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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54 episodes
Aug 14, 2026
Teaching in the Age of AI
In this episode, I explore teaching in the age of AI through the lens of teacher sustainability. I use AI regularly to brainstorm, organize ideas, develop pacing guides,…
Jun 12, 2026
A Letter to a Teacher in the AI Age
In this final episode of the series, I step away from statistics, tools, and predictions and speak directly to teachers. After 55 episodes exploring artificial intelligence and education,…
Jun 11, 2026
What Human-Centered Teaching Actually Means
In this episode, I define what I mean when I use the phrase human-centered teaching. It is not anti-technology, anti-innovation, or resistant to change. It simply means making…
Jun 10, 2026
The Tension: Navigating AI Without Losing Ourselves
In this episode, I reflect on one of the realities that has become increasingly clear throughout this AI series: conversations about artificial intelligence are filled with tension. AI…
Jun 9, 2026
The Through Line: What Connected These 10 Weeks?
In this episode, I look back across 10 weeks of weekday conversations about artificial intelligence, assessment, technology, relationships, student voice, identity, policy, learning, and humanity. Although those topics…
Jun 8, 2026
Why This Conversation About AI Matters
In this episode, I reflect on why the conversation about artificial intelligence in education matters so deeply. AI is already present in the lives of students, teachers, families,…
Jun 5, 2026
Choosing Humanity on Purpose
In this episode, I reflect on the central message that has emerged across the last 50 weekday episodes about artificial intelligence, technology, schools, systems, teachers, and students: You…
Jun 4, 2026
Becoming the Teacher the Future Needs
In this episode, I reflect on what the teacher of the future will truly need to become. Artificial intelligence, technology, classrooms, and students will continue changing, but I…
Jun 3, 2026
Why This Work Is Still Sacred
In this episode, I reflect on the former students who have found me years after leaving my classroom. Some have chased me down in stores to share what…
Jun 2, 2026
Teaching with Hope, Not Fear
In this episode, I share one of the more personal seasons of my teaching career. After losing my mom, I found myself feeling professionally and emotionally stuck. I…
Jun 1, 2026
What Will Always Matter in Teaching
In this episode, I reflect on how much education has changed during my 23 years in the classroom. Technology, curriculum, assessments, standards, expectations, systems, and now artificial intelligence…
May 29, 2026
Staying Grounded in Shifting Systems
In this episode, I reflect on a season following COVID when educators returned expecting to continue exploring language arts curriculum options, only to discover that major decisions had…