PODCAST

As the rates of professional stress and burnout increase for school leaders, teachers and staff, the solution lies in how we lead our schools and prioritise workplace wellbeing to become “Well-Led” Schools – those that lead with “wellbeing in mind.”

Join experienced Wellbeing Consultant, Coach, Speaker and School Leader Adrienne Hornby for a host of inspiring conversations with experts and forward thinkers. Covering all things teacher wellbeing, school leadership and culture building – you’ll walk away with ideas and recommendations on ways to evolve your leadership, create a mentally healthy workplace and ultimately influence the lives and learning of our students.

From Programs to System: Building Whole-School Wellbeing That Works with Justin Robinson | Season 4: Episode 7

Most schools have wellbeing programs or initiatives. Very few have wellbeing embedded into the way they function and flourish. That is the difference between bolting something on and creating real, lasting change. In this episode, I am joined by Justin Robinson, co-founder of the Wellbeing Distillery and formerly the founding ...

What Educators Actually Need to Feel Purposeful Again with Glen Gerreyn | Season 4: Episode 6

It’s the start of a new term. And if you’re honest, some of your staff are walking back into school running on empty, not because they don’t care, but because they’ve lost sight of why it matters. What educators actually need to feel purposeful again isn’t another wellbeing afternoon or ...

From Burnout to Breakthrough: The Leadership Reset with Brad Gaynor | Season 4: Episode 5

Burnout in school leadership is rarely dramatic. More often, it looks like a principal who has driven home in tears after holding it together all day, or a leader who lies awake at 2 am running through tomorrow’s decisions, or someone quietly building a wall between who they are at ...

Ferocious Warmth: Leading with Both the Head and the Heart with Tracey Ezard | Season 4: Episode 4

What does it really look like to lead with both strength and care — to be ferocious and warm at the very same time? In this episode of Well-Led Schools, I'm joined by leadership expert, author and speaker Tracey Ezard for one of the most energising conversations I've had on ...

Emotional Intelligence in Schools: Why It Changes Everything with Emma Gentle | Season 4: Episode 3

Emotional intelligence is not an optional extra in schools. It is a foundational capability that influences how leaders lead, how staff relate, and in terms of wellbeing and psychosocial safety. In this episode, I’m joined by Emma Gentle, former teacher and Assistant Principal turned Emotional Intelligence Coach, to explore why ...

It’s Not Just a Script: The Real Power of Restorative Practices in Schools with Kristy Elliot | Season 4: Episode 2

If you’ve ever heard restorative practices described as “just a script” or a “soft option”, you’re not alone. In many schools, restorative language can feel confusing, incomplete or disconnected from the real work of relationships, culture and wellbeing. When that happens, staff often dismiss it as something that doesn’t “work” ...

Who Really Shapes Morale in Schools | Season 4: Episode 1

If you’ve ever felt the energy dip at school or amongst your team (or yourself!), you already know this episode isn’t about “morale boosters” or surface-level feel-good strategies. It’s about the deeper truth many schools miss: morale is shaped at multiple levels, and the most powerful influences aren’t always the ...
Wired, Tired and Overwhelmed: The Physiology of Stress with Bianca McLeish

Wired, Tired and Overwhelmed: The Physiology of Stress with Bianca McLeish | Season 3: Episode 18

 If you’ve worked in a school for more than five minutes, you know that stress in education doesn’t always arrive as a dramatic “I can’t do this anymore” moment. More often, it creeps in quietly through the constant rushing, the emotional load of caring for students, the relentless pace and ...
How Educators Can Navigate Anxiety and Build Emotional Resilience with Dr. Jodi Richardson

How Educators Can Navigate Anxiety and Build Emotional Resilience with Dr. Jodi Richardson | Season 3: Episode 17

 We’ve all experienced it to some degree…the racing heart, sweaty palms, dizziness and that fleeting sense of losing control. In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Jodi Richardson to talk about one of the most common yet misunderstood experiences in both our personal and professional lives: anxiety. As educators, ...