The Interview Chair

Episodes

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  Episode 142: The Culture We Create Begins With Us 19.10.2026 33m

  What if the most effective behavior intervention starts with the adults? Jimmy revisits the four core principles of Culturize as a behavior framework for educators and shares two free tools at jimmycasas.com/culture to move from reflection to action.
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  Episode 141: When Your Own Tank Is Low 06.10.2026 18m

  In this episode, Jimmy discusses the importance of hope, resilience, and intentionality in education. Focusing on the 4th Core Principle of Culturize, Merchant of Hope, he shares practical habits for teachers to foster a positive culture, maintain high standards, and support both students and colleagues. 
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  Episode 140: All Means All 22.09.2026 44m

  In this episode, Dr. Adam Drummond-Konopasek and Danny Drummond Konopasek discuss their book 'When All Means All' and explore strategies for creating inclusive, engaging, and supportive school environments that foster belonging for all students and staff.
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  Episode 139: Overcoming Grief 13.09.2026 41m

  This powerful conversation with Craig Woodall explores grief, resilience, and what it means to face what we cannot fix. After losing his brother on 9/11, Craig shares how he learned to stand in the storm, and lead with greater empathy and understanding.
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  Episode 138: Refine With Growth 30.08.2026 18m

  How do you know you're getting better if you never look back? In this episode, we explore Refine, the fourth step in The Drip Effect, and why reflection, not speed, is what makes change actually stick. We unpack the difference between reflection and rumination, walk through the Zoom In, Zoom Out, and share practical daily and weekly practices educators can use to build refinement into their rhythm. 
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  Episode 137: Act With Purpose 24.08.2026 18m

  In this episode, we dive deep into the third step of the Drip Effect framework: Act. It’s not just about having clarity; it’s about translating that clarity into tangible actions. As leaders, we often find ourselves paralyzed by the pressure of having to make decisions, and sometimes, we fail to see that not making a decision is making a decision. When we fail to act, we not only lose momentum,  but sometimes our people can lose confidence in us. 
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  Episode 136: Carry the Banner 18.08.2026 14m

  Back to school week sets the tone for the entire year, whether you're intentional about it or not. In this episode, we dig into Carry the Banner, one of the four core principles of Culturize and unpack what it looks like to create meaningful experiences during the first weeks of school that continue on throughout the school year.  If you set the culture in the first two weeks of school, you create positive experiences so when others walk away, they carry the banner for you and your organization.
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  Episode 135: Clarify with Focus 02.08.2026 14m

  In this episode, we talk about why decision fatigue builds, why "one priority" beats a packed to-do list, and how to tell what's actually yours to carry this year.
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  Episode 134: How Healthy Is Your Team? 26.07.2026 15m

  In this episode, Jimmy discusses the components of a High-Performing Team Self-Assessment and how to use it to check the pulse of your team before the new year begins.
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  Episode 133: Why Leaders Stay Exhausted 22.07.2026 11m

  In this episode, Jimmy Casas explores the hidden cost of hustle culture and shares practical ways to replace constant busyness with intentional leadership that creates lasting impact. Key Takeaways From Episode 133 Exhaustion is often caused by constant reaction rather than intentional leadership. Busyness and effectiveness are not the same thing. The Pause creates space to think before acting. Great leaders ask better questions before making decisions. One intentional pause can change the direction of an entire day. Leadership isn't about reacting faster. It's about responding with greater purpose.
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  Episode 132: The Leadership Mirror 06.07.2026 20m

  In this episode, Jimmy shares his insights on the power of self-reflection, modeling, and the role everyone's behavior plays in shaping the culture of an entire system. 
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  Episode 131: Lead Like You Are in a Job Interview 08.06.2026 42m

  In this engaging interview, Dr. Tiffany Bone shares her inspiring journey through education, leadership challenges, and personal growth. Discover her insights on building effective teams, maintaining work-life balance, and the transformative power of education.
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  Episode 130: School Counselors: The Heart of a School 31.05.2026 45m

  In this heartfelt interview, Amy Harksen shares her journey as a school counselor, leader, and advocate for students and staff. Discover practical strategies for building trust, leading teams, and connecting with families to create a positive school culture.
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  Episode 129: Building Community in Athletic Programs 23.05.2026 56m

  In this episode, Jimmy sits down with former school Athletic Director Stephen Speck. Whether you are an AD, school leader, or parent of a student athlete, this interview offers meaningful insight to help all of us build a community where our players, performers, parents, coaches, and administrators experience the joy of competition and the benefits that comes from being a part of a team. 
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  Episode 128: Don't Apologize for Caring 11.05.2026 18m

  In this episode, Jimmy reflects on challenges that come with leading a school in the last month of the calendar year, causing us sometimes to move quickly and create undercurrents that impact staff morale in negative ways. He also shares his views on hiring, evaluations and reinforces a powerful leadership lesson that every leader needs to remember when dealing with difficult staff decisions.
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  Episode 127: A Soft Place to Land 05.05.2026 18m

  In this episode, Jimmy calls for educators to lead with empathy, recognizing that students and colleagues often carry unseen pain that influences their behavior. Rather than reacting to actions alone, schools should create a “soft place to land” by building trust, showing compassion, and intentionally supporting both the emotional and academic needs of everyone in the community. By doing so, educators can foster stronger relationships, improve school culture, and help others move forward despite their challenges.
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  Episode 126: The Internal Siren 20.04.2026 15m

  Avoiding tough conversations can turn small issues into major conflicts. In this episode, Jimmy shares practical strategies to help you initiate those conversations and build a culture of open communication and trust.
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  Episode 125: Fingerprints on the Sculpture 12.04.2026 17m

  In this episode, Jimmy reminds decision-makers that the more staff and students who have their “fingerprints on the sculpture” to determine the vision, design, and implementation for the culturized classroom and school, the more likely we are to get the positive results we desire. A positive school culture is the collective responsibility of everyone within the school community.
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  Episode 124: Responding to Disruptive Behavior 30.03.2026 13m

  In this episode, Jimmy challenges listeners to reflect on how they are responding to disruptive student behaviors and provides several practical examples for you to consider.     
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  Episode 123: Ease the Pain in the Classroom 15.03.2026 42m

  Most educators feel overwhelmed by challenging behaviors — but what if changing the approach could turn chaos into connection? Dr. Bethany Bilidou, an expert in human behavior and creator of the "Ease the Pain in the Classroom" framework, shares surprising strategies that empower teachers to defuse crises in seconds and build resilience in even the most difficult students.