by Adam Voigt
Hosted by Adam Voigt, Real Schools of Thought is a bold, reflective podcast for principals, aspiring school leaders, and educators who are ready to rethink the way schools work. Through raw, story-rich conversations with real changemakers in education, we go beyond policies and programs to explore the personal mindset shifts, leadership moments, and cultural decisions that truly shape our schools. It’s not about being perfect, it’s about being real.
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
8/4/2025
Pitch yourself as a guest, propose sponsorships, or reach out directly to the host.
June 15, 2026
<p>When Amanda Kowalczyk arrived at Koonawarra Public School in Wollongong, something felt heavy. Kids shuffled through the gates with their heads down. The school was surrounded by barbed wire. Staff were pitying their students. And the culture was one of low expectations dressed up as compassion.</p><p></p><p>Today? Kids skip in. Staff greet families by name from every gate. And the New South Wales Department of Education has changed its policies because of what Amanda built there.</p><p></p><p>In this episode, Adam sits down with Koonawarra's principal - and one of his favourite school leaders in the country - to talk about what it actually takes to transform a complex, low-socioeconomic school from the inside out.</p><p></p><p><b>Interested in our work?</b></p><ol><li>Learn more about Real Schools<b> </b><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://realschools.com.au/" target="_blank"><b>here.</b></a></li><li>Attend one of our upcoming workshops in-person or online?<b> </b><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://realschools.com.au/events/" target="_blank"><b>Register here.</b></a></li><li>Check out our <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://realschools.com.au/student-behaviour-phd/" target="_blank"><b>Student Behaviour PhD.</b></a></li><li>Enquire about Adam Voigt's speaking engagements <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://realschools.com.au/speaker/" target="_blank"><b>here.</b></a></li><li>Get your copy of Adam's book <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://realschools.com.au/books/restoring-teaching/" target="_blank"><b>Restoring Teaching here </b></a>(It's FREE for all teachers in Australia)</li></ol>
June 8, 2026
<p>Tracey Ezard is one of Australia's most respected voices on school culture, leadership and the conditions that help adults do their best work. She is the author of <i>Ferocious Warmth</i> and has worked with over 600 schools and 16,000 educators across Australia.</p><p></p><p>She is also, as Adam makes clear from the outset, his mate. This is one of those conversations that only happens between two people who have been watching each other work for over a decade, cheering each other along and occasionally wondering what the other one is up to.</p><p></p><p>What emerges is a rich, honest discussion about what school culture actually looks like when it is struggling, what it looks like when it is thriving, and the uncomfortable gap between the two that too many schools are sitting in right now.</p><p></p><p><b>Interested in our work?</b></p><ol><li>Learn more about Real Schools<b> </b><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://realschools.com.au/" target="_blank"><b>here.</b></a></li><li>Attend one of our upcoming workshops in-person or online?<b> </b><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://realschools.com.au/events/" target="_blank"><b>Register here.</b></a></li><li>Check out our <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://realschools.com.au/student-behaviour-phd/" target="_blank"><b>Student Behaviour PhD.</b></a></li><li>Enquire about Adam Voigt's speaking engagements <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://realschools.com.au/speaker/" target="_blank"><b>here.</b></a></li><li>Get your copy of Adam's book <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://realschools.com.au/books/restoring-teaching/" target="_blank"><b>Restoring Teaching here </b></a>(It's FREE for all teachers in Australia)</li></ol><p> </p>
June 1, 2026
<h2>Overview</h2><p>Adam Voigt sits down with AFL legend and Hall of Famer Simon Madden for a conversation that covers a lot more than football. Simon is also a former teacher and assistant principal, and in this episode, he brings those two worlds together in the best way. From the teachers who shaped him as a kid to the high-performance habits he developed across decades in elite sport, Simon shares a refreshingly grounded take on what it means to lead, learn, and build a culture worth showing up for.</p><h2>About Simon Madden</h2><p>Simon Madden played 378 games for Essendon Football Club and is a member of the AFL Hall of Fame. Before and during his football career he worked as a teacher, and later as a vice principal. Since retiring from football he has built a career as a speaker, mentor and leadership consultant, working with leaders, executives and teams across a range of industries. His wife is still a practicing teacher.</p><p></p><p><b>Interested in our work?</b></p><ol><li>Learn more about Real Schools<b> </b><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://realschools.com.au/" target="_blank"><b>here.</b></a></li><li>Attend one of our upcoming workshops in-person or online?<b> </b><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://realschools.com.au/events/" target="_blank"><b>Register here.</b></a></li><li>Check out our <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://realschools.com.au/student-behaviour-phd/" target="_blank"><b>Student Behaviour PhD.</b></a></li><li>Enquire about Adam Voigt's speaking engagements <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://realschools.com.au/speaker/" target="_blank"><b>here.</b></a></li><li>Get your copy of Adam's book <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://realschools.com.au/books/restoring-teaching/" target="_blank"><b>Restoring Teaching here </b></a>(It's FREE for all teachers in Australia)</li></ol><p></p><p></p>
Discover related shows you might enjoy
Hugh van Cuylenburg, Ryan Shelton & Josh van Cuylenburg
Stitch Up
Mamamia Podcasts
ABC Australia
Mamamia Podcasts
ABC Australia
LiSTNR
A Crap Housewife Production
DOAC
Squiz Media
Mamamia Podcasts
Mamamia Podcasts
LiSTNR
Mel Robbins
Sherele Moody
Have a different question and can't find the answer you're looking for? Reach out to our support team by sending us an email and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.
Hosted by Adam Voigt, Real Schools of Thought is a bold, reflective podcast for principals, aspiring school leaders, and educators who are ready to rethink the way schools work.
Through raw, story-rich conversations with real changemakers in education, we go beyond policies and programs to explore the personal mindset shifts, leadership moments, and cultural decisions that truly shape our schools.
It’s not about being perfect, it’s about being real.
This podcast updates daily.
This podcast is available on 4 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.
Pod Engine is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected with any of the podcasts displayed on this platform. We operate independently as a podcast discovery and analytics service.
All podcast artwork, thumbnails, and content displayed on this page are the property of their respective owners and are protected by applicable copyright laws. This includes, but is not limited to, podcast cover art, episode artwork, show descriptions, episode titles, transcripts, audio snippets, and any other content originating from the podcast creators or their licensors.
We display this content under fair use principles and/or implied license for the purpose of podcast discovery, information, and commentary. We make no claim of ownership over any podcast content, artwork, or related materials shown on this platform. All trademarks, service marks, and trade names are the property of their respective owners.
While we strive to ensure all content usage is properly authorized, if you are a rights holder and believe your content is being used inappropriately or without proper authorization, please contact us immediately at hey@podengine.ai for prompt review and appropriate action, which may include content removal or proper attribution.
By accessing and using this platform, you acknowledge and agree to respect all applicable copyright laws and intellectual property rights of content owners. Any unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or commercial use of the content displayed on this platform is strictly prohibited.