Coffee and Whiteboard Markers Podcast
From the front lines of the classroom, Myles O'Kane and Matty Bissett talk all things teaching in these weekly episodes. Hosted from Australia, this podcast dives into the highs, lows, and everything in between of teaching. Whether you're a new teacher finding your feet or a seasoned educator looking for fresh ideas, we've got you covered. Tune in and let's make a difference one lesson at a time!
Episodes
87 episodes
Episode 87: Teaching Isn't What You Think - Myths vs Reality
In this episode, we break down some of the most common misconceptions about what it actually means to be a teacher and compare them with the reality of working in schools.We discuss:The myth that teachers only work during sch...
Epsiode 86: Do Teachers and Students Need Shorter School Terms?
Should students and teachers spend fewer weeks at school each year?In this episode of Coffee and Whiteboard Markers, we explore the debate around shortening school terms, following the proposal from a School in Western Australia c...
Episode 85: Are Australian Classrooms Becoming More Violent?
Violence, threats and aggressive behaviour towards teachers are becoming an increasingly serious concern in Australian education. But is violence in our schools actually increasing, and if it is, what's driving it?In this episode, we tak...
Episode 84: How to Re-Engage Students Who No Longer Care
What do you do when a student has completely checked out? They’re not disruptive; they’re not causing problems; they simply don’t seem to care anymore.In this episode, we explore why students disengage from learning and, more importantly...
Episode 82: How We Handle These Common tricky Situations in Teaching.
Teaching is full of tricky moments that no university course fully prepares you for.In this episode we unpack some of the most common difficult situations teachers face and how we personally try to handle them in real classrooms.W...
Episode 83: The Emotional Labour Of Teaching
The emotional labour of teaching is rarely talked about openly, but every teacher feels it.In this episode we unpack the hidden weight teachers carry every day: managing behaviour while staying calm, supporting students through trauma, a...
Episode 81: What students truely remember about their teachers
Years from now, your students won’t remember most of the lessons you taught, but they will remember how you made them feel.In this episode, we unpack what truly sticks with students long after they leave the classroom. From the ...
Episode 80: Old School Teaching Practices: What Still Works and What Needs To Go
In every school, there are practices that exist simply because “that’s how it’s always been done.” But in today’s classrooms, it’s worth asking: what still works and what are we holding onto that’s no longer serving students or teacher...
Episode 79: Trauma Informed Practices In Teaching
Classrooms today are more complex than ever. Many students arrive at school carrying stress, uncertainty, and experiences that affect how they learn, behave, and connect with others. In this episode, we explore trauma-informed practices in teac...
Episode 78: How To Build A Sustianable Career For Teaching
Teaching is one of the most meaningful professions there is, but it’s also one of the easiest to burn out in if we’re not careful. In this episode, we explore what it really means to build a sustainable career in teaching.
Episode 77: Why New Teachers Are Leaving And How We Fix It.
Early career teacher retention isn’t just a statistic it’s a warning sign.In this episode, we unpack why so many new teachers are walking away within their first five years. Is it burnout? Lack of support? Unrealistic expectations? St...
Episode 76: Why the classroom feels harder the ever and what can teachers do about it.
Why do classrooms feel harder than ever?In this episode, we unpack a question that so many teachers are asking right now: Has student behaviour changed — and why does teaching feel more challenging than it used to?From risi...
Episode 75: The hidden toll of overdoing it in teaching
In teaching, “going the extra mile” is often celebrated — but what happens when that extra mile quietly becomes the expectation? In this episode, we unpack the real cost of overdoing it in education: the burnout, the guilt, the resentment, and ...
Episode 74: Biggest Mistakes We Have Made In Our Time Teaching
Every teacher has those moments — the lessons that crashed, the behaviour calls that backfired, the emails we wish we’d rewritten, and the days we walked out thinking, “Well… that didn’t go to plan.”In this episode, we dive into...
Episode 73: The lessons teaching taught us that no textbook could.
Some lessons can’t be found in a syllabus, a PD session, or a university textbook — they come from the classroom itself. In this episode, we dive into the real, human lessons teaching has given us: the moments, mistakes, surprises, and shifts i...
Episode 72: The Hardest Lesson: Separating Yourself from Student Behaviour.
Student misbehaviour can feel like a personal attack — even when we know, logically, it’s usually not about us at all. In this episode, we unpack why certain behaviours sting, how to emotionally distance yourself without disengaging, and what i...
Episode 71: How Teaching Shaped Us
Teaching doesn’t just shape students—it shapes us.In this episode, we reflect on how the classroom has changed the way we see ourselves as people, parents, and professionals.From learning patience and empathy to finding stre...
Episode 70: Why Teachers Matter More Now Than Ever
In a world that’s changing faster than ever—AI, social media, shifting values, and constant reform—one thing remains: the impact of a great teacher.In this episode, we explore why teaching still matters deeply in 2025, even when the ...
Episode 69: How to Rebuild Trust With a Disruptive Class
We’ve all been there—the class that just won’t settle, the group where every lesson feels like a battle, the moment when trust between you and your students feels like it’s slipped away. In this episode, we unpack what really happens when a cla...
Episode 68: Teaching isn't your identity and that's ok!
Teaching is what we do — but it’s not who we are. In this episode, we unpack why it’s so easy for teachers to tie their identity to the classroom, the cost of living like the job defines you, and the freedom that comes when yo...
Episode 67: What 17 Years of teaching has taught me
Seventeen years in the classroom isn’t just about teaching students — it’s about learning who you are, what matters, and how to survive the chaos with your heart still intact. In this episode, I share the biggest lessons teaching has taught me ...
Episode 66: What to do when you are feeling overwhelmed in teaching.
Teaching can feel overwhelming — and sometimes it sneaks up on you before you even realise it. In this episode, we break down how to spot the early signs of overwhelm, the traps teachers fall into when they try to just “push through,” and what ...
Episode 65: Teaching when your mental health is struggling
Some days, just showing up for class feels like a win. In this episode, we get honest about what it’s like to teach when your mental health is under strain. I’ll talk about the hidden pressure to keep the “teacher mask” on, the surprising lesso...