Explore every episode of the podcast Leaning into Leadership
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Episode 225: Creating High Performing Leadership Teams with the AWESOME Framework | 20 Jul 2025 | 00:24:00 | |
In this solo episode, Dr. Darrin Peppard shares the framework and mindset behind truly effective leadership teams. Drawing on his work from coast to coast, including a recent workshop at the Innovative Schools Summit in Nashville, Darrin explains why high-performing leadership teams don’t happen by accident—they’re built with clarity, trust, and purpose. Through powerful stories and practical takeaways, Darrin walks you through his AWESOME framework, a leadership model that has helped schools and districts across the country move from dysfunction to alignment. Whether you're leading a building or a district, this episode offers actionable insights to help your team become more aligned, accountable, and impactful. In This Episode:
Memorable Quotes:“If I want a better WE, I’ve got to be a better ME.”“Great leadership teams aren’t built by accident. They’re built on purpose.”“Be the thermostat, not the thermometer—set the tone instead of just reflecting it.”Resources & Links:
Connect with Darrin:
Call to Action:
| |||
| Episode 224: The Liminal Space with Dr. Chris Fuzie | 13 Jul 2025 | 00:31:48 | |
In Episode 224, Dr. Chris Fuzie joins Darrin for a fascinating conversation on behavior-based leadership and the concept of “liminal space”—the space where individuals lead and follow simultaneously. Drawing from his 28 years in law enforcement and extensive leadership consulting experience, Chris breaks down how leadership is not a position but a behavior, and how great leaders also embrace the role of the follower. This episode explores what gets in the way of effective leadership, why behavior matters more than titles, and how reshaping the leadership-followership dynamic is the next evolution in the field. Guest Bio: Dr. Chris Fuzie is the owner of CMF Leadership Consulting and currently serves as the Business/HR Manager for a District Attorney’s office in California. A Leaderologist II and President of the National Leaderology Association, Chris holds a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.), M.A., and B.A. in Organizational Leadership, with graduate certificates in Human Resources and Criminal Justice Education. Since 2010, he has developed and delivered leadership training for public, private, profit, and non-profit organizations. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and a former national instructor for the International Association of Chiefs of Police and California P.O.S.T. Courses. Chris is the author of Because Why... Understanding Behavior in Exigencies, S.C.O.R.E. Performance Counseling: Save the Relationship, Change the Behavior, and his latest book, Liminal Space: Reshaping Leadership and Followership. Chris is honorably retired from the Modesto Police Department after 28 years of service, having led teams including the Homicide Team, Hostage Negotiations Team, Street-Level Drug Team, School Police Officer Team, and the Traffic Motor Unit. Dr. Fuzie on Social Media: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-chris-fuzie-ed-d-m-a-ol-vl2-37587934/ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090255232861 https://www.facebook.com/chris.fuzie/ WEBSITE: | |||
| Episode 215: So What, Now What – A Conversation with Dr. Damon Lewis (NASSP MS POY Finalist) | 17 Jun 2025 | 00:59:02 | |
In this powerful kickoff to our NASSP Principal of the Year finalist series, Dr. Damon Lewis of Ponus Ridge STEAM Academy in Norwalk, CT shares his incredible leadership journey—from paraeducator to transformational middle school principal. Under his leadership, chronic absenteeism dropped from 31% to 8%, equity-driven initiatives expanded access to gifted and accelerated programs, and eighth-grade PSAT scores outpaced national, state, and district averages. Dr. Lewis discusses the culture shift at his school, his “so what, now what” mindset, and why proper preparation, intentional systems, and relentless focus on every student have made the difference. He also opens up about how his personal story fuels his mission—and how being a national finalist is a platform for advocacy, equity, and excellence in public education. Key Topics:
Learn more about NASSP's Principal of the Year program at https://www.nassp.org/news/nassp-announces-national-principal-of-the-year-finalists/ | |||
| Episode 125: Tone Down Your Walk with Claire Chandler | 25 Feb 2024 | 00:48:04 | |
Claire Chandler, President and founder of Talent Boost, deeply believes that leaders shape cultures, and stronger cultures drive greater success. Leveraging 30 years of experience in people leadership, human resources, and business ownership, Claire helps organizations expand their business without losing their best talent using her proven “Growth on Purpose” methodology. Claire holds a certificate in strategic HR leadership from Cornell’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations, a master’s degree from the New Jersey Institute of Technology, and a bachelor’s degree from Fairfield University. She has appeared as a guest on more than 150 podcasts, is the author of several books on leadership and business strategy, and is a contributing writer for Forbes. Get Claire's free ebook, The Culture Effect, here Connect with Claire: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clairechandlersphr/ https://www.clairechandler.net Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here | |||
| Episode 124: Guiding Transformational Change with Dr. Kristina Mattis | 18 Feb 2024 | 00:39:27 | |
Dr. Kristina V. Mattis advises statewide educational technology efforts for the California Department of Education, specifically addressing the Closing the Digital Divide Initiative to achieve digital equity. Kristina’s 20+ years in education spans roles from classroom teaching to executive director, and from strategic plan development to leading change and project management across public and private instructional institutions. She is an ESL multilingual speaker and published author. Kristina’s expansive experience and expertise in educational initiatives allow for her collaborative and holistic systems-thinking approach to examine the needs for high-quality equitable access to necessary technologies that propel instructional opportunities and operational effectiveness so that “we prepare students to live, work, and thrive in a multicultural, multilingual, and highly connected world” as per the CA DOE mission. Order your copy of Dr. Mattis' book: Guiding Transformational Change in Education Connect with Dr. Mattis: Website: www.consulteddevelopment.org Twitter: @kristinamattis Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristinamattis/ Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here | |||
| Episode 123: Discussing the Undiscussable with Darrin, Dominic, and Todd | 14 Feb 2024 | 00:54:26 | |
Got a question for us? Submit it here or hit us up on social media Episode 123 is a special mid-week collaboration with elementary principal Dominic Armano and high school principal Todd Bloomer. Continuing our special series, Dom, Todd, and I sit down and share our insights on the Super Bowl (complete with our picks) and answer a viewer/listener question about creating a culture where staff will discuss the undiscussable issues. The article from which this topic came can be found here Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here | |||
| Episode 122: Passion Struck with John R. Miles | 11 Feb 2024 | 00:45:40 | |
John R. Miles is a leading authority on intentional behavior change, personal growth, and mattering. He is a keynote speaker, author, top-rated show host, and the founder and CEO of Passion Struck®. His award-winning podcast, Passion Struck with John R. Miles, consistently ranks among the world’s top 100 shows and the #1 Alternative Health podcast. Recognized as one of the top thinkers in personal mastery and a Premier 100 Leader, his influence extends far and wide. With over two decades of corporate and military leadership experience, he’s the trusted advisor sought after by some of the world’s most prominent companies and visionary entrepreneurs. Yet, beneath these remarkable achievements, John’s true passion lies in guiding individuals to live a passion-struck life in every facet. His story, like his podcast, is an inspiring journey toward significance. Get your copy of Passion Struck here Check out all things Passion Struck: https://passionstruck.com/ & https://johnrmiles.com/ Connect with John on Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/john_r_miles/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/milesjohn/ Medium: https://medium.com/@JohnRMiles Twitter: https://twitter.com/John_RMiles Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here | |||
| Episode 121: Inquiring Minds Want to Learn with Erik Francis | 04 Feb 2024 | 00:51:25 | |
Erik M. Francis, M.Ed., M.S., is an international author, educator, presenter, and professional development provider with over 25 years of experience in education. He is the author of the book Deconstructing Depth of Knowledge: A Method and Model for Deeper Teaching and Learning published by Solution Tree. His book Inquiring Minds Want to Learn: Posing Good Questions to Promote Student Inquiry will be published by Solution Tree in Spring 2024. He is also the author of Now That’s a Good Question! How to Promote Cognitive Rigor Through Classroom Questioning published by ASCD. Erik is the owner of Maverik Education, providing professional development, guidance, and support on how to plan and provide teaching and learning experiences that are standards based, socially and emotionally supportive, and student responsive. He is also consistently ranked as one of the World’s Top 30 Education Professionals by the international research organization Global Gurus and the Top 25 Thought Leaders. Connect with Erik: Twitter / X: @maverikedu12 Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here | |||
| Episode 120: Take it Personal with Lisa Parry | 28 Jan 2024 | 00:45:29 | |
Lisa Parry is a veteran writing teacher and school leader who provides a variety of services to professionals including custom communication, conflict mediation, keynotes, and professional development. She especially loves to help others create scripts for the tough talks we all have to have at home and at work. Lisa is proud to lead a 2021 National Blue Ribbon Elementary School and a 2020 ESEA Distinguished Elementary School, and she was honored to be named 2022 South Dakota Region 1 High School Principal of the Year. One of her most gratifying experiences is being asked to co-develop & facilitate the South Dakota Department of Education's Good to Great Teacher Mentoring Program. In addition to working with South Dakota educators, Lisa enjoys connecting with other professions around the United States. Her expertise transcends the K-12 space and includes a focus on, among other topics, People-Pleasing, Master Mindsets, Meaningful Messaging, and Likable Leadership. She has presented at the National Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence Conference and the Making Schools Work Conference, both in Orlando, Florida; she leads professional development in South Dakota; and she has shared leadership lessons with individuals in industries ranging from telecommunications to photo organizing. Lisa earned her M.S.Ed. in Educational Leadership from South Dakota State University and a B.S.Ed. in English Education from the University of South Dakota. Connect with Lisa on LinkedIn Contact Lisa: Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here | |||
| Episode 119: A Leader of Significance with Mosongo Moukwa | 21 Jan 2024 | 00:43:31 | |
Mosongo Moukwa is a seasoned executive and consultant who has dedicated his career to helping companies thrive by commercializing new technologies, diversifying their product offerings, and entering new markets. Across thirty-plus years in leadership, Mosongo has applied his unique talent for identifying leadership gaps and developing the talent and culture necessary for success. He helps solve important innovation challenges that hold organizations back by unleashing the collective creativity of their people. As a thought leader in leadership development and organizational change, Mosongo has shared his insights such as leadership demystified with Human Capital, and panel discussions on neuroscience, project management, and business moderated by Wanda Curlee of American Public University. His articles have appeared in Business Today, The Journal of Creative Behavior, Crain’s Cleveland Business, R&D Innovator, and he is a regular contributor to Business Standard. Mosongo serves as the President at Hathaway Advanced Materials and has held leadership positions in R & D and operations at some of the world’s most respected brands, including vice president, global technology at SC Johnson; vice president, global technology at Reichhold; vice president, technology at Asian Paints; director of technology at Avient (formerly PolyOne); and chief, global R & D at PCBL (formerly Phillips Carbon Black Ltd.). Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here | |||
| Episode 118: What Happens When You Put Three Principals in a Room? | 17 Jan 2024 | 00:50:01 | |
Allow me to introduce two incredible educators to you all. Todd Bloomer and Dominic Armano are both currently seated principals and are highly respected in their field by their peers. Both are soon to be published authors (Road to Awesome, LLC) and will be regularly featured here on the podcast during each month's special mid-week release. Got a question for us? Submit it here or hit us up on social media Todd Bloomer was born and raised in New York, Todd Bloomer got to Texas as soon as he could to start his educational career. As a teacher and coach, Todd fell in love (literally) in Texas with public education, high school football, and his wife, Sharon. After moving to San Antonio, Texas, Todd transitioned to the assistant principalship at a middle school in 2007. In 2010, he became a high school assistant principal and in 2014 Todd was named a middle school principal. In 2019, Todd was named a high school principal. In 2020, Todd was name the Texas Region 20 Secondary Principal of the year, During his journey as an administrator, Todd benefited from strong mentors and developed a blueprint to being successful. Through trial and error, and some luck, Todd has developed into a widely respected administrator in the state of Texas. Todd also served as a high school principal during and after COVID. Learning a school of 2,500 students during uncertainty has made his voice, his insight, and his advice all the more relevant. Through humor, storytelling, and being vulnerable, Todd shares his soul on what has worked and what hasn’t. Todd and his wife Sharon have been married for 24 years. They have five wonderful children. Todd and his wife reside in beautiful San Antonio, Texas. Todd is very active on social media. You can follow him @bloomer_sa on Twitter and Todd Bloomer on LinkedIn. Todd is also very active as an advocate at the state level with elected officials as he works to defend the profession he loves. Dominic Armano is a loving husband and father, a proud educator, an innovative principal a speaker and author. Over the course of his career, Dominic has served as an elementary and middle school teacher, assistant principal and currently he is serving as an elementary school principal. In all of these roles, he has made it his priority to promote a positive culture for students, staff, and the community. Dominic has an undergraduate degree in elementary education and graduate degrees in both special education and school district leadership. Through his years in education, Dominic has become passionate about social-emotional learning and has developed programs that encourage education through a whole child approach. This pathway strengthens the core of instruction and helps to build a community of eager, enthusiastic, and passionate learners. In addition to his work as an educator, Dominic is a motivational speaker and blogger. He is the President of the Education Chapter of the Dowling College Alumni Association. In 2019, he was inducted into the New York Academy of Public Education, and he is a member of the New York City Elementary School Principals Association. He has previously served with the Long Island Coalition Against Bullying as both a member of the Board of Trustees and as the Chair of the Education Committee. Dominic has been featured on several podcasts and in articles about school leadership. At his core, he is nothing more than a devoted Yankees fan who loves spending time with his family and closest friends. | |||
| Episode 117: Lively Minds with Candace Heiken | 14 Jan 2024 | 00:38:42 | |
Candace Heiken, M.Ed. combined her background in education and psychology with her passion for empowering students and founded Lively Minds Institute, an organization with a mission to cultivate independent, lifelong learners through the development of executive function skills. Lively Minds developed an executive function solution called Cerebrate that provides educators with a simple way to identify deficiencies based on observable classroom behaviors and then access lessons to teach the strategies needed. Candace leads a team of talented educators who utilize Cerebrate to advance their mission with school administrators, teachers, parents, and students across the country. With over 25 years in education, Candace is driven to affect lasting and impactful change by helping teachers and students see what they can achieve when they have the executive function skills necessary for learning success. Check out these free resources courtesy of Candace:
Connect with Candace: email candace@cerebrate.education Website www.cerebrate.education and www.livelymindsinstitute.com | |||
| Episode 116: 5 Months to School Improvement with Dr. Kristilynn Turney | 07 Jan 2024 | 00:38:05 | |
Dr. Kristilynn Turney: A highly experienced subject matter expert in school improvement initiatives, leadership professional development, coaching and mentoring, and diversity, equity, and inclusion, Dr. Kristilynn Turney has dedicated over two decades to making education work and educators thrive. Her vast experience with multicultural systems and their language-related learning challenges has developed her into a favored go-to for training, coaching, goal establishment, results metrics analysis, and related systems program and project implementation. Dr. Turney lives and breathes educational and organizational leadership, coaching, and mentoring for school improvement. While positive outcomes for students are priority one, Dr. Turney knows well that empowering administrators and teachers to lead is what delivers job one: student-outcome continuous improvement. Dr. Kristilynn Turney has served as an English teacher, School Improvement and Literacy Coach, Assistant Principal, Principal, and District Level Administrator. She has a Bachelor’s in Secondary Education- Communications, a Master’s in Educational Administration, and Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Management. Grab Dr. Turney's newest book: https://a.co/d/bVpHNMa Connect with Dr. Turney on Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/drkristilynn/ https://www.facebook.com/kristilynn.turney.50 https://www.linkedin.com/in/drkristilynnturney/ https://twitter.com/DrKristilynn Email Dr. Turney: www.drkristilynnturney.com Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here | |||
| Episode 214: The Science of Kindness with Dr. Chris Culver | 15 Jun 2025 | 00:37:59 | |
In this episode of Leaning Into Leadership, Dr. Chris Culver brings the energy, insight, and authenticity that’s made him a rising national voice in school leadership and culture. A former principal and cabinet-level administrator, Chris now leads Orange Sparrow, a consulting practice built on the Science of Kindness and a deep understanding of generational learning needs. Chris and Darrin dive into:
Chris shares his powerful 5+1 framework rooted in his doctoral research and personal journey—and leaves listeners with a call to lead through kindness, not just because it feels good, but because it works. Bio: Dr. Christopher Culver is a highly sought-after, dynamic, and engaging speaker. He is a proud product of Oklahoma public education. Raised in a divorced family, he split his time between Tulsa during the week, a 300-acre farm in Wyandotte, OK, and several times throughout the year in Fayetteville, NC. For more than a decade, Dr. Culver has served educational communities as a classroom teacher, secondary principal, and, most recently, as a cabinet-level administrator. He is the former President of the Oklahoma Association for Bilingual Education and currently serves as Vice President of the Oklahoma Citizens for Education nonprofit. Today, he works as a speaker and leading thought partner on the Science of Kindness, a consultant with expertise in culture and Gen Z/Gen Alpha understanding, and a part-time professor at Oklahoma City University, where he teaches future teachers and leaders. Earning an EdD through research on culture and the collective impact on motivation, Dr. Culver is dedicated to spreading kindness, improving mindsets, and creating spaces where everyone is seen, heard, valued, and respected. He believes that if you cannot find the light, be the light! Website: www.orangesparrow.org Email/contact info: christopher@orangesparrow.org Social Media: @DrChrisCulver | |||
| Episode 115: The 5 Ways Leaders Must Show Up in 2024 | 31 Dec 2023 | 00:27:15 | |
This is the year when you decide to embrace having that leadership coach. Having a coach took me from being a struggling manager to a leader of people, to Principal of the Year. It can do that for you too...hit this link and schedule a free conversation with me about leadership coaching for you, your team, or an individual on your leadership team. My purpose is to help leaders gain clarity, walk in their purpose, and find joy in their leadership life. Let's connect... Thank you for listening to Episode 115: The 5 Ways Leaders Must Show Up in 2024 TL/DL (too long, didn't listen) summary 5 keys ways that leaders must show up in the coming year to ensure success in their organizations: 1. Show up for relationships 2. Show up looking for positives 3. Show up as a coach 4. Show up resiliently 5. Show up focused on yourself Here is a link to Zac Bauermaster's blog post on meeting them where they are, it's awesome!! Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here | |||
| Episode 114: A Holiday Collaboration with the Teaching Champions Podcast | 24 Dec 2023 | 01:01:56 | |
This special episode is a collaboration between Leaning into Leadership and The Teaching Champions podcast with Brian Martin Darrin & Brian take on each other's questions about education, leadership, experience, and the holiday season. If you haven't already, make sure you check out the Teaching Champions Podcast Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here | |||
| Episode 113: Equip, Empower, Engage with Dr. Joy Karavedas | 17 Dec 2023 | 00:43:42 | |
Dr. Joy Karavedas is an experienced leader with over 20 years of executive-level leadership in independent schools and nonprofits. With a Masters in Education and a Doctorate in Organizational Leadership, Dr. Karavedas actively teaches as a Professor at Bachelors and Masters levels. She currently holds the position of Director of Research and New Program Development at Orange Lutheran High School where she is responsible for development and oversight of the school’s flexible learning options and pathways exploring innovation in education. With a strong academic and research focus on development of middle management leaders for next level leadership, Dr. Karavedas has written multiple publications and made several presentations on a variety of topics including Becoming Your Own Leader, Impact and Influence of Mid-Level Leaders, Leadership for Leaders, Hiring, Training and Retaining Teachers, Women in Leadership, and more. After multiple academic publications, Dr. Karavedas recently published her first book, From Striving to Thriving, as a practical guide for growth in leadership and life. Dr. Karavedas is also the owner of Karavedas Coaching and Consulting which provides individual and organizational coaching and consulting for leaders and teams at all levels. Find Joy on Social Media: LinkedIn X/Twitter Instagram Website: drkaravedas.com Email: drkaravedas@gmail.com Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here | |||
| Episode 112: Leading from the Classroom with David James | 13 Dec 2023 | 00:33:57 | |
Check out the NCMLE Inspire 2024 conference here David James is a 7th grade social studies teacher at Harold E. Winkler Middle School in Concord, NC. He serves his students and colleagues in multiple leadership capacities including the Lead Mentor as part of the Winkler Middle School Beginning Teacher Program, 7th grade level chair, and 7th grade social studies lead. David believes effective teacher-leadership is a core proponent of the K-12 school building that is built on passion, trust, and a growth mindset. He is married to his Ohio University sweetheart Erin and they have a son Aiden who is a 1st grade student in Cabarrus County Schools as well. They enjoy their time traveling to athletic fields and race tracks. Find David on: Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok Check out NCMLE: on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok Website: www.ncmle.org Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here | |||
| Episode 111: Whatever it Takes with Dr. Bryan Pearlman | 10 Dec 2023 | 00:40:50 | |
Dr. Bryan Pearlman is a veteran educator/school administrator, a mental health therapist, keynote speaker, and adjunct professor. He is the author of two books: Maslow Before Bloom: Basic Human Needs Before Academics released in May 2020 & Whatever It Takes For All Students To Succeed In School and Life, released in January 2019. Dr. Pearlman is also the co-founder and board member of the mental health non-profit DSMHW.org. His expertise is helping all children to succeed, challenging behaviors, trauma, school improvement, mental health, and self-care. Dr. Pearlman has presented to over 80,000 people in the past few years. He is regularly asked to provide keynote addresses, featured presentations, and trainings for state, regional and national organizations. Check out Bryan's new book: From Struggles to Successes: A Handbook for Parents and Educators Connect with Bryan: on Twitter or at the Maslow Before Bloom Facebook Group Email/contact info: 314-323-7340 Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here | |||
| Episode 110: Within Our Ranks with Steve Bollar | 03 Dec 2023 | 00:45:08 | |
Steve Bollar, a.k.a. Stand Tall Steve, is an educational thought leader, former Superintendent of Schools, principal, author and a school culture and motivation expert. He is known for his quick wit, creative thought, and humorous personality. Steve has been identified as one of the Top 30 Global Gurus In Education. He is the author of the leadership book Stand Tall Leadership, school culture book Ideas, Ideas, Ideas!, Ideas, Ideas, Ideas Rally Edition, and is a contributing author in the book Because of a Teacher and School Climate 2.0: Preventing Cyberbullying One Classroom at a Time, and his new book, Ten Minute Classroom Openers. Steve openly shares his knowledge, experiences and creativity with others. He currently speaks to students, staff and communities throughout the world about how to think differently about schools, education, and life. Check out Within Our Ranks if you're interested in speaking professionally as an educator. Connect with Steve:
Email/contact info: steven@standtallsteve.com Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have | |||
| Episode 109: The Six Step Leadership Challenge with Jim Saliba | 26 Nov 2023 | 00:42:11 | |
Jim Saliba is a certified coach, trainer, and public speaker with a BS, MBA, and over thirty years of experience in the leadership world. His career began as a software engineer before being promoted to management in the IT industry, where he eventually became the VP of a $4 billion tech company. He has been in the trenches and has conquered most challenges leaders face throughout their careers. Jim adopted a growth mindset and created an atmosphere where employees were encouraged to experiment and were rewarded for their hard work. Mistakes were not seen as failures but rather as learning opportunities to make changes and improve. Check out Jim's new Six Step Masterclass Grab a copy of Jim's book: The Six Step Leadership Challenge Connect with Jim on: LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook Email Jim: jim@jamessaliba.com Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here | |||
| Episode 108: Untold Teaching Truths with Katie Kinder | 19 Nov 2023 | 00:41:49 | |
Katie Kinder, author of Untold Teaching Truths and Hallway Leadership, is a professional learning facilitator, and she has been an educator since 2006. She brings her message of hope, fun, and real strategies to educators all over the nation. She believes that life is fun, and learning should most definitely be fun. A teacher of the year, top five district finalist, Speaker, Author, Professional Development Leader, a Mom, a Wife, a Fierce Advocate for Education, and grant award winner, Katie has learned a trick or two in the classroom, so come on in, and have some fun, and hook your students from day one! Check out Katie's Ted Talk Connect with Katie: Twitter: @KatieKinder1 IG: @untoldteachingtruths Check out this episode of Teaching Champions (referenced in the #PepTalk) Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here | |||
| Episode 107: Q & A with Teacher Candidates from Ft. Hays State University | 15 Nov 2023 | 00:30:41 | |
This week on the show, I am recapping a fabulous visit with Ft. Hays State's Future Educators Day. On this episode, I am answering four questions of undergraduate teacher candidates. Big thank you for Morgan Barba, Lauren Cure, Skylar Steinle, and Vanessa Renteria for their willingness to record their questions and being on the show! Go Tigers!! Check out Episode 68: When Calling Parents isn't your Calling with Crystal Frommert Check out Ft. Hays State University's Teacher Education Program here Follow them on Social Media: Facebook, Twitter (X), Instagram Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here | |||
| Episode 106: Stop Blaming Your Tools with Don Schmincke | 12 Nov 2023 | 00:38:24 | |
Don Schmincke is the author of the Best-Selling book The Code of the Executive and has been featured in the Wall Street Journal and USA Today. He is an Award-Winning Speaker, Researcher, Founder of the SAGA Leadership Institute and delivered over 1,700 speeches. His new book, Winners and Losers: Entrepreneurial Lessons from 30,000 CEOs on How to Come Out on Top is available now on Amazon. Connect with Don: don@sagaleadership.com or on LinkedIn or Twitter (X) Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here | |||
| Episode 213: Culture Starts with Who You Hire: Insights from Todd Nesloney | 08 Jun 2025 | 00:47:32 | |
In this episode, Darrin sits down with longtime education leader and author Todd Nesloney for a powerful conversation on leadership, culture, and hiring. Todd shares his journey from instructional aide to principal, and now as the Director of Culture and Strategic Leadership for TEPSA. They discuss actionable insights into how schools can improve hiring processes, retain great staff, and onboard new hires in ways that reflect school values. Todd also shares lessons from his writing career, the importance of amplifying others' voices, and why leaning into discomfort is essential for leadership growth. If you’re looking to improve your hiring systems, strengthen your culture, or simply need inspiration to keep growing as a leader—this episode is for you. 🔗 Connect with Todd: www.toddnesloney.com 📘 Check out Todd’s books, including Kids Deserve It and Building Authenticity 📷 Follow Todd @TechNinjaTodd on all social media 🎧 Learn more about Darrin’s leadership work at www.roadtoawesome.net | |||
| Episode 105: Empty your Backpack with Sam Demma | 05 Nov 2023 | 00:40:50 | |
Sam Demma is the best-selling author of Empty Your Backpack: Unpack Your Beliefs, Take Consistent Action, and Create a Life of Meaning, and one of the most in-demand keynote speakers in the Education and Association sectors. He co-founded the volunteer organization PickWaste, delivered two TEDx talks, and—as a result of his exceptional contributions to Canada—was awarded the prestigious Queens Platinum Jubilee Award. His work is often featured on national news shows like Marilyn Dennis, Breakfast Television, and most notably, his mom’s Facebook profile. Sam delivers hundreds of programs across North America annually, and his entertaining presentations address the topics of Mental Health, Leadership and Kindness. See Sam in Action & subscribe to his channel: https://youtu.be/533XfhrMzyc Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sam_demma/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/sam_demma Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-demma/ Contact Sam: sam@samdemma.com Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here | |||
| Episode 104: The Art of ISS with Johnathan Cranford | 29 Oct 2023 | 00:40:32 | |
October is National Principal's Month - to celebrate and help principals walk in their purpose we have the autographed copy of my book, Road to Awesome: The Journey of a Leader here, at a special price of just $20 and free shipping (use code FOBA) Johnathan Cranford has seven years of experience as a special education teacher on a therapeutic campus for students with emotional disturbance and four more years as an in-school suspension teacher at two middle schools. After discovering how in-school suspension programs are failing to meet the needs of our most at-risk students, Johnathan created a successful in-school suspension program to address the current disciplinary, academic, and restorative requirements of our student populations. After establishing successful ISS programs on two campuses, he made the decision to create a roadmap for others to follow in his latest book The Art of In-School Suspension. Social Media: Twitter: @MrCranfordISS, website: www.theartofiss.com Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here | |||
| Episode 103: Love it, Learn it, Live it with Maxwell Roach | 22 Oct 2023 | 00:51:47 | |
October is National Principal's Month - to celebrate and help principals walk in their purpose we have the autographed copy of my book, Road to Awesome: The Journey of a Leader here, at a special price of just $20 and free shipping (use code FOBA) Maxwell Roach is a children’s book author and the Founder of JonAyves Learning Club, a personalized learning organization that teaches children concepts such as long division as early as the age of 3. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Toronto and is certified as a Professional in Human Resources (PHRi). As a former musician, sharing stages with Beyoncé and the Rolling Stones, leading a child care organization as CEO, and working as a consultant for ecommerce tech companies globally, Maxwell values the need to "fill the industry gaps" by way of disruption and modern solutions. Connect with Maxwell: JonAyves Learning Club Books: JonAyves Learning Club Books JonAyves Learning Club Complete Book Listing - https://www.jonayves.com/shop Maxwell Roach & JonAyves Learning Club Twitter - @JonAyvesTV LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxwellroach Facebook - JonAyves Learning Club Website - https://www.jonayves.com Fun Academic Kids Videos YouTube Shorts - https://www.youtube.com/@JonAyvesTV TikTok - JonAyves TV (@jonayvestv) | TikTok Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/AJsHouseKids Count By Numbers and Nursery Rhymes Videos YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@AJsHouseKids Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here | |||
| Episode 102: Problem Solver with Cheryl Einhorn | 15 Oct 2023 | 00:39:20 | |
October is National Principal's Month - to celebrate and help principals walk in their purpose we have the autographed copy of my book, Road to Awesome: The Journey of a Leader here, at a special price of just $20 and free shipping (use code FOBA) Cheryl Strauss Einhorn founded Decisive, a decision sciences company that trains people and teams in complex problem solving and decision-making skills using the AREA Method. AREA is an evidence-based decision-making system that uniquely controls for and counters cognitive bias to expand knowledge while improving judgment. Cheryl developed AREA during her two decades as an award-winning investigative journalist writing for publications ranging from The New York Times and Foreign Policy Magazine to Barron’s and The Stanford Social Innovation Review. Cheryl teaches at Cornell University and has authored three books: Problem Solved, A Powerful System for Making Complex Decisions with Confidence and Conviction, about personal and professional decision-making; Investing In Financial Research, A Decision-Making System for Better Results about financial and investment decisions; and new book about Problem Solver Profiles, Problem Solver: Maximizing Your Strengths To Make Better Decisions. Learn more by watching her Ted talk and visiting areamethod.com. Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here | |||
| Episode 101: Own Your Epic with Dr. Jay Dostal | 08 Oct 2023 | 00:53:48 | |
Dr. Jay Dostal has served as a high school principal in both Nebraska and Arkansas. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Nebraska at Kearney where he received endorsements in English and Physical Education. He holds a Masters and a Doctorate Degree in Educational Administration and Supervision from the University of Nebraska. In 2013, he was named the Nebraska Association of Student Councils Principal of the Year, in 2016 was named the Nebraska State Association of Secondary School Principals (NSASSP) Principal of the Year, and in 2021 was named the Arkansas Association of Secondary School Principals (AASSP) Principal of the Year. Dr. Dostal has presented at a variety of conferences on the topics of improving school culture, improving graduation rates, the value of career and technical education in today’s high schools, and leveraging the power of technology in school administration. His bride, Melanie, is a special education teacher and they have two children who remind them on a daily basis why the field of education is the noblest of professions with the greatest impact to change the world. Dr. Dostal’s passion in life is to listen and share stories that enable others to find relevance and purpose. His #OwnYourEpic hashtag on Twitter provides regular encouragement to others to tell their stories and be proud of the person they are and who they can become. He believes that we alone need to travel our own paths, but along the way, we will meet a number of characters that will fill out our life story. Connect with Jay on X (formerly Twitter) @jaydostal86 Check out Jay's blog: http://ownyourepic.blogspot.com/ Get Jay's book: #OwnYourEpic Get your autographed copy of Road to Awesome: The Journey of a Leader here at a special price of $20 (use code FOBA) Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here | |||
| Episode 100: Celebrating the Century Mark | 04 Oct 2023 | 00:35:22 | |
Get your autographed copy of Road to Awesome: The Journey of a Leader here at a special price of $20 (use code FOBA) Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here Equipment and Software for the aspiring podcaster: Blue Yeti stereo microphone - Amazon Knox Gear headphones - Amazon Microphone Boom Arm - Amazon StreamYard for episode recording (guests) Audacity free editing software Check out the Teach Better Podcast network as well
| |||
| Episode 99: Imparted Joy with Jillian DuBois | 01 Oct 2023 | 00:46:25 | |
Jillian DuBois is a redesigned educator who has been in the elementary classroom for over 20 years. She is currently a Professional Learning Specialist with Forward Edge/Edge•U. Jill is passionate about infusing joy in educational leadership by focusing on service and using her voice to foster hope by celebrating diversity. She is a published author and illustrator of several children's books with social-emotional learning messages. She is also the Chief Optimistic Originator of Imparted Joy LLC, in Clearwater, Florida. In this role, Jill guides others to spark their stories with heart and confidence. Jillian is a dynamic and inspiring leader who is committed to making a difference in the lives of children and educators. She is a role model for educators everywhere, and her work is helping to create a more joyful and hopeful world for all. Connect with Jillian: Facebook Twitter Instagram and LinkedIn or on her website Get your autographed copy of Road to Awesome: The Journey of a Leader here at a special price of $20 (use code FOBA) Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here | |||
| Episode 98: School Culture by Design with Phil Boyte | 24 Sep 2023 | 00:45:11 | |
Phil Boyte has traveled the continent for over 35 years working with educators in thousands of schools to transform school culture. He believes in the power of sharing our stories in order to build relationships and trust so everyone can say: I belong here, I am safe here, I can learn and grow here. He is the founder of Learning for Living and the creator of nationally known programs including, Link Crew, WEB, and Breaking Down the Walls. Phil authored the book, “School Culture By Design,” and is host of the "School Culture By Design" Podcast. Most recently, Phil launched People First Administrators Training. Connect with Phil on his website: https://www.learningforliving.com/phil-boyte Get your autographed copy of Road to Awesome: The Journey of a Leader here at a special price of $20 (use code FOBA) Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here | |||
| Episode 97: Beyond the Desk with Katie Powell | 17 Sep 2023 | 00:54:11 | |
This episode is sponsored by EverFi - check out there amazing, FREE resources for K-12 at https://everfi.com/edleaders Katie Powell is the Director for Middle Level Programs for AMLE and author of the books Boredom Busters and Frustration Busters. As part of her role with AMLE, Katie works closely with schools, districts, and affiliate organizations through the Successful Middle School book study, assessment, and Schools of Distinction programs as well as providing professional development and coaching on a variety of middle grades topics. Social Media: Twitter @beyond_the_desk Insta @teach_beyond_the_desk TikTok @teach_beyond_the_desk Email/contact info: kpowell@amle.org Get your autographed copy of Road to Awesome: The Journey of a Leader here or buy it on Amazon Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here | |||
| Episode 96: PBIS and the ABC's with Larry Carey | 10 Sep 2023 | 00:40:17 | |
Larry Carey is a Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports Coordinator in Columbus City Schools. Prior to this role, he was acting as a teacher on special assignment for the NEA Organizing Fellowship Academy. His journey began as a student in the Columbus City Schools. In 2014, after working as a Pre-Kindergarten instructional assistant and library aide, Mr. Carey enrolled back in college to obtain his teaching license to pursue his goal as an Early Childhood Educator. During the pandemic, Mr. Carey created a YouTube channel for those students who may not have had access to a computer but had access to a tablet or phone. He also began completing the final touches to his book Alliteration Boosts Communication: The ABCs of Vocabulary. After publishing his book, Mr. Carey created companion activities that align to the National Standards for fellow educators that range from Pre-Kindergarten to 8th grade. A vast number of the activities focus on letter recognition, sounds, colors, identifying what is occurring in the illustrations, and of course, vocabulary! For the higher grade levels, vocabulary and creating their own alliteration is key to mastery. These activities along with the book can be found on his website: www.larrycareyltd.com Here is the Parkmoor Elementary School PBIS video Catch Larry on Social Media: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn Get your autographed copy of Road to Awesome: The Journey of a Leader here or buy it on Amazon Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here | |||
| Episode 212: Strategic Planning with Dr. Frederick Buskey | 03 Jun 2025 | 01:04:13 | |
In this special joint episode of Leaning Into Leadership and The Assistant Principal Podcast, Dr. Darrin Peppard teams up with Dr. Frederick Buskey to explore how school leaders can take a more strategic, sustainable approach to planning for the year ahead. Together, they walk through a four-phase leadership cycle — Prepare, Perform, Refine, and Renew — with clear examples and strategies for turning vision into actionable leadership habits. From setting a focused instructional plan and building relational momentum to addressing systemic barriers and reflecting on growth, this episode is packed with practical tools leaders can use immediately. They also share insights into their new collaborative initiative, Middle Ground: Leadership Excellence Network, a cohort-based leadership experience in partnership with the North Carolina Middle Level Educators Association (NCMLE). This program is designed to provide wraparound support for middle school principals through coaching, workshops, and peer connection throughout the school year. Key Topics:
Resources & Links:
| |||
| Episode 95: Define YOUniversity with Lindsay Titus | 03 Sep 2023 | 00:38:22 | |
This episode is sponsored by EverFi -check out there amazing, FREE resources for K-12 at https://everfi.com/edleaders Lindsay Titus is a passionate, inspirational educator specializing in the field of behavior analysis. She is driven every single day to teach other educators how to transform connections and relationships with all students. Her ultimate goal as a behavior specialist is to inspire other educators to recognize that all students have a story to share. By owning our truth as educators, Lindsay believes that all educators can be the power of hope that so many of our students need. Over the past 15 years, Lindsay has worked as a classroom teacher and behavior specialist in public school, residential and private settings, and shares her passion for her profession through her own experiences to help guide, motivate and encourage other educators to use their own personal stories to create connections and relationships with others. As a board certified behavior analyst with a Master’s in Special Education, Lindsay works every day to share simple yet strategic tools and strategies with educators so they too can feel confident in who they are as educators, and strengthen the connections with their students every single day. Lindsay is an educator, whose passion drives her ability to coach educators on how to define themselves from their inner-authentic selves. By helping educators to redefine who they are, Lindsay helps to ignite the inner-spark we all hold as educators, and helps educators transform their lives by finding their authentic purpose and passion inside and outside of the classroom setting. Connect with Lindsay on Social Media: Facebook @Lindsay Titus Instagram @lindsaytitusedu Twitter: @ltitus828 Email lindsay.titus@gmail.com or go to her website www.defineyouniversity.com Get your autographed copy of Road to Awesome: The Journey of a Leader here or buy it on Amazon Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here | |||
| Episode 94: Upping Your Leadership Game with J Remo Kapuchuck | 27 Aug 2023 | 00:42:20 | |
This episode is sponsored by Peer Driven PD - Visit peerdrivenpd.com and request a quote. Tell them the Leaning into Leadership podcast sent you, and they’ll give you a free trial access so you can check out all of their content and decide for yourself and 10% off your first year’s subscription. J Remo Kapuchuck is a currently seated principal at Peak View Elementary in Rockingham County, VA. He has previously served as either an assistant principal or principal for the past 10 years. J has taught 1st, 3rd, 4th, grade at Jacox Elementary in Norfolk, VA. He taught 6th grade in at Peter Muhlenberg Middle School in Shenandoah County, VA, as well as having taught High School Special Education students as a School-to-work-instructional coordinator. Follow J on Social Media: Twitter: @PrincipalKap & Instagram @Principalkapuchuck Get your autographed copy of Road to Awesome: The Journey of a Leader here or buy it on Amazon Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here | |||
| Episode 93: School Leadership from A to Z with Bradley James Davies | 20 Aug 2023 | 00:45:58 | |
This episode is sponsored by EverFi -check out there amazing, FREE resources for K-12 at https://everfi.com/edleaders Celebrated school leader and former Oscar Mayer Wienermobile Driver, after a two-decade career in education that included teaching, coaching, and leading across all grade levels, Bradley James Davies fulfilled his long-held dream of writing a book. School Leadership from A to Z: How to Lead Well Without Losing Your Way is about the ups, downs, and all-arounds of school life and leadership. It’s lighthearted, heavy at times, and funny throughout. Its goal is to help educators thrive through the challenges and stresses of school life and leadership. Born and raised in Minnesota, Davies attended Stanford University where he served as junior class president and captained the men’s soccer team. Later, he was honored as a Lily Fellow at Duke Divinity School, where he graduated magna cum laude. He holds a Certificate in Leadership Coaching from Georgetown University and is the founder of Falkor, a leadership and life consultancy dedicated to helping clients live better, love better, and lead better. His current clients span all sectors, from technology and entertainment to government and education, and all levels of leadership, from rising stars to c-suite veterans. When not roaming the Earth as an author, speaker, coach, and photographer, Davies calls Colorado and Florida home. His big dream is to someday add to his family a therapy dog named Fred. You can connect with Davies via his website bradleyjamesdavies.com, on Instagram at bradley.james.davies, and via Facebook at Bradley James Davies. Get your autographed copy of Road to Awesome: The Journey of a Leader here or buy it on Amazon Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here | |||
| Episode 92: Empowering New Leaders: Answers to Your Burning Questions Featuring Darrin Peppard and Joshua Stamper | 16 Aug 2023 | 00:55:49 | |
This episode is sponsored by Peer Driven PD - Visit peerdrivenpd.com and request a quote. Tell them the Leaning into Leadership podcast sent you, and they’ll give you a free trial access so you can check out all of their content and decide for yourself and 10% off your first year’s subscription. On this special mid-week episode, Darrin teams up with Joshua Stamper of the Aspire to Lead podcast to answer your burning leadership questions heading into a new school year. Make sure you check out Joshua's podcast at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/aspire-to-lead/id1384210762 Get your autographed copy of Road to Awesome: The Journey of a Leader here or buy it on Amazon Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here | |||
| Episode 91: Great on Their Behalf with AJ Crabill | 06 Aug 2023 | 00:53:14 | |
This episode is sponsored by EverFi -check out there amazing, FREE resources for K-12 at https://everfi.com/edleaders Improving student outcomes is AJ Crabill’s focus. He serves as Conservator at DeSoto, Texas ISD. During his guidance, DeSoto improved from F ratings in academics, finance, and governance to B ratings. He’s also Faculty at Leadership Institute of Nevada and Director of Governance at the Council of the Great City Schools. He served as Deputy Commissioner at the Texas Education Agency and spearheaded reforms as board chair of Kansas City Public Schools that doubled the percentage of students who are literate and numerate. Crabill is a recipient of the Education Commission of the State's James Bryant Conant Award. Get AJ's new book: Great on Their Behalf Social Media
Get your autographed copy of Road to Awesome: The Journey of a Leader here or buy it on Amazon Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here | |||
| Episode 90: From Struggle to Strength with Kip Shubert | 30 Jul 2023 | 00:39:37 | |
Kip Shubert is an educator and coach who is driven to lead and love staff and students to believe and discover that they are the greatest miracle in the world. Having almost thirty years’ experience in education, Kip is sharing that secret sauce as an educator, coach, author, speaker, and as a podcast host of The Secret Sauce with Kip Shubert. Kip recently moved from Oklahoma to the mountains of Colorado where he now teaches and coaches for the Woodland Park School District. Kip has climbed mountains that once seemed impossible to him. He uses his experiences of being homeless, an alcoholic, losing custody of his daughter, and his wife’s diagnosis with an incurable blood cancer to share how he used adversity to find his advantage, his secret sauce. His WHY is to use those powerful stories, combined with building real, authentic relationships to reach back over the mountains he has climbed so that he can be that sherpa to guide and empower others. Kip is fierce in his belief that our school’s culture and success depends on us being all in and all together in cultivating connections that ensures all stakeholders are seen, heard and valued. Kip is a proud father of four great kids, three amazing grandchildren and blessed husband to his wife Cindy. He loves to be outdoors, hiking, and especially college football season and Italian food. He is excited to be joining the Road To Awesome family and is grateful that each day he “gets to” share that secret sauce and make a difference in the lives of staff and students. Get the book: https://kipshubert.com/book-struggle-to-strength/ Social Media: Facebook & LinkedIn: Kip Shubert Twitter & Instagram: SecretSauceEDU Podcast & YouTube: The Secret Sauce with Kip Shubert ____________________________ Get your autographed copy of Road to Awesome: The Journey of a Leader here or buy it on Amazon Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here | |||
| Episode 89: Brand Up with Stacey Ross Cohen | 23 Jul 2023 | 00:38:04 | |
This episode is sponsored by Peer Driven PD - Visit peerdrivenpd.com and request a quote. Tell them the Leaning into Leadership podcast sent you, and they’ll give you a free trial access so you can check out all of their content and decide for yourself and 10% off your first year’s subscription. Stacey Ross Cohen is an award-winning branding professional who earned her stripes on Madison Avenue and at major television networks before launching her own agency. Stacey specialized in “everything” branding. She is the CEO and founder of Co-Communications, a PR, Marketing and Design agency headquartered in New York. A Ted X speaker and staple at industry conferences, Stacey is a contributor at Huffington Post, Entrepreneur and has been featured in Forbes, Crain’s, and a suite of other national media. She has a B.S. from Syracuse University, an MBA from Fordham University, and a certificate in Entertainment from NYU Leonard Stern School of Business. Stacey’s book Brand Up: The Ultimate Playbook for College & Career Success (Post Hill Press/Simon & Schuster) released in April 2023, is a game changer for teens to stand out in our increasingly connected, cluttered, and competitive world. Link for Stacey's TedX Talk: https://youtu.be/97WKB4MGTrY Social Media links for Stacey Facebook: https://facebook.com/StaceyRossCohen LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/staceycohen2 Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/StaceyRossCohen Instagram: www.instagram.com/staceyrosscohen/ Email/contact info: scohen@cocommunications.com Get your autographed copy of Road to Awesome: The Journey of a Leader here or buy it on Amazon Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here | |||
| Episode 88: Clearing Out the Adult Problems with Beth Napleton | 16 Jul 2023 | 00:41:57 | |
This episode is sponsored by EverFi -check out there amazing, FREE resources for K-12 at https://everfi.com/edleaders Beth Napleton is an executive leadership coach, consultant and the owner and founder of Beth Napleton Consulting. She offers senior leaders in education and at mission-driven organizations a clear path to excellence through individual, executive and group coaching experiences. Additionally, she offers busy leaders a container and her expertise so they can expand their capacity in all areas. Beth leverages her extensive experience in education to work with senior leaders in education and mission-driven organizations to help them clear out the “adult problems” that get in the way of student success. Beth is a national award-winning teacher and has been in the education field for over 20 years, having trained over 1,800 teachers and leaders to success. She is an alumni of Columbia University, Building Excellent Schools, and Teach For America. Most recently, she served as Founder and CEO of a small charter school network on the South Side of Chicago that opened in 2013. All graduates of her schools – most of them first-generation students – were accepted to at least two four-year colleges, changing their paths forever. Beth took her leadership skills a step further and became a certified Clifton Gallup Strengths Coach so she can offer leaders the opportunity to lean into their own strengths and succeed. Beth completed the National Principal Supervisors Academy at Relay, and is a former member of the Far South Side Community Action Council. Beth has been a guest on The EJT Show and the Teacher Renewed: What's Possible in Education podcasts, and hosted her own podcast Live on Leadership with Beth Napleton. Get in touch with Beth: Website:www.bethnapleton.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bethnapletonconsulting/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beth.napleton/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethnapleton/ Take Beth's Leadership Quiz right here: https://bethnapleton.involve.me/leadershipquiz Here is a link to the Clifton Strengths Finder Get your autographed copy of Road to Awesome: The Journey of a Leader here or buy it on Amazon Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's... | |||
| Episode 87: Thriving Schools with Charle Peck | 12 Jul 2023 | 00:29:52 | |
Make sure you check out: the FREE Thriving School Community Educator Virtual Summit - register here https://www.thrivingschool.org/summit2023 Charle Peck is the co-creator of Thriving School Community, a revolutionary program designed for schools to improve mental health. With over 20 years of education and mental health leadership experience, she has the unique lens of both a certified teacher and a licensed clinical therapist specializing in trauma. Charle holds an MS in Education and an MS in Social Work. Her role as a high school teacher coupled with her work with children and families in crisis gives her incredible insight into solving youth mental health problems stemming from our schools. She is the co-author of Improving School Mental Health: The Thriving School Community Solution and a global keynote speaker delivering powerful messages of hope to educators. Connect with Charle: Twitter @CharlePeck or email: charle@thrivingschool.org Get your autographed copy of Road to Awesome: The Journey of a Leader here or buy it on Amazon Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here | |||
| Episode 86: Executive Branding with Dr. Benjamin Ritter | 09 Jul 2023 | 00:39:12 | |
This episode is sponsored by Peer Driven PD - Visit peerdrivenpd.com and request a quote. Tell them the Leaning into Leadership podcast sent you, and they’ll give you a free trial access so you can check out all of their content and decide for yourself and 10% off your first year’s subscription. Dr. Benjamin Ritter, founder of Live for Yourself Consulting, is a leadership and career coach, Talent Development Executive, values geek, international speaker, online course instructor, and podcaster (The Executive, and The Live for Yourself Revolution), who’s passionate about guiding leaders to be the leader of their own career and create a career they love. With over 11 years of experience working with clients from companies such as Amazon, Coursera, Doordash, Google, Fiserv, Northwestern, Pinterest, and Yelp, Ben understands how to navigate any career path you decide you want to travel. From empowering professionals to get unstuck, to guiding senior leadership on how to stand out from the competition, develop executive presence, and feel confident in being a leader, Ben is an expert in his field and will guide you toward truly living for yourself at work and in life. Ben received his Doctorate in Organizational Leadership with a focus on value congruence and job satisfaction and earned an MBA in entrepreneurial management, and an MPH in health policy administration. Catch up with Ben on Social Media: https://youtube.com/benjaminritter Go to Ben's website for this eBook: https://www.liveforyourselfconsulting.com/ Get your autographed copy of Road to Awesome: The Journey of a Leader here or buy it on Amazon Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here | |||
| Episode 211: Cracking the Code on Educator Retention with Nate Eklund | 01 Jun 2025 | 00:50:44 | |
What if the real cause of educator burnout isn’t a lack of resilience or self-care—but the workplace itself? In this powerful and thought-provoking episode, Darrin is joined by longtime friend and national thought leader Nathan Eklund, founder of Vital Network, to explore how schools can reimagine themselves as vibrant, sustainable workplaces for educators. With over 20 years in education, including a decade in the classroom and a career dedicated to improving adult work culture in schools, Nate brings deep insight into what truly moves the needle when it comes to retention, satisfaction, and sustainable leadership. This is not another episode about bubble baths and yoga. Nate and Darrin dive deep into systemic solutions—why burnout is often misunderstood, how leadership isolation contributes to turnover, and what schools and systems can do to create cultures where teachers and leaders actually want to stay. In this episode, you'll learn: ✅ Why burnout is a systems issue, not an individual weakness ✅ How workplace conditions—not perks—determine retention ✅ The power of rethinking daily routines like staff meetings to improve morale ✅ How to support multiple generations of educators under one roof ✅ The overlooked burnout crisis among principals and school leaders ✅ What it means to lead with the phrase: “I don’t know—what do you think?” ✅ How Vital Network partners with states and districts to make long-term, scalable change ✅ Why the best recruitment strategy is being a place people want to work One Big Takeaway: Listening isn’t soft leadership—it’s the strategic superpower of leaders who want to build trust, engagement, and longevity in their schools. Connect with Nate Eklund: 🌐 Website: vitalnetwork.com 📧 Email: nate@vitalnetwork.com 📘 Nate's book: How was your day at school? About the Show: Leaning Into Leadership is the podcast for school and district leaders who are ready to rise above the daily grind and lead with clarity, purpose, and impact. Hosted by Dr. Darrin Peppard—leadership coach, keynote speaker, and author of Road to Awesome—each episode brings practical strategies, authentic conversations, and powerful stories from education changemakers across the country. | |||
| Episode 85: Leading the Whole Teacher with Allyson Apsey | 02 Jul 2023 | 00:40:35 | |
This episode is sponsored by EverFi -check out there amazing, FREE resources for K-12 at https://everfi.com/edleaders Allyson Apsey has been an award-winning school leader for nearly 20 years, leading all levels from elementary to High School. She had the honor to help open a highly successful charter school, which included developing a secondary program designed around research-proven practices. Allyson next served as an elementary principal and district leadership coach. She was on the Executive Board of Directors for MEMSPA (Michigan Elementary and Middle School Principals Association) as the Professional Development Chair and is on the NAESP Editorial Advisory Board. Allyson is the best-selling author of several books—including Leading the Whole Teacher, The Path to Serendipity, and the picture book The Princes of Serendip, She loves working with passionate groups of educators to support them in taking care of the whole child and the whole educator by implementing research-proven practices. Allyson’s TEDx Talk can give you an insight into her passion. Connect with Allyson: AllysonApsey@gmail.com & https://allysonapsey.com Grab her new book: Lead with Collaboration Get your autographed copy of Road to Awesome: The Journey of a Leader here or buy it on Amazon Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here | |||
| Episode 84: Growing through PBL with Drew Perkins | 25 Jun 2023 | 00:48:31 | |
This episode is sponsored by Peer Driven PD - Visit peerdrivenpd.com and request a quote. Tell them the Leaning into Leadership podcast sent you, and they’ll give you a free trial access so you can check out all of their content and decide for yourself and 10% off your first year’s subscription. Drew Perkins: As TeachThought’s Director of Professional Development and co-host of the TeachThought Podcast Drew helps design and deliver workshops and learning both on-site and virtually as well as coordinating PD work with our team. A graduate of Michigan State University with a degree in Political Science in three years, he was decidedly against the idea of being a teacher. With a mother and grandmother both educators, a stint as a substitute teacher lured him back to earn a teaching certificate in secondary social studies. Thus began a journey that includes 15 years in the classroom and leadership in Michigan, California, Texas and most recently Kentucky and spanned middle and high school, Special Education to Advanced Placement and basketball and golf coaching. Formerly with the Buck Institute for Education and the Collaborative for Teaching and Learning he has designed and contributed to several PBL models, including the TeachThought PBL Model. Drew continues to deliver professional development and speak internationally. He has been light-heartedly referred to as a professional thought stretcher due to his emphasis on leading through inquiry and questioning. 5 Phases of PBL blog post: https://www.teachthought.com/project-based-learning/phases/ The Enduring Residue of PBL blog post: https://www.teachthought.com/education/benefits-of-project-based-learning/ Blog post Drew referenced the 2008 Housing Crisis: https://www.teachthought.com/education/push-teaching-vs-pull-teaching-thinking/ Get your autographed copy of Road to Awesome: The Journey of a Leader here or buy it on Amazon Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here | |||
| Episode 83: Teaching for Justice with Lindsay Lyons | 18 Jun 2023 | 00:49:49 | |
Lindsay Lyons is an educational justice coach who helps schools and districts co-create feminist, antiracist curricula that challenges, affirms, and inspires all students. A former NYC public school teacher, she holds a PhD in Leadership and Change, and is the founder of the blog and podcast, Time for Teachership. She believes the secret sauce of educational equity is student voice. Grab this amazing free resource from Lindsay Email Lindsay: hello@lindsaybethlyons.com Connect with Lindsay:
Get your autographed copy of Road to Awesome: The Journey of a Leader here or buy it on Amazon Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference contact us here Grab your copy of Darrin's FREE e-book Walk in Your Purpose Check out Darrin's blog for great leadership tips and ideas Sign up for the Road to Awesome email list and newsletter Have a book idea you'd like to submit to Road to Awesome? Click here | |||