English, Culture and High Expectations with Dr Chris Sarra
Chris talks with Mel about how high expectations and genuine relationships can transform lives and classrooms. The founder of the Stronger Smarter Institute shares the power of storytelling, challenging low expectations, and helping students see themselves in English. From Shakespeare and Animal Farm to community connection and cultural identity, this conversation is a powerful reminder of why teaching matters. Dr Chris Sarra is a Gurang Gurang and Taribelang Bunda man, founder and CEO of the...
16 Jun 2026
Hiding in Plain Sight with Haley Tancredi: Inclusive English Classrooms
Haley talks with Mel about what it takes to make English classrooms inclusive for students with language and attentional difficulties. This episode is packed with actionable strategies to transform access for students who struggle to translate ideas into words, without adding to the pressure of your already too-busy working life. Show notes: Find out more about Haley’s scholarly and professional work here. Purchase the Accessible Assessment Pedagogies book here. You’ll find loads...
10 May 2026
A conversation with Jane Harper
Jane Harper speaks with Julie Arnold at the ETAQ State Conference about all things gothic and crime, story and language. From her debut The Dry to her popular forward catalogue of the Aaron Falk and standalone novels, we learn about what makes her tick as a writer and how English teachers can make the most of popular fiction in the senior English classroom. Bio: Jane Harper is internationally bestselling author of the The Dry, Force of Nature, The Lost Man and The Survivors. Her books are pub...
21 Apr 2026
What We May Be with Joanna Erskine from Bell Shakespeare
Joanna Erskine talks with Mel about why we must bother with the Bard and lifts the curtain on the emerging Bell Shakespeare method — a joyful, practical, deeply human way to engage students with English’s most revered playwright’s oeuvre. If you’re ready to ditch the 40‑slide PowerPoint and teach Shakespeare with purpose and power, this one’s for you. Joanna Erskine (she/her) is an award-winning playwright, producer, speaker, teacher and arts education specialist. Joanna is the Head of Educat...
17 Mar 2026
Big Feelings in the English Classroom with Alice Elwell
Why do big feelings matter in English, and what happens when teachers make space for them? In this episode of Hoops of Steel, Mel is joined by educator and researcher Alice Elwell to explore the transformative potential of emotional inquiry in the English classroom. Alice frames affect not as something to manage or minimise, but as a vital force. Students’ (and teachers’!) emotions can be an energy that fuels student agency, deepens interaction, and opens up new pathways for learning about hu...
11 Feb 2026
Beyond The Probable: Gothic Fiction With Kim Wilkins
Why do gothic and speculative stories grip young people, and what do they offer students in uncertain times? In this episode of Hoops of Steel, Melanie Ralph is joined by Brisbane writer and academic Kim Wilkins, also known as Kimberley Freeman. Kim has published more than 30 books in over 20 languages and is a Professor of Writing and Associate Dean of Humanities Research at the University of Queensland. Together, they explore gothic literature and speculative fiction as ways of pushing back...
13 Aug 2025
Vacating the Floor with Marcus Luther
Host Julie Arnold interviews Oregon-based English teacher and podcaster Marcus Luther on fostering classroom curiosity and empowering student voices through open-ended questions.
16 Jul 2025
Healing, Teaching, Law with Wesley Enoch
Playwright Wesley Enoch AM discusses the power of storytelling in education with Julie Arnold, highlighting the importance of lived experience and creating inclusive spaces for students in this interview.
4 Jun 2025
Just because I don't like PD, doesn't mean I'm not a professional learner
English teacher Dan discusses transforming professional learning into classroom practice through deep reading and meaningful encounters, interviewed by Julie.
5 May 2025
On storytelling, language, and history with Anna Funder
How can literature help students see history as something alive and full of meaning for our present? In this episode, recorded at the ETAQ State Conference, Julie Arnold speaks with acclaimed author Anna Funder about the joy and challenges of writing stories that bring the past into sharp, human focus. In a conversation ranging through her best known work, they explore how literature can uncover hidden lives, question power, and spark fierce curiosity in the classroom. Anna Funder is one of A...
2 Apr 2025
The Paradox of Poetry with Sarah Holland-Batt and Kelli McGraw
Teaching poetry is a balancing act—can we nurture intellect and emotion while tackling curriculum and student pushback? Sarah Holland-Batt and Kelli McGraw explore the challenges of teaching poetry—how it tests us, yet sparks creativity, deep thinking, and meaningful connections. Sarah Holland-Batt is an award-winning poet, editor and critic. Her books have received a number of Australia’s leading literary awards, including the Stella Prize for her most recent book, The Jaguar, and the Prime ...
28 Feb 2025
Agency in the Age of Accountability with Jeffrey Lewis
It feels risky to invite students to experiment and make choices when there's so much pressure on student performance. Jeffrey Lewis talks about how to make space in the curriculum for students to find their own ways to get inspired. Jeffrey Lewis is currently Assistant Head of English at Brisbane Grammar School. He has previously held positions on the ETAQ Management Committee, including Director of Professional Learning and Secretary. He is an avid reader, amateur playwright, and committed ...
30 Jan 2025
The Sisyphean Task of Teaching English with Melanie Ralph
"Booklets... stay with me". Melanie Ralph believes that keeping things simple is the key to creating a joyful classroom. Her innovative teaching resources help lighten the load for her colleagues. Mel's values-driven, pragmatic approach is great for students; and it can help teachers hold onto the joy and the point of learning in English. Show notes: Mel's Website Bare Bones Teaching on YouTube ---> Join our community at https://www.etaq.org.au/ Enter the conversation at ETAQ Faceboo...
Who has been a guest on Hoops of Steel
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Marcus Luther
Wesley Enoch AM
Dan
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Spotify
5.0 / 5
22 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 41 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
44
Social presence
90
YouTube
0
Engagement
51
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