Episodes

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 ...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

In this inspiring episode, Vicki Davis, veteran educator, edtech expert, and edublogger, joins me to explore the evolving world of educational technology and artificial intelligence in the classroom. Vicki shares how she teac...

Leadership isn’t about staying busy—it’s about making an impact. In this episode, Dr. Samuel Nix, author of 6 Steps to a Strong School Culture , shares how school leaders can shift their focus from activity to meaningful resu...

What if building a positive school culture didn’t have to be so traditional? In this week’s episode of Aspire to Lead , the amazing educator, speaker, consultant, and magician, Dr. David Rishe, shares his innovative strategie...

How can school leaders prepare for the challenges of tomorrow while making informed decisions today? In this episode of Aspire to Lead , Dr. Richard Bernato, author of Co-Creating the Future , shares groundbreaking insights o...

What if the key to student success lies in the environment we create? In this episode of Aspire to Lead , Dr. Layne Dillard shares how building a strong, student-centered learning environment is essential for growth. She intr...