The Balancing Act
By Joseph Vitale and Jamie Wanko
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Image by Joseph Vitale and Jamie Wanko
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Episodes: 105
Description
Fun Fact: If you draw a venn diagram of the circus and being an educator you get a perfect circle! At least, that’s what Jamie and Joe have learned. Straight out of Central New Jersey, join two seasoned teachers as they try to make sense of balancing their teaching careers with parenting multiple children, helping with aging parents, supporting their loving spouses, and navigating the very strange landscape of education in a post-Covid world. With guest interviews, deep dive explorations on contemporary topics, and so much more – we’re here to look at the highs and the lows that come with being an educator. Whether you’re fresh to the job or a seasoned vet, we can’t wait to share in this journey together!
Visit our website for feedback, love letters, or guest/general inquiries.
| Episode | Date |
|---|---|
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Toxic Mom Groups and Relational Aggression with Dr. Noelle Santorelli
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May 19, 2026 |
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Dealing with Loss: A Caretakers Journey
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May 12, 2026 |
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Navigating Kids, AI & Digital Learning with Merve Lapus: A Tech Reset
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May 05, 2026 |
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Rethinking EdTech: Why Marcy Samayoa Is Leading a Tech-free Classroom “Tech Reset”
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Apr 28, 2026 |
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From Teaching to Content Creation: Jessica Hawk on Education, Tech & Teacher Burnout
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Apr 21, 2026 |
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100th Episode Special: Lessons in Teaching, Podcasting, and Building an Education Community
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Apr 14, 2026 |
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Executive Functioning for K–3 Teachers with Mitch Weathers and Sarah Oberle
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Apr 07, 2026 |
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Work-Life Balance for Educators: Parenting Teens, Caregiving, and Managing It All
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Mar 31, 2026 |
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Teaching Multilingual Learners: Why NJ Teacher of the Year Gillian Ober Says Classrooms Are Changing
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Mar 24, 2026 |
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Teachers Are Burning Out—And Self-Care Isn’t the Solution
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Mar 17, 2026 |
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Teacher Burnout Crisis with Dr. Allison Hitchens
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Mar 10, 2026 |
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Grind My Gears 2: Teacher Pet Peeves, Parent Drama & Staff Culture
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Mar 03, 2026 |
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Talking with @Balancedmindsedu Jamie Ruffner, your sarcastic teaching bestie
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Feb 24, 2026 |
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Lack of Developmental Norms are a Societal Issue Affecting Schools
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Feb 17, 2026 |
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Teacher Friends and Tik Toks with the Math Girls
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Feb 10, 2026 |
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Guidance Counselors and College Bound High School Seniors
|
Feb 03, 2026 |
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Learned Helplessness with “The Well Seasoned Teacher”, Melissa Antinoff
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Jan 27, 2026 |
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Gambling, Mental Health Awareness, and Seasonal Affective Disorder
|
Jan 20, 2026 |
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Educator, Author, Speaker, NJ Teacher of the Year 2025, Stefanie Lachenauer
|
Jan 13, 2026 |
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Choosing Intention: Our Word of the Year
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Jan 06, 2026 |
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Executive Functioning tips for Teens and Adults with Dr. Lethco
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Dec 16, 2025 |
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Proper Holiday Greetings and Some Happy Meetings
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Dec 09, 2025 |
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On the Road at the 2025 NJEA Convention
|
Dec 02, 2025 |
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We are Grateful, but not for Learned Helplessness in Students
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Nov 25, 2025 |
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Hey Jealousy - Four Day School Work Week with Courthey White
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Nov 18, 2025 |
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Parenting High School Seniors; Fall Update
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Nov 11, 2025 |
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2024 New Jersey Teacher of the Year, Joe Nappi
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Nov 04, 2025 |
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3rd Annual Halloween Party Hosted by the Petty Patrol
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Oct 28, 2025 |
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Policies that Relate to Teachers with @TeacherpaywithK
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Oct 21, 2025 |
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Lesson Planning: Outdated and Unnecessary or an Important Part of Teaching?
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Oct 14, 2025 |
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Educate and Rejuvenate with Kelsey Sorenson
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Oct 07, 2025 |
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Paid Internships for Student Teachers? You Go Pennsylvania!
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Sep 30, 2025 |
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College Counselor Jen Foldvary
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Sep 23, 2025 |
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Is Social Media Ruining the Classroom?
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Sep 16, 2025 |
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Are We in a Quarrel with Educator Andrea?
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Sep 09, 2025 |
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Welcome Back to the Party, Season Three is Here
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Sep 02, 2025 |
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Major Monumental Moments from Season 2
|
Jun 24, 2025 |
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Part II with Dr. Noelle Santorelli, Relational Aggression and Mean Girl Moms
|
Jun 17, 2025 |
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Part I with Dr. Noelle Santorelli, Relational Aggression and Mean Girl Moms
|
Jun 10, 2025 |
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What is exhausting the teachers?
|
Jun 03, 2025 |
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How much tech is too much? With Merve Lapus from Common Sense Media
|
May 27, 2025 |
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And One More Thing: Teachers are the Reason for all the Extras in Schools
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May 20, 2025 |
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Bianca and Chelsea from the NJAEA Pod Squad: Recruiting and Retaining Teachers
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May 13, 2025 |
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What Makes a “Good” Parent? Even Kelly Clarkson doesn't know.
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May 06, 2025 |
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Why are Students not Successful in School? with Mitch Weathers
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Apr 29, 2025 |
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Middle School Minds Need Organized Systems
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Apr 22, 2025 |
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Never stop dating… your co teacher?
|
Apr 15, 2025 |
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The Kids are Not Alright, but Why?
|
Apr 08, 2025 |
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We’re Not Foolin’, We love AnnaK
|
Apr 01, 2025 |
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What Grinds Our Gears
|
Mar 25, 2025 |
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Believe’ment is Achievement with Ed DeShazer
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Mar 18, 2025 |
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The Sandwich Generation Revisited
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Mar 11, 2025 |
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Middle School Maniacs with Courtney Varner
|
Mar 04, 2025 |
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No Tech Teaching Review
|
Feb 25, 2025 |
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The Child Code with Dr. Danielle Dick
|
Feb 18, 2025 |
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Cell Phones and Valentine’s
|
Feb 11, 2025 |
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Tech-Spert Wisdom with Dr. Tyler Tarver
|
Feb 04, 2025 |
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Shocked, Shooketh, Shaken. Why don’t these kids like me? Season 2 - Episode 19
|
Jan 28, 2025 |
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Vein Tests, Heart Tests and Praxis Tests, Oh My! Season 2 - Episode 18
|
Jan 21, 2025 |
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New Year, Same Old Friends - Season 2 Episode 17
|
Jan 14, 2025 |
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2nd Annual Holiday Special - Season 2 Episode 16
|
Dec 17, 2024 |
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Holiday Stress? The Teachers Health Coach is in Session - Season 2 Episode 15
|
Dec 10, 2024 |
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Teacher Pay with K - Season 2 Episode 14
|
Dec 03, 2024 |
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Gobble Gobble, It’s Time to Talk Turkey - Season 2 Episode 13
|
Nov 26, 2024 |
|
Employable Teens? Dishin’ out advice with Nicholas Creamery owner Jodie Edwards - Season 2 Episode 12
|
Nov 19, 2024 |
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Tech Break? Helpful or nearly impossible? - Season 2 Episode 11
|
Nov 12, 2024 |
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Tommy Ho!!! It's our Canadian amie, Dawn Wiseman - Season 2 Episode 10
|
Nov 05, 2024 |
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To Halloween or Not to Halloween - Season 2 Episode 9
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Oct 29, 2024 |
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Coworkers: True Friends or Trauma Bonded? Season 2 Episode 8
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Oct 22, 2024 |
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The Queen of Mean Girl Moms - Dr. Noelle Santorelli Season 2 Episode 7
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Oct 15, 2024 |
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Ho Ho Homework - Season 2 Episode 6
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Oct 08, 2024 |
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Theeeee Dee Hankins - Season 2 Episode 5
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Oct 01, 2024 |
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There will always be time for canoodling - Season 2 Episode 4
|
Sep 24, 2024 |
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AI in the classroom: A Learning Revolution - Jonathan Mast Season 2 Episode 3
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Sep 17, 2024 |
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Teacher's and AI - Jonathan Mast Season 2 Episode 2
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Sep 10, 2024 |
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Season Two Premiere! - And We're Back! Season 2 Episode 1
|
Sep 03, 2024 |
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Best of Season 1: Host Picks - Episode 28
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Aug 20, 2024 |
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Best of Season 1: Parenting Advice - Episode 27
|
Aug 06, 2024 |
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Best of Season 1: New Teacher Advice - Episode 26
|
Jul 23, 2024 |
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Season One Finale: Summer…She is finally here! Episode 25
|
Jul 09, 2024 |
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An Interview with M.C. Reckognize: Mrs. Phyllis Reckhow - Episode 24
|
Jun 25, 2024 |
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Closing out the Year with a Skibbidy - Episode 23
|
Jun 11, 2024 |
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Empathy, Sympathy and Adulting - Episode 22
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May 28, 2024 |
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Tuh Tuh Tuh Teacher Face, Jessica Hawk - Episode 21
|
May 14, 2024 |
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We are “ALL IN” with Gian Paul Gonzalez - Episode 20
|
Apr 30, 2024 |
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Dear parents, we need YOUR support… Part II with Katie Schneider - Episode 19
|
Apr 16, 2024 |
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Dear parents, we need YOUR support...Part I - Episode 18
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Apr 02, 2024 |
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Educator_Andrea: “Advice to the New Teachers, Stolen by the Old Ones” - Episode 17
|
Mar 19, 2024 |
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Parents Just Don't Understand - Episode 16
|
Mar 05, 2024 |
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bELieve in the Power of Daily Routines: Our talk with Hometown Hero Eric LeGrand - Episode 15
|
Feb 20, 2024 |
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Flipping the Switch - Ms. Brady had Alice and we're on our own. - Episode 14
|
Feb 06, 2024 |
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The Modern Learner: Thirsty for Knowledge or Just Thirsty for Water? - Episode 13
|
Jan 23, 2024 |
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An Interview with Influencer Nick Ferroni - Episode 12
|
Jan 09, 2024 |
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A Holiday Delight - Curmudgeons Need Not Listen - Episode 11
|
Dec 22, 2023 |
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EdcampNJ: The best PD is the teacher down the hall - Episode 10
|
Dec 12, 2023 |
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Dr. Tyler Tarver - Episode 9
|
Nov 28, 2023 |
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Wake up, show up and grow up! - Episode 8
|
Nov 21, 2023 |
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Halloween Episode: Season One - To candy corn or not to candy corn?
|
Oct 31, 2023 |
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Setting our Students up for Success: An Interview with Ann Dolin, CEO Educational Connections
|
Oct 16, 2023 |
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Just say no… but not to “being accountable.”
|
Oct 03, 2023 |
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Wake me up when September ends....
|
Sep 19, 2023 |
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Bonus - Very Special Episode 1: Back to School!
|
Sep 05, 2023 |
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Maiden Voyage - Part 1
|
Aug 29, 2023 |
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Maiden Voyage - Part II
|
Aug 29, 2023 |
|
Trailer
|
Jul 20, 2023 |