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
307
Nov. 1, 2026
Episode 307: Accountability Isn't Punishment - How Great Leaders Grow People
What do you do when a talented employee keeps making the same mistakes? How many conversations do you have before deciding it's time to move on? In this solo episode of Leaning Into Leadership, Dr. Darrin Peppard challenges the idea that employee accountability should be synonymous with punishment. Instead, he explores how leaders can use clarity, intentionality, and consistent feedback to help struggling employees grow while maintaining high expectations. Drawing from his experience as a scho
306
Oct. 25, 2026
Episode 306: When the School Calls, What Do Parents Expect? with Dr. Ted Huff
When a parent sees your school’s number on their phone, what do they expect to hear? That answer might tell you something important about the relationship you’ve built. In episode 306 of Leaning Into Leadership, Dr. Ted Huff joins Darrin for a conversation about moving family engagement beyond fundraising and building partnerships grounded in trust, listening, and shared hopes for students. Ted brings 31 years of experience as a teacher, assistant principal, and principal. He and Darrin first
305
Oct. 21, 2026
Episode 305: It’s the Start That Stops Most People
You know the work matters. You want to get into classrooms, address that difficult conversation, or revisit the priorities your team identified back in August. So what keeps getting in the way of beginning? In this special midweek episode of Leaning Into Leadership, Darrin Peppard shares a conversation with a principal during a coaching visit in Omaha, Nebraska. One observation—“It’s the start that stops most people”—becomes a challenge to examine the leadership work we keep putting off. The C
304
Oct. 18, 2026
Episode 304: The Leadership Riddle - Growing Without Losing Yourself with Dr. Christopher Jones
Being busy can feel like progress. Having answers can feel like confidence. Keeping your door open can feel like good leadership. But when was the last time you stopped to question whether those habits are helping you lead? Dr. Christopher Jones returns to Leaning Into Leadership after first joining the show in episode 42. A veteran high school principal, Chris brings honest stories and practical ideas from his new book, The Leadership Riddle: A Leader’s Guide to Growing Without Losing Yourself
303
Oct. 11, 2026
Episode 303: Facing the Storm - Leadership, Loss, and the Power to Overcome with Craig Woodall
What does it mean to face life's most difficult storms rather than run from them? And how do the challenges we experience personally shape the way we show up as leaders? In this powerful and deeply personal episode of Leaning Into Leadership, Darrin sits down with longtime friend, fellow University of Wyoming doctoral graduate, and retired high school principal Craig Woodall, author of Overcome. Craig spent 30 years in public education, including his final 12 years as principal of Rocky Mounta
302
Oct. 4, 2026
Episode 302: The Work Nobody Sees - A Thank You to School Principals
What happens when the person everyone turns to needs someone to turn to? October is National Principals Month, and Dr. Darrin Peppard is sharing one of his most personal leadership stories yet. During his years as a high school principal, Darrin once drove to the top of a mountain for one simple reason: he needed somewhere he could scream. It was a moment that reflected the emotional weight of leading a school, carrying confidential information, navigating difficult decisions, and supporting an
301
Sept. 27, 2026
Episode 301: Building Champion Teams - Connection Before Performance with Gaby Jordan
What separates a group of talented people from a truly great team? In Episode 301 of Leaning Into Leadership, Darrin sits down with executive coach and global educator Gaby Jordan to explore what it takes to build what she calls champion teams—teams grounded in connection, honesty, trust, and a shared commitment to something bigger than themselves. Gaby brings a unique perspective to leadership. After practicing law for 15 years in Midtown Manhattan, she transitioned into business, executive c
300
Sept. 23, 2026
Episode 300: Leadership Lessons From the People Who Helped Shape the Journey
Three hundred episodes. For this milestone edition of Leaning Into Leadership, I wanted to do something different. Instead of looking back by myself, I invited six incredible leaders—and people who have become an important part of my own journey—to join me for a conversation about leadership, growth, relationships, and the people who help us become better versions of ourselves. Joining me for Episode 300 are Jason Ryan, Katie Kinder, Todd Bloomer, Bentli Lewis, Josh Tovar, and Brandon Beck. Ev
299
Sept. 20, 2026
Episode 299: Too Damn Happy - Building More Joy Into the Work with Phil Januszewski
What if flourishing at work didn't require a massive life overhaul? In this episode of Leaning Into Leadership, Darrin welcomes back speaker, educator, and soon-to-be author Phil Januszewski for a high-energy conversation about happiness, relationships, and the small choices that can make demanding work more sustainable. After 20 years in the classroom, Phil stepped away from teaching to speak full time — or, as he puts it, he “quit my job to help other teachers not quit theirs.” His work now
298
Sept. 13, 2026
Episode 298: The Resistance Solution with Becca Silver
What if resistance isn’t something leaders need to overcome? In Episode 298 of the Leaning Into Leadership Podcast, Darrin sits down with Becca Silver, CEO and founder of The Whole Educator and author of The Resistance Solution, for a powerful conversation about what is really happening when educators push back against change. Becca challenges leaders to stop labeling people as “resistant” and instead recognize that resistance is an experience people move through. Rather than relying on compli
297
Sept. 6, 2026
Episode 297: Stop Accepting “That’s Just the Way It Is”
What happens when growth doesn’t solve your problems—but actually makes them bigger? In Episode 297 of Leaning Into Leadership, Dr. Darrin Peppard sits down with entrepreneur, Marine veteran, and business leader Ron Nussbaum for a conversation about entrepreneurship, problem solving, challenging the status quo, and what it really takes to build something that matters. Ron shares the story behind BuilderComs and the realization that changed the way he thought about growth: if you scale your org
296
Aug. 30, 2026
Episode 296: Beyond Compliance - Building Classrooms Where Students Want to Engage
What if the goal of great teaching isn’t getting students to comply, but creating the conditions where they genuinely want to engage? In this episode of Leaning Into Leadership, Dr. Darrin Peppard sits down with educator, school leader, author, and founder of Terry Leadership Group, Kendall Terry, for a conversation about what happens when schools stop focusing primarily on what teachers are doing and start paying closer attention to what students are actually learning. Kendall shares his expe
295
Aug. 23, 2026
Episode 295: Who Takes Care of the Leader? with Melissa Doman
Leadership comes with expectations. Be steady. Be available. Support your people. Make the difficult decisions. Carry the pressure. But what happens when the person everyone looks to for support needs support too? In this episode of Leaning Into Leadership, Darrin sits down with organizational psychologist, former therapist, and author Melissa Doman for an honest and practical conversation about leadership mental health, communication, emotional intelligence, and what sustainable leadership ac
294
Aug. 19, 2026
Episode 294: 5 Leadership Traps to Avoid as the School Year Begins
The beginning of a school year brings an energy that is hard to match. The building is ready, staff members are reconnecting, priorities have been established, and leaders walk into the year determined to lead with clarity and intentionality. Then the students arrive. Suddenly the emails pile up, meetings fill the calendar, parent concerns emerge, staffing challenges demand attention, and the urgent begins competing with what you said mattered most. In this special midweek episode of Leaning
293
Aug. 16, 2026
Episode 293: The Human Side of Leadership with Stacy Nation
Episode 293 of Leaning Into Leadership is a conversation about something every leader needs to understand: we lead humans, and humans bring their experiences, emotions, stress, and trauma with them to work. Darrin sits down with licensed clinical social worker, speaker, author, and military leader Stacy Nation to explore what trauma-informed—and ultimately trauma-restorative—leadership can look like in schools. Stacy challenges leaders to move beyond simply knowing that trauma exists and begin
292
Aug. 9, 2026
Episode 292: Why Not? A Leadership Mindset That Changes Everything
Sometimes the biggest opportunities in life begin with the smallest moments. For Bradlee Skinner, it started with a selfie at a Savannah Bananas game. That one interaction eventually led him from the classroom to becoming a plaza DJ for the Savannah Bananas and Texas Tailgators. But this conversation isn't really about baseball—it's about leadership, courage, relationships, and choosing to say "Why Not?" instead of asking "What If?" Joining Darrin are Bradlee and Melissa Skinner, two incredibl
291
Aug. 2, 2026
Episode 291: Live Your Passion Out Loud
As leaders prepare to welcome staff back for a new school year, many spend hours refining presentations, updating strategic plans, and perfecting opening-day messages. But what if the most powerful thing your staff needs isn't a polished speech—it's your passion? In this personal birthday episode, Dr. Darrin Peppard shares how a day spent Jeeping through Rocky Mountain National Park, Grand Lake, and the Colorado mountains reminded him of the importance of reconnecting with the things that make
290
July 26, 2026
Episode 290: Before Staff Returns
As another school year begins, principals across the country are busy preparing classrooms, finalizing schedules, reviewing procedures, and checking countless items off their opening-week to-do lists. But what if the most important preparation has nothing to do with the building? In this solo episode, Dr. Darrin Peppard challenges school leaders to stop asking, "Is the school ready?" and begin asking, "Am I ready?" Drawing from his own experiences as a principal, superintendent, and leadership
289
July 22, 2026
Episode 289: The Blind Spots Holding Leaders Back
Leadership growth isn't always about discovering a new strategy. More often, it's about becoming aware of something that has been true all along. In this solo episode, Dr. Darrin Peppard shares two defining leadership stories that changed the way he thinks about coaching, feedback, and personal growth. From a simple conversation with a superintendent that forever changed his communication style to a coaching experience that revealed the hidden system keeping a leader overwhelmed, this episode e
288
July 19, 2026
Episode 288: Building Belonging Through Microinclusions with Tom Walls
Relationships don't happen by accident. The strongest classrooms, teams, and organizations are built through intentional habits that communicate one simple message: You matter here. In Episode 288 of Leaning Into Leadership, Darrin sits down with veteran educator, football coach, and leadership speaker Tom Walls to discuss the power of what he calls microinclusions—small, repeatable actions that create belonging, trust, and buy-in without requiring hours of preparation. Drawing from more than 3
287
July 12, 2026
Episode 287: Becoming the BISON - Leading Classrooms with Intention with Kim Gameroz
What if one of the most powerful leadership lessons isn't found in the principal's office—but inside a classroom? In this episode, Dr. Darrin Peppard sits down with educator, author, and Teaching Inside Out founder Kim Gameroz to discuss why intentionality—not simply strategy—is what transforms classrooms, educators, and school culture. Kim shares the inspiration behind her book Becoming the BISON, explains why bison run into storms instead of away from them, and introduces her powerful framew
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