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In this episode of Change Starts Here, Dustin Odham sits down with Todd Nesloney, Director of Culture and Strategic Leadership for the Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association (TEPSA). Todd shares his insights on what a thriving school culture actually looks and feels like, going beyond test scores and bulletin boards to the fundamental human experiences of feeling seen, heard, and valued. Todd gets real about his own transition from the classroom to school administration, challenging the "martyr complex" that leads so many passionate educators to burnout. He encourages leaders to embrace their authentic selves, treat adults with the same grace and connection they offer students, and to stop overcomplicating their roles. Listeners will walk away with practical advice on how to empower their teams, the importance of expanding their professional networks outside their own district, and the courage to take risks—and own the failures that follow. Interested in the TEPSA Summer Conference? Learn more & register: https://www.tepsa.org/summer-conference/summer-conference/  Connect with Todd: https://www.toddnesloney.com/  Host: Dustin Odham (FranklinCovey Education) Guest: Todd Nesloney (Director of Culture and Strategic Leadership, TEPSA) Timestamps:  (00:00 - 02:46) Intro and welcome  (02:46 - 05:01) Meet Todd Nesloney  (05:01 - 08:16) Assessing school culture  (08:16 - 12:45) Seen, heard, and valued  (12:45 - 18:04) Finding the time for connection  (18:04 - 23:14) The educator martyr complex  (23:14 - 27:36) Redefining leadership meetings  (27:36 - 32:29) Patterns of high performance  (32:29 - 36:55) Teaching adults like kids  (36:55 - 44:06) Empowering your team  (44:06 - 47:35) Expand your network  (47:35 - 51:56) Walk up songs  (51:56 - 54:42) You are meant to be here

In this episode of Change Starts Here, Kim Yaris and Dr. Eve Miller dive into the critical topic of student well-being, especially relevant as climate survey data rolls in for the end of the year. While most schools measure happiness and meaningfulness, Dr. Miller highlights groundbreaking research by Erin Westgate and Shigehiro Oishi that introduces a third, often overlooked dimension: "psychological richness". Listeners will discover what psychological richness is, experiences that fundamentally shift how you see the world, and why it is distinct from both happiness and meaning. The hosts explain how a school might score perfectly on happiness metrics while still leaving students feeling like they're just going through the motions. They offer three highly practical ways for educators to build psychological richness into their daily routines: asking the right reflective questions, making perspective shifts visible, and actively seeking out unfamiliar viewpoints. Handout: https://resources.franklincovey.com/c/podcast_handout_epis-31?x=mRNVAO Staff Booster: https://resources.franklincovey.com/c/lim_staffbooster_epi31?x=mRNVAO Hosts:  Kim Yaris, M.Ed. (Associate Director of Research with FranklinCovey Education)  Dr. Eve Miller (Director of Research with FranklinCovey Education) Timestamps: (00:00 - 01:42) School Climate surveys (01:42 - 03:35) Psychological richness (03:35 - 05:04) Richness vs rigor (05:04 - 06:31) Tracking perspective change (06:31 - 08:31) Why richness matters (08:31 - 10:24) Missing wellbeing metrics (10:24 - 11:48) Purpose and richness (11:48 - 13:58) Practice 1: Add the third question (13:58 - 16:01) Practice 2: Make the shift visible (16:01 - 18:09) Practice 3: Unfamiliar perspectives (18:09 - 19:49) Designing deliberately

In this episode of Change Starts Here, Dustin Odham addresses the unique challenge of the final stretch of the school year. When testing season arrives and the finish line is in sight, there's a natural temptation for educators to coast. But Dustin explains why the most critical moments for leadership, culture, and student impact happen right now, when everyone is tired. Drawing inspiration from sports psychology and the first modern Olympic marathon, Dustin challenges leaders and teachers to lean into the fatigue rather than drift through it. He re-frames testing not as a punishment, but as a responsibility to ensure every student is learning. This episode is a powerful reminder that people rarely remember how something started; they remember how it finished. Listeners will walk away inspired to recommit to their expectations and remind their teams that the work they are doing right now still matters. Host: Dustin Odham (FranklinCovey Education) Timestamps:  (00:00 - 01:26) The quiet temptation  (01:26 - 02:01) The hardest part  (02:01 - 03:20) The 1896 Olympic marathon  (03:20 - 04:20) The final stretch  (04:20 - 05:07) Reframing state testing (05:07 - 05:58) The lie of April  (05:58 - 07:22) Fatigue exposes character  (07:22 - 08:06) Competitive greatness  (08:06 - 09:39) A challenge for educators  (09:39 - 11:10) Finish strong

In this episode, Dr. Duzy breaks down her powerful "SEEDS" philosophy—Serve, Empower, Embrace, Develop, Steer—and explains why securing "buy-in" is no longer enough. She shares the messy but rewarding reality of shifting your team toward true ownership, how to establish the right conditions for new initiatives to thrive, and the importance of aligning district-wide systems like evaluations and strategic plans to a singular vision. If you’re a K-12 leader looking to build a culture of continuous improvement and empowerment, this episode provides a masterclass in developing the people who support the students. Be sure to like, subscribe, and leave a comment! Learn more about how you can build leaders who build leaders:  https://franklincovey.com/show-greatschoolleaders Learn more about C&D: https://www.leaderinme.org/district/   00:00 Intro  02:29 Meet Dr. Bridget Duzy  04:00 Moral Imperative: Do the Most Good  06:38 Building Leaders Who Lead  07:48 The SEEDS Leadership Philosophy  10:21 Transitioning from Teacher to Administrator  13:39 Scaling District-Wide Initiatives  16:25 Setting the Conditions for Success  21:36 Changing the Conversation Around Change  24:00 Buy-In vs. Ownership  28:03 Aligning Evaluation Systems  36:09 First Steps for District Leaders  38:42 Keeping the Leadership Fire Lit  43:42 Closing

In this episode of Change Starts Here, Kim Yaris and Dr. Eve Miller challenge the way we view joy and play in education, especially during the heavy, high-stress stretch of testing season. Too often, joy is treated as a "garnish" in schools—a funny video at a staff meeting or a smoothie bar during Teacher Appreciation Week—and categorized as a mood rather than a vital capacity. However, Dr. Miller shares that joy actually has a biological architecture that fundamentally changes what the brain can do. Drawing on Barbara Fredrickson’s "broaden-and-build theory" and Dr. Stuart Brown's research on play histories, the hosts reveal that play is not a reward for finished work; it is a biological drive as essential as sleep and nutrition. The conversation unpacks how the demands of leadership train the brain to constantly scan for problems, which can trigger "foreboding joy" and shut down our access to playfulness. Listeners will walk away with three highly intentional, small practices to rebuild this capacity: training your "delight muscle," going first with vulnerability, and protecting one entirely unproductive ritual. Download the free episode assets: Handout: https://resources.franklincovey.com/c/CSH-handout-e27?x=D1cEja Staff Booster: https://resources.franklincovey.com/c/csh_staffbooster_ep27?x=D1cEja Host: Kim Yaris, M.Ed. (Associate Director of Research with FranklinCovey Education)  Dr. Eve Miller (Director of Research with FranklinCovey Education) Timestamps:  (00:00 - 01:15) Podcast intro (01:15 - 03:28) The delight muscle (03:28 - 06:30) Joy as a capacity (06:30 - 08:34) Broaden and build theory (08:34 - 10:14) Play is a biological drive (10:14 - 12:39) Brain mechanisms of play (12:39 - 15:46) Foreboding joy in leadership (15:46 - 17:40) Realistic, adaptable leadership (17:40 - 19:56) Practice 1: Delight muscle (19:56 - 21:34) Practice 2: Go real (21:34 - 24:43) Practice 3: Unproductive ritual

In this episode of Change Starts Here, Dustin Odham sits down with New York Times bestselling author Jon Acuff to explore the profound impact of mindset on both students and educators. Jon unpacks his concept of "broken soundtracks"—the negative, repetitive thoughts that hold us back—and explains why issues like procrastination, perfectionism, and imposter syndrome are not physical hurdles, but mindset challenges. Jon shares practical strategies for identifying and replacing these broken soundtracks, starting with a simple two-step exercise that educators can use in the classroom to uncover limiting beliefs. He also challenges adults to lead by example, arguing that we must be as brave as we ask our students to be. Whether you are an educator trying to inspire a classroom or a leader trying to silence your own inner critic, this conversation offers actionable advice on how to practice positivity and turn overthinking into a superpower. Visit Jon’s Website to learn more: https://store.jonacuff.com/   Purchase your copy of Jon’s best-selling book, Soundtracks: The Surprising Solution to Overthinking https://store.jonacuff.com/soundtracks  Host: Dustin Odham (FranklinCovey Education) Guest: Jon Acuff (New York Times Bestselling Author) Timestamps:  (00:00 - 02:37) Intro (02:37 - 07:10) Solving the overthinking problem (07:10 - 09:46) Mindset as a multiplier (09:46 - 12:43) The lifecycle of a broken soundtrack (12:43 - 15:16) A classroom mindset exercise (15:16 - 18:49) Leading by example (18:49 - 23:39) Practicing positivity (23:39 - 28:53) Betting on yourself (28:53 - 30:47) Idea bankruptcy (30:47 - 33:17) Empowering the next generation (33:17 - 35:01) Lean into your one verse (35:01 - 37:42) Closing

In this episode of Change Starts Here, Kim Yaris explores a pressing question in education: are students and adults less curious than they used to be? In a fast-paced world, the space for wondering is often crowded out by the demand for immediate answers. Yet, workforce research continuously identifies curiosity as a critical, durable skill essential for problem-solving, adaptability, and long-term learning. Kim dismantles the conventional myth that curiosity is simply a fixed personality trait. Instead, she shares five research insights proving it is highly responsive to its environment. Listeners will learn the neuroscience behind why curiosity emerges when uncertainty feels manageable, and how true engagement often looks more like productive struggle than cheerful exploration. Finally, Kim offers three practical moves for leaders to nurture curiosity in their teams and classrooms: building tiny moments of prediction, normalizing uncertainty, and ensuring questions don't hit a dead end. Download the Handout: https://resources.franklincovey.com/c/podcast_handout_ep25?x=I8LeIC Hosts: Kim Yaris, M.Ed. (Associate Director of Research with FranklinCovey Education) Timestamps:  (00:00 - 01:29) The curiosity question  (01:29 - 02:58) A durable, essential skill  (02:58 - 04:19) The conventional curiosity (04:19 - 06:19) Five research insights  (06:19 - 08:13) The neuroscience of uncertainty  (08:13 - 09:30) Practice 1: Tiny predictions  (09:30 - 10:28) Practice 2: Normalize uncertainty  (10:28 - 11:20) Practice 3: Avoid dead ends (11:20 - 12:27) Outro

In this episode of Change Starts Here, Dustin Odham addresses the subtle burnout that often creeps into schools during the spring semester. He explains that burnout often stems not from the workload itself, but from the negative stories and expectations we attach to that workload. Through a personal story of a chaotic morning, Dustin illustrates how shifting our internal question to "What does leadership require of me right now?" can change our entire posture and response. Listeners will learn three practical shifts to reclaim their agency: separating fatigue from frustration, reclaiming their circle of control, and upgrading the meaning assigned to their challenges. By moving from victim language to ownership language, educators can transform an exhausting season into a refining one. Host: Dustin Odham (FranklinCovey Education) Timestamps:  (00:00 - 01:08) Intro  (01:08 - 01:38) Subtle burnout  (01:38 - 03:18) A chaotic morning  (03:18 - 04:46) What leadership requires now  (04:46 - 06:26) Interpretation drives your energy  (06:26 - 07:48) Circumstance versus your identity  (07:48 - 08:00) Separate fatigue from frustration  (08:00 - 08:30) Reclaim circle of control  (08:30 - 09:03) Upgrade your assigned meaning  (09:03 - 09:39) Choose ownership and growth  (09:39 - 10:59) Challenge yourself  (10:59 - 11:40) Outro

In this episode of Change Starts Here, Kim Yaris and Dr. Eve Miller dive into the pervasive and often misunderstood topic of "high expectations." While most leaders strive to raise the bar, they often see the same patterns repeat: the same students doing the thinking and the same staff carrying the load. Kim and Eve explore the research behind why this happens, revealing that high expectations are not just a mindset, but a visible environment created by thousands of micro-decisions. Listeners will be guided through a visualization exercise to understand how belief shifts behavior, from the feedback we give to the opportunities we offer. The hosts unpack four research-backed practices to disrupt low-expectation cycles: conducting an "Opportunity Audit," separating a student's "snapshot" from their potential "pathway," utilizing "Wise Feedback," and pairing challenge with structural support. This episode challenges educators to examine their default settings and intentionally design cultures where growth is the norm, not the exception. Our Staff Booster: https://resources.franklincovey.com/c/lim_staffbooster_episode23?x=63yTZl Download the Handout: https://resources.franklincovey.com/c/podcast_handout_epis-23?x=63yTZl Hosts:  Kim Yaris, M.Ed. Associate Director of Research with FranklinCovey Education Dr. Eve Miller, Director of Research with FranklinCovey Education Timestamps: (00:00 - 00:42) Podcast intro  (00:42 - 01:49) The expectation gap  (01:49 - 04:24) Visualizing belief versus doubt  (04:24 - 06:28) Expectations as environments  (06:28 - 08:46) How expectations leak out  (08:46 - 10:45) Cycles of expectations  (10:45 - 13:21) Balancing efficiency and expectation  (13:21 - 16:21) Labels and self-perception (16:21 - 18:24) Practice 1: Opportunity Audit  (18:24 - 19:35) Practice 2: Snapshot vs Pathway  (19:35 - 20:30) Practice 3: Wise Feedback  (20:30 - 21:54) Practice 4: Challenge and Support  (21:54 - 23:00) Closing thoughts

In this episode of Change Starts Here, host Dustin Odham is joined by Kory Kogon, FranklinCovey’s Global Practice Leader for Content Development and co-author of The 5 Choices: The Path to Extraordinary Productivity. Together, they address the mounting pressure on educators to "do it all" and the burnout that inevitably follows. Kory explains why the old "work 'til you drop" mentality is no longer sustainable in an age of constant digital distraction and generational shifts. Kory breaks down the framework of The 5 Choices, explaining how it complements the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by offering a practical system for decision, attention, and energy management. Listeners will learn how to identify their "extraordinary roles," avoid "accidental energy drainers" that demoralize teams, and why physical renewal is a biological necessity for brain function, not just a luxury. This conversation is a roadmap for high performers to move from feeling buried by the whirlwind to achieving meaningful results without sacrificing their well-being. Get your copy of The 5 Choices: https://www.amazon.com/Choices-Path-Extraordinary-Productivity/dp/1476711712/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1413483143&sr=1-2&keywords=the+five+choices+to+extraordinary+productivity Host: Dustin Odham, FranklinCovey Education Guest: Kory Kogon, Co-author, The 5 Choices: The Path to Extraordinary Productivity Timestamps:  (00:00 - 02:07) Introduction and Context  (02:07 - 04:39) Meet Kory Kogon  (04:39 - 06:23) Rethinking Productivity  (06:23 - 08:56) 5 Choices and 7 Habits  (08:56 - 12:02) Decision Management  (12:02 - 13:04) Attention Management  (13:04 - 18:08) Real-World Impact Stories  (18:08 - 22:56) Fuel Your Fire  (22:56 - 28:50) Managing Overwhelm  (28:50 - 35:14) Modeling Energy Leadership  (35:14 - 37:15) Practical First Steps  (37:15 - 40:04) 5 Choices and 4DX  (40:04 - 42:17) Accidental Energy Drainers  (42:17 - 43:15) Conclusion

In this episode of Change Starts Here, Kim Yaris and Dr. Eve Miller tackle a practice that is ubiquitous in education yet often misunderstood: reflection. While educators and students are constantly asked to reflect, it frequently feels shallow, performative, or exhausting. Kim and Dr. Miller explore the neuroscience behind why reflection works, revealing that without it, experience simply hardens habits rather than creating learning. Listeners will learn the critical neurological distinction between reflection and rumination, and how leaders often unintentionally trigger the latter. The conversation highlights that reflection is not a passive review of the past, but an active state of inquiry that requires psychological safety to engage the prefrontal cortex. By shifting from "why" questions to "what" questions and treating reflection as a learned skill, leaders can turn this practice into a powerful engine for self-regulation and capacity building. Download the Handout: https://resources.franklincovey.com/c/CSH-Truth-reflection?x=fmnfWP Hosts: Kim Yaris, M.Ed. (Associate Director of Research with FranklinCovey Education) Dr. Eve Miller (Director of Research with FranklinCovey Education) Timestamps:  (00:00 - 00:55) Podcast intro and topic   (00:55 - 02:44) The tension of reflection  (02:44 - 04:23) Experience versus learning   (04:23 - 05:15) The cycle of inquiry   (05:15 - 07:25) Why reflection drives growth   (07:25 - 09:53) Neuroscience of the brain   (09:53 - 12:33) Reflection versus rumination   (12:33 - 14:20) Common reflection misconceptions   (14:20 - 15:41) Practical leadership strategies   (15:41 - 18:05) Closing thoughts

In this episode of Change Starts Here, host Dustin Odham addresses the unique challenges of the "February slump", a time when fresh start energy has faded and end-of-year milestones are still out of sight. Dustin explores why behavior problems from both students and adults often spike during this period, arguing that these are rarely character issues but rather energy issues fueled by fatigue and disconnection. Listeners will learn three practical leadership moves to navigate this difficult stretch without burning out: regulating yourself before redirecting others, narrowing the focus to essential behaviors, and catching engagement before correcting behavior. By viewing behavior as feedback rather than failure, leaders can shift from reacting to responding, rebuilding trust and momentum when it is needed most. Host: Dustin Odham Timestamps: (00:00 - 01:45) Introduction (01:45 - 02:49) Fatigue impacts behavior (02:49 - 03:50) Energy versus character issues (03:50 - 05:02) Behavior is information (05:02 - 06:05) Connection over consequences (06:05 - 06:39) Regulate yourself first (06:39 - 07:06) Narrow the focus (07:06 - 07:58) Catch engagement early (07:58 - 09:24) Leading from the middle (09:24 - 09:53) Outro

In this episode of Change Starts Here, Kim Yaris and Dr. Eve Miller tackle the dreaded "mid-year slump", that time when energy dips and motivation becomes scarce for both staff and students. Rather than pushing harder, they explore the neurobiology behind what actually drives us to take action. Dr. Miller breaks down the science of the "motivation switch" in the brain, the nucleus accumbens, and explains why choice, relevance, and connection are biological necessities, not just nice-to-haves. Listeners will discover why motivation is not a fixed personality trait but a response to environmental conditions. The conversation unpacks Self-Determination Theory and offers leaders practical strategies to shift their teams from compliance to contribution. By learning how to offer authentic choices and co-create paths forward, educators can reignite agency and engagement even during the toughest stretches of the school year. Download the Handout: https://resources.franklincovey.com/c/CSH_handout_S6E19?x=OcaUHV Hosts: Kim Yaris, M.Ed. (Associate Director of Research with FranklinCovey Education) Dr. Eve Miller (Director of Research with FranklinCovey Education) Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction: Mid-Year Slump 01:48 Neurobiology of Motivation 02:46 Visualizing Motivation Triggers 05:17 The Nucleus Accumbens 07:20 Autonomy and Choice 10:14 Self-Determination Theory 12:38 Biology Over Personality 15:24 Practice: Offering Meaningful Choice 17:37 Practice: Co-Creating Paths

What if the leadership practices that once kept schools running are now holding them back? In this episode of Change Starts Here, host Dustin Odham sits down with David Kasperson, co-author of the Wall Street Journal bestseller Trust & Inspire and Director of Speaking & Business Development at FranklinCovey, to challenge the deeply rooted belief that control drives results. Together, they explore why traditional, compliance-driven leadership is reaching its breaking point in today’s schools—and how shifting to a Trust & Inspire model can unlock the latent potential of educators and students alike. Kasperson reframes trust not as a “soft” idea, but as rocket fuel for innovation, engagement, and performance. Listeners will gain practical insights into the three stewardships of leadership—modeling, trusting, and inspiring—and learn how to rebuild trust, even after it’s been damaged. This conversation is a call to action for K–12 leaders ready to move beyond managing tasks and start leading people with belief, purpose, and stewardship. Get Your Copy of Trust & Inspire: https://store.leaderinme.com/products/trust-and-inspire-book-hardcover Host: Dustin Odham, Managing Director with FranklinCovey Education Guest: David Kasperson, Co-author of Trust & Inspire and Director of Speaking & Business Development at FranklinCovey Timestamps: (00:00 - 01:18) Episode introduction (01:18 - 03:04) David’s leadership journey (03:04 - 04:47) Why trust matters now (04:47 - 07:19) Measuring trust vs. engagement (07:19 - 09:11) Speed as a differentiator (09:11 - 11:07) Management vs. leadership paradigms (11:07 - 14:13) Moving beyond compliance (14:13 - 17:09) Barriers to trust (17:09 - 19:56) Tapping into inspiration (19:56 - 24:11) High expectations, not micromanagement (24:11 - 30:37) Steps to rebuild trust (30:37 - 36:23) Stewardship for the person (36:23 - 42:38) Love in the classroom (42:38 - 44:13) Leading through potential (44:13 - 46:05) Overcoming leadership frustration (46:05 - 50:00) Outro and resources

In this episode of Change Starts Here, Kim Yaris and Dr. Eve Miller explore the common "disconnect" between traditional school efforts and what actually drives student achievement. Dr. Miller shares insights from a deep dive into family engagement research, revealing that many widely accepted practices are more about compliance than connection. By shifting the focus from school-based events to "academic socialization," educators can unlock more powerful outcomes for their students. Listeners will learn how to identify and remove subtle barriers, such as scheduling conflicts and language gaps—that prevent families from engaging. The conversation highlights the transformative power of two-way communication and proactive, positive reach-outs. By moving away from visible but less effective gestures and toward building trust, educators can foster a partnership with families that significantly accelerates learning. Download the Handout, What Strengthens Family Engagement?: https://resources.franklincovey.com/c/fy26_csh_rc-handout_?x=hPII-q Hosts: Kim Yaris, M.Ed. (Associate Director of Research with FranklinCovey Education) Dr. Eve Miller (Director of Research with FranklinCovey Education) Timestamps: (00:00 - 00:42) Podcast intro (00:42 - 01:57) Research disconnects (01:57 - 04:28) Perceptions of engagement (04:28 - 06:27) Identifying engagement barriers (06:27 - 08:17) Changing educator paradigms (08:17 - 10:38) Redefining family involvement (10:38 - 12:21) Three engagement categories (12:21 - 14:07) Academic socialization impact (14:07 - 15:58) Building parent capacity (15:58 - 17:44) Power of two-way communication (17:44 - 21:36) Efficiency and effort tradeoffs (21:36 - 22:17) Closing thoughts