Shows
More Than a ScoreJosh Kinder: Learning to Hold Things Loosely Through Change and UncertaintyWhat if success wasn’t about choosing one path but learning to grow through change and uncertainty?
In this episode of More Than a Score, Josh Kinder joins us to share how change, uncertainty, curiosity and courage have shaped his life - from moving schools and chasing surf breaks, to building a career that’s evolved from carpentry to leadership in construction and tech.
Josh opens up about the lessons that came from detours and setbacks, and how a simple mindset — “act as if” — helped him step into confidence, possibility, and growth at every stage. His story reminds us that education do...
2025-11-1645 min
More Than a ScoreKristy Kendall: Curiosity, Confidence, and Real SuccessWhat if the key to thriving in school — and in life — wasn’t about getting everything right, but about what you do next?
In this episode of More Than a Score, Kristy Kendall, Principal of Toorak College and education innovator, reflects on her journey from a curious student at Mount Eliza High to a nationally recognised school leader reshaping how we think about success, feedback, and learning.
Kristy shares how curiosity, courage, and connection shaped her path — from a 90.85 ATAR and a love of tests to discovering that true confidence comes from reflection, vulnerability, and relationships. She invites parents and educator...
2025-11-091h 06
More Than a ScoreJames Pattison: Learning, Risk, and the Power of Backing YourselfWhat happens when you leave a school you loved, only to realise the real learning starts after it’s over?
In this episode of More Than a Score, James Pattison — writer, broadcaster, creative, and founder of Miniature — shares his story of curiosity, confidence, and rediscovery. From the classroom to Radio National and beyond, James reveals how the experiences that shape us in school often teach us lessons we only understand years later.
He reflects on the sibling rivalries, the teachers who saw his potential, and the moments of courage that came from saying yes. From backpacking through Europe with barely enough...
2025-11-021h 02
More Than a ScoreEllen Steele: How Small Acts & Advocacy Can Change Young People's PathsWhat if success in education wasn’t about grades or titles, but about joy, curiosity, and people who help us thrive?
In this episode of More Than a Score, Ellen Steele, a teacher and senior leader, shares her story of possibility, speaking up and advocacy, and finding purpose in learning. Ellen’s journey shows the power of small acts of belief that change everything.
From an Arts degree to teaching, Ellen spent years in the classroom before completing a Master’s of Learning Difficulties and moved into senior educational leadership. Along the way, her view of education has transformed, from a line...
2025-10-2653 min
More Than a ScoreTom Pountney: Why the Best Lessons Aren’t on a Report CardWhat 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...
2025-10-2253 min
More Than a ScoreLael Stone: How Courage and Curiosity Can Set You (and Your Kids) Up for SuccessWhat 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 willingn...
2025-10-111h 03
More Than a ScoreShayegan Abdollahbeigi: From School Challenges to Engineering & EntrepreneurshipShayegan 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...
2025-10-061h 02
More Than a ScoreTJ Weistra: From Pro Athlete to CEO – Redefining Success Beyond ResultsWhat 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 lea...
2025-09-291h 05
More Than a ScoreJess Orr: Finding Balance Beyond Results & Being Open to AdventuresWhat 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 li...
2025-09-2149 min
More Than a ScoreThomas Pitt: Resilience & How Going Unscored Isn't The EndImagine 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 ope...
2025-09-1535 min
More Than a ScoreElleni Pearce: Doing What You Love and Creating Your Own Career PathwayWhat 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 Founde...
2025-09-0847 min
More Than a ScoreIntroducing More Than a ScoreWhat 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 creati...
2025-09-0113 min