The CharacterStrong Podcast

Season 8 kicks off with CharacterStrong co-founders John Norlin and Houston Kraft unpacking three challenges schools face: student mental health, rising behavior, and educator burnout. They explain w…

Today our guest is Dr. Lori Lynass, Sr. Director of MTSS at CharacterStrong. We talk to Lori about how connection isn’t “extra” or “soft”—it’s a strategic, academic practice at the heart of effective…

Today our guest is Dr. Darian Jones, Program Implementation Specialist at CharacterStrong. We talk to Dr. Jones on why belonging must be built into the systems of a school, not left to chance. He hig…

On today's episode CharacterStrong Co-Founder John Norlin explores a simple idea with big impact: the pace of our day influences the way we show up for others. When we’re constantly rushing, even our…

Today we talk with Dr. Clay Cook, the Chief Development Officer at CharacterStrong. He shares the biggest reasons Tier 2 systems stall—and what to do about it. Dr. Cook unpacks common barriers like u…

Today our guest is Dr. Andre Stout, principal at Gray Middle School, in Tacoma, WA. We talk to Dr. Stout about how intentional systems—not just goals—drive lasting change. From daily character lesson…

Today our guest is Jeff Cohen, CEO of FullBloom. We talk to Jeff about what it really means to support students. He challenges us to rethink the one-size-fits-all models and instead embrace a persona…

Today our guest is Kelli Brabson the MTSS Coordinator at Mossville Grade School. We talk to Kelli about what it means to invest in students intentionally, proactively, and with heart. Drawing from ov…

Today our guest is Author and Keynote Speaker Sam Demma. We talk to Sam about the powerful concept of “Emptying Your Backpack,” which began during a series of live Instagram chats with students. Sam …

On this episode we are sharing a conversation from the 2025 School Safety Summit. Dr. Dewey Cornell, a leading national expert in school safety, shares the science and practical strategies behind eff…

Today our guest is Joanna Frankel the Director of Elementary Culture and Climate at Portland Public Schools. We talk to Joanna about how her team led a deeply collaborative curriculum selection proce…

On this episode we are sharing a conversation from the 2025 School Safety Summit. Frank DeAngelis, former longtime principal of Columbine High School, shares powerful lessons on prevention, resilienc…

Today our guests are Sam Dusek & Jordan Seifert, School Counselors at Meyer Middle School and part of the team that was awarded the 2025 Wisconsin School Counseling Team of the Year. We talk to Sam &…

Today our guest is Cory McCarthy, the Chief of Student Support for Boston Public Schools. We talk with Cory about what it means to take a truly holistic approach to student support. He explains the c…

Today our guest is Dr. Vince Breunig, District Administrator at the School District of Lodi. We talk to Dr. Breunig about the power of consistently sharing the good happening in our schools. He share…

Today our guest is Dr. Clay Cook the Chief Development Officer at CharacterStrong. We talk to Clay about one the most important parts of implementation: sustainability. From onboarding and monitoring…

Today our guest is John Hellwich, the Director of Secondary Teaching and Learning at the Peninsula School District in WA. We talk to John about the Gig Harbor/Key Peninsula community campaign inspire…

Today our guest is Alex Kajitani the 2009 California Teacher of the Year and also The Rappin' Mathematician.

We talk to Alex about the foundational role that relationships play in education. He unpac…

Today our guest is Julia Kennedy the SEL Coach at Meduxnekeag Consolidated School in Woodstock, NB. We talk with Julia about her school’s CharacterStrong journey and the intentional steps they’ve tak…

Today our guest is Dr. Mark Chapin, Principal at Meyer Middle School. We talk to Dr. Chapin about how his district takes a purposeful approach to character development—from monthly character kickoff …