Teacher talk with classroom traction.
Teachers Talkin' gathers educators for warm, question-led conversations about what actually happens in schools. Episodes move from self-paced learning and assessment to AI, mentorship, edutainment, and the daily work of keeping students engaged.
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Teachers Talkin' is a classroom-first education show with the rhythm of a long professional conversation after school. It is practical before it is polished. Dustin Tetreault and Ghazali Abdul-Wahhab tend to begin with a broad teaching problem, then keep asking what that issue looks like for real students and real teachers. One episode looks at semester resets through exam trends, areas for improvement, and small wins worth celebrating. Another considers what happens when students are absent, bored, overwhelmed, or mentally elsewhere while direct instruction keeps moving without them. The show spends meaningful time on self-paced learning, especially the promise of helping students catch up, move ahead, and take more ownership without leaving the teacher to chase everyone individually. Assessment is treated less like a grading ritual and more like a way to support progress. Mentorship gets similar attention. In the conversation with Jennifer Hartman, the focus turns to intentional support structures, retention, burnout, and leadership pipelines inside schools. Technology appears often, but usually through classroom consequences rather than gadget excitement. AI is discussed with some hesitation, curiosity, and ethical concern, including the moment when a teacher's fear starts to shift after seeing how quickly ChatGPT could help shape an idea. Edutainment gets a playful but concrete treatment, from Assassin's Creed discovery mode to Minecraft Education and classroom quizzes with familiar game aesthetics. The show also makes space for global perspective, with teaching experiences and school concerns crossing Chicago, Singapore, and other contexts raised by guests. Its best moments come when a guest tells a specific story and the hosts slowly pull the usable lesson out of it. The talk can wander. It can repeat itself. That looseness makes it feel closer to actual teacher collaboration than a scripted advice show. The recurring question is not just what works, but what support teachers and students need for it to work. Teachers Talkin' is most useful for educators who want classroom strategies with human texture attached. It cares about innovation, but it cares more about whether a tired teacher could actually try the idea next week. The show lands as warm professional development with the coffee still on the table.
Made for: Teachers, educators, parents, and people interested in education who want grounded conversations about instruction, student engagement, assessment, mentoring, and classroom technology. It especially suits educators who prefer examples and lived experience over polished theory.
What sets it apart: The show lets educator stories run long enough to show the messy middle: absences, boredom, burnout, catch-up work, and the practical limits of new ideas. Its strength is connecting big education trends to small classroom moves teachers can actually picture using.
The Teachers' Talkin' podcast is hosted by Dustin Tatroe and Ghazali Abdul Wahab. This podcast is for teachers, educators, parents, or anyone interested in education. We discuss all things education & teaching from innovative teaching methods to challenges to strategies and much much more. This is a discussion or round table based podcast where we will bring in educators from around the world to talk about a variety of education topics. We want this to be a place of inspiration, personal professional development, and a place where we can elevate education together. Let us know what topics you want us to discuss! New episodes every other Monday. Like and subscribe. Connect with us on LinkedIn…
Based on 6 episodes we listened to · September 2026
Teachers Talkin' turns educators' classroom experiences into concrete ideas for teaching, mentoring, reflection, and thoughtful use of AI.
Teachers Talkin' builds each conversation around a practical question, with Dustin Tetreault and Ghazali Abdul-Wahhab inviting educators to reason from classroom experience.
A French cafe chatbot and a community garden walk into your next lesson plan.
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Short reviews from the PlayNext desk, based on the episodes we processed.
A grounded case for turning familiar game aesthetics into gateways for more durable learning.
This Teachers Talkin' episode makes a clear, practical case for learning that feels familiar before it asks students to stretch. It frames edutainment as the blend of education and entertainment, then grounds the idea in recognizable examples: Assassin's Creed Origins' Discovery…
A grounded discussion of keeping explicit instruction accessible when students arrive with different needs and attention.
The episode frames classroom success as a question of access: how students can receive explicit instruction when absence, boredom, or wandering attention gets in the way.
A practical case for turning student feedback into a planned loop with visible follow-through.
Student voice turns into an everyday school habit in this Teachers Talkin' roundtable, as educators look at how feedback can support participation and agency.
Mentorship is framed as practical teaching support, rooted in observation, feedback, and classroom self-review.
Teachers Talkin' treats mentorship as part of the job, not a slogan. Vani Palaranja comes across as a seasoned ESL and business English educator with experience across more than 60 countries, more than 150 mentoring sessions for online ESL educators, and work as a Cambridge…
Plainspoken advice for beginning teachers, with a practical edge and little patience for perfectionism.
The piece follows Teachers Talkin' as it offers plain advice for beginning teachers trying to build confidence and settle into the work. Janine Royal keeps it practical: use planning time well, do not chase perfection, and leave enough room for life outside school so burnout…
A first-live season-two recap that turns teacher talk, AI, and sound advice into a useful checkpoint.
Teachers Talkin' goes live for the first time and looks back at the first half of season two, so the episode works as both a milestone and a recap.
A practical conversation about making growth mindset something teachers and students can practice, not just admire.
Teachers Talkin' opens season two with a steady discussion of growth mindset in students and educators. It stays with the work of the classroom rather than leaning on slogans, using feedback, retakes, reassessment, reflection, goal-setting, and regular check-ins to make progress…
A practical outdoor-learning conversation that stays grounded in real classroom constraints.
Teachers Talkin' frames outdoor learning as something educators can actually use, not just admire from a distance. Connie Rasmussen, drawing on work as a marine biologist, seasoned educator, and advocate for outdoor education, grounds the discussion in examples that stretch from…
Instructional coach Janine Royal joins the hosts to discuss the challenges facing beginning teachers, from overwhelming paperwork and classroom management to emotional isolation.
This episode introduces a discussion on how self-paced learning through the Modern Classrooms Project can enhance success for teachers and students compared to traditional methods.
This episode segment introduces a discussion on how educators can prioritize student well-being, featuring guest Ryan Nicholas-Leong who shares his personal background with childhood trauma.
This episode introduces a discussion on culturally responsive teaching to connect educators with diverse student populations, featuring guest Chititia Ganu who focuses on education aligned with sustainable development goals.
This episode introduces Keith Wilhelmi, a retired science teacher, to discuss teaching students effective outlining as a foundational skill for lifelong learning.
The podcast introduces a discussion with Sila, a teacher from Turkey, to explore AI's role in reshaping education from a teacher's perspective.
This podcast segment introduces sponsors for meat delivery and raw dog food before transitioning to a discussion on self-paced learning in education.
This episode segment introduces a discussion on teacher retention, exploring why teachers stay or leave and how to make teaching sustainable without lowering expectations.
This episode segment introduces a discussion on making learning fun and accessible through game design, featuring Adi Prakash from Scytos Labs.
This episode segment introduces a discussion with Robert Barnett on transforming education through hybrid and blended learning strategies to meet diverse student needs.
The hosts discuss strategies for resetting after winter break, focusing on reflecting on first-semester successes and challenges to prepare for the new semester.
This episode introduces a discussion on social emotional learning (SEL) with guest Priya Avla, focusing on its role in student success, equity, and transforming classrooms beyond academics.
This episode introduces a discussion with Bobby Canosa-Karr on challenging traditional education systems through policy, advocacy, and cultural transformation.
This episode segment introduces a discussion on how positive reinforcement can reshape student learning and behavior in classrooms, featuring educator Miriam Chintu from Zambia.
This episode segment introduces Jennifer Hartman to discuss how intentional mentoring programs can enhance teacher retention, reduce burnout, and develop leadership in schools.
The hosts discuss how teachers can use summer break to reflect, relax, recover, and prepare for the upcoming school year.
The hosts discuss redefining professional development in education, focusing on its challenges and impact on teachers, with Zali sharing her experience as a professional developer.
The podcast introduces a discussion on school leadership with a former principal, focusing on navigating educational challenges to foster growth and success.
The podcast introduces an episode on teacher wellbeing, focusing on strategies to combat burnout and prioritize mental health, with a guest sharing her background in education.
The hosts discuss the importance of starting the school year effectively, sharing personal experiences and strategies for building lasting routines and relationships in the classroom.
The hosts celebrate the 50th episode of the Teachers Talkin' podcast, highlighting their participation in Podcast Thon to raise awareness for a charitable organization, likely ALS-related.
This episode segment introduces Dr.
This episode segment discusses sustainable grading practices to prevent teacher burnout, building on a previous conversation about grading accuracy and systems.
This episode segment introduces a discussion on the relationship between growth mindset and equity in elementary education, featuring guest Marlene Tapia-Garcia, who shares her multicultural background.
The hosts introduce the season finale where they reflect on their experiences as podcasting educators and discuss how podcasting can benefit teachers and students.
This episode explores how educators can build cultural bridges in classrooms to enhance student empathy and readiness through internationalization.
This segment introduces a podcast swap with the Modern Classrooms Project podcast, highlighting its focus on blended, self-paced, mastery-based learning and diverse educational discussions.
This episode segment discusses strategies for teachers to handle difficult conversations with parents, focusing on preventing conflicts and maintaining shared goals for student support.
This episode segment introduces a discussion on how artificial intelligence is transforming education and how educators can harness AI to enhance teaching and learning.
This episode introduces a discussion on effective parent-teacher communication, focusing on strategies to build collaborative relationships for supporting student success.
The hosts introduce an episode focused on addressing teacher burnout through practical strategies and a free workbook on boundaries and balance.
This podcast segment introduces a discussion on grading systems, focusing on accuracy, equity, and global perspectives in student assessment.
The podcast introduces a discussion on effective hybrid and blended learning models post-pandemic, featuring educator Teresa McSweeney who shares her background in teaching and digital support.
This episode introduces Javier Piano, an educator focused on integrating social and emotional learning and human values into teaching to create lasting student transformation.
The hosts discuss how teachers can use summer break to reflect, relax, recover, and prepare for the upcoming school year.
Hosts Dustin and Ghazali explore practical strategies for cultivating a growth mindset in both educators and students, discussing how to reframe failure, handle critical feedback, implement supportive classroom policies, and measure success beyond test scores.
Hosts Dustin and Ghazali celebrate their first live episode and one-year podcast anniversary by recapping the first half of season two, highlighting key themes like teacher mentorship, outdoor learning, and AI in education.
This podcast segment introduces a discussion on how educators can effectively assess student learning to support progress and growth, featuring hosts and guests in the education field.
Marine biologist and educator Connie Rasmussen joins Teachers Talkin' to discuss the transformative power of outdoor learning.
Tom Castor, a 20-year math teacher turned founder of the Datafied Classroom, joins Dustin and Ghazali to explain how teachers can turn scattered spreadsheet data into visual, trend-based insights rather than relying on single averages or gut instinct.
The podcast introduces guest Kip Morales, who discusses his extensive teaching background in Los Angeles inner-city schools, focusing on building relationships and community in education.
This episode segment introduces a discussion on using gamification to reduce math anxiety and improve student confidence, featuring Dr.
This episode introduces Danielle Craig, an experienced senior leader in education, to discuss strategic and sustainable leadership in schools, focusing on how to lead ethical and lasting transformation at all levels.
This podcast segment introduces an episode exploring how AI can support teachers by reducing burnout and enhancing instruction while maintaining human connection in education.
Teachers Talkin' hosts Dustin Tetreault and Ghazali Abdul-Wahhab interview Cecilia Sessi-Alcaraz, a 20-year educator and Dean of Students for the School of Education at Noble Schools in Chicago, about building student voice and agency.
["On Teachers Talkin', Dustin Tetreault and Ghazali Abdul-Wahhab speak with Fajah Akbar, the Indonesia ambassador for the International English Language Teachers Association, about 21st-century skills and the future of work.", "Fajah argues that students need awareness of what technology can do, not just access to smartphones and laptops, because devices alone do not create digital literacy.", "He says technology still feels like a classroom add-on in Indonesia, while AI is already forcing teachers to rethink assessment, rubrics, and what counts as real learning.", "The conversation ends with MOOCs, micro-credentials, and his own example of leaving university without a degree but still publishing, presenting, and sustaining a career."]
South African teacher Judy Rafalane shares her journey from 11 years in private sector finance to public education, revealing how the lack of mentorship and clear systems creates chaos in schools.
The hosts interview Vani Palaranja, an experienced online ESL and business English educator, about the importance and practical implementation of mentorship in teaching.
Language education expert Joe Dale joins Teachers Talkin' to explore how AI can transform language classrooms.
Teachers Talkin' hosts Dustin and Ghazali interview Australian educator Philip Alcock about how artificial intelligence can transform education.
Returning guest Ryan Leung, a Singapore-based Gen AI education consultant, explains how he moved from teaching AI literacy to building full "edutainment universes" that combine Gen AI-generated images, music, characters, and storylines to engage students.
Teachers Talkin' co-hosts Ghazali and Dustin compare two innovative teaching practices: Ghazali's AI-assisted lesson design, including chatbot-built virtual escape rooms that take four to five hours to create but span a week of curriculum, and Dustin's self-paced classroom model, where he records his lectures as instructional videos instead of teaching live.