What makes a teacher unforgettable?

In this episode of Parent Teacher Interview, Josh sits down with Deputy Principal Ethan Ford from Melbourne to explore the moments that truly shape a child's experience at school.

Drawing on years of classroom teaching and school leadership, Ethan shares why genuine relationships are at the heart of great education. From greeting students at the classroom door to understanding the story behind challenging behaviour, this conversation is a powerful reminder that the little things teachers do every day often leave the biggest impression.

Together, Josh and Ethan discuss the importance of consistency, creating a sense of belonging, supporting student wellbeing, and why being fully present for the children in front of us is one of the greatest gifts an educator can give.

Whether you're a teacher, school leader, pre-service teacher or parent, this episode offers practical insights and heartfelt reminders about the lasting impact we can have on the lives of young people.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Ethan's journey into primary school teaching and school leadership.
• Why relationships are the foundation of effective teaching.
• The importance of being present and creating positive daily interactions with students.
• Understanding behaviour through curiosity rather than judgement.
• Supporting children from diverse backgrounds and experiences.
• Why consistency helps children feel safe and ready to learn.
• The role of male teachers in primary education.
• Balancing student wellbeing with academic learning.
• Lessons from parenthood that have shaped Ethan's leadership and teaching.
• Advice for graduate teachers entering the profession.
• Why the smallest moments can have the biggest impact on a child's life.

If this episode resonated with you, please consider following Parent Teacher Interview, leaving a rating or review, and sharing the episode with a colleague, friend or fellow parent.

Follow the podcast on Instagram:
📱 @parent_teacher_interview_pod

Music Credits:
Ember – The Lakes (via Uppbeat)

Green Leaf – The Lakes (via Uppbeat)

In this deeply personal episode, Josh and Hannah sit down late at night in their tiny apartment in Japan to talk honestly about the real reason their family moved overseas for a year.

What started as an opportunity to teach abroad slowly became something much bigger — a response to burnout, mental exhaustion, and the growing realisation that something needed to change.

Together they unpack:

• what burnout actually looked like behind closed doors,
• the emotional weight of making a huge decision for a young family,
• parenting children through uncertainty and homesickness,
• the realities of starting again in another country,
• and why they still believe the experience has been worth it.

This episode is not about teaching being uniquely difficult, nor is it an attempt to romanticise moving overseas as the answer to burnout. It’s simply an honest conversation about mental health, family, vulnerability, and what can happen when people choose to support each other through a hard season of life.

There are moments in this episode that feel heavy, reflective, funny, hopeful and raw — which probably makes it one of the most honest conversations we’ve had on the podcast so far.

If this episode resonates with you, we’d love for you to share it with someone else who might need it.

Music Credits:Ember – The Lakes (via Uppbeat)Green Leaf – The Lakes (via Uppbeat)

Follow PTIP on Instagram: @parent_teacher_interview_pod

In Part 2, we zoom out from personal experience to the broader ecosystem around neurodivergent children. Laetitia shares insights from her work with Understanding Zoe and what over 1,000 families have revealed about the realities of raising and supporting neurodivergent kids.

We take a deeper look at the Understanding Zoe platform itself—a tool designed to help families better understand their child’s unique profile, bridge the gap between home and school, and provide practical, personalised strategies grounded in real data from families. It’s about moving beyond labels and toward meaningful, day-to-day support.

This episode is all about community—what it looks like, why it matters, and how we build it.

We also unpack some of the key ideas and resources Laetitia references throughout the episode—helping to reframe how we think about behaviour, connection, and support for neurodivergent children in a way that feels both practical and achievable for families.

We explore the idea that challenges often don’t come from the child themselves, but from a mismatch between the child and their environment. This aligns with the social model of disability, which suggests that greater understanding, flexibility, and acceptance in society can significantly improve outcomes for neurodivergent individuals.

In this episode, we cover:

• Key findings from Understanding Zoe’s research with families
• How the Understanding Zoe platform supports families and schools
• Why support systems—not just strategies—are critical
• The role of schools, parents, and community in shaping outcomes
• Influential ideas and resources for supporting neurodivergent children
• The “double empathy problem” and mutual understanding
• Practical ways to better support neurodivergent children

Resources & Links:

• Understanding Zoe White Paper:
  https://understandingzoe.com/white-paper
• The Rainbow Brain by Sandhya Menon

• The Brain Forest by Sandhya Menon

• Research reference: Autism Acceptance and Mental Health
• Understanding Zoe - https://understandingzoe.com/
• Understanding Zoe Instagram (@understanding.zoe)

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Music Credits:

• Ember – The Lakes (via Uppbeat)
• Green Leaf – The Lakes (via Uppbeat)

In this powerful first episode, we sit down with Understanding Zoe co-founder Laetitia Andrac to explore her late diagnosis of ADHD and autism—and the moment everything finally clicked.

Laetitia shares her personal journey of growing up feeling different, navigating life without answers, and the profound clarity that came with diagnosis later in life. This conversation unpacks identity, self-understanding, and what it really means to view neurodivergence through a strengths-based lens.

We also dive into the concept of autism acceptance—and why it matters so deeply for mental health. Research highlights that a lack of acceptance is strongly linked to higher rates of anxiety, depression, and stress for autistic individuals, while self-acceptance and community connection can act as protective factors.

🔑 In this episode, we cover:

• The experience of a late ADHD and autism diagnosis
• Why so many people—especially women—are missed early
• The emotional impact of finally understanding yourself
• The shift from deficit thinking to neurodiversity
• The importance of identity, language, and self-acceptance

📚 Resources & Links:

• Understanding Zoe White Paper (1,091 Australian families):
  https://understandingzoe.com/white-paper
• Research reference: Autism Acceptance and Mental Health

🎵 Music Credits:

• Ember – The Lakes (via Uppbeat)
• Green Leaf – The Lakes (via Uppbeat)

In this episode of Parent Teacher Interview, I sit down with Emma from Preparing Minds to explore what really sits underneath student learning.

Emma is a former science teacher who now works with students and families to build stronger study habits, confidence, and independence. Her work focuses on helping young people understand why they think and act the way they do—and how small shifts in mindset can make a big difference.

We cover learners from later primary through to high school and university, with a strong focus on values, self-belief, and becoming more self-directed.

🔑 Key Topics We Discuss

• Emma’s journey from science teacher to working with students and families through Preparing Minds
• Why values are such a powerful tool in shaping decision-making
• How low self-belief shows up in students (and what to do about it)
• The real reasons students avoid homework and challenging tasks
• Helping students become more independent, self-directed learners
• The impact of distractions and how to build better focus
• Supporting students through transitions (primary → high school → beyond)
• The importance of relationships, both in classrooms and at home

💡 Key Takeaways

• Asking “why?” is often the most powerful starting point for understanding behaviour
• Avoidance is often linked to discomfort, not ability
• Building self-belief takes time, reflection, and the right support
• Students benefit from having clear values to guide their decisions
• Independence isn’t automatic—it needs to be modelled and developed over time

📚 Resources & Mentions

• Indistractable by Nir Eyal (book on focus and managing distraction)

🔗 Connect with Emma & Preparing Minds

• Website: Preparing Minds: https://preparingminds.com.au/
• Instagram: preparing_minds

In this episode, we sit down with Chloe Watts, founder of Blueberry Co, to explore her journey from landscape architect to creative entrepreneur. It’s a conversation about family, creativity, and why embracing imperfection can be one of the most powerful things we model for our kids.

✏️ What we cover:- Chloe’s transition from landscape architecture to starting Blueberry Co, inspired by her experience as a new mum- How the business evolved organically from baby memory books into mindfulness journals, creative resources, and the screen-free drawing game Droar!- The role of creativity in building confidence and why removing the fear of “doing it wrong” matters for both kids and adults- How creative practices can support mental health and emotional regulation- The development of Droar! — from a family idea to a fully realised product- Navigating screen time, social media, and AI while still prioritising creativity and critical thinking

- Blueberry Co’s core values — family first, celebrate the mess, and create with purpose — and how they shape everything Chloe creates

- Practical insights for parents looking to encourage creativity without adding pressure or perfectionism- What’s next for Blueberry Co, including new products, collaborations, and expansion ideas

🔗 Resources & Links:Blueberry Co Website: https://www.blueberryco.com.auBlueberry Co Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blueberrycobaby

Droar! Drawing Game: Available via Blueberry CoTen Hundred (YouTube): https://www.youtube.com/@TenHundredJazza (YouTube): https://www.youtube.com/@Jazza

📲 Connect with Chloe:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blueberrycobaby

In this episode of Parent Teacher Interview, Josh speaks with Ryan from theINmag — a magazine created by kids, for kids.

Ryan and his partner Tam, both primary school teachers, created theINmag to provide a genuine platform for children’s creativity and voice. Each issue brings together stories, artwork, ideas and projects submitted by kids from across Australia.

Josh and Ryan discuss how the magazine came to life, what it takes to curate hundreds of submissions into a printed publication, and why having a real audience for their work can be such a powerful experience for children.

Episode Links

theINmagWebsite: https://www.theinmag.com.au/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theinmag/

Resources Mentioned

Building Thinking Classrooms in Mathematics – Peter Liljedahl
https://www.angusrobertson.com.au/books/building-thinking-classrooms-in-mathematics-grades-k-12-peter-liljedahl/p/9781544374833

Nerdy Birdy – Aaron Reynolds
https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781626725706/nerdybirdy

Little Picasso’s Art Studio
https://littlepicassos.com.au/

Connect with Parent Teacher Interview

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/parent_teacher_interview_pod

If you enjoyed this episode, following the podcast and sharing it with a friend helps more parents and educators discover the show.

In this episode, Jenn and Jess share their inspiring journey from classroom collaboration to creating MyComms, an innovative app designed to support visual communication across diverse settings. Discover how their deep experience in education and therapy inspired a tool that promotes inclusivity, personalisation, and everyday accessibility for people of all ages and backgrounds.

Key Topics:

• The impact of interdisciplinary collaboration in supporting students with complex communication needs
• How visual supports enhance independence and reduce anxiety
• The origins of MyComms and the need for personalised, accessible visual supports
• Overview of MyComms features: task breakdowns, daily schedules, and choice boards
• Real stories of how MyComms has helped children, adults, families, and professionals

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Links

• MyComms App — Apple App Store (search "MyComms")
• MyComms App — Google Play Store
• commspec.co — Official website with blogs and resources
• Supporting Executive Functioning Resources — Free tools and info

Music for this episode is provided by Uppbeat, featuring tracks "Ember" and "Green Leaf" by The Lakes.

Note: MyComms is currently available in Australia, with plans to expand globally very soon. Stay tuned for new features and updates by following their work and upcoming presentations!