Leading Out Loud

In this episode of Leading Out Loud , Chantell Manahan sits down with Dr. Dana Altemeyer, a fellow French-teacher-turned-district-leader, to explore why storytelling is one of the most powerful tools in educational leadership. Together, they unpack how great leaders use storytelling to build trust, strengthen relationships, and shape school culture. From everyday emails and staff updates to distri...

In this episode of Leading Out Loud , I sit down with my brilliant friend Monica Watts, Senior Director of Community Programs at 1EdTech, to unpack the world of data standards in education. If that sounds technical, don’t worry; we make it practical. Because this episode is about demystifying the acronyms and architecture and leaning into the strategy and soul of the way these standards impact the...

When tech doesn’t work, it’s not just frustrating; it’s disruptive. In this episode, I sit down with HubbleIQ founders Keyvan Berenjian and Belinda Batdorf to explore the human story behind their company. We’ll talk about the moment they realized the support experience was broken, why they felt called to fix it, and how their mission is rooted in making technology support faster, easier, and more...

What if the most important part of AI in education… isn’t the AI? In this episode of Leading Out Loud , Chantell Manahan sits down with Allison Reid , a visionary leader from Wake County Public Schools, to explore what it really means to lead human-centered AI work in K–12 education. From managing change at scale to building trust with school and district leaders, Allison shares her powerful appro...

What happens when a passionate data leader refuses to let essential work stay invisible? In this episode of Leading Out Loud, I’m joined by Stacy Cunningham, Executive Director of the Indiana Education Data Alliance and a driving force behind elevating the role of data practitioners in schools. Stacy shares how a spark of conversation at the Ed-Fi Tech Congress turned into a full-fledged statewide...

What happens when someone who’s led edtech in the trenches steps into the role of building it? In this episode of Leading Out Loud , Chantell sits down with Barbara Nesbitt, a former district CTO turned Vice President of Product, to explore what it really takes to bridge the gap between schools and edtech companies. Barbara shares the surprises and similarities she’s discovered on both sides of th...

Cybersecurity isn’t just about firewalls and phishing filters; it’s about people. In this inaugural episode of Leading Out Loud , Chantell Manahan sits down with Bill Stein, district CTO and creator of the brilliant “Cyber Shorts” series, to explore why storytelling might be the secret weapon education leaders have been missing in their cybersecurity playbook. From hilarious cautionary tales to pr...

What does it really take to lead with creativity and courage in a system built on tradition? In this episode, Chantell sits down with educator, author, and edtech trailblazer Matt Miller to explore the mindset behind meaningful disruption, from his decision to ditch the textbook to his current work helping teachers navigate the promise and pressure of AI. Together, they talk about what it means to...

In this premiere episode, education leader and K–12 CTO Dr. Chantell Manahan shares the story behind the mic, from teaching French in a rural school district to becoming a voice for transformational leadership in education. You’ll hear how technology sparked her passion, what inspired her to move into school and district leadership, and why this podcast, Leading Out Loud , is built for today’s mos...