Podcast
Change Starts Here
Hosted by Franklin Covey Education · EN
Change Starts Here, presented by FranklinCovey Education, is the podcast for K–12 school and district leaders who are shaping—or ready to lead—meaningful change in their schools and communities. Through interviews with innovative educators and research-backed insights, each episode explores how to build leadership at all levels, foster high-trust school cultures, and achieve breakthrough results around what matters most. This podcast offers practical ideas and bold thinking to help you create lasting impact in your school community. Explore the episodes and dive into real stories, proven strategies, and the leadership mindset that transforms schools. This is your space for inspiration, clarity, and action. Real change starts here.
26episodes
Episodes
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What's Really Happening With AI in Schools?
3w ago00:22:51Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Change Starts Here, Kim Yaris and Dr. Eve Miller tackle a topic that leaves many educators feeling overwhelmed: Artificial Intelligence in schools. Looking past the sensational headlines, they dive deep into recent survey data from organizations like RAND, Pew, and Brookings to uncover the reality of how AI is actually showing up in classrooms.The research reveals a startling truth, ignoring AI or instituting complete bans doesn't stop students from using these tools, it simply removes adult guidance. Kim and Eve discuss the phenomenon of "covert AI use," where both teachers and students are utilizing AI in secret due to a lack of clear policies and training. To help leaders navigate this massive shift, the hosts share three practical strategies that require no district mandate to implement: starting with student thinking before introducing the tool, visibly modeling imperfect AI use, and fiercely protecting the irreplaceable human skills of relationships and coaching.Download the Handouts:Handout: https://resources.franklincovey.com/c/podcast_handout_ep33?x=Dw_9TFStaff Booster: https://resources.franklincovey.com/c/fy26_csh-rc_lim_staff-e33?x=Dw_9TF Hosts: Kim Yaris, M.Ed. (Associate Director of Research with FranklinCovey Education) Dr. Eve Miller (Director of Research with FranklinCovey Education)Timestamps: (00:00 - 01:15) The AI conversation (01:15 - 02:53) Looking at the data (02:53 - 04:56) The AI policy landscape (04:56 - 07:37) Climbing student usage (07:37 - 10:27) Why schools stay silent (10:27 - 13:44) Covert AI use (13:44 - 15:53) The stakes of inaction (15:53 - 18:38) Practice 1: Thinking first (18:38 - 20:33) Practice 2: Visible use (20:33 - 21:53) Practice 3: Human skills (21:53 - 23:08) Closing thoughts
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The Truth About School Culture
4w ago00:54:44Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Change Starts Here, Dustin Odham sits down with Todd Nesloney, Director of Culture and Strategic Leadership for the Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association (TEPSA). Todd shares his insights on what a thriving school culture actually looks and feels like, going beyond test scores and bulletin boards to the fundamental human experiences of feeling seen, heard, and valued.Todd gets real about his own transition from the classroom to school administration, challenging the "martyr complex" that leads so many passionate educators to burnout. He encourages leaders to embrace their authentic selves, treat adults with the same grace and connection they offer students, and to stop overcomplicating their roles. Listeners will walk away with practical advice on how to empower their teams, the importance of expanding their professional networks outside their own district, and the courage to take risks—and own the failures that follow.Interested in the TEPSA Summer Conference? Learn more & register:https://www.tepsa.org/summer-conference/summer-conference/ Connect with Todd: https://www.toddnesloney.com/ Host: Dustin Odham (FranklinCovey Education)Guest: Todd Nesloney (Director of Culture and Strategic Leadership, TEPSA)Timestamps: (00:00 - 02:46) Intro and welcome (02:46 - 05:01) Meet Todd Nesloney (05:01 - 08:16) Assessing school culture (08:16 - 12:45) Seen, heard, and valued (12:45 - 18:04) Finding the time for connection (18:04 - 23:14) The educator martyr complex (23:14 - 27:36) Redefining leadership meetings (27:36 - 32:29) Patterns of high performance (32:29 - 36:55) Teaching adults like kids (36:55 - 44:06) Empowering your team (44:06 - 47:35) Expand your network (47:35 - 51:56) Walk up songs (51:56 - 54:42) You are meant to be here
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Are We Asking the Wrong Questions About Student Well-Being?
Apr 1400:19:50Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Change Starts Here, Kim Yaris and Dr. Eve Miller dive into the critical topic of student well-being, especially relevant as climate survey data rolls in for the end of the year. While most schools measure happiness and meaningfulness, Dr. Miller highlights groundbreaking research by Erin Westgate and Shigehiro Oishi that introduces a third, often overlooked dimension: "psychological richness".Listeners will discover what psychological richness is, experiences that fundamentally shift how you see the world, and why it is distinct from both happiness and meaning. The hosts explain how a school might score perfectly on happiness metrics while still leaving students feeling like they're just going through the motions. They offer three highly practical ways for educators to build psychological richness into their daily routines: asking the right reflective questions, making perspective shifts visible, and actively seeking out unfamiliar viewpoints.Handout: https://resources.franklincovey.com/c/podcast_handout_epis-31?x=mRNVAO Staff Booster: https://resources.franklincovey.com/c/lim_staffbooster_epi31?x=mRNVAOHosts: Kim Yaris, M.Ed. (Associate Director of Research with FranklinCovey Education) Dr. Eve Miller (Director of Research with FranklinCovey Education)Timestamps:(00:00 - 01:42) School Climate surveys(01:42 - 03:35) Psychological richness(03:35 - 05:04) Richness vs rigor(05:04 - 06:31) Tracking perspective change(06:31 - 08:31) Why richness matters(08:31 - 10:24) Missing wellbeing metrics(10:24 - 11:48) Purpose and richness(11:48 - 13:58) Practice 1: Add the third question(13:58 - 16:01) Practice 2: Make the shift visible(16:01 - 18:09) Practice 3: Unfamiliar perspectives(18:09 - 19:49) Designing deliberately
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Finishing the School Year Strong
Apr 700:11:11Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Change Starts Here, Dustin Odham addresses the unique challenge of the final stretch of the school year. When testing season arrives and the finish line is in sight, there's a natural temptation for educators to coast. But Dustin explains why the most critical moments for leadership, culture, and student impact happen right now, when everyone is tired.Drawing inspiration from sports psychology and the first modern Olympic marathon, Dustin challenges leaders and teachers to lean into the fatigue rather than drift through it. He re-frames testing not as a punishment, but as a responsibility to ensure every student is learning. This episode is a powerful reminder that people rarely remember how something started; they remember how it finished. Listeners will walk away inspired to recommit to their expectations and remind their teams that the work they are doing right now still matters.Host: Dustin Odham (FranklinCovey Education)Timestamps: (00:00 - 01:26) The quiet temptation (01:26 - 02:01) The hardest part (02:01 - 03:20) The 1896 Olympic marathon (03:20 - 04:20) The final stretch (04:20 - 05:07) Reframing state testing(05:07 - 05:58) The lie of April (05:58 - 07:22) Fatigue exposes character (07:22 - 08:06) Competitive greatness (08:06 - 09:39) A challenge for educators (09:39 - 11:10) Finish strong
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Planting S.E.E.D.S. to Grow Leaders Who Build Leaders
Mar 3100:45:17Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Dr. Duzy breaks down her powerful "SEEDS" philosophy—Serve, Empower, Embrace, Develop, Steer—and explains why securing "buy-in" is no longer enough. She shares the messy but rewarding reality of shifting your team toward true ownership, how to establish the right conditions for new initiatives to thrive, and the importance of aligning district-wide systems like evaluations and strategic plans to a singular vision.If you’re a K-12 leader looking to build a culture of continuous improvement and empowerment, this episode provides a masterclass in developing the people who support the students.Be sure to like, subscribe, and leave a comment!Learn more about how you can build leaders who build leaders: https://franklincovey.com/show-greatschoolleadersLearn more about C&D:https://www.leaderinme.org/district/ 00:00 Intro 02:29 Meet Dr. Bridget Duzy 04:00 Moral Imperative: Do the Most Good 06:38 Building Leaders Who Lead 07:48 The SEEDS Leadership Philosophy 10:21 Transitioning from Teacher to Administrator 13:39 Scaling District-Wide Initiatives 16:25 Setting the Conditions for Success 21:36 Changing the Conversation Around Change 24:00 Buy-In vs. Ownership 28:03 Aligning Evaluation Systems 36:09 First Steps for District Leaders 38:42 Keeping the Leadership Fire Lit 43:42 Closing
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Permission to Play: Why Joy is a Leadership Skill
Mar 2400:24:45Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Change Starts Here, Kim Yaris and Dr. Eve Miller challenge the way we view joy and play in education, especially during the heavy, high-stress stretch of testing season. Too often, joy is treated as a "garnish" in schools—a funny video at a staff meeting or a smoothie bar during Teacher Appreciation Week—and categorized as a mood rather than a vital capacity. However, Dr. Miller shares that joy actually has a biological architecture that fundamentally changes what the brain can do.Drawing on Barbara Fredrickson’s "broaden-and-build theory" and Dr. Stuart Brown's research on play histories, the hosts reveal that play is not a reward for finished work; it is a biological drive as essential as sleep and nutrition. The conversation unpacks how the demands of leadership train the brain to constantly scan for problems, which can trigger "foreboding joy" and shut down our access to playfulness. Listeners will walk away with three highly intentional, small practices to rebuild this capacity: training your "delight muscle," going first with vulnerability, and protecting one entirely unproductive ritual.Download the free episode assets:Handout: https://resources.franklincovey.com/c/CSH-handout-e27?x=D1cEjaStaff Booster: https://resources.franklincovey.com/c/csh_staffbooster_ep27?x=D1cEjaHost:Kim Yaris, M.Ed. (Associate Director of Research with FranklinCovey Education) Dr. Eve Miller (Director of Research with FranklinCovey Education)Timestamps: (00:00 - 01:15) Podcast intro(01:15 - 03:28) The delight muscle(03:28 - 06:30) Joy as a capacity(06:30 - 08:34) Broaden and build theory(08:34 - 10:14) Play is a biological drive(10:14 - 12:39) Brain mechanisms of play(12:39 - 15:46) Foreboding joy in leadership(15:46 - 17:40) Realistic, adaptable leadership(17:40 - 19:56) Practice 1: Delight muscle(19:56 - 21:34) Practice 2: Go real(21:34 - 24:43) Practice 3: Unproductive ritual
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How Educators Can Help Students Rewrite Their “Broken Soundtracks” | Lessons on Mindset With Jon Acuff
Mar 1700:37:42Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Change Starts Here, Dustin Odham sits down with New York Times bestselling author Jon Acuff to explore the profound impact of mindset on both students and educators. Jon unpacks his concept of "broken soundtracks"—the negative, repetitive thoughts that hold us back—and explains why issues like procrastination, perfectionism, and imposter syndrome are not physical hurdles, but mindset challenges.Jon shares practical strategies for identifying and replacing these broken soundtracks, starting with a simple two-step exercise that educators can use in the classroom to uncover limiting beliefs. He also challenges adults to lead by example, arguing that we must be as brave as we ask our students to be. Whether you are an educator trying to inspire a classroom or a leader trying to silence your own inner critic, this conversation offers actionable advice on how to practice positivity and turn overthinking into a superpower.Visit Jon’s Website to learn more: https://store.jonacuff.com/ Purchase your copy of Jon’s best-selling book, Soundtracks: The Surprising Solution to Overthinkinghttps://store.jonacuff.com/soundtracks Host: Dustin Odham (FranklinCovey Education)Guest: Jon Acuff (New York Times Bestselling Author)Timestamps: (00:00 - 02:37) Intro(02:37 - 07:10) Solving the overthinking problem(07:10 - 09:46) Mindset as a multiplier(09:46 - 12:43) The lifecycle of a broken soundtrack(12:43 - 15:16) A classroom mindset exercise(15:16 - 18:49) Leading by example(18:49 - 23:39) Practicing positivity(23:39 - 28:53) Betting on yourself(28:53 - 30:47) Idea bankruptcy(30:47 - 33:17) Empowering the next generation(33:17 - 35:01) Lean into your one verse(35:01 - 37:42) Closing
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How Curiosity Drives Deeper Learning
Mar 1000:12:28Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Change Starts Here, Kim Yaris explores a pressing question in education: are students and adults less curious than they used to be? In a fast-paced world, the space for wondering is often crowded out by the demand for immediate answers. Yet, workforce research continuously identifies curiosity as a critical, durable skill essential for problem-solving, adaptability, and long-term learning.Kim dismantles the conventional myth that curiosity is simply a fixed personality trait. Instead, she shares five research insights proving it is highly responsive to its environment. Listeners will learn the neuroscience behind why curiosity emerges when uncertainty feels manageable, and how true engagement often looks more like productive struggle than cheerful exploration. Finally, Kim offers three practical moves for leaders to nurture curiosity in their teams and classrooms: building tiny moments of prediction, normalizing uncertainty, and ensuring questions don't hit a dead end.Download the Handout: https://resources.franklincovey.com/c/podcast_handout_ep25?x=I8LeICHosts: Kim Yaris, M.Ed. (Associate Director of Research with FranklinCovey Education)Timestamps: (00:00 - 01:29) The curiosity question (01:29 - 02:58) A durable, essential skill (02:58 - 04:19) The conventional curiosity(04:19 - 06:19) Five research insights (06:19 - 08:13) The neuroscience of uncertainty (08:13 - 09:30) Practice 1: Tiny predictions (09:30 - 10:28) Practice 2: Normalize uncertainty (10:28 - 11:20) Practice 3: Avoid dead ends(11:20 - 12:27) Outro
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Break the Burnout Cycle. Reclaim Your Agency
Mar 300:11:40Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Change Starts Here, Dustin Odham addresses the subtle burnout that often creeps into schools during the spring semester. He explains that burnout often stems not from the workload itself, but from the negative stories and expectations we attach to that workload.Through a personal story of a chaotic morning, Dustin illustrates how shifting our internal question to "What does leadership require of me right now?" can change our entire posture and response. Listeners will learn three practical shifts to reclaim their agency: separating fatigue from frustration, reclaiming their circle of control, and upgrading the meaning assigned to their challenges. By moving from victim language to ownership language, educators can transform an exhausting season into a refining one.Host: Dustin Odham (FranklinCovey Education)Timestamps: (00:00 - 01:08) Intro (01:08 - 01:38) Subtle burnout (01:38 - 03:18) A chaotic morning (03:18 - 04:46) What leadership requires now (04:46 - 06:26) Interpretation drives your energy (06:26 - 07:48) Circumstance versus your identity (07:48 - 08:00) Separate fatigue from frustration (08:00 - 08:30) Reclaim circle of control (08:30 - 09:03) Upgrade your assigned meaning (09:03 - 09:39) Choose ownership and growth (09:39 - 10:59) Challenge yourself (10:59 - 11:40) Outro
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High Expectations: Belief, Behavior, or Both?
Feb 2400:23:02Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Change Starts Here, Kim Yaris and Dr. Eve Miller dive into the pervasive and often misunderstood topic of "high expectations." While most leaders strive to raise the bar, they often see the same patterns repeat: the same students doing the thinking and the same staff carrying the load. Kim and Eve explore the research behind why this happens, revealing that high expectations are not just a mindset, but a visible environment created by thousands of micro-decisions.Listeners will be guided through a visualization exercise to understand how belief shifts behavior, from the feedback we give to the opportunities we offer. The hosts unpack four research-backed practices to disrupt low-expectation cycles: conducting an "Opportunity Audit," separating a student's "snapshot" from their potential "pathway," utilizing "Wise Feedback," and pairing challenge with structural support. This episode challenges educators to examine their default settings and intentionally design cultures where growth is the norm, not the exception.Our Staff Booster: https://resources.franklincovey.com/c/lim_staffbooster_episode23?x=63yTZlDownload the Handout: https://resources.franklincovey.com/c/podcast_handout_epis-23?x=63yTZlHosts: Kim Yaris, M.Ed. Associate Director of Research with FranklinCovey EducationDr. Eve Miller, Director of Research with FranklinCovey EducationTimestamps:(00:00 - 00:42) Podcast intro (00:42 - 01:49) The expectation gap (01:49 - 04:24) Visualizing belief versus doubt (04:24 - 06:28) Expectations as environments (06:28 - 08:46) How expectations leak out (08:46 - 10:45) Cycles of expectations (10:45 - 13:21) Balancing efficiency and expectation (13:21 - 16:21) Labels and self-perception(16:21 - 18:24) Practice 1: Opportunity Audit (18:24 - 19:35) Practice 2: Snapshot vs Pathway (19:35 - 20:30) Practice 3: Wise Feedback (20:30 - 21:54) Practice 4: Challenge and Support (21:54 - 23:00) Closing thoughts
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