Growing Up on BrainPOP: 8 Employees Share Their Stories

When did you first encounter BrainPOP as a student?

Middle school

What do you remember most about BrainPOP?

Moby! We used to sing a little jingle when a BrainPOP movie came on: “BrainPOP, POP your brain.”

Coming full circle, today you’re a BrainPOPper! What inspired you to work at BrainPOP, and what excites you most about your work?

I loved BrainPOP as a student because it felt like a break from class (even though it wasn’t), and it explained concepts in a fun and engaging way. I used it in my own classrooms when I was a teacher, and when I finally chose to leave the classroom, BrainPOP was exactly where I wanted to be. I love that our products make learning fun. As a student, I was excited every time I saw the BrainPOP logo on the interactive whiteboard in class, and I saw that same excitement in my own students. I’m always looking forward to seeing what Tim and Moby are going to teach.

When did you first encounter BrainPOP as a student?

7th grade biology class

What do you remember most about BrainPOP?

Science was a subject I always found intimidating, with all the information and the unknowns. I loved biology because you learn a lot of real world concepts and how they relate to you. Some topics were more complicated than others. I remember my 7th grade biology teacher put on a video about DNA and chromosomes. I knew from the opening scene that this was going to help me. Tim and Moby made science digestible with humor, facts, and explanations, but they didn’t make it overly complicated. I remember wanting to use it for every subject because it made learning easy and fun for me.

Coming full circle, today you’re a BrainPOPper! What inspired you to work at BrainPOP, and what excites you most about your work?

When I first looked up BrainPOP, I knew the name sounded familiar, but when I logged in to our website and saw Moby, everything clicked. I was so excited to work for a company that had a huge impact on my learning growing up. What excites me most about working at BrainPOP today is seeing the HUGE impact we still have on students and teachers. It is really great to know we are doing something good in this world.

When did you first encounter BrainPOP as a student?

High school science

What do you remember most about BrainPOP?

Though I was very interested in biology in high school, I found it challenging to learn all the concepts. Without fail, Tim and Moby reinforced my knowledge with their classic banter and slapstick comedy. What once seemed like an intimidating topic became one of my favorite subjects in school. I’ll always remember sharing laughs with my classmates in those moments.

Coming full circle, today you’re a BrainPOPper! What inspired you to work at BrainPOP, and what excites you most about your work?

I always loved that BrainPOP brought such lightheartedness to education. Learning doesn’t have to be completely serious all the time, and it’s actually more effective with a bit of playfulness infused. I feel so grateful to be able to help bring BrainPOP to classrooms across the world, and make learning a fun and memorable experience for both students and teachers.

When did you first encounter BrainPOP as a student?

Middle school

What do you remember most about BrainPOP?

I remember Tim and Moby the most. I remember thinking, “This looks like something that would be on PBS.” At 12 years old, I thought I would be too cool for it, but Tim’s dry humor and Moby’s silly antics kept me engaged enough to learn about biology!

Coming full circle, today you’re a BrainPOPper! What inspired you to work at BrainPOP, and what excites you most about your work?

I used BrainPOP with my 7th graders when I was a teacher. Seeing their excitement every time I told them we were using it, and then remembering my excitement as a 7th grader, made me want to be a part of a company that excites learners and supports educators.

When did you first encounter BrainPOP as a student?

3rd grade computer lab

What do you remember most about BrainPOP?

I felt like I was getting away with something while watching cartoons about what we just so happened to be learning at the time. I have a strong memory of waiting eagerly for the progress bar to fill before the movies started, like it was the beginning of a roller coaster ride.

Coming full circle, today you’re a BrainPOPper! What inspired you to work at BrainPOP, and what excites you most about your work?

I just remembered how much BrainPOP helped me as a student, so the opportunity to do that for students now was too good to pass up! I would say the most exciting part of my work is talking to administrators across the country to see how their teachers and students are adapting to meet the challenges of the day.

When did you first encounter BrainPOP as a student?

8th grade

What do you remember most about BrainPOP?

This was a loooooong time ago, so I can’t remember exactly what I watched in my 8th grade science class, but I do remember that watching BrainPOP movies was like a treat. Every time we were getting ready for a big exam, Mrs. Wolf would make microwave popcorn, turn off the classroom lights, and play BrainPOP movies to help us recap what we’d learned, and give us a chance to ask questions.

There’s something so powerful about being excited for class. The classroom really is a social experience, so learning is kind of like creating memories with friends. That creates a great classroom culture and a comfortable space to ask questions and grow.

The BrainPOP “movie theater experience” was so memorable that when I told a middle school friend where I was working, she said that it made her crave popcorn.

Coming full circle, today you’re a BrainPOPper! What inspired you to work at BrainPOP, and what excites you most about your work?

I think there’s a multitude of reasons I wanted to work for BrainPOP, and I believe in its mission so strongly. At the core, I believe that when new information is friendly, approachable, and relatable, students are just so much more willing to learn. It’s important for students to see themselves in their teachers’ instruction. I think I was lucky in how I was taught, which is why I wanted to have this full-circle kind of career.

When did you first encounter BrainPOP as a student?

6th grade

What do you remember most about BrainPOP?

From my first introduction to BrainPOP, it was clear I felt a connection with the characters. I remember a friend saying he had to show me a “hilarious” video with a robot, and he promised I’d love it. After watching the movie, I just remember thinking, “Wait… grammar can be fun?!” Then, in 7th grade when my science teacher introduced a unit with a BrainPOP biology movie, I was thrilled. I turned to whisper to my friends, “I know them! I know them!” as if Tim, Moby, and I were old friends.

Coming full circle, today you’re a BrainPOPper! What inspired you to work at BrainPOP, and what excites you most about your work?

I’ve always been passionate about education and finding innovative ways to make learning joyful and engaging. When I graduated from college, I was inspired by my early experiences with BrainPOP, and I wanted to make a difference by being “in the room where it happens.” Now, as a member of the Educators Team, I get to support teachers as they inspire and empower a new generation of students using BrainPOP. It is a joy to hear directly from teachers about the impact BrainPOP makes in the classroom every day. It’s a full-circle moment!

When did you first encounter BrainPOP as a student?

Middle school

What do you remember most about BrainPOP?

I would see the website on the interactive whiteboard as I walked into the classroom and instantly light up with excitement! In middle school, I really struggled to understand certain topics and lessons, especially in science. My teacher played different BrainPOP movies, which helped me understand concepts in a new way. I didn’t see them as scary ideas that I couldn’t understand, but as exciting new challenges and ways of seeing the world. It really made me feel like there was hope for a student like me to excel in science, and I did! Once I started building my confidence with each and every movie, I began to really give my all. One of my favorite BrainPOP moments was when I was trying to figure out what I wanted to do for a science fair project, and the Density movie helped me figure it out. It led me to a project about Jell-O and a third place ribbon!

Coming full circle, today you’re a BrainPOPper! What inspired you to work at BrainPOP, and what excites you most about your work?

When I started my career, I was looking through LinkedIn one night, and I saw a posting for a recruiting coordinator position at BrainPOP. Reading through the job description and seeing the organization brought a wave of nostalgia and excitement. I remembered the moments when BrainPOP supported me, and I wanted to be a part of that for students. Education has always been something I kept close to me, and being able to put my skills and experience to use to help further the mission of educating kids and helping them understand their world was a dream come true. Joining BrainPOP was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Clicking that “apply” button led me to doing something that I love every day, for a mission that I stand behind completely, alongside amazing BrainPOPpers who share that passion. They are also some of the coolest people I’ve met! As a young professional, being part of an organization that had an impact on me as a kid, and aligns with my passions and values, is one of the best feelings in the world.