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Eddie Woo: Hope, potential & the power of a great teacher

conversations the smith family podcast with doug taylor and eddie woo

I've worked with educators who have been confronted by the challenges of inequity across our system and have found it too much. And I want to just respect that. It is heartbreaking sometimes when you see the outcomes of students that aren't coming up to their potential. But what I always say to myself is, if I walk away, that makes the problem worse, not better. It means there's less of us contributing to change the situation.

Eddie Woo, award-winning maths teacher, author and creator of Wootube

Eddie Woo’s classroom might be famous online, but it’s the small, personal moments of connection that drive his passion for teaching.

In this episode, our CEO Doug Taylor sits down with Eddie – award-winning maths teacher, author, TV presenter and university professor – whose YouTube channel, Wootube, has reached millions. Eddie shares how to make learning meaningful and relevant, how to re-engage students who’ve switched off and why maths is such a vital life skill.

He talks about the power of storytelling in the classroom, why relationships are at the heart of great teaching and how small moments of connection can change a student’s life.

Eddie also reflects on the big challenges in education – teacher shortages, educational inequity and AI – and why he remains hopeful for the future.

Conversation highlights:

Eddie talks to Doug about:

[1:41] His most memorable education moment
[4:56] His pitch for a career in education and what drives him to be a teacher
[7:35] The current teacher shortage – and ways to address it
[9:39] How to effectively engage students in the classroom
[15:15] Why gaps emerge in maths proficiency – and how to help students catch up
[20:34] Why he’s excited about AI for teaching and learning
[26:00] Educational inequity, lost potential and choosing to keep showing up
[29:24] Finding hope through the personal story of one student he taught

Watch the full conversation below via YouTube or listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

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