

The School of Wellbeing with Meg Durham
Meg Durham
This podcast is for teachers and school leaders who are ready to move beyond survival and thrive by design. Join wellbeing speaker and teacher wellbeing specialist Meg Durham for real and heartfelt conversations with experienced educators and wellbeing thought leaders. Discover practical ways to navigate the relentless demands of school life and move forward with more courage, compassion and confidence.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Dec 25, 2022 • 1h 1min
BEST OF 2022: Johann Hari - Stolen Focus & Why You Can't Pay Attention
- BEST OF 2022 -
"We own our minds, and we've got to take them back." Johann Hari
Do you often feel distracted and unable to focus? In this episode, Johann Hari will highlight the broader issues we face and how we're not to blame for our waning attention and focus. You'll learn how the social media business model is used to actively steal our attention and the impact notifications and multitasking is having on the way we think, feel and act. The good news is we can do something about it, Johann shares what we can do to reclaim our focus.
Episode 16 Shownotes - https://openmindeducation.com/episode16
Newsletter - https://openmindeducation.com/thought-weekly/
Booking Requests - https://openmindeducation.com/booking-request/
The School of Wellbeing is one of the best health and wellbeing podcasts for teachers and educators!

Dec 22, 2022 • 44min
Meg Durham: End of Year Reflections and Hopes For The Future | Episode 66
"So much has happened, and that's why it's important to take time to stop and think. What were the highlights; what were the lessons? What did I enjoy?" - Meg Durham
Feeling burnt out and overwhelmed by the demands of life? Take a break and join Meg Durham for a chat about living well, finding balance, and setting goals for the year ahead.
In this solo episode of the School of Wellbeing podcast, Meg reflects on the highlights of 2022, shares her lessons learned, and talks about setting goals for 2023. You'll also learn about the challenges and lessons of operating a small business and the importance of self-reflection and goal-setting as you enter the new year.
Episode 66 Show notes - https://openmindeducation.com/episode66
Newsletter - https://openmindeducation.com/thought-weekly/
Booking Requests - https://openmindeducation.com/booking-request/
The School of Wellbeing is one of the best health and wellbeing podcasts for teachers and educators!

Dec 15, 2022 • 42min
Dr Jo Mitchell: Defining Your Values & Taking Values Aligned Action | Episode 65
“Our values show us the direction that we want to head in life.” - Dr Jo Mitchell.
Personal values are the guiding principles that shape our beliefs, attitudes, and behaviours. They help us make better decisions, anchor us, and give our lives a sense of purpose. But do you know what your core values actually are? In this heartfelt episode, I speak with clinical psychologist Dr Jo Mitchell as we explore the concept of personal values and how to know if you're living in or out of alignment with yours. You'll learn techniques you can use to identify your values and how to lean into these values for more contentment and resilience, even in the most challenging moments.
If you’d like to hear more from Dr Jo Mitchell, you can also listen to episode 28 of The School of Wellbeing, where we discuss how to identify and overcome burnout for better wellbeing.
Episode 64 Show notes - https://openmindeducation.com/episode65
Newsletter - https://openmindeducation.com/thought-weekly/
Booking Requests - https://openmindeducation.com/booking-request/
The School of Wellbeing is one of the best health and wellbeing podcasts for teachers and educators!

Dec 8, 2022 • 46min
Dr Donna Cross: The Ripple Effect of Staff Wellbeing & How Staff Wellbeing Impacts Student Outcomes | Episode 64
“Teacher wellbeing is critical for educational outcomes, social outcomes, emotional outcomes, and of course, even the physical health of children.” - Donna Cross.
Despite the challenges of being a teacher, most stay in the profession for the love of working with young people. In this heartfelt conversation, Professor Donna Cross and Meg discuss how important teacher wellbeing is in the workplace. Teacher wellbeing has a direct impact on students’ wellbeing and educational outcomes. Learn the importance of building positive relationships, how school culture can impact staff wellbeing, and why we must be the change we want to see in the school system.
Episode 64 Show notes - https://openmindeducation.com/episode64
Newsletter - https://openmindeducation.com/thought-weekly/
Booking Requests - https://openmindeducation.com/booking-request/
The School of Wellbeing is one of the best health and wellbeing podcasts for teachers and educators!

Dec 1, 2022 • 49min
Dr Arne Rubinstein: Rites of Passage & How To Honour Each Stage of Life | Episode 63
“Story sharing is the most simple, beautiful and powerful way of creating community and sense of belonging.” - Dr Arne Rubinstein
As a society, do we honour and celebrate important life transitions appropriately? Whereas many cultures recognise and honour rites of passage, it's believed that western culture has lost the essence of these critical transitions, leading to stunted developmental growth in all stages of life.
In this heartfelt conversation, Meg Durham and adolescent development expert Dr Arne Rubinstein discuss the importance of rites of passage in our lives and the positive transformation that can occur when we celebrate and honour them appropriately. Walk away from this conversation with ideas for how you can help honour rites of passage for yourself and the young people in your life.
Episode 63 Show notes - https://openmindeducation.com/episode63
Newsletter - https://openmindeducation.com/thought-weekly/
Booking Requests - https://openmindeducation.com/booking-request/
The School of Wellbeing is one of the best health and wellbeing podcasts for teachers and educators!

Nov 24, 2022 • 41min
Dr Peggy Kern: Living Well Despite The Struggles of Life | Episode 62
"The reality is we're living in complex times. There's a lot of challenges individually, but there's a lot of global challenges, and all of these have an impact on us." - Dr Peggy Kern
Struggling is a part of life, but it shouldn't have the power to stop you from living well. In this heartfelt episode of the School of Wellbeing podcast, Meg speaks with the associate professor at the University of Melbourne's Graduate School of Education, Dr Peggy Kern. The two discuss how our understanding of wellbeing has evolved and the importance of purposeful action. Learn why actions affect individuals differently and how to apply this knowledge. You'll walk away with practical ways to feel, function and relate better despite the struggle of everyday life.
Episode 62 Show notes - https://openmindeducation.com/episode62
Newsletter - https://openmindeducation.com/thought-weekly/
Booking Requests - https://openmindeducation.com/booking-request/
The School of Wellbeing is one of the best health and wellbeing podcasts for teachers and educators!

Nov 17, 2022 • 41min
David Gillespie: Sweet Poison & The Addictive Nature of Sugar | Episode 61
“Sugar is an addictive substance.” - David Gillespie
Get ready for an episode that will change the way you look at your eating, exercise and wellbeing habits. In this week's episode, David Gillespie, author of Sweet Poison, chats with Meg Durham about the surprising dangers of sugar and its addictive nature. In a diet culture that tells us to eat less fat and eat more of this or that in order to lose weight, we've numbed ourselves to the science-backed knowledge that sugar is the most significant problem humans face.
If you're after better energy, happiness and health, consuming less sugar could be your solution. David shares precisely why the food industry tries to hide this information from you and continues loading processed foods with hidden sugar. You'll walk away from this conversation with the motivation to reduce sugar intake and practical ways to enjoy food without sugar.
Episode 61 Show notes - https://openmindeducation.com/episode61
Newsletter - https://openmindeducation.com/thought-weekly/
Booking Requests - https://openmindeducation.com/booking-request/
Barham Live Event - Click here to book your ticket!
The School of Wellbeing is one of the best health and wellbeing podcasts for teachers and educators!

Nov 10, 2022 • 47min
Lisa Curry: Shares Her Personal Stories of Life, Love and Loss | Episode 60
"It's really hard to look after your family when your cup is empty." - Lisa Curry
TRIGGER WARNING: This episode contains adult conversations about disordered eating and mental illness. Please make sure you're in a good headspace before listening. And if you need to talk to someone, please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.
You have probably heard of Lisa Curry, triple Olympic gold medallist and wellness entrepreneur. You may have even thought you knew her based on the editorials you've read and seen about her. But how well do we really know someone in the spotlight? In this deeply heartfelt conversation, Lisa opens up to Meg about the experiences that have shaped her life.
Lisa talks about the highs and lows that life has brought her. She helps shed light on the qualities that make a high-impact coach, why a strong work ethic is vital to success, her heart-breaking struggle to support her daughter Jaimi, and so much more.
You'll walk away feeling more connected, better understanding who the real Lisa is, and inspired to bring more dedication and commitment into every facet of your life.
Episode 60 Show notes - https://openmindeducation.com/episode60
Newsletter - https://openmindeducation.com/thought-weekly/
Booking Requests - https://openmindeducation.com/booking-request/
Barham Live Event - Click here to book your ticket!
The School of Wellbeing is one of the best health and wellbeing podcasts for teachers and educators!

Nov 3, 2022 • 51min
Dr Sarah Woodhouse: We All Carry Trauma & How To Break Free | Episode 59
“Trauma is a reaction to any experience that makes us feel threatened, overwhelmed and out of control.” - Dr Sarah Woodhouse
Whether you’re aware of it or not, trauma affects every person, every day. It can show up in yourself or through the people closest to you. And inevitably it can affect your relationships, career and personal wellbeing. So how do you work through life trauma? In this heartfelt episode, Meg Durham speaks with Sarah Woodhouse, a research psychologist and trauma expert, about how to regulate trauma. Learn what trauma is, how to recognise trauma and dysregulation in yourself and others, how to regulate your nervous system, and ultimately how to reduce the pressure to enjoy your life to the fullest.
Episode 58 Show notes - https://openmindeducation.com/episode59
Newsletter - https://openmindeducation.com/thought-weekly/
Booking Requests - https://openmindeducation.com/booking-request/
The School of Wellbeing is one of the best health and wellbeing podcasts for teachers and educators!

Oct 27, 2022 • 26min
Meg Durham: The Guilt Trap & How To Break Free | Episode 58
"Feel guilty and do it anyway" Meg Durham
When was the last time you felt guilty? Was it yesterday, today, or perhaps even in the past hour? Feeling guilty, as awful as it might feel in the moment, is a healthy predictable human experience. And surprisingly, it often arises when we’re making positive changes in our life. In this solo episode, Meg explores how guilt differs from shame, why we experience guilt and the subjective nature of guilt. You’ll hear about how guilt can show up in our life, especially when we’re stuck in the 5 Ps. Most importantly, you’ll walk away from this episode with practical strategies to help you move beyond the guilt trap for better wellbeing in your personal and professional life.
Episode 58 Show notes - https://openmindeducation.com/episode58
Newsletter - https://openmindeducation.com/thought-weekly/
Booking Requests - https://openmindeducation.com/booking-request/
Barham Live Event - Click here to book your ticket!
The School of Wellbeing is one of the best health and wellbeing podcasts for teachers and educators!