For everyone My Favourite Things: Our top 12 podcasts for teachers
Whether commuting in the car or out for that daily walk, podcasts can be a useful friend to keep you company, and a chance to learn something new. Here are a few entertaining and thought-provoking options specially created for educators.
Teacher Takeaway (Australia)
Hosted by four Australian teachers, this is practical, no-fuss advice for the classroom, covering issues such as report writing, parent–teacher interviews, professional development, behaviour management, assessment, and effective feedback. A weekly podcast, episodes are mostly under an hour.
Apple | Spotify
The Secret Life of Teachers
Mehreen Baig reveals what UK’s teachers really think about their jobs, from anecdotes about hilarious school trips and horrendous parent-teacher nights, to serious discussions about the rise in mental health issues among students and the ongoing challenges of returning to the classroom amid a global pandemic.
bbc.co.uk/programmes/p08prvt5/episodes/downloads
The Cult of Pedagogy (US)
When teacher Jennifer Gonzalez started this podcast, she set out to create an information portal she wished she’d had starting out. Her podcast is broad ranging on all things education, including distraction, suicide prevention, dyslexia, post-pandemic teaching, literacy, using vision boards, tech tools, the self-paced classroom, and much more. With special guests, there’s a focus on one topical issue per episode.
cultofpedagogy.com/pod
The Teacher’s Tool Kit for Literacy (Australia)
Literacy experts Sharon and Phil Callen offer practical tips, tricks and tools that can be applied in today’s classroom. Generally around half an hour, they discuss topics such as differentiation, effective literacy programs, the value of independent reading, how to teach ‘inferring’, reading like a writer, the workshop model, embracing poetry, writing craft, and the art of persuasion. Guests include writers Mem Fox and Boori Monty Prior, and musician Paul Kelly.
listennotes.com/podcasts/the-teachers-tool-kit-for-literacy
10-Minute Teacher Podcast (US)
Author and teacher Vicki Davis gives short, to-the-point advice on issues from motivation, battling burnout, tech tools and digital literacy, to helping refugee students learn, and how to help struggling readers. Featuring guests, these are bi-weekly, with an easily searchable database of subjects.
coolcatteacher.com/podcast
Teacher Wellbeing (Australia)
This podcast looks at all things wellbeing-related, from panic attacks, building self-care habits, movement as medicine, and managing anxiety, to more unusual topics like the glorification of overwork, the invisible work of teaching, and managing motherhood and major career progression.
selfcareforteachers.com.au/podcast
Crying in My Car (US)
Comedian and teacher Devin Siebold and co-host Mike Lee bring the laughs with these 40-minute discussions ranging from big issues such as the future of teaching to the trials and tribulations of TikTok, with diversions into vaccines, the pandemic and many other recent, topical issues.
Apple | Spotify
Teachers’ Education Review (Australia)
Billed as “the Australian podcast for teachers that bridges the gap between research, policy and practice”, these are long podcasts – up to an hour-and-a-half – with in-depth and curious subjects such as kitchen gardens, the act of leadership, principals’ wellbeing, and productive failure. Led by head teacher Cameron Malcher and assistant principal Corinne Campbell, with special guests.
terpodcast.com
Teach Me, Teacher (US)
Host Jacob Chastain is a teacher and former literacy coach with a lot to say in these fast-talking, upbeat weekly podcasts covering complex issues, including: should everything be taught from both sides?; the hidden agenda of privitisation; discussing anti-bias and anti-racism; supporting students through grief and trauma; and culturally sustaining practice.
teachmeteacherpodcast.com
Teachers Talking Teaching (Aust)
In these light-hearted, chatty podcasts, educators John Catterson and Pete Whiting go deep on current educational issues, including the pros and cons of inquiry-based learning, how to approach teaching neurodivergent kids, celebrating International Women’s Day, and even their own struggles with depression.
teacherstalkingteaching.libsyn.com
Truth for Teachers (US)
Host Angela Watson is determined to help teachers streamline their work and live better lives. She talks openly about the struggles teachers face and how to avoid being a victim to the job. A long-running podcast, there is a whole back-catalogue to draw on, and you can submit questions for her to answer in upcoming episodes.
truthforteachers.com/podcast/
PED Talks (Aust)
The Department of Education’s own PED talks cover a wide range of subjects, from ways to amplify student agency, and careers education, to serious issues such as family violence. More of an occasional thing than a regular series, these talks are worth catching when you have an hour or so to spare.
soundcloud.com
