Get your copy of “Forward, Together” here on Amazon!

https://a.co/d/99RGvl3

How can school leaders turn disagreement into growth rather than division?

In this episode of The Innovator’s Mindset Podcast, guest host Dr. Rachel Edoho-Eket interviews George Couros about his new book, Forward, Together.

George shares why he wrote the book, how school leaders can navigate conflict and polarization with clarity and humility, and practical strategies for building trust with staff and communities. Together, they explore how inviting feedback, embracing constructive disagreement, and modeling continuous growth can strengthen school culture and leadership impact.

This episode offers concise, actionable insights for principals, superintendents, and educational leaders seeking tools to:

If you are leading in education today and feeling the weight of competing perspectives, this conversation provides grounded guidance for moving forward together.

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👉 Share your thoughts in the comments or connect with me on social media using #InnovatorsMindset

🌐 More at: https://georgecouros.com

🎙 Full audio podcast: https://linktr.ee/gcouros

Follow George Couros:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/gcouros

Instagram: https://instagram.com/gcouros

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

LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/george-couros-a5146519

📚 Books by George Couros:

Forward, Together:

https://a.co/d/99RGvl3

The Innovator's Mindset: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0986155497?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

What Makes a Great Principal: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334739?tag=onamzgeorge0f-20

Because of a Teacher: https://www.amazon.com/dp/194833433X?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

Because of a Teacher 2: https://www.amazon.com/dp/194833450X?tag=onamzgeorge0f-20

Innovate Inside the Box: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334127?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

Music from Bensound - http://bensound.com/

Get your copy of “Forward, Together” here on Amazon!

https://a.co/d/99RGvl3

In this book release episode, George Couros shares the three deeply personal reasons he wrote Forward Together: Moving Schools from Conflict to Community in Contentious Times.

Rather than offering quick fixes or rigid frameworks, this conversation explores why sustainable change in schools only happens when people work together. George explains why focusing on “we” over winning matters, how growing up in a tight-knit school community shaped his beliefs about leadership, and why every school and community requires its own solutions.

This episode also addresses a core message of the book: no book, principle, or strategy can fix a school. Books can offer ideas, reflection, and perspective, but real solutions are created by educators, leaders, families, and communities working together within their unique context.

This conversation is especially relevant for:

School and district leaders navigating conflict or division

Educators seeking trust-based leadership approaches

Communities working to move initiatives forward collaboratively

Anyone who believes schools improve when people come first

Forward Together is not about having the answers. It is about creating the conditions for communities to find them, together.

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If you purchase this book, please fill out this form to get a free conversation guide and the chance to win some books!

https://forms.gle/pob95CVPnwsAgdZb7

My latest book, "Forward, Together: Moving Schools from Conflict to Community in Contentious Times," is now available here: https://amzn.to/4p62hZ2

In this short episode of the Innovator's Mindset Podcast, George Couros reflects on why this past year felt lighter, more positive, and more grounded, learning to let go of grudges.

Holding a grudge rarely affects the other person, but it often weighs heavily on us. In under five minutes, George shares a simple practice that has helped him move forward, reaching out to lift others up without expectations, forgiveness speeches, or closure conversations.

This Christmas Day reflection is about releasing what holds us back, starting the year with clarity, and choosing actions that make us feel better rather than bitter.

Perfect for a quick listen if you are looking for perspective, peace, and a fresh start.

Leah Ellis, founder and executive director of the Society of Child Entrepreneurs, joins George to share how children as young as four can launch real businesses that strengthen confidence, creativity, and resilience. Drawing from her daughter’s early entrepreneurial journey, Leah highlights powerful examples of young learners pitching ideas, speaking with customers, setting prices, and building community-focused projects that grow both skills and purpose.

This episode explores how early entrepreneurship builds financial literacy, leadership habits, and problem-finding abilities that support success in school and beyond. Leah also breaks down the Society’s curriculum, coaching model, and resources designed for families, educators, and districts interested in nurturing future-ready learners. She explains how entrepreneurial learning complements traditional paths, including college, and offers guidance for parents and teachers who want to help kids turn curiosity into action.

Whether you support students at home or in the classroom, this conversation provides practical strategies, inspiring stories, and a look into how authentic entrepreneurship can empower young people to thrive in an ever changing world.

Learn more at https://societyofchildentrepreneurs.org/

___________

👉 Share your thoughts in the comments or connect with me on social media using #InnovatorsMindset

🌐 More at: https://georgecouros.com

🎙 Full audio podcast: https://linktr.ee/gcouros

Follow George Couros:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/gcouros

Instagram: https://instagram.com/gcouros

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

LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/george-couros-a5146519

📚 Books by George Couros:

The Innovator's Mindset: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0986155497?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

What Makes a Great Principal: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334739?tag=onamzgeorge0f-20

Because of a Teacher: https://www.amazon.com/dp/194833433X?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

Because of a Teacher 2: https://www.amazon.com/dp/194833450X?tag=onamzgeorge0f-20

Innovate Inside the Box: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334127?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

Music from Bensound - http://bensound.com/

In this deeply personal podcast episode, George Couros reflects on one of the hardest seasons of his life and the lessons that helped him move forward. After experiencing profound loss, personal struggle, and moments of feeling completely stuck, George shares three simple but powerful ideas that shaped his healing, restored his purpose, and reignited his creative spark.

This conversation explores grief, resilience, leadership, health, and the importance of small actions when life feels overwhelming. Through stories of loss, personal transformation, and rediscovering meaning, this episode offers encouragement for anyone navigating change, exhaustion, or uncertainty.

Listeners will hear reflections on:

Why the things we dread most often become our greatest teachers

How being the best interaction in someone’s day can change both lives

Why movement, even imperfect movement, matters when you feel stuck

Rebuilding purpose after loss and burnout

Why comeback stories are still being written, including yours

This episode is for educators, leaders, creatives, and anyone searching for clarity, motivation, or hope during difficult seasons. Whether you are feeling worn down, finding your spark again, or somewhere in between, this conversation is a reminder that forward is still possible.

If you are looking for a podcast about resilience, leadership, grief, personal growth, and finding purpose again, this episode will meet you where you are.

___________

👉 Share your thoughts in the comments or connect with me on social media using #InnovatorsMindset

🌐 More at: https://georgecouros.com

🎙 Full audio podcast: https://linktr.ee/gcouros

Follow George Couros:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/gcouros

Instagram: https://instagram.com/gcouros

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

LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/george-couros-a5146519

📚 Books by George Couros:

The Innovator's Mindset: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0986155497?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

What Makes a Great Principal: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334739?tag=onamzgeorge0f-20

Because of a Teacher: https://www.amazon.com/dp/194833433X?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

Because of a Teacher 2: https://www.amazon.com/dp/194833450X?tag=onamzgeorge0f-20

Innovate Inside the Box: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334127?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

Music from Bensound - http://bensound.com/

In this episode, veteran teacher Jennie Gyford dives into her new book Teach Like the Floor Is on Fire and shares honest, funny, and deeply relatable stories about classroom chaos, student behavior, and how teaching has changed. She breaks down practical strategies for building strong relationships, simplifying grading, and using technology and AI in a way that supports learning without adding to teacher stress.

If you want real talk about the daily challenges teachers face, along with solutions you can use tomorrow, this conversation delivers. Check out Jennie’s book here:

___________

👉 Share your thoughts in the comments or connect with me on social media using #InnovatorsMindset

🌐 More at: https://georgecouros.com

🎙 Full audio podcast: https://linktr.ee/gcouros

Follow George Couros:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/gcouros

Instagram: https://instagram.com/gcouros

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

LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/george-couros-a5146519

📚 Books by George Couros:

The Innovator's Mindset: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0986155497?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

What Makes a Great Principal: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334739?tag=onamzgeorge0f-20

Because of a Teacher: https://www.amazon.com/dp/194833433X?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

Because of a Teacher 2: https://www.amazon.com/dp/194833450X?tag=onamzgeorge0f-20

Innovate Inside the Box: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334127?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

Music from Bensound - http://bensound.com/

In this episode, George Couros shares the surprising story behind choosing the cover for his upcoming book, Forward Together. After asking his community for help, he expected quick confirmation of his preferred choice. Instead, he received more than five hundred personal responses that shifted his thinking and changed the final design and took the time to respond to each one. 

George talks about how he used ChatGPT and a designer to generate ideas, why he chose direct email feedback instead of a form, and how the process helped him understand the power of listening and genuine connection. He explains how technology can support creativity and collaboration when it is used with intention, and how this experience helped him live the principles he teaches in his work. But the real value of technology is in how we connect with each other. Without that, the design might look nicer, but it loses it authenticity.

Listeners will gain insight into leadership, community building, and the value of staying open to ideas that challenge your assumptions. George also shares gratitude for the people who helped shape the project and the lessons he will carry into future work.

___________

👉 Share your thoughts in the comments or connect with me on social media using #InnovatorsMindset

🌐 More at: https://georgecouros.com

🎙 Full audio podcast: https://linktr.ee/gcouros

Follow George Couros:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/gcouros

Instagram: https://instagram.com/gcouros

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

LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/george-couros-a5146519

📚 Books by George Couros:

The Innovator's Mindset: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0986155497?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

What Makes a Great Principal: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334739?tag=onamzgeorge0f-20

Because of a Teacher: https://www.amazon.com/dp/194833433X?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

Because of a Teacher 2: https://www.amazon.com/dp/194833450X?tag=onamzgeorge0f-20

Innovate Inside the Box: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334127?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

Music from Bensound - http://bensound.com/

In this episode, George Couros and literacy advocate Karen Vaites take a deep look at the science of reading, why strong foundational skills matter, and how states and districts can accelerate achievement. They explore the rise of the Southern Surge, the impact of coaching and high quality curriculum, and why third grade proficiency must be treated as a system wide priority.

The conversation also highlights how domain knowledge fuels comprehension, how technology and AI can support literacy without replacing core skill development, and practical moves school and district leaders can make to strengthen reading and writing instruction. This episode is a helpful guide for educators who want to build sustainable and scalable literacy improvement.

Check out Karen's substack: https://www.karenvaites.org/

X account: https://x.com/karenvaites

___________

👉 Share your thoughts in the comments or connect with me on social media using #InnovatorsMindset

🌐 More at: https://georgecouros.com

🎙 Full audio podcast: https://linktr.ee/gcouros

Follow George Couros:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/gcouros

Instagram: https://instagram.com/gcouros

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

LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/george-couros-a5146519

📚 Books by George Couros:

The Innovator's Mindset: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0986155497?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

What Makes a Great Principal: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334739?tag=onamzgeorge0f-20

Because of a Teacher: https://www.amazon.com/dp/194833433X?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

Because of a Teacher 2: https://www.amazon.com/dp/194833450X?tag=onamzgeorge0f-20

Innovate Inside the Box: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334127?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

Music from Bensound - http://bensound.com/

This episode explores how artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping both the workplace and the classroom. George Couros breaks down why the old phrase, preparing students for jobs that do not yet exist, now requires an update, since AI is also eliminating many entry level roles. He explains why adaptability, ongoing learning, and practical AI fluency are becoming essential for students who want to thrive in a world where work is changing faster than ever.

George also examines the growing debate around removing laptops and phones from classrooms and discusses why foundational skills still matter, but only when they become the base for deeper thinking and wiser use of technology. Drawing on research, real world examples, and reflections from his earlier writing, he highlights the difference between knowing how to learn and simply knowing how to earn good grades. This episode offers a balanced path that blends core literacies with problem solving, curiosity, and responsible use of AI so that students are prepared for the future rather than protected from it.

___________

👉 Share your thoughts in the comments or connect with me on social media using #InnovatorsMindset

🌐 More at: https://georgecouros.com

🎙 Full audio podcast: https://linktr.ee/gcouros

Follow George Couros:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/gcouros

Instagram: https://instagram.com/gcouros

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

LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/george-couros-a5146519

📚 Books by George Couros:

The Innovator's Mindset: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0986155497?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

What Makes a Great Principal: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334739?tag=onamzgeorge0f-20

Because of a Teacher: https://www.amazon.com/dp/194833433X?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

Because of a Teacher 2: https://www.amazon.com/dp/194833450X?tag=onamzgeorge0f-20

Innovate Inside the Box: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334127?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

Learn with Daniele: https://www.unlockingeducation.com/courses

Use code GEORGE20 for a discount on any course.

In this full episode of The Innovator's Mindset Podcast, I sit down with Daniele Schick to talk about AI in education from a real, grounded school perspective. We explore how leaders can empower teachers to learn and lead AI together, how to build internal capacity, and how to create time for meaningful practice inside the school day.

We also get honest about the positives and negatives of AI in learning, including concerns about cheating, misinformation, and over-reliance on technology. Daniele and I discuss how students respond when they see AI used with purpose, and why we must show the value of learning if we expect students to engage with integrity rather than take shortcuts.

This conversation focuses on practical strategies, balanced thinking, and using AI to amplify both curiosity and critical thought. We look at real school examples, how to model transparent and ethical AI use, and how to help students and educators see AI as a thinking partner, not a replacement for effort, creativity, or expertise.

Connect with Daniele at

Website: https://www.unlockingeducation.com

Courses: https://www.unlockingeducation.com/courses

Instagram: https://instagram.com/unlocking.education

Instagram (personal): https://instagram.com/danieleschick

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/danieleschick

LinkedIn (Unlocking Education): https://linkedin.com/in/unlocking-education

Facebook: https://facebook.com/danieleschick

Facebook (Unlocking Education): https://facebook.com/unlockingeducation

___________

👉 Share your thoughts in the comments or connect with me on social media using #InnovatorsMindset

🌐 More at: https://georgecouros.com

🎙 Full audio podcast: https://linktr.ee/gcouros

Follow George Couros:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/gcouros

Instagram: https://instagram.com/gcouros

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

LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/george-couros-a5146519

📚 Books by George Couros:

The Innovator's Mindset: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0986155497?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

What Makes a Great Principal: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334739?tag=onamzgeorge0f-20

Because of a Teacher: https://www.amazon.com/dp/194833433X?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

Because of a Teacher 2: https://www.amazon.com/dp/194833450X?tag=onamzgeorge0f-20

Innovate Inside the Box: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334127?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

Music from Bensound - http://bensound.com/