Episodes

What if the real cause of educator burnout isn’t a lack of resilience or self-care—but the workplace itself? In this powerful and thought-provoking episode, Darrin is joined by longtime friend and national thought leader Nathan Eklund , founder of Vital Network , to explore how schools can reimagine themselves as vibrant, sustainable workplaces for educators. With over 20 years in education, including a decade in the classroom and a career dedicated to improving adult work culture in school...

Episode 210 – Schools That Give an F: Clarity, Culture, and Contribution with Rob McLeod In this episode, Darrin is joined by international educator and podcast host Rob McLeod to explore a critical leadership conversation: school alignment. Drawing from his own career across three countries and multiple school systems, Rob shares how he rediscovered his passion by finding alignment between his personal values and the work his school was doing. Together, they discuss: The three distinct typ...

In this special midweek crossover episode with the Teach Better Podcast, Darrin sits down with Teach Better CEO and Co-founder Chad Ostrowski to dive deep into one of the most important leadership tasks schools face: planning professional development that actually moves the needle. Darrin and Chad unpack the mistakes too many schools make—like treating PD as a day, not a movement—and offer a practical, strategic approach to make learning stick all year long. You'll hear about: How to build cla...

What if your biggest mistakes became the very stories that helped others succeed? In this episode of Leaning Into Leadership , Dr. Darrin Peppard sits down with Kevin Mecchella — former class clown turned classical musician, educator, and nationally recognized student speaker — to talk about the power of decision-making and how schools can equip students with tools to choose better every day. Kevin shares his personal journey from chasing laughs to chasing success, including a pivotal life mo...

In this inspiring episode, Darrin sits down with Ronn Nozoe, lifelong educator and Chief Executive Officer of NASSP (National Association of Secondary School Principals). Together, they explore the current landscape of school leadership, the importance of supporting new leaders, and how educators can take ownership of their professional growth. Ronn shares reflections from his journey — from a classroom in Hawaii to national leadership — and discusses how listening, connection, and collaboratio...

In this powerful episode, Dr. Darrin Peppard sits down with Dr. Brandi Kelly—author, speaker, coach, and founder of Spark Hope EDU—to explore what it truly means to Lead with Hope. Dr. Kelly shares her deeply personal story that led her to develop the HOPE framework: Habits, Optimistic Outlook, Purpose, and Excellence. Through her new book and nationwide work with leaders, Brandi challenges us to lean into self-reflection, build our self-efficacy, and become the encouragers our schools need more...

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 in the country. We unpack the power of origin stories, the traps of superhero leadership, and why leaders must know who they want to be in order to lead effectively. Jimmy shares how Culturize became the game-changing book it is today, why so many school leaders fall into “...

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, LLC and the host of Principal Matters: The School Leader’s Podcast, with over 1.5 million downloads. Through his coaching, books, and virtual leadership academies, Will empowers school leaders to improve culture, communication, and student outcomes. Together, Darrin and Wil...

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: “How do I land that principal job?” From the nerves of the interview to that surreal moment when you finally kick your feet up in the principal’s chair (even if it only lasts 10 minutes), this episode is packed with real talk, practical tips, and plenty of laughs. Whether ...

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, and 50 Great Things Leaders Do: Let’s Get Fired Up. Dr. Rudnesky draws on his extensive experience as a teacher and award-winning middle school principal to deliver transformative keynotes, workshops, and presentations. Episode Summary: In this episode of Leaning Into Lead...

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 from diverse settings, including roles as a teacher, coach, principal, and superintendent. Chris shares powerful insights into shifting school leadership from crisis mode—something many leaders have felt stuck in since the pandemic—to a more proactive, intentional leadership app...

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 to delivering weekly episodes since January 2022 has shaped the podcast and his journey as a leadership speaker, coach, and author. He celebrates the community of listeners who have supported the podcast, discusses the evolution of guest selection towards more educational ...

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 Peppard sits down with Rae Hughart, educator, TEDx speaker, and founder of the Teachers Deserve It (TDI) movement. Rae is passionate about empowering educators to reclaim their time, reduce burnout, and amplify their impact in the classroom. Rae shares the intriguing backstory b...

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 of Culture First Classrooms: Leadership, Relationships, and Practices that Transform Schools. She is an award-winning educator, and a dynamic professional development facilitator who has been bringing joy and practical teaching strategies to educators nationwide since 2006. Tu...

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 country on how to build a thriving school culture. Don’t miss out! Get it NOW on Amazon or Barnes & Noble or get an autographed copy here In This Episode, We Cover: How AI is reshaping education and why schools need to embrace it The biggest misconceptions about AI in schools...

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 the classroom and through his work with the North Carolina Association for Middle Level Education (NCMLE), David shares powerful insights into what it takes to lead effectively as a teacher. He discusses the importance of building leadership capacity within schools, the impact ...

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 School. They dive deep into how disempowerment impacts school leaders, teachers, and students—and what we can do about it. Bobby shares his journey from principal to leadership coach, the lessons he learned along the way, and why the behaviors we model as leaders shape school c...

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 importance of empowering educators. Bradlee opens up about his personal struggles with burnout, stepping away from education, and the pivotal moments that brought him back—stronger and more purpose-driven than ever. Together, Darrin and Bradlee explore the role of teacher leader...

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 into the journey of co-authoring a book, the power of classroom culture, and how fostering strong relationships transformsschools. Katie and Darrin share personal stories about their paths as educators, what led them to co-write this book, and how they selected 21 amazing c...

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 into: ✅ The writing process—what it’s like to co-author a book and how it differs from writing solo ✅ How we identified the 21 incredible educators who contributed their insights ✅ The highs, lows, and unexpected moments in bringing this book to life ✅ What Culture First...

📢 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, Twitter/X, or Facebook. I’d love to support you on your leadership journey! Episode Summary: In this episode of Leaning Into Leadership, Dr. Darrin Peppard sits down with Dr. Kelly Hastings, founder of Enlightening Leadership, a seasoned principal, leadership coach, and expe...

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 teacher to district leader, the principles that guide his leadership, and how the IOU model—Inward, Outward, and Upward Leadership—helps leaders build a thriving culture rooted in trust and continuous improvement. Key Topics Covered: ✅ The IOU Leadership Framework: What it me...

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 development for principals. Barb shares her journey from being a brick-and-mortar school leader to helping launch an innovative online school and homeschooling program while coaching principals to lead with clarity and confidence. Key Topics Discussed: Barb’s unique leadership role...

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 elementary principal from Long Island, NY. Together, they dive into the human side of leadership, sharing stories, challenges, and practical insights for leaders at every level. Topics Covered in This Episode: Weathering the Storm (Literally and Figuratively): From snow d...