The Smart Thinking Podcast

Join us a for a great and in-depth conversation on the latest research around employee engagement and the application of your strengths in life and leadership.  Tim and Emily are colleagues at Gallup and are friends of the podcast. Both Tim and Emily share strong insight into our current state of life at work and how to use our strengths to navigate through these "interesting" times.    Walton research link: https://www.gallup.com/analytics/659819/k-12-teacher-research.aspx  

On this episode Ted revisits his favorite conversation with Greg Harden. Greg Harden was a legendary motivational figure and peak performance coach, best known for his influential work as an administrator and counselor at the University of Michigan. Often described as a "secret weapon" for elite athletes, he played a pivotal role in the mental development of stars like Tom Brady, Michael Phelps, and Desmond Howard. Through his coaching, Harden specialized in teaching individuals how to master their own emotions and build the mental resilience necessary to succeed both in sports and in life. Greg's book: Stay Sane in an Insane World: How to Control the Controllables and Thrive - is one of the ten reads for Smart Thinkers! 

We are living in an age where people are believing the headlines (gossip) and not reading the story. As a result, people are making assumptions about the circumstances in their world and commenting before acquiring the facts. This leads us to a need to ask “what?” and follow the WHAT principle. This episode will help you frame and recognize the need to once again focus on the facts and not the comments as well as be the leader to close the gap between headlines and comments by using "truths."  Wonder about the headline and intent Help yourself by being curious and asking questions Acquire the facts Truth focused communications

In nature, negative is always attracted to positive. In human nature however, negative attracts more negative. Take a listen as Ted breaks down how to normalize positivity with behaviors and processes. It is time to normalize positivity in our lives and workspaces. This can only occur if we, as individuals, begin to challenge the norm of negativity.  Follow Ted's four steps: See positivity Seek positivity Be a supermodel of positivity  Expect positivity 

Spring break is around the corner and that means we'll have time to reflect, reenergize, and maybe even relax. Since we are all leaders, that means we all need to invest in ourselves so that we can increase our ability to serve others. On this episode we explore six texts and a process using AI -- to help us increase the application of our learning. Leaders are Readers!    The books: Yes to Life, Viktor Frankly 13 Things Mentally Strong Women Don't Do, Amy Morin The Inner Game of Tennis, W. Timothy Gallwey The Digital Delusion, Jared Horvath Who is Government, Michael Lewis Theo of Golden, Allen Levi Plus a great new release produced at Golden Bear Studios:  Roots Run Back to You by Day Ashworth           

Spring is a season of change and when we lead change, we need some reminders to help us help ourselves and others get through the natural storms of change. We will explore the key behaviors for supporting change by focusing on processes that forecast the changes for others as well as providing tools and processes to support behaviors that will allow for others to find success in all the natural newness. People are pretty good at responding to changes in the weather – if they’re prepared. The same goes for organizational change!     Smart Thinking Retreat Registration: https://events.cesa6.org/events/30986398049

Each of us need to grow forward. Coaching yourself and others through tools and processes is the best way to increase your leadership capacity and skill sets. Take a listen as we explore how to apply some of the best practices in coaching to support all those we serve and mostly ourselves. This type of coaching is applicable in every arena we find ourselves in – personally and professionally. 

Each of us need to grow forward. Coaching yourself and others through tools and processes is the best way to increase your leadership capacity and skill sets. Take a listen as we explore how to apply some of the best practices in coaching to support all those we serve and mostly ourselves. This type of coaching is applicable in every arena we find ourselves in – personally and professionally.

Take a listen as we discuss how to increase your ability to have meaningful conversations. Ted and Craig discuss how to lean into our difference, and they review strategies to support strong interactions that are purposeful. Vulnerability and authenticity are always difficult at work and finding impactful processes and behaviors to increase empathy are key. This episode will help you see new ways to approach conversations so that you are more confident and authentic when working with and leading others.   Craig: https://weberconsultinggroup.net/ 

On every journey, we need to intentionally review (reflect) how far we’ve come and set goals (project) to ensure successful completion. Take a listen as we discuss a strategy that is fun and engaging and will allow you to increase your leadership and support students, colleagues, and yourself through intentional strategies to support growth. All of this by talking to or writing your younger self and advising your older self. The research is clear – reflect and project -- and you can help others (and yourself) be healthier, happier, and more engaged in life. 

Would you like to get the people around you to be the best version of themselves? Would you like to be able and willing to take risks, adopt change, and collaborate? Well, you need to make it safe for them. Take a listen as Ted shares a process for increasing psychological safety in the classroom, conference room, and boardroom. Remember - a question never asked -- is never answered. We need to ask questions to get from complaint to solution. Email Ted for the tool: [email protected] Buy Deb Talans new single here

Parenting is the single greatest calling and responsibility for each of us that is at the same time equally being unnerving and frustrating. It is a lonely business where we have more questions than answers. Join us on this episode as we explore questions raised by parents at one of the smart thinking parenting sessions offered by Ted. If you are interested in Ted coming to your school or workplace to help empower parents - email him at [email protected]  

What is the impact of technology in the classroom? Well, after over a decade of schools around the world utilizing technology in the classroom, the results are in, and they’re not great. Join Ted and Dr. Jared Cooney Horvath as they discuss Jared’s newest research and his book The Digital Delusion. You will leave this conversation wanting to read the book and significantly shift your current belief that technology in the classroom is a critical need. Turns out – it is not a need – it is a hinderance to learning, brain development, and skill attainment.   Jared will be a speaker at Ted's Smart Thinking Leadership Retreat this summer in July 2026. Watch for details at cesa6.org   Purchase Book Here

Over the course of a school year or project, people tend to decrease in their tolerance for others while at the same time increasing their understanding of people. When this happens we need to reframe how we treat others so that -- we and they -- find success. Too often we begin to grow frustrated and then emotions from all parties take over. Take a listen as we share the impact of positive reinforcement, the research to  back it up, and ways to grow your own ability to see the good!

Micro resolutions lead to macro outcomes. Join us as Ted shares five ways to support your well-being and mental fitness heading into your weekend, your week, or the New Year. These are five practical steps that allow you to learn, grow, and go forward with a better level of control. These steps will reduce anxiety and increase your ability to be present. Smart Thinking Shorts Ted Tools and Book  

There is a lot of time being spent on student behaviors in early childhood across all school systems. Children are struggling with self-regulation, learning, social as well as emotional control. These challenges are having a BIG impact on everything from learning to staff well-being. On this episode we look at the history of early childhood education and review what schools can do, parents can do and what we can do together to win back kindergarten.    

What process do you use to support the well-being of yourself and others? Ted explains the application and the neuroscience behind the SCARF model (David Rock) and how growing your understanding of the SCARF principles can create an increased sense of control and a tool to support individual and cultural well-being.  Status: Refers to an individual's relative importance to others Certainty: Deals with the ability to predict the future and understand what to expect in a situation Autonomy: Sense of control over one's own decisions and actions. Relatedness: Feeling of safety and belonging within a group Fairness: perception of fair treatment and equitable distribution of resources and opportunities

Two questions are addressed on this episode. How do I support my child so that they fend and fail for themselves and how do I deal with the manipulation of children as a parent? Ted discusses parenting techniques and this episode is very relevant for anyone who works with, supports, teaches, or cares about children. Share this one far and wide to help parents and guardians support more resilient and independent children.   Don't forget to attend the Smart Thinking Mid-Year Retreat. Register here.  

This conversation is a fantastic reminder of the impact we all have on others - especially how young people can change our direction. Listen as Ted and Matthew explore the impact of maintaining positivity, listening to the influences around you and finding joy in the work of life. Matthew’s journey from musician to music teacher, professor and motivator comes from a place of genuine curiosity and passion. Matthew shares how to shift culture while growing leaders from within. Listen as he describes the power of each of us and how music has influenced his life and those he serves.   Smart Thinking Mid-Year Retreat Registration: https://events.cesa6.org/events/36250872939  

Dedication to gratitude is a skill worth building and this is what Ted focuses on in this episode. Listen as we take a fun approach to gratitude and supporting those we are around so that they are stronger as individuals. You will hear a great way to use music to demonstrate gratitude and make dedications to elevate others. Most importantly this process will help others see and hear how that they matter! 

Each generation has the ability to define itself and grow into the role of leadership. Take a listen as Ted and Tim discuss how to support the newest workforce generation and support their success in life and leadership. Tim’s new book is a fantastic read, guide, and tactic filled study. If you want to be a great leader of/for others, it begins with empathy and this book will grow your skills and leadership as you work to support this amazing generation, Generation Z. Book: The Future Begins with Z - order here  

Take a listen as Ted explores how we can grow our ability o respond to situations with solutions instead of complaints. You see, complaining and criticizing is easy if you don't have the skills to seek solutions or strategies. Everyone has a response when they are squeezed and Ted shares with you his "8 is Enough" tactics to help you as well as help you help others.    

There are three things that we all control: our happiness, our engagement, and our choices. On this episode Ted talks about how we can increase our own engagement by empowering ourselves and checking our mindset while using tools to find empowerment. Ted explains how to use AI to help you increase your engagement in areas where you may struggle and/or how to coach others to higher levels of engagement.  He coaches you with these steps: Stop blaming others Control what you can control Check your biases    

This fall Ted has compiled a great reading list to help you, help yourself. Help you grow skills as a parent or to support parents and one book to increase your perspective. This fall's collection: Aristotle’s Guide to Self Persuasion: Jay Heinrichs The Happiness Files: Arthur Brooks Fight, How Gen Z is Channeling Their Fear and Passion to Save America: John Della Volpe Good Inside, A Guide To Becoming The Parent You Want To Be: Becky Kennedy Raising Mentally Strong Kids, Daniel Amen and Charles Fay Lewis and Clark Through Indian Eyes, Alvin Josephy Jr.

Join us for a conversation with author and leader Rainey Briggs as we explore the impact of others in our formation and leadership evolution. Learn how tenacity rules the day as we move forward through our lives and discover some great tactics for life and leadership. Book: Beyond the Label: A Leaders journey from IEP to EdD Purchase HERE      

When you are new to an organization or team, it is critical to understand the landscape. Too often leaders forget to employ a process to help them create a map and end up stepping on system or individual landmines. Take a listen as Ted shares a process to help you collect the things that trigger organizational frustration and individual frustration so that you can create a proactive map and find success. 

The new book MindCraft, by Aaron Sadoff is a wonderful text that describes all of the positive ways in which you can approach your daily leadership. Join Ted and Aaron as they discuss the highlights of his new book and also reflect upon the ways in which they have both grown as leaders. Aaron shares many ways to grow your leadership, mindset, and strengths.    Purchase Book Here: MindCraft, The Art of Positive Thinking RIGHT NOW

Why do most initiatives in schools and the workplace fail after only a few months? Answer: We ignore the needs of the people or students. People are not going to adopt new ideas unless they can grow together through shared experiences. Take a listen as Ted explores the impact and importance of taking a field trip and seeing, hearing, and feeling the world around you. Experiences shared together create lasting change. 

For 350 episodes Ted has suggested reflection in your daily practices. On this milestone episode, he describes a process and shares tools to help you increase your well-being through intentional reflective practices. Why? If you don't fill your brain, it'll fill itself with all the wonderful weirdness it is capable of creating.  Tools can be found here

In this conversation Bob and Ted (not a morning radio show) have a great discussion around leadership, life, and Bob's two new books. Bob is a creative, humble and gifted architect who describes his process for getting the most out of other people with inspirational ideas and mindsets. This conversation will help you learn, grow, and go into the storm!    Books: The Story in Your Head & Along for the Ride can be found here

Too often we get stuck because of the culture and we need to find ways to support ourselves and others so that we can collect wisdom from the amazing people around us. Join Ted as he shares a great teaming tool to help you build a stronger and safer classroom, teaming environment, meeting or board room. Less judgment and more investment!    If you could share one piece of advice with your past self or in your first year of your career -- what would you tell yourself. What was the the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? When you struggle with balance, what works to get you aligned again? What is one thing you hope your future self figures out? Where did you waste time in the past that you’ve learned to approach differently?

The energy at the beginning of a journey is critical. Take a listen to for a strategy and a mindset to help you launch this year! The ABC's of hiking is applicable and fun!   Here we go season 9!

We need to redefine what a vacation is and make certain it is something more than just a trip or time off. Let's get serious about supporting our well-being and creating the conditions so that we can grow our mind, body, spirit and soul. Join us as we reframe taking a vacation and create moments that just "take you away" from the things in life that don't add to who you are.   Books: Careless People, Sarah Wynn Williams On Character, Gen. Stanley McCrystal Casting Forward, Steve Ramirez Super Agers, Eric Topol  

During the summer and in between projects we need to create opportunities for people to understand how they make a difference and matter. Join Ted for a conversation and tactic to allow for you to pause and applaud the way in which others make a difference in the world in which we live. 

Summer slide is a real thing and impacts children significantly. However, summer is an opportunity to increase student learning and skill application if we are willing to help parents out with ideas and activities. Ted shares how parents can support learning over the summer and how educators can fuel parents with tips and tricks to support learning.  Parents are equal partners in the journey of learning. 

Urs and Ted have an engaging conversation on the impact of Radical Humility when leading others. Urs shares empowering stories and processes that will help you help others. Ted’s favorite part of the book is the idea that we can all be “tough on results and tender on people.”

Too often we hide upcoming shifts and changes from people for fear that we will create tension. This is just a wasted opportunity to support people. Listen as Ted shares the research and a process to support increasing predictability for those you serve by outlining what people can expect during the next cycle or school year. Summer is an incredible time to help people see the change and find the support for their own engagement and empowerment.    

What do people in transition need the most? Well, the greatest gift we can give them is empathy and predictability. Ted breaks down how to give a gift that will be meaningful and needed for the people graduating or transitioning as well as describes how to support people as they take on their newest challenge.  Simple process: Give clear expectations of how you will be there for them Recognize how hard they've worked to get where they are Tell them you love them Provide praise for the way in which they live their lives. Buy Ted's book as a graduation gift here!   

The month of May is filled with opportunities for recognition and especially within our schools. Take a listen as Ted shares a process to use to create intentional and meaningful recognition in your culture. The process will bring Rays of Recognition throughout your culture.  Click here for retreat registration.     

What is a genius? What is the impact of AI on our learning? How is our memory being impacted by digital technology? Why are little kids becoming more challenging? Find out in this conversation with Ted and Dr. Jared Horvath: neuroscientist, professor, author, documentary filmmaker, dad, and entrepreneur. https://www.lmeglobal.net  

Did you know that 60% of male teens have online gambled at least once? Our children have too many opportunities to make bad choices, create addiction, and find themselves in accelerated anxiety loops. Ted tackles the newest research and findings on online and app-based gambling and the impact on teens. He ends with a simple suggestion: TALK TO YOUR CHILDREN!    Summer leadership retreat registration: https://store.cesa6.org/products/smart-thinking-summer-leadership-retreat-in-person

Tired of all of the negativity? It can be hard not to be and negativity is fueled by uncertainty and there is a lot of that lately. Let's do something about it. Let's get optimistic (Think Olivia Newton-John)! Take a listen as we explore reflective questions to frame your day and bring renewed energy towards your mindset. Ted has a ton of energy on this episode and brings you a great way to frame your oncoming storms!   Stop by our store to purchase Ted's tools: https://store.cesa6.org/      

This week Ted continues to bring you texts to read and the theme this week is -- growing yourself. Leaders are readers and readers are leaders. This collection of texts will help you with your self-discipline, mindset, leadership behaviors, and reflections as a person for others. A great collection of texts to support you and allow you to grow. The books: Discipline is Destiny, Ryan Holiday The Let Them Theory, Mel Robbins MindCraft, Aaron Sadoff Radical Humility, Urs Koenig Meditation for Mortals, Oliver Burkeman Duke’s Storm, Ted Neitzke  Buy Ted's book and tools here: https://store.cesa6.org/  

People are leaving their jobs and we need a proactive process that allows us to understand how to help. Ted explores the idea of stay interviews and explains the powerful impact that asking positively framed questions can have for leaders as they are seeking to retain staff. He then adds a twist at the end which will help students!     

55% of Americans (per GALLUP) indicate that they do not know what is expected of them at work. This is not good for stakeholders or leaders. This episode shares a process to help you help others seek clarity and become crystal clear of their expectations. The process begins with providing everyone choice and voice in their world so that they have permission to seek clarity and be engaged and empowered.

Gen Z and Gen Alpha are amazing and yet they are facing threats online that others generations could not have even imagined. Sextortion being one and this episode explores how to talk to young people about the threats they face in the 2020's. All of it by learning how to LEAN into difficult conversations with young people. Learn together Engage the topic Announce expectations Next steps  

Organizations create structure and people create culture. So how do we better support Gen Z in the workforce for a great culture? Take a listen as Ted breaks down strategies to support younger employees and colleagues - -oh heck -- these processes are actually good for everybody.  Describe how you set yourself up for the future. List programs and supports you need in your current season of life. Describe innovations you could support in your workplace to increase success.  Song: Better Days by Thomas LaVine

The RESCUE principle will help us increase the success of others as well as ourselves. Take a listen as Ted breaks down the behaviors of great friends and colleagues to support wellbeing, engagement, and the application of our strengths.  Resources Empathy Support their strengths Challenge Understand  Expectations Buy Ted's book Duke's Storm here.     

How good are you or your organization at proactively anticipating what could happen? This episode shares a process borrowed from emergency management and discusses the positive impact of using the wisdom of the crowd to proactively plan for the future. This way everyone understands their role and can support the system in better ways. Describe where you could apply this process to increase team ownership and understanding. List people that need to always be in the room when proactively planning. Describe a past experience that would have been more successful had you done a tabletop. Buy Duke's Storm here: https://store.cesa6.org/products/dukes-storm  

There is now a name to our buffalo... Duke! Ted is now the author of a children's book entitled: Duke's Storm: A Story of Courage. This episode is the story about the story and how Ted was "nudged" by a high school sophomore that had participated in his student leadership training. Listen and hear how their shared experience has created a beautiful book.  This episode details how multi-generational people can do great things together. Ted and Allison combined their talents to create an amazing book! Buy book here: https://store.cesa6.org/products/dukes-storm