Getting Unstuck – Cultivating Curiosity

Guest A veteran San Francisco radio broadcaster, Joanne Greene currently hosts two podcasts -  “All the F Words”, in which two writer friends nearly 30 years apart explore issues that begin with the letter “F” and “In …

Guest

Mark Reid is host of the “Zen Sammich” podcast and a maker of traditional handmade Japanese paper, called washi, where he lives in Yamaguchi, Japan. Before that he was an attorney, beginning his career as an …

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Jennifer Jane Young is an Intuitive Business & Leadership Advisor and Founder of The School of Intuitive Leadership. She helps …

Dr. Alan Stern is an aerospace executive and planetary scientist with experience on 29 space mission teams, 14 of which he played a principal …

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Valerie Gordon is a 10-time Emmy-winning television producer with over 20 years of producing and overseeing award-winning content for HBO, …

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Hal Herring is an award-winning journalist and contributing editor at Field and Stream magazine. He is also the host of the Backcountry Hunters and Anglers Podcast and Blast.

The debate over public and …

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Jeanine Cowen is an active media composer and educator. She is the chair and professor of practice of the Screen Scoring department at the University of Southern California. Formerly the Vice President for …

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Rick Locke was born and raised in Erie, PA.  He earned a BS in mathematics from the University of Notre Dame and an MBA in finance from …

Guest April Vokey is a fly fishing writer, fly-tyer, and speaker. After guiding in British Columbia for ten years, she now splits her year between …

Summary

In this podcast episode, my cohost, Steve Miletto, of the “Teaching, Learning, Leading K12” podcast, and I talk with Elizabethton, TN High …

Summary Cindy House is the author of Mother Noise, a memoir in essays, and is a regular opener for author/humorist David Sedaris on his tours across …

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Steve Jobs famously said, “You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backward.” Today’s guest would …

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Ted Merwin, Ph.D. is a Senior Writer for the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA). Before coming to JFNA, he worked as AIPAC’s Synagogue Initiative Director for the Mid-Atlantic Region. For many years, Ted …

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Lee Ellis is a nationally-recognized leadership coach, award-winning author, certified speaking professional* (CSP), a Vietnam Veteran and …

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Founder of “Cherish Your World,” Laura Staley facilitates healthier connections to home, others, and self through decluttering, Feng Shui, and emotional intelligence. She’s the author of Abundant Heart, Live …

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In 2011, coach and author Jane Duncan Rogers was devastated when her husband died.  However, six years later, with two books and a TedX talk to …

Guests Jeff Carver is an English teacher who has been working in New Orleans charter schools for the last nine years.  Before teaching, he spent the …

Guest —John Dietsch is an award-winning author and writer/producer best known for supervising the fly fishing scenes and doubling for Brad Pitt in the classic OSCAR-winning film A River Runs Through It. John’s latest …

Guest — Rhonda Broussard is an author, entrepreneur, and futurist. One Good Question: How Countries Prepare Youth to Lead is her first book. Broussard is an award-winning education entrepreneur and sought-after public …

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Dr. Nate Zinsser is an expert in the psychology of human performance who consults with individuals and organizations seeking a competitive …

Summary — Award-winning food and travel writer Sylvie Bigar found herself in 2008 “writing more about food than travel and had turned into a …

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Bill Whiteside is a sales and marketing executive turned software salesman turned writer of narrative non-fiction, specifically a forthcoming book about an incident in Winston Churchill’s tenure as Britain’s Prime …

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Reflecting on past decisions, actions, and accomplishments can be a springboard to future action or a recurring regret for what we didn’t do, impacting our ability to focus on the present.

√ Western …

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Debbie Danielpour, an award-winning screenwriter writer, and I examine how screenwriters and speakers use objects to grab their audiences' …

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Like the powerful question organizations need to ask — “Why do we exist?” — “Why do I do what I do?” is a powerful question we should all ask …

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In this episode, my friend and fellow podcaster, Steve Miletto, and I discuss the “next big thing,” the next chapter in our lives, the “one more” challenge we want to tackle.

Steve Miletto is the …

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Central to any focus on change are some looming questions: why change, how to change, and how to overcome obstacles. Looking broadly at change across many fields, what intrigues me about change is the engine …

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Research has shown that curiosity can make us happier, increase academic achievement, and increase our emotional intelligence. And of equal importance, as today’s guest explains, curiosity is a divining rod in …

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Obstacles standing in the way of progress often seem insurmountable. Leaders who remain adaptable, flexible, and pause to give themselves time to assess options increase their likelihood of breakthroughs. And …

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Much of the teaching profession is in turmoil. Thousands of teachers are leaving the field for a variety of reasons. Among them are:

• Teachers exhausted and dispirited after pivoting to remote instruction …

As leaders, we can often fall into the trap of focusing most of our attention on the work of achieving desired outcomes. While achieving outcomes is critical for organizational success, authentic leaders also focus on …

Summary

There’s a lot of talk about why organizations need to have a purpose — why they do what they do on behalf of those they seek to serve — and to have that purpose go beyond being a mere marketing tagline.

What’s …

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In this episode, I talk with Megan Miller, who, at an early age, discovered the power of learning a foreign language and now works to empower others who want or need to have a bilingual voice.

Megan is the …

My pulse quickens whenever we leap into the unknown of space, be it with the 2015 New Horizons flyby of Pluto, or the launch of the new James Webb …

One part of life that I’ve become really curious about in the past few years is dying. I didn’t think about it at all when I was in college and …

“As it turns out, personal finance is like touching an electric fence that you didn’t know what electric. Managing our money is not a math problem; it’s a behavioral problem.”

Carl Richards is a Certified Financial …

My guest in this episode is Charlotte Wittenkamp. Her own experience relocating from Denmark to California led to her ongoing fascination with global differences in value systems and communication patterns. In short, …

Many people mistakenly equate obituaries with death notices, but, as we’ll hear in this episode, obituaries are not tales of death; they are tales of life. They are the CliffsNotes of someone’s identity and relevance. …

I’ve written four screenplays as a hobby, one of which received an honorable mention at the 9th Annual Nantucket Film Festival. If I were thanking …

I’ve asked several people to come on the show in this series to talk very briefly about an aspect of their life that makes them tilt their heads in curiosity and want to figure out how to satisfy it. 

My guest in this …

My guests in this episode are Melissa Hughes Ph.D., a neuroscience researcher, educator, keynote speaker, and author of Happier Hour with Einstein — …

My guest in this episode is Dennis Pitocco. Dennis is Chief Reimaginator of 360° Nation, an organization and approach to life that includes the award-winning BIZCATALYST 360°; Real Voices 360°, and GoodWorks 360°. …

My guest in this episode is Sarah Elkins. Sarah is a storyteller, the podcast host and author of “Your Stories Don’t Define You. How You Tell Them Will,” and a Gallup certified StrengthsFinder coach.

In this episode, …

In this episode, the first in the Curiosity series, I’ve asked a number of people to come on the show over the next few weeks to talk very briefly about an aspect of their life that makes them tilt their heads in …

My guest in this episode is Mary Thomas-Vallens. Mary, a 40-year classroom teacher in the Irvine California Unified School District, currently serves …

"It's really all about building relationships. Actually, that's what advocacy is about at its core."

Sue Inches is an experienced environmental …

When the supply chain works, it’s a beautiful thing. But as the old saying goes, a chain is only as strong as its weakest link, and given the …

My guest in this episode is Leanne Gordon, the principal of Leanne Gordon, a firm dedicated to helping individuals navigate what overwhelms them when considering change, their personal or their organization’s false …

Tania Marien is an independent environmental education professional and the Director of Talaterra — "Speak Earth" — a network of independent environmental education (EE) professionals who contribute to lifelong learning …

My guest in this episode is Steve Ehrlich. Steve is semi-retired, but now applying his life-long experience in adult learning, psychology, and …

My guest in this episode is Dr. Donna Curtin, a historian serving as the Executive Director of the Pilgrim Hall Museum. Pilgrim Hall is “the oldest …

My guest in this episode is Bradley Wright, a professor of sociology at the University of Connecticut and host of the “School of Purpose” podcast. …

How do you go about telling a very inviting and understandable story in film? My guest in this episode, Rita Grant, is an award-winning documentary film cinematographer, director, and producer, and the driving force …

Today I’m joined by Erica Nelson, a member of the Navaho Nation. Erica is a fly fishing guide, host of the “Awkward Angler” podcast, and a contributor to the “Awkward & Clueless Beginning Fly Fishing” show on …

Bill Whiteside is a sales and marketing executive turned software salesman turned writer of narrative non-fiction, specifically a forthcoming book about an incident in Winston Churchill’s tenure as Britain’s Prime …

We rarely reveal our true self to others, and sometimes (very often?) we don’t reveal it to ourselves. Sadly, we can’t interact effectively with others if there are layers of our personal onion between us. Diane Wyzga, …

What can we learn from non-traditional sources if we’re willing to look at things differently? How can we break out of our often self-imposed boundaries to see what the universe is offering us? For example, this podcast …

The "Trauma in Schools" podcast series focus primarily on the trauma that students carry with them into the classroom. But, many school faculty, …

Those who work for substantial educational change, do so within the context of today’s heated nation and world. Two thought leaders are adept at shining a light on those educators who are trying to lead their …

If students are in a state of high stress or trauma, the part of the brain that facilitates learning is inaccessible. Thus, student academic …

One of the goals of our series is to raise awareness and the level of discourse around student trauma and mental health in general. And if we’re not bringing these subjects out into the open, kids keep all those …

Periodically on Getting Unstuck, we welcome a change maker to tell their story of personal transformation: how a specific event or catalyst propelled …

Some students from low-income communities – often kids of color – may lack aspirations for a post high-school future because they feel it’s simply …

As today’s guest observed, “Many kids fall through the cracks somewhere.” Maybe they’ve experienced trauma outside of school, and as a result, they …

Over the years, we've heard a lot of ideas from teachers, administrators and thought leaders on how to reform high school so that the institution …

This week I talked with Janani Pathy, Principal of the Bill Hogarth Secondary School in Markham, Ontario Canada. Janani is one of those “unstuck” …

Over the summer, we’ve been running a series called “Unstuck” where we’ve profiled school leaders who are not just getting unstuck, they’re already …

This week I talked with Peter McWain, the Director of Curriculum and Instruction for the Sante Fe Public Schools. We reviewed a number of positive …

We recorded our first interview with Peter McWain, Santa Fe Public Schools Director of Curriculum and Instruction during the summer of 2018. As …

We recorded our first interview with Peter McWain, Santa Fe Public Schools Director of Curriculum and Instruction during the summer of 2018. As …

This week I talked with Dr. Lindsay Lyons, an educational coach who helps teachers integrate student voice in classroom learning so as to develop shared classroom leadership. There's a lot of interest in student agency, …

If you asked people to identify the qualities they want to see in high school graduates, most people would respond with points such as Independent …

This week I talked with Erin Mote, co-founder of the Brooklyn Lab Charter School in Brooklyn, New York. Erin is passionate about helping the school's …

Erin Mote is the cofounder of the Brooklyn Laboratory Charter School, a community-based school organization that serves more than 1000 students. She …

This week I talked with Daniel Bauer, podcast host, author, mastermind facilitator, and coach. He has defined the art of growing leadership talent that seeks to change education to better serve 21st century students. He …

We’ve been running a series called “Unstuck,” which focuses on school leaders who are not just getting unstuck, they’re already "unstuck." And by …

This week I talked with Dr. Daisy Morales, the new Superintendent of the Live Oak School District in Santa Cruz, CA. Daisy’s big concern coming into …

Dr. Daisy Morales is the new Superintendent of the Live Oak School District in Santa Cruz, CA. Like other smart, experienced leaders, Dr. Morales …

This week I talked with Connie Liu and Jordan Mareno of “Project Invent,” an organization that brings innovation, design thinking, and community …

Teaching kids 21st century skills is not new news. Fortunately, most school systems have instruction in place that addresses the 4Cs or variations of …

This week we talked with Sunny Summers, the Founding School Leader of New Harmony High School in New Orleans. Our conversation centered on how one …

This interview is part of our “Unstuck” series. By "Unstuck," we mean our guest is leading or embracing a major shift in student learning, instruction, ongoing teacher professional development, community relations, or …

This week we spoke with K12 social studies educator, Casey Jakubowski, Ph.D.. Our conversation dove into the debate about the purpose of teaching U.S. History. Is it about instilling patriotism, examining the promise of …

The teaching of U.S. history and civics is in the news a lot these days. We’re seeing controversy and divisiveness around the approach we should take …

This week we spoke with Principal Michelle Pinchot who was asked to turn around a low-performing school. Rather than jump in immediately with a bunch …

This interview is part of our “Unstuck” series. By "Unstuck," we mean our guest is leading or embracing a major shift in student learning, instruction, ongoing teacher professional development, community relations, or …

In this week's podcast, we talked with Mike Matsuda, Superintendent of the Anaheim Union High School District. Mike's focus has been to build a …

This interview is part of our “Unstuck” series. By "Unstuck," we mean our guest is leading or embracing a major shift in student learning, instruction, ongoing teacher professional development, community relations, or …

This week we chatted with Yasmeen Robbins, an Instructional Review Consultant for the North Carolina Department of Instruction. Her role takes her …

This interview is part of our “Unstuck” series, which focuses on school leaders who are not just getting unstuck, they’re already "unstuck." And by …

This week we chatted with an Assistant Superintendent of the Mesa Arizona Public Schools, Dr. Randy Mahlerwein. Randy believes that educators need to …

If school leaders want staff to feel comfortable designing and initiating changes to benefit students, they have to create a culture of psychological …

This week on "Getting Unstuck," we chatted with Principal "Missie" Patschke on the need to build leadership capacity with all staff. The necessity of building the capacity of others to lead is not a new idea. It’s not …

In this conversation, we hear from elementary school principal Dr. Melissa "Missie" Patschke, a leader who instinctively gets how you build capacity …

This week we chatted with Assistant Superintendent Constantino “Costa” Aquilar regarding his district’s now six-year shift to broaden its students' …

In this interview, "Costa" Aguilar, Assistant Superintendent of the Merced Union High School District details the shift his district started six …

This week we enjoyed getting an update from Principal JoAnne Duncan. JoAnne first appeared on our show last October. She impressed us with how she tried to simplify her staff's approach to managing COVID by keeping them …

We aired our first interview with Principal JoAnne Duncan in October 2020. With that challenge staring this young principal in the face, we focused …

Today we welcome someone working on the frontline of education. Elementary school principal, JoAnne Duncan, is a big-hearted, inspirational leader – …

This week we talked with Dr. Deb Gustafson on how she is again applying Jim Collins' flywheel principle, this time as an Assistant Superintendent, to …

We first spoke with Dr. Deborah Gustafson in December 2019 about how she had applied Jim Collins’ principle of the flywheel to her work as an …

One of the problems that plague most organizations is when and how to change. For many, the process looks like fruit-of-the-month club: they try …

This week we talked with three guests on the idea of unstructured play for children. One of our guests, Hannah Beach, describes “unstructured play” …

When COVID first impacted education over a year ago, one of the messages we heard from educators is that “we need to address the social and emotional needs of our students.” That message was driven by the concern that …

Innovating in education can be challenging because of red tape, limitations, and a constant lack of funds. But this week's guest, George Couros, …

A recent guest on our show remarked that "The discussion in education has moved beyond the question of ‘Do we need to transform education to make it more responsive to the needs of students in the 21st century?’ That …

In this week's episode of “Getting Unstuck”, we talked with Dr. Deborah MacNamara, a school counseling psychologist on why it’s important for leaders …

Given what school leaders may face this fall — > lingering exhaustion brought on by managing the last year and a half under the cloud of COVID, …

This week we reintroduced you to Jamahl Hines, an Assistant Principal and the founder of the Future Educators of Diversity, a program that creates a …

We first aired this interview with Jamahl Hines last November. His story continues to inspire us as an example of an effective change catalyst. It …

Sometimes circumstances are the catalyst for driving a change that you never anticipated. Assistant Principal, Jamahl Hines relates his experience in this story of transformation.

In this week's "Worth a Listen, Look or Read,” we enrich the theme of external partnerships through a story that recently aired on NPR’s “Morning …

What can we learn about leading transformational changes from someone outside of K12 education? In this episode we talk with Rich Razgaitis, co-founder and CEO of FloWater to learn: • the importance of having a succinct …

In this weekly mini-feature of Getting Unstuck, we provide you with a new way of thinking, some unique content, or a critical skill that speaks to our mission of helping leaders wherever they are get unstuck and achieve …

One of the most fundamental shifts we're seeing is a move toward greater student agency. When educators and educational systems focus on students as active navigators of their own learning and development, great things …

We know that writing as a life skill is made even more necessary as the business world increasingly demands workers who are critical thinkers who can …

When is the right time to make changes to K-12 education? Now? Later? Today’s guest, Dr. Kim Fleming, President of Core Education, a consulting firm …

In this episode, Jeff takes a nostalgic trip, and social studies educators Larry Cuban and Phil Roden discuss the state of social studies education today, wrestling with both the purpose of social studies education: Is …

"How do we create and spread better models of learning for young people, so that they can truly thrive in the world? asks Jenee Henry Wood, Head of …

"How do we create and spread better models of learning for young people, so that they can truly thrive in the world? asks Jenee Henry Wood, Head of …

What’s considered when creating a school experience for today’s students facing tomorrow’s world? A unique combination of design principles and ethos …

As a former teacher turned speaker and happiness coach, Kim Strobel helps schools, businesses, and organizations prioritize their happiness and …

Students must be able to drive their own learning to fully reap its benefits explains teacher Ben Pendarvis. If we want active citizens, reflective …

Students must be able to drive their own learning to fully reap its benefits explains teacher Ben Pendarvis. If we want active citizens, reflective …

Do you confidently sing your life song? Or is it still waiting inside of you to be played? Educator Barbara Bray helps us understand the importance of those questions as they apply to today's students. Barbara is an …

Do you confidently sing your life song? Or is it still waiting inside of you to be played? Educator Barbara Bray helps us understand the importance of those questions as they apply to today's students. Barbara is an …

Want to help improve race relations? You can start by understanding what’s going on in that 3lb weight sitting on your shoulders. Jason Greer, the …

Want to help improve race relations? You can start by understanding what’s going on in that 3lb weight sitting on your shoulders. Jason Greer, the …

Here on Getting Unstuck, we’ve focused on companies and their leadership only when we’re aware that they’re doing something extraordinary in the area of change. So we were pleased in this episode to talk with Rick …

Here on Getting Unstuck, we’ve focused on companies and their leadership only when we’re aware that they’re doing something extraordinary in the area of change. So we were pleased in this episode to talk with Rick …

Innovate within our current schools? Transform education completely? “The reality is, we have to do both," argues Professor Tom Hatch, a professor at …

Innovate within our current schools? Transform education completely? “The reality is, we have to do both," argues Professor Tom Hatch, a professor at …

In this episode, we hear from Grace McGuirk, a Registered Dietitian with a Master’s Degree in Public Health. Grace is the Evaluation Manager and Nutrition Advisor with the Sage Garden Project, a program that provides …

In this episode, we hear from Grace McGuirk, a Registered Dietitian with a Master’s Degree in Public Health. Grace is the Evaluation Manager and Nutrition Advisor with the Sage Garden Project, a program that provides …

Children of color are held in virtual bondage through the negative stereotypes that define them as threatening, violent, criminal, poor, and …

Children of color are held in virtual bondage through the negative stereotypes that define them as threatening, violent, criminal, poor, and …

According to author and education researcher, Heather Clayton Staker, "schools can be a microcosm of the world that we want our children to grow up …

Even without COVID-19, leading a class, school or district isn’t easy. You have to be focused on what matters most. Key to that, as argued here by …

The traditional high school transcript reinforces outdated modes of education, limits learning to single subjects, and impedes the pursuit of …

Our current system of education is broken. The structures and practices starting with our federal system, down to the states, to the districts, to …

When the Gallup organization measured student engagement in school, they found that engagement drops from 5th grade on. Only about half of students …

In this episode, we talk with Gregg Brown. Gregg spent 30 years in the telecommunications industry.  He became an instructor at the Blue Valley Center for Advanced Professional Studies (CAPS) where he taught marketing …

In this episode, we talk with Patrick Cook-Deegan. Patrick is a leader in reimagining adolescent education through the lens of purpose learning. He …

“It’s all invented anyway, so we might as well invent a story that enhances our quality of life." Here we are fortunate to chat with two amazing guests: Benjamin Zander and Rosamund Stone Zander. Ben is the conductor of …

What’s it like to sense on a spiritual level that the work you’re doing isn’t the work you’re supposed to be doing? Lorraine Flower's transformation story from corporate executive to corporate change agent – someone who …

One of the ongoing changes we’re increasingly experiencing is artificial intelligence: the simulation of human intelligence in a machine. Simply put, …

How in touch are you with your deepest values? How much are you leading your life in alignment with them? Author Shelley Paxton tells her story of …

How can educators help to develop the leader in every child? Educators Todd Nesloney and Adam Dovico explain.

What qualities do successful school systems share. Education journalist Beth Hawkins gives her perspective from what she has seen in her extensive …

Education transformation evangelist, Jaime Casap, asks – and begins to answer – “What’s holding us back as a nation from truly reforming our …

In this episode, “human-focused” thought leader, Mark LeBusque – educator, trainer, speaker, podcaster, author, coach – asks and answers a …

Sometimes circumstances are the catalyst for driving a change that you never anticipated. Assistant Principal, Jamahl Hines relates his experience in this story of transformation.

If you could ensure that students develop one skill in school, what would it be? Educator and attorney, Colin Seale, argues for thinking critically.

The world is rapidly changing. So, too, are the needs of tomorrow’s workforce. How do we change education accordingly? Education reformer Grant Lichtman explains.

How do you lead people effectively when nothing is as it used to be? Principal JoAnne Duncan explains that connecting with people begins with listening.

Innovation is often described in terms of its process – the mechanics of harnessing ingenuity. David Price (OBE) points the spotlight on the people powering the process.

What distinguishes good teachers from “the best” teachers? (It’s not content knowledge.) Thought-leader of change in education, Dr. Robert Quinn provides an absorbing answer.

How might we figuratively break down the walls of the classroom and share ideas in an effort to improve teaching and learning? Ben Owens, CEO of Open Way Learning explains why and how we need to do just that.

How do we best prepare kids to succeed in today’s fast-evolving world? STEAM coordinator Andrew Sachs explains how part of the answers comes down to …

A lot of times when we ask why we are doing something in education a certain way, we get the answer "Because we've always done it that way." One educator who challenges that assumption is Melissa Romano, candidate for …

The educational research is pretty clear: two critical factors move the student success dial the most (1) understanding how teachers think about their instruction and student learning, (2) how students learn, and the …

Innovating in today's schools is tough for a number of reasons. There are historic barriers and sometimes frankly, there's the inertia of leadership. …

We all like to think we’re working hard, right? The sad fact, though, is that most of us spend a lot of time doing “fake work,” which is emotionally draining and non-productive. And someone who has researched the …

How do you teach during these challenging times? Experiment. Try something. Try something else. And above all, nurture student relationships. Teacher …

How do we move forward as a national around the discussion of race? We start, says principal Anthony McWright, by acknowledging our biases.

Why won’t a cooker-cutter approach to transforming schools work? Principal of the innovative Science Leadership Academy, Chris Lehmann explains.

Today we welcome Dimitry Anselme, the Executive Program Director for Professional Learning and Support at “Facing History and Ourselves.” The mission of this nonprofit organization is to use lessons of history to …

“The best thing we can ever do for kids is help them find their ‘why’ in life.” Dr. Ken Wallace, Superintendent of District 207 in Park Ridge, …

Fundamental to changing schools so that they’re more beneficial to a student’s future is understanding how students learn. Neuroscience researcher …

Innovating in education just to innovate is pointless. Ideas on how to change education abound. The key, according to veteran principal Evan Robb is to align everyone around a vision of student success.

Whether you’re a parent, an educator, or just a concerned citizen, you have a big stake in what happens in our classrooms – the incubators of our future. If you listen to education transformation advocates, we need to …

Today we welcome Mike Oliver, Principal of Zaharis Elementary School in Mesa Arizona. Mike and his team have shaped this extraordinary school over …

Whether you’re a parent, an educator, or a concerned citizen, you have a big stake in what happens in our classrooms – the incubators of our future. If you listen to education transformation advocates, we need to build …

Today we're joined by professors Mark Smylie and Karen Seashore Louis. Mark and Karen along with Joseph Murphy are the authors of Caring School …

Today we are joined by author Ted Dintersmith. Ted's LinkedIn profile reads “change agent” – and the changes he’s focused on are at the intersection of “education, innovation, and democracy.” He is the author of What …

Today, educational leaders and schools are barraged with suggestions and directives to do “this” and “that” to improve student performance and …

Here, we welcome Dr. Lynne Pierson, an experienced educational professional with successful leadership achievements in urban, rural, suburban and …

Anthony Kim, consultant and author of The New School Rules, is an advocate of embracing new management practices that allow continuous adaptation in …

If you’re a leader or teammate, you’re going to need to support the social and emotional health of your colleagues. To do that effectively, you must …

We all have a superpower – a unique gift to share with the world. The question is, how are we going to unlock, grow, and share it? Schools can help …

Today we are deeply fortunate to sit down with two amazing guests: Benjamin Zander and Rosamund Stone Zander. Ben is the conductor of the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra and the Boston Youth Orchestra. Rosamund is a …

It's pretty accepted today by thought leaders that you can't effectively lead others until you know yourself and manage your behaviors appropriately. Understanding our various mindsets is key to building that …

School discipline has traditionally seen administrators and teachers mete out punishment for inappropriate student behavior. There’s another way …

Leading complex changes – especially during a crisis – requires leaders to be master balancers in that they have to manage both the human aspects of change , e.g., resistance to change, motivation, and consensus …

People think “virtual distance” is a function of geographic dispersion, but it's not. It's really the psychological and emotional distance that is …

As authors Chris Mason and Dr. Melissa ("Missie") Patschke describe it in their new book, Visioning Onward, “visioning” is more than just another prescription for a lofty sounding Mission or Vision statement that we see …

It’s our pleasure to welcome Chester Elton back to Getting Unstuck. The thematic river that runs through Chester’s books, coaching and consulting is …

Why are children more anxious, aggressive and shut down than ever before? And what can be done to reverse this course? In this episode of Getting Unstuck, we'll get answers from educators Tamara Neufeld Strijack and …

Welcome to Part 13 of a special series: "Leading Schools in a Time of Crisis." In these conversations, we probed how educators are helping their …

Welcome to Part 12 of a special series: "Leading Schools in a Time of Crisis." In these conversations, we will probe how educators are helping their …

Welcome to Part 11 of a special series: "Leading Schools in a Time of Crisis." In these conversations, we will probe how educators are helping their …

With the huge focus on curriculum and testing, educator, consultant and author Jocelyne Chirnside cautions that we’re missing  a critical part of a …

Welcome to Part 10 of a special series: "Leading Schools in a Time of Crisis." In these conversations, we will probe how educators are helping their …

Welcome to Part 9 of a special series: "Leading Schools in a Time of Crisis." In these conversations, we will probe how educators are helping their …

Welcome to Part 8 of a special series: "Leading Schools in a Time of Crisis." In these conversations, we will probe how educators are helping their …

Welcome to Part 7 of a special series: "Leading Schools in a Time of Crisis." In these conversations, we will probe how educators are helping their …

Welcome to Part 6 of a special series: "Leading Schools in a Time of Crisis." In these conversations, we will probe how educators are helping their …

Today on “Getting Unstuck,” authors Kirsten Richert, Jeff Ikler, and Margaret Zacchei unabashedly talk about their new book, Shifting: How School …

Welcome to Part 5 of a special series: "Leading Schools in a Time of Crisis." In these conversations, we will probe how educators are helping their …

Welcome to Part 4 of a special series: "Leading Schools in a Time of Crisis." In these conversations, we will probe how educators are helping their …

Welcome to Part 3 of a special series: "Leading Schools in a Time of Crisis." In these conversations, we will probe how educators are helping their …

Welcome to Part 2 of a special series: "Leading Schools in a Time of Crisis." In these conversations, we will probe how educators are helping their …

Welcome to Part 1 of a special series: "Leading Schools in a Time of Crisis." In these conversations, we will probe how educators are helping their …

Enabling sustained organizational success today forces us to look at the leadership staff relationship differently. Mike Vacanti explains how we need to refocus our perspective.

Our lives are rarely linear. Most of us start out “here” and then make a series of twists and turns. Sometimes we’re the driver. Sometimes fate and opportunity take the wheel. And sometimes someone else says “I’ll …

What changes can schools and school leaders make to better support students today as well as their future growth? Educator Steven Miletto offers …

What does human-centered leadership look like? And how does it impact effective change? We offer some answers with our friend and Value Through …

There are moral and business arguments behind any diversity and inclusiveness effort. Expert Jennifer Brown explains how to leverage both for organizational health and success.

Coaching is now recognized as essential leadership behavior, but it can be challenging to practice. Leaders have to replace one set of behaviors and their rewards with another. Michael Bungay Stanier, author of The …

What does someone do with their life if emotional and physical pain is all they have ever known? What happens when they hit "rock bottom"?  In this "transformation story," Lisa Sargese explains how she drew on spiritual …

Many of us have experienced that nagging feeling that “There has to more to life than this.” But, what do we do about it? Some of us do nothing other than listen to our inner critic about our shortcomings. Garry Turner …

As leaders, how is what we say and how we say it critical to staff growth and organizational success? In his new book, Leadership is Language: The Hidden Power of What You Say – and What You Don’t, L. David Marquet (USS …

How do you best manage life’s transitions, and the inevitable ups and downs of life? In this episode of Getting Unstuck, we’ll hear some interesting suggestions based on the concept of "Emotional Empowerment" from Dr. …

Our lives are rarely linear. Most of us start out “here” and then make a series of twists and turns. Sometimes we’re the driver. Sometimes fate and opportunity take the wheel. And sometimes someone else says “I’ll …

In this conversation, we are joined by Tara Nolan. Tara is a leadership coach, a team coach, a facilitator of leadership training programs, a keynote …

Our lives are rarely linear. Most of us start out “here” and then make a series of twists and turns. In this series, we call “Transformation Stories,” we interview one individual about how they came to be where they are …

The New Year fast approaches, and that means ‘tis the season of “New Year’s resolutions.” It’s not surprising that we take on these goals. Most of us …

What does real organizational change look like in action? We’ve talked a lot about change here on our podcast, and we written extensively about the …

"The Eagle has landed!" The success story of the Apollo space program is well known. Less well known is how the Apollo team overcame hurdles and …

What are the hallmarks of an organization that relentlessly seeks to operate within a culture of continuous learning? And what does the leader look …

One of the problems that plague most organizations is when and how to change. For many, the process looks like fruit-of-the-month club: they try …

Most of us could likely identify someone we think is "charismatic." But when it comes to defining charismatic qualities, we're likely to fall silent …

Organizations thrive and survive on the creativity of their employees. But what constitutes “creativity”? Are we born with it? Can it be drawn out of us by our teammates, manager, or the type of work we do? And what is …

The performance of U.S. education is often the recipient of criticism – and much of it is justified. Despite mountains of research on what works and the strong effort of most educators, many of the students coming out …

Why do some of our communications land as intended and others don't?

Say “Hello!” to Lila Smith, a messaging consultant and “Communications …

Most of us encounter adversity of some juncture during our lives. How we respond to it says a lot about who we are. Heather Younger certainly …

In this "Transformation Story," we talk with Jessica Du Bois. Jessica is a consultant and leader in the employee benefit industry who helps …

What does it mean to provide candid and compassionate feedback? Why is this “ying” and “yang” of helping staff to improve so important to changing behavior? We’ll get answers to these questions and others from two …

How might you think differently about how your organization works and approaches change?

Here, we’ll learn how Rona Wilensky, Ivette Visbal, and a team of educators wrestled with this question when they decided to break …

How human is your workplace? How can what works well at work, work even better? Whom do you rely on to initiate change at work: Yourself? Or “leadership” from above? We’ll discuss these and other questions with Mike …

In this episode of “Getting Unstuck – Shift for Impact,” we’re joined by Kris Macc. Kris is the founder and president of KMACC Solutions, a …

Kevin Strauss is the CEO of Uchi, an app for connecting with others authentically and privately. Kevin trained as a biomedical engineer and invented medical devices for improving people’s lives. Over time, he realized …

In this episode, we’re joined by Marvin Cadet, a Project Manager for The Mission Continues. The Mission Continues is a national, nonpartisan nonprofit that supports Armed Forces’ veterans to continue their service, and …

In this episode, we're joined by Bill Ruggles, a true Zen-master of project management. Bill will help us demystify the role of PM as it pertains to …

Do you have to be naturally creative to innovate? Or is there a method and are there tools that everyone can use innovate? We’ll explore this …

Do you have to be naturally creative to innovate? Or is there a method and are there tools that everyone can use innovate? We’ll explore this …

Sarah Elkins is a keynote speaker, a Gallup certified Strengths coach, the creator of the annual and unique #NoLongerVirtual conference. She is also a communications coach, the host of the podcast, Your Stories Don't …

Gallup reports that some 70% of all U.S. workers are on the spectrum of disengagement at work. A number of factors converge here: ineffective …

If you uttered “Ugh, resumes. . . .” when you saw the title of this episode, you’re not alone. Writing resumes is one of those things we love to hate. To sort things out, we went to an acknowledged authority on the …

What it takes to market to anyone about anything is different today. The smart phone and access to unlimited information on the internet changed everything. It’s no longer about a company's great products and or …

Innovations in technology are happening with ever-increasing speed. In this interview, we’ll hear from Neil C. Hughes, a highly respected authority …

We all have a “river” that runs through our veins – a theme that punctuates our life. Sometimes that theme is muted, and some times it’s loud. And sometimes it’s there, but hidden. Listen in as millennial Jordan Gross …

Have you ever caught yourself wondering if you weren’t supposed to be doing something different? Maybe you thought, “I know I’m not cut out for doing ‘this,’” but at the same time "I don't know what a different 'this' …

When we think of “project management,” we probably think of plans, schedules, deliverables, resources, and dependencies among various functional …

In this episode of “Getting Unstuck,” we’ll hear from social activist Orville Morales. Orville is a community outreach and change specialist. We’ll learn how he marshals community support for the causes he’s undertaking …

Why do some complex changes stick, while others fail miserably – up to 70% according to the Gallop organization. How much of change failure is the lack of attention paid to planning, resources, and other technicalities …

How often as a leader do you find yourself worrying about what happened yesterday, or catastrophizing about all the things that could happen …

What does it mean to be “mindful”? How can you work toward being more mindful? How does the mindful leader behave, and what impact does he or she …

How often do you ask yourself “Who am I? Where am I going? How do I get there?” How do you gain personal awareness? How do you present yourself authentically to others? In this the first of three episodes on …

How does your organization approach change? Where do ideas for change come from? How do you assess for change readiness? How do you develop and …

Cognitive distortions are self-limiting patterns of thinking that many of us demonstrate in life. These mental biases include “all or nothing …

When have you ever been asked – or been forced – to move out of your comfort zone – the arena in which you've historically operated? What did you discover about yourself and your strength repertoire in the process? What …

Who is the best leader with whom you have ever worked? What made them so? Was it their technical knowledge and the application of their experience? Was it how they worked with staff? A combination of these qualities?

In …

What do we mean by “soft” or “interpersonal” skills? Where do you see them – or the absence of them – in the workplace? Which ones do you consistently demonstrate? In this episode, we’re joined by Mary Schaefer, an HR …

What are your experiences with performance appraisals? Useful? A waste of time? Somewhere in the middle? In this episode, Steve Paul, former owner of …

Do you find yourself living your life, or someone else’s? Do you routinely invest in yourself to carve out your own identity and solidify your life? …

How can organizations best engage their employees to create real loyalty? What impact does leadership have on employee loyalty and engagement? What do we need to know about employee retention today?

In this episode, we …

Your life’s clock is ticking. What’s the trip you can’t afford not to take? What’s the activity you can’t afford not to do? Who is the person you can’t afford not to meet?

In this episode, we meet septuagenarian Jane …

What is the goal of U.S. education in an ever-changing world? What do we want for our students when they walk across the stage to receive their high …

In this episode, we interview Joe Kwon who, as he says, “pulls back the curtain” on life in his entertaining and informative “Why it Works” podcast. …

Our lives are rarely linear. Most of start out "here" and then make a series of twists and turns. In this "Transformation Story," we talk with Shelley Brown. Shelley’s life took a dramatic turn due to a physical …

How do you view life’s changes? As a series of one-off events that are largely disconnected from each other? Or as an ongoing transition? To get a perspective on those question, we listen in on an interview our friend, …

How do you show up as a leader at work (and in life)? What impact do you want and need to have to feel engaged, energized, and accomplished? In this episode, Kirsten and Jeff talk with leadership expert, Kimberly Davis, …

Our lives are rarely linear. Most of start out "here" and then make a series of twists and turns. In this "Transformation Story," we talk with Becca Bycott. Becca's life began to take a major turn one day riding the …

How do you view change – as episodic or as a constant? In this episode, which is Part 2 of a two-part series, we’ll continue to explore the idea of …

How do you view complex changes – as one-offs, or as a constant to support getting desired results? In this episode, which is Part 1 of a two-part …

OK, you’ve agreed on a plan for a complex change. Now, what do you need to consider to implement the plan? How do you get staff buy-in? In the first part of this episode, we'll suggest some answers to those questions. …

How can organizations and individuals experiment with change in a way that reduces risk and prevents the “fixedness” monster from keeping them stuck? In this episode, we focus on the experimentation phase of change for …

New ideas are often met with criticism and concern. In this episode, Kirsten and I review a number of strategies individuals and leaders can employ to overcome obstacles to change. Midway through this episode, we talk …

Our lives are rarely linear. Most of us start out “here” and then make a series of twists and turns. In this series we’re calling “Transformation Stories,” we interview one individual about how they came to be where …

You or your organization are stuck. How do you break free and come up with new ideas to help you move forward? Dr. Esmilda Abreu, Getting Unstuck's producer, interviews hosts Kirsten Richert and Jeff Ikler to share a …

Here, Kirsten is interviewed by Joe Kwon, our friend and host of the uniquely formatted "Why It Works" podcast. We'll learn what motivated Kirsten to …

Here, Jeff is interviewed by Joe Kwon, our friend and host of the uniquely formatted "Why It Works" podcast. We'll learn why Jeff chose coaching as a …

Effective change leaders acknowledge what is holding them back. Hosts Jeff and Kirsten explain how individuals and organizations can recognize how …

Unlock your potential to get unstuck by actively envisioning your ideal future state. Host Jeff Ikler interviews educator Dr. Melissa Hughes, author of Happy Hour with Einstein. Dr. Hughes shares her insights on how the …

In this podcast, we look at how those exploring a potential change can ready themselves and or their organization by learning more about the broader external environment, including trends in society, economics, new …

In this episode, hosts Kirsten Richert and Jeff Ikler recommend the counterintuitive strategy of pausing – intentionally slowing down to conduct an …

In this episode, hosts Kirsten Richert and Jeff Ikler review the “why” behind their respective practices of serving as an innovation catalyst for organizations, and a career and leadership coach for individuals. They …

In this first episode, innovation catalyst Kirsten Richert, and career and leadership coach, Jeff Ikler, explain their mission – to help individuals and institutions think differently about change, not as something to …