Talking Teaching Podcast
Welcome to the Talking Teaching Podcast
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.
Subscribe & sign up for our mailing list. Access resources, links and the impactful research at the Faculty of Education.
Contact Dr Sophie Specjal directly: sspecjal@unimelb.edu.au
https://findanexpert.unimelb.edu.au/profile/1039679-sophie-specjal
Episode #4 // Thriving Kids: Rethinking Early Intervention, Neurodiversity and Belonging
In this timely episode, host Dr Sophie Specjal is joined by Professor Frank Oberklaid AM and Associate Professor Matt Harrison to examine one of the most significant changes to Australia’s approach to supporting young children and their families.
Episode #3 // The Promise to Every Student: From Classroom Practice to National Leadership with Stephen Gniel
Education carries a promise: that every student has the opportunity to learn, progress, belong and thrive. But what does it take to deliver on that promise, from the decisions made in a classroom to those shaping education across Australia?
In this episode Sophie Specjal speaks with Stephen Gniel, CEO of the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), about a remarkable career and lifelong commitment to education spanning more than three decades, from classroom teacher and school principal to system, state and national leadership.
Episode #2 // Questions That Matter: Rethinking Assessment, AI and the Future of Learning with Professor Therese Hopfenbeck
Across a rich and wide-ranging conversation, Sophie and Therese explore what assessment is really for, what student voice can tell us that traditional measures cannot, and how artificial intelligence is challenging educators to rethink what it means to know, learn and demonstrate understanding.
Episode #1 // Transforming School Engagement 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.