episode is as real as it gets. It’s called The Day I Almost Quit. And if you’ve ever sat in your car after school and just wept... or stared at your resignation letter thinking, ‘Maybe it’s time…’ this one’s for you. Let’s talk about what happens when the weight almost wins.”

    16 min
  8. Teach the Curriculum an explanation!

    10/03/2025 ·  BONUS

    Teach the Curriculum an explanation!

    In this BONUS episode, I unpack a few thoughts around my viral post. This is Part 1, as I have a lot more to say, and I haven't even addressed the comment section yet. Thank you for listening. Don't worry, you will still receive your episode on Sunday! If you want to join my teacher PLC, please use this link to register:https://bit.ly/teacherPLC

    10 min
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Trailer

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About

Welcome to My Life Ain’t Perfect, the podcast where we talk about the moments that almost broke us—but somehow built us. I’m your host, Rodrick C. Johnson: literacy coach, author, CEO, and more importantly—a human who’s been through some stuff. You may know me for transforming classrooms, coaching educators, or writing books like Joey’s Journey: A Long Way Home. But before all that, there’s a backstory. One not filled with neat bows or highlight reels—but resilience, pain, discovery, and grace. So if you’re showing up messy, healing, tired, or powerful and don’t even know it—this space is for you.

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