Episodes

What happens when the very systems meant to support education begin driving great teachers out of the profession? In this episode of Aspire to Lead, Joshua Stamper sits down with Brad Gaynor to talk about the growing teacher ...

In this episode of Aspire to Lead, Joshua Stamper talks with Megan Diede about the power of connection, purposeful teaching, and the small instructional shifts that can create meaningful change in classrooms. Megan shares how...

In this special bonus episode of Aspire to Lead , Josh and Charle share exciting news about their upcoming book project, EQ Impact . They explore why emotional intelligence matters more than ever in schools, workplaces, famil...

What if the biggest instructional breakthrough came from starting in the right place? In this episode of Aspire to Lead, Joshua Stamper sits down with Gretchen Bridgers to talk about classroom instruction, teacher mentorship,...

What does it look like to lead with hope when life, leadership, and responsibility feel overwhelming? In this episode of Aspire to Lead, Joshua Stamper sits down with Dr. Brandi Kelly for a powerful conversation about resilie...

What if student success had less to do with talent and more to do with belief, access, and the way we design learning experiences? In this episode of Aspire to Lead, Joshua Stamper sits down with James O’Neal, Jr., founder of...

What does it really mean to lead a school rather than simply manage one? In this powerful conversation, Joshua Stamper sits down with Principal Baruti Kafele to explore the deeper work of school leadership, instructional coac...

How can professional development feel energizing instead of exhausting? In this bonus episode of Aspire to Lead, Joshua Stamper sits down with Kim Gameroz to talk about the upcoming Vibe EDU event on July 31st in Anaheim, Cal...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 ...

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...

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 ...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 ...

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...

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...

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...