Change Starts Here

Latest Episodes:

Why Trust Isn’t Soft—and Control Isn’t Working Jan 20, 2026

Show notes

What if the leadership practices that once kept schools running are now holding them back? In this episode of Change Starts Here, host Dustin Odham sits down with David Kasperson, co-author of the Wall Street Journal bestseller Trust & Inspire and Director of Speaking & Business Development at FranklinCovey, to challenge the deeply rooted belief that control drives results.

Together, they explore why traditional, compliance-driven leadership is reaching its breaking point in today’s schools—and how shifting to a Trust & Inspire model can unlock the latent potential of educators and students alike. Kasperson reframes trust not as a “soft” idea, but as rocket fuel for innovation, engagement, and performance.

Listeners will gain practical insights into the three stewardships of leadership—modeling, trusting, and inspiring—and learn how to rebuild trust, even after it’s been damaged. This conversation is a call to action for K–12 leaders ready to move beyond managing tasks and start leading people with belief, purpose, and stewardship.

Get Your Copy of Trust & Inspire:

https://store.leaderinme.com/products/trust-and-inspire-book-hardcover

Host:

Dustin Odham, Managing Director with FranklinCovey Education

Guest:

David Kasperson, Co-author of Trust & Inspire and Director of Speaking & Business Development at FranklinCovey

Timestamps:

(00:00 - 01:18) Episode introduction

(01:18 - 03:04) David’s leadership journey

(03:04 - 04:47) Why trust matters now

(04:47 - 07:19) Measuring trust vs. engagement

(07:19 - 09:11) Speed as a differentiator

(09:11 - 11:07) Management vs. leadership paradigms

(11:07 - 14:13) Moving beyond compliance

(14:13 - 17:09) Barriers to trust

(17:09 - 19:56) Tapping into inspiration

(19:56 - 24:11) High expectations, not micromanagement

(24:11 - 30:37) Steps to rebuild trust

(30:37 - 36:23) Stewardship for the person

(36:23 - 42:38) Love in the classroom

(42:38 - 44:13) Leading through potential

(44:13 - 46:05) Overcoming leadership frustration

(46:05 - 50:00) Outro and resources

Reimagining Family Involvement: From Barriers to Bridges Jan 13, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of Change Starts Here, Kim Yaris and Dr. Eve Miller explore the common "disconnect" between traditional school efforts and what actually drives student achievement. Dr. Miller shares insights from a deep dive into family engagement research, revealing that many widely accepted practices are more about compliance than connection. By shifting the focus from school-based events to "academic socialization," educators can unlock more powerful outcomes for their students.

Listeners will learn how to identify and remove subtle barriers, such as scheduling conflicts and language gaps—that prevent families from engaging. The conversation highlights the transformative power of two-way communication and proactive, positive reach-outs. By moving away from visible but less effective gestures and toward building trust, educators can foster a partnership with families that significantly accelerates learning.

Download the Handout, What Strengthens Family Engagement?:

https://resources.franklincovey.com/c/fy26_csh_rc-handout_?x=hPII-q

Hosts:

Kim Yaris, M.Ed. (Associate Director of Research with FranklinCovey Education)

Dr. Eve Miller (Director of Research with FranklinCovey Education)

Timestamps:

(00:00 - 00:42) Podcast intro

(00:42 - 01:57) Research disconnects

(01:57 - 04:28) Perceptions of engagement

(04:28 - 06:27) Identifying engagement barriers

(06:27 - 08:17) Changing educator paradigms

(08:17 - 10:38) Redefining family involvement

(10:38 - 12:21) Three engagement categories

(12:21 - 14:07) Academic socialization impact

(14:07 - 15:58) Building parent capacity

(15:58 - 17:44) Power of two-way communication

(17:44 - 21:36) Efficiency and effort tradeoffs

(21:36 - 22:17) Closing thoughts

Think Before You Sprint: Resetting the Right Way Jan 06, 2026

Show notes

While the calendar promises a fresh start, many educators feel the heavy weight of expectations before their energy has fully returned. Join host Dustin Odham as he tackles the unique tension of January leadership. This episode explores why pushing harder right now might be the wrong move and how treating this month as a true reset point can prevent burnout down the road.

Dustin shares personal insights on why intensity without intention leads to exhaustion. He offers three critical questions to help leaders shift their paradigm from a "pressure cooker" mentality to one of clarity and trust. Listen in to discover how to honor capacity, define what truly matters, and lead with a renewed sense of purpose this semester.

Host: Dustin Odham

Timestamps:

(00:13 - 00:51) The reality of January pressure

(00:51 - 01:25) Why December drains our tanks

(01:25 - 02:30) Resetting before you sprint

(02:30 - 03:02) Where burnout is revealed

(03:02 - 03:58) Pressure cooker vs reset point

(03:58 - 04:30) Your lens shapes leadership

(04:31 - 04:58) Clarity builds trust

(04:28 - 05:55) Intensity without intention

(05:55 - 06:21) Clarity is the foundation

(06:21 - 06:53) Best energy

(06:54 - 07:25) How people feel

(07:25 - 08:11) February and March are sprints

Buried, Busy, and Breaking Through: Sean Covey on Schoolwide Change Dec 09, 2025

Show notes

In this powerful episode, Dustin sits down with Sean Covey, President of FranklinCovey Education, for a candid conversation about why so many schools today feel overwhelmed, overcommitted, and stuck in the whirlwind of competing priorities. Drawing from decades of global experience, and fresh insights from recent district visits, Sean describes what educators are experiencing firsthand: growing student needs, teacher burnout, increasing complexity, and constant pressure to improve everything at once.

Tune in for practical insights and mindset shifts school and district leaders can use tomorrow, a roadmap for moving from overwhelmed and overcommitted to focused, empowered, and ready for meaningful change.

Read Sean’s article Overwhelmed and Overcommitted: Why Schools Underperform and Struggle to Improve:

https://www.leaderinme.org/blog/overwhelmed-and-overcommitted/

Host: Dustin Odham

Guest: Sean Covey

Timestamps:

(00:00 - 00:14) Beyond academics

(00:14 - 00:51) Show open

(00:51 - 01:18) The focus problem

(01:18 - 01:37) Welcome and setup

(01:37 - 02:39) Why Leader in Me

(26:37 - 27:13) What gives hope now

(27:13 - 27:56) Students leading the way

(27:56 - 28:50) Focus on the good

(28:50 - 29:24) Principles work everywhere

(29:24 - 29:52) Leader in Me Unplugged

(29:52 - 31:04) Lessons at home

(31:50 - 32:20) Love of the arts

(32:55 - 33:24) Thanks and vision

(33:24 - 34:10) Close and call to action

Finding Joy in the Gap Dec 02, 2025

Show notes

December has a way of highlighting the gap between the year we envisioned and the one we’re actually living. In this reflective episode, Dustin Odham explores what it means to find joy in the gap—even when the work feels unfinished and the season feels heavy.

If you’re an educator who needs a moment to breathe, reset, and see your impact with fresh eyes, this episode is for you. Listen now and follow Change Starts Here on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Host: Dustin Odham

Timestamps:

(00:00 - 00:13) Welcome

(00:13 - 00:43) December’s reality check

(00:43 - 01:14) Pause and reset

(01:14 - 02:08) Naming the gap

(02:08 - 02:35) See, do, get model

(02:35 - 03:25) Check your paradigm

(03:25 - 03:52) Joy in the middle, explained

(03:52 - 04:20) A quiet thank you

(04:20 - 04:46) Snapped back to what is

(05:06 - 05:34) December’s rhythm

(05:34 - 06:23) Where joy shows up

(06:23 - 06:46) The gap does not define you

(06:46 - 07:09) Share your moments

(07:09 - 07:22) Close

Retrain Your Brain: Finding the Good in Busy Times Nov 26, 2025

Show notes

In this energizing episode of Change Starts Here, Kim Yaris explores how you can retrain your brain to move from constant stress to noticing daily bright spots. She explains the brain’s filtering system (your RAS) in simple language and connects it to practical choices educators can make to see more of what’s working.

You’ll hear encouraging data showing that schools can shift momentum—even in the busiest seasons—and walk away with two quick routines that make the good more visible, without adding anything to your to-do list.

Real change comes from small, repeatable choices that naturally fit into the rhythm of your day and gradually reshape what you notice. Tune in to discover how these simple shifts can boost clarity and optimism in your school, and share this episode with a colleague who could use a lift.

Downloadable resources:

https://resources.franklincovey.com/c/podcast_handout_epis?x=HmJ7qQ

Host: Kim Yaris, M.Ed.

Timestamps:

(00:00 - 00:53) Intro

(00:53 - 01:23) Why our focus narrows

(01:23 - 04:20) Meet the RAS

(03:52 - 04:46) Retune what you notice

(04:46 - 05:35) Why this matters now

(05:35 - 07:32) Student ratings rise

(07:32 - 08:11) Engagement hits records

(08:11 - 09:35) Encouragement and hope

(09:35 - 10:32) Strategy 1, daily cue

(10:32 - 11:17) Strategy 2, end question

(11:17 - 11:55) Two big takeaways

(11:55 - 12:05) Outro

Four Moves to Tackle Tough Talks Nov 18, 2025

Show notes

Difficult conversations shape culture. In this episode, host Dustin Odham sits down with Todd Davis to unpack why relationships are the operating system of leadership and how trust grows through specific, repeatable behaviors. They translate big ideas into concrete moves, from framing purpose and positive intent to the small language shifts that make feedback clearer and more helpful.

You will leave with a practical cadence you can start this week: listen to understand, name your purpose, state positive intent, and pause when the moment gets heated so the relationship stays primary. Try one behavior today, then build your rhythm so trust compounds over time.

Host: Dustin Odham

Guest: Todd Davis, FranklinCovey Senior Consultant and Thought Leader

Timestamps:

(00:00 - 00:40) Why hard talks matter

(00:40 - 01:37) Meet Todd Davis

(01:37 - 02:23) What do you love about the work

(14:36 - 15:13) Feedback as growth, not threat

(15:13 - 16:03) Blind spots and real help

(16:57 - 17:30) Assume good intent

(17:43 - 18:49) Balance courage and consideration

(18:49 - 19:22) Start with purpose, then intent

(19:22 - 20:21) Make it constructive, not confusing

(24:04 - 25:21) Pause, reset, and seek to understand

(29:48 - 30:29) Say the care out loud

(38:29 - 39:07) The bumper sticker test

(39:20 - 40:06) One honest conversation at a time

Behavior Is Communication: What Teachers Can Influence Nov 11, 2025

Show notes

Behavior isn’t who a student is–it’s what they’re trying to say.

In this compelling episode of Change Starts Here, host Kim Yarris, M.Ed. challenges educators to see behavior as communication, not character. Connecting national trends with real classroom realities, Kim helps leaders and teachers decode what students are truly expressing.

Discover how small, intentional shifts in language, routines, and relationships can transform chaos into calm and turn moments of conflict into opportunities for connection. You’ll walk away with a simple, research-based framework to help you respond–not react–so students feel seen, heard, and safe to learn.

If you’re striving for fewer power struggles, stronger relationships, and classrooms where every student can thrive, this conversation offers the mindset and tools to make it happen–starting this week.

Download the free handout: https://resources.franklincovey.com/c/Behavior-is-communication?x=Z1ALfD

Host: Kim Yarris, M.Ed.

Timestamps:

(00:00 - 00:14) Show open

(00:15 - 00:55) Why behavior now

(00:55 - 01:26) What the data shows

(01:26 - 02:18) Beneath the behavior

(02:18 - 03:22) Stories we tell, early teaching lens

(03:22 - 04:36) Behavior is communication

(04:36 - 05:36) Pandemic skill gaps, why it got louder

(05:36 - 06:35) Plant metaphor, adjust conditions

(06:35 - 07:42) From critic to gardener

(07:42 - 08:46) Belief shapes outcomes

(08:46 - 09:27) Introducing CARE

(09:27 - 12:00) C and A, confidence and approach

(12:00 - 13:10) R and E, relationships and environment

(13:10 - 14:07) Takeaways and close

The Leadership Skill Hiding in Plain Sight Nov 04, 2025

Show notes

This episode makes the case for gratitude as a real leadership skill, not a seasonal sentiment. Dustin Odham explains how appreciation fuels human connection, shifts teams from performance to people, and changes outcomes when leaders move gratitude from feeling to action. Gratitude is positioned as oxygen for culture, a daily choice that multiplies trust and belonging across classrooms, teams, and homes.

You will leave with simple, repeatable moves you can use this month, call the person who comes to mind, write a handwritten note, make deposits in emotional bank accounts, and set a cadence that sticks. Try one action today, then share the practice with your team to build momentum.

Download the handout: https://resources.franklincovey.com/c/fy26-podcast-resourc?x=I2LcfY

Host: Dustin Odham

Timestamps:

(00:00 - 00:23) Intro

(00:23 - 00:47) Welcome

(00:47 - 03:28) Why gratitude belongs in leadership

(03:28 - 05:48) Proactive gratitude

(05:48 - 08:05) Multiplying Gratitude

(08:05 - 10:25) Challenge yourself

(10:25 - 11:15) Be thankful this month

(11:15 - 13:13) Close

Burnout: The High Cost of Misaligned Wants & Needs Oct 28, 2025

Show notes

This episode explores a research informed lens for educator wellbeing, separating the brain’s wanting and needing systems and showing how chronic stress can push teachers to ignore needs until the tank runs dry. Dr. Eve Miller and Kim Yaris connect the science to lived experience, translating the model into clear metaphors and practical, repeatable moves that help educators respond instead of react.

You will leave with a compact framework and quick resets that fit real life, from a one minute want,need check to habits that keep fuel in the tank before burnout hits. The goal is sustainable energy, steadier classrooms, and a culture that normalizes care as part of excellent practice. If this resonates, like, subscribe, and share with a colleague who could use a refuel.

Hosts: Kim Yaris, M.Ed (Associate Director of Research with FranklinCovey Education); Dr. Eve Miller (Director of Research with FranklinCovey Education)

Download the handout:

https://resources.franklincovey.com/c/fy26_rc-podcast-hand?x=a9GxTN

Timestamps:

(00:00 - 00:22) Welcome

(00:22 - 01:28) Why now

(01:28 - 04:24) The 46 percent reality

(04:24 - 06:23) Wanting vs needing, the model

(06:23 - 07:38) Accelerator and gas gauge

(07:38 - 09:36) Tuning out needs under stress

(09:36 - 11:17) The parent call example

(11:17 - 13:31) Survival mode and culture cues

(13:31 - 15:17) Normalize needs at work