If you have ever waited for permission before backing yourself or your child, this is for you. Courage and curiosity open doors that school sometimes can’t.<\/p>\n
What happens when you stop waiting for permission and start backing yourself instead?<\/p>\n
Lael Stone, speaker, educator and author, shares how leaving a school system that did not quite fit opened the door to a life of possibility. At seventeen she travelled overseas alone and launched her first business, guided by courage and curiosity rather than convention. <\/p>\n
This is a warm, practical conversation for parents about raising confident young people, choosing connection over judgment, and trusting that a different path can be a rich one. <\/p>\n
If your child does not fit the traditional mould, Lael’s story is a hopeful reminder that there are many ways to build a meaningful life.<\/p>\n
What you’ll discover:
\n\u2022\tBacking yourself instead of waiting for permission
\n\u2022\tRaising confident, curious young people
\n\u2022\tChoosing connection over judgment
\n\u2022\tWhen school doesn’t fit, and what becomes possible
\n\u2022\tWhy courage and curiosity open doors<\/p>\n
In this episode of More Than a Score, Lael Stone shares how leaving behind a school system that didn\u2019t quite fit opened the door to a life of possibility. At just 17, she travelled overseas alone, launched her first business at 20, became a parent at 25, and went on to build a career as a parenting educator, speaker, author, and co-co-founder of Woodline Primary School.<\/p>\n
Lael\u2019s story is a reminder that qualifications don\u2019t always come from classrooms \u2014 they can come from life experiences, curiosity, and the willingness to take a chance on yourself. She opens up about the power of trusting your instincts, embracing imperfection, and finding freedom in being \u201cenough.\u201d<\/p>\n
This episode is for parents and young people who feel pressure to have everything figured out. Lael\u2019s journey reminds us that courage, curiosity, and connection will take you further than perfection ever could.<\/p>\n
You\u2019ll discover:<\/p>\n
\u2022 Why backing yourself can be a powerful qualification you can have.
\n\u2022 How courage and lived experience can open unexpected doors.
\n\u2022 Why being \u201cenough\u201d matters more than being perfect.
\n\u2022 How parents can model possibility, presence, and calm for their kids.<\/p>\n
Because success isn\u2019t about ticking boxes \u2014 it\u2019s about backing yourself and creating a life that feels true to you.<\/p>\n
Know someone else with a story that should be shared? Get in contact with us at morethanascorepod@gmail.com!<\/p>\n
More Than a Score: Redefining Success Beyond School is hosted by Laura Pitt and Dan Steele, a former teacher and award-winning school leader on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria. New episodes fortnightly. Subscribe to follow along.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
If you have ever waited for permission before backing yourself or your child, this is for you. Courage and curiosity open doors that school sometimes can’t. What happens when you stop waiting for permission and start backing yourself instead? Lael Stone, speaker, educator and author, shares how leaving a school system that did not quite […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"episode_type":"","audio_file":"https:\/\/feeds.podcastle.ai\/2fe42c5e-ae58-408c-9dc2-a12eec85f18a\/Lael%20ep%20%281%29.mp3","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"https:\/\/mtas.pixelreardon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1000020761-png-scaled.jpeg","cover_image_id":"212643237","duration":"","filesize":"58M","filesize_raw":"60821882","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","itunes_episode_number":"","itunes_title":"","itunes_season_number":"","itunes_episode_type":""},"tags":[],"series":[4],"class_list":["post-212643236","podcast","type-podcast","status-publish","hentry","series-much-more-than-a-score"],"episode_featured_image":false,"episode_player_image":"https:\/\/mtas.pixelreardon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1000020761-png-scaled.jpeg","download_link":"https:\/\/mtas.pixelreardon.com\/podcast-download\/212643236\/stop-waiting-for-permission-and-back-yourself-lael-stone-on-courage-curiosity-and-confident-kids","player_link":"https:\/\/mtas.pixelreardon.com\/podcast-player\/212643236\/stop-waiting-for-permission-and-back-yourself-lael-stone-on-courage-curiosity-and-confident-kids","audio_player":"https:\/\/mtas.pixelreardon.com\/podcast-player\/212643236\/stop-waiting-for-permission-and-back-yourself-lael-stone-on-courage-curiosity-and-confident-kids<\/a>","episode_data":{"playerMode":"dark","subscribeUrls":{"apple_podcasts":{"key":"apple_podcasts","url":"","label":"Apple Podcasts","class":"apple_podcasts","icon":"apple-podcasts.png"},"stitcher":{"key":"stitcher","url":"","label":"Stitcher","class":"stitcher","icon":"stitcher.png"},"google_podcasts":{"key":"google_podcasts","url":"","label":"Google Podcasts","class":"google_podcasts","icon":"google-podcasts.png"},"spotify":{"key":"spotify","url":"","label":"Spotify","class":"spotify","icon":"spotify.png"}},"rssFeedUrl":"https:\/\/mtas.pixelreardon.com\/feed\/podcast\/much-more-than-a-score","embedCode":"Stop Waiting for Permission and Back Yourself: Lael Stone on Courage, Curiosity and Confident Kids<\/a><\/blockquote>