The Better Leaders Better Schools Podcast with Daniel Bauer

What started as a frustrating Sunday afternoon mistake in a tiny Chicago apartment turned into a million-download podcast that changed everything.

Join 5,000+ Ruckus Makers who want to Do School Diff…

Quick take:

If you're still blocking ChatGPT, you're playing the wrong game. In this episode, William Grube of Groovy Education shows how to turn AI from a perceived threat into a…

The Ruckus Report

Quick take: From pushing a broom to leading the boardroom — Dr. Chris Jackson's journey from custodian to principal at his own alma mater proves that grit, humility, and authentic c…

Quick take: Two beards, two red hats, one mission to blow up education's broken boundaries. Mitch Weathers reveals why saying "no" to district busywork and "yes" to what actually mo…

Quick take: The most dangerous myth in school leadership is that problems will eventually stop. Jennifer Schwanke reveals how embracing challenges and shifting from "trustworthy" to…

Quick take: Student voice isn't just nice to have—it's the missing ingredient in creating schools worth showing up for. Casey Wright proves that when you design with students instea…

Most principals feel like they're doing everything right — but something still feels wrong. That’s not a personal failure. It’s proof you’re playing someone else’s game. In this episode, Danny Bauer …

Quick take: When 21 kids are on your roster but only 3 show up on time, you don't quit — you reinvent how learning works. Rob Barnett's journey from near-burnout to building a model…

The Ruckus Report

Quick take: Most school leaders are waiting for someone else's permission to create the change they know their students need. Will Parker destroys that myth and reveals the #1 bar…

The Ruckus Report

Quick take: Most school leaders are trained to lead like emotionless robots. But students aren't spreadsheets and staff don't n…

Quick take: The biggest legal risk most districts face isn't a headline-grabbing lawsuit — it's the hidden gap between the accommodations they promise and the ones students actually…

Mitch Weathers on Breaking the Bottleneck Leadership Trap

Quick take: Most principals think they're the chief problem solver—but that mindset is actually what's breaking their schoo…

The Ruckus Report

Quick take: The "lone wolf" leader is a toxic myth that's burning out school administrators and failing students. Veronica Holyoke proves that transformational leadership happens …

The Ruckus Report Quick take: Most districts are dumping water into leaky buckets while wondering why they can't fill them. Nate Eklund shows us why we've been solving the wrong problem — and how "…

The Ruckus Report Quick take: If your school has beautiful values painted on the walls but nobody's living them, you're running a theater, not a school. Jimmy Casas exposes the brutal difference be…

The Ruckus Report

Quick take: Most principals manage buildings instead of transforming lives. Dr. Chris Jones flips the script by putting teachers at the center of every decision, creating scheduli…

The Ruckus Report Quick take: Award-winning Superintendent Dr. Nick Polyak reveals why the most innovative school leaders aren't just adding new programs—they're actively tearing down outdated prac…

Quick take: Visionary school leaders don’t follow dusty rulebooks. In this episode, Jethro Jones joins Danny Bauer to burn the old manual and co-create a new playbook for Ruckus Mak…

The Ruckus Report

Quick take: Award-winning Principal Demetrius Ball reveals how intentional leadership, strategic decision-making, and being consistently present creates a school culture where stu…

The Ruckus Report Quick take: International school leader Jennifer Bertram reveals how trusting your intuition can lead to unexpected leadership opportunities, and how joining a supportive communit…