Perspectives in Parryville

About Perspectives in Parryville

Unexpected and profound insights from smart people you’d like to meet. Mark Parry has a perspective, but as a conduit, he wants you to hear the perspectives of others. Mark’s longstanding commitment to learning, teaching and communication gets more engaging than ever as he chats with a broad and diverse range of intelligent, friendly and interesting people—artists, researchers, scientists, psychologists, film makers—who are thinking up new ideas and then getting on with making a big or small impact on the world. Mark takes time to listen to their perspectives, and so can you. If you ever wanted to know what the shattered ideology of the American dream looks like as a self-aware oil painting on instagram or how reflection and creative thought helps a scientific researcher in pursuit of a cancer cure or what melodramatic sex on 70s Australian television tells us about the politics of our society, then look no further. The goal: to get big, complex, challenging, important and contemporary ideas out to listeners that never knew they were interested. This is Perspectives in Parryville. Music by Oly Marlan www.olymarlan.com/

Publisher

Mark Parry

Category

society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

2 Feb 2019

Latest episode

30 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

89 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   30 Sept 2026

   Ep85: Glenn Solomons, Educator & Learning Designer

   Today, my guest is Glenn Solomons, an educator, learning designer and professional learning specialist whose career has taken him from art and design and studies in architecture, through to classroom teaching and school leadership, to designing professional learning experiences. Glenn shares how ten years in the classroom gradually led him into school leadership, where he discovered another passion: working with adults and facilitating teacher professional learning. Glenn describes the twists and turns that took him beyond the school classroom, from designing professional learning for school leaders across Australia, to developing online and blended learning and eventually establishing his own business, Cheeky Learning. We take a closer look at one of Glenn's recent projects with the Tasmanian Department for Education, Children and Young People, where he co-designed a series of online modules to support teacher mentors working with early career teachers. We explore the challenges that led to the project, the importance of co-design, the use of case studies and storyboarding, and the value of testing and gathering feedback on learning design approaches with real teachers. Our conversation also explores some of the human side of learning design. Glenn talks about trust, relationships, empathy and responsibility—and why understanding the people you're working with can be just as important as having a sound design process. We discuss the idea of being "kind to the person, tough on ideas", and how relationships can help people navigate differences of opinion without turning them into personal conflicts. Throughout our conversation is Glenn's strong belief that professional learning needs to bridge the gap between theory and practice. That is, rather than simply giving participants interesting information and sending them on their way, Glenn asks a simple question: Will this make a difference to what someone does tomorrow or Monday morning? We unpack Glenn's own learning design process—from understanding the problem you're actually trying to solve, through sequencing content into a coherent learning "thread", using case studies to apply ideas, developing action plans, and testing and iterating the final product. Glenn offers thoughtful reflections on designing learning that is practical, human and genuinely useful. Links: https://www.cheekylearning.com.au/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/glenn-solomons-5a3373128/

2. 

   19 Aug 2026

   Ep84: Lucy Blakemore, Researcher, Educator and Student Experience Specialist

   Today, my guest is Lucy Blakemore, a researcher, educator and student experience specialist whose career has taken a wonderfully non-linear path from studying German and Italian literature, to market research, English language teaching, educational technology and, more recently, research and insights in higher education. In this episode, Lucy reflects on growing up in the UK and choosing university subjects not because they pointed towards a particular career, but simply because they were things she enjoyed and was good at. She shares how studying languages opened up opportunities to travel and experience other cultures, and how a volunteering experience teaching English in Sudan led to an early realisation that she was fascinated by people's stories – and by asking questions. We explore Lucy's 25-year relationship with research, from conducting focus groups and interviews for everything from chocolate and cars to healthcare, through to her current work investigating student experiences and higher education. Lucy offers insights into the surprising connections between market research, teaching and learning design, and how skills developed in one career can quietly become the foundations for another. In our conversation, we explore Lucy's current research into leadership practices in international education. Rather than asking what makes a 'good leader', Lucy is interested in what leaders actually do – how they spend their days, build relationships, listen, navigate complex organisations and respond to the environments around them. We explore a simple technique of asking people to describe how she could essentially "be them for a day", revealing the often invisible practices that underpin leadership. We also discuss Lucy's research into community and belonging in higher education, and challenge some common assumptions about today's students. Rather than asking whether students belong to a university community, Lucy explores how universities might better understand and connect with the many communities that students already inhabit. We consider the role of learning design, online learning, equity and facilitation in creating meaningful opportunities for students to connect with one another. And throughout our conversation is a recurring theme: the power of asking questions. For Lucy, curiosity isn't simply a personality trait – it's a professional skill, especially when conducting research, designing learning, teaching, leading or simply trying to understand another person. Lucy reflects on her own unplanned career journey, the value of being open to unexpected opportunities, and why sometimes dismantling the career ladder you thought you were supposed to climb can lead somewhere much more interesting. Links: https://www.lucyblakemore.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucyblakemore/

3. 

   14 Aug 2026

   Ep83: Mark Schuster, Environmental Educator, Musician and Bushfire Technical Officer

   Today, my guest is Mark Schuster, an environmental educator, musician and bushfire technical officer whose lifelong passion for Australia's natural environment has shaped a deeply personal career in nature, conservation, Australian history, music, education and bushfire management. In this episode, Mark reflects on growing up in suburban Brisbane, where an early fascination with bushland, birds and books set him on a path that would lead to studies in zoology, rainforest ecology and conservation. He shares the mentors, chance encounters and unexpected twists that shaped his journey—from an unsuccessful PhD that ultimately opened new doors, to a career spanning scientific research, public service, environmental management and community engagement. Our conversation explores Mark's enduring commitment to preserving Australia's cultural and natural heritage. He recounts decades spent travelling through rural Queensland recording traditional bush music, German-Australian folk songs and oral histories, preserving stories that might otherwise have disappeared. We also discuss the power of music, memory and storytelling, and the importance of passing cultural traditions from one generation to the next. The Schuster Collection, part of the National Library of Australia, contains recordings of folk songs and dance music from Queensland and also stories, legends and recollections of customs and immigrant settlement, particularly German and Scandinavian in rural Queensland. Mark plays many of the old German-Queensland dance tunes on his traditional button accordion. Mark offers valuable insights into bushfire ecology and his current work helping communities prepare for bushfire risk in Sydney's northern bushland suburbs. We discuss the relationship between people and place, the value of walking as a way of observing and understanding the environment, and the emerging collaboration between Western fire science and Aboriginal cultural burning practices. We wander into conversations about poetry, nature writing, the influence of Australian poets including Judith Wright and Amy Mack, and the role that curiosity, generosity and lifelong learning have played throughout Mark's life. Mark shares his belief that caring for landscapes and the environment also means caring for people and the stories they carry. Links: https://www.library.gov.au/research/guides-and-resources/guides-selected-collections/schuster-collection https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-schuster-033248a8/ https://germanydownunder.com/

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

270,754

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Spotify

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 69 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

82

Social presence

0

YouTube

82

Engagement

60

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Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.