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.
Podcast Media Library
Search the archive, browse by topic or series, and open an episode to listen or explore the ideas that matter to you.
Browse by topic
Browse by series
13 episodes
Mar 13, 2026
Why Kids Remember How We Made Them Feel
In this episode, I explore why students often remember how they were treated more than what they were taught. While academic content is important, the emotional experiences students…
Mar 12, 2026
The Ripple Effect of Being Human
In this episode, I build on the idea of teacher impact by focusing on something we often don’t fully recognize in the moment—the ripple effect. Teaching is not…
Mar 10, 2026
When Students Feel Seen
In this episode, I take a closer look at one of the most powerful ways teachers make a difference—helping students feel seen. While teaching often focuses on academics,…
Mar 9, 2026
The Difference a Teacher Can Make
In this episode, I explore the real difference a teacher can make in the lives of students. While academic outcomes like test scores and grades matter, some of…
Feb 6, 2026
Love Is Not Lowering the Bar
In this episode, I tackle a common misconception in education — that leading with love somehow means lowering expectations. That idea has shaped conversations in schools for years,…
Feb 4, 2026
Why Connection Is Not a Soft Skill
Too often, connection gets labeled as a soft skill, something extra that comes after the real academic work. In this episode, I challenge that assumption and argue that…
Feb 3, 2026
Kids Who Push Back Need Us Most
Pushback in the classroom can feel personal, especially when it happens publicly. In this episode, I unpack why the instinct to tighten control isn’t always the most effective…
Feb 2, 2026
Seeing the Child Before the Behavior
Behavior shows up in every classroom, but what matters most is the child underneath it. In this episode, I slow the conversation down and explore why behavior is…
Jan 29, 2026
Trust Is the Real Curriculum
In this episode, I unpack a truth that took me years to fully understand: you can have strong standards, engaging lessons, and well-designed curriculum, but without trust, it…
Jan 28, 2026
Relationships Over Rules
Rules matter in my classroom. Structure matters. Consistency matters. But I have learned that rules without relationships only create compliance, not connection. In this episode, I unpack why…
Jan 27, 2026
Safety Before Standards
In this episode, I talk about something that can feel almost rebellious in education but shouldn’t: safety has to come before standards. I make it clear that standards,…
Jan 26, 2026
Belonging Comes First
In this episode, I talk about something that sits underneath every lesson plan, every standard, and every behavior conversation: belonging. I say clearly that belonging is not a…