t’s the most chaotic, sugar-fueled week of the year, and we’re diving all the way in. After a quick post–fall break catch-up (Dominican getaways, staycations, and the sprint back into conferences and testing), we trade stories from both sides of the Halloween madness: book-character parades, costume debates (DIY vs. Amazon cart), trunk-or-treats, and the eternal teacher question, stick to the schedule or embrace the glitter and ghosts? We get real about parenting whiplash, running in not-so-fall temperatures, and why costumes + miles = absolutely not. There’s even a special costume cameo that steals the show.

If you’ve ever tried to manage a sugar-high classroom while sneaking mini Snickers between meetings, this one’s for you. Chaos, caffeine, and confessions… Halloween style. 🎃

Follow along on IG @espressoyourselfpodcast and tell us your Halloween wins, fails, and favorite kid costumes. Share with your teacher bestie, mom group chat, or running buddy so more friends can find our little corner of caffeinated chaos.

In this week’s episode, we catch up on everything from vintage 90s nostalgia in the classroom (teaching kids what “TV” even was) to Texas football tortilla traditions before diving headfirst into the big debate: fall break—keep it or cut it?

We unpack how different districts handle breaks, why timing matters for conferences and report cards, and how family schedules, childcare, and even socioeconomic factors shape whether a break feels like relief or chaos. The hosts share honest teacher perspectives—using the time for grading, deep cleaning, or doing absolutely nothing—and compare how runners use the downtime to reset, sleep in, or finally run in daylight.

From AI in the classroom to late-fall weather complaints, this episode blends humor, heart, and the real-life juggling act behind every “break.”

☕ Whether you’re team Fall Break Forever or team Keep It Rolling, this one’s for every teacher, parent, and runner counting down the days to a reset.

This roundtable gets real (and really funny) as we plant our flags on the everyday debates: clip charts we swore we’d never use (and why one might stay till Halloween), PD that drains vs. PD that delivers, and the great homework philosophy pivot—from packets to protecting kids’ evenings. We swap stories about fog-day Zoom chaos with kids at home, a step challenge that makes us question who’s secretly wearing their tracker on the dog, and the eternal youth-sports saga: snacks are fuel, not a competition.

On the runner side, we spar over race medals vs. PRs—then share the kind of stories that put both in perspective, including medals gifted to pediatric patients and races run for people we love. Plus: pumpkin spice confessions, pencil-sharing politics, and a spicy Crocs take that might split the room.

☕ Strong opinions. Softer hearts. Lots of laughs. Even when we agree to disagree, we don’t stand alone.

From “don’t lick the wall” in kindergarten to deer wandering past the window mid-lesson, this episode serves up the funny, chaotic, and jaw dropping moments that teacher prep never covered. Allyson, Becky, and Katie catch up on homecoming mums, kid free weekends, and runs that feel like pre kid life, then dive into real classroom curveballs: clip charts you swore you’d never use, surprise floods and fire alarms, bats in cafeterias, and the emotional whiplash of a five year old’s sudden “I love you.” We swap wild parent encounters, animal cameos (bird, coyote, bats oh my), and the hard won superpower of spotting who’s pretending to work from across the room. It’s humor + honesty about overstimulation, boundaries, and the 25 roles teachers play beyond academics.

☕ Come for the laughs, stay for the solidarity because none of us signed up for this… and we wouldn’t trade it.

This week, we catch up on the chaos of back-to-school season and dive into the unexpected cultural debate of Northern mums vs. Southern homecoming mums (yes, they are very different). Along the way, we confess just how much caffeine we consume daily, our emergency snack stashes, and the creative ways we keep ourselves fueled.

On the running side, we share how we’re squeezing in miles during the September sprint, our favorite watches and apps to track progress, and whether we’d rather run solo, with friends, or to the beat of a playlist.

☕ Coffee, chaos, and confessions—this episode has it all.

Ever wondered if you’d rather step on Legos every day for a week or listen to “Baby Shark” on repeat for 24 hours? In this playful episode, we put each other in the hot seat with “Would You Rather” questions that touch every part of our lives as moms, teachers, and runners. We’re serving up ridiculous scenarios, honest answers, and lots of laughter.

Grab your coffee and join us for an episode that proves sometimes the best way to handle the hard stuff is to laugh through it. And don’t forget to share your own “Would You Rathers” with us for a chance to be featured in a future episode!

The journey through IVF is filled with injections, hormones, and the challenge of keeping life moving while your world feels on pause. In this candid conversation, we share the messy, funny, and deeply emotional sides of IVF, how moms, teachers, and runners navigate the balance of hope, exhaustion, and everyday life. Whether you’re in the middle of treatments, supporting a friend, or just curious about the realities of IVF, this episode offers honesty, encouragement, and a reminder that every path to family is valid.

This episode goes beyond the two week wait and negative tests, we open up about the heartbreak of miscarriages, the pain of endometriosis, and even the realities of surgery like fallopian tube removal. Through tears, laughter, and vulnerability, we share the weight of what it means to keep showing up as moms, teachers, and runners while carrying silent struggles. It’s a conversation about resilience, survival, and the power of telling the unfiltered truth.