Be A Funky Teacher Podcast
Real conversations for educators who care deeply about the work.
Classroom stories, practical ideas, teacher well-being, leadership, student voice, and honest reflection from Mr. Funky Teacher, Nicholas Kleve.
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309 episodes
Dec 17, 2025
The Weight Teachers Carry: Fear, Safety, And Showing Up In A World Of School Shootings
This episode addresses a heavy but necessary truth in education: the fear and responsibility teachers carry in a world shaped by school violence. As Mr. Funky Teacher, Nicholas…
Dec 16, 2025
You Don’t Have To Fix Everything To Make A Difference
I share a grounding reminder in this episode that as Mr. Funky Teacher, Nicholas Kleve, I believe deeply matters for educators: you are not failing just because you…
Dec 15, 2025
School Is A Safe Place And Breaks Aren’t Always Easy For Every Kid
In this episode, I reflect on the reality that while school breaks are joyful for many students, they can be difficult and even destabilizing for others. As Mr.…
Dec 14, 2025
Sunday School or Teachers: Esther: For Such A Time As This
In this episode, I reflect on the story of Esther and what it means for teachers who find themselves in moments that feel uncomfortable, risky, or uncertain. As…
Dec 12, 2025
Kids Don’t Learn When Adults Are Out Of Sync: Why Your Energy Sets The Tone
In this episode, I talk about why kids don’t learn when adults are out of sync and how our energy sets the emotional tone of the classroom before…
Dec 11, 2025
What Students Really Remember: Hint It’s Not The Curriculum
In this episode, I talk about what students truly remember from their time in school and why it’s not the curriculum, worksheets, or benchmark tests that stay with…
Dec 10, 2025
Consistency Over Noise: Why Real Teacher Leaders Don’t Need To Be Loud
In this episode, I talk about why consistency matters more than noise when it comes to teacher leadership and how real leadership is rooted in steady presence rather…
Dec 9, 2025
100 Lessons That Changed My Teaching Journey And Made Me Mr. Funky Teacher
In this Episode 100, I celebrate “100 lessons that changed my teaching journey and made me Mr. Funky Teacher.” As Mr. Funky Teacher, Nicholas Kleve, I share the…
Dec 8, 2025
Secondhand Trauma, The Emotional Weight Teachers Carry And Rarely Talk About
In this episode, I talk openly about secondhand trauma and the emotional weight teachers carry simply by caring deeply for students who are hurting. As Mr. Funky Teacher,…
Dec 7, 2025
Sunday School for Teachers: Deborah: Leading with Wisdom and Courage
This Sunday School for Teachers episode centers on the story of Deborah and what her leadership reveals about wisdom, courage, and obedience to God. As Mr. Funky Teacher,…
Dec 5, 2025
Your Tone Is A Teaching Tool: Why Kids Learn More From How You Say It Than What You Say
This episode explores the powerful role tone plays in teaching and how students learn more from how we speak than the words we use. As Mr. Funky Teacher,…
Dec 4, 2025
The Myth of the ‘Bad Kid’: What Adults Often Miss
This episode explores the myth of the “bad kid” and the deeper truth behind student behavior. As Mr. Funky Teacher, Nicholas Kleve, I reflect on how children who…