Edufuturists #323 Wolfpack Christmas Special

In this very special podcast episode, we are joined by members of the Edufuturists Wolfpack from across the UK, all in festive gear and cheer! We loved being joined in the studio by Dave Leonard, Tara Jones, Christine Mayers, Gaz Lewis, Louisa Rose and Naomi Toland. Poppy Lemar was also due to be with us but got struck down by the dreaded small-child-transmitted-end-of-term-itis. Hope you're feeling better soon, Poppy! We had loads of fun chatting all about our favourite teachers, funniest education moments, what we hope for in 2026 and why it's important to be part of a community. The hour flew by and we definitely could've gone on for hours! Thanks so much to these folks for joining us. Who knows, next year we might do an in-person Christmas special?! How good would that be - Corden, eat your heart out! Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the Christmas Special 01:10 Meet the Guests03:06 Why We Love The Wolfpack Community 06:09 The Importance of Connection in Education 09:47 Radical Candour11:40 Funny Stories from the Classroom 24:32 Teachers Who Made a Difference 26:47 The Impact of Inspirational Teachers 35:49 The Power of Connection in Education 45:03 Wishes for the Future of Education 51:22 Quickfire QuestionsThanks so much for joining us again for another episode - we appreciate you.Ben & Steve xChampioning those who are making the future of education a reality.Connect with our awesome guests:Naomi Toland is a wellbeing specialist and founder of Soshi Emoshi.Dave Leonard is Director of IT at Watergrove Trust and multiple Edufuturists Award winner.Gaz Lewis is Reference Program Manager at Google for Education.Tara Jones is the Director of Education for Greenhouse, winner of our Diversity & Inclusion Champion award in 2025.Christine Mayers is a former teacher and Head of Education & Training at Elementary Tech.Poppy Lemar is The Teacher with the Pink Hair, an EYFS specialist and education influencerLouisa Rose is CEO of youth mental health charity Beyond and the founder of Now and Beyond – a pioneering digital platform relaunching in 2026 that bridges the gap in access between educators and mental health lesson materials. It's forward thinking, giving you access to the most engaging resources all in one place but most importantly - it's youth approved. Louisa is passionate about creating platforms that empower young people like Beyond's Youth Board to use their lived experiences to shape change. A former social media professional, Louisa reflects on the ways that addictive technology and persuasive design has come to intersect the lives of young people, and our own, with dramatic implications. A regular speaker on the subject, Louisa seeks to empower young people and grown ups with the tools they need to reclaim control of their digital habits.Follow us on XFollow us on LinkedInJoin us at one of the stops on our UK RoadshowGet your tickets for Edufuturists Uprising 2026CONTENT PARTNER AD: This episode is powered by Integrated Systems Europe, the must-attend event for educators, technologists, and institutional leaders seeking to shape the future of learning. From 3–6 February 2026, ISE returns to Barcelona, uniting the brightest minds and boldest ideas in the edtech industry. Join us and Push Beyond the possibilities that are transforming the classroom of tomorrow. Don’t just keep up with the industry - get ahead of it. Check out the website to find out more and join us for ISE 2026 in Push Beyond. Use our special code 'edufuturists' for free registration here