Episodes

One of the most rewarding parts of hosting Leaning Into Leadership is hearing from listeners who are doing the work every day. In this episode, Darrin responds to a question from a first-year principal in upstate New York who asked a challenge many school leaders face: How do you stay responsive to parents while still leading the school effectively? Parent emails, phone calls, and concerns can quickly fill a leader’s day. Without systems in place, communication can pull leaders into a reactive...

Leadership today often feels like navigating constant change. Volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity are realities many leaders face daily. But resilience is not about simply pushing through the chaos — it’s about learning how to lead yourself and others through it. In this episode, Darrin sits down with Russell Harvey, The Resilience Coach, to explore how leaders can build resilience in themselves and their teams while navigating the modern leadership landscape. Russell shares po...

One of the most common mistakes schools make is confusing a resource with a curriculum. A textbook gets adopted. A program is purchased. A shiny new initiative is rolled out. And suddenly everyone says, “Great… we have a curriculum.” But that’s not curriculum. In this episode, Darrin sits down with Emily Makelky from the Curriculum Leadership Institute (CLI) to unpack what curriculum actually means and why empowering teachers to lead curriculum development can transform how schools serve stu...

This is Part 3 of a three-part series on leadership presence. In Episode 262, we explored the hidden cost of distraction and how trust and psychological safety erode when leaders aren’t fully present. In Episode 263, we discussed how to engineer margin through calendar integrity, decision discipline, and clarity around your top priorities. Now we bring it home. Because presence isn’t performance. Presence is connection. In this episode, Darrin dives into the relational and interpersonal wo...

In Episode 262, we explored the hidden cost of distraction and how trust, psychological safety, and connection erode when leaders aren’t fully present. This is Part 2 of our three-part series on leadership presence. In this episode, Darrin focuses on why distraction keeps happening — and how to intentionally break through the cycle of overwhelm. Chaos isn’t loud. It’s cumulative. It’s the stacking of interruptions, back-to-back meetings, unresolved conversations, decision fatigue, and carryi...

This episode kicks off a powerful three-part series on leadership presence. In Part 1, Darrin explores the hidden cost of distraction and how leaders unintentionally erode trust, psychological safety, and emotional connection when they are not fully present. Through personal stories from his time as a high school principal, Darrin shares moments of realization when distraction cost him relational depth — and what those experiences taught him about culture and leadership. In this episode, you’...

In Episode 261, I’m coming to you on location from Edmond, Oklahoma, where I had the opportunity to sit down with my friend Joe Beckman at the OASSP conference. Joe has spent more than 20 years traveling the world with one simple mission: reclaim human connection. And if we’re honest, that mission has never been more urgent. Loneliness is at an all-time high. Belonging and self-worth feel fragile. Technology is louder than conversation. So what does that mean for school leaders? In this conver...

In this episode of Leaning Into Leadership, I’m joined by George Couros, one of the most influential voices in education around innovation, culture, and human-centered leadership. George and I dig into his leadership journey — not from a place of “having it all figured out,” but from a place of learning out loud. We talk about how blogging helped him find his voice, not just share it, and why writing, reflection, and vulnerability matter more than ever for leaders. We also explore the ideas be...

Ever left a leadership team meeting feeling like it was so productive—then realized a week later nothing really changed? In this solo episode, Darrin unpacks why that gap between effort and impact is rarely about commitment—and almost always about clarity. Building on his “Cycle of Chaos” episode, he shares the ALIGN Framework, a practical system for strengthening team dynamics and keeping teams focused on what matters most. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why strong teams drift into reactivit...

Weston Kieschnick has been in the work for a long time—as a classroom teacher, coach, author, and speaker—and this conversation feels like two colleagues reconnecting around what actually drives performance. We dig into Weston’s newest work and the idea that the gap between high performers and underachievers usually isn’t talent. It’s behavior—especially in the moments when adversity hits. In this episode, we explore: Why “hidden work” is the difference-maker when no one is watching The four...

Leadership doesn’t fall apart overnight. More often, it slowly drifts into a pattern that feels overwhelming, exhausting, and reactive. In this solo episode, Darrin introduces The Cycle of Chaos—a framework that helps leaders name what they’re experiencing and begin interrupting the patterns that keep them stuck in survival mode. Rather than offering quick fixes or productivity hacks, this episode invites reflection, clarity, and intentional leadership. In this episode, you’ll hear about: Wh...

School leaders everywhere are wrestling with the same challenge: How do we support students who are behind — without overwhelming teachers or relying on systems that don’t deliver results? In this episode of Leaning Into Leadership, Darrin Peppard sits down with Jennifer Sheffield, CEO of HeyTutor, for a grounded, practical conversation about what effective tutoring and intervention really look like in today’s schools. Jennifer brings a unique leadership lens — blending her background in law,...

In this special shared episode, Darrin Peppard and Dr. Frederick Buskey—host of The Assistant Principal Podcast—tackle a challenge leaders are facing more and more often: angry, escalated parent interactions. This conversation was sparked by a real question from the field—a leader Frederick supports reached out looking for guidance on how to handle parents when emotions are high. Together, Darrin and Frederick unpack a practical, grounded framework for what to do before, during, and after confl...

What does it mean to be a dealer in hope — not as the source of hope, but as someone who helps others discover it for themselves? In this first episode of 2026, Darrin sits down with longtime friend and colleague Dr. Mark Brown for a powerful conversation about leadership, hope, and intentional presence. Mark shares the story behind his “Hope Dealer” philosophy, why hope is for everyone (not just those in crisis), and how leaders can create cultures where people feel seen, supported, and empowe...

As 2025 comes to a close, Dr. Darrin Peppard reflects on the year that was and what the work of leadership is asking of us as we head into 2026. In this year-end solo episode, Darrin invites both individual leaders and leadership teams to pause, reflect, and resist the urge to rush into the new year without clarity. Drawing from his work with leadership teams across the country, Darrin shares the key trends he’s seeing shape leadership in the year ahead—including the growing need for clarity, t...

This episode is sponsored by DigiCoach. Make walkthroughs meaningful. Simplify your coaching culture. Visit digiCOACH.com and mention Darrin for special partner pricing. In Episode 252 of Leaning Into Leadership, Darrin Peppard sits down with Scott Borba, superintendent–principal in California’s Central Valley and author of The Leader You’re Not. Together, they explore leadership identity, the cost of perfectionism, imposter syndrome, delegation, boundaries, and why sustainable leadership begin...

This episode is sponsored by DigiCoach. Make walkthroughs meaningful. Simplify your coaching culture. Visit digiCOACH.com and mention Darrin for special partner pricing. In this powerful and deeply personal conversation, Darrin sits down with longtime friend and colleague Dr. Danny Steele to explore what it truly means to lead with heart, clarity, and purpose. Danny reflects on his 31-year career in education, the mentors who shaped him, the mistakes that taught him, and the passion that contin...

This episode is sponsored by DigiCoach Make walkthroughs meaningful. Simplify your coaching culture. Visit digiCOACH.com and mention Darrin for special partner pricing. For this milestone episode, the script gets flipped. Longtime friends and frequent guests Todd Bloomer and Dominic Armano take over the show and interview host Dr. Darrin Peppard about the lessons he’s learned from 250 episodes and a lifetime in school leadership. They dig into leadership clarity, time management, burnout, sup...

This episode is sponsored by DigiCoach Make walkthroughs meaningful. Simplify your coaching culture. Visit digiCOACH.com and mention Darrin for special partner pricing. If you’ve followed high-level high school athletics—especially in Colorado—you’ve probably heard of Valor Christian High School. From state titles to nationally ranked teams, Valor has built a reputation for excellence. But what most people don’t see is the intentional culture, systems, and faith-driven leadership behind the wi...

This episode is sponsored by DigiCoach Make walkthroughs meaningful. Simplify your coaching culture. Visit digiCOACH.com and mention Darrin for special partner pricing. In this inspiring episode, NAESP President April D. Knight joins Darrin to explore what leadership looks like when it stays grounded in relationships, service, and intentional support for school leaders. April shares the story of her 34-year career, her leadership journey through Columbus City Schools, and how her deep commitmen...

Sponsor Spotlight: digiCOACH Support for today’s episode comes from digiCOACH — the walkthrough and coaching platform designed to simplify data collection, strengthen feedback, and improve instructional clarity. Visit digiCOACH.com, mention Darrin sent you, and ask about special partner pricing. In Episode 247 of the Leaning Into Leadership podcast, Darrin welcomes back repeat guest Dr. Christopher J. Jochum, founder and CEO of CJ Leadership Solutions, LLC, Professor and Chair of Teacher Educat...

Sponsor Spotlight: digiCOACH Support for today’s episode comes from digiCOACH — the walkthrough and coaching platform designed to simplify data collection, strengthen feedback, and improve instructional clarity. Visit digiCOACH.com, mention Darrin sent you, and ask about special partner pricing. In this solo episode of the Leaning Into Leadership podcast, Dr. Darrin Peppard takes leaders deep into one of the most important—and most avoided—responsibilities of leadership: crucial conversations. ...

Partner Spotlight: Let’s face it — leadership is complex. That’s why Darrin is proud to partner with digiCOACH, a walkthrough and coaching platform that simplifies observation and feedback so leaders can focus on what really matters — students and instruction. Visit digiCOACH.com and mention that Darrin sent you for special partner pricing. In Episode 245 of the Leaning Into Leadership podcast, Dr. Darrin Peppard sits down with Jayme Braida, Principal of Columbus Elementary in Chariton, Iowa,...

Partner Spotlight: Let’s face it — leadership is complex. That’s why Darrin is proud to partner with digiCOACH, a walkthrough and coaching platform that simplifies observation and feedback so leaders can focus on what really matters — students and instruction. Visit digiCOACH.com and mention that Darrin sent you for special partner pricing. Have you ever felt like you’re just running from one issue to the next — solving problems, answering questions, and checking boxes — only to end the day re...