FLOURISHING EDUCATION - SAFER AND BRAVER SPACE(S) TO BE AND BECOME WELL TOGETHER

Welcome to powerful, imperfectly perfect (and perfectly imperfect) conversations that shine a light on the richness of human BE-ings and their work.This podcast is a space to pause, listen, and explore what it really means to flourish in education and in life.Together, we take a mycelial approach to unlearning and reimagining education. Not through one-size-fits-all answers, but through connection, relationship, and the sharing of lived experience. Like mycelium beneath the surface, this is about building an interconnected, evolving network of ideas, voices, and ways of being. Let's go!

FLOURISHING EDUCATION - SAFER AND BRAVER SPACE(S) TO BE AND BECOME WELL TOGETHER is a education podcast hosted by Fabienne Vailes, with 297 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Fabienne Vailes hosts FLOURISHING EDUCATION - SAFER AND BRAVER SPACE(S) TO BE AND BECOME WELL TOGETHER, a education show with 297 episodes published.

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  FLOURISHING EDUCATION - SAFER AND BRAVER SPACE(S) TO BE AND BECOME WELL TOGETHER

  Episode 286 - What if you could come, join a space and really be yourself? with Freedom to Learn

  Jul 24, 20261h 5m

  Today I am deLIGHTed to share another imperfectly perfect conversation with 3 guests - Ratna, May Ling and Heidi who are all part of a group of people who hold Freedom to Learn and currently support and coordinate the network. I invited them to discuss the upcoming Freedom to Learn Forum which is happening between 13-17 August 2026, The Beeches, Sheffield, S33 0DA. This forum is a dynamic and fun space to imagine, create, play, and rest, woven together over four days through our relationships with each other and the land that hosts us. If like me, you have been 'unschooling' and 'deschooling' or if you are just starting and you are in search of a community you can meet in person and online, then I invite you to listen to this beautiful and rich conversation. Education can't happen with me, you, us alone. It's in relationship with our surroundings, with our environment, with people. What if you could join a space, a kind of place where you can be yourself? That's the invitation: What if you could come and really be yourself? What sort of magic could happen? Curious? Take a listen and find out more... Thank you Ratna, May Ling and Heidi for your time, energy and beautiful shares as part of this imperfectly perfect conversation.

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  FLOURISHING EDUCATION - SAFER AND BRAVER SPACE(S) TO BE AND BECOME WELL TOGETHER

  Episode 285 - Practical Activism with Dr Harriët Bergman

  Jul 17, 20261h 9m

  Today I am deLIGHTed to share a new episode for the Flourishing Education podcast. In this new imperfectly perfect conversation with Dr Harriet Bergman , we discussed Harriët's journey from being active in climate and student movements in the Netherlands to becoming a philosopher, trainer, and activist based in Amsterdam. Harriët also explained how her work combines academia with training social movements, drawing from her experiences in competitive debating and climate activism. Together we explored further: key philosophical concepts including epistemology, white supremacy, and white ignorance, with Harriët sharing how these ideas help make visible the invisible systems that shape our understanding. The conversation touched on the importance of sitting with discomfort as part of growth, the distinction between individual and systemic responsibility, and the concept of "climate obstruction" in addressing environmental challenges. We also addressed how emotions like anger are perceived differently based on identity, particularly how women's anger is often dismissed or misinterpreted. The conversation concluded with reflections on activism, with Harriët defining it as "the rent you pay for living on this planet" and emphasising that activism can take many forms, from large-scale protests to smaller actions like hosting a podcast. If you are interested in all aspects of activism, this episode is most definitely for you.

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  FLOURISHING EDUCATION - SAFER AND BRAVER SPACE(S) TO BE AND BECOME WELL TOGETHER

  Episode 284 - Journaling as a positive powerful tool for our well-being with Dr Lucy Kelly

  Jul 3, 202644 min

  Today, I am really excited to be sharing this new imperfectly perfect conversation for the Flourishing Education podcast. It's an extra special conversation as today I have the privilege of holding the space for one of my AWE-some PhD supervisors Dr Lucy Kelly Together we discussed: Lucy's research on educator well-being and perfectionism in education. Lucy shared her 13-year career at the University of Bristol, where she teaches PGCE English courses and leads research on reflective practice as a tool for educator well-being. We also explored: How reflective journaling can help educators manage the fast-paced demands of teaching by providing space for catharsis, celebrating achievements, and gaining perspective on challenging situations. Lucy explained that well-being is dynamic and holistic, encompassing physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects, and emphasised that small daily practices can significantly impact overall well-being. We also addressed how perfectionism presents unique challenges in education, particularly given the endless to-do lists and multiple accountability systems, and Lucy shared her work on flipping the narrative around perfectionism to recognise both challenges and benefits. The conversation concluded with Lucy inviting you, the listener, to experiment with creative journaling practices to better understand your own well-being needs. MORE INFORMATION: Lucy's book "Re-imagining the Diary: Reflective practice as a positive tool for educators" Lucy's blog can be found here More information on the project Reimagining the Diary

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  FLOURISHING EDUCATION - SAFER AND BRAVER SPACE(S) TO BE AND BECOME WELL TOGETHER

  Episode 283 - Why connection and community are so powerful with Dr Jordan Maynard

  Jun 19, 20261 hour

  Today I am deLIGHTed to share this imperfectly perfect conversation with Dr Jordan Maynard , focusing on her research with Gypsy Roma Traveller communities in education. In this episode: Jordan described her decade-long journey working with these communities, explaining the problematic nature of the GRT umbrella term and the diverse groups it encompasses, including Roma who were forcibly nomadic and Irish Travellers who choose nomadism. She detailed how her research aimed to create "relational stopping places": safe spaces where young people could express their cultural identities and challenge deficit narratives about their communities. Jordan shared specific examples from her 7-month study where young people organised an art exhibition to raise money for homeless charities and hosted their own Christmas party, demonstrating how they grew in confidence when given agency to determine their own activities. The conversation explored themes of : Structural racism, Cultural humility, and The importance of questioning Western educational frameworks that often view these communities through a deficit lens. Jordan emphasised that the research created an ongoing legacy through Learning Partnership West, which continues to replicate the approach across multiple settings. Thank you so much, Jordan for your time and your insights. I enJOYed every minute of it. Unfortunately, her thesis is not available online yet but you can reach out to Jordan via LinkedIn if you would like to get access: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordan-maynard-3b7b20270

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  FLOURISHING EDUCATION - SAFER AND BRAVER SPACE(S) TO BE AND BECOME WELL TOGETHER

  Episode 282 - The importance of listening to teenagers' voices with Zifi Tung

  May 27, 202659 minS0

  <p>This podcast episode featured a conversation with Zifi Tung, a 26-year-old PhD student at the University of Bath researching teenage play and break/lunchtime activities in secondary schools. In this imperfectly perfect conversation, Zify shared her journey from growing up in international schools in Hong Kong and Beijing to her current research, which began as an exploration of play but evolved to examine how teenagers spend their free time in schools and how school policies impact their choices. The discussion revealed significant findings about gender differences in school spaces, with boys dominating sports areas while girls felt they had "...

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