Advertise on podcast: Conversations with The Smith Family

We're excited to share our new podcast, All I Can Be. A six-part series about big dreams, hidden struggles and turning points that change lives. You’ll hear from young Australians - as well as a few well-known voices - who faced tough starts but went on to achieve goals that once felt out of reach - proving that where you begin doesn’t have to define where you go.  Listen, follow and share - All I Can Be. Audio production: Mylk Media   GET IN TOUCH  Learn more about The Smith Family: thesmithfamily.com.au     Connect with us on:  Facebook @TheSmithFamilyAustralia  Instagram @thesmithfamilyaus  LinkedIn @the-smith-family     The Smith Family acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the Lands on which this podcast is made and their continuing connection to Culture and Country. We pay our respects to Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Distinguished Professor George Williams AO joins us to talk about the financial pressures forcing too many university students to skip meals and sleep in cars. He explains how we can better support young people and why universities must fight for equity and change.     He also explores the importance of the humanities in an age of misinformation and AI, and how showing up where students are – even on TikTok – has been a game changer for building real connection.        George is the Vice-Chancellor and President of Western Sydney University, and has decades of experience as a teacher, scholar and senior leader in higher education. Alongside that he is a barrister and one of Australia’s leading experts in constitutional law.    CREDITS  Host: Doug Taylor, CEO, The Smith Family   Guest: Distinguished Professor George Williams AO, university vice-chancellor, educator and advocate    Audio production: Mylk Media      GET IN TOUCH  Learn more about The Smith Family: thesmithfamily.com.au     Connect with us on:  Facebook @TheSmithFamilyAustralia  Instagram @thesmithfamilyaus  LinkedIn @the-smith-family     The Smith Family acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the Lands on which this podcast is made and their continuing connection to Culture and Country. We pay our respects to Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does it take to shift the systems that shape our lives? In this episode, Professor Kristy Muir joins us to explore how real change happens — from purpose-led leadership to valuing local wisdom and the key ingredients for good collaboration.     Kristy is a social impact, philanthropy and systems change leader who has spent decades tackling tough social challenges across education, employment, housing and mental health. Today, she is CEO of the Paul Ramsay Foundation, Professor of Social Policy at UNSW Sydney Business School and Chair of Allan & Gill Gray Philanthropy Australasia.   CREDITS  Host: Doug Taylor, CEO, The Smith Family   Guest: Professor Kristy Muir, social impact, philanthropy and systems change leader  Audio production: Mylk Media      GET IN TOUCH  Learn more about The Smith Family: thesmithfamily.com.au     Connect with us on:  Facebook @TheSmithFamilyAustralia  Instagram @thesmithfamilyaus  LinkedIn @the-smith-family     The Smith Family acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the Lands on which this podcast is made and their continuing connection to Culture and Country. We pay our respects to Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jesse King, a descendant of the Waanyi people, has spent his life in and around classrooms – first as the child of a teacher, then as one himself. Today, he’s a policy leader and advocate, helping young people thrive as the Aurora Education Foundation’s Head of Impact and Data, and as a member of The Smith Family's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander National Advisory Group.     In this conversation with Doug Taylor, Jesse shares a fresh perspective on Closing the Gap and why redefining success in education matters for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. He also talks about his area of passion – embedding Indigenous Knowledges into STEM – and the benefits this can bring.    CREDITS  Host: Doug Taylor, CEO, The Smith Family   Guest: Jesse King, Head of Impact and Data, Aurora Education Foundation  Audio production: Mylk Media      GET IN TOUCH  Learn more about The Smith Family: thesmithfamily.com.au     Connect with us on:  Facebook @TheSmithFamilyAustralia  Instagram @thesmithfamilyaus  LinkedIn @the-smith-family     The Smith Family acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the Lands on which this podcast is made and their continuing connection to Culture and Country. We pay our respects to Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eddie Woo is one of Australia’s most well-known educators, reaching millions through his YouTube channel, Wootube, and inspiring students and teachers alike with his passionate, human-centred approach to learning. Behind the online success is a teacher deeply committed to equity and making a positive difference in the lives of the students he teaches.    In this conversation, Eddie reflects on what keeps him in the classroom, how to connect with disengaged students and the small moments that can shape a life. He also addresses the teacher shortage, how to bridge learning gaps in maths and why he's excited about AI for teaching and learning.  CREDITS  Host: Doug Taylor, CEO, The Smith Family   Guest: Eddie Woo, award-winning maths teacher, author and creator of Wootube  Audio production: Mylk Media      GET IN TOUCH  Learn more about The Smith Family: thesmithfamily.com.au     Connect with us on:  Facebook @TheSmithFamilyAustralia  Instagram @thesmithfamilyaus  LinkedIn @the-smith-family     The Smith Family acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the Lands on which this podcast is made and their continuing connection to Culture and Country. We pay our respects to Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How is artificial intelligence transforming our classrooms? Professor Leslie Loble AM unpacks the real-world impact of AI and technology on learning and education. From the benefits of personalised learning to the risk of widening inequality, she shares insights on what this fast-moving tech means for students today and into the future.     Noting "AI is not all doom and gloom", Leslie outlines how these tools can improve outcomes for young people experiencing disadvantage – and what it will take to ensure this tech revolution benefits all students, not just a lucky few.    CREDITS  Host: Doug Taylor, CEO, The Smith Family   Guest: Professor Leslie Loble AM, chair of the Australian Network for Quality Digital Education and Industry Professor at UTS’s Centre for Social Justice and Inclusion  Audio production: Mylk Media      GET IN TOUCH  Learn more about The Smith Family: thesmithfamily.com.au     Connect with us on:  Facebook @TheSmithFamilyAustralia  Instagram @thesmithfamilyaus  LinkedIn @the-smith-family     The Smith Family acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the Lands on which this podcast is made and their continuing connection to Culture and Country. We pay our respects to Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a must-listen episode, we hear from family psychologist Steve Biddulph AM, one of the world’s best-known parenting educators and authors. He shares insights on the importance of role models in a child’s development and education journey, and the traits that set young people up for a good life. Steve also reflects on the mental health challenges affecting young people today, describing anxiety as "the second-biggest problem on the planet". He reveals what the latest brain science tells us about the best way to manage anxiety and how we can use this to help young people thrive.   CREDITS  Host: Doug Taylor, CEO, The Smith Family   Guest: Steve Biddulph AM, family psychologist, parent educator and author  Audio production: Mylk Media      GET IN TOUCH  Learn more about The Smith Family: thesmithfamily.com.au     Connect with us on:  Facebook @TheSmithFamilyAustralia  Instagram @thesmithfamilyaus  LinkedIn @the-smith-family     The Smith Family acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the Lands on which this podcast is made and their continuing connection to Culture and Country. We pay our respects to Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if every child had an equal start in early learning? Georgie Dent, CEO of The Parenthood, makes a powerful case for why every child should have access to high-quality, affordable early childhood education and care, and how failing to provide that risks entrenching disadvantage from the very beginning.  Georgie unpacks why children who stand to benefit the most from early learning are the ones missing out, what recent reforms mean for families – and the big shift needed in Australia that could make all the difference.  CREDITS  Host: Doug Taylor, CEO, The Smith Family   Guest: Georgie Dent, CEO, The Parenthood  Audio production: Mylk Media      GET IN TOUCH  Learn more about The Smith Family: thesmithfamily.com.au     Connect with us on:  Facebook @TheSmithFamilyAustralia  Instagram @thesmithfamilyaus  LinkedIn @the-smith-family     The Smith Family acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the Lands on which this podcast is made and their continuing connection to Culture and Country. We pay our respects to Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In our first conversation of 2025, Doug Taylor, CEO of The Smith Family, sits down with David Gonski AC, the driving force behind Australia’s landmark school funding reforms, to explore the current state of education and what’s needed to ensure every child – no matter their background – has the opportunity to succeed.   They discuss the legacy of the Gonski Report and the recent agreement to lift public school funding to the full amount recommended by the review. David also shares his views on what it takes to help young people thrive in tertiary education and the role of philanthropy in shaping better futures.   CREDITS Host: Doug Taylor, CEO, The Smith Family Guest: David Gonski AC, business leader, philanthropist and Chancellor, University of New South Wales Audio production: Mylk Media    GET IN TOUCH Learn more about The Smith Family: thesmithfamily.com.au   Connect with us on: Facebook @TheSmithFamilyAustralia Instagram @thesmithfamilyaus LinkedIn @the-smith-family   The Smith Family acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the Lands on which this podcast is made and their continuing connection to Culture and Country. We pay our respects to Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to a new season of Conversations with The Smith Family – a podcast that dives into the big issues affecting young people, their education and their future. Over eight episodes, we explore ideas to help tackle educational inequality in Australia and ensure every child has the chance to thrive at school and beyond. Host Doug Taylor, CEO of The Smith Family, is joined by a stellar line-up of guests, including education reformer David Gonski, early childhood advocate Georgie Dent, parenting expert Steve Biddulph and Australia's favourite maths teacher, Eddie Woo. Our first conversation will be out on Wed 16 April, with new episodes released monthly. CREDITS Series producers: Jacqui Ooi, Kim Batchelor Audio production: Mylk Media Video production: Brown Tree Productions   GET IN TOUCH Learn more about The Smith Family: thesmithfamily.com.au   Connect with us on: Facebook @TheSmithFamilyAustralia Instagram @thesmithfamilyaus LinkedIn @the-smith-family   The Smith Family acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the Lands on which this podcast is made and their continuing connection to Culture and Country. We pay our respects to Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we’re bringing you some of the highlights from our first season of conversations. If you'd like to hear more, you can scroll back through the feed to find the full episodes. This series has explored the work being done across the Australian community to help young people change their futures through the power of education. From expert insights to deeply moving personal stories, we've heard about some of the most pressing issues affecting young people today and how we can all make a positive difference in their lives. Thank you to all of our guests for sharing your stories and experiences, and to you, our listeners, for your support of the show.  We’ll be back with more conversations in 2025.    CREDITS  Host: Doug Taylor, CEO, The Smith Family  Series producer: Jacqui Ooi  Audio production: Mylk Media    GET IN TOUCH  Learn more about The Smith Family: thesmithfamily.com.au    Connect with us on:  Facebook @TheSmithFamilyAustralia  Instagram @thesmithfamilyaus  LinkedIn @the-smith-family    The Smith Family acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the Lands on which this podcast is made and their continuing connection to Culture and Country. We pay our respects to Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In our final conversation for 2024, Kelly, a parent with two children on our Learning for Life program, reflects on the year that’s been, as cost-of-living pressures continue to take a heavy toll on families and impact children’s education.      Her story highlights the difficulties many families on lower incomes are facing. In a recent survey of nearly 2,500 families supported by The Smith Family, almost 60% of parents and carers said they struggled to afford essential school items for their children this year.      Despite the challenges, Kelly is doing all she can to ensure her children don’t miss out on vital learning opportunities. Reflecting on her own schooling years, she emphasises the importance of creating a memorable and positive school experience for her children.      CREDITS  Host: Doug Taylor, CEO, The Smith Family  Guest: Kelly, Learning for Life parent  Audio production: Mylk Media     GET IN TOUCH  Learn more about The Smith Family: thesmithfamily.com.au     Connect with us on:  Facebook @TheSmithFamilyAustralia  Instagram @thesmithfamilyaus  LinkedIn @the-smith-family     The Smith Family acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the Lands on which this podcast is made and their continuing connection to Culture and Country. We pay our respects to Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we dive into Pay What It Takes, an initiative within the not-for-profit sector to address misconceptions around admin costs and why these shouldn’t be seen as a measure of a ‘good’ or 'bad' charity. The campaign aims to increase understanding of the true cost of running effective charities and creating a positive and lasting impact in our communities.  Doug speaks with two of the co-founders of the campaign, Jo Taylor, CEO of the Siddle Family Foundation, and Lisa Allan, Head of Fundraising at The Smith Family, to explore why these admin costs – such as IT, HR, finance, fundraising and measuring impact – are essential for organisations to operate safely and efficiently, build strong and sustainable foundations, and deliver on their purpose.   CREDITS Host: Doug Taylor, CEO, The Smith Family Guests: Jo Taylor & Lisa Allan, Co-founders, Pay What It Takes Audio production: Mylk Media   GET IN TOUCH Learn more about The Smith Family: thesmithfamily.com.au   Connect with us on: Facebook @TheSmithFamilyAustralia Instagram @thesmithfamilyaus LinkedIn @the-smith-family   The Smith Family acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the Lands on which this podcast is made and their continuing connection to Culture and Country. We pay our respects to Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we discuss the importance of building trusted partnerships with families to support their child’s education.   The conversation draws on the experiences of Ben Blowers, who has worked directly with families on The Smith Family's Learning for Life program over the past five years.   Ben shares insights into how The Smith Family engages with parents, offering not just financial and program support, but the personal support needed to help children thrive at school. He also highlights the challenges families are facing right now and their resilience in overcoming barriers.   CREDITS Host: Doug Taylor, CEO, The Smith Family Guest: Ben Blowers, Learning for Life Team Leader, The Smith Family Audio production: Mylk Media   GET IN TOUCH Learn more about The Smith Family: thesmithfamily.com.au   Connect with us on: Facebook @TheSmithFamilyAustralia Instagram @thesmithfamilyaus LinkedIn @the-smith-family   The Smith Family acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the Lands on which this podcast is made and their continuing connection to Culture and Country. We pay our respects to Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this important episode for Anti-Poverty Week, we meet James Manton, an alumni of The Smith Family’s Learning for Life program, who shares his deeply personal story of growing up in disadvantage, the impact it had on his education and how the right support at the right time helped him turn his life around. James also offers valuable insights into how our society can better support young people experiencing poverty and how he's now giving back as a volunteer mentor to make a difference in another young person's life.    CREDITS Host: Doug Taylor, CEO, The Smith Family Guest: James Manton, Learning for Life Alumni Audio production: Mylk Media   GET IN TOUCH Learn more about The Smith Family: thesmithfamily.com.au   Connect with us on: Facebook @TheSmithFamilyAustralia Instagram @thesmithfamilyaus LinkedIn @the-smith-family   The Smith Family acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the Lands on which this podcast is made and their continuing connection to Culture and Country. We pay our respects to Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.