More Than a Score

Hey, help shape the Podcast! To keep improving the podcast, we’d love to know a little more about you. We’ve created a quick 2-question survey that takes about 10 seconds. As a thank you, you’ll go into the draw to win a $100 prize from July, the incredible luggage company (drawn on April 30). 👉 Complete the survey: https://forms.gle/nK52PuGAdpQtBmjB9 On with the show! Blaise got an ATAR she was proud of...but that’s NOT what made her successful. In this episode of More Than a Score, we sit down with Blaise Witnish, CEO, community builder, and leader of a global team, to explore what really shapes a meaningful life beyond school. Blaise’s story challenges the idea that success is linear. From boarding in Year 12 after her family faced financial hardship, to discovering her strengths through drama and stand-up comedy, to building a 20-year career from the ground up, her journey is full of moments that shaped who she became. But what stands out most isn’t the titles or achievements. It’s what she learned about people, strengths, resilience, and communication and connection in a world that’s rapidly changing. This episode is a powerful reminder that while scores can open doors, they don’t define the life you build...and they’re only a small part of the bigger picture. 🎧 What You’ll Hear • Blaise’s Year 12 story—and why her result surprised her • The moment a teacher saw something in her others didn’t • How hardship and change helped build real resilience • Why understanding your child’s strengths is a game changer • The “8:1 rule” and how it shapes confidence in young people • Why communication and connection are future-proof skills • What Blaise has learned from working with young people today • A powerful reframe: why the score matters… but not for the reason you think 🔗 Explore Your Strengths (As Mentioned in This Episode) If this episode sparked your thinking about strengths and self-awareness, here are a few great tools to explore: • Gallup CliftonStrengths - a widely used tool that helps identify your top strengths and how to apply them in life and work. • VIA Character Strengths Survey - free, research-based survey that highlights your core character strengths. • Myers-Briggs Type Indicator - personality framework that helps you understand preferences in how you think, work, and relate to others. These tools are discussed in the episode as potential helpful starting points for people, parents and educators to better understand themselves and each other.

Hey, help Shape the Podcast! To keep improving the podcast, we’d love to know a little more about you. We’ve created a quick 2-question survey that takes about 10 seconds. As a thank you, you’ll go into the draw to win a $100 prize (drawn on April 30). 👉 Complete the survey: https://forms.gle/nK52PuGAdpQtBmjB9 Bring on this episode with Hayden Bevis: Not everyone leaves school with a clear plan. And not everyone needs to. In this episode of More Than a Score, we sit down with Hayden Bevis—founder of Poster Boy—to explore what it really looks like to build a career without a neat, linear pathway. Hayden shares how he moved from school into a series of unexpected roles, including working as an optical mechanic, hosting trivia, experimenting with video and early YouTube, before eventually building a creative business grounded in storytelling and communication. This conversation challenges a few big assumptions: • You need to be “creative” to pursue creative work • Careers should follow a straight line • Success starts with certainty Instead, Hayden offers a different perspective—one built on making things, learning through feedback, and backing your own curiosity. We also explore why communication might be one of the most important skills for young people today, not just writing, but the ability to express ideas across different mediums, platforms, and contexts. This episode is for: • Parents supporting young people who don’t yet have a clear direction • Students who feel unsure about their next step • Anyone curious about how creative careers actually unfold Because sometimes, the best pathway… is the one you build as you go. Show Notes Key Topics Covered: • Hayden’s experience leaving school without a clear plan • Navigating early jobs and unexpected opportunities • Why creativity is something you do, not something you are • Turning “making things for fun” into paid work • Learning through feedback, rejection, and iteration • The role of communication across different careers and industries • Why schools may need to broaden how they teach communication • Backing yourself instead of chasing external validation 🎧 Help Shape the Podcast 🎧 We’re all about helping parents and young people redefine success and see there’s more than one pathway. To keep improving the podcast, we’d love to know a little more about you to make sure every episode is meaningful and relevant to you. We’ve created a quick 2-question survey that takes about 10 seconds. As a thank you, you’ll go into the draw to win a $100 prize (drawn on April 30). 👉 Complete the survey: https://forms.gle/nK52PuGAdpQtBmjB9

Help Shape the Podcast: To keep improving the podcast, we’d love to know a little more about you. We’ve created a quick 2-question survey that takes about 10 seconds. As a thank you, you’ll go into the draw to win a $100 prize (drawn on April 30). 👉 Complete the survey: https://forms.gle/nK52PuGAdpQtBmjB9 Okay, Here Are Our Show Notes: What if being “not academic” was never the problem, just a sign your strengths were somewhere else? In this episode of More Than a Score, we sit down with Ellie Pascazio: makeup artist, small business owner, and someone who has built a life around people, connection, and creating meaningful experiences - channeling one of her talents related to the "more social side" of school. Ellie’s school experience wasn’t defined by grades or study. She didn’t love the academic side of school. As you'll hear, she found it hard. But she did love being around people, bringing energy into a room, and making others feel good. And importantly… she never saw that as a weakness. After school, Ellie followed that instinct. She stepped into beauty therapy, built her skills, and during COVID took a leap to start her own business from a small corner at home. From there, it grew through word of mouth into a thriving career where she now works on weddings, events, and with clients who choose her not just for her work, but for how she makes them feel. This episode is a great example of someone forging a pathway intentionally connected to values. Ellie shares how her family shaped her perspective, where kindness, being a good person, and living a balanced life mattered more than status or money. She speaks openly about: • Choosing flexibility and travel over chasing a traditional career path • Living within her means and building financial discipline • Creating a life that works for her, not what others expect • And why making people feel good is her version of success This is a powerful reminder that success isn’t one-size-fits-all. What You’ll Discover In This Episode: • What it really feels like to be “not academic” at school • Why Ellie still found pride in simply finishing and getting a score • The strengths that don’t always show up in classrooms • How people skills can become your greatest asset • Starting a business from scratch and growing through word of mouth • Why flexibility, travel, and lifestyle matter more than titles • The role of family values in shaping confidence and choices • Why kindness is not weakness — it’s a strength • How to build a life around what matters to you You don’t have to be the smartest in the room to succeed. You just have to know what matters to you...and build from there. 🎧 Help Shape the Podcast 🎧 At More Than a Score, we’re all about helping parents and young people redefine success and see there’s more than one pathway. To keep improving the podcast, we’d love to know a little more about you. We’ve created a quick 2-question survey that takes about 10 seconds. As a thank you, you’ll go into the draw to win a $100 prize (drawn on April 30). 👉 Complete the survey: https://forms.gle/nK52PuGAdpQtBmjB9 Read less

Help Shape the Podcast: To keep improving the podcast, we’d love to know a little more about you. We’ve created a quick 2-question survey that takes about 10 seconds. As a thank you, you’ll go into the draw to win a $100 prize (drawn on April 30). 👉 Complete the survey: https://forms.gle/nK52PuGAdpQtBmjB9 Show Notes: What if success was never just about getting through school, getting the degree, and starting work? In this episode of More Than a Score, we sit down with Val Gnanakone to explore expectation, education and what success really means as life unfolds. Val’s story begins with transition. Moving from Singapore to Australia as a young person, he quickly realised that school, culture and expectations looked very different here. At the same time, he was growing up in a family and culture where education wasn’t optional, it was essential. There was an expectation to work hard, get through, get the degree, and begin your career. And in many ways, that’s exactly what he did. But what makes Val’s story worth listening to is not just that he stayed the course. It’s that he has taken the time to reflect on what that path gave him, what it cost, and how his definition of success has evolved. This conversation is thoughtful, grounded and especially valuable for listeners navigating pressure, identity and expectation. Val speaks honestly about discipline, family influence, doing what was expected, and what it has taken to arrive at a more different view of success... one shaped not just by achievement, but by contributing andbfeeling comfort in yourself. If you’re a parent trying to help your child work hard without overwhelming them, this episode will share different perspective and insights. If you’re someone wondering whether you need to have it all mapped out right now, this conversation will help you breathe a little easier. What You’ll Hear in This Episode • What it was like moving from Singapore into Australian schooling • How culture and family shaped Val’s approach to education • Why education felt essential, not optional • The pressure and benefits of a disciplined, back-to-back pathway • What Val now sees differently about success • Why contribution and self-understanding matter more over time • What parents can do to support without overloading • Why every young person’s path unfolds differently Because one score doesn't define us and one path doesn't have to define your whole life. 🎧 Help Shape the Podcast 🎧 At More Than a Score, we’re all about helping parents and young people redefine success and see there’s more than one pathway. To keep improving the podcast, we’d love to know a little more about you. We’ve created a quick 2-question survey that takes about 10 seconds. As a thank you, you’ll go into the draw to win a $100 prize (drawn on April 30). 👉 Complete the survey: https://forms.gle/nK52PuGAdpQtBmjB9

Have you ever achieved something others celebrate… but still felt like you fell short? In this episode of More Than a Score, we sit down with Claire Tonti - a former teacher, now musician, filmmaker, podcaster, CEO and deeply generous community builder — for an honest and heartfelt conversation about identity, pressure and redefining success. Claire grew up in a bright, high-achieving family, quietly carrying the belief that she wasn’t “smart enough.” When she finished school with an ATAR of 89.95, it still felt like failure. A guidance counsellor asked, “What happened?” — a question that lingered far longer than the number itself. But Claire’s story didn’t follow a neat, linear path. She found herself through creativity, performance, teaching, storytelling and building communities both online and in real life. Along the way, she discovered something powerful: Success is not a score. If you’re a parent supporting a young person under pressure, a student feeling defined by numbers, or an adult still untangling self-worth from performance…this episode is for you. What you’ll hear in this episode: • Growing up with unspoken expectations in a high-achieving family • Why an “excellent” ATAR still felt like failure • The emotional weight of comparison and bullying in senior school • Creativity as an outlet and lifeline • The power of reinvention and non-linear pathways • Why perfectionism disconnects us from who we really are • Redefining success through connection, contribution and presence • What parents can do to help kids feel enough beyond achievement One score doesn’t define you, but one conversation can change how you see yourself.

This is a TITANIC episode. (See what we did there?). Have you ever started down a path because it seemed like the “right” choice… only to realise it didn’t quite fit? Maybe you chose certain subjects because they sounded impressive, began a university degree because it felt safe, or you’re quietly wondering whether your child’s current pathway actually suits who they are. (Or even your own!). In this episode of More Than a Score, we sit down with James Cameron, a teacher, adventurer, mentor and outdoor education specialist who understands what it means to change direction. James began university on one course and realised it wasn’t aligned. He made the decision to shift. Not because he couldn’t cope, but because he was paying attention to who he was becoming. Now working within the education system as a teacher, James sees first-hand how quickly young people tie their identity to subjects, scores and labels. But he has also discovered something powerful: his greatest strengths were never just academic. They were relational. Building trust, creating belonging, leading through outdoor education. Helping young people grow through challenge, not just content or "typical" learning. This is a grounded and honest conversation about choosing growth over comfort, backing yourself when something doesn’t fit, and redefining success beyond a single decision. If you are a parent navigating subject selection or university pressure with your young person, or questioning whether it is “too late” to change direction, this episode will make an impact and give you perspective. And if you work in education, James offers insights from inside the system about what truly shapes confidence and capability that affect us long after we leave school. What You’ll Hear in This Episode • What it really feels like to change course at university • Why changing direction is often growth, not failure • How early labels shape our identity • What school did well for James and what he needed more of • How working inside schools reshapes our view of success • Why relationship-building is a skill that outlasts any exam result • The impact of outdoor education and adventures on resilience and confidence • What he has had unlearn after school and university • Ways you navigate uncertainty Sometimes the most important step forward is having the courage to adjust course. 🔗 Discover more about Rise Outdoors here: https://riseoutdoors.com.au/ Check out James on Loz's previous podcast episode on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3aaJzeQdawQyZQ5KdWbUoC?si=ft0n-dFSQzecew_4dnch-A

What happens when you're told university probably isn’t realistic for you? Maybe it comes from a teacher, a report card, careers counsellor, or from someone who thinks they’re being helpful. In this episode of More Than a Score, we sit down with Cade Witnish — co-founder of digital marketing agency Loud & Clear and sports technology platform PlayHQ — who heard exactly that just months before his final exams. Growing up in regional New South Wales, Cade was labelled as someone with “potential” who didn’t quite apply himself. He was advised to consider alternative plans because he was not seen as likely to achieve the score required for university. Then his ATAR surprised everyone. But this conversation is not about proving people wrong. It is about something deeper. It is about how low expectations can shape who we think we are, the influence of a determined mum who believed finishing Year 12 and “getting a ticket” to opportunity mattered, and the teacher who saw something in Cade before he saw it in himself. And it is about discovering that you are far more capable than any label placed on you. Today, as a successful entrepreneur and business leader, Cade reflects on growing up first-generation tertiary educated, navigating comparison and self-doubt, and why growth is often uncomfortable but necessary. What You’ll Hear in This Episode • What to do if you or your child has ever been told university may not be realistic • How to navigate the label “has potential but doesn’t apply themselves” without letting it define identity • Why finishing Year 12 and “getting a ticket” can mean more than just a score • What first-generation tertiary education looks like in real life • How one teacher’s belief can shift a student’s entire trajectory • Why exam pressure can sometimes reveal strengths you didn’t know you had • The difference between surviving school and truly understanding how you grow • How to help young people build resilience without comparison • Why confidence rarely arrives all at once and often develops years later • How choosing growth and challenge over comfort builds long-term success This episode is a powerful reminder that potential is often misread in the moment, and that the trajectory of a life is rarely defined at 18. One score does not define you, but one sentence of belief can change your whole trajectory.

What happens when school works with a young person’s passion and interests instead of against it? In this episode of More Than a Score, we sit down with Dean Brady, former Rip Curl professional surfer and founder of the Noosa Surfing Academy, to explore what’s possible when flexibility, trust, and belief are built into education. Dean shares his experience of a school environment that recognised his commitment to surfing, supported alternative pathways, and allowed him to pursue elite sport without being boxed into a single definition of success. From international competition and sponsorships, to career pivots, setbacks, and eventually building his own business, Dean’s story shows how discipline, resilience, and lived experience shape a meaningful life beyond results. This conversation offers a powerful reframe for parents and young people navigating pressure, passion, and uncertainty, especially those wondering whether school can accommodate a learner with different interests or talents. What You’ll Hear in This Episode: • How school flexibility helped Dean thrive rather than disengage • The realities of professional sport — beyond the highlight reel • Why identity beyond results matters • Learning discipline, resilience, and responsibility through lived experience • Navigating setbacks, transitions, and career pivots • Turning interests and a passion into purpose — and eventually, a business • What parents and schools can do to better support young people with strong interests If you're a parent supporting a child with clear interests or passions, a young person questioning whether there’s “only one way” to succeed, or an educator rethinking what meaningful support really looks like - this is for you. Because when young people are trusted, supported, and allowed to grow, incredible things can happen. Find out more about Noosa Surfing Academy at https://www.noosasurfingacademy.com/.

What if the thing you’ve always loved, that quiet, consistent thread running through your life is actually pointing you somewhere meaningful? In this episode of More Than a Score, we sit down with Sophie Perez — fine artist, Royal College of Art graduate, former elite cyclist, studio founder, and mother of three, to explore what it really means to follow passion over prestige, and to keep redefine success - even if it different to what others may think. Sophie’s pathway is anything but linear. From studying painting in London and couriering by bike, to racing at the Tour de France level, stepping away from art for a decade while raising her family, and then rebuilding her creative practice on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria, her story is layered with courage, reinvention, and backing yourself. This conversation offers reassurance for parents and young people alike: success doesn’t arrive all at once, and it rarely follows a straight line. Instead, it evolves and gets shaped by curiosity, community, discipline, and the willingness to begin again. If you’re supporting a creative young person, navigating identity beyond school results, or questioning whether passion can truly become a pathway, this episode offers perspective and permission...because sometimes the bravest thing you can do is keep following the thread. What You’ll Hear in This Episode In this conversation, Sophie shares: • Why art was never a backup plan — it was always the throughline • What studying at the Royal College of Art taught her about identity and discipline • The unexpected lessons from professional cycling and elite competition • Why stepping away from your passion doesn’t mean it’s gone • The power of community in building creative confidence • How success shifts through motherhood and different life stages • Why “don’t shut the door on yourself” matters more than chasing certainty • Supporting young people who don’t fit into neat academic categories Discover More About Sophie Perez and her art here 👇: https://www.sophieperezartist.com/

What if the most valuable skills young people need for life aren’t the ones measured by exams but the ones developed through experience, self-awareness, and learning to work with others? In this episode of More Than a Score, we’re joined by Tash Chapman, whose journey from school into people-focused work in HR and leadership (and now her work with Nissi Wellness) offers a powerful perspective on what really helps people thrive over time. Tash shares her experience of navigating school expectations, exploring different pathways, and eventually building a career centred on understanding people: how they think, make decisions, manage pressure, and grow. Through her work in HR and leading teams of people, she’s seen firsthand that confidence, communication, adaptability, and emotional awareness often matter far more than a perfect academic record. This conversation is especially valuable for parents supporting young people who may be questioning their direction, feeling unsure about what comes next, or worrying about “getting it wrong” — and for students who need reassurance that learning through lived experience is not a weakness, but a strength. (After all, success isn’t just about outcomes on a piece of paper...or digital PDF!). It’s really about becoming self-aware, capable, and confident enough to navigate change, wherever the path leads. In this episode, we explore: • Tash’s experience of school and navigating expectations • How exploring different pathways builds clarity over time • What working in HR reveals about real-world success • The skills employers and teams value most — beyond results • Why self-awareness, communication, and adaptability matter • How parents can support young people without over-directing • Reframing uncertainty as part of growth, not failure This episode is for: • Parents of high school students navigating pressure and transition • Young people unsure about their next steps • Anyone questioning whether there’s “one right way” to succeed You can learn more about Tash’s work and follow her pathway at Nissi Wellness on Instagram: @nissi_wellness

What happens when the result staring back at you doesn’t reflect who you know you are? In this episode of More Than a Score, we speak with Emily Rovere, an osteopath, business owner, mentor, and lifelong learner, about opening her results, feeling deeply confused and deflated...and slowly realising that the number in front of her wasn’t the full story. Emily shares honestly about being a high-achiever who worked hard but didn’t yet know how she learned best, the pressure she carried as the “one who had to succeed,” and how missing the score she hoped for forced her to problem-solve, adapt, and ultimately discover a path that truly suited her. This is a powerful conversation about: • Identity vs results • Learning how you learn • Asking for help (and why that’s hard) • Resilience built through discomfort • Why progress matters more than perfection For parents, this episode offers reassurance that: • Struggle doesn’t mean failure • Detours can lead to clarity • Confidence is built through experience, not comparison For young people, and those supporting them, it’s a reminder that feeling lost doesn’t mean you’re off track, it often means you’re learning something important. Because one moment, one exam, or one score never defines the whole story.

What happens when the person usually asking the questions becomes the one being interviewed? In this special episode of More Than a Score, award-winning school leader, internationally accredited leadership coach, and co-host Dan Steele steps into the guest seat to reflect on his own school experience, the moments that shaped his pathway, and the beliefs that now guide his work with students, teachers, leaders, and families. Dan shares why he was never overly defined by his final score, how early setbacks became unexpected springboards, and what decades in classrooms, teaching and leadership roles, and working in a remote community have taught him about learning, success, and possibility. This episode is especially for parents who are worried about their child’s future, students navigating uncertainty, and educators supporting young people through high-pressure moments and times of change. In this episode, you’ll hear: • Why school is just the beginning — not the verdict • How powerful adults, conversations, and belief can change a child’s trajectory • What parents can model right now to build confidence, agency, and resilience • Why effort, curiosity, and learning how to learn matter more than outcomes • How to help young people “run their own game” — even when the path isn’t clear If you’ve ever worried that a score, subject choice, or moment might define everything that comes next, this conversation offers clarity, reassurance, and a much wider lens. Because education lasts a lifetime — and no one moment gets to decide it all.

You’ve heard the conversations. Now it’s time to meet the people behind them. In this special episode of More Than a Score, we flip the script and turn the mic toward Laura Pitt — co-host of the podcast — to explore her own journey through school, uncertainty, decision-making, and the moments that shaped how she now supports young people and families. Laura shares openly about her experience of school, the expectations she carried, the choices she made along the way, and how her understanding of success has evolved over time. It’s an honest reflection how life rarely follows a straight line — and why that’s not only okay, but often where growth begins. This episode is especially for listeners who: • Are supporting a child through school transitions • Are worried about results or “getting it right” • Want reassurance that there are many ways to live a fulfilling life • Young people who need to hear that uncertainty is normal What You’ll Hear in This Episode • Laura’s experience of school and early decision-making • How pressure and expectations can shape confidence • Why success looks different at different stages of life • The power of reflection, self-trust, and support • What Laura wishes parents and students knew during school years • Why More Than a Score exists — and who it’s really for Because behind every pathway is a human story. And no one score ever tells the whole one.

What if the path you’re meant to take only becomes clear once you stop chasing the “right” one? In this episode of More Than a Score, we sit down with Athan Didaskalou, founder of July, one of Australia’s most recognisable lifestyle brands, to explore how curiosity, courage, and lived experience can matter more than perfect results or linear pathways. Athan shares honestly about his relationship with school, the uncertainty he felt early on, and the moments that helped him realise that success isn’t about following a script...it’s about backing yourself, learning fast, and staying open to opportunity. This conversation is a powerful reminder for parents and young people that: • There is no single “right” pathway after school • Confidence often comes after action, not before • Skills can be built through experience, not just qualifications • Entrepreneurship and leadership are learned over time • One result never defines future potential In this episode, you’ll hear about: • How Athan navigated uncertainty after school • Why curiosity and experimentation matter more than early certainty • The risks and realities of starting something from scratch • What parents can do to support exploration without pressure • Why success looks different at different stages of life Whether you’re a parent supporting a young person through big decisions, a student unsure of what comes next, or someone rethinking their own direction, this episode offers perspective, reassurance, and practical insight. Because school is only one chapter and success is built over time.

What do you do when the score you worked so hard for doesn’t turn out the way you hoped...and you feel completely devastated? In this powerful and deeply honest episode of More Than a Score, we sit down with Stacey Lapira—former teacher, prison officer, and now fitness coach and gym owner—to explore what happens after disappointment, and how one moment doesn’t get to define the rest of your life. Stacey openly shares her experience of missing the ATAR she expected, feeling embarrassed, withdrawing from friends, and questioning her own intelligence. But what follows is a remarkable story of courage, course-correction, and learning how to back yourself, even when the path ahead feels unclear. Stacey’s journey, from criminal justice to working in maximum-security prisons, teaching, and eventually building a thriving fitness business, reminds us that growth often comes from trying, reflecting, and choosing the courage to begin again. In this episode, we explore: • What it’s really like to feel devastated by results and how to move forward anyway • Why changing direction isn’t failure, but often the beginning of finding your fit • The power of having one person who believes in you when you can’t yet believe in yourself • Why success is built through lived experience, not linear pathways • How parents can support young people by offering perspective, patience, and belief - not pressure This episode is a must-listen for: • Parents supporting a child after disappointing results • Young people feeling unsure, stuck, or “behind” • Anyone questioning whether they’ve taken the right path Because one score, one decision, or one setback was never meant to define you.