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)
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Turn your next commute or roadtrip into a powerful PD session.
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:
Download Your "Top Ten Leadership Audiobooks"
Turn your next commute or roadtrip into a powerful PD session.
Transformative Principal
Number of episodes: 300
Reviews: 66 total reviews. 55 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ reviews.
Average Length: 20-30 minutes
Popular Episodes:
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:
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
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:
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:
Website: https://mafost.com/
Download Your "Top Ten Leadership Audiobooks"
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
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:
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
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
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:
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
16. Lead the Way
Number of episodes: 37
Reviews: 11 total reviews. 11 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ reviews.
Average Length: 5 minutes
Popular Episodes:
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:
Download Your "Top Ten Leadership Audiobooks"
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:
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
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
I’m thankful to be featured on the following websites.
Top 10 school leadership podcasts
5 podcasts principals should try
The best school administration podcasts
School leadership podcast recommendations
