Episodes
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...
Jan. 3, 2026
Aspire Mailbag: Communication, Culture, and Conflict in School Leadership
How do you lead staff who seem stuck in their ways, resist new ideas, and quietly shut out new colleagues? In this New Year episode of the Aspire Mailbag, Joshua Stamper and longtime co-host Jeff Gargas dig into anonymous lis...
Dec. 28, 2025
363. Teaching with the Seasons for Whole-Child: Featuring Walter McKenzie, Heather Lageman, and Leigh Alley
What if social-emotional learning, culture, and instruction could move in rhythm with the real seasons of a school year instead of feeling like “one more thing” on everyone’s plate? In this episode of Aspire to Lead, Walter M...
Dec. 21, 2025
362. Harnessing Cultural Mapping to Build Commitment: Featuring Dr. Ben Johnson and Bobby Dodd
What if you could actually see the hidden influencers on your campus and use those connections to move culture forward instead of fighting it? In this energizing Aspire to Lead episode, Joshua Stamper sits down with Dr. Ben ...
Dec. 13, 2025
361. You Don’t Have to Leave to Lead: Featuring Dr. Chris Jochum
What if the strongest leaders in your school are already in the classroom and do not need a new title to make a bigger impact? In this inspiring episode of Aspire to Lead, Joshua Stamper sits down with educator, author, and d...
Dec. 6, 2025
360. Time, Tools, and Tactics for Real Instructional Leadership: Featuring Dr. Joseph Jones and Dr. T.J. Vari
What if the difference between surviving the principalship and loving it again came down to how you spend 90 minutes of your day? In this energizing episode of Aspire to Lead, Joshua Stamper sits down with longtime collaborat...
Nov. 29, 2025
Inside-Out Transformation with Mental Health Cohorts Featuring Charle Peck
In this dynamic Aspire to Lead conversation, Charle Peck joins Joshua Stamper to reveal how a new cohort model is reshaping the way educators care for their mental health and support one another. Charle shares how districts a...
Nov. 23, 2025
358. Building a Leadership Life That Lasts: Featuring Evan Robb
What if the real secret to long term leadership is not endurance at all, but learning how not to lose yourself along the way? In this standout episode of Aspire to Lead, Principal Evan Robb returns with a candid and deeply hu...
Nov. 15, 2025
357. Building a Values-Driven Leadership Life: Featuring Dr. Sarah Johnson
In this transformative episode of Aspire to Lead, Dr. Sarah Johnson rejoins host Joshua Stamper for a masterclass in authentic leadership and personal growth. Together, they share candid stories about why every educator, no m...
Nov. 8, 2025
Aspire Mailbag: Trust, Control, and Checking our Ego
Leadership isn’t scripted...and neither is this conversation. In Episode 35 of Aspire Mailbag , Josh Stamper and Jeff Gargas tackle two listener questions that every leader has wrestled with (even if they won’t admit it): 💬 H...
Nov. 2, 2025
356. Turning Behavior Support into a Promise of Care: Featuring Tim Grivois
What if behavior support wasn’t a system to manage but a promise to keep? In this inspiring episode of Aspire to Lead , Joshua Stamper and guest Tim Grivois explore how leaders can transform traditional approaches to behavior...
Oct. 31, 2025
BONUS: Teach Better Talk on the Aspire to Lead Cohort
What happens when two longtime collaborators reunite to reimagine how we grow as leaders? In this uplifting episode of Aspire to Lead , Jeff Gargas joins Joshua Stamper to celebrate the return of authentic connection, collabo...
Oct. 25, 2025
355. The 4 Elements of Leadership: Featuring Tyler Comeau
What if the secret to great leadership was hidden in the elements that shape our world? Educator and author Tyler Comeau believes it is. From the frozen courts of the Northwest Territories to international stages, Tyler’s jou...
Oct. 17, 2025
354. Reigniting the Spark Within: Featuring Dr. Julie Schmidt Hasson
What keeps great leaders and teachers going when the work feels heavy and the energy starts to fade? In this heart-centered conversation, my amazing guest, Dr. Julie Schmidt Hasson, explores what it truly means to sustain pas...
Oct. 11, 2025
A New Path for Aspiring Leaders with Joshua Stamper and Kim Gameroz
In this special episode, Joshua Stamper welcomes Kim Gameroz to announce the launch of the Aspire to Lead Cohort. Discover how this exclusive program was designed to address the real challenges aspiring leaders face, and lear...
Oct. 5, 2025
352. Empowering the Next Generation of Girls: Featuring Jill Peterson and Mary Frances
In this inspiring episode of Aspire to Lead , Joshua Stamper is joined by Jill and Mary, the powerhouse co-founders of Girls Mentorship , an Arizona-based organization helping tween and teen girls unlock their confidence, bui...
Sept. 27, 2025
351. Leading with Relational Intelligence: Featuring Dr. Rachel Edoho-Eket
In this powerful episode of Aspire to Lead, Dr. Rachel Edoho-Eket, co-author of Relational Intelligence , joins me to explore how trust, empathy, and authentic connection transform school leadership. Together, we discuss how ...
Sept. 21, 2025
Finding Your Spark to Redefine Leadership: Featuring Danny Steele
In this inspiring episode of Aspire to Lead, I sit down with Danny Steele, veteran principal and author of The Instructional Leader in You . Together, we dive into what it truly takes to build a thriving school culture, stay ...
Sept. 19, 2025
BONUS: The Language of Behavior Strategies at the Thrive Conference
In this Bonus Episode, Joshua Stamper, co-author of The Language of Behavior, presents at the Thrive Virtual Conference and unpacks three powerful tenets that reshape how we respond to student behavior.
In this Thrive sessio...
Sept. 13, 2025
349. Creating a Drug-Free Future for Students: Featuring Jake White
What if drug prevention could be exciting, empowering, and led by students themselves? In this episode, Jake White, co-founder of Vive 18, shares his innovative approach to youth drug prevention and mental health awareness. F...
Sept. 6, 2025
Instructional Leadership That Transforms Learning: Featuring Valerie Arechiga
As a leader, what does instructional leadership look like in action? In this inspiring episode of Aspire to Lead, Valerie Arechiga shares her journey as an aspiring leader and her powerful insights on what instructional leade...
Aug. 30, 2025
347. The Guide to Creating a School Kids Deserve: Featuring Todd Nesloney
In this inspiring episode of Aspire to Lead , Todd Nesloney shares insights from his new online course, Culture Unleashed: Your Guide to Creating a School Kids Deserve . Together, we explore how school culture isn’t accidenta...