In this energizing episode of Change Starts Here, Kim Yaris explores how you can retrain your brain to move from constant stress to noticing daily bright spots. She explains the brain’s filtering system (your RAS) in simple language and connects it to practical choices educators can make to see more of what’s working.

You’ll hear encouraging data showing that schools can shift momentum—even in the busiest seasons—and walk away with two quick routines that make the good more visible, without adding anything to your to-do list.

Real change comes from small, repeatable choices that naturally fit into the rhythm of your day and gradually reshape what you notice. Tune in to discover how these simple shifts can boost clarity and optimism in your school, and share this episode with a colleague who could use a lift.

Downloadable resources:

Host: Kim Yaris, M.Ed.

Timestamps:

(00:00 - 00:53) Intro

(00:53 - 01:23) Why our focus narrows

(01:23 - 04:20) Meet the RAS

(03:52 - 04:46) Retune what you notice

(04:46 - 05:35) Why this matters now

(05:35 - 07:32) Student ratings rise

(07:32 - 08:11) Engagement hits records

(08:11 - 09:35) Encouragement and hope

(09:35 - 10:32) Strategy 1, daily cue

(10:32 - 11:17) Strategy 2, end question

(11:17 - 11:55) Two big takeaways

(11:55 - 12:05) Outro

In this energizing episode of Change Starts Here, Kim Yaris explores how you can retrain your brain to move from constant stress to noticing daily bright spots. She explains the brain’s filtering system (your RAS) in simple language and connects it to practical choices educators can make to see more of what’s working.

You’ll hear encouraging data showing that schools can shift momentum—even in the busiest seasons—and walk away with two quick routines that make the good more visible, without adding anything to your to-do list.

Real change comes from small, repeatable choices that naturally fit into the rhythm of your day and gradually reshape what you notice. Tune in to discover how these simple shifts can boost clarity and optimism in your school, and share this episode with a colleague who could use a lift.

Downloadable resources:

Host: Kim Yaris, M.Ed.

Timestamps:

(00:00 - 00:53) Intro

(00:53 - 01:23) Why our focus narrows

(01:23 - 04:20) Meet the RAS

(03:52 - 04:46) Retune what you notice

(04:46 - 05:35) Why this matters now

(05:35 - 07:32) Student ratings rise

(07:32 - 08:11) Engagement hits records

(08:11 - 09:35) Encouragement and hope

(09:35 - 10:32) Strategy 1, daily cue

(10:32 - 11:17) Strategy 2, end question

(11:17 - 11:55) Two big takeaways

(11:55 - 12:05) Outro

Difficult conversations shape culture. In this episode, host Dustin Odham sits down with Todd Davis to unpack why relationships are the operating system of leadership and how trust grows through specific, repeatable behaviors. They translate big ideas into concrete moves, from framing purpose and positive intent to the small language shifts that make feedback clearer and more helpful.

You will leave with a practical cadence you can start this week: listen to understand, name your purpose, state positive intent, and pause when the moment gets heated so the relationship stays primary. Try one behavior today, then build your rhythm so trust compounds over time.

Download the free handout:

Host: Dustin Odham

Guest: Todd Davis, FranklinCovey Senior Consultant and Thought Leader

Timestamps:

(00:00 - 00:40) Why hard talks matter

(00:40 - 01:37) Meet Todd Davis

(01:37 - 02:23) What do you love about the work

(14:36 - 15:13) Feedback as growth, not threat

(15:13 - 16:03) Blind spots and real help

(16:57 - 17:30) Assume good intent

(17:43 - 18:49) Balance courage and consideration

(18:49 - 19:22) Start with purpose, then intent

(19:22 - 20:21) Make it constructive, not confusing

(24:04 - 25:21) Pause, reset, and seek to understand

(29:48 - 30:29) Say the care out loud

(38:29 - 39:07) The bumper sticker test

(39:20 - 40:06) One honest conversation at a time

Difficult conversations shape culture. In this episode, host Dustin Odham sits down with Todd Davis to unpack why relationships are the operating system of leadership and how trust grows through specific, repeatable behaviors. They translate big ideas into concrete moves, from framing purpose and positive intent to the small language shifts that make feedback clearer and more helpful.

You will leave with a practical cadence you can start this week: listen to understand, name your purpose, state positive intent, and pause when the moment gets heated so the relationship stays primary. Try one behavior today, then build your rhythm so trust compounds over time.

Host: Dustin Odham

Guest: Todd Davis, FranklinCovey Senior Consultant and Thought Leader

Timestamps:

(00:00 - 00:40) Why hard talks matter

(00:40 - 01:37) Meet Todd Davis

(01:37 - 02:23) What do you love about the work

(14:36 - 15:13) Feedback as growth, not threat

(15:13 - 16:03) Blind spots and real help

(16:57 - 17:30) Assume good intent

(17:43 - 18:49) Balance courage and consideration

(18:49 - 19:22) Start with purpose, then intent

(19:22 - 20:21) Make it constructive, not confusing

(24:04 - 25:21) Pause, reset, and seek to understand

(29:48 - 30:29) Say the care out loud

(38:29 - 39:07) The bumper sticker test

(39:20 - 40:06) One honest conversation at a time

Behavior isn’t who a student is–it’s what they’re trying to say.

In this compelling episode of Change Starts Here, host Kim Yarris, M.Ed. challenges educators to see behavior as communication, not character. Connecting national trends with real classroom realities, Kim helps leaders and teachers decode what students are truly expressing.

Discover how small, intentional shifts in language, routines, and relationships can transform chaos into calm and turn moments of conflict into opportunities for connection. You’ll walk away with a simple, research-based framework to help you respond–not react–so students feel seen, heard, and safe to learn.

If you’re striving for fewer power struggles, stronger relationships, and classrooms where every student can thrive, this conversation offers the mindset and tools to make it happen–starting this week.

Download the free handout: https://resources.franklincovey.com/c/Behavior-is-communication?x=Z1ALfD

Host: Kim Yarris, M.Ed.

Timestamps:

(00:00 - 00:14) Show open

(00:15 - 00:55) Why behavior now

(00:55 - 01:26) What the data shows

(01:26 - 02:18) Beneath the behavior

(02:18 - 03:22) Stories we tell, early teaching lens

(03:22 - 04:36) Behavior is communication

(04:36 - 05:36) Pandemic skill gaps, why it got louder

(05:36 - 06:35) Plant metaphor, adjust conditions

(06:35 - 07:42) From critic to gardener

(07:42 - 08:46) Belief shapes outcomes

(08:46 - 09:27) Introducing CARE

(09:27 - 12:00) C and A, confidence and approach

(12:00 - 13:10) R and E, relationships and environment

(13:10 - 14:07) Takeaways and close

Behavior isn’t who a student is–it’s what they’re trying to say.

In this compelling episode of Change Starts Here, host Kim Yarris, M.Ed. challenges educators to see behavior as communication, not character. Connecting national trends with real classroom realities, Kim helps leaders and teachers decode what students are truly expressing.

Discover how small, intentional shifts in language, routines, and relationships can transform chaos into calm and turn moments of conflict into opportunities for connection. You’ll walk away with a simple, research-based framework to help you respond–not react–so students feel seen, heard, and safe to learn.

If you’re striving for fewer power struggles, stronger relationships, and classrooms where every student can thrive, this conversation offers the mindset and tools to make it happen–starting this week.

Download the free handout: https://resources.franklincovey.com/c/Behavior-is-communication?x=Z1ALfD

Host: Kim Yarris, M.Ed.

Timestamps:

(00:00 - 00:14) Show open

(00:15 - 00:55) Why behavior now

(00:55 - 01:26) What the data shows

(01:26 - 02:18) Beneath the behavior

(02:18 - 03:22) Stories we tell, early teaching lens

(03:22 - 04:36) Behavior is communication

(04:36 - 05:36) Pandemic skill gaps, why it got louder

(05:36 - 06:35) Plant metaphor, adjust conditions

(06:35 - 07:42) From critic to gardener

(07:42 - 08:46) Belief shapes outcomes

(08:46 - 09:27) Introducing CARE

(09:27 - 12:00) C and A, confidence and approach

(12:00 - 13:10) R and E, relationships and environment

(13:10 - 14:07) Takeaways and close

Change Starts Here: Research Conversations is back for a brand-new season! In this first episode, hosts Dr. Eve Miller Ph.D. and Kim Yaris, M.Ed explore the secret to sustaining that back-to-school energy all year long by building strong teacher-student relationships. They dive into real stories from the field, including how a kindergarten teacher transformed a crying student into a classroom leader and why seeing students through a lens of love and potential—rather than their challenges—makes all the difference.

Kim and Eve unpack the neuroscience behind why safety and connection are foundational to learning, sharing practical strategies like giving students meaningful roles, creating personal connection moments, and being intentional about building relationships with every student. They challenge educators to move beyond labels and see each student's full potential, showing that strong relationships aren't just nice to have—they're essential for opening minds to learning and creating lasting impact.

Start this new season with fresh insights on the power of human connection in education. Whether you teach kindergarten or high school, these research-backed strategies and real-world stories will help you build the relationships that transform classrooms.

Don't forget to like, subscribe, and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode of Change Starts Here.

Download the Our Handout below:

https://resources.franklincovey.com/season-6/lbrlh_k12

If you want to learn more about FranklinCovey, visit us at https://www.franklincovey.com/solutions/education/

Hosts: Kim Yaris, M.Ed (Associate Director of Research with FranklinCovey Education); Dr. Eve Miller (Director of Research with FranklinCovey Education)

Timestamps:

(00:00 - 01:21) Intro

(01:22 - 05:19) The Student-Teacher Relationship

(05:20 - 07:02) Neuroscience Lens of Child's Behavior and their Needs

(07:03 - 09:26) How to Connect with Older Students

(09:27 - 12:37) Complexity of Human Relationships

(12:38 - 14:59) How to Give Love to Students

(15:00 - 15:42) Resources Available to Listeners

(15:43 - 20:03) How to Build Relationships with Students

(20:04 - 21:36) Outro

This episode makes the case for gratitude as a real leadership skill, not a seasonal sentiment. Dustin Odham explains how appreciation fuels human connection, shifts teams from performance to people, and changes outcomes when leaders move gratitude from feeling to action. Gratitude is positioned as oxygen for culture, a daily choice that multiplies trust and belonging across classrooms, teams, and homes.

You will leave with simple, repeatable moves you can use this month, call the person who comes to mind, write a handwritten note, make deposits in emotional bank accounts, and set a cadence that sticks. Try one action today, then share the practice with your team to build momentum.

Download the handout: https://resources.franklincovey.com/c/fy26-podcast-resourc?x=I2LcfY

Host: Dustin Odham

Timestamps:

(00:00 - 00:23) Intro

(00:23 - 00:47) Welcome

(00:47 - 03:28) Why gratitude belongs in leadership

(03:28 - 05:48) Proactive gratitude

(05:48 - 08:05) Multiplying Gratitude

(08:05 - 10:25) Challenge yourself

(10:25 - 11:15) Be thankful this month

(11:15 - 13:13) Close

This episode makes the case for gratitude as a real leadership skill, not a seasonal sentiment. Dustin Odham explains how appreciation fuels human connection, shifts teams from performance to people, and changes outcomes when leaders move gratitude from feeling to action. Gratitude is positioned as oxygen for culture, a daily choice that multiplies trust and belonging across classrooms, teams, and homes.

You will leave with simple, repeatable moves you can use this month, call the person who comes to mind, write a handwritten note, make deposits in emotional bank accounts, and set a cadence that sticks. Try one action today, then share the practice with your team to build momentum.

Download the handout: https://resources.franklincovey.com/c/fy26-podcast-resourc?x=I2LcfY

Host: Dustin Odham

Timestamps:

(00:00 - 00:23) Intro

(00:23 - 00:47) Welcome

(00:47 - 03:28) Why gratitude belongs in leadership

(03:28 - 05:48) Proactive gratitude

(05:48 - 08:05) Multiplying Gratitude

(08:05 - 10:25) Challenge yourself

(10:25 - 11:15) Be thankful this month

(11:15 - 13:13) Close

This episode explores a research informed lens for educator wellbeing, separating the brain’s wanting and needing systems and showing how chronic stress can push teachers to ignore needs until the tank runs dry. Dr. Eve Miller and Kim Yaris connect the science to lived experience, translating the model into clear metaphors and practical, repeatable moves that help educators respond instead of react.

You will leave with a compact framework and quick resets that fit real life, from a one minute want,need check to habits that keep fuel in the tank before burnout hits. The goal is sustainable energy, steadier classrooms, and a culture that normalizes care as part of excellent practice. If this resonates, like, subscribe, and share with a colleague who could use a refuel.

Download the handout:

https://resources.franklincovey.com/c/fy26_rc-podcast-hand?x=a9GxTN

Hosts: Kim Yaris, M.Ed (Associate Director of Research with FranklinCovey Education); Dr. Eve Miller (Director of Research with FranklinCovey Education)

Timestamps:

(00:00 - 00:22) Welcome

(00:22 - 01:28) Why now

(01:28 - 04:24) The 46 percent reality

(04:24 - 06:23) Wanting vs needing, the model

(06:23 - 07:38) Accelerator and gas gauge

(07:38 - 09:36) Tuning out needs under stress

(09:36 - 11:17) The parent call example

(11:17 - 13:31) Survival mode and culture cues

(13:31 - 15:17) Normalize needs at work

(15:17 - 18:20) Quick practices you can start

(18:20 - 20:04) Close and CTA