Episodes
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...
Aug. 23, 2025
346. Racing the Future of Education: Featuring Brad Waid
In this forward-looking episode of Aspire to Lead, Brad Waid, international speaker and author of the upcoming book Racing the Future , joins me to explore how technology is reshaping classrooms and careers. From sparking dis...
Aug. 16, 2025
345. Nurturing the Emerging Teacher Leader: Featuring Dr. Kathy Perez and Dr. Margaret Coughlan
In this inspiring episode of Aspire to Lead , I’m joined by Dr. Kathy Perez and Margaret Coughlan, co-authors of The Emerging Teacher Leader: 6 Dynamic Practices to Nurture Professional Growth . Together, we explore the true ...
Aug. 10, 2025
344. Stressed Leader Strategies to Stay in the Game: Featuring Dr. Dan Stecken
Superintendent and author Dr. Dan Stecken joins me to share his personal journey through burnout and the inspiration behind his book Stressed Leaders: Stay in the Game . In this candid conversation, we discuss why leaders are...
Aug. 3, 2025
343. Leadership Starts with Clarity: A Joint Episode with Darrin Peppard
In this special joint episode of Leaning Into Leadership and Aspire to Lead , Darrin Peppard and Joshua Stamper team up once again for their annual back-to-school leadership conversation.
As educators and leaders gear up for...
July 26, 2025
BONUS: VIBE Edu – Why Most PD Falls Flat and What Educators Actually Need
Welcome to a special bonus episode of the VIBE Edu Podcast! In the very first episode of the VIBE Edu Podcast, Kim Gameroz, TJ Vari, Mitch Weathers, and myself, Joshua Stamper, sit down for a raw, honest roundtable discussion...
July 19, 2025
Improving Memory and Retrieval Processes: Featuring Mitch Weathers
In this powerful new installment of our monthly series, Mitch Weathers, creator of Organized Binder and author of Executive Functions for Every Classroom , returns to the mic for an energizing conversation that’s all about op...
July 12, 2025
342. From Survival Mode to Systemic Change: Featuring Dr. Casey Jakubowski
What if the answer to burnout wasn’t escape, but empowerment? In this transformative episode, Dr. Casey Jakubowski—educator, consultant, and founder of OK to Outstanding —joins me to unpack the real challenges and untapped po...
July 5, 2025
341. The Truth Behind Leadership Clarity and Collaboration: Featuring Casey Watts
What if the leadership phrases we rely on—like “clear is kind”—are actually holding us back? In this thought-provoking episode, Casey Watts, educational consultant and creator of the Clarity Cycle Framework, challenges conven...
June 30, 2025
Bonus: The Ruler Shortcut and the Cost of Convenience
In this short solo episode of Aspire to Lead, I share a lesson from the art room that turned into a leadership metaphor I never forgot. Every year, students tried to "hack" an art project using the width of a ruler instead of...
June 28, 2025
Tackling Cognitive Overload and Working Memory: Featuring Mitch Weathers
What if the key to classroom behavior isn’t discipline—but cognitive clarity? In this mind-shifting episode of Aspire to Lead , Mitch Weathers, author of Executive Functions for Every Classroom and creator of Organized Binder...
June 21, 2025
Leading Like a BISON: Featuring Kim Gameroz
What does it mean to lead like a BISON? In this energizing episode, Kim Gameroz joins me to talk about her new book Becoming the Bison , her powerful new podcast Unleashing the Bison , and the highly anticipated VIBE Edu even...
June 14, 2025
339. Reigniting Purpose and Passion in Education: Featuring CJ Reynolds
In this milestone episode of Aspire to Lead, we’re celebrating eight years of the podcast alongside the incredible CJ Reynolds, educator, speaker, and creator of Real Rap with Reynolds. As both of our platforms mark eight imp...
June 7, 2025
Aspire Mailbag: Leading with Intention and Impact to Celebrate and Strategize
In this end of the school year Aspire Mailbag episode, I’m joined by Jeff Gargas, COO of the Teach Better Team, as we answer listener-submitted questions on two key areas of school leadership—celebrating staff and building sy...
June 1, 2025
338. Constructing Culture That Connects: Featuring Josh Tovar
What if the key to transforming your school culture is as simple as celebration and storytelling? In this energetic episode of Aspire to Lead , Josh Tovar, veteran principal and host of the Para #Ganas Podcast , joins me to s...
May 25, 2025
Creating a Culture First Classroom: Featuring Katie Kinder and Darrin Peppard
What happens when educators put classroom culture at the center of everything they do? In this engaging episode, I sit down with authors Katie Kinder and Darrin Peppard to explore their bold new book, Culture First Classroom ...
May 17, 2025
Revolutionizing Collaboration in Schools Through Inclusion: Featuring Dr. Matthew Rhoads
In this forward-thinking episode of Aspire to Lead , Dr. Matthew Rhoads, author of Co-Teaching Evolved and Crush it from the Start , joins me to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping instructional coaching, co-teac...
May 11, 2025
The Power of Mattering and Meaningful Leadership with Angela Maiers
In this heart-centered episode of Aspire to Lead , I’m joined by globally recognized speaker, educator, and author Angela Maiers to explore the movement that changed everything—#YouMatter. Angela shares the powerful story beh...
May 4, 2025
Navigating Education Policy and Global Leadership with Kyle Morin
In this week’s episode, Kyle Morin shares the journey that took him from substitute teaching in Colorado to leading a charter school through the pandemic and now shaping education policy with a practitioner’s lens. Kyle refle...
April 28, 2025
333. Building Inclusive Classrooms for All Learners: Featuring Toby Karten
In this inspiring episode of Aspire to Lead, I’m joined by renowned inclusion expert Toby Karten to explore the heart of inclusive education through her ADMIRE Inclusion Framework. Together, we dismantle common misconceptions...
April 20, 2025
332. Reigniting Learning with Competency-Based Education: Featuring Richard DeLorenzo, Roxy Mourant & Jessica Enderson
What if the traditional education system isn’t broken—but outdated? In this compelling episode of Aspire to Lead , I’m joined by Richard DeLorenzo, founder of the Re-Inventing Schools Coalition, Roxy Mourant, CEO of CBE Ignit...
April 13, 2025
331. The Teacher Team Leader Handbook: Featuring Chad Dumas
In this energizing episode of Aspire to Lead , Chad Dumas, award-winning researcher and author of The Teacher Team Leader Handbook, joins the conversation to break down what it truly means to lead within a professional learni...