Leaning into Leadership

In Episode 261, I’m coming to you on location from Edmond, Oklahoma, where I had the opportunity to sit down with my friend Joe Beckman at the OASSP conference. Joe has spent more than 20 years traveling the world with one simple mission: reclaim human connection. And if we’re honest, that mission has never been more urgent. Loneliness is at an all-time high. Belonging and self-worth feel fragile....

In this episode of Leaning Into Leadership , I’m joined by George Couros , one of the most influential voices in education around innovation, culture, and human-centered leadership. George and I dig into his leadership journey — not from a place of “having it all figured out,” but from a place of learning out loud. We talk about how blogging helped him find his voice, not just share it, and why wr...

Ever left a leadership team meeting feeling like it was so productive —then realized a week later nothing really changed? In this solo episode, Darrin unpacks why that gap between effort and impact is rarely about commitment—and almost always about clarity. Building on his “Cycle of Chaos” episode, he shares the ALIGN Framework , a practical system for strengthening team dynamics and keeping teams...

Weston Kieschnick has been in the work for a long time—as a classroom teacher, coach, author, and speaker—and this conversation feels like two colleagues reconnecting around what actually drives performance. We dig into Weston’s newest work and the idea that the gap between high performers and underachievers usually isn’t talent. It’s behavior—especially in the moments when adversity hits. In this...

Leadership doesn’t fall apart overnight. More often, it slowly drifts into a pattern that feels overwhelming, exhausting, and reactive. In this solo episode, Darrin introduces The Cycle of Chaos —a framework that helps leaders name what they’re experiencing and begin interrupting the patterns that keep them stuck in survival mode. Rather than offering quick fixes or productivity hacks, this episod...

School leaders everywhere are wrestling with the same challenge: How do we support students who are behind — without overwhelming teachers or relying on systems that don’t deliver results? In this episode of Leaning Into Leadership , Darrin Peppard sits down with Jennifer Sheffield , CEO of HeyTutor, for a grounded, practical conversation about what effective tutoring and intervention really look...

In this special shared episode, Darrin Peppard and Dr. Frederick Buskey —host of The Assistant Principal Podcast —tackle a challenge leaders are facing more and more often: angry, escalated parent interactions . This conversation was sparked by a real question from the field— a leader Frederick supports reached out looking for guidance on how to handle parents when emotions are high. Together, Dar...

What does it mean to be a dealer in hope — not as the source of hope, but as someone who helps others discover it for themselves? In this first episode of 2026, Darrin sits down with longtime friend and colleague Dr. Mark Brown for a powerful conversation about leadership, hope, and intentional presence. Mark shares the story behind his “Hope Dealer” philosophy, why hope is for everyone (not just...

As 2025 comes to a close, Dr. Darrin Peppard reflects on the year that was and what the work of leadership is asking of us as we head into 2026. In this year-end solo episode, Darrin invites both individual leaders and leadership teams to pause, reflect, and resist the urge to rush into the new year without clarity. Drawing from his work with leadership teams across the country, Darrin shares the...

This episode is sponsored by DigiCoach. Make walkthroughs meaningful. Simplify your coaching culture. Visit digiCOACH.com and mention Darrin for special partner pricing. In Episode 252 of Leaning Into Leadership , Darrin Peppard sits down with Scott Borba, superintendent–principal in California’s Central Valley and author of The Leader You’re Not . Together, they explore leadership identity, the c...

This episode is sponsored by DigiCoach. Make walkthroughs meaningful. Simplify your coaching culture. Visit digiCOACH.com  and mention Darrin for special partner pricing. In this powerful and deeply personal conversation, Darrin sits down with longtime friend and colleague  Dr. Danny Steele to explore what it truly means to lead with heart, clarity, and purpose. Danny reflects on his 31-...

This episode is sponsored by DigiCoach Make walkthroughs meaningful. Simplify your coaching culture. Visit digiCOACH.com  and mention Darrin for special partner pricing. For this milestone episode, the script gets flipped. Longtime friends and frequent guests  Todd Bloomer  and  Dominic Armano  take over the show and interview host  Dr. Darrin Peppard  about the...

This episode is sponsored by DigiCoach Make walkthroughs meaningful. Simplify your coaching culture. Visit digiCOACH.com  and mention Darrin for special partner pricing. If you’ve followed high-level high school athletics—especially in Colorado—you’ve probably heard of Valor Christian High School. From state titles to nationally ranked teams, Valor has built a reputation for excellence. But w...

This episode is sponsored by DigiCoach Make walkthroughs meaningful. Simplify your coaching culture. Visit digiCOACH.com  and mention Darrin for special partner pricing. In this inspiring episode, NAESP President  April D. Knight  joins Darrin to explore what leadership looks like when it stays grounded in relationships, service, and intentional support for school leaders. April sha...

Sponsor Spotlight: digiCOACH Support for today’s episode comes from digiCOACH — the walkthrough and coaching platform designed to simplify data collection, strengthen feedback, and improve instructional clarity. Visit  digiCOACH.com , mention Darrin sent you, and ask about special partner pricing. In Episode 247 of the  Leaning Into Leadership  podcast, Darrin welcomes back repeat g...

Sponsor Spotlight: digiCOACH Support for today’s episode comes from digiCOACH — the walkthrough and coaching platform designed to simplify data collection, strengthen feedback, and improve instructional clarity. Visit   digiCOACH.com , mention Darrin sent you, and ask about special partner pricing. In this solo episode of the  Leaning Into Leadership  podcast, Dr. Darrin Peppard tak...

Partner Spotlight: Let’s face it — leadership is complex. That’s why Darrin is proud to partner with digiCOACH, a walkthrough and coaching platform that simplifies observation and feedback so leaders can focus on what really matters — students and instruction. Visit  digiCOACH.com  and mention that Darrin sent you for special partner pricing. In Episode 245 of the  Leaning Into...

Partner Spotlight: Let’s face it — leadership is complex. That’s why Darrin is proud to partner with  digiCOACH , a walkthrough and coaching platform that simplifies observation and feedback so leaders can focus on what really matters — students and instruction. Visit  digiCOACH.com  and mention that Darrin sent you for special partner pricing. Have you ever felt like you’re just ru...

Clarity in leadership starts with visibility—and that’s exactly what DigiCoach delivers. Designed to simplify walkthroughs and feedback, DigiCoach helps school leaders build a culture of coaching rooted in trust, consistency, and growth. Collect data, identify trends, and turn every classroom visit into an opportunity for meaningful support and improvement. Visit  digiCOACH.com  and ment...

In this special on-location episode of  Leaning Into Leadership , Dr. Darrin Peppard sits down with longtime friend and colleague  Dr. Daniel Hornick , Superintendent of Orange County Public Schools in Virginia. Together, they unpack what it truly takes to grow future leaders in education, the realities of superintendent leadership today, and the balance between leading your board, your...

Episode summary To celebrate the launch of  darrinpeppard.com , Darrin shares six quotes that have shaped his leadership—and how each one connects to clarity, systems, purpose, relationships, and the courage to take the road less traveled. Along the way, he shares pivotal stories: moving from “Captain Chaos” to intentional leader, the coaching that changed everything, trusting relationships o...

In this solo episode, Dr. Darrin Peppard dives deep into one of the hardest challenges leaders face — guiding their teams through circumstances completely outside their control. From district-wide budget cuts to post-COVID uncertainty, Darrin explores how leaders can help their teams release what they can’t control and regain focus, trust, and agency around what they can. Drawing on a real coachin...

Leadership starts with self-awareness—but most assessments only tell part of the story. In this episode, Dr. Darrin Peppard sits down with  David Kolbe , CEO of  Kolbe Corp , to explore the  conative  side of the human mind—the part that drives how we take action. David explains the difference between  thinking, feeling, and doing , and how the  Kolbe A™ Index  r...

In this episode, I sit down with Casey Watts—speaker, author, thought leader, and creator of the  Clarity Cycle Framework . With over 20 years in education and a decade of coaching experience, Casey has helped countless leaders bridge gaps, foster commitment, and build sustainable alignment in their teams. We dig into the missing piece that derails so many leaders: clarity. From the dangers o...

In this week’s episode of  Leaning Into Leadership , I sit down with Dr. Zac Bauermaster, an elementary principal in Lancaster County, PA, whose fist-bump videos with students recently went viral — one reaching over 382 million views on Instagram. But behind the headlines is a leader who has learned through personal challenges, family priorities, and a deep commitment to faith what it truly m...