Thirteen Years Well Spent Sat, 27 Jun 2026 22:12:58 -0400 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2609788 en-us © 2026 Thirteen Years Well Spent yes 5542f3d9-2a4d-5369-86cd-3b051ad35bbe Susan Taylor episodic false What was school like for you? This podcast chats to young adults about what, from school they use in life and what they have learnt since. In the cumulative stories of real people, lets find out if school is doing as it claims - prepare young people for life.

]]> Buzzsprout (https://www.buzzsprout.com) Susan Taylor https://storage.buzzsprout.com/5igy904d9eep9sx3qerjl3puf6jm?.jpg Thirteen Years Well Spent https://www.buzzsprout.com/2609788 9 Lucy 9 Lucy Yes, a duck. One of Lucy’s memories was being told off, strongly, for drawing a duck on the ‘blank’ page of her test. It was not until her late 20s that Lucy received a dyslexic diagnosis, and everything made sense. 

Lucy’s story reveals that even with dyslexia a child can ‘crack the code’ of school and be successful in tests, but post school had to unlearn the assumption that your identity and worth are bound to test results.

]]> Yes, a duck. One of Lucy’s memories was being told off, strongly, for drawing a duck on the ‘blank’ page of her test. It was not until her late 20s that Lucy received a dyslexic diagnosis, and everything made sense. 

Lucy’s story reveals that even with dyslexia a child can ‘crack the code’ of school and be successful in tests, but post school had to unlearn the assumption that your identity and worth are bound to test results.

]]> Susan Taylor Buzzsprout-19411851 Sun, 28 Jun 2026 12:00:00 +1000 2600 9 full false 8 Jazz 8 Jazz Jazz wants teachers to know about neurodivergence and how to support it in ways that are respectful and helpful to the people in the room. She has some great ideas, some of which come from less than optimal experiences.

]]> Jazz wants teachers to know about neurodivergence and how to support it in ways that are respectful and helpful to the people in the room. She has some great ideas, some of which come from less than optimal experiences.

]]> Susan Taylor Buzzsprout-19101759 Sun, 21 Jun 2026 10:00:00 +1000 2048 8 full false 7 Rebecca 7 Rebecca Every story is part of the picture, and this one gives the perspective of lived SEND experience. (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities). Rebecca offers important insights into the different ways school both enabled and disabled her. She describes bullying and some rocketing successes! 

]]> Every story is part of the picture, and this one gives the perspective of lived SEND experience. (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities). Rebecca offers important insights into the different ways school both enabled and disabled her. She describes bullying and some rocketing successes! 

]]> Susan Taylor Buzzsprout-19303752 Sun, 14 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +1000 4200 full false 6 Christian Williams 6 Christian Williams This is the first of our educator episodes. The aim is that every five episodes an educator and I chat about the previous guests stories, bringing our perspectives, experiences and actions. In this episode Christian and I notice the incredible variation in the five stories so far. We reflect on the connection, ATAR, competition and life skills. And, I reveal a hatchling plan, seeking feedback from you whether you are in education or not.

]]> This is the first of our educator episodes. The aim is that every five episodes an educator and I chat about the previous guests stories, bringing our perspectives, experiences and actions. In this episode Christian and I notice the incredible variation in the five stories so far. We reflect on the connection, ATAR, competition and life skills. And, I reveal a hatchling plan, seeking feedback from you whether you are in education or not.

]]> Susan Taylor Buzzsprout-19267118 Sun, 07 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +1000 3464 full false 5 Liam 5 Liam Liam thought his years in school based education were well spent, but not because he got good grades, because he had great friends that he still regularly goes camping with. Liam has some great ideas for how existing subjects like English and Maths could be re-mastered towards skills that are more relevant for life. 

]]> Liam thought his years in school based education were well spent, but not because he got good grades, because he had great friends that he still regularly goes camping with. Liam has some great ideas for how existing subjects like English and Maths could be re-mastered towards skills that are more relevant for life. 

]]> Susan Taylor Buzzsprout-19101747 Sun, 31 May 2026 19:00:00 +1000 2030 5 full false 4 Clair 4 Clair Clair does not think her years at school were well spent. She sees herself as not cut out for school, but did get a lot in terms of social interactions and sport achievements. Clair joins other guests in suggesting that schools teach more life maths particularly in terms of shopping, counting back change, buying houses and tax. While Clair did not feel successful at school, she is proud to be a business owner now.

]]> Clair does not think her years at school were well spent. She sees herself as not cut out for school, but did get a lot in terms of social interactions and sport achievements. Clair joins other guests in suggesting that schools teach more life maths particularly in terms of shopping, counting back change, buying houses and tax. While Clair did not feel successful at school, she is proud to be a business owner now.

]]> Susan Taylor Buzzsprout-19023980 Sun, 24 May 2026 10:00:00 +1000 1582 1 5 full false 3 Jonathan 3 Jonathan Jonathan tells us about the choices he made, quite deliberately, to either get good grades or put his energy into being social. He talks about the importance of working at his level of competence and how grateful he was when teachers were able to do this effectively. Jonathan was very specific and explicit that the real point of school is to prepare young people for the world after school. Like Bella he would like to send the message that ATAR results do not define you, so it would be great if there was less pressure around this.

]]> Jonathan tells us about the choices he made, quite deliberately, to either get good grades or put his energy into being social. He talks about the importance of working at his level of competence and how grateful he was when teachers were able to do this effectively. Jonathan was very specific and explicit that the real point of school is to prepare young people for the world after school. Like Bella he would like to send the message that ATAR results do not define you, so it would be great if there was less pressure around this.

]]> Susan Taylor Buzzsprout-19023969 Sun, 17 May 2026 15:00:00 +1000 2594 1 3 full false 2 Grace 2 Grace Grace tells us about the importance of listening and watching the people in our rooms so we can respond well to them as individual humans. While she talks about content levels, it is being seen and cared for that made the difference. She describes gentle communication and 'nudges', suggesting that some of these communications skills as well as some more general financial and political life skills could be taught in secondary schools.

]]> Grace tells us about the importance of listening and watching the people in our rooms so we can respond well to them as individual humans. While she talks about content levels, it is being seen and cared for that made the difference. She describes gentle communication and 'nudges', suggesting that some of these communications skills as well as some more general financial and political life skills could be taught in secondary schools.

]]> Susan Taylor Buzzsprout-19023928 Sun, 10 May 2026 11:00:00 +1000 2929 1 2 full false 1 Bella 1 Bella Bella tells us about the value of social skills and practical knowledge like cooking. She discusses struggles with the school system, feeling overwhelmed by tasks and the pressure to compare oneself to peers. Bella emphasizes the importance of self-discovery and happiness, suggesting schools focus on personal growth rather than comparison. She advocates for more awareness and support for neurodivergent individuals in education. Bella looks forward to exploring different paths and finding what brings her happiness in the future. 

]]> Bella tells us about the value of social skills and practical knowledge like cooking. She discusses struggles with the school system, feeling overwhelmed by tasks and the pressure to compare oneself to peers. Bella emphasizes the importance of self-discovery and happiness, suggesting schools focus on personal growth rather than comparison. She advocates for more awareness and support for neurodivergent individuals in education. Bella looks forward to exploring different paths and finding what brings her happiness in the future. 

]]> Susan Taylor Buzzsprout-19100025 Sun, 03 May 2026 07:00:00 +1000 966 1 full false