In this episode of Around the School Table (www.xuno.com.au/podcasts), host Steve Davis is joined by Dylan Sulzer, founder of Not Just Teacher Education (www.notjustateachereducation.com), to explore how Dylan’s unique journey—from Port Lincoln to the Northern Territory and even mustering cattle—has shaped his deep understanding of emotional intelligence in education. Dylan brings practical tools and insights to help teachers and students navigate tricky behaviour, build emotional regulation, and foster a positive classroom culture. He reframes defiance as a bid for independence and examines the balance between happiness and purpose, offering educators a fresh way to connect, support and empower young people both inside and outside the classroom. Throughout the episode, Dylan explains the five domains of emotional intelligence — self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy and relational communication — and shows how educators can apply them in the real world. He shares simple, applicable strategies such as breathing techniques and naming tasks to re-engage teachers’ thinking brains in stressful moments.Furthermore, Dylan’s student-brand program demonstrates how young people can identify their character strengths, develop a sense of identity and shift from external rewards to intrinsic motivation. The conversation also touches on the role of choice in managing student independence, why banning social media might be a band-aid solution, and the importance of being more impressive in person than online. This episode is ideal for teachers, school leaders and anyone interested in shaping classroom culture with emotional intelligence at the heart. Powered by: xuno.com.auSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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