The Perkins Platform

In this episode, I sit down with Zaretta Hammond, nationally recognized education consultant and author of the bestselling book Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain , for a thought-provoking conversation about the relationship between culture, neuroscience and learning. We explore how culturally responsive teaching can strengthen academic rigor, develop independent learners and move beyond...

In this episode, I sit down with Zac Armstrong, founder of Executive Health Edge , retired Naval Commander and former F-18 fighter pilot, for a conversation about an often-overlooked dimension of leadership: the physical capacity to lead well. We explore whether health should be considered a leadership competency rather than simply a personal choice, why high-performing professionals can be remark...

In this episode, I sit down with Professor Jonathan Jansen, distinguished scholar, former university leader, and author of Breaking Bread , for a deeply reflective conversation about leadership and the experiences that shape us. We explore what the classroom taught him about leading people, how his understanding of higher education leadership has changed over the course of his career and the diffi...

In this episode, I sit down with Jim Brown , seasoned leadership coach, consultant, and author of The Imperfect CEO , for a candid conversation about what he has learned from years of working alongside executives and leadership teams. Jim shares why effective leadership is not about having all the answers or projecting perfection, but about developing the self-awareness, discipline and humility to...

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Jennifer Keys Adair , author of Smart and Capable: Supporting Children’s Agency in a Complex World , for a thoughtful conversation about what it means to genuinely believe in children’s capabilities. We explore the tension between giving children meaningful agency and maintaining the boundaries, structure and guidance that come with adult responsibility. From p...

What happens when leaders build teams of people who think differently, but continue to lead everyone the same way? In this episode of The Perkins Platform , Dr. Brian Perkins sits down with Dr. Dan Flint to explore what it really takes to lead cognitively diverse teams. Their conversation examines the difference between fit and sameness, the importance of translation rather than assumption and why...

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Gabby Cudjoe Wilkes of Union Theological Seminary for a thoughtful conversation about moral courage and what it means to lead when the choices before us are anything but simple. We explore the intersection of leadership, faith, justice, and organizational life, including how leaders navigate competing values, protect human dignity, remain accountable to their c...

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Patricia Faison Hewlin for a thought-provoking conversation inspired by her new book, Staying True to You . We explore the tension between authenticity and belonging and what happens when people feel pressure to hide, minimize or reshape parts of themselves in order to succeed. Dr. Hewlin shares insights from her research on identity, authenticity and workplace...

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Yolanda Sealey-Ruiz for a deeply reflective conversation inspired by her new book, The Archaeology of Self . We explore why meaningful leadership begins with understanding ourselves, what it means to excavate the experiences and beliefs that shape who we are and why introspection is essential rather than optional for those who lead others. Our conversation exam...

In this episode, I sit down with Betsy Kauffman, author of The Fix , for a compelling conversation about why so many of our solutions fail to solve the problems they're intended to address. We explore the human tendency to rush toward answers, the dangers of treating symptoms instead of root causes and why curiosity, careful diagnosis and systems thinking are essential leadership skills. Bets...

In this episode, I sit down with Christine Miles, author, entrepreneur and founder of The Listening Path®, to explore why listening may be one of the most overlooked leadership skills. Drawing on her research and experience, Christine challenges the assumption that listening is a passive activity and argues that many of us are not truly listening to understand, but rather listening to respond, sol...

In this episode, I sit down with Yasar Ahmad, leadership coach, people leader and one of social media's most influential voices on career growth and workplace success. Known for his engaging content on TikTok and LinkedIn, Yasar has helped millions of professionals better understand topics such as executive presence, strategic thinking, influence, workplace dynamics and leadership effectivene...

In this episode, leadership advisor and executive coach Dr. Julie Staggs joins me for a practical conversation about one of the most important realities of leadership: teams follow behavior, not intention . Drawing on her experience coaching executives and advising organizations across the corporate, nonprofit and higher education sectors, Julie explains why even well-intentioned leaders can strug...

In this episode, leadership author and thought leader, Mark C. Crowley joins me to discuss why the future of leadership may depend less on managing performance and more on supporting human well-being. Drawing on lessons from his books Lead From The Heart and The Power of Employee Well-Being, Mark shares how his experience in the high-pressure world of financial services challenged conventional lea...

In this episode, I sit down with David C. Banks, former Chancellor of New York City Public Schools, to unpack what it really takes to lead a large, complex organization. Drawing on his experience leading New York City Public Schools, we explore decision-making under pressure, managing competing priorities, and building culture at scale. This is a candid conversation about leadership when the stake...

In this episode, I sit down with Andy Rotherham, co-founder and senior partner at Bellwether and the longtime voice behind Eduwonk, for a conversation about the uncertainty surrounding artificial intelligence and its potential impact on education. Drawing on a recent essay, Andy compares the current moment with AI to the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic when signals of major disruption were eme...

In this episode, I sit down with cybersecurity expert Suresh Sankaran Srinivasan to unpack what today’s organizational leaders need to understand about digital risk. We explore the different levels of the internet (what exists on the surface web, the deep web, and the dark web) and how those layers shape real-world threats. We discuss who should be concerned about cybersecurity breaches, why no or...

In this episode, Punya Mishra joins me to discuss his chapter, “Beyond Boundaries: Transdisciplinary Creativity with Generative Artificial Intelligence,” from the edited volume Generative Artificial Intelligence and Creativity: Precautions, Perspectives, and Possibilities. We explore what the rise of generative AI means for human creativity, moving beyond simplistic utopian or dystopian narratives...

In this episode, psychologist and researcher Dr. Brett Waggoner joins me to explore his work on legacy motivation.  Legacy motivation is defined as the psychological drive to leave a meaningful and lasting impact. We discuss why the desire to be remembered shapes decision-making, purpose, and identity, and how this motivation influences leaders across disciplines. Drawing on his research, Dr. Wagg...

Podcast Description In this episode, I sit down with acclaimed children’s nonfiction author Tanya Lee Stone to explore the power of telling the truth about history and elevating voices too often left out of the narrative. Known for uncovering little-known stories of extraordinary people, Stone shares how she approaches writing narrative nonfiction that is as gripping as fiction while remaining gro...

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Soren Kaplan, bestselling author of Experiential Intelligence and one of today’s leading voices on innovation and leadership. We begin by exploring how life experiences shape a powerful form of intelligence that leaders can use to navigate complexity, strengthen culture, and drive meaningful change. The conversation then shifts to the psychology of influence, w...

In this episode, Dina Denham Smith , executive coach, leadership advisor, and author of Emotionally Charged , joins me to explore how understanding and harnessing emotion can transform the way we lead. Drawing on her work with leaders at Google, Netflix, and Adobe, Dina shares insights from emotional science that help leaders navigate pressure, build stronger teams, and shape healthier cultures. W...

In this episode, Dr. Shivam Dubey and Dr.  Salil Gupta join me to explore the neuroscience of the true self  and why authentic leadership begins from within. Drawing on their groundbreaking work in mental health education and resilience, they explain how the brain responds when leaders operate from alignment versus performance mode, and what happens when we lose touch with our inner authenticity....

In this episode, Dr. Gordon M. Sayre, Assistant Professor of Management at Emlyon Business School in Lyon, France, joins me to discuss his research on emotional dissonance and what happens when leaders feel one thing but must display another. We explore the difference between surface acting and deep acting in leadership, the toll emotional regulation can take on well-being, and how leaders can bre...

In this episode, Dr. Jud Brewer, psychiatrist, neuroscientist, and author, joins me to discuss his groundbreaking research on how habits form and how we can change them. We explore what the science reveals about breaking unhelpful patterns and creating lasting change.  These insights are especially relevant for leaders seeking to shift behaviors, improve focus, and lead with greater awareness. Dr....