Five Education Podcasts to Try
It’s no surprise that I love listening to other education podcasts as much as I love recording content for TESOL Pop. When TESOL Pop was launched in 2018, Eve and I were one of only a handful of women-led podcasts in the Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL or TEFL) industry, which guest speaker Eleni Symeonidou highlighted in sharing her research findings in season 2, episode 6 Women in ELT interview.
Things have progressed since then, and it’s encouraging to hear a greater variety of voices in podcasts relating to TESOL and the wider education industry. In the spirit of celebrating women in podcasting, here are five shows I enjoy listening to that I’d like to share.
1. The EdTech Podcast with Sophie Bailey
If you are a podcast fiend, then you are probably familiar with the EdTech podcast, which has been pushing out great content since 2017. With a library of over two hundred episodes to choose from, there’s something for everyone, whether you are a high school teacher or a community adult educator.
This podcast’s motto is connecting the dots between Education and Technology through interviews and discussions. Most episodes span between thirty minutes to an hour which allows space for Sophie and guests to get into the latest trends all while keeping the content interesting and accessible.
Author’s pick
I’ve enjoyed listening to the latest series where Sophie collaborates with Bett in recording talks and conversations with experts in different fields. Episode 242: Schools, Employability and Skills highlights the importance of training learners in soft skills.
2. The Adult Learning Hub with Jane Erickson
A newcomer this year to the podcasting world is The Adult Learning Hub’s podcast. This bite-sized podcast packs a punch that will leave you thinking long after the episode has finished playing. While this podcast is designed for adult educators, there are useful insights in every episode that can be adapted and applied to your learning journey as a teacher.
The podcast format interchanges between in-depth conversations with fellow adult educators to reflective talks led by the host herself. What’s more, episodes are under 15 minutes long, which makes them easy to fit into a coffee break, morning routine, or as part of a commute to work.
Author’s pick
Season 1 Episode 2: Being in the Classroom with Adult Learners: Is it all it’s cracked up to be? This episode is a fitting place to start as many of us navigate a post-pandemic landscape, whether we are teachers of adults, in the role of learners, or maybe both.
3. Everything EFL with Erin O’Byrne
I was lucky enough to interview Erin on Season 3 of TESOL Pop when she shared great tips on how to build learners’ confidence. Erin’s energy is catchy, which makes this podcast a great way to start your week with a positive burst of energy.
Erin’s experience teaching online and face-to-face EFL over the years makes the episodes' content relatable and practical. Her motto that ‘things take time’ speaks to the energy and effort it takes to hone our teaching craft. Considering how isolating teaching can be, it’s reassuring to be reminded that skills take time and to keep at it. Who doesn’t need that message of positivity to start their week?
Author’s pick
Episode 71: 10 Easy Ways to Add Positivity to Your Class is a great example of Erin’s positive energy and how it flows into her teaching. This episode is full of simple yet practical suggestions which can be adapted for different age groups of learners.
4. Teacher Wellbeing with Ellen Ronalds Keene
As someone who has experienced burnout more than once, I’m grateful that podcasts like Ellen’s are here to create space for conversation about teacher wellbeing. Since starting my career in education in 2009, I’ve seen conversations shift from responding to burnout to engaging in proactive discussion on how to prevent it.
Ellen is a cheerleader for teacher wellbeing that every educator needs in their earbuds. The solo podcast episodes are especially helpful in serving reminders that wellbeing is a priority, requires regular attention, and that self-care looks different from teacher to teacher. On the flip side, the guest-led episodes create opportunities to learn about others’ stories, research, or best practices.
Author’s pick
Season 8, Episode 11: You are not lazy, you are tired is a great example of a solo episode that serves as a sobering reminder that we are human and that our productivity levels will vary over a day, week, or year. Ultimately, it’s important to separate our sense of self-worth from our levels of productivity and to be kinder to ourselves.
5. Let’s talk TEFL with Jackie Bolen and Jennifer Smith
Co-hosts Jackie and Jennifer adopt a conversational approach in discussing a variety of topics on their podcast, whether it’s teaching tips for an aspect of grammar or sharing stories about teaching abroad. Teaching tips are often intertwined with references to Jackie and Jennifer’s teaching experience, which brings life to the ideas they discuss and provides relatable snapshots into their classrooms.
Most episodes are around 30 minutes long and adopt two teachers talking format. Imagine a relaxed chat with a fellow teacher over a coffee.
Author’s pick
Episode 22: Fun Games to Play in Class for all Ages is a fun episode as Jackie and Jennifer take turns sharing different game ideas. Many of you haven’t heard of the Dance of the Ostriches game for young learners. Each game is described with examples of how it is used in class, as well as how it can be adapted for different levels or class sizes.
This is my list of go-to education podcasts. What about you? Share your recommendations in the comments below.
