The Pursuit of Wellbeing

Maria Brosnan
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Conversations with influential figures from the UK’s education sector, about the issues affecting teachers, school leaders, and the wider school system, in a time of tremendous pressure. Here you’ll find solidarity in the stories of educators just like you; discover evidence-based tools to alleviate stress and stay ahead in your career. Hosted by Maria Brosnan, an Educational Health and Wellbeing Specialist with over 30 years experience.

  1. 23/07/2021

    Love your TAs and they'll Love You Back! with Jeremy Crook

    "I love moaning! The only rule is - if you moan about something, you've got to have an idea about a better way of doing it. If you haven’t got an idea on how to make it better, then your moaning is just demoralising people, making everyone feel bad, and dropping the mood of the school. And that’s not OK." Jeremy Crook was a Headteacher for almost 20 years. He now lectures in initial teacher training and works as a consultant in primary schools in the East of England.  He LOVES teaching assistants and support staff! And in this episode, shares wise and practical ways to make your support staff feel valued and supported to do their very important work. We talk about: The key reason so many schools have difficult relationships or issues with support staff. The most important thing you need to do to build strong relationships with support staff. The two key things Jeremy did to improve the impact of the Teaching Assistants (TAs) in the classroom. The importance of "non-negotiables." How training raises the status and professionalism of support staff. "If you don’t train them, you’re just setting them up to have a difficult time." The message across all staff is "We care for you but you've got to do a great job. Care itself is not enough." "The starting position has to be, if I want TAs, I want them because they do a great job in terms of supporting the core purpose of the school, which is getting children to be great learners, of course." You can connect with Jeremy Twitter @whatnqt Email: jnc.edu@gmail.com LinkedIn: Jez Crook His podcast is "What I wish I knew as an NQT". Connect with Maria On Twitter @Mariabrosnan On LinkedIn Maria Brosnan On Instagram @pursuitwellbeing Find out more about our 5-step Wellbeing Action Plan for teachers online course. And Maria's book, The Pursuit of Sleep for teachers, is available now.

    31 min

  2. 16/07/2021

    Being an Authentic and Humane Leader with Dan Edwards

    “Every decision I made that was ill-informed meant that people were losing a little bit of faith in me.” Dan Edwards is the principal of Woodstock Primary Academy, a large primary school in the heart of Leicester City. He shares the best piece of advice he was ever given as a school leader, and how that's shaped his leadership today. This episode is especially helpful for those new to leadership or starting a new position in the next academic year. We talk about: How to be the most authentic and genuinely humane leader.  The key steps to transparent leadership. Building or rebuilding parental engagement. Creating a healthy school culture and genuine staff wellbeing. The single thing that makes the biggest difference to staff wellbeing. How to know if you're "getting things right". How to harness the sense of being facilitators of learning, rather than positioning ourselves at the front of the classroom as "teachers and talkers". And much more. "(New leaders...) sometimes misplace trust by professing to know everything “the saviour is here - someone’s going to give us all the answers” and that’s wrong because we don’t know all the answers."   You can connect with Dan His website is leadinginthenow.org Twitter  @danedwards_77 Woodstock Primary Academy @woodstockacad Instagram dan_edwardsed Also mentioned in this podcast Kate Jones @KateJones_teach Sinead Moxham @SineadMoxham   Connect with Maria On Twitter @Mariabrosnan On LinkedIn Maria Brosnan On Instagram @pursuitwellbeing Find out more about our 5-step Wellbeing Action Plan for teachers online course. And Maria's book, The Pursuit of Sleep for teachers, is available now.

    38 min

  3. 09/07/2021

    What next? The Power of Options with Tom Wheelhouse

    "Work is somewhere I go to do something I'm good at, but it's not who I am." What does an ex-police office know about teacher stress? Quite a lot, as it turns out.  Tom Wheelhouse founded Mightify in 2015 because he wasn't willing to accept that people in frontline roles across society gave so much and got so little in return.  He left his career as a police officer and decided he would deliver fit-for-purpose wellbeing, personal development and career transition services to frontline people. In this fascinating and practical episode he shares: The power of options - why people feel trapped, and why very often that isn't the case. Identity - people generally join teaching because it's a vocation closely linked to their values. It becomes all consuming and an identity. What happens when that identity no longer exists, or no longer serves a healthy purpose? Proactivity and planning - if we're going to spend time each year or term having a performance review, couldn't we spend that time checking in with the person rather than simply the professional role? What happens next? The wellbeing impacts and issues of leaving teaching. "It all comes back to having that vulnerability and openness to ask and be asked, what do you need right now to thrive?" You can connect with Tom His website is mightyfy.co.uk  Free content, regular drop-in sessions, Career Change Club, explore your options in an accessible and friendly way.  Twitter @mightifyuk Facebook @mightifyuk YouTube @mightifyuk Instagram@mightifyuk Also mentioned in this podcast Kathryn Grice - The Teacher Empowerment Project Professor Jo Clark - Petros   Connect with Maria On Twitter @Mariabrosnan On LinkedIn Maria Brosnan On Instagram @pursuitwellbeing Find out more about our 5-step Wellbeing Action Plan for teachers online course. And Maria's book, The Pursuit of Sleep for teachers, is available now.

    41 min

  4. 02/07/2021

    Compassion as a Survival Skill with Paul Gilbert

    "People can spend their lives with an emotional bully in their head, constantly undermining them, constantly putting them down, constantly judging themselves, and then they wonder why they’re depressed!"   Paul Gilbert is a Professor of Clinical Psychology with over 40 years' experience.  He has devoted much of his career to developing Compassion Focussed Therapy. “Compassion is a sensitivity to the suffering of self and others with a commitment to relieve and prevent suffering returning.”  With humour and great wisdom, Paul explains: Why it's so common for people to feel a lack of self-compassion and so much guilt, shame, and self-criticism. How to move from having an "emotional bully" in our head to having a friend in there. How to look after yourself, so that your relationship with yourself is one of compassion, courage, and wisdom to guide you through whatever darkness is ahead. The role of social media and social comparison in our sense of self. Why it's so important that we 'talk nicely' to ourselves. A simple practice to develop a deeper understanding of compassion for ourselves and others. And much more. "A lot of the criticism we have for ourselves is because we’re frightened. We’re frightened of being rejected.  We’re frightened of being seen as no good. We’re frightened of being marginalised. We’re frightened." You can connect with Paul His website is www.compassionatemind.co.uk His latest book, 'Living Like Crazy' is widely available. Also mentioned in this podcast 'Civilised to Death', book by Chris Ryan How to Train your Vagus - Stephen Porges  Connect with Maria On Twitter @Mariabrosnan On LinkedIn Maria Brosnan On Instagram @pursuitwellbeing Find out more about our 5-step Wellbeing Action Plan for teachers online course. And Maria's book, The Pursuit of Sleep for teachers, is available now.

    45 min

  5. 25/06/2021

    Creating Everyday Magic with Julie Hurst

    "I teach teachers to help children cope with difficult feelings. Difficult emotions can give us important messages if we're unafraid to hear and them and feel them, without becoming utterly overwhelmed by them."  Julie Hurst is a Positive Psychologist and the founder of the Work Life Balance Centre. She was part of a team among the first people to research work life balance and the impact of work on our lives. They ran a national survey every year for 10 years to find out what it took to have a good balance and ultimately a flourishing happy life. Julie is a wonderful storyteller and in this wide-ranging conversation, she shares; The 3-part model developed from their research; The ingredients needed for resilience; The 3 kinds of 'skillfulness' she teaches in schools and the powerful impact it has on behaviour; Research showing that one of the biggest dips in children's wellbeing happens in the first year of secondary, and what to do in primary to reduce or eliminate this dip; The 'recipe' for the neurochemical mix that most children need and how to get that in your classroom; Positive Psychology is not 'positive thinking' and how to use this knowledge to help deal with ALL of our emotions; And Julie guides us through a lovely practice called the Compassion Break. "Your experience of work, and indeed life, depends more on what’s going on between your ears than any external circumstance.  And that is a viewpoint that has been upheld over and over and over again." You can connect with Julie Her website is www.thewlbc.com Email Julie@thewlbc.com Twitter @juliewlbc LinkedIn Julie Hurst Youtube channel is Positive Education with animations explaining Positive Education.   Also mentioned in this podcast Martin Seligman Sonja Lyubomirksy Maya Angelou Poetry Foundation “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” Sharon Salzberg Joseph Goldstein Professor Kristin Neff Self-Compassion.org  - a lot of free content on this site   Connect with Maria On Twitter @Mariabrosnan On LinkedIn Maria Brosnan On Instagram @pursuitwellbeing Find out more about our 5-step Wellbeing Action Plan for teachers online course. And Maria's book, The Pursuit of Sleep for teachers, is available now.

    40 min

  6. 18/06/2021

    Stress, Resilience and the Pursuit of Happiness with Professor Jo Clarke

    "We have the potential to lead stress-free lives. We know that it’s possible because we have evidence and training." Professor Jo Clarke is a former Forensic Psychologist and worked in the criminal justice (prison) system for 23 years. She's the Founder and Director of Petros, a not-for-profit company dedicated to helping people of all ages live more resilient, balanced and productive lives. In this episode, Jo shares fascinating insights into: human behaviour, in both adults and young people; 'resilience' and defining it in a practical and meaningful way; managing challenging situations and emotions, and how to 'file them away neatly with courage and honesty'; what our emotions are  communicating with us and the best ways to respond to them; her research (with colleagues at York University) into the one thing that teachers find most stressful; how we can thrive in high-risk jobs; a wonderful philosophy from Ross Greene that “kids do well if they can, not if they want to"; THE fundamental human need we all need to be met, and how to meet it; the 4 powerful principles that underpin her training around stress (one of them is "Stress is a choice"!) epigenetics, and how to not to be a victim to your genetics; and so much more! "We fall asleep to the pressures that we’re under. Be awake, not sleepwalk through life.” You can connect with Jo  Via their website for information about their training www.petros.org.uk Via her PA Laura Laura@petros.org.uk Also mentioned in this podcast The Rudyard Kipling poem, If "If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster And treat those two impostors just the same..." Ross Greene (website) - Lives in Balance Ross Greene (books) Lost at School and The Explosive Child Connect with Maria On Twitter @Mariabrosnan On LinkedIn Maria Brosnan On Instagram @pursuitwellbeing Find out more about our 5-step Wellbeing Action Plan for teachers online course. And Maria's book, The Pursuit of Sleep for teachers, is available now.

    50 min

  7. 11/06/2021

    Teach Well with Steve Waters

    "Every decision that’s taken, is taken through the lens of “will this adversely affect staff wellbeing and mental health?” And if the answer is ‘yes it will’ you modify it or you don’t continue with it." Steve Waters is the founder and CEO of the Teach Well Alliance. He works in partnership with schools to implement a culture of staff wellbeing and mental health through his unique programme, the Teach Well Toolkit. In this incredibly bold and courageous conversation, Steve talks about:  The biggest lie in education. The root of all evil in education. His invitation to leaders to take a risk and refuse to have anything to do with high-stakes accountability measures. And critically, what strategies to put in place of the strategies you reject. "There is an alternative narrative. You’ve got to stop believing that the only way, is putting such intense pressure on teachers that they conform to what we expect them to do." And much more! "You can’t say we’re putting the children first, if by putting the children first you’re putting the staff last. It can’t work. It doesn’t happen." You can connect with Steve On Twitter @teachwellall On LinkedIn at Steve Waters The website is teachwellalliance.com Steve's book 'Cultures of Staff Wellbeing and Mental Health in Schools' is now available. Also mentioned in this podcast  Jeremy Hannay, Headteacher of Three Bridges Primary School in Southall. You can watch a conversation with Jeremy and Steve here John Tomsett @johntomsett His book is "This Much I Know about Love Over Fear: Creating a culture of truly great teaching: Creating a culture for truly great teaching." Available here    Professor Jonathan Glazzard @j_glazzard   Dylan William, “Everything works somewhere, and nothing works everywhere.” Website Connect with Maria On Twitter @Mariabrosnan On LinkedIn Maria Brosnan On Instagram @pursuitwellbeing Find out more about our 5-step Wellbeing Action Plan for teachers online course. And Maria's book, The Pursuit of Sleep for teachers, is available now.

    33 min

  8. 04/06/2021

    Developing Our Executive Function Skills with Victoria Bagnall

    "Our Executive Functions are core brain processes that help us regulate our emotions, organise our time and our thoughts, and to do the advanced human activities that we need so much to participate in the modern world." Victoria Bagnall is an education professional, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Connections in Mind, an executive functions focused coaching and training company. In this fascinating conversation, Victoria shares her passion for improving opportunities for people with executive function challenges. What are 'executive functions'? the 3 key aspects of executive functions why coaching is such a useful and proven model for developing executive function skills the key factors that are required for our executive functions to work optimally identifying the skill that’s missing that need to be developed how to reframe negative self-talk and help people (of any age) think "I can do something about this" Dr. Daniel Siegel's 'Hand Model of the Brain' and much more. You can connect with Victoria On Twitter ConninMind On Facebook Connections in Mind On Instagram Connections in Mind On LinkedIn at Victoria Bagnall Their websites are www.connectionsinmind.co.uk  Their Free Course on 'Introduction to Executive Functions' is available at www.cimlearning.com   Also mentioned in this podcast  Dr. Daniel Siegel's Hand Model of the Brain Connect with Maria On Twitter @Mariabrosnan On LinkedIn Maria Brosnan On Instagram @pursuitwellbeing Find out more about our 5-step Wellbeing Action Plan for teachers online course. And Maria's book, The Pursuit of Sleep for teachers, is available now.

    39 min
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About

Conversations with influential figures from the UK’s education sector, about the issues affecting teachers, school leaders, and the wider school system, in a time of tremendous pressure. Here you’ll find solidarity in the stories of educators just like you; discover evidence-based tools to alleviate stress and stay ahead in your career. Hosted by Maria Brosnan, an Educational Health and Wellbeing Specialist with over 30 years experience.

Information

  • Creator
    Maria Brosnan
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2021
  • Episodes
    50
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2020 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    The Pursuit of Wellbeing