Lead with HOPE

Lead with HOPE

Lead with H.O.P.E. is a leadership podcast hosted by Dr. Brandi Kelly that equips leaders to grow through challenge, lead with purpose, and create lasting impact. Rooted in faith and real-life stories, each episode explores resilience, leadership, and the power of hope in action; especially in seasons that feel uncertain or heavy. Through meaningful conversations and practical insight, you’ll be encouraged to strengthen your mindset, elevate your leadership, and remember that God is still at work; even in hard seasons. Whether you’re leading in education, business, or your personal life, this podcast will help you lead with clarity, courage, and hope.

Episodes

October 17, 2026 • 13 mins

Summary

In this episode, leadership coach Dr. Brandi Kelly talks with Will McLean, a principal navigating change and overthinking in leadership. They explore how to shed armor, trust oneself, and lead with authenticity amid challenges.

Keywords: leadership, coaching, overthinking, trust, change, education, self-awareness, leadership growth

Key Topics

  • The impact of armor and overthinking on leadership
  • The importance of self-awareness...
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Rob Martinez, the resilience guy, shares his 38-year career journey from school psychologist to superintendent, emphasizing the importance of caring for people and building relationships. He highlights the value of resilience, hope, and positive leadership in the face of adversity.

Takeaways

  • Resilience
  • Caring for People

Chapters

  • 00:00 The Journey Begins
  • 02:11 Transition to Administration
  • 05:22 Leadership in Challenging Times
  • 1...
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In this episode of the Lead with Hope Podcast, Brandy Kelly shares the story of her brother Brandon, highlighting the importance of connection and community in overcoming life's challenges. She emphasizes that true strength lies in recognizing our need for others and encourages listeners to reach out and support one another.

Takeaways

  • Connection is essential in leadership
  • Strength includes asking for help

Chapters

  • 00:00 Bra...
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Dr. Rebel Heasley shares her journey from nursing to leadership, overcoming adversity, and the power of intentional growth. She emphasizes the importance of mindset, resilience, and self-awareness in leadership and life.

Takeaways

  • Resilience and intentional growth are key to overcoming adversity.
  • Self-awareness and mindset shifts are essential for personal and professional growth.

Chapters

  • 00:00 Journey from Nursing to Lead...
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The conversation explores the concept of hope and leadership, emphasizing the importance of self-care, reflection, and connection. It delves into personal stories, challenges, and the five R's of the Hope Reset, offering a practical tool for leaders to navigate difficult times. The hosts also introduce the Hope Collective, a coaching and networking opportunity for leaders.

Takeaways

  • Hope is essential for leadership
  • Self-care and r...
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Matt Thoman shares his powerful journey of overcoming adversity and building mental toughness. He emphasizes the importance of intentional practice and positivity in achieving mental health and success. The conversation delves into the impact of mental health in athletics, education, and leadership, highlighting the need for intentional habits and a positive mindset.

Takeaways

  • Mental toughness is built through intentional practic...
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This episode of the Lead with HOPE Podcast is about embracing your story, the shaping power of experiences, and the renewed commitment to self-care and well-being. It emphasizes the connection between health and purpose, and the importance of prioritizing self-care as a leader.

Takeaways

  • Embracing personal stories shapes leadership and life.
  • Prioritizing self-care is essential for leading with hope and purpose.

Chapters

  • 00:...
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The conversation explores the evolution of leadership, the journey in education, leadership lessons from adversity, vulnerability, compassionate leadership, mindset work, writing and sharing personal stories, daily habits for personal growth, the importance of mentorship and coaching, transitioning beyond the principal role, and hope in the future of education.

Takeaways

  • Evolution of leadership through personal growth and experie...
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Dr. Brandi Kelly shares her personal reflections on her birthday and the goals she has set for the next year of her life. She emphasizes the importance of intentional living, health, focus, and presence in her journey of becoming the person she is called to be.

Takeaways

  • Intentional living leads to purposeful growth
  • Health, focus, and presence are key elements of personal development

Chapters

  • 00:00 Reflections on Birthdays ...
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In this episode, Dr. Brandi Kelly interviews Dr. Kyle Thompson, the superintendent of the Regional Office of Education #11. They discuss leadership, self-care, professional background, the transition to phone-free schools, the impact of cell phones on students, educating the public on screen time, and parenting in the digital age. The conversation covers themes of adversity, faith, habits, family-first culture, and the power of hop...

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The episode explores the experience of feeling stuck and overwhelmed, providing practical leadership tools and emphasizing the importance of building hope. It introduces a five-step reset for navigating uncertainty and discusses the connection between leadership and hope, concluding with an invitation to join the Hope Collective for leadership development and support.

Takeaways

  • Practical leadership tools
  • Building hope

Chapters

...
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    The conversation with Todd Bloomer covers the importance of self-reflection, the impact of adversity on leadership, and the hope found in the next generation of young people. Todd shares insights on prioritizing self-care, creating healthy margins in life, and the power of scheduling priorities in the calendar. His journey from New York to San Antonio and the lessons learned from navigating adversity provide valuable takeaways for ...

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    Dr. Brandi Kelly shares a powerful analogy of building a home to illustrate the importance of creating a blueprint for leadership. She emphasizes the need to dream, design, and build intentionally in order to become the leader one aspires to be.

    Takeaways

    • Dream, design, and build intentionally
    • Leadership requires intentional planning and action

    Resources:

    Visit sparkhopeedu.com and book a Leadership Clarity Call with Dr. Brandi...

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    In this episode, Phil Januszewski shares his journey from a physics teacher to a motivational speaker focused on helping educators and givers thrive without burnout. Discover practical strategies for building resilience, finding joy, and creating sustainable leadership in challenging times.

    Chapters

    00:00 Introduction to Phil Januszewski

    01:14 Phil's Journey from Teaching to Speaking

    02:17 Strategies for Avoiding Burnout

    05:04 Adversity...

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    Episode Summary

    As school leaders prepare to welcome students and staff back this fall, it's easy to focus on schedules, staffing, professional learning, and school improvement plans. While those responsibilities are important, this episode offers a different perspective:

    What if the most important thing you bring into your building this year is the hope you cultivate and the joy you model?

    In this episode, Dr. Brandi Kelly e...

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    Summary

    This episode of the Lead with Hope podcast features veteran leader, mentor, and speaker Vernon Wright. Dr. Brandi Kelly and Wright discuss the fundamental role of self-awareness and intentional connection in human-centered leadership. Wright shares insights from his journey, emphasizing that leadership is a lifelong process of "reflecting and refining" to elevate humanity.

    Key Takeaways

    • The Law of the Lid: A leader's own l...
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    In this powerful episode of the Lead with H.O.P.E. Podcast, Dr. Brandi Kelly explores a simple but transformational story about an elephant and a rope—and how it mirrors the invisible limits many leaders place on themselves.

    You’ll hear how past experiences can quietly shape present beliefs, and how those beliefs often become the “rope” that holds us back long after we’ve grown beyond them. This episode...

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    Are you feeling overwhelmed by the weight of leadership and life's challenges? In this episode of Lead with HOPE, we explore how hope, faith, and intentional habits can transform obstacles into opportunities for growth and purpose. Join us as Steve Warmer shares his journey from self-doubt to confident leadership, emphasizing the importance of community, mindset, and unwavering hope.

    In this episode:
    • How hope serves as a...
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    What if the reason your message isn't landing has nothing to do with your speaking skills and everything to do with your healing?

    In this powerful episode of Lead with H.O.P.E., Dr. Brandi Kelly sits down with pastor, speaker, and speech coach David Swihart to uncover what separates forgettable presentations from messages that truly transform lives.

    David shares the surprising truth about storytelling, why unresolved pain can undermi...

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    Danny Steele, a 31-year education veteran, shares insights on building a positive school culture, finding purpose in education, and the paradigm shift in school leadership. He discusses the power of redefining light bulb moments, making a difference, collaborating with Todd Whitaker, and finding hope in education.

    Takeaways

    • Positive school culture is built through purposeful leadership.
    • Redefining light bulb moments and making a d...
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