Change Starts Here

In this episode of Change Starts Here, Kim Yaris and Dr. Eve Miller tackle the dreaded "mid-year slump", that time when energy dips and motivation becomes scarce for both staff and students. Rather than pushing harder, they explore the neurobiology behind what actually drives us to take action. Dr. Miller breaks down the science of the "motivation switch" in the brain, the nucleus accumbens, and explains why choice, relevance, and connection are biological necessities, not just nice-to-haves.

Listeners will discover why motivation is not a fixed personality trait but a response to environmental conditions. The conversation unpacks Self-Determination Theory and offers leaders practical strategies to shift their teams from compliance to contribution. By learning how to offer authentic choices and co-create paths forward, educators can reignite agency and engagement even during the toughest stretches of the school year.

Download the Handout:

https://resources.franklincovey.com/c/CSH_handout_S6E19?x=OcaUHV

Hosts:

Kim Yaris, M.Ed. (Associate Director of Research with FranklinCovey Education)

Dr. Eve Miller (Director of Research with FranklinCovey Education)

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction: Mid-Year Slump

01:48 Neurobiology of Motivation

02:46 Visualizing Motivation Triggers

05:17 The Nucleus Accumbens

07:20 Autonomy and Choice

10:14 Self-Determination Theory

12:38 Biology Over Personality

15:24 Practice: Offering Meaningful Choice

17:37 Practice: Co-Creating Paths

What if the leadership practices that once kept schools running are now holding them back? In this episode of Change Starts Here, host Dustin Odham sits down with David Kasperson, co-author of the Wall Street Journal bestseller Trust & Inspire and Director of Speaking & Business Development at FranklinCovey, to challenge the deeply rooted belief that control drives results.

Together, they explore why traditional, compliance-driven leadership is reaching its breaking point in today’s schools—and how shifting to a Trust & Inspire model can unlock the latent potential of educators and students alike. Kasperson reframes trust not as a “soft” idea, but as rocket fuel for innovation, engagement, and performance.

Listeners will gain practical insights into the three stewardships of leadership—modeling, trusting, and inspiring—and learn how to rebuild trust, even after it’s been damaged. This conversation is a call to action for K–12 leaders ready to move beyond managing tasks and start leading people with belief, purpose, and stewardship.

Get Your Copy of Trust & Inspire:

https://store.leaderinme.com/products/trust-and-inspire-book-hardcover

Host:

Dustin Odham, Managing Director with FranklinCovey Education

Guest:

David Kasperson, Co-author of Trust & Inspire and Director of Speaking & Business Development at FranklinCovey

Timestamps:

(00:00 - 01:18) Episode introduction

(01:18 - 03:04) David’s leadership journey

(03:04 - 04:47) Why trust matters now

(04:47 - 07:19) Measuring trust vs. engagement

(07:19 - 09:11) Speed as a differentiator

(09:11 - 11:07) Management vs. leadership paradigms

(11:07 - 14:13) Moving beyond compliance

(14:13 - 17:09) Barriers to trust

(17:09 - 19:56) Tapping into inspiration

(19:56 - 24:11) High expectations, not micromanagement

(24:11 - 30:37) Steps to rebuild trust

(30:37 - 36:23) Stewardship for the person

(36:23 - 42:38) Love in the classroom

(42:38 - 44:13) Leading through potential

(44:13 - 46:05) Overcoming leadership frustration

(46:05 - 50:00) Outro and resources

What if the leadership practices that once kept schools running are now holding them back? In this episode of Change Starts Here, host Dustin Odham sits down with David Kasperson, co-author of the Wall Street Journal bestseller Trust & Inspire and Director of Speaking & Business Development at FranklinCovey, to challenge the deeply rooted belief that control drives results.

Together, they explore why traditional, compliance-driven leadership is reaching its breaking point in today’s schools—and how shifting to a Trust & Inspire model can unlock the latent potential of educators and students alike. Kasperson reframes trust not as a “soft” idea, but as rocket fuel for innovation, engagement, and performance.

Listeners will gain practical insights into the three stewardships of leadership—modeling, trusting, and inspiring—and learn how to rebuild trust, even after it’s been damaged. This conversation is a call to action for K–12 leaders ready to move beyond managing tasks and start leading people with belief, purpose, and stewardship.

Get Your Copy of Trust & Inspire:

https://store.leaderinme.com/products/trust-and-inspire-book-hardcover

Host:

Dustin Odham, Managing Director with FranklinCovey Education

Guest:

David Kasperson, Co-author of Trust & Inspire and Director of Speaking & Business Development at FranklinCovey

Timestamps:

(00:00 - 01:18) Episode introduction

(01:18 - 03:04) David’s leadership journey

(03:04 - 04:47) Why trust matters now

(04:47 - 07:19) Measuring trust vs. engagement

(07:19 - 09:11) Speed as a differentiator

(09:11 - 11:07) Management vs. leadership paradigms

(11:07 - 14:13) Moving beyond compliance

(14:13 - 17:09) Barriers to trust

(17:09 - 19:56) Tapping into inspiration

(19:56 - 24:11) High expectations, not micromanagement

(24:11 - 30:37) Steps to rebuild trust

(30:37 - 36:23) Stewardship for the person

(36:23 - 42:38) Love in the classroom

(42:38 - 44:13) Leading through potential

(44:13 - 46:05) Overcoming leadership frustration

(46:05 - 50:00) Outro and resources

In this episode of Change Starts Here, Kim Yaris and Dr. Eve Miller explore the common "disconnect" between traditional school efforts and what actually drives student achievement. Dr. Miller shares insights from a deep dive into family engagement research, revealing that many widely accepted practices are more about compliance than connection. By shifting the focus from school-based events to "academic socialization," educators can unlock more powerful outcomes for their students.

Listeners will learn how to identify and remove subtle barriers, such as scheduling conflicts and language gaps—that prevent families from engaging. The conversation highlights the transformative power of two-way communication and proactive, positive reach-outs. By moving away from visible but less effective gestures and toward building trust, educators can foster a partnership with families that significantly accelerates learning.

Download the Handout, What Strengthens Family Engagement?:

https://resources.franklincovey.com/c/fy26_csh_rc-handout_?x=hPII-q

Hosts:

Kim Yaris, M.Ed. (Associate Director of Research with FranklinCovey Education)

Dr. Eve Miller (Director of Research with FranklinCovey Education)

Timestamps:

(00:00 - 00:42) Podcast intro

(00:42 - 01:57) Research disconnects

(01:57 - 04:28) Perceptions of engagement

(04:28 - 06:27) Identifying engagement barriers

(06:27 - 08:17) Changing educator paradigms

(08:17 - 10:38) Redefining family involvement

(10:38 - 12:21) Three engagement categories

(12:21 - 14:07) Academic socialization impact

(14:07 - 15:58) Building parent capacity

(15:58 - 17:44) Power of two-way communication

(17:44 - 21:36) Efficiency and effort tradeoffs

(21:36 - 22:17) Closing thoughts

In this episode of Change Starts Here, Kim Yaris and Dr. Eve Miller explore the common "disconnect" between traditional school efforts and what actually drives student achievement. Dr. Miller shares insights from a deep dive into family engagement research, revealing that many widely accepted practices are more about compliance than connection. By shifting the focus from school-based events to "academic socialization," educators can unlock more powerful outcomes for their students.

Listeners will learn how to identify and remove subtle barriers, such as scheduling conflicts and language gaps—that prevent families from engaging. The conversation highlights the transformative power of two-way communication and proactive, positive reach-outs. By moving away from visible but less effective gestures and toward building trust, educators can foster a partnership with families that significantly accelerates learning.

Download the Handout, What Strengthens Family Engagement?:

https://resources.franklincovey.com/c/fy26_csh_rc-handout_?x=hPII-q

Hosts:

Kim Yaris, M.Ed. (Associate Director of Research with FranklinCovey Education)

Dr. Eve Miller (Director of Research with FranklinCovey Education)

Timestamps:

(00:00 - 00:42) Podcast intro

(00:42 - 01:57) Research disconnects

(01:57 - 04:28) Perceptions of engagement

(04:28 - 06:27) Identifying engagement barriers

(06:27 - 08:17) Changing educator paradigms

(08:17 - 10:38) Redefining family involvement

(10:38 - 12:21) Three engagement categories

(12:21 - 14:07) Academic socialization impact

(14:07 - 15:58) Building parent capacity

(15:58 - 17:44) Power of two-way communication

(17:44 - 21:36) Efficiency and effort tradeoffs

(21:36 - 22:17) Closing thoughts

While the calendar promises a fresh start, many educators feel the heavy weight of expectations before their energy has fully returned. Join host Dustin Odham as he tackles the unique tension of January leadership. This episode explores why pushing harder right now might be the wrong move and how treating this month as a true reset point can prevent burnout down the road.

Dustin shares personal insights on why intensity without intention leads to exhaustion. He offers three critical questions to help leaders shift their paradigm from a "pressure cooker" mentality to one of clarity and trust. Listen in to discover how to honor capacity, define what truly matters, and lead with a renewed sense of purpose this semester.

Host: Dustin Odham

Timestamps:

(00:13 - 00:51) The reality of January pressure

(00:51 - 01:25) Why December drains our tanks

(01:25 - 02:30) Resetting before you sprint

(02:30 - 03:02) Where burnout is revealed

(03:02 - 03:58) Pressure cooker vs reset point

(03:58 - 04:30) Your lens shapes leadership

(04:31 - 04:58) Clarity builds trust

(04:28 - 05:55) Intensity without intention

(05:55 - 06:21) Clarity is the foundation

(06:21 - 06:53) Best energy

(06:54 - 07:25) How people feel

(07:25 - 08:11) February and March are sprints

While the calendar promises a fresh start, many educators feel the heavy weight of expectations before their energy has fully returned. Join host Dustin Odham as he tackles the unique tension of January leadership. This episode explores why pushing harder right now might be the wrong move and how treating this month as a true reset point can prevent burnout down the road.

Dustin shares personal insights on why intensity without intention leads to exhaustion. He offers three critical questions to help leaders shift their paradigm from a "pressure cooker" mentality to one of clarity and trust. Listen in to discover how to honor capacity, define what truly matters, and lead with a renewed sense of purpose this semester.

Host: Dustin Odham

Timestamps:

(00:13 - 00:51) The reality of January pressure

(00:51 - 01:25) Why December drains our tanks

(01:25 - 02:30) Resetting before you sprint

(02:30 - 03:02) Where burnout is revealed

(03:02 - 03:58) Pressure cooker vs reset point

(03:58 - 04:30) Your lens shapes leadership

(04:31 - 04:58) Clarity builds trust

(04:28 - 05:55) Intensity without intention

(05:55 - 06:21) Clarity is the foundation

(06:21 - 06:53) Best energy

(06:54 - 07:25) How people feel

(07:25 - 08:11) February and March are sprints

In this powerful episode, Dustin sits down with Sean Covey, President of FranklinCovey Education, for a candid conversation about why so many schools today feel overwhelmed, overcommitted, and stuck in the whirlwind of competing priorities. Drawing from decades of global experience, and fresh insights from recent district visits, Sean describes what educators are experiencing firsthand: growing student needs, teacher burnout, increasing complexity, and constant pressure to improve everything at once.

Tune in for practical insights and mindset shifts school and district leaders can use tomorrow, a roadmap for moving from overwhelmed and overcommitted to focused, empowered, and ready for meaningful change.

Read Sean’s article Overwhelmed and Overcommitted: Why Schools Underperform and Struggle to Improve:

https://www.leaderinme.org/blog/overwhelmed-and-overcommitted/

Host: Dustin Odham

Guest: Sean Covey

Timestamps:

(00:00 - 00:14) Beyond academics

(00:14 - 00:51) Show open

(00:51 - 01:18) The focus problem

(01:18 - 01:37) Welcome and setup

(01:37 - 02:39) Why Leader in Me

(26:37 - 27:13) What gives hope now

(27:13 - 27:56) Students leading the way

(27:56 - 28:50) Focus on the good

(28:50 - 29:24) Principles work everywhere

(29:24 - 29:52) Leader in Me Unplugged

(29:52 - 31:04) Lessons at home

(31:50 - 32:20) Love of the arts

(32:55 - 33:24) Thanks and vision

(33:24 - 34:10) Close and call to action

In this powerful episode, Dustin sits down with Sean Covey, President of FranklinCovey Education, for a candid conversation about why so many schools today feel overwhelmed, overcommitted, and stuck in the whirlwind of competing priorities. Drawing from decades of global experience, and fresh insights from recent district visits, Sean describes what educators are experiencing firsthand: growing student needs, teacher burnout, increasing complexity, and constant pressure to improve everything at once.

Tune in for practical insights and mindset shifts school and district leaders can use tomorrow, a roadmap for moving from overwhelmed and overcommitted to focused, empowered, and ready for meaningful change.

Read Sean’s article Overwhelmed and Overcommitted: Why Schools Underperform and Struggle to Improve:

https://www.leaderinme.org/blog/overwhelmed-and-overcommitted/

Host: Dustin Odham

Guest: Sean Covey

Timestamps:

(00:00 - 00:14) Beyond academics

(00:14 - 00:51) Show open

(00:51 - 01:18) The focus problem

(01:18 - 01:37) Welcome and setup

(01:37 - 02:39) Why Leader in Me

(26:37 - 27:13) What gives hope now

(27:13 - 27:56) Students leading the way

(27:56 - 28:50) Focus on the good

(28:50 - 29:24) Principles work everywhere

(29:24 - 29:52) Leader in Me Unplugged

(29:52 - 31:04) Lessons at home

(31:50 - 32:20) Love of the arts

(32:55 - 33:24) Thanks and vision

(33:24 - 34:10) Close and call to action

December has a way of highlighting the gap between the year we envisioned and the one we’re actually living. In this reflective episode, Dustin Odham explores what it means to find joy in the gap—even when the work feels unfinished and the season feels heavy.

If you’re an educator who needs a moment to breathe, reset, and see your impact with fresh eyes, this episode is for you. Listen now and follow Change Starts Here on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Host: Dustin Odham

Timestamps:

(00:00 - 00:13) Welcome

(00:13 - 00:43) December’s reality check

(00:43 - 01:14) Pause and reset

(01:14 - 02:08) Naming the gap

(02:08 - 02:35) See, do, get model

(02:35 - 03:25) Check your paradigm

(03:25 - 03:52) Joy in the middle, explained

(03:52 - 04:20) A quiet thank you

(04:20 - 04:46) Snapped back to what is

(05:06 - 05:34) December’s rhythm

(05:34 - 06:23) Where joy shows up

(06:23 - 06:46) The gap does not define you

(06:46 - 07:09) Share your moments

(07:09 - 07:22) Close