Beat Teacher Burnout!

When did someone last remind you that you’re human, not just a job title? In this special compilation of Beat Teacher Burnout , I share powerful moments from guests who have shaped my thinking about teacher wellbeing, school leadership and burnout. After 30+ years in education and experiencing burnout myself, I know how easily we lose sight of our own needs. We explore burnout, self-worth, imposte...

What happens when dedication to education comes at the cost of your own health? In this episode of Beat Teacher Burnout , I’m joined by Lucy and Jonathan Coy, founders of HeadteacherChat , to discuss teacher burnout, illness, bereavement and the pressures of school leadership. Lucy shares her experience of facing a possible cancer diagnosis while continuing to work, while Jonathan reflects on star...

What happens when stress, pressure and the demands of education begin to affect our wellbeing, our leadership and the way we show up each day? In this episode of Beat Teacher Burnout, I reflect on some of the powerful conversations that have shaped the podcast, bringing together insights from educators and leaders who have explored teacher burnout, school leadership, inclusive relationships and th...

What happens when stress, pressure and past experiences affect the way we respond at work and at home? In this episode of Beat Teacher Burnout , I’m joined by Jemma King, a trauma-informed coach and trainer , for an honest conversation about stress, burnout, trauma, nervous system regulation and creating safer environments for adults and children. Jemma shares her own experience of reaching exhaus...

What happens when stress leaves us with no space to pause, reflect or respond calmly? In this episode of Beat Teacher Burnout , I’m joined by Diana Bradley, Executive Director at Montessori Society UK , for an honest conversation about stress, burnout, reflection and wellbeing in early years settings. Diana shares how stress can affect the way we work, interact with children and respond to our tea...

Burnout doesn't always look like burnout. Sometimes it looks like pushing through stressful days, struggling to switch off, taking worries home or feeling like you have to keep everything together. In this episode of Beat Teacher Burnout , I'm joined by Angelica Celinska , founder of The Voice of Early Childhood and BookedIn , for an honest conversation about stress, wellbeing and creating...

Burnout in early years leadership rarely comes from one big problem. It can build through staff shortages, recruitment pressures, increasing responsibilities, Ofsted expectations and the constant pressure to support your team while keeping a nursery running. In this episode of Beat Teacher Burnout , I’m joined by Tracey Hughes , a regional manager with extensive experience in early years leadershi...

Burnout rarely happens overnight. For many teachers, school leaders and early years professionals, it builds quietly through relentless pressure, impossible expectations and the belief that caring more means doing more. In this episode of Beat Teacher Burnout , I’m joined by Dr Jane Todd , former teacher, school leader, lecturer and nursery owner, for an honest conversation about the hidden emotio...

What if burnout doesn't begin when you feel exhausted? What if it starts much earlier, when being constantly busy becomes your normal? In this episode of Beat Teacher Burnout , I sit down with Angelica Celinska to explore why so many educators, school leaders and early years professionals find it difficult to slow down, switch off and truly look after themselves. Together, we talk about the hi...

In this episode of Beat Teacher Burnout , educator, Montessori specialist and spaces expert Lucy Gibson shares why stress isn't always about workload. Sometimes it's the pace we live at, the spaces we spend time in and the expectations we place on ourselves that quietly drain our energy. Lucy reflects on her journey from Brazil to the UK and explains how embracing change, slowing down and...

What happens when one of education's most respected voices admits that he nearly burned out? In this episode of Beat Teacher Burnout, I sit down with Ross McGill, founder of Teacher Toolkit, to explore the reality of teaching in a profession that asks so much of the people within it. Ross shares the personal experiences that shaped his career, from working unsustainable hours and navigating re...

In this episode of Beat Teacher Burnout, I sit down with Lisa Lea-Weston from Talking Heads Supervision to explore the connection between leadership, wellbeing, and burnout. Together, we discuss what supervision really is and why it offers something different from coaching. We explore how having a dedicated space to reflect can help leaders process the emotional weight they carry and ultimately su...

In this episode of Beat Teacher Burnout, we explore what it truly looks like to create a school culture where not only children, but staff, leaders, and families are all able to thrive. Leaders from the Stour Academy Trust share the intentional changes they’ve made over time to build environments where people feel supported, trusted, and able to do their jobs well without becoming overwhelmed. Wha...

In this episode of Beat Teacher Burnout , I’m joined by Paul Collin, a former head teacher with over 25 years in education, for a really honest conversation about something many of us experience but don’t always name…running on adrenaline. We explore what it means to show up every day in schools, even when we’re carrying stress behind the scenes. As teachers and leaders,we often feel we have to ke...

In this episode of Beat Teacher Burnout, I’m joined by Becky Dawson, National Wellbeing Lead at Twinkl, for an honest conversation about how a passion for teaching can slowly turn into overwhelm. Becky shares her journey from classroom teaching into the demanding role of SENCO, a position that is both deeply meaningful and incredibly heavy. Supporting students, staff and families all at once, ofte...

In this episode of Beat Teacher Burnout, I’m joined by Sue Lee and Tessa Hawes to explore what it really means to look after ourselves in high pressure environments. This conversation goes beyond stress. It’s about the responsibility we often overlook, caring for ourselves in the middle of busy, demanding lives. When we constantly give without refilling our energy, it takes its toll. Sue shares ho...

In this episode of Beat Teacher Burnout, I’m joined by four members of the central team from Manor Hall Academy Trust to explore what it takes to build a thriving school culture. I speak with Philip Harrison (CEO), alongside Kate, Kelly and Laura, as they share honest reflections and practical examples of how their trust has created an environment where staff feel valued, heard and supported. At t...

In this honest and reflective episode of Beat Teacher Burnout, I’m joined by education leader, coach and author Sarah Hussey to explore the hidden cost of caring deeply in school leadership. Sarah shares her journey in education, from beginning her career in the 1990s to becoming a headteacher committed to building a school culture based on compassion, trust and belonging. But alongside the passio...

In this practical and thought-provoking episode of Beat Teacher Burnout , I’m joined by wellbeing consultant, author and former international principal Helen Kelly to explore one of the most significant yet overlooked drivers of burnout in education: the inability to properly switch off. We move beyond surface-level wellbeing advice and examine the neuroscience, psychology and leadership impact of...

In this honest and deeply reassuring episode of Beat Teacher Burnout , I’m joined by Greg Bookman , an education recruiter with over 20 years’ experience and a rare, people-first approach to leadership recruitment and retention. Rather than focusing on roles, hierarchies or career ladders, this conversation centres on well-being, identity and humanity in education . Greg shares what he sees behind...

In this thoughtful and deeply human episode of Beat Teacher Burnout , I’m joined by Dame Alison Peacock former headteacher and founding CEO of the Chartered College of Teaching to explore the realities of school leadership that are rarely spoken about openly. Alison describes headship as “both impossible and delightful,” a phrase that captures the tension so many leaders live with every day. Toget...

In this episode of Beat Teacher Burnout , I’m joined by Bob Benson , a former secondary headteacher and now coach and consultant, to explore a deeply embedded belief in education: that strong leadership means pushing through, coping silentlyand toughing it out. Drawing on lived experience, Bob reflects on the pressures of headship and how ongoing stress can quietly change who we are, pulling us aw...

In this reflective and honest solo episode of Beat Teacher Burnout , I talk openly about vulnerability, near-burnout, and what it has taken for me to finally slow down as 2025 comes to an end. Inspired by Brené Brown’s work on vulnerability as courage, this episode explores how even positive things like building a business, publishing a book, pursuing passion projects can quietly push us back into...

In this episode of Beat Teacher Burnout , I’m joined by George Athanasiou , former headteacher and wellbeing consultant, for a powerful conversation about why so many educators are overwhelmed and what we can realistically do about it. George talks openly about the exhaustion sweeping through schools, the guilt that keeps teachers pushing past their limits, and the pressure leaders face in trying...

In this episode of Beat Teacher Burnout , I’m joined by Chloe Fox , an Alternative Provision Lead whose powerful reflections on belonging and community have resonated with thousands across education. After a viral LinkedIn post about the “real gatekeepers” in schools, Chloe has become a compassionate voice for putting humanity back at the centre of our work. Together, we explore what sits behind t...