More Than a Score

Laura Pitt & Dan Steele
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Careers
  • Updated Twice Weekly

More Than a Score is a podcast focused on helping parents and young people redefine success and pathways. After all, no one wants to peak at high school. And no score can sum you up. Hosted by Laura and Dan, a former teacher and assistant principal with over 35 years in education, each episode dives into real stories of people from all walks of life: leaders, parents, athletes, entrepreneurs, and creatives. They all share their unique path through school and, most importantly, beyond it. You'll discover the lessons and wisdom learned, skills that helped them on their path, what success really is about, and practical take aways to help you. If you’re a parent, young person, or someone going through a change in your career, More Than a Score is made for you.

  1. Stephanie Pahl: You Don’t Have to Get It Right the First Time

    5 days ago

    Stephanie Pahl: You Don’t Have to Get It Right the First Time

    What if success isn’t about getting it right the first time but staying open to where to opportunities? In this episode of More Than a Score, we sit down with Steph Pahl, athlete, captain, coach, fitness professional, and someone whose journey is a refreshing reminder that success doesn’t look the same for everyone - and you don't have to have all the answers. Steph’s school experience wasn’t built around academic accolades or loving every classroom moment. Instead, her confidence, identity, and connection came through sport, teamwork, community, and the people who saw her strengths beyond a score. And that’s what makes this conversation so relevant, because for many young people, the traditional view of school doesn’t always reflect where they shine best. Since finishing school, Steph’s path has taken her through university course changes, sport leadership, coaching, high performance sport, the fitness industry, and new career opportunities—all while continuing to grow as an athlete, leader, and person. This is a conversation about accepting change, trying different things, and understanding that progress doesn’t need to be perfectly planned. For parents, it’s a helpful reminder that success isn’t one-size-fits-all. For young people in school or early in their career, it’s reassurance that not loving school—or not having a clear plan straight away—doesn’t mean you’re behind. 🎧 What You’ll Discover In this episode: • What it feels like when school doesn’t reflect your strongest qualities • Why sport, teamwork, and belonging became such a key part of Steph’s identity • The impact one teacher can have in helping young people feel seen and supported • Why not loving the classroom doesn’t define your future • Steph’s non-linear pathway through study, work, coaching, and leadership • Lessons from balancing sport, work, and life • What COVID taught her about adaptability and resilience • Why accepting change is a strength—not a weakness • How Steph’s definition of success has shifted from results to fulfilment Know someone with a unique or interesting path? Share it with us at morethanascorepod@gmail.com 📩!

    46 min
  2. Melissa Lozanovski: When Success Stops Feeling Like Success

    19 May

    Melissa Lozanovski: When Success Stops Feeling Like Success

    Content note: This episode includes a brief part discussing suicide. Please take care while listening and choose what feels right for you. Support links and services are shared below. What happens when the thing you worked so hard to achieve makes you question what success actually means? In this episode of More Than a Score, we sit down with Melissa Lozanovski: an educator, leader, former founding principal, founder, and mum for a deeply honest conversation about ambition, identity, wellbeing, and redefining success. Melissa’s story is one so many of us will recognise. At school, she compared herself to academically high-achieving siblings and quietly carried pressure to measure up. Not because anyone demanded it, but because comparison has a way of shaping the stories we tell ourselves. Her path through education and leadership was marked by trust, opportunity, and rapid growth. She entered teaching young, stepped into leadership earlier than expected, and eventually became the founding principal of a brand-new school...which is ama rare and significant opportunity to shape culture, community, and belonging from the ground up. But success on the outside doesn’t always tell the full story. Behind the scenes, Melissa was carrying the emotional weight of leadership, navigating grief, burnout, and a significant health scare that forced her to stop and ask harder questions about what truly matters. Becoming a mum brought even greater clarity. This conversation explores what it means to chase achievement, to be chosen before you feel ready, to carry responsibility for others, and ultimately, to redefine success in a way that feels sustainable, human, and aligned. Melissa shares powerful reflections on belonging, the teachers who shape us, the hidden emotional labour of leadership, and why every child’s path deserves to unfold differently. This is a conversation about growth, reinvention, and becoming the kind of human you want to be, not just collecting titles along the way. 🎧 What You’ll Discover In this episode: • How comparison can quietly shape confidence, ambition, and identity • Why being believed in by one adult can change the course of your life • Melissa’s journey from teacher to school leader to founding principal • The surprising reality behind major professional success • The hidden emotional weight and complexity of leadership • How grief, burnout, and health challenges forced a reassessment of success • Why motherhood reshaped Melissa’s priorities and perspective • Her powerful framework for education: becoming, belonging, and lifelong learning • Why belonging and emotional safety matter so much for growth • How to think differently about success beyond grades, titles, and recognition • A hopeful message for parents supporting young people through school • Why every story will look different—and why that’s exactly as it should be Know someone with a unique story or path? Share it with us at morethanascorepod@gmail.com! If this conversation brings anything up for you, support is available: • Lifeline Australia (24/7) https://www.lifeline.org.au or 13 11 14 • Beyond Blue: https://www.beyondblue.org.au or 1300 22 46 36 • Kids Helpline (for people aged 5–25): https://kidshelpline.com.au or 1800 55 1800

    1hr 12min
  3. Ben Amos: Why Figuring Things Out Matters More Than Having a Perfect Plan

    11 May

    Ben Amos: Why Figuring Things Out Matters More Than Having a Perfect Plan

    What if success isn’t about having the perfect plan but learning how to adapt when the plan changes? In this episode of More Than a Score, we sit down with Ben Amos: a teacher turned entrepreneur, digital storyteller, business owner, and someone who has built a career by staying curious, embracing change, and figuring things out as he goes. Ben’s story is a refreshing reminder that life after school doesn’t need to follow a neat or predictable script. The path he originally wanted didn’t work out, teaching became the 'fallback', but that “backup plan” became the foundation for a career that has evolved through education, entrepreneurship, creativity, storytelling, and innovation. This conversation explores what actually helps people navigate uncertainty, not just at school, but in life. For parents listening, it’s a thoughtful discussion about the kinds of skills, mindsets, and opportunities that help young people thrive in a changing world. For everyone else, it’s reassurance that not having everything mapped out doesn’t mean you’re behind. This episode’s a powerful reminder of the impact trust, autonomy, and relationships can have on shaping a young person’s confidence and future. Because sometimes success isn’t about choosing the “right” path, it's actually about learning how to keep moving when the path changes. 🎧 What You’ll Discover In this episode: • Why Ben says his school score didn’t really define his future • How a “fallback” career in teaching became a launching pad for entrepreneurship • The surprising story of being handed real responsibility as a teenager—and why that mattered • What great teachers do that students remember forever • Why adaptability may matter more than certainty in today’s world • The difference between passive hope and actively creating opportunities • How optimism, learning, and resilience helped Ben navigate change • Why failure is often feedback—not a final verdict • The importance of surrounding yourself with the right people • Practical reassurance for parents raising kids in an uncertain future Know someone with an interesting story or path? Get in touch with us at morethanascorepod@gmail.com!

    43 min
  4. Myfanwy Fitzpatrick: Intelligence Isn’t the Grade You Get

    5 May

    Myfanwy Fitzpatrick: Intelligence Isn’t the Grade You Get

    She was called lazy, placed on the “lowest table.”, and told she wouldn’t succeed. But the real story was something very different. In this episode of More Than a Score, we sit down with Myfanwy (Van) Fitzpatrick to explore what happens when a student is misunderstood and how that can shape identity for years. Van’s experience of school was marked by struggle, not because she lacked ability, but because her dyslexia and dyspraxia went undiagnosed. Like many students, she was labelled based on what others could see, rather than supported for what she actually needed. What makes this conversation so powerful is what happened next. Despite being told she wouldn’t succeed, Van went on to complete multiple degrees at university, become a teacher, and later transition into counselling—where she now supports others navigating their challenges. This episode goes beyond one story and is a reminder that struggle doesn’t mean inability, labels don’t define potential, and the right support can change everything. For parents, educators, and students, this is a conversation about seeing beyond results...and understanding the human behind them. And, it highlights that no matter what happens with our score or school experience, it doesn't define us. 🎧 What You’ll Discover • How early labels can shape a child’s identity and confidence • What it feels like to be misunderstood at school • The hidden impact of undiagnosed learning differences • Why being called “lazy” can be deeply damaging—and often inaccurate • The turning point of being diagnosed and finally understood • What changes when students receive the right support • How resilience is built through persistence and belief • The critical role parents play in advocating for their child • Why teachers don’t always get it right—and what to do about it • A powerful reframe: intelligence is not defined by grades

    1hr 6min
  5. Jasper Nettlefold: Success Isn’t Something You’re Given, It’s Built Over Time

    27 Apr

    Jasper Nettlefold: Success Isn’t Something You’re Given, It’s Built Over Time

    In this episode of More Than a Score, we sit down with Jasper Nettlefold to explore what it means to navigate school, life, and identity when the path isn’t clear. Jasper’s experience of school wasn’t straightforward. At times, it felt like a “minefield”—something to get through rather than something he felt connected to. And like many young people, he left without a clear sense of what success looked like for him. What followed wasn’t a perfectly planned journey. It was a series of experiences through sport, different jobs, travel, and relationships, that gradually helped him build confidence, perspective, and a stronger sense of who he was and what success really is. This episode is a powerful reminder that success isn’t something you’re handed at the end of school. It’s something you shape over time through the choices you make, the people you surround yourself with, and your willingness to keep goin..., even when you’re not sure where it’s all heading. What You’ll Discover: • What it feels like when school doesn’t quite “fit” • Why not having a clear plan after school is more common than you think • How different jobs and experiences can shape confidence and identity • The role of sport, mentors, and relationships in personal growth • Why comparison to others can hold you back—and what to focus on instead • How to begin shaping your own definition of success • A powerful message for parents: supporting without forcing a path • Why it’s okay to take a different route—and trust it will come together This conversation is for: • Students (and anyone!) who feel unsure or off track • Parents trying to support without pushing too hard • Anyone who didn’t follow a straight line It’s a brilliant reminder that you don’t need to have it all figured out, you just need to keep moving forward. Know someone who'd be perfect for the pod? Get in touch with us at morethanascorepod@gmail.com.

    1hr 1min
  6. Lael Stone: The Courage to Find Your Own Way (Re-Release)

    19 Apr

    Lael Stone: The Courage to Find Your Own Way (Re-Release)

    What happens when school doesn’t quite fit you, but life beyond it opens up something bigger? In this episode of More Than a Score, we sit down with Lael Stone: speaker, educator, author, entrepreneur, parent, and founder of an school. It's a great, honest conversation about courage, connection, and redefining success. Lael reflects on leaving school without being overly concerned by her score, travelling overseas alone at 17, starting businesses before she had everything figured out, and building a life guided less by convention and more by purpose, talents, passion, and lived experiences. This is a conversation about what happens when young people are given permission to explore, when adults choose connection over judgment, and when success is measured by more than grades, qualifications, or a neat linear path. It’s also a deeply practical episode for parents and educators. Lael shares thoughtful insights on how young people ask for help, why vulnerability matters, how trust is built, and what it looks like for adults to become safe people in a young person’s world. If you’ve ever worried that you or your child don’t quite fit the traditional mould, this episode is a powerful reminder: there are many ways to learn, grow, and build a meaningful life. What You’ll Hear: - Why Lael never saw her school score as the thing that would define her future - What young people can carry when they grow up feeling “not smart” in a traditional system - The teacher who changed her life by telling her to “write about what you love” - Why travel, exploration, and lived experience became a different kind of education - The two qualities Lael credits most for her journey: courage and passion - Why she believes nothing is wasted, even when things do not work out as planned - How play can offer clues about purpose, identity, and future pathways - What stops many young people from asking for help, and how adults can lower that barrier - Why safe, non-judgmental adults matter so much in schools, families, and communities - What Lael has learned from creating a school built around connection, creativity, and emotional safety It's a powerful reminder for parents and educators: success is bigger than a score, and support often starts with how we make people feel Listen in for a conversation that will get you thinking more deeply about success, trust the longer path, and remember that who you are becoming matters more than any single result . Know someone who'd be perfect for the pod? Get in touch with us at morethanascorepod@gmail.com.

    1hr 3min
  7. Sam Gawenda: Doing Hard Things Matters More Than School Results

    13 Apr

    Sam Gawenda: Doing Hard Things Matters More Than School Results

    What happens if you leave school early and don’t follow the “expected” path? For Sam Gawenda, everything still worked out. In this episode of More Than a Score, we sit down with Sam to explore what success looked like when he stepped off the traditional path. From leaving school in Year 11 to becoming a bricklayer, moving into mortgage broking, building and selling a business, and now entering a new chapter, Sam’s pathway is a powerful reminder that success is rarely linear and is often unique to us. But this conversation goes deeper than career pathways. It's about the mindset behind the choices, and how Sam chooses to show up and connect with people, his willingness to do hard things, even when fear is present, and the role of mentors, relationships, and environment in shaping who we become. And the realisation that success isn’t something you achieve once—it’s something you redefine over time. We also explore a powerful and often overlooked idea—rites of passage—and what’s missing for many young people today as they navigate the transition into adulthood and a career. For parents, students, and anyone questioning whether they’re “on the right path,” this episode offers reassurance, perspective, and practical insight. Because no single score or decision defines your future. 🎧 What You’ll Hear • Why leaving school early didn’t limit Sam’s success—and what mattered more • The non-linear journey from trade to building and selling a business • Why doing hard, uncomfortable things is essential for growth • The role of mentors, relationships, and environment in shaping identity • How early experiences influence your mindset around money, freedom, and success • What it really means to “have a crack” and back yourself • Why modern life is missing meaningful rites of passage—and why that matters • How to model courage, resilience, and growth as a parent • The importance of focusing on vision over process Know someone else with a unique or interesting path? Share it with us at morethanascorepod@gmail.com!

    1hr 7min
  8. Blaise Witnish: From School Scores to CEO—What Really Matters

    5 Apr

    Blaise Witnish: From School Scores to CEO—What Really Matters

    Blaise got an ATAR she was proud of...but that’s NOT what made her successful. In this episode of More Than a Score, we sit down with Blaise Witnish, CEO, community builder, and leader of a global team, to explore what really shapes a meaningful life beyond school. Blaise’s story challenges the idea that success is linear. From boarding in Year 12 after her family faced financial hardship, to discovering her strengths through drama and stand-up comedy, to building a 20-year career from the ground up, her journey is full of moments that shaped who she became. But what stands out most isn’t the titles or achievements. It’s what she learned about people, strengths, resilience, and communication and connection in a world that’s rapidly changing. This episode is a powerful reminder that while scores can open doors, they don’t define the life you build...and they’re only a small part of the bigger picture. 🎧 What You’ll Hear • Blaise’s Year 12 story—and why her result surprised her • The moment a teacher saw something in her others didn’t • How hardship and change helped build real resilience • Why understanding your child’s strengths is a game changer • The “8:1 rule” and how it shapes confidence in young people • Why communication and connection are future-proof skills • What Blaise has learned from working with young people today • A powerful reframe: why the score matters… but not for the reason you think 🔗 Explore Your Strengths (As Mentioned in This Episode) If this episode sparked your thinking about strengths and self-awareness, here are a few great tools to explore: • Gallup CliftonStrengths - a widely used tool that helps identify your top strengths and how to apply them in life and work. • VIA Character Strengths Survey - free, research-based survey that highlights your core character strengths. • Myers-Briggs Type Indicator - personality framework that helps you understand preferences in how you think, work, and relate to others. These tools are discussed in the episode as potential helpful starting points for people, parents and educators to better understand themselves and each other.

    1hr 25min
See All (37)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

More Than a Score is a podcast focused on helping parents and young people redefine success and pathways. After all, no one wants to peak at high school. And no score can sum you up. Hosted by Laura and Dan, a former teacher and assistant principal with over 35 years in education, each episode dives into real stories of people from all walks of life: leaders, parents, athletes, entrepreneurs, and creatives. They all share their unique path through school and, most importantly, beyond it. You'll discover the lessons and wisdom learned, skills that helped them on their path, what success really is about, and practical take aways to help you. If you’re a parent, young person, or someone going through a change in your career, More Than a Score is made for you.

Information

  • Creator
    Laura Pitt & Dan Steele
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    37
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Show Website
    More Than a Score

You Might Also Like