The Balancing Act of Teaching & Life with Joe & Jamie

 It is summer, and I’m sure you are feeling that crash that so many of us feel after an in- an incredible school year where you’ve done a lot of amazing things, but also, it’s been a lot, right? There are so many circumstances that were asked of you this past year, the 2025-2026 school year, and it might have taken a lot out of you. And that’s why this episode, where we’re talking Gilmore Girls, and beach mishaps, and hallway hugs in the classroom, is going to help you revitalize your love for teaching and help you to feel seen, and heard, and laugh, and kick off your summer in a really great way. So I’m really excited to share this episode with you today. And also, I’m going to be sharing an opportunity where you can join me in the podcast studio, along with Joe and Jamie, who you’ll meet in this episode, in just a few weeks absolutely free. Welcome to educate and rejuvenate the podcast to help you revitalize your teaching, renew your spirit and reignite your passion for life. I’m your host, Kelsey Sorenson, a former teacher, current homeschool mom, published author and certified life coach. Whether you are a teacher in a traditional classroom homeschool from your kitchen table Or anywhere in between, I am on a mission to help you not only survive as an educator, but thrive, get ready to uplevel your skills with incredible insights from guest experts and discover the missing piece, rejuvenating yourself. Are you ready to both educate and rejuvenate? Let’s go. ​  Hello, and welcome to the podcast. I’m so excited to be back here for the second week in 2026, sharing another great episode with you. And today I’m really excited to introduce or reintroduce, if you caught this episode, I did this interview last year with Joe and Jamie from the Balancing Act podcast, because they are going to be some of our keynote speakers on day two They are going to be our keynote speakers on day two of our Summer Refresh event, and I just cannot wait. So let me tell you a little bit about how this year’s event is structured because it’s different from past years, but in the best way. Day one on June 30th is going to be our Educate day. That is where we’re focused on teaching strategies, and specifically, I’ve asked every speaker to share ways that are going to help you feel less overwhelmed going into the next school year. Because I know a lot of times you’ll come to a summit, even like past Educate and Rejuvenate events, and you’ll be filled with a notebook of ideas and feel inspired during the event, but then after you’re like, “And now I just feel even more inadequate, like how could I possibly do all of this?” So this event this time is really about helping you streamline, make things easier than possible. Our keynote with Theresa Kwan is, um, you might recognize her from Instagram. She’s known for Canva and the hacks that she shares for teachers, and go look her up right now. She’s great. She’s so good. She’s going to be our keynote on day one. And then on day two is our Rejuvenate day, and that is where Joe and Jamie come in. They are going to be doing a live podcast recording, another one just like this, exclusively for our Summer Refresh. And it won’t come out on the podcast for months, so if you are live, you get to be in the room where it happens. You get to hear it first. You get to actually ask your questions and help shape the episode and be part of the conversation. And if you don’t know Joe and Jamie yet, that is exactly why I’m re-airing this interview today, because I genuinely don’t think words can do them justice. Like even when I was just, you know, preparing to have an interview with them and doing some back and forth via text and email to get them on the calendar, I had no clue until I got into this episode how much I was going to love them, and I know you’re going to too. They are hilarious. They are real. They are the kind of people that you just wanna pull up a chair next to and talk to for hours, that you wish they’d were at your school, and it’s exactly the energy they’re bringing to day two of the Summer Refresh. So think of today’s episode as your preview. Get to know them a little bit here, fall in love with them a little bit, and just come be in the room with us on July 1st for the podcast we’ll do live all together. The Summer Refresh is our… It- that’s what we’re calling– If you’re like, ” what are you talking about, the Summer Refresh?” It’s the same event we’ve been doing the last five years if you’ve been following along with us. We’ve had thousands of teachers join us at this event, and historically, you’ve always had to pay for a ticket to come to this event, even for general admission. But this year we’ve made general admission free. For the first time ever in five years, and we’ve always had thousands of teachers join us. As I’m recording this, weeks ahead of the event, we already have over 2,500 teachers signed up, so it’s going to be our biggest event yet with the most momentum in the room. It’s going to be so much fun. You can grab your free spot at educateandrejuvenate.com/summer2026. And learn all, even more about the event than what I just shared here. So if you like what you hear on today’s episode, you’re going to love the event. But for now, let’s get into this interview so you can get a taste of exactly what’s coming on day two. Enjoy this incredible interview    All right. I am so thrilled for today’s interview. I’ve got Joe and Jamie here from the Balancing Act podcast, first, can you two introduce yourselves and tell our educator, rejuvenate listeners about you and what you do? I. Of course. Hey Kelsey, so good to see you. Matchy. Matchy. Of course, I have to fan girl again over Kelsey’s, uh, lipstick and wall and shirt and all the things. Um, I am Jamie Wonka. Are you, uh, are you here, Joe? Yeah, I’m here. Hey, Joe. I’m sorry. I was, I was letting you do your thing. Uh, I’m Joe. Vitale, uh, and we are the co-hosts and creators of the Balancing Act Podcast. Yeah. So Joe and I started our podcast, uh, without recording it, uh, many, many years ago as our friendship. Oh my gosh. I love that. Yes. you start it without Of course, we just, you know, we, we just decided one day like, we should just keep doing this, but let’s actually film it. So, um, so Joe and I became friends, uh, as. Teachers, colleagues, um, parents of children of the same age, um, years ago, um, Joe had moved to Pennsylvania. I didn’t know him then. Um, and when he came back to New Jersey, um, we met, uh, he was a tech support, um, uh, in a position of tech support in our school district. And I was a tech enthusiast, um, a trier, if you will. So, um, so we met. And, um, started working together, doing some projects together. Uh, realized that, um, you know, his kids who had just moved from, from another state were the same age as, uh, my older son. And, um, we thought, oh, they like this. And they, so our kids became friends and then our spouses became friends and then we realized. Um, we had never known that our families had shore houses. Um, our whole lives a couple of miles away from each other. So we started spending, um, our time not only in our town where we live together, but also um, in our favorite vacation spot, long Beach Island, New Jersey. And, um, and so we were able to take our, um. Our chats, uh, onto the sand where, you know, all the best chats happen. And, um, and so we decided, um, this is, we’re gonna start our third season. This is our third season. Who are we, I don’t even know anymore. Um, our third season of our, I know of our podcast. And it has really become, um, such a, a place for us to, um, meet incredible people like you, Kelsey, and, um, and to learn all sorts of things, uh, not just to make us, uh, better, uh, spouses. Parents, teachers, um, but just people in general and uh, yeah. yeah. we, uh, we, you know, started these conversations that we would have once we started working in the same building. Um, I heard that a position opened up in the building that I work in. ’cause we’re in the same district. And I was like, you need to come over here. You need to come over here. You need to come over here. You should come over here. You know what, I’ll talk to my principal about you coming over here. You should come over here. I think you need to come over here. Yeah. I had been in the same building for 20. she needed I know, I mean, I had been in the same, I had been in the same building for 21 years, you know, so when you are, you know, when you’re a teacher and you, you, you kind of, you Yeah. believe like, oh, I’m gonna start and, uh, end in the same exact spot. Um, so it was a big move. So, yeah, so I, so I migrated over there and, uh, and, and thank goodness I did, but. We had been talking before that about, you know, speaking about burnout, that she was kind of at a point where, you know, oh, I need a change. And I was like, well, universe is a funny way of making things Yeah. Um, but Yeah. we, everything Jamie says is completely true. Although some of it might have been over cocktails. We’re like, we start a podcast. Yeah. let’s do that. And then here we are. Yeah. then no, our, our ultimate goal was to, we realized we had so many common themes, even including down to like parents who have. Uh, older parents who have health issues that were, Mm-hmm. that secret level of parenting, which is parenting your parents. Um, Yes, the impossible. the impossible. level. Yeah, The impossible level. Uh, the final boss, if you will, if you, if you’re a video game player. Um, but Yeah. it’s, it’s something that we, we always have, we had these conversations, um, know, in the hallway in the morning or, you know, during lunch, and then the bell would ring and we were like, dammit, we want to continue that. And then here we are. We just, you know, I had enough tech skill to be able to get some things to a certain point. now, you know, our listenership is growing. Uh, we’re getting into more people’s ears and into their cars. ’cause our number one goal, not to sound hokey or corny, was to help as many people as we can. we thought we had some knowledge, whether you were a new teacher getting into the classroom, or a veteran who was like, am I the only one experiencing this? And then you get to realize, well, no, there’s not. There are other people out there that are rowing in the same direction as I am. Maybe they’re just in their own boat, Yes. And I think also what we do that is a little bit different from some of the other, um, uh, similar, uh, teachers or some of the sort of, um, is a lot of, we are actually still in the classroom, so we are in it day to day. Um, whereas especially like if you go to a professional development, there’s a lot of like people who left the classroom, um, which is. Obviously brings like a wonderful world of experience and they, you know, had that real world, um, to back up what they’re saying and doing. But, um, this year, um, Joe is starting his 27th year teaching. I’m starting my 25th year teaching. And, um, and so we are, uh, you know, also. Parents, um, of school-aged children. Um, and so we’re really sort of in every different, um, part of, you know, what that means and what that looks like. And, um, and so we feel like that that’s a really special, um, part of what we have also is that we’re, we’re, we’re in it, you know, on a day-to-day basis. Yeah. Well, and I love that because I get asked that a lot with like our event when we have speakers like, do you have any current teachers speaking? Because I mean, even myself, I’m one of those who is not currently in the classroom full time now. I do homeschool my kids and I teach twice a week. at the wellness studio, a group of random kids each week, which is so fun, but I’m not like in the traditional classroom every day. So I do, it is like a different vantage point. The great thing with, with like my coaching is that like it is nice to come with a little bit of outside perspective, but Yes. I think it’s so good that current teachers are in here doing the work too, because we need current teachers in the classroom. Doing podcasts and speaking. It shouldn’t just only be people like me who is like, oh yeah, I was in the classroom 10 years ago and now I teach in all these other ways, which is great, but it’s good to have a variety of perspectives and people that we can listen Absolutely. that you are out there helping teachers with balancing all the different, all the different things that we balance. Like I feel like there’s just so much like with aging parents and with. your own children and teaching and all the other stuff, I mean, just dinner alone is, is a, Right. the, the thing that never ends dinner, what’s for dinner? Yeah. I, I, I uhhuh. dinner Yeah. Whenever kids ask that and you don’t know the answer, you’re just like, I don’t know, like stop bugging Well, Jamie, I need to feed I mean, I write it on my, I have a dry erase on my refrigerator, and I, have a very interesting answer for when your kids ask? Well, it’s for I mean, I’m not gonna say it here, Kelsey, I, because it’s not a nice response. wanna hear It’s like, you know, it’s a little, I I actually was listening to, um, a podcast recently and um, oh my goodness, she has that new Netflix show and she’s like that southern, um, comedian Leanne. Oh, I know I, I can picture her in my okay. So she is like really blowing up and she has this new show and anyway, is coming out with so yes, keep but she. Demon Hunters at my Yeah. And she even, like, she just recently sat down and spoke with Oprah. Um, and so there’s a word that I love to use, which, um, you know, isn’t really a, maybe a nice word, uh, but if my kids ask me what’s for dinner? ’cause I have it written down. I, I do it on Sundays and I write it for the week, but they still want to ask me. So I reply buttholes, but, which is not nice. It’s not nice. But I’m gonna tell you that recently when I listened to her, I never felt so, um, validated and seen in my. Entire life because she was saying it over and over and over, and I’m like, are you talking to Oprah? And you just said, but no, but she did it. So I was like, woo-hoo. Green light. I’m saying it. I’m saying it everywhere. So you’ll, you’ll hear things like this as well as other hard hitting topics on our podcast. Um, We go high and we go low. loved yeah, no, and honestly, this is. to start listening to your This is, uh, this is what it’s like, uh, with the two of us, but, you Leanne Morgan. Leanne Morgan is her. it’s, it’s good, bad, and it, oh, Leanne Morgan. Yeah. it is the good, bad, and ugly of all of it, right? There’s times where, like, and Kelsey, you know, like there’s days that are good, there’s days that are bad. There’s days that are, oh, what, what is, you actually just said it on our episode. Every day is a replay, right? I think, um, one, one of your listeners may have said that, and What? Whenever uh. a bad day, there’s, you have a bad day, there’s always a replay. Yeah. and to use a sports analogy, Right. I play golf with my son a lot now and I try to tell him like, okay, the most important shot is the next one. Like, okay, you hit a crappy shot. But if you dwell on that, you, you know, you need to figure out, okay, how can I recover? What is my next step? Like, it’s hard to put yourself in that mindset all the time. Right. Um, is also, yes, it’s gonna get frustrating if you hit bad shot after bad shot, after bad shot. Right. It’s gonna happen. There’s days where it’s gonna be like that. Yeah. there’ll be days like this. Um, but then there’s days where, okay, you can put that behind you and figure out how do I recover, how do I, how do I put myself in the mindset of, now this is the most important step forward for me. And I realize it’s a golf analogy, but like, I try to use that a little bit in life. Like if the day, if the, if the lesson didn’t go well, if the experience didn’t go well, if the conversation didn’t go well, well, there’s always gonna be another one. Yeah. where you’re gonna have that opportunity again, so, I love that. yeah. is like, too often we try to let our past like, oh, I made this mistake and that mistake, and we let that determine our future. And it doesn’t have to. If we, like you said, we shift our shift, our mindset about it. We realize it is about the next play. It’s not about the last 20 plays, right? We can learn from those 20 plays and then, but what are we going to do next? It can be different. Absolutely. Okay. I love that. Okay, so, um, what we were, what we were talking on your show a lot about different tools that we love for rejuvenation, but mainly it was me sharing what I love. I shared about the anchor venue I shared about our permission slips and different things on your show. I want to hear now, what are your favorite tools for rejuvenation? Ladies first. Okay. I, I should like ask like who I’m like interviewing two people. I’m like, okay, Jamie, you can Okay, so, um, I love the, the ampers stand of the, uh, right. Isn’t that, I, I wanna say like, that’s a little, uh, shout out to my many, many nights of watching Wheel of Fortune with my parents. Um, and so the idea of your educate and, um, and I think that obviously so much of that comes from, um, you know, our, our whatever, our special interests. Might be. And um, and so there’s this defining line I think especially for women, um, and who are moms, like I am, that there were so many years. Uh, my children now are 17, um, and 13, I have twins that are 13. So, um, I have three kids. And, um, for a really long time, I think so much of my, and there wasn’t a lot of rejuvenate because it was just like educate and mom and um, and there was just so. And do the Right. I mean, there was just, it was right, all the things that come along with being a mom and the homework and the, you know, the shuffling and, and so I feel in the last probably four or five years where, uh, you know, the kids have been able to be more responsible, pack their own lunches, get their breakfast together, pick out their own clothing, things like that. Um, where I’ve given, um. I’ve have given that time back. Um, and so there’s an interesting spin to be able to sort of, um, analyze like, well, what, wait, who wa who was I before I was in charge of all of these tiny humans? And, um, you know, and then what is, um, do. What is, what is that? You know, ’cause no, nobody has enough time, right? So what are the things that I really want to choose, um, to make, uh, you know, uh, the, the best use of the time that I have, um, in ways that are really going to, um, you know, fuel. Um, so for, for me, honestly, the last couple of years, like the podcast has been such a rejuvenate for me. Um, I am. A constant observer of people. I absolutely love to, um, hear other people’s stories, hear what really gets them going, fires them up, and, and, and sort of soak all of that in. And, um, and so I’ve loved being able to speak to people from all different parts of, um, the world honestly at this point. Um, and then also hear, you know, their experiences and their. Challenges and struggles and how they’ve overcome that. Um, of course, like on a day-to-day basis, I am like the biggest Netflix. I, there’s nothing I love more than television, to be honest with you. Um, when I was a kid, I was limited to one show a day. Um, and I swear that’s had like the adverse effect of how much I love television as an adult. grownup. Now I can say how much I, it’s so true. And to be honest with you, when, um, when fall comes, um, and this is the longest I’ve ever gone without my true, um, life’s passion, um, watching Gilmore Girls, um, this, I’ve been making myself wait a really long time for that. Um, and so to me, like Rejuvenate is also like s. Watching the same show that I’ve already seen 400 times. Um, and then of course, you know, I, I will say like if it’s, if it’s of the sea, it’s for me. So I love to, um, boogie board and body surf and jet ski and um, paddleboard and anything, um, that has to do with, um. With water. So, um, those are the things that really, um, you know, make me feel good, which is difficult, like in the, you know, when it’s January in New Jersey because we have none of that. Um, but, um, a little cold. Um, but of course, you know, reading, exploring, talking friends, um, all of those things really. Um, you know, and then of course I have to say, like watching my kids at this point, um, becoming their, like really coming into themselves has been, um, just. Unbelievable. It’s really, um, it’s really exciting stuff, so, Yeah. yeah. Um, a lot of my things are the same. Um, I I’m gonna put my, my mic down a little bit. And Um, such good It’s true. no, no. We do have a lot of things in We do, absolutely. And I I’m an active person. I was gonna say, Joe does a lot more things with movement than I do. Yeah. not, not as much. Recently. I’ve kind of, um, you know, I, I’ve, I’ve been a cyclist. I, I ride my bike and I do, uh, I run. Um, but I really haven’t been doing much of that recently. I kind of like, it was funny. I, I. I run some marathons and half marathons, and I was like, okay, I’m gonna train for another race. And I had this as my thing that I wanted to do for like in the new year, not a New Year’s resolution thing. That’s not what it was. But like, I was like, all right, rededicate myself to running and I’m outside and I’m bundled up and it’s January and I’m going on a long run. And I’m like, I don’t enjoy this. Uh, so I realized like, I enjoy running. I do. Yeah. I don’t enjoy, I don’t enjoy being cold. Uh, my favorite part of winter is when it’s over. That is my usual joke. Because I enjoy like being outside. So for me, you know, a lot of it was like. Um, you know, being active and doing things outdoors. Like I, I made a golf analogy before. I like to play golf and hang out with my friends and do stuff like that. Um, big in, in, in, not necessarily experiences, but like, um, you know, I’ve, I’ve had some, uh, friends of mine with some health issues. Uh, close friend of mine, a fraternity brother, passed away a few years ago, unexpectedly. Um, so I try to, you know, spend more time with people that I. Care about, um, outside of my family, you know, it, I mean, I love my family. I do, but, you know, traveling and doing things, I, I, I see friends of mine every year, um, just to kind of, you know, check in, see how they’re doing, people I care about. I wanna make sure that I spend time with them while they’re able to, uh, enjoy that time. but Yeah. that, that’s really, um, you know, the main ways that I rejuvenate. Um, both during the school year trying to be active. It’s, it’s, again, it’s harder in the winter months, but a lot of it is, you know, spending time with my wife, going out with friends for a, for a good meal somewhere. Um, things like that that just, allow me to recharge the batteries and enjoy all there is to offer in life. Yeah. love all the things that both of you said about all, all the different things that make you you outside of teaching, right? You named like Jamie loves. Like the water. I love how that came up on the other podcast too, because they used a total water analogy and then Joe loves like running outside when it’s not cold and all Exactly. you you outside And what I would love to ask is like how, ’cause what I find when I talk to a lot of teachers and. For one. I love that you named so many things that you love to do because what I found sometimes is I ask, what do you love to do outside of teaching and parenting and the laundry and that other list of things that you Yeah, will never be lonely ’cause laundry will always be there for you. Laundry will always be always. always there. Sorry. how, how, how is it that you make the time for those things? Because we have to create that time. It doesn’t just like magically come on a platter, but here’s all this time for you to do all these incredible things that you love to do. We can easily be overtaken by Yeah, and the dishes and teaching and lesson planning and all of that, I think I, I, me not to speak for Jamie, um, also, just to go back to like the podcast definitely has become something. You know, uh, as, as a third space for us to really, um, to really reflect, and I’ve talked about this openly. Like I do this with somebody whose, um, ability as a teacher I, I greatly admire. I think she’s, uh, I think Jamie’s amazing at what she does. Um, but a lot of times, you know, because we have a good friendship and I. Might say things that, she can give me another perspective on, which makes me think about it in a different manner. Um, which allows me to be a better teacher, a better father, better husband, better partner, stuff like that. So, and, and I hope vice versa. but there’s definitely, you know, that, that actually helps us a lot. For sure. but, and speaking of that, like I have a very supportive spouse. Like I, I, she’s not gonna stand in the way, like, oh, you shouldn’t do that. Oh, you’re going out running again. Or like, Yeah. there’s a point of contention For it. sure. Um, if it’s done at the wrong times, but she’s very supportive in knowing that, like, I need that time to be I, I’m, you know, I’m not going out drinking with the guys. I’m not going to the bar. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but like, that’s Not no, honestly, like that’s not my, that’s not my thing. your thing. You know, I’ll have a, you know, I have a drink every once in a while, but that’s not my, my main form of entertainment. Right. Um, but I have a very supportive partner that knows that, like, I need that in order to, um, be the best version of myself. Yeah. So that time is made, but it’s, it’s like something that needs to be put into place in order for me to decompress and have, uh, you know, do all the things that need to be done as a husband, father, and teacher. Yeah, my, um, my mom became quite ill, um, three years ago, and we were told, um, she would have less than six months, um, to live. Um, she’s, uh, she’s. Still alive three years later. Um, and it became this like redefinition of pretty much everything that I do, um, and the way that I do it. And so, um, what I have come to is that, you know, time is, is very limited. And, um, and so I, you know, every year I pick a word, um, my word for 2025 is worth. And, um, and so everything really comes down to like. Is this worth my time? Is this worth my, uh, you know, energy? Is this worth, you know, how much of my emotional, um, space am I going to give to this? Um, what I also realized is that a lot of times I think people feel that they need to quantify, um, or defend what it is that they like to do to others. Um, and so there’s this really interesting space, right, of like, I love sleep. And I, um, so I also have a very supportive, uh, spouse who’s also a teacher. Um, and so we both have time, um, more time than if some, you know, if he was working till six or seven o’clock, right? So, Right. he likes to sleep late and I am an early to bed, early to rise person. Um, so respecting each other’s like need for sleep, but at the time that it works is also really important. Um, if I say like, one of my favorite activities is. Watching television. I don’t need anybody to tell me that there’s a better use of my time because it’s my time. And that, um, you know, and so I think, you know, it’s sort of like, did you grow up in a sleep supportive house? Like if you slept until 11:00 AM did someone say to you like, you wasted half the day? Or did someone say, you must have really needed that sleep? And so I think that like the idea of supporting what another person. Needs for them. You don’t need to understand it. You need to support it and allow it, um, so that there’s not that shame in what it is that someone may or may not like to do. So if you wanna go out, you know, if you wanna go out for a 20 mile bike ride, like amazing. And if you wanna spend like an hour on the couch. Equally amazing, right? It’s what that person needs at that time. Um, and so I think that it, it has been also, and I hate to be negative to the man, to the men, to the men’s, the man’s out there. Um, but what genuinely helped to reshape my uh, uh, attitude, uh, and behavior, is the understanding that men, most of them, I won’t say all, but most of them don’t feel guilty. About doing things for themselves. Yeah, and so what I tell, found that we’ve, we’ve it’s, it’s unbelievable. I mean, my husband, I have had my husband is, um, he, he, he loves the gym. That is like what he needs to do. He goes, you know, multiple days of the week for many, many hours that he is there and. When he is there, I don’t, I know, I know. He is not worrying about like picking up the medication, dropping off. Is the macaroni boiled? Does, uh, are the cleats clean? You know, he, it’s, it’s, he’s only doing what he’s doing in that moment for himself, and so I have had to tell myself. To do that because it’s not natural to me as a mom. It’s like I’m interconnect. You know? They, you are cellularly connected to your child Yeah. way. You gr I gr I tell my kids all the time that, oh mom, don’t worry. I grew you, Right. I grew you in my being. I cannot not. Worry or think of you, but I have tried to mentally say to myself like, it’s okay for you to take that and sort of move it to the side because your husband, their father loves them as much as you do, and he has no problem doing that. So I, you know, and so I, I’ve given myself that. Really that grace to say, and that is I think, the missing piece for so many of us in so many ways of like, really give yourself the grace. It’s okay. They’re gonna be okay. You’re gonna be okay. Um, you’re gonna be much better off for it. So that’s something, and I’m, that’s a work in progress for me that I am. I Yeah. Well, the thing is, the thing is, I don’t think it’s a bad thing No, mean, my husband’s that way too. It’s not a bad thing. I’m like, oh, I wish I could right. be more like Jealous. because we should be able Mm-hmm. like, like both my husband and Yes. all of us right. partners, we should be able to. Enjoy our time. That is our time. And then support each other. I love how we’ve been talking a lot about having a supportive Yes. both get that time, but when you do like actually doing your best to unplug your brain a little bit, like it’s okay. Like that can wait. Like that’s one thing that I learned from of the coaches that I’ve had is like to decide, like when it does come up in your brain, be like, oh, remember we’re going to do that. Like, and then Remi like, just remind your brain. We’re not like. Ignoring it. This is when we decided we’re going to look at that Yes. and then it, it can help it settle down. I try to do that, but I, I’m still like, I think it’s a woman thing that we just are always going to be with, but over time it can get better. can. Yes. am I right? You know, I just, okay. And Joe, I have to say is a, is a super involved dad Oh, always doing things and invol and worrying. He’s more of like, um, I don’t wanna, you know, sorry Joe, but Right. Like you. I was gonna make the Yeah, I mean, Joe definitely worries more than like the average dad and about like his kids more in like a maternal way than would be typical, I think. Um, and so I, I, he can identify with that 150%. I also have trouble as a person who has anxiety and a DHD, uh, and like I, I’ve, you know, when you’re out and you’re running five miles for 45 minutes and you’re like. You know, you, you can’t Not think about like, okay, when I get home, I have to bother. Right. Like, Yeah. yeah. I’m sure that there are things that, that, uh, your husband James, uh, will think about in the gym when he’s allegedly lifting weights. Uh, it’s, it’s a, it’s a long running joke. No, but he worries about things that are not important, um, because he is someone who suffers from anxiety. So I don’t wanna say not important, but he will, you know, and that is something I, a trait I see in our kids. So I’ll say, you know, I’m worrying about like the car insurance, but you’re worrying about like whether or not know it’s, it’s just, it’s not the same. You know what I mean? So I know he is thinking of things as just not the same, um, you know, in the same way. But, um, you know, and so it’s interesting. Everyone has their things, you know? they have this amazing relationship between the two of them. And I think Tracy and I kind of mirror it. but in a different way. But they’re, they’re, I’m gonna tell a story for, for your listeners. I’m telling this story. I So stories. we’re on the beach last summer. Oh, yeah, yeah. one of my favorite Yeah. We’re on the beach last summer and Jamie’s sitting in the chair and she tells her nephew like, Hey, could you pick up my thing? She has like this thing that goes on her chair. It’s like a little hood thing, and it was filled with sand. Okay. And he picks it up and puts it over her because she wanted shade and the sand immediately all over her face, in her eye, down her bathing suit closes. She closes her eyes. She’s going it out, sand all over the place. I’m sitting like next to her on the beach. Her husband is right across from her. Okay. gets up, she runs past them, she runs into the beach To the ocean. into the Yeah. rinses herself off. It’s a couple minutes. Okay, eye witness this. I’m like, oh, that was not good. then like she comes back and she’s like looking around, she’s grabbing her towel and she’s obviously upset. And she’s like, well, that she sees something on the beach. Like some, somebody had a phone in their shoe. He’s like, who gets their phone in their shoe? Well, that’s stupid. And she kind of kicks it outta the way and her husband was like, whoa. What happened and she goes, Jason. You didn’t see him pick up the hood of my thing and like, and she was agitated. Like ob you didn’t see him pick up the hood of my thing. You didn’t see him? I had, I, I had stand in my ear, in my hair, in my eyes. It went in my mouth. It was down my suit. I had to go run in the ocean and he just goes, I swear to God. He goes, oh, that must have been awful for you. And she immediate just what she did right now, the way she’s laughing. I, I, I, I don’t wanna curse. I kid you not. immediately laughed in that direction and in that, then I started Yeah. and it just like, you just know that. It was not an angry thing. It was not like, how could you not recognize like the, the relationship that they have with one another. The fact that like he’s oblivious and clueless and he will obvi he’ll, 100% have made it. Oh yeah. relationship between the two of them is embodied in that conversation. Like it’s just, it was just the one of the funniest moments I have ever witnessed, ever. amazing. have been awful for you. I mean, he was serious like that. to didn’t see any of it. four of us, my daughter will be like, that must have been awful for you. Like we all say it. Like all of us. It’s like a catch phrase Yeah. literally a catchphrase. Yes. He has the ability to take me from like a 10 to a zero with just like one innocent sorta. Yeah. that’s why when we were saying before about how sometimes your husband like matches your like and sometimes he doesn’t like that’s the moment. Like he doesn’t like in that moment. He needed to be like that. Oh, that must have been awful for you. But he meant that in a genuine way. Like, oh my God, that must. have been awful. like legitimately. That’s what he thought. Yeah. completely, I mean, he was sitting right across from her. I don’t know how He missed it, but he missed it. And it He did. I mean, you know, that’s just what makes him was best. Yeah, Just it is a glorious story, but it embody, it yeah. the relationship between the two of It’s true. You So true. where my wife is, my is, you know, I, I’m, I wanna use the word moral compass, you know, that voice in my shoulder of like, help me make decisions. ’cause when I say, like, I, I often say She’s the smartest woman that I She’s so, I mean, she’s such a sage, uh, advisor in every, you know, in every way. Yes. there is no. Marshmallow fluff on, on her giving advice. Like she’s gonna give it to you and you might not want to hear what you want to hear, but like, that’s the Yeah. And not necessarily in a bad way, but in a very like, direct way. That’s how she, she analyzes things. And I think that’s also part of us in our careers. My wife, uh, is a nurse now. She’s an academic. She’s a, an, an associate dean at Rutgers and teaching, you know, nurses to be nurses. was very cool. Yeah. And, and she’s very, very good at what she does. shout out to my wife who’s also getting, uh, I don’t remember, I never remember the name of the organization, but she’s being, uh, inducted into a nursing organization that has like 3,200 members outta the 2 million in the United States, um, outta ceremony of Washington, dc. Coming up in, in October. So, you know, we’re very proud of her and that’s another one of those things that like, like I get to watch her do all these amazing things and be a published author and get promoted at her job and be proud of her in that moment. Like, I know this might sound weird, but her way to Rejuvenate is doing those things and having those accomplishments Yeah. not overwhelmed by that. There are times that she is, but she’s like, she’s very like in tune to being successful at what she does because she cares about her profession, she cares about the students that she teaches. It’s just a different mindset. Right. And it’s not weird, right? We wanna try to like not one to take that. and there are teachers who want to, I was just coaching a teacher the other day who like a coworker was saying, you need to leave. You need to get outta here. And she’s like, well, actually, I want to be still in my Mm. Yes. to do Yes. bad? And it’s like, no, if that’s what you want to Yeah. you know, we we’re often telling teachers you need to leave at contract time, but what if they want to be there later Yeah. Yes, yes. Yeah. if it sets as they’re not, oh, you’re leaving. You’re leaving. I have so much stuff to do. You should be staying. Like, I, uh, as right. not that, Yeah. my and my boss will, will say this like, I’m, and she’s, she is, uh, people will say like, oh, I’m busy. I’m blah, blah, blah. My boss is busy. Mm-hmm. She’s got, and, and for all, for, for a variety of different reasons. Uh, a couple years ago before her kids were more college age, she had all of her children involved in very high level, um, travel sports. All of her kids, all the three of the four children that are currently in college are all playing athletics at different schools. Um, Her son, uh, plays baseball for the Coast Guard. Like, and she, she like, like she’s busy. Okay. Yeah. was like, when she was like, when this, when this day ends, like, I’m outta here and I’m mom. Like, there are times when I know that she’s doing observations and stuff like that. And Mm-hmm. know, ’cause you get those little, uh, you get those emails that come through, like, oh, your observation was signed at 8:30 PM on a Wednesday night. Right. no, like she’s a big, like, it’s good to also know that you have a supportive boss that knows like, Yeah. you’re, it’s, it’s mom first, Mm-hmm. dad first. It’s family first. And that is not just a placating response. Like that is an act like I know. That’s the case. Like if I said, Hey, I, I gotta go like my daughter’s having a blah, blah, blah. You got, okay, go bye. See you later. Uh, okay, we’ll cover you. Adios. no question, there’s no, like, that is a great environment to be in. Um, and I feel bad for people that aren’t in that environment. Uh. Yeah, I Yeah. but you don’t, you don’t want people to like project themselves and say like, oh, you should be doing this. Well, no, that, that’s me in my space. Right. That’s someone not understanding, like Jamie just said, like, you know, you need to understand that you’re, you’re, oh, you must have really needed that sleep. Instead of like, why’d you waste the whole day away? And whether or not you have kids, that’s always an issue that I come back to because there are, um, you know, there, there, there sort of is this idea of like how busy people are based on, you know, how many kids they have or how many activities their kids are in. And I don’t, I don’t really care for that because I’m. like badge of honor, busy, like, Like they went and it, and it’s sort of this like competitive space that I don’t subscribe to because you’re then asking people, um, you know, there was years and years ago, and it must have shaped me more than I had realized, but there was a, you know, quite a few people that I worked with that didn’t have children. Um, and some of us were just sort of, of the age where, you know, we just. Weren’t having kids yet. And then there were people like in their forties and fifties who had chosen not to have kids or weren’t, you know, weren’t married or for whatever reason. Right. And there was this sort of like, well, I have kids. Mm-hmm. Uh, you know, there are quiet ways of supporting that. Like there’s a snow storm coming and you know, I have to be at a school pickup where you just say to the person, just go, go. You know, just go. You’re okay. Whereas like trying to say, um, my life is more valid or important, or, you know, my time is, is more important than yours because I have, I. time isn’t important because you don’t have Right, and I, and or you can’t possibly be as fulfilled or busy because like your son plays on a baseball travel team and mine doesn’t. That to me is, you know, completely like an insignificant knowing like family first. Right out the gate. So important. And I think that that’s like kind of more the vibe that, that she’ll go for, um, more than anything else. But the idea of, you know, oh, I have, you know, I have four kids and you have one. No. Like, we can’t get into any of those. I think all of those things. No, no, no, no. It’s all a very dangerous space. I know that’s not what you meant. I just wanted to clarify that. Yeah, that way, I, I no, it that way. Oh, oh, it didn’t it didn’t. No. uh, I, I think as if there are. people in your educate and rejuvenate group that Yeah. there, you know, read the room. If you’re saying like, oh, I was out till this time and I just didn’t get a chance to do this, and, and like, okay, like maybe that’s not the place to be talking about that if you’re in a room full of people that have little kids. And I’ve, I’ve had a candid conversation with one of my coworkers, like. And I look at two people in different spaces, and if I say this and it sounds insensitive, I apologize, but I, I don’t, No, no. I don’t know. Yeah. but like, there’s two teachers and I look at two teachers, and I’m not using names, but I have one teacher that, that works. You know, they both live equally distant away. one of them is like, you know, later in their career, late every day. Okay. Another one is got two kids that they gotta drop off at two different, one at elementary school, one at a daycare. The dad works nights, like they’re, they’re in it, right? They’re they are. They’re in the weeds and they’re arriving late every day. I’m not looking at the teacher who’s dropping the kids off and arriving late every day in the same vein as the person who’s living across town, who’s later in their career, I don’t know what their responsibilities are. Maybe they have something going on, but do they have something going on 10 minutes outta the year where they’re late four days a week? I don’t know. But like that’s me projecting myself and things that I don’t agree with on a situation that I shouldn’t be doing that on. I should just keep my brain out of it. But it’s hard for me to do that. Like I don’t judge that teacher who’s gotta Jo drop those kids off and run all over the place because. Like, you’re, not that you’re in that space, Kelsey, but like you kind of are in that space. You got Little ones at home, you got littles all over the place. Like it’s a lot Yeah. we’ve all been in. It’s, it’s like in the restaurant injury, like you’re in the weeds. You know, Yeah. that’s what they used to call it when you got double set in a, in a restaurant and you had all different, uh, you know, orders to take. You were in the weeds, you were trying to get out of it. And ev evidently someone would step up to you and be like, Hey, can I, uh, you want me to run the drinks over for you while you take the Sure. Okay. So someone would help you out. Like, that’s what we gotta do. Right, an environment like that. Um, anyway, I, I don’t mean to, you and no one should be late. I’m sorry. no. I know that that’s because like immediately my brain goes to like, I had five month old twins and a 4-year-old, and I, you know, but it, it, and I get it. It’s, and I wasn’t, and I wasn’t late to, to work, but, you know, that’s part of like what. Triggers you like as an individual of like, I lateness, like I married someone who is never on time and I am sitting in the car with three kids that I dressed changed and ready and we’re waiting for him. Um, you know, so it, it’s just like, it’s part of your personality, whether you have eight people to get ready or just yourself. Some people are, put his I mean, some people are always someone, some people are always gonna be late, no matter how many, you know, that’s the kind of. are always gonna be late and or chronically early or on time. Yeah. It’s Yes. how you run. Yeah. be I, I think this is also me. when, when I lived in Pennsylvania, my kids were little, like I was still working in the town that I live in now. Um, traveling an hour and 10 minutes each way. Like I would leave my house at five 30 in the morning. I’d be at the building by 10 minutes to seven. Because I did not want to be Right. because if I left at another time, I would be sitting in traffic and I would not make it there. And then I’d feel bad that I’d have to call the office. They’d have to scramble for coverage. My first period class wouldn’t have me in the room. It would have like, like not busy work, but like not me. Like I just did not wanna be in that Right. every effort to be early But if Rejuven, you know, but if rejuvenate, like you said earlier, Kelsey is, is someone staying, you know, there was this woman we I that I taught with for a really long time and she would stay until six 30. Every, I mean every, a few days, a week, every week. And it was really important to her to be able to do that. And there were, you know, there were always like, oh, what is she doing? You know? And I think sometimes, like when people are making those kinds of comments, it’s like, it’s more about them than it is about. Her Yeah. um, you know, and, and she ne it never stopped her from doing it. And, you know, she taught, uh, for well over 30 years doing it. But, um, you know, and I, so I do think that, like, that idea of being supportive is, is really important instead of like the judgmental spaces that, you know, sometimes you know that that happen. And if you do wanna stay until six o’clock. Stay if that’s what you like to do or need to do, you know, and adjust. I mean, there’s not a night that during the school year that goes by that I don’t have some sort of like mental preparation and plan. Um, or that I sit down at my computer and check that everything is ready for the next day. That has, I have to say, that’s been one of my favorite parts about some of the things becoming, um, digital. Um, whereas, um, you know, in the past. When we first started working it, would he, you’d have to physically be present to get all the materials together, whereas, you know, some of the things that are digitized, it’s been nice to be able to have some extra time in the evening to be able to do that. But, um, there’s many nights where I am, you know, and they say, oh, you’re off the clock. But for me, like that makes me feel good and ready to be prepared. you to feel better the next day and enjoy your work more, enjoy the hours that you are. that’s right. You know, on the clock makes it more enjoyable, then Yeah. it’s worth it. Or maybe you just love having like 30 minutes of quiet and organizing in your classroom, or Yes. it is before you go pick up the kids from daycare Yes. make dinner and get back into that chaos. Maybe it’s a moment of Oh, yes. different for everybody what feels good to Yes. So I think it’s important just to realize what works Mm-hmm. And then realize what works for you might not be what works for the teacher next door. And it might be different from the teacher across the hall. You all have your own ways of doing Yes, absolutely. I mean, I, I’ve had, them are and none of them are wrong. I mean, I’ve had friends who’ve, if you’re late. No, I’m no, I mean, I know, like, or no, I mean, worse than that, you don’t say hello. Um, the, I’ve had, you know, um, women like through the years who’ve don’t, don’t get me started on. hear about the, don’t say we, We have a, if you, uh, uh, before she says it. I’m gonna, I, um, Kelsey, I hope you can link to this episode. I’ll Send you the link. to it. There’s an episode that we did right around my birthday. It was my birthday gift from Jamie. It was called, you know what really grinds my gears? And it’s my favorite episode from season two, um, because. Oh, I can’t There, there’s a moment. There’s a moment in there where Jamie is, she becomes the, uh, sheriff of the Hi, hello. How are you? Police? Um, and does not like it when people, uh, walk by and don’t say hi to you in the morning. Um, and she was, she was adamant about I mean, how can citation you have been cited by the, hi. Hello, how are you? Police? Hi. Hello, and how are you? It should just be standard. i, I, I just like the conversation, but if you’re looking for an Yes, to start out with the, the Balancing Act that’s right. the one that I would start with. You know, it Agree. my gears and we’ll, we’ll send that link to Kelsey and right. That’s right. description so you guys I do think, I do think that as you know, when you’re talking about rejuvenate, I do think, you know, creating a positive work environment or a place that people want to come and want to be, and, um, and I, I do think it’s, you know, you’re not gonna, I, I say this to my students all the time, you know, we work with 80 adults. You are not going to become friends with 80 adults, but you do need to learn how to practice proper. Social norms and one of those like acceptable social norms is if you can’t, you know, actually say, and I get it, like some people are not morning people, some people are night people or whatever. You, you can look at someone and give like the very polite nod even, you know, you don’t have to show me your teeth, it’s okay, but just like a slight upturn of light, you know? Um. of their existence. Correct. And so there, you know, and so to me, like if we are supposed to be modeling good behavior and uh, you know, what is, um, you know, the right way to present in the world to hundreds and hundreds of kids, they see us. They see people not doing that, and anyone who wants to say like that, they don’t know. They notice and they know and they get it. And so for me, you know, it’s kind, it’s this funny banter that we do, but it is, you are not acknowledging another person, and you are now giving a 12-year-old permission to just not acknowledge anybody. And they do soak that in. And, and so for me it is like part of that modeling behavior that, you know, and you don’t have to like, hi. I don’t, I’m not, you know, I’m not expecting a tap dance, although I will take one if you can do it, rad. I mean, I’ll, yes, I will. I will stand at clever. So excited. But you know, so yeah. So that, yeah, that grinds my gear. It gets me every time. It gets me every time. get, I totally get where Yeah. from Come on. like, yeah. Well and that’s the thing where like human connection is such a big part of what is so important about just, I mean, life in general and. So I, I think it is really helpful, just like a smile, a wave. Definitely do help with that. And at the same time, what we talked about a lot even on your podcast, which everybody go back and listen to the other part of this conversation. If you’re at this point in this episode, you obviously like this banter we’re having. So make sure to listen to part one Yes. We’re we are, we are a delight. Come and listen to It’s true. Please do. But I also mentioned like the let them because oh, we, we also can’t control if they do that or not. So it’s kind of like a balance, a balancing act of that, right? It’s like, oh yeah, I totally agree that I want people to do that. And also we can’t control what they do, so what? So what do we do? You Yeah. Yeah. I still say hi. Yes. Yeah. And that’s your, let me like, I’m still gonna say Yes. ignore Yes. I’m going to say Yes. Because if the tiny observers are observing, they know, uh, Mrs. Wonka said hi. You know what I mean? It’s, it’s still I import The tiny observers are always that’s why I’m at the door in between periods. Kids are coming in. Hi. Hello. How are you? Good morning. What’s up? How you Oh yeah, yeah. all of that stuff as the kids are coming in the room, even if they don’t acknowledge me, I’m still gonna do it. Oh yes. they’ll be like, what’s up? Yeah. What’s up, Yeah. sup, Sup? I don’t know. I feel like the language keeps changing too. I feel like it’s changing faster than it used to. Yeah. know. I think the internet must have like, I’m like, what are all these new Yeah. out all the time? I can’t even keep up No. They added 6,000 words to the dictionary. Um, they, they’re not really words, but Yeah. that’s okay. like Gibby and bruh and D Lulu, Yeah. D jinx. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. No, no, thanks. added those to Then in the next vein I saw, I saw that cassette tapes are coming back. Now people are like going nostalgic and listening to cassette tapes. Well, and, and I mean, yeah, cassette tapes, vinyls. I Yes, on the vinyl craze. It is been fun. Yeah. Nice. yeah, but you know, it’s funny how things come back, you know, Yeah. Back around the way. That’s true. Cassette tapes though, that’s the one I don’t get. I’m like, vinyls. They’re like pretty and it’s cool, but like cassettes, I’m like, I don’t quite get that one. Yeah, I’m, me neither, But you know, what goes, what? What’s old is new again. it brings people joy, then have at Absolutely. We all need a little joy That’s true. everything, That’s so true. If that’s what rejuvenates you, then cassette tape away. Then get your cassette tapes. Well, this has been so much fun both of these episodes. And again, if you’re, if you just tuned in here on Educate and Rejuvenate the podcast, definitely check out the first episode and we’ll link the episode all about the hi, hello, or what grinds your gears Yep, in the, absolutely. in the description. Um, would both of you like to share, um, what, what are your final thoughts or things or. I don’t know if you have any freebies or anything you wanna share with the audience. I just like hit my microphone because I talk with my hands. Uh, so do we. We do it too. So, um, check out our podcast. We drop a new episode every Tuesday. We are on every possible platform. Some I have never heard of before, but I’m sure someone has. And enjoy. Um, we are on, uh, podcast, uh, or Spotify video, uh, YouTube. Help me out, Joe. Little bit of A little bit of everything. Apple, Um, we are on all the socials, the talk, the Facebook, the gram. Hit us up. Give us a leg, a follow and subscribe. please do. Uh, and we are, balancing act on those yes, it’s at Pod the balancing Act. on the Pod The Pod The balancing act. has the Balancing Act podcast. And we are, we are going to take them down. Um, Yes. Uh, but Yeah. that’s, that’s, uh, all things about us for sure. We’re on all the socials. Um. You know, you can definitely come and find Yes. we hope that, you know, some of your listeners will come and, and check us out because we think that our messages are very similar. Like, how do we kind of go through all this craziness together and, you know, find a common ground of, you know, we, we talk often about plate spinning and keeping the, keeping everything in the air. Yes. so it’s just, uh, it’s, it’s a delicate dance and sometimes the plates fall and break, but we need to pick ’em up and, you know, figure out the best way to move forward. Well, thank you, Kelsey. Thank you so much. Thank you Joe. Thank you, Jamie, for being here and sharing all, all of your inspiration, but also the laughs. I feel like you two are just like really fun, really fun to listen to and hang out with. So Thank you. that everybody listening today or watching, can feel that too. Thank you so much everybody for being here and we’ll talk soon.    Okay, was I right or what? I just love Joe and Jamie from the Balancing Act podcast so much. You should definitely follow along on their podcast. But this interview is exactly why I invited them to come be the keynote podcast recording on day two of the Summer Refresh. It’s going to feel just like this, real and warm and funny, and the kind of conversation that makes you feel less alone in all of the craziness that we call teaching. And here’s what I want you to think about after listening to this. So much of what Joe and Jamie talked about today, making time for yourself, not feeling guilty about it, having people around you who just get it, finding that balance between who you are as a teacher and who you are as a whole person, that is exactly what the Summer Refresh event is designed to give you. It’s not just a podcast recording or a bunch of sessions thrown together. It is a room of teachers all choosing, maybe for the first time in a long time, to show up for themselves, choosing that they want to continue to do this thing we call teaching, even with everything we know now, even with eyes wide open, even though, like, when we chose teaching, it might have been with rosy colored glasses and thinking that it was going to be one way, and now we’ve come and we’re like, “Whoa, this is what it’s like.” And now I’m choosing it again because I am able to set boundaries, because I’ve surrounded myself with the right people, because I have the right processes in place that I can teach, I can educate and rejuvenate, I can be a whole person outside of it. So that is what the Summer Refresh is all about. So don’t wait on this one. Grab your free spot right now at educateandrejuvenate.com/summer2026. I can’t wait to see you there. It’s going to be such a great time. And then next week, I’m going to be sharing another favorite episode with you on the podcast. That’s what I’ll be doing over the summer. I’m going to be sharing some of my favorite episodes and also some other surprises along the way. I have a couple new things planned for you as well. They are going to be audio only for the summer. I do hope to bring YouTube and all new content back here soon. But of course, we are getting this summer event ready. We’re going to be doing some master classes in July. It’s so much we’re coming here to support you with this summer. Thank you for joining me on educate and rejuvenate the podcast today. If you love what you heard in this episode, be sure to hit subscribe. So you don’t miss the next one. And if you’re hungry for even more, be sure to check out the book that I wrote. It’s called educate and rejuvenate a three step guide to revitalize your teaching, renew your spirit. And reignite your passion for life. It takes everything you learn here on the podcast and that I teach our members inside the educate and rejuvenate club into a guidebook. You can refer to again and again, one of our early readers said it was like clarity for her brain. Plus it’s not only a book with your purchase. You’ll get a full. PDF guide with exercises and links to videos and more so that you can not only consume, but apply everything that you learn. If you’re ready to make, educate and rejuvenate, not just a podcast you passively listen to, but a lifestyle that you put into action, it’s time to grab your copy on Amazon today or head to educate and rejuvenate.com/book to read the first chapter and the introduction today.