You Can Measure ANYTHING ® - The Podcast

Hosted by Dr. Nicole Alioto

Business Education ScienceInterviews guests

Website RSS feed

Episodes

Latest episode

Aug 2026

Language

About the show

If you lead a school, district, or organization and you have ever struggled to measure what actually matters, this show is for you. You Can Measure Anything!® is hosted by Dr. Nicole Alioto, education researcher, strategic planning consultant, and author of You Can Measure Anything! An Educator's Guide to Measuring What is Hard to Define. Each episode gives K-12 leaders, district administrators, and education researchers a practical framework for turning intangible goals into measurable outcomes that drive real school improvement. New episodes drop weekly. Follow the show on Spotify so you never miss one. For workshops, resources, the book, and bulk ordering for your team, visit youcanmeasureanything.com.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

September 11, 202626 min

How We Can Use the Building Blocks of Life to Find and Measure Our Own Potential with Scott Fossler | S4E5

Potential describes what someone may be capable of achieving—but how can you measure something that has not happened yet? In this episode, Dr. Nicole Alioto speaks with Scott Fossler about defining potential, recognizing indicators of future growth, and avoiding assumptions that may limit how we evaluate our abilities. Scott Fossler, founder of Carbon-Based Leadership, discusses his framework for unlocking human potential, inspired by the structure of carbon, emphasizes the importance of both outcome-focused and process-focused metrics, and highlights the significance of connection. Listen to this episode to hear: How organic chemistry connects to what makes people come alive to achieve their best, The patterns that indicate when people are not living up to their potential, and How you can do a quick Carbon Check-In today! About Scott Fossler Scott Fossler is the founder of Carbon Based Leadership with over 35 years of experience helping senior leaders and organizations unlock and align human potential. His work as a talent strategist and coach is grounded in deep expertise in talent management, leadership development, and organizational change, shaped by decades of designing and leading enterprise-level initiatives across industries. Scott is the creator of the Carbon Based Learning model, a science-inspired framework that clarifies how people grow, learn, and perform at their best. He is known for translating insight into clarity, resilience, and sustained performance. To learn more about Carbon Based Leaderhip, visit carbonbasedleadership.com Connect with Scott Fossler on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-fossler/ or onFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/scott.fossler --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Join Dr. Nicole Alioto LIVE! Did the topic from today’s show resonate with you? Chances are, your strategic plan aims to impact hard-to-measure outcomes like belonging, trust, or engagement too. But what exactly do they mean in your district—and how will you know whether or not they actually improve? Join Dr. Nicole Alioto live for a free deep dive as she takes one common strategic priority from vague idea to measurable outcome. You can find the link for the next Can You Measure That? Live Strategic Plan Deep Dive here . --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Follow You Can Measure Anything!® on Spotify and never miss a new episode. If you can define it, you can measure it. If you can measure it, you can achieve it! Subscribe to You Can Measure Anything® - The Podcast so you don't miss an episode!

September 4, 202634 min

Can You Measure Empathy? Supporting Our Youngest Learners with Icle Freeland and Kristin Woodward-Vaassen | S4E4

Empathy is often described as the ability to understand another person’s perspective or experience—but what does empathy look like in practice and can it be measured? In this episode, Dr. Nicole Alioto speaks with Icle Freeland and Kristin Vaassen from Two by Two Character Development about defining empathy and supporting our youngest learners in developing it so that they can build strong relationships and positive futures! Listen to this episode to hear: • How to distinguish kindness from empathy in clear and observable terms, • Where empathy connects to other outcomes, and • How schools and families can support children in developing empathy. About Kristin Vaassen Kristin Vaassen founded Two by Two Character Development in 2005 after more than 30 years as an educator, combining her passion for teaching with her commitment to helping people, animals, and the environment. Today, alongside a dedicated team, she leads the organization's mission of inspiring kindness and strong character in thousands of children and families across the country. About Icle Freeland Icle Freeland is the Director of Outreach & Partnerships at Two by Two Character Development, where he helps schools create hands-on opportunities for students to build empathy, kindness, responsibility, and positive relationships. A former elementary teacher, Icle has worked in character education across K-12 and higher education and is passionate about equipping educators with practical strategies that help students thrive. To learn more about Two by Two Character Development, visit their website at https://twobytwoeducation.org/. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Join Dr. Nicole Alioto LIVE! Did the topic from today’s show resonate with you? Chances are, your strategic plan aims to impact hard-to-measure outcomes like belonging, trust, or engagement too. But what exactly do they mean in your district—and how will you know whether or not they actually improve? Join Dr. Nicole Alioto live for a free deep dive as she takes one common strategic priority from vague idea to measurable outcome. You can find the link for the next Can You Measure That? Live Strategic Plan Deep Dive here . --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Follow You Can Measure Anything!® on Spotify and never miss a new episode. If you can define it, you can measure it. If you can measure it, you can achieve it! Subscribe to You Can Measure Anything® - The Podcast so you don't miss an episode!

August 28, 202631 min

The Episode that Talks about Measuring Trust in Schools with Dr. Jen Schwanke | S4E3

Trust me. Two words that are sure to destroy school culture. How can you build a culture of trust when there have been so many challenges? Did you inherit a culture of mistrust? Are there emerging concerns that you want to work through to avoid an impact on morale? Join Dr. Nicole Alioto as she sits down with Dr. Jen Schwanke, author, speaker, and educator to talk about this important topic. How do you identify the trust killers so you can make a measurable impact on them? Listen to this episode to hear: what it means to be trustworthy vs. trust willing, how to identify trust killers in your schools, and how to self-assess trust pillars in your leadership practices. If your district or team is looking to grow a culture of trust, this conversation is for you! About Dr. Jen Schwanke Dr. Jen Schwanke is a longtime educator, teaching and leading at all levels. She is the author of several ASCD books, including Trusted: Trust Pillars, Trust Killers and the Secret to Successful Schools . A frequent contributor to multiple educational publishers, Dr. Schwanke consults with districts and school leaders in the areas of school climate, personnel, and instructional leadership. She is a frequent presenter at national organizations including ASCD + ISTE, NASSP, and NAESP. An instructor in educational administration at The Ohio State University, Dr. Schwanke currently serves as a Superintendent in Ohio. She also co-hosts the podcast, Principal Matters . Visit https://jenschwanke.com/ to subscribe to her "Principal Problems" newsletter and learn more about her exciting work! Connect with Dr. Jen on LinkedIn here . ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Join Dr. Nicole Alioto LIVE! Did the topic from today’s show resonate with you? Chances are, your strategic plan aims to impact hard-to-measure outcomes like belonging, trust, or engagement too. But what exactly do they mean in your district—and how will you know whether or not they actually improve? Join Dr. Nicole Alioto live for a free deep dive as she takes one common strategic priority from vague idea to measurable outcome. You can find the link for the next Can You Measure That? Live Strategic Plan Deep Dive here . ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Follow You Can Measure Anything!® on Spotify and never miss a new episode. If you can define it, you can measure it. If you can measure it, you can achieve it! Subscribe to You Can Measure Anything® - The Podcast so you don't miss an episode!

August 21, 202637 min

Measuring Soft Skills that Make a Difference in the Workplace with Yadi Caro | S4E2

In schools and workplaces across the US, there is a growing recognition of the need for "soft skills." While the name for these critical skills often changes, what they represent does not - key elements for a successful career. Join Dr. Alioto and her guest, Yadi Caro, and they discuss the framework from Yadi Caro's new book, "Hardcore Soft Skills: A Guide to Work with Humans." Listen to this episode to hear: the 5Cs of hardcore soft skills, how teams and schools can measure and improve them, and why context is important. If your district or team is looking to improve people/power/human/hardcore soft skills, this conversation is for you! For more about the NY Inspires Portrait of a Graduate, visit https://www.nysed.gov/grad-measures/new-york-state-portrait-graduate . About Yadi Caro Yadi Caro is the founder of Hardcore Soft Skills, a company focused on educating teams and individuals on critical skills to prepare for the future of work. She is a Harvard-educated Organizational Psychology practitioner who has been working with teams of developers and engineers for over 15 years within US military organizations, launching high performing teams and helping organizations to break silos, improve collaboration and innovate. She is the author of Hardcore Soft Skills: A Guide to Work with Humans , host of the Hardcore Soft Skills podcast (listeners in 60+ countries), keynote speaker and team coach. Yadi holds a Master’s in Communications (Florida International University), and a Bachelors in Philosophy (University of Puerto Rico). Her certifications include Organizational Behavior (Harvard), Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Agile Coach, Lean Six Sigma, and Business Analytics (MIT). She is also a trained ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) Coach. Visit the Hardcore Soft Skills website at https://www.hardcoresoftskills.com/ . Connect with Yadi Caro on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/yadiraycaro/ . ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Join Dr. Nicole Alioto LIVE! Did the topic from today’s show resonate with you? Chances are, your strategic plan aims to impact hard-to-measure outcomes like belonging, trust, or engagement too. But what exactly do they mean in your district—and how will you know whether or not they actually improve? Join Dr. Nicole Alioto live for a free deep dive as she takes one common strategic priority from vague idea to measurable outcome. You can find the link for the next Can You Measure That? Live Strategic Plan Deep Dive here . ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Follow You Can Measure Anything!® on Spotify and never miss a new episode. If you can define it, you can measure it. If you can measure it, you can achieve it! Subscribe to You Can Measure Anything® - The Podcast so you don't miss an episode!

August 14, 202653 min

How to Measure and Improve Student Engagement with Dr. Amy Berry | S4E1

In this Season 4 premiere, Dr. Nicole Alioto and Dr. Amy Berry discuss how to turn engagement from an abstract concept into something you can observe and measure. Listen to this episode to hear: How to clearly define what engagement looks like, What the engagement continuum is, and How students are the drivers of engagement. This episode is longer than our typical interviews, but settle in because this episode is packed with GEMS! If your district is looking to improve student engagement, then you don't want to miss this conversation. About Amy Berry, Ph.D. With over 20 years of experience working in education as a teacher, researcher, and professional learning facilitator, Dr. Berry is passionate about helping learners of all ages find their joy in learning. Her areas of interest include learner engagement and agency, formative evaluation, and learning through play. She has worked with teachers, school leaders, and education officials from the U.S, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Ukraine. Website: www.amyberry.com.au LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/dramyberry The Hub: www.theengagementhub.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Join Dr. Nicole Alioto LIVE! Did the topic from today’s show resonate with you? Chances are, your strategic plan aims to impact hard-to-measure outcomes like belonging, trust, or engagement too. But what exactly do they mean in your district—and how will you know whether or not they actually improve? Join Dr. Nicole Alioto live for a free deep dive as she takes one common strategic priority from vague idea to measurable outcome. You can find the link for the next Can You Measure That? Live Strategic Plan Deep Dive here . ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Follow You Can Measure Anything! ® on Spotify and never miss a new episode. If you can define it, you can measure it. If you can measure it, you can achieve it! Subscribe to You Can Measure Anything® - The Podcast so you don't miss an episode!

August 7, 20265 min

You Can Measure Anything® Best of Season 3

As we count down to Season 4 coming on August 14, 2026, join us for this special episode where we countdown the top 3 most listened to episodes of Season 3 with brief excerpts from these amazing shows. Is your favorite episode here? Listen to the full episode of the third most listened to episode here . Listen to the full episode of the second most listened to episode here . Listen to the full episode of the most listened to episode here . SEASON 4 DROPS AUGUST 14 with an interview with Dr. Amy Berry talking about measuring student engagement. You wont' want to miss it! If you can define it, you can measure it. If you can measure it, you can achieve it! Subscribe to You Can Measure Anything® - The Podcast so you don't miss an episode!

July 31, 20265 min

You Can Measure Anything!® Best of Season 2

As we count down to Season 4 coming on August 14, 2026, join us for this special episode where we countdown the top 3 most listened to episodes of Season 2 with brief excerpts from these amazing shows. Is your favorite episode here? Listen to the full episode of the third most listened to episode here. Listen to the full episode of the second most listened to episode here. Listen to the full episode of the most listened to episode here. If you can define it, you can measure it. If you can measure it, you can achieve it! Subscribe to You Can Measure Anything® - The Podcast so you don't miss an episode!

July 17, 20266 min

You Can Measure Anything!® Best of Season 1

As we count down to Season 4 coming on August 14, 2026, join us for this special episode where we countdown the top 3 most listened to episodes of Season 1 with a brief excerpt highlighting some amazing interviews. Is your favorite episode here? Listen to the full episode of the third most listened to episode here Listen to the full episode of the second most listened to episode here Listen to the full episode of the most listened to episode here If you can define it, you can measure it. If you can measure it, you can achieve it! Subscribe to You Can Measure Anything® - The Podcast so you don't miss an episode!

July 3, 20267 min

Let's Talk About Sex: A You Can Measure Anything Origin Story (Season 3 Final Episode)

In this final episode of Season 3, Dr. Nicole Alioto shares one of the origin stories behind You Can Measure Anything! Listen to this brief episode to hear: • How measuring attitudes about sex helped form step 1 of the Diamond Definition™ process, • How you can use the Diamond Definition™ to reduce bias in measurement practices, and • What is ahead for Season 4 of the podcast! If you have a hard-to-define construct you'd like us to address next season or you'd like to be a guest, nicole@nicolealioto.com with the subject line PODCAST. Follow You Can Measure Anything!® on Spotify and never miss a new episode. If you can define it, you can measure it. If you can measure it, you can achieve it! Subscribe to You Can Measure Anything® - The Podcast so you don't miss an episode!

June 5, 20265 min

You Can Measure Anything!® The Podcast Season 3 - The Diamond Definition™ Process for Measuring Anything Explained

Most education leaders know what a thriving school feels like. Very few know how to measure it. In this episode, Dr. Nicole Alioto introduces the Diamond Definition™ process for measuring anything: her proprietary framework for turning your school's most intangible goals into clear, measurable outcomes. This is a focused 5-minute episode built for busy K-12 leaders, district administrators, and education researchers who want a practical starting point for measuring what matters most in their school or organization. You will learn: • Why your current measurement approach is likely missing your most important school data • How the Diamond Definition™ process works, step by step • How to apply this framework immediately to your own measurement challenges This episode is drawn directly from Nicole's book You Can Measure Anything! An Educator's Guide to Measuring What is Hard to Define , the go-to resource for school improvement through smarter data. Watch the video version on YouTube: youcanmeasureanything.com Follow You Can Measure Anything on Spotify and never miss a new episode. If you can define it, you can measure it. If you can measure it, you can achieve it! Subscribe to You Can Measure Anything® - The Podcast so you don't miss an episode!