Well-Led Schools Podcast

Educators across the country are burning out, feeling undervalued, and walking away from the profession in increasing numbers. While the headlines often focus on pay or staffing gaps, many of us working in schools know that the issues run far deeper. The loss of trust in teachers, unrealistic expectations, and a disconnect between policy and practice are all contributing to a school culture that feels increasingly unsustainable.

In this episode of the Well-Led Schools podcast, we’re joined by Brad Gaynor, an experienced education leader, coach, and passionate advocate for system-wide change. 

With decades of frontline and leadership experience, Brad brings clarity, compassion, and practical wisdom to this complex conversation. Together, we unpack what’s really behind the teacher crisis and explore what needs to shift, both in mindset and in action, to rebuild trust, restore wellbeing and retain our best educators.

In this episode, we cover:

• The deeper, often overlooked reasons why educators are choosing to leave the profession
• How can we shift the public and internal narrative of education to restore trust in teachers and their expertise
• Simple, actionable steps schools and leaders can take now to move from just talk to genuine transformation
• Real-world examples of what strategies are already working well in schools to reduce burnout and stress for educators

About Brad:

Brad is a respected education leader, budding author, and advocate for sustainable change in Australian schools.

With over 35 years of experience as a teacher, principal and education leader, Brad brings a grounded, frontline perspective to the complex realities facing today’s educators.

Brad currently supports schools and leaders in strategic improvement, leadership development, and school culture enhancement. Brad is passionate about building high-performing teams, leading change, and promoting leadership wellbeing. His strong background in policy, curriculum development, and reform has shaped his advocacy for practical, sustainable solutions in education.

Links and Resources:

Explore the Well-Led Schools Partnership Program

Articles Mentioned in the Episode:

• Brad’s Article: Beyond Band-Aids: What it Will Really Take to Keep Teachers
• Brad’s Article: Education: We Know What’s Wrong. So Let’s Fix It!
• Brad’s Article: But What About School Leaders?
• My Article: Supporting Teacher and Staff Professional Identity: A Key to Enhancing Wellbeing and School Culture
• My Article: Effective Strategies for Addressing Increased Teacher Workloads
• Workload Reduction Toolkit 

Thank you so much for listening. I’m so honoured that you’re here and would be so grateful if you could leave me a review on Apple Podcasts or on your preferred podcast app, that way we can inspire and educate even more people together.

Connect with Brad via:

His website: bradgaynor.com.au 

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/brad-gaynor-92b68b53 

On Instagram: @brad_coaching 

Email:  [email protected] 

Connect with me via:

My website: adriennehornby.com.au 

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/adrienne-hornby-a4126a205/ 

Email: [email protected] 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Difficult conversations are a part of every educator’s world, whether it's addressing performance concerns, navigating team dynamics, or holding a student’s wellbeing at the center of a tough decision. But let’s be honest: many of us dread them. They’re uncomfortable, emotionally charged, and often feel easier to avoid. The problem is that avoiding these conversations can come at a high cost to trust, morale, and ultimately, the school's culture.

In this episode, I’m joined by leadership and culture expert Shane Michael Hatton, who has spent the past decade helping leaders across the globe communicate more effectively and build healthier, more connected teams. Shane shares practical insights and mindset shifts to help school leaders approach difficult conversations with more clarity, courage and compassion. Whether you’re a principal, middle leader, or classroom teacher, you’ll come away from this episode feeling more equipped to lean into the conversations that matter most.

In this episode, we explore:

• What makes a conversation “difficult”, and why they’re so commonly avoided
• The hidden costs of avoidance and what’s at stake when we stay silent
• Why the "conversations before the conversation" matter just as much as the main event
• How to foster psychological safety so that open dialogue becomes the norm
• The leadership traits and everyday behaviours that build trust and rapport with staff
• Shane’s simple framework for navigating difficult conversations with greater impact
• How to balance empathy and care with clarity and accountability
• What to do after the conversation, and why follow-through is where trust is either built or broken

About Shane:

Shane Michael Hatton is a globally recognised author, speaker, and leadership expert with over a decade of experience in helping leaders and teams thrive. Combining a strong foundation in business and psychology, Shane equips leaders to communicate with impact, build trust, and create high-performing team cultures. He’s the author of two books, including the bestselling Let’s Talk Culture – The Conversations You Need to Create the Team You Want, and the host of the podcast Phone Calls With Clever People.

Shane’s insights have been featured in renowned publications, including Harvard Business Review, Forbes, and The Australian. As an executive coach and facilitator, he’s worked with organisations across the public, private, and not-for-profit sectors, both in Australia and internationally. Today, Shane is on a mission to elevate how leaders think and talk about culture — one courageous conversation at a time.

Links and Resources:

Well-Led Schools Partnership Program

Watch Shane’s video series: Nine Leadership Shifts

https://shanemhatton.com/firsttimeleader/

Thank you so much for listening. I’m so honoured that you’re here and would be so grateful if you could leave me a review on Apple Podcasts or on your preferred podcast app, that way we can inspire and educate even more people together.

Connect with Shane via:

His website: shanehattonspeaks.com 

Instagram: instagram.com/shanemhatton

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/shanemhatton

Listen to his podcast: Phone Calls With Clever People Podcast

Connect with me via:

My website: adriennehornby.com.au 

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/adrienne-hornby-a4126a205/ 

Email: [email protected] 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ever feel like your to-do list is never-ending, your inbox is overflowing, and no matter how hard you try to get ahead, you’re always playing catch-up? You’re not alone. As leaders and educators, we’re constantly juggling lesson planning, meetings, emails, student needs, and—oh yeah—our own lives. The weight of it all can feel overwhelming, and finding a sense of balance can seem impossible.

In this episode of the Well-Led Schools Podcast, I sit down with Michelle Gauthier, a life coach who specialises in helping high-achievers transform overwhelm into calm. Michelle knows firsthand what it’s like to live life on overdrive, and she’s made it her mission to help others create a more intentional and less stressful way of living. 

Together, we unpack the root causes of overwhelm, how to shift our mindset, and—most importantly—practical strategies that will help you regain control of your time, energy and wellbeing. If you’re looking for realistic, actionable ways to manage stress and create a sense of calm (even in the busiest seasons), this episode is for you.

In this episode, we cover:

• The differences between stress and overwhelm and what it actually means to be overwhelmed
• Above and below the surface causes of overwhelm
• The importance of mindset in managing feelings of overwhelm
• Practical strategies to improve time management and productivity without overwhelm
• How to plan for interruptions and maintain flexibility in your schedule 

About Michelle:

Michelle Gauthier is a life coach dedicated to helping high achievers move from overwhelm to calm. After spending over 20 years in corporate America leading businesses through simplification and efficiency strategies, she took a leap into life coaching and never looked back. Since 2017, she’s helped hundreds of women reduce stress, create clarity, and build more intentional lives. She’s also the host of Overwhelmed Working Woman, where she shares practical tools to help busy professionals find balance—without guilt.

When she’s not coaching, Michelle is a single mom to two teenagers and a dog mom to Pippi. She’s an adventurer at heart. She believes in the power of less is more and is on a mission to help people create lives that feel calmer, more organised and full of joy.

Links and Resources:

Explore our Staff Wellbeing Survey Packages: https://adriennehornby.com.au/staff-survey/ 

Thank you so much for listening. I’m so honoured that you’re here and would be so grateful if you could leave me a review on Apple Podcasts or on your preferred podcast app, that way we can inspire and educate even more people together.

Connect with Michelle via:

Her Website:  www.michellegauthier.com  

On Instagram: @michellegauthiercoaching  

Listen to her podcast: Overwhelmed Working Woman

Episode 51: Create Productivity Without Overwhelm This Week With The "Calendar Clean-Out Method"

Check out her free resources:

Discover the root causes of your overwhelm with this free quiz

Stop Feeling Overwhelmed Guide

Fresh Start Morning Worksheet and Mini Course

Connect with me via:

My website: adriennehornby.com.au 

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/adrienne-hornby-a4126a205/ 

Email: [email protected] 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of the Well-Led Schools Podcast, I sit down with educator and behaviour specialist Bernii Godwin to explore what it truly means to love students on purpose. We discuss how building relationships rooted in respect, honor, and care can empower students far more effectively than control or punishment. Bernii challenges the common myths about student behavior management in education, including the idea that it’s a problem to be solved rather than a dynamic to be understood. Together, we unpack how fear and the need for control often shape the way we manage classrooms—and why shifting toward connection and skill-building leads to more meaningful, lasting change.

In this episode, we cover:

• An alternative approach to student behaviour management that involves meeting them we’re they’re at on an individual level
• What loving your students actually means
• The roadblocks that prevent educators, or even parents, from respecting, honoring and caring for our students and children
• The guiding principles of loving your students on purpose and how the same can be applied to relationships with other adults
• The difference between behaviour management and behaviour education and why the latter is an effective approach to supporting students, staff and community
• How to maintain a healthy balance between respect, boundaries and loving our students
• Common misconceptions about student behaviour management
• An introduction to the empowerment model and how we can use it to empower ourselves and others
• Practical strategies that will enable you to love your students (and other humans) on purpose

About Bernii: 

Bernii Godwin is the Director and Principal Consultant at Godwin Consulting, bringing over two decades of experience in the education and human services sectors. With a background that spans maternity to aged care, Bernii has developed a unique expertise in helping individuals, families, and organisations understand their needs and meet them effectively while respecting the rights of others.

Since 2002, Bernii has worked predominantly in the educator sector, partnering with schools, children, and families to build internally responsible behaviour cultures that promote healthy boundaries, love, respect, and joyful responsibility. She has witnessed transformative cultural shifts in schools, moving from environments driven by fear and control to ones centered on love, trust, and empowerment.

Bernii holds a master’s in Social Work, a Graduate Certificate in Neuropsychotherapy, and a Bachelor of Human Services/Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and Criminal Justice, majoring in youth and family justice. She is also a ‘Loving on Purpose’ Trainer and a John Maxwell Team Member, along with being a Maxwell Method DISC Consultant. With a wealth of knowledge and experience, Bernii is passionate about helping educators and school communities build meaningful connections that foster growth and positive change.

Links and Resources:

• Apply to join the Well-Led Schools Partnership program: adriennehornby.com.au/school-partnerships 
• Explore Bernii’s free resources for educators: https://godwinconsulting.com.au/books-and-resources/

Thank you so much for listening. I’m so honoured that you’re here and would be so grateful if you could leave me a review on Apple Podcasts or on your preferred podcast app, that way we can inspire and educate even more people together.

Connect with Bernii Godwin via:

Her website: www.godwinconsulting.com.au

Email: [email protected]

LinkedIn: https://linktr.ee/BerniiGodwin

Facebook and Instagram: @Godwin_Consulting

Get her book: Loving our Students on Purpose (all online platforms for print & audio, their website or in store in Koorong)

Connect with me via:

My website

Linkedin

Instagram 

Email

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.