In this episode of The Perkins Platform, I sit down with Dr. Julia Bialeski to explore the role of grace in effective leadership. Drawing from her book Leading with Grace: Cultivating Hope, Authenticity, and a Focus on People Throughout the Leadership Lifespan Julia shares insights from more than two decades in public education. We discuss the delicate balance between compassion and accountability as well as the courage required to lead through uncertainty and disappointment. Our conversation also explores how leaders can extend grace to themselves and develop this essential leadership quality throughout their careers. Whether you're just beginning your leadership journey or reflecting on decades of experience this conversation offers a fresh perspective on leading with authenticity and humanity.

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In this episode, I sit down with Zaretta Hammond, nationally recognized education consultant and author of the bestselling book Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain, for a thought-provoking conversation about the relationship between culture, neuroscience and learning. We explore how culturally responsive teaching can strengthen academic rigor, develop independent learners and move beyond simply building positive relationships with students. Zaretta challenges educators and school leaders to reconsider how they approach student motivation, intellectual struggle and instructional practices. Our conversation also examines the opportunities and challenges presented by artificial intelligence in education.

In this episode, I sit down with Zac Armstrong, founder of Executive Health Edge, retired Naval Commander and former F-18 fighter pilot, for a conversation about an often-overlooked dimension of leadership: the physical capacity to lead well. We explore whether health should be considered a leadership competency rather than simply a personal choice, why high-performing professionals can be remarkably disciplined at work while neglecting their own health and what Zac learned about human performance from 27 years of military service. Drawing from his work with executives and other high performers, Zac challenges us to consider a simple question: What good is professional success if our bodies eventually become unable to sustain the lives and careers we worked so hard to build?