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What happens when you step outside your comfort zone, reconnect with an old passion, and realize there's more to life than your day-to-day responsibilities?

On Episode 9 of The Teacher's Lounge Podcast, Coach O shares his personal experiences from the past month, including an exciting opportunity to work as a photographer at a NASCAR event in Phoenix! He talks about his renewed love for NASCAR, his new favorite driver, and what it was like getting a different perspective on the sport. Aragon also reflects on his own experiences covering motorsports as a reporter, including a full year spent covering racing in 2018.

But this episode is about more than racing.

The guys discuss how easy it is for teachers and working professionals to put their passions, hobbies, interests, and even vacations on the back burner. Coach O challenges listeners to think about the things they've set aside while juggling their careers and responsibilities—and reminds everyone why it's important to make the most of the time we have.

As Coach O puts it: "Don't lose what you love to do... Life is short."

Plus, the guys answer questions in the mailbag before wrapping up with their final thoughts.

TIME STAMPS

(0:17) Intro with Coach O and Aragon.

(0:50) Coach O shares what he has been through personally in the last month, and getting the chance to work as a photographer at a NASCAR event.

(3:00) Coach O shares more about his rejuvenated NASCAR fandom, who his new favorite driver is, and more from his Phoenix experience.

(7:34) Aragon talks more about his time covering motorsports as a reporter, including a full year in 2018, and both share more perspective from covering racing.

(11:31) Coach O: "As teachers... I wonder how many of us shelf our passions, loves, interests, vacations."

(14:30) Coach O stresses the importance of making the most of our time.

(19:32) Coach O: "Don't lose what you love to do... Life is short"

(21:51) Mailbag segment

(26:59) Final thoughts and outro.

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Media, teaching, and chasing your dreams take center stage in Episode 8 of The Teacher’s Lounge Podcast!

Coach O and Mr. Aragon welcome media personality Tyler Jones, who shares his journey from learning the ropes in Oklahoma media classes to hosting radio in Kansas City, working with Gray TV and Chat Sports, and stepping into the classroom as a substitute teacher. Now, Jones is building his own company, Studio Soapbox. Jones oversees coverage at Roundtable Sports, co-hosts The Racing Roundtable, and hosts The Jones Report.

Jones reflects on his classroom experiences, ranks the teachers who made the biggest impact on his life with his gold, silver, and bronze picks, and shares advice for anyone pursuing a career in media. He also opens up about mistakes he's made along the way and the lessons others can learn from his experiences.

Plus, Coach O and Aragon kick things off with a discussion about hurricane remnants potentially making their way into the Southwest!

TIME STAMPS

(0:17) Intro with Coach O and Aragon, hurricane remnants in the Southwest?

(1:29) Introducing Media Personality Tyler Jones

(2:16) Tyler Jones shares his journey as a student in Oklahoma learning his craft in media classes, hosting radio in Kansas City, Gray TV, Chat Sports, and the classroom as a substitute teacher before launching his own company, Studio Soapbox.

(5:28) Jones shares his time and experience working in the classroom.

(7:39) Jones shares his gold, silver and bronze teachers from his school days.

(12:00) Jones on do's and don't on chasing dreams in media.

(14:38) Jones' mistake that he made, and to learn from; more media stories.

(21:28) Final thoughts and outro.

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What does it take to go from serving in law enforcement to shaping the next generation in the classroom? On Episode 7 of The Teacher’s Lounge Podcast, Coach O and Mr. Aragon sit down with educator and powerlifting coach Josh Pacheco to discuss his unique journey into education, the lessons he learned as a police officer, and how those experiences influence his approach to teaching and coaching.

Pacheco shares his path from college to law enforcement, high school football, and ultimately the classroom. The conversation explores the similarities between policing and teaching, the importance of time management, building mutual respect with students, and advice for teachers just starting their careers.

Plus, Coach O and Aragon kick things off with some fall-season talk and another surprise Chicago Bears relic card!

TIME STAMPS

(0:17) Intro with Coach O and Aragon, including the change of seasons to Fall, surprising Coach with ANOTHER Bears relic card

(1:41) Introducing Educator and Coach Josh Pacheco.

(3:43) Pacheco details his college route, work as a police officer, coaching high school football and how he ultimately got to the classroom.

(7:24) Coach O shares the energy Coach Pacheco's powerlifting team has on campus.

(9:31) Transitioning from the police force to the classroom, similarities and differences, and time management.

(14:06) Pacheco on mutual respect.

(16:23) Pacheco's advice for new teachers

(20:28) Final thoughts and outro

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Is technology making education better, or are we becoming too dependent on it? Coach O and Mr. Aragon tackle the role of technology in today's classrooms, how COVID changed the way teachers use technology, and what the rise of AI means for students and educators.

The guys discuss the difference between knowing information and knowing where to find it, explore how technology is changing other fields, and share their own experiences navigating an increasingly digital world. Plus, Coach O gets a Chicago Bears surprise!

TIME STAMPS

(0:17) Intro with Coach O and Aragon, including getting along as Bears and Packers fans, and Dale Earnhardt and Geoff Bodine fans; teaching health to high schoolers; watching movies with the family.

(4:52) Is technology a blessing or a curse? Technology in the classroom and how Coach O and Aragon use it as teachers.

(7:46) How COVID taught us how to figure out technology in the classroom.

(10:38) Technology now

(14:08) Knowing versus knowing where to find information.

(15:37) Using AI in the classroom

(20:47) Seeing technology in other fields.

(25:50) A Chicago surprise for Coach O

(27:10) Final thoughts and outro

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How much of a teacher’s time should actually belong to the job? And where should the line be drawn when it comes to grading, homework, lunch and pay?

Coach O and Mr. Aragon tackle the two things that can dominate a teacher’s working life: time and money.

TIME STAMPS

(0:17) Show introduction including recapping Coach O's teaching moment involving a disgruntled student, and Aragon shares a story about a time he had to work a situation with an administrator.

(11:02) How does time management look like as a teacher? And why not grade off the clock

(14:56 "I don't believe in homework"

(23:52) Should school staff get a free lunch at work?

(26:51) Thoughts on teacher pay and teacher salaries.

(38:18) Teaching requires organization and determination.

(39:05) Final thoughts and outro

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Coach O and Mr. Aragon are joined by Principal Michael Nguyen on this week's show. Principal Nguyen shares his story, coming from California, working in the private sector before heading to the classroom, coaching, and ultimately working in administration as a dean of students and a principal.

TIME STAMPS

(0:01) Disclaimer

(1:07) Show introduction including golfing and NASCAR

(3:28) Introducing Principal Nguyen

(5:23) Coach O and Nguyen's backstory, leaving the classroom, and coming back as a principal.

(11:57) Principal Nguyen on what made his classroom unique as a teacher.

(19:24) The similarities and differences of managing students in the classroom vs. being a principal.

(24:25) Coach O: Why I won't become admin.

(27:28) Advice for teachers considering administration.

(32:15) The Dark Side? It has cookies!

(35:24) Advice to any first-year teacher.

(41:54) Outro

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Coach O and Mr. Aragon are joined by two members of the United States Marine Corps, including one who is Coach O and Aragon's former student.

TIME STAMPS

(0:17) Introducing: Pvt. Husman and Sgt. Bowman

(2:11) Joining in the military.

(4:14) Pvt. Husman shares more about his time fresh out of boot camp and his new life in the Marines.

(6:00) Biggest misconception about the Marines.

(7:45) Lessons learned from high school.

(9:13) Opportunities in the military.

(11:11) Common questions high school students ask a military recruiter.

(13:20) The decision to re-enlist

(15:30) Final thoughts

(16:51) Outro

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Coach O and Mr. Aragon are back with the second episode of "The Teacher's Lounge."

TIME STAMPS

(0:17) Intro

(1:11) Start of the school year, working with administration change, and Coach O offers advice on any teacher working with new admin.

(3:29) Checking e-mails during the school day, learning student names.

(5:14) Learning more about the surrounding culture, the various cultures of the area.

(22:40) Coach O shares a story about making a difference in a student's life.

(32:40) "We make an impact, even when we don't maybe get the receipt."

(39:08) Mailbag segment

(47:30) Outro

E-mail us at contact.tlpshow@gmail.com

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