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Artwork for The Better Leaders Better Schools Podcast

The Better Leaders Better Schools Podcast | The #1 Downloaded School Leadership Show

Daniel Bauer Loves School Leadership
Educational Leadership
Education
School Leadership
Student Engagement
Leadership
Education Leadership
Professional Development
Ruckus Makers
Sustainable School Leadership Summit
Community Engagement
Resilience
AI In Education
School Culture
Artificial Intelligence
Education Reform
Project-Based Learning
Ruckus Maker Mastermind
STEM Education
Leadership Development
Equity In Education

BETTER LEADERS BETTER SCHOOLS is the most downloaded podcast for K-12 school leaders — sitting in the TOP 0.5% of over 2 million podcasts worldwide. Launched in 2015, BLBS exists for one kind of leader: the Ruckus Maker — the principal who refuses to default to the status quo and is creating a campus experience worth showing up for. Every week, host Danny Bauer sits down with the sharpest minds in... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes395Founded11 years ago
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Artwork for The Better Leaders Better Schools Podcast

Latest Episodes

Tough conversations fail when principals soften the message so much it can't be heard. Here's what clear, kind feedback sounds like.

Tough conversations with teachers, staff, and caregivers are the part of school leadership nobody trains you for, s... more

Your school learning environment is never neutral. Most classrooms were built for headcount, not belonging — here's how to fix that.School learning environment design decides whether kids feel welcome or walled off, and many campuses share a blueprin... more

YouTube

Disengaged students aren't a content problem. Teens aren't a problem to be solved — they need someone to teach them how to think about themselves.

Youth life coaching gives disengaged students what curriculum can't: a growth mindset, a self-image t... more

YouTube

School leadership isn't the education business. It's the relationship business, and every interaction launches, deepens, or restores one.

Principal leadership and school culture come down to relationships, says Ron Johnson, the executive who built ... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Victoria Veneziano
Former classroom teacher who works in school learning-environment design and teen mental health
MeTEOR Education
Episode: Why Your School Was Designed Like a Prison with Victoria Veneziano
James McLamb
Founder/Leader at Generation Youth Coaching
Generation Youth Coaching
Episode: Why Disengaged Students Don't Need Another Intervention with James McLamb
Ron Johnson
Apple Store creator, former CEO of JCPenney, author-and-speaker
Apple, JCPenney
Episode: What the Apple Store Creator Would Do as a Principal with Ron Johnson
Dan Watt
Guest on the episode, put in the hot seat to discuss future directions of ruckus maker work
Ruckus Makers community
Episode: Selfmentorship: Why Great Principals Don't Wait for a Coach with Danny Bauer
John Whalen
Co-founder of Ed Tomorrow, educator with focus on classroom circles and restorative practices
Ed Tomorrow
Episode: Why Relationship-Building Gives Secondary Teachers Time Back With John Whalen and Doug Overton
Doug Overton
Co-founder of Ed Tomorrow, former teacher and campus leader
Ed Tomorrow
Episode: Why Relationship-Building Gives Secondary Teachers Time Back With John Whalen and Doug Overton
Steph Hawkins
Guest sharing her experiences with professional depletion and boreout in education
Episode: Why "Just Be Resilient" Is Burning Out Your Staff with Steph Hawkins
Rachael Thrash
Senior Director of Education and Innovation at Big Bad Boo Studios; author of Let the Learners Lead
Big Bad Boo Studios
Episode: Why Classroom Management Is Killing Student Leadership with Rachael Thrash
Susan Riley
Author of Creativity's Edge; education thought leader
Author, Creativity's Edge
Episode: The 4 Branches of Creativity Most School Leaders Ignore with Susan Riley

Hosts

Danny Bauer
Host and founder of the show, focused on leadership, school transformation, and practical PD for principals.
Dan Watt
Principal and coach with leadership insight; appears as a recurring guest sharing practical leadership tactics.
Adam Wolfsdorf
Guest, author focused on classroom management and constructive subversions in education.
Vanessa Castañeda Gill
Founder of Social Cipher; neurodivergent education advocate and speaker on inclusion.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 362 ratings
  • Very informative and engaging

    I only just stumbled across this podcast, and I can confidently say that I am happy I did. I do believe there is a lot to explore within the world of education and this podcast does amazing job of finding ways to tackle different problems with many schools. The guests also do make it more interesting with their different life experiences.

    Great work

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    whisperballs
    United Kingdom3 years ago
  • Inspirational Leadership

    Danny brings in some of the greatest minds in education who are making a Ruckus in todays schools.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Whitebread_13
    United States3 years ago
  • Great Lessons in Leadersip

    A very interesting and informative show. Great host with some interesting guests! A great listen every time.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Emma Podcast Connection
    South Africa5 years ago
  • Great show!

    This show's contents are truly fantastic. It has a wealth of valuable information. I wholeheartedly suggest this show!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MargieTiempo
    Philippines5 years ago
  • A Must Listen!

    I just wanted to take a moment and say thank you for creating such an impactful podcast! I believe that we all have a voice that deserves to be heard. Thank you for putting this into the world! BE UNBROKEN! @MichaelUnbroken

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Michael Unbroken
    Philippines5 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Audiences enjoy high-quality guests who bring real-world classroom and campus experience.
Many reviewers value the show's focus on humane leadership and student-centered outcomes.
The host's energy and interview style are consistently highlighted as engaging and motivating.
Listeners praise practical leadership takeaways and actionable frameworks.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Why Your School Was Designed Like a Prison with Victoria Veneziano
Q: Can you share some of that then in terms of bringing the environment in nature inside?
Veneziano recommends maximizing natural daylight, using nature sounds in the background, and taking learning activities outdoors when possible.
Why Your School Was Designed Like a Prison with Victoria Veneziano
Q: What is within the ruckus maker's control?
School leaders can ask students where they want choice, movement, and flexibility, and involve them in classroom setup and routines even without a major furniture budget.
Why Disengaged Students Don't Need Another Intervention with James McLamb
Q: What exactly is youth life coaching for students, and how does it fit into a school day?
Youth life coaching helps students develop mindset, self-image, relationships, and goals, and can be integrated into school days or after-school programs with certified coaches working alongside teachers to support emotional and personal growth.
What the Apple Store Creator Would Do as a Principal with Ron Johnson
Q: You're building your dream school from the ground up. What are the three guiding principles for building your dream campus?
Make everyone feel welcome, ensure the school has dynamic resources to evolve, and create a transparent leadership presence where leaders are visible and engaged with staff and students.
What the Apple Store Creator Would Do as a Principal with Ron Johnson
Q: If you could put one message on all school marquees around the world for a single day, what would that message be?
Choose kindness, a simple rule that can guide teacher-student interactions and reduce fear while boosting belonging.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

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

A leadership-focused show that centers on transforming K-12 schools through bold leadership, experiential learning, and purposeful culture. Episodes regularly explore school turnaround, equity, innovative teaching models, and hands-on approaches to administration, often featuring superintendents, principals, founders, and education pioneers who push for “school different.” The host pairings balance practical leadership tactics with storytelling, highlighting frameworks like cognitive equity, wraparound supports, and real-time coaching, while weaving in actionable takeaways for school leaders, teachers, and district teams. A standout aspect is the consistent emphasis on humane, student-centered outcomes, scalable processes, and community par... more

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How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 11 years ago and published 395 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. Victoria Veneziano
2. James McLamb
3. Ron Johnson
4. Dan Watt
5. John Whalen
6. Doug Overton
7. Steph Hawkins
8. Rachael Thrash

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