PODCAST: Here's The Tea - From Teaching to Touring with Joe Dombrowski
We sat down with comedian/kindergarten teacher Joe Dombrowski (aka Mr. D) for one of the most fun interviews ever! Joe's into our raw mom honesty and we love his hilarious stories and all the tea he spills, so this was literally the perfect match. Tune in to find out what Ellen DeGeneres said about Joe after he went on her show, how comedy has effected his teaching, the biggest thing he wants parents to understand and what's next for him... We ask Joe some serious/controversial questions about being a teacher, he shares some of the funniest things kids have said, we exchange stories about tour and even plan a live collab. This episode is full of amazing insight into the life of a teacher as well as so. many. laughs.
WATCH HERE:
LISTEN HERE:
Q&A SESSION:
When did you start podcasting?
Joe said his podcast journey started about a year and a half ago and it was a long road... He tells us more about it at the 8 min. mark! Listen in to hear the full story about how it all started and how it’s going now as a full time teacher / comedian who is about to hit the road this summer and head out on tour.
How did you get the call from Ellen to be on her show?
Joe shares all the deets at the 11 min. mark. Tune in to find out how it all went down, why he was told NOT to go, and what Ellen told him that he etched into his desk and kicked his ass into gear.
We’ve heard that doing stand-up comedy is the scariest thing. Your job is to make the crowd laugh, but the jokes can call fall flat and you have to keep going. What was the first time like for you?
Joe says that comedy and teaching are the same thing. If you’re good at one, you’re good at both. What’s scarier is standing in front of 27 five-year-olds and knowing that at any moment they could take your ass out. But comedy made him a better teacher (and vice versa) because the kids are the hecklers. Listen in at the 20 min. mark for more on his experience as a stand-up comedian (aka a f*cking wizard).
You get all of this amazing content from your students and then you go and do a stand-up comedy show…are you afraid that the parents are in the audience?
Joe says he wants them to be!! Can you believe that? Tune in at the 31 min. mark for a funny story and to hear what his boss said to him after seeing him live…
We have to ask you a more serious question… When parents walk into a parent-teacher interview, what do you wish they knew about their kids? What do you wish you could say to parents?
This is an important one! Check out the 34 min. mark to find out what’s the biggest thing Joe wants parents to understand and the number one thing that really gets him…
Next up - a controversial question. Do teachers have favourites?
Joe asked if we were joking because ABSOLUTELY, one million percent. Head to the 41 min. mark to hear about what makes a kid his favourite and keep listening for some hilarious stories about things kids have done/said.
When the parents have an issue and ride your a**, can you call them out?
Go to the 45 min. mark to find out how Joe handles those types of situations. You better watch out…
Most moms are so hard on themselves and go to bed wishing they could have done the day differently. Can you tell when a mom has or lacks the confidence?
Joe hasn’t noticed this but it made his heart hurt just hearing it! Listen in at the 46 min. mark for his thoughts, which every mom should hear.
Are kids ever super sh*tty at school and lovely at home?
Joe’s answered shocked us. Check it out at the 48 min. mark.
How are you going to handle going on tour and being a teacher?
Joe’s touring during the summer when he’s not teaching! Tune in at the 51 min. mark to hear our experiences performing live shows and our plans for tour.
Let’s end with five quick questions: Will you ever teach another grade or will you keep teaching kindergarten forever? Why do you love kindergarten? Would you ever retire from teaching and go full-time in comedy? What’s next (aka what’s the dream)?
Listen in at the 1 hr. mark for Joe’s honest answers and a sneak peek into his exciting future!
MORE ABOUT JOE DOMBROWSKI:
Joe Dombrowski (aka Mr.D) took the world by storm in 2017 with a viral April Fools’ Day spelling test prank that landed him multiple appearances on the Ellen DeGeneres show. Since then Joe has been traveling the world with his stand-up comedy tour titled “Indoor Recess” which highlights his crazy life as an elementary school teacher. When he’s not getting creative on screens and stages, Joe spends his time in Seattle, Washington producing his podcast “Social Studies” where he humorously studies being social by being social with guests of all walks of life. See more of Joe on any form of social media using the handle @mrdtimes3 or catch him live at one of his shows!
Follow along on Instagram & Facebook.
Listen to his podcast here.
Watch his videos on YouTube & TikTok.
And grab tickets to watch Joe live on tour!