Episodes

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 ...

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 ...

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...

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 ...

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...

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...

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...

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...

Leadership isn’t just about the impact you create today. It’s about the leaders you prepare for tomorrow. In this annual shared episode, Dr. Darrin Peppard sits down with fellow leadership coach, author, and podcast host Joshua Stamper for a powerful conversation about one of the most important responsibilities of leadership: developing the next generation of leaders. Darrin and Joshua begin by reflecting on transitions, stress, and the reality every leader faces — even the best plans encounter...

What does effective school leadership look like in a rapidly changing world? In this episode of Leaning Into Leadership, Darrin Peppard sits down with Debra Wilson, President of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), for a thoughtful conversation about leadership, organizational alignment, AI, demographic shifts, and the future of education. Drawing on more than two decades of experience supporting school leaders, Debra shares why today's educational challenges require leaders...

What does it take to build a leadership team that truly works? In this episode of Leaning Into Leadership, Dr. Darrin Peppard sits down with Marlene Rombach, Rocio Rhoads, and Christina Shires—the leadership team at Locust Grove Middle School in Locust Grove, Virginia—to reflect on their first year leading together. With a first-year principal, a first-year assistant principal, and an assistant principal stepping into a significantly expanded role, this team faced enormous challenges from day ...

What if leadership isn't about carrying more? What if the true responsibility of a leader isn't solving every problem but intentionally creating the conditions where other people can do their best work? In this special solo episode of Leaning Into Leadership, Dr. Darrin Peppard reflects on a week of leadership coaching, keynote speaking, and executive development that led him to articulate a philosophy that has quietly guided his work for years. Building on the response to his recent blog, I ...

Landing your first leadership position is exciting...until reality sets in. The meetings, the emails, the difficult conversations, the angry parents, and the constant interruptions can quickly pull new administrators away from the work they were most excited to do: leading people and supporting learning. In this episode of Leaning Into Leadership, Dr. Darrin Peppard is joined by Erika Bare and Tiffany Burns, experienced school leaders and co-authors, for a practical conversation about survivin...

Dr. Chris Culver returns to Leaning Into Leadership for a powerful follow-up conversation centered around his new book, Be the Light: The Science of Kindness and the Power of Belonging. If you enjoyed Chris's first appearance on Episode 214: The Science of Kindness, you're going to love where this conversation goes next. While Episode 214 explored the research behind kindness, this discussion takes a deeper look at how belonging, empathy, neuroscience, and intentional leadership can transform t...

What does leadership look like when the world is changing faster than ever before? In this episode of the Leaning Into Leadership podcast, Dr. Darrin Peppard sits down with Molly Rosen, Co-CEO of ProjectNext Leadership, for a powerful conversation about leadership transitions, succession development, organizational agility, and the growing impact of AI on leadership and workplace culture. Molly works with leaders across industries including tech, biotech, and entertainment, helping organizatio...

In this episode, Darrin sits down with leadership coach and new author Jo Lein to explore what really drives change in people and organizations—and why most coaching efforts fall short when they focus only on skills. Jo introduces the concept of Disruptive Mindset Coaching, challenging leaders to move beyond surface-level fixes and address the beliefs that shape behavior. Topics Covered: The difference between skill gaps and belief barriers Why people aren’t “uncoachable”—they’re often opera...

What happens when strong leaders slowly stop speaking? In this reflective solo episode, Dr. Darrin Peppard explores the hidden cost of compliance-based leadership cultures and the long-term impact they can have on trust, alignment, and organizational health. Drawing from personal leadership experiences, conversations with leaders around the country, and John Maxwell’s “Law of the Lid,” Darrin unpacks what happens when high-capacity leaders find themselves working in environments driven more by...

In this episode of Leaning Into Leadership, Darrin sits down with Dr. Nason Lollar to explore a topic often overlooked in leadership conversations—educator professionalism. Drawing from his book The Five Principles of Educator Professionalism, Nason introduces the TRUST framework, a practical approach to connecting individual behaviors with school culture. The conversation dives into how small, everyday actions—not just major incidents—shape the success, safety, and climate of a school. Key T...

In this episode, Darrin sits down with Dr. Joy Karavedas to explore what it really means to develop leaders intentionally—and why that “tap on the shoulder” can be life-changing. Joy shares her journey into leadership and how her research revealed a powerful pattern: nearly every leader can point to a moment when someone saw their potential before they did. The conversation dives into: The importance of intentionally building a leadership pipeline Why performance alone isn’t enough to identi...

In this episode, Darrin sits down with Megan Diede to unpack one of the most pressing challenges in schools today: authentic student engagement. The conversation begins with a familiar frustration—classrooms full of students disengaged on devices—and quickly reframes the issue. It’s not about abandoning technology. It’s about being intentional and purposeful with instruction. Megan introduces a powerful shift in thinking: Engagement isn’t about activity—it’s about connection. Together, they ...