Help children thrive with peace, passion and positivity. Using play-based educational tools and strategies to help them be the best they can be.

In this episode, I have the pleasure of chatting with Dr. Helen Maffini, the Director of MindBE Education. MindBE Education is an educational training company working globally to improve mindfulness and social-emotional learning skills in preschools. MindBE highlights the latest research, tools, and strategies and works with thought leaders in the industry helping educators and parents develop these skills in themselves and children.

Helen and I discuss: 

• The positive influences on 'third culture kids' 
• How to turn emotional meltdowns into teaching moments 
• The impact of social-emotional learning in preschool
• The creation of the Kind Kids Card Deck Initiative
• And much more!

Thank you for coming on this journey to create a better future for our life long learners!

Listen here:

Apple - https://apple.co/3OAl10C

Spotify - https://spoti.fi/3Pyuxmg

Amazon Music - https://amzn.to/3z9fmcb

LinkedIn: Dr Helen Maffini
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://mindbe-education.com/

A desire to see generational change by helping students understand all the elements of their inner selves and to get to know who they are down to the core of their existence.

In this episode, I have the pleasure of chatting with Lizette Lotter, Founder and CEO of The Wellbeing School. As a content developer, Lizette created the Mind Master Program with the aim to help students unlock the power of their minds and discover their true purpose and potential by providing a comprehensive teaching program for schools. 

Lizette and I discuss: 

• The values that underpin The Wellbeing School
• Details of the Mind Master Program 
• How to get control back to make positive change and take responsibility 
• Effective collaborative life coaching practices within schools
• And much more!

Thank you for coming on this journey to create a better future for our life long learners!

Listen here:

Apple - https://apple.co/3OAl10C

Spotify - https://spoti.fi/3Pyuxmg

Amazon Music - https://amzn.to/3z9fmcb

LinkedIn: Lizette Lotter
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.thewellbeingschool.org

Belonging and connection are two atavistic human needs. Two things that, as a ten year old or 110 year old, help you feel accepted in the world in which you live. 

In this episode, I have the pleasure of chatting with Mike Symons, the current Director of Community Engagement and former Boarding Housemaster at The Kings School in Sydney. Mike has been in the education sector for 13 years and is an Advanced English HSC marker.

He has represented Australia and his school at many international conferences and recently, he was one of the lead speakers at an International Boys School Coalition with the focus of giving young men the confidence and opportunities to be leaders in their own personal settings. 

Mike and I discuss: 

• How to foster an environment of belonging and connection in a boarding school 
• The importance of communication 
• Managing independence and autonomy 
• Breaking the stigma for it to be 'OK' for boys to seek support during adversity 
• And much more!

Thank you for coming on this journey to create a better future for our life long learners!

Listen here:

Apple - https://apple.co/3OAl10C

Spotify - https://spoti.fi/3Pyuxmg

Amazon Music - https://amzn.to/3z9fmcb

LinkedIn: Mike Symons
Email: [email protected]

How do we cultivate trusting and safe work environments through the development of emotional intelligence?

In this episode, I have the pleasure of chatting with Marc Lesser, an executive coach, workshop leader and Zen teacher. He is known for his engaging, experiential presentations that integrate mindfulness and emotional intelligence practices and training. 

Prior to his business and coaching career, he was a resident of the San Francisco Zen Center for 10 years and director of the Zen Mountain Center, the first Zen monAstery in the Western world. He was also involved in the development of the world-renowned Search Inside Yourself (SIY) program within Google; a mindfulness-based emotional intelligence training for leaders.

Marc and I discuss: 

• The foundations for success when it comes to bringing mindfulness and emotional intelligence practices into the world of education workplaces
• Tools to be used when developing emotional intelligence in adults 
• The key takeaways from his book ‘The Seven Practices of a Mindful Leader’
• Marc's experience as Director of Tassajara - Zen Mountain Center, the first Zen monastery in the western world
• And much more!

Thank you for coming on this journey to create a better future for our life long learners!

Listen here:

Apple - https://apple.co/3OAl10C

Spotify - https://spoti.fi/3Pyuxmg

Amazon Music - https://amzn.to/3z9fmcb

Website: http://www.marclesser.net
Book: http://www.marclesser.net/books/

Finnish education is free, from early childhood education through to university and the positive impact on society is phenomenal.

In this episode, I have the pleasure of chatting with Dr Johan Storgård whose current position as Chief Executive Officer of Finland International Education is framed around exporting Finnish high-quality Childhood Education and Care to operators in the business around the globe. 

Johan and I discuss: 

• The inspiration for sharing Finnish education with the rest of the world 
• The Finnish pedagogical approach for Early Years
• The focus of "It's not just random play. It’s learning through play”
• The positive social impacts of equality in education 
• And much more!

Thank you for coming on this journey to create a better future for our life long learners!

Listen here:

Apple - https://apple.co/3OAl10C

Spotify - https://spoti.fi/3Pyuxmg

Amazon Music - https://amzn.to/3z9fmcb

Website: http://www.fineeducation.fi

Click here to purchase "Playful Learning in Early Childhood Education in Finland"

Bold, unapologetic and ready for change.

In this episode, I have the pleasure of chatting with Sam Moinet, an education disrupter and global leader in the revolution of student wellbeing.

As an international speaker and coach, Sam’s aim is to transform emotional support for young people and create lasting change for future generations. After experiencing frustrations as a classroom teacher, Sam wanted to have a bigger impact on his students wellbeing and provide them with essential life skills so they could create success, happiness and wellbeing within themselves whilst dealing with adversity. 

Sam and I discuss: 

• Why we see ourselves as victims
• How we can support others who are feeling like victims and how we can support ourselves 
• Deep dive into Student Breakthrough Academy 
• The upcoming 'Education Disruptor' event
• And much more!

Thank you for coming on this journey to create a better future for our life long learners!

Listen here:

Apple - https://apple.co/3OAl10C

Spotify - https://spoti.fi/3Pyuxmg

Amazon Music - https://amzn.to/3z9fmcb

Website: Student Breakthrough
LinkedIn: Sam Moinet
Instagram: Student Breakthrough

The importance of helping families have the right conversations at the right time.

In this episode, I have the pleasure of chatting with Dr Joshua Symes who has spent over 20 years as a wellbeing practitioner, teacher and educational leader around the globe. As the Head of Wellbeing & Insight at TogetherAI, he has led the development of the wellbeing and content strategy as well as technological approaches to improve the wellbeing and mental health of the diverse range of users from across the world. 

Josh and I discuss: 

• The importance of giving children time to be bored 
• The key of 'communication' in child development
• The benefits of using artificial intelligence to support wellbeing 
• And much more!

Thank you for coming on this journey to create a better future for our life long learners!

Listen here:

Apple - https://apple.co/3OAl10C

Spotify - https://spoti.fi/3Pyuxmg

Amazon Music - https://amzn.to/3z9fmcb

Website: www.togetherai.com
LinkedIn: Josh Symes

How does teacher wellbeing become the center of culture within a school setting?

In this episode, I have the pleasure of chatting with Amy Green who is a published author, speaker, facilitator and coach with a background in teaching, leadership and positive psychology.  As the Founder of The Wellness Strategy, Amy is able to support schools, businesses and organisations to improve wellbeing, productivity, engagement, and culture. Her vision is to have schools across the globe make data-informed decisions that support teacher and student wellbeing whilst building collective teacher efficacy and student self-efficacy.

Amy and I discuss: 

• The importance of aligning personal values with professional values 
• How to build a culture of wellbeing 
• Setting professional boundaries to support time management and productivity 
• And much more!

Thank you for coming on this journey to create a better future for our life long learners!

Listen here:

Apple - https://apple.co/3OAl10C

Spotify - https://spoti.fi/3Pyuxmg

Amazon Music - https://amzn.to/3z9fmcb

Website: www.thewellnessstrategy.com.au
LinkedIn: Amy Green
Instagram: The Wellness Strategy
Facebook: Amy Green

Order Amy's book 'Teacher Wellbeing' from here:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com.au/.../192.../ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0...

Booktopia: https://www.booktopia.com.au/teac.../book/9781922607386.html 

Ebook: https://www.amazon.com.au/.../B0B.../ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0...

Be You is the national mental health in education initiative in Australia delivered by Beyond Blue, in collaboration with Early Childhood Australia and Headspace. Be You supports educators from early learning services and schools to develop a positive, inclusive and resilient learning community where every child, young person, educator and family can achieve their best possible mental health.

In this episode, I have the pleasure of chatting with Julian Jefferys who for over 20 years, has been immersed in international education and more recently, mental health. Having worked across six different countries, he has gained a unique global perspective on education and how to prepare young people for the 21st Century. He is now a Team Lead at Headspace/Be You and brings with him a plethora of knowledge. 

Julian and I discuss: 

• Wellbeing services available in Australia on a national scale
• The importance of understanding school life from the perspective of students 
• How to be conscious of losing empathy when stressed and overwhelmed 
• And much more!

Thank you for coming on this journey to create a better future for our life long learners!

Listen here:

Apple - https://apple.co/3OAl10C

Spotify - https://spoti.fi/3Pyuxmg

Amazon Music - https://amzn.to/3z9fmcb

BeYou: https://beyou.edu.au/
LinkedIn: Julian Jefferys 

Rhiannon's 'Healthy Living' initiative aims to teach all students awareness, tools and strategies to look after themselves and to look out for others. 

In this episode, I have the pleasure of chatting with Rhiannon Phillips-Bianco, a Classroom Teacher and Leader of Wellbeing and Positive Education. Majority of Rhiannon’s 20 years of teaching has been across the UK, Netherlands and Italy. In that time, she has held numerous teaching and leadership roles across various schools.  
Rhiannon and I discuss: 

• Powerful soft skills to teach compassion 
• The vital importance of having the support of leadership and wellbeing ambassadors
• The benefit of 'drip drip' when implementing professional development for staff 
• The crucial element of patience and time
• And much more!

Thank you for coming on this journey to create a better future for our life long learners!

Listen here:

Apple - https://apple.co/3OAl10C

Spotify - https://spoti.fi/3Pyuxmg

Amazon Music - https://amzn.to/3z9fmcb