Real Conversations.
Real Change.
Real Schools.
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About Real Schools of Thought
Hosted by Adam Voigt, Real Schools of Thought is a bold, reflective podcast for principals, aspiring school leaders and educators who are ready to rethink the way schools work.
Through raw, story-rich conversations with real changemakers in education, we go beyond policies and programs to explore the personal mindset shifts, leadership moments and cultural decisions that truly shape our schools.
It’s not about being perfect – it’s about being real.
Season 3
Episode 6 | Amanda Kowalczyk and Adam Voigt
The Koonawarra Way: Changing School from the Inside Out
Amanda Kowalczyk transformed Koonawarra Public School from low expectations and disengagement to a thriving, connected community. In this episode, she shares how culture change inside a complex school reshaped student experience and influenced system policy.
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Episode 5 | Tracey Ezard and Adam Voigt
Modelling Curiosity in Education: A Conversation with Tracey Ezard
Tracey Ezard, respected expert on school culture and author of Ferocious Warmth, joins Adam for an honest conversation about leadership, struggling and thriving cultures, and the gap many schools sit in, drawing on decades of shared experience.
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Episode 4 | Simon Madden and Adam Voigt
Teacher, Leader and AFL Legend Simon Madden: Lessons on Resilience and Culture
Adam Voigt sits down with AFL legend and Hall of Famer Simon Madden for a conversation that covers a lot more than football. Simon is also a former teacher and Assistant Principal, and in this episode he brings those two worlds together in the best way. From the teachers who shaped him as a kid to the high-performance habits he developed across decades in elite sport, Simon shares a refreshingly grounded take on what it means to lead, learn, and build a culture worth showing up for.
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Episode 3 | Lisa Newland and Adam Voigt
Reclaiming the Profession: A Conversation with Lisa Newland
Lisa Newland, incoming CEO of the Australian Council for Educational Leaders, discusses compliance culture, teacher autonomy, and the pressures of public data. She reflects on how playing it safe impacts innovation and joy, offering a direct, honest perspective on modern education.
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Episode 2 | Lee Crockett and Adam Voigt
The Importance of Joy in Schools: A Conversation with Lee Crockett
In this engaging conversation, Lee Crockett explores agency in education, the role of leadership in shaping culture, and the importance of trust and joy. He highlights professional wellness, challenges myths about excellence, and emphasises authentic, present leadership.
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Episode 1 | Anita Olegario and Adam Voigt
What Surviving Loss Teaches You About Kids: A courageous conversation
Anita Olegario, a teacher at Berrima Public School, shares a deeply honest conversation about losing her son Brodie to suicide, and how that experience shapes her teaching, giving her purpose and changing how she understands and supports struggling students. Content note: This episode includes a personal account of youth suicide and grief. Please take care of yourself as you listen.
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Season 2 - Summer Series
Episode 1 | Professor John Hattie and Adam Voigt
The Hopeful Horizon of Education in Australia
Professor John Hattie explains why great teaching matters more than ever, how culture and instruction intersect, and what teachers must hold onto – and let go of – as AI reshapes classrooms.
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Episode 2 | Nick Dodd and Adam Voigt
Teaching Through Heart and Purpose: Nick Dodd's Story
In this episode, Nick Dodd reveals the leadership moves that transformed Clarence High School – boosting engagement, attendance and achievement while halving suspensions in just one year.
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Episode 3 | Adam Voigt and Adam Voigt
How'd we end up at Real Schools?
Adam Voigt shares the story of how his journey began in Frankston, was shaped by working with Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory, and led to principalship and the creation of Real Schools – and why supporting schools at scale became his hardest, but most important, decision.
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Episode 4 | Matt Kenny and Adam Voigt
The Power of a Smile. Matt Kenny's Secret to School Success
In a grounded conversation, Matt Kenny and Adam Voigt explore why relationships, unity in leadership and understanding behaviour are the quiet forces behind successful, sustainable schools.
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Episode 5 | Tina King and Adam Voigt
If We Funded Schools Properly… Here's What Would Actually Change – with Tina King
Tina King, Victorian President of the Australian Principals Federation, makes the case for what would actually change in schools if funding matched reality — and why leadership and collegiality matter more than ever for complex classrooms.
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Episode 6 | Adam Voigt
The Story and Influence of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander People on Real Schools
In this solo episode, Adam Voigt reveals how learning alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander educators, elders and families – from Ali Carung to Elders like Mandawuy Yunupingu – profoundly shaped his restorative approach to culture, language and belonging in schools.
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Season 1
Episode 1 | Martine Gill and Adam Voigt
Empowering Change: Martine Gill's Journey of Leadership and Community
Join us as Martine Gill shares her transformative journey, blending leadership and personal growth to empower communities and redefine education.
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Episode 2 | Claire Toohey, Jade Leggett and Adam Voigt
Leading with Kindness: Claire & Jade's Story at Nepean School
Tune in to hear how Claire and Jade are making a difference at Nepean School, transforming challenges into opportunities for growth and learning in a unique educational setting.
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Episode 3 | Zoe McKenzie and Adam Voigt
Navigating the Future of Education
Join Zoe McKenzie as she delves into the transformative power of education, sharing insights from her journey from student to shadow assistant minister, and exploring how we can shape a brighter future for the next generation.
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Episode 4 | Bern Warburton and Adam Voigt
Restorative Practices in Action: A Conversation
How Bern Warburton's innovative leadership and commitment to restorative practices transformed Lake Primary School into a thriving educational community, offering valuable insights for educators and leaders alike.
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Episode 5 | Darren Brailey and Adam Voigt
From Challenges to Change: Darren Brailey's Educational Impact
Discover how Darren Brailey's innovative leadership at Morisset High School is transforming education through restorative practices and community engagement, offering valuable insights for educators and leaders alike.
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About Adam
Adam Voigt, Founder & CEO of Real Schools
Adam is a former school principal who’s spent over 20 years leading real change in real schools. Through his work at Real Schools, he’s helped thousands of educators shift culture, lift engagement, and build schools where both students and staff thrive.
He’s not a theorist – he’s been in the trenches. He started this podcast to share the real, raw, and reflective stories behind school leadership and culture.
He will go beyond strategy and theory to unpack the moments, mindset shifts, and decisions that truly shape our schools, and inspire you to create the changes in our educational landscape that our kids – and our educators – deserve.
Pitch a Guest or Drop Us a Line
Adam is always looking to feature educators, leaders, thinkers and doers who are making waves in schools and beyond.
If you’d like to:
- Nominate a guest (yourself included!)
- Suggest a topic
- Ask a question
- Collaborate or partner with us
… we’d love to hear from you.
Email us at [email protected] and let’s make it happen!