Episodi

  • Introducing More Than a Score

    Introducing More Than a Score
    Sep 1 2025
    What really defines success? For too long, school results and test scores have been seen as the ultimate measure. But life after school tells a different story. In our very first episode of More Than a Score, hosts Laura and Dan introduce the vision behind the podcast—why marks aren’t the whole picture, and why the real lessons are often found in resilience, relationships, and the pathways we take beyond school. This episode sets the stage for the series. You’ll hear why we’re creating a space to share the stories of everyday people—leaders, parents, athletes, entrepreneurs, and creatives—reflecting on their school days, what shaped them, and how they define success today. If you’re a parent, student, teacher, or simply someone who remembers the weight and pressure of school results, this podcast is for you. We’ll remind you that success comes in many forms, that there is no one "right" pathway beyond school, and that it really is about far more than a score. Show notes: * Meet the hosts of More Than a Score, Laura and Dan: teachers, award-winning school leaders, and parents with 5 kids of our own between us. *How each episode can help you with practical insights from real stories and experiences. * Why we started this podcast: shifting the conversation beyond academic results. * What you can expect in future episodes: real stories from diverse voices. * A thank-you to our early listeners for joining us on this journey. Do you know someone with a great story or a unique pathway in or beyond school? Reach out to us at morethanascorepod@gmail.com!
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    13 min
  • Elleni Pearce: Doing What You Love and Creating Your Own Career Pathway

    Elleni Pearce: Doing What You Love and Creating Your Own Career Pathway
    Sep 7 2025
    What happens when you stop chasing results and start following what you truly love? Elleni Pearce shows us that when you lean into your strengths and back yourself, the path ahead can unfold in unexpected and exciting ways. What will you get from this episode? • Why results don’t define us • How to measure success through happiness, passion, and the people who surrounding us. • Why letting young people follow their interests and dreams is the surest way for them to thrive. • How playing to your strengths, backing yourself when others doubt you should come first. Who is Elleni Pearce? Director and Founder of LENZO, the creative events and activations agency known for its bold style and @partywithlenzo flair. From being in trouble in school for questioning traditions and loving the social side of school, Elleni leant into this passion to build the company LENZO from the ground up: initially as an events marketplace and now as one of the most recognised creative and events agencies of its kind. Ellen's school days were shaped by both champions and challengers. . Her school experiences taught Elleni the power of knowing yourself, having supporters (and challengers!) and embracing different ways of learning and leading. Know someone else with a story that should be shared? Get in contact with us at morethanascorepod@gmail.com!
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    48 min
  • Thomas Pitt: Resilience & How Going Unscored Isn't The End

    Thomas Pitt: Resilience & How Going Unscored Isn't The End
    Sep 14 2025
    Imagine being told at school you’re “going non-scored.” For many, that feels like a full stop. For Thomas Pitt, it became the spark for resilience that shaped every step of his journey. From days working and grinding as a wool presser and manning the floor in a garden nursery to civil construction, Thomas worked his way up from being on the tools to leading a team—before backing himself to start Access Utility Engineering (AUE), the business he now runs today. His story is living proof that school results do not define what’s possible. In this conversation, Thomas speaks openly about the lessons he’s learned, the power of persistence, and the importance of choosing the right people to work with. He also reflects on how becoming a parent reshaped his understanding of success. This is an episode for every parent worrying about their child’s pathway, and every student questioning their worth. Thomas’s story reminds us that success is not a score—it’s resilience, growth, and the life you choose to build. You’ll discover: • Why going non-scored doesn’t limit your future. • How resilience and persistence create new opportunities. • What a leader like Thomas looks or when building his team at AUE. • Why success shifts from individual achievement to family, balance, and growth. This episode is testament that life is about far more than a score. Know someone else with a story that should be shared? Get in contact with us at morethanascorepod@gmail.com!
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    35 min
  • Jess Orr: Finding Balance Beyond Results & Being Open to Adventures

    Jess Orr: Finding Balance Beyond Results & Being Open to Adventures
    Sep 21 2025
    What if your best school memories weren’t about results, but about connection, laughter, and a community that felt like home? For Jess Orr, house singing days and a close-knit year level defined her final years of school more than any exam. After school, Jess pursued an Arts Law degree, but had to pivot and move to a regional city to do so after missing out on her first options. This pivot led to unexpected experiences and adventures: living on residence (campus), studying overseas in The Hague, and travelling widely. During six years of study, she learned as much about life, freedom, and friendship as she did about the law. Jess's journey shows education is about far more than content—it’s about growth, adventure, and finding your voice. In this conversation, Jess shares how her definition of success has shifted over time—from trying to do it all, to learning to set boundaries, say no, and focus on balance. Today, success for her is about prioritising her kids and family while still finding purpose in her work. This episode is for parents who want to encourage their children to try different things, to be brave, and to celebrate difference. Jess’s story reminds us that the little lessons we teach—kindness, judgment, values—often lead to life’s biggest strengths. You’ll discover: • Why school community and connection matter as much as grades. • How studying abroad and travel shaped Jess’s perspective. • What balance looks like as a parent and professional. • Practical advice for parents to advocate for and encourage their kids. Because success is built on balance, connection, and the courage to be yourself - not a final score. Know someone else with a story that should be shared? Get in contact with us at morethanascorepod@gmail.com!
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    50 min
  • TJ Weistra: From Pro Athlete to CEO – Redefining Success Beyond Results

    TJ Weistra: From Pro Athlete to CEO – Redefining Success Beyond Results
    Sep 28 2025
    What happens when your childhood dream of being a professional athlete ends—and you have to start again? For TJ Weistra, badminton was everything: first as a player at the highest level, then as a coach in Peru and New Zealand. Today, he’s the CEO of Badminton Australia, proving that success can take many forms. From PE class and school support that allowed him to chase his sporting goals, to moving into sports management with a Graduate Diploma in HR and an MBA, TJ’s pathway has been anything but linear. He worked his way from athlete to coach to leader, showing how growth and resilience can shape new opportunities. In this conversation, TJ reflects on how his definition of success has evolved—from focusing on “me, myself, and I” as an athlete, to helping others thrive, guiding organisations, and being present for his own children. This episode is for parents and students feeling pressured to “have it all figured out” by their teenage years. TJ’s story is a reminder that pathways aren’t straight lines, and that success is about growth, values, and supporting those around you. You’ll discover: • How elite sport prepared TJ for leadership and life beyond the court. • Why success shifts from personal wins to collective growth. • The role of mentors and teachers in supporting unconventional pathways. • Practical advice for parents: nurture, support, and remind your kids it’s okay not to have all the answers at 14. Because success isn’t fixed. It grows and changes with you. Know someone else with a story that should be shared? Get in contact with us at morethanascorepod@gmail.com!
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    1 ora e 5 min
  • Shayegan Abdollahbeigi: From School Challenges to Engineering & Entrepreneurship

    Shayegan Abdollahbeigi: From School Challenges to Engineering & Entrepreneurship
    Oct 5 2025
    Shayegan Abdollahbeigi: From School Challenges to Engineering & Entrepreneurship What do you do when life throws a curveball right before your final exams? For Shayegan Abdollahbeigi, it was a severe illness in Year 12 that almost kept him from sitting his exams. With the encouragement of a teacher, he pushed through and discovered a principle that still guides him today: discipline equals freedom. Growing up in Iran before moving to Australia gave Shayegan a unique lens on school. Far from being a place of limits, he saw school as a space for exploration academically, socially, and personally. Since then, his journey has been one of breadth and curiosity: studying engineering at Monash University, launching a watchmaking company, interning in motorsport, and continuing to build new pathways as an engineer and entrepreneur. In this conversation, Shayegan reflects on the mentors who believed in him, the values instilled by his immigrant parents, and how Zoroastrian philosophy—good thoughts, good words, good deeds—has shaped his evolving view of success. This episode is for parents and students who feel pressure to get it “right” the first time. Shayaegan’s story is a reminder that being wrong, exploring widely, and building systems for growth are some of the most powerful lessons school can give. You’ll discover: • Why “discipline = freedom” became Shayaegan’s guiding principle. • How exploration and breadth fuel long-term growth and opportunity. • Why collaboration and character matter more than certainty or legacy. • Practical advice for parents to foster curiosity, allow mistakes, and teach values that last. Because true success isn’t about a score, it’s about systems, values, and the person you become along the way. Know someone else with a story that should be shared? Get in contact with us at morethanascorepod@gmail.com!
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    1 ora e 3 min
  • Lael Stone: How Courage and Curiosity Can Set You (and Your Kids) Up for Success

    Lael Stone: How Courage and Curiosity Can Set You (and Your Kids) Up for Success
    Oct 11 2025
    What happens when you stop waiting for permission and start backing yourself instead? In this episode of More Than a Score, Lael Stone shares how leaving behind a school system that didn’t quite fit opened the door to a life of possibility. At just 17, she travelled overseas alone, launched her first business at 20, became a parent at 25, and went on to build a career as a parenting educator, speaker, author, and co-co-founder of Woodline Primary School. Lael’s story is a reminder that qualifications don’t always come from classrooms — they can come from life experiences, curiosity, and the willingness to take a chance on yourself. She opens up about the power of trusting your instincts, embracing imperfection, and finding freedom in being “enough.” This episode is for parents and young people who feel pressure to have everything figured out. Lael’s journey reminds us that courage, curiosity, and connection will take you further than perfection ever could. You’ll discover: • Why backing yourself can be a powerful qualification you can have. • How courage and lived experience can open unexpected doors. • Why being “enough” matters more than being perfect. • How parents can model possibility, presence, and calm for their kids. Because success isn’t about ticking boxes — it’s about backing yourself and creating a life that feels true to you. Know someone else with a story that should be shared? Get in contact with us at morethanascorepod@gmail.com!
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    1 ora e 3 min
  • Tom Pountney: Why the Best Lessons Aren’t on a Report Card

    Tom Pountney: Why the Best Lessons Aren’t on a Report Card
    Oct 22 2025
    What makes a great school experience? The marks you earn or the memories you make? For Tom Pountney, it was the laughter, sport, and sense of community that made learning come alive. He loved school, the curiosity, the opportunities, and the teachers who treated students like adults ready to take on the world. Leaving that environment, however, brought its own lessons. Tom admits he felt a little lost, missing the structure, connection, and culture that school provided. Over time, through travel, writing, and working for Boris Johnson (before becoming PM) he found his own rhythm and has built a life that blends creativity, family, and purpose. In this episode, Tom reflects on how his perspective on success has evolved from chasing titles to creating opportunities that align with his values. This conversation is for every parent wondering what really matters when choosing a school or supporting their child through those pivotal teenage years. Tom’s insights remind us that education isn’t just about grades, but about building confidence, community, and finding your place in the world. You’ll discover: • Why community and belonging shape learning as much as results. •What parents can look for beyond marks and reputation when choosing a school. • How travel, exploration, and reflection build independence and character. • Why success is less about certainty and more about curiosity and connection. Tom reminds us the best lessons aren’t found on a report card, they’re discovered along the way.
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    53 min