Unsupervised Leadership: A podcast for fun, fab, & fierce females

Courtney is feeling just superstitious enough that we had to drop an impromptu pod today—because when Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball wins and punches a ticket to the Elite 8, you don’t mess with the vibes.

We’ve got special guest (and colleague/podcaster) Joe Sweeney joining us as we dive into all things March Madness, sports hot takes, and the kind of chaos you only get when we hit record with zero plan.

Meanwhile, Augusta would like a word with Kate…who confidently thought The Masters was played in “Augustana.” Yes. Augustana. Despite owning a golf simulator business. You truly can’t make this up.

Courtney also shares a heartfelt note a student left for Joe, and let’s just say…we’re closing in on an April Fools’ Day prank that Joe will not see coming.

It’s unfiltered, it’s sports-meets-superstition—and honestly, we’re just over here trying not to jinx the run.

We’re baaaack—and this episode is giving workplace reality check.

We’re diving into generational differences at work , breaking down the madness of companies forcing people back into the office, and honestly? We’re just over here hoping it pushes a few of you to join us in education—because we’re basically saving the world over here.

We also hit on how everything online gets twisted (why is that and anonymous posting even a thing?!) and how the hardest job is being a parent.

And finally—our new academy is officially LIVE and getting RAVE reviews 🔥 Come join us in June and see what everyone’s talking about.

Unfiltered. Unsupervised. Slightly unhinged. Let’s go.

Go buy this book! Today on the Unsupervised Leadership podcast, we’re joined by author Amanda Neary, who is turning big feelings into powerful lessons for young learners. Amanda recently released her children’s book, Ellis Learns to Let it Out: Monday Morning, a gentle and reassuring story that helps children navigate emotions like frustration, worry, and overwhelm—especially during those tough Monday-morning moments. Through Ellis’s experience, Amanda opens the door for important conversations about emotional expression, resilience, and helping kids learn that it’s okay to feel their feelings and let them out in healthy ways.

This episode is a choose-your-own-adventure of chaos and clarity. We let ChatGPT tell us what it’s learned about us (👀… some truths were LOUD), unpack the Ashley Tisdale mom-group drama that has the internet spiraling, and gush over our current obsession—The Traitors .

We also make our very official, absolutely debatable Super Bowl prediction and wrap it all up with a rapid-fire round of Would You Rathers that proves—once again—we should probably not be left unsupervised.

Pop culture, leadership lessons, hot takes, and laughs… all in one episode. Press play and buckle up.

What does leadership really look like when the awards are handed out and the spotlight fades?

In this candid and wide-ranging conversation, Dr. Nick Polyak, 2026 Illinois Superintendent of the Year, joins us to talk about the journey behind the title. We dive into his leadership path, the impact of the Aspiring Superintendent Academy, and lessons learned across five books—and even more years of leading in real time.

Nick gets honest about legacy, decision-making, and what he hopes people remember long after the role is gone. He shares meaningful advice for aspiring and sitting superintendents and leaders, reflects on the responsibility of mentorship, and offers thoughtful insights on the importance of supporting and elevating women in leadership.

This episode is equal parts wisdom, humility, and truth—no scripts, no platitudes, just a real conversation about what it means to lead well and leave things better than you found them.

It’s our final episode of 2025, and we’re officially shedding skin and picking up speed.
We’re closing out the Year of the Snake—the year of reflection, reinvention, and releasing what we hate—and getting ready to gallop into the Year of the Horse with momentum, confidence, and zero apologies.

In this episode:

• What the Year of the Snake taught us—and what we’re shedding before midnight

• Kate is deep in her 50 Cent era (energy: bold, unbothered, and highly quotable)

• Courtney is fully in her 50’s era—clarity over chaos, boundaries over burnout

• The wins, the wounds, the wild moments, and the lessons of 2025

• Why 2026 is about movement, courage, and going all in

Hit play. Shed the skin. Saddle up. 2026 isn’t waiting—and neither are we.

We’re back — and not waiting until January 1st because you don’t need a new year to make a new decision. After a little hiatus, we’re diving straight into the real talk: why leaders feel like they can’t be vulnerable, how constant criticism wears people down, and we’re still showing up, still supporting others, and still not asking for permission.

We’re breaking down a new workplace study that says employees are actually more productive when they can step out for personal errands… and how that dream hits differently in education, where flexibility is basically a myth.

Plus — Kate officially launches Country Club Social, Courtney is recovering from Jeff’s 50th birthday, and we’re reminding you that you don’t need a “fresh start Sunday” to reset your life. You just need today.

Hit play. Let’s go.

It’s Courtney’s last day in her 40s, and we’re getting real about what the last decade taught her — from surviving surprise parties to juggling motherhood, leadership, and life. We’re talking lessons learned, dreams for her 50s, and the art of keeping it all (mostly) together. We're also talking about new student podcast, Unmuted, so check it out if you haven't!

Grab your champagne, because this one’s part reflection, part revelation, and all kinds of fabulous. Cheers!

We're talking about us getting board members on the pod, interviewing, setting boundaries, and coachability - join us for a quick drop!

We're back and we've got friends with us today! What happens when we're staying late after our new student podcast? What keeps us up at night? What would we change about education? And now we've got sound effects too!