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Future Smart Parent

Future Smart Parent

By: Jude Foulston
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The Future Smart Parent podcast provides resources for parents and kids who want to be ready for all the ways in which the future is going to be different from today.We will explore this future together, bringing insights from top futurists, resources from smart people working on making our lives better, and most importantly, stories of parents who are parenting a little differently, yet very much intentionally, for a changing world. These stories, insights and resources are all there to provide you with the tools needed to parent in the 2020s, and beyond.© 2026 TomorrowToday Global Parenting & Families Relationships
Episodes
  • Why Frankie Comes to School - Laurelle Fry on Dogs in Schools, Belonging & What Helps Kids Feel Safe Enough to Learn

    Why Frankie Comes to School - Laurelle Fry on Dogs in Schools, Belonging & What Helps Kids Feel Safe Enough to Learn
    Jun 15 2026
    About This EpisodeI have a friend whose teenage daughter has a support dog. I've watched that dog quietly and consistently support a young person navigating a world that wasn't always built for her. And I'll be honest, I've probably rolled my eyes at the idea before. But then I saw it. And I thought, who's the one who should be rolling their eyes now?That's really where this conversation begins, not with a research paper, but with a moment of honesty. And it's the perfect introduction to Laurelle Fry, who doesn't talk about dogs in schools the way you'd expect.No grand claims. Just real stories - a boy who spent an entire school break playing with Frankie because he couldn't find his way into a friendship group. A child who jumped onto his chair in fear the first time Frankie walked in, and now runs over to say hello.Laurelle is Head of Pre-Prep and Junior Prep at Western Province Prep School in Cape Town, and she's been bringing her rescue dog Frankie to school for years. But this conversation is really about what schools are for. Culture, belonging, regulation, and why the thing that helps a child feel safe enough to learn sometimes has four legs and a wagging tail.She has a phrase she keeps coming back to, "home away from home." After this conversation, I couldn't stop thinking about what it actually takes to build.In This Episode We Talk AboutHow "Frankie Fridays" started and what happened on the Fridays when Frankie didn't show up.The difference between a therapy dog and a dog who just shows up and makes things better.Why the best learning doesn't happen in the quietest classroom.The moment a child's shoulders drop, and what that actually means for their ability to learn.How dogs help neurodiverse children regulate in ways that are hard to engineer any other way.What happened when Frankie crashed a formal chapel assembly (and why nobody flinched).The practical stuff nobody talks about - allergies, bathroom duties, what to do if a dog nips.The quiet boy, his Border Terrier puppy, and the small moment in morning drop-off that meant everything.Why choosing a school is really about choosing a community, and what that has to do with dogs.Laurelle's honest advice for any school or teacher thinking about introducing a dog into their environment.A Moment That Stuck With Me"As soon as he's happy, then he wants to be at school. When he wants to be at school, he wants to learn. When he wants to learn, he feels confident because he's succeeding and things are happening. So it's got this snowball effect that just happens." - Laurelle FryMentioned in This EpisodeWestern Province Prep School - the Cape Town school where Laurelle is Head of Pre-Prep and Junior Prep, and where both Frankie and Apalefi have the run of the place. A school building something real around culture and belonging.Bishop's - where Laurelle taught for 13 years and where Frankie Fridays first began.The SPCA - where Frankie came from. Her previous owner was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer and chose to rehome her while she was still young enough to be adopted. Worth knowing, because it shapes who she is.Reading aloud research - the science behind children reading aloud to dogs: fluency increases, and the mechanics of reading come more easily. It's the reason Apalefi came to school in the first place. Georgette, the head of learning support, brought her in so boys could read to her instead of a teddy bear.About Laurelle FryLaurelle Fry comes from a family of educators, which probably explains why she talks about school the way she does, not as a place where curriculum gets delivered, but as a living community that children either feel part of or don't.She spent 13 years at Bishop's before moving to Western Province Prep, where she's now Head of Pre-Prep and Junior Prep. She's spent most of her career in boys' education, and she brings to it an instinct for what children actually need, not just academically, but as small humans trying to find their feet in a big world. She talks about creating a "home away from home." You can tell she means it.She is also, it must be said, completely besotted with Frankie. I follow her on Instagram, and I can confirm there is photographic evidence of Frankie being pushed in a pram. There was a very good reason. Torn ligaments. The boys loved pushing her around. Of course they did.Connect With Laurelle FryLinkedIn: Laurelle FryConnect With Jude & Future Smart Parent🌐 www.tomorrowtodayglobal.com/schools📸 Instagram: @judefoulston💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/judefoulstonSome conversations make you want to be a little more patient, a little more present. This is one of those. Know a parent or teacher who'd appreciate it? Send it their way.
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    43 mins
  • Let's Meet Under the Tree - Tebogo Maneli on Indigenous Knowledge, Brave Conversations & What Our Kids Actually Need

    Let's Meet Under the Tree - Tebogo Maneli on Indigenous Knowledge, Brave Conversations & What Our Kids Actually Need
    Jun 1 2026
    About This EpisodeI'll be honest - I found today's guest because of a conference theme. And I know that sounds like a strange place to start, but when the theme is "Let's Meet Under the Tree," you just have to stop, don't you?That's what happened when I came across the Embrace Symposium, happening at St Benedict's College in Johannesburg this month. And it led me straight to Tebogo Maneli - history teacher, DEIBS practitioner, and great podcast guest :)This conversation goes deep... into Indigenous Knowledge Systems, what representation actually feels like (versus just understanding it intellectually), why language is one of the most powerful tools of connection we're currently underusing, and what it really means to raise children who know who they are.In This Episode We Talk AboutWhat Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) actually means - and why every single person in the room carries oneThe "Meet Under the Tree" metaphor, and why Tebogo thinks it might not just be a metaphorWhy she prefers the word educationalist over transformation practitioner - and how language shapes whether people open up or shut downThe difference between representation and transformation, and why Tebogo believes in one far more than the otherWhat happened when Jude worked alongside a woman in leadership for the first time - and the moment she felt what representation means, not just understood itWhy white teachers aren't being replaced, they're being invited into a bigger conversationThe real reason African languages aren't being taken by white students in South African schools (hint: it's systemic, not about difficulty)Why parents and teachers are partners in this ecosystem - and how a single positive message home can shift everythingA Moment That Stuck With Me"We don't know what we do not know. And this is where I think the tree metaphor lives - you didn't even know you were wounded before, right? Through experiencing her as a system, using her indigenous knowledge, you were changed. You were healed in a way that maybe you might not have been before." - Tebogo ManeliMentioned in This EpisodeThe Embrace Symposium 2026 Let's Meet Under the Tree: Using Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Pedagogy as Pathways to Social Healing in Education 📅 4–5 June 2026 📍 St Benedict's College, JohannesburgThis is not a sit-and-listen kind of event. It's practical, it's dialogic, and it's designed so that every delegate leaves with tools they can actually take back to their school community. If this conversation moved something in you, that's probably your sign to look it up.🔗 St Benedict's College - Embrace SymposiumAbout Tebogo ManeliTebogo Maneli is an Upper School History teacher at Lebone II College of the Royal Bafokeng, based in Phukeng village, North West. With over 15 years of experience in education across South Africa and Mauritius, Tebogo holds a Bachelor of Education from the University of the Witwatersrand and is currently completing a Postgraduate Diploma in Inclusive Education through UNISA.In 2023, her passion for diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging in schools was formalised at St Stithians Girls' College, where she became a DEIBS practitioner and went on to convene the DEIBS Cluster in Gauteng - bringing together transformation practitioners from private schools across the province. She has facilitated Teachers' Roundtables for the Apartheid Museum, presented on Girls' Education at St Mary's DSG, and spoken on innovative AI teaching strategies at the 2023 History National User Group Conference.Tebogo describes herself not as a transformation practitioner, but as an educationalist - and once you hear this conversation, you'll understand exactly why that distinction matters.Connect With TebogoLinkedIn: Tebogo ManeliConnect With Jude & Future Smart Parent🌐 www.tomorrowtodayglobal.com/schools📸 Instagram: @judefoulston💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/judefoulstonIf this episode resonated with you, please share it with another parent or educator who needs to hear it. And if you haven't subscribed yet - now's a good time. We've got a lot more conversations like this one coming.
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    55 mins
  • Empower Your Teaching with AI with Graeme Codrington - brought to you by Future Smart Teacher

    Empower Your Teaching with AI with Graeme Codrington - brought to you by Future Smart Teacher
    Nov 1 2024

    In today’s episode, we dive into the exciting world of AI in education with global futurist Graeme Codrington and the team at Future Smart Teacher. Graeme shares valuable insights on how AI tools, particularly ChatGPT, can serve as powerful assistants in teaching, helping educators enhance their workflow, engage students in new ways, and save valuable time—all while preparing for a tech-driven future.

    Key Takeaways:

    • AI as an Assistant, Not a Replacement: Learn why AI tools like ChatGPT are best used to support teachers rather than replace them, and how to integrate these tools thoughtfully.
    • Navigating AI’s Limitations: Graeme provides practical tips for recognising where AI is most effective in the classroom, and where human insight remains crucial.
    • 21st-Century Skills: Discover ways to equip students with essential skills for the future while empowering yourself to adapt to new technologies.

    Why You Should Listen: If you're an educator looking to harness the benefits of AI in a balanced, practical way, this episode will equip you with actionable insights to navigate this ever-evolving landscape confidently.

    Resources Mentioned:

    • Future Smart Teacher Academy: A membership platform for educators that provides tutorials, weekly Q&A sessions, expert insights, and community support—all to help teachers integrate AI and 21st-century skills into their classrooms effectively.

    Join Future Smart Teacher Academy and Get:

    • Weekly tutorials and strategies to use AI in your classroom
    • Practical tools for incorporating 21st-century skills into your lessons
    • Access to a supportive community and subject-matter experts

    For just R135 ($7.99) per teacher or R980 ($55) per month for schools, Future Smart Teacher Academy provides a resourceful platform where educators can grow professionally, reduce administrative tasks, and maintain a dynamic, future-ready learning environment.

    Connect with Us:

    • Website: futuresmartteacher.com
    • Email: Jude@tomorrowtodayglobal.com

    Tune in, empower your teaching, and join us on this journey into the future of education.
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    1 hr and 4 mins
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