Infinite Leaders: Live: Recent Episodes
Lewis Keens & Alan Dunstan
Listen. Learn. Share. The knowledge and tips you don’t get taught on courses and qualifications. Real-life lessons from real-life people with real-life experiences - for teachers, educators and sports coaches. Brought to you by The Infinite Learners: Be Better Educators. Be Better Humans.
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Mike Preston takes us a journey of self discovery, being brutally honest about his life and how self awareness and faith and helped to make him the person he is.
Lewis and Alan discuss research, look at trends and have a good chat with the odd guest to support those working in education to be better educators and be better humans.
Special thanks to our sponsor partners Tsunami Sport, the leading eco teamwear brand. Thanks also to Stephen Jones for our dynamic content, and to Eloisa Keens for the Artwork and Branding.
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Dr Alexander Gardener-McTaggart simplifies the work of Pierre Bourdieu by discussing how educators can recognise, use and apply Bourdieu's concepts of 'habitus', 'field' and 'distinction' in our day to day interactions with all the school community.
Lewis and Alan discuss research, look at trends and have a good chat with the odd guest to support those working in education to be better educators and be better humans.
Special thanks to our sponsor partners Tsunami Sport, the leading eco teamwear brand. Thanks also to Stephen Jones for our dynamic content, and to Eloisa Keens for the Artwork and Branding.
#listenshareshare
In the opener to the new series, Lewis questions Alan on why he embarked on his Masters degree and the impact of completing it. Alan discusses his motivations for doing it, the challenges he faced, and the impact this had on his practice.
Lewis and Alan discuss research, look at trends and have a good chat with the odd guest to support those working in education to be better educators and be better humans.
Special thanks to our sponsor partners Tsunami Sport, the leading eco teamwear brand. Thanks also to Stephen Jones for our dynamic content, and to Eloisa Keens for the Artwork and Branding.
#listenshareshare
In this episodes Lewis and Alan discuss the concept of "Glass Ceilings"
In 'Sensemakers' Lewis and Alan make sense of previous episodes and draw upon their lived experiences in both life and leadership.
Special thanks to our partners Tsunami Sport, the leading eco-team wear brand, to Stephen Jones for our dynamic content, and to Eloisa Keens for the Artwork.
In this episode Lewis and Alan discuss the phrase "ego is not the enemy".
In 'Sensemakers' Lewis and Alan make sense of previous episodes and draw upon their lived experiences in both life and leadership.
Special thanks to our partners Tsunami Sport, the leading eco-team wear brand, to Stephen Jones for our dynamic content, and to Eloisa Keens for the Artwork.
In this episode Lewis and Alan discuss one of their favourite phrases "You only know what you know", and the importance of this in relation to self awareness when working in a school.
In 'Sensemakers' Lewis and Alan make sense of previous episodes and draw upon their lived experiences in both life and leadership.
Special thanks to our partners Tsunami Sport, the leading eco-team wear brand, to Stephen Jones for our dynamic content, and to Eloisa Keens for the Artwork.
In this episode Lewis and Alan discuss the phrase "spinning plates" and how this relates to managing a busy workload in schools.
In 'Sensemakers' Lewis and Alan make sense of previous episodes and draw upon their lived experiences in both life and leadership.
Special thanks to our partners Tsunami Sport, the leading eco-team wear brand, to Stephen Jones for our dynamic content, and to Eloisa Keens for the Artwork.
In this episode Lewis and Alan discuss the phrase "Corners & Edges".
In 'Sensemakers' Lewis and Alan make sense of previous episodes and draw upon their lived experiences in both life and leadership.
Special thanks to our partners Tsunami Sport, the leading eco-team wear brand, to Stephen Jones for our dynamic content, and to Eloisa Keens for the Artwork.
In this episode Lewis and Alan discuss the concept of "We Not Me".
In 'Sensemakers' Lewis and Alan make sense of previous episodes and draw upon their lived experiences in both life and leadership.
Special thanks to our partners Tsunami Sport, the leading eco-team wear brand, to Stephen Jones for our dynamic content, and to Eloisa Keens for the Artwork.
In this episode Lewis and Alan discuss the phrase "You never get it wrong if you do the right thing".
In 'Sensemakers' Lewis and Alan make sense of previous episodes and draw upon their lived experiences in both life and leadership.
Special thanks to our partners Tsunami Sport, the leading eco-team wear brand, to Stephen Jones for our dynamic content, and to Eloisa Keens for the Artwork.
In this episode Lewis and Alan discuss the phrase "common sense is not very common".
In 'Sensemakers' Lewis and Alan make sense of previous episodes and draw upon their lived experiences in both life and leadership.
Special thanks to our partners Tsunami Sport, the leading eco-team wear brand, to Stephen Jones for our dynamic content, and to Eloisa Keens for the Artwork.
In this episode Lewis and Alan discuss the phrase "away from the lights" and what this means in an educational context.
In 'Sensemakers' Lewis and Alan make sense of previous episodes and draw upon their lived experiences in both life and leadership.
Special thanks to our partners Tsunami Sport, the leading eco-team wear brand, to Stephen Jones for our dynamic content, and to Eloisa Keens for the Artwork.
In this episode Lewis and Alan discuss the quote from Rebekah Russell: "Time invested in people is never wasted time".
In 'Sensemakers' Lewis and Alan make sense of previous episodes and draw upon their lived experiences in both life and leadership.
Special thanks to our partners Tsunami Sport, the leading eco-team wear brand, to Stephen Jones for our dynamic content, and to Eloisa Keens for the Artwork.
In this episode Lewis and Alan discuss the topic "Is there such a thing as 'non-negotiables'?"
In 'Sensemakers' Lewis and Alan make sense of previous episodes and draw upon their lived experiences in both life and leadership.
Special thanks to our partners Tsunami Sport, the leading eco-team wear brand, to Stephen Jones for our dynamic content, and to Eloisa Keens for the Artwork.
In this episode Lewis and Alan discuss the concept of 'Being In The Arena'.
In 'Sensemakers' Lewis and Alan make sense of previous episodes and draw upon their lived experiences in both life and leadership.
Special thanks to our partners Tsunami Sport, the leading eco-team wear brand, to Stephen Jones for our dynamic content, and to Eloisa Keens for the Artwork.
Karl Nova is a hip hop artist, performance poet and award-winning author.
Karl works as an educator running hip-hop 'flavoured' creative writing workshops in schools all over the UK and abroad, he recently performed her in Riyadh.
His debut collection of poetry and short stories 'Rhythm And Poetry' won the 2018 CLiPPA Poetry Award, and the book has been a huge hit with children.
Karl is a brilliant story teller - join us as we hear amazing anecdotes of his life growing up in Nigeria and London and how he discovered the joy of poetic expression.
Enjoy!
Halla Bint Khalid is an author and illustrator of children's books and an established painter.
She created her own publishing house, releasing books in both arabic and english with her own illustrations.
Halla is a frequent and cherished visitor to our school, sharing her stories of facing adversity and censorship in her work. She often blows us away with her authenticity, humility and bravery when telling her own unique story to adults and students of all ages.
In this chat, we focus on the concept of 'Persistence'.
Jana Elghobary is a Year 13 student and part of the Student Leadership Group at BISR Al Hamra campus in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. As well as studying for her A-Levels, Jana leads the school's Health and Wellbeing committee from Y7-13.
Jana is reflective beyond her years and recently spoke about the concept of 'Perfectionism' at a TedX event here in Riyadh, alongside inspirational speakers from across the region.
Jana has just returned from a life-changing service and trekking trip to Nepal and is looking forward to the next adventure as she prepares for her exams and life beyond school!
Sanjeev is a UK doctorate student and twice published author who has worked within professional sport, international education and the corporate world for over 5 years.
He is driven by human flourishing and focuses on the Science of Wellbeing and Positive Psychology. Prior to his second professional innings, he worked in consultancy for Accenture in London and Deloitte in Dubai after graduating in Accounting and Financial Management.
He recently achieved his dream of becoming the wellbeing coach for the Gulf Giants - the winners of the inaugural ILT20 cricket league in the UAE.
In this episode Sanj chats with us about Positivity.
Nicolai is a passionate educator, entrepreneur, and mother of two girls.
She has been in the education sector for 13 years and has been exposed to both local and international communities in the Philippines, as a student, teacher, and administrator.
Nicolai graduated as a "Master in Learning and Teaching" and recently went back to her hometown of Baguio and became the Principal of a Filipino-Chinese school, leading 40 teachers and staff, and 600 students.
An uplifting conversation about approaches to Creative Leadership.
Ben Starosta is a friend of the show and a former professional footballer, having played of a number of clubs including Sheffield Utd, Brentford, Bradford City, Aldershot Town, Lechia Gdansk (Poland), Darlington, Dandenong Thunder (Australia), Miedz Legnica (Poland), Global FC (Philippines) and Nuneaton Town. He is also a former Poland U21 international.
We have a light hearted chat with Ben looking back on the role of 'self belief' throughout his turbulent career from breaking through in England to playing football abroad and the unpredictable world of football transfers!
Ben now runs his own company - New Era Joinery & Home Improvements Ltd company - joinery and home improvements firm, running commercial and domestic fit outs nationwide including home improvements. Go check it out!
Darren Davis was a Prison Custody Officer in a male-only high security prison for 21 years.
In 2016, he was awarded the 'National Inspirational Tutor of the Year' award for his work helping young people gain qualifications whilst serving custodial sentences.
After leaving the prison service in 2021, Darren joined The 3 Pillars Project as a mentor & coach. This charity delivers sports mentoring programmes for young people at risk of committing crimes.
Darren now works in a local secondary school whilst also exploring life as an endurance athlete. He has participated in three arctic expeditions and a massive 3,493 miles cycle ride from Norway to Malta which took 55 days!
Darren joins us to talk about the power of relationships and shares his perspectives on his transformative relationships with inmates including his relationship with John McAvoy, convicted armed robber turned world famous endurance athlete.
Matthew Cowley has a degree in Sport & Exercise Science from the University of Worcester and recently completed a Masters Degree in Strength and Conditioning at Loughborough.
Matthew is currently working full time as a Strength And Conditioning Coach with Tonbridge Juddians rugby team. As an ex- student of ours, Matthew shares his experiences and challenges growing up as a 'Third Culture Kid' in an international school.
Matthew co-hosts The Real Sport Science Podcast.
Paul Minter was a member of the British Army for 18 years after joining the Household Cavalry Regiment at 16 years old. He served with both Prince William and Prince Harry during his five front line tours, including spells both Iraq and Afghanistan.
Upon leaving The Army Paul lost several friends to suicide and suffered with PTSD. This prompted Paul to help set up the Head Up (www.head-up.org.uk) charity for which he has just completed a 5000 mile run around the coastline of the UK. A phenomenal effort, which earned him national acclaim during the recent ‘Pride of Britain’ awards.
In this episode we talk about challenge and mental health.
We love it when previous guests want to come back and give us more gems of wisdom. In this episode we welcome back Dr Lori Koerner, 18 months after our first chat, to talk us through some of her work developing a 'Culture Of Care' whilst leading an eastern school district.
Eva Cartwright is the founder of Platinum Training & Consultancy. Their motto is 'Be Inspired, Be Inspirational'. Eva strives to inspire Teaching Assistants and Early Years Practitioners to ensure they are current and have the skills to be truly inspirational for the children they work with every day.
Kendall Zoller is an Author, global presenter, trainer, coach, keynote speaker, and teacher. He Specialises in Communicative Intelligence (CI), leadership, adult learning theory, and inquiry models of learning.
Kendall has presented across the United States, Canada, Europe and Asia to International Schools, public and private schools, universities, corporations, city and state agencies.
His book “The Presenter's Atlas” offers a focused and concise view into the skills for the 7 Essential Abilities of Communicative Intelligence and he has also Co-authored the popular book, “The Choreography of Presenting”.
Throughout this episode Kendall shares his expertise on all things presenting...
Let us know what you think
Helen Street created the Positive Schools Initiative in 2007 which advocates for educational reform to better support equity, motivation, and wellbeing in young people.
At the core of The Positive Schools Initiative are ‘The Positive Schools Conferences’ which have become known as Australia's leading mental health and wellbeing events for educators.
As an academic social psychologist, Helen has carried out research exploring motivation and social cognitive causes of depression. Her theory of Conditional Goal Setting explains how misunderstandings of motivation can lead to a lifelong vulnerability to depression and anxiety.
In 2017, Helen published her model of 'contextual wellbeing'. She stresses the need for educators and policy makers to pay more attention to school context in their consideration of social-emotional learning.
Helen has also worked with schools and colleges around the world and continues to edit The Positive Times as a free online resource for teachers.
Martin Brockman was an international athlete who represented Great Britain in the decathlon for almost a decade. He competed at two Commonwealth Games and finished 3rd to win a bronze medal for England in Delhi in 2010.
Throughout his own athletics career, Martin was a coach at his local athletics club and after attaining his degree in Sports Science and Business Management, Martin became the lead field events coach at Brunel University before moving to Aspire Academy in Doha, Qatar where he is currently the Head of Athlete Development.
This episode talks about the concept of being a 'generalist'.
Andy Vasily is Teacher, Performance Coach, and presenter of the Run Your Life podcast. He has a proven track record of bringing positive change in the way programs are delivered in education and business.
Andy's TEDX talk on Transformative Moments illustrates his bravery in starting tough conversations. Our conversations take a deep dive into the subject of FEAR from multiple perspectives linked to research and our life experiences. We explore the meaning of fear, the reason we experience fear, and ways we may be able to overcome it.
View Andy's TEDX talk here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiWMGi3bmks
Iain Sallis is an experienced educational leader who has worked in 7 differing contexts across a 23-year career.
Iain has experienced the full spectrum of teaching roles and his leadership pathway reads: classroom teacher, advanced skills teacher, Head of Department, Assistant Headteacher, Deputy Headteacher, Headteacher, Principal, and now his new role as the regional managing director for International Schools Partnership in Malaysia.
Iain is passionate about collaboration and partnership work, facilitating and training leaders for the NPQH and NPQSL qualifications. He also has written materials for UK National programmes to help improve senior leadership in UK schools and sits on the board of the British High Commission Education group.
This episode focuses on 'big decisions'.
Jennifer Abrams is a former high school English teacher, who has become a communications consultant and author. Jennifer works with a multitude of people to develop effective collaboration skills, and has written numerous publications including the powerful book ‘Having Hard Conversations’. Jennifer has been invited to keynote, facilitate and coach at schools and conferences worldwide and has been named one of the “18 Women that All K-12 Educators Should Know,” by the ‘Finding Common Ground’’ blog.
This episode focuses on ‘hard conversations'.
Will Swaithes has over 20 years of experience in education with previous roles including; Advanced Skills Teacher, Specialist Leader in Education, Assistant Head for Teaching and Learning, and Head of PE and Achievement for the Youth Sport Trust.
Will recently completed his Masters in Educational Leadership and is a senior lecturer in Physical Education at Birmingham City University whilst also contributing to PGCE programmes at Loughborough and Buckingham Universities.
He is a proud partner of the PE Scholar website which seeks to bridge the research-practice gap and help physical education thrive.
This episode focuses on curriculum design.
Angie McQuillin is a confidence and career success coach. She helps professionals overcome self-doubt to accelerate their careers and create a life they love.
She is hired by companies to deliver confidence related workshops or public speaking events on the topics of resilience, assertiveness and imposter syndrome; topics we have regularly encountered on the podcast.
In this episode we focus on the concept of ‘Self-worth’.
Angie speaks openly about her own story, including the struggles and internal conflicts she experienced as she learned to handle her own responsibilities of setting boundaries and respecting herself.
Angie describes how our brain can work against our own needs, wants and desires to please others and shares useful tips on how we can change the way we feel, react and reflect to put our personal integrity first.
This episode is packed with information across a range of Self-worth topics including people pleasing, patterns of behaviour, cognitive dissonance and decision making.
Learn more about Angie McQullin on the following platforms:
Youtube
Learn more about Lewis and Alan here - www.theinfinitelearners.com
In this episode we talk about 'leading Holistic Schools' and explore idea around creating points of connection, how to bring out the best in people both in and out of the classroom and supporting students pursue their 'Masterchef' skills!
www.theinfinite learners.com
Lee Sullivan is a Head of PE from Slough in the UK and author of 'Is PE in Crisis?'
In this episode, Lee talks about his inspirations and motivations to write the book along with sharing his own anxieties and feelings about becoming a published author.
Sean is a qualified life coach and experienced Pastoral leader currently working at Royton & Crompton Academy, in the UK.
We speak to Sean about 'Perseverance' and his incredible experiences as a participant in the Channel 4 TV show 'SAS Who Dares Wins'.
Sean is also a motivational speaker, and has recently set up his own brand - Sean Anthony Health & Wellness.
See more content at www.theinfinitelearners.com
In this episode we talk to High School Principal of HKIS Dr David Lovelin about 'leading from the side' to empower others and create a culture of care.
Discover more at www.theinfinitelearners.com
Nicholas McKie is an Associate Professor, Professional Certified Coach and the author of 'All Ways Coaching'.
In this episode we focus on 'Coaching' as tool that can be effectively utilised as a leader.
Read more about Nicholas and 'All Ways Coaching' here - https://www.persyou.com/book
To celebrate 52 shows in 52 weeks, our first ever guest Simon Mann joins us one year on, to host a reflective anniversary special.
Liz is Head of Secondary at Tenby International School on the island of Penang, Malaysia.
Liz takes some time with us to share her journey from being a young girl mad about Basketball to being in the big job, as a Headteacher of a secondary school.
Liz shares how her experience has helped develop a range of transferable skills, shaped her own core values and provided an unexpected pathway into leadership. She tells us what she expects from colleagues, talks us through ‘leading from the bench’ and explains how valuing opinion from people ‘in the arena’ helps her to keep some clarity.
We also hear how knowing the person you are employing is crucial, especially on the island of Penang!
Terry is a human behaviour specialist, performance coach and motivational speaker, He is based in the UK.
From working ‘down the pit’ to supporting elite athletes develop a positive mindset, Terry talks to us about the values that shaped his practice and his journey into psychology.
Using the theory of ‘Balanced Thinking’ Terry shares how the language we use and our own internal dialogue can influence the world outside our heads, suggesting top tips on building habits, replacing negativity with positivity and reframing the whole concept of ‘retirement’.
Mike is Deputy Headteacher at GEMS World Academy and the author of ‘The Power Of Rapport’. He is based in Singapore.
Mike talks with us about the importance of rapport in relationships.
He shares top tips on recruitment, creating a positive culture in the workplace and how to handle tough conversations.
Mike tells us why intentionality is key in building rapport and how relationships require consistency and lots of work!
Chris is the Principal of Shrewsbury International School, Bangkok Riverside. He is based in Bangkok, Thailand.
Chris joins us to talk about his journey from PE teacher to International School Principal.
Chris speaks of his enthusiasm around supporting people to create a ‘play what you see’ culture, and how regular coaching sessions are positively impacting his leadership. We learn about the power of his favourite phrase ‘why not?', and how it allows schools to try new approaches and learn from the experience.
Chris also tells us why you shouldn't scratch some itches and gives his reasons for inviting Maggie Thatcher to dinner!
Phil is Director of Sport at Brighton College. He is based in Al Ain, UAE.
We chat with Phil about his journey through sales and the transferable skills he’s applied to teaching.
We discuss servant leadership, empowering others, and of course PE and school sport!
Richard is currently Her Majesty’s Deputy Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, he is based in Saudi Arabia.
We chat with Richard about leading with courage, feedback and being the best version of yourself.
Steffan Jones is the Director of Sport Performance at Wellington School. He is also the fast bowling development coach for the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL. Steffan is based in the UK.
Steffan chats with us about nurturing young people to enjoy sport, the dangers of early specialisation, and why we need to work hard to find every child’s talent.
We discuss the role of PE, discuss elitist vs elite sport and explore why ‘Dare To Be Different’ is a maxim Steffan has applied to his career in professional sport and teaching.
James Coppinger is a professional footballer with over 800 career appearances to date, he currently plays for Doncaster Rovers FC. James is based in the UK.
From a nervous young man making his way in the game to a club legend at Doncaster Rovers, James shares with us the seminal moments that shaped his illustrious career to date.
We chat around a range of topics including the four-corner approach of personal development, positive mindsets, and motivation. We explore the power of praise, how to increase self-confidence and why you shouldn’t go looking for conflict.
Andrew is the founder and CEO of Tsunami Sport, the #1 choice for ECO sportswear. He is based in New Zealand.
We chat with Andrew around a number of topics including how he took Tsunami from 'start-up' to international brand, why people are more important that skills sets when recruiting, and why sustainability is a non-negotiable as CEO of an eco-driven company.
Andrew also reflects with good humour on why product testing is so important and a failure to do it can leave customers with a red face, or at least red shorts!
Dr. Lori Koerner is an Executive Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Professional Personnel. She is the author of the book ‘Actually, I can: Inspiration, Empowerment & Leadership’. Lori is based in New York, USA.
We cover a whole plethora of topics during a rich conversation centered around Lori’s new book and her strong belief that leadership is about lifting up others.
Lori shares her thoughts around essential skills, the power of ‘yet’ and how kind words can make a difference to others. We talk about practical tips to support ourselves on ‘one of those days’, explore ‘Peter Pan’ syndrome and look at why women deserve a seat at the leadership table.
You don’t need a title to be a leader.
Daryl is a Functional Patterns Human Biomechanics Specialist and owner of FP Perth. He is based in Perth, Australia
We chat with Daryl around his expertise in human movement and the Functional Patterns movement system. We cover how stress and consumption can affect our movement patterns, how we can begin to reverse engineer poor movement and why being physically active without intent could actually be detrimental to your health.
Daryl shares his thoughts on why we should all live a little closer to nature, how looking at exercise with a wider lens can support significant progress and why you don’t find racehorses doing the bench press!
A fascinating chat around human biology, biomechanics and living intentionally, not habitually.
Allistair McCaw is recognized as one of the world’s leading figures in maximizing human performance, team culture and leadership. He is an author of four best selling books and a keynote speaker. Allistair is based in Florida, USA.
Join us as we chat with Allistair around high performance. We cover how untalented traits help drive individuals towards success, including the importance of hard work, learning through mistakes and good old fashioned grit and determination.
Allistair shares his thoughts on why ego is not the enemy, positivity is crucial and how a simple a four step approach can help you to win the day.
Bob Booker is a former professional footballer, having played for Sheffield United, Brentford and Brighton. He is now a driving instructor, based in the UK.
Bob takes us back to his journey through football in the 80’s and early 90’s. He shares stories from a tough no-nonsense dressing room, let’s us in on team ‘bonding’ activities and tells us what he learned from being in amongst a team of strong leaders.
Bob gives us his views on why Harry Bassett was revered, how hard work is the ingredient that matters most and why ‘corners and edges’ is a phrase we should all apply to our own lives.
Bob is a Blades legend and a gentleman - a absolute pleasure to chat with him!
Lorcan O’Brien is the Director of Sport, at Dulwich Prep London and Aaron Walsh is Mental Skills Coach for Chiefs Rugby, New Zealand.
Lorcan and Aaron explain their roles in creating the Mental Skills Curriculum; a collaborative project with a forward thinking group of Independent school PE teachers in the UK.
We share the advantages of focusing on mental skills in PE and why personal and social skills are so important for children of all ages to ‘bridge the gap’ between capability and performance in sport and wider life
We cover a variety of topics including insecurity, belonging, identity, fear and freedom, coupling Aaron’s psychological theory with Lorcan’s views on pedagogical practice.
Join us for our first ever double header - history in the making!
Helen Olds is Principal of the British International School Riyadh. She is based in Saudi Arabia,
Helen speaks fondly of her upbringing in Cornwall, England, the firm roots family provided and how at a young age she became inspired to explore and work in different cultures.
Helen has lived in seven different countries and offers a unique perspective on school leadership and life in South East Asia and the Middle East. From the pressure of running a five campus international school in a male dominated culture, to watching Octopuses in the Red Sea we cover a real range of topics in this conversation.
We explore how to create a positive working culture, Outdoor Education, forgetting where your comfort zone is and why being a Principal means you are the lead learner in a school.
It was wonderful to chat to Helen, and we wish her all the best in her leadership of BISR.
d’Arcy Lunn is the founder of 'Teaspoons of Change' and the Group Head of Sustainability and Global Citizenship at the Dulwich Group of Schools.
He is based in Australia.
Sustainability and global citizenship isn't just something to learn, it's something to live. We talk about how sustainability can be brought to life by living intentionally and considering small, simple actions to create net positive gains and their collective impact.
Read more about d’Arcy’s s work at www.teaspoonsofchange.org
Kent Pekel is the President and CEO of Search Institute, a not-for-profit organization that leads applied research and develops practical resources to help young people become their best selves. He is based in Chicago, USA.
Having overcome personal tragedy in his adult life, Kent worked in school, district, state, federal, and university education levels in the US, developing a unique perspective on relationships and child development.
In our conversation, Kent outlines the importance of relationships in supporting children to become the best version of themselves. He explains the importance of being honest with children, why taking the time to really know each individual is crucial and why explaining processes helps children to better understand their own relationships.
Kent also shares some wonderful takeaway activities relevant for anyone, in any context where relationships matter.
Read more about Kent’s work - www.search-institute.org
John Gwyn Jones MBE is a former international school headteacher and CEO of the Federation of British Schools in Asia (FOBISIA). He is based in Penang, Malaysia.
From a career in banking in a small welsh mining village, to being awarded an MBE and appointed the CEO of one of the largest british education federations in the world, John talks us through the decision to move overseas and why he has never looked back.
John shares stories around a variety of topics including; his mentors, how being exposed to different leadership styles allow you to develop, not getting caught up in trying to be a popular leader, being humble and why happy schools make the very best schools.
Throughout the whole chat there is a theme of respecting the country you are in and taking time to know the community you serve.
Gary is the CEO of Coach Core; a social mobility charity that uses sport and apprenticeships to give young people aged 16-24 the chance to become the next generation of inspirational coaches. He is based in the UK.
Gary has led the project from its first day in 2012, overseeing its growth from a single London programme to the 15 city UK charity it is today. He talks us through the great work Coach Core does to support young people through the vehicle of sports coaching.
He describes how, by developing employment skills and values, Coach Core helps to provide meaningful opportunities through effective guidance and mentorship.
Cindy Adair is Assistant Principal and Athletics Director at Bangkok Patana School, she is based in Thailand.
From Australia to Bangkok via Fiji, Cindy talks us through her journey through swim coaching and into international teaching.
An avid learner, Cindy tells us why she listens to 7 podcasts a week, why progress is better than success and how taking the time to praise others can improve your mood.
Cindy shares some great tips on engaging students in sport and developing leadership skills, she also explains why the grass isn’t always greener ‘down under’.
Greg is the cofounder of miMove physical activity tracking app and Director of the Centre for Physical Education, Sport and Activity (CPESA). He is based in the UK.
Greg shares his opinions on why Physical Activity is crucial to every child, why children love it and what we can do as parents and educators to get more children moving, more often.
Whilst using the analogy ‘It’s not the colour of the shoe that matters, it’s whether it fits’ Greg tells us why children choose to be active and how technology can help us learn more to support lifelong activity.
Maxine is a retired teacher. She also holds a Masters in Education and is the author of ‘Don’t Poo In The Pudding Bowl; Anecdotes From 13,414 Days Of Teaching’ She is based in Sheffield, UK.
Through a variety of short stories, Maxine tells us why her nickname is ‘The Terminator’, how her school was terrorised by a phantom crapper and why children really shouldn’t try and Kayak on concrete.
In amongst the light hearted anecdotes, Maxine shares her opinions on tough issues including why teachers must remember why trust and care are always top priority. Why trips should be a part of every curriculum and how, as black woman in education she has a responsibility to be a positive role model.
Steve Boyle is the Founder of 2-4-1 Sports and the Advisory Board Chair of The National Association of Physical Literacy Advisory Board He is based in Connecticut, USA
‘Life's 2 Short 4 Just 1 Sport"
Steve talks to us about the growth of 2-4-1 Sports and his own views on the importance of children being able to access a number of sports and activities from a young age.
He explains why listening to your students is so important to develop as a coach and why we should all be mindful of how and when we should respond to emails.
Jo is the Director of Sport for the Loughborough Schools Foundation. She is based in the UK.
Jo shares with us her thoughts on why every student should have the opportunity to be WELL through access to ‘Wellbeing and Exercise for Learning Life Skills’.
Whilst explaining some of the challenges she faces leading PE & Sport across four schools, Jo tells us why she feels student voice, student choice and fundamental movement skills will help drive PE forwards.
Richard Stubbs is a senior public and private sector CEO and Non-Executive Director with leadership roles in health innovation, regional economic development, international partnerships and education. He is based in the UK.
Richard shares with us his remarkable journey from growing up in a largely white, working class mining village with few opportunities, to being an influential figure within the health industry.
Richard spotlights the need for more cross-sector communication and lateral thinking to drive innovation as we learn people must come first in any workforce-based industry.
Education and diversity are constant underlying themes throughout this fascinating conversation.
Ronnie Heath, is a former leader in education, award-winning National League coach and founder of Create Development. He is an international keynote speaker and inspirational trainer. Ronnie is based in the UK.
Whilst thoughtfully sharing his views on the importance of mindful movement for all children, Ronnie breaks down why PE is the most important subject in any school and what schools and teachers can do to ensure positive PE experiences for all.
Whilst explaining the importance of well-balanced learning nutrition, Ronnie tells us why the content of lessons matters much more than the vehicle used for delivery and how parents can support their child’s development in manageable and meaningful ways.
Active, healthy children achieve more.
Susie is the President of Physical Education New Zealand (PENZ), an organisation that supports planning, teaching and assessment of physical education. She teaches physical education at the University of Canterbury and manages a Child Well-being Research Institute.
In this episode, Susie shares her findings and opinions on what puts the E in PE and how educators play a pivotal role in getting this right.
Susie talks about the importance of self-reflection for all educators and how we need to create professional cultures that can support and positive change.
In prioritising the living, breathing, moving body through PE, we can support students' emotional, physical, mental and spiritual well being as they shape their mind and body connection through movement.
Susie is absolutely a positive voice for PE of the future.
Ahead of series 2, Alan and Lewis reflect on the 'gems of wisdom' from the first 23 episodes of Infinite Leaders: Live.
Thanks for your support
Vanita Uppal is the Director of The British School New Delhi. She was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in recognition of her services to British education overseas. Vanita is based in New Delhi, India.
In this episode, Vanita shares her learnings around self-doubt, how we must trust others and believe they have the best intentions and how she herself was initially a reluctant Principal.
Vanita displays warmth and humour in abundance as she reminds how it’s the people that make the workplace what it is. As the educators of today we must strive to be selfless, be caretakers for the next generation and be grateful for those around us - there is no place for ego in our work.
listenlearnshare
Find us online:
www.theinfintelearners.com
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Lewis and Alan
John is the founder of the Changing The Game Project and author of several books. His work aims to give youth sport back to the kids, to make participation fun, engaging, and child friendly. John is based in Oregon, USA.
In this episode, John shares his learning from research and real-life experience to advise parents, coaches and educators on how to put the kids back at the centre of youth sport.
Whilst providing incredibly useful advice and information to support coaching, team dynamics and engagement, John breaks down why children play sport and how we can all work together to create an environment to best support development.
Hosted by Lewis Keens and Alan Dunstan
Mick ‘Baz’ Rathbone
Baz is a former professional footballer and now physiotherapist, In 2011 he wrote the incredibly refreshing book ‘The Smell Of Football’. Baz is based in Blackburn, UK.
Baz is an incredible storyteller, and over a hugely enjoyable 60 minutes, he shares some belters with us.
Entertaining and harrowing in equal measure, Baz details his experiences as a promising young footballer coming through the ranks. He tells us how abuse from fans led to performance anxiety, how intimidating older pros left him feeling like he didn’t belong in a first-team environment and how his rating in ‘The People’ would impact his well-being for the rest of the week.
Baz’s stories are told with exquisite timing and good humour, based on his own first-hand experience with players and managers at the very top level of the game. His honest and candid nature shines brightly throughout his story as he reflects on how his own experiences have shaped his 'soft-touch' leadership - with a focus on caring and leading by example.
Hosted by Lewis Keens and Alan Dunstan.
Steve is the author of 'Educating Football'. He is a former Vice-Principal of Teaching & Learning and currently Academy Director at Millwall FC. Steve is based in London, UK.
This one is a refreshingly honest chat about teaching, learning and education.
Steve shares with us his thoughts on behaviour that develops intelligence, how teamwork impacts relationships and how self-awareness is critical for an educator.
In an episode filled with enthusiasm and professional debate, Steve discusses several topics. He tells us how educators should always remember learning is the number one priority, why great teachers can change their persona and how everyone working with children should strive to be the very best they can.
He also shares tips on how schools might look in the future, his experiences working with elite footballers and a unique tactic to assist your teaching on a Friday afternoon!
Share with your friends and colleagues!
Hosted by Lewis Keens and Alan Dunstan.
Ted is an author, advocate and thought leader for quality health and physical education (QHPE) program delivery. He is based in Ontario, Canada.
As educators approach what may be a very different, and difficult term 1 of the new academic year, Ted shares with us his refreshingly optimistic vision along with practical tips on how to create a safe space and a sense of belonging in PE lessons.
Ted’s enthusiasm and passion for HPE is infectious, his approach is based on inclusion for all and rooted in a heap of both academic and action-research.
This episode is packed full of great reflections and key takeaways to apply to your practice.
If you are heading back to school as an educator, leader or even as a parent, this is well worth a listen.
Notes:
You can find the video Ted mentioned about his HPE teacher in Elementary School by following this link - a great story, especially in today's age for HPE and social justice.
Ted would love to hear from you, you can find him on Twitter and Instagram - @lifeisathletic or get in touch via email at tedandcarolyn.hpe@gmail.com
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Find us online:
www.theinfintelearners.com
Instagram - https://tinyurl.com/ydb6owjn
Apple Podcasts - http://tiny.cc/4feksz
Spotify - http://tiny.cc/7feksz
Twitter - https://twitter.com/lewisjkeens & https://twitter.com/ARJDunstan
Lewis and Alan
Matt Piper is a former professional footballer. He represented England U21’s and played for Leicester City and Sunderland. He is the founder of FSD Academy and his book ‘Out Of The Darkness’ is about to be released. Matt is based in Leicester, UK.
Matt is a breath of fresh air, and this is an emotional, entertaining and uplifting conversation that will inspire anyone with an hour to spare!
Matt shares his excitement of proving his biggest doubter wrong and getting on ‘Match Of The Day’, his anxiety around playing Football at the top level and the impact 16 knee operations, hernias and ankle injuries had on his mental health.
We sit alongside Matt as he describes his relationships with his mother and father, how his life spiralled out of control without purpose and how a failed suicide attempt was a seminal moment in his life, he had hit rock bottom.
The positive changes Matt has made both to his own life and that of countless young men in his Academy since the hit rock-bottom, are jaw-dropping. This is a story of a genuine guy’s journey to find purpose and help others, to come out of the darkness.
listenlearnshare
Find us online:
www.theinfintelearners.com
Instagram - https://tinyurl.com/ydb6owjn
Apple Podcasts - http://tiny.cc/4feksz
Spotify - http://tiny.cc/7feksz
Twitter - https://twitter.com/lewisjkeens & https://twitter.com/ARJDunstan
Hosted by Lewis Keens and Alan Dunstan.
Nate Babcock is a PE teacher, former Basketball coach and author of the thought-provoking blog ‘EmanciPLAYtion’. He is based in California, USA.
This one was a fascinating and prescient look at where not just PE, but education could be heading in the future.
Bursting at the seams with philosophical references, Nate shares his knowledge of theory and practice within academia to illustrate why PE is so important and how it can be the foundation of building better people and systems.
He describes how his classes have ‘One Law’, why educators should be focusing less on being good teachers and instead on facilitating ‘good education’ and why as humans trying to be well attached with ourselves and others, we should be supporting and respectful of one another on our journey through life.
This is a deep, rich and incredibly thought provoking conversation that begins to highlight the very reason teachers exist.
Listen. Learn. Share.
Hosted by Lewis Keens and Alan Dunstan.
Jake is a TV & Radio broadcaster, best known as the face of Premier League Football on BT Sport. Jake is also founder of Whisper Films and host of the High Performance Podcast. He is based in Norwich, UK.
Jake shares how he overcame the unfortunate and tragic events that shaped his teenage years, the role ‘roots’ and ‘wings’ played and how empathy isn’t just important, it is a superpower.
Throughout a very frank, open and uplifting conversation, Jake reveals how he chooses responsibility over blame, how a positive mindset is a possibility for us all and why the biggest stress in his life is often social media.
We are so thankful to Jake for talking so openly and showing the courage to dive deep, exploring what are often difficult topics.
Hosted by Lewis Keens and Alan Dunstan.
Julie is a best-selling author and a pioneer of teaching conceptual understanding to encourage educators to break free of the industrial model of schooling. Julie is based in Virginia, USA.
We always enjoy speaking to Julie, and every time we do, we learn something new to take away and try!
Julie shares with us the concept-driven model she uses to underpin learning at all levels & abilities and explains how teachers can help to build connections and relationships to transfer learning into new contexts.
In an episode jam-packed with gems, Julie identifies our need to fight perfectionism and work hard to be flexible in our practice as teachers, how we need to acknowledge past experiences to best support our students and the crucial role empathy plays amongst everything we do.
She also explores how (and how not to) assess using this a concept-driven approach and interestingly, how we can all learn a bit more about resilience from the animal kingdom!
Share this one with teachers, educators and coaches far and wide!
Hosted by Lewis Keens and Alan Dunstan.
Gemma Chambers is a Primary Years educator at the Green School, New Zealand.
Gemma shares how working at the Green School has started to impact her own mindset as an educator. She describes how stepping outside of her comfort zone is now a daily occurrence, as teachers are encouraged to try new approaches to learning, without fear of failure.
Gemma also reflects on her own personal anxieties around leading children in such a new and innovative school, and explains how trust between teachers is encouraging colleagues to embrace vulnerability and decrease stress.
Hosted by Lewis Keens and Alan Dunstan.
Steve is a Regional Manager for the Football Association PE Unit and the Assistant Manager at Tadcaster Albion FC. He is based in Leeds, UK.
While talking us through a fascinating life story-so-far including a 'eureka' moment under the floorboards, Steve shares his thought on prioritising staff well being, creating a culture to get members of his team ‘on the bus’ and how leading by example can improve the performance of a department.
Steve reflects on the importance of delegation and why this is a personal focus for his development and explains why all children should experience high-quality PE.
PE teachers may find this humble and frank conversation particularly helpful.
We thoroughly enjoyed chatting with Steve.
Hosted by Lewis Keens and Alan Dunstan.
In this episode, Damian describes his own upbringing in an impoverished area of Manchester. As the son of a famous boxing coach, he tells us how the gym and events at school shaped his values and future.
Damian explains how we should keep a focus on representing the true value of ourselves, why values should be accompanied by specific behaviours and how success leaves clues.
Damian offers some practical advice for teachers and people in other professions going into new organisations/ positions and shares some of his learnings from the best in the business.
Damian is incredibly knowledgeable, genuine and honest and a great storyteller too. Enjoy!
Hosted by Lewis Keens and Alan Dunstan.
Jean Marie Hussey has over 30 years experience in Gymnastics, She is a current national team coach, based in Virginia, USA.
In this episode we discuss the recent Netflix release ‘Athlete A’, uncovering the level of child abuse across elite Gymnastics in the USA.
Jean reflects on her experiences in Gymnastics as a performer and coach and tackles some of the tough questions the documentary raises, including; How does this happen? Why does it happen? And, What can be done to prevent it in future?
Jean shares her thoughts on how parents, coaches and gymnasts can help each other to create a positive culture focusing on developing the whole child and why ‘potential’ might be a dangerous word in such a highly competitive sport.
A must listen for anyone involved in Gymnastics at any level.
Hosted by Lewis Keens and Alan Dunstan.
Nick is a former international athlete, having represented Great Britain and Ireland in Gymnastics. He is currently Director of Activities and Community Operations at UWCSEA East Campus in Singapore.
From breaking his ankle a day before the Gymnastics World Championships, through coaching in the UK private sector to leading a comprehensive activities programme at a world-renowned school. Nick shares how his own views on how values have helped him develop as a person and a leader, how he is learning to priortiise and build a positive culture through collaborating with others, and why he is still dedicated to working hard to improve himself, 25 years into his career as an educator.
Hosted by Lewis Keens and Alan Dunstan.
Anna is the founding Head of Primary at the new Diplomatic Quarter campus of The British International, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Anna explains why enjoying work is important to her, how relationships with colleagues depend on connection and how being a parent to two children has helped her understand parents’ better in her role as a senior leader.
She speaks openly about her views that empathy and hard work are non-negotiable for any teacher and she shares her own thoughts around the challenges she faces moving into her first headship.
MJ is a former international athlete, having represented The Philippines at both Basketball and Rugby. She is the Assistant Director of Sport at British School Manila.
MJ shares her unique journey into the teaching profession and describes her transition from athlete to educator. She explores the impact moving to The Philippines had on her identity and how, as a filipino born and raised in the USA, this created cultural and social challenges.
This one is packed with humility and is a wonderfully honest reflection of an unorthodox path into leadership of PE & School Sport.
Hosted by Lewis Keens and Alan Dunstan.
Ian is the Head of Primary Activities at UWCSEA, Singapore. He is also a member of the Spartan Pro Team.
Ian shares with us how he juggles being an elite sportsman with his leadership of primary school activities and gives us an insight into his meticulous scheduling. He describes how he leads a life that allows him to focus on his passions and the things that make him happy. Ian's enthusiasm and positivity is infectious!
Ryan is the High School Vice Principal of Curriculum and Learning at Jakarta Intercultural School, Indonesia. Ryan shares the importance of being decisive, tells us why you should look for reasons you might be wrong and why nothing should be taken personally by a school leader, ever. He also gives us an insight into his incredible way of taking control of negative feedback and explains why he describes himself as a magpie!
A fascinating and information-rich 50 minutes, get your notebook ready!
Rebekah Russell is Head of Senior School at the British School Manila.
In this episode, Rebekah talks about her own negative experiences of school and the journey to find out who she is; the importance of being a people person and why women should 'pull up their own chair' at the leaders' table.
Simon is an elite championship-winning football coach. He is the former Head Coach of Indonesia and The Philippines national teams. Simon is based in Jakarta, Indonesia.
In this episode Simon talks about his meteoric rise from non-league football in the UK to being Head Coach of The Philippines Mens National Team. He reflects thoughtfully on how creating successful teams relies heavily on respect and the importantance of building strong relationships when coaching a team.
Jo Lee is Director of Performing Arts at Cranleigh School, Abu Dhabi.
In this episode Jo tackles discusses her transition from Head of Drama to Senior Leadership, why the Performing Arts are so important and why being enthusiastic isn't always the best approach!
We enjoyed the conversation and comments from our first ever episode so much we've found someone willing to chat in our second! This time we welcome Scott Barlow, Principal of South Axholme School, UK.
For our first-ever episode of Infinite Leaders: Live we welcome educational consultant and International School Head, Simon Mann.
Hosted by Lewis Keens and Alan Dunstan.
Visit Simon's website - www.manneducationconsultancy.com