Parent Teacher Interview

What makes a teacher unforgettable? In this episode of Parent Teacher Interview, Josh sits down with Deputy Principal Ethan Ford from Melbourne to explore the moments that truly shape a child's experience at school. Drawing on years of classroom teaching and school leadership, Ethan shares why genuine relationships are at the heart of great education. From greeting students at the classroom do...

In this deeply personal episode, Josh and Hannah sit down late at night in their tiny apartment in Japan to talk honestly about the real reason their family moved overseas for a year. What started as an opportunity to teach abroad slowly became something much bigger — a response to burnout, mental exhaustion, and the growing realisation that something needed to change. Together they unpack: what b...

In this powerful first episode, we sit down with Understanding Zoe co-founder Laetitia Andrac to explore her late diagnosis of ADHD and autism—and the moment everything finally clicked. Laetitia shares her personal journey of growing up feeling different, navigating life without answers, and the profound clarity that came with diagnosis later in life. This conversation unpacks identity, self-under...

In Part 2, we zoom out from personal experience to the broader ecosystem around neurodivergent children. Laetitia shares insights from her work with Understanding Zoe and what over 1,000 families have revealed about the realities of raising and supporting neurodivergent kids. We take a deeper look at the Understanding Zoe platform itself —a tool designed to help families better understand their ch...

In this episode of Parent Teacher Interview , I sit down with Emma from Preparing Minds to explore what really sits underneath student learning. Emma is a former science teacher who now works with students and families to build stronger study habits, confidence, and independence. Her work focuses on helping young people understand why they think and act the way they do—and how small shifts in mind...

In this episode, we sit down with Chloe Watts, founder of Blueberry Co, to explore her journey from landscape architect to creative entrepreneur. It’s a conversation about family, creativity, and why embracing imperfection can be one of the most powerful things we model for our kids. ✏️ What we cover: - Chloe’s transition from landscape architecture to starting Blueberry Co, inspired by her experi...

In this episode of Parent Teacher Interview , Josh speaks with Ryan from theINmag — a magazine created by kids, for kids . Ryan and his partner Tam, both primary school teachers, created theINmag to provide a genuine platform for children’s creativity and voice. Each issue brings together stories, artwork, ideas and projects submitted by kids from across Australia. Josh and Ryan discuss how the ma...

In this episode, Jenn and Jess share their inspiring journey from classroom collaboration to creating MyComms, an innovative app designed to support visual communication across diverse settings. Discover how their deep experience in education and therapy inspired a tool that promotes inclusivity, personalisation, and everyday accessibility for people of all ages and backgrounds. Key Topics: The im...

In this episode of Parent Teacher Interview , Yasmin Bastouil shares her journey from junior primary teacher to children’s book author, revealing how classroom chaos, empathy, and her own family inspired her stories. Yasmin opens up about her early love of teaching, her time educating young children in France, and how those experiences guided her into writing books that centre on emotional intelli...

In this episode, Daniel Marshall shares his journey from an engineering career to becoming a financial coach. He discusses the pivotal moments that led him to discover personal finance and investing, and emphasises how our mindset and language around money can shape lifelong habits. Daniel offers practical insights for parents on how to instil strong financial values in their children — from encou...

In this episode of Parent Teacher Interview , Joshua chats with Anna O’Connor — a passionate kindergarten teacher, mum of two, and one half of the creative duo behind SoundSlam . Anna shares how phonological awareness forms the foundation for early reading success and how she and her co-creator, Lucy, designed SoundSlam to make learning fun, engaging, and screen-free. Together, they explore practi...

🎒 Ready to ace the parent-teacher interview? Dive into our latest episode where we unravel the mysteries of school meetings with a sprinkle of humor! From decoding teacher lingo to avoiding the classic "Karen" pitfalls, we've got the tips to make you the MVP of the classroom. Whether you're prepping for NASA-level discussions or just trying to remember your kid's teacher&#39...

Get ready to chuckle as we dive into the whimsical world of parental sleep sacrifices! Ever found yourself frozen like a statue, hoping not to wake the baby? You're not alone! Join us for a lighthearted look at the hilarious lengths parents go to for a few extra Z's. From mastering the art of the stealthy escape to pondering if street performers have secret parenting skills, this episode i...

In this open and deeply honest episode, Lauren Lores shares her journey through some of life’s biggest shifts — from becoming a mother and navigating changing identity, to facing a breast cancer diagnosis and choosing to go flat. Lauren talks about the raw moments, the personal decisions, and the growth that came with it all. She reflects on what it means to embrace imperfection, to let go of old...

In this episode of Teacher Triggers, we dive into the quirky and sometimes challenging dynamics of communication between parents and teachers. Join us as we explore the humorous and relatable moments that arise when messages are sent with hesitation, and how these interactions can lead to unexpected insights and solutions. Discover how a simple pause can foster deeper understanding and resilience,...

Ever been stuck behind the broom or vacuum a lot longer than you had hoped? Or feel as though no matter how much you trail around behind your children with a vacuum that you never seem to get all of it? Here is another everyday pondering that is associated with being a parent and a thought that I have now pondered on just a little too long! It is reaching a point now with three small children atte...

Teacher Triggers is a quick and entertaining look at those little things that drive teachers mad. Although they might not say it at the time, there are a number of moments throughout the day that get teachers rolling their eyes, grinding their teeth and taking some deep breathes to make it through the day. No doubt these types of moments happen in all jobs and walks of life but in these episodes w...

Parental Ponderings is a new concept in which we explore the basic everyday situations associated with being a parent and ponder them in a little more depth. No interview, no guest, just a thought, musing or story that has led to pondering longer and harder than you would usually have thought necessary. Come along for the ride and see if these Parental Ponderings are things that you may have ponde...

In this eye-opening episode, we’re joined by Dr Mike Poulsen, a chiropractor with a special focus on paediatric chiropractic care and supporting neurodivergent children . Dr Mike shares his deep knowledge and passion for helping families through gentle, nervous system-focused chiropractic care designed especially for children. Together, we explore how chiropractic care can support children with au...

In part two of our conversation with Alana Potter, we dive into her journey from classroom teacher to educator and advocate in the areas of sexual health, respectful relationships, and inclusion. Alana now works across diverse educational settings, empowering both students and educators to build safe, inclusive environments where these crucial topics can be explored openly and confidently. What Yo...

Alana Potter shares with us about her early teaching experiences in New Zealand and the differences between her Teachers College experience and current teaching degrees. We also learn about what it was like for Alana when she moved to Australia with her partner and decided to live and work in some of Australia's most remote Aboriginal communities-building relationships and learning about and f...

In this episode, we (a husband and wife duo) dive into the everyday realities of parenting - messy morning, school drop-offs, and all the moments in between that test and teach us. Hannah MacWilliams (my wife) shares honestly about the pressure of being the primary carer and about how we are all learning as we go. We both agree there is no such thing as perfect parenting and that's kind of the...

In this thoughtful episode, Sam Healy shares his journey from being a dedicated teacher and student wellbeing leader to his career change as a meditation teacher. Drawing from his experience in the classroom and his personal growth, Sam discusses the crucial role of mental and emotional health in education. He delves into the importance of meditation as a powerful tool for de-stressing, fostering...

In part 2 of our conversation with Brett Horsfall, we pick up where we left off discussing Brett's time in the classroom and his key takeaways for how this has shaped the way he interacts with and raises his own children. We chat about how being a teacher has impacted Brett's experience with his own children's school and teachers. The fact that at times this has created a distance and...

Brett Horsfall (parent and educator) joins us to discuss his children's school journey, the quest to raise quality humans and being intentional and open about the discussions you have in making choices for your family. Brett has been a teacher for close to two decades and shares about the experiences and understandings he has from his years in the classroom, that have shaped the way that he and hi...