Thank you for listening to Pearls. Thousands of you have. More people are finding them every day. Do rate and review so even more people will find us. We're here to tell you about an exciting new podcast out the week beginning the 4th March, called "How Do You Teach?" There are 12 episodes (6 for English released on Mondays and 6 for Science released on Tuesdays) all on one stream. We talk about the trickiest issues in our subjects and how to help students overcome them. Full of great...

Rachel Johnson (PiXL CEO) wraps up this series with a look at fear; how it manifests in leadership, and how it can hinder our development. From Rugby star  Eddie Jones, to revered author and poet Maya Angelou, to highly decorated composer and musician Leonard Bernstein, there’s lots to learn from how these iconic figures faced their fears and how it has propelled them in their respective fields to a high stature. For one final time in this series, join us as Rachel uncovers some strategies...

You’ll be familiar with Coco Chanel, her work and her legacy. But what do you know about her upbringing? Join PiXL CEO, Rachel Johnson, as she explores the surprising losses Coco Chanel endured and how she used them to transform her life. Discover the seven forms of loss you may not have realised you’ve experienced and learn to apply four ‘R’s to avoid staying stuck where you are. What have you lost recently? And more importantly, how can you apply the lessons from Coco’s life to transform...

How is your emotional bank account today? Delve into the extraordinary journey of Jacinda Ardern, former Prime Minister of New Zealand. From navigating crises to her heartfelt resignation, Ardern's story epitomises resilience and authenticity. Join us as we explore her highs, lows, and the courage to lead and leave on her terms, challenging perceptions of leadership as she candidly shares her emotional journey. Tune in to ‘Emotionally Overdrawn’ for an engaging reflection on leadership and...

PiXL CEO, Rachel Johnson, explores the synergy of realism and optimism through the captivating and inspiring stories of Franklin Roosevelt and Michael J Fox– Roosevelt, overcoming polio, and Fox, battling Parkinson's, exemplifying resilience fortified by their optimism. We delve into psychologist Martin Seligman's insights, distinguishing between pessimism and optimism. Find out how navigating clashes between optimism and reality, mindful language use, and maintaining a balance between...

How much time do you spend ‘seeing the possible’? Join PiXL CEO, Rachel Johnson, as she dives into the theme of "Invisible Chains" and its impact on individuals, schools, and success. She explores the metaphor of the "chained elephant syndrome", delving into how past conditioning can limit our potential. Rachel reflects on language use, questioning how labels such as "disadvantaged" or school ratings might create invisible chains hindering progress. Join us for practical steps to break free:...

We all make mistakes, and more often than not, it arises as a result of us getting carried away and making the wrong judgment. Welcome to the PiXL Pearls, where we dissect pivotal moments across time and place, to identify what we can learn for our own leadership journeys. Join PiXL CEO, Rachel Johnson, as she takes us back to 1938, exploring Neville Chamberlain's attempt to avert World War II. Much like Chamberlain's misplaced confidence, leaders of any kind can get "Carried Away" in...

Trust is a crucial aspect of delivering impact and protecting those we work with so that they can be at their best.  Join us in going back to 2007, as Rachel Johnson, PiXL CEO, delves into the role that trust played in the creation of one of the most remarkable innovations to the travel industry in the 21st century – Airbnb. Their mission of creating “a world where everyone can belong anywhere” was remarkable because of the amount of trust that is required for it to work. Though you may not...

When it comes to making a difference in the communities you lead, it is imperative to be connected to them. This can come in a plethora of ways, and this week we put a spotlight on how Former President Barack Obama tried to maintain a connection with the people he led during his time at the White House. Tune in to the first episode of Series 5 of the PiXL Pearls Podcast with Rachel Johnson, CEO of PiXL, as she explores the difference 10 Letters A Day made, how it shaped Obama’s leadership...

We are back for Series 5 of the PiXL Pearls podcast! November 12th. This time we’re exploring the biggest questions, asking how we can be in tune with communities, and how to build cultures of trust. We reflect on what is holding us back and how we can avoid being emotionally overdrawn. From world leaders, to successful businesspeople, to fashion icons, join us as we set off on an epic journey through 8 human stories to inspire, encourage, motivate, and challenge the leaders of today and...

Series 5 of PiXL Pearls is coming in the new academic year. You may not know though that PiXL does two podcasts: Pearls and the Leadership Book Club, where two school leaders join our CEO - Rachel Johnson - to discuss one non-education book and how they applied the lessons from the book to their schools. Rachel is looking for guests for series 5 of the Leadership Bookclub and thought her Pearl listeners may be able to help. Now it's your turn to be a guest discussing the books on the...

Musician Joni Mitchell and rock bands Status Quo and R.E.M. all openly embraced change and challenge throughout their careers, and they became iconic. Join us on this - the 8th and final - episode of Series 4 of PiXL Pearls, where CEO Rachel Johnson delves into how questioning the status quo and navigating change are foundational to creating lasting change and long-term success as leaders. PiXL Pearls are short reflections on life and leadership, in schools. They are here to inspire,...

Have you ever heard of a ‘Popsicle Hotline’? The Magic Castle Hotel’s ingenious way of creating magic memories ensures their guests keep coming back for more. Tune into this episode of the PiXL Pearls Podcast with Rachel Johnson to discover the ways in which the power of moments can be harnessed for greatness. PiXL Pearls are short reflections on life and leadership, in schools. They are here to inspire, encourage, motivate, and challenge. The PiXL network spans thousands of schools across...

Giants may seem indestructible, but we just have to fight in ways that work for us. Embark on a journey exploring the overwhelming giants and the courageous underdogs that rise to slay them. PiXL Pearls are short reflections on life and leadership, in schools. They are here to inspire, encourage, motivate, and challenge. The PiXL network spans thousands of schools across key stages 1-5. We collaborate, share best practice, and equip leaders throughout the educational system. Series 2, 3...

When we disregard ‘dumb questions’ we impede our ability to effectively communicate with our teams. Join our CEO Rachel Johnson in this episode of PiXL Pearls as she takes us on a journey of how even NASA have been caught out by dismissing ‘dumb questions’. Mistakes happen to everyone, but what do you do to make sense of that mistake? PiXL Pearls are short reflections on life and leadership, in schools. They are here to inspire, encourage, motivate, and challenge. The PiXL network spans...

Schools are natural hubs for fostering unity in many ways, from fundraising for charities to coming together in assemblies. In this episode, Rachel Johnson connects three incredible human stories from Sarajevo, The Titanic and the war in Ukraine to spotlight the importance of community and the impact that taking the time and space to reflect can have in our lives and classrooms. PiXL Pearls are short reflections on life and leadership, in schools. They are here to inspire, encourage,...

We may not think it at first, but we are all juggling quite a lot, quite frequently. Join Rachel Johnson as she explores the cycles of juggling we find ourselves in, and how we can better focus our energy to ensure that we don’t throw more than we can catch. PiXL Pearls are short reflections on life and leadership, in schools. They are here to inspire, encourage, motivate, and challenge. The PiXL network spans thousands of schools across key stages 1-5. We collaborate, share best practice,...

How often do you stop and see what you are doing through the eyes of different children with different needs? Empathy is a cornerstone of successful and effective leadership. In this next episode, Rachel Johnson delves into the story of Innovation Architect Doug Dietz, the history of the CT scanner machine, and the power of empathy. PiXL Pearls are short reflections on life and leadership, in schools. They are here to inspire, encourage, motivate, and challenge. The PiXL network spans...

Have you ever followed someone, peeked behind the scenes, and been surprised? Or waited for validation, just to find you didn’t need it as much as you initially thought you did? Join Rachel Johnson as she uses the story of the Wizard of Oz to explore the roles of ‘Wizards’ in society and in education, and the things that perhaps we need to watch out for. PiXL Pearls are short reflections on life and leadership, in schools. They are here to inspire, encourage, motivate, and challenge. The...

PiXL Pearls is back for season 4. November 13th. Are you breaking the status quo? If you’re not, what is stopping you? How can we create moments of joy that make everyone in our schools feel elevated and proud? What are the giants around you, and how do you slay them?  As we return to a 4th series, we explore answers to all these questions. Join us fortnightly, as we embark on an adventure through the journey of 8 human stories here to inspire, encourage, motivate, and challenge the leaders...

Interestingly, only in recent history has working hard signalled pride rather than shame. In this episode, Rachel Johnson digs into what we consider ‘hard work’ in the 21st century and why we might all be very wrong in the assumption that being busy is being productive. She asks us to think about the time we allow for thinking and processing (being vs doing), and why it is important we try and carve out time exactly for this purpose. PiXL Pearls are short reflections on life and leadership,...

Have you heard of Mike Lazaridis? Probably not - but perhaps the story would be different if he had been open to change. Mike is the founder of Blackberry, who in 2009 had complete market dominance but by 2014 had only 1% market share. There are many lessons we can learn from Blackberry’s demise - that ‘what got you here won’t get you there’. How comfortable are you with being wrong? Are you willing to rethink your beliefs and embrace change? PiXL Pearls are short reflections on life and...

In the education profession, we face many challenges that require us to come together as a team - and it is quite remarkable what we have dealt with recently. In this episode, Rachel Johnson uses the ingenious behaviour of a little yellow fish as a basis for explaining how important our team dynamic is to surviving and thriving in tough times. However, she also makes the case that it is just as important to learn how to fall out of formation, and take time to recover and restock - exactly...

We’ve all heard of Winston Churchill - but you may not know about his wife, Clemmie, and the powerful influence she had on her husband. This episode allows us to consider who we have in our lives that can tell us the uncomfortable truth from a place of kindness, and nurture us to be better. Whether it be at home or in work, it is crucial we allow feedback and honesty from those around us. PiXL Pearls are short reflections on life and leadership, in schools. They are here to inspire,...