"Early signs of compassion fatigue include exhaustion, trouble separating personal and professional life, sleep disturbances, and reduced empathy." Mariel Lombard Dive into the heart of educators' resilience as Mariel Lombard shares the unspoken struggles we face daily. In this heart-felt episode, educator and researcher Mariel Lombard, PhD candidate at Western Sydney University joins Meg Durham to share a profoundly personal journey that every educator can relate to. With unwavering...

"We've become a very cautious population now; one that wants to play it incredibly safe." - Andrew Fuller Ready to explore the surprising impact of student behaviour on teacher wellbeing and discover powerful insights for creating a more resilient and thriving classroom environment? In this insightful episode, Meg Durham invites Andrew Fuller, a clinical psychologist, to join her in a discussion about the challenges teachers face, particularly in the wake of pandemic-related...

"Doing the work that we love helps other people do the work that they love." - Dr Bree Hurn As an educator, do you often wonder how to manage your time and energy effectively? In this insightful conversation, Meg Durham speaks with Dr Bree Hurn, an experienced educator and Director of ‘Know Your Why Learning’. The two discuss how to reconnect with your educational purpose, manage your energy, and avoid burnout. Listen now for practical guidance on managing your time effectively, “slicing...

"Being able to notice more of yourself allows you to make more informed choices." - Karen Stein Do you wish you could take more control of your personal growth and leadership journey? In this engaging podcast episode, host Meg Durham speaks with Karen Stein, a leadership coach and author of 'Be Your Own Leadership Coach'. Join the conversation as the two explore practical self-coaching and self-reflection strategies that can help you improve self-awareness, boost confidence, and achieve...

 “Everything in life is emotionally demanding to some degree.” - Dr Aimee Maxwell How do you manage the emotional demands of school life? In this episode, Meg speaks with Dr Aimee Maxwell, an Educational and Developmental Psychologist, about how emotional demands impact our daily lives. Aimee shines a light on the unnoticed emotional pressures we face, whether dealing with a child's tantrum or the challenges of a demanding profession like teaching. By tuning in, you'll gain practical...

Welcome to the 100th episode of The School of Wellbeing podcast! In this celebratory episode, Meg Durham speaks with expert guest Ben Crowe about finding your mojo. Teaching is about so much more than academics; it’s about discovering your passion, too! Listen in and learn from Ben, a professional mentor and leadership coach, about the importance of teachers finding a fresh outlook, looking within and nurturing self-compassion. You’ll walk away with practical techniques - like flipping...

In this incredible episode, Meg Durham reflects on her journey as she approaches the 100th episode milestone. You’ll hear about the transformation her life and work have undergone since starting the podcast in 2021. She shares insights and key learnings from her podcasting journey, highlighting the importance of taking responsibility, increasing one's tolerance for discomfort, and creating pockets of respite for wellbeing. Professionally, Meg talks about the impact of the podcast on her...

"We want to create classrooms which unconsciously soothe our nervous system." - Belinda Jankowiak Do our physical spaces impact our wellbeing? Join host Meg Durham and expert guest Belinda Jankowiak as they discuss how sensory factors greatly influence students' learning experiences. Belinda, an occupational therapist and founder of Project Classroom, highlights the impact of sensory inputs on energy levels, access to learning and building relationships. The two discuss sensory processing...

"When adversity strikes, it's really easy to feel out of control." - Rebecca Christianson When met with adversity, how do you move from survival mode to a mindset of growth? In this episode, Meg Durham speaks with Rebecca Christianson, founder and director of Thriving People Consulting. An executive coach, Rebecca works with leadership teams to shift mindsets and implement organisational change. In this conversation, you’ll hear about Rebecca’s devastating breast cancer diagnosis at only...

“It's okay to have a life outside of teaching." - Lill Daley How can we navigate the evolving landscape of teaching and find a balance between our personal and professional lives? In this episode, Meg Durham engages in a thought-provoking conversation with the insightful guest Lill Daley. The discussion centres around the evolving journey of educators and the importance of valuing yourself and your changing needs. Lilli shares her personal experiences, including how she navigated burnout...

"Resentment is just here as feedback to get us into greater alignment and integrity with ourselves." - Julie Tenner Are you tired of feeling stuck in a cycle of resentment, whether in your relationships, work, or personal life? Join host Meg Durham and guest Julie Tenner in this illuminating episode about the topic of resentment – how it arises, and most importantly, how to transcend it. Tune in as Julie and Meg explore the roots of resentment, why it's particularly challenging for...

"Automatic negative thoughts can hold us back, but we can start to change them by deliberately noticing and regulating our emotions." - Madhavi Nawana Parker Did you know that humans have at least 70,000 thoughts per day? You might be surprised to learn that these thoughts turn into the stories you tell yourself and others. And as educators, we're dealing with our own stories and the stories of our students, colleagues, plus the people closest to us. It's a lot for any one person to...

"Once you lose perspective, then you lose yourself." Sue Webb Being in the education system means there are a lot of things to love - and - a lot of things that challenge you. So, how open are you about your struggles; how much do you share with your colleagues, family and friends? In this deeply moving episode, Meg speaks with guest Sue Webb about her moving memoir ‘Teachers Cry Too’. Sue, an experienced teacher and school leader, recollects her personal journey from struggling with a...

"Difficult people tend to violate your psychological safety and project their dysregulation onto you." Dr Rebecca Ray Imagine how different your life would be if you learned how to manage difficult people even better! Join host Meg Durham and best-selling author Dr Rebecca Ray for this insightful conversation about Rebecca's latest book "Difficult People: Dealing with the bad behaviour of difficult people" which addresses the nuances of dealing with individuals who don't respect...

“Success needs to be defined by the individual. Everyone's success is going to look very different." - Diana Taylor How do you define success in your life? Do you give yourself permission to be proud of who you are, how far you’ve come, and the successes your future will hold? In this episode, Meg speaks with Diana Taylor, Vice President of the Geelong Football Club and author of ‘The Playbook: Crossing the White Line to Succeed in Life, Business and AFL’. With a very successful career...

"Our depletion doesn't serve anyone. There's no reward for getting the most burnt out and the most exhausted." - Suzy Reading Do you allow yourself to rest? During your busy, hectic days, do you purposely designate time to take respite from it all? Or instead, do you view resting as lazy? And something you should only give yourself once you get your (never-ending) To Do list done? In this deeply heartfelt conversation, Meg invites guest Suzy Reading, psychologist and author of ‘Rest to...

“If I was to make decisions through the lens of what is best for all people with the resources we have, what decisions might be different?" - Amy Green   It’s time to prioritise the health, happiness and wellbeing of educators. In this insightful episode, Meg Durham speaks with Amy Green, author of the book ‘Teacher Wellbeing: A Real Conversation for Teachers and Leaders.’ A thought leader in improving workplace culture and wellbeing, Amy brings a fresh approach to this important...

"You feel like you're not doing enough because there's always more to do." - Sophie Scott Are you prioritising your health? As a busy educator working in the school system, taking care of yourself probably gets pushed down to the bottom of your list of priorities. But this often has a significant impact on your health and wellbeing, leading to burnout. In this special episode, Meg interviews Sophie Scott, an award-winning broadcast journalist and keynote speaker, about burnout and the...

“Society rewards women for saying yes to everyone else.” - Kemi Nekvapil Does the thought of articulating your needs and desires make you uncomfortable? It's probably no surprise to hear that humans, particularly women, have a challenging time speaking up for what they want and need. In this thoughtful conversation, Meg speaks with Kemi Nekvapil, author of ‘The Gift of Asking: A Women’s guide to owning her wants and needs without guilt’ and ‘Power: A Woman's Guide to Living and Leading...

"Wellbeing at work for adults is different to student wellbeing." - Daniela Falecki How can schools promote overall wellbeing for their staff while ensuring staff take proactive measures to prioritise their wellbeing? Join Meg Durham and returning expert guest Daniela Falecki, Founding Director of Teacher Wellbeing, as they explore the importance of staff wellbeing in schools and the significant impact it can have on culture, productivity, job satisfaction and student outcomes In this...

"We can all take charge of our money." - Molly Benjamin Are you in control of your finances, or does the thought of money send you running in the other direction You’re not alone. Nearly half of Australian women find money decisions overwhelming and stressful. And frustratingly, women today are retiring with 42% less Superannuation than men! Today’s guest, Molly Benjamin, best-selling author of ‘Girls Just Wanna Have Funds’, aims to revolutionize how women perceive personal finance. In...

"If we want to make learning stick for everyone, who we are as educators matters." Dr William DeJean Are you ready to unlock your full potential as an educator and transform your teaching and the learning experience in your classroom? In this thought-provoking episode, Meg Durham speaks with Dr William DeJean about uncovering the patterns of thinking and behaving that expand our potential as educators and humans. William delves into the pedagogical power of identity and its impact on...

"Diet culture is rife in our society and we've normalised disordered eating to an extent." Dr Stephanie Damanio Are educators the key to unlocking lifelong healthy relationships with food and body image? In this important conversation, Meg Durham speaks with Dr Stephanie Damiano, a psychology researcher and expert in body image development. She's dedicated to understanding the development of body image in young children and the pivotal role educators and parents play in addressing these...

"The type of leader that most people want to be led by are ones that have competency and warmth" Tracey Ezard How do successful school leaders manage to balance their passion and drive with empathy and human connection? In this episode of the School of Wellbeing podcast, host Meg Durham sits down with Tracey Ezard, author of Ferocious Warmth, to explore this very topic. Discover the concept of ferocious warmth and how it can help leaders create a thriving environment for students,...

"The greatest preditor of childhood wellbeing is parental wellbeing" Dr Sarah McKay In this episode, we celebrate Mother's Day with a conversation about Matrescence, a woman's journey through pregnancy, birth, the postnatal period and beyond. An increase in hormones, changes in identity, adjustments in social context, and increased risks of mental health problems such as anxiety and depression are all examples of what a woman may experience during this time. Guest Dr Sarah McKay joins host...