Mr. Clarke After Dark
Lucas Clarke
Welcome to the “Mr. Clarke After Dark” podcast with host Lucas Clarke, an educator determined to move away from recycled professional development and engage in more nuanced, personable, and relevant conversations for learning.
Each week, Mr. Clarke unpacks the inner workings of the classroom and learns out loud with educators, politicians, comedians, and other field experts of all shapes, sizes, and burnout levels. Whether they have been in the trenches of their profession for five months or fifty years, we are here to share everything from classroom hacks, our worst mistakes, and the occasional profound musing (from the guests). From conversations about race with Daryl Davis, education reform with Jennifer Gonzalez, global educational development with professors from the World Bank, to stories about students farting in class, there will always be something you can take away from the show, for better or worse.
So, come on over and join the dark side ... unless you’re scared.
All episodes
Best episodes
Top 10 Mr. Clarke After Dark Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Mr. Clarke After Dark episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Mr. Clarke After Dark for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Mr. Clarke After Dark episode by adding your comments to the episode page.
#073 - Leroy Slanzi | Unlocking Learning Through Play
Mr. Clarke After Dark
12/03/24 • 57 min
Leroy Slanzi is an educator, principal, and the author of several books, including Emotional Schools: The Looming Mental Health Crisis and a Path Through It. In this conversation, Leroy and I dive into the impact of technology on student behavior, the critical need for teaching coping strategies and how to do so, the "Play is the Way" program, as well as the importance of understanding polyvagal theory and its role in emotional regulation and learning. Thank you for tuning in and enjoy the show!
Chapters
00:00 The Changing Landscape of Education
03:03 Technology's Impact on Student Behavior
05:49 Coping Mechanisms and Small Stressors
09:06 The Looming Mental Health Crisis
12:00 Teacher Shortages and Educational Challenges
14:56 Innovative Approaches to Student Support
18:06 The Role of Co-Teaching in Modern Classrooms
28:04 Navigating Educational Leadership Challenges
30:03 The Importance of Play in Education
32:01 Integrating Free and Structured Play
35:55 The Role of Emotional Intelligence in Learning
39:53 Understanding the Polyvagal Theory
51:56 The Vision for Future Education
Takeaways:
- The infusion of technology has led to increased sleep deprivation among students.
- Students today struggle more with small stressors than in previous generations.
- Teacher shortages are exacerbating the challenges faced in education.
- Effective coping mechanisms are essential for student success.
- Co-regulation between parents and children is crucial for emotional development.
- The disconnect from human interaction is impacting students' communication skills.
- Innovative approaches like co-teaching can enhance student support.
- Centralizing student services can improve accessibility and inclusivity.
- Educational leadership often struggles with rigid philosophies.
- Banning technology in schools can hinder learning opportunities.
- Play is essential for social-emotional development.
- Structured play can teach emotional intelligence and self-regulation.
- Free play allows children to navigate conflicts and develop resilience.
- Character development is key to preparing students for future challenges.
Download the Luxy App here: https://www.onluxy.com/?srsltid=AfmBOorQE6gOpRh5iTLYhBH2zLFzKX0WGhAc_oLC3EETPegghQkvcVUg
Thoughts shared on the podcast are purely our own and do not represent the views of the Anglophone South School District or the relevant jurisdictions associated with my guests.
#067 - Stacey Houston | The Disturbing Depth of the Canadian Housing Crisis
Mr. Clarke After Dark
10/22/24 • 53 min
Stacey Houston is currently the Director of Housing at Civida in Edmonton, Alberta. On the episode, Stacey and I discuss the housing crisis in Canada, what the barriers are for access to housing in Canada, how their organization calculates prioritization for residents, how she has a degree in housing and how uncommon this stream actually is, the struggle of assigning housing to individuals, the thousands of requests they receive for housing just in Edmonton alone, why it takes so long for housing developments to get shovels in the ground, the temporary timeline given to those in social assistance housing and how they create their plans for self-sufficiency, how insanely long their wait list is for homeless and underhoused individuals, how interest rates price organizations out of developing housing, and, much more! Thank you for tuning in and hope you enjoy the show.
Thoughts shared on the podcast are purely our own and do not represent the views of the Anglophone South School District or the relevant jurisdictions associated with my guests.
Mr. Yummy | Episode #24 - Greg Pollard
Mr. Clarke After Dark
12/14/23 • 53 min
Greg Pollard is currently a Physical Education & Humanities Teacher who is currently in his 17th year in the profession. On part one of our conversation, Greg and I discuss being called ‘Mr. Yummy,’ teaching mutual respect to students, not being a movie watcher, building relationships with students and avoiding the ‘teacher persona,’ adapting to a new school, finding sufficient ways to supplement the teaching income, imposter syndrome, adjusting his approach to his job after becoming a father, admiration for people willing to be in admin, that kids maturing slower may not be a bad thing, knowing that even though teaching is a lot of work we could be in a gulag, and, much more. Thank you for tuning in and I hope you enjoy the show!
Thoughts shared on the podcast are purely our own and do not represent the views of the Anglophone South School District or the relevant jurisdictions associated with my guests.
Keep Your Pants On | Episode #13 - Sheldon Dahl
Mr. Clarke After Dark
10/19/23 • 59 min
Sheldon Dahl is a Social Studies Teacher who is currently in his 20th year in the profession. On this episode, Dahl and I discuss mentoring young teachers, professional learning, the idea of teaching before entering vs. having skin in the game, the strangeness of teacher resource competition, the four types of students you will encounter, the value of the high school diploma, handling teacher busyness, teaching the “dog’s breakfast” of courses in your first year, the weight of toxic negativity, teaching politics, how the public is losing trust in teachers, teacher ‘indoctrination,’ why religion is not taught as a core, teaching students how to think vs. what to think, and, much more. Thanks for tuning in and I hope to see you next time, unless you’re scared.
Thoughts shared on the podcast are purely our own and do not represent the views of the Anglophone South School District or the relevant jurisdictions associated with my guests.
New Teacher Chronicles | Episode #6 - Nicole North
Mr. Clarke After Dark
09/14/23 • 54 min
Nicole North is currently in her first year of teaching after receiving her Education Degree from the University of Alberta. On this episode Nicole and I discuss her immediate two-month junior high placement following the end of her university studies, the adjustment from student to teacher, understanding how long it takes students to do seemingly menial tasks, being terrified as a new teacher, making yourself the joke, balancing your personal vs. professional self in the classroom, first-year teacher fails, and, much more. I hope you all enjoy and please do not forget to subscribe!
Thoughts shared on the podcast are purely our own and do not represent the views of the Anglophone South School District or the relevant jurisdictions associated with my guests.
Does Classroom Management Even Exist | Episode #2 - Hilary Morgan
Mr. Clarke After Dark
09/06/23 • 55 min
Hilary Morgan is a Secondary English & Social Studies Teacher who is currently in her seventh year teaching overall. On today's episode Hilary and I discuss how she is NOT from Cape Breton, East Coast vs. West Coast learning, the different types of essays in Alberta for English and how to unpack them, the overly formal nature of teaching and dilution of literary appreciation in a standardized culture, how standardized assessments do not address all learning outcomes, how to instil the importance of writing in your students, wanting to change your teaching approach but being unsure how, and, much more. Thank you for tuning in and hope you enjoy the show!
Thoughts shared on the podcast are purely our own and do not represent the views of the Anglophone South School District or the relevant jurisdictions associated with my guests.
#054 - Racism, The Ku Klux Klan, and Productive Conversation | Daryl Davis
Mr. Clarke After Dark
06/04/24 • 54 min
Daryl Davis is a Musician and is commonly known for his efforts combatting racism by engaging members of the Ku Klux Klan and inadvertently convincing hundreds of members to leave and denounce the organization as well as other forms of political and racial extremism. On the episode, Daryl and I discuss his pursuit to answer how people are able to hate people they do not know, his initial experiences learning what racism, fostering harmony in society, how some members he would sit with had never even spoken to a person of a different race, interviewing KKK members for his book and the mixed reactions he would get, what things KKK members have in common with the average person, how highly prominent members of the US government were members of the KKK, the ‘latent gene’ theory, what is misunderstood about the Confederate Flag, and, much more. Thank you for tuning in and I hope you enjoy the show!
Thoughts shared on the podcast are purely our own and do not represent the views of the Anglophone South School District or the relevant jurisdictions associated with my guests.
#088 - Amy Marshall | An Ode to Smooth Joy
Mr. Clarke After Dark
03/11/25 • 87 min
Amy Marshall is a District Leader in Literacy with the Anglophone South School District based out of Saint John, New Brunswick. In this conversation, Amy and I discuss teaching curiosity, conceptualizing joy as a skill, innovative approaches to restructuring education, developing reader identity in your students, a surprising way to use ChatGPT in the humanities classroom, the movement in assessment changing from product to process, Amy’s awesome change with not having desks in her classroom, and, much more. Thank you for tuning in and hope you enjoy this smooth beach listen.
Newfoundland-based Jumping Bean Coffee: https://jumpingbean.ca/our-coffee/
Download the Luxy App: https://www.onluxy.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoqTNbyn-jjHs7e_i30XoKL8TjYHwsNZf3mszmFzGiR7IyEUU0FD
Other episodes you might enjoy:
#083 - Kelsie Marks | Exit Strategy: How Educators Can Transition to New Career Paths
#055 - Mandy Grass | Implementing Behavior Systems
#054 - Racism, The Ku Klux Klan, and Productive Conversation | Daryl Davis
Get in touch: https://linktr.ee/mrclarkeafterdark
Chapters
00:00 The Journey of an Educator
03:06 Passion for Teaching in 2025
05:15 The Role of Literacy in Education
07:56 Reflections on Educational Philosophy
11:17 The Importance of Advocacy in Literacy
13:41 Diverse Educational Experiences
16:17 The Impact of Reading on Teaching
18:55 Innovations in Educational Structure
21:44 The Human Element in Education
29:15 Navigating Professional Discontent in Education
32:32 The Unique Energy of Teaching
35:37 Innovative Classroom Dynamics
37:33 Understanding Joy as a Skill
42:37 The Shift Towards Holistic Curriculum
47:53 Rethinking Assessment and Grading Practices
59:18 The Importance of Intentionality in Education
01:03:16 Navigating AI in the Classroom
01:06:27 Questioning the Role of Technology in Writing
01:09:36 Redefining Reader Identity
01:12:55 The Joy of Reading and Learning
Thoughts shared on the podcast are purely our own and do not represent the views of the Anglophone South School District or the relevant jurisdictions associated with my guests.
#089 - Tyler Comeau | The Elements of Leadership: How to Maximize Your Impact
Mr. Clarke After Dark
03/18/25 • 58 min
Tyler Comeau is currently a Principal, Podcast Host, and Author based out of Southern Alberta. In this conversation, Tyler Comeau discusses his experiences as a principal and the importance of impact in leadership. He emphasizes the need for action, support, and engagement in educational settings. Tyler also explores the significance of learning from past administrators and the challenges of navigating change as a new principal. He introduces his podcast, 'The Elemental Educator,' which aims to bridge the gap between academic theory and lived experiences in education. In this conversation, Tyler Comeau discusses his introduction into consulting while balancing his current job and various passion projects. He emphasizes the importance of incremental change in achieving success and the role of administrators in fostering effective teaching methods. The discussion also touches on the challenges of teacher burnout, the significance of classroom engagement, and innovative approaches like gamification to enhance student learning. Tyler shares insights on leadership, personal growth, and the value of understanding one's core values in making an impact in education.
Download the Luxy App: https://www.onluxy.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoqTNbyn-jjHs7e_i30XoKL8TjYHwsNZf3mszmFzGiR7IyEUU0FD
Other episodes you might enjoy:
#083 - Kelsie Marks | Exit Strategy: How Educators Can Transition to New Career Paths
#055 - Mandy Grass | Implementing Behavior Systems
#054 - Racism, The Ku Klux Klan, and Productive Conversation | Daryl Davis
Get in touch: https://linktr.ee/mrclarkeafterdark
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Setting the Stage
00:59 Tyler Comeau's Journey in Education
03:55 The Role of Action in Leadership
07:54 Learning from Past Administrators
11:56 The Importance of Impact in Education
14:53 Navigating Change as a New Principal
19:11 Engaging Students and Teachers
22:57 The Elemental Educator Podcast and Its Purpose
32:06 Navigating the Transition to Consulting
34:21 Balancing Work and Passion Projects
36:46 The Role of Administrators in Education
39:35 Evaluating Teaching Methods and Pedagogy
48:52 Understanding Teacher Burnout and Classroom Engagement
55:56 Gamification in Education and Student Engagement
Thoughts shared on the podcast are purely our own and do not represent the views of the Anglophone South School District or the relevant jurisdictions associated with my guests.
#052 - Smarter Than Your Average Bear | Jason Hamilton
Mr. Clarke After Dark
05/21/24 • 52 min
Jason Hamilton is currently in his first year in the profession and he is currently teaching Jr. High Social Studies and is one of the main coaches for the hockey program at his school. On this episode, Jason and I discuss reading our dad’s energy which contributed to our chill personas, not wanting to do labor jobs, his experience working as a labourer and thinking hell no, the trade of passion for pay in some jobs, not really wanting to hang out with your work friends after seeing them all day every day, how his mentor helped him believe he had the skills for teaching, relating to the kids, how I admired Jason’s dusty dangles back in the day, what sports provide for kids, living away from home to play sports, his experience as a new coach, coaching sports you have never played, realizing if you actually are an imposter and needing to quit certain things, what different coaches bring, avoiding confrontation, not drinking coffee, our social battery, and, much more.
Thoughts shared on the podcast are purely our own and do not represent the views of the Anglophone South School District or the relevant jurisdictions associated with my guests.
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FAQ
How many episodes does Mr. Clarke After Dark have?
Mr. Clarke After Dark currently has 98 episodes available.
What topics does Mr. Clarke After Dark cover?
The podcast is about Learning, Teaching, Leadership, University, School, Comedy, Podcasts, Self-Improvement, Education, Planning, French, Comedy Interviews and Teacher.
What is the most popular episode on Mr. Clarke After Dark?
The episode title '#051 - What Does Evil Look Like? | Dr. Evil Academic (Cathryn Van Kessel)' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on Mr. Clarke After Dark?
The average episode length on Mr. Clarke After Dark is 54 minutes.
How often are episodes of Mr. Clarke After Dark released?
Episodes of Mr. Clarke After Dark are typically released every 6 days, 23 hours.
When was the first episode of Mr. Clarke After Dark?
The first episode of Mr. Clarke After Dark was released on Sep 6, 2023.
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