Lead with HOPE Podcast
Lead with Hope Podcast is dedicated to educators who need a little hope and inspiration! Brandi Kelly, Superintendent of Mt. Olive CUSD #5, is the host. Leading with hope is an intentional practice requiring self reflection and self awareness. Check out my website at leadwithhope.net . This bi weekly podcast will inspire and empower you to Lead with HOPE!
Recent Episodes
May 2, 2026
Episode 94 | The Self-Awareness Gap in Leadership (and How to Fix It)
Episode Summary You don’t need more leadership strategies... you need more self-awareness. In this episode, Brandi Kelly unpacks one of the most overlooked gaps in leadership today: the lack of understanding around how you ar...
April 25, 2026
Episode 93 | Turning Pain Into Purpose with Preston Zeller
In this powerful and deeply reflective conversation, Brandi Kelly sits down with Preston Zeller to explore how grief, creativity, and faith intersect to shape leadership and purpose. Preston shares his journey through the sud...
April 18, 2026
Episode 92 | How to Do a Quick Thought Audit (When Your Mind Starts Spiraling)
Have you ever had a moment where everything feels off—but you can’t explain why? Your energy shifts, your confidence dips, and suddenly you’re questioning yourself for no clear reason. In this episode, Brandi Kelly unpacks wh...
April 11, 2026
Episode 91| The Power of Touching Dreams with Andrea Bitner
In this inspiring episode of the Lead with Hope Podcast , we sit down with educator, author, and speaker Andrea Bittner to explore how hope-driven leadership transforms classrooms and lives. With over 20 years of experience s...
April 4, 2026
Episode 90 | Reset and Reclaim Your Power: A Guide to Overcoming Overwhelm | Lead with HOPE Podcast
Episode Summary Feeling overwhelmed or emotionally drained? In this solo episode of the Lead with HOPE Podcast , Brandi Kelly shares practical tools to help you manage stress, regulate emotions, set healthy boundaries, and re...
March 28, 2026
Episode 89 | Leadership & Identity: Anchored with Purpose
Summary In this episode of the Lead with Hope podcast, host Dr. Brandi Kelly is joined by Melissa Wilkinson, the founder of Anchored with Purpose . Melissa shares her powerful transition from leading a $28 million retail orga...
March 21, 2026
Episode 88 | Consistency, Not Perfection: The Resilient Leader's Rule for Never Missing Twice
In this powerful episode of Lead with H.O.P.E. , Brandi Kelly dives into one of the biggest barriers in leadership—perfectionism—and reframes it through the lens of resilience, faith, and forward momentum. Grounded in the mes...
March 14, 2026
Episode 87 | Grounded Leadership: Kristen Weikle on Courage, Culture, and Hope
Episode Summary In this episode of Lead with Hope , Dr. Kristen Weikle shares insights from her 30-year career in education, including her experiences as a teacher, principal, and superintendent. She reflects on the importanc...
March 7, 2026
Episode 86 | Spreading Sunshine with Kindness
What can a children’s book teach us about leadership, culture, and hope? In this episode, host Dr. Brandi Kelly shares the inspiration behind her new children’s book Spreading Sunshine with Kindness and explores the powerful ...
Feb. 28, 2026
Episod 85 | Building Trust in Leadership: A Conversation with Toby Travis
In this episode of Lead with Hope , Dr. Brandi Kelly sits down with educational leader Toby Travis to explore one essential truth: trust is the foundation of effective leadership in education . If you care about trust, leader...
Feb. 21, 2026
Episode 84 | How to Build Habits When You’re Overwhelmed: The Power of Micro-Actions
In this episode of the Lead with Hope Podcast , Dr. Brandi Kelly tackles one of the most common leadership and personal development struggles: how to build habits when you’re overwhelmed . If you’ve ever tried to start a new ...
Feb. 14, 2026
Episode 83 | From Trash Bags to HOPE with Rob Scheer
In this inspiring episode of Lead with H.O.P.E. , I sit down with Rob Scheer , founder of Comfort Cases , to discuss his incredible journey from a child in the foster care system to a successful businessman and social impact ...
Feb. 7, 2026
Episode 82 | Choosing Love: Why My Word for 2026 Is Love
In this episode of the Lead with H.O.P.E. podcast , host Dr. Brandi Kelly explores the profound impact of love and hope in leadership . As Valentine’s Day approaches, Brandi shares personal reflections and leadership insights...
Jan. 31, 2026
Episode 81 | Leading Students with HOPE: College Readiness, Scholarships & Purpose with Shellee Howard
In this episode of the Lead with HOPE Podcast , Dr. Brandi Kelly sits down with Shellee Howard , founder of College Ready , mother of four, and champion for student empowerment. Shellee shares how her personal journey navigat...
Jan. 24, 2026
Episode 80 | Stressed Leaders Stay in the Game: Burnout, Purpose and Thriving in Leadership
Are you a leader feeling the stress? Join us as we talk with Dan Stecken , a superintendent, former varsity head coach, and founder of the Stressed Leaders Retreat . Dan shares his unique approach to wellness and vulnerabilit...
Jan. 17, 2026
Episode 79 | Hope Over Hustle: The Keys to Sustainable Leadership
A special thank you to Craig Williams and Conversari for supporting this episode! Learn more about their work at https://www.conversaripress.com In this empowering episode of Lead with HOPE , we give you a sneak peek of the f...
Jan. 10, 2026
Episode 78 | Hope-Fueled Leadership with Dr. Lindsey Hall
🤝 Legacy Sponsor This episode of the Lead with Hope Podcast is proudly supported by our Legacy Sponsor, Conversari - https://www.conversaripress.com/ What happens when strong, capable leaders reach the end of what an unsust...
Jan. 3, 2026
Episode 77 | Burned Out as a Leader? I Didn’t Lose My Leadership in 2025 — I Found It
In this episode of the Lead with Hope podcast, Dr. Brandi Kelly discusses the challenges of leadership, particularly in the context of burnout and emotional exhaustion . She shares her personal journey of feeling depleted whi...
Dec. 31, 2025
🎙️ Episode 76 | Juggling the Job of Leadership with Dr. Robert Thornell
In this episode of Lead with H.O.P.E. , Brandi Kelly welcomes Dr. Robert Thornell, Ed.D. —a veteran educator, school leadership coach with The Center for Model Schools , and bestselling author of Inside the Principal’s Office...
Dec. 27, 2025
Episode 75 | Storytelling, Adversity, and HOPE with Craig Williams of Journey12
CEO of Journey12 —an organization dedicated to helping schools, especially in rural America, reclaim their narratives and strengthen community connections through authentic storytelling and strategic communication. Craig shar...
Dec. 24, 2025
Episode 74 | From Parapro to Teacher with Dr. Matthew Flippen
There are more than 1.2 million paraprofessionals working in schools across the United States—supporting instruction, building relationships with students, and keeping classrooms running every day. Many of them dream of becom...
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