Leaning into Leadership
We all want to see successes in both our personal and professional lives. Often, that requires strong leadership. In a time when leadership can be more challenging than ever, this podcast is dedicated to cultivating leaders by elevating the voices of leaders and promoting positivity. Join Dr. Darrin Peppard, lifelong educator and best-selling author, for this mixed platform podcast (some solo, some guest interview) for inspiration and insight, and some great leadership stories from those are living it, excelling at it, and celebrating it. Together, let's lean into leadership.
Recent Episodes
April 27, 2025
Episode 205: The Leadership Journey with Jimmy Casas
In this episode, I’m joined by Jimmy Casas —best-selling author, leadership coach, and former award-winning principal. Jimmy and I dive into his incredible journey from bar manager to one of the most recognized school leaders...
April 20, 2025
Episode 204: Principal Matters with William D. Parker
In this episode of Leaning Into Leadership , Dr. Darrin Peppard sits down with the brilliant William D. Parker—an award-winning former principal, author, speaker, and executive coach. Will is the founder of Principal Matters,...
April 17, 2025
Episode 203: So You Want to Be a Principal with Dominic, Todd, & Darrin
Mid-Month Edition with Todd Bloomer & Dominic Armano This month, the Three Amigos—Darrin Peppard, Todd Bloomer, and Dominic Armano—are back with an episode that dives headfirst into one of the most common questions they get: ...
April 13, 2025
Episode 202: Fired Up Leadership with Dr. Frank Rudnesky
Dr. Frank Rudnesky is a professional speaker, author, and educational leader known for his contagious energy and passion for leadership. He has penned several books, including Fired Up Leadership , Fired Up Student Leadership...
April 6, 2025
Episode 201: From Crisis to Proactive Leadership with Chris Dormer
On this episode of Leaning Into Leadership , Darrin welcomes Chris Dormer , Superintendent of Norristown Area School District in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Chris brings nearly three decades of educational experience fro...
March 30, 2025
Episode 200: The Power of Commitment
In this milestone 200th episode of the Leaning Into Leadership podcast, host Dr. Darrin Peppard reflects deeply on the theme of commitment. Darrin shares personal insights and impactful stories highlighting how his commitment...
March 23, 2025
Episode 199: Teachers Deserve It with Rae Hughart
Grab your copy of Culture First Classrooms: Leadership, Relationships, and Practices that Transform Schools from your favorite vendor: Amazon or Barnes & Noble or get your autographed copy here . In this episode, Darrin Peppa...
March 19, 2025
Episode 198: Encore Presentation of Untold Teaching Truths with Katie Kinder
In this special encore presentation, we revisit one of our most inspiring conversations with educator and author Katie Kinder . Katie is the celebrated author of Untold Teaching Truths, Hallway Leadership , and now co-author ...
March 16, 2025
Episode 197: AI, Education, and the Classroom Revolution with William Grube
Get Your Copy of Culture First Classrooms! Culture First Classrooms: Leadership, Relationships, and Practices that Transform Schools launches tomorrow, March 17! This book is packed with insights from educators across the cou...
March 9, 2025
Episode 196: Teacher Leadership That Transforms: A Conversation with David James
In this episode of Leaning Into Leadership , host Darrin Peppard welcomes back David James, a 7th-grade social studies teacher at Harold E. Winkler Middle School in Concord, North Carolina. Known for his leadership both in th...
March 2, 2025
Episode 195: Can I go to the bathroom and other asinine questions with Bobby Canosa-Carr
In this episode of Leaning Into Leadership , Darrin sits down with Bobby Canosa-Carr , a leadership coach, former principal, mindfulness teacher, and author of Can I Go to the Bathroom? and Other Asinine Questions We Ask in S...
Feb. 23, 2025
Episode 194: Leading Through Failure with Bradlee W. Skinner
In this powerful episode of Leaning Into Leadership , Dr. Darrin Peppard sits down with longtime friend and educational thought leader Bradlee W. Skinner to discuss the journey through failure, teacher retention, and the impo...
Feb. 19, 2025
Episode 193: Co-Authoring Culture First Classrooms, A Behind the Scenes Look with Katie Kinder
In this episode, returning guest Katie Kinder joins Dr. Darrin Peppard for a behind-the-scenes look at their upcoming book, Culture First Classrooms: Leadership, Relationships, and Practices that Transform Schools . They dive...
Feb. 16, 2025
Episode 192: The Making of Culture First Classrooms
In this solo episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on the journey of writing Culture First Classrooms: Leadership, Relationships, and Practices that Transform Schools , my upcoming book co-authored with Katie Kinder! We dive ...
Feb. 9, 2025
Episode 191: Empowering School Leaders with Dr. Kelly Hastings
📢 Connect with Dr. Darrin Peppard: Looking for leadership coaching, professional development, or support for your leadership team? Let’s connect! Reach out via my website at roadtoawesome.net or connect with me on LinkedIn , ...
Feb. 2, 2025
Episode 190: The Power of IOU Leadership with Dr. Joe Famularo
In this episode of Leaning Into Leadership , Dr. Darrin Peppard sits down with Dr. Joe Famularo , a veteran educator and superintendent, to explore his IOU Leadership framework. Dr. Famularo shares his journey from classroom ...
Jan. 26, 2025
Episode 189: Simplify, Prioritize, and Thrive with Barb Flowers
In this episode of the Leaning Into Leadership podcast, Dr. Darrin Peppard is joined by Barb Flowers, Principal of the U.S. Elementary Division at Eastwood Global and a certified life coach specializing in leadership developm...
Jan. 22, 2025
Episode 188: The Human Side of Leadership with Todd, Dominic, and Darrin
Welcome to episode 188 of the Leaning Into Leadership podcast! In this mid-month episode, Darrin is joined once again by his recurring guests, Todd Bloomer, a high school principal from San Antonio, TX, and Dominic Armano, an...
Jan. 19, 2025
Episode 187: The Viking Code with Anders Indset
Are you feeling overwhelmed and struggling to prioritize your time as a school leader? In this episode, I share some exciting news about my upcoming digital course, Take Control of Your Leadership: . This course is designed t...
Jan. 12, 2025
Episode 186: Becoming a Lighthouse Leader
In this episode of the Leaning Into Leadership podcast, we’re exploring the powerful metaphor of the lighthouse and how it relates to effective school leadership. Inspired by a visit to Martha’s Vineyard, host Darrin Peppard ...
Jan. 5, 2025
Episode 185: The Language of Behavior with Charle Peck and Joshua Stamper
In this insightful episode of Leaning Into Leadership , Dr. Darrin Peppard sits down with Charlie Peck and Joshua Stamper to discuss their upcoming book, The Language of Behavior , and the accompanying podcast. Together, they...
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