Podcasts

Leader Chat

We’re passionate about quality education and work tirelessly to help schools improve. District and system leaders bear awesome responsibility for these efforts, often without access to peers and experts who can provide solutions and insights. That’s why we offer a weekly Leader Chat with top K–12 experts, business executives, and school leaders from around the country to discuss and solve real leadership challenges.

Listen to our latest episode

In this week’s episode, the incredible Dr. Julia Rafal-Baer talks with Jeff about the complexities of educational leadership, gender, and racial disparities, and leveraging AI in education. Learn from her experiences and insights on sustaining effective leadership and creating impactful policy changes.

Julia Rafal-Baer
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About the podcast

Leader Chat with Dr. Jeff Rose engages experts and practitioners to discuss the challenges of school leadership—from strategy to staff well-being to decision making in chaotic times—with straight talk and pragmatic approaches. To support members of Cognia’s Leadership Circle, we address the pressing issues of the day, chatting with leaders dealing with tough problems—from school board politics to school improvement and student safety. School leadership is isolating. Our Leader Chat breaks that isolation as we share solutions to help leaders in education day to day. If you’re a member of the Cognia Leadership Circle, you can join us live every Wednesday, ask questions, and contribute to the discussions.


If you like our Leader Chats, please rate us or leave a comment. We always appreciate listener feedback and would love to hear from you.

Recent episodes

Christina Grant Leader Chat
Leader Chat: Leveraging Education Policy Research to Action and Results with Christina Grant
In this episode, Dr. Christina Grant, the new Executive Director at Harvard's CEPR, speaks with Jeff about bridging ...
Leader Chat Zaretta Hammond
Leader Chat: Leading a Movement of Culturally Responsive Teaching with Zaretta Hammond
In this engaging episode of Leader Chat, Jeff speaks with teacher educator and author of Culturally Responsive Teaching ...
Leader Chat Alicia Hughes
Leader Chat: The World of Virtual Leadership and Relationship Building with Alicia Hughes
In this episode, Jeff is joined by Alicia Hughes, a seasoned virtual leader with over 14 years of ...
Amanda Ripley
Leader Chat: Leading Through Turbulence, Conflict, and Political Distractions with Amanda Ripley
In this episode, Jeff is joined by the New York Times' bestselling author, Amanda Ripley. They discuss strategies ...
Leader Chat John Hope Bryant
Leader Chat: Financial Literacy for All: Leveraging Education to Disrupt Struggle with John Hope Bryant
In this episode, Jeff speaks with John Hope Bryant, a renowned entrepreneur and advocate for economic empowerment and ...
Arthur Brooks - 100th Episode Cognia Leader Chat Podcast Guest
Leader Chat: Leadership, Fulfillment, and Impact: Lessons from Arthur Brooks for Educational Leaders
In this milestone 100th episode of Leader Chat, Jeff speaks to Arthur C. Brooks and discusses his latest ...
Pedro Martinez Leader Chat podcast guest
Leader Chat: The Landscape of Educational Leadership with Superintendent/CEO Pedro Martinez
In this Leader Chat, Jeff talks with Dr. Pedro Martinez, CEO of Chicago Public Schools, about his journey, ...
Carlos Moreno Leader Chat podcast guest
Leader Chat: Finding Your Leadership Soul with Carlos R. Moreno
Jeff Rose and Carlos R. Moreno discuss educational leadership, emphasizing the impact of empathy, vulnerability, and authentic engagement ...
Mark Elgart and David Schuler Cognia Leader Chat Podcast Guests
Leader Chat: Supporting Leaders & The Power Of Partnerships with Dr. Mark Elgart & Dr. David Schuler
This week, Jeff discusses the Cognia/AASA partnership with Dr. Mark Elgart and Dr. David Schuler, focusing on leadership, ...
Sheldon Berman and Luvelle Brown Cognia Leader Chat Podcast guests
Leader Chat: The Call To Courage with Sheldon Berman and Luvelle Brown
In this episode, Jeff discusses educational leadership with Sheldon Berman and Luvelle Brown, focusing on their book The ...
Tony Wagner Cognia Leader Chat Podcast guest
Leader Chat: Defining Achievement, Reform, and Mastery Learning with Tony Wagner
Jeff speaks with Dr. Tony Wagner on educational leadership, mastery learning, 21st-century skills, and the importance of innovation ...
Marnie Stockman and Nick Coniglio Cognia Leader Chat podcast guests
Leader Chat: Lead it Like Lasso with Marnie Stockman and Nick Coniglio
In this episode, Jeff talks with Marnie Stockman and Nick Coniglio, authors of Lead It Like Lasso, about ...
Steve Perry Cognia Leader Chat podcast guest
Leader Chat: Push Has Come to Shove with Dr. Steve Perry
Jeff Rose sits down with Dr. Steve Perry, an outspoken and trailblazing educator, to discuss the challenges and ...
Hanseul Kang Cognia Leader Chat podcast guest
Leader Chat: Leveraging Experience to Leadership to Support with Hanseul Kang
In this episode, Jeff engages in a dynamic conversation with Hanseul Kang, the Executive Director of the Broad ...
Kerry Healey and Dee Mewbourne Cognia Leader Chat podcast guests
Leader Chat: Leading in the Public Sector with Dr. Kerry Murphy Healey and Vice Admiral Dee Mewbourne
On this episode of Leader Chat, Jeff speaks to Dr. Kerry Healey and Vice Admiral Dee Mewbourne about ...
Leader Chat: How To Be A Mentally Strong Leader with Scott Mautz
Leader Chat: How To Be A Mentally Strong Leader with Scott Mautz
On this week’s episode of Leader Chat, Jeff welcomes back the remarkably insightful Scott Mautz to talk about ...

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