Season 9
Season 10 of Talking Teaching is out now!
Talking Teaching is the flagship podcast of the University of Melbourne's Faculty of Education, bringing together leading researchers, educators, principals and policymakers to explore the ideas shaping the future of education.
Expertly hosted by Dr Sophie Specjal, each episode connects world-class research with real-world practice through engaging conversations on teaching, learning, leadership and educational innovation.
With listeners in 135 countries, Talking Teaching has become a trusted global platform for sharing evidence-informed insights from some of the most influential voices in education.
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Contact Dr Sophie Specjal directly: sspecjal@unimelb.edu.au
https://findanexpert.unimelb.edu.au/profile/1039679-sophie-specjal
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophie-specjal-phd-36712091/
Episode #8 // Indigenous Wisdom for Teaching and Nourishing Children
What can Indigenous knowledge teach us about raising and educating children? Anishinaabe scholar Professor Jan Hare, from the M’Chigeeng First Nation and Dean of the Faculty of Education at the University of British Columbia, joins host Dr Sophie Specjal to explore how Indigenous principles can guide the way we care for and teach children.
Episode #7 // John Hattie on 50 Years of Evidence, Impact and Belonging
How do we measure what truly matters in education? Laureate Professor Emeritus John Hattie joins host Dr Sophie Specjal to reflect on five decades of research, leadership and global influence.
Episode #6 // Teaching with Torres Strait Island Knowledge—A Conversation with Dr John Doolah
To mark 50 years of NAIDOC Week, Talking Teaching celebrates this year’s theme, The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy, by spotlighting the work of Dr John Doolah, a proud Torres Strait Islander and Indigenous education lecturer at the University of Melbourne.
Episode #5 // Wellbeing Literacy—Teachers and students using language to enhance wellbeing
How does language shape how we feel, relate, and learn? In this episode, host Dr. Sophie Specjal is joined by Professor Lindsay Oades, Dr Jacqui Francis and Lisa Baker to explore the emerging concept of Wellbeing Literacy; the capability to intentionally use language to foster wellbeing, including educational settings.
Episode #4 // Expanding How We Learn with Professor Guy Claxton
What if learning isn’t just about what we know, but about who we become? Professor Guy Claxton joins Talking Teaching to unpack his fascinating journey through psychology and education, and discusses learning as a capacity, calling for a balance between explanation and exploration in teaching.
Episode #3 // Navigating AI in Mathematics Education—Insights for all educators
This episode explores the evolving role of AI in mathematics education with Dr Scott Cameron, Dr Carmel Mesiti, and Mr Luke Clift. Together, they unpack the opportunities and challenges of using tools like ChatGPT for lesson planning, teacher workload, and student engagement. Drawing on research and classroom experience, the guests discuss the variability of AI-generated content, the importance of critical reflection, and the ethical implications of AI use in schools. This conversation offers valuable insights for educators across all disciplines.
Episode #2 // The Purpose of Education—In Conversation with Professor Gert Biesta
In this episode, Dr Sophie Specjal speaks with global education thought leader Professor Gert Biesta about the purpose of education beyond knowledge transfer. He shares his journey from post-war Rotterdam to his influential academic career, introducing his three-dimensional approach to learning—qualification, socialisation, and subjectification. They discuss the importance of high expectations, student engagement, and world-centered education, exploring how teachers can help students navigate the complexities of learning and life.
Episode #1 // Creative Lesson Planning—practical strategies to enhance learning and empower teachers
For the first episode of season 9, Dr Sophie Specjal explores curriculum design and unit planning with Auburn South Primary School’s Rhian ap Rees and Darien Hunte, alongside Professor John Quay from the Faculty of Education. They unpack a framework designed by Professor Quay, that blends backward design with inquiry-based learning to centre on student interests and teacher agency. Rhian and Darien share practical classroom examples, highlighting how creative, collaborative planning can boost students’ motivation and engagement.
Episode #1 // Reading, Reasoning, and AI: A New Era in Education
Episode 1, Season 10 of Talking Teaching begins with a powerful conversation about one of education's most important challenges: creating schools where every student feels safe, connected, valued, and ready to learn. Host of Talking Teaching, Sophie Specjal PhD is joined by Tom Brunzell, PhD (University of Melbourne) and Bryan Field (Principal, Monterey Secondary College) to explore how schools can move beyond reactive approaches to behaviour and towards relationship-centred practices that strengthen belonging, engagement, wellbeing, and achievement through Trauma-Informed Strengths-Based Education. Drawing on decades of research, leadership experience, and whole-school transformation, Tom and Bryan unpack what trauma-informed education really means, why belonging matters so deeply for learning, and how educators can create environments where both students and staff flourish. This episode highlights how schools can create the conditions for students to feel seen, supported, challenged, and capable, while building cultures that can transform school engagement. Whether you're a teacher, school leader, system leader, researcher, parent, or policymaker, this conversation offers practical insights and hopeful possibilities for the future of education.