International Teacher Podcast

ITP - 133 Canadian educator Kelly Hogan shared how she transitioned from a career in arts and design to international teaching, spending 13 years in Taiwan where she earned her master’s through the College of New Jersey’s overseas cohort and later moved to Guatemala as a dual-language liaison at the American School of Guatemala.

We discuss how teaching abroad offers ways to grow professionally without returning home, how programs l...

ITP - 132 Tristan Reynolds beams in from Taiwan to explain how his startup school stops yappin’ about “global citizens” and actually coaches students into action. Think project-based learning with real tools. Teachers act less like wind-up lecterns and more like pit-crew chiefs. The place is young, scrappy, and cosmopolitan enough to turn a literature class into a live fire exercise on language and identity. We detour through semi...

ITP - 131 What happens when seasoned teachers step into a brand-new culture? Coreen and Subhadra reflect on challenges, strategies, and the importance of mentorship in thriving as international educators in the U.S.Order their book: Reaching Beyond Borders: The International Teachers' Guide to Migrating and Teaching in the U.S. at https://www.amazon.com/REACHING-BEYOND-BORDERS-International-Migrating/dp/B0FCDCVCKF/ref=sr_1_1?cr...

ITP - 130 Greg, JP, and Kent chat with restorative-justice pro Nicholas Bradford about why relationships—not punishments—actually fix classrooms. From hallway tardies to high-stakes cheating, they show how slowing down, listening, and handing students real responsibility changes behavior—plus a hilarious “Plug and Jug” confession story and some friendly jabs at Greg’s vocab and Kent’s Wi-Fi. Humor, heart, and practical tools—packed...

The International Teacher Podcast welcomes Nandini Shah—a self-described small-town girl from Gujarat who swapped arranged-marriage expectations for a globe-trotting teaching career. From Mumbai classrooms to snowy Russia, donkey-dotted Bulgaria, “the most boring city in Japan” (her words, not ours), and soon the Italian Riviera, Nandini shares her story of chasing adventure, fighting stereotypes about who gets to teach Shakespeare...

ITP - 128 This episode of the International Teacher Podcast was basically Kent “the Cat Guy” announcing his dramatic repatriation from Saudi Arabia to Washington State, where he’s now semi-retired, semi-confused, and fully rebranded as the “Cats Guy” (plural, because kittens). Between tales of neighbors who don’t want to party, doctors who look like they should still be in his fourth-grade class, and the realization that U.S. healt...

ITP - 127 Dr. Liam Hammer, Head of School in Zambia, joins us live from an orientation dinner. Liam shares his fascinating journey from a teenage dream of teaching in remote Papua New Guinea to leadership roles across five countries. The conversation explores the essential role of onboarding in teacher retention, the reality of navigating cultural norms, and the often-overlooked salary disparities in international schools—what Liam...

ITP 126 - If you're even thinking about teaching in Kuwait, you need to listen to this episode. Seriously. Greg sits down with Terence Tong—an international educator with 24 years of experience—and they dive into what it’s really like making the move from Canada to teaching overseas in Kuwait, South Korea, and then back to Kuwait for a second experience.. Terence opens up about the highs, the challenges, and the lessons learned alo...

Greg and Kent sit down with Aimée and Jacob—two international educators with a passion for honest conversations and creative collaboration. They dive into the story behind their own podcast, The International Staff Room, and share what drives them as educators and podcasters. Stick around to the end and learn about the meaning of the episode title.

The conversation covers a lot: from the power of partnership in teaching to tackling ...

ITP - 123 We are joined by Monique and Jimmy, two teachers who packed up their lives in the U.S. and are now gearing up for a big move to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Their story kicks off at a job fair—those hectic, slightly awkward events where life-changing decisions are made in 30-minute interviews and coffee-fueled conversations. They share the twists and turns that led them to say yes to this new chapter, and all the serendipitous m...

ITP - 122  Your hosts welcome Greg Perry, co-founder and CEO of Global Services and Education Limited, to talk about his wild, winding journey in international education. Greg doesn’t just talk about opening schools—he’s lived it, from the ground up, across countries and cultures, figuring it out as he goes. We dive into the nitty-gritty: the challenges no one warns you about, the unexpected roadblocks, the delicate dance of openin...

ITP - 121 Before you go back to your home country and retire from International Education, treat yourself to a "gap" trip. This is the advice given to our guests Eric and Tamara Wood and the advice they are taking right now. Between March 2025 and August 2025, this wonderful couple is taking a whopping 6month trip - like a couple of 20something European backpackers.

It takes planning, you will hear on this interview. It takes money...

ITP - 120 Kim Cofino shares her journey from a history and political science major to becoming a prominent figure in international education and instructional coaching. She discusses her experiences teaching in various countries, the evolution of her career, and the importance of coaching in fostering a positive learning environment. Kim also highlights the significance of her nonprofit organization aimed at advancing instructional...

TP - 119 Co-hosts JP Mint and Kent the Cat Guy welcome three international teachers, Caitlin, Eloise, and Hannah, who share their unique experiences and insights into the world of teaching abroad. The conversation covers their personal backgrounds, how they met in Malawi, and their journey in creating a math resource platform aimed at making math education more engaging and inclusive. They discuss the challenges and successes of th...

ITP 118 celebrates FOUR YEARS of our podcast. Happy Birthday International Teacher Podcast. We would like to introduce you all to Darian Batten, our newest co-host, replacing Matt the Family Guy.

Darian, his wife, Alicia, and their three kids have been in Saudi for the past four years. Darian is the perfect family man host. You will laugh a lot due to his infectious laugh, learn from his stories, and say "damn that's a great questi...

ITP - 117 Bryan Stanton shares his journey from California to New York, discussing his experiences as a queer educator and the importance of inclusion in the classroom. He highlights the challenges faced by LGBTQ+ teachers and the need for allies to actively support their colleagues. Bryan also talks about his podcast, 'Teaching While Queer,' which aims to amplify the voices of queer educators and foster a sense of community. The c...

ITP - 116  Tamisha Chantel shares her extensive journey in education, spanning nearly three decades, and her transition to international teaching. From her beginnings in Cleveland, Ohio, to her experiences in Shanghai, China, Tamisha discusses the motivations behind her decision to teach abroad, the challenges she faced in the international job market, and the preparations required for her move. 

Our conversation also touches on fam...

ITP - 115 Sorcha Coyle (the tireless Admin and creator of the FB Group "New To International Schools Teachers") shares her journey from Ireland to becoming an international teacher. She discusses her experiences teaching in Qatar, her transition to London for further education, and her efforts to empower expat teachers through community building. Sorcha emphasizes the importance of financial planning for teachers abroad, ...