Episodes

You know the question that needs asking. You just don't ask it. Maybe you've been called difficult before, or maybe you're just trying to keep the peace. So the question stays in your head, and the confusion stays in the room. Casey unpacks why your gut usually knows what to ask before you find the words, and why the clearest person in the room becomes the leader. She shares how to ask the hard question without coming across as aggressive or putting your own safety on the line. Mentioned in th...

Victims of Furgency and How to Escape Furgency: the fake urgency that convinces you your next idea has to happen right now. Casey breaks down where it comes from, the three situations where it shows up most, and the questions that get you out before it burns you out. Mentioned in this episode: The Whole Educator podcast and The Resistance Solution by Becca Silver: https://www.thewholeeducator.com/ "3 Questions to Pressure Test Your Priorities," Harvard Business Review: https://hbr.org/2026/07/3...

Are You Asking "Why"? If you're chasing a title, a goal, or a version of yourself right now, this might be the "why" check you need. I have a friend more disciplined than anyone I know. 5am workouts. A budget she never breaks. Actual willpower against "remind me in 15 minutes." Recently she mentioned wanting to tone her thighs just a little more. So I asked the question I always ask: "What is it that motivates you to reach that goal?" She paused. "Huh. That's a good question. I'd have to thin...

Does training alone make someone a great leader, or is there a deeper shift required? Principal and author Joyce Conley-Hemmings will dive into why mindset is the ultimate determining factor in true leadership development. Discover why skill-building is only half the battle and how cultivating the right perspective transforms management into genuine impact. Learn actionable strategies to unlock your full leadership potential by transforming how you think. Connect with Joyce theunspokenmindset.c...

I once threw a full hissy fit — jumping, stomping, the works — with my boss in a foyer. Another time, my job description was changed midyear by my boss 🫣. As a high achiever, I always said yes to the next leadership opportunity, even when I didn't feel ready. I just figured it out as I went. Turns out, you can't lead well without leadership skills — and most "leadership training" isn't built to give you those. In this episode, I break down the 5 reasons leadership training falls short, why lea...

Resistance Isn't the Enemy — Here's How to Work With It, Not Against It New staff. New initiatives. New curriculum. And right alongside all of it: resistance. Every school leader hits it heading into a new year — the question is what you do with it. In this episode, I sit down with Becca Silver, author of The Resistance Solution, who drops a line that reframes the whole conversation: "Resistance is a human experience and not something to be demonized." We dig into why resistance shows up when c...

This week, you'll hear what reframing negative feedback actually looks like. I share a snippet from a real coaching call with a seasoned English teacher who's carried one critical note from a previous principal for ten years. Listen for the questions, the reflective stems, and the pauses — that silence is the reflection doing its work. New here? Start with last week's episode, "You Got One Bad Note — Now Why Can't You Let It Go?" Read the article, Personifying the Red Mark. Bring Casey to your...

One critical comment. That's all it takes to overshadow everything else that went right. In this episode, we explore why negative feedback carries so much more weight than it deserves, what that habit costs us, and how to stop giving a single red mark so much power over how we see ourselves and our work. Based on the article Personifying the Red Mark, this conversation gets honest about what it means to turn criticism into something bigger than it is — and what it looks like to finally put it in...

Do you struggle to make your message heard or gaining the confidence to state your message boldly? Former Hollywood actor and RADA teacher Dominic Colenso joins us to share the core ingredients of "cut-through," helping leaders and sales teams perform when it matters most. He reveals simple ways to distill your thinking and bring immediate clarity to your message, ensuring your leadership stands out from the crowd. By the time he was 26, Dominic Colenso had flown a spaceship, lost a million dol...

Do you have a clear roadmap for your leadership journey? Julia Bialeski and I explore why every woman needs a personal career mission and vision to navigate the complexities of leadership. Join us to have a candid and clear conversation! Connect with Julia here: Julia Bialeski is a leadership practitioner, author, and speaker with more than 20 years of experience leading people and organizations through change, growth, and complexity. Her career spans roles as a teacher, school principal, profe...

Are you avoiding the high-stakes discussions that your school community needs most? Join Tiffany Burns and Erika Bare as they share about their practical playbook for navigating tough conversations, de-escalating tension, and ensuring every interaction leads to a successful resolution. Gain the tools you need to overcome communication barriers and lead your team with greater confidence. Connect with Erika and Tiffany: http://www.connectingthroughconversation.com --------------------------------...

In this episode, Casey sits down with Kim Gameros — educator, author, and founder of SELebrate Good Times and Teaching Inside Out — to talk about reimagining how teachers grow, connect, and thrive. In this episode: How Kim's VIBEDU conference (Educators Defining Unity) throws out the slide decks and creates real, collaborative connection Why inclusion means making space for every voice — including neurodivergent speakers like former student Lucy The 3 AM moment that finally brought Kim's book...

I used to second-guess everything. Not just menial decisions like what to wear, but big, life-changing things—my ability to lead a workshop, write a book, or even be a good friend or mom. If you’ve ever found yourself questioning if you're experienced, qualified, or worthy of a new opportunity, you know how exhausting that self-doubt is. In this episode, I'm sharing the three powerful truths I learned about second-guessing. We’ll dive into how this natural brain response is secretly costing you...

I'm sharing the honest story behind the rebrand — what the old name got right, what it missed, and why my audience is the reason everything is changing. Same mission. Bigger clarity. Your teams are itching for CLARITY! That can be a complex thing to provide. But I have a framework that guides you to do just that– gain and create clarity! www.catchingupwithcasey.com/claritycycleframework Ready to build the habits of a clarity-driven leader? Get ⁠The Craft of Clarity⁠ book! Bring Casey to your ne...

You can feel the moment slipping. The room is distracted, disengaged, and nobody's saying why. In this episode, Casey shares the real story of the day she stopped her own training — and what happened when she said out loud what everyone was already thinking. What are you waiting for permission to say? Your teams are itching for CLARITY! That can be a complex thing to provide. But I have a framework that guides you to do just that– gain and create clarity! www.catchingupwithcasey.com/claritycycl...

Sometimes we wait on permission to do something, say something, or BE something. The myth is that this permission comes from a title, certification, or degree. And this is where we're beginning as we dive into this first of two episodes! It's time for us to challenge the permission myth! Bring Casey to your next event to speak! www.catchingupwithcasey.com/speaking Subscribe to my newsletter to get the resources mentioned in podcast episodes! www.catchingupwithcasey.com/newsletter

Are your team meetings driving real change, or just checking a box? Kurtis Hewson, co-founder of Jigsaw Learning dives into the strategies from his new book on Collaborative Team Meetings. Learn how to navigate the shift from traditional PLC and MTSS models to a more cohesive Collaborative Response that ensures every student succeeds. Connect with Kurtis! Kurtis Hewson is a highly sought-after keynote speaker, author and professional learning facilitator. In addition to being an award-winning t...

Misconceptions about Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) are preventing its true, transformative power from taking hold in schools. Join Krista Leh, founder of Resonance Education, as she brings clarity to the four most common SEL myths. Discover how an intentional, explicit, and co-created approach to SEL integration can lead to routine value in your school community. Implement strategies for daily SEL integration that are clear, valuable, and sustainable. Connect with Krista! Website: www.Resonan...

If you're waiting for high-stakes test scores to measure success, you’ve already lost momentum. We discuss tracking leading indicators of implementation to maintain staff stamina long after the initial excitement wears off. Your teams are itching for CLARITY! That can be a complex thing to provide. But I have a framework that guides you to do just that– gain and create clarity! ⁠⁠www.catchingupwithcasey.com/claritycycleframework Download the Clarity Cycle Framework Rubric ⁠⁠https://www.catching...

Move past generic or deficit-focused feedback. This third part of the Leading Instructional Change series will be all about how to provide specific, positive, and growth-oriented feedback that immediately improves instructional practices related to the area of focus without burning out your best teachers. Your teams are itching for CLARITY! That can be a complex thing to provide. But I have a framework that guides you to do just that– gain and create clarity! ⁠⁠www.catchingupwithcasey.com/clari...

Stop fighting the 20% staff resistance. In this episode, we'll break down practical strategies like "Listening Tours" and the "Skill/Will matrix" to shift initiatives from leadership's project to the teachers' mission. Your teams are itching for CLARITY! That can be a complex thing to provide. But I have a framework that guides you to do just that– gain and create clarity! ⁠www.catchingupwithcasey.com/claritycycleframework⁠ Download the Clarity Cycle Framework Rubric ⁠https://www.catchingupwith...

This is the first episode of the "Leading Instructional Change" series! In this first episode, we're gaining clarity on how to bridge the "knowing-doing" gap. The challenge is not knowing the focus. Chances are, you know exactly what should be the focus for the campus. But knowing ABOUT the focus is different than ensuring you have enough clarity to communicate this focus to staff (so they get past just "buy in" and commit). Your teams are itching for CLARITY! That can be a complex thing to pro...

**Overlooked.** Why is small-group instruction prioritized in reading but often ignored in math? Join Marcy Bernethy, author of Small Groups Big Impact, as she shares her personal experience with math anxiety and reveals the powerful Guided Math framework. Learn exactly what Guided Math is, the benefits of using it for focused differentiation, and how to overcome the misconceptions that hold teachers back from trying this high-impact approach. Marcy is a veteran teacher with 14 years of experie...

Is your professional learning truly serving your school leaders? Join Al Neppl as he shares how the School Administrators of Iowa designs their Annual Conference to tackle the most critical challenges facing today's principals: from fostering well-being and managing student behavior to leveraging AI ethically. Learn the strategies for structuring professional development that truly matters to those you lead. Connect with Al Neppl! Register for the Conference! Your teams are itching for CLARITY...