Exceptionally Good: Leaders for a Better World

Ryan Maxwell

Leadership

Social Good

Education

Non-Profit Organizations

Educational Systems

Financial Independence Movement

Equity In Education

Systems Thinking

Personal Finance

Access To Higher Education

Community Engagement

Choosefi

Mental Health

Social Justice

Childhood Trauma

Leadership Development

High Tech High

Intentional Living

Savings Rate

Ronald Berger

We bring you in-depth interviews with exceptional leaders who drive toward a different bottom line — leaders from health care, philanthropy, non-profits, education and rescue services who are doing exceptional work for the good of the world. Exploring their origin stories, their leadership journey and the lessons they learned on their path -- sometimes the hard way -- we bring you close to unders... more

19 ratings

Publishes	Weekly	Episodes	54	Founded	2 years ago
Number of Listeners		Categories	BusinessNon-Profit

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Latest Episodes

33. Ron Berger, a leader in the Rebel Alliance: Why Not Give People Important Work to Do Now?

This episode, I have the immense pleasure and privilege of talking with a mentor and a friend — Ron Berger.

Ron is a powerful voice and leader in education as an author of best-selling books such as A Culture of Quality and Leaders of Their Own Lear... more

4 May 2026 • 1 hr 20 min • Most popular

32. Ryan Maxwell: The Host Becomes the Guest - The Table Is Turned (and So Is the Mic!) - Feat. Felicia Lee

This week, we're turning the tables — or in this case, the microphone.

I'm Ryan Maxwell, and today, I'm the guest.

Guest hosted by Felicia Lee, founder of Campana Leadership Group, who leads executive coaching. Years ago, Felicia coached me to see ... more

27 Apr 2026 • 1 hr 12 min

31. Dr. Susan Enfield - Knowing Students by Name, Strength, and Need

This week, we're sitting down with a leader who has spent her career doing something rare — keeping students at the center, even when the systems around her made that hard.

Dr. Susan Enfield is the Executive Director of the University of Washington'... more

20 Apr 2026 • 1 hr 3 min

30. Tracking What Matters: Jess & Advice on Partnership, the Wild, and True Collaboration

Today we have the delight to connect with a pair of leaders who are exceptional in their craft AND in how they are good partners for each other. Jess and Advice are not my typical guests. They don't lead non-profits or NGOs, they don't have backgroun... more

10 Apr 2026 • 57 min

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Recent Guests

Ron Berger

Educator, author, leader in Expeditionary Learning / EL Education

EL Education (formerly Expeditionary Learning)

Episode: 33. Ron Berger, a leader in the Rebel Alliance: Why Not Give People Important Work to Do Now?

Ryan Maxwell

Host of Exceptionally Good and education leader

Exceptionally Good

Episode: 32. Ryan Maxwell: The Host Becomes the Guest - The Table Is Turned (and So Is the Mic!) - Feat. Felicia Lee

Susan Enfield

Executive Director of the University of Washington Center for Educational Leadership; former superintendent in multiple districts

University of Washington Center for Educational Leadership / Washoe County School District / Highline Public Schools

Episode: 31. Dr. Susan Enfield - Knowing Students by Name, Strength, and Need

Jess Shillaw

Ranger at Londolozi Game Reserve; partner to Advice during the majority of her tenure

Londolozi Game Reserve

Episode: 30. Tracking What Matters: Jess & Advice on Partnership, the Wild, and True Collaboration

Advice Ngwenya

Tracker and guide at Londolozi; renowned for tracking and field leadership

Londolozi Game Reserve

Episode: 30. Tracking What Matters: Jess & Advice on Partnership, the Wild, and True Collaboration

Dr. Zach Shirley

Nationally recognized leader in diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging

Cambium Learning Group

Episode: 29. Dr. Zach Shirley — Brotherhood Built Me: HBCUs, Identity, Evolution, and the Work of Belonging

Alejandra Naranjo

Assistant Vice President for Development, NYU

New York University

Episode: 28. Alejandra Naranjo — Earning the Trust to Match Generosity with Impact

Victoria Andrews

With Getting Smart, educator advocate and innovator

Getting Smart

Episode: Live from Austin! - Leadership Flops - 5¢ for Your Failures

Rob Harris

Founder/lead promoter for Greater Than Three

Greater Than Three

Episode: Live from Austin! - Leadership Flops - 5¢ for Your Failures

Host

Ryan Rudd

Host of Exceptionally Good with a focus on leadership, education, and social impact across health care, philanthropy, non-profits, and related sectors.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts	#121	Mexico/Business/Non-Profit
Apple Podcasts	#149	South Africa/Business/Non-Profit

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

30. Tracking What Matters: Jess & Advice on Partnership, the Wild, and True Collaboration

Q: What does a tracker do and how did you two become a paired team?

Advice explains that trackers read animal tracks to determine behavior, direction, and timing, while Jess emphasizes their long-standing partnership, trust, and joint decision-making that allowed them to stay in sync over years of drives and tracking.

30. Tracking What Matters: Jess & Advice on Partnership, the Wild, and True Collaboration

Q: For those who don't know Londolozi, what is it like there and what does a ranger do on a typical day?

Jess and Advice describe Londolozi as a magical, open-bush environment near Kruger where rangers balance entertaining guests with educating them about wildlife, all while interpreting animal behavior and maintaining safety.

27. Becca Katz — Good-Natured Learning: Reconnecting Classrooms with the Living World

Q: What is the core message you want other leaders to take away from your story?

The core message is that nature connections improve well-being and learning for both students and teachers, and that scalable change is possible when leaders embrace collaboration, embed practices into existing systems, and go where the energy is—prioritizing sustainable, school-based integration over isolated interventions.

27. Becca Katz — Good-Natured Learning: Reconnecting Classrooms with the Living World

Q: How do you view leadership and scaling this work across diverse settings?

Becca emphasizes listening to local communities, partnering with educators, and adapting the core approach to fit different contexts—from high-end international schools to informal settlements. She discusses the need for fundraising and partnerships to embed nature connections into curricula, rather than creating standalone programs, and stresses the importance of energy, humility, and iterative development.

27. Becca Katz — Good-Natured Learning: Reconnecting Classrooms with the Living World

Q: What led you to focus on nature-based learning, and how did Get Outdoors Leadville influence your path?

Her work with Get Outdoors Leadville showed the power of community-driven, place-based programs and demonstrated how nature can be integrated into schools. The massive grant enabled a multi-faceted program that connected underserved youth with nature, informed her broader strategy to embed nature in schools, and highlighted the need for sustainable, scalable models that work across different contexts.

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Exceptionally Good features in-depth conversations with leaders who pursue impactful outcomes beyond traditional bottom lines, spanning health care, philanthropy, non-profits, education, and rescue services. Episodes frequently center on origin stories, leadership journeys, and hard-won lessons, with a strong emphasis on human-centered approaches, belonging, and social impact. Guests range from educators and policymakers to founders and activists, providing practical leadership guidance for educators, nonprofit leaders, and mission-driven professionals. The show often explores resilience, equity, cross-sector collaboration, and the moral dimensions of leadership, making it valuable for listeners seeking inspiration, strategic insight, and r... more

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2. Criminal

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this podcast launched 2 years ago and published 54 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Ron Berger
2. Ryan Maxwell
3. Susan Enfield
4. Jess Shillaw
5. Advice Ngwenya
6. Dr. Zach Shirley
7. Alejandra Naranjo
8. Victoria Andrews

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