Change Starts Here

Hosted by Franklin Covey Education

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About the show

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.

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60 recent

11 min

Return With Clarity: A Summer Leadership Challenge

In the season 6 finale of Change Starts Here, Dustin Odham invites educators and leaders to rethink their summer break. While taking time off is crucial for physical recovery, Dustin challenges listeners to aim for true renewal and clarity. By applying Dr. Covey's 7th Habit, "Sharpen the Saw," leaders can intentionally renew themselves mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.Listeners are challenged to take one uninterrupted day alone this summer to pause and reflect. Dustin guides leaders through a powerful internal process: starting with gratitude rather than problem-solving, identifying personal "genius" to avoid disconnecting from their true selves, and defining a lasting leadership legacy. By crafting or refining a personal mission statement, educators can ensure they return in the fall not just rested, but deeply intentional.Download the Handout, Reflection and Mission Statement Guide: https://resources.franklincovey.com/c/csh_summer-reflectio?x=bfYNCNHosts:Dustin Odham (FranklinCovey Education)Timestamps:00:00 Podcast intro01:06 Wrapping up the season02:28 The weight educators carry03:20 Habit 7 Sharpen the saw04:54 Start with gratitude05:51 Reflect on your genius06:52 Define your legacy08:11 Your personal mission statement09:19 Rest deeply and reflect10:39 Closing the season

22 min

What To Do With The Year You Just Had

In this episode of Change Starts Here, Kim Yaris and Dr. Eve Miller explore how educators and leaders can effectively transition out of a demanding school year. Drawing on a Yale study, they discuss how a leader's ability to manage their own emotions directly impacts the well-being of their staff. Because of "emotion contagion theory," the emotional residue leaders carry out of the spring can set the tone for the entire school environment in the fall.Listeners will discover why end-of-year recovery is an essential part of leadership, rather than optional self-care. The conversation highlights three research-backed practices: savoring positive moments to combat exhaustion , using narrative identity to make meaning of difficult experiences rather than ruminating on them , and engaging in the challenging but necessary practice of mentally disengaging from work. By leaning into self-compassion, educators can process the year, recover fully, and prepare a healthier emotional climate for the future.Download the Handout:https://resources.franklincovey.com/c/podcast_handout_s6e37?x=Z0wt6jHosts: Kim Yaris, M.Ed. Associate Director of Research with FranklinCovey EducationDr. Eve Miller (Director of Research with FranklinCovey Education)Timestamps:00:00 Podcast intro00:42 Transitions for adults01:30 The reality of exhaustion03:00 Yale wellbeing study03:47 Emotion contagion theory05:08 Recovery is leadership06:06 Practice one savoring08:52 When savoring matters most09:58 The savoring prompt11:06 Practice two narrative identity13:58 Meaning making versus rumination15:01 Three reflection questions16:51 Practice three mental disengagement18:36 Nervous system discomfort19:38 The power of self-compassion20:56 Closing thoughts

43 min

The Gift of Pause When Leading What’s Next

In this episode of Change Starts Here, Dustin Odham sits down with global leadership expert and executive coach Victoria Roos Olsson to discuss the importance of pausing at the end of a busy school year. While exhausted leaders often want to rush to the finish line or immediately tackle the next challenge, Victoria explains why using the end of a season for reflection is vital for sustainable success.Listeners will discover how to ask more effective questions and evaluate the past year through creative exercises, such as having their team draw their experiences. Victoria also shares practical strategies for re-energizing staff, from conducting walking meetings to providing reflective summer assignments. Ultimately, this conversation serves as a powerful reminder that leadership is a human endeavor, and slowing down is often the key to moving forward effectively.Get your copy of The 6 Critical Practices for Leading a Team:https://www.amazon.com/Everyone-Deserves-Great-Manager-Practices/dp/1982112077 Hosts:Dustin Odham (Host)Victoria Roos-Olssen. Global Leadership Expert, Executive Coach, & Bestselling Author Timestamps:00:00 Podcast intro02:46 Victoria's leadership journey04:34 The power of reflection08:16 Finishing the race strong12:38 Questions as power tools14:21 Drawing the school year17:22 Re-energizing your team21:16 The extended mind24:44 Craving our own imbalances29:16 Creating leadership habits35:35 A healthy summer reset38:37 Human side of leadership42:03 Closing thoughts

15 min

Endings That Stick

In this episode of Change Starts Here, Kim Yaris and Dr. Eve Miller discuss the final weeks of the school year, a time typically filled with tying up loose ends, cleaning up, and the temptation to just pop in a movie. However, research shows that how a year ends disproportionately shapes how students will remember the entire experience.Drawing on Daniel Kahneman's famous "peak-end rule" and Crystal Park's research on meaning-making, the hosts explain that it isn't enough for an ending to just be positive; it has to feel meaningful. Students who can articulate what they learned from turning points show higher well-being years later. To help educators end the year with intention, Kim and Eve offer two practical, research-backed moves: planning the last week backward from a final shared moment, and providing a structured reflection for students to make sense of their year.Download the HandoutHandout: https://resources.franklincovey.com/c/podcast_handout_epis-35?x=whj9VQHosts: Kim Yaris, M.Ed. (Associate Director of Research with FranklinCovey Education) Dr. Eve Miller (Director of Research with FranklinCovey Education)Timestamps: 00:00 Podcast intro 00:15 The end of year 01:22 Temptation to coast 02:29 Why endings matter 03:54 The peak end rule 06:02 Remembering school years 08:06 Meaning making research 09:26 Practice one plan backward 11:24 Practice two structured reflection 13:21 The impact of reflection 14:21 Closing thoughts

9 min

3 Practices to Make the Last 30 Days Count

In this episode of Change Starts Here, Dustin Odham challenges the "spring fever" mentality that sweeps through schools during the final stretch of the year. Rather than just counting down the days and winding down expectations, Dustin urges leaders and educators to finish with intention. Sharing a powerful story about "legacy projects" at Mechanics Grove Elementary, he illustrates how giving students ownership and purpose can completely transform the energy of a building.Reflect on what your students will truly remember about the school year and learn three simple, actionable moves to maximize the final 30 days: naming the moment to elevate its significance, creating ownership through contribution, and celebrating impact and effort over mere compliance. Make sure the end of the year feels meaningful, not just survived.Host: Dustin Odham (FranklinCovey Education)Timestamps:00:00 The final stretch00:37 The spring fever mindset01:27 Legacy projects in action01:59 What changed?03:14 Making the end meaningful03:45 What will they remember?05:01 The year in review06:12 Three actionable moves07:15 Change how the story ends08:42 Closing

22 min

What's Really Happening With AI in Schools?

In 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

54 min

The Truth About School Culture

In 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

19 min

Are We Asking the Wrong Questions About Student Well-Being?

In 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

11 min

Finishing the School Year Strong

In 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

45 min

Planting S.E.E.D.S. to Grow Leaders Who Build Leaders

In 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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