Conversations with Jane Newman

Jane Newman
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Life is shaped by the choices we make every day, how we think, how we respond, and how we connect with the people around us. Welcome to Conversations with Jane Newman, a podcast where curious conversations lead to practical insights for living, leading and relating with greater intention. Hosted by educator, speaker and human behaviour specialist Jane Newman, alongside her sister-in-law and curious co-host Kass Weaver, each episode explores the questions we all ask as we navigate family, work, leadership and life's everyday challenges. Jane brings decades of experience working with individuals, families, educators, leaders and organisations, drawing on a range of evidence-based approaches and real-world experience. Kass brings curiosity, honesty and the questions many of us are thinking but don't always ask. Together, they unpack real-life situations, explore different perspectives and share practical ideas that help you strengthen relationships, communicate more effectively and create positive change without judgement or quick fixes. Whether you're a parent, partner, educator, leader or simply someone who wants to understand yourself and others a little better, Conversations with Jane Newman will leave you with fresh perspectives, practical takeaways and thoughtful conversations you can apply in your everyday life. While we can't always choose what happens to us, we can choose how we respond and those choices shape the quality of our relationships, our wellbeing and the life we create.

Episodes

  1. 6d ago

    Ep005: The Mistake Was Small

    What happens when one mistake feels much bigger than the mistake itself? In this raw and unscripted conversation, Jane Newman and Kass explore what happens when making an error triggers self doubt, catastrophising and a harsh internal story about our own competence. Kass shares a recent experience at work where incorrect data led her to question herself and worry about what others thought of her. Jane helps her unpack what actually happened, what she assumed had happened, and what evidence she was using to judge herself. Together they explore: • Why one mistake can quickly become “I did it all wrong” • The difference between what actually happened and the story we tell ourselves about it • How catastrophising can turn a small error into something that feels enormous • Why being capable and competent doesn't mean getting everything right • The pressure we can put on ourselves to respond immediately • The difference between something being important and something being urgent • How mistakes can affect us physically as well as emotionally • Why reassurance from someone else isn't always enough when we're judging ourselves harshly • What it means to create a safe space where people can make mistakes • How our need to feel capable and competent can influence the way we respond to mistakes • The idea of “emptying” and “refilling” your power cup • Using emotional agility to identify what you're feeling and what might be underneath it • Looking for evidence that challenges the story we've created about ourselves • Why sometimes the best response to an email is to wait before replying You made a mistake. That doesn't mean you are a mistake. It doesn't mean you're incompetent. And it doesn't mean everyone else is judging you. Sometimes we need to stop, look at the evidence and remind ourselves that we are still learning.

  2. Sep 27

    Ep004: Know Yourself. Lead Better.

    In this episode Jane Newman is joined by Brett Shackleton for a conversation about leadership, self awareness and the way we influence the people around us. Brett spent 40 years with the Queensland Department of Education, including 34 years as a school principal, before moving into executive coaching with school leaders and leadership teams. The conversation begins with Brett reflecting on how his own learning changed the way he viewed leadership and people. From there, Jane and Brett explore: • Why trying to control what other people do can create stress and disengagement • How our own experiences and beliefs can shape the way we show up in conversations and leadership • The importance of becoming more deliberate and self reflective about our behaviour • What happens when leaders acknowledge that they don't have everything right • Why understanding who we are, what matters to us and what energises us can strengthen our leadership • The difference between trying to fix people and helping people become better at what they already do • Why strengths can be more useful to focus on than constantly looking for weaknesses • The role of a leader in helping other people think and make better decisions • Creating environments where people feel psychologically safe enough to engage and contribute A few ideas to take away "Nobody needs fixing." Rather than looking for what is wrong with people, what might happen if we became more curious about what is already working and helped people build on their strengths? "Empty their brain before I enter it." Brett describes his approach to coaching as creating space for people to do their own thinking before offering advice. "Better thinking for better decisions." The conversation explores the value of helping people think rather than simply telling them what to do. A question to sit with Where in your life or leadership might you be trying to fix, control or change someone else, when your greatest influence might actually begin with looking at yourself? About Brett Shackleton Brett Shackleton is an executive coach working with school leaders and leadership teams. He spent 40 years with the Queensland Department of Education, including 34 years as a school principal, and now supports leaders to better understand themselves, their strengths and the people they lead.

  3. Sep 20

    Ep003: They Don't Want Your Fixig

    Are You Listening to Respond or to Understand?When someone we care about shares something difficult, our instinct can be to help.We want to solve the problem, offer a perspective, ask the right questions or help them find a way forward.But what if they aren't asking us to fix anything?In this episode, Kass reflects on a conversation with a friend where her desire to help led her to overstep. The situation was repaired, but it prompted her to reflect on her role in the conversation and why she so quickly moves into "fixing mode".Jane and Kass explore what can happen when we assume someone wants their problem solved, when they may simply want to be heard.In this episode, we explore:- Why we can be so quick to move into fixing mode- The difference between helping and solving- How our role can change depending on the relationship and situation- Why not everyone wants their problem solved- The importance of listening before offering advice or questions- How our own learned patterns can influence the way we respond- What it means to listen with curiosity- How we can recognise when someone may simply need a friendly ear- Why listening is a skill that can be practised and developedKass also reflects on her tendency to want to bring what she has learned into conversations with other people. Jane explores how having more knowledge and skills can sometimes make us even more eager to help, while the person we're talking to may not have asked for that help.The conversation comes back to a simple but powerful question:Am I listening to truly hear, or am I listening to respond?Jane shares that she has had to intentionally practise this herself, moving away from listening in order to respond, ask the next clever question or demonstrate what she knows, towards simply listening with curiosity.The episode is a reminder that sometimes the most helpful thing we can offer someone isn't a solution. It is our attention, our curiosity and the space to be heard.

  4. Sep 13

    EP002_Too Busy to Be Present?

    Life can feel full very quickly.Work, parenting, relationships, health, family, friendships and all the other roles we carry can leave us trying to be everything to everyone.In this episode, Jane and Kass explore what it means to be present and intentional, particularly when life feels busy.They begin with their regular Celebrate, Challenge and Support check-in, where Kass reflects on a recent comment that she wasn't always as present as she could be. Rather than dismissing it or becoming defensive, she considers it information and starts thinking about what she might want to do differently.That leads into a bigger conversation about how we can create more intentional moments of presence in our everyday lives.In this episode, we explore:- What being present actually means when life is busy- The many roles we carry and the pressure to do them all well- Why we can't be everywhere and everything for everyone- The importance of being intentional about where we put our time and energy- Creating small, protected moments for connection- Why looking after ourselves isn't selfish- How taking time for ourselves can help us be more present with the people we love- What it means to receive feedback as information rather than immediately becoming defensive- How we can recognise when we need some time and space to regroupJane shares examples of the small, intentional moments she creates with her family, including phone-free family meals, playing cards and dedicated “eclair Friday’ time with her youngest son. She also talks about intentionally protecting time around important relationships and celebrations.A key part of the conversation is the idea that we don't have to get presence right all the time. We are human, we have limited time, and sometimes not being present is simply information that we may need a break or some space.The conversation finishes with a reminder, particularly for those approaching a busy end of term, to take some time to be present with themselves too.

    EP002_Too Busy to Be Present?

  5. Sep 6

    EP001_Get Curious, Not Furious

    In this episode, Jane and Kass explore what sits beneath the behaviour we see and what can change when we become curious rather than immediately reacting.They begin with a simple check in around celebration, challenge and support, a practice Jane uses in her workshops, meetings and everyday life. They explore how recognising a challenge can help us consider what support might actually be useful, rather than automatically trying to fix the problem.The conversation then turns to one of Kass's early aha moments from learning alongside Jane: all behaviour is purposeful.Jane and Kass explore:• How behaviour can be a form of communication• What might be underneath behaviour that we find difficult or unhelpful• Why behaviour is not necessarily about us• How tiredness, hunger and overwhelm can influence our behaviour• What can change when we become curious about what is happening underneath a reaction• How this applies to children, adults and our own behaviour• The difference between receiving information and reacting to it• How we can consider who we want to be in the momentKass shares a real life parenting moment when her daughter called her a "grumpy mum". Rather than becoming defensive, Kass was able to stop and consider what information she was receiving and recognise what was happening for her in that moment.

  6. Sep 5

    EP000_Welcome to Conversations with Jane Newman

    In this introductory episode, meet your hosts, Jane Newman and Kass Weaver, and discover the heart behind the podcast.

  • 6 Episodes

About

Life is shaped by the choices we make every day, how we think, how we respond, and how we connect with the people around us. Welcome to Conversations with Jane Newman, a podcast where curious conversations lead to practical insights for living, leading and relating with greater intention. Hosted by educator, speaker and human behaviour specialist Jane Newman, alongside her sister-in-law and curious co-host Kass Weaver, each episode explores the questions we all ask as we navigate family, work, leadership and life's everyday challenges. Jane brings decades of experience working with individuals, families, educators, leaders and organisations, drawing on a range of evidence-based approaches and real-world experience. Kass brings curiosity, honesty and the questions many of us are thinking but don't always ask. Together, they unpack real-life situations, explore different perspectives and share practical ideas that help you strengthen relationships, communicate more effectively and create positive change without judgement or quick fixes. Whether you're a parent, partner, educator, leader or simply someone who wants to understand yourself and others a little better, Conversations with Jane Newman will leave you with fresh perspectives, practical takeaways and thoughtful conversations you can apply in your everyday life. While we can't always choose what happens to us, we can choose how we respond and those choices shape the quality of our relationships, our wellbeing and the life we create.

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