The Elemental Educator Podcast

Most leaders wait for the perfect conditions to lead, but true impact happens when you learn to thrive in the cracks of the sidewalk.

Episode Summary: In this deep dive, leadership consultant and retired Associate Superintendent Corrine Thorsteinson reveals why trust is the "oxygen" of any successful organization. Drawing from over three decades in the education sector, Corrine breaks down the four dimensions of trust—care, reliability, sincerity, and competence—and explains why "care" is the ultimate trump card in leadership.

We explore her "Dandelion Metaphor" for resilience, the courage required to "run toward the fire" of difficult conversations, and her radical approach to building leadership cultures that include everyone from caretakers to division office staff. Whether you are a new principal or a seasoned executive, this episode provides a masterclass on navigating "headwinds," repairing broken trust, and the vital importance of daily reflective practice.

Watch Next: The Elemental Educator Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/@ElementalEducator

Connect with Corrine Thorsteinson:

• Website: https://agiliteams.ca
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/corrine-thorsteinson-398615118/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/agiliteams/
• Books: https://www.amazon.ca/stores/Corrine-Thorsteinson/author/B0GHSWJM8R
• Email: [email protected]

Connect with Tyler Comeau (Host):

• Get the Book (The Elemental Leader): https://www.routledge.com/The-Elemental-Leader-Unlocking-Your-Potential-Through-Values-Perseverance-Adaptability-and-Innovation/Comeau/p/book/9781041006084
• Website: https://tylercomeau.ca
• Podcast: https://elementaleducatorpodcast.transistor.fm/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ElementalEducator
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyler-comeau-961a49310/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elemental_educator
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555973948902&mibextid=JRoKGi
• Speaking & Consulting: [email protected]
• Podcast Guest Inquiries: [email protected]

Timestamps: 0:00 – The hardest part of leadership: Doing what’s right. 5:32 – "Trust Yourself": The journey to believing your intuition. 7:42 – The Dandelion Metaphor: Leading wherever you are planted. 13:53 – Trust as Oxygen: What happens when it’s pulled from the room. 17:03 – The 4 Dimensions of Trust: Care, Reliability, Sincerity, and Competence. 20:30 – Modeling Leadership: Building capacity in the small moments. 24:44 – Headwinds vs. Tailwinds: Leaving a 27-year career for a new challenge. 31:44 – The Hot Seat: Rapid-fire leadership scenarios. 42:04 – Building a Leadership Culture: Why leadership is for everyone. 54:14 – The Cat on the Woodpile: Why you can’t unsee a problem. 57:24 – Pause, Reflect, Lead: The power of daily reflection guides.

Learn how high-achieving leaders burn out and how to rebuild your identity, health, and purpose beyond success in this powerful leadership conversation.

In this conversation, Tyler Comeau sits down with Howard Stribbell, global educator and leadership expert, to unpack the hidden cost of success and why so many high performers feel empty despite achieving more than they ever imagined. After building and scaling international schools across Asia, Howard shares how chasing achievement led to burnout, identity loss, and a breaking point that forced him to rethink everything. 

Together, they explore the internal pressure leaders carry, the fear of never being “enough,” and how performance-driven identities slowly disconnect us from who we actually are. This episode dives deep into leadership, mental health, and the uncomfortable truth that many leaders are succeeding externally while struggling internally.

If you’ve ever felt like success isn’t delivering what it promised, this conversation will challenge how you define leadership and what it really means to live well while leading others.

Key Takeaways

•  Why success without self-awareness leads to burnout and identity loss 
•  The hidden pressure high-performing leaders carry every day 
•  How the “never enough” mindset drives overwork and dissatisfaction 
•  What happens when leaders prioritize performance over well-being 
•  How to rebuild your identity beyond titles, roles, and achievements 
•  The difference between being successful and actually being healthy

A Moment That Might Shift Your Perspective

Howard shares a hard truth:

Many leaders learn how to be successful…
 but never learn how to be healthy.

That gap quietly destroys careers, relationships, and personal fulfillment long before it shows up in performance.

Chapter Markers

00:00 The hidden cost of success and burnout
 01:00 “I was successful, but not happy”
 02:30 The fear of never being enough
 04:00 Building a performance-based identity
 06:30 When leadership success starts to collapse
 09:00 The breaking point most leaders don’t talk about
 12:00 Why leaders sacrifice health and relationships first
 15:00 The moment work finally gets impacted
 18:00 Rebuilding identity beyond achievement
 22:00 Leadership, pressure, and internal struggles
 26:00 What true success actually looks like
 30:00 How to lead without losing yourself

🔗 Connect with Tyler Comeau

🌐 Website: https://tylercomeau.ca
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elemental_educator
🎙 Podcast: https://elementaleducatorpodcast.transistor.fm/
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyler-comeau-961a49310/

🎤 Connect with Howard Stribbell

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/howardstribbell
 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/howardstribbell
 🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@howardstribbell
 🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@howardstribbell

📘 Book:
 The Loneliest Seat: Truths About Authentic Leadership
 https://www.amazon.com/LONELIEST-SEAT-Truths-Authentic-Leadership-ebook/dp/B0D933W7TZ

Learn how to avoid leadership burnout and build a strong team culture by leading with trust, values, and clarity instead of trying to fix everything yourself. 

In this conversation, Tyler Comeau sits down with Jimmy Casas, educator, speaker, and author of Culturize, to break down one of the biggest leadership traps: the “fix-it” mindset. With over 30 years in education and decades as a school leader, Jimmy shares how leaders drift from what they know is right into reactive habits that slowly erode culture and trust. 

Together, they explore what it really means to lead at a high standard, how to recognize when you or your team have “lost your way,” and why trust is the foundation that determines whether your organization thrives or fractures. This episode moves through real leadership scenarios, practical coaching moments, and the internal mindset shifts required to lead under pressure, aligning directly with the Elemental Educator framework of returning to core values when things get hard. 

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, responsible for everything, or stuck carrying more than you should, this conversation will recalibrate how you lead. 

 Key Takeaways
How “fix-it mode” quietly destroys leadership effectiveness and team growth
Why leaders drift from their values and how to reset before culture suffers
The difference between coaching, delegating, and enabling underperformance
How to identify early signs that a leader or team has lost alignment
A practical approach to handling conflict, resistance, and overwhelm
Why trust is the foundation of culture, performance, and long-term impact 

A Moment That Might Change How You Lead 

Jimmy challenges a common leadership rule: “Don’t come to me with a problem unless you have a solution.” 

His take flips it completely. If people already had the solution, they wouldn’t need you. 

That single shift turns leadership from control… into coaching. 
 

🔗 Connect with Tyler Comeau 

🌐 Website: https://tylercomeau.ca
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elemental_educator
🎙 Podcast: https://elementaleducatorpodcast.transistor.fm/
📘 Book: https://www.routledge.com/The-Elemental-Leader-Unlocking-Your-Potential-Through-Values-Perseverance-Adaptability-and-Innovation/Comeau/p/book/9781041006084
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyler-comeau-961a49310/
📩 Speaking & Consulting: [email protected] 

🎤 Connect with Jimmy Casas 

🌐 Website: https://www.jimmycasas.com/
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/casas_jimmy/
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmy-casas-bb863432/
▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGyi3yFrk09V0w9C18H8qWA 

Chapter Markers

00:00 Episode trailer
 00:45 Leadership drift: why we don’t do what we know is right
 04:15 Signs a leader or team has lost alignment
 06:45 The hidden danger of frustration in leadership
 08:45 Fix-it mode vs building capacity in others
 11:45 Coaching vs solving problems for your team
 13:45 Jimmy Casas’ leadership background and credibility
 14:45 “Not every problem is yours to fix” explained
 17:45 Recovering from burnout and resetting as a leader
 19:35 The interview chair mindset and self-reflection
 21:15 Principles vs preferences in leadership decisions
 23:25 When leaders feel pressure to carry everything
 25:45 What “carry the banner” really means in culture
 32:15 Early leadership lessons from a paper route
 35:45 Real leadership scenarios: conflict, resistance, overwhelm
 42:05 The moment Jimmy almost left leadership
 48:35 What leaders get wrong about culture
 52:45 Why people resist change (and how to fix it)
 55:35 Why trust beats everything in leadership
 58:15 Putting students first in real decisions
 1:00:05 The turning point that reshaped Jimmy’s leadership 

Kree Govender explains why indecision quietly destroys momentum, confidence, and growth, and how choosing wrong is often far more powerful than choosing nothing at all.

Subscribe for more conversations on leadership, mindset, and high performance: https://www.youtube.com/@ElementalEducator

Connect with me:
 https://www.elementaleducator.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/tylercomeau/

Ways to work with me:
 https://www.elementaleducator.com

Connect with Kree Govender:
 https://www.linkedin.com/in/kree-govender-12b2651b/

In this episode, Kree Govender breaks down one of the most overlooked performance killers: indecision. He explains why waiting for the perfect option often leads to stagnation, missed opportunities, and loss of confidence. The conversation explores how action creates clarity, why wrong decisions are rarely as costly as people think, and how high performers build momentum by committing, adjusting, and moving forward.

If you’ve ever felt stuck between options, overthinking your next move, or waiting for certainty before acting, this episode will challenge that pattern and give you a different way to think about progress.

If this episode challenged your thinking, don’t wait to feel ready. Make a decision and move.

Question for you:
Where in your life are you choosing indecision instead of action?

Timestamps:
0:00 Trailer
2:10 Why indecision is more dangerous than the wrong decision
4:32 What fear is really doing behind hesitation
7:05 Why action creates clarity faster than thinking
10:18 The hidden cost of waiting too long
13:47 How high performers make decisions under pressure
17:22 When a wrong decision becomes the right move
21:05 Building momentum through imperfect action
25:40 Why confidence comes after commitment
29:15 The role of environment in decision-making
33:08 How to stop overthinking and start executing
37:12 A simple framework for making faster decisions
41:26 What to do when you feel stuck
45:03 Final thoughts on action vs hesitation 

Donovan Bailey shares the mindset, discipline, sacrifice, and execution it took to go from unknown to becoming the fastest man in the world.
Subscribe for more conversations on leadership, pressure, mindset, and high performance: https://www.youtube.com/@ElementalEducator

Watch This Next: https://www.youtube.com/@ElementalEducator

Connect with me:
https://www.elementaleducator.com
mailto:[email protected]

Ways to work with me:
https://www.elementaleducator.com

Connect with Donovan Bailey:
https://www.instagram.com/theofficialdonovanbailey/
https://www.youtube.com/@DonovanBaileyOfficial
https://www.facebook.com/OfficialDonovanBailey
https://www.linkedin.com/in/donovan-bailey/
mailto:[email protected]

Resources mentioned in this episode:
https://www.amazon.ca/Undisputed-Champions-Life-Donovan-Bailey/dp/1039005144

In this episode, Donovan Bailey breaks down what actually separates people who act from people who wait. He talks about fear, procrastination, validation, discipline, staying in your lane, building the right environment, and why execution is what ultimately matters most. In the conversation, he says people often wait for permission, wait for the right time, and get distracted by noise instead of doing the work. He also shares the turning point after not being selected for the Commonwealth Games, leaving Canada to train, and deciding it was “do or die.” 

If this episode challenged you, don’t just think about it. Act on it. As Donovan puts it, if you are not achieving the goals you want to achieve today, what is your excuse? 

Question for you:
What is one goal you know you need to stop waiting on and start executing today?

Timestamps:
0:00 What separates people who act from people who wait?2:20 What separates action-takers from people who never get there?3:46 Where do people hesitate most when chasing what they want?4:31 What are people really saying when they claim they are waiting for the right moment?5:48 Who is Donovan Bailey beyond the medals?6:51 When did passion, hard work, and sacrifice become real for Donovan?8:03 Where do people misunderstand what it takes to protect a dream?8:43 Who tried to limit Donovan, and how did he respond?9:53 Principle or preference: talent, sacrifice, confidence, discipline, and pressure11:45 What is the difference between discipline and motivation?13:23 When did Donovan decide he was done waiting his turn?15:26 What did that experience teach him about control and external factors?16:17 Why did outside noise stop mattering?16:33 Guessing Donovan’s first job19:05 What did being a camp counselor teach him about leadership and discipline?21:25 Hot seat: what do you do after rejection or setbacks?22:49 What do you do when an environment limits your growth?23:33 What did not being selected feel like?24:31 Was there ever doubt?25:14 What did it feel like once he knew he belonged?26:07 What mistake in Rome taught Donovan to stay in his lane?27:45 What does staying in your lane look like in organizations?29:18 What surprising conversations has he had with CEOs?31:07 How do you know when it is time to simplify?32:15 Flip the script: today is day one35:18 How did Donovan try to shift the mindset of Canadian sport?36:42 Who was Canada being too nice to?39:06 What does a winning system actually look like?40:09 Quick tips: the first step toward any goal41:00 What should people stop doing immediately?41:54 How do elite performers handle setbacks?42:28 What separates the top 1% from everyone else?43:33 What does “it takes a village” really mean?46:00 Final answer: which trait wins in the end?47:29 Why does execution beat everything else?48:25 Why is constant growth non-negotiable?49:35 What is a need Donovan still has in life?51:13 What question does Donovan want to leave for the next guest?51:47 Where can people connect with Donovan

In this episode of The Elemental Educator, Dr. Shelley Moore dismantles one of the most dangerous assumptions in education:

If a student is struggling, something must be wrong with the student.

What if that assumption is the problem?

Shelley is an inclusive education researcher, consultant, and global speaker who has spent her career helping schools rethink how learning actually works.

This conversation will challenge how you think about inclusion, special education, and what it really means for students to succeed.

The shift is simple, but powerful:

You can’t change students. But you can absolutely change conditions.

What You’ll Learn In This Episode

• Why most “inclusive” classrooms are still excluding students• The difference between access, placement, and true belonging• Why education systems default to blaming students• How changing conditions unlocks student success• What teachers were never trained to do in diverse classrooms• Why IEPs should function like “seed packets” instead of deficit reports• How to design lessons that include all learners without adding workload• Why inclusion benefits every student, not just those with identified needs

If you lead, teach, or influence learning environments, this episode will fundamentally shift how you approach your work.

Connect With Me

Website
https://www.elementaleducator.com

If this episode challenged your thinking, explore more conversations designed to help leaders rethink systems, not just students.

Connect With Dr. Shelley Moore

Website
www.drshelleymoore.com

Consulting
www.outsidepinconsulting.com

YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@FiveMooreMinutes

Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/drshelleymoore/

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/drshelleymoore/

Chapter Markers

00:00 Introduction Trailer02:30 When did Shelley realize the problem wasn’t her?04:45 What would she say to her younger self in that moment?06:30 At what point do we stop blaming students for struggling?08:30 What if the system around students is the real issue?12:00 Why should IEPs never be deficit-based?13:00 Why is lowering expectations the wrong move?14:00 Does inclusion actually benefit high-achieving students?16:30 What does real inclusion look like in a complex classroom?20:30 Why weren’t teachers trained for today’s classrooms?26:30 What are simple changes that reduce barriers immediately?30:00 Why can’t we lead from a state of triage?33:00 What’s the most important question every teacher should ask?49:00 Why is “what’s the goal?” the most powerful shift in teaching?55:00 Why does dignity matter more than courage in leadership?55:40 What does it really mean to dismantle special education?57:20 How should schools prepare students for an AI future?

Most schools try to improve teaching the wrong way.

They rely on top-down professional development, one-off workshops, and “sit and get” training sessions that feel productive in the moment but rarely change classroom practice. In this episode of The Elemental Educator, Dr. Matthew Rhoads explains why those approaches fail and what actually helps professional learning spread through a school system.

Dr. Rhoads is an instructional leader and education technology expert focused on AI integration, inclusive teaching, and helping educators improve student learning across TK-20 education. Together we unpack how coaching, diffusion of learning, and intentional leadership create the conditions for real instructional improvement.

One of the biggest takeaways from this conversation is simple but powerful:

Instructional improvement does not scale through mandates. It scales through relationships, coaching, and momentum.

If you are a principal, district leader, instructional coach, or educator trying to improve teaching across your school or system, this conversation will challenge the way you think about professional learning.

Inside this episode:

• Why top-down professional development often fails• The biggest mistake leaders make when trying to improve teaching• Why one-off PD sessions rarely lead to lasting change• How instructional coaching spreads learning across schools• The difference between forcing adoption and building momentum• Why leaders must choose between being instructional leaders or managers• How AI and technology fit into modern instructional leadership

If you care about improving teaching and learning in a way that actually sticks, this episode will give you a different lens for thinking about professional learning and leadership.

Chapter Markers

00:00 Why do most schools try to improve teaching the wrong way?01:37 What is the fastest way a leader can accidentally kill instructional improvement?02:01 Why is one-off “sit and get” PD the number one killer of professional learning?04:40 What role does instructional coaching actually play in improving teaching?12:15 How can leaders build momentum instead of forcing change?22:40 What does effective instructional coaching look like in practice?34:10 Are school leaders acting as instructional leaders or just managers?46:05 How does AI fit into instructional leadership and professional learning?58:30 What should school leaders focus on if they want real instructional improvement?

Connect With Me Website https://www.elementaleducator.com 

If this episode sparked an idea or challenged how you think about leadership, visit the site and explore more conversations designed to help leaders make better decisions under pressure.Connect With Dr. Matthew Rhoads

Website
https://matthewrhoads.com

LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-rhoads-ed-d-95772120/

Instagram
https://instagram.com/DrRhoadsEDU

X / Twitter
https://x.com/mattrhoads1990

If this conversation helped you rethink professional learning, share it with another educator or school leader who cares about improving teaching and learning.

Subscribe for more conversations about leadership, innovation, instructional improvement, and decision making in education.

Most leaders secretly believe that if they were better, smarter, or more experienced, things would feel less complex.

That belief is wrong.

In this episode of The Elemental Educator, I sit down with Dr. Corey Steeves to confront one of the most damaging myths in leadership: that complexity is a signal you are failing. Instead, we argue that complexity is the job. The weight, the ambiguity, the competing priorities, and the pressure are not proof you are unqualified. They are proof you are leading.

As Corey shares in the episode, many principals and high-stakes leaders feel isolated while navigating innovation, change, and uncertainty . We unpack how to reframe that isolation, how to build intentional networks of support, and why white-knuckling your way through leadership is not a badge of honor.

If you remember one sentence from this conversation, remember this: you do not need to carry the load alone.

Inside this episode:

• Why strong leaders still feel overwhelmed• The myth that “good principals shouldn’t have challenges”• How to reframe complexity as opportunity• The danger of leading in isolation• A practical way to identify and strengthen your network of support• Why grace and reflection are leadership skills, not weaknesses

This conversation will help you stop interpreting pressure as personal deficiency and start seeing it as part of the leadership arena you were chosen to step into.

00:00 What if complexity isn’t a sign you’re failing?03:56 Why do so many leaders believe they shouldn’t have this many challenges?05:45 What problem does this episode actually solve for principals?06:18 How do you tell the difference between a principle and a preference?12:30 What happens when leaders try to “white knuckle” complexity?20:45 Why does isolation make complexity feel heavier than it is?31:10 How can you intentionally reflect on your network of support?44:20 What would you tell your younger self about leading under pressure?52:40 How do you build innovation without doing it alone?59:03 Why can’t anyone prepare students or organizations for what’s next by themselves?01:02:00 What should leaders do next after hearing this conversation?

Website: https://www.elementaleducator.com

If this episode sparked something for you, I’d love to hear from you. Visit the site, connect, and explore tools designed to help you make decisions you can explain, defend, and repeat under pressure.

LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-corey-steeves-071894271?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app

Leadership Reflection Form:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1jGJLlSje2PFQj-bO9cPVeyMVzOb9TW1F3OA1z0u6VI4/edit?usp=drivesdk

Resource Document:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/14imPwNJjCuHWLIrmOb-xcvox8f8sAAg-/view?usp=sharing

If this conversation helped you rethink leadership under pressure, leave a review and share it with another leader who needs to hear that complexity is not a verdict on their competence.

Subscribe for more episodes focused on decision making under pressure, values-rooted leadership, and building resilient teams.

Join host Tyler on The Elemental Educator podcast as he chats with strategist and change catalyst Lisa Riegel. Discover why most leaders fail not from lack of ambition, but because change stays theoretical. Lisa shares insights on operationalizing aspirations, the role of brain science in perceptions and resistance, her 8C Commitment Framework, and practical strategies for engaging employees, reducing fear, and driving lasting change in education and beyond. Perfect for leaders seeking fulfillment and better outcomes.

Timestamps below!

Connect with Lisa: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisariegel/Learn more about the podcast: https://www.elementaleducator.comSubscribe for more leadership insights!

#Leadership #ChangeManagement #Education

Chapter Markers

00:00:00 - Intro: Why Leaders Fail at Change00:01:15 - Real Change Starts in the Brain00:03:37 - When Change Collapses: Common Pitfalls00:06:04 - Welcome & Grounded Moments Segment00:07:56 - The Human Side of Leadership00:09:00 - How Perceptions Are Formed in the Brain00:12:52 - Early Indicators of Stress Responses00:15:00 - Name It, Own It, Control It Activity00:18:00 - Resistance as Unaddressed Fear00:21:00 - The 8C Commitment Framework Explained00:25:00 - Clarity and Coherence in Change00:30:00 - Cadence for Sustainable Change00:35:00 - Culture and Psychological Safety00:40:00 - Celebrating Wins and Building Trust00:45:00 - Collaboration and Collective Efficacy00:50:00 - Biggest Barriers to Effective Change00:55:00 - Classroom Management and Relationships01:00:00 - Spark or Burn: Decision Making Under Uncertainty01:05:00 - Resilience as Key to Leadership01:07:00 - One Key Takeaway & Guest Question

Challenging your boss can feel like career suicide, but knowing how to disagree with leadership respectfully, strategically, and confidently is a critical leadership skill under pressure. In this episode, we break down how to challenge your boss without killing your career by grounding your approach in core values, clear reasoning, and disciplined communication.

My guest, Mark Pearmain, shares real-world insight on navigating conflict with senior leaders, influencing up the chain of command, and protecting trust while advocating for better decisions. If you’ve ever struggled with pushing back, handling workplace conflict, or speaking up to authority, this conversation will give you practical tools you can use immediately.

You’ll learn:

• How to disagree with your boss professionally
• How to manage conflict with leadership
• How to protect your credibility under pressure
• How to communicate tough feedback upward
• How to make value-based decisions at work

This is leadership in real time. No bravado. No shortcuts. Just better decisions you can explain, defend, and repeat.

🔗 Connect with Tyler:
https://link.me/tylercomeau

🔗 Connect with Mark Pearmain:
www.linkedin.com/in/mark-pearmain-0a456324

If you're a leader navigating stress, incomplete information, and accountability without control, this episode is for you.00:00 – Why Leadership Can’t Live in a Bubble01:01 – Meet the Guest & His Leadership Philosophy01:55 – The Moment Leadership Became Real (9/11 Classroom Story)03:20 – 10 Seconds of Courage04:56 – When Safety Illusions Break06:47 – “It Always Seems Impossible Until It’s Done”09:18 – The Secret: Distributed Leadership10:05 – Teams Beat Heroes11:12 – Your Anchor in Pressure: Integrity13:42 – Challenge Up vs Empower Down (Real Examples)14:36 – AI in Schools & Local Decision Making16:05 – Why Employees Fear Speaking Up18:40 – How Leaders Create Speak-Up Culture21:02 – The Right Way to Challenge a Leader23:30 – Principle or Preference Game25:05 – The Leadership Skill Most Leaders Get Wrong59:52 – Final Takeaways & Closing Thoughts