Talking Classrooms

By Talking Classrooms

Talking Classrooms is a podcast dedicated to exploring the heart of education — the challenges, the opportunities, and the stories that shape learning inside and beyond the classroom. Hosted by Bulela... more

Download on the App Store

Download on the App Store

Get it on Google Play

FAQs about Talking Classrooms:

How many episodes does Talking Classrooms have?

The podcast currently has 35 episodes available.

Talking Classrooms episodes:

November 21, 202535: Purpose, Confidence & the Power of Reinvention: A Conversation with Thando Nkonzwana
In this inspiring episode of Talking Classrooms, we sit down with Thando Nkonzwana — visionary entrepreneur, influencer, mentor, and founder of Image Makers Modelling Agency. Thando’s journey is one of purpose, courage, and relentless belief in the power of young people to rise beyond their circumstances.

Born with the heart of a storyteller and shaped by more than a decade of experience in the call centre industry, Thando has devoted her life to transforming confidence into opportunity. Through Image Makers, she opens doors for less privileged children to access modelling, fashion, and entertainment — not just teaching them how to walk the runway, but how to walk boldly into their futures.

In this episode, she reflects on:
her passion for youth development and storytelling,

how she uses modelling as a tool for personal growth and empowerment,

her continental impact through initiatives like A Book in Every Hand,

and why purpose-driven leadership matters now more than ever.

You’ll also hear Thando’s take on identity, discipline, confidence, and how communities can create safer, more empowering spaces for young dreamers.

Whether you're an educator, parent, mentor, or a young person navigating your own journey — Thando’s insights will challenge your thinking and uplift your spirit.

Tune in for a conversation filled with authenticity, transformation, and the reminder that greatness often begins with a single act of belief.
...more
22min
November 14, 202534: Leadership Without a Title: Building a Nation Through Barbershops
In this powerful episode of Talking Classrooms: Educational Communication and Reflection, host Bulelani Marwanqana sits down with Sheldon Tatchell, the visionary Founder & CEO of Legends Barber — an award-winning enterprise that has redefined grooming culture while empowering communities across South Africa.

From humble beginnings to national influence, Sheldon shares his story of transforming a simple barbershop into a platform for education, mentorship, and social change. He reflects on what it means to lead with purpose, empower others through skill development, and use entrepreneurship as a vehicle for nation-building.

Listeners will be inspired by Sheldon’s belief that true leadership isn’t about titles — it’s about responsibility, and that the greatest wealth of a nation lies not in its resources, but in its people.

🔍 Key Discussion Highlights:
The vision behind Legends Barber and how it became more than just a business.

Why education and empowerment are at the heart of nation-building.

Sheldon’s personal leadership philosophy: “You don’t need a presidential seat to start change.”

The link between entrepreneurship and social transformation.

How Sheldon’s journey from local barber to community builder embodies the power of purpose-driven work.

Insights on mentoring young people and creating sustainable opportunities.

His message to aspiring entrepreneurs and youth across Africa.
...more
20min
November 07, 2025 33: Failure, Forgetfulness, and Faith: What the Classroom Never Taught Me About Resilience
In this deeply personal episode, host Bulelani Marwanqana revisits the seasons of failure that nearly ended his education — and the faith that carried him through. From sleeping in a church tent to rewriting the same exams three times, this story isn’t just about endurance — it’s about what schools never teach: the psychology of failure, the cost of forgetfulness, and the quiet strength that comes from believing again.

Bulelani explores how emotional exhaustion, self-doubt, and spiritual disconnect can block even the brightest students — and how faith, reflection, and persistence can rewire the mind for resilience.

Whether you’re a student, teacher, or anyone fighting to rise after defeat, this episode is a reminder that the hardest lessons often come from outside the classroom walls.

🎙️ Talking Classrooms: exploring the lessons life teaches beyond textbooks.
...more
9min
October 31, 2025 32: Twenty Something and Confused: Finding Clarity Through Storytelling
In this heartfelt and deeply relatable episode of Talking Classrooms: Educational Communication and Reflection, host Bulelani Marwanqana sits down with author and creative Nonjabulo Magagula, whose book Twenty Something and Confused captures the emotional rollercoaster of young adulthood — the questions, the faith, the doubt, and the quiet victories along the way.

Together, they explore what it means to grow up in a world that demands clarity while you’re still trying to understand yourself. From dealing with uncertainty and burnout to finding spiritual grounding and redefining success, this episode offers gentle wisdom for anyone who has ever felt lost in their twenties — or at any stage of life.

Through open and honest conversation, Nonjabulo and Bulelani remind us that confusion is not a sign of weakness, but a sign that we’re in the middle of becoming who we are meant to be.

If you’ve ever felt behind, unsure, or in need of reassurance that you’re not alone — this episode is for you.

...more
30min
October 27, 2025 31: Emphasizing Social-Emotional Learning: Building Hearts Before Minds
In this heartfelt episode of Talking Classrooms, host Bulelani Marwanqana explores the crucial role of Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) in shaping the future of education. From managing emotions to building empathy and resilience, SEL goes beyond academics to nurture the human side of learning.

Drawing from personal tutoring experiences, global examples, and real classroom challenges, Bulelani unpacks how teachers and students alike can cultivate emotional intelligence, connection, and purpose. This episode is a reminder that before we build strong minds, we must nurture strong hearts.

🎧 Tune in and rediscover why emotional readiness is the foundation of academic success.
...more
7min
October 25, 2025 30: The Realities, Causes, and Consequences of School Underfunding — and Pathways Toward Equity
In this deeply reflective and timely episode of Talking Classrooms: Podcasting as a Tool for Educational Communication and Reflection, host Bulelani Marwanqana addresses one of the most persistent challenges in education — the crisis of underfunded schools.

With empathy and urgency, Bulelani explores what happens when classrooms are left behind: from crumbling infrastructure and overcrowded classrooms to underpaid teachers and lost potential.

Bulelani also opens the episode with a heartfelt apology to listeners for the delayed release, emphasizing that while this episode came late, the message remains as critical and timely as ever.

Whether you’re an educator, parent, policymaker, or simply someone who believes in the power of education, this episode will challenge and inspire you to reflect on how we can reimagine support for schools that have long been forgotten.
...more
7min
October 03, 202529: Artificial Intelligence in Academics
In this episode of Talking Classrooms: Educational Communication and Reflection, host Bulelani Marwanqana explores the growing role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education. From personalized learning tools to plagiarism concerns, AI is reshaping how students, educators, and institutions approach academics.

Bulelani unpacks the opportunities AI brings—such as tailored learning paths, faster feedback, and increased access to knowledge—as well as the challenges, including academic integrity, over-reliance on technology, and digital divides.

Drawing from real-world classroom experiences and ongoing debates in education, the episode highlights:
📚 How AI tools can support both students and teachers in academics

🧠 The fine line between AI as an assistant versus a crutch

🚨 Risks around ethics, plagiarism, and academic dishonesty

🌍 The impact of AI on developing regions and access to education

🔮 What the future of classrooms might look like in an AI-driven era

This episode is a call to educators, students, and policymakers to reflect: Are we preparing to use AI responsibly in education, or are we letting it dictate the way we learn and teach?
...more
7min
September 26, 202528: The Academic Flaw – Why Readiness Matters More Than Progression
In this episode of Talking Classrooms: Podcasting as a Tool for Educational Communication and Reflection, host Bulelani Marwanqana takes us deep into the hidden cracks of our education system — where progression often outweighs true readiness.

Through a powerful real-life story of tutoring a Grade 8 learner who struggled with basic algebra, Bulelani highlights how students are sometimes promoted without mastering the foundational skills they need to succeed. What starts as a maths lesson turns into a counseling session, uncovering a cycle of frustration, shame, and academic struggle that traces back to primary school.

💡 Key Themes in This Episode:
The emotional and intellectual weight students carry when gaps are ignored.

Why “passing through” grades without readiness creates long-term struggles.

The role of teachers, parents, and tutors in identifying readiness.

Turning moments of academic struggle into opportunities for care and support.

How schools and systems can better balance progression with true preparedness.

Whether you’re a parent, teacher, tutor, or student, this episode will challenge you to rethink what real academic success looks like — and why readiness matters more than just moving forward.
...more
7min
September 22, 2025 27: Digital Innovation & Student Entrepreneurship with Samkele Mthuli
In this episode of Talking Classrooms: Educational Communication and Reflection, host Bulelani Marwanqana sits down with Samkele Samson Mthuli — a Computer Science student, web developer, and entrepreneur. Samkele is the founder of Virtuo Designs and the visionary behind Campus Marketplace, a platform designed to connect students through buying, selling, and offering services within their campus communities.
Together, we explore his journey from coding and design to entrepreneurship, and how he’s using technology to solve real-world problems while creating opportunities for students. Samkele shares valuable insights about innovation, resilience, and the role of young people in shaping Africa’s digital future.
Whether you’re a student, aspiring entrepreneur, or someone passionate about the intersection of technology and education, this conversation will leave you inspired about what’s possible when vision meets action.
Tune in for a thoughtful and inspiring conversation about tech, entrepreneurship, and building solutions that matter.
...more
26min
September 15, 2025 26: Vaping Students and Addiction: You Can’t Outsmart It
In this episode of Talking Classrooms: Educational Communication and Reflection, host Bulelani Marwanqana dives into the growing issue of vaping among students and the hidden trap of nicotine addiction.
Drawing from his own real-life struggle with smoking back in 2013, Bulelani unpacks how addiction silently grips the mind and body — how even the smell of cigarette smoke could pull him back in until he made the difficult decision to distance himself from his smoking crew. His story highlights an important truth: you can’t outsmart addiction.
This conversation goes beyond the smoke clouds and fruity flavors of vape pens to examine how nicotine dependence affects focus, learning, and mental health in classrooms today. Bulelani also reflects on solutions — from awareness and supportive environments to reshaping peer influence — offering a message of hope for students, parents, and teachers alike.
🎙 Tune in to learn how we can protect young people, confront addiction head-on, and create healthier classrooms together.
...more
6min

FAQs about Talking Classrooms:

How many episodes does Talking Classrooms have?

The podcast currently has 35 episodes available.