Between school shows, field trips, elf drama, and mile-a-day runs… we’re surviving December one checklist at a time.

December hits and suddenly everything is happening at once. Becky’s kindergarten world is pure holiday mayhem—gingerbread houses (hot glue and all), Holidays Around the World lessons on repeat, Grinch/Reindeer/Pajama days, and a surprise circus field trip in the middle of it all. Allyson’s juggling snow days, remote learning curveballs, school improvement-plan expectations, and the nonstop family chaos that comes with elf season, gift planning, and keeping holiday “magic” alive. Meanwhile Katie’s work calendar slows down while her running schedule ramps up, and she’s here for the Texas-sized holiday energy—parades, Christmas towns, and all the festive extras. From classroom celebrations to family traditions to the reality of doing all the things (even when June-You thought it was a great idea), this episode is a real-talk snapshot of the holiday hustle.

This week, the catch-up is equal parts cozy and chaotic. Katie recaps a birthday week full of office decorations, nonstop “people-ing,” and filming in classrooms where the flu and strep have officially been rebranded as the “pioneer plague.” She also meets a first grade teacher who gives full-on Miss Honey vibes. Meanwhile, Allyson updates everyone on life after reshuffling reading and math groups with no official curriculum—just bins, data, AI experiments, and a whole lot of flying-by-the-seat-of-her-pants teaching victories.

Then the crew dives into all things reading: the thrillers that keep them hooked (hello, Freida McFadden and brain-bending twists), the emotional gut-punch of Colleen Hoover, Holocaust and historical fiction that linger long after the last page, memoirs that move them, and the very real appeal of “smut” and escape reads after a long school day. They also get honest about professional development books—like The Growth Mindset Coach, Grit, Teach Like a Pirate, The Writing Revolution, and The Complete EdTech Coach—what actually inspires them, what feels like “one more thing,” and how much teaching has changed since they left college.

If your bookshelf is a confusing mix of murder, memoir, education, and romance, this episode is your reminder that reading can be both an escape and a tool—and that your TBR list is absolutely a form of self-care.

This week, the holidays come in hot. Allyson, Becky, and Katie kick things off with a classroom confessional: Becky’s “Feet Up Friday” turns into five kindergartners giving themselves haircuts while she’s out, plus a rhyming lesson that goes very sideways with the word “ick.” Meanwhile, Allyson is gearing up to switch groups for reading and math with zero official curriculum, and Katie is bouncing between campuses with a camera, catching kids saying the wildest things on mic.From there, the conversation laces up and heads into full Thanksgiving mode—Turkey Trots in snow, heat, and everything in between. The trio swaps race traditions, carb-loading wins and fails, age-group competitiveness, and why some turkey trots are starting to feel more like pricey speed workouts than hometown fun runs.Then it’s onto Black Friday now vs. back in the “camp out at midnight and fight for a TV” era, and Katie introduces everyone to Houston’s legendary Nutcracker Market—10 convention halls of Christmas chaos, mimosas, and maxed-out wallets. They wrap with the softer side of the season: kid traditions, Christmas tees, decorating classrooms, and how to stay grateful (and somewhat sane) in the middle of data meetings, germs, and holiday overload.

This episode is one big seasonal reality check. Allyson wakes up to snow, Becky is tracking “falling iguana season” in Florida, and Katie is dodging lizards in her office—because apparently the weather has jokes now. Between the chaos, we catch up on what training looks like for each of us as temperatures drop (or swing from 85° to 40° overnight).

We break down what’s getting us through our miles: hybrid training plans, double-run days, how to fuel without regretting it later, and why certain gels are basically Jell-O shots for runners. Off the pavement, real life is just as wild—preschool germs, new students, school data meetings, football weekends, and a wedding-dress-shopping trip that somehow turns into a stealth game-day mission.

It’s an episode full of weather drama, mom-life curveballs, teacher chaos, and running talk that feels like chatting with friends who get it. Whether you’re training, hibernating, or somewhere in between, this one will meet you right where you’re at.

Halloween’s over, but the sugar rush (and the chaos) isn’t. In this episode, we catch up after fall break and dive into the whirlwind that kicks off the holiday season. Becky shares how her DIY cupcake costume and calm kindergarteners surprised her, Allyson takes us inside her black-light “haunted math room,” and Katie introduces a genius twist—Jack Skellington on the Shelf.

Between the candy highs and checkpoint lows, we get real about teacher burnout, district pressure, and finding ways to keep fun alive without losing your sanity. From themed lessons to low-prep November routines and much-needed teacher grace, this one’s all about surviving the season—and remembering why we show up in the first place.

Conference season is here, aka survival mode. In this episode, we get real about what grades miss: the effort, growth, grit, and heart behind every student’s story. We catch up on life (run-club medals, cupcake costumes, and Halloween chaos), then dig into how teachers balance data with the bigger picture—self-reflection, work habits, fine-motor skills, and social growth that never show up in a percentage. We unpack AI and handwriting, parent involvement in upper grades, and why student-led conferences can reveal more than any test can. If you’ve ever tried to explain that learning is more than a number, this one’s for you. Take a deep breath, grab your mug, and let’s espresso ourselves.

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.