Best Writing NSW Podcasts (2025)

1
S03E08 - Craig Barton on Becoming a Better Maths Teacher 1:48:02

6d ago1:48:02

1:48:02

In this episode of Knowledge for Teachers podcast, Brendan Lee is joined by the legendary Craig Barton—maths educator, best-selling author of How I Wish I Taught Maths and Reflect, Expect, Check, Explain, creator of variationtheory.com and tipsforteachers.co.uk, and one of the original voices in education podcasting. In this conversation, Craig ope…

1
S9 Ep6: Imagining the Past—Summer/Autumn Season—2025—Kim Kelly in conversation with Judy Nunn. 48:23

16d ago48:23

48:23

Author Kim Kelly interviews Judy Nunn on her love for historical fiction which have encompassed stories across diverse eras from colonial periods, WW2, the Cold War to more modern times. Her most recent novel, Showtime, features a showdown between rival entrepreneurs in 1880s Melbourne with comedy, tragedy, passion and betrayal; economic depression…

1
S03E07 - Jeanette Breen on lessons learnt from high-performing schools 1:46:26

21d ago1:46:26

1:46:26

In this episode, I’m joined by Jeanette Breen — Learning Specialist at Templestowe Heights Primary School and Head of Global Partnerships at No More Marking — to unpack insights from her recent tour of some of the highest-performing schools across the UK. From standalone primaries to schools within trusts like Ark Academy, and even the renowned Mic…

1
S9 Ep5: Imagining the Past—Summer/Autumn Season—2025—Greg Johnston in conversation with Kelly Rimmer, Victoria Purman and Nicole Alexander. 56:25

23d ago56:25

56:25

Kelly Rimmer, Victoria Purman and Nicole Alexander have conjured various characters across their many books. Greg Johnston examines their inspiration for key characters, the methods used to fully develop them, whether unexpected plot twists arose when placing them in predicaments, and if their creations took on a life of their own once delivered to…

1
S9 Ep4: Imagining the Past—Summer/Autumn Season—2025—Elisabeth Storrs in conversation with Mirandi Riwoe and Devika Ponnambalam. 52:16

1M ago52:16

52:16

Mirandi Riwoe's The Sunbirds tests the identities and loyalties between Dutch and Indonesians in colonial Java on the eve of the Japanese invasion. Devika Ponnambalam's I Am Not Your Eve is an imagining of the life of Teha’amana, Paul Gaugin's Tahitian 'child-bride'. Both authors join Elisabeth Storrs in discussing the complexities of bringing alte…

1
S9 Ep3: Imagining the Past—Summer/Autumn Season—2025—Claudia Chan Shaw in conversation with Christopher Cheng, Daryl Lim and Siang Lu 47:34

1M ago47:34

47:34

View from the East—Christopher Cheng, Daryl Lim and Siang Lu discuss with Claudia Chan Shaw their novels, Asian histories, and the challenges of being an Asian writer within the current publishing industry. Imagining the Past is listed in the Top 25 Historical Fiction Podcasts.By Imagining The Past

1
S03E06 - Dr. Carl Hendrick on Five Things Every Teacher Should Do 1:33:28

2M ago1:33:28

1:33:28

In this episode, Brendan Lee speaks with Dr. Carl Hendrick, a leading voice in education and co-author of What Does It Look Like in the Classroom?, How Learning Happens, and How Teaching Happens. Carl has been instrumental in helping teachers bridge the gap between research and practice, addressing the key question: That all sounds great, but what …

1
S03E05 - The ABCs of Effective Behaviour Management: A Practical Guide for Teachers with Dr. Brandi Simonsen 1:25:42

2M ago1:25:42

1:25:42

In this episode, we're focusing on a key element of successful schools: understanding and supporting positive student behaviour. Brendan Lee speaks with Dr. Brandi Simonsen, a professor of special education at the University of Connecticut and co-director of the National Center on Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS). Brandi shares…

1
S9 Ep2: Imagining the Past—Summer/Autumn Season—2025—Stephen Romei in conversation with Fiona McFarlane & Jock Serong 50:16

3M ago50:16

50:16

Writer and critic Stephen Romei is in conversation with Jock Serong and Fiona McFarlane. Jock discusses part three of his Furneaux trilogy, The Settlement, which was short listed for the 2023 ARA Historica Novel Price. Part two of the trilogy, The Burning Island, won the ARA Prize in 2021. Fiona discusses her second novel, The Sun Walks Down, which…

1
S03E04 - Dr. Matthew Burns on Effective Assessment: Using Data to Drive Reading & Maths Intervention 1:16:16

3M ago1:16:16

1:16:16

In this episode, get ready to dive deep into the world of assessments with Dr. Matthew Burns, as we explore the different categories of assessments, their intended purposes, and how they can be used to inform instruction. Dr. Burns, a researcher with extensive experience in the effective use of assessment data and interventions, shares his expertis…

1
S9 Ep1: Imagining the Past—Summer/Autumn Season—2025— Kate Evans IN CONVERSATION with Anna Funder 56:50

3M ago56:50

56:50

In our Summer/Autumn season, we present selected sessions from our 2023 HNSA Conference. Enjoy RN's The Bookshelf host, Kate Evans, in conversation with Guest of Honour, Anna Funder, about the challenges of writing a blend of fiction and non-fiction in 'Wifedom', a book about George Orwell's wife, Eileen O’Shaughnessy. Imagining the Past is listed …

1
S03E03 - Liana McCurry on Mathematical Practices in High Performing Countries 1:04:42

3M ago1:04:42

1:04:42

In this episode of Knowledge for Teachers, Brendan Lee speaks with Liana McCurry, a passionate advocate for primary school maths education. Fresh from her Churchill Fellowship, Liana shares findings from her research into mathematical practices across six countries. Listeners will gain insights into the systemic issues contributing to Australia's d…

1
S03E02 - Shaping the Future: Murat Dizdar on His Vision for NSW Public Education 1:09:04

4M ago1:09:04

1:09:04

This episode features a compelling conversation with Murat Dizdar, the head of the New South Wales Department of Education. Murat shares his inspiring journey from being the son of Turkish immigrants to leading Australia’s largest education system. He discusses the experiences that shaped his vision for public education, his deep passion for the te…

1
S03E01 - Nick Hart on Leading with Responsiveness: A School Leader's Journey 1:24:37

4M ago1:24:37

1:24:37

In this episode of the Knowledge for Teachers podcast, Nick Hart takes us on an inspiring journey from his beginnings in sports science to becoming a school leader in Dubai. A respected voice in educational leadership, Nick shares insights from his blog and books, delving into the evolution of his leadership style. He discusses the critical role of…

1
S02E23 - Dr. Zach Groshell and Brendan Lee on Effective School Leadership 56:04

5M ago56:04

56:04

In this episode, Brendan Lee speaks with Dr. Zach Groshell for the third of their trilogy of conversations together. In their first episode, they unpacked the nuances of teaching effectively. In the second one, they spoke about coaching, culture and change. In today’s podcast, you will hear them discuss the complex world of school leadership! They …

1
S02E22 - Dr. Leslie Laud - Implementation Science Meets Writing Instruction: ThinkSRSD's Journey to Scalability and Impact 1:13:00

6M ago1:13:00

1:13:00

In this episode, Brendan Lee speaks with Dr. Leslie Laud. She is the founding Director of ThinkSRSD, a writing program built upon Self-Regulated Strategy Development (SRSD). The discussion covers ThinkSRSD's key strategies, including mnemonics and how to apply them across different grade levels and writing genres. Furthermore, Dr. Laud addresses im…

1
S02E21 - Dr. Nathaniel Swain On Prioritising What Matters: A Deep Dive into the Science of Learning 1:33:07

6M ago1:33:07

1:33:07

In this episode, Brendan Lee speaks with Dr. Nathaniel Swain. He returns for the third time and this time it’s to unpack his new book Harnessing the Science of Learning. However, as you will hear, they actually go beyond the book and dig into some of the critical considerations that schools and teachers need to be making. They explore how to make t…

1
S8 Ep8: Imagining the Past—2024—Alison D. Stegert 39:10

6M ago39:10

39:10

Alison D Stegert discusses with Greg Johnston her YA novel, Her Majesty’s League of Remarkable Young Ladies. She also discusses her win of HNSA’s inaugural 2020 Elizabeth Jane Corbett Mentorship and its great consequences.By Imagining The Past

1
S02E20 - Dr. Zach Groshell and Brendan Lee on coaching, culture and change 1:03:32

7M ago1:03:32

1:03:32

This is the second conversation between Dr. Zach Groshell and Brendan Lee. For those that don’t know, Zach is the host of the Progressively Incorrect Podcast and also the author of Just Tell Them: The Power of Explanations and Explicit Teaching. In this episode, they take a deep dive into some of the key considerations that schools need to take whe…

1
S02E19 - Professor Nancy Jordan on Number Sense, Early Numeracy Screeners and Fractions 1:09:23

7M ago1:09:23

1:09:23

In this episode, Brendan Lee speaks with Professor Nancy Jordan. She has been at the forefront of all things to do with early numeracy research including looking at screeners and intervention. Many of you come from the science of reading world and are fans of Scarborough’s Reading Rope, Nancy and colleagues have put together a Number Sense one! I’v…

1
S8 Ep7: Imagining the Past—2024—Gail Jones 55:08

8M ago55:08

55:08

Gail Jones chats with Greg Johnston about her complex novel, Salonika Burning, which won the 2023 ARA Historical Novel Prize—Adult Category.By Imagining The Past

1
S02E18 - Rhonda Filmer on Neurodiversity and the Twice-Exceptional Student 1:04:40

8M ago1:04:40

1:04:40

In this episode, Brendan Lee speaks with Rhonda Filmer, a gifted education consultant and teacher, she discusses her journey into the field and the importance of understanding neurodiversity and twice exceptional students. She has recently released a book, “Neurodiversity and the Twice-Exceptional Student” and they delve into some of the key points…

1
S02E17 - Brendan Lee and Dr. Zach Groshell on the nuances of teaching effectively 1:25:05

8M ago1:25:05

1:25:05

In this episode of the Knowledge for Teachers podcast, Brendan Lee and Dr. Zach Groshell (Host of the Progressively Incorrect podcast) collaborated in the first of a series of episodes together. The theme for this episode was around what are the main principles that teachers need to understand about how learning happens and what are the key mechani…

1
S02E16 - Charlotte Peverett on the importance of having high expectations for all students including diverse learners 1:15:30

9M ago1:15:30

1:15:30

In this episode, Brendan Lee speaks with Charlotte Peverett, an experienced learning specialist and inclusion outreach coach, who shares her journey into teaching and special education. Charlotte discusses the significance of structures and routines in creating a safe and consistent learning environment. Charlotte also emphasises the importance of …

1
S02E15 - Professor Jonathan Sharples on Implementation in Schools 1:16:43

9M ago1:16:43

1:16:43

In this episode, Brendan Lee speaks with Professor Jonathan Sharples from the Education Endowment Foundation. He has led the recent update to the EEF’s A School’s Guide to Implementation and in this conversation we unpack the paper. Professor Sharples details the updates and why they were made. He also digs into each of the key elements. As Jonatha…

1
S8 Ep6: Imagining the Past—2024—Suzanne Leal 53:54

9M ago53:54

53:54

Suzanne Leal chats with Greg Johnston about her 2023 ARA Historical Novel Prize, CYA shortlisted novel, Running with Ivan, some of the differences between writing CYA and Adult fiction, and her interesting methods of research.By Imagining The Past

1
S02E14 - Professor Bethany Rittle-Johnson on conceptual and procedural knowledge in mathematics 1:04:23

10M ago1:04:23

1:04:23

In this episode, Brendan Lee speaks with Bethany Rittle-Johnson, a professor of psychology at Vanderbilt University. Bethany has led a lot of the research around conceptual and procedural knowledge. In this chat, she delves into this topic and also discuss other high impact strategies such as worked examples, self-explanations and the power of comp…

1
S8 Ep5: Imagining the Past—2024— Lauren Chater 44:37

10M ago44:37

44:37

Lauren Chater chats with Greg Johnston about all things beautiful, including the research and writing of her new novel, The Beauties.By Imagining The Past

1
S02E13 - Professor Pamela Snow on why it takes a village to change reading instruction 1:20:21

10M ago1:20:21

1:20:21

In this episode, Brendan Lee speaks with Professor Pamela Snow. She has been at the coalface fighting for evidence-based reading instruction to be common practice for a number of years and throughout this conversation, she provides nuggets of gold in describing how when we talk about phonics we need to be using it as an adjective with a noun follow…

1
S02E12 - Jamie Clark on Simplifying Research and PD with One-Pagers 1:05:28

11M ago1:05:28

1:05:28

In this episode, Brendan Lee speaks with Jamie Clark, an English teacher and lead practitioner specialising in pedagogy and digital learning. They discuss his recently released book, One Pagers and unpack how it could be used. Jamie breaks down a number of the techniques mentioned in the book and describes his thinking process in putting it all tog…

1
S8 Ep4: Imagining the Past—2024—Melissa Lucashenko 54:31

11M ago54:31

54:31

Melissa Lucashenko discusses with Greg Johnston the research and writing of her novel, Edenglassie.By Imagining The Past

1
S02E11 - Emina McLean on the challenges of research translation in literacy 1:18:00

11M ago1:18:00

1:18:00

In this episode, Brendan Lee speaks with Emina McLean. Emina works with systems, schools, leaders, and teachers to develop ambitious and rigorous assessment, curriculum and instruction practices in English and literacy. In this chat, Emina discusses her focus on implementing effective systems and practices for teaching reading and writing. She high…

1
S8 Ep3: Imagining the Past—2024—Robbie Arnott 33:24

12M ago33:24

33:24

Robbie Arnott discusses with Greg Johnston the many intricacies of writing the novel Limberlost, based on his family folklore and longlisted for the 2023 ARA Historical Novel Prize—Adult Category.By Imagining The Past

1
S02E10 - Bron Ryrie Jones on Responsive Teaching and Instructional Playbooks 1:18:33

12M ago1:18:33

1:18:33

In this episode, Brendan Lee speaks with Bronwyn Ryrie Jones, an instructional coach who supports teachers and instructional leaders to develop their expertise. She discusses the importance of responsive teaching and shares techniques to effectively check for understanding in the classroom. She emphasises the need for teachers to have a deep unders…

1
S02E09 - Trisha Jha on teacher experiences in implementing the science of learning 1:36:33

12M ago1:36:33

1:36:33

In this episode, Brendan Lee speaks with Trisha Jha who currently works with the Centre for Independent Studies and recently released a couple of reports titled: What is the Science of Learning? And Implementing the Science of Learning: Teacher experiences. Trisha unpacks these papers and discusses her journey into education research and the import…

1
S8 Ep2: Imagining the Past—2024—Fiona Kelly McGregor 45:10

1y ago45:10

45:10

Fiona Kelly McGregor discusses with Kelly Gardiner the many intricacies of writing her novel, Iris, shortlisted for the 2023 ARA Historical Novel Prize—Adult Category.By Imagining The Past

1
S02E08 - Dr. Mark Dowley on Managing Behaviour and Maximising Learning 1:11:53

1y ago1:11:53

1:11:53

In this episode, Brendan Lee speaks with Dr. Mark Dowley (Associate Head – Staff Development at the Crowther Centre for Applied Educational Research) who has recently released the book, “The Classroom Management Handbook” that he co-authored with Ollie Lovell. In this chat, they unpack the book and how it’s what Mark and Ollie wish they had when th…

1
S02E07 - Rebecca Birch On Improving Australian Education 1:27:04

1y ago1:27:04

1:27:04

In this episode, Brendan Lee speaks with Rebecca Birch, a teacher of English and the Director of Research and Practice at a top 50 independent school in Sydney, Australia. She shares her journey from a career in fashion and advertising to becoming an English teacher. Rebecca emphasises the importance of evidence-based practice and the need for teac…

1
S8 Ep1: Imagining the Past—2024— Amelia Mellor 47:56

1y ago47:56

47:56

Amelia Mellor discusses with Greg Johnston the intricacies of writing CYA Historical Fiction, and her novel, The Bookseller’s Apprentice, winner of the 2023 ARA Historical Novel Prize—CYA Category.By Imagining The Past

1
S02E06 - Tom Bennett On Running The Room 1:17:39

1y ago1:17:39

1:17:39

In this episode, Brendan Lee speaks with Tom Bennett, the Director and founder of researchED and school behaviour advisor to the UK government. He shares his journey from running nightclubs to becoming an influential figure in the education sector and we find out how teaching saved him. Bennett delves into the challenges he faced as a teacher, how …

1
S02E05 - Sarah Powell On Effective Word Problem Instruction 1:17:46

1y ago1:17:46

1:17:46

In this episode of the Knowledge for Teachers Podcast, Brendan Lee speaks with Sarah Powell. Sarah is an Associate Professor in the Department of Special Education at the University of Texas at Austin. She has pretty much dedicated her whole career to researching word problems in maths. She has also contributed to a couple of papers that have recen…

1
S02E04 - Dr. Nathaniel Swain On Developing Great Writing Skills 53:45

1y ago53:45

53:45

In this episode, Brendan Lee speaks with Dr. Nathaniel Swain. He currently works at La Trobe University as a Senior Lecturer, Learning Sciences and Learner Engagement and the Director of Undergraduate Academic Programs. He is also the founder of Think Forward Educators. Nathaniel first appeared on the Knowledge for Teachers podcast in episode 20 an…

1
S02E03 - Dr. Jenny Donovan on accelerating the use of educational research in Australian classrooms 1:16:01

1y ago1:16:01

1:16:01

In this episode, Brendan Lee speaks with Dr. Jenny Donovan, CEO of the Australian Education Research Organisation. Jenny has led some of the heaviest hitting bits of research in Australia. In her current role with AERO and previous one with NSW Centre for Education Statistics and Evaluation, Jenny has been behind the teams that brought cognitive lo…

1
S02E02 - James Dobson Decoding The Foundations Of Teaching Kindergarten 1:39:02

1+ y ago1:39:02

1:39:02

In this conversation, Brendan Lee speaks with James Dobson, an experienced teacher who has been expertly applying the art and science of learning when teaching students in their first year of school (Kindergarten/Prep/Reception/Foundation). He discusses the importance of evidence-based practice, the use of Direct Instruction programs, and the chall…

1
S02E01 - Dr. Ray Boyd on Leadership, Vision, and School Culture 1:23:04

1+ y ago1:23:04

1:23:04

In this episode, Brendan Lee speaks with Dr. Ray Boyd, the Foundation Principal of Dayton Primary School. Throughout the interview he shares his journey into education leadership and the pedagogic shift he led at his previous school West Beechboro P.S. He reflects on the mistakes made and lessons learned during his time there and discusses the surp…

1
28 - Brendan Lee’s Key Takeaways from the Knowledge for Teachers Podcast for 2023 13:34

1+ y ago13:34

13:34

Brendan Lee provides his key takeaways from the Knowledge for Teachers Podcast for 2023. This year he spoke to people such as Tom Sherrington, Daisy Christodoulou, Christopher Such and many more. Find out what he took away from these conversations. He has split this episode into three sections: Science of reading Science of maths Implementing the s…

1
27 - Dr. Corey Peltier on what teachers need to know about the science of math 1:18:41

1+ y ago1:18:41

1:18:41

In this episode, Brendan Lee speaks with Dr. Corey Peltier who is an Assistant Professor of Special Education in the Department of Educational Psychology at the University of Oklahoma. He also contributes to The Science of Math movement that is focused on disseminating research-informed recommendations to enhance math instruction and outcomes for s…

1
26 - Dr. Tim McDonald on Building a Behaviour Curriculum 1:15:51

1+ y ago1:15:51

1:15:51

In this episode, Brendan Lee speaks with Dr. Tim McDonald who is currently the CEO of YMCA WA and previously led Catholic Education WA, the Minderoo Foundation and was the Education Lead for Knowledge Society. Recently, he wrote a paper for the Centre for Independent Studies titled: Teaching Behaviour: How Classroom Conduct Can Unlock Better Learni…

1
25 - Jessica Colleu Terradas on effective language and literacy screening and intervention practices for at-risk students 1:18:59

1+ y ago1:18:59

1:18:59

In this episode, Brendan Lee speaks with Jessica Colleu Terradas the Senior Officer Teaching and Learning Literacy and Instructional Coach in Canberra and Goulburn Catholic Education. In 2022, she travelled to the USA, England and France where she met with leading experts to investigate effective literacy screening and instructional practices to su…

1
24 - Jessica Del Rio on solving illiteracy in Australia 53:20

1+ y ago53:20

53:20

In this episode, Brendan Lee speaks with Jessica Del Rio the government and public finance lead at Equity Economics. She has recently been involved in a couple of major reports that have highlighted the poor literacy standards across Australia. Raising the grade: How schools in the Australian Capital Territory can lift literacy outcomes for student…

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