The School of Wellbeing with Meg Durham

About The School of Wellbeing with Meg Durham

Modern education is intense, fast paced and constantly changing. If you're feeling stretched, overwhelmed or running on empty, you're not the only one. The School of Wellbeing is for teachers, educators, school support staff and school leaders who want to move beyond survival and thrive by design. Hosted by wellbeing speaker and teacher wellbeing specialist Meg Durham, each episode features honest conversations with experienced educators and wellbeing experts who understand the realities of school life. You'll discover practical, evidence informed strategies and inspiring stories to help you navigate the challenges of education with more energy, clarity and confidence, so you can support others without losing yourself along the way.

Publisher

Meg Durham

Category

education · health & fitness · kids & family

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

16 Sept 2021

Latest episode

7 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

219 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   7 Sept 2026

   Meg Durham: Finishing Strong, Closing One Chapter & Beginning Another | Episode 173

   “I really crave that sense of belonging and being with colleagues again.” - Meg Durham How do you know when it’s time to close one chapter and begin another? After 13 years in business, more than 300 schools and 173 podcast episodes, Meg Durham (https://www.megdurham.com/) is closing an incredibly meaningful chapter of her life. In this final episode of The School of Wellbeing, the tables are turned as psychologist, author and longtime friend of the podcast Dr Rebecca Ray (https://www.instagram.com/drrebeccaray/) joins Meg to reflect on the journey that began by accident and grew into a career dedicated to supporting the wellbeing of big-hearted school staff across the globe. Together, they look back on the people, experiences and opportunities that have shaped Meg’s work, the lessons she has learned from working with thousands of educators, and the evolution of her thinking about wellbeing, education and what it means to do meaningful work. Meg also shares how she knew it was time for a change, why she has made the decision to return to teaching, and what she is looking forward to as she steps away from running her own business and into a new chapter within schools. This is a conversation about endings, beginnings, trusting yourself when you know it’s time for change, and the gratitude that comes from looking back at work that has mattered deeply. ---- In this episode, you'll learn: What working with more than 300 schools has taught Meg about educators and wellbeing. How Meg’s understanding of wellbeing has evolved over the years. How Meg knew it was time to bring this chapter to a close. Why Meg has decided to return to teaching and working within schools. What Meg is looking forward to in this next chapter. And so much more... ---- Chapter Markers: 02:50 How The School of Wellbeing began 09:40 What Meg is most proud of 12:10 How the work changed Meg 22:40 Saying goodbye to the podcast community 25:10 What 13 years of working with educators has taught Meg 27:35 How Meg knew it was time for a change 32:00 Craving community, connection and belonging 35:10 Why Meg is returning to teaching 45:20 What Meg is most looking forward to 46:30 Looking back and looking ahead ---- Reflection prompts: I am most grateful for... I want to invest my precious time and energy into... My next chapter looks like... The deliberate action I will take after listening to this episode is... ---- Episode 173 Show Notes – Click here (https://www.megdurham.com/podcast/episode173). ---- Dr Rebecca Ray – Website (https://rebeccaray.com.au/) | LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-rebecca-ray-68831b238/) | Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/drrebeccaray/) ---- Meg Durham – Website (https://www.megdurham.com/) | LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/meg-durham/) | Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/megdurham__/) --- Your Questions Answered: Why is Meg Durham ending The School of Wellbeing podcast? After 173 episodes, Meg has decided the time is right to bring The School of Wellbeing podcast to a close as part of a broader transition away from running her own wellbeing and speaking business. After 13 years, Meg feels ready for a new chapter and is returning to working within schools. How did Meg know it was time for a change? There wasn’t one defining moment. Instead, Meg describes the decision as a “slow reveal”, with a growing sense that her life was changing and a new chapter was coming. Why is Meg returning to teaching? Meg is looking forward to returning to the everyday rhythm of school life, being part of a team and contributing directly to a school community. After years of working across hundreds of schools, she is excited to bring what she has learned back into the classroom and experience education from within a school again. What has Meg learned from working with more than 300 schools? Across 13 years of working with educators and school communities, Meg has seen the extraordinary care, commitment and generosity that educators bring to their work. She has also learned that even the most big-hearted humans need to consider the cost of continually giving more. What is Meg’s final message to listeners? “You are enough, you are doing enough and I’m cheering you on.” Meg Durham ---- The School of Wellbeing Podcast is one of Australia's leading wellbeing podcasts for teachers, educators and school leaders. Across 173 episodes, the podcast has shared practical insights, meaningful conversations and real stories to help educators take care of themselves while doing the work they care deeply about.

2. 

   24 Aug 2026

   Dr Leon Furze: AI In Education & Practical Insights for School Staff | Episode 172

   "The heart of education remains unchanged. The relationships we build, the questions we ask, the critical thinking we nurture, and the care we show our students remain at the heart of great education." Dr Leon Furze (https://leonfurze.com/) Artificial intelligence is transforming education at an extraordinary pace. But alongside the excitement comes uncertainty. How does AI actually work? What are its limitations? How can educators use it ethically, thoughtfully and without losing sight of what matters most? In this episode, Meg Durham (https://www.megdurham.com/) is joined by educator, author and AI specialist Dr Leon Furze (https://www.linkedin.com/in/leonfurze/). Together, they unpack how AI works, the opportunities it presents for teachers and students, the ethical considerations schools need to navigate, and why educators don't need to have all the answers to begin engaging with this technology. Throughout the conversation, Dr Furze encourages us to move beyond seeing AI as simply an advanced search engine and instead understand its broader capabilities. He also explores how AI can support inclusion, reduce workload and improve accessibility, while reminding us that the future of education will always be shaped by relationships, professional judgement and human connection. Whether you're feeling curious, cautious or completely overwhelmed by AI, this episode will help you better understand the technology, think more critically about its role in schools, and feel more confident navigating the future of education. ---- In this episode, you'll learn: How AI actually works and what large language models do. The limitations, risks and ethical considerations of AI in education. The biggest opportunities AI presents for teachers, students and school leaders. How AI can support inclusion and assistive technology for diverse learners. Practical ways educators can become more confident and skilled in using AI. What the future of AI in education may look like, and what schools should be preparing for now. And so much more... ---- Chapter Markers: 02:30 What AI is and how it actually works 06:00 The limitations, bias and ethical challenges of AI 09:20 The biggest concerns educators have about AI 13:00 Helping students, staff and parents navigate AI 17:30 The opportunities AI presents for education 18:00 AI as assistive technology and supporting inclusion 23:20 How educators can become more confident using AI 30:10 The risks of moving too quickly with AI 32:50 The future of AI in education 37:40 What every educator should keep in mind ---- Reflection prompts: I would like to learn more about... One way AI could genuinely support my work is... One conversation my school needs to have about AI is... One deliberate action I will take after listening to this episode is... ---- Episode 172 Show Notes – Click here (https://www.megdurham.com/podcast/episode172). ---- Dr Leon Furze – Website (https://leonfurze.com/) | LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/leonfurze/) | Practical AI Strategies 2: The Critical Guide to GenAI in Education (https://ambapress.com.au/collections/leon-furze) ---- Meg Durham – Website (https://www.megdurham.com/) | LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/meg-durham/) | Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/megdurham__/) Weekly Newsletter – Subscribe here Speaker Booking – Complete the booking form to start the conversation. ---- Your Questions Answered: How does AI actually work? Dr Leon Furze explains that AI models learn patterns from enormous datasets rather than thinking or understanding information in the way humans do. Large language models are trained on trillions of words, enabling them to predict and generate text, images, audio and code based on the patterns they have learned. What are the limitations of AI? AI is not neutral. Dr Furze discusses important limitations including bias in training data, environmental impacts, copyright concerns, privacy considerations and the influence of the companies that build these technologies. Understanding these limitations helps educators make more informed decisions about how and when to use AI. How can AI support teachers and students? One of AI's greatest opportunities lies in reducing workload and improving accessibility. Dr Furze shares how AI can support lesson planning, curriculum design and administrative tasks, while also acting as powerful assistive technology through voice transcription, personalised supports and tools that increase access for students with diverse learning needs. What does the future of AI in education look like? Rather than asking whether AI belongs in schools, Dr Furze encourages educators to consider how it can be used thoughtfully and responsibly. While technology will continue to evolve, the foundations of great education remain unchanged. Relationships, curiosity, professional judgement and human connection will continue to shape great teaching. ---- The School of Wellbeing Podcast is one of Australia's leading wellbeing podcasts for teachers, educators and school leaders.

3. 

   10 Aug 2026

   Prof Dawn Adams: Autism Insights & The Invisible Demands Of School Life | Episode 171

   "I wish that educators knew how hard autistic students are working to be in your classroom." - Professor Dawn Adams What does every educator need to know about autism? Every day, autistic students navigate a world that often asks them to process more, adapt more and work harder than those around them realise. Yet much of this effort remains invisible. The more we understand their experience, the better equipped we are to create classrooms where every student feels understood, supported and able to thrive. In this episode, Meg Durham (https://www.instagram.com/megdurham__/) is joined by Professor Dawn Adams (https://scholars.latrobe.edu.au/d4adams), Director of the Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre at La Trobe University and one of Australia's leading autism researchers. Together, they explore what autism is, how it can present differently from one student to another, and why there is no single autistic experience. They discuss common myths and misconceptions, masking, autistic burnout, and practical ways we can create classrooms where autistic students feel understood, supported and able to thrive. Throughout the conversation, Professor Adams encourages us to look beyond behaviour, replace assumptions with curiosity, and better understand the invisible sensory, social and communication demands many autistic students navigate every day. Whether you're a teacher, school leader or education support staff member, this episode will deepen your understanding of autism and leave you with practical strategies to better support the autistic students in your care. ---- In this episode, you'll learn: What autism is and why there is no single autistic experience. How autism can present differently from one student to another. Why looking beyond behaviour is key to understanding autistic students. What masking and autistic burnout are, and why they matter in schools. How respectful language, curiosity and small adjustments can make a big difference. Practical ways to create classrooms where autistic students feel understood, supported and able to thrive. ---- Chapter Markers: 01:40 Why autistic students are working harder than we realise 03:20 What is autism? 07:00 How autism can present differently from one student to another 16:10 Common myths and misconceptions about autism 23:20 Understanding masking and what we might not see 25:45 Autistic burnout and why it matters 38:00 Practical strategies to better support autistic students 43:50 What Professor Dawn Adams would like us all to keep in mind ---- Reflection prompts: I now know that... One deliberate action I will make in my classroom is... One conversation I need to have with a colleague or family is... I give myself permission to... ---- Episode 171 Shownotes – Click here (https://www.megdurham.com/podcast/episode171) ---- Proffesor Dawn Adams – Website (https://scholars.latrobe.edu.au/d4adams) | LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawn-adams-research/) ---- Meg Durham - Website (http://www.megdurham.com/) | LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/meg-durham/) | Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/megdurham__/) Weekly Newsletter - Subscribe here (https://www.megdurham.com/newsletter) Speaker Booking - Complete the booking form (https://www.megdurham.com/book) to start the conversation. ---- Your Questions Answered: What is autism? Professor Dawn Adams describes autism as a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition that influences how the brain develops, processes information and responds to the world. Rather than viewing autism through a lens of deficits or focusing on what a person can't do, she encourages us to recognise autism as a different way of thinking, communicating and experiencing the world. Autism is not something a person grows out of. Autistic children become autistic adults, and understanding autism means appreciating both the strengths and the support needs that come with different ways of processing information. What is masking in autism? Masking is when an autistic person consciously or unconsciously adapts their behaviour to fit into a predominantly neurotypical world. This might involve copying the behaviour of peers, suppressing natural responses, forcing eye contact or working hard to meet social expectations. While masking can make a student appear to be coping, it often comes at a significant cost. Professor Adams explains that a student who looks calm may not actually feel calm. The ongoing effort required to mask can contribute to exhaustion, anxiety and, over time, autistic burnout. Looking beyond what we see on the surface helps us better understand a student's experience and provide support before they reach crisis point. How can teachers better support autistic students in the classroom? Professor Adams encourages educators to begin with curiosity rather than assumptions. Instead of asking, "What's wrong with this student?", we can ask, "What might this student be experiencing?" There is no single autistic profile, so getting to know the individual student is essential. Small adjustments can make a significant difference, including providing greater predictability, offering structured choices, using respectful language, recognising sensory needs, creating opportunities for regulation, and understanding that behaviour is often communicating an unmet need rather than deliberate defiance. When we look beyond behaviour and seek to understand the invisible demands many autistic students navigate every day, we create classrooms where students feel understood, supported and able to thrive. ---- ** The School of Wellbeing Podcast is one of Australia's best health and wellbeing podcasts for teachers, educators and school leaders! **

Who has been a guest on The School of Wellbeing with Meg Durham

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Mathew Disher
• Kristen Douglas
• David Bott
• Dr Michelle McQuaid

Reach and audience

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

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

30 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 62 / 100

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

Quality

70

Social presence

94

YouTube

0

Engagement

85