Dustin Odom is a passionate educator, leadership development expert, and host of the "Change Starts Here" podcast, where he explores how internal transformation fuels external change in schools, communities, and organizations. As a podcast host, Dustin has conducted compelling conversations with educational leaders across the country, from superintendents transforming school districts to chamber of commerce presidents bridging the gap between education and business. His interviews reveal the hum...
Jun 03, 2025•13 min•Ep. 1
How do you prepare students for jobs that don't even exist yet? In this episode of Change Starts Here, host Dustin Odham sits down with McLain Schaefer, Director of LIFT (Leaders Innovating for Tomorrow), a groundbreaking regional innovation and technology center in central Illinois that's redefining what Career and Technical Education can be. McLain shares his journey from elementary principal to leading one of the most innovative CTE programs in the country. In this conversation, McLain unpack...
May 27, 2025•42 min•Ep. 1
How do you prepare students for jobs that don't even exist yet? In this episode of Change Starts Here, host Dustin Odham sits down with McLain Schaefer, Director of LIFT (Leaders Innovating for Tomorrow), a groundbreaking regional innovation and technology center in central Illinois that's redefining what Career and Technical Education can be. McLain shares his journey from elementary principal to leading one of the most innovative CTE programs in the country. In this conversation, McLain unpack...
May 27, 2025•42 min•Ep. 1
What does the future of workforce development look like—and how can education and business leaders work together to shape it? In this episode of Change Starts Here, host Dustin Odham sits down with Dean Faile, President and CEO of the York County Regional Chamber of Commerce, to explore how aligning education with evolving industry needs can empower the next generation of leaders. Dean shares his personal mission of inspiring others to become more than they thought possible, and he dives deep in...
May 20, 2025•40 min•Ep. 1
How do you create great leaders in the educational system? In this episode of Change Starts Here, host Dustin Odham is joined by Laurie Brooks and Lynne Fox to explore the 4 roles of Leadership within the school system and how to utilize those roles effectively. In a conference style setting, Dustin dives into Laurie and Lynne's process of creating great leaders, both on the playground and not. They unpack Franklin Covey's framework of four essential leadership roles—inspiring trust, creating vi...
May 13, 2025•26 min•Ep. 1
What happens when we shift from controlling outcomes to empowering people? In the season finale of Change Starts Here, host Dustin Odham explores how trust isn't just a leadership trait—it's the foundation of real, lasting impact in schools. Dustin dives into the essential shift from micromanagement to meaningful collaboration, showing how extending trust helps build stronger teams, deeper relationships, and a culture where innovation thrives. Whether you're a classroom teacher or district leade...
Apr 30, 2025•12 min•Ep. 1
Leadership in education means empowering every student to recognize their unique strengths and potential. When we shift our mindset from "special education" to "students with exceptionalities," we transform how we view, support, and include all learners in our schools. In this episode of Change Starts Here, host Dustin Odham sits down with Kimberly Gardner, the first-ever Assistant Superintendent of Students with Exceptionalities and Federal Programs for St. Tammany Parish Public Schools. Kimber...
Apr 22, 2025•51 min•Ep. 1
What happens when students step beyond the classroom walls and into the communities they live in? Meaningful connection. Real-world perspective. And a powerful sense of purpose. In this final episode of Change Starts Here: Research Conversations, Dr. Jennifer Chevalier, Director of Funding at FranklinCovey Education, and Kim Yaris, M.Ed., Associate Director of Research, explore how community partnerships, mentorships, and internships can enrich learning and help students see their place in the w...
Apr 15, 2025•20 min•Ep. 1
Ever feel like your day is running you instead of the other way around? In this episode of Change Starts Here, host Dustin Odham explores one of the most powerful tools for effective leadership: the Time Management Matrix. Learn how shifting from spending time to investing time can unlock long-term success—for your team, your students, and yourself. Dustin unpacks why quadrant two (important but not urgent) is where the most impactful leaders thrive—focusing on reflection, planning, and relation...
Apr 01, 2025•10 min•Ep. 1
Language is more than just communication—it’s a powerful tool that shapes how we think, feel, and experience the world. In this episode of Change Starts Here: Research Conversations, Kim Yaris, M.Ed., Associate Director of Research at FranklinCovey Education, and Dr. Jennifer Chevalier, Director of Funding at FranklinCovey Education, dive into the deep connection between language and learning. They explore how small shifts in the way educators and students speak can impact confidence, motivation...
Mar 25, 2025•28 min•Ep. 1
Leadership in education isn’t just about policies and procedures—it’s about putting students first. When school leaders shift their mindset to serve students and staff rather than simply oversee them, they create an environment where everyone can thrive. Welcome to Change Starts Here. Join host Dustin Odham as he sits down with Dr. Toriano Holloway, Superintendent of Vicksburg Warren School District, to discuss his student-first leadership philosophy. Dr. Holloway shares the lessons he’s learned...
Mar 19, 2025•53 min•Ep. 1
Think back to a time when you felt truly empowered to make a decision. Perhaps it was choosing your career path, selecting a home, or even deciding how to tackle a challenging project. That feeling of ownership and control is powerful—it drives motivation, persistence, and ultimately, success. Now imagine if we could cultivate that same sense of empowerment in our students from an early age. In this episode of Change Starts Here: Research Conversations, Dr. Jennifer Chevalier, Director of Fundin...
Mar 11, 2025•20 min•Ep. 1
Imagine standing at a crossroads. In one direction, you can react to every challenge that comes your way, constantly fighting fires and feeling overwhelmed. In the other, you can choose to focus on what you can control, taking ownership of your responses and creating meaningful change—even within constraints. Which path will you choose? Join us on Change Starts Here as host Dustin Odham continues his five-part series on paradigms, focusing on the critical shift from reactivity to proactivity. Dr...
Mar 04, 2025•12 min•Ep. 1
There are countless stories about the power of belief—whether in classic fairytales, sports movies, or the journeys of groundbreaking innovators, we often see the impossible become possible through self-belief. But does believing in yourself, or self-efficacy, truly make a difference in real life, especially in education? In this episode of Change Starts Here: Research Conversations, Dr. Jennifer Chevalier, Director of Funding at FranklinCovey Education, and Kim Yaris, M.Ed., Associate Director ...
Feb 25, 2025•24 min•Ep. 1
Building leadership in your district doesn’t start with conferences or new hires—it starts with students. Cultivating leadership from a young age empowers future generations with the wisdom and guidance to lead. Tune in to hear how one superintendent is making this vision a reality. Welcome to Change Starts Here. Join host Dustin Odham as he sits down with Thom Cochran, Superintendent of Johnson County Schools, known for his passion for student leadership and his ability to build trust across hi...
Feb 18, 2025•44 min•Ep. 1
When you listen to a podcast or read an article, you take in the information and process it—but when something in that content connects to you personally, it sticks. You digest it more deeply and remember it with greater clarity. The same holds true in education: students retain information better when it feels relevant and engaging, and when they feel actively involved in their learning. Now imagine embedding that learning with future-readiness skills. In this episode of Change Starts Here: Res...
Feb 11, 2025•21 min•Ep. 1
Imagine a glass of milk—half full or half empty? The way we perceive what’s in front of us shapes our ability to grow, innovate, and lead. An abundance mindset allows us to maximize what we have, find creative solutions, and unlock potential—even in the face of obstacles. In today’s education landscape, this perspective is more essential than ever. Join us on Change Starts Here as host Dustin Odham continues his series on paradigm shifts, focusing on the transition from a scarcity mindset to an ...
Feb 04, 2025•12 min•Ep. 1
Imagine trying to push a boulder up a hill by yourself—it keeps rolling back down before you reach the top. Even with a team, if everyone pushes at different times, you’ll struggle to make progress. But when a team communicates effectively, trusts one another, and moves as one, that boulder doesn’t stand a chance. In education, the same is true: with a strong, collaborative team, no hill is too steep to climb. This concept comes to life in this episode of Change Starts Here: Research Conversatio...
Jan 28, 2025•23 min•Ep. 1
Changing the culture of an organization and creating the desired impact takes hard work, but it’s often difficult to identify where these improvements are truly taking place. Yearly reviews and test scores provide valuable insights into progress, yet they reveal little about the culture within our districts. But what if the changes we seek could begin with something as simple—and symbolic—as the plants around us? Welcome to Change Starts Here, join our host, Dustin Odham, as he sits down with Ch...
Jan 21, 2025•46 min•Ep. 1
Have you ever had a friend who instinctively knows what you're thinking, aligning perfectly with your decisions and comments? That kind of relationship, built on high trust, allows for quick, efficient collaboration while fostering a more engaging and enjoyable connection. When applied to the workplace, such relationships can boost productivity and create systemic synergy across districts and schools. In this episode of Change Starts Here: Research Conversations, Dr. Jennifer Chevalier, Director...
Jan 14, 2025•22 min•Ep. 1
Imagine wearing sunglasses with a red tint—everything you look at would have a red hue. The glasses represent our perceptions, but they don't always reflect the truth of the situation. Sometimes, we need to remove them to see the full spectrum of color and gain new perspectives. Join us on Change Starts Here as Dustin Odham starts off 2025 right, by setting a goal for all to start shifting our paradigms to create quantum leap change this year. In this episode, Dustin introduces Franklin Covey’s ...
Jan 07, 2025•13 min•Ep. 1
We’ve all heard the buzzword innovation—it’s a term that’s making waves in businesses and education alike. But it often leaves us with more questions than answers: What does innovation really mean? Does it always involve technology? Does it have to be a completely new idea? If you’ve been pondering these questions, you’re in the right place. In this episode of Change Starts Here, host Dustin Odham sits down with George Couros, author of The Innovator’s Mindset, to explore the true essence of inn...
Dec 18, 2024•1 hr 31 min•Ep. 1
Sports are full of inspiring stories where belief propels struggling teams to national championships. But this kind of belief isn’t confined to the court or field—it’s just as transformative in education. When teachers and staff unite around a shared belief that they can make a difference, they create a winning culture that drives meaningful change. In this episode of Change Starts Here: Research Conversations, Dr. Jennifer Chevalier, Director of Funding at FranklinCovey Education, and Kim Yaris...
Dec 11, 2024•22 min•Ep. 1
Sports are full of inspiring stories where belief propels struggling teams to national championships. But this kind of belief isn’t confined to the court or field—it’s just as transformative in education. When teachers and staff unite around a shared belief that they can make a difference, they create a winning culture that drives meaningful change. In this episode of Change Starts Here: Research Conversations, Dr. Jennifer Chevalier, Director of Funding at FranklinCovey Education, and Kim Yaris...
Dec 10, 2024•22 min•Ep. 1
Finding time to reflect and envision the future can feel nearly impossible amidst life’s chaos. Our packed schedules and uncertainty about how to craft a meaningful vision often hold us back. But in today’s episode, we’re giving you both the space to reflect and the tools to shape your vision for 2025. Join us on Change Starts Here as Dustin Odham shares his personal reflections on 2024, demonstrating how the process of looking back can uncover gratitude and a deeper appreciation for life. Wheth...
Dec 04, 2024•13 min•Ep. 1
Aiming at a target is challenging if every element isn’t fully aligned. You can hold the bow steady, but if your elbow isn’t positioned right, you’ll miss the mark. This is similar to education today—many districts are striving to achieve top-level goals, but they’re missing the impact of vertically aligned goals that could elevate district-wide success. In this episode, Dr. Jennifer Chevalier, Director of Funding at FranklinCovey Education, and Kim Yaris, M.Ed., Content Creator and Researcher a...
Nov 20, 2024•17 min•Ep. 1
When all lanes of a highway are open and free of construction, traffic flows smoothly, allowing travelers to reach their destination efficiently. But if one lane is closed or too much attention is focused on just one lane, traffic builds up, causing delays—or even accidents. The same holds true for whole-person education. Neglecting or hyper-focusing on any one area can cause bottlenecks in progress, just as it would on a busy road. In this episode of Change Starts Here: Research Conversations, ...
Nov 12, 2024•20 min•Ep. 1
Taking a close look at our schedules can reveal a lot about what we truly prioritize in our workday. You likely have time set aside for vision casting, meetings, or even lunch—but have you scheduled time to build relationships and extend trust within your team? Prioritizing this can strengthen your team and create a culture of trust within your community. In this episode, host Dustin Odham dives into the final three behaviors of "The Speed of Trust." Whether it’s listening first, keeping commitm...
Nov 05, 2024•27 min•Ep. 1
Every project or plan requires time to complete, and it's often up to leaders to assess whether that time is being used effectively. Are we actively moving the project forward, or investing time now to ensure future projects run more efficiently? In education, building trust is one such "project" that benefits from this type of focus and intentional use of time. In this episode, host Dustin Odham dives into the critical role of competence in building trust. He breaks down the five key trust beha...
Oct 30, 2024•26 min•Ep. 1
As kids, we all tried peeking through a keyhole, hoping to glimpse the world beyond the door. We could see a small part of it, but everything outside that narrow view remained a mystery. In education, we often take the same approach—viewing our students and colleagues through a limited perspective. But what if we opened the aperture and looked at things from a broader angle? In this live episode of Change Starts Here: Research Conversations, Dr. Jennifer Chevalier, Director of Funding at Frankli...
Oct 22, 2024•30 min•Ep. 1
