Standing Tall: Voices in Leadership
Standing Tall: Voices in Leadership
Podcast Description
In a world that’s rapidly changing, great leadership stands out—and stands tall. Hosted by Randy Lindquist, Standing Tall dives deep into the stories of education’s GIANT leaders. Inspired by Isaac Newton’s quote, “If I see further than others, it’s because I stand on the shoulders of giants,” this podcast uncovers the wisdom, grit, and heart that drive exceptional school leaders.
Each episode, Randy sits down with inspiring voices in education to dissect their leadership journeys, tease out practical lessons, and explore the challenges they’ve overcome. From bold innovations to everyday resilience, Standing Tall offers real-world insights that any school leader can lean on, learn from, and build upon.
When we learn from giants, we all stand a little taller.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast explores themes such as personalized learning, community engagement, educational equity, and leadership strategies. Specific episodes delve into topics like competency-based learning with Dr. Cory Steiner, exploring innovative practices that foster student success, and addressing challenges in educational transitions, like those discussed by Dr. David Richards.
In a world that’s rapidly changing, great leadership stands out—and stands tall. Hosted by Randy Lindquist, Standing Tall dives deep into the stories of education’s GIANT leaders. Inspired by Isaac Newton’s quote, “If I see further than others, it’s because I stand on the shoulders of giants,” this podcast uncovers the wisdom, grit, and heart that drive exceptional school leaders.
Each episode, Randy sits down with inspiring voices in education to dissect their leadership journeys, tease out practical lessons, and explore the challenges they’ve overcome. From bold innovations to everyday resilience, Standing Tall offers real-world insights that any school leader can lean on, learn from, and build upon.
When we learn from giants, we all stand a little taller.
Featured Episodes & Draft Picks
| Pick | Guest & Leadership Role | Featured Highlight & Episode Link |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Dr. John VanWagoner (Superintendent, Traverse City Area Public Schools) | Innovating Mid-Flight with Dr. John VanWagoner Randy’s top pick emphasizes the necessary rhythm of shifting between active work on the “dance floor” and systemic foresight from the “balcony.” |
| #2 | Michelle Barry (Director, Ignite Pathways) | Upskilling the Future and Closing the Engagement Gap with Michelle Barry Ben highlights a powerful lesson from rural Iowa on leading with vulnerability and treating iteration as your continuous growth curve. |
| #3 | Dr. Sean Williams (Superintendent, Eaton RESA) | Authentic Leadership: Moving from Knowledge to Wisdom with Dr. Sean Williams Randy highlights why leaders must reject “code-switching” and focus on building high-trust environments rooted in a shared purpose. |
| #4 | Janelle Duffey (Principal, Fruitport Schools) | School Culture By Design | Janelle Duffey | Fruitport Schools Ben revisits what real culture looks like—moving it off the poster boards and turning it into something palpable that you feel the moment you walk inside. |
| #5 | Joshua Smith (Principal, Orchard View Middle School) | Lead with Belonging | Creating School Culture Where Every Student Thrives Randy brings back the vital “plate capacity” analogy, challenging administrators to actively take things off an overwhelmed teacher’s plate. |
| #6 | Paul Klimza (Principal, Reeths-Puffer Elementary) | Trauma-Invested Leadership: Moving from Unseen to Empowered Ben closes out the draft with a beautiful reminder of the sheer weight, responsibility, and opportunity found daily in public education. |
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