PODCAST · education
Wag Tales
by Megan Corcoran
Wag Tales podcast is a series of conversations on all things trauma, healing, education and wellbeing. Host of Wag Tales, Megan Corcoran is Director of Wagtail Institute, providing trauma-informed wellbeing consulting to schools and complex settings. Megan believes in the power of storytelling and engaging in great conversations as a way to learn, grow, and take steps towards healing. In each episode, Megan invites a guest to share their story or to engage in a topical conversation to share best practice, new insights, and ideas to support those impacted by trauma to heal. Megan is joined by a variety of guests including school principals, therapists, athletes, authors, artists, and lived experience practitioners.
Episodes
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68: Chris Egan, unlocking the power of self-compassion
Chris Egan is an educator, wellbeing consultant, and recent author of The Flourishing Factor: unlocking the power of self-compassion for thriving educators. Drawing on the science of positive psychology and self-compassion, Chris helps individuals, schools, and organisations create the conditions...
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#67: Jase Williams, Trauma, Masculinity, and the Power of Unconditional Love
Jase Williams is a trauma educator, speaker, and author whose work explores the profound impact of trauma on our relationships, our nervous systems, and the way we move through the world. Drawing on both lived experience and trauma-informed practice, Jase works alongside schools, families, and...
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#66: Dr Lori Desautels, The Neuroscience of Trauma-Responsive Practice
Dr Lori Desautels is an educator, author, and assistant professor whose work in applied educational neuroscience has influenced schools and educators around the world. Through decades of teaching, research, and professional learning, Lori has helped shift the conversation from managing behaviour…
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#65: Dr Michael Gerlich, AI, Critical Thinking, and the Convenience Trap
Dr Michael Gerlich is a researcher, sociologist, educator, and author of The Convenience Trap, a book exploring how artificial intelligence is reshaping the way we think, learn, connect, and make decisions. With a background spanning technology, business, and human behaviour, Michael is…
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#64: Skye Staude, leading in trauma-informed schools
Skye Staude is an experienced educator and leader who has spent over 15 years working in alternative and re-engagement education settings with young people who have experienced significant adversity. Now a Deputy Executive Principal across multiple campuses at MacKillop Education, Skye brings a...
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#63: Ruby Sait, from Out-of-Home Care to thriving in your own way
Ruby Sait is a passionate advocate for young people with lived experience of out-of-home care, whose work is shaped by her own journey through homelessness, education, and life beyond the system. Through her advocacy, mentorship, and community work, Ruby is committed to ensuring that young people...
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#62: Zach Mercurio, Mattering in schools and workplaces
Zach Mercurio, PhD, is a researcher, speaker, and author whose work centres on one of our most fundamental human needs: to feel that we matter. Through his research in organisational psychology and his work with schools, workplaces, and leaders around the world, Zach explores how simple, everyday...
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#61: Dr Kate Renshaw, play at the heart of childhood
Dr Kate Renshaw is a play therapist, educator, and researcher whose work centres on the role of play in children’s emotional development, learning, and wellbeing. Through her clinical practice, teaching, and advocacy, Kate has spent many years helping adults better understand the language of play...
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#60: Jesse Diggins and Nathan Castle, Psychs in Schools and supporting young people well
Jesse Diggins and Nathan Castle are psychologists and co-founders of Psychs in Schools, an initiative working alongside schools to strengthen mental health support for children and young people. Their work focuses on increasing access to psychological services within educational settings…
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#59: Danielle Murphy, foster care: hearts in transition
Danielle Murphy is a foster carer, writer, and advocate who has spent the past six years walking alongside children and young people in care. Through her lived experience, Danielle brings an honest and grounded voice to the realities of foster care — the deep love it invites, the uncertainty it...
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#58: Dr Nathan MacArthur, naming the grief we don’t talk about
Dr Nathan MacArthur is a grief counsellor, researcher, and the founder of Sydney Grief Counselling. His work centres on helping people navigate the many shapes and seasons of grief — from bereavement and relationship loss to the quieter, less spoken-about forms of grief we carry throughout our...
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#57: Aaron Stark, I was almost a school shooter
Content warning: This episode includes discussion of childhood violence, self-harm, and suicidal ideation, which may be distressing for some listeners. Support services are listed below. Aaron Stark is a writer, speaker, and mental health advocate best known for his viral TED Talk, “I Was Almost…
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#56: Benjamin Perks, Trauma Proof: healing, attachment, and the science of prevention
Benjamin Perks is a global child-rights advocate, educator, and author of Trauma Proof. Working for the UN in New York, he campaigns on human rights and child development and serves as a Senior Fellow at the Jubilee Centre, University of Birmingham, and an associate member of the Department of...
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#55: Liam Casson, movement, connection, and using technology for good
Liam Casson is an educator turned wellbeing leader whose work spans schools, sport, and the corporate world. A former Director of Wellbeing in education, he now leads education and wellbeing at Seafeld Investments and serves as CEO of Reset Moves, a gamified movement platform designed to help...
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#54: Danielle Mifsud, healing and thriving together at the Humans of Purpose Academy
Danielle Mifsud is the Academy Director at Humans of Purpose Academy, a social impact organisation supporting women and non-binary people with lived experience of domestic and family violence. The Academy provides a pathway for survivors to rebuild confidence, develop skills, and create brighter...
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#53: Emma Gentle, how emotional intelligence transforms classrooms and families
Emma Gentle is an educator, parent, and advocate for reshaping schools through trauma-informed and emotionally intelligent practices. Drawing on her own journey in mainstream education, Emma brings both lived experience and professional expertise to the work of creating classrooms and communities...
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#52: Matt Pitman, the connection conundrum in schools
Matt Pitman is an educator, author, and advocate for rethinking how we build connection in schools. His latest book, The Connection Conundrum, explores why connection is so often overlooked in education and what it takes to make it central to student engagement, wellbeing, and learning. Drawing…
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#51: Luke Anderson, building pathways beyond prison with Fair Threads
Luke Anderson is the founder of Fair Threads, a social enterprise dedicated to supporting families of incarcerated individuals and creating pathways for those reintegrating into the community after prison. With lived experience of incarceration himself, Luke brings a raw honesty and deep…
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#50: Dr Corey Keyes, languishing, flourishing, and the 'Earth Angels' who help us heal
Dr Corey Keyes is a sociologist and psychologist best known for developing the dual continuum model of mental health and for coining the term languishing, a word that gave language to the emptiness so many felt during the pandemic. His new book, Languishing: How to Feel Alive Again in a World…
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#49: Ahmed Sulaiman, Tabbouleh: A bridge to Palestine through food and language
Ahmed Sulaiman is a language teacher, entrepreneur, and one of the kindest, most generous people I know. We first met nine years ago when I moved to Nablus in the West Bank to volunteer as an English teacher and study Arabic. What started as a professional connection quickly became a friendship...
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#48: Jaime de Loma-Osorio Ricon, radical inclusion and reimagining school engagement
Jaime de Loma-Osorio Ricon is a long-time advocate for equity and inclusion in education and community work. As Deputy CEO of Banksia Gardens Community Services and Director of the Northern Centre for Excellence in School Engagement, Jaime has helped shape one of Victoria's most respected models…
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#47: Dr Kerry Hinsby, creating a human-centred culture of staff wellbeing
Dr Kerry Hinsby is a clinical psychologist with a background in forensic mental health and the clinical lead of the West Yorkshire Staff Mental Health and Wellbeing Service (Hub), a groundbreaking, trauma-informed initiative supporting health and care workers across the region. Megan first met...
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#46: Dr Michelle McQuaid, unlearning the "good girl" rules and creating cultures of wellbeing
Dr Michelle McQuaid is an author, workplace wellbeing strategist, and founder of The Good Girl Changemakers. With a PhD in Appreciative Inquiry and years of experience working at the intersection of wellbeing, leadership, and psychological safety, Michelle is shifting the conversation around how…
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#45: Margaret Thorsborne, conflict is inevitable but repair is optional - exploring restorative practices
Margaret Thorsborne is a leading figure in restorative practices, dedicated to transforming the way communities address conflict and harm. As the Managing Director of Transformative Justice Australia and Thorsborne and Associates, she has pioneered the implementation of restorative justice…
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#44: Richard Rose, the power of life story work in healing childhood trauma
Richard Rose is a leading expert in therapeutic life story work, a consultant, trainer, author, and international speaker dedicated to improving the lives of children who have experienced trauma. With decades of experience in child protection, social work, and therapeutic practice, Richard has...
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#43: Bea Palya, unlocking authenticity and healing through singing and voice work
Bea Palya is an acclaimed singer, songwriter, entertainer, amateur actor, business manager, trainer, writer, mother and woman. Bea bundles all of her experience, knowledge, and learning into voice and singing coaching, exploring the deep connection between our voice, embodiment and healing.…
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#42: Ashton Kline, the impact of domestic homicide and breaking the cycle of violence
Content Warning: This episode discusses domestic homicide, family violence, and trauma, which may be distressing for some listeners. Support services are listed below. Ashton Kline is a survivor, advocate, and ambassador for the Alannah & Madeline Foundation. After losing his mother to domestic...
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#41: Gloria Masters, a survivor's mission to keep kids safe
Content Warning: This episode includes discussion of child sexual abuse, trafficking, and trauma, which may be distressing for some listeners. Please take care of yourself as you listen, and don't hesitate to pause or stop the episode if needed. Support services are listed below. Gloria Masters…
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#40: Dr Jeremy Goldberg, making kindness cool and compassion commonplace
Dr. Jeremy Goldberg is a Dad, partner, writer, speaker, and creator of Long Distance Love Bombs, a platform dedicated to making kindness cool and building a more compassionate world. Known for his heartfelt words and raw honesty, Jeremy's work explores vulnerability, personal growth, and the…
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#39: Dr Lori Desautels, reshaping education through neuroscience, relational connection, and compassionate teaching
Dr Lori Desautels is an author, educator, and pioneer in the field of applied educational neuroscience. She focuses on bringing a neurobiological understanding of behaviour and connection into classrooms, equipping educators and students alike with tools to navigate stress and adversity. As the...
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#37: Zinny Hunt, amplifying young people’s voices in schools, youth settings, and out-of-home care
Zinny Hunt is our youngest guest on Wag Tales to date. At 17, Zinny works as a Student Voice Support Officer and Youth Advocate, bringing a fresh perspective to the table. After graduating high school last year, Zinny dedicated himself to working alongside schools and youth organizations…
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#35: Dr Donna Lyon, Left Write Hook
Content warning: In this episode, we discuss the themes of sexual abuse and childhood trauma. If you or someone you know is/are struggling, please seek professional support. If you are in Australia you can call LifeLine 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636. Dr Donna Lyon is the founder of Left...
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#34: Linda Rowley, social anxiety and ambiguous loss
Linda Rowley is a positive psychology interventionist, workplace wellbeing facilitator and coach, She is known for facilitating environments of trust and collaboration (even amongst groups with diverse perspectives) where individuals can codesign and commit to shared wellbeing goals. Linda has a...
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#33: Adela Holmes, supporting traumatised children and young people for 51 years (so far)
Adela Holmes is a passionate advocate for children and young people in the child protection system, having 51 years of experience in the field (so far). Adela has worked with some of the most vulnerable young people in Victoria, centring her work on those residing in out-of-home care. She wrote…
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#32: Diana Nicholls, 30 weeks 1 day - a twin mother's mental health journey
Content warning: In this episode, we discuss experiences of mental illness, post-traumatic stress disorder and high-risk pregnancy. If you or someone you know is struggling, please seek professional support. If you are in Australia you can call LifeLine 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636. Diana...
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#31: Jack Greig, what is trauma-informed systems-aware wellbeing?
Jack Greig is a teacher, facilitator, and a Doctor of Education candidate at the University of Melbourne. He has worked in urban and remote communities, advocating for wellbeing and equity across school systems, and culturally responsive teaching in collaboration with First Nations and…
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#30: Ben Sacco, working together to create better conditions in the education sector
Ben Sacco is the Managing Director of Education Economy, working alongside schools and organisations to amplify their connection to purpose and passion. He has over 20 years of experience in education and business management, bringing a unique perspective to some of the challenges emerging in the...
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#29: Rebecca Harris, Safe to learn and safe to teach
Rebecca Harris is the author of Safe to Learn: Embedding Trauma-Informed Student Wellbeing Practices. She also works as a counsellor and consultant. Rebecca has held various wellbeing roles in schools and is deeply passionate about supporting teachers to better understand the stress and needs of...
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#28: Jen Willis, life lessons from climbing Mount Everest with MS (and the metaphorical mountains that followed)
Jen Willis is a mother, an educator, speaker, coach, and high altitude mountaineer with Multiple sclerosis (MS), who climbed Mount Everest in 2023. Jen's MS diagnosis began in 2008 after the birth of her third child, but wasn't formally confirmed until 10 years later. Upon receiving the formal...
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#27: Belinda Jankowiak, creating regulating learning environments for students and teachers
Belinda Jankowiak is an Occupational Therapist (OT), zealous child advocate, and founder of Project Classroom, where she supports educators to create classroom spaces that are soothing and meet the needs of all students and teachers. Belinda has worked alongside educators for over 20 years and...
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#26: Liam Wood, trauma-informed leadership and coaching in schools
Liam Wood is a parent, teacher, school leader, and Director at Cor Effect. Liam's career in education began as he was working in education support while writing a book and he realised he loved the time in the classroom more than the time spent writing. He dived right into teaching through the…
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#25: Martin Bisp, transforming lives with boxing therapy at Empire Fighting Chance
Martin Bisp is the co-founder of Empire Fighting Chance, a boxing gym in the UK that provides Boxing Therapy to vulnerable young people. In 1972, Empire Amateur Boxing Club opened in Bristol, producing a long line of champion boxers, and like most boxing gyms, have a strong community. In 2006…
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#24: David Cerrone, healing through humour
David Cerrone is a comedian, clown, actor, teacher, humanitarian, art therapist, and author who travelled the world to understand laughter. In 2016, David set off on a 12-month adventure with the plan to visit 11-12 countries, volunteer, meet people and create a documentary along the way. In…
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#23: In conversation with Graeme Baird, responding to the Senate Inquiry on disruptive behaviour in Australian schools
In this episode, Graeme Baird and Megan Corcoran come together to discuss the Senate Inquiry on disruptive behaviour in Australian schools. Both Graeme and Megan are passionate about this topic, having worked extensively with young people who present with behaviour that could be considered...
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#22: Marissa Williamson Pohlman, from life in foster care to qualifying for the Olympics and making history in the ring.
Marissa (Riss) Williamson Pohlman is a proud Ngarrindjeri woman, who was raised on Wadawurrung Country in Victoria and very recently became the first Aboriginal woman to qualify for the sport of boxing in the Olympics. At the 2023 Australian Elite Boxing Championships in August, she also made...
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#21: The Palestinian tour guide, love and laughter on the "wrong side of the wall"
This episode of the Wag Tales is a special edition to shed light on life in Palestine. In this episode, Megan is joined by one of her favourite people and good friends, the first Palestinian she met when she visited the region. This guest is the BEST tour guide in Palestine, an almost…
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#20: Shane Kelton, breaking taboos and talking about suicide
Content warning: In this episode we discuss the topic of suicide and mental illness. If you or someone you know is struggling, please seek professional support. If you are in Australia, you can call LifeLine 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636. Shane Kelton is an author, speaker, podcaster,...
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#19: Yahya, stories (and optimism) from Palestine
This episode of the Wag Tales is a special edition, unlike other episodes you may have previously heard. In this episode, Megan is joined by her good friend, Yahya. Yahya is a Palestinian man, and an optimist, living in Ramallah in the West Bank, Palestine. He has studied extensively and worked...
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#18: Dr Peggy Kern, experiencing the complexity of wellbeing
Dr Peggy Kern is a Professor at the Centre for Wellbeing Science at Melbourne University, with a BA in Psychology, and a Masters and PhD in social/personality psychology. If you were to start reading some academic papers or recent texts on wellbeing science or positive psychology, you would…
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#17: Kristy Elliott, restorative pathways to wellbeing
Kristy Elliott is a consultant leading the way in restorative practices in schools through her work with Restorative Pathways. Kristy is a wife, a parent, a lifelong teacher, and a lifelong learner who has dedicated her work to the wellbeing of students and staff in schools. Megan and Kristy met...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Wag Tales podcast is a series of conversations on all things trauma, healing, education and wellbeing.
Host of Wag Tales, Megan Corcoran is Director of Wagtail Institute, providing trauma-informed wellbeing consulting to schools and complex settings.
Megan believes in the power of storytelling and engaging in great conversations as a way to learn, grow, and take steps towards healing. In each episode, Megan invites a guest to share their story or to engage in a topical conversation to share best practice, new insights, and ideas to support those impacted by trauma to heal.
Megan is joined by a variety of guests including school principals, therapists, athletes, authors, artists, and lived experience practitioners.
HOSTED BY
Megan Corcoran
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Wag Tales have?
Wag Tales currently has 60 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Wag Tales about?
Wag Tales podcast is a series of conversations on all things trauma, healing, education and wellbeing. Host of Wag Tales, Megan Corcoran is Director of Wagtail Institute, providing trauma-informed wellbeing consulting to schools and complex settings. Megan believes in the power of storytelling and...
How often does Wag Tales release new episodes?
Wag Tales has 60 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Wag Tales?
You can listen to Wag Tales on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Wag Tales?
Wag Tales is created and hosted by Megan Corcoran.
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