Coffee and Whiteboard Markers Podcast

Coffee and Whiteboard Markers
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  • EDUCATION

From the front lines of the classroom Myles O'Kane talks all things teaching in these weekly episodes. Hosted from Australia, this podcast dives into the highs, lows, and everything in between when it comes to teaching. Whether you're a new teacher finding your feet or a seasoned educator looking for fresh ideas, we've got you covered. Tune in and let's make a difference—one lesson at a time!

  1. 1D AGO

    Episode 79: Trauma Informed Practices In Teaching

    Classrooms today are more complex than ever. Many students arrive at school carrying stress, uncertainty, and experiences that affect how they learn, behave, and connect with others. In this episode, we explore trauma-informed practices in teaching and how small shifts in our approach can make a big difference for both students and teachers. We discuss how trauma can show up in the classroom, why behaviour is often a form of communication, and practical ways teachers can respond with calm, consistency, and clarity. From the language we use, to the importance of predictable routines and giving students appropriate choices, this episode focuses on strategies that help create safer and more supportive learning environments. In this episode, we explore: What trauma-informed teaching actually means (and what it doesn’t)How trauma can influence behaviour and engagement in the classroomThe role of language, predictability, and choice in helping students feel safePractical strategies teachers can use without adding more to their workload☕ Connect with Coffee & Whiteboard Markers ▶️ YouTube: Coffee & Whiteboard Markers 📷 Instagram: @CoffeeandWhiteboardMarkers 📘 Facebook: Coffee & Whiteboard Markers 📩 Newsletter (Substack): Coffee & Whiteboard Markers If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the podcast on Spotify and share it with a colleague who might find it helpful. Your support helps more teachers access practical ideas and honest conversations about the realities of teaching.

    24 min

  2. MAR 9

    Episode 78: How To Build A Sustianable Career For Teaching

    Teaching is one of the most meaningful professions there is, but it’s also one of the easiest to burn out in if we’re not careful. In this episode, we explore what it really means to build a sustainable career in teaching. From setting healthy boundaries and letting go of perfectionism to protecting your time and redefining success in the classroom, we unpack practical ways teachers can stay effective, motivated, and healthy over the long term. In this episode, we discuss: Why do so many teachers burn out early in their careersThe hidden habits that quietly make teaching unsustainableBoundaries that protect your energy without lowering your standardsHow to shift from “surviving the term” to building a career that lastsThe mindset shifts that help teachers stay in the profession for the long runThis episode is a reminder that great teachers don’t need to sacrifice themselves to make a difference. ☕ Connect with Coffee & Whiteboard Markers ▶️ YouTube: Coffee & Whiteboard Markers 📷 Instagram: @CoffeeandWhiteboardMarkers 📘 Facebook: Coffee & Whiteboard Markers 📩 Newsletter (Substack): Coffee & Whiteboard Markers If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the podcast on Spotify and share it with a colleague who might benefit from the conversation. Your support helps more teachers find practical strategies and encouragement for the realities of teaching.

    24 min

  3. FEB 18

    Episode 77: Why New Teachers Are Leaving And How We Fix It.

    Early career teacher retention isn’t just a statistic  it’s a warning sign. In this episode, we unpack why so many new teachers are walking away within their first five years. Is it burnout? Lack of support? Unrealistic expectations? Staffroom culture? Or something deeper within the system? More importantly, we talk about what schools, leaders, and experienced teachers can actually do to change it. This isn’t about blame — it’s about building environments where early career teachers feel supported, capable, and valued. If you’re a new teacher feeling overwhelmed, or a leader wanting to do better, this episode is for you. 🔗 Connect with Coffee and Whiteboard Markers 📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/coffeeandwhiteboardmarkers 📘 Facebook: https://facebook.com/coffeeandwhiteboardmarkers 📺 YouTube: https://youtube.com/@coffeeandwhiteboardmarkers 📰 Newsletter (Substack): https://coffeeandwhiteboardmarkers.substack.com 🎙️ Podcast on Spotify: https://spotify.com/show/coffeeandwhiteboardmarkers 👍 If this episode resonated, please follow, rate, and share it with a colleague. Because keeping great teachers in the profession starts with honest conversations.

    29 min

  4. FEB 2

    Episode 76: Why the classroom feels harder the ever and what can teachers do about it.

    Why do classrooms feel harder than ever? In this episode, we unpack a question that so many teachers are asking right now: Has student behaviour changed — and why does teaching feel more challenging than it used to? From rising disengagement and emotional dysregulation to shifting expectations on schools and teachers, this video explores the new classroom reality many educators are facing in 2025. In this discussion, you’ll hear about: Why behaviour is escalating in many classroomsWhat’s happening beneath the surface for studentsThe pressure teachers are carrying more than everPractical, realistic strategies that actually helpHow to respond with calm authority, boundaries, and consistencyThis is an honest conversation — and a reminder that you’re not alone in feeling this. Connect with Coffee & Whiteboard Markers 📩 Newsletter (Substack): https://coffeeandwhiteboardmarkers.substack.com 📷 Instagram: @CoffeeandWhiteboardMarkers 📘 Facebook: Coffee & Whiteboard Markers 🎧 Spotify Podcast: Coffee & Whiteboard Markers ▶️ YouTube: Coffee & Whiteboard Markers If this video resonated with you, please like, subscribe, and share it with a colleague who might need the reminder that teaching is harder right now — but support and strategies exist. Thanks for being here, and thank you for what you do.

    22 min

  5. 11/28/2025

    Episode 75: The hidden toll of overdoing it in teaching

    In teaching, “going the extra mile” is often celebrated — but what happens when that extra mile quietly becomes the expectation? In this episode, we unpack the real cost of overdoing it in education: the burnout, the guilt, the resentment, and the slow erosion of our personal lives that no one warns us about. We dive into: Why teachers feel pressured to always say “yes”The hidden emotional and physical toll of overworkingHow constant self-sacrifice normalises an unsustainable workloadWhat happens to your relationships, wellbeing, and joy when teaching becomes your whole identityPractical steps to build boundaries and teach sustainably (without guilt)This episode is a reminder that you don’t need to be a superhero — you just need to be human. And your students need the version of you that has energy, balance, and longevity. ☕ If this episode resonated, please like and follow the podcast on Spotify. 📱 Follow along on social media: @CoffeeandWhiteboardMarkers ▶️ Subscribe on YouTube for weekly teaching videos and practical tools: Coffee & Whiteboard Markers

    19 min

  6. 11/24/2025

    Episode 74: Biggest Mistakes We Have Made In Our Time Teaching

    Every teacher has those moments — the lessons that crashed, the behaviour calls that backfired, the emails we wish we’d rewritten, and the days we walked out thinking, “Well… that didn’t go to plan.” In this episode, we dive into our biggest teaching fails from across our careers. Not to relive the embarrassment, but to unpack the lessons, the growth, and the surprising moments of clarity those fails gave us. We explore: The classroom moments that humbled usBehaviour management moves that went wrong (and what we learned)Planning mistakes we’ll never make againHow failure shaped us into better, more resilient teachersWhy owning your mistakes makes you a stronger educatorIt’s honest, funny, and deeply relatable — a reminder that even the most experienced teachers mess up, reset, and keep going. ☕ If you enjoyed this episode, please like and follow the podcast on Spotify. 📱 Follow the journey on social media: @CoffeeandWhiteboardMarkers ▶️ Subscribe to the YouTube channel for new videos every week: Coffee & Whiteboard Markers

    22 min

  7. 11/17/2025

    Episode 73: The lessons teaching taught us that no textbook could.

    Some lessons can’t be found in a syllabus, a PD session, or a university textbook — they come from the classroom itself. In this episode, we dive into the real, human lessons teaching has given us: the moments, mistakes, surprises, and shifts in perspective that only experience can teach. We unpack: How teaching builds patience in ways theory never mentionsWhy relationships matter more than routinesThe emotional resilience that comes from showing up every dayWhat students unknowingly teach us about ourselvesHow teaching changes the way we think, lead, and liveThis is an episode full of honesty and reflection — a reminder that teaching grows us just as much as we grow our students. ☕ If you enjoyed this episode, please like or follow the podcast on Spotify. 📱 Follow along on social media: @CoffeeandWhiteboardMarkers

    19 min

  8. 11/12/2025

    Episode 72: The Hardest Lesson: Separating Yourself from Student Behaviour.

    Student misbehaviour can feel like a personal attack — even when we know, logically, it’s usually not about us at all. In this episode, we unpack why certain behaviours sting, how to emotionally distance yourself without disengaging, and what it really means to respond as the calm adult in the room. We explore: Why student behaviour feels personal (and why it usually isn’t)What’s really going on beneath the surface for studentsHow to stay steady instead of reactivePractical strategies for separating your identity from their behaviourHow emotional detachment actually strengthens classroom relationshipsTeaching is deeply human work — and sometimes the hardest part is remembering that misbehaviour is communication, not a reflection of your worth. ☕ If you enjoyed this episode, please like or follow the podcast on Spotify. 📱 Follow along on social media: @CoffeeandWhiteboardMarkers

    21 min
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About

From the front lines of the classroom Myles O'Kane talks all things teaching in these weekly episodes. Hosted from Australia, this podcast dives into the highs, lows, and everything in between when it comes to teaching. Whether you're a new teacher finding your feet or a seasoned educator looking for fresh ideas, we've got you covered. Tune in and let's make a difference—one lesson at a time!

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