Dr Nathan MacArthur is a grief counsellor, researcher, and the founder of Sydney Grief Counselling. His work centres on helping people navigate the many shapes and seasons of grief — from bereavement and relationship loss to the quieter, less spoken-about forms of grief we carry throughout our lives. Nathan’s approach blends clinical insight with deep humanity, offering gentle, evidence-informed support to individuals, families, and carers, including kinship and foster carers who are often holding complex layers of loss in their homes.

In this episode, Nathan and Megan explore what grief really is, not just the pain that follows a death, but the grief tied to identity, missed possibilities, ruptured relationships, and the changes we didn’t choose. Nathan shares his research into adult grief experiences and the ways we can better understand the physical, emotional, and relational impacts of loss. They talk about how grief shows up for children, the importance of clear and honest language, and what adults can do to support the young people in their lives as they make sense of their own losses.

This conversation invites us to think about grief as a universal human experience, something we will all encounter, and something we can learn to navigate with more gentleness and courage. Nathan reminds us that grief is not something to fix, but something to honour. Whether you’re supporting others, moving through your own loss, caring for children in complex circumstances, or wanting to feel more confident having conversations about death, grief, and change, this episode offers insight, reassurance, and compassion.

You can find more about Nathan and his work here.

Host: Megan Corcoran, Wagtail Institute

Wagtail Institute empowers schools and complex settings to become trauma-informed wellbeing communities of practice where everyone can thrive. We work alongside leaders, educators, and practitioners to respond to wellbeing challenges, enhance trauma-informed practice, and navigate pathways to healing. If you would like to work with Megan, head to our website or send an email: megan@megancorcoran.com.au

Music by Kabbilistic Village https://kabbalisticvillage.com/

Content warning: This episode includes discussion of childhood violence, self-harm, and suicidal ideation, which may be distressing for some listeners. Support services are listed below.

Aaron Stark is a writer, speaker, and mental health advocate best known for his viral TED Talk, “I Was Almost a School Shooter.” His story has reached millions of people around the world, offering a raw, honest look at how pain, neglect, and rejection can push a young person to the edge — and how a simple act of kindness can pull them back.

In this episode, Aaron and Megan talk about the early years that shaped his story — growing up surrounded by violence, instability, and homelessness — and the point where he began to lose hope in himself and the world around him. Aaron speaks openly about the moment he planned to commit an act of violence, and the unexpected friendship that changed everything. They discuss what true connection looks like for young people in crisis, the role of compassion in preventing harm, and why we must offer love to those who seem to need it the least.

This episode is confronting, moving, and ultimately full of hope. Aaron’s story reminds us that prevention begins with presence, and that a small act of kindness can quite literally save a life.

Help and Support:

If you or someone you know needs support, here are some resources available in Australia:

• 1800RESPECT – 24/7 national support for sexual assault, domestic, and family violence. Call 1800 737 732 or visit www.1800respect.org.au.

• • Lifeline – Crisis support and suicide prevention. Call 13 11 14 or visit www.lifeline.org.au.

  • Beyond Blue – Mental health support for anxiety, depression, and emotional distress. Call 1300 22 4636 or visit www.beyondblue.org.au.

  • Kids Helpline – Free, confidential support for young people (ages 5-25). Call 1800 55 1800 or visit www.kidshelpline.com.au.

  • Blue Knot Foundation – Support for adult survivors of childhood trauma. Call 1300 657 380 or visit www.blueknot.org.au.

  Please take care while listening, and reach out for support if needed.

  If you are outside of Australia, please reach out to your local services for support.

  
  

  You can contact Aaron via his email address: aaronstarkauthor@gmail.com

  
  

  Host: Megan Corcoran, Wagtail Institute

  Wagtail Institute empowers schools and complex settings to become trauma-informed wellbeing communities of practice where everyone can thrive. We work alongside leaders, educators, and practitioners to respond to wellbeing challenges, enhance trauma-informed practice, and navigate pathways to healing. If you would like to work with Megan, head to our website or send an email: megan@megancorcoran.com.au

  
  

  Wagtail Institute on instagram

  Music by Kabbilistic Village https://kabbalisticvillage.com/

  
  

  
  

  
  

Benjamin Perks is a global child-rights advocate, educator, and author of Trauma Proof. Working for the UN in New York, he campaigns on human rights and child development and serves as a Senior Fellow at the Jubilee Centre, University of Birmingham, and an associate member of the Department of Social Policy and Intervention at the University of Oxford. Today, he joins the podcast in a personal capacity as an author to discuss his research and vision for prevention.

In this conversation, Benjamin and Megan unpack what a true public-health approach to trauma prevention looks like. They explore the science of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), the economic and moral arguments for investing early, and why prevention must be treated as a social and policy priority—not an afterthought.

Benjamin outlines the layers of prevention—primary, secondary, and tertiary—and shares examples of how communities can be strengthened before harm occurs. He also reflects on his own childhood in care and a powerful realisation at a global conference on attachment theory, where he recognised that the research being discussed was describing his lived experience.

Benjamin also speaks about the teacher who changed the trajectory of his life, illustrating how one trusted adult can alter a child’s sense of worth and future. This episode is both systemic and deeply human—a reminder that when societies invest in children, connection, and care, the return is not only economic but generational.

You can order your copy of Trauma Proof here.

You can follow Benjamin's work on LinkedIn here.

Host: Megan Corcoran, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Wagtail Institute⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Wagtail Institute empowers schools and complex settings to become trauma-informed wellbeing communities of practice where everyone can thrive. We work alongside leaders, educators, and practitioners to respond to wellbeing challenges, enhance trauma-informed practice, and navigate pathways to healing. If you would like to work with Megan, head to our website or send an email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠megan@megancorcoran.com.au⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Wagtail Institute on instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠The Wag Tales walkout songs playlist can be found here.⁠⁠

Music by Kabbilistic Village ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://kabbalisticvillage.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Liam Casson is an educator turned wellbeing leader whose work spans schools, sport, and the corporate world. A former Director of Wellbeing in education, he now leads education and wellbeing at Seafeld Investments and serves as CEO of Reset Moves, a gamified movement platform designed to help children and adults reset their bodies and brains. Liam and Megan first met in the Master of Applied Positive Psychology program at the University of Melbourne, and this conversation brings that shared foundation into focus: evidence-informed practice, real-world impact, and deep care for people.

In this episode, Liam and Megan explore the story behind Reset Moves and how movement can become an accessible, joyful tool for regulation and learning. They talk about active screen time, co-design with teachers, therapists, and families, and how the platform is being used across classrooms, therapy rooms, and homes to create short, effective “reset” moments. Liam shares practical examples for educators seeking brain breaks and behaviour support, and for parents wanting simple ways to get kids moving. The discussion also widens to wellbeing more broadly: small consistent practices, listening to the body as life changes, modelling healthy routines at home, and making space for connection and family rituals.

This conversation is a reminder that change often starts with simple, doable actions. Liam’s work shows how creativity, community, and smart use of technology can open new pathways to engagement and care. Whether you are an educator, a therapist, a parent, or a leader building healthier teams, you will find practical ideas and plenty of heart here.

You can find more about Reset Moves here: https://resetmoves.com/

Host: Megan Corcoran, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Wagtail Institute⁠⁠⁠⁠

Wagtail Institute empowers schools and complex settings to become trauma-informed wellbeing communities of practice where everyone can thrive. We work alongside leaders, educators, and practitioners to respond to wellbeing challenges, enhance trauma-informed practice, and navigate pathways to healing. If you would like to work with Megan, head to our website or send an email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠megan@megancorcoran.com.au⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Wagtail Institute on instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠The Wag Tales walkout songs playlist can be found here.⁠

Music by Kabbilistic Village ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://kabbalisticvillage.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠

Danielle Mifsud is the Academy Director at Humans of Purpose Academy, a social impact organisation supporting women and non-binary people with lived experience of domestic and family violence. The Academy provides a pathway for survivors to rebuild confidence, develop skills, and create brighter futures for themselves and their families. Through community, peer support, and a strengths-focused approach, Danielle and her team are helping participants reconnect with their purpose and agency.

In this episode, Danielle and Megan explore what it truly means to empower through community. They discuss the importance of belonging, the transformative role of peer support, and how recovery must be built around strengths, not deficits. Danielle shares her insights on leadership and self-care, the role of mentorship, and how the Academy continues to grow while holding true to its values of safety and connection. Together, they reflect on what it means to thrive — not in comparison to others, but in alignment with one’s own definition of flourishing.

This is a powerful conversation about hope, healing, and the strength that comes from being seen and supported. Danielle’s work reminds us that recovery is not a linear path, but a collective journey — one made possible through compassion, courage, and community.

You can find out more about the academy here.

Host: Megan Corcoran, ⁠⁠⁠Wagtail Institute⁠⁠⁠

Wagtail Institute empowers schools and complex settings to become trauma-informed wellbeing communities of practice where everyone can thrive. We work alongside leaders, educators, and practitioners to respond to wellbeing challenges, enhance trauma-informed practice, and navigate pathways to healing. If you would like to work with Megan, head to our website or send an email: ⁠⁠⁠megan@megancorcoran.com.au⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠Wagtail Institute on instagram⁠⁠⁠

The Wag Tales walkout songs playlist can be found here.

Music by Kabbilistic Village ⁠⁠⁠https://kabbalisticvillage.com/⁠⁠⁠

Emma Gentle is an educator, parent, and advocate for reshaping schools through trauma-informed and emotionally intelligent practices. Drawing on her own journey in mainstream education, Emma brings both lived experience and professional expertise to the work of creating classrooms and communities where wellbeing, connection, and authenticity sit at the centre. She is passionate about supporting teachers to understand their nervous systems, regulate themselves, and show up in ways that foster real connection with students.

In this episode, Emma and Megan explore the power of trauma-informed practice and emotional intelligence in education, and how these approaches can transform not only teaching, but leadership and parenting too. Together, they have an honest conversation about moral injury — what it looks like in schools, how it impacts teachers’ mental health, and why it is so often overlooked. They reflect on the challenges of working in systems that can pull educators away from their values, and the importance of curiosity, vulnerability, and authenticity in navigating these realities. Emma also shares practical strategies for nervous system regulation, the role of co-regulation in both classrooms and families, and how authenticity can ripple through a school culture to strengthen wellbeing for teachers and students alike.

This is a conversation about courage, care, and change. Emma’s insights invite us to rethink what it means to be an educator — not just delivering curriculum, but modelling presence, compassion, and humanity. Her work is a reminder that when teachers are supported to thrive, young people and whole communities benefit, too.

You can find Emma on Instagram and LinkedIn.

Host: Megan Corcoran, ⁠⁠Wagtail Institute⁠⁠

Wagtail Institute empowers schools and complex settings to become trauma-informed wellbeing communities of practice where everyone can thrive. We work alongside leaders, educators, and practitioners to respond to wellbeing challenges, enhance trauma-informed practice, and navigate pathways to healing. If you would like to work with Megan, head to our website or send an email: ⁠⁠megan@megancorcoran.com.au⁠⁠

⁠⁠Wagtail Institute on instagram⁠⁠

Music by Kabbilistic Village ⁠⁠https://kabbalisticvillage.com/⁠⁠

Matt Pitman is an educator, author, and advocate for rethinking how we build connection in schools. His latest book, The Connection Conundrum, explores why connection is so often overlooked in education and what it takes to make it central to student engagement, wellbeing, and learning. Drawing on years of leadership experience, Matt brings both practical strategies and a deeply human perspective to the challenges school communities face today.

In this episode, Matt and Megan dive into the transformative power of connection and how it can reshape whole-school culture. They talk about what happens when behaviour management is treated not as punishment but as an opportunity for relationship, and why vulnerability and authenticity in leadership matter so much. Matt shares insights on how to create norms instead of rules, how to listen with empathy and curiosity, and how connection can ripple across students, staff, and parents to transform the whole community.

This is a conversation for educators, leaders, and anyone invested in the future of schools. Matt reminds us that connection is not a soft skill or an add-on, but the foundation of belonging, engagement, and growth. His work offers a roadmap for creating environments where every part of the school community — young people, teachers, and families — can thrive together.

You can find out more about Matt's work and his books here.

Host: Megan Corcoran, ⁠Wagtail Institute⁠

Wagtail Institute empowers schools and complex settings to become trauma-informed wellbeing communities of practice where everyone can thrive. We work alongside leaders, educators, and practitioners to respond to wellbeing challenges, enhance trauma-informed practice, and navigate pathways to healing. If you would like to work with Megan, head to our website or send an email: ⁠megan@megancorcoran.com.au⁠

⁠Wagtail Institute on instagram⁠

Music by Kabbilistic Village ⁠https://kabbalisticvillage.com/⁠

Luke Anderson is the founder of Fair Threads, a social enterprise dedicated to supporting families of incarcerated individuals and creating pathways for those reintegrating into the community after prison. With lived experience of incarceration himself, Luke brings a raw honesty and deep commitment to making practical change.

In this episode, Luke and Megan explore the story behind Fair Threads, a business that streamlines the process of sending approved items into prisons while also creating transitional employment opportunities for people leaving custody. Luke reflects on his own childhood and the risk factors that led to his incarceration, including trauma, instability, and a lack of supportive systems. They discuss the importance of offering real support to parents who are struggling, and the need to shift our thinking when it comes to young people at risk.

This is a conversation about second chances, structural change, and the power of showing up for others and for ourselves.

You can find out more about Fair Threads here.

Host: Megan Corcoran, Wagtail Institute

Wagtail Institute empowers schools and complex settings to become trauma-informed wellbeing communities of practice where everyone can thrive. We work alongside leaders, educators, and practitioners to respond to wellbeing challenges, enhance trauma-informed practice, and navigate pathways to healing. If you would like to work with Megan, head to our website or send an email: megan@megancorcoran.com.au

Wagtail Institute on instagram

Music by Kabbilistic Village https://kabbalisticvillage.com/