Episodes

Dec. 28, 2022

Episode #207: Megan Balduf

Megan Balduf is a middle school English teacher with nineteen years’ experience. Being a teacher has always been Megan's dream, and her dedication to students and their learning opened opportunities to become a teacher-leader. Megan continues to grow...
Dec. 22, 2022

Episode #206: Dr. Christopher Wyatt

Dr. Christopher Scott Wyatt is an autistic self-advocate and father of two neurodiverse daughters. He earned a doctorate while researching online education for students with autism spectrum disorders. His experiences living with physical and neurolog...
Dec. 18, 2022

Episode #205: Jay McTighe

Jay McTighe is a veteran education and accomplished author, having co-written 18 books, including the award-winning and best-selling Understanding by Design® series with Grant Wiggins. His books have been translated into fourteen languages. Jay has a...
Dec. 14, 2022

Episode #204: Dr. Anissa Reilly

Dr. Anissa Reilly is a success story. She received her doctorate in spite of suffering from Post- Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) from issues like those she discusses on the show. She has embraced the “Wounded Healer” archetype as described by psych...
Dec. 8, 2022

Episode #203: Dana Goodier & Darrin Peppard

This is a special episode where Darrin Peppard of Road to Awesome, LLC, interviews me about the release of my book ”Out of the Trenches: Stories of Resilient Educators”. Tune in to hear about the book, the writing process and...
Dec. 5, 2022

Episode #202: Portia Y. Clair

Portia Y. Clare has been privileged to serve in developing the minds and character of children for over thirty years. A graduate of Duke University and Regent University, she maintains her love of learning and earnestly desires to empower the childre...
Dec. 1, 2022

Episode #201: Mark Chartier

Every day, Mark mentors students who must overcome serious challenges. But he knows they can persevere, because he did. Growing up with Tourette’s syndrome, Mark had poor grades and demonstrated significant behaviors, but thanks to positive relations...
Nov. 24, 2022

Episode #200: Road to Awesome authors

Join me for a live (recording) of the 200th episode of Out of the Trenches with Darrin Peppard, Dan Wolfe, Ashley Hubner & Melissa Wright. My guests were all previous guests on Out of the Trenches and are all Road to Awesome authors. Ashley Hubner: E...
Nov. 20, 2022

Episode #199: Dr. Kristen Eccleston

My next guest is Dr. Kristen C. Eccleston (aka The NeuroDiverse Teacher). Her areas of passion, expertise and research focus on examining adolescent mental health impairments in the education environment, and she is well versed in the needs of the ne...
Nov. 17, 2022

Episode #198: Dennis Matthew

Dennis is an elementary school speech pathologist, singer-songwriter and author. For over 20 years Dennis has had the joy and honor of working with children in public schools and through non profit work. In 2018, he launched his authorship, bringing ...
Nov. 13, 2022

Episode #197: Michael Fosberg

Chicago native Michael Fosberg has spoken at nearly a thousand high schools, colleges, government agencies, corporations, law firms and not-for-profits since 2005, utilizing his award-winning autobiographical story, told in the form of a one-man play...
Nov. 10, 2022

Episode #196: Brad Dude

Brad Dude was born in Joliet, Illinois in 1948 and grew up in Buena Park, California. In 1970 he joined the Peace Corps in Micronesia as a Volunteer English teacher and then served as a staff member in both Samoa and Micronesia. Since then, Brad has ...
Nov. 6, 2022

Episode #195: Jen Schwanke

Jen Schwanke has been an educator for 24 years, teaching or leading at all levels. She is the author of three ASCD books, including the just-released, "The Teacher's Principal: How School Leaders Can Support and Motivate Their Teachers." She has writ...
Oct. 30, 2022

Episode #194: Sheka Houston & Tammy Taylor

Dr. Sheka Houston and Principal Tammy Taylor are best-selling contributing authors of "Women Who Lead in Education Featuring School Principals", Volume 3, 2nd edition. They are also co-founders of Create and Educate, LLC an education and literary fir...
Oct. 27, 2022

Episode #193: Vicki Weber

Vicky Weber is a musician and an elementary educator with a love for children’s literature. As a Puerto Rican author of Taíno descent, she strives to create picture books that are fun, engaging, and educational. All her current titles are based on he...
Oct. 24, 2022

Episode #192: Jen Schwester

Jen Schwester, aka Jennyzenyoga, has been providing yoga services and trainings to many underserved populations for over four years, including special needs adults, senior citizens, first responders, and her high school French classes. Jennifer bring...
Oct. 17, 2022

Episode #191: Jeannie Moravits Smith

Jeannie Morivtz Smith is the founder of Dynamism Leadership, formerly HR-Rx, a Leadership Mindset and Organization Development Consulting firm established in 2005. Prior to becoming CEO, she held Executive Leadership roles at a variety of organizatio...
Oct. 13, 2022

Episode #190: Peter Docker

Peter Docker is a keynote speaker and facilitator who presents around the world to inspire people to lead from the jumpseat. He worked alongside Simon Sinek for more than 7 years, co-authoring the book Find Your Why, and now draws on his 25 years of ...
Oct. 6, 2022

Episode #189: Dan Edwards

Dan Edwards is an Education and Business speaker, UNConferencer, Consultant and Writer. He has worked in education for many years and have held leadership roles in both the secondary and primary sectors. Most recently, holding the role of Principal f...
Oct. 3, 2022

Episode #188: Dr. Levatta Levels

Dr. Levels has served many professional and civic organizations, including Delegate to the Texas Democratic Convention representing Senate District 23, DeSoto Chamber of Commerce Board, Leadership Southwest Board, Big Brothers Big Sisters Southern Re...
Sept. 28, 2022

Episode #187: Dr. Chris Jones

Chris Jones has been an educator in Massachusetts for 22 years. He is in his 15th year as a building administrator. He is a teacher centered Principal and passionate about continuous improvement and the idea that success is not a destination, but a p...
Sept. 22, 2022

Episode #186: Gopi Schomaker

Mother Gopi Gita guides parents in leadership to empower their child’s social environments. Her clients’ grown children lead teams across the US. As vice principal of a private school, and educational consultant for an international society, she ment...
Sept. 18, 2022

Episode #185: Andrea Bitner

Andrea Bitner is an educator, author, and speaker. She lives on the East Coast among some of the fastest-speaking people in the country! She has worked with students in grades K-12 through her twenty-two years in public education from all around the ...
Sept. 15, 2022

Episode #184: Mike Nagler

Dr. Michael Nagler is the Superintendent of the Mineola School District, a suburb of NYC. Mike began his career as a social studies teacher in NYC. While teaching he earned his doctorate from Columbia University and accepted an administrative positio...