Trust Your Gut: The Power of Intuition in Education with Leonie Baldacchino

When should we trust our gut? And how can intuition support creativity and decision-making in education? In this episode, Professor Leonie Baldacchino from the Edward de Bono Institute for Creative Thinking and Innovation discusses the connections between creativity, STEM, enjoyment, and wellbeing. She also shares insights from her research with secondary school students and the role of divergent thinking. The conversation then explores intuition and how it can develop through experience and expertise. While teachers can benefit from trusting their instincts, Leonie explains why a gut feeling should also be followed by questions, reflection, and careful decision-making. The episode closes with a personal story about Leonie's journey into education and creativity and how a mentor helped her recognize potential she had not yet seen in herself. Key Takeaways Creativity and STEM learning can support each other. Enjoyment and wellbeing can create space for creativity. Intuition becomes stronger through experience and knowledge. Gut feelings can be useful, but they should be checked with evidence and reflection. Teachers develop stronger intuition as they gain classroom experience. About the Guest Professor Leonie Baldacchino is an academic at the Edward de Bono Institute for Creative Thinking and Innovation at the University of Malta. Her research focuses on creativity, entrepreneurship, intuition, innovation, and decision-making. Be sure to subscribe to your favorite platform and sign up for our Extra Fuel newsletter for more resources and inspiration. Visit FuelingCreativityPodcast.com for more information or email us at [email protected].