gwunspoken - Beyond the Plan

A marine biologist walks into a special school and ends up changing lives, including his own. We chat with Dan Willett, a former fisheries researcher who never planned on working in education, but found his best work inside a relationship-first school community at Lee Street State Special School in Caboolture. He shares the real story behind career change, redundancy, and the surprising skills tha...

A windy school oval is a surprisingly good studio. We grab the mics, start walking, and catch up with Arie as he shows us around the grounds and talks through what’s new at school this year. The chat starts with the kind of details kids remember best: a favourite teacher who’s had a baby, a name you don’t forget, and how birthdays feel when you’re on the edge of a new age and a new number. From th...

Ever had a day that starts at meh and somehow ends with a plan you can’t wait to try? That’s where we land as we check in after a tough family week and channel that restlessness into action you can feel: a smarter studio layout, a cheap city adventure, and a fresh run at outdoor gel blasting that brings fitness, safety, and strategy together. We start by tearing down and rebuilding the studio on p...

Ever laughed your way into bravery? That’s the energy today as we spar over Turkish Delight, swap theme park war stories and hatch a plan to climb Wild Horse Mountain with snacks as our courage tokens. Oscar’s unfazed by heights and eager for action; I’m the self‑proclaimed scaredy‑cat trying to keep my cool while getting lovingly roasted by a fearless twelve‑year‑old. Between the banter, we uncov...

What if the fix for a “bad school fit” isn’t tougher rules, but a better environment? We sit down with Shaun, a 15-year-old gamer and history diehard, to map the messy, honest path from a massive high school that felt unsafe and pointless to a distance education model that actually works. He’s blunt about what pushed him out—vandalism, everyday sexism and racism, and the grind of too many subjects...

Start with the smell of salt on your hands, the hum of tyres after a long drive, and the easy rhythm that only comes when mates pile into one day with no big agenda. We invited Arie, Jack, and Memphys to lean into Connection to Country, and what unfolded was a string of small, honest moments that felt bigger than any plan: a caught flounder, a lost magnet miraculously scooped from the water, and t...

A fishing line bends, a reel almost hits the water, and three teens spark a debate that sets the tone for everything that follows: was it skill, luck, or pure mateship that landed the brim? From that first laugh, we dive into a day shaped by sport, holidays, and the kind of quickfire questions that reveal more than they seem. The energy is light, the teasing is real, and the insights sneak up betw...

Crayons out, mics on, and a turtle to bring to life. We sat down with Memphys during the holidays and discovered how a simple colouring page can flip a noisy day into something calm, curious, and surprisingly honest. As the greens and browns filled the paper, the chat wandered in the best way: from treasure-hunting fantasies to real-world care for the little wild lives we share space with. Memphys...

A missing candy cane should not be enough to derail Christmas, and yet here we are: two mates unpacking why small details matter when the stakes feel big. We start with the joy of holidays and the unfiltered bliss of sleeping till midday, then wander into year eight nerves, quiet wishes for fewer crowds and the strange comfort of a lazy summer day. The conversation is fast, funny and a little too...

The countdown to laser tag starts the moment Memphis hits the studio, and the energy never lets up. We’re plotting team tactics, laughing about vests that light up, and debating who’s got the better aim when the arena goes dark. What begins as a quick pre-game chat turns into a snapshot of a whole day: a Woolworths dash for patties and sausages, a detour to Gary’s place to meet the dogs, an unexpe...

A simple car ride turned into one of those chats you wish you could bottle. We picked up after school, grabbed Subway, wandered through Rebel Sport to inspect every basketball, and then hit the park—where a scrappy run of 18 kicks in a row felt like a trophy. Between laughs and questionable dad jokes, we peeled back what actually matters to a ten-year-old: second break at school, the thrill of PE...

A quiet beach, a long bridge, and a kid with a bigger hit than most adults. We sit with a twelve-year-old Indigenous athlete from Bribie Island who speaks with disarming clarity about life in a wheelchair, the rules and thrills of wheelchair rugby, and why being treated “too nice” misses the point. He rates his day, laughs about PlayStation vs Xbox, and explains how a volleyball becomes a weapon w...

Steam, dragons, and sky‑high views—this Melbourne holiday has everything, including the kind of money lessons and family lore that stick. We sit down with brothers Arie and Oscar as they unpack a week that starts on a tram, detours to Puffing Billy’s living history, and climbs to a hotel on the 53rd floor where the pool is warm, the windows are dizzying, and the cold outside bites. Their story is...

Excitement bubbles through every moment of this heartwarming conversation as Arie counts down the final days before his Melbourne adventure. With just three and a half days remaining until takeoff, his anticipation is contagious as he shares details about staying at the Hotel, complete with city views and family accommodations. What makes this episode particularly valuable is our candid discussion...

Ever wondered how children navigate complex emotions and social challenges? In this heartwarming conversation, young Arie shares his excitement about his upcoming Melbourne adventure while demonstrating remarkable emotional intelligence that many adults would envy. The episode opens with charming authenticity as our host admits to forgetting to press the record button initially—a moment that sets...

Have you ever wondered what the world looks like through the eyes of a schoolchild? Our conversation with Arie offers a rare, unfiltered glimpse into the mind of a young boy navigating the everyday adventures, challenges, and triumphs that make up his world. The magic of this episode lies in Arie's refreshing honesty as he shares everything from his weekend RC car mishap (complete with a balc...

Ever wondered what school looks like through the eyes of a 12-year-old with ADHD? In this refreshingly honest conversation, young Liam pulls no punches about why traditional classrooms just don't work for active, hands-on learners like himself. "Because learning is like boring," Liam explains when asked why kids dislike school. "People could be like doing something fun that the...

Have you ever wondered what motivates teachers to dedicate their careers to education? This enlightening conversation with Mrs. Speedy, Head of Inclusion at Earnshaw College, offers a rare glimpse into the heart and mind of an educator who's passionate about creating positive school experiences for all students. What makes this episode particularly special is the dynamic between our hosts and...

A chance fishing trip along the Caboolture River becomes a window into the world of 12-year-old Liam, a young outdoorsman whose passion for fishing, camping, and adventure reveals refreshing insights about what truly matters to today's youth. The conversation flows naturally as Liam shares his fishing exploits, from catching herring and mullet to his proudest achievement—landing a massive 35-...

What happens when you hand the microphone to an eight-year-old and let them guide you through their world? Pure magic, as it turns out. Join us for a delightfully unscripted walking tour of Earnshaw State College, led by our enthusiastic grade three guide, Arie. This episode breaks from traditional podcast formats as we literally follow a child's footsteps through the familiar spaces that mak...

Meet Memphy, our delightful young guest who returns to share his unique perspective on life, friendship, and future dreams. Recorded in the Digital Studio at North Lakes Library, this conversation beautifully captures the unfiltered wisdom that can only come from a child's point of view. The episode begins with Memphys recounting playground adventures—scaling a three-level climbing structure...

What happens when you give a microphone to a thoughtful, creative ten-year-old boy? Pure magic. Meet Memphys, a Grade 5 student whose refreshing outlook on life might just be the perspective shift you need today. In this heartwarming conversation, Memphis takes us through his world with disarming honesty and unexpected wisdom that will leave you smiling long after the episode ends. From his enthus...