We discuss his 'why' and what he is hoping readers get out of reading his strategies behind being more effective as a teacher.

Dan is relatable and has had first hand experience of feeling genuine burn out and doesn't want this to continue being almost an expectation in education.

Dan's website: https://www.teacherspd.net/

Dan's previous episode on After the Bell: https://anchor.fm/laura4712/episodes/Effective-teaching-with-Dan-Jackson-e127j2s

The world feels like it is in good hands.

Jin and Sabina are two recently graduated high school students from New South Wales who wanted to see change.

As students of colour that felt comfortable in the activist space, they wanted to do more. For them, it's not okay to not be racist, we need to be anti racist and making changes both individually and societally to overcome this insidious issue.

We talk about how they got into this space, how they hope their kit will be used and their ultimate why as young people of colour.

This episode is a must listen.

Important links:

ARK Website

ARK Instagram

Pedagogy of the oppressed

The social dilemma

Feel free to support me an dmy work by buying me a virtual coffee.

This is my discussion with Clare Mackie

We originally connected through her podcast: Teachers Talk Texts; an incredible show to support VCE English students.

She is now on After the Bell to discuss:

This really feels like a natural conversation you may overhear in the staffroom.

I must admit, the best part of this podcast as an educator is to expand my staffroom into this virtual space. 

Feel free to support me an dmy work by buying me a virtual coffee.

George Couros is an inspiring educator and leader from Edmonton, Canada.

He is a father to young children as well as a writer, publisher and speaker.

He challenges us as educators, as the system, to make the difference we want to make without feeling like a victim to the things we cannot change.

I highly recommend that you check out his website and sign up to his newsletter. He is thought provoking and also very solution based if we are willing to take the leap and shift our perception of what things have always looked like.

I know that you will love this episode. 

Enjoy the interruptions from my children :)

Also - this is my episode with Dr Mary Hemphill - must listen.

Feel free to support me an dmy work by buying me a virtual coffee.

This is my conversation with Suzanne, an AP with many years in charge of HR at a secondary school in Melbourne.

We discuss -

I hope this is a big warm hug of support for all educators in the job search right now.

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This is my discussion with Kristie; I Drama/English teacher passionate about inclusive education.

Kristie has also experienced burn out which manifested in physical ailments and required her to leave the profession for a period of time to heal.

We discuss that journey as well as many other big questions about education and life long learning.

Kristie references an episode of the podcast, to listen click on the link: We need to have the talk.

Feel free to support me an dmy work by buying me a virtual coffee.

This is the most chaotic episode I have ever recorded.

We have children interrupting the recording (mine) and power outages (not mine) and we perservered. I made the conscious decision to leave most of the chaos in because it is a true reflection of what my teaching life (and I am sure many others) has been like this year.

I interview a colleague of mine, Brendan and a student, Michaela, who I not only teach but is president of the Eco Team at our school.

We discuss big topics like: 

And much more.

To find out more about hte 2040 documentary Michaela mentions go to this website.

Feel free to support me an dmy work by buying me a virtual coffee.

This episode I get to chat to Hunter Hansen, the man behind The Life Autistic.

Hunter is incredibly accessible and supports both neurodiverse and neurotypical in breaking down some stereotypes and offering up solutions.

He discusses how autism fits in his life, the strategies he has found that have supported him over the years and why he 'busted the top off' his diagnosis and how his YouTube channel and blog have supported him in no longer comparmentalising his life. 

He is a family man, a dad to three daughters and has a successful job with a love of writing.

His metaphors are my favourite part of this episode - wait for the one about empathy and climbing the summit. Brilliant.

Feel free to support me and my work by buying me a virtual coffee.

If you do not follow Ellen on Instagram - you must!

We discuss this crazy job that we all love.

The fluctuation of pressure and stress on educators throughout the term.

How to prioritise ourselves and be consistent with our self care.

Ellen speaks about her own health challenges and how she has come to be such an active advocate for teacher wellbeing.

If you would like to hear more from Ellen, she has her own podcast.

Alternatively have a look at her website to work with her as a wellbeing coach.

Feel free to support me an dmy work by buying me a virtual coffee.

Just like an English class, my colleagues Jen and John (JR) use the important Indigenous play 'The 7 Stages of Grieving' by Wesley Enoch and Deborah Mailman as a spring board for discussion.

Not only do we discuss the play that we are currently teaching alongside ‘The Longest Memory’ by Fred D'Aguiar, but we also discuss our own Australian identities.

Jen in particular discusses the trauma around not fully having her own identity (potentially Indigenous) really clarified for her and her family. 

John discusses the importance of history in our curriculum and how he became such a strong ally and advocate for oppressed voices, including Aboriginal and Torrest Strait Islanders.

We also talk about

The conversation is not just for educators and students in VCE English, but also a wider audience because the themes are truly universal.

Feel free to support me an dmy work by buying me a virtual coffee.