Megan Corcoran is the Director of the Wagtail Institute (www.wagtailinstitute.com) and the host of the Wag Tales Podcast. The Wagtail Insitute provides trauma-informed wellbeing consulting to schools and complex settings to enhance trauma-informed practice and the wellbeing of these unique communties. Prior to her work with the Wagtail Institute, Megan spent 12 years teaching and leading in Alternative schools for young people who had experienced childhood trauma and signifcant disadvantage.

This episode is a reverse role podcast where Megan jumps in the seat of the guest and dives more deeply into sharing some of her work and the journey to where she is today. Shayne Hood (guest from Episode 2) kindly jumps back in the studio and takes the role of the host, firing the tough questions Megan's way. Megan and Shayne discuss why Megan started the Wagtail Institute, her previous experience in Alternative schools and some of the childhood experiences that have guided Megan along the way. Megan explains how she believes that every young person deserves to have a magical childhood and how each career change has been a values led decisison. Shayne and Megan discuss where positive psychology fits in trauma-affected settings and they share some of their own personal wellbeing practices.

More about Megan's work: www.wagtailinstitute.com

Host: Shayne Hood, https://www.shaynehood.com.au/

Music by Kabbilistic Village https://kabbalisticvillage.com/

Tim Warwick is the founder of the Education Equity Alliance (https://www.educationequityalliance.com.au/), former teacher, school leader, and education project manager. Tim left his school leadership roles with a deep passion around enabling agency of all education stakeholders for education equity. Tim and Megan met in late 2022 and have been diving into big discssions around the education system (like this podcast episode) ever since.

In this episode, Tim explains the role of the alliance and shares some of the emerging themes and reflections from students and educators who have engaged in the pilot work. Tim breaks down the definition of equity and inequity and shares some of the challenges and current barriers that have led to the current situation in our education system. Megan and Tim both acknowledge that systems change can sound like a daunting and impossible task, but Tim explains that by using system-aware tools and thinking, we can start to empower ourselves, see a problem with new perspective, and work towards innovation.

If you would like to be involved in the education equity alliance, please sign up on the website: https://www.educationequityalliance.com.au/

Host: Megan Corcoran, Wagtail Institute, https://wagtailinstitute.com/ Music by Kabbilistic Village https://kabbalisticvillage.com/

(Joe) Motley is a hip hop artist, workshop facilitator, parent and lifelong learner. Motley has been providing hip hop workshops to schools and young people in youth settings for over 20 years, supporting young people to express themselves through writing and recording raps. Megan and Motley met and developed a friendship in 2011 when they were both working at the same Alternative school. Their professional paths continued to cross as they worked in different schools in the Alternative sector.

In this episode, Motley tells us about his family life in Manchester and how he found an unexpected sense of belonging and healing in the hip hop community. He describes how he first created music using a PS1 and how that led to him eventually teaching kids to create their own songs in a youth centre. Megan and Motley discuss how their approach to working with young people evolved over the past 12 years, focusing more closely on their own presence in these spaces and how they could bring their best selves to the work.

Motley speaks about his approach to parenting and how he strives to be the best Dad he can be for his daughter. Megan and Motley touch on Motley's near death experience and how this has informed his belief systems and his approach to life.

Listen to Motley's music: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4Qow1BXpzLeV79KNc7cxwg?si=mblhmAG1So6I4-xjnmgTTw

Host: Megan Corcoran, Wagtail Institute, https://wagtailinstitute.com/

Music by Kabbilistic Village https://kabbalisticvillage.com/

Kit Wisdom from Wise (https://www.wisephysiotherapy.com.au/) is a physiotherapist training in hakomi mindful somatic psychotherapy. Kit is committed to providing healthcare with humanity, recognising the full experience of the human being and the mind body connection. She brings a curious lens to how learning environments can also cultivate a more human approach through developing safety and recognising our physiological experiences.

In this episode, Kit shares her experience of learning and exploring the hakomi method and what it means for her as a health care professional, but also as a learner. Kit is passionate about the place of story in physical health care and has been incorporating this in her approach to physiotherapy. She explains how we learn pain through our early childhood and that pain is an experience, not just a sensation.

Megan and Kit met in 2018 when they were both studying a Masters in Wellbeing. They discuss their expeirences of engaging in the Masters and some of the challenges they've faced in learning environments. Both Megan and Kit are passionate about the wellbeing and health of staff working with clients and young people and highlight the gap occurring in current models to best support practitioners.

Info on Hakomi Mindful Somatic Psychotherapy: https://hakomi.com.au/about-hakomi/

Host: Megan Corcoran, Wagtail Institute, https://wagtailinstitute.com/

Music by Kabbilistic Village https://kabbalisticvillage.com/

Perri Broadbent-Hogan is the Co-Principal at MacKillop Education in Geelong, working alongside young people who have experienced trauma and are engaging in alternative education. Perri is an incredibly passionate and fierce leader, dedicating her career to providing the best possible education to young people. She is constantly learning and upskilling in order to improve the outcomes for her students. Megan and Perri worked together in the leadership team at Australia's largest alternative school and it was during this time that Perri was completing her certifcation in the Neurosequential Model of Theraputics (NMT: https://www.attachmenttraumanetwork.org/neurosequential-model-of-therapeutics-nmt/).

In this episode, Perri reminds us of the importance of play and positive connection when supporting young people to heal from trauma. She shares some of the strategies she used in her classroom teaching practice and discusses the way the NMT has guided her to choose appropriate interventions for young peple to regulate and rewire their brain.

We're not lying when we say Perri is passionate. She is one of the most energetic people working in the field. Prepare for a lot of laughter in your ears!

More on Perri's trauma-informed education work can be found here: https://coreffect.com.au/

Host: Megan Corcoran, Wagtail Institute, https://wagtailinstitute.com/

Music by Kabbilistic Village https://kabbalisticvillage.com/

Graeme Baird is psychologist who has dedicated his career to supporting vulnerable and traumatised people through both private practice and through work with the public sector. A lot of Graeme's work has been with young people in the out of home care system and he has supported and trained staff working in these settings and in alternative schools. It was through this work, that Graeme and Megan met back in 2011.

In this episode, Megan explains that it was Graeme's mentorship that helped her survive that first year working in the field and develop the complex skills required to de-escalate aggressive and sometimes violent behaviours. Graeme shares that it was his own early career mentors who supported him, enabling him to reflect on his own practice and relational skills.

Megan and Graeme also discuss the role Graeme played in de-institutionalising the out of home care system for young people (going from 140 children in a facility, down to 2-4 in a home as it is today).

More on Graeme's work can be found here: https://mcalpineb.com.au/

Host: Megan Corcoran, Wagtail Institute, https://wagtailinstitute.com/

Music by Kabbilistic Village https://kabbalisticvillage.com/

Roz Rimes is the Founder of the social enterprise, Live With Zest (www.livewithzest.com.au). She is a wellbeing educator, speaker and coach, working alongside her 2 Labradoodles to enhance wellbeing for young people and clients. Roz is a proud wife and mother, a MAPPster (Masters of Applied Positive Psychology Alum) and a lifelong learner!

In this episode, Roz shares her journey into the work of animal assisted wellbeing and the science behind why it works. Megan and Roz share stories of working with young people benefiting from the presence of a wellbeing dog. They also discuss the science behind savouring and how it can be used to support our wellbeing and enhance positive experiences.

One of Roz's Labradoodle's, Rafa, also joined Megan and Roz in the studio and he sings a duet with Roz during the episode. That's right, a singing Labradoodle!

Host: Megan Corcoran, Wagtail Institute

Music by Kabbilistic Village https://kabbalisticvillage.com/

Shayne Hood is the Director of Wounds and Wisdom (https://www.woundsandwisdom.life/). He is a lived experience practitioner and consultant in the youth and social work sectors, he is a proud father and husband, a lifelong learner and a student of boxing.

Shayne uses self-determination theory to guide his work and the way he approaches his own life. He provides coaching and resilience training to youth, social and community settings.

In this episode, Shayne shares his journey out of a violent and adverse childhood and towards a positive adulthood. Megan and Shayne discuss the power of self-determination in overcoming adversity, the importance of gratitude, the healing nature of boxing and their 13 year friendship.

Host: Megan Corcoran, Wagtail Institute

Music by Kabbilistic Village https://kabbalisticvillage.com/

Ronen Shoshan is the Director of the Mind Tune Institute (www.mindtuneinstitute.com.au). He is a counsellor, music therapist, student of psychology, father of 2 and a lifelong musician.

Ronen provides music therapy to 1:1 counselling clients and to groups of primary and secondary school students. Ronen shares the transformation his clients experience through the process. He also trains teachers and service providers on how to implement music therapy into their settings.

He shares with us where music therapy began, some tips on how the education system could be improved (he was previously a teacher, too) and some gems of how we can take steps towards our own healing.

Host: Megan Corcoran, Wagtail Institute

Music by Kabbalistic Village kabbalisticvillage.com/