Hosts: Craig (Coffee) & Ana (Cuddles)
5/30/25
Episode Summary
End-of-school chaos meets puppy pandemonium in this “Making the Grade” special. Coffee is on summer sabbatical, hammering out Chapter 21 of his novel, while Cuddles battles report cards, missing classroom supplies, and frantic curriculum decisions. Throw in puppy McCoy’s “emergencies” and math meltdowns over Statistics 2, and you’ve got an hour of laughs, stress, and heartfelt behind-the-scenes moments.
Topics Covered
- Coffee’s Writing Update
- 17,000–18,000 words written so far.
- Balancing chapter length vs. pacing.
- Dodging Statistics 2: why neither of us can face it again.
- Teacher’s End-of-Year Realities
- Cuddles’ never-ending to-do list: report cards, missing classroom items, scheduling events.
- “Lost & Found” field trip bribery: sandwiches from New York Deli in Torrance.
- Why she refuses to count down “days until summer” in class.
- Summer Reading Overhaul
- Ditching mailed books for a “decorate-your-own tote + choose 10 free books” giveaway.
- Empowering students and avoiding “missing” book mishaps.
- School-Wide Fun
- BMX stunt show ➔ all-female mariachi band: switching up tradition and student reactions.
- “Pompom rally” for the track team: second graders cheering so loudly they nearly lost their voices.
- Puppy Interruptions
- McCoy’s training roller coaster: two steps forward, three steps back.
- The “puppy emergency” mid-episode and those irresistible head-tilts.
- Math & Statistics Trauma
- Replaying algebra angst and the infamous “I swear it was 58!” test answer.
- Why Statistics 2 is the academic bogeyman for both hosts.
- Curriculum Panic
- New math curriculum decision due Monday.
- Class lists, final assessments, and everything else equally due ASAP.
- Surviving when “your plate is overflowing” (and someone hands you a bigger plate).
Listener Prompt
- Teachers: How do you power through end-of-year chaos?
- Writers: What’s your summer project strategy, and how do you carve out writing time?
Comment on Spotify or Buzzsprout—first listener to share a tip or anecdote wins an exclusive Coffee & Cuddles sticker pack!
Mentions & Shoutouts
- New York Deli (Torrance, CA): The ultimate “Lost & Found” bribe.
- All-Female Mariachi Band: Breaking school tradition and wowing students.
- McCoy’s Homeschool Program: Puppy kindergarten in full swing.
What’s Next
- Coffee’s Novel: Look for summer excerpts as Chapter 22 takes shape (still no Stats 2!).
- Cuddles’ Summer Break: Three weeks to decompress before back-to-school madness.
Thanks for joining us—this has been Coffee & Cuddles with our two cents. Your mileage may vary. God bless, and we’ll talk to you soon!
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