Dave Burgess on Passion, Creativity & the Heart of Teaching
What if teaching could feel like a bold act of creativity every day?
In this powerful Why Edify Podcast episode, Jeremy Jorgensen sits down with legendary educator and author of Teach Like a Pirate, Dave Burgess.
Together, they explore the transformative role of passion, personal authenticity, and creativity in the classroom. Dave shares vulnerable insights about criticism, why he doesn't give traditional homework, and how living fully outside the classroom fuels powerful learning inside it.
You’ll hear:
- Why student engagement is more than a buzzword
- How reflective teaching makes lessons unforgettable
- The importance of honoring your identity and outside passions
- Practical earned wisdom on handling parent conflict and burnout
- Educators, leaders, and lifelong learners—this conversation is a rally cry to teach boldly, live authentically, and create meaningful impact.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Passionate Teaching
05:45 Trolling and Teaching Philosophy
10:28 Amplifying Voices in Education
14:56 Earned Wisdom from Experience
19:18 Creative Alchemy in Teaching
23:47 Engaging Students Through Personal Connections
28:24 Community and Professional Development
32:50 Final Thoughts and Recommendations
📬 Get Involved:
✉️ Sign up for the Friday Five Newsletter for Teachers:
https://www.jeremyajorgensen.com/newsletter
💪 Take the 30-Day Educator Challenge (Mind, Body & Spirit):
☕ Support Why Edify:
https://buymeacoffee.com/whyedify
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https://www.bonfire.com/store/why-edify/
🌐 Connect with Jeremy Jorgensen:
👉 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/why_edify/
👉 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremy-jorgensen321/
👉 Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/why-edify.bsky.social
👉 Website: https://www.jeremyajorgensen.com/
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