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Welcome to the school leadership podcast dedicated to advancing creativity and innovation in education. No matter the seat you lead from, this podcast is your vehicle for creative ideas, bold school leadership, and field-tested strategies that work where it counts—in schools.
WARNING ⚠️ This podcast is exclusively for two groups of people: the passionate school leaders who show up every day with a relentless focus on improving student outcomes and transforming students’ TK-12 school experiences and the once-passionate leaders who may have lost a bit of their spark and just need a dose of inspiration to find their way back.
Each week, we invite innovators in education from across the country, doing the real work in schools to hop on the school bus with me -- Dr. Spates, the Proud Principal of a vibrant Los Angeles County Middle School Community. Together, we uncover what’s really working in schools—tapping into each guest’s “zone of genius” to give you one practical, school-tested strategy you can bring back to your learning community.
Because our children, families, and communities are counting on us to lead with urgency, care, and purpose.
Let’s reimagine what’s possible in education, together —one ride at a time.
| Episode | Date |
|---|---|
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Ep 19 | Lead with Reckless Abandon. From Foster Care to College President: Inside Sacramento State’s Bold Equity Work with Dr. Luke Wood
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Mar 23, 2026 |
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Ep 18 | Reimagining Schools So Marginalized Students Experience Belonging, Brilliance, and Joy
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Mar 16, 2026 |
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Ep 17 | From Chaos to Community: How the Tatted Principal Kat Shaw Transforms Schools
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Mar 09, 2026 |
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Ep 16 | Nicholas Westfall: California Teacher of the Year Reinvents PE — Why Students Stop Loving It (And How To Fix It!)
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Mar 02, 2026 |
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Ep 15 | Principals: Step Back to Build Belonging by Allowing Teams to Lead Schools Forward a Reflective Conversation with Dr. Franklin and Dr. Spates
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Feb 23, 2026 |
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Ep 14 | Policy Isn’t Just for Politicians: Lived Experience Is the Real Credential with TaVia Wooley
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Feb 16, 2026 |
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Ep 13 | Masterclass: Creating High School Culture from the Ground Up with Dr. Kathya Arriaran-Buono
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Feb 09, 2026 |
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Ep 12 | You Are Not Obligated to Set Yourself on Fire to Keep Others Warm: Leading with Purpose, Equity & Data with Dr. Patricia Brent-Sanco
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Feb 02, 2026 |
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Ep 11 | Don’t Underestimate Our Communities: Leading with Heart, High Expectations, and a Restorative Lens
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Jan 26, 2026 |
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Ep 10 | The Hope Dealer: Restorative Leadership, Digital Voice, and Running Toward the Roar with Dr. J.R. Rucker
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Jan 19, 2026 |
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Ep 9 | Equity in Schools: Why Seeing Students and Teachers as Whole Humans Changes Everything with Jazmine Morales Rodriguez
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Jan 12, 2026 |
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Ep 8 | Don’t Waste Our Kids’ Time: Principal, Coach Fred Gatlin on Empathy, Relevance, and School Leadership
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Jan 05, 2026 |
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Ep 7 | Leadership That Fuels Innovation: Dr. Greg Franklin on Creating a Culture of “Yes!”
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Dec 15, 2025 |
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Ep 06 | MTSS for Real Classrooms: Strategies That Actually Support Diverse Learners
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Dec 08, 2025 |
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Ep 05 | Meet the Host: Why We Ride – It May Bomb But the Kids and Adults Who Support Them are Worth It
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Dec 01, 2025 |
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Ep 04 | Breaking the Stigma — Mental Health, Trust, and Student Well-Being with Ebony Wilson
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Nov 24, 2025 |
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Ep 03 | Innovative School Pathways: Connecting Students to Careers with Matthew Winheim
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Nov 17, 2025 |
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Ep 02 | Dr. Timothy Howell on Authentic School Leadership & Transforming Schools with Heart & Accountability
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Nov 10, 2025 |
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Ep 01 | Hope Isn’t a Strategy: Dr. David Cash on Relentless School Leadership for Equity & Innovation
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Nov 03, 2025 |
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Podcast Trailer | It May Fail But I'm Going for It Anyways!
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Jun 30, 2025 |