Students Aren’t Defiant, They’re Disconnected with Shaun Weatherhead

Here’s another episode of Live & Linking, and this week I’m joined by Shaun Weatherhead, founder of Fierce & Fearless and author of Students, They’re Not Defiant, They’re Disconnected. Shaun works with young people across schools, pupil referral units and alternative provision, helping them recognise who they are, what they can offer and where they belong. We had a really interesting chat about why some young people can be labelled as disengaged or difficult when there may be a lot more going on underneath.

We talked about belonging, identity, social media and the pressures young people face today. Shaun shared the story of a student who was being disciplined for being late, only for it to become clear that he was taking his younger brother to school before arriving himself. We also heard about a young man who had taught himself to play the piano while dealing with the loss of his granddad. Nobody at school knew about his talent until someone took the time to ask a question and give him a safe space to show it. That story really brings home Shaun’s message about seeing the person rather than simply judging the behaviour.

And, of course, because this is Live & Linking, we finished with a bit of LinkedIn. Shaun and I looked at one of his posts about identity, belonging and what young people wear, and talked about why personal stories can create such a strong connection on LinkedIn. There’s plenty to take away from this conversation, whether you work with young people, you’re a parent, or you simply want to get better at understanding the people around you.

Timestamps

00:00 – Welcome to Live & Linking
01:17 – Meet Shaun Weatherhead
04:33 – Shaun’s book and the idea of disconnection
11:16 – The student who was late for a reason
16:54 – The question every adult can ask
20:41 – The young pianist
25:08 – The impact of music
28:02 – Roast My Post
30:03 – Identity, belonging and LinkedIn
34:13 – How to contact Shaun

Guest contact details

Email: info@fierceandfearless.co.uk
Website: www.fierceandfearless.co.uk
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaun-weatherhead-197748158