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
Sept. 21, 2025
Episode 236: Courage, Recovery, and Hope with Dr. Kacy Shahid & Dr. Kevin Lein
In this episode, Dr. Darrin Peppard is joined by Dr. Kacy Shahid and Dr. Kevin Lein , members of NASSP’s Principal Recovery Network . They share their personal journeys through tragedy, the lessons they’ve learned, and the ho...
Sept. 17, 2025
Episode 235: Cutting Through the Buzzwords and Bringing Clarity to Leadership Language
In this solo episode, Dr. Darrin Peppard dives into the leadership buzzwords we all hear — and probably use — without stopping to define. Words like collaboration, accountability, engagement, data-driven, and professional dev...
Sept. 14, 2025
Episode 234: Second Mile Leadership with Dr. Jason Williamson
Dr. Darrin Peppard sits down with Dr. Jason Williamson—speaker, author, and creator of the Second Mile Mentality —to explore how leaders move beyond minimum expectations and build cultures where presence becomes proof. From a...
Sept. 7, 2025
Episode 233: Racing the Future with Brad Waid - AI, Industry 4.0, and Leadership
In Episode 233 of the Leaning Into Leadership podcast, Dr. Darrin Peppard welcomes Brad Waid — award-winning Emerging Technology Leader, international keynote speaker, and global futurist. Brad shares insights from his forthc...
Aug. 31, 2025
Episode 232: Six Essential Elements of School Culture (and How Leaders Shape Them)
In this solo episode of Leaning Into Leadership , Dr. Darrin Peppard dives into the heartbeat of every great school: its culture. Drawing from personal experiences as a principal and superintendent, as well as insights from h...
Aug. 24, 2025
Episode 231: Building Trust and Leading with Courage - A Conversation with Dr. Jen Schwanke
This week on the Leaning Into Leadership podcast, I sit down with Dr. Jen Schwanke, a seasoned educator, author, and deputy superintendent with nearly three decades of experience. Together, we explore the history of public ed...
Aug. 17, 2025
Episode 230: Leading with Grace - Navigating Your Leadership Lifespan with Julia Bialeski
What if your approach to leadership could be defined by just six words: Be brave, and care about people ? Julia Bialeski has lived those words throughout her 20+ year career in public education, serving as a teacher, instruct...
Aug. 13, 2025
Episode 229: Start Strong, Stay Strong - 5 Intentional Leadership Moves for the Year
The energy of a new school year is electric — but how do you make sure it lasts past the first bell in August? In this solo episode, Dr. Darrin Peppard shares five intentional leadership moves to keep your momentum alive from...
Aug. 10, 2025
Episode 228: Strengthening PLCs with Clarity, Trust, and Purpose with Dr. Chad Dumas
In this episode of Leaning Into Leadership , Dr. Darrin Peppard sits down with Dr. Chad Dumas—PLC expert, consultant, and author of the new book The Teacher Team Leader Handbook . Together, they unpack what it takes to build ...
Aug. 3, 2025
Episode 227: Leadership Starts with Clarity: A Joint Episode with Joshua Stamper
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 27, 2025
Episode 226: Stressed Leaders Stay in the Game with Dan Stecken
Too many school leaders wear burnout like a badge of honor. Dan Stecken was one of them—until he hit a wall. In this episode, Dan, the Superintendent of Seneca Township High School in Illinois, joins Darrin to share his power...
July 20, 2025
Episode 225: Creating High Performing Leadership Teams with the AWESOME Framework
In this solo episode, Dr. Darrin Peppard shares the framework and mindset behind truly effective leadership teams. Drawing on his work from coast to coast, including a recent workshop at the Innovative Schools Summit in Nashv...
July 13, 2025
Episode 224: The Liminal Space with Dr. Chris Fuzie
In Episode 224 , Dr. Chris Fuzie joins Darrin for a fascinating conversation on behavior-based leadership and the concept of “liminal space”—the space where individuals lead and follow simultaneously. Drawing from his 28 year...
July 8, 2025
Episode 223 NASSP POY Series Finale: Shauna Haney and the Power of Purposeful Leadership
In episode 223, Darrin wraps up the special six-part NASSP Principal of the Year finalist series with an inspiring conversation with Shauna Haney , Principal of Ogden High School in Ogden, Utah. Shauna shares her journey from...
July 6, 2025
Episode 222: Culture, Systems, and the Power of Listening with Jeff Linden
In this episode of the Leaning Into Leadership podcast, Darrin sits down with fellow high school principal and podcast host Jeff Linden , Principal of Hastings High School in Nebraska. With a shared passion for culture and le...
July 1, 2025
Episode 221: The Power of Belief - Miguel Salazar’s Journey to Transformative Leadership (NASSP MS POY finalist)
In this powerful episode, Dr. Darrin Peppard sits down with Miguel Salazar , principal of Sundown Middle School and NASSP National Middle School Principal of the Year finalist. Miguel shares his deeply personal story—from gro...
June 29, 2025
Episode 220: Bridges, Belonging, and Buy-In with Joe LaTorre
In this episode of Leaning Into Leadership , Darrin sits down with Joe LaTorre, a middle school English teacher, team coordinator, and founder of the Bridges program in Long Island, NY. Joe shares how looping, relationship-bu...
June 26, 2025
Episode 219: Leading with Intention and Heart: A Conversation with Terita Walker (NASSP HS POY Finalist)
In this fourth installment of our special NASSP Principal of the Year series, Darrin sits down with Terita Walker , principal of Denver East High School and one of three finalists for NASSP’s 2025 National High School Princip...
June 24, 2025
Episode 218: What’s in Your Can? Leadership Lessons from Alaska with Sherilynn Boehlert (NASSP MS POY Finalist)
In this third episode of our NASSP National Principal of the Year Finalist series, we head to Ketchikan, Alaska, where Sherilynn Boehlert serves as the principal of Schoenbar Middle School. Sheri shares her inspiring leadersh...
June 22, 2025
Episode 217: Trust Based Observations with Craig Randall
Episode Summary: Teacher evaluation has long been a source of frustration—for both educators and administrators. In this episode of the Leaning Into Leadership podcast, I sit down with Craig Randall , the developer and author...
June 19, 2025
Episode 216: Culture, Collaboration, and Buffalo Chicken Dip: A Conversation with Tony Cattani (NASSP HS POY Finalist)
In this inspiring episode of Leaning Into Leadership , we continue our NASSP National Principal of the Year series with Tony Cattani, a finalist for the 2025–2026 National High School Principal of the Year. For 18 years, Tony...
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