PrincipalED: Conversations with Grace McCallum
PrincipalED: Conversations with Grace McCallum
Podcast Description
Interested in girls’ and women’s success? And in hearing from people who are invested in advancing girls’ education today and helping to shape its future? Then the PrincipalED podcast is for you! We’ll take you inside the halls of a girls’ school, where you’ll hear candid conversations with educators and students, friends of the school and experts in their fields. We’ll also highlight the incredible stories of people in our Branksome Hall community, sharing what's on their minds—and why it matters.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast focuses on themes related to girls' and women's success in education, including topics like leadership, academic achievement, social-emotional learning, and resilience, with episodes featuring discussions on parenting strategies and insights from experts like Dr. Lisa Damour.

Interested in girls’ and women’s success? And in hearing from people who are invested in advancing girls’ education today and helping to shape its future? Then the PrincipalED podcast is for you! We’ll take you inside the halls of a girls’ school, where you’ll hear candid conversations with educators and students, friends of the school and experts in their fields. We’ll also highlight the incredible stories of people in our Branksome Hall community, sharing what’s on their minds—and why it matters.
Listen to the PrincipalED Podcast Playlist: bit.ly/PrincipalED
What does it take to stay three moves ahead when the world is watching? In the state-of-the-art setting of Branksome Hall’s Athletics and Wellness Centre, Grace sits down with NHL Hall of Famer and Branksome parent Eric Lindros. While known for his physical dominance on the ice, Eric speaks to the value of the ”soft skills” that are often the hardest to master: handling public criticism, navigating failure and leading a franchise as the youngest captain in Flyers history.
In this episode, Eric shares candid reflections on:
- The Car Ride Home: His parents’ role in shaping his journey—from the extra hours on the backyard ice rink to the coaching and conversations in the car after the game, and why keeping it fun is the ultimate fuel for high performance.
- Multi-Sport Mindsets: Why being the best player on a team isn't always the best way to learn, and how playing sports you aren’t good at can help to build a winning mindset.
- The Identity Shift: Navigating life after the game and his transition from the ”Big E” to a champion for systemic change through concussion awareness and Rowan’s Law.
- Advice for the Next Generation: A compelling message to students and parents on balancing high-performance dreams with academics, and the importance of being honest about injury.
Whether you're a student-athlete, a parent or a leader, this is an essential masterclass in playing smart, building mental toughness and leading with purpose.
Follow us on Instagram at @principalEDpod and listen to the PrincipalED podcast Spotify playlist at bit.ly/PrincipalED.
Follow and subscribe to the Branksome Hall YouTube channel, where you can see the video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@branksomehall.
The PrincipalED podcast is produced by Branksome Hall, Toronto's leading independent International Baccalaureate (IB) World School for girls. branksome.on.ca
Episode keywords: Eric Lindros, hockey, hockey hall of fame, National Hockey League, high performance, student-athletes, Branksome Hall athletics, soft skills, resilience, concussion awareness, Rowan’s Law
Show keywords: Branksome Hall, Grace McCallum, podcast, education, girls’ education, leadership, school leadership, independent schools, private schools, girls, teens, women, academic success, social-emotional learning, resilience, well-being, future of education, university preparation, women in leadership

Disclaimer
This podcast’s information is provided for general reference and was obtained from publicly accessible sources. The Podcast Collaborative neither produces nor verifies the content, accuracy, or suitability of this podcast. Views and opinions belong solely to the podcast creators and guests.
For a complete disclaimer, please see our Full Disclaimer on the archive page. The Podcast Collaborative bears no responsibility for the podcast’s themes, language, or overall content. Listener discretion is advised. Read our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy for more details.