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I had to write a blog post on this topic. Not just because I have a podcast. And not just because I host the category-defining conversation on leadership and education. 

I had to write a post on the best podcasts for school leaders because my mission is to help school leaders level up. Turning your commute, a walk, or the chores into professional development is a great strategy for modern school administrators. 

The guiding value of BLBS is this: When YOU get better … Everyone wins.

You’ll get better by listening to the school leadership podcasts listed below. They definitely will offer value to what we do as educators.

And I had to write a post on this topic because most of the other posts available on the internet are irrelevant. They highlight only educational leadership podcasts and shows that don’t exist anymore or don’t produce consistent content.

I evaluated each podcast in this blog on the following criteria:

  • Currently posting content
  • Has a large library of work on school leadership (this shows consistency and trust)
  • Number of positive reviews in iTunes (impact on listeners)
  • Post consistently (no large gaps in the posting schedule)
  • Interesting topics (this is purely subjective, I am looking at these podcasts via an educational and leadership lens)
educational leadership podcasts

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Best Educational Leadership Podcasts

Better Leaders Better Schools

BLBS is the most downloaded podcast in the category. 

This weekly podcast show is focused on serving Ruckus Makers — leaders who:

  • Break free from the status quo
  • Make change happen
  • Never give up

Listen to this show if you want a fresh and innovative look at education.

Number of episodes: 200+

Reviews: 285 total reviews. 267 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ reviews.

Average Length: 20-30 minutes

Popular Episodes:

Take a breath and reduce stress

Hacking school discipline with restorative justice

Relentless learning
Website: https://betterleadersbetterschools.com/podcast

 

BLBS is the most downloaded podcast in this category.

2. The School Leadership Series

The second podcast I created is my love letter to education. Diversity matters to me so in 2018 I started asking friends to host the show. In 2019, I formed a team of 12 other leaders who will create content for the entire school year. This is one of my proudest accomplishments, creating a team of diverse leaders that elevates the voices we need to hear from in our industry. 

Number of episodes: 300+

Reviews: 28 total reviews. 27 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ reviews.

Average Length: 3-5 minutes

Popular Episodes:

Warrior stance

YesAQs

Successful meetings with difficult parents

Website: https://betterleadersbetterschools.com/podcast

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  • Our emails don't suck, nor are they spammy. Unsubscribe at any time.

Transformative Principal

Number of episodes: 300

Reviews: 66 total reviews. 55 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ reviews.

Average Length: 20-30 minutes

Popular Episodes:

A story about fish

Enjoy the journey

Don’t try to change people, change behavior

Website: http://www.transformativeprincipal.org/

Principal Center Radio

Number of episodes: 100+

Reviews: 29 total reviews. 25 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ reviews.

Average Length: 30 minutes

Popular Episodes:

Roadmap to creating a remarkable school

Four essential skills for transformational school leaders

Proven strategies to ace and embrace teaching

Website: https://www.principalcenter.com/radio

5. Principal Matters

Number of episodes: 150+

Reviews: 47 total reviews. 40 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ reviews.

Average Length: 20-30

Popular Episodes:

Go! Community 

Thoughts for new school leaders

Encouraging an environment of growth

 

6. Aspire

Number of episodes: 70

Reviews: 21 total reviews. 20 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ reviews.

Average Length: 35 minutes

Popular Episodes:

The roadmap to creating a legendary school

Level up your leadership

Cultivating STEAM education

7. The Guiding Principals Podcast

The Guiding Principals Podcast focuses on the work of visionary educational leaders, in an effort to leave all listeners inspired and imparting upon them fresh new ideas and strategies, as they continue to expand their own leadership toolbox.

Connect and grow your educational leadership community.  Follow Rob on Twitter @rbreyer51 and use the hashtag #tgpp to follow the conversation.. 

Number of episodes: 10

Reviews: 20 total reviews. 20 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ reviews.

Average Length: 30-40 minutes

Popular Episodes:

Ruckus makers

Changer of worlds

Restorative practices

Website: https://www.beyondthedeskleadership.com/the-guiding-principals-podcast.html and anchor.fm/tgpp

8. Mafost Mashup

Number of episodes: 92

Average Length: 10 minutes

Start here: 

Brief history of management

How to build your network

Impacting community

Website: https://mafost.com/

Download Your "Top Ten Leadership Audiobooks"

Turn your next commute or roadtrip into a powerful PD session.
  • Our emails don't suck, nor are they spammy. Unsubscribe at any time.

9. Share Mo Edu

Number of episodes: 85

Reviews: 18 total reviews. 18 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ reviews.

Average Length: 20 minutes

Popular Episodes:

The power of optimism and reflection

Relationships change lives

Unlearning systems that hold back students

10. Education Leadership and Beyond

Number of episodes: 98

Reviews: 18 total reviews. 16 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ reviews.

Average Length: 35 minutes

Popular Episodes:

Talking leadership

Leading in the digital age

Just getting started

Website: https://andrewmarotta.com/podcast/

11. The Empowered Principal

The Empowered Principal Podcast is a fresh way of approaching persistent problems in education. This show provides school leaders tools that help them navigate the demands of their job and the emotions that come with leading a school so they can love what they do and have a life outside of school. Listen in to become an Empowered Principal.

Number of episodes: 89

Reviews: 25 total reviews. 21 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ reviews.

Average Length: 25-35 minutes

Popular Episodes:

The difference between a cause and a symptom

Building your ideal team

Increase your productivity

Website: http://angelakellycoaching.com/category/podcasts/

12. Master Leadership

Number of episodes: 167

Reviews: 68 total reviews. 66 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ reviews.

Average Length: 45 minutes

Popular Episodes:

Daniel Bauer: Chief Ruckus Maker

Cory Muscara: Mindfulness

Jill Versteeg: Director of Special Programs 

Website: https://masterleadership.org/index.php/ml-podcast/

13. School Leadership Reimagined

Tired of school change efforts that stall, or worse, never get off the ground? Are you a school administrator or instructional coach who wants to motivate your teachers, help them be accountable, and overcome toxic cultures? Then join Robyn Jackson each week as she shares counterintuitive strategies to help you dramatically improve teacher will AND skill so that you can transform your school with the people and resources you already have.

Number of episodes: 48

Reviews: 55 total reviews.46 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ reviews.

Average Length: 30 minutes

Popular Episodes:

How to build a healthy school culture

6 steps to achieve transformative results

The most powerful way to motivate anyone

Website: https://schoolleadershipreimagined.com/

 

14. Leader of Learning

Leader of Learning is a podcast that explores transformational leadership in education. It is where educators can come find inspiration to transform education through effective leadership and to realize their leadership potential regardless of their position or title. What originally launched as just a blog and was improved with a podcast has now evolved into an educational movement and community of educational leaders who are poised to lead necessary changes in the field of education.

Number of episodes: 51

Reviews: 13 total reviews. 13 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ reviews.

Average Length: 25 minutes

Popular Episodes:

Leading through coaching

Rethinking school discipline

SEL basics

15. UnearthED

This podcast is ear candy for school leaders because it’s:

  • Deeper.
  • Different.
  • Dialogue.

Brad Gustafson and Ben Gilpin get to the heart of the issues that matter most to school leaders. They tackle current challenges and discuss timeless leadership traits with an impressive cadre of guest hosts. And they do it all in only ten minutes or so! Each episode ends with a final thought they refer to as a “stake in the ground.”

Number of episodes: 77

Reviews: 20 total reviews. 19 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ reviews.

Average Length: 12 minutes.

Popular Episodes:

How leaders set goals that stick

Start the year with vulnerability

Are we crazy to be school leaders

Website: https://www.bamradionetwork.com/genre/tweeted/

16. Lead the Way

Number of episodes: 37

Reviews: 11 total reviews. 11 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ reviews.

Average Length: 5  minutes

Popular Episodes:

Women in school leadership

Building a positive culture

Lessons from a first year principal
Website: https://www.chaselearning.org/

 

17. Reimagine School

Number of episodes: 46

Reviews: 8 total reviews. 8 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ reviews.

Average Length: 

Popular Episodes:

Upper limits

Leading school change

Culturize

 

Download Your "Top Ten Leadership Audiobooks"

Turn your next commute or roadtrip into a powerful PD session.
  • Our emails don't suck, nor are they spammy. Unsubscribe at any time.

18. The Principal Liner Notes

The Principal Liner Notes Podcast explores the lessons in leadership, collaboration and culture through the lens of Music. Each episode serves digital liner notes to explore the intersection where passions meet, meld and inspire. Sean Gaillard, principal and author of The Pepper Effect, serves as your digital DJ sharing stories of music and the schoolhouse.

Number of episodes: 27

Reviews: 12 total reviews. 12 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ reviews.

Average Length: 18 Minutes

Popular Episodes:

The courage to carry on

Raw & resilient

Masterpiece moments

 

19. My Bad 

Number of episodes: 121

Reviews: 37 total reviews. 32 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ reviews.

Average Length: 10 minutes

Popular Episodes:

I thought I was a better teacher than a colleague

I came off as insecure

The day I lost it with a student

 

20. School Leadership Show

Number of episodes: 54

Reviews: 28 total reviews. 28 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ reviews.

Average Length: 40 minutes

Popular Episodes:

Stop wasting time on ineffective coaching practices

Stay out of trouble with SPED law

Social emotional learning

I’m thankful to be featured on the following websites.  

5 podcasts for school leaders 

Top 10 school leadership podcasts 

School administrator podcasts 

5 podcasts principals should try

The best school administration podcasts 

School leadership podcast recommendations

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