Lead with HOPE

In this deeply personal episode of Lead with H.O.P.E. , Brandi Kelly reflects on her father’s life and the lasting leadership lessons left behind. Through stories of warmth, humor, resilience, and quiet strength, Brandi shares how her dad’s legacy shaped her perspective on leadership, connection, and hope. Listeners will discover: 💡 The greatest leadership gift : making people feel truly seen, va...

In this powerful and heartfelt episode of the Lead with H.O.P.E. podcast, we sit down with educator, leader, and podcaster Gerrie Spellmann —co-host of Love, Sweat, and Tears —to explore what it truly means to lead with heart in the midst of challenge. With decades of experience in education, Gerrie brings grounded wisdom, unfiltered honesty, and a deep passion for reconnecting to joy and purpose....

In this empowering episode of the Lead with H.O.P.E. podcast, I sit down with William D. Parker —executive coach, educator, speaker, and founder of Principal Matters, LLC . With decades of experience as an award-winning teacher and principal, Will shares practical strategies for leading with Habits, Optimism, Purpose, and Excellence in today's rapidly changing education landscape. 🎧 Tune in as we...

In this inspiring episode of the Lead with H.O.P.E. podcast, we’re joined by Kijuan Amey, founder and CEO of Amey Motivation, U.S. Air Force veteran, and motivational speaker. After a life-altering motorcycle accident left him blind in 2017, Kijuan refused to let adversity define him. Instead, he chose to lead with purpose, resilience, and vision. Through his work with the Blinded Veterans Associa...

In this special solo episode of the Lead with HOPE podcast, Brandi Kelly shares her personal journey of loss, resilience, and purpose. From the tragic loss of her brother Brandon to over 20 years as an educator and school leader, Brandi reveals how she discovered the true power of HOPE—Habits, an Optimistic Outlook, Purpose, and Excellence—in both life and leadership. Listeners will learn practica...

In this inspiring episode of the Lead with HOPE Podcast , Brandi Kelly sits down with Gretchen Bridgers—educator, coach, speaker, and founder of Always A Lesson. With over two decades of experience empowering teachers and transforming classrooms, Gretchen shares her journey from the classroom to coaching, the pivotal moments that shaped her mission, and how she continues to uplift educators throug...

In this inspiring episode of the Lead with H.O.P.E. podcast, Dr. Brandi Kelly welcomes Amanda Younts , leadership and personal growth expert known as The Midlife Catalyst . With over two decades of experience in education, psychology, and advocacy, Amanda shares her deeply personal journey of transitioning from a career in education to becoming a sought-after speaker, coach, and wellness advocate....

In this empowering episode of Lead with H.O.P.E. , host Brandi Kelly sits down with two trailblazing women in education— Dr. Courtney Orzel , Superintendent of Lemont, IL, and Dr. Kate Koch , Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources. Both are educators, speakers, authors, and authentic leaders dedicated to building people-centered school cultures that thrive on trust, belonging, and psychologic...

Have you ever learned a leadership lesson in the most unexpected place? In this episode of Lead with H.O.P.E. , Brandi Kelly shares how a simple weekend bike ride with family turned into three powerful insights for school and organizational leaders. Discover why: :1️⃣ Your circle matters – Who you spend time with can accelerate or stall your growth. 2️⃣ Investing in yourself is non-negotiable – Le...

Welcome to Lead with HOPE , the podcast where we explore leadership, resilience, and purpose-driven living. I’m your host, Brandi Kelly—and today’s guest truly embodies what it means to flourish through adversity. Christian Ray Flores is an entrepreneur, evangelist, international pop star, and philanthropist. Born into political exile and shaped by a global upbringing, Christian has lived an extra...

In this powerful episode of Lead with HOPE , Brandi Kelly sits down with Kevin McNicholas to reflect on the ROE #40 SEL Summit and explore what it means to find HOPE in the hard places . Kevin opens up about his experience attending the SEL Summit four years ago, a time when he was navigating challenges and considering a change in his profession. Together, Brandi and Kevin discuss the importance o...

In this inspiring episode, Brandi sits down with Chris Culver—educator, thought leader, and founder of Orange Sparrow—to explore the transformative power of kindness in leadership, education, and everyday life. With over a decade of experience in educational leadership, Dr. Culver shares how the Science of Kindness is reshaping schools and organizations across the country. As a Gen Z/Alpha expert,...

Ready to build a life that’s rooted in purpose—not pressure? In this episode of Lead With Hope , we explore the power of mastery goals : goals that focus on growth over perfection, and progress over comparison. Inspired by last week’s interview with Glenn Forbes and Jenni Donohoo, we dive into what the research says (including insights from John Hattie’s research) and why setting mastery goals fue...

In this episode of the Lead with HOPE Podcast, we’re joined by two distinguished educators and thought leaders—Dr. Jenni Donohoo and Glenn Forbes. Today, they will share about their new book - Collective Impact: Overcoming the 12 Enemies of Teacher Efficacy. Together, Jenni and Glenn share invaluable insights on fostering collective efficacy, elevating professional learning, and driving sustainabl...

In this episode, I’m sharing something close to my heart and a major source of hope for the future: The Restore Network . This incredible organization is doing transformative work in the foster care system, providing support, community, and real solutions for vulnerable children and the families who care for them. If you’ve ever wondered how you can make a difference in the lives of children in ne...

Today on Lead with HOPE , I'm joined by Michael D. Toth — founder and CEO of Instructional Empowerment, acclaimed author, and visionary thought leader in education. With more than 25 years of experience, Michael has partnered with influential voices like Robert Marzano, published groundbreaking research, and guided school districts across the country in transforming instructional practices. In thi...

In this powerful episode of the Lead with HOPE Podcast , I’m opening up about the heart, the journey, and the mission behind Spark HOPE Edu — a mission and movement rooted in healing, purpose, and community. 🌱✨ This isn’t just a story about founding a business. It’s about growing, creating spaces where everyone feels supported, and establishing a system of HOPE to sustain us. 💥 Tune in to here...

In this episode of the Lead with HOPE Podcast, I sit down with Amy P. Kelly, a best-selling author, keynote speaker, executive coach, and performance consultant, to explore the powerful role of HOPE in leadership. Amy shares insights on how hope can transform leadership, mindset, and team dynamics. We discuss actionable strategies for cultivating hope, shifting from a fixed to a growth mindset, an...

Welcome back to Lead with Hope , the show where we ignite leadership with heart, purpose, and real results. I’m your host, Brandi Kelly—and today, we’re cutting through the noise and getting straight to what’s actually holding schools back. My guest is the dynamic Casey Watts —educator, coach, and clarity queen! With 20 years in the trenches of teaching, coaching, and leading, Casey knows what it’...

In this episode of Lead with HOPE , we’re joined by Kim, a former teacher turned internationally-known motivational speaker, powerhouse, and leading happiness coach. Kim’s mission is to help others tap into their power and live happier, more fulfilling lives, and she brings a unique blend of positivity and science-backed strategies to the conversation. Drawing from the latest in positive psycholog...

🎙️ Welcome to Lead with H.O.P.E. , where we explore stories of resilience, purpose, and leadership through the lens of our system of self-efficacy: H is for Habits , O is for Optimistic Outlook , P is for Purpose, Passion, Perseverance , and E is for Excellence . 💛 Today’s episode is especially close to my heart. We’re honoring the memory of my brother, Bub, by sharing a heartfelt story from Mist...

In this episode of the Lead with HOPE podcast, Kurtis Hewson, an award-winning educator and co-author of Collaborative Response: Three Foundational Components That Transform How We Respond to the Needs of Learners (Corwin, 2022), shares insights from his extensive experience in education. Kurtis discusses his journey from teacher to administrator and his current work with schools and districts glo...

In this episode, I sit down with Raul Gastón, the Principal of Gompers Junior High School in Joliet, IL, to discuss the powerful themes of building capacity , fostering collaboration , and shaping a positive school culture . With over two decades of experience in education, Raul has become a trailblazer in the field, and in 2023, he made history as the first Latino President of the Illinois Princi...

On this episode of the Lead With HOPE Podcast , we're joined by Sean Gaillard , Principal of Charles England Elementary School in Lexington, NC, and a true champion of creativity, collaboration, and student success. In this inspiring conversation, we dive deep into the importance of family, relationships, and belonging —the essential pillars that fuel hope and drive in both our personal and profes...

Welcome to another exciting episode of the Lead with HOPE podcast, where we dive deep into the leadership principles that drive success, growth, and lasting impact. Today, we have a special guest, PJ Caposey, a dynamic leader who’s been making waves in education. PJ is currently leading two school districts, a feat that speaks volumes about his leadership capacity, vision, and commitment to creati...