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The Authority Podcast — Expert Insights and Fresh Ideas for Education Leaders
Be Podcast Network
215 episodes
2 days ago
Are you looking for proven ideas to increase your influence, hire and develop an excellent staff, build a stronger culture, lead meaningful change, and form a strong foundation for learning and leadership success? This is the podcast for you. Whether you're a leader to seeks to refine your command of core educational strategies, learn new management techniques from those who have used them at some of the world's largest corporations, gain fresh perspectives on personal development or student success from practitioners across fields, or a little bit of everything, you'll find powerful content on The Authority. Join leadership coach, storytelling strategist, and edtech advisor Ross Romano as he interviews the prominent education authors you already admire, up-and-coming voices, and experts from the worlds of business, personal development, and beyond — including Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Amazon bestsellers — to take a deep dive into their wealth of practical insights.
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Self-Improvement
Education,
How To
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All content for The Authority Podcast — Expert Insights and Fresh Ideas for Education Leaders is the property of Be Podcast Network and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.
Are you looking for proven ideas to increase your influence, hire and develop an excellent staff, build a stronger culture, lead meaningful change, and form a strong foundation for learning and leadership success? This is the podcast for you. Whether you're a leader to seeks to refine your command of core educational strategies, learn new management techniques from those who have used them at some of the world's largest corporations, gain fresh perspectives on personal development or student success from practitioners across fields, or a little bit of everything, you'll find powerful content on The Authority. Join leadership coach, storytelling strategist, and edtech advisor Ross Romano as he interviews the prominent education authors you already admire, up-and-coming voices, and experts from the worlds of business, personal development, and beyond — including Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Amazon bestsellers — to take a deep dive into their wealth of practical insights.
Show more...
Self-Improvement
Education,
How To
Episodes (20/215)
The Authority Podcast — Expert Insights and Fresh Ideas for Education Leaders
Brain Glue with James I. Bond — How to Make Ideas Stick

James I. Bond is one of America’s leading behavioral management specialists. He joins the show to talk about his book Brain Glue, which was named a 2023 Best Business Book finalist by Publishers Weekly.


We discuss:

  • How selling becomes much easier by making your ideas “sticky” 
  • The desire to connect with others and make your ideas connect
  • The science of persuasion
  • Understanding the way people learn about ideas
  • The power of humor


About the host

Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies, a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Bluesky or LinkedIn 


I also host Sideline Sessions, a podcast for coaches and parents of student-athletes. The show features conversations with coaches and performance experts in the NFL, NBA, NCAA, Olympics, and more. Listen here: https://bit.ly/3Rp0QGt 

Show more...
5 days ago
43 minutes

The Authority Podcast — Expert Insights and Fresh Ideas for Education Leaders
One for the Authors: Writing and Promoting Your Book with Mitch Weathers

Mitch Weathers is an educator, author of the bestselling book, Executive Functions for Every Classroom, and the founder of Organized Binder. He returns to the show to share tips for authors, especially how to launch and promote your book. 


We talk about:

  • Starting to plan for a book launch
  • Knowing why you want to write
  • It doesn’t matter how valuable your book is if nobody knows it exists
  • The book as a marketing vessel: how does it open doors?
  • Use your network to your advantage
  • What makes promoting a book different from promoting your business?
  • How to define success

Listen to my previous conversation with Mitch on episode 81 of The Authority, Executive Functions for Every Classroom with Mitch Weathers. 


About today’s guest

Mitch Weathers is an educator, author of the #1 bestselling book, Executive Functions for Every Classroom, and the founder of Organized Binder. Organized Binder is an MTSS Tier 1 solution that exposes students to the executive functions that promote success. In a world where we must embrace technology, analog interaction and hands-on practice is more important than ever. Studentness, the habits of being a student, are critical in today’s educational landscape and Mitch is among those leading the charge.


About the host

Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies, a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Bluesky or LinkedIn 


I also host Sideline Sessions, a podcast for coaches and parents of student-athletes. The show features conversations with coaches and performance experts in the NFL, NBA, NCAA, Olympics, and more. Listen here: https://bit.ly/3Rp0QGt 

Show more...
1 week ago
53 minutes

The Authority Podcast — Expert Insights and Fresh Ideas for Education Leaders
Pop Culture Literacies with Mia Hood

Across two decades in education, Mia Hood has served in a variety of K-12 roles, including classroom teacher, instructional dean, and, most recently, regional director of literacy. 


Currently, she designs curriculum for schools and nonprofits and teaches literacy and secondary education at the City University of New York and professional writing at New York University. 


Mia joins the show to talk about her book, Pop Culture Literacies: Teaching Interpretation, Response, and Composition in a Digital World.


We discuss:

  • Defining pop culture today
  • How pop culture literacy and media literacy are similar and different
  • Why teach pop culture literacy?
  • When/how would a typical teacher incorporate lessons on pop culture literacy into their curriculum?
  • What teachers should be learning from their students
  • What worries and inspires Mia

Get Pop Culture Literacies from Routledge Eye on Education or wherever you get your books. 


Connect with Mia:

  • https://miahood.substack.com/
  • linkedin.com/in/mia-hood-a309439a
  • @miaelizabethhood on IG

About today’s guest

Mia Hood is the author of Pop Culture Literacies: Teaching Interpretation, Response, and Composition in a Digital World. Across two decades in education, she has served in a variety of K-12 roles, including classroom teacher, instructional dean, and, most recently, regional director of literacy. Currently, she designs curriculum for schools and nonprofits and teaches literacy and secondary education at the City University of New York and professional writing at New York University. Mia received her doctorate in Curriculum and Teaching from Teachers College, Columbia University, where she studied sociocultural and critical perspectives on literacy. She writes all about pop culture literacies in the newsletter Popstack.


About the host

Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies, a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Bluesky or LinkedIn 


I also host Sideline Sessions, a podcast for coaches and parents of student-athletes. The show features conversations with coaches and performance experts in the NFL, NBA, NCAA, Olympics, and more. Listen here: https://bit.ly/3Rp0QGt 

Show more...
2 weeks ago
49 minutes

The Authority Podcast — Expert Insights and Fresh Ideas for Education Leaders
Science of Reading with Lacey Robinson of UnboundEd

Lacey Robinson is president and CEO of UnboundEd. A former teacher, principal, and professional development specialist who has focused on literacy, equity, and school leadership for more than 25 years, her life’s work aims to enable educators to disrupt systemic inequities in their school districts and classrooms.


She frequently serves as a featured keynote speaker, and her personal literacy journey is shared on Emily Hanford’s “Sold a Story” podcast. Today we’re discussing the science of reading:

  • If we've known for decades about the science of reading, and its effectiveness as a model for literacy instruction, why have we deviated from it?
  • Should schools of education change what they are teaching? Should K-12 be more directive toward teacher training programs?
  • Why hasn't the science of reading been centered in teacher training? 
  • What specifically do students need from science-based reading instruction? What is the urgency?

Listen to my previous conversation with Lacey Robinson, about her book Justice Seekers, on episode 74 of The Authority. Learn more about UnboundEd and Lacey’s work at www.unbounded.org.


About today’s guest

Lacey Robinson is the president and CEO of UnboundEd, and the chair of the Board of CORE Learning. As CEO, Robinson sets the organization’s vision for transforming instruction for students at the margins. She is a former teacher, principal, and professional development specialist who has focused on literacy, equity, and school leadership for more than 25 years. Her life’s work aims to enable educators to disrupt systemic inequities in their school districts and classrooms. She led the merger of UnboundEd, Pivot Learning, and CORE Learning under the UnboundEd banner — creating the nation’s largest K–12 educator development organization focused on improving teaching and learning for underserved students.


Robinson is a leading national voice on disrupting the predictability of students’ educational outcomes, and was named to 2023’s Forbes 50 Over 50 list in recognition of her innovative leadership. She frequently serves as a keynote speaker and is featured on Emily Hanford’s 2022 “Sold a Story” podcast.


About the host

Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies. He is a leadership development and performance coach for professionals in a range of industries and consults with organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry to help communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano and LinkedIn

Show more...
3 weeks ago
49 minutes

The Authority Podcast — Expert Insights and Fresh Ideas for Education Leaders
Relational Intelligence with Rachel Edoho-Eket

Dr. Rachel Edoho-Eket has earned a reputation as a strong instructional leader, passionate educational advocate, and dedicated mentor. As the Principal of a National Blue Ribbon school in Maryland, she is a lifelong learner who strives for excellence not only for herself, but also for everyone she serves. 


Today, she joins the show to discuss Relational Intelligence: The Key Factor to Exceptional School Leadership.


We discuss:

  • Relational Intelligence (RQ): the ability to build trust, communicate with empathy, and connect authentically 
  • How is RQ different from EQ?
  • Why Trust is the first pillar
  • Challenging the myth that leadership is about charisma or control
  • Results: improved teacher retention, enhanced student outcomes, and increased community engagement.

Get Relational Intelligence on Amazon or wherever you get your books. 


Our previous episode, with Jen Schwanke, also explored trust. Listen to it here: https://bit.ly/46pcCI5


About today’s guest

Dr. Rachel Edoho-Eket is a wife, mother, principal, author, and speaker. With decades as a teacher and leader in public education, she has earned the reputation as a strong instructional leader, passionate educational advocate, and dedicated mentor. As the Principal of a National Blue Ribbon school in Maryland, she is a lifelong learner who strives for excellence not only for herself, but also for everyone she serves. Currently, she is President of the Maryland Association of Elementary School Principals and is an ASCD facility member.


About the host

Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies, a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Bluesky or LinkedIn 


I also host Sideline Sessions, a podcast for coaches and parents of student-athletes. The show features conversations with coaches and performance experts in the NFL, NBA, NCAA, Olympics, and more. Listen here: https://bit.ly/3Rp0QGt 

Show more...
1 month ago
42 minutes

The Authority Podcast — Expert Insights and Fresh Ideas for Education Leaders
Trusted with Jen Schwanke

This week we welcome back Jen Schwanke, who previously joined the show to discuss The Principal’s Guide to Conflict Management. 


Jen has been an educator for almost three decades, teaching or leading at all levels. She currently serves as a deputy superintendent in Ohio, is an instructor in educational administration at The Ohio State University, and is the co-host of the popular Principal Matters Podcast with our previous guest Will Parker (listen to his episode here).


Jen’s newest book is Trusted: Trust Pillars, Trust Killers, and the Secret to Successful Schools.


We discuss:

  • Jen writes each of her books on a very specific topic — how did she decide on this one?
  • Conflict Management and Trust
  • Goals: What is trust and what does it look like? How to develop trust with staff, students, and parents. 
  • Can you be a good principal without it?
  • How is trust broken?
  • Reciprocal nature of trust
  • How can you find out if you’re trusted?

Listen to episode 110, The Principal’s Guide to Conflict Management with Jen Schwanke.


Get the book Trusted from ASCD.  


About today’s guest

Jen Schwanke, Ed.D., is a longtime educator, teaching and leading at all levels. She is the author of four ASCD books, including the recently-released The Principal’s Guide to Conflict Management, and has published hundreds of articles for various educational publishers. She has written and presented for multiple state and local education organizations, and has provided professional development to various districts in the areas of school climate, personnel, and instructional leadership. An instructor in educational administration at Miami University of Ohio, Dr. Schwanke currently serves as a Deputy Superintendent in Ohio. You can find her at jenschwanke.com.


About the host

Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies, a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Bluesky or LinkedIn 


I also host Sideline Sessions, a podcast for coaches and parents of student-athletes. The show features conversations with coaches and performance experts in the NFL, NBA, NCAA, Olympics, and more. Listen here: https://bit.ly/3Rp0QGt 

Show more...
1 month ago
48 minutes

The Authority Podcast — Expert Insights and Fresh Ideas for Education Leaders
Whose Permission Are You Waiting For? with Will Parker

Today’s guest is likely quite familiar to our audience here. Will Parker is host of Principal Matters: The School Leader's Podcast, with more than 1.5 million downloads to date. 


An Oklahoma educator since 1993, Will won a teacher of the year award in 1998, was named Oklahoma Assistant Principal of the Year by the National Association of Secondary Principals in 2012, was principal of a Title I school, and served as executive director of the Oklahoma Association of Secondary School Principals and the Oklahoma Middle Level Education Association for six years. 


His new book is Whose Permission Are You Waiting For?: An Educator’s Guide to Doing What You Love. 


We discuss:

  • What motivated this new book
  • “An Educator’s Guide to Doing What You Love”
  • Understanding your pathways in education: “Do I choose A or B?” or “What’s next for me?” 
  • Why and how to be coached
  • The importance of avoiding the binary in decision-making
  • Keys for new ideas: Thinking, Planning, Experimenting, Executing 
  • Executing with intention
  • Why is it important for leaders to give themselves permission for growth?
  • Value of becoming a mentor

Connect with Will or listen to his podcast here: https://williamdparker.com. Learn more about all of his books here: https://williamdparker.com/books 


About today’s guest

William D. Parker is the founder of Principal Matters, LLC—an educator, author, speaker, and executive coach who leverages his expertise in school culture, leadership, and communication to equip educators with strategies for motivating students, inspiring teachers, and reaching communities.


He is also the host of Principal Matters: The School Leader's Podcast, with more than 1.5 million downloads to date. Will supports schools through professional development and leadership coaching.


An Oklahoma educator since 1993, Will was named South Intermediate High School Teacher of the Year for Broken Arrow Public Schools in 1998. He became an assistant principal in 2004 and was named Oklahoma Assistant Principal of the Year by the National Association of Secondary Principals in 2012. As a principal of a Title I school, he helped lead initiatives in collaboration, remediation, and mentoring that significantly improved student achievement. For six years, Will served as executive director of the Oklahoma Association of Secondary School Principals and the Oklahoma Middle Level Education Association.


Find out more about his leadership academies, masterminds, executive coaching, books, and keynote presentations at williamdparker.com. 


About the host

Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies, a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Bluesky or LinkedIn 


I also host Sideline Sessions, a podcast for coaches and parents of student-athletes. The show features conversations with coaches and performance experts in the NFL, NBA, NCAA, Olympics, and more. Listen here: https://bit.ly/3Rp0QGt 

Show more...
2 months ago
1 hour

The Authority Podcast — Expert Insights and Fresh Ideas for Education Leaders
De Facto Leaders: How to Create a Research-Based Executive Functioning Implementation Plan for Your School Team

Today I'm pleased to share an episode from my friend Dr. Karen Dudek-Brannan, a previous guest on The Authority and host of De Facto Leaders, a popular show on the Be Podcast Network.

Ever feel like your school is trying all the “right” strategies—social skills groups, planners, behavior charts—but students still struggle with time management, motivation, and peer relationships?

You’re not alone—and there’s a reason why, says Dr. Karen. 

This episode is a clip from her free training, “Create a Research-Based Implementation Plan for your School Team.”

It’s designed for school leaders who want to guide their teams in embedding executive functioning support across both general and special education settings—without burning out staff.


This episode is for you if you’re ready to:

✔️ Help students truly benefit from academic instruction
✔️ Support social-emotional growth alongside learning
✔️ Avoid overwhelming your team with another “initiative”

This episode is the first half of the training in audio format, but to view the whole training with the video, you can go to drkarendudekbrannan.com/efteams.

Listen and subscribe at https://defactoleaders.com

Show more...
2 months ago
39 minutes

The Authority Podcast — Expert Insights and Fresh Ideas for Education Leaders
The Force Multiplier with Tony Chatman

For over 20 years, Tony Chatman has partnered with some of the most successful organizations in the world—including Chase Bank, the U.S. Secret Service, Phillips 66, Clear Channel, and St. Joseph’s Health. He specializes in bridging differences in perspectives, communication styles, and experiences by addressing the universal need we all share: to feel valued and seen.


As a scientist and chemical engineer, as well as a husband, father, and former leader of a nonprofit dedicated to community upliftment, Tony combines intellect with humanity. He is equal parts head and heart. 


Tony’s book is The Force Multiplier: How to Lead Teams Where Everyone Wins.


We discuss:

  • The mission statement of leadership
  • What is a Force Multiplier?
  • What makes relationship-based leadership effective?
  • Relationship deposits and relationship withdrawals
  • Seven keys to being a force multiplier
  • Ross: “I earned it, but now I have to learn it.”

Learn more about Tony Chatman: www.tonychatman.com 


About the host

Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies, a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Bluesky or LinkedIn 


I also host Sideline Sessions, a podcast for coaches and parents of student-athletes. The show features conversations with coaches and performance experts in the NFL, NBA, NCAA, Olympics, and more. Listen here: https://bit.ly/3Rp0QGt 

Show more...
3 months ago
47 minutes

The Authority Podcast — Expert Insights and Fresh Ideas for Education Leaders
Make Every Podcast Want You with Kimberly Spencer

Kimberly Spencer is an award-winning high-performance, trauma-informed coach and trainer, Amazon best-selling author, TEDx speaker, and the founder of CrownYourself.com, helping visionary leaders transform their self-limiting stories, build their empire, stand out fearlessly, and make the income and the impact they deserve.


Her book is Make Every Podcast Want You: How to be so Radically Interesting You'll Barely Keep from Interviewing Yourself.


We talk about:

  • Why should leaders want to be on podcasts?
  • What matters when deciding which shows to target?
  • How to find the right shows
  • How to be an interesting guest and how to prepare
  • Visibility, messaging, and presence
  • What to do after you’re on a podcast

Get the book or connect with Kimberly’s podcasts: 

  • Get the book: https://www.communicationqueens.com/book
  • Listen to the Crown Yourself Podcast: https://www.crownyourself/com/podcast 
  • Listen to the Communication Queen Podcast: https://www.communicationqueens.com/podcast
  • Get booked & coached LIVE on the Communication Queen Podcast: https://bit.ly/get-on-communication-queen-podcast 

About the host

Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies, a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Bluesky or LinkedIn 


I also host Sideline Sessions, a podcast for coaches and parents of student-athletes. The show features conversations with coaches and performance experts in the NFL, NBA, NCAA, Olympics, and more. Listen here: https://bit.ly/3Rp0QGt 

Show more...
3 months ago
49 minutes

The Authority Podcast — Expert Insights and Fresh Ideas for Education Leaders
The Language of Behavior with Charle Peck and Josh Stamper

My guests Charle Peck and Josh Stamper are co-authors of The Language of Behavior: A Framework to Elevate Student Success, winner of the 2025 Firebird Educational Book Award.


We talk about:

  • Like our last episode with Dr. Bill Penuel, co-author of Creating Compassionate Change in School Communities, this book also refers to a compassionate approach to school culture and student behavior. 
  • Discussing student behavior as a form of communication
  • Trauma-informed framework, 3 core tenets: Consider the Environment, Explore the Root Causes of Behavior, Respond with Intentionality
  • How improving student behavior with this framework affects other areas, like academic performance or classroom culture
  • What would the authors say to educators or school administrators who might be skeptical about trying a new approach?

Find The Language of Behavior on Amazon or wherever you get your books. 


About today’s guests

Charle Peck holds an MS in Education and an MS in Social Work as a 20+ year veteran in education (K-12). As a global keynote speaker, she delivers powerful messages of hope to educators and facilitates meaningful professional learning sessions to equip adults with tools that integrate into everyday practice. Her unique lens as a high school teacher turned clinical therapist, and her work with adolescents and families in crisis, makes her stories relevant and captivating to those struggling in today’s system. You can purchase her books on Amazon and connect with her via her website CharlePeck.com and on LinkedIn @CharlePeck


Joshua Stamper is a dedicated educator, speaker, author, and creator of Aspire to Lead. With a rich background in teaching and school administration, Joshua brings invaluable insight into the challenges and opportunities within the education system. His personal journey as a struggling student, combined with nine years of experience as a middle school administrator, fuels his passion for creating supportive and transformative learning environments. Joshua is committed to helping educators and leaders unlock their full potential, fostering growth, and inspiring lasting change in education.


About the host

Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies, a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Bluesky or LinkedIn 


I also host Sideline Sessions, a podcast for coaches and parents of student-athletes. The show features conversations with coaches and performance experts in the NFL, NBA, NCAA, Olympics, and more. Listen here: https://bit.ly/3Rp0QGt 

Show more...
4 months ago
46 minutes

The Authority Podcast — Expert Insights and Fresh Ideas for Education Leaders
Creating Compassionate Change in School Communities with Bill Penuel

Dr. William Penuel is Distinguished Professor of Learning Sciences and Human Development in the Institute of Cognitive Science and School of Education at the University of Colorado Boulder. 


He is co-author of Creating Compassionate Change in School Communities: Leading Together to Address Everyday Suffering in Schools. We talk about:

  • Why does compassion matter for educators?
  • How is compassion different from empathy, kindness, and relationship-building?
  • How school leaders and educators can put compassion and dignity into action
  • Everyday suffering in schools - how can and should educators work to reduce it?
  • Fostering inclusiveness
  • Relationships with families
  • 4 steps to help develop a plan for a more compassionate school
  • How can educators create self-compassion to move past burnout toward hope and positive action in their schools?

Creating Compassionate Change in School Communities is published by Wiley. Find it wherever you get your books. 


About today’s guest

William R. Penuel, Ph.D., is Distinguished Professor of Learning Sciences and Human Development in the Institute of Cognitive Science and School of Education at the University of Colorado Boulder. He is also a Faculty Fellow at the Renée Crown Wellness Institute. He designs and studies curriculum materials, assessments, and professional learning experiences for teachers in STEM education. He also studies how contemplative practices and critical inquiry can support educators in cultivating more compassionate schools. A third line of his research focuses on how long-term research-practice partnerships can be organized to address systemic inequities in education. He is a co-developer of an approach to partnership research called Design-Based Implementation Research (DBIR) and is a co-author on the new book, Creating Compassionate Change in School Communities.


About the host

Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies, a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Bluesky or LinkedIn 


I also host Sideline Sessions, a podcast for coaches and parents of student-athletes. The show features conversations with coaches and performance experts in the NFL, NBA, NCAA, Olympics, and more. Listen here: https://bit.ly/3Rp0QGt 

Show more...
4 months ago
47 minutes

The Authority Podcast — Expert Insights and Fresh Ideas for Education Leaders
Breakfast Wine with Alex Poppe

Blending memoir, personal essay, local topography, and culture, Alex Poppe’s Breakfast Wine is a frank, human story of pursuing an unconventional life and finding a way home. 


Alex is a business analyst, turned actor, turned teacher who accepted a teaching position in northern Iraq after a chance encounter with an acclaimed journalist. In this episode, you’ll hear her stories and learn what it was like to teach in conflict and post-conflict zones, including during the COVID-19 pandemic — and you’ll find out it was much different than you think. 


Get Breakfast Wine at bookshop.org: https://bit.ly/3FTV9hM 


About today’s guest

Having lived in conflict zones such as Iraq, the West Bank, and Ukraine, Alex Poppe writes about fierce and funny women rebuilding their lives in the wake of violence. She is the author of four works of literary fiction: Duende, a 2024 American Legacy Book Awards winner, a 2023 International Book Awards winner, and a 2023 Readers’ Choice Book Awards finalist; Jinwar and Other Stories, a 2024 Pen Craft Awards runner-up, a 2023 Readers’ Choice Book Awards winner, and a 2022 International Book Awards finalist; Moxie, and Girl, World, a 35 Over 35 Debut Book Award winner, First Horizon Award finalist, Montaigne Medal finalist, Eric Hoffer Grand Prize finalist, and was awarded an Honorable Mention in General Fiction from the Eric Hoffer Awards. In 2021, Alex was an artist-in-residence at the Atlantic Center for the Arts, where her memoir-in-essay Breakfast Wine began.


About the host

Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies, a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Bluesky or LinkedIn 


I also host Sideline Sessions, a podcast for coaches and parents of student-athletes. The show features conversations with coaches and performance experts in the NFL, NBA, NCAA, Olympics, and more. Listen here: https://bit.ly/3Rp0QGt 

Show more...
5 months ago
1 hour 1 minute

The Authority Podcast — Expert Insights and Fresh Ideas for Education Leaders
Well Spoken with Erik Palmer

Today’s guest, Erik Palmer, is an educational consultant from Denver who focuses on showing teachers practical, engaging ways to teach oral communication skills, and showing educational leaders how to be more effective communicators.


He’s the author of several books, including Well Spoken: Teaching Speaking to All Students, 2nd Edition (Routledge).


We discuss:

  • Defining modern, effective oral communication today
  • What most teachers struggle with, when it comes to teaching speaking
  • What is uniquely important about learning speaking? How does it expand on/reveal other skills?
  • Building a Speech: Audience, Content, Organization, Visual Aids, and Appearance
  • Performing a Speech: Poise, Voice, Life, Eye Contact, Gestures, and Speed (PVLEGS)
  • Evaluating a Speech: Creating Effective Rubrics, Guiding Students to Excellence
  • Digital speaking contexts including podcasts, webinars, and video/audio apps

Learn more about Erik at www.pvlegs.com and find the book from Routledge 


About today’s guest

Erik Palmer is an educational consultant from Denver. Prior to becoming a consultant, he had a successful career in business managing a commodity brokerage office and trading on the floor of a Chicago commodity exchange. He was the national sales leader for a large commodity trading firm. In his second career, he spent 21 years teaching English, math, science, and civics, earning Teacher of the Year in one of the nation’s top school districts. Now in his third career as a consultant, Palmer focuses on showing teachers practical, engaging ways to teach oral communication skills, and showing educational leaders how to be more effective communicators.


Palmer is an internationally acclaimed speaker. He has given keynotes and led in-service trainings for districts across the US and for educators around the world. Palmer is a frequent contributor to educational magazines and is the author of several books: Well-Spoken: Teaching Speaking to All Students (Routledge, 2024), Teaching the Core Skills of Listening & Speaking (ASCD, 2014), Researching in a Digital World (ASCD, 2015), Good Thinking: Teaching Argument, Persuasion, and Reasoning (Stenhouse Publishers, 2016), Own Any Occasion: Mastering the Art of Speaking and Presenting (ATD Press, 2018) and Before You Say a Word: A School Leader’s Guide to Clear and Compelling Communication (ASCD, 2024). He is a program consultant for Houghton Mifflin Harcourt’s Into Reading and Into Literature language arts programs.


About the host

Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies, a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Bluesky or LinkedIn 


I also host Sideline Sessions, a podcast for coaches and parents of student-athletes. The show features conversations with coaches and performance experts in the NFL, NBA, NCAA, Olympics, and more. Listen here: https://bit.ly/3Rp0QGt 


We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL. 


IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:

  • Simplify and streamline technology
  • Save teachers’ time
  • Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
  • Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

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5 months ago
55 minutes

The Authority Podcast — Expert Insights and Fresh Ideas for Education Leaders
Best of The Authority: UDL Now! with Katie Novak

To close out May, I'm happy to highlight another Best Of episode with three-time guest Katie Novak. This was our first conversation, about her best-selling book UDL Now!

We talked about:

  • “If UDL is the answer, what is the question?”
  • Who should be doing UDL?
  • UDL is best practice: “Teachers are working too hard to not have a greater impact on learners.”
  • Understanding the similarities and differences between UDL and differentiated instruction (DI) — and why teachers should be doing both
  • The three core beliefs of UDL: variability, firm goals, and expert learning
  • What is the right amount of student voice and choice?

Find UDL Now! from CAST Publishing, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and on Katie’s website: https://www.novakeducation.com/udl-now 


About today’s guest

Katie Novak, Ed.D. is an internationally renowned education consultant, a graduate instructor at the University of Pennsylvania, Graduate School of Education, and the best-selling author of 14 books on inclusive practices, with over 250K books sold worldwide. Katie designs and presents workshops both nationally and internationally focusing on the implementation of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS), inclusive practices, and universally designed leadership. Connect on Twitter @KatieNovakUDL and LinkedIn. 

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5 months ago
48 minutes

The Authority Podcast — Expert Insights and Fresh Ideas for Education Leaders
Find Your Yay with Matthew Rolnick

Today’s episode wraps up our four-part series on communication and finding your voice. My guest is Matthew Rolnick.


Matt is SVP of Partnerships & Events for The Real American Beer Company and former VP of Strategy & Innovation at Yaymaker. He’s an Amazon bestselling author, speaker, LinkedIn 2023 Top Entrepreneurship Voice, and a Udemy Instructor for 135k students.


Matt is author of Find Your Yay.


We discuss:

  • Find your voice and grow your brand on social media — who should do it?
  • Defining a personal brand
  • The purpose of building an online presence
  • What kind of content should people share?
  • Cutting through the noise
  • Benefits of a network

About the host

Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies, a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Bluesky or LinkedIn 


I also host Sideline Sessions, a podcast for coaches and parents of student-athletes. The show features conversations with coaches and performance experts in the NFL, NBA, NCAA, Olympics, and more. Listen here: https://bit.ly/3Rp0QGt 

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5 months ago
43 minutes

The Authority Podcast — Expert Insights and Fresh Ideas for Education Leaders
THE Book on Storytelling with Michael Davis

Today is part 3 of our miniseries on communication. My guest, Michael Davis, works with business owners, entrepreneurs, and business leaders who struggle to effectively give presentations. He helps them increase their confidence, influence, and impact with more impactful presentations every time they stand up and speak.


Michael's expertise in communication is rooted in the belief that all business problems stem from communication issues. If your organization aims to improve leadership, team collaboration, and overall effectiveness, then Michael's approach can deliver these results.


Michael is founder of Speaking CPR and author of seven books on communication, including THE Book on Storytelling.


We discuss:

  • What is storytelling and what is it not?
  • What leaders lose when they don’t use storytelling
  • How storytelling helps leaders enhance influence, foster trust, strengthen organizational structure, and develop their staff
  • Stakeholder engagement
  • “Then, Now and How” framework
  • How can storytelling help leaders save time?

Learn more about Michael and get the book:

  • https://SpeakingCPR.com 
  • 52 Storytelling Tips: https://speakingcpr.com/52-storytelling-tips
  • http://bit.ly/SpeakingCPRYouTube 

About the host

Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies, a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Bluesky or LinkedIn 


I also host Sideline Sessions, a podcast for coaches and parents of student-athletes. The show features conversations with coaches and performance experts in the NFL, NBA, NCAA, Olympics, and more. Listen here: https://bit.ly/3Rp0QGt 

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5 months ago
50 minutes

The Authority Podcast — Expert Insights and Fresh Ideas for Education Leaders
The Confident Presenter with Ryan Millar

This week, we’re continuing our miniseries on finding your voice and increasing your influence as a leader. 


My guest is Ryan Millar, a Canadian-born, Amsterdam-based coach, story trainer, and communications consultant. 


All of his work draws heavily on his 25+ years as an improviser. Ryan got his start in Vancouver BC in the late ‘90s with !nstant Theater, and has worked with Boom Chicago and toured Europe teaching and performing at festivals.


His latest book, on the art of public speaking, is called The Confident Presenter.


We discuss:

  • How Ryan got started teaching public speaking
  • The connection between improv and public speaking
  • “All effective public speakers are confident, but not all confident public speakers are effective.”
  • Adjusting to the audience
  • Identifying your goals and then determining strategies: Opening, stories, rhetorical techniques.
  • What are some of those techniques for making a connection?
  • Getting feedback

Learn more about Ryan and the book at https://ryanmillar.com and https://confidentpresenter.co 


About the host

Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies, a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Bluesky or LinkedIn 


I also host Sideline Sessions, a podcast for coaches and parents of student-athletes. The show features conversations with coaches and performance experts in the NFL, NBA, NCAA, Olympics, and more. Listen here: https://bit.ly/3Rp0QGt 

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6 months ago
48 minutes

The Authority Podcast — Expert Insights and Fresh Ideas for Education Leaders
Speaking to Influence with Laura Sicola

This week, we’re starting a four-episode miniseries on finding your voice and increasing your influence as a leader. 


My guest to kick it off is Dr. Laura Sicola, a leadership communication and influence expert, and a renowned speaker, former bilingual K-12 teacher and university professor who holds a PhD in educational linguistics from the University of Pennsylvania.


With over 20 years of experience, she has coached TED speakers, delivered her own TED talk with over 7 million views, and appeared in major media outlets. Her clients include notable organizations like Comcast, GSK, and IBM. 


Her book is Speaking to Influence: Mastering Your Leadership Voice.


Laura and I discuss:

  • Whether you are seen as a leader (not whether you believe you are a leader)
  • Communication — what does it help you do as a leader?
  • Image and reputation goals: mapping them out, making them authentic, understanding their relevance to your impact
  • How to choose and use the right words
  • The Three Cs of Vocal Executive Presence: Command, Connect, and Close
  • How can I build my brand as a "go-to expert" and speaker?

Learn more at www.laurasicola.com and www.speakingtoinfluence.com


About the host

Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies, a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Bluesky or LinkedIn 


I also host Sideline Sessions, a podcast for coaches and parents of student-athletes. The show features conversations with coaches and performance experts in the NFL, NBA, NCAA, Olympics, and more. Listen here: https://bit.ly/3Rp0QGt 

Show more...
6 months ago
46 minutes

The Authority Podcast — Expert Insights and Fresh Ideas for Education Leaders
Small But Mighty with Miriam Plotinsky

Miriam Plotinsky is a National Board–certified teacher with additional certification in administration and supervision. She’s currently an instructional specialist with Montgomery County Public Schools in Maryland.


She’s the author of several books, including Small but Mighty: How Everyday Habits Add Up to More Manageable and Confident Teaching (ASCD).


We talk about:

  • Why Miriam wanted to write a book about "small but mighty" teaching practices
  • Phyllis Fagell said about the book, "Small but Mighty is an indispensable guide for any teacher who ever wished that doing the impossible felt more manageable.”
  • What are some of the biggest challenges facing teachers today?
  • “Habits over motivation” as key to success
  • Beginning with beliefs - how teachers need to address their own beliefs
  • Benefits of “habit stacking”
  • How to make the habits practical

Find Small but Mighty from ASCD or wherever you get your books. 


About the guest

Miriam Plotinsky is an instructional specialist with Montgomery County Public Schools in Maryland and the author of several education books, including Small but Mighty: How Everyday Habits Add Up to More Manageable and Confident Teaching (ASCD). She is also a National Board–certified teacher with additional certification in administration and supervision. She can be reached at https://miriamplotinsky.com 


About the host

Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies, a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Bluesky or LinkedIn 


I also host Sideline Sessions, a podcast for coaches and parents of student-athletes. The show features conversations with coaches and performance experts in the NFL, NBA, NCAA, Olympics, and more. Listen here: https://bit.ly/3Rp0QGt 

Show more...
6 months ago
33 minutes

The Authority Podcast — Expert Insights and Fresh Ideas for Education Leaders
Are you looking for proven ideas to increase your influence, hire and develop an excellent staff, build a stronger culture, lead meaningful change, and form a strong foundation for learning and leadership success? This is the podcast for you. Whether you're a leader to seeks to refine your command of core educational strategies, learn new management techniques from those who have used them at some of the world's largest corporations, gain fresh perspectives on personal development or student success from practitioners across fields, or a little bit of everything, you'll find powerful content on The Authority. Join leadership coach, storytelling strategist, and edtech advisor Ross Romano as he interviews the prominent education authors you already admire, up-and-coming voices, and experts from the worlds of business, personal development, and beyond — including Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Amazon bestsellers — to take a deep dive into their wealth of practical insights.