On this episode of The Tattooed Teacher Podcast, I’m joined by Michael Russo — an MTeach pre-service teacher and Biomedical Engineering PhD candidate — as he shares his journey from engineering into education.

We unpack what it takes to build a safe learning environment where students feel confident to try, fail, and try again — especially in STEM education. Michael explains why embracing failure is essential for real learning, and how teachers can balance collaboration and healthy competition in the classroom to lift student engagement and outcomes.

We also explore the cultural shifts happening in education, the impact of technology on teaching, and why a positive attitude and willingness to learn matter now more than ever.

We finish with reflections on the joy of teaching — and Michael’s powerful reminder that education isn’t just about creating A+ students, but fostering A+ people.

If you teach STEM (or want to), this one is packed with mindset, practical ideas, and perspective.

You can find Michael

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-russo-a8707ab7/

[email protected]https://www.robocupjunior.org.au

you can find me onLinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/philip-murdoch-%F0%9F%A4%99-68a846b1/

YouTube

https://youtube.com/@thetattooedteacher01?si=tJy1U6Huz684CtZE

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https://www.instagram.com/djfruitsaladofficial/