Dr Kathy Weston

Our researcher of the month, Professor Charlotte Markey, talks to Dr Weston about her forthcoming book, 'Being You: The Body Image Book for Boys'. Due for publication in April, it helps boys to understand and appreciate their bodies as they become young men and to navigate their way through inaccurate health/diet information and unrealistic body ideals portrayed in the media. We caught up with Professor Markey to find out more.

In this podcast, Dr Weston chats with epidemiologist Dr Gemma Lewis about her research into the causes of mental health problems in teenagers. They discuss the differences between boys' and girls' mental health, the potential impact of academic pressure, mental health for university students and universal interventions that could be impactful. 

In this podcast, Dr Weston talks with brain scientist, Dr Duncan Astle, about how to consolidate learning in our memory and finds out some actionable and evidence-based revision tips. They debunk some common neuromyths and explore why we need to change the way we think about intervening to help children who struggle with learning.

Our researcher of the month, Dr Jo Van Herwegen, talks to Dr Weston about her recent paper, which examines the prevalence of neuromyths surrounding common neurodevelopmental conditions, particularly among educators. They discuss the detrimental impact that neuromyths can have on young people and why it's important for parents and school staff to understand more about neuromyths and for teachers to receive more training in this area.

In this podcast, Dr Weston talks with sociologist, Dr Katherine Davies, about her research into the nature of family relationships. They talk about Dr Davies' recent project examining the impact of Brexit on family life and delve into her work on the complexities of sibling relationships and the impact that brothers and sisters can have on our sense of identity.

Our researcher of the month, Nora Trompeter, talks to Dr Weston about her recent paper, which examines the differences in eating disorder symptoms between teens who are in treatment and teens who are not. Along with her findings, they discuss the importance of mental health literacy, the wide-ranging impact of poor body image and the differences in motivations for disordered eating behaviours between boys and girls.

In this podcast, Dr Weston talks with Sarah Dowey about implementing metacognitive teaching practices. Sarah is a secondary English teacher and is currently studying for her PhD, which focuses on teacher understanding and awareness of the use of metacognition and self-efficacy in face to face teaching. They discuss effectively modelling techniques, dispel some myths about metacognition and reference some further resources of use to teaching staff everywhere.

Our researchers of the month, Dr Hope Christie and Dr Lucy Hiscox, talk to Dr Weston about their recent paper, which examines the impact that lockdowns had on parents. This 'rapid review' of 32 other studies was commissioned by SAGE and the Department for Education and will inform government policy. They discuss the various harms experienced by parents and interventions that might be able to mitigate the negative effects, consider the role of schools in identifying and helping children at risk of domestic violence and explore the link between parental mental health and that of children.

In this podcast, Dr Weston talks with memory and metacognition expert, Julie Kettlewell, about the importance of teaching children metacognitive strategies and the potential impact on their educational outcomes. They clarify exactly what metacognition is, have an in depth discussion about best practice in the classroom and outline practical tips for teachers to employ. Julie talks us through various evidence-based strategies that educators can use flexibly in the classroom, in response to their pupils' individual needs. Throughout this podcast, Julie refers to some graphics. If you'd like a copy of these, please email us on research@tooledupeducation.com.

Our researcher of the month, Gates Cambridge Scholar, Stepheni Uh, talks to Dr Weston about her recent paper, which examines how teenagers at greatest risk of self-harming could be identified almost a decade before they self-harm. They discuss some distinct profiles of young people most likely to self-harm and look at significant risk factors, including a history of psychopathology, low self-esteem, poor parental mental health and lack of sleep. They also consider useful interventions.

In this podcast, Dr Weston talks with Professor Tamsin Ford CBE about mental health post-pandemic. They discuss some emerging patterns impacting on the wellbeing of children and young people and focus on strategies for creating a mentally healthy school environment for both staff and pupils.

In this podcast, Dr Weston talks with psychologist and neurodiversity consultant, Dr Seonaid Anderson, about the development of tics in childhood. They discuss the features of tics and optimal ways for parents to respond if their child develops one. They talk about pathways for clinical care and focus on a dramatic increase in new tics presenting in teenage girls during the pandemic.

In this podcast, Dr Weston talks to Chief Constable Simon Bailey about the culture of violence against women and girls, particularly in schools. They outline the key things that parents and schools should do to cultivate open and honest discussion around issues of sexual harassment, sexting and predatory behaviour online.

In this special Father's Day podcast, Dr Weston talks with Paul Pomroy, CEO of McDonalds UK, about his biggest job - being a dad. They talk about optimal parenting styles, help-seeking, finding a good work/life balance and how many workplace skills can be transferred to family life and parenting.

Our researcher of the month, Dr Serena Bauducco, talks to Dr Weston about her recent research project, trialing a universal sleep intervention in Swedish secondary schools. They talk about the importance of sticking to bedtime routines as children grow older and the protective impact that whole-class sleep interventions can have.  

Please be aware that this interview contains adult themes and is not suitable for younger ears. The discussion also addresses themes such as sexual harassment and domestic violence. In this podcast, Dr Weston talks with Dr Fiona Vera-Gray about the need for change in social discourse around women and girls' everyday experiences of sexual harassment. They discuss early teenage romantic relationships, the impact of pornography and how parents can help our girls and boys to be agents of change.

In this podcast, Dr Weston talks with Dr Dasha Nicholls about all the things that parents should understand when it comes to eating disorders. She gives us advice on how to keep a watchful, balanced and empathetic perspective on our children's eating behaviours and tells us all we need to know about the main types of eating disorders and their triggers.

In this podcast, Dr Weston talks with Dr Lucy Foulkes, adolescent mental health expert, about her new book, Losing Our Minds, and how public discourse surrounding mental health means that we talk about it a great deal, but perhaps without the understanding needed to really get to grips with its complexities. This wide-ranging interview examines the impact of covid, the gender gap and the role of parents.

In this podcast, Dr Weston talks with Professor Robin Banerjee about the connections between peer relationships, kindness and wellbeing, especially at points of transition or change in our children's lives. They discuss initiatives to help prioritise wellbeing at the point of entry to secondary school and university, consider systemic social changes that might be needed to really promote wellbeing and chew the fat on how to ensure that young people feel empowered to form positive social connections.

In this podcast, Dr Weston talks to cannabis use disorder expert, Rachel Lees, to find out the facts about teenagers and cannabis. They discuss what important things all parents should know about the impact of cannabis on teenagers and how to recognise when use might be becoming problematic. Listen to Rachel's tips on how best to discuss cannabis with young people who already use it, and preventative strategies for younger children.