Today I’m thrilled to introduce my guest, Sarah McLoughlin, joining us on the mobile from Brisbane, Australia. Sarah is an educator with experience working alongside at-risk populations. Her passion lies in helping communities break down gatekeeping, reimagine funding systems, and design advocacy strategies that truly create lasting equity.

In our conversation, we explore some big and important questions, such as:

What exactly is self-strategic advocacy?

What drew Sarah into this work in the first place?

What is the purpose of her handbook the power of self- reflection?

How does her service model bring together the principles of safety, transparency, and power-consciousness?

What is trauma, and what are some of its symptoms?

How do we begin to heal from trauma?

What are some of the barriers that can prevent people from seeking support?

And finally, what advice does Sarah have for those working inside systems who may themselves be experiencing trauma or burnout?

This is a powerful and deeply necessary conversation — one that I believe needs to be heard, reflected on, and shared widely.

Wishing you all a wonderful week ahead — and remember, BE KIND, Liisa

Sarah Ailish’s Profile

linkedin.com/in/sarahailishmcloughlin

Website

Strategic Self-Advocacy - A Teaching for Those Who Were Never Meant to Survive the System—Yet Do https://www.strategicadvocacy.com.au/

🎙️ In this episode, we meet Dr. Mari Paloniemi Lindström, a lecturer at the University of Dalarna here in Sweden. With a background of 25 years as a middle school teacher specializing in mathematics learning, Mari’s journey led her to complete her doctoral thesis on Teachers’ Professional Competence and Working Conditions in Swedish Schools.

Together, we explore the current landscape of Swedish education—its successes, its struggles, and everything in between. Mari takes us inside today’s classrooms, where challenges range from unqualified teachers being allowed to teach, to teachers asked to cover subjects without proper training in maths content and pedagogy—factors that directly affect students’ learning maths.

We also dive into why so many teachers are moving between schools each year, how the role of the school principal is shifting, and the mixed blessings of digital tools in education.

This episode is a must-listen for teachers, educators, caregivers, and anyone with a stake in education.

So tune in, reflect, and share this conversation widely. And as always—be kind. – Liisa✌

References:

Mari Paloniemi Lindström (2025) Teachers Professional Competence and Working Conditions in Swedish schools (Doctoral Thesis). Department of Education and Special Education. Faculty of Education, University of Gothenburg. Sweden.

Mari Lindström, Stefan Johansson & Linda Borger (2025) Does formal teacher competence matter for students’ mathematics achievement? Results from Swedish TIMSS 2019, Educational Research and Evaluation, 30:1-2, 137-166, DOI: 10.1080/13803611.2024.2367486

Mari Lindström, Stefan Johansson, Linda Borger (2024) Teachers’ formal qualifications and instruction in grade 4: Effects on student achievement in grade 4 and 6 The European Conference on Educational Research, ECER 2024, Nicosia, Cyprus - 2024

Stefan Johansson, Mari Lindström, Linda Borger (2023) Teachers' Formal Competence and Their Reading Instruction in Grade 4: Effects on Grade 6 Achievement 10th IEA International Research Conference - 2023

Mari Lindström, Stefan Johansson, Linda Borger (2023) Teacher Job Satisfaction and Student Mathematics Achievement: Relations to Working Conditions and Teacher Competence 10th IEA International Research Conference - 2023

Mari Lindström, Stefan Johansson, Linda Borger (2023) Does Teachers' Subject-specific Specialization Matter for Students' Mathematics Achievement and Student Assessed Instructional Quality? Results from Swedish TIMSS 2019 The European Conference on Educational Research (ECER), The European Educational Research Association (EERA) - 2022

Dr. Patrick Blessinger, a global thought leader in education, sustainability, and innovation. He is the Founder, President, and Chief Research Scientist of the International Higher Education Teaching and Learning Association (in consultative status with the United Nations). Dr. Blessinger advocates for universal education, sustainable development, and lifelong learning. He is an instructor of education at the State University of New York at Old Westbury and St. John's University (New York City) and he has been a licensed New York City public school teacher for many years. Dr. Blessinger is the editor-in-chief of the Journal of Applied Research in Higher Education and the book series Global Perspectives on Higher Education Development. He has also received several educational awards, including a Fulbright Senior Scholar award to Denmark (Department of State, USA), a Governor's Teaching Fellow, and a National Geographic Certified Educator.

Patrick’s Profile

linkedin.com/in/patrickblessinger

YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/@PatrickBlessinger

https://www.youtube.com/user/patrickblessinger

In Conversation with Dr. Patrick Blessinger, IHETL Association (Part 01 of 02) (35.54min)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TtYC0dUC1g

In Conversation with Dr. Patrick Blessinger, IHETL Association (Part 02 of 02) (...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1e7daYc9rCE

References: (examples of articles on LinkedIn).

Patrick Blessinger, Abhilasha Singh, and James Brown (August 5, 2025)

Overcoming Scepticism About Climate Change

Patrick Blessinger (July 7, 2025) The Rise of the Machines: From Fear to Responsibility

Patrick Blessinger (July 24, 2025) Our Symbiotic Future: Émilie du Châtelet and The Power of Integrative Thinking.

Blessinger, P., Singh, A., & Brown, J. (2025). AI-powered learning is a story about people, not machines. University World News. Retrieved from https://www.universityworldnews.com/post.php?story=20250430081714569

Welcome to Sånt är livet i Sverige – or That’s Life in Sweden!

In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Ann-Katrin Swärd — a former classroom teacher, university educator, and researcher with extensive expertise in special needs education.

A critical question that is explored is inclusion and the roles of Special Needs Teachers (speciallärare) and Special Pedagogues (specialpedagoger)—professionals who are central to building inclusive and equitable learning environments.

Ann-Katrin shares the path to becoming qualified in these roles in Sweden and clarifies the differences between them.

She also reflects on key questions:

• What knowledge, skills, and values do future special educators need to meet the realities of today’s classrooms?

• And are our teacher education programs truly preparing them for the task?

• The complexity of identifying and supporting children with special needs in increasingly diverse classroom settings.

• The impact of unqualified teachers—and the pressure this places on both students and colleagues.

• The persistent gap between theory and practice, especially in the collaboration between universities and schools supporting preservice teachers.

We also take a comparative look beyond Sweden’s borders: How do other countries support students with special needs? And what can we learn from international practices that prioritize inclusion, collaboration, and systemic support?

Finally, Dr. Svärd share about an excelletn book titled “Positive Special Education”—a powerful invitation to reframe special education not as a reaction to deficits, but as a space for possibility, participation. Do join as Ann-Katrin reflects on what it truly means to build a Learning Community for Peace—where inclusion is not just a concept, but a lived, daily reality for all children and students and peace.

This is a must-hear episode for all teachers and educators everywhere, please share widely, comment, discuss and ENJOY.

The book: Positive Special Education: Theories, Applications and Inspiration. Routledge

Ann-Katrin Swärd (2024) Challenge students to read and write in a creative way without fixed material. (Editors Monica Reichenberg, Ann-Katrin Swärd and Chathrine Shiptone) Positive Special Education . Theories, Applications and Inspiration. Routledge

Today I welcome Claes Martinson Professor in Private Law, Excellent Teacher, from the University of Gothenburg he is also the holder of the Torsten Pettersson chair in Maritime and Transport Law.

Listen to Professor Martinson reflect on the evolving role of the university—its purpose, and whether its direction is increasingly shaped by business interests or government agendas. He shares candid insights into the challenges of teaching in today’s academic landscape and how the student body has changed since he first entered the profession.

Professor Martinson also explores whether Artificial Intelligence poses a genuine threat to university teaching and governance, offering a thoughtful take on how AI may reshape higher education.

The conversation briefly touches on the disturbing influence of the current U.S. administration’s stance on diversity—and its potential ripple effects in Sweden—highlighting the need for vigilance and resistance.

This is essential listening for anyone considering a future in law, educators navigating today’s academic realities, or anyone curious to hear a brilliant professor speak openly about his work, his concerns, and his enduring belief in the university’s vital role in society.

Enjoy, comment, debate and remember to share widely,

https://www.gu.se/en/about/find-staff/claesmartinson

• Private Law
• Property Law and Finance Law
• Scandinavian legal approach
• Maritime and Transport Law

• Regulatory models (Poseidon Principles, The Atmosphere as Property, etc)
• Legal embeddedness
• Legal science beyond its permanent state of inchoateness

• Private Law
• Property Law and Finance
• Mergers and acquisitions Law - Private Equity Finance Law
• Maritime and Transport Law

Welcome to this short episode where I share some thoughts and research on education—with a little help from my two new best friends: robots.

Yes, this episode is only 16 minutes and 32 seconds long, but I hope it offers something meaningful. I’ve been reflecting a lot on how we, as educators, are navigating the space between technology and human connection. And I’m concerned.

I’m concerned that we sometimes hesitate to embrace new technologies. Or we rush in without care. I believe we need to approach both technology and our relationships with students with intention—and above all, with care.

As technology continues to develop at incredible speed, we can’t ignore those without access to it—even those right beside us. Nor can we overlook the very real harm caused by overuse, by disconnection, by losing ourselves in the digital world.

This is where we come in.

As educators, we have a responsibility to understand not just how technology can support learning—but also where it might cause harm.

For me, technology is just that: a tool.

It will never replace students I meet. It will never replace the power of a real, caring human connection.

My approach is grounded in three principles:

1. Trust students.
2. Believe in students.
3. Inspire students to grow.

And the foundation is Care.

Care for students—not just for their academic growth, but for who they are as human beings. My goal is to guide them through the digital landscape so they don’t lose themselves, but learn to use technology in ways that are ethical, meaningful, and human. This means I too need to continue learning and that makes life & living truly meaningful

Thank you for listening. I hope this sparks something in your own reflections. Let's keep learning, together. / Remember TO BE KIND to you and those around you / Liisa

In this very special 1 hour episode meet Johan Sandberg, a truly unique Swedish Indigenous Saami & Scottish Gaelic.

He is an Indigenous scholar, language rights activist and a teacher, translator and academic (linguistics, literature and indigeneity) currently residing in Liksjoe, Sweden.

He is the Head of the Department of English and Saami Studies at Finnbacken Secondary School at Lycksele Kommun.

As of May 2018, I am the President of the Saami Writers’ Centre in Jokkmokk, and I am passionate about making sure that Saami literature is afforded the space and resources it deserves to thrive.

He introduces himself on his wordpress website

(https://johansandbergmcguinne.wordpress.com/)

As a member of an indigenous community and a minority culture, I’m also passionate about decolonisation, education and endangered languages, as well as questions of authenticity and identity politics from an indigenous perspective.

The South Saami’s ancestral lands cover Sweden and Norway from Dalarna in the south to Dearna and Raane in the north, and my own family hails from Vualtjere in the northern parts of our territory. In South Saami, which is only spoken by between 500 and 1000 people today, our country – unlawfully colonised by the Swedish and Norwegian settler states since the late 16th century – is called Saepmie. I was raised in Ubmeje and later moved to Linköping, before attending university in Gothenburg, Freiburg-im-Breisgau (Germany) and Sruighlea (Scotland).

My Gaelic family comes from Nìs on the Isle of Lewis, and as part of a reclamation process of the second of my two endangered languages, I taught Gaelic and was a member of a Scottish Gaelic choir in Sruighlea where I was resident until mid-2013.

I intend to use this space to write long, as well as shorter posts about the following subjects in English, Swedish and, occasionally, South Saami and Scottish Gaelic:

• Decolonisation
• Education
• Linguistics
• Endangered Languages
• Indigeneity
• Post-colonialism
• Poetry

Johan's Profile and Linkedin contact,

linkedin.com/in/johan-sandberg-mcguinne-84029115b

Author

“Duan is Dàn – I Occupy the Liminal Spaces in Between”, (kommande)

“Ett koloniserat sinne sjunger inte“ för Provins 2:2018, ed. Åkerlund, (2018)

“Elsa i Saajvoe-Kungens Rike” (Barnradioteater) 2017

Editor /redaktör

Noerh Tjaelieh / Nuarah Tjállieh – Unga Samer Skriver, (2018)

Sápmi 2.0 – Subaltern No More, (2016)

Translator/översättare

Mojhtestasse, Marja Helena Fjellheim Mortensson (2018)

Tråante 2017 – The Centenary Year in pictures, ed. Morten Olsen Haugen, (2018)

Aarehgïjre, Marja Helena Fjellheim Mortensson (2017)

Jielemen Aavoe – The Joy of Life, Rawdna Carita Eira (2017)

Goevtegæjnoste Gaelpiedualjan / From Kautokeino to Kalvskinnet (2017)

Orda – This is My Land, Sofia Jannok, (2016)

Lådtjies vïlluojde, Thea Viklund (2016)

Languages: Sydsamiska, Swedish, English and German

Other Interesting Webpages relating to indigenous issues:

Samediggi (2025) Home Page of Sami Parliament Sweden https://www.sametinget.se/

UN (2021) The Sámi: We are the natives of this country

https://unric.org/en/sami-we-are-the-natives-of-this-country/#:~:text=They%20have%20been%20subjected%20to,with%20abuses%2C%20violations%20and%20racism.

Meet Anikka Kjeller, an educator/pedagogue, former ECEC principal, grief and family counselor, Breast Cancer survivor and operations manager with many years of experience working with children and young people, as well as their families, in grief and difficult situations.

She also specializes in coordinating systematic quality work for workgroups and leadership within the education sector—both public and private—as well as in nonprofit organizations, for example at Kraftens Hus Göteborg, a meeting place for individuals affected by cancer.

Contact: Annika Kjeller

LinkedIn:

linkedin.com/in/annikakjeller

Website:

K Mentorway Heartful Empowerment

https://www.kmentorway.se/

Book

Barnboksdebut ”SORGSÖRJAN och Livsgnistan” av Annika Kjeller https://idusforlag.se/bok/sorgsorjan-och-livsgnistan/

The reviews of the book are amazing, including one from Ullakarin Nyberg psykiater suividforskare

"Annika Kjeller har skrivit en livsviktig bok. Barn som sörjer behöver vuxna som klarar att möta dem och den här boken kan hjälpa till med det. 💛

Article

Kjeller, A (2024) Annika Kjeller debuterar med SORGSÖRJAN och Livsgnistan. Boktugg.

https://www.boktugg.se/2024/05/10/annika-kjeller-debuterar-med-sorgsorjan-och-livsgnistan/

Swedish Television - Nyhetsmorgon 11/8-24 in Swedish (10.32min)

https://www.tv4play.se/klipp/9fa7d4263f98f9fb358c/video-att-prata-med-barn-om-sorg-vaga-saga-sanningen

Social media

Instagram / Facebook” kmentorway”