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In this episode of Exceptionally Good, I’m joined by Scott Seider, a professor, former public school teacher, and one of the most thoughtful voices I know on what it means to educate young people for a just and democratic society. Scott is a Professor of Applied Developmental and Educational Psychology at Boston College Lynch School of Education and Human Development, where his research centers on how schools can support young people in developing a sense of purpose, critical consciousness, moral courage, and civic responsibility. Before entering academia, Scott taught high school in Boston Public Schools …experience that continues to ground his scholarship in the lived realities of classrooms and communities. He is the author of Character Compass and co-author of Schooling for Critical Consciousness, works that have shaped how educators across the country think about character development, equity, and the role of school culture in young people’s lives. Across his writing, research, and teaching, Scott consistently asks a deeper question:  What kinds of human beings—and citizens—are our schools helping to cultivate? In this conversation, we explore: What “critical consciousness” actually looks like in practiceHow schools can nurture purpose and moral courage without slipping into ideologyThe role of identity, power, and belonging in adolescent developmentWhat it means to prepare young people not just for college and careers—but for democracy itselfIf you’re an educator, school leader, or anyone wrestling with how to raise and teach young people in uncertain times, this episode offers both grounding and hope. Links & Resources Mentioned Character Compass  — https://hep.gse.harvard.edu/9798895570302/character-compass-second-edition/ Schooling for Critical Consciousness  — https://hep.gse.harvard.edu/9781682534298/schooling-for-critical-consciousness/ More on Scott www.scottseider.com Info on a project in which we collaborated, Critical Consciousness in Crew, is available at www.bc.edu/4cs •••••••••• About Exceptionally Good https://www.exceptionallygood.org/about About Exceptionally Good: https://www.exceptionallygood.org/about Follow us: @e.g.exceptionallygood More from Exceptionally Good: 📧 [email protected] Work with Ryan: https://www.exceptionallygood.org/services Exceptionally Good on Substack: https://substack.com/@exceptionallygood Producer, editor and host: Ryan Maxwell Theme music: Ryan Raddatz Guitar music: Adeline’s Guitar Credits/Outro Read by: Adeline, Advice and Jess The views shared on this podcast are those of my guests and the host and do not necessarily reflect those of any employer past or present.

In this episode of Exceptionally Good, I’m joined by Scott Seider, a professor, former public school teacher, and one of the most thoughtful voices I know on what it means to educate young people for a just and democratic society. Scott is a Professor of Applied Developmental and Educational Psychology at Boston College Lynch School of Education and Human Development, where his research centers on how schools can support young people in developing a sense of purpose, critical consciousness, moral courage, and civic responsibility. Before entering academia, Scott taught high school in Boston Public Schools …experience that continues to ground his scholarship in the lived realities of classrooms and communities. He is the author of Character Compass and co-author of Schooling for Critical Consciousness, works that have shaped how educators across the country think about character development, equity, and the role of school culture in young people’s lives. Across his writing, research, and teaching, Scott consistently asks a deeper question: 
 What kinds of human beings—and citizens—are our schools helping to cultivate? In this conversation, we explore: * What “critical consciousness” actually looks like in practice * How schools can nurture purpose and moral courage without slipping into ideology * The role of identity, power, and belonging in adolescent development * What it means to prepare young people not just for college and careers—but for democracy itself As a fellow white educator committed to working across lines of race, class, gender, and language in pursuit of justice, I’ve long admired Scott’s combination of intellectual rigor and deep moral clarity. This conversation feels especially important in a moment when civic life feels fragile and young people are searching—often with unclear role models—for meaning and agency. If you’re an educator, school leader, or anyone wrestling with how to raise and teach young people in uncertain times, this episode offers both grounding and hope. Links & Resources Mentioned Character Compass — https://hep.gse.harvard.edu/9798895570302/character-compass-second-edition/ Schooling for Critical Consciousness — https://hep.gse.harvard.edu/9781682534298/schooling-for-critical-consciousness/ More on Scott www.scottseider.com Info on a project in which we collaborated, Critical Consciousness in Crew, is available at www.bc.edu/4cs •••••••••• About Exceptionally Good https://www.exceptionallygood.org/about Follow us: @e.g.exceptionallygood More from Exceptionally Good: 📧 [email protected] Work with Ryan:
 https://www.exceptionallygood.org/services Exceptionally Good on Substack: https://substack.com/@exceptionallygood Producer, editor and host: Ryan Maxwell Theme music: Ryan Raddatz Guitar music: Adeline’s Guitar Credits/Outro Read by: Adeline, Advice and Jess The views shared on this podcast are those of my guests and the host and do not necessarily reflect those of any employer past or present.

In this episode of Exceptionally Good: Leaders for a Better World, I’m joined by two remarkable humans—Sheeba Jacob and Anay Shah—for a conversation about purpose, partnership, and the clarity that can emerge through challenge and loss. Two compelling and humble leaders for good… who just happen to be married to each other! Sheeba is the Director of Middle School Design at Citizen of the World Charter Schools, a researcher, educator, and musical artist whose work explores how teachers—and all of us—can cultivate hope in uncertain times. Her recent article in the Journal for Multicultural Education examines how contemporary teacher preparation often neglects hope and healing justice, the deeply human frameworks needed to build empathy, community, and connection. When she’s not writing or leading, Sheeba composes music that tells stories of parenthood, identity, and solidarity across communities. Anay is an investor, storyteller, and systems thinker. As co-founder of Stepchange Fund, he works at the intersection of capital and justice, reimagining how financial systems can fuel more equitable and sustainable futures. His work reflects a deep curiosity about how complex systems—from data centers to markets—shape our lives and possibilities. In our conversation, Sheeba and Anay talk candidly about how periods of transition and loss helped them clarify what truly matters—both in their work and in their life together. We explore how they’ve learned to name priorities, let go of what no longer serves them, and protect the relationships that make meaningful work possible. They also share the small but powerful rituals that help them stay connected amid demanding roles and ambitious social-good goals—including Tequiza: a Friday-night ritual involving pizza, tequila, and intentional time together as partners. This episode is an invitation to reflect on what it looks like to build a life of purpose not just as an individual, but alongside someone else—to do good work, tend to love, and keep choosing connection, even when the work is hard. •••••••••• About Exceptionally Good https://www.exceptionallygood.org/about Follow us: @e.g.exceptionallygood More from Exceptionally Good: 📧 [email protected] Work with Ryan:   https://www.exceptionallygood.org/services Exceptionally Good on Substack: About Exceptionally Good: https://www.exceptionallygood.org/about Follow us: @e.g.exceptionallygood More from Exceptionally Good: 📧 [email protected] Work with Ryan: https://www.exceptionallygood.org/services Exceptionally Good on Substack: https://substack.com/@exceptionallygood Producer, editor and host: Ryan Maxwell Theme music: Ryan Raddatz Guitar music: Adeline’s Guitar Credits/Outro Read by: Adeline, Advice and Jess The views shared on this podcast are those of my guests and the host and do not necessarily reflect those of any employer past or present.

In this episode of Exceptionally Good: Leaders for a Better World, I’m joined by two remarkable humans—Sheeba Jacob and Anay Shah—for a conversation about purpose, partnership, and the clarity that can emerge through challenge and loss.
 Two compelling and humble leaders for good… who just happen to be married to each other! Sheeba is the Director of Middle School Design at Citizen of the World Charter Schools, a researcher, educator, and musical artist whose work explores how teachers—and all of us—can cultivate hope in uncertain times. Her recent article in the Journal for Multicultural Education examines how contemporary teacher preparation often neglects hope and healing justice, the deeply human frameworks needed to build empathy, community, and connection. When she’s not writing or leading, Sheeba composes music that tells stories of parenthood, identity, and solidarity across communities. Anay is an investor, storyteller, and systems thinker. As co-founder of Stepchange Fund, he works at the intersection of capital and justice, reimagining how financial systems can fuel more equitable and sustainable futures. His work reflects a deep curiosity about how complex systems—from data centers to markets—shape our lives and possibilities. In our conversation, Sheeba and Anay talk candidly about how periods of transition and loss helped them clarify what truly matters—both in their work and in their life together. We explore how they’ve learned to name priorities, let go of what no longer serves them, and protect the relationships that make meaningful work possible. They also share the small but powerful rituals that help them stay connected amid demanding roles and ambitious social-good goals—including Tequiza: a Friday-night ritual involving pizza, tequila, and intentional time together as partners. This episode is an invitation to reflect on what it looks like to build a life of purpose not just as an individual, but alongside someone else—to do good work, tend to love, and keep choosing connection, even when the work is hard. •••••••••• About Exceptionally Good https://www.exceptionallygood.org/about Follow us: @e.g.exceptionallygood More from Exceptionally Good: 📧 [email protected] Work with Ryan:
 https://www.exceptionallygood.org/services Exceptionally Good on Substack: https://substack.com/@exceptionallygood Producer, editor and host: Ryan Maxwell Theme music: Ryan Raddatz Guitar music: Adeline’s Guitar Credits/Outro Read by: Adeline, Advice and Jess The views shared on this podcast are those of my guests and the host and do not necessarily reflect those of any employer past or present.

“Let us rise up tonight with a greater readiness. Let us stand with a greater determination. And let us move on in these powerful days, these days of challenge to make America what it ought to be. We have an opportunity to make America a better nation.”   - Dr. King This year, I’m doing something a bit different.  One in what I hope is a yearly series.  Instead of our usual conversation with powerful, human and reflective leaders for social good, I’m sharing a reading from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have Been to the Mountaintop” speech — a voice grounded in courage, nonviolence, and moral clarity that still speaks to our work for justice and social good. Dr. King delivered this speech in Memphis on April 3, 1968, the night before his assassination. In it he lifted up the struggle for human dignity, rooted justice in nonviolent moral force, and reminded us that the arc of history bends toward justice …when and because we choose to push it there. It does not bend itself. It does not bend when we doomscroll or lament.  Those might inform us or motivate us.  But it is action that bends that arc. For all of us working for social good, Dr. King’s words offer two leadership lessons that still matter: Justice is pursued through nonviolence and the moral high ground — true power is grounded in love for the humanity of every person: allies and detractors.Courage is built in solidarity and community — even when the path is steep and the mountain high, we are not alone. This reading is offered in the spirit of exceptional good — honoring the courage of all who stand for justice and human rights through non-violent action and civil courage. Listen to Dr. King’s original speech here: https://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkivebeentothemountaintop.htm To all leaders who carry both hope and heaviness, who stand for dignity in the face of fear, who hold fast to justice when the world tests your resolve: Link arms.  Keep going.  Your work matters.  About Exceptionally Good: https://www.exceptionallygood.org/about •••••••••• Follow us: @e.g.exceptionallygood More from Exceptionally Good: 📧 [email protected] Work with Ryan:  https://www.exceptionallygood.org/services Exceptionally Good on Substack: About Exceptionally Good: https://www.exceptionallygood.org/about Follow us: @e.g.exceptionallygood More from Exceptionally Good: 📧 [email protected] Work with Ryan: https://www.exceptionallygood.org/services Exceptionally Good on Substack: https://substack.com/@exceptionallygood Producer, editor and host: Ryan Maxwell Theme music: Ryan Raddatz Guitar music: Adeline’s Guitar Credits/Outro Read by: Adeline, Advice and Jess The views shared on this podcast are those of my guests and the host and do not necessarily reflect those of any employer past or present.

In this episode - Brad Barrett, CPA and co-founder of the ChooseFI Podcast, one of the most influential platforms in the Financial Independence (FI) movement. While Brad’s career began in accounting, it’s his work making FI accessible to everyone that makes him a leader worth learning from. The FI movement, as Vicki Robin framed it, asks a simple but profound question: your money or your life? At its core, FI isn’t about hoarding wealth... it’s about using intentional financial choices to reclaim your time, create freedom, and build resilience.  Or, as Sister Irene Kraus, leader of a hospital for those in need, once said: “No margin, no mission.”   Money is not the mission — but it is a necessary and enabling condition to have the impact you dream about. And Brad’s work shines light on how to make margin for good.  In this conversation, Brad and I explore: How margin (or savings rate) empowers people and organizations to stay on mission.The traps of traditional financial services — and why Brad shares freely instead of selling.Practical FI principles that help anyone in service, leadership, or social good sustain impact over the long run.The importance of aligning financial choices with values and mission.Margin isn’t just a personal concept—it’s essential for organizations dedicated to social good. Nonprofits, schools, and community groups need breathing room in their budgets to weather crises, survive policy shifts, and keep serving when a grant runs dry. The same holds true for individuals: without margin, mission falters. Financial independence tools provide a framework to create that margin, ensuring both people and organizations can endure and thrive in pursuit of their highest purpose. Brad could easily have stepped away after reaching FI. Instead, he uses his talents and skills to lead for exceptional good — helping others see through the noise and build a life of intention, impact, and joy. So dive in and learn how having margin for the mission helps you soar above.  Links: ChooseFI Podcast  - a wealth of accessible conversations about financial independence JL Collins’ Blog – The Simple Path to Wealth  - a brilliant grounding in the principles, the how and why of FI The Monk and the Minister -  a parable about freedom and the trappings of high salary The Shockingly Simple Math Behind Early Retirement  From Mr. Money Mustache About Exceptionally Good: https://www.exceptionallygood.org/about Follow us: @e.g.exceptionallygood More from Exceptionally Good: 📧 [email protected] Work with Ryan: https://www.exceptionallygood.org/services Exceptionally Good on Substack: https://substack.com/@exceptionallygood Producer, editor and host: Ryan Maxwell Theme music: Ryan Raddatz Guitar music: Adeline’s Guitar Credits/Outro Read by: Adeline, Advice and Jess The views shared on this podcast are those of my guests and the host and do not necessarily reflect those of any employer past or present.

In this episode - Brad Barrett, CPA and co-founder of the ChooseFI Podcast, one of the most influential platforms in the Financial Independence (FI) movement. While Brad’s career began in accounting, it’s his work making FI accessible to everyone that makes him a leader worth learning from. The FI movement, as Vicki Robin framed it, asks a simple but profound question: your money or your life? At its core, FI isn’t about hoarding wealth... it’s about using intentional financial choices to reclaim your time, create freedom, and build resilience.  Or, as Sister Irene Kraus, leader of a hospital for those in need, once said: “No margin, no mission.”   Money is not the mission — but it is a necessary and enabling condition to have the impact you dream about. And Brad’s work shines light on how to make margin for good.  In this conversation, Brad and I explore: * How margin (or savings rate) empowers people and organizations to stay on mission. * The traps of traditional financial services — and why Brad shares freely instead of selling. * Practical FI principles that help anyone in service, leadership, or social good sustain impact over the long run. * The importance of aligning financial choices with values and mission. Margin isn’t just a personal concept—it’s essential for organizations dedicated to social good. Nonprofits, schools, and community groups need breathing room in their budgets to weather crises, survive policy shifts, and keep serving when a grant runs dry. The same holds true for individuals: without margin, mission falters. Financial independence tools provide a framework to create that margin, ensuring both people and organizations can endure and thrive in pursuit of their highest purpose. Brad could easily have stepped away after reaching FI. Instead, he uses his talents and skills to lead for exceptional good — helping others see through the noise and build a life of intention, impact, and joy. So dive in and learn how having margin for the mission helps you soar above.  Links: ChooseFI Podcast  - a wealth of accessible conversations about financial independence https://choosefi.com/ JL Collins’ Blog – The Simple Path to Wealth  - a brilliant grounding in the principles, the how and why of FI https://jlcollinsnh.com/stock-series/ The Monk and the Minister -  a parable about freedom and the trappings of high salary https://jlcollinsnh.com/2011/06/02/the-monk-and-the-minister/ The Shockingly Simple Math Behind Early Retirement  From Mr. Money Mustache https://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2012/01/13/the-shockingly-simple-math-behind-early-retirement/ Jim Collins's (another Collins!) concept of “Preserve the Core / Stimulate Progress” https://www.jimcollins.com/concepts/preserve-the-core-stimulate-progress.html •••••••••• Follow us: @e.g.exceptionallygood More from Exceptionally Good: 📧 [email protected] Work with Ryan:
https://www.exceptionallygood.org/services Exceptionally Good on Substack: https://substack.com/@exceptionallygood Producer, editor and host: Ryan Maxwell Theme music: Ryan Raddatz Guitar music: Adeline’s Guitar The views shared on this podcast are those of my guests and the host and do not necessarily reflect those of any employer past or present.

Ron Rapatalo is a connector, coach, and culture-shifter. A proud New Yorker and the son of Filipino immigrants, Ron brings over two decades of experience in K-12 education, nonprofit leadership, and executive search. He's dedicated his career to cultivating equity and empowering and mission driven organizations. His experiences include leadership roles at Teach for America, New Leaders, Edgility Consulting, Stronger Consulting, and as an advisory board member at Harvard Business Review.  As the host of the RONderings podcast, Ron delves into conversations around leadership, Identity wellness, exploring the superpowers that drive personal and professional transformation beyond his professional endeavors. Ron, like all of us, contains multitudes: serving as a career coach, an author, a public speaker, and the founder of the Rapatalo Group LLC, alongside his wife Shanita.  Ron’s mission? To dismantle systemic inequities and help leaders and organizations thrive with purpose and integrity. Whether he’s coaching senior leaders or chatting with an Uber driver, Ron’s superpower is building trust—fast. This episode is full of wisdom for anyone navigating leadership, identity, career pivots, or simply trying to live with more alignment. Ron shares openly about what it means to choose purpose over prestige, the power of relationships, and how even professional setbacks (like getting fired) can become transformational growth moments. If you’re a mission-driven leader, this conversation is for you. Ron’s got some great lessons for leaders:  Building trust is a SuperpowerYou Are Not Your JobAsk Better Questions in Your CareerYour Network Is Your Safety Net........... Connect with Ron! LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/rapatalo/ Ron’s Newsletter - RONservations https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/ronservations-7192945637582086144/ Ronderings Podcast  https://open.spotify.com/show/4Pimm7Z4j7FO3EiQRxralb •••••••••• More from Exceptionally Good... Follow us: @e.g.exceptionallygood Recommend a leader to be a guest: https://forms.gle/GzHAYmzueE3UnarY6 Feedback – Help us improve: https://forms.gle/aXempCSq2rvdfrCz9 Help us cover costs – give $5, $10, $25, $50 or $?? at our Donorbox: About Exceptionally Good: https://www.exceptionallygood.org/about Follow us: @e.g.exceptionallygood More from Exceptionally Good: 📧 [email protected] Work with Ryan: https://www.exceptionallygood.org/services Exceptionally Good on Substack: https://substack.com/@exceptionallygood Producer, editor and host: Ryan Maxwell Theme music: Ryan Raddatz Guitar music: Adeline’s Guitar Credits/Outro Read by: Adeline, Advice and Jess The views shared on this podcast are those of my guests and the host and do not necessarily reflect those of any employer past or present.

Ron Rapatalo is a connector, coach, and culture-shifter. A proud New Yorker and the son of Filipino immigrants, Ron brings over two decades of experience in K-12 education, nonprofit leadership, and executive search. He's dedicated his career to cultivating equity and empowering and mission driven organizations. His experiences include leadership roles at Teach for America, New Leaders, Edgility Consulting, Stronger Consulting, and as an advisory board member at Harvard Business Review. As the host of the RONderings podcast, Ron delves into conversations around leadership, Identity wellness, exploring the superpowers that drive personal and professional transformation beyond his professional endeavors. Ron, like all of us, contains multitudes: serving as a career coach, an author, a public speaker, and the founder of the Rapatalo Group LLC, alongside his wife Shanita. Ron’s mission? To dismantle systemic inequities and help leaders and organizations thrive with purpose and integrity. Whether he’s coaching senior leaders or chatting with an Uber driver, Ron’s superpower is building trust—fast. This episode is full of wisdom for anyone navigating leadership, identity, career pivots, or simply trying to live with more alignment. Ron shares openly about what it means to choose purpose over prestige, the power of relationships, and how even professional setbacks (like getting fired) can become transformational growth moments. If you’re a mission-driven leader, this conversation is for you. Ron’s got some great lessons for leaders:  * Building trust is a Superpower * You Are Not Your Job * Ask Better Questions in Your Career * Your Network Is Your Safety Net ........... Connect with Ron! LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/rapatalo/ Ron’s Newsletter - RONservations https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/ronservations-7192945637582086144/ Ronderings Podcast  https://open.spotify.com/show/4Pimm7Z4j7FO3EiQRxralb •••••••••• More from Exceptionally Good... Follow us: @e.g.exceptionallygood Recommend a leader to be a guest: https://forms.gle/GzHAYmzueE3UnarY6 Feedback – Help us improve: https://forms.gle/aXempCSq2rvdfrCz9 Help us cover costs – give $5, $10, $25, $50 or $?? at our Donorbox: https://donorbox.org/support-leaders-striving-for-exceptional-good-in-the-world More from Exceptionally Good: 📧 [email protected] Work with Ryan:
  https://www.exceptionallygood.org/services Exceptionally Good Articles on Substack: https://substack.com/@exceptionallygood ……… Producer, editor and host: Ryan Maxwell Theme music: Ryan Raddatz Guitar music: Adeline’s Guitar The views shared on this podcast are those of my guests and the host and do not necessarily reflect those of any employer past or present.

What does it look like to reflect deeply on education systems—after you’ve learned across the ocean and back again  …and before you’ve even graduated high school? In this  episode, Ryan sits down with Isamu Thung, a recent graduate of High Tech High and one of the most thoughtful young leaders discussing learning, equity, and systems transformation. Despite just finishing high school, Isamu brings a level of wisdom, humility, and systems-thinking that challenges adults in the field to go deeper. We explore: The hard lessons of leadership and the tension between control and compassionWhat Isamu learned by moving between the U.S. and Japan’s educational systemsHow a single semester of empowered teaching transformed his trajectoryWhy good structure creates freedom—and too much freedom can paralyzeWhat it means to walk with someone through their learning journeyWhether he’s designing professional development tools, mentoring middle schoolers, or rethinking how systems shape outcomes, Isamu shows us what’s possible when curiosity meets deep reflection. This episode is full of insights about identity, courage, and the kind of leadership that grows through humility and struggle.  Connect with Isamu Thung: Website: https://isamuthung.com LinkedIn: Isamu Thung https://www.linkedin.com/in/isamu-thung-55429b288/ Email: [email protected] Ron Berger’s Unboxed episode (featuring Isamu): “Schools Can Get Better at Unleashing Student Potential” https://hthgse.edu/podcasts/schools-can-get-better-at-unleashing-student-potential/ •••••••••• Follow us: @e.g.exceptionallygood Recommend a leader to be a guest: https://forms.gle/GzHAYmzueE3UnarY6 Feedback – Help us improve: https://forms.gle/aXempCSq2rvdfrCz9 Help us cover costs – give $5, $10, $25, $50 or $?? at our Donorbox: https://donorbox.org/support-leaders-striving-for-exceptional-good-in-the-world More from Exceptionally Good: 📧 [email protected] Work with Ryan:   About Exceptionally Good: https://www.exceptionallygood.org/about Follow us: @e.g.exceptionallygood More from Exceptionally Good: 📧 [email protected] Work with Ryan: https://www.exceptionallygood.org/services Exceptionally Good on Substack: https://substack.com/@exceptionallygood Producer, editor and host: Ryan Maxwell Theme music: Ryan Raddatz Guitar music: Adeline’s Guitar Credits/Outro Read by: Adeline, Advice and Jess The views shared on this podcast are those of my guests and the host and do not necessarily reflect those of any employer past or present.

Isamu Thung - Systems, Self, and the Struggle to Lead …all before graduating high school What does it look like to reflect deeply on education systems—after you’ve learned across the ocean and back again …and before you’ve even graduated high school? In this episode, Ryan sits down with Isamu Thung, a recent graduate of High Tech High and one of the most thoughtful young leaders discussing learning, equity, and systems transformation. Despite just finishing high school, Isamu brings a level of wisdom, humility, and systems-thinking that challenges adults in the field to go deeper. We explore: * The hard lessons of leadership and the tension between control and compassion * What Isamu learned by moving between the U.S. and Japan’s educational systems * How a single semester of empowered teaching transformed his trajectory * Why good structure creates freedom—and too much freedom can paralyze * What it means to walk with someone through their learning journey Whether he’s designing professional development tools, mentoring middle schoolers, or rethinking how systems shape outcomes, Isamu shows us what’s possible when curiosity meets deep reflection. This episode is full of insights about identity, courage, and the kind of leadership that grows through humility and struggle. Connect with Isamu Thung: Website: https://isamuthung.com LinkedIn: Isamu Thung https://www.linkedin.com/in/isamu-thung-55429b288/ Email: [email protected] Ron Berger’s Unboxed episode (featuring Isamu): “Schools Can Get Better at Unleashing Student Potential” https://hthgse.edu/podcasts/schools-can-get-better-at-unleashing-student-potential/ •••••••••• Follow us: @e.g.exceptionallygood Recommend a leader to be a guest: https://forms.gle/GzHAYmzueE3UnarY6 Feedback – Help us improve: https://forms.gle/aXempCSq2rvdfrCz9 Help us cover costs – give $5, $10, $25, $50 or $?? at our Donorbox: https://donorbox.org/support-leaders-striving-for-exceptional-good-in-the-world More from Exceptionally Good: 📧 [email protected] Work with Ryan:
https://www.exceptionallygood.org/services 
Exceptionally Good Articles on Substack: https://substack.com/@exceptionallygood Producer, editor and host: Ryan Maxwell Theme music: Ryan Raddatz Guitar music: Adeline’s Guitar The views shared on this podcast are those of my guests and the host and do not necessarily reflect those of any employer past or present.

In this episode, we hear stories — an ancient form of wisdom — as I get to talk with the incomparable Dr. César Cruz. A Mexican-born, Compton-raised educator, César has spent over three decades walking alongside young people who the system has marginalized—not to fix them, but to help them remember their worth. He is the co-founder of Homies Empowerment, a grassroots organization in East Oakland that began as a leadership class for gang-impacted youth and has grown into a full ecosystem for good. In this deeply powerful and provocative conversation, he shares how AI “ancestral intelligence,” grief, graffiti, and basic human needs for belonging all shaped his vision for education. In This Episode, we discuss: Speaking your truth and acting from the lessons of experience What gangs, and Girl Scouts have in commonThe journey from subtractive schooling to self-liberationHarvard, the complexity of his experience at a famous institutionThe dangers of founder syndrome and the healing power of letting goLearning from the deep challenges of being in the darkness of inner struggle — and the power of ancestors to bring us backBuilding a high school that centers youth voice, justice, and joy“You are not what you do.  You are not a human doer, you are a human being.  So stop doing and just be.” Relevant Links: Homies Empowerment Donate to Homies Empowerment Bloom's Taxonomy Maslow vs Blackfoot  - Shane Safir Ikigai - a passion that gives value and joy to life  The four categories: “what you love,” “what the world needs,” “what you can be paid for,” and “what you are good at” Immunity to Change Framework Immunity to Change - the book for sale at Bookshop.org through Semicolon Bookshop Wounded by School •••••••••• Follow us: About Exceptionally Good: https://www.exceptionallygood.org/about Follow us: @e.g.exceptionallygood More from Exceptionally Good: 📧 [email protected] Work with Ryan: https://www.exceptionallygood.org/services Exceptionally Good on Substack: https://substack.com/@exceptionallygood Producer, editor and host: Ryan Maxwell Theme music: Ryan Raddatz Guitar music: Adeline’s Guitar Credits/Outro Read by: Adeline, Advice and Jess The views shared on this podcast are those of my guests and the host and do not necessarily reflect those of any employer past or present.

Dr. Arria Coburn - Your Team is Not a Family — It’s a Partnership for Impact What happens when a new leader inherits a tight-knit “school family”—then faces budget cuts? Or when you’re asked to define your leadership style before you even know how to lead? In this episode, Dr. Arria Coburn opens up about her evolution as an educational leader: from criminal justice major to special education teacher to award-winning principal and now district executive. Dr. Arria Coburn brings nearly two decades of experience in public education. She led the Springfield Renaissance School in Massachusetts to national recognition, including the Magnet School of the Year Award and a 100% college acceptance rate for graduates. Now, in Hartford, she supports a cohort of 10 school principals and helps build equitable, student-centered systems. She is a 2021 Northeastern Ed.D. graduate and a speaker with the Nellie Mae Foundation’s Speakers Bureau. She shares powerful lessons from moments of uncertainty and courage—facing hard conversations, owning her authenticity, and learning to pause, reflect, and lead with purpose. Whether you’re new to leadership or coaching others through it, this conversation is rich with tools for navigating complexity while staying anchored in mission. In This Episode, we discuss: The myth (and danger) of the “we’re a family” leadership cultureWhat to do when budget cuts force you to make the hardest callsWhy leaders should not resolve conflict over emailFinding your true voice as a leader—especially when you feel like an imposterThe quiet power of showing up as your full self, and how student voice shaped her leadership “We are a group of human beings who are on this journey and you are linked together with the same cause… And I think it’s what unites.” Relevant Links: Springfield Renaissance School Nellie Mae Speakers Bureau Hartford Public Schools •••••••••• Follow us: @e.g.exceptionallygood Recommend a leader to be a guest: https://forms.gle/GzHAYmzueE3UnarY6 Feedback – Help us improve: https://forms.gle/aXempCSq2rvdfrCz9 Help us cover costs – give $5, $10, $25, $50 or $?? at our Donorbox: About Exceptionally Good: https://www.exceptionallygood.org/about Follow us: @e.g.exceptionallygood More from Exceptionally Good: 📧 [email protected] Work with Ryan: https://www.exceptionallygood.org/services Exceptionally Good on Substack: https://substack.com/@exceptionallygood Producer, editor and host: Ryan Maxwell Theme music: Ryan Raddatz Guitar music: Adeline’s Guitar Credits/Outro Read by: Adeline, Advice and Jess The views shared on this podcast are those of my guests and the host and do not necessarily reflect those of any employer past or present.

Dr. Arria Coburn - Your Team is Not a Family — It’s a Partnership for Impact What happens when a new leader inherits a tight-knit “school family”—then faces budget cuts? Or when you’re asked to define your leadership style before you even know how to lead? In this episode, Dr. Arria Coburn opens up about her evolution as an educational leader: from criminal justice major to special education teacher to award-winning principal and now district executive. Dr. Arria Coburn brings nearly two decades of experience in public education. She led the Springfield Renaissance School in Massachusetts to national recognition, including the Magnet School of the Year Award and a 100% college acceptance rate for graduates. Now, in Hartford, she supports a cohort of 10 school principals and helps build equitable, student-centered systems. She is a 2021 Northeastern Ed.D. graduate and a speaker with the Nellie Mae Foundation’s Speakers Bureau. She shares powerful lessons from moments of uncertainty and courage—facing hard conversations, owning her authenticity, and learning to pause, reflect, and lead with purpose. Whether you’re new to leadership or coaching others through it, this conversation is rich with tools for navigating complexity while staying anchored in mission. In This Episode, we discuss: * The myth (and danger) of the “we’re a family” leadership culture * What to do when budget cuts force you to make the hardest calls * Why leaders should not resolve conflict over email * Finding your true voice as a leader—especially when you feel like an imposter * The quiet power of showing up as your full self, and how student voice shaped her leadership “We are a group of human beings who are on this journey and you are linked together with the same cause… And I think it’s what unites.” Relevant Links: Springfield Renaissance School Nellie Mae Speakers Bureau Hartford Public Schools •••••••••• Follow us: @e.g.exceptionallygood Recommend a leader to be a guest: https://forms.gle/GzHAYmzueE3UnarY6 Feedback – Help us improve: https://forms.gle/aXempCSq2rvdfrCz9 Help us cover costs – give $5, $10, $25, $50 or $?? at our Donorbox: https://donorbox.org/support-leaders-striving-for-exceptional-good-in-the-world More from Exceptionally Good: 📧 [email protected] Work with Ryan:
https://www.exceptionallygood.org/services 
Exceptionally Good Articles on Substack: https://substack.com/@exceptionallygood ⸻ Producer, editor and host: Ryan Maxwell Theme music: Ryan Raddatz Guitar music: Adeline’s Guitar The views shared on this podcast are those of my guests and the host and do not necessarily reflect those of any employer past or present.

Chris Widmaier is the Founder & Executive Director of Rochester Ecology Partners (REP), a nonprofit that “serves people in Greater Rochester through nature-based learning and community-building.”    A former award-winning classroom teacher and instructional coach, Chris left a secure career, earned an MBA-equivalent at RIT, and launched REP on January 1, 2022. His work now centres on helping young people—and the adults who guide them—find nature where they live, work and play. Enjoy the conversation, share it with a leader connected to community through nature and education and learn to think big, act with intention! In this episode we discuss: Chris’s origin story - Tide-pool research in Maine sparks a lifelong commitment to connect people with the natural world  “Teaching is direct action.” - Chris explains how the classroom became his first arena for systems-level changeBuilding REP - From boot-strapping to 501(c)(3) status, partnering with Milwaukee’s Urban Ecology Center, and designing an “ecosystem” of nearby-nature lessons, field studies and community eventsMeasuring impact - Why outdoor learning reaches multilingual learners and neuro-divergent students—and how REP is quantifying those gainsLeadership lessons - Courage, intentional structures and the power of thinking big while acting locally “We hear it from kids all the time: ‘I feel free today.’”  Links & resources Rochester Ecology Partners – https://rochesterecologypartners.org (about page, programs, upcoming events)     Urban Ecology Center (Milwaukee) – inspiration for REP’s model – https://urbanecologycenter.org •••••••••• Follow us: @e.g.exceptionallygood Recommend a leader to be a guest: https://forms.gle/GzHAYmzueE3UnarY6 Feedback – Help us improve: https://forms.gle/aXempCSq2rvdfrCz9 Help us cover costs – give $5, $10, $25, $50 or $?? at our Donorbox: https://donorbox.org/support-leaders-striving-for-exceptional-good-in-the-world More from Exceptionally Good: 📧 [email protected] Work with Ryan:   About Exceptionally Good: https://www.exceptionallygood.org/about Follow us: @e.g.exceptionallygood More from Exceptionally Good: 📧 [email protected] Work with Ryan: https://www.exceptionallygood.org/services Exceptionally Good on Substack: https://substack.com/@exceptionallygood Producer, editor and host: Ryan Maxwell Theme music: Ryan Raddatz Guitar music: Adeline’s Guitar Credits/Outro Read by: Adeline, Advice and Jess The views shared on this podcast are those of my guests and the host and do not necessarily reflect those of any employer past or present.