A Holiday Collaboration with the Leaning Into Leadership Podcast

What's going on everybody? I hope this finds you strong and thriving and doing absolutely amazing. My name is Brian Martin. I'm a second grade teacher and host of the teaching champions podcast. And today we have an extra special episode for you is coming out on Christmas Eve. And it's a special one because I connected with my good friend, Dr. Darren Peppard. And if you don't know Dr. Darren pepper did, he's an awesome guy. He's the head of roadog. Awesome. He's an author, a publisher, speaker, a consultant. And he has this amazing podcast called leaning into leadership. And for this Christmas episode, we decided that we're going to join forces, we're going to do a little collaboration together and put out a joint episode. And in this, we just explore a bunch of different topics. And to be honest, my favorite part of this whole episode is at the end, where we talk about some of our favorite Christmas memories, and I get to hear about some of their and special Christmas traditions. Be sure to check out his podcast leaning in the leadership. This podcast is a proud member of the teach better Podcast Network better today, better tomorrow and the podcast to get you there. You can find out more at Teach better.com/podcast. Now let's get back to the episode. Now let's get into this episode. I hope you enjoyed this conversation as much as I did. All right. Welcome into the leaning into leadership podcast, and the teaching champions podcast. And we're super excited for this one because we're doing a joint collaboration for everyone today. Yeah, this is going to be a lot of fun, Brian, I really appreciate you being willing to do this. And you know, folks, let's let's just like, go right to it. And be real transparent about how this came about. So at the time of this recording, were a couple of weeks removed from my football team, the Denver Broncos. It's interesting that I can say that now like six weeks ago, I would like heartbeat a had a hard time claiming that. But now they've won five in a row including a win over Brian's Buffalo Bills. And we were texting during the game, right? And like, Hey, we should do something with the podcast. Yes, yeah, it was pretty awesome. We were watching the game and we're just watching the end. It was pretty ugly at first. And, you know, I said, while we were texting back and forth this game, no matter which way it turns out, it's going to be a crazy ending. And it was a crazy me. Oh, my goodness, it was absolutely a crazy ending. I mean, you missed a field goal. But the other team has 12 people on the field. I mean, come on. I mean, talk about a creative way to win a game or a creative way to lose the game, depending on depending on how you you look at it. And I think I told you this at the time, but I was in New York City. I had been working with one of my districts that I that I support in New Jersey and I drove back and stayed really close to LaGuardia because I was flying out the next day. And so that next day, of course, I'm wearing I'm wearing a Bronco jersey and add man there were a lot of bills, jerseys, including like five guys on my flight to Omaha. And, you know, I know they walked on the plane and saw that saw that Bronco Jersey, and we're like, man, but stung a little. It's all good, right? Yeah, it did. It did so. But that led to us saying, you know, hey, what if What if we get together and do something with the podcasts, both teaching champions podcast and the leaning into leadership podcast. And, you know, let's, let's do an episode that we record together and put them on both of our platforms. So you might be listening to this on the teaching champions podcast, which I will be doing because I listen to teach you champions every single week. Or you might be listening to leaning into leadership, and which I know Brian does. So what we're gonna do tonight, we're gonna we're gonna just throw some questions back and forth between the two of us things that we're just kind of curious about. Who knows where this conversation is gonna go because it's totally unscripted. And we've already started talking about football. We might even continue with football a little bit to never know. So, Brian, I'll throw it over to you to kind of get us rolling. Yeah, so the neat thing about this is that we've been friends and connected for a while, I think since the beginning of my podcast, and I've watched you flourish with the road toss on. And, you know, as I watch you, and see your brand and see everything that you're putting out there. It really made me want to think and it really made me want to ask, because as we were talking before we started taping the podcast. I only know, my school district. I only know what I've seen in the two schools that I've taught it. But now you're in a place where you're traveling around the country. You see so many amazing school districts, you talk to administrators and educators from all over. So it just makes me curious, like, what do you notice, like the great things that are happening out there that other schools are doing? Yeah, I think that's an awesome question. But before I answer that, though, I've got to go right at something you said. But you said before we were taping the podcast, and what's funny is there's no tape involved. Right? But But like, we continue to say that right, you know, you know, Hey, make sure you tape that show? Well, no, it's all done digitally. But it is pretty funny. Yeah. My brother in law, listen to an episode and he called me out on that it goes, you're really starting to show your age with the taping. Right? Well, well, you know, we were both basketball coaches. Right, you know, and so, you know, back at that point in time, you know, when you watch Game tape, it was actually tape, you know, now, that's just not not the case anymore. So, so what do I see? What do I see around the country? Man, I'll tell you what I see. I see a whole lot of educators who are still really working their tails off. You know, there's, there's a lot of connotation right now around education, that it's not a good place to be with that, you know, teachers are, they're just punching out the second the bell rings or beaten kids out of the parking lot. And, you know, I think there are some who maybe are, I guess, they're sharing that message, you know, because that's what they're doing, you know, whether that's on Tik Tok, or, you know, on Instagram or whatever, and I get that, and I don't begrudge people at all, I mean, I think, the work life balance, I hate that phrase, because balance is such a poor choice of words. But, I mean, I understand that, and I think it's important. And I know this youngest new generation of teachers, Katie kinder, would call them baby teachers. They, they value things a little bit differently. And I think that's wonderful. So that said, Man, there are educators all over this country who are working their tails off, and they still love kids, and they still love teaching, and they love learning. And I just I want to start with that, because I don't think we should overlook the fact that by far and away the bulk of teachers in the face of a teacher shortage and administrative shortage, you know, funding challenges, legislative overreach, parents that, you know, can be a little bit hyper involved, you know, a little outspoken in the face of all of that. They're still going hard, man, they really, really are. And, you know, what I'm starting to see, coming back. Are those conversations, those really deep conversations about student learning, about teaching about rigor, you know, I, I had, I had a conversation just in the last couple of days, one of my districts in Nevada that I worked with, or that I'm still working with rather one of the principals we were on a on a coaching call the other day, and he was talking about academic tenacity. And just, that's their that's their big thing right now is is getting their learner's to just be tenacious to just not give up too easy. And I think that's a big challenge a lot of people have right now, but just some of those types of conversations. You know, I know a lot of people are are faced with some behavioral challenges. A conversation I had just this morning, honestly with a with an assistant superintendent here in Nebraska, talking about this band of kids in that that third, fourth fifth grade range, so not far away from the age group you work with, with having, you know, I can't remember the the phrase she used for it, but, you know, being diagnosed with like intermittent explosive disorder, I'm almost positive that's what it is. And, you know, it's that, like sudden fits of rage and those types of things. All of those challenges. What's, what's amazing is P We'll continue to work, and kids are learning. And kids are happy in school and for the most part, teachers are happy in school. Is it perfect? No, but it never has man. Right. But I think, I think to the stem to the core of your question, and you kind of lead in with that, I remember if you said when the record button had been hit, or if it was before, but I know, the stuff I've learned, as, as an administrator, you know, as a superintendent, and now in this coaching and consulting and speaking role, man, I'll tell you what, there's some incredible, incredible things happening in classrooms that I know if I went back into a classroom now who, man, I wouldn't know where to begin, because I've seen so many great things. And it just, I mean, I could riff on this thing for hours, I think I'm already kind of rambling a little bit on your question. But I've seen a lot of really, really great things. And it just, it comes back to human beings doing everything they can, you know, to help little people be a little bit better little people, nine months from now. I love that. And I think that's so true, like, the passion. And it's just, you can reach a child in different ways. But you're you show up, you're passionate, you care about them. And like you said, I can walk down the hallway of my school. And I just see some amazing teachers and I sent out an email the other day, to the ladies were, were crushing it. And I think they just needed to be reminded of that. And sometimes, I'm, like you said sometimes in social media and other things, like it can have like a negative connotation. And sometimes inside the schools, it can feel a little bit negative. But if we walk down the hallway, and we're deliberate, and what we notice what we look for what we listen to, we're gonna pass, classrooms are going to pass students, and we're just going to see that joy inside those classrooms, we're gonna see that great teaching, we're gonna see teachers going above and beyond, and that that makes you feel good. And it's just a positive reminder of this beautiful profession and what people are doing inside of schools. Man, I love that so much. And, you know, that that honestly, just leads so perfectly into my first question for you. You know, obviously, uh, you know, you already talked about it, we, you know, we've been connected for a while we've been friends for a while, and one of the things that I just love so much about you, you know, you're you're such an optimistic person. But you also, having never been in your school, I'll say yet, having never been in your school. I'm certain that you are one of the big teacher leaders in that school. And, you know, I think that teacher leadership is such a key, you know, when working with schools around the country, those schools that are really performing at a high level, they're not reliant on just a principal, to lead or a leadership team of principal and assistant principals or an instructional coach or guidance counselor, it's a there's leadership from the teacher ranks, talk a little bit about your perception of teacher leadership, maybe some of the stuff you do as a teacher leader, and how that impacts the culture at your school. That, you know, I think teacher leadership is, it's crucial. Sometimes we talk about like, school culture, and obviously, the administrator, they played such a huge role in that. But I think it's lost on sometimes how big of a role each and every single one of the adults. And it's not just the teachers, it's every every individual within the school, how big of a role they play in that classroom, or that school culture. And I was thinking about Dr. Joe Sanfilippo. And one of his teachings that he's talked about over and over and over again, is, you know, recognize, acknowledge and extend. And it's something that I've really taken to heart and I really tried to do. So he says, you know, you walk down the hallways, and just like we were talking about just a second ago about noticing the good things that are happening, and they're happening all over. And then he says, So you notice the number one that puts me in a good mental state. And then he says, You acknowledge it, you go up to that person, let them know, Hey, you're crushing it. You know, I love what you're doing. And then he says, do go down the hallway. And this is the most important part. He says that you extend that you go into someone else's classroom. And if I saw you Darren down the hallway, just crushing it in this unbelievable lesson, I go into my next door neighbor's classroom. And I say, you should see what Darren is doing down there. He's just that lesson that he just did, what he just did for that student was absolutely amazing. And he says, what happens is, eventually, that person that I just told, is going to go and tell you about the amazing things that he's hearing about you. And what happens is just that domino factor that ripple effect, where, you know, it extends to everybody, so everybody's watching it and talking about each other in a positive way. So I guess, you know, I look at that, and my strong suit, there are ladies that know the curriculum back and forth, and they are just absolutely amazing. And they lead in that area, my, what I try and do is lead in, and that is the spreading of the great things that are happening. Um, you know, I try, I'm the only male educator, I've always been the only male educator in my buildings outside of like the phys ed teacher. And sometimes I've worked with some male administrators, but I've been the only male teacher. So I'm trying to embrace that, you know, because that kind of you stand out a little bit. So no, always talking to all the kids, the kindergarten students, they line up right in front of my classroom every morning. So every morning, I go out, and we do a countdown from 10 to zero. And, you know, kind of let the whole school now just with us, the bells rang and they walked by, and I give them high fives. And it's just no assemblies, I get up and I lead the school and in some cheers. And it's just trying to, you know, being the teacher leader that is trying to set the tone, and what I can do, you know, what's my shots, my strong suit is recognizing the good sharing the good, extending that good. So that, you know, that's, that's, I guess, my big piece that I hopefully bring to my building. I think the most important piece, there is your mindset, and you know, just looking for the positives, when when you're looking for something, you're going to find it whether you're looking for the positives, you're looking for the negatives, you know, or whatever the case may be. And I think that's, you know, definitely a strength that you have, and it's awesome that you're bringing that into your school and you know, you're so right to with, you know, anytime that that you're finding something positive, you're pointing it out, and then you know, carrying it down the hallway to somebody else. And I love that you know that you're quoting Joe Sanfilippo. Big shout out to Joe. He's such a such an amazing leader, such an amazing human being. And definitely a key piece there in the culture is making sure that not only that we're looking for it, but we're pointing it out. And then yeah, we're sharing it with somebody else. And man, you gotta go see what Brian's still in this is just so I love that so much, man. Great answer. Yeah, and I'm just I always want to share too, when you talk about teaching leadership, what I always try and tell other people is one of the biggest lessons that I learned was from you, my friend. And you know, you've talked about this, I don't want to steal your story too much about, you know, what are the two things, the two questions? You know, why is it always about what they're doing wrong? Why isn't it about what they're doing? Right? And I try, and I think that's so important, like, being a classroom teacher, and I'm sure administrators that you guys have an unbelievable job, so many fires that you put out. But if all I see in that student that's having a difficult time, is that difficult illness, or you know that that one thing that's wrong, that they do wrong, then it's going to be hard to make those connections. So that lesson from you, like, when I'm having, we're not seeing eye to eye, we're not on the same page with a student, I have to be cognizant of my own self, my own feelings, my own mindset, and step back. And I've done it so many times. So I thank you brother is just in my head. You know, what are the amazing things about that student because I have some so many amazing things. Yeah, and I love that, you know, it makes me think of a conversation that I had today with with a principal and a couple of his his lead teachers who their school is in a jail. And you know, here's, you know, they're down a couple of teachers, they have a hard time you know, kind of recruiting a little bit But listening to the three of them talk and tell their story of what it's like to work with incarcerated youth. And to hear things like, you know, you know, you're the first math teacher to actually just sit down and walk through a problem with me. You know, I mean, they have kids who want to learn, they have kids who want to do well, yes, they've made poor choices in their life. But that doesn't mean that they don't deserve another chance. And, you know, you talk about people who are looking for the good in others, man, these folks that are that are working in, you know, in, in institutions around the country, working with incarcerated youth, holy cow, man, shout out to them, because you talk about going with a mindset. I mean, you could go in with a mindset of, you know, while these kids, you know, they're broken, they're not going to graduate, they're this, they're that. Or you could remember, they're their little human beings who maybe made some poor choices. No questions asked, they've made some poor choices, but it doesn't mean that they don't still continue to deserve an opportunity. And yeah, that just that just made me think about that conversation today, man, it was a really powerful conversation. No, that sounds like an amazing conversation. And, you know, that's a tough job. But the power of belief like one person, those people going in and believing in those kids, you know, the effect that that can have on them in their future. Yeah, unreal. It's unreal. Man. It really is. This podcast is a proud member of the teach better Podcast Network better today, better tomorrow, and the podcast to get you there. You can find out more at Teach better.com/podcast. Now, let's get back to the episode. Awesome. So I got another question for you, my friend that, and this is something that I think is important, because, like resilience, and we just talked about, like, not every day is a good day, we got to learn how to handle the ups and downs. And you, you know, leaving, like the the school district that you are in to go on the consultant path. That's tough, especially, you know, the first year, there's always that growth curve, there's so much to learn the ups and downs. So what were some of the biggest lessons that you've taken away over the past? year, year and a half? What were some of the strategies that you use? Because there had to be some tough moments? So what were some of the strategies that you use to help you, you know, mindset wise, get through those tough days? And I love this question, I really do. And I would tell you that the number one lesson, and I continue to learn this lesson all the time, is patience, because it's something I'm not very good at. And, you know, in this in this work, so much of it is about well, that's relationships, and, you know, people don't, people don't typically form a relationship with somebody just out of the blue, you know, there, there needs to be something, you know, that that sparks the connection, you know, you and I connect through probably through Twitter, I think is how we got initially connected. And, you know, we had some things that were that were common. And so, in this line of work, you have to put yourself in a place where you can start to build those relationships, and social media is a tiny fraction of it. It's really, it's getting in front of people. You know, I tell people all the time people reach out to me quite frequently now and say, Hey, how do I get into the line of work that that you do, and, you know, nobody hires somebody to speak, if they don't know they're in the business to speak, you need to actually go do it. And, you know, that means sometimes, you know, budgeting and you know, we do it here here at RTA, you know, I'm budgeting for X number of conferences that I'll pay my own way. You know, yes, I'm gonna have some where I'm paid to be there as the keynote speaker or I'm paid to be there as a featured speaker, and you know, I'll do some breakout sessions or whatever the whatever the case may be. But I had to, I had to get in front of a lot of audiences. And, again, you know, the relationship piece is huge. You know, people want to work with people they know, right? People want to work with people they trust. And for me that first that first year, year and a half, it was one leaning on relationships or had not felt like you know, leaning on people like, hey, you need to hire me, not in any way, shape or form. The advice I tell people right now is just reach out to people that you know, and say, Hey, can I just share with you what I'm doing? Get your feedback, right? You know, I talked to hundreds of people in that first year or so. And it was, I just wanted to learn from them. What were they struggling with? What were their challenges? Because, you know, you kind of alluded to this, Brian, like, you know, you've been in the two buildings that you were in, I worked, I worked in a district and northwest Arizona, as a classroom teacher, I worked in a district in southwest Wyoming as a school level administrator, and then a district in the mountains in Colorado as a superintendent, those were my, those were my schema, right? So I knew what the challenges were where I was. But that doesn't mean that I know the challenges where you are in Western New York, or where, you know, somebody is in North Carolina, or, you know, in California, or fill in the blank, right? So I just really started leaning into those relationships, and just just talking to people, because this is something that I think a lot of people don't realize, in, in the line of work that I do now, the whole, the whole thing is all about solving problems, and helping other people solve problems. It's not about Ooh, hey, I want to talk about rode to awesome. I mean, I do. But the problem that we're solving there is when we have, you know, school culture, climate, classroom, culture and climate, that isn't where we want it to be. You know, it's, that that's a big piece of it. So definitely the patience, definitely, you know, learning the importance of the relationship thing. I mean, I've always been really good at networking and relationship building. So I think that benefited me. Everything to do with the back of the house, so everything about a business, I had to learn. And, you know, I've been really fortunate there. You know, as somebody who is a coach, as a, you know, a leadership coach, I believe strongly in coaching. So much so that I have a coach, I have a business coach, and I'm part of a Business Mastermind actually through through the teach better network, I'm part of the teach better MBA program. So they have actually two You're welcome. Vargas, this sounds like a commercial. But they they have two different programs, they have the MBA program for those who are full time in the business like I am, there's, I think, five or six of us, and then they have their edgy printer, which is really, for people kind of dealing, you know, like the side hustle thing, you know, they're still in the classroom are still an administrator, and also starting to do this work and having a coach has been just invaluable to me. And I also have a couple of mentors in the space. And, you know, so being willing to learn from, from others in the space guys like Tom Cody, Steve bowler, you know, they've been huge for me, just having the opportunity to just talk to them and learn from from them, you know, what, what, what do you do in this situation? Or how do you, you know, how do you get into this type of a space or, you know, what associations do I need to be a part of and, and that kind of stuff it the learning curve, it was a vertical line, man, it really was, and it's, it's not flattening out, but it's not a straight vertical line anymore. You know, we're, we're two and a half years into it. And, you know, I mean, the same thing is true with the book side of our business, you know, just learning so much of the ins and outs and, and there's, there are a lot of different opportunities out there for how you publish books. And so it's really like finding the one that's just the right fit for a specific book. You know, the system, you know, by which we take in new authors, you know, accept the proposals, all of that kind of stuff. It's it's been it's been a really interesting process. I don't even know if I answered your question, man. I think I just kind of oh, I just scrolled off into into never Neverland there. No, you crushed it, man. And what I love a couple things that I love. And I love listening to people that are doing other things like I you know, you have this business, where you talk about because I listen to a lot of business podcasts. And they talk about having that mastermind, where you can bounce ideas off of when they hear these great business leaders than they talk about, like having mentors that you can learn from because I think that's so important. being coached like, you know, we're both big sports guys. And if you listen someone like I think it was a story about Kevin Garnett, and he's goes up to Boston and Doc Rivers him and Doc Rivers meet up. And Kevin Garnett. You know, he's pretty intense guy. And he was all about to Doc Rivers. You You need to coach me. You know, here's an all NBA Hall of Famer saying I want to be coached. So these guys are making multimillion dollars are willing to be coached. And sometimes, you know, we get afraid, is educators sometimes we want those, when you the administrators pushed in when we get the dog and pony show out to show the best lesson, you know, I want know you got to feel comfortable with your administrator. But I want you to come in and I want you to coach me and tell me how I can do better. And then the last part is I love that you talked about is the relationship piece. And you're so good with the relationship piece and I was talking to Lenny Raoul last night mazing woman, check out her lady. Love lady. Well, yeah, evolving with gratitude. And I one of the things that I asked her I said, Hey, what is like one of the biggest lessons that you've learned from someone on the podcast. And she took it a little bit different direction, which she said, which I love. It's she said one of the people that she talked to said, to be interesting. You have to be interested, yeah, that you have to be a great listener. And I just think, for all of us, like if we worried more about listening, what we could truly learn from one another. So and that gets into the relationship piece, because everything we do at the school front home front, so about relationships 100% 100%. You know, I want to just expand a little bit on the coaching piece that you've talked about. I don't know, I have a feeling you've probably watched it, but I think it's on Netflix, the series quarterback, that that one season that they did, they had Patrick mahomes Kirk Cousins and Marcus Mariota. And one of the things that was first off is just a fascinating, fascinating series. But a guy like Patrick mahomes, who I mean, arguably the best player in the league right now. You know, I would argue for your boy, Josh Allen, my boy Josh Allen. But man, he's right there. Right. And, you know, you get to see things in that series, where it isn't just like what they're doing on the field. And the number of people coaching Patrick mahomes. It's not just that he has a quarterback coach and Andy Reid is his head coach. I mean, he is he has a strength and conditioning person, just for him. He hired him somebody he I think went to high school with and I mean, adjust, you know, like has this very specific routine and regimen and he's paying this coach and he's probably paying an insane amount of money to take on one client all throughout the year. And I mean, that's that's the kind of coaching people just don't realize how much goes into what those really true top level athletes. Michael Jordan is true of him. It's true of you mentioned Kevin Garnett is a great example. Kobe Bryant was that way. It's not just you know, yeah, I got my my head coach. It's so much more than that. So I don't know if he even saw that that show. But holy cow. It was incredible. Yeah, I love that. I haven't seen that one. I just love seeing that though. You know, because there's a whole team that we never see. But then investment to take yourself from good to great to that that top top top echelon. You don't you don't get there unless you outwork everybody, and you just have a team of people around you. Yeah, it's incredible. Yeah. Okay. So you asked me about something that I had learned in, in my new venture. So I got to ask you about something that you've learned. So you've been podcasting longer than I have. I'm when this drops, were somewhere in the I don't know, 115 120 episodes somewhere in that neighborhood. And you are double that. So in the time that you've been podcasting, and you can take this in any direction you want to go. So this could be about podcasting. It could be about teaching, it could be about whatever. Just share, share some things you've learned, because you were a podcaster. Yeah, so some things I've learned that there's some pretty amazing people out there, that if you like we're just talking about like if you take the time to sit down and listen. You can learn some great things if you take the time to reach out. It's amazing. How many people like and I learned this from a guy I used to coach basketball with because he would watch division one basketball programs and he would reach out to these programs and just ask them a question about like an inbounds play, or something about their offense. And it wasn't always like the head coach that would get back to him. It might be like one of the assistants, but they will get back to him. And I found that with, like, the teaching world, and that if you reach out to people, a lot of people really want to help you out. So, yeah, just that, um, you know, the people that you surround yourself with matter. And that's one beautiful thing about the podcasting world is that you connect, it's almost like a jolt of, you know, that dopamine that I get, after every conversation that you have you jump on. And it's like a blind date, almost, you know, a lot of these people you don't know. So you're connecting with them for the first time, you might have interacted with them on social media, but you jump on with them. And it's like, you sit down and have a cup of coffee, and you just riff and you talk, and I'm sitting there to learn. And then, you know, I guess another big lesson that I take that may be applicable for people who don't have a podcast is to cheer on others like that, that comparison trap, that if I compare my podcast to you, then I get caught up in the numbers, that if I cheer you on, and I look at my podcast, and Joe Rogan doesn't have anything to worry about, you know, isn't I'm not gonna overtake Joe Rogan. But yeah, my lead is safe, I'm not gonna catch Ed my lead anytime soon. So they don't, they can sleep well, tonight, knowing that very good. If we look at the process, like my reason for podcasting is to connect with awesome people and to learn. And I think, you know, if you really step back and honest with what you want out of something, that why. So I guess those are the big things. Yeah, I love that man. I, you know, typically when, when I have a guest on that I've never met before, we actually do like a zoom call. Weeks before, you know, or at least a week before we would do the show. Because I do want to at least, you know, not do the blind date thing. 100%. But But I think it's, it's always so interesting, you know, the people that you that you meet, and that you get to know and that you find just these interesting things you know about them. And, you know, I tell them quite frequently, because I like to kind of, you know, hey, here's, you know, kind of why the podcast exists, especially when it's, you know, I get a lot of the, you know, solicited Hey, have so and so on your podcast kind of thing, right? And, you know, I want to tell them, hey, here's the reason for the podcast. And when I first launched this podcast, the truth is, I wanted it to be, you know, about, you know, about great leadership. But I also wanted, you know, I mean, I had to increase the brand, right, I needed to increase that footprint that I have, and further established myself, I guess, as an expert in the leadership space. And while I think that has happened, man, what what really has happened is number one, I get to sharpen my saw every single conversation I have. I mean, you are so right, man, the people we get to interact with, it's incredible. But the other thing is, man, I just, I'm just like you. I mean, the that jolt of dopamine, when you when we finish this conversation, I mean, it's like running like, it's turbocharged right now, man, because this is a frickin awesome conversation. And so many of those, you just come away with it. Like, oh, my god, I can't wait until everybody gets to hear this. And I think that's why we get caught up on our numbers. It's like, well, no more people need to hear. Yeah, this is so good. And not what I said. But what my guests said it's so good. You know, so I like that you said that about about podcasting. I mean, it's, it's really cool. I wasn't sure where you would go, I could have pointed you in the direction like, you know, hey, what would you tell somebody who wants to podcast or, you know, what did you learn about yourself or whatever, but I love where you actually went with that. Because, again, it's it's back to the you know, it's a people business, right. It's about relationships. And that's one of the beautiful things I think about podcasting, man. It's it's pretty fantastic. Yeah, it's pretty awesome. All right. And the neat thing is when when we talked about cheering each other on, like, I know that we've connected like you got the Joshua stampers the Kyle hills, the Dr. Christopher Jones, the Laney Raul's that are all podcasters just phenomenal people And then everybody's out to help each other out, which is super cool too. Yeah, absolutely. I don't look at anybody's podcast as competition. I just look at his inspiration. Like, you know, and I mean, everybody you listed right there I listened to their shows I also listened to like you mentioned some business podcasts. I listen to business podcasts, I listen to marketing podcast, I listen to self help stuff. I mean, Ed, my lead, you know, Jon Acuff, all it takes a goal, like, I mean, I just nerd out on those. Scott Jeffrey Miller on leadership podcast, I mean, just on and on and on, man, that. And every one of them. It's like, I listen to how they lead into a guest or some of the things they asked him guest or actually caught myself. And this episode, when this one is live, this episode I'm going to talk about was has already been dropped. But I actually asked a guest, you know, hey, let's rewind a couple of decades, which is a Scott Jeffrey Miller thing from odd leadership. He says it every single time and I didn't plan on doing it. But it's like I stole from him like, Ah, no, again, he's not tuning in listening to my show. I don't think too often. So we're probably okay. Yeah, no, and I love that. And that's what I was thinking about. Like, when when you were talking about yourself and the mentors, like mentors, because I do the same thing that you do is I listened to us so many different podcasts from, you know, so many different categories. But I look at it as like I'm studying, like, not just the content of the guests to share. But how was that host? You know, having that conversation? What are certain things that he does hook in the audience? How does he ask questions? So, you know, that mentors, they don't have to be specifically aligned with us? You know, I can say, you know, Ed, my lat he's my mentor, because I'm listening to how he frames his podcasts or Jon Acuff, how does he because he's so amazing with his humor? How does he set up the humor inside his podcast? So I think that's awesome. 100%? Well, here's, yeah. Here's a question for your brother. Going in. The year is wrapping up. 2023 is wrapping up 2024. What is next on the agenda for ro Das? Who? Man? That's that's a great question. You know, it's interesting, you know, tying back to a previous question, you know, one of the things that that I've learned, I was never a huge fan of strategic planning, when I was a superintendent, when I was a when, as a building principal, but we've actually been working on our strategic plan here for the business. And that's been really important for us to be to be a little bit more focused on what we have, you know, coming up down the road and where we're going with some different things. I'll tell you that, you know, we've got some great books coming in 2024 from some incredible authors, people like, Coach Kurt Heinz will have his book coming soon. We've got a book coming from Jamie Brown, we've got a book coming from. Let's see Todd bloomer. We've got a book coming from Martin Silverman. Man, there's a handful others that are out there, JB gross, we've got a book coming from him. So a lot of exciting things in the book area. I'm working on another book, I'm actually working on two, I've got one out what the heck, I might as well go ahead and let the cat out of the bag. Kinder and I talked about it a couple episodes ago on my show, Katie kinder and I are writing a book together, we're going to be focusing on some stuff with classroom culture, and classroom management and some of those types of things. So certainly, that's, that's coming. I'm going to be all over the place speaking in 2024, which is, which is a lot of fun from, from Oregon to North Carolina, from from California to New York, man, I'm all over the place. So that's going to be a lot of fun. And, you know, I think it's at this point in time for us, it's just just continuing to do the work that we're doing. What has really, really taken off at rhodopseudomonas Not one that, that you see a lot of, you know, sharing on social media and stuff because it's it's the one on one coaching, it's the leadership team coaching, that has really become a big deal. And that honestly, that consumes probably 70% of my time right now, whether that's, you know, working with an individual superintendent or an individual principal or a leadership team at a school or a leadership team in an entire district, and I think we've got we're probably coaching about 3530 38 people right now. So I think that's just going to continue to grow in in 2024. And yeah, and we'll just keep rockin and rollin on the leading into leadership podcast, man, that's, that's what's that's what's going on here. So. So I've got one final question for you and, and then I know you're gonna ask me about books. So you and I both have a have a final question we asked people on our show so. So even though this is this is both shows, I'm still going to ask you when I ask everybody on leading into leadership like right now Brian, what are you doing to lean into leadership that you know what I just tried to get better to evolve. And we both talked about, you know, the ED, my lead show, and I think I heard this person on the Ed my lead show, I can't remember her name. But she had the acronym and she said hope. And she said hope stands for for her help one person every day. So I guess I heard that, I whipped out my phone and I wrote it down. And at the end of the day, I'll try and be a good teacher, I'll try and be a great teacher and get better. But if I can help one person every day, whether that's a student, or it's the colleague, because they need just as much help as we do, just because we're adults, doesn't mean that we shouldn't be there for one another. If I can help them out every single day, then when I hit the sack, and I can call it a good day. So I guess that's how I'm trying to lean into leadership, brother. Man, I love that. That's awesome. That is outstanding. I actually listened to that same episode. I remember that and, and what it stood out to me because we have another author who her book will probably be out in 2024, as well, Brandy Kelly, Dr. Brandy Kelly. And her book will be actually titled leading with hope, but hope stands for something different for Dr. Kelly. So that's gonna be pretty excited have to keep our eye out for that. That's right. Awesome. Now, one of my favorite questions on my podcast is, what is some book recommendations that you have? Man, that's that's just such a great question. You know, I've got a couple that I always go to with folks. And I think instead of maybe go in there, I'm gonna I'm gonna throw a couple out that are fairly recent for me, people that, you know, that I think really super highly of just had him on the show here very recently. Steve bowler, who I mentioned earlier, he's one of my mentors, but his book stamp tall leadership, I think is just an absolutely spectacular book. You know, Steve is, is one of those people who, you know, he tells it like it is but he's also a but he's, he's very humorous. He's very intelligent. He's very well spoken and his book. Just, I mean, it just absolutely hits it out of the park. I just absolutely love that book. That's one that that I'm a huge fan of. I'll throw a couple others that actually are row Dawson books, but they're they're also you know, absolutely spectacular books. I think you've had her on the show, Crystal Frommers book. The the book when calling or when calling parents is that your calling? Buddy? Every educator on the planet should have that book in their hand. It is man. It is the playbook for parent communication. I just think it's fantastic. And you know, just an awesome awesome uplifting book. Kip Schubert's book. struggle to strength is truly one of those unbelievable stories of perseverance, you know, with rising above, and staying focused on what really matters. Keeps incredible human being to you know, and so, those from a book perspective, I would tell you, there's there's three really good ones and I'll add this I haven't gotten it yet because it hasn't come out by the time this drops on Christmas Eve. That's right. Merry Christmas, everybody. I'm a huge Alex Cross fan. So James Patterson's newest Alex Cross is dropping this this month. And by the time this podcast is live, I will probably either be reading it or will have just finished it. That's fantastic. My dad's a big golf fan that has to so those are some great book recommendations. And I have to say like crystal, she was on the show. I had the chance to read her book. And that is a book that everybody needs to read. It's whether you're a first year teacher all the way up to so now you know your veteran teacher. So many great tips with an in that book and Kip spot, you know, I'm, we're trying to connect. I know, Kip is going to be eventually on the teaching champions podcast, I was prepping for it, and I read his book. And here's another thing about podcasting, that sometimes and we do this in life, we make up our we get a vision of who people are in our minds. But we don't truly appreciate them. And then, you know, I read Kipps book. And, you know, I thought it was a great guy before, but how honest and authentic and truthful he was in those pages, like, it just my, how I viewed him just skyrocketed. So those I definitely, it's an incredible book, man. You know, I get I get the opportunity to, you know, to see those books, you know, in their most raw form when they first come in to us. And obviously, you know, Jessica, our editor, my lovely wife, does an incredible job with those books. But you know, it's amazing with me, because I'll read a book five, six times before it, ultimately is released. And, you know, I'll just say this about Kipps book, there are three parts in that book. I could read it again tomorrow, and it probably be the eighth or 10th time I've read it, and I will cry and all three of those parts. I mean, they just, oh, man, it he's a great storyteller, but he's also an incredible human being. So yeah, thanks for saying that about about him. All right, so So Brian, you know, I was going to ask you about podcasts I was gonna ask you to tell me like, like your favorites, because you've already mentioned those. But look, man, here's the thing. This episode, we both know, this episode is going to go live on both of our, on both of our shows, on December 24. So you know what, let's, let's talk about the holidays a little bit like, like, I don't know, Brian, then you have like, a favorite. I don't know, maybe a holiday memory that stands out to you, or a favorite holiday movie or something that every time this time a year that just like, is your thing. Yeah, you know, the holidays, it's such a special time of the year, it's special, like, so I work in the primary level of those second graders, and just the energy. Now they were bringing the energy today to the classroom, but to see the joy in them in the excitement in them, um, know, a great memory just happened the other day. So, you know, I don't have any kids. So sometimes, even though I'm it the primary level, and I get to experience all of the joy, the winter recitals for my students, I don't get the other side of it. So beautiful memory that just happened the other day as we went to my nephew's winter concert. So it was about an hour and a half away. We drove up there at nighttime and, and it was pretty neat, because it was snowing a little bit. So it had that winter feel. And we just go into the auditorium. And it was a fourth grade through 12th grade concert. And just to be in there. Oh, wow. 12th grade. Wow. Yeah. So it's, it's a small school district. It's pretty, you know, we're rural Western New York. So it's a small district, but you just see, like, like the parents and the grandparents there. And there's something special like to feel that energy and to see the kids go up on the risers. And you just hear them sing. And it just kinda we get caught up in the daily stressors and all the the noise. But in that moment, when everybody turns that noise and that negativity in the stuff off, and you just look up at these kids, and everybody's just kind of locked in and just embracing that moment. So you know, I guess that the most recent memory it was a beautiful moment though, too. So how about what was a great linear memory for you? Oh, I love that so much. You know, I would tell you there are a couple you know, I'll go back to you know, as as a kid, you know, when it came time to decorate, you know, put up the Christmas tree and all that kind of stuff. As a as a really young kid. We had this big huge German stereo it's called a Telefunken mean it is a massive piece of furniture. And you know, it was not just a radio and all that kind of stuff but also you know it you know, was like a turntable you know, the old you know, record player right. And it has incredible standard had incredible sound and Uh, you know, I remember, just, you know, as a kid listening to, you know, different Christmas albums, you know, while we were, you know, trimming the tree might be my two sisters, my mom, my dad, you know, whether that was, you know, stuff from Bing Crosby or, you know, Elvis or whatever, you know, just just listening to that kind of stuff while we were trimming the tree and then, and then just sitting honestly my mom and I together you know, on Christmas Eve, we'd always watch White Christmas, and this year I get I will be at my mom and dad's on Christmas Eve. And we'll, we'll watch White Christmas. So that one just always stands out to me, you know, the interesting thing that that that German Telefunken no longer is functional, but it's actually sitting right behind me, it is a piece of furniture now here in my home. And, you know, we've long since taken the, you know, the radial guts and stuff out of it. But, I mean, they purchased it in the late 1960s in Germany. My dad was in the service, my sister and I both were born over there and, and so I mean, that thing carries a lot of memories with it with it to the second one, I'll tell you now this this kind of moves forward to my family, my wife, my daughter, us, you know, our tradition. Now when we, when we decorate for Christmas, and we did it, you know, here just just a week or so ago, we we started off by by watching National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, which I will, I will argue with anybody. I mean, I will like fight to the end to argue that that is the best Christmas movie of all time. And so yeah, we watch we watch white, or we watch, you know National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation and, you know, put up the Christmas decorations and that kind of stuff. Just love that stuff, man. It's, you know, it's, that's, that's what the holidays are about, right? Just Just being around family, you know, you talk about you know, going and watching your nephews Christmas program and, you know, us just, you know, having those traditions around, you know, decorating So yeah, that's, that's what it's all about, man. You know, this this show, we know, this shows going out on Christmas Eve day. So, you know, for everybody. It's, you know, certainly, you know, our wishes for Happy Holidays, no matter what holiday you're celebrating this time here. You know, definitely we, you know, want to wish everybody very happy holidays. Yes, we hope everyone out there just has a wonderful holidays. You embrace the moment, embrace that time with your loved ones. And we're thankful for all Yes. Absolutely. Well, Brian, I'm really thankful for you, man, this episode. Oh, my gosh, this was so much fun. I'm so glad we had the idea. Go back to, you know, texting during the Broncos and bills. And hopefully, you know, now when we were getting closer and closer to the playoffs, hopefully both of them or at least one of them still has a chance right to make the playoffs and we can enjoy some January football, right? Absolutely. And I love you know, I'm grateful for you, brother in any moment that I can spend a little time with you. Even if it's you know, witnessing 12 men on the football field. I'll take right on. Yeah, I hear you, man. Well, hey, this was a blast. Folks, thank you for joining joining us on whichever platform you're listening to. So I will say thank you for joining us here on the leading into leadership podcast and I'll say thank you for joining for all my listeners on the teaching champions podcast. Right on Happy holidays, everybody. Take care