The School of Wellbeing with Meg Durham

By Meg DurhamHealth & Fitness Mental Health Education Parenting Kids & Family

The School of Wellbeing with Meg Durham episodes

September 25, 2025Tracey Ezard: What We Bring & The Tone We Set | Episode 153
"When we're self-reflective, we bring our better self.” - Tracey Ezard
Ever noticed how one person can shift the energy in a room?
In this episode of The School of Wellbeing, Meg Durham is joined by leadership expert, keynote speaker and educator Tracey Ezard to explore how our presence, mindset and emotional tone influence school culture, team dynamics and professional relationships.
Together, they unpack what it means to lead with authenticity, how self-awareness supports growth, and why the tone we set matters in every interaction.
Whether you are in the classroom, on a leadership team or supporting others in education, this is a powerful reminder that who we are is just as important as what we do.
In this episode, you will learn
How our presence shapes school culture, connection and trust.
Why authentic leadership builds stronger teams.
When strengths become blind spots without reflection.
What self-awareness and emotional intelligence make possible.
Can honest conversation build more trust and clarity.
This conversation is ideal for educators, school leaders and anyone passionate about teacher wellbeing, educational leadership and creating healthy, high-performing learning environments.
Episode 153 Shownotes - Click here.
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Tracey Ezard Website | LinkedIn | Instagram | Books
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Meg Durham - Website | LinkedIn | Instagram
Weekly Newsletter - Subscribe here
Speaker Request - Complete the booking form to start the conversation.
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** The School of Wellbeing is one of Australia's best health and wellbeing podcasts for teachers, educators and school leaders! **
36 min
September 11, 2025Dr Tom Brunzell: The Next Chapter & How Trauma-Informed Practice Is Transforming Education | Episode 152
“I want new teachers to be teachers for a long time.” - Tom Brunzell
Education is always evolving, and one of the most significant shifts in recent years has been the rise of trauma-informed practice and wellbeing in schools.
In this episode of The School of Wellbeing podcast, Meg Durham speaks with Dr Tom Brunzell, Director of Education at Berry Street and co-author of Creating Trauma-Informed, Strengths-Based Classrooms. Together they explore how the field is maturing, why our understanding is deepening, and what the next chapter of education looks like.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
How trauma-informed education has evolved over the past 20 years
Why intersectionality is central to supporting diverse learners
The role of allied health professionals in building thriving school communities
How policy and resources can drive systemic change
Why trauma-informed practice is becoming the foundation of education
What gives Tom hope for the future of schools and wellbeing
This is a conversation about hope, possibility, and the future of education where both staff and students can feel good, function well and thrive together.
Episode 152 Shownotes - Click here.
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Dr Tom Brunzell – LinkedIn | Berry Street | Book | Berry Street Education Model | Research
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Meg Durham - Website | LinkedIn | Instagram
Weekly Newsletter - Subscribe here
Speaker Request - Complete the booking form to start the conversation.
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** The School of Wellbeing is one of Australia's best health and wellbeing podcasts for teachers, educators and school leaders! **
44 min
August 28, 2025Amy Green: Rethinking Workload & Role Clarity In Education | Episode 151
“Let's recognise the autonomy and the power and the control we have to make schools great workplaces for educators.” Amy Green
Workload in education is one of the biggest challenges facing schools today. It shapes the way teachers teach, the way school leaders lead, and the way students learn.
In this episode, host Meg Durham speaks with Amy Green, educator, leader, and author of Teacher Wellbeing and Leading Wellbeing.
Together they explore the reality of workload in schools, why clear processes matter for students and teachers, and how schools can create the conditions for deep work, clarity, and purpose.
By tuning in, you will learn:
How to manage teacher workload more effectively.
Why perfectionism adds to the pressure.
The importance of autonomy and competence for educators.
Practical ways to protect staff time, energy, and focus
This conversation will leave you with greater clarity, practical strategies for teacher wellbeing, and the encouragement to rethink not just how much work we do in schools, but why we do it and whether it is still fit for purpose.
Episode 151 Shownotes - Click here.
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Amy Green – Website | Instagram | LinkedIn | Books
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Meg Durham - Website | LinkedIn | Instagram
Weekly Newsletter - Subscribe here
Speaker Request - Complete the booking form to start the conversation.
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** The School of Wellbeing is one of Australia's best health and wellbeing podcasts for teachers, educators and school leaders! **
37 min
August 14, 2025Prof Lindsay Oades, PhD: Wellbeing Literacy & Why Language Matters | Episode 150
“Language heavily impacts our psychological realities.” - Lindsay G Oades PhD
In schools, we often hear the terms mental health, wellbeing and flourishing, but are we clear on what they really mean?
In this practical and thought-provoking conversation, Meg Durham is joined by internationally acclaimed wellbeing scientist, educator and author Professor Lindsay G. Oades. Together, they explore the power of language and why it matters in how we care for ourselves and others in school communities.
You’ll learn about the difference between mental health and wellbeing, the concept of wellbeing literacy, and the emotional labour involved in working in schools. Lindsay shares insights on how teachers can support student wellbeing while protecting their own, and why setting clear boundaries is essential to sustaining our care over time.
This episode will help you move beyond buzzwords and towards a deeper, more sustainable way of supporting wellbeing in your school.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
The difference between mental health, wellbeing and flourishing.
What wellbeing literacy is and why it matters.
How to stay compassionate without taking it all on.
The role of schools in promoting flourishing, not just achievement.
Episode 150 Shownotes - Click here.
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Prof Lindsay Oades PhD - LinkedIn | Research
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Meg Durham - Website | LinkedIn | Instagram
Weekly Newsletter - Subscribe here
Speaker Request - Complete the booking form to start the conversation.
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** The School of Wellbeing is one of Australia's best health and wellbeing podcasts for teachers, educators and school leaders! **
42 min
July 31, 2025Lael Stone: Own Your Strory & Create Your Future | Epiosde 149
“Just because that's the way it's always been done doesn't mean that it actually works.” - Lael Stone
Do you own your story, or does it own you?
In this powerful and deeply relatable conversation, speaker, educator, and author Lael Stone shares insights from her new book, Own Your Story: Understanding Your Past to Create Your Future.
Lael gently guides us through what it means to become curious about our triggers, take accountability for our growth, and start shifting the old stories that no longer serve us.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
What imprints are and how they’re formed in childhood
How to recognise the beliefs that still quietly shape your behaviour
What anger can teach us about our boundaries and unmet needs
How to rewrite the stories we inherited and choose a different path forward
This episode is a must-listen for educators, parents, and school leaders who want to lead with more emotional intelligence, compassion, and clarity.
Episode 149 Shownotes - Click here.
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Lael Stone - Instagram | Website | LinkedIn
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Meg Durham - Website | LinkedIn | Instagram
Weekly Newsletter - Subscribe here
Speaker Request - Complete the booking form to start the conversation.
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** The School of Wellbeing is one of Australia's best health and wellbeing podcasts for teachers, educators and school leaders! **
40 min
July 17, 2025 Dr Helen Kelly: Switching Off & The Hidden Cost of Always Being On | Episode 148
“What we need to do is try to break that cycle of compulsive behaviour.” - Dr Helen Kelly
Why is it so hard to switch off?
Even when the school day ends, the work often follows us home, in our minds, in our emails and in the emotional weight we carry.
In this episode, Meg Durham is joined by Dr Helen Kelly to explore why switching off feels so difficult and how learning to switch off is a skill every educator can master.
Together they unpack the cultural pressures, digital habits and deep sense of responsibility that keep teachers and school leaders always on.
You’ll learn how chronic stress shows up, why burnout is more about the system than the individual, and what small shifts can make a big difference.
Inside this conversation:
• The early signs of emotional and physical burnout.
• How cultural expectations shape our relationship with rest.
• The impact of guilt on educators' ability to switch off.
• Micro-habits that support healthy recovery.
• How to reframe self-care as a professional responsibility.
This episode is a compassionate reminder that learning to switch off and protecting your energy is not selfish, it is essential.
Episode 148 Shownotes - Click here.
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Dr Helen Kelly - Website | LinkedIn | Instagram
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Meg Durham - Website | LinkedIn | Instagram
Weekly Newsletter - Subscribe here
Speaker Request - Complete the booking form to start the conversation.
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** The School of Wellbeing is one of Australia's best health and wellbeing podcasts for teachers, educators and school leaders! **
32 min
July 03, 2025 Mathew Disher: Learning Well & Embracing Challenge| Epsiode 147
“The best resource we have for challenges is connection.” - Mathew Disher
Is learning possible without wellbeing?
In this episode, Meg Durham speaks with Mathew Disher, Director of Learning and Wellbeing at Concordia College, about the powerful connection between how we feel and how we learn.
Together, they explore the Equilibrium Model of Wellbeing, the role of social resourcing, and why embracing challenge can foster growth for both students and staff.
Mathew shares practical insights into leadership, cognitive load theory, professional anxiety, and the quiet strength of connection.
Whether you’re a teacher, leader, or someone who supports schools, this conversation offers fresh ways to support wellbeing and learning in real, sustainable ways.
Episode 147 Shownotes - Click here.
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Mathew Disher - LinkedIn
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Meg Durham - Website | LinkedIn | Instagram
Weekly Newsletter - Subscribe here
Speaker Request - Complete the booking form to start the conversation.
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** The School of Wellbeing is one of Australia's best health and wellbeing podcasts for teachers, educators and school leaders! **
32 min
June 19, 2025 Kristen Douglas: Navigating Tragedy & A Guide For School Staff Facing The Unexpected | Epsiode 146
“Know that you don't have to do this alone and know that you don't have to come up with these answers alone.” - Kristen Douglas
What can we do when tragedy strikes a school community?
In this important episode, Meg Durham is joined by Kristen Douglas, Head of Headspace Schools and Communities, to explore how educators can respond to crisis with compassion, clarity and care.
With nearly two decades of experience supporting schools through suicide, grief and loss, Kristen shares practical insights into what school staff need to know before, during and after a critical incident.
Together, they discuss the difference between prevention and postvention, the emotional toll on educators, the power of language and why strong relationships matter most when things fall apart.
Whether you're a teacher, leader or parent, this conversation will leave you feeling more prepared, supported and informed.
If your school community is managing a crisis or responding to suicide, please contact your state’s Be You Team (headspace) for immediate support:
ACT: 0475 838 049
NSW: 0475 838 049
NT: 0484 269 957
QLD: 0455 079 803
SA: 0448 381 280
TAS: 0458 559 736
VIC: 0458 559 736
WA: 0477 769 352
These contacts are also available to assist with postvention planning, staff training, and preparedness support.
For more information and resources, visit:
🔗 Suicide Prevention and Response – Be You
🔗 Whole School Wellbeing – Be You
Please don’t wait, support is here, and you don’t have to face this alone.
Episode 146 Shownotes - Click here.
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Kristen Douglas LinkedIn | Instagram
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Meg Durham - Website | LinkedIn | Instagram
Weekly Newsletter - Subscribe here
Speaker Request - Complete the booking form to start the conversation.
----
** The School of Wellbeing is one of Australia's best health and wellbeing podcasts for teachers, educators and school leaders! **
38 min
June 05, 2025 David Bott: Making Mistakes & Learning Lessons | Epiosde 145
“Growth comes from reflection, not from perfection.” - David Bott
What lessons can we learn from getting it wrong?
In this episode of The School of Wellbeing, Meg Durham is joined by David Bott, Co-Founder of The Wellbeing Distillery and a globally respected educator, to explore the lessons we can learn from getting it wrong. Together, they unpack the emotional weight of mistakes, the power of vulnerability, and why professional arrogance can get in the way of truly understanding student needs.
They discuss the balance between visible and invisible aspects of wellbeing, the importance of listening and student voice, and how mistakes can actually help us grow, connect and lead with more heart.
Whether you’re a teacher, school leader or simply someone who’s felt the sting of getting it wrong, this conversation is a reminder that reflection, not perfection, is the key to meaningful growth.
Episode 145 Shownotes - Click here.
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David Bott Website | LinkedIn | Instagram
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Meg Durham - Website | LinkedIn | Instagram
Weekly Newsletter - Subscribe here
Speaker Request - Complete the booking form to start the conversation.
----
** The School of Wellbeing is one of Australia's best health and wellbeing podcasts for teachers, educators and school leaders! **
35 min
May 22, 2025 Michelle Mitchell: Better Conversations & Making Everyday Moments Matter | Ep 144
“Our words carry such weight and such power that they're better off being said even in an imperfect way than not being said at all.” - Michelle Mitchell
Is it the small moments that truly connect us?
In this heartwarming episode, educator, author and speaker Michelle Mitchell joins Meg Durham to explore the quiet power of everyday conversations. Together they discuss how small interactions, a kind word, a shared glance, a moment of presence can shape trust, connection and resilience in schools and beyond.
They explore the different types of conversations we have, the importance of boundaries, and why what goes unsaid can sometimes do the most harm. Michelle shares practical strategies for teachers and leaders to strengthen their communication and build deeper relationships with students and colleagues.
This episode is a reminder that our words matter, acknowledgment is powerful, and showing up with care can make all the difference.
Episode 144 Shownotes - Click here.
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Michelle Mitchell Website | Facebook | Instagram
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Meg Durham - Website | LinkedIn | Instagram
Weekly Newsletter - Subscribe here
Speaker Request - Complete the booking form to start the conversation.
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** The School of Wellbeing is one of Australia's best health and wellbeing podcasts for teachers, educators and school leaders! **
39 min

About The School of Wellbeing with Meg Durham

From the publisher's feed

Modern education is intense, fast paced and constantly changing. If you're feeling stretched, overwhelmed or running on empty, you're not the only one.

The School of Wellbeing is for…