Aspire to Lead
Joshua Stamper provides an opportunity to learn from some of the most experienced and accomplished educational leaders. As we grow in our leadership skills, it’s imperative to learn from other leader’s successes, trials and misconceptions. Join us each week as my guests provide valuable stories, resources, and advice to enhance your leadership journey.
Recent Episodes
April 26, 2026
The School Leader’s Playbook for Tough Conversations with Erica Bear and Tiffany Burns
What does it take to have a tough conversation that is both clear and compassionate? In this episode of Aspire to Lead, Joshua Stamper sits down with Erica Bear and Tiffany Burns to discuss their new book, The School Leader’s...
April 18, 2026
377. Boredom, Frustration, and Task Avoidance Busters: Featuring Katie Powell
What happens when students are not just disengaged, but quietly deciding school is too hard, too boring, or too risky to try? In this episode of Aspire to Lead, Joshua Stamper sits down with Katie Powell, Director of Middle L...
April 17, 2026
NCMLE Bonus: Connection, Anxiety, & Student Engagement with Charlie Peck, Gretchen Bridgers, and Vernon Wright
Recorded live at NCMLE, Joshua Stamper sits down with Charlie Peck, Gretchen Bridgers, and Vernon Wright to talk about their presentations, their current projects, and the power of connection at a conference built on learning...
April 11, 2026
376. Unlocking Social Emotional Learning with Hip Hop: Featuring David Spellmon
What if the key to unlocking social emotional learning for your students has been playing in their earbuds all along? In this episode of Aspire to Lead, Joshua Stamper sits down with David Spellman, also known as the Positive...
April 9, 2026
NCMLE Bonus: The Motivation Equation & Leading with Hope with Frederick Buskey and Dr. Brandi Kelly
Recorded live at the NCMLE Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina, Joshua sits down on the conference floor with two dynamic educational leaders, speakers, and authors, Frederick Buskey and Dr. Brandi Kelly.Frederick share...
April 6, 2026
375. Executive Functions for Every K–3 Classroom: Featuring Sarah Oberle & Mitch Weathers
What if the reason so many young students struggle in the classroom has nothing to do with behavior, laziness, or defiance, and everything to do with emerging executive functions that have simply not been taught yet? In this ...
April 3, 2026
NCMLE Bonus: Sustainable Leadership, Perseverance, and Motivation with Katie Powell, Ronnel Blackmon, & Charles Williams
What does it take to truly engage a middle schooler, build a classroom where every student feels like they belong, and sustain yourself as a leader for the long haul? In this second bonus episode recorded live at the NCMLE Mo...
March 28, 2026
374. Teaching in Color: Featuring Brandon Jenkins
What does it look like when a third grade STEM teacher from Houston uses comedy, creativity, and storytelling to pull back the curtain on the real life of an educator and build a community that refuses to feel alone? In this ...
March 26, 2026
NCMLE Bonus: Resilience, AI, and Community with Julie Hasson, Brad Waid, and David James
What does it look and feel like to be surrounded by 400 passionate middle level educators for three days straight? In this first bonus episode recorded live at the NCMLE Moving the Middle Forward Conference in Charlotte, Nort...
March 21, 2026
373. Why Emotional Intelligence Is the Missing Link in Teacher Retention: Featuring Katrina Huels
What if the burnout crisis in education is not just a workload problem but a skills gap? In this episode of Aspire to Lead, Joshua Stamper sits down with Corwin author and educator Katrina Huels to unpack why 54% of K through...
March 15, 2026
372. It Is Not Procrastination, It Is Executive Function: Featuring Carrie Bonnett
Why do some students sit and do “nothing” when we give them plenty of time to work, and why does “just get to work” rarely change anything? In this episode of Aspire to Lead, Joshua Stamper talks with executive function coach...
March 7, 2026
371. Lead Where Your Feet Are: Featuring David James
What happens when a former assistant principal chooses to return to the middle school classroom and discovers a deeper, wider form of leadership than the front office ever offered? In this episode of Aspire to Lead, Joshua St...
Feb. 28, 2026
370. For the Educators Who are Exhausted and Overextended: Featuring Kim Gameroz
Educators are exhausted, overextended, and still trying to show up fully for kids. So what does it actually look like to build a sustainable life and career in schools instead of just surviving the year? In this episode of ...
Feb. 21, 2026
Aspire Mailbag: EQ Over Ego & Navigating School Politics
Aspiring leaders asked: How do you lead with emotional intelligence (EQ) instead of ego, and navigate school politics without getting burned? In this bonus Aspire Mailbag with Jeff Gargas (COO, Teach Better), Joshua Stamper d...
Feb. 12, 2026
269. The Science of School Discipline: Featuring Nathan Maynard
What happens when discipline shifts from punishment to teaching? In this important conversation, Joshua Stamper and Nathan Maynard unpack the ideas behind Nathan’s new book The Science of Discipline , exploring how schools ca...
Feb. 8, 2026
368. Every Child Deserves a Team: Featuring Kurtis Hewson
How can schools ensure every student benefits from collective expertise without overwhelming teachers with endless meetings? In this episode of Aspire to Lead, Joshua Stamper talks with Kurtis Hewson, co author of Collaborati...
Jan. 31, 2026
367. The Science of Kindness and Belonging: Featuring Dr. Christopher Culver
What happens when we decide to be present, patient, and kind in the middle of one of the hardest stretches of the school year? In this week's episode of Aspire to Lead, Joshua Stamper welcomes back Dr. Christopher Culver to e...
Jan. 29, 2026
BONUS: Leading Well at Every Level with Mitch Weathers, TJ Vari and Joshua Stamper
This bonus Aspire to Lead episode brings you a featured segment from the Thriving Educators Summit, where Mitch Weathers facilitates a fast paced conversation with TJ Vari and Joshua Stamper about what it truly means to lead ...
Jan. 24, 2026
366. Designing Routines for Executive Function Growth: Featuring Sarah Oberle
What if students’ “attention problems” were really a mismatch between how the brain works and how we structure learning? In this episode of Aspire to Lead, Joshua Stamper talks with first grade teacher, cognitive science scho...
Jan. 18, 2026
365. Establishing Your Leadership Identity and Experience: Featuring Brad Hughes
What if the strongest leaders in your school are already in classrooms, waiting for permission to step up? In this week's episode of Aspire to Lead, Joshua Stamper reconnects with longtime friend and former Teach Better teamm...
Jan. 10, 2026
364. From Surviving to Flourishing Together: Featuring Mitch Weathers and Kim Gameroz
In this special conversation on Aspire to Lead, Joshua Stamper, Kim Gameroz, and Mitch Weathers share everything you need to know about the Thriving Educators Summit 2026 and how it was born from a desire to help teachers mov...
Join the Email List
Listen On
Related Shows
Leaning into Leadership
Visit Page
Modern Math Teacher
Visit PageAspire to Lead
Visit Page
Time for Teachership
Visit Page
Schurtz and Ties: A podcast about education and culture
Visit Page
Catching Up with Casey
Visit Page
Unapologetic Leadership
Visit Page
Limitless Leadership Lounge
Visit Page
Lead with HOPE Podcast
Visit Page
The Happy Music Teacher
Visit Page
Teaching Champions
Visit Page
Educational Leadership with Principal JL
Visit Page
Teach Happier! Small shifts. Big gifts.
Visit Page
The Jeff Bradbury Show
Visit Page
The Language of Behavior
Visit Page
Unlocking Unlimited Potential Stories
Visit Page
In AWE Podcast
Visit Page
The Ed Essentials Podcast
Visit Page
Science 360
Visit Page
Moments of ImpartED Joy
Visit Page
Learner-Centered Spaces
Visit Page
Leading Collaborative Response
Visit Page
Digital Learning Today: Where Productivity Meets Innovation in the Classroom.
Visit Page
Building a Culture of Collaboration
Visit Page
Leader of Learning
Visit Page
Making the Grade Podcast
Visit Page
EduMagic: Future Teacher Podcast
Visit Page
The Shut Up and Teach Podcast
Visit Page
The Reading Teacher's Playbook with Eva Mireles
Visit Page
The Secret Sauce with Kip Shubert
Visit Page
powerED Up
Visit Page
The Pixel Classroom Podcast
Visit Page
Ask The Tech Coach
Visit Page
plAI Around and Find Out!
Visit Page
Teach Better Talk
Visit Page
Design Cast
Visit Page