Belly Up to the Blackboard

In this episode of Belly Up to the Blackboard, we sit down with Matt Sandoval, the CEO of Free Arts (soon to be Art Heals Arizona), to explore how educators can support students experiencing significant adversity and trauma. Matt draws on his extensive background as a former math teacher, school counselor, and licensed social worker to provide a unique "toolkit" for the modern classroom

In this episode, we sit down with Ryan Irwin, a serial entrepreneur whose passion for performance extends far beyond the gym. From fitness and nutrition coaching to bodybuilding promotion, real estate investing, and writing, Ryan has built a life rooted in discipline, growth, and purpose.He shares how the principles that drive success in fitness—focus, consistency, and mindset—translate into business and life. Whether you’re chasing personal goals, building a brand, or striving for balance, Ryan’s story will inspire you to push beyond limits and unlock your peak potential.🎙️ Tune in to learn how discipline fuels drive—and how you can live with purpose across every domain.

📱 Phones in schools—are they the biggest distraction of our time, or an essential part of modern learning? In this episode, we dive into the growing trend of Yondr pouches—lockable cases that keep students’ phones sealed away during the school day.We’ll break down the pros and cons, from increased focus and reduced cyberbullying to concerns about safety, freedom, and cost. You’ll hear perspectives from teachers, students, and parents as we ask the big question: Are Yondr pouches the solution to classroom distractions, or just a quick fix?👉 Join the conversation and decide for yourself: Lock it or leave it?

In this episode, we dive into what real leadership looks like in high school sports. From creating a leadership course for athletes, to debating whether captains should be appointed by coaches or voted on by teammates, we break down the pros and cons of each approach. We explore how leadership shows up in the classroom, why captains aren't the only leaders on the team, and practical ways to build leadership through mentorship, accountability, and community service. Whether you're a coach, athlete, or parent, this conversation offers insights into developing the next generation of leaders on and off the field.

I welcome my new cohost to the show and we discuss how the school year is beginning for her and get her thoughts on the 4 day school week!

Justin and I give an update on how the four day week is going so far this year and the positives and negatives of it.

In this episode I talked with John Halbrook about his educational experience, and how the excitement for learning can fade. We talked about getting kicked out of school, and how that can change your path in life.

Today we were able to interview our good friend Nic and talk about coaching and discuss the similarities that we see between coaching and teaching.

Today we recap our most recent Professional Development and then we get into a discussion on whether it is a good idea or not to arm staff in schools.

Today we recap our PD Day and the AI tools that can help teachers save time on a daily basis. We also touch on being dysregulated by coworkers and tips on how to fix it.

Today we discussed awkward situations that teachers can find themselves in at school and out in the "real world".

We had the privilege to talk to another one of our former teachers and coaches, John Crippen. He was able to provide great insight in how he, and education in general, has changed throughout his career.

Today we sit down and interview our former coach and teacher, John Elkin. We share memories and stories from the past, and John will share lessons he has learned throughout his career in education.

In this episode we talk about how we start back up after Thanksgiving Break and prepare for the homestretch to Christmas Break and the end of the semester.

Today we check in to see how it's going after `12 weeks of school. We also share stories of dealing with parents our first few years of teaching and provide some tips and tricks for how new teachers can deal with aggressive parents.

Today I had the chance to interview Ryan Pelkey, Author of "The Boy Who Lost His Ears: A kind of true story" and administrator from Virginia. We talked about his background, authoring his book, and what advice he has for young teachers.

In this episode we interview fellow teacher, Breannah Suntken to discuss her first year at her new school and in a new teaching position. She provides some great advice to new teachers and we had great time talking to her!

Today Justin and I discuss how we save money and where we like to purchase supplies for our classroom and talk about different sites that teachers can use for donations or grants to help supply their classroom.

Justin is back in town and today we discuss our Top 5 fictional teachers in movies and tv. Let us know who makes your top 5!

Justin is back! (For now). In today's episode we discuss what we are thankful for in teaching and what the profession has given us. We also talk about teaching between Thanksgiving and Christmas Breaks; good things, or really bad things can happen!

On today's episode I am joined again by Craig Wederquist while Justin is on a travel day. We discuss staff morale and how it affects the building, for better or worse; how it can be improved; what causes it to become toxic, and how to avoid it's toxicity.

In today's episode we welcome our special guest, Bre Suntken. We discussed odd jobs we've taken to help supplement our teacher pay, and advice for young teachers who are trying to balance work, a possible 2nd job, and life outside of work. Enjoy!

Today's pod talks about parent teacher conferences. We share stories from past ones we've had, as well as some of the crazier encounters that teachers have shared.

Today we discuss two articles about teachers who may not have the "it" factor with our guest, Craig Wederquist. We also give new teachers tips on how to survive and thrive in the field, and finish by updating our audience on where Justin is right now.

In today's episode we share what we're drinking, the teachers that made an impact on our lives, and where in the U.S. Justin is right now.

In our newest episode we introduce new segments, discuss Quiet Quitting in the teaching world, & we find out where Justin is at right now!

In this episode we discuss some of the misconceptions that those outside of the teaching world have about what we do and what our life is like.

In episode 4 we discuss the good, and not so good surprises that teachers go through in education.

On today's episode, we discuss that time of year between the winter & spring break. What does it feel like, what do we do to break out of it, and advice we for new teachers on how to deal with it.

In today's episode we discuss our top 5 jobs better than teaching and our top 5 jobs that are worse. We also do a quick dive on lack of substitutes and how some states are dealing with it.

In this episode we explain who we are and what we are about. We will discuss what motivated us to do the podcast, how we got into the world of teaching, where we are at in our career, why people should listen, and whatever tangents we end up going on.