PRE-ORDER MY NEW BOOK (OUT MAY 5, 2026)!!!
How To Survive The Classroom

Hi friend, Andrea Forcum (aka @EducatorAndrea) here! If you’ve ever Googled “how to professionally quit mid-semester” or seriously considered hiding in a supply closet, this show’s for you. With Educator strategies and life advice — teaching may be a noble profession… but nobility doesn’t stop your classroom from catching on fire.

Play Latest Episode

Recent Episodes

View all
March 9, 2026

I Said Don’t Come Down Unless It’s an Emergency

I Said Don’t Come Down Unless It’s an Emergency

PRE-ORDER MY NEW BOOK (OUT MAY 5, 2026)!!! — ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/43BquPd⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Teacher besties… I turned 39. Which means, naturally, I decided to spiral publicly and create “52 Weeks Until 40” as content instead of processing my feelings privately like a normal person.This episode has everything. Gerry trying to convince me to buy Crocs as a personality pivot. A listener question about burnout that feels way too real this time of year. My best life achievement (which unfortunately involves a cafeteria and questionable liquid). A very honest conversation about doing less in your classroom and surviving licensure requirements without losing your mind. And… a confession from Gerry that I genuinely did not see coming.We talk about burnout while trying to become a teacher, why you don't have to Dead Poets Society every single lesson, and what student behaviors absolutely would not survive in corporate America.Somewhere in the middle of all of that, we discover that sometimes the worst day of your life is just the worst day so far.

View more
March 2, 2026

From Basement Book Shipping to Book Tour Cities with Matt Eicheldinger

From Basement Book Shipping to Book Tour Cities with Matt Eicheldinger

PRE-ORDER MY NEW BOOK (OUT MAY 5, 2026)!!! — ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/43BquPd⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Matt Eicheldinger is back and somehow since the last time he was on, he’s casually signed over a dozen book contracts, written across multiple age ranges, and is now launching a dystopian trilogy. Meanwhile, I’m still over here arguing with copy editors about commas.We talk about what self-publishing actually looks like, what happens when Kirkus reviews decide your book is either brilliant or from the devil himself, and how middle schoolers might actually be the toughest literary critics alive.Matt shares the premise of his new YA trilogy, a flooded world, a foster teen, hardcore preppers, and a mysterious place called “The Hill”, and we get into what it feels like to pivot from autobiographical humor to dystopian survival.

View more
View all Episodes

Reviews

It’s fun even for a non-teacher

"It’s just like I imagine listening in to the teacher’s lounge when I was in school about what a devil or angel I was depending on the teacher. Great laughs. Teachers are humans too… and funny humans…"

mikehaddon | Oct. 13, 2024

Awesome Show

"I love Educator Andrea on Instagram and just discovered her podcast, which I am binging . She is a wealth of knowledge, has great guests and an awesome sense of humor. Her content is helping me survi…"

ranchreader | Oct. 27, 2024

A Must Listen for ALL teachers

"Fantastic pod! She shows the insanity that is the classroom without being an old curmudgeonly bitter teacher (like me 😂).In all seriousness, makes me laugh and gives me hope to keep on keeping on. C…"

me@6593 | Nov. 13, 2024

Relatable

"Always enjoy listening to Andrea and guests during my long commute to and from school. The conversations range from entertaining to inspiring along with some crazy, comical anecdotes that all teacher…"

Jabberwocky412 | Dec. 12, 2024

We survive with laughter!

"I enjoyed the new name and format. Teaching is a joy and also hard. Having a space for laughter and resources is fenomenal!"

Lizy787 | May 5, 2025

Worth the listen

"I’ve followed Andrea for a while on IG and this podcast does not disappoint. I love how real she is about being in education. This extended insight into her classroom as well as other teacher experie…"

emmmtay | July 25, 2024

So Validating

"I’ve just finished my third year teaching fifth grade, and everything I hear on this podcast is A) hilarious and B) incredibly validating. I appreciate the wealth of knowledge, love, and—especially—h…"

Heyrigneys | July 20, 2024

So real and so fun!

"Love listening to this pod because it’s so REAL and funny. Literally laughing out loud and agreeing with so many of the stories and anecdotes. Teaching can be hard and fun and heartbreaking and soul …"

Starteacher1234 | July 8, 2024

One of the Best

"I love this podcast. I'm a secondary English teacher and can relate. The mix of comedy and educational discussion is perfect!"

Rpritts2 | June 21, 2024

Fun!

"I love this podcast, especially since it’s summer and I’m not around my fellow teachers as much. It’s a connection that is getting me through break so far!"

Amanda Fidler | June 13, 2024

Love this lady

"I will listen to anything Andrea does! Her mix of humor with the “realness” and vulnerability of being a teacher is the antidote to teacher burnout!"

KelliDeGuire | April 12, 2024
See all reviews

About the Host

Andrea Forcum (@EducatorAndrea) Profile Photo
Andrea Forcum (@EducatorAndrea)

Educator / Influencer / Speaker / Writer / Consultant / Mom

One fine day in 2021, Andrea noticed an unforgivable gap in the online education influencer space. EVERY POST by teachers, for teachers, was so heavily polished, heavily edited, and obviously scripted that it felt superficial and fake. Inspired to do something about it and fueled by ADHD - Andrea began creating videos with the sharp, satirical lens of a real teacher. One who’d been through the gauntlet with nine years of experience both pre and post COVID (if you know… you know).

In that short amount of time, Andrea’s audience has grown to over a million devoted followers across platforms (and growing fast). But these aren’t just fans, they’re fellow teachers, pouring in to laugh with Andrea about the beautiful chaos of the classroom. Educators from across North America (and the world) took notice of this authentic voice to rally behind. One who saw their struggle and allowed them to both laugh and feel validated for their careers in one of the most profoundly challenging (albeit rebelliously hopeful) professions. From letters to comments to emails aplenty - teachers now see @EducatorAndrea as someone who “gets it” in a way few do. A creative voice who acknowledges their struggle without ever dogging the profession or punching down.

ALSO — Andrea has a doctorate and two master’s degrees which she picked up along the way to her current position as a Professor of Teaching and Learning at Indiana State AND a presenting speaker for the Indiana State Teachers Association Good Teaching Conference.