The Authority Podcast — Expert Insights and Fresh Ideas for Education Leaders

Recorded live at ISTE 2026, Transformative Principal host Jethro Jones sat down with Mike Anderson to discuss his new book, Hugging Porcupines: Month-by-Month Strategies to Support Our Most Challenging Students. The episode was recorded as a simulcast for Transformative Principal and The Authority. They explore why some students disengage, resist connection, and act out — and how teachers can respond with strategies built on the "three-legged stool" of academic engagement, respectful discipline, and positive relationships. The conversation covers building classroom rules collaboratively, the difference between consequences and punishments, and why problem-solving conferences (not just sending kids to the office) are key to real behavior change. Mike was previously a guest on episode 12 of The Authority, discussing his book Tackling the Motivation Crisis. Learn more about today's sponsor, Playworks: We’re proud to be sponsored by Playworks, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with evidence-based practices that help schools improve the health and well-being of children by increasing opportunities for physical activity and safe, meaningful play. If you’re a school or district leader struggling with the challenge of chronic absenteeism, as so many are across the U.S., you may not realize that structured recess is a research-backed approach to keep kids in school. In fact, a UC Berkeley study of Title I schools found that those partnering with Playworks had significantly lower chronic absenteeism rates. Further, Mathematica research demonstrated that Playworks schools spent 27% less time transitioning from recess back to learning, saving teachers valuable instructional time. These results are possible for your students, too. Learn how Playworks can help you improve student-educator relationships, belonging, and attendance by signing up for a quick no-obligation conversation.

Ross talks with Jeff Meade, Founding Director of Entrepreneurship at Paul Quinn College, about the "Every Quinnite Is an Entrepreneur" program — an initiative that requires every student to launch a real revenue-generating business before graduation. The conversation covers venture-based learning, why entrepreneurial thinking prepares students for an uncertain future of work, and how Paul Quinn is building a model that could help small colleges become more sustainable. Jeff Meade is the Founding Director of Entrepreneurship at Paul Quinn College. With over 20 years of experience growing companies and advising businesses, Jeff has scaled marketing agencies to multimillion-dollar revenues and built client-side programs featured in Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, and Entrepreneur Magazine. He is now pioneering venture-based learning — a model that equips students with an entrepreneurial mindset, creativity, and real-world experience to thrive as founders, innovators, and intrapreneurs in any field. In this episode, we discuss: What "Every Quinnite Is an Entrepreneur" means and why every student must launch a real business before graduating Venture-based learning — experiential learning with real stakes, where students actually get customers, generate revenue, and run businesses Why the future workforce demands entrepreneurial thinkers — and why rote skills alone no longer suffice How entrepreneurial skills transfer to corporate, nonprofit, and any organizational role The case for college as a place of exposure and exploration — and why it's a lot to ask a 17-year-old to know what they want to do Aligning K–12, higher education, and workforce development around career readiness What students learn about themselves when they have to start a business — motivation, group dynamics, and accountability Pattern recognition, diagnosing problems, and leading by influence rather than title Paul Quinn's corporate work college model — where students both start businesses and hold internships simultaneously A long-term vision for small colleges: owning businesses, creating new revenue streams, and building a sustainable model beyond tuition dependence Learn more about Paul Quinn College's entrepreneurship program: https://paulquinn.edu/entrepreneurship Connect with Jeff Meade: https://jeff-meade.com About today's guest Jeff Meade is the Founding Director of Entrepreneurship at Paul Quinn College, where he leads the "Every Quinnite Is an Entrepreneur" program. The initiative ensures every student launches a venture before graduation, making entrepreneurship a core life skill rather than an extracurricular option. With over 20 years of experience growing companies and advising businesses, Jeff has scaled agencies to multimillion-dollar revenues and built client-side marketing programs that gained national recognition. His work has been featured in Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, and Entrepreneur Magazine. A graduate of Babson College, the number one school of entrepreneurship in the world, Jeff is pioneering venture-based learning — a model that equips students with an entrepreneurial mindset, creativity, and real-world experience. Connect with Jeff at jeff-meade.com or on LinkedIn. About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies, a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K–12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Bluesky or LinkedIn. Learn more about today's sponsor, Playworks: We’re proud to be sponsored by Playworks, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with evidence-based practices that help schools improve the health and well-being of children by increasing opportunities for physical activity and safe, meaningful play. If you’re a school or district leader struggling with the challenge of chronic absenteeism, as so many are across the U.S., you may not realize that structured recess is a research-backed approach to keep kids in school. In fact, a UC Berkeley study of Title I schools found that those partnering with Playworks had significantly lower chronic absenteeism rates. Further, Mathematica research demonstrated that Playworks schools spent 27% less time transitioning from recess back to learning, saving teachers valuable instructional time. These results are possible for your students, too. Learn how Playworks can help you improve student-educator relationships, belonging, and attendance by signing up for a quick no-obligation conversation.

Ross talks with returning guest Mitch Weathers and Dr. Sarah Oberle about their new book, Executive Functions for Every K–3 Classroom: Promoting Self-Regulation for a Strong Start, published by Corwin. The conversation explores how core executive functions — working memory, inhibition, and cognitive flexibility — develop in young children and how K–3 teachers can reduce cognitive load through intentional routines, environment design, and instruction that helps students self-regulate and succeed. In this episode, we discuss: What led from the first book (Grades 3–12) to a K–3 edition, and why primary teachers were asking for it The three core executive functions: working memory, inhibition, and cognitive flexibility — and what they look like in early elementary classrooms How working memory capacity and cognitive load affect young students' ability to attend, follow directions, and learn The "Betty and the Bats" example — unpacking the hidden cognitive demands of a seemingly simple first-grade writing task How to reduce extraneous cognitive load through visual environment, acoustic environment, and purposeful classroom routines Why a noisy classroom isn't always a productive classroom — and how to make noise purposeful Building students' self-awareness of their own attention and self-regulation How understanding executive functions becomes an intuitive lens for teachers — not another thing on their plate Making the case for resistant educators: why every teacher, not just specialists, should understand executive functions The unique role of primary teachers in laying the cognitive foundation for all future learning Get the book, Executive Functions for Every K–3 Classroom, from Corwin or at https://organizedbinder.com/books Learn more about Organized Binder: https://organizedbinder.com Listen to Ross's previous episode with Mitch, Executive Functions for Every Classroom: https://authoritypodcast.net/episodes/executive-functions-for-every-classroom-with-mitch-weathers About today's guests Mitch Weathers is a teacher and founder of Organized Binder, Inc. He became an exceptional educator because he once struggled as a student. Recognizing the importance of laying a foundation for learning, he created Organized Binder — a research-backed system that empowers teachers to explicitly teach executive functioning skills without sacrificing instructional time. Mitch is the author of Executive Functions for Every Classroom: Creating Safe and Predictable Learning Environments (Grades 3–12) and co-author of Executive Functions for Every K–3 Classroom: Promoting Self-Regulation for a Strong Start, both published by Corwin. Together with the Organized Binder team, he works with K–12 schools and colleges in the US and internationally. Connect with Mitch at organizedbinder.com or on LinkedIn. Dr. Sarah Oberle is an educator, author, speaker, and professional learning designer with 18 years of experience as a primary classroom teacher. She holds a doctorate in educational leadership with a specialization in cognitive science. Her work centers on helping educators understand how learning happens and how that understanding shapes daily instructional decisions. Sarah designs and facilitates evidence-informed professional learning for teachers and school leaders, both in person and virtually. She works with national and international organizations to ensure professional learning is research-informed, practical, and responsive to the realities of teaching. Her work focuses on attention, memory, and executive functions, with an emphasis on pedagogy rather than programs. Connect with Sarah at sarahoberle.com or on LinkedIn. About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies, a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K–12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Bluesky or LinkedIn. Learn more about today's sponsor, Playworks: We’re proud to be sponsored by Playworks, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with evidence-based practices that help schools improve the health and well-being of children by increasing opportunities for physical activity and safe, meaningful play. If you’re a school or district leader struggling with the challenge of chronic absenteeism, as so many are across the U.S., you may not realize that structured recess is a research-backed approach to keep kids in school. In fact, a UC Berkeley study of Title I schools found that those partnering with Playworks had significantly lower chronic absenteeism rates. Further, Mathematica research demonstrated that Playworks schools spent 27% less time transitioning from recess back to learning, saving teachers valuable instructional time. These results are possible for your students, too. Learn how Playworks can help you improve student-educator relationships, belonging, and attendance by signing up for a quick no-obligation conversation.

In this "Best Of," we revisit my conversation with Sahil Bloom about his first book, The Five Types of Wealth: A Transformative Guide to Design Your Dream Life, a New York Times bestseller. We talk about: What curiosity is and isn’t Making the case that being curious about new ideas is an objective good What’s impressive and disappointing when meeting a new person Five types of wealth: Time, Social, Mental, Physical, Financial Prioritizing when there’s a conflict What 80 and 90 year olds say about their lives The most compelling thing Sahil learned about learning About today’s guest Sahil Bloom is an inspirational writer and content creator, captivating millions of people every week through his insights and bi-weekly newsletter, “The Curiosity Chronicle.” Sahil is a successful entrepreneur, owner of SRB Holdings, and the managing partner of SRB Ventures, an early-stage investment fund. Sahil graduated from Stanford University with an MA in public policy and a BA in economics and sociology. He was a four-year member on the Stanford Baseball Team. Connect with Sahil: www.sahilbloom.com https://x.com/sahilbloom https://www.instagram.com/sahilbloom https://www.linkedin.com/in/sahilbloom About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies, a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on LinkedIn or Bluesky. I also host Sideline Sessions, a podcast for coaches and parents of student-athletes. The show features conversations with coaches and performance experts in the NFL, NBA, NCAA, Olympics, and more. Listen here: https://bit.ly/3Rp0QGt Learn more about today's sponsor, Playworks: We’re proud to be sponsored by Playworks, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with evidence-based practices that help schools improve the health and well-being of children by increasing opportunities for physical activity and safe, meaningful play. If you’re a school or district leader struggling with the challenge of chronic absenteeism, as so many are across the U.S., you may not realize that structured recess is a research-backed approach to keep kids in school. In fact, a UC Berkeley study of Title I schools found that those partnering with Playworks had significantly lower chronic absenteeism rates. Further, Mathematica research demonstrated that Playworks schools spent 27% less time transitioning from recess back to learning, saving teachers valuable instructional time. These results are possible for your students, too. Learn how Playworks can help you improve student-educator relationships, belonging, and attendance by signing up for a quick no-obligation conversation.

Priten Soundar-Shah is CEO of Pedagogy.Cloud, which provides innovative technology solutions to help educators navigate global challenges in a rapidly evolving world, as well as founder of the civics education nonprofit United 4 Social Change. He also hosts the podcast Margin of Thought here on the Be Podcast Network. In this episode, we discuss: The guiding principles of engaging with AI. Why engage at all? Risks if schools go all in on AI — or if they don’t Other emerging technologies to look out for What drives ethical decision-making Do we have to compromise between innovation and responsibility or can we have it all? Keys to making policies clear, consistent, and school-wide Listen to Priten’s podcast, Margin of Thought, on the Be Podcast Network: https://listen.priten.org Listen to my previous episode with Priten, on this book AI and the Future of Education. About today’s guest Priten Shah, M. ED and B.A, Harvard, is the CEO of Pedagogy.Cloud, which provides innovative technology solutions to help educators navigate global challenges in a rapidly evolving world. Priten is also the founder of United 4 Social Change, a civics education nonprofit that focuses on helping teachers integrate interdisciplinary education into their curricula through animated videos, lesson plans, and innovative classroom activities. About the host Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies, a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Bluesky or LinkedIn Learn more about today's sponsor, Playworks: We’re proud to be sponsored by Playworks, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with evidence-based practices that help schools improve the health and well-being of children by increasing opportunities for physical activity and safe, meaningful play. If you’re a school or district leader struggling with the challenge of chronic absenteeism, as so many are across the U.S., you may not realize that structured recess is a research-backed approach to keep kids in school. In fact, a UC Berkeley study of Title I schools found that those partnering with Playworks had significantly lower chronic absenteeism rates. Further, Mathematica research demonstrated that Playworks schools spent 27% less time transitioning from recess back to learning, saving teachers valuable instructional time. These results are possible for your students, too. Learn how Playworks can help you improve student-educator relationships, belonging, and attendance by signing up for a quick no-obligation conversation.