Exceptionally Good: Leaders for a Better World

This episode, I have the immense pleasure and privilege of talking with a mentor and a friend — Ron Berger.Ron is a powerful voice and leader in education as an author of best-selling books such as A Culture of Quality and Leaders of Their Own Learning, has served Chief Academic Officer for Expeditionary Learning, as a keynote speaker in places as far-flung as Japan, the Bronx, Timor Leste, West Virginia, Spain, mountaineering huts in the Rocky Mountains, England and Alabama.  He leads workshops for educators for organizations such as High Tech High and Harvard’s Graduate School of Education.  Ron’s video called Austin’s Butterfly highlights the power of creating high-quality student work through a revision process of a culture of craftsmanship and been viewed over half a million times.At heart, Ron is a teacher.  Ron taught at a small public school in a small rural town in Western Massachusetts for over 30 years, developing  service-based learning projects with his students who would take on the complex and important work that was needed, like a radon test report for local homes, a highway crossing for local salamanders, a local store run by students selling jewelry made from agate that they would tumble, design into jewelry, market and sell in order to raise funds.  Ron’s dedication to the growth of character of his students and the craft of teaching how to produce high-quality work led to him being named as the best teacher in America by the Annenberg Institute.  When asked why he is an educator, Ron once wrote: I am an educator because so many of my heroes and role models - the people who inspire me - are young people doing beautiful work in the world.Above all, Ron has one of the kindest souls you will ever know, has the finely crafted skill of making the complexity of quality teaching and learning accessible, and at every turn has highlighted students at the center-stage of learning in ways that help students and educators alike see what’s possible.Ron, perhaps more than anyone else I know, uses his many many talents and skills for good in the world — he’s a true leader in the Rebel Alliance. And as a teacher, his butterfly wing effects have spread further than you could think possible.  You, dear listener, are in for a real treat.Dive in!Relevant Links:Models of Excellence: https://modelsofexcellence.eleducation.orgAustin's Butterfly: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_6PskE3zfQ"The Dancing Prince" use of models - https://vimeo.com/44053703••••••••••About Exceptionally Good:https://www.exceptionallygood.org/aboutFollow us:@e.g.exceptionallygoodMore from Exceptionally Good:📧 [email protected] with Ryan:  https://www.exceptionallygood.org/servicesExceptionally Good on Substack:https://substack.com/@exceptionallygoodProducer, editor and host: Ryan MaxwellTheme music: Ryan RaddatzGuitar music: Adeline’s GuitarCredits/Outro Read by: Adeline, Advice and JessThe 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.

This week, we're turning the tables — or in this case, the microphone.I'm Ryan Maxwell, and today, I'm the guest.Guest hosted by Felicia Lee, founder of Campana Leadership Group, who leads executive coaching. Years ago, Felicia coached me to see myself more clearly — so there is no one better suited to hold this microphone.This one is personal. And a little uncomfortable. And honestly? That's probably why it might be worth listening to.We explore stories that shaped my path. A brother school completely failed. A friend bused 35 minutes across Milwaukee to find a better school. Two kids sleeping in a median in Ecuador who begged for a bag of milk — and a school in the hills of Quito where kids terrace-farmed, calculated crop yields, and ran a community's economic engine. Origin stories. The sparks for the work.From there, we go deep on:What a glowing introduction really feels like — and why it can feel like "one painting" of who you areThe barbed wire of mission-driven work, and how to keep going without losing yourselfFinding your crew — and why leading in community is the only sustainable strategyBody, mind, spirit — and the coaching that helped me finally understand what the question was even askingCreativity, anxiety, music parties that end with Leonard Cohen, and a solo retreat to the Porcupine MountainsDreams deferred — and the audacious ones I'm leaning into nowRyan Maxwell is the host of Exceptionally Good, striving to use his talents and skills for social good — in classrooms in Oakland and Chicago, in national nonprofit leadership at EL Education, and now leading a small but might LLC focused on coaching, consulting, and school design.Links:Campana Leadership Group — Felicia Lee's coaching firmEL EducationAmeriCorpsNational Equity ProjectWin Every Argument by Mehdi HasanGreg Brown — singer-songwriter from IowaKinship — (not Kindred) - local Milwaukee food pantryRabindranath Tagore — "I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I woke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy."So let’s dive in together!••••••••••About Exceptionally Good:https://www.exceptionallygood.org/aboutFollow us:@e.g.exceptionallygoodMore from Exceptionally Good:📧 [email protected] with Ryan:  https://www.exceptionallygood.org/servicesExceptionally Good on Substack:https://substack.com/@exceptionallygoodProducer, editor and host: Ryan MaxwellTheme music: Ryan RaddatzGuitar music: Adeline’s GuitarCredits/Outro Read by: Adeline, Advice and JessThe 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.

This week, we're sitting down with a leader who has spent her career doing something rare — keeping students at the center, even when the systems around her made that hard.Dr. Susan Enfield is the Executive Director of the University of Washington's Center for Educational Leadership. Her path there winds through some of the most meaningful work in public education — from serving as interim superintendent in Seattle, to a decade leading Highline Public Schools, where she launched the Highline Promise: that every student would be known by name, strength, and need. Most recently, she took on Washoe County School District in Nevada, one of the largest in the state, bringing that same commitment to scale.What sets Susan apart isn't the titles or the accolades — though she has been recognized nationally as a superintendent of the year. It's the how. She leads with listening. She builds trust before she builds programs. She creates conditions where both students and adults can grow. And she does it all with a humility that is disarming and a clarity of vision that is unmistakable.In this conversation, we explore what it really takes to lead through change, why relationships will always matter more than programs, and how someone at Susan's level of experience continues to grow. This is a leader who has chosen, again and again, to use their many many talents and skills for social good.Dive in!••••••••••About Exceptionally Good:https://www.exceptionallygood.org/aboutFollow us:@e.g.exceptionallygoodMore from Exceptionally Good:📧 [email protected] with Ryan:  https://www.exceptionallygood.org/servicesExceptionally Good on Substack:https://substack.com/@exceptionallygoodProducer, editor and host: Ryan MaxwellTheme music: Ryan RaddatzGuitar music: Adeline’s GuitarCredits/Outro Read by: Adeline, Advice and JessThe 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.

Today we have the delight to connect with a pair of leaders who are exceptional in their craft AND in how they are good partners for each other. Jess and Advice are not my typical guests. They don't lead non-profits or NGOs, they don't have backgrounds as educators — but they have remarkable gifts to share.Leadership comes in many forms.Advice Ngwenya is a tracker among one of the most elite group of trackers in South Africa and the world. Advice can spot the track of a leopard in the sand and figure out if it is fresh or 2 days old, male or female, which way it was headed and how fast. He can hear the alarm calls of birds and triangulate them to find an animal walking silently through the bush. He can find lion cubs stashed away in a thicket in ways that seem impossible. He can spot tracks in places that would seem invisible to you and me — with a genius that is a mix of seriousness and humor. He's a great man with kind dad energy; he brought our family the iridescent feather of a Greater Blue-eared starling and a porcupine quill with a quiet smile that says all you need to know.Jess Shillaw was until very recently Advice's partner — and among the best of the best rangers at Londolozi Game Reserve — a wondrous track of gorgeously restored bushveld in South Africa adjacent to Kruger National Park. Jess has the  distinction of ranger — not merely guide — having gone through an intense selection process — testing candidates to be not only gracious in caring for guests, but resilient in the wild and essential in an emergency, and when we met, she had the .357 calibre rounds on her hip to prove it. My family had the delight to have Jess and Advice as our tracker/ranger pair.  And there could not be a better role-model for my 11-year-old daughter, who loves animals perhaps more than people, than Jess, who might say the same thing!She can also drive a Land Rover through the bush in a mad search for wild dogs in miraculous ways that will make you hold onto your hat.Jess and Advice were paired as tracker/ranger for almost every game drive over 6 years: twice a day, for weeks at a time.While they've had many many adventures and encounters with wild animals, the reason I invited them is because I had the rare delight to see a pair of humans who are as close as brother and sister and collaborate in ways that were remarkable.In a country with a fraught history of racial tension and injustice, to see Jess — a white South African, and Advice — a Black Shangaan man — have such a strong connection and deep mutual respect, well, their partnership is a story worth hearing.They are leaders who use their many many talents and skills for social good — and who have something rare to teach us about true collaboration.And with that… dive in!••••••••••About Exceptionally Good:https://www.exceptionallygood.org/aboutFollow us:@e.g.exceptionallygoodMore from Exceptionally Good:📧 [email protected] with Ryan:  https://www.exceptionallygood.org/servicesExceptionally Good on Substack:https://substack.com/@exceptionallygoodProducer, editor and host: Ryan MaxwellTheme music: Ryan RaddatzGuitar music: Adeline’s GuitarCredits/Outro Read by: Adeline, Advice and JessThe 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.

This episode I'm delighted to talk with Dr. Zach Shirley — a nationally recognized leader in diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.Dr. Zach currently serves as Vice President of DEIB at Cambium Learning, where he shapes strategy, drives organizational change, and equips teams to build more inclusive cultures. But to understand how he got there, you have to go back to a kid in high school — nerdy, scrawny, overlooked — who thought he had nothing to offer the world.What changed everything? An HBCU and a fraternity.Dr. Zach is a proud Dallas native and a proud life member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. — and he'll tell you simply: "My HBCU and my fraternity saved my life."  What came from that experience was not just a career. It was a calling.For sixteen years, Dr. Zach built a remarkable career in higher education — as a student affairs administrator, Greek life director, and mentor to marginalized students across some of the country's finest universities. He built departments from scratch at Texas A&M University–Commerce and the University of Cincinnati, sat on the board of the Association for Fraternity and Sorority Advisors, and had his name on a national fellowship. By any measure, he had made it.And then, at 40, amid a pandemic and a moment of honest self-reckoning, he walked away from it all.In this conversation, we explore what it really costs to leave an identity — not just a job — behind. Dr. Zach shares the fear, the grief, and the hard-won wisdom of that transition: from higher ed to EdTech, from certainty to growth, from warrior to something wider. He talks about the twin brother who walked the same path beside him for decades — and the phone call he made the day everything changed. He talks about what it means to evolve rather than bury who you were. And he shares a Kirk Franklin lyric that wakes him up every morning with a question worth asking:When I die, what will they say about me? Will the work that I've done been enough to have helped someone?Dr. Zach also shouts out a remarkable organization doing critical work: Innovation for Equity (IFE) — a network of changemakers committed to disrupting the status quo and transforming the life outcomes of Black learners of all ages. He recently joined their board and is a proud graduate of their Senior Leadership Cohort. Learn more and support them at innovationforequity.org.This episode is for anyone who has ever wondered whether the identity they built is the only one they're allowed to have — and anyone striving to use their many many talents and skills for social good.Dive in!Dr. Zach's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zevanshirley/••••••••••About Exceptionally Good:https://www.exceptionallygood.org/aboutFollow us:@e.g.exceptionallygoodMore from Exceptionally Good:📧 [email protected] with Ryan:  https://www.exceptionallygood.org/servicesExceptionally Good on Substack:https://substack.com/@exceptionallygoodProducer, editor and host: Ryan MaxwellTheme music: Ryan RaddatzGuitar music: Adeline’s GuitarCredits/Outro Read by: Adeline, Advice and JessThe 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.

Today’s guest is someone who embodies a rare and powerful combination: sharp strategic thinking paired with a deep, human understanding of what it means to give, to trust, and to build something that matters.Alejandra Naranjo is currently the Assistant Vice President for Development, Principal Gifts and Campaign Initiatives at New York University, where she leads transformational philanthropic partnerships at the highest level. Her work sits at the intersection where trust fosters the path for generosity to help with world—helping move significant resources toward bold ideas that shape institutions and expand opportunity.Before NYU, Alejandra served as Vice President of Administration and Development for the Tecnológico de Monterrey Foundation, where she helped raise more than $15 million in just four years—and closed an eight-figure gift in her first two. At The New York Women’s Foundation, she led development efforts generating over $10 million annually in unrestricted funding, growing the donor base by 30% and advancing equity for women and families across New York City.But what makes Alejandra’s story especially compelling is the breadth of her journey. From corporate banking at Citi to teaching econometrics at ITAM… from nonprofit leadership at The American School Foundation to working alongside Mexican President Vicente Fox on cross-border initiatives to reduce poverty—her career reflects a throughline of purpose, connection, and impact.Alejandra brings both clarity and warmth to this work. She reminds us that philanthropy, at its best, isn’t just about money—it’s about belief. It’s about aligning values, honoring relationships, and investing in a future we’re brave enough to imagine together.Most of all, Alejanda uses her many many talents and skills for social good. Listen in if you’re someone working in leadership, in philanthropy, or simply trying to make a difference in a complex world.In this episode, we explore:What builds real trust in donor relationshipsMoving from transactions to transformational partnershipsLeading across cultures and bordersBalancing strategy with empathy in high-stakes environmentsThe deeper purpose behind giving and what makes generosity meaningfulAnd what to do when you present an award to Robert De Niro... but you don't actually have an award. What does it look like to not just ask for support—but to invite someone into shared belief?Dive in!Alejandra Naranjo:https://www.linkedin.com/in/alejandranaranjo/NYU University Development and Alumni Relations:https://www.nyu.edu/about/leadership-university-administration/organization-directory/university-developmentandalumnirelations.html••••••••••About Exceptionally Good:https://www.exceptionallygood.org/aboutFollow us:@e.g.exceptionallygoodMore from Exceptionally Good:📧 [email protected] with Ryan:  https://www.exceptionallygood.org/servicesExceptionally Good on Substack:https://substack.com/@exceptionallygoodProducer, editor and host: Ryan MaxwellTheme music: Ryan RaddatzGuitar music: Adeline’s GuitarCredits/Outro Read by: Adeline, Advice and JessThe 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 Austin last week, I set up a little Lucy-style advice booth with two microphones — offering a nickel for leadership stories of those times when it all went sideways.Turns out some folks really like to share these stories.  They are reflective.The stories are full of learning.And they feel cathartic to tell.And I love these stories and sharing them — because I know so many leaders striving to lead for good have thrown in the towel because they thought: “I’m clearly not cut out for this work.  I’m not up to it… I just don’t have what it takes…”But the thing is: no one shows up with all it takes. And it’s not that you are no good, it’s that the conditions are tough, the challenges unending and the struggle is real.But we can learn.The hard way from our flops.Or from listening to others.🔥 This episode shares just what leaders like you need to hear.🎧 What you’ll hear in this episodeStories of inner strugglesTimes when we plowed forward without asking the folks on the groundThe time we just let the thing flounder because our heart wasn’t in itHow we got left in the cold (literally) because we didn’t listen to our gutStories where we learned the hard wayLeadership.  Not for the faint of heart.And something we all can learn.With gratitudeHuge thanks to the thoughtful humans who sat down and shared some hard-earned wisdom:Victoria AndrewsRob HarrisKippy SmithLisa LangBerenice Pernalete If this episode resonates with you, share it with a leader might need to hear that all these great and admirable people also struggle with all the same things all us mere mortals striving to lead for good struggle with.You -- and they -- are not alone in this work.••••••••••About Exceptionally Good:https://www.exceptionallygood.org/aboutFollow us:@e.g.exceptionallygoodMore from Exceptionally Good:📧 [email protected] with Ryan:  https://www.exceptionallygood.org/servicesExceptionally Good on Substack:https://substack.com/@exceptionallygoodProducer, editor and host: Ryan MaxwellTheme music: Ryan RaddatzGuitar music: Adeline’s GuitarCredits/Outro Read by: Adeline, Advice and JessThe 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.

The question is simple.And a little dangerous.AI is always awake. Always patient. Always available.It never burns out. Never calls in sick. Never asks for healthcare.So…What is a real teacher good for anyway?I got to sit down in Austin with a group of thoughtful, funny, deeply human leaders across education, research, and innovation—and we chased that question together.Not in a polished panel. Not with prepared remarks. But in real conversations.Curious. Honest. Sometimes a little scrappy.What emerged?Again and again, people circled something we could feel… but struggled to name:“Soul.”Connection.The human spark.The thing that happens in a room that no one can quite quantify.What if AI gets better at motivation?What if it personalizes perfectly?What if budgets force impossible tradeoffs?What if the future actually does look more like screens than classrooms?And still…🔥 The tension at the centerThis episode doesn’t land on easy answers.Because the truth is:AI is powerfulIt will reshape learningIt can expand access, feedback, and possibilityAnd…There is something about being human together—that refuses to be reduced to efficiency.  Spirit, connection, authenticity.🎧 What you’ll hear:A spirited debate about whether AI could replace most teachersThe case for “soul” as the irreplaceable ingredientA jazz analogy you won’t forgetA story about dissecting a cow eye at recess (yes, really)A deep dive into whether connection through screens is “good enough”And a recurring question that lingers long after the mic is off:What is the thing that makes us human… and how do we protect it?🌱 Why this mattersIf you’re a leader in education—or anywhere humans are trying to grow, learn, and become—this isn’t a theoretical question.It’s a design question.A moral question.A future-of-our-work question.And maybe most of all…A question about what we refuse to lose.🙏 With gratitude - Huge thanks to the thoughtful, playful humans who sat down and wrestled with this question:Ronak ParikKristen HuffAmelia KellyMaddie CarzonCarly CampbellShanna GershmanLisa LangIf this episode resonates, share it with a leader who’s trying to hold onto what matters while everything shifts around them.You’re not alone.••••••••••About Exceptionally Good:https://www.exceptionallygood.org/aboutFollow us:@e.g.exceptionallygoodMore from Exceptionally Good:📧 [email protected] with Ryan:  https://www.exceptionallygood.org/servicesExceptionally Good on Substack:https://substack.com/@exceptionallygoodProducer, editor and host: Ryan MaxwellTheme music: Ryan RaddatzGuitar music: Adeline’s GuitarCredits/Outro Read by: Adeline, Advice and JessThe 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.

Becca Katz — educator, writer, & co-founder of Good Natured Learning.For more than twenty years, Becca has taught in classrooms both walled and wild — from modular units in strip malls to expeditions in the Arctic and the Andes. She’s spent 300+ days leading wilderness expeditions, experiences that led her to ask a powerful question:How can nearly 8 billion people build heart-level connections with nature if most of us aren’t going on multi-day wilderness treks?That question became the seed for Good Natured Learning, an organization working to weave meaningful connections with nature into everyday learning — in every subject, every classroom, and every community.The problem they’re tackling is enormous: Despite the well-documented benefits of nature for wellbeing, learning, & stewardship of the planet, 1.5 billion students and 81 million teachers spend their school days almost entirely indoors.Becca and her colleagues believe reconnecting students with nature doesn’t require grand adventures. Instead, they take what she calls an “apple-a-day” approach: small daily moments of connection to the natural world woven into teaching and learning. Through year-long educator fellowships, nature-rich school design, and communities of practice, Good Natured Learning helps teachers bring nature into their classrooms in ways that strengthen both learning and wellbeing.Becca is also a widely published writer, with work appearing in Edutopia, Chalkbeat, and her Substack Learning, by Nature. She holds a B.A. in History and an M.S. in Earth Systems from Stanford University, and recently shared her vision on the TEDx stage, inspiring audiences to imagine schools where connection to the natural world is not an add-on — but an essential part of education.Most importantly, Becca is a leader who brings her many many talents & skills for social good.In this episode we explore:Why connection to nature matters for both learning and wellbeingHow teachers can integrate nature into any subject — even indoorsThe idea of “heart-level” connection with the natural worldWhat wilderness expeditions taught Becca about leadership and learningWhy small daily practices can transform school cultureHow educators can help students develop a sense of care for the planetLinks & ResourcesGood Natured Learninghttps://www.goodnaturedlearning.org/Becca Katz - (Substack)https://beccakatz.substack.com/Becca’s TEDx Talkhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tI2CbTehe54••••••••••About Exceptionally Good:https://www.exceptionallygood.org/aboutFollow us:@e.g.exceptionallygoodMore from Exceptionally Good:📧 [email protected] with Ryan:  https://www.exceptionallygood.org/servicesExceptionally Good on Substack:https://substack.com/@exceptionallygoodProducer, editor and host: Ryan MaxwellTheme music: Ryan RaddatzGuitar music: Adeline’s GuitarCredits/Outro Read by: Adeline, Advice and JessThe 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.

This episode, I’m delighted to welcome Dr. Alison Lee—a friend, a former colleague, and someone whose influence on my own leadership is deeper than she probably knows.Some of the work I’m most proud of in my career—work focused on belonging, justice, and what it actually means to help young people thrive—came from collaboration, action, and studied reflection alongside Alison. She brings together a researcher’s mind, a brilliant intellect, and a heart anchored like granite in equity and human development. If you’ve ever had the chance to connect with her, you know both the megawatts of her thinking and the depth of her care.Full disclosure: Alison also volunteers a few hours each year on the advisory council of my tiny-but-mighty LLC focused on leadership for good. How lucky am I?Today Alison serves as Chief R&D Officer at The Rithm Project, where she leads cutting-edge work exploring human connection in the age of AI. Her path winds through a BS and BA from Rutgers, a master’s degree from Teachers College, and a PhD in Cognitive Science from Columbia University. Along the way she has spent years studying belonging and student agency at EL Education, and has worked at Instagram and Meta exploring the intersection of AI, wellbeing, and safety.She is one of the sharpest people I know when it comes to understanding the psychological, social, and ethical terrain our kids—and frankly all of us—are now navigating.If you’ve read Alison’s writing through The Rithm Project, you’ve likely seen how she describes the moment we’re in: a digital forest—full of possibility and full of danger. A place where “two wolves” live inside our technologies. One that pulls us toward autopilot—toward distraction, isolation, and destruction. And another that can deepen curiosity, connection, and agency—if we learn how to feed it.And that’s really the heart of Alison’s work:How do we help young people stay grounded in their humanity in a world increasingly designed to pull them away from authentic connection?What will it mean to remain connected—to each other, to our communities, to purpose—at a time when the computer in your pocket can pretend to be your most loyal companion: always available, never unkind, keeping all your secrets?At a moment when the AI revolution is evolving faster than any of us can keep up with, Alison is one of the rare voices — using her many many talents and skills for good — and asking the right questions… not about technology first, but about people.I’m thrilled—and it’s a personal joy—to have her on the show.So with that, dive in!Learn more about Alison’s work:The Rithm Project: https://www.rithmproject.org/••••••••••About Exceptionally Good:https://www.exceptionallygood.org/aboutFollow us:@e.g.exceptionallygoodMore from Exceptionally Good:📧 [email protected] with Ryan:  https://www.exceptionallygood.org/servicesExceptionally Good on Substack:https://substack.com/@exceptionallygoodProducer, editor and host: Ryan MaxwellTheme music: Ryan RaddatzGuitar music: Adeline’s GuitarCredits/Outro Read by: Adeline, Advice and JessThe 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.

This episode, I’m joined by Kirstin Lund — mediator, changemaker, and fierce advocate for safer, stronger communities in Stratford, Prince Edward Island.Kirstin began her career practicing law, but soon discovered that true transformation often happens not in courtrooms, but in conversation. In 1996, she founded Collaboration School, dedicating her work to mediation, facilitation, and helping people navigate conflict with empathy and clarity.Her leadership has shaped PEI in profound ways. She founded the PEI Coalition for Women’s Leadership, chaired the Advisory Council on the Status of Women, and co-founded Justice Options for Women — helping create the Circles of Safety and Support model for those at high risk of intimate partner violence, now used beyond the Island.In recognition of her impact, she received the Meritorious Service Medal from the Governor General of Canada in 2022 and was named to the Order of Prince Edward Island in 2025 — one of the highest honors an islander can receive.She’s also founded PEI’s first roller-derby league, organized grassroots campaigns like “Stocking Angels,” and consistently shows that leadership can be creative, courageous, and community-rooted.Full disclosure: Kirstin is my wife’s cousin. But trust me — that’s not why she’s here. (If I invited all of my wife’s cousins onto the show, it would take like five seasons — hello, Macdonalds!) Kirstin is here because she uses her many many talents and skills for good — and because her journey offers real wisdom for leaders navigating conflict, community, and change.In this episode, we explore: - Why a lawyer chose mediation over litigation - What roller derby can teach us about conflict resolution - How to build coalitions that actually move the needle - The courage it takes to part ways well - And why collaboration is not weakness — it’s strength with disciplineIn this conversation, we explore mediation over litigation, roller-derby conflict lessons, partnerships and parting ways, and why collaboration — done well — is one of the most powerful leadership tools we have.So dive in!Kirstin on LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/kirstin-lund/Collaboration School - Mediation and Morehttps://collaborationschool.com/••••••••••About Exceptionally Good:https://www.exceptionallygood.org/aboutFollow us:@e.g.exceptionallygoodMore from Exceptionally Good:📧 [email protected] with Ryan:  https://www.exceptionallygood.org/servicesExceptionally Good on Substack:https://substack.com/@exceptionallygoodProducer, editor and host: Ryan MaxwellTheme music: Ryan RaddatzGuitar music: Adeline’s GuitarCredits/Outro Read by: Adeline, Advice and JessThe 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.

At a time when the world needs men of character, it is my delight to host a conversation with a leader who is working to foster spaces for them.Luke Di Sessa — a powerful leader in Australia whose life’s work centers on developing men of character and helping them step into authentic, emotionally intelligent leadership.Luke is the CEO and Co-Founder of Good Better Best Men, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to creating safe, courageous spaces where men can face their internal challenges, build resilience, and grow into grounded, heart-led leaders. In a cultural moment saturated with confused and often unhealthy models of masculinity — including some in power who confuse bullying and brutality with power and at a time when suicide rates for men remain roughly four times higher than for women — this work is not optional. It’s essential.Through Good Better Best Men and his broader facilitation work, Luke guides men into deeper belonging, emotional intelligence, and self-responsibility. He is also a key contributor to the Southern Men’s Gathering, where he mentors men in self-transformation and embodied leadership.Currently pursuing a Diploma in Counseling, Luke integrates somatic practice, psychology, nature-based wisdom, and lived experience. His approach blends heart, body, and mind — inviting men not into performance, but into presence. Not into dominance, but into the courage to be real.This isn’t Luke’s first podcast conversation. He’s been immersed in men’s work for years, facilitating spaces across Australia and beyond. But as a host who cares deeply about rallying men of character to do exceptionally good in the world — especially in a time that holds uncertainty and too many counter-examples for healthy masculinity — I was grateful to sit down with Luke for some real talk.In this conversation, we explore:  What it means to build character rather than just competence  Why emotional intelligence is strength, not softness  The role of community and ritual in male transformation  How embodied practices help men metabolize pain instead of projecting it  What healthy leadership looks like in families, workplaces, and societyLuke reminds us that growth doesn’t happen through shame. It happens through courageous self-inquiry, honest brotherhood, and the willingness to look within.And with that, dive in.Good Better Best Menhttps://www.goodbetterbestmen.com.au/What's a bandicoot?••••••••••About Exceptionally Good:https://www.exceptionallygood.org/aboutFollow us:@e.g.exceptionallygoodMore from Exceptionally Good:📧 [email protected] with Ryan:  https://www.exceptionallygood.org/servicesExceptionally Good on Substack:https://substack.com/@exceptionallygoodProducer, editor and host: Ryan MaxwellTheme music: Ryan RaddatzGuitar music: Adeline’s GuitarCredits/Outro Read by: Adeline, Advice and JessThe 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.

This episode's guest is Lina Jean Fritz, a Chicago-based, C-suite nonprofit leader in strategy and innovation whose work sits at the intersection of equity and moral courage in access to the work force and higher education.Lina is a first-generation college graduate, the daughter of restaurant workers, and someone whose early life was shaped by movement—growing up across Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi before graduating from a public high school in Mississippi and heading north to attend the University of Chicago.From there, Lina’s career took her through teaching, instructional leadership, and senior nonprofit leadership—most recently as an Executive Director at OneGoal, a national organization grounded in a powerful belief: every young person deserves an equitable opportunity to get to and through college.Lina has consistently pushed leaders to rethink what readiness really means. In a widely shared piece for Chalkbeat, she asked a question that still challenges the field:What if highly selective colleges focused on being student-ready instead of placing the burden on students to be college-ready?She goes further—pressing higher-education institutions to confront uncomfortable truths about moral courage, risk, and sacrifice:What risks should we ask institutions to take—risks that may require reputational and financial sacrifice—in service of equity?In this episode, we talk about the real meaning of opportunity and how we can build systems that honor the truth that talent is equally distributed—even when opportunity is not. We also explore leadership lessons Lina has learned along the way, including accepting feedback as an act of love, and recognizing that what got you where you are may not get you where you want to go.Lina reflects on her evolution as a leader—from being the person who figures it out when it seems impossible to becoming someone who leads through discernment, influence, and trust. Drawing on wisdom often attributed to Lao Tzu, she shares a lesson that reshaped her leadership:“To lead the people, walk behind them.”Because when you do, you can finally see.This is a conversation about feedback, humility, and moral courage ...and about using your talents, fully and honestly, in service of exceptional social good.And with that… let’s dive in.••••••••••••••••••••About Exceptionally Good:https://www.exceptionallygood.org/aboutFollow us:@e.g.exceptionallygoodMore from Exceptionally Good:📧 [email protected] with Ryan:  https://www.exceptionallygood.org/servicesExceptionally Good on Substack:https://substack.com/@exceptionallygoodProducer, editor and host: Ryan MaxwellTheme music: Ryan RaddatzGuitar music: Adeline’s GuitarCredits/Outro Read by: Adeline, Advice and JessThe 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 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 MentionedCharacter 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 Scottwww.scottseider.comInfo on a project in which we collaborated, Critical Consciousness in Crew, is available at www.bc.edu/4cs••••••••••About Exceptionally Goodhttps://www.exceptionallygood.org/about••••••••••About Exceptionally Good:https://www.exceptionallygood.org/aboutFollow us:@e.g.exceptionallygoodMore from Exceptionally Good:📧 [email protected] with Ryan:  https://www.exceptionallygood.org/servicesExceptionally Good on Substack:https://substack.com/@exceptionallygoodProducer, editor and host: Ryan MaxwellTheme music: Ryan RaddatzGuitar music: Adeline’s GuitarCredits/Outro Read by: Adeline, Advice and JessThe 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 Goodhttps://www.exceptionallygood.org/aboutFollow us:@e.g.exceptionallygoodMore from Exceptionally Good:📧 [email protected] with Ryan:  https://www.exceptionallygood.org/servicesExceptionally Good on Substack:••••••••••About Exceptionally Good:https://www.exceptionallygood.org/aboutFollow us:@e.g.exceptionallygoodMore from Exceptionally Good:📧 [email protected] with Ryan:  https://www.exceptionallygood.org/servicesExceptionally Good on Substack:https://substack.com/@exceptionallygoodProducer, editor and host: Ryan MaxwellTheme music: Ryan RaddatzGuitar music: Adeline’s GuitarCredits/Outro Read by: Adeline, Advice and JessThe 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. KingThis 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.htmTo 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.exceptionallygoodMore from Exceptionally Good:📧 [email protected] with Ryan: https://www.exceptionallygood.org/servicesExceptionally Good on Substack:••••••••••About Exceptionally Good:https://www.exceptionallygood.org/aboutFollow us:@e.g.exceptionallygoodMore from Exceptionally Good:📧 [email protected] with Ryan:  https://www.exceptionallygood.org/servicesExceptionally Good on Substack:https://substack.com/@exceptionallygoodProducer, editor and host: Ryan MaxwellTheme music: Ryan RaddatzGuitar music: Adeline’s GuitarCredits/Outro Read by: Adeline, Advice and JessThe 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 independenceJL Collins’ Blog – The Simple Path to Wealth - a brilliant grounding in the principles, the how and why of FIThe Monk and the Minister -  a parable about freedom and the trappings of high salaryThe Shockingly Simple Math Behind Early Retirement From Mr. Money Must••••••••••About Exceptionally Good:https://www.exceptionallygood.org/aboutFollow us:@e.g.exceptionallygoodMore from Exceptionally Good:📧 [email protected] with Ryan:  https://www.exceptionallygood.org/servicesExceptionally Good on Substack:https://substack.com/@exceptionallygoodProducer, editor and host: Ryan MaxwellTheme music: Ryan RaddatzGuitar music: Adeline’s GuitarCredits/Outro Read by: Adeline, Advice and JessThe 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!LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/rapatalo/Ron’s Newsletter - RONservationshttps://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/ronservations-7192945637582086144/Ronderings Podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/4Pimm7Z4j7FO3EiQRxralb••••••••••More from Exceptionally Good...Follow us:@e.g.exceptionallygoodRecommend a leader to be a guest:https://forms.gle/GzHAYmzueE3UnarY6Feedback – Help us improve:https://forms.gle/aXempCSq2rvdfrCz9Help us cover costs – give $5, $10, $25, $50 or $?? at our Donorbox:••••••••••About Exceptionally Good:https://www.exceptionallygood.org/aboutFollow us:@e.g.exceptionallygoodMore from Exceptionally Good:📧 [email protected] with Ryan:  https://www.exceptionallygood.org/servicesExceptionally Good on Substack:https://substack.com/@exceptionallygoodProducer, editor and host: Ryan MaxwellTheme music: Ryan RaddatzGuitar music: Adeline’s GuitarCredits/Outro Read by: Adeline, Advice and JessThe 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.comLinkedIn: Isamu Thunghttps://www.linkedin.com/in/isamu-thung-55429b288/Email: [email protected] 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.exceptionallygoodRecommend a leader to be a guest:https://forms.gle/GzHAYmzueE3UnarY6Feedback – Help us improve:https://forms.gle/aXempCSq2rvdfrCz9Help us cover costs – give $5, $10, $25, $50 or $?? at our Donorbox:https://donorbox.org/support-leaders-striving-for-exceptional-good-in-the-worldMore from Exceptionally Good:📧 [email protected] with Ryan: ••••••••••About Exceptionally Good:https://www.exceptionallygood.org/aboutFollow us:@e.g.exceptionallygoodMore from Exceptionally Good:📧 [email protected] with Ryan:  https://www.exceptionallygood.org/servicesExceptionally Good on Substack:https://substack.com/@exceptionallygoodProducer, editor and host: Ryan MaxwellTheme music: Ryan RaddatzGuitar music: Adeline’s GuitarCredits/Outro Read by: Adeline, Advice and JessThe 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 EmpowermentDonate to Homies EmpowermentBloom's TaxonomyMaslow vs Blackfoot  - Shane SafirIkigai - 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 FrameworkImmunity to Change - the book for sale at Bookshop.org through Semicolon BookshopWounded by School••••••••••Follow us:••••••••••About Exceptionally Good:https://www.exceptionallygood.org/aboutFollow us:@e.g.exceptionallygoodMore from Exceptionally Good:📧 [email protected] with Ryan:  https://www.exceptionallygood.org/servicesExceptionally Good on Substack:https://substack.com/@exceptionallygoodProducer, editor and host: Ryan MaxwellTheme music: Ryan RaddatzGuitar music: Adeline’s GuitarCredits/Outro Read by: Adeline, Advice and JessThe 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 ImpactWhat 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 SchoolNellie Mae Speakers BureauHartford Public Schools••••••••••Follow us:@e.g.exceptionallygoodRecommend a leader to be a guest:https://forms.gle/GzHAYmzueE3UnarY6Feedback – Help us improve:https://forms.gle/aXempCSq2rvdfrCz9Help us cover costs – give $5, $10, $25, $50 or $?? at our Donorbox:••••••••••About Exceptionally Good:https://www.exceptionallygood.org/aboutFollow us:@e.g.exceptionallygoodMore from Exceptionally Good:📧 [email protected] with Ryan:  https://www.exceptionallygood.org/servicesExceptionally Good on Substack:https://substack.com/@exceptionallygoodProducer, editor and host: Ryan MaxwellTheme music: Ryan RaddatzGuitar music: Adeline’s GuitarCredits/Outro Read by: Adeline, Advice and JessThe 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 & resourcesRochester 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.exceptionallygoodRecommend a leader to be a guest:https://forms.gle/GzHAYmzueE3UnarY6Feedback – Help us improve:https://forms.gle/aXempCSq2rvdfrCz9Help us cover costs – give $5, $10, $25, $50 or $?? at our Donorbox:https://donorbox.org/support-leaders-striving-for-exceptional-good-in-the-worldMore from Exceptionally Good:📧 [email protected] with Ryan: ••••••••••About Exceptionally Good:https://www.exceptionallygood.org/aboutFollow us:@e.g.exceptionallygoodMore from Exceptionally Good:📧 [email protected] with Ryan:  https://www.exceptionallygood.org/servicesExceptionally Good on Substack:https://substack.com/@exceptionallygoodProducer, editor and host: Ryan MaxwellTheme music: Ryan RaddatzGuitar music: Adeline’s GuitarCredits/Outro Read by: Adeline, Advice and JessThe 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.

Tierionna Pinkston is a dynamic school leader, educator, and community advocate currently serving as the principal of The Noble Academy in Chicago. Tierionna brings both fierce intellect and deep heart to her work. Known for her commitment to antiracist education and restorative practices, she leads with vision, vulnerability, and a relentless belief in the brilliance of young people. Her leadership is shaped by experience in the classroom, lessons from her own family, and a growing network of Black school leaders committed to healing and liberation in education.In this episode, we discuss:Tierionna’s journey from Louisville to Chicago and why she chose urban education as her life’s work.Lessons learned the hard way about transferring leadership skills to a brand-new campus (spoiler: listen before you fix).Surviving — and then thriving — in a “brutal” first year as principal by reclaiming authenticity and wellness.Building belonging through design-thinking: how re-imagining physical space and culture helped steady a school.Legacy Scholars, a Cabrini-Green–focused pathway at The Noble Academy aimed at reparative justice and college readiness.Why a principal’s self-care isn’t selfish: “If I am not well, nothing else is. The schoolhouse is well when the principal is well.” Relevant Links & Resources:The Noble Academy – campus site & enrollment infohttps://nobleschools.org/nobleacademy/Noble Schools https://nobleschools.org/Tierionna Pinkston on LinkedIn – follow her leadership reflectionshttps://www.linkedin.com/in/tierionna-pinkston-403b07131Surge Fellowshiphttps://surgeinstitute.org/surge-fellowship/Cabrini-Green Homes history – context for the neighborhood The Noble Academy serveshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cabrini%E2%80%93Green_HomesGive to support Legacy Scholars - an education program that supports young people whose families experienced the displacement and injustice of the policies around Cabrini Green:https://give.nobleschools.org/give/673051/#!/donation/checkout••••••••••Follow us:@e.g.exceptionallygoodRecommend a leader to be a guest:••••••••••About Exceptionally Good:https://www.exceptionallygood.org/aboutFollow us:@e.g.exceptionallygoodMore from Exceptionally Good:📧 [email protected] with Ryan:  https://www.exceptionallygood.org/servicesExceptionally Good on Substack:https://substack.com/@exceptionallygoodProducer, editor and host: Ryan MaxwellTheme music: Ryan RaddatzGuitar music: Adeline’s GuitarCredits/Outro Read by: Adeline, Advice and JessThe 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.

Courtenaye Jackson: - From Prosecutor to Purpose: A Journey to JusticeWhat does it mean to lead with purpose, principle, and power?This episode features Courtenaye Jackson—currently General Counsel for the Children’s Aid Society in New York City. With a $300M endowment and a wide portfolio of schools and social services, Courtenaye brings legal expertise and deep conviction to systems in service of children and justice.But her path wasn’t linear. From growing up in Queens with dreams of being a forest ranger, to tipping sheep at Cornell, to launching a powerful legal career that has spanned the Manhattan DA’s Office, human trafficking interventions, and a decade as General Counsel for the NYC Department of Education, Courtenaye has lived what it means to fail forward.Together, we explore:How formative failures taught her what her real “genius” isThe ethical weight of criminal prosecution—and why she left itStories of trauma, resilience, and redemption in the justice systemHow to lead when your team might not all be alignedWhat it means to truly change a system, not just work in oneHow compassion and justice go hand in handCourtenaye’s work invites us to ask: Are we building systems that solve problems—or perpetuate them for profit? Are we willing to reset when the path we chose no longer serves our purpose?⸻Learn More:•Children’s Aid Society•NYC Department of Education•Center for Justice Innovation (formerly Center for Court Innovation)•Midtown Community Court“I think we’re all called. Not everybody gets to pick what they’re good at. I think that’s part of the design—your genius is the packaging for your purpose.”••••••••••Follow us:@e.g.exceptionallygoodRecommend a leader to be a guest:https://forms.gle/GzHAYmzueE3UnarY6Feedback – Help us improve:https://forms.gle/aXempCSq2rvdfrCz9Help us cover costs – give $5, $10, $25, $50 or $?? at our Donorbox:••••••••••About Exceptionally Good:https://www.exceptionallygood.org/aboutFollow us:@e.g.exceptionallygoodMore from Exceptionally Good:📧 [email protected] with Ryan:  https://www.exceptionallygood.org/servicesExceptionally Good on Substack:https://substack.com/@exceptionallygoodProducer, editor and host: Ryan MaxwellTheme music: Ryan RaddatzGuitar music: Adeline’s GuitarCredits/Outro Read by: Adeline, Advice and JessThe 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.

Bernie Shakeshaft is the founder of Backtrack Youth Works, a nonprofit based in Armidale, New South Wales, Australia. For nearly 20 years, Bernie and his pack of working dogs have helped young people who’ve been kicked out of everything—school, home, the justice system—find purpose, responsibility, and healing.In this episode, Bernie shares how his own troubled youth, time as a jackaroo, and lessons from Aboriginal elders shaped the radical, relationship-driven model of Backtrack. From confronting youth tragedies and incarceration to chasing dreams and building trust through dogs, Bernie’s story is one of deep commitment and humility.-We discuss:What kids really need to survive and thriveHow dogs teach us to lead with empathyThe cost of following rules when they go against what’s rightWhat it means to step back and plan for the next generation of leadershipWatch & Learn More:Backtrack Boys – DocumentaryBernie’s Man of the Year acceptance video (2020 Australian Local Hero)Backtrack Youth Works“We do whatever it takes, for as long as it takes.”••••••••••Follow us:@e.g.exceptionallygoodRecommend a leader to be a guest:https://forms.gle/GzHAYmzueE3UnarY6Feedback – Help us improve:https://forms.gle/aXempCSq2rvdfrCz9Help us cover costs – give $5, $10, $25, $50 or $?? at our Donorbox:https://donorbox.org/support-leaders-striving-for-exceptional-good-in-the-worldMore from Exceptionally Good:📧 [email protected] with Ryan: https://www.exceptionallygood.org/services Exceptionally Good Articles on Substack:https://substack.com/@exceptionallygood⸻Producer, editor and host: Ryan MaxwellTheme music: Ryan RaddatzGuitar music: Adeline’s GuitarThe 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.••••••••••About Exceptionally Good:https://www.exceptionallygood.org/aboutFollow us:@e.g.exceptionallygoodMore from Exceptionally Good:📧 [email protected] with Ryan:  https://www.exceptionallygood.org/servicesExceptionally Good on Substack:https://substack.com/@exceptionallygoodProducer, editor and host: Ryan MaxwellTheme music: Ryan RaddatzGuitar music: Adeline’s GuitarCredits/Outro Read by: Adeline, Advice and JessThe 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.

There is no Episode 13.There is no 19th Story.There is no Miss Zarves.Look it up.You are in for a treat.••••••••••About Exceptionally Good:https://www.exceptionallygood.org/aboutFollow us:@e.g.exceptionallygoodMore from Exceptionally Good:📧 [email protected] with Ryan:  https://www.exceptionallygood.org/servicesExceptionally Good on Substack:https://substack.com/@exceptionallygoodProducer, editor and host: Ryan MaxwellTheme music: Ryan RaddatzGuitar music: Adeline’s GuitarCredits/Outro Read by: Adeline, Advice and JessThe 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.

It’s who you know….And, see, I know you. And you know people. You know inspiring leaders who would make excellent guests for the Exceptionally Good podcast. Leaders on a mission for a better world. They are exceptionally good not because they were born with it or heroic. But because they are just regular humans like you and me — and they are driven to contribute to good in the world. You know the world needs their voice. And you know them. And I know you. Recommend them. Link in bio and here ⬇️:Recommend a leader to be a guest!https://forms.gle/GzHAYmzueE3UnarY6••••••••••About Exceptionally Good:https://www.exceptionallygood.org/aboutFollow us:@e.g.exceptionallygoodMore from Exceptionally Good:📧 [email protected] with Ryan:  https://www.exceptionallygood.org/servicesExceptionally Good on Substack:https://substack.com/@exceptionallygoodProducer, editor and host: Ryan MaxwellTheme music: Ryan RaddatzGuitar music: Adeline’s GuitarCredits/Outro Read by: Adeline, Advice and JessThe 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.

Ever had your barn burn down and then see the moon?What happens when you realize those you put in place to lead are the wrong people?How should you use critique to make you and your org stronger?All the way from Doncaster, England, Andy Sprakes and Gwyn Ap Hari detail their journey as co-founders of XP Trust, a group of innovative and successful “free schools” in the UK. We discuss their unique approach to education, their personal leadership styles, the significance of culture in schools, and the importance of working in a team. They also delve into the challenges they faced, including a critical moment when their school burned down, which ultimately led to the foundation of XP Trust, and how they addressed leadership missteps to rejuvenate the culture and effectiveness of their schools.“Separating yourself is a way of collecting power and collecting more money and collecting more influence.  But it's not a way of leading, because if you're not spending time with people, you're not leading anything.” Links:XP Trusthttps://xptrust.org/Video on XP - Above all, compassionhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwrtCFGGUaEEducation Research Reading Room: Gwyn Ap Harri on Building, Breaking, and Fixing a World Famous SchoolHow We XP - Andy’s and Gwyn’s bookhttps://shop.xptrust.org/products/how-we-xpMy barn having burned to the groundI can see the moon.- Mizuta Masahide - - - Follow us:@e.g.exceptionallygoodhttps://www.instagram.com/p/DCk8pcourAOm81qleR5vtwQRvSY7emrC0ZARNY0/?igsh=MW0wOWZkNHM3M2Rldg==Recommend a leader to be a guest:https://forms.gle/GzHAYmzueE3UnarY6Feedback - Help us improve:https://forms.gle/aXempCSq2rvdfrCz9Help us cover costs - give $5, $10, $25, $50 or $?? at our Donorbox:https://donorbox.org/support-leaders-striving-for-exceptional-good-in-the-world••••••••••About Exceptionally Good:https://www.exceptionallygood.org/aboutFollow us:@e.g.exceptionallygoodMore from Exceptionally Good:📧 [email protected] with Ryan:  https://www.exceptionallygood.org/servicesExceptionally Good on Substack:https://substack.com/@exceptionallygoodProducer, editor and host: Ryan MaxwellTheme music: Ryan RaddatzGuitar music: Adeline’s GuitarCredits/Outro Read by: Adeline, Advice and JessThe 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.

Hey, good people, happy new year! As we look ahead into 2025, I am recruiting a new batch of exceptionally good leaders to host on the show. In particular, I'm looking for leaders in the realm of healthcare, rescue services, social services and more. We have a solid batch of education leaders in the first season because I started with friends who I knew were brilliant, admirable, and willing to take a chance on some podcast that didn't even exist yet with someone who had never hosted one! Now that we have a full season out, I'm looking to recruit our 2025 lineup. If you know of a great leader who you would nominate to be on the show, and you could recommend them, especially from a personal connection you might have with them, please nominate them for the next season. Of course they have no obligation to come on the show, I offer them no compensation, other than that which comes from doing a good deed, but it is a great way to amplify the voice of a leader who is doing the work for social good.You can find that link for nominations in the show notes, or you can drop me a line on LinkedIn, Instagram, or any way else you know how to get a hold of me.Help us keep leaders inspired, and share the voices of inspiring leaders.Yours for the good,RyanRecommend a leader to be a guest:https://forms.gle/GzHAYmzueE3UnarY6Feedback - Help us improve:https://forms.gle/aXempCSq2rvdfrCz9Help us cover costs - give $5, $10, $25, $50 or $?? at our Donorbox:https://donorbox.org/support-leaders-striving-for-exceptional-good-in-the-world••••••••••About Exceptionally Good:https://www.exceptionallygood.org/aboutFollow us:@e.g.exceptionallygoodMore from Exceptionally Good:📧 [email protected] with Ryan:  https://www.exceptionallygood.org/servicesExceptionally Good on Substack:https://substack.com/@exceptionallygoodProducer, editor and host: Ryan MaxwellTheme music: Ryan RaddatzGuitar music: Adeline’s GuitarCredits/Outro Read by: Adeline, Advice and JessThe 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.

How do you go from a town hall lashing, go up for a vote of no confidence and turn it around? What’s a leader to do when faced with a moment of crisis? Have you ever wondered how to know it is the right time to step down? In this transcript, Derek Pierce, the founding leader of Casco Bay High School, shares his extensive journey in educational leadership. Derek discusses his early influences, experience in the film industry, and the emotional challenges of starting a new school in a rural community. Highlighting key stories, such as handling a contentious Pledge of Allegiance issue and responding to hate crimes, he reflects on the importance of human-centered leadership. The conversation touches on Derek's leadership style characterized by humor, love, and a focus on student and faculty potential. As he transitions from his role after 19 years, Derek emphasizes the significance of listening, adapting, and continuously striving for improvement in education. This dialogue aims to inspire aspiring leaders committed to social good in educational settings.“Keep tinkering towards better and to keep loving your people with intention relentlessly.”Links:Casco Bay High Schoolhttps://cbhs.portlandschools.org/Derek’s Silverberg Leadership Award Speech - (bunny, bunny!)https://vimeo.com/190194953Derek leaves Casco Bay after 19 yearshttps://www.pressherald.com/2024/02/21/principal-leaving-portlands-casco-bay-high-after-19-years/Coalition of Essential Schools Design Principleshttps://web.archive.org/web/20220121202607/http://essentialschools.org/common-principles/- - -Follow us:@e.g.exceptionallygoodhttps://www.instagram.com/p/DCk8pcourAOm81qleR5vtwQRvSY7emrC0ZARNY0/?igsh=MW0wOWZkNHM3M2Rldg==Recommend a leader to be a guest:https://forms.gle/GzHAYmzueE3UnarY6Feedback - Help us improve:https://forms.gle/aXempCSq2rvdfrCz9Help us cover costs - give $5, $10, $25, $50 or $?? at our Donorbox:••••••••••About Exceptionally Good:https://www.exceptionallygood.org/aboutFollow us:@e.g.exceptionallygoodMore from Exceptionally Good:📧 [email protected] with Ryan:  https://www.exceptionallygood.org/servicesExceptionally Good on Substack:https://substack.com/@exceptionallygoodProducer, editor and host: Ryan MaxwellTheme music: Ryan RaddatzGuitar music: Adeline’s GuitarCredits/Outro Read by: Adeline, Advice and JessThe 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.

How does your self-talk provide a barometer for your own alignment and integrity in a situation?How do you build trust in order to give growth-producing feedback?How do you keep your fire fueled despite the challenges of leading for systemic change? In this episode, Shyla Kinhal, the Director of Literacy for Evanston Skokie School District, shares her extensive career journey and expertise in literacy and equity in education. From teaching in NYC to her current role, Shyla discusses the impact of her personal experiences, her strategic implementation of literacy programs, and her leadership philosophy. The conversation explores the importance of community, integrity, meaningful work, and celebrating progress in driving educational change.Links:District Literacy Adoptionshttps://evanstonroundtable.com/2023/01/18/school-district-65-plans-to-adopt-new-curriculum-for-its-k-5-reading-program/Shyla in Edweek - Giving students literacy experiences they deservehttps://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/reading-comprehension-hinges-on-building-knowledge-new-curricula-aim-to-help/2024/01EL Educationhttps://eleducation.org/ - - - Follow us:@e.g.exceptionallygoodhttps://www.instagram.com/p/DCk8pcourAOm81qleR5vtwQRvSY7emrC0ZARNY0/?igsh=MW0wOWZkNHM3M2Rldg==Recommend a leader to be a guest:https://forms.gle/GzHAYmzueE3UnarY6Feedback - Help us improve:https://forms.gle/aXempCSq2rvdfrCz9Help us cover costs - give $5, $10, $25, $50 or $?? at our Donorbox:https://donorbox.org/support-leaders-striving-for-exceptional-good-in-the-worldProducer, editor and host: Ryan MaxwellTheme music: Ryan RaddatzGuitar music: Adeline’s GuitarThe views shared on this podcast are those of my guests and the host(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of any employer.••••••••••About Exceptionally Good:https://www.exceptionallygood.org/aboutFollow us:@e.g.exceptionallygoodMore from Exceptionally Good:📧 [email protected] with Ryan:  https://www.exceptionallygood.org/servicesExceptionally Good on Substack:https://substack.com/@exceptionallygoodProducer, editor and host: Ryan MaxwellTheme music: Ryan RaddatzGuitar music: Adeline’s GuitarCredits/Outro Read by: Adeline, Advice and JessThe 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.

How does a pink tie turn leadership into a sunrise?How is change leadership like operating a elevator in a hotel?How does a school leader on Chicago’s Southside pull a school up from a nosedive to a top 10% school?What do you do when you realize that the reason your organization is faltering is you?  You become the sunrise.  In this episode, we feature Matthew King, co-founder of the national non-profit organization One Goal, which focuses on student post-secondary college access, and EPIC Academy, a charter school in Chicago’s Southside. Matthew discusses his career journey, leadership roles, and the pivotal moments that shaped his approach to education and leadership. He shares how he moved from being a teacher to a transformative leader, helping turnaround schools and advising educational leaders across the country. The conversation dives into the challenges of leading for social good, the need for creating conditions for student success, and the importance of self-care for sustainable leadership.“I assumed that people were just ready for change and that if we put good ideas out there and good strategy out there, they were just going to jump on that and run as I reflect on that…that wasn't the way. But, that was a hard lesson that I had to learn.”Links:College Principle - Matthew King’s Organizationhttps://collegeprinciple.com/One Goal - College and Post-Secondary Success orghttps://www.onegoal.org/EPIC Academy - Matthew’s charter high school on Chicago’s Southsidehttps://www.epicacademy.org/ - - - Follow us:@e.g.exceptionallygoodhttps://www.instagram.com/p/DCk8pcourAOm81qleR5vtwQRvSY7emrC0ZARNY0/?igsh=MW0wOWZkNHM3M2Rldg==Recommend a leader to be a guest:https://forms.gle/GzHAYmzueE3UnarY6Feedback - Help us improve:https://forms.gle/aXempCSq2rvdfrCz9Help us cover costs - give $5, $10, $25, $50 or $?? at our Donorbox:https://donorbox.org/support-leaders-striving-for-exceptional-good-in-the-worldProducer, editor and host: Ryan MaxwellTheme music: Ryan Radda••••••••••About Exceptionally Good:https://www.exceptionallygood.org/aboutFollow us:@e.g.exceptionallygoodMore from Exceptionally Good:📧 [email protected] with Ryan:  https://www.exceptionallygood.org/servicesExceptionally Good on Substack:https://substack.com/@exceptionallygoodProducer, editor and host: Ryan MaxwellTheme music: Ryan RaddatzGuitar music: Adeline’s GuitarCredits/Outro Read by: Adeline, Advice and JessThe 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 do you do when you get the report on the brutal truth and know you can’t solve it alone?How do you lead by staying close to the problem you are leading to solve?When do you know it is the right time NOT to seek that next larger, high position, but to focus on joy?In this episode, Ryan interviews Gia Truong, a leading figure in education and social equity, who shares her journey from being a high school teacher in San Francisco to becoming the managing partner at Equity & Proximity New Profit, a national venture philanthropy organization. Gia reflects on her career transitions, her experiences with systemic racism, and her commitment to leading with community. She emphasizes the importance of being vulnerable, leveraging positional power to uplift marginalized voices, and finding joy and balance in one's career. Gia's leadership style, characterized by high standards and an unwavering belief in potential, has significantly influenced students' success and the broader educational community.“Part of what communities have learned is what sustains. Educators sustain educational leaders sustain social justice activists, right? It's being a part of a community. You never feel like you're alone. You never feel like you have to have the answers, but together – and through joy too, right? Not just through hardship, but through joy and play that you can stay in the work and that you can create a better world.”Links:Gia joins New Profithttps://newprofit.org/impact-story/gia-truong-joins-new-profit-as-managing-partner-of-equity-and-proximity/Envision Public Schools - where Gia was CEOhttps://envisionschools.org/Urban Promise Academy - Oakland middle school where Gia and Ryan worked togetherhttps://urbanpromise.ousd.org/National Equity Project - where Ryan first met Giahttps://www.nationalequityproject.org/Lead Liberated - Gia's org to supporthttps://www.leadliberated.org/about-lead-liberated/ - - -Follow us:@e.g.exceptionallygoodhttps://www.instagram.com/p/DCk8pcourAOm81qleR5vtwQRvSY7emrC0ZARNY0/?igsh=MW0wOWZkNHM3M2Rldg==••••••••••About Exceptionally Good:https://www.exceptionallygood.org/aboutFollow us:@e.g.exceptionallygoodMore from Exceptionally Good:📧 [email protected] with Ryan:  https://www.exceptionallygood.org/servicesExceptionally Good on Substack:https://substack.com/@exceptionallygoodProducer, editor and host: Ryan MaxwellTheme music: Ryan RaddatzGuitar music: Adeline’s GuitarCredits/Outro Read by: Adeline, Advice and JessThe 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.

How do you get into that hard conversation by reframing it on what matters most?What happens when you are invited to an opportunity and you just can’t turn it down?How do you lead with a community by becoming of the community?In this episode, Ryan speaks with Roel Vivit, a seasoned educational leader with over two decades of experience in Chicago. Roel shares his inspiring career journey from classroom teacher to founding member of the Polaris Charter Academy and his current role as Director of Education at the Steans Family Foundation. The conversation delves into Roel's unique leadership philosophy, his focus on creating opportunities for student development, and his commitment to addressing racial and economic injustices. How do you reframe hard conversations through authentic relationships for good?  This episode is filled with valuable insights and practical wisdom for leaders aiming to make a social impact. Join us to learn about the importance of community, integrity, and continuous growth in effective leadership."I’m always pushing myself on taking the risk. I can be someone who can be risk averse and so when I’m saying,  'don't want to risk that,' pushing myself to say, 'what is it?'  I feel like I always have to keep telling myself every day.  'What is one thing I'm going to risk today? And when did I have an opportunity to do that?'  to just get into the habit and get myself and also tell my body, 'hey, this risk is okay to be able to take.' And it's actually something that's going to get you or get the organization or your team members to where they need to go."Links:Polaris Charter Academyhttps://www.pcachicago.org/Chicago Writing Area Project https://cawpchicago.org/Steans Family Foundationhttps://steansfamilyfoundation.org/Roel in the Chicago Tribune - 2005https://www.chicagotribune.com/2005/03/11/teachers-point-words-are-power/Follow us:@e.g.exceptionallygoodhttps://www.instagram.com/p/DCk8pcourAOm81qleR5vtwQRvSY7emrC0ZARNY0/?igsh=MW0wOWZkNHM3M2Rldg==Recommend a leader to be a guest:https://forms.gle/GzHAYmzueE3UnarY6Feedback - Help us improve:••••••••••About Exceptionally Good:https://www.exceptionallygood.org/aboutFollow us:@e.g.exceptionallygoodMore from Exceptionally Good:📧 [email protected] with Ryan:  https://www.exceptionallygood.org/servicesExceptionally Good on Substack:https://substack.com/@exceptionallygoodProducer, editor and host: Ryan MaxwellTheme music: Ryan RaddatzGuitar music: Adeline’s GuitarCredits/Outro Read by: Adeline, Advice and JessThe 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.

Where do you feel it in your body when you are out of integrity with yourself?When do you find yourself “wearing the mask” and what would happen if you drop it?Are you growing?  Or are you decaying? Join us in today's episode with Kemi Akinsanya-Rose, the COO of Cambium Learning Group and a pioneer in leadership and education. Kemi shares her extensive leadership journey, spanning high-level roles in operations, strategy, marketing, diversity, and equity. From her beginnings in financial services, to impactful roles in education with the New York City Department of Education and EL Education, Kemi's story is rich with insights and experiences. We explore the integral balance of mind, heart, and gut in leadership, the importance of vulnerability and authenticity, and the value of curiosity and community. She also reflects on how her multicultural identity and personal challenges, such as living with MS, have shaped her approach to leadership and social good. This episode is packed with actionable insights and inspiration for leaders aspiring to create meaningful impact.“Part of my leadership journey was around examining why did I become that person of the masks,  the layers and the armor – especially as a Black woman in corporate America – making sure that I was ready for whatever came at me, whether it was positive or negative.”EdTech Insidershttps://edtechinsiders.buzzsprout.com/1877869/12738676-asu-gsv-kemi-akinsaya-rose-chief-operating-officer-of-cambium-learning-groupASU GVS Summit Session:https://www.asugsvsummit.com/speakers/kemi-akinsanya-roseKemi on Paying Attention - Power Trip 2023 Speakerhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=MTB6Q_w2Ibo&feature=youtu.bePencil.orgCambium Learning Grouphttps://www.cambiumlearning.com/about-usEL Educationhttps://eleducation.org/ - - - Follow us:@e.g.exceptionallygoodhttps://www.instagram.com/p/DCk8pcourAOm81qleR5vtwQRvSY7emrC0ZARNY0/?igsh=MW0wOWZkNHM3M2Rldg==Recommend a leader to be a guest:••••••••••About Exceptionally Good:https://www.exceptionallygood.org/aboutFollow us:@e.g.exceptionallygoodMore from Exceptionally Good:📧 [email protected] with Ryan:  https://www.exceptionallygood.org/servicesExceptionally Good on Substack:https://substack.com/@exceptionallygoodProducer, editor and host: Ryan MaxwellTheme music: Ryan RaddatzGuitar music: Adeline’s GuitarCredits/Outro Read by: Adeline, Advice and JessThe 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 do an English software salesman, a child of refugees, a head of a call center, and a Hollywood writer all have in common?  They all went on to use their many many talents and skills for exceptional social good. Coming next week, tune into a new podcast series called Exceptionally Good — where I interview leaders to learn about their origin stories, their guiding principles, and the lessons they learned along way — sometimes the hard way.If you are a leader on a mission to make the world a better place and you want to learn from their journeys leading for exceptional social good, join us here at the Exceptionally Good Podcast.Launching Monday, Nov 25th!Yours for the good,[email protected]••••••••••About Exceptionally Good:https://www.exceptionallygood.org/aboutFollow us:@e.g.exceptionallygoodMore from Exceptionally Good:📧 [email protected] with Ryan:  https://www.exceptionallygood.org/servicesExceptionally Good on Substack:https://substack.com/@exceptionallygoodProducer, editor and host: Ryan MaxwellTheme music: Ryan RaddatzGuitar music: Adeline’s GuitarCredits/Outro Read by: Adeline, Advice and JessThe 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.