What You’ll Get From This Episode
In this episode, I sit down with J.M. Ryerson—performance coach, bestselling author, entrepreneur, and co-founder of Let’s Go Win—for a raw and grounded conversation about success, adversity, and identity. JM opens up about the moments most people never see: personal loss, physical setbacks, business failures, near-divorce, and the internal reckoning that forced him to redefine what winning actually means.
Together, we explore values versus ego, luck versus skill, vulnerability versus transparency, and why growth mindset isn’t a buzzword—it’s a daily choice. This episode challenges leaders to stop performing success and start living in alignment, so they can win at work without losing at home.
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tyler@elementaleducator.com
J.M. RyersonWebsite: https://letsgowin.com Win From Within Program: https://www.letsgowin.com/win-from-within Podcast on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lets-go-win-podcast/id1517669567 Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5NXkgcxlZ0moDtlKZRio2G LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jm-ryersonInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/letsgowin365 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/letsgowin365 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@letsgowin Twitter: https://x.com/Letsgowin365 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@letsgowin365
#WinningFromWithin#LeadershipDevelopment#HumanCenteredLeadership
The Elemental Educator explores leadership through four foundational forces—Earth (values), Air (adversity), Water (change), and Fire (decision-making). Each conversation transforms lived experience into practical clarity, helping leaders align who they are with how they lead, so success doesn’t come at the expense of wellbeing.
What You’ll Get From This EpisodeIn this episode, two of Alberta’s most respected educational leaders — Ray Hoppins and Kurt Sacher — unpack the realities of leadership that most people never see. Across decades of service as principals, superintendents, mentors, and system-builders, their insights cut beyond theory into the lived experience of leading people, culture, and complex organizations.Together, we explore the leadership moments that define careers: the values that hold under pressure, the misunderstandings that come with authority, the trust required to grow others, and the inner work leaders must do to stay grounded. If you want to understand how exceptional leaders think, decide, and elevate others, this conversation is your blueprint.00:00 — What would you tell your younger self before stepping into leadership?00:43 — How did Ray’s early life shape how he leads today?06:33 — What do leaders truly value when the pressure hits?07:13 — How do your values show up when you’re forced to choose?28:24 — Why does trust come before proving yourself as a leader?28:55 — What comes first: responsibility or belief in the person?29:04 — How do leaders create environments where people rise instead of retreat?36:59 — How do great leaders stay grounded when everything speeds up?37:40 — What’s the fastest way to break stress before it breaks you?37:54 — How do leaders regain focus instantly when distractions spike?These are the strongest, most high-impact leadership moments across the entire episode.CONNECT WITH MEInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/elemental_educatorYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ElementalEducatorTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@elemental.educatorWebsite: https://www.elementaleducator.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyler-comeau-961a49310/For speaking, consulting, coaching, guest recommendations, or other inquiries:tyler@elementaleducator.comCONNECT WITH OUR GUESTSRay HoppinsLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rayhoppins/Website: https://www.hoppins.ca/homeKurt SacherWebsite: https://www.sachersolutions.caLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kurt-sacher-71243665/#LeadershipAtItsHighestLevel#EducationalLeadership#HumanCenteredLeadership
What You’ll Get from This Episode In this conversation, human physiologist, author, and performance expert Dr. Greg Wells reveals the mindset shifts that turn adversity into adaptation. From breaking his neck at 15 to rebuilding his career after COVID, Greg has faced the kind of “shatter points” that force complete reinvention. He shares how radical responsibility, curiosity, and resilience shape true growth—and why our biggest breakthroughs often arrive disguised as setbacks. This episode challenges you to reframe difficulty, embrace failure as data, and lead yourself through uncertainty with calm and clarity. Connect With Me Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elemental_educator YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ElementalEducator TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@elemental.educator Website: https://www.elementaleducator.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyler-comeau-961a49310/ For Speaking, Consulting, Coaching, Guest Recommendations, or Other Inquiries tyler@elementaleducator.com Connect With Our Guest Website: https://www.drgregwells.com Podcast: The Dr. Greg Wells Podcast Books: Rest, Recharge, Refocus | The Ripple Effect | Powerhouse #RadicalResponsibility #GrowthThroughAdversity #PerformanceMindset About the Elemental Educator The Elemental Educator podcast examines the four forces of lasting leadership — Earth (values), Air (adversity), Water (change), and Fire (decision-making). Each episode bridges lived experience with research-backed insight, helping leaders act with courage, discipline, and clarity in the moments that matter most. Timestamps 0:00 - Trailer to Show 1:02 - The Biggest Influence 3:03 - Advice to Younger Self 5:35 - Luck vs Skill 8:45 - Guest Introduction 10:57 - Grounded Moments 11:10 - First Job (game) 18:00 - Top 3 Things in Team Members 29:45 - Headwinds and Tailwinds 30:10 - The Hot Seat (game) 31:50 - Something to Unlearn 42:10 - Flip the Script (game) 44:25 - Ripples of Change 44:55 - Quick Tips (game) 47:50 - Change Process Steps 53:00 - A Lasting Impact 55:35 - Spark or Burn 55:55 - Final Answer (game) 59:35 - Separating Emotion from Logic 1:05:45 - One Year Left to Live 1:07:45 - Wrap Up
What You’ll Get from This Episode In this conversation, performance coach and author Alan Stein Jr. unpacks the discipline of doing what works — not occasionally, but consistently. We explore why leaders tend to chase complexity, why fundamentals are often avoided, and what it looks like to build culture through repeated, observable habits. This episode challenges you to assess whether your actions match your intentions and whether the work you’re doing is moving you forward, or simply keeping you busy.
Connect With Me Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elemental_educator YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ElementalEducator TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@elemental.educator Website: https://www.elementaleducator.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyler-comeau-961a49310/
For Speaking, Consulting, Coaching, Guest Recommendations, or Other Inquiries https://www.AlanSteinJr.com
#LeadershipInPractice #HighPerformanceHabits #AccountabilityInAction
About the Elemental Educator The Elemental Educator podcast explores the foundations of lasting leadership — values, adversity, adaptability, and decisive action. Each episode bridges insight with application, equipping leaders to act with clarity, purpose, and consistency.
Empathy is often mistaken for softness, kindness, or emotional sensitivity. But in this conversation, empathy advocate and author Mimi Nicklin shows us something fundamentally different: empathy is a hard skill rooted in the brain, essential for psychological safety, leadership, collaboration, and even human survival.
We explore why so many leaders struggle to listen, how stress and urgency shut down empathy neurologically, and why patience and consistency are the real engines of cultural change. This episode is a call to rethink how we lead — not with more control, but with deeper understanding.
Connect With Me Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elemental_educator YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ElementalEducator TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@elemental.educator Website: https://www.elementaleducator.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyler-comeau-961a49310/
For Speaking, Consulting, Coaching, Collaborations, or Guest Recommendations https://www.empathyeverywhere.co Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/miminicklin LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/miminicklin/ Book: Empathy at Work (available on Amazon)
#EmpathyInLeadership #HumanCenteredWork #PsychologicalSafety
ABOUT THE ELEMENTAL EDUCATORThe Elemental Educator is a global platform exploring leadership through four human forces: Earth (Values), Air (Adversity), Water (Change), and Fire (Decision-Making). Here, leaders, educators, and curious thinkers learn how to build organizations and communities where people feel grounded, challenged, supported, and empowered to act. This is leadership for a world in motion.
What You’ll Get from This Episode In this deeply human conversation, Leading Our Own Way host Andrew White opens up about authenticity, trauma, and the cost of pretending everything is fine. From enduring workplace bullying to nearly losing his life to stress, Andrew shares how vulnerability became his turning point. Together, we explore what it means to create safety in leadership, how connection transforms culture, and why showing up as your true self is not weakness—it’s the foundation of trust.
This episode challenges every leader, educator, and creator to reconsider how they build connection, give feedback, and define success in environments that often reward performance over people.
Connect With Me Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elemental_educator YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ElementalEducator TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@elemental.educator Website: https://www.elementaleducator.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyler-comeau-961a49310/
For Speaking, Consulting, Coaching, Guest Recommendations, or Other Inquiries https://www.instagram.com/leadingourownway
#AuthenticLeadership #Vulnerability #TraumaInLeadership #HumanConnection
About the Elemental Educator The Elemental Educator podcast explores the four elements of lasting leadership—Earth (values), Air (adversity), Water (change), and Fire (bold decisions). Each episode bridges real-world leadership with human stories, helping you lead with purpose, compassion, and clarity in a world that often rewards the opposite.
What You’ll Get from This Episode In this episode, The Teacher’s PT Martin Malone shares how one devastating teaching experience led him to rebuild his life, his health, and his purpose. From losing all income during COVID to building an online coaching business that serves thousands of educators, Martin’s story reveals the tension between luck and skill, and the courage it takes to stay authentic when easy money calls. We explore the ethics of saying no, the power of small habits, and why every action you take is a vote for the person you want to become.
Connect With Me Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elemental_educator YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ElementalEducator TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@elemental.educator Website: https://www.elementaleducator.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyler-comeau-961a49310/
For Speaking, Consulting, Coaching, Guest Recommendations, or Other Inquiries https://www.instagram.com/theteacherspt
#AuthenticLeadership #ValuesInAction #TeacherWellbeing
About the Elemental Educator The Elemental Educator podcast explores the four elements of lasting leadership—Earth (values), Air (adversity), Water (change), and Fire (bold decisions). Each episode bridges insight and application, helping leaders, educators, and creators align their actions with authenticity, courage, and purpose.
Power isn’t about titles... it’s about influence, intention, and integrity. Microsoft leads with empathy. Spotify leads with freedom. Apple leads with perfection. Each has redefined what power feels like inside an organization — and what it costs. In this video, we’ll break down how these three leadership philosophies are reshaping business, culture, and human connection. 💭 Question for you: If you could choose one kind of power — Empathy, Freedom, or Control — which would you lead with? Drop your answer in the comments before you see mine. Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction 0:20 - What Satya Nadella and Microsoft Taught us About Leadership 1:45 - What Spotify Taught us About Leadership 3:25 - What Tim Cook and Apple Taught us About Leadership
What You’ll Get from This Episode In this conversation, creator, strategist, and educator Mike Saad breaks down what it really takes to build a brand that lasts. From content that converts to the discipline behind creativity, we explore why most creators get stuck in volume over value—and how to shift toward clarity, consistency, and community. Mike and Tyler unpack the difference between chasing views and leading with purpose, revealing why trust and transparency remain the most sustainable growth strategies in the creator economy. Connect With Me Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elemental_educator YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ElementalEducator TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@elemental.educator Website: https://www.elementaleducator.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyler-comeau-961a49310/ For Speaking, Consulting, Coaching, Guest Recommendations, or Other Inquiries tyler@elementaleducator.com Connect With Our Guest Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsmikesaad/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@itsmikesaad Skool: https://skool.com/the-content-classroom-3968 #AuthenticLeadership #ContentStrategy #CreatorMindset About the Elemental Educator The Elemental Educator podcast bridges leadership and creativity, offering actionable insights rooted in values, resilience, adaptability, and bold decision-making. Each episode is designed to challenge your thinking, sharpen your purpose, and equip you to lead with clarity in a noisy digital world.
In this episode of Applied Leadership, we analyze two leadership moves making headlines this week. Walmart’s CEO Doug McMillon delivered an unflinching warning about AI’s disruption of jobs, while JLL created a brand-new CEO role to elevate property management to the executive level. Together, they illustrate the dual role of leadership: naming disruption honestly, and structuring opportunity deliberately.
We explore what these moves reveal about credibility, clarity, and the power of leaders to narrate reality before it fully arrives.
Connect With Me Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elemental_educator YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ElementalEducator TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@elemental.educator Website: https://www.elementaleducator.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyler-comeau-961a49310/
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#LeadershipInAction #FacingTheFuture #AppliedLeadership
About the Elemental Educator The Elemental Educator podcast and platform equip leaders with strategies rooted in values, resilience, adaptability, and bold decision-making. Each episode translates current events and real-world examples into insights leaders can apply immediately.
What you’ll get from this episode Principal-certified wellness coach and former Canadian National Barefoot Water Ski team member Michelle Sigmann breaks down how high performance translates to schools: unlearning to truly listen, building connection through communication, and replacing willpower myths with daily, sustainable habits. We examine the balance of luck and skill, the leadership cost of poor listening, and practical routines leaders can implement tomorrow to strengthen mental health, model calm under pressure, and drive lasting change. Connect With Me Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elemental_educator YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ElementalEducator TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@elemental.educator Website: https://www.elementaleducator.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyler-comeau-961a49310/ For speaking, consulting, coaching, guest recommendations, or other inquiries tyler@elementaleducator.com Connect With Our Guest Website: https://www.wellnessmichelle.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michellefitnessmomma #ValuesBasedLeadership #WellnessForLeaders #MindsetInPractice About the Elemental Educator Elemental Educator equips leaders with actionable strategies anchored in values (Earth), adversity navigation (Air), change implementation (Water), and bold decision-making (Fire). Each conversation translates lived experience into practical moves that unlock potential in schools and organizations.
What You’ll Get from This Episode In this episode, Chris DT Gordon shares his extraordinary journey from battling a flesh-eating bacteria to running marathons and inspiring others through what he calls the “attitude of gratitude.” We explore how resilience is built in moments of crisis, why perfection is the wrong pursuit, and how gratitude can reshape both personal and professional life. This conversation challenges you to rethink adversity, find purpose in change, and commit to greatness over perfection. Connect With Me Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elemental_educator YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ElementalEducator TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@elemental.educator Website: https://www.elementaleducator.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyler-comeau-961a49310/ For Speaking, Consulting, Coaching, Guest Recommendations, or Other Inquiries tyler@elementaleducator.com Connect With Our Guest Chris DT Gordon: https://dot.cards/chrisdtgordon #ResilienceInAction #GratitudeMindset #LeadershipGrowth About the Elemental Educator The Elemental Educator podcast and platform equip leaders with actionable strategies rooted in values, resilience, adaptability, and bold decision-making. Through the metaphors of Earth, Air, Water, and Fire, we create conversations that spark transformation and unlock potential for leaders at every
The biggest threat to leaders today isn’t failure — it’s hesitation. In the age of AI, every delay is a decision made for you. Every silence is power surrendered. And leadership without action? It’s already outdated. This episode of Applied Leadership equips you with: Why you can’t lead what you don’t understand The role of AI literacy in modern leadership How to guide others through uncertainty without having all the answers Don’t wait for clarity to act. The leaders who thrive aren’t the ones who know everything… they’re the ones who step forward despite uncertainty. Stay connected for more leadership insights: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elemental_educator YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ElementalEducator TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@elemental.educator Website: https://www.elementaleducator.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyler-comeau-961a49310/ 📬 Connect With Me For speaking, consulting, coaching, guest recommendations, or other inquiries: tyler@elementaleducator.com 🤝 #leadership #EdTech #InnovationInEducation #GrowthMindset #BoldLeadership About This Channel Welcome to Elemental Educator — where leaders at every level come to grow. Here you’ll find in-depth conversations, leadership strategies, and actionable insights designed to help CEOs, executives, managers, and educators lead with values, overcome adversity, embrace change, and make bold decisions. Subscribe to join a community of leaders committed to lasting impact. References Hu, X., et al. (2025). How and when artificial intelligence adoption promotes knowledge sharing through employee learning opportunities. Frontiers in Psychology. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1573587 McCausland, T. (2023). Creating Psychological Safety in the Workplace. Journal Name. https://doi.org/10.1080/08956308.2021.1863111 Edmondson, A. C. (2023). Psychological Safety Comes of Age: Observed Themes in Leadership. Annual Review of Organizational Psychology and Organizational Behavior. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-orgpsych-120920-055217
In this episode of Elemental Educator, Tyler sits down with Mitch Zuvela — educator, international teacher, instructional designer, and EdTech innovator. Mitch’s journey has taken him from classrooms around the world to the cutting edge of digital learning, math innovation, and educational technology. With a background in teaching, consulting for Pearson, and graduate studies at UBC, Mitch is shaping how leaders and educators can harness technology for real transformation. Leaders, CEOs, executives, managers, and educators will discover strategies for: Using technology and AI responsibly in education and leadership Transforming math instruction through new approaches Building resilience when facing pushback and adversity Embracing risk and innovation as a leadership mindset Creating a growth mindset culture in schools and organizations From principles vs. preferences in leadership to bold decisions that change lives, this conversation is packed with insights for anyone navigating education, leadership, or organizational change. 👉 Stay connected for more leadership insights: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elemental_educator YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@elementaleducator TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@elemental.educator Website: https://www.elementaleducator.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyler-comeau-961a49310/ 📬 Connect With Me For speaking, consulting, coaching, guest recommendations, or other inquiries: tyler@elementaleducator.com 🤝 Connect With Our Guest Website: https://www.launchpointlearning.ca LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitchell-zuvela-009511128 #Leadership #EdTech #InnovationInEducation #GrowthMindset #BoldLeadership About This Channel Welcome to Elemental Educator — where leaders at every level come to grow. Here you’ll find in-depth conversations, leadership strategies, and actionable insights designed to help CEOs, executives, managers, and educators lead with values, overcome adversity, embrace change, and make bold decisions. Subscribe to join a community of leaders committed to lasting impact.
before listening to this episode I wanted to apologize for the sound quality. In wanting to keep the message out there I decided to still publish the episode, on the caveat that some concepts will be hard to hear.
In this episode of Elemental Educator, Tyler welcomes Dr. Stephanie Van Deynze-Snell — veterinarian, co-owner of a thriving veterinary hospital, flow state coach, consultant, and speaker. After scaling her business while raising three children, Stephanie experienced both the highs of success and the lows of burnout. Her journey back to health led her into the science of flow and sustainable leadership, helping others unlock their potential without sacrificing wellbeing. Leaders, CEOs, executives, managers, and educators will discover strategies for: Preventing burnout and reclaiming energy Using flow science to work with your biology, not against it Creating psychologically safe workplaces where people thrive Turning adversity into resilience and confidence Making bold, value-driven decisions that last Stephanie’s story offers powerful lessons for anyone navigating high-pressure leadership while balancing personal and professional life. If you’ve ever felt stuck, exhausted, or ready for change, this conversation will help you see a way forward. 👉 Stay connected for more leadership insights: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elemental_educator YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@elementaleducator TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@elemental.educator Website: https://www.elementaleducator.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyler-comeau-961a49310/ 📬 Connect With Me For speaking, consulting, coaching, guest recommendations, or other inquiries: tyler@elementaleducator.com 🤝 Connect With Our Guest Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drstephv #Leadership #BurnoutRecovery #FlowState #WomenInLeadership #SustainableSuccess About This Channel Welcome to Elemental Educator — where leaders at every level come to grow. Here you’ll find in-depth conversations, leadership strategies, and actionable insights designed to help CEOs, executives, managers, and educators lead with values, overcome adversity, embrace change, and make bold decisions. Subscribe to join a community of leaders committed to lasting impact.
The strongest leaders don’t just issue directives — they show up. And if no one sees you, no one follows you. In this Applied Leadership breakdown, we unpack 3 research-backed shifts that will transform how you lead with presence this week: ✅ Visibility Builds Safety — Why showing up in hallways and meetings reduces fear and builds trust ✅ Your Energy Spreads — How emotional contagion impacts cooperation, conflict, and team performance ✅ Culture Is Modeled — Why your daily behaviors shape the real culture, not slogans or posters Every insight ends with an actionable shift you can use immediately — whether it’s setting the emotional tone before a meeting, or reflecting on what you model under pressure. If you lead a school, district, company, or classroom — this breakdown will help you lead with clarity, not just directives. ➡️ New breakdowns every Thursday. Subscribe and lead with presence. 📲 Let’s connect: Instagram → @elemental_educator YouTube → @elementaleducator TikTok → @elemental.educator Website → www.elementaleducator.com #LeadershipDevelopment #SchoolCulture #TrustInLeadership #AppliedLeadership #PresenceInLeadership About the Channel The Elemental Educator is where bold leaders grow. Each week, I break down real leadership moments, backed by research, built for action. Whether you're leading a school or scaling an organization — this is leadership, applied. References Barsade, S. G. (2002). The ripple effect: Emotional contagion and its influence on group behavior. Administrative Science Quarterly, 47(4), 644–675. https://doi.org/10.2307/3094912 Carmeli, A., & Gittell, J. H. (2009). High‑quality relationships, psychological safety, and learning from failures in work organizations. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 30(6), 709–729. https://doi.org/10.1002/job.565 Schein, E. H. (2010). Organizational culture and leadership (4th ed.). Jossey‑Bass.
In this episode of Elemental Educator, Tyler welcomes Steve Bollar — also known as Stand Tall Steve — a nationally recognized speaker, author, former superintendent and principal, and a 2023 Global Gurus Top 30 Education Professional. With boundless energy and a proven track record of transforming culture and climate, Steve brings practical leadership insights that resonate far beyond schools. Leaders, CEOs, executives, managers, and educators will discover strategies for: Building stronger culture and climate in schools and organizations Making bold leadership decisions rooted in values Overcoming adversity with resilience and positivity Embracing change and creating lasting impact Empowering people to stand tall in every setting With stories ranging from mistakes that became breakthroughs to bold risks that sparked success, this conversation challenges you to think bigger, lead better, and take actionable steps that truly change culture. 👉 Stay connected for more leadership insights: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elemental_educator YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@elementaleducator TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@elemental.educator Website: https://www.elementaleducator.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyler-comeau-961a49310/ 📬 Connect With Me For speaking, consulting, coaching, guest recommendations, or other inquiries: tyler@elementaleducator.com 🤝 Connect With Our Guest YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@standtallsteve1330 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/standtallsteve/ (@standtallsteve) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/withinourranks/ (@withinourranks) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/standtallsteve1 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/standtallsteve/ Email: steven@standtallsteve.com Website: www.standtallsteve.com Ted Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nszNXjUn3a4 #Leadership #EducationLeadership #CultureAndClimate #StandTallSteve #BoldLeadership About This Channel Welcome to Elemental Educator — where leaders at every level come to grow. Here you’ll find in-depth conversations, leadership strategies, and actionable insights designed to help CEOs, executives, managers, and educators lead with values, overcome adversity, embrace change, and make bold decisions. Subscribe to join a community of leaders committed to lasting impact.
The best organizations don’t lead with pressure — they lead with purpose. And the most resilient schools? They’re rooted in belonging. In this Applied Leadership breakdown, we dive into 3 powerful shifts from Superintendent Christopher Fuzessy’s story — and what they mean for your leadership this week: ✅ Why belonging outperforms test scores ✅ How to empower without micromanaging ✅ Why staff wellbeing is a leadership strategy, not a side note Every insight is backed by research — and ends with an actionable challenge to apply immediately with your team. If you lead a school, district, company, or classroom — this breakdown will help you build systems that last. ➡️ New breakdowns every Thursday. Subscribe and lead intentionally. 📲 Let’s connect: Instagram → @elemental_educator YouTube → @elementaleducator TikTok → @elemental.educator Website → www.elementaleducator.com #LeadershipDevelopment #SchoolCulture #TrustInLeadership #AppliedLeadership #ChristopherFuzessy About the Channel The Elemental Educator is where bold leaders grow. Each week, I break down real leadership moments, backed by research, built for action. Whether you're leading a school or scaling an organization — this is leadership, applied. References Bryk, A. S., Sebring, P. B., Allensworth, E., Luppescu, S., & Easton, J. Q. (2010). Organizing schools for improvement: Lessons from Chicago. University of Chicago Press. Hargreaves, A., & Fullan, M. (2012). Professional capital: Transforming teaching in every school. Teachers College Press. Jennings, P. A., & Greenberg, M. T. (2009). The prosocial classroom: Teacher social and emotional competence in relation to student and classroom outcomes. Review of Educational Research, 79(1), 491–525. https://doi.org/10.3102/0034654308325693 Leithwood, K., & Jantzi, D. (2006). Transformational school leadership for large-scale reform: Effects on students, teachers, and their classroom practices. School Effectiveness and School Improvement, 17(2), 201–227. https://doi.org/10.1080/09243450600565829 Sampson, R. J. (2003). The neighborhood context of well-being. Perspectives in Biology and Medicine, 46(3), S53–S64. https://doi.org/10.1353/pbm.2003.0059 Spillane, J. P., Halverson, R., & Diamond, J. B. (2001). Investigating school leadership practice: A distributed perspective. Educational Researcher, 30(3), 23–28. https://doi.org/10.3102/0013189X030003023
In this episode of Elemental Educator, Tyler sits down with Christopher Fuzessy, Superintendent and Chief Education Officer of Foothill School Division in southern Alberta. Together, they explore how leaders—whether in education, business, or community organizations—can empower people, build wellbeing, and create thriving environments where everyone can succeed.
Leaders, CEOs, executives, managers, and teachers alike will discover strategies for:
Turning leadership from transactional to transformational
Building trust and wellbeing across teams and communities
Empowering staff and students to flourish
Making bold, people-centered decisions in complex times
This conversation will spark new ideas and challenge you to rethink what leadership looks like when education, business, and community intersect.
👉 Stay connected for more leadership insights:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elemental_educator
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyler-comeau-961a49310/
📬 Connect With Me For speaking, consulting, coaching, guest recommendations, or other inquiries: https://www.instagram.com/foothills.superintendent
Email: fuzessyc@fsd38.ab.ca
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In a world moving faster than ever, human connection remains our most powerful lifeline. In this deeply reflective episode, we explore what it truly means to be seen, heard, and understood. From quiet moments of presence to the courage it takes to be vulnerable, this podcast invites you to reconnect—with yourself, and with those around you. Whether you're feeling isolated, emotionally exhausted, or simply longing for deeper relationships, this conversation will remind you: you are not alone. ✨ What you’ll hear in this episode: The emotional impact of disconnection Why presence heals more than words How vulnerability deepens relationships A story that might change the way you connect forever 💬 Let us know in the comments: What’s one moment you truly felt seen by someone? 🔔 Don’t forget to subscribe for weekly insights on connection, growth, and real talk. Cacioppo, J. T., & Patrick, W. (2008). Loneliness: Human nature and the need for social connection. W.W. Norton & Company. Decety, J., & Jackson, P. L. (2004). The functional architecture of human empathy. Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience Reviews, 3(2), 71–100. https://doi.org/10.1177/1534582304267187 Lieberman, M. D. (2013). Social: Why our brains are wired to connect. Crown. Ozcelik, H., & Barsade, S. G. (2018). No employee an island: Workplace loneliness and job performance. Academy of Management Journal, 61(6), 2343–2366. https://doi.org/10.5465/amj.2015.1066 Pentland, A. (2012). The new science of building great teams. Harvard Business Review, 90(4), 60–69. https://hbr.org/2012/04/the-new-science-of-building-great-teams Woolley, A. W., Chabris, C. F., Pentland, A., Hashmi, N., & Malone, T. W. (2010). Evidence for a collective intelligence factor in the performance of human groups. Science, 330(6004), 686–688. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1193147