Coffee and Whiteboard Markers Podcast
From the front lines of the classroom Myles O'Kane talks all things teaching in these weekly episodes. Hosted from Australia, this podcast dives into the highs, lows, and everything in between when it comes to 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
83 episodes
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...
Episode 64: Habits That Made My Teaching Life Easier
Let’s talk about the little habits that make a big difference. From simplifying planning to managing the emotional load, these are the daily routines and mindset shifts that helped me feel less overwhelmed and more in control. These ar...
Episode 63: Boundaries The Most Underrated Tool
Everyone talks about pedagogy, data, and classroom management — but no one talks enough about boundaries. In this episode, we unpack why boundaries might be the most powerful (and underrated) teaching tool you have. Whether it’s ...
Episode 62: What teaching has taught me about myself
Teaching isn’t just a job — it’s a mirror. In this episode, I unpack the surprising, challenging, and humbling lessons teaching has taught me about who I am. From patience and boundaries to self-worth and resilience, this is a real talk reflect...
Episode 61: Teacher Guilt And The Invisible Backpack We All Carry
There’s the marking, the meetings, the planning — and then there’s the guilt. The stuff we carry silently: for not doing enough, for leaving early, for setting boundaries. In this episode, we unpack the invisible emotional backpack teachers wea...
Episode 60: The Four Day Teaching Week Dream Or Disaster
Teachers everywhere are talking about the 4-day teaching week — but what actually happens when you squeeze 5 days’ worth of work into 4? In this episode, we explore the pros, the cons, and the stuff no one’s telling you. If you’ve ever fantasis...
Episode 59: Managing the emotional load of teaching
Teaching comes with an emotional weight that’s often invisible but deeply felt. From the constant mental load to the quiet moments of doubt and overwhelm, this episode dives into what it really means to carry the emotional side of the job — and...