In this episode of In This Together, host Becky Dawson sits down with Chris Misselbrook, CEO of Mind First Education, to explore the vital intersection of high performance and staff wellbeing. Chris shares his powerful personal journey from hitting rock bottom with complete burnout to returning to the classroom as a more effective, happier educator. The conversation dives deep into the "Mental Fitness" framework, challenging the traditional, fear-based leadership models often found in schools.

This episode provides a roadmap for educators and leaders who want to reduce stress without sacrificing professional excellence. Chris outlines nine trainable components of mental fitness—spanning body, brain, and being—to help staff remain resilient under the unique pressures of the education sector. Viewers can expect to learn how to move from "management" to "empathetic leadership".

Takeaways

• Mental Fitness as a Trainable Skill: Unlike the static or negative connotations often linked to "mental health," mental fitness is the trainable ability to remain regulated under pressure.
• The Nine Components Framework: True wellbeing is a balance of Body (recovery, movement, nutrition), Brain (thoughts, emotions, identity), and Being (relationships, purpose, direction).
• Leading through Love vs. Fear: Many school leaders operate from a place of fear regarding Ofsted or performance data; shifting to empathetic leadership focused on "taking care of those in your charge" improves both staff retention and student outcomes.
• Combating Perfectionism and People Pleasing: Identifying as a "recovering perfectionist" allows educators to stop "faffing" with low-impact tasks and reclaim their time for genuine recovery.
• The Power of Neuro-Awareness: Utilizing "Name it to Tame it" strategies for emotions helps educators stay in the prefrontal cortex for better decision-making, rather than being stuck in a cortisol-fueled fight-or-flight state.

Enjoyed the episode? Please follow the podcast and leave us a rating or review on your preferred platform. We love hearing from our community—send your thoughts, questions, or wellbeing success stories to teamwellbeing@twinkl.co.uk.

00:00 - Introduction - Becky Dawson introduces Chris Misselbrook and the focus on staff wellbeing.

01:00 - The Road to Burnout - Chris shares his lived experience of chronic stress and his 2018 "fetal position" moment.

04:55 - Returning to the Classroom - Why Chris stayed in teaching for six years after his recovery and performed better than ever.

07:41 - Defining Mental Fitness - An exploration of the nine components across Body, Brain, and Being.

10:40 - Tools for Regulation - Using cold water therapy and breathwork to manage the nervous system.

14:30 - Identity and Perfectionism - How self-belief acts as the keystone to mental fitness and why "faffing" hurts performance.

18:30 - The Comparison Trap - Understanding the evolutionary instinct to fit in and why overworking has become a school norm.

21:14 - Leadership and Psychological Safety - Challenging the "presenteeism" culture and leading with empathy over fear.

31:44 - The Need for Leadership Training - Why being a good teacher doesn't automatically make you a good leader.

In this episode, host Becky Dawson sits down with researcher and academic Lewis Wedlock to explore the complex landscape of masculinity in education. Lewis discusses his work in bridging the gap between academic theory and the lived experiences of young men from marginalized communities. The conversation delves into the "performance" of masculinity, the importance of fostering curiosity over fury, and how educators can create safe spaces for young people to express their true selves.

Lewis shares insights from his book, Masculinity in Schools, emphasizing that supporting wellbeing for boys requires moving beyond binary labels like "toxic" or "healthy". By modeling wholeness and vulnerability, staff can help students navigate the "duality strain" between societal expectations and their authentic identities. This episode is a must-listen for educators looking to implement a more empathetic, relationship-led approach to behavior management and student development.

• Curiosity over Fury: Approach challenging conversations with a desire to understand rather than a need to condemn; it is impossible to be truly curious and furious at the same time.
• Modeling Wholeness: Educators should demonstrate that human beings are "works in progress," replacing the pressure of perfectionism with authentic human connection.
• Navigating Duality Strain: Recognize the tension boys feel between who they actually are and the performance of masculinity they feel they must project to others.
• The "And And" Approach: Schools can address the realities of harm, such as violence against women and girls, while simultaneously supporting the mental health and emotional needs of boys.
• Intention over Reaction: Move away from "knee-jerk" responses to viral trends or media; instead, build long-term, transformational culture through intentional, trauma-informed dialogue.
• Mendable Masculinity: Treat identity like tailoring—allow young people the autonomy to "mend" and adjust their understanding of themselves as they grow and evolve.

Join the conversation:

Follow the podcast and leave a rating or review to help other educators find these crucial discussions. Have thoughts or feedback? Email the team at teamwellbeing@twinkl.co.uk.

Chapters

00:00 - Introduction - Becky Dawson introduces Lewis Wedlock and the focus on wellbeing .

01:01 - Research vs. Practice - The balance between academic data and working with young people .

02:29 - Personal Journey - Lewis’s background in social psychology and lived experience .

05:03 - Masculinity in Schools - Discussing Lewis's book and the current educational climate .

07:53 - Modeling Wholeness - Moving beyond the "black and white" binary of "good vs. bad" .

10:04 - The Performance of Masculinity - Unpacking behavior management and "duality strain" .

13:41 - Curiosity vs. Fury - How to handle challenging ideas without shutting down dialogue .

16:39 - Advice for Non-Specialists - Tips for teachers on facilitating understanding without a script .

21:18 - Communal Invitation - Addressing harm without labeling all boys as "bad" .

28:51 - Intention vs. Reaction - Avoiding "band-aid" fixes for radical change in school culture .

32:13 - Mendable Masculinity - Reimagining the human experience as a "work in progress" .

38:33 - Embracing Humanity - The power of accountability and the relationship between staff and students .

Description

Positive psychology practitioner and school leader Melanie Gentles joins Becky Dawson to explore how evidence-based wellbeing can transform school cultures. This episode delves into the science of flourishing, moving beyond "fluffy" concepts to practical applications that support both staff and pupils. By prioritizing character strengths and authentic human connection, Melanie demonstrates how schools can move from simply performing to truly thriving.

Listeners can expect an insightful deep dive into Positive Education, a proactive framework that provides tools for navigating challenges while building resilience and happiness. Melanie discusses the "third wave" of positive psychology, focusing on how community, culture, and systems underpin individual wellness. The conversation highlights the vital link between staff wellbeing and pupil outcomes, emphasizing that educators must experience these interventions themselves to create truly safe and supportive environments.

Take Aways

• Prioritise Staff First: Wellbeing initiatives must start with staff; when educators experience positive psychology interventions personally, they can more authentically model and teach them to pupils.
• Leverage Character Strengths: Identifying and using signature strengths (via the VIA survey) increases engagement, boosts energy, and helps both adults and children move from "languishing" to a state of flow.
• Shift to Strengths-Based Feedback: Moving away from a deficit model to strength-spotting builds pupil confidence and fosters a growth mindset.
• Embed Wellbeing in the Curriculum: Schools can weave wellbeing science into existing subjects—like exploring character emotions in English or data on sleep hygiene in Maths—rather than seeing it as a time-consuming "add-on."
• Foster Systemic Autonomy: School leaders should move away from micromanagement and "yoga and cake" solutions, instead creating coaching-led systems that allow staff to work within their areas of strength and interest.

Don't forget to follow us on your podcast platform and give us a rating and review to help more educators find these crucial conversations. Share your thoughts, comments, questions, or brilliant work by emailing the team at teamwellbeing@twinkl.co.uk.

Chapters

00:00 - Introduction – Meet Melanie Gentles, positive psychology practitioner and school leader.

01:19 - The Journey to Positive Psychology – From educational psychology aspirations to discovering the science of flourishing.

04:53 - The Power of Positive Education – Why wellbeing is a proactive tool, not just a reaction to crisis.

06:06 - Debunking the "Happy" Myth – Understanding that positive psychology isn't about being happy all the time.

07:52 - Discovering Character Strengths – Exploring the 24 universal strengths and the VIA Survey.

10:14 - Beating Languishing – How using strengths helps educators find "flow" and avoid burnout.

12:21 - Strength-Spotting in the Classroom – Practical ways to name and praise character in pupils.

15:51 - A Science of Wellbeing Curriculum – Lessons from Australia’s Geelong Grammar and the PERMA model.

19:32 - Making Time for Wellbeing – Creative ways to embed wellbeing into a packed school timetable.

24:40 - Advice for School Leaders – Moving beyond "cake" to systemic autonomy and coaching.