Episodes

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...
Sept. 11, 2022

Episode #183: Erin Lebacqz

Erin Lebacqz has been teaching writing for over 25 years. Her clients include business and non-profit organizations in the United States and around the world. Her new book High-Value Writing: Real Strategies for Real-World Writing helps business writ...
Sept. 4, 2022

Episode #182: Matt Moyer

Matthew Moyer is a Nationally Distinguished Principal, and Pennsylvania Principal of the Year. He is an elementary school principal with over 20 years of experience in administration, and over 25 years of experience in education. In addition to his j...
Aug. 31, 2022

Episode #181: Lorena Seidel: Emotionally Intelligent Schools

Lorena Seidel M.Ed. is a Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Consultant, a certified Montessori teacher, a trained Positive Discipline Educator, a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) teacher, and a mother of three. She helps adults create a more po...
Aug. 24, 2022

Episode #180: Will McDonough

Recently named one of the Global Forum on Education and Learning (GFEL) “Top 100 Visionaries in Education” for the year 2020, Will McDonough is an educator, author, diversity practitioner, speaker and thought leader who was raised in a one-room schoo...
Aug. 15, 2022

Episode #179: Matthew Taylor

Matthew Taylor leads the Noble Story Group, a consulting firm that brings an emotional intelligence-based approach to leadership development in education and non-profit organizations. Matthew recently published The Noble School Leader, a practical gu...
Aug. 10, 2022

Episode #178: Dr. Stephanie Ryan

Dr. Stephanie Ryan, Ph.D. is a chemist, a boy mom, and a social media influencer who enjoys using her background to create superior educational products and content. Although an academic at heart, Dr. Stephanie is passionate about learning through pl...