From classroom teacher to leadership architect, Nautrie Jones shares her journey of transforming educational systems and workplaces by helping people recognize their value, develop their potential, and create meaningful impact.Nautrie Jones, co-founder of Empact Work, has spent over two decades shaping people-centered leadership across education and organizational consulting. Beginning her career in Atlanta Public Schools, Nautrie quickly distinguished herself as a thoughtful educator and mentor, known for her empathetic approach with middle school students and her ability to create structured, engaging classrooms. Her dedication extended beyond academics, providing students with basic needs and fostering a sense of belonging, which became a cornerstone of her professional philosophy.Her path wasn’t without challenges. After over a decade of teaching, Nautrie recognized her contributions were undervalued when a modest raise was denied, prompting her to reassess her career trajectory. Mentorship, reflective practice, and a pivotal recommendation from a former colleague eventually led her to Teach For America, where she honed her skills in teacher coaching, leadership development, and team strategy. Each transition, from educator to instructional coach to organizational consultant, was marked by courage, curiosity, and a commitment to seeing potential in others.Through Empact Work, Nautrie and co-founder Travonnie Mackey address systemic gaps in talent development and workplace alignment. They equip managers with the tools to support teams effectively, clarify value propositions so employees understand their path to success, and ensure strategic plans translate into measurable performance. Nautrie emphasizes that leadership is as much about understanding people’s motivations as it is about strategy, and she encourages reflection, curiosity, and deliberate practice as keys to lasting impact.Nautrie discusses recognizing opportunity, cultivating empathy, and translating experience into scalable frameworks for growth. Listeners will walk away inspired to embrace persistent callings, build compassionate communities, and lead with clarity. Tune in to hear Nautrie’s insights and discover how cultivating human-centered leadership can transform both organizations and lives. Chapters00:38 👋 Meet Nautrie Jones, From Classroom to Co-Founder01:29 📚 Publish your book at https://leveragepublishinggroup.com02:20 🏫 Nautrie’s Early Career and Teaching Philosophy23:35 ✍️ Find support for writing your impact-driven book at booksthatmatter.org 24:24 💼 Transitioning to Talent Strategy and Empathy in Leadership30:59 💖 Spiritual Currency and Abundance31:59 🎓 Navigating Challenges in Education35:38 🚀 Transition to Teach For America47:20 🌟 If you are a leader or changemaker looking for support, check out geniusdiscovery.org 48:07 🤝 Founding Empact Work54:26 🔮 Final Reflections and Future Plans01:00:06 🎧 Want a podcast just like this one? Check out podcastsmatter.com LinksWebsite: www.empact.workLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nautrie-jonesConnect with Nautrie Jones to explore her approach to leadership, discover Empact Work’s professional development offerings, and learn how to create workplaces where people feel valued, empowered, and clear about their contribution.   Connect with Ron: www.linkedin.com/in/rapataloCheck Out Ron's Book: www.amazon.com/dp/1613431473 Leverage Publishing Group: www.leveragepublishinggroup.comPublish a Book That Matters: http://booksthatmatter.orgStart a Podcast That Matters: http://podcastsmatter.comGo from Expert to Thought Leader: http://geniusdiscovery.org For more great podcasts like this one, visit: https://podcaststhatmatter.org

From a childhood shaped by instability to a career dedicated to building pathways of opportunity, The Stronger Podcast host, Mike Montoya, shares how resilience, education, and supportive adults can change the trajectory of a life and an entire generation.Mike, a consultant with Stronger Consulting, reflects on growing up in 1970s Colorado Springs as the son of a barber and a homemaker, rooted in agricultural communities and first-generation aspirations. Though his parents never attended college, they made deliberate sacrifices to create better educational opportunities for their children. That commitment to upward mobility and purpose now anchors Mike’s professional mission, shaping how he helps organizations stay grounded in why their work matters. His story underscores how values formed early in life often become the foundation for meaningful leadership later on.He opens up about childhood adversity marked by unresolved trauma, emotional conflict, and unpredictability at home. Stability came through structured environments like Boy Scouts, swimming, church, and school programs, where trusted adults offered safety and consistency. As a teenager and later as a college student, Mike intentionally sought distance and growth, eventually attending Boston College before transferring to Colorado College, where he found confidence, belonging, and direction. These experiences ignited his passion for youth development and resilience research.Mike shares how global travel with Up With People and later work at UC San Diego deepened his commitment to expanding access to education for underserved students. He explains why college remains a powerful lever for first-generation families, despite rising costs and systemic challenges. Drawing on his experience, he advocates for cradle-to-career pathways, community partnerships, and accountability beyond high school graduation alone.Mike’s story is a compelling reminder that investing in young people is both a moral and societal imperative. Tune in to hear why Mike believes we can’t afford to give up on education, and what it will take to ensure opportunity is truly within reach for every child.Chapters🎙️ 00:31 Want a Podcast Just Like This One? Check Out podcastsmatter.com 🌄 00:47 Growing Up in Colorado Springs🏠 05:03 Family Dynamics and Childhood Challenges🎓 06:54 High School and College Journey🌱 10:44 Discovering Youth Development and Early Career🌍 12:52 Up With People and a Global Perspective🏫 15:10 Building a Career in Youth Development and Education🔮 25:18 Reflections on Purpose and Future Aspirations🔗 27:15 Find More Podcasts That Matter at podcaststhatmatter.org Links Connect with Mike: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mmsc/Stronger Consulting: https://strongerconsulting.comPublish a Book That Matters:  http://booksthatmatter.orgStart a Podcast That Matters:  http://podcastsmatter.comGo from Expert to Thought Leader: http://geniusdiscovery.orgFor more great podcasts like this one, visit https://podcaststhatmatter.org/ Stay strong. 

From a childhood shaped by crisis in the Bronx to leading one of New York’s most influential juvenile justice organizations, Dr. Gisele Castro shares how lived experience became the foundation for systemic change and courageous leadership.In this episode, Ron welcomes Gisele Castro, CEO of Exalt, a nationally recognized nonprofit dedicated to supporting court-involved youth through education, paid internships, and cross-sector collaboration. Recently earning her Distinguished Doctoral Degree from NYU Steinhardt, Dr. Castro reflects on her journey as a scholar-practitioner who bridges research, policy, and on-the-ground impact. With more than two decades in the juvenile justice field, she is widely respected for building ecosystems that center young people while transforming how institutions work together.Dr. Castro traces her purpose back to a defining moment at age fourteen, when her older brother was shot and became entangled in the juvenile justice system. Witnessing her family navigate a broken system without adequate resources reshaped how she understood inequality, poverty, and opportunity. Though she once imagined a career in journalism, that same curiosity evolved into a deeper question: what could she build to change outcomes for young people facing the same barriers her family did?Throughout the conversation, Dr. Castro unpacks the philosophy behind Exalt’s success, from cultivating internal self-reflection and coaching to uniting judges, prosecutors, educators, nonprofits, and youth who rarely sit at the same table. She shares insights from her doctoral research, Innovation Versus Incarceration, and introduces the emerging 2030 Project for Juvenile Justice—a blueprint designed to close the gap between scholarship and practice while centering youth voice. Listeners will also hear how Exalt approaches leadership development, talent mobility, and intentional scaling as it expands from New York City to Syracuse.At its core, Dr. Castro’s journey is a powerful example of legacy, environment, and responsibility. She challenges leaders to reject scarcity mindsets, invest deeply in people, and model wellbeing so young people can truly thrive. Tune in for an inspiring conversation on how proximity to adversity, paired with disciplined leadership, can reshape systems and create lasting impact.Chapters🌱 00:39 Meet Dr. Gisele Castro and Her Journey of Resilience📘 01:53 Publish your book at https://leveragepublishinggroup.com/ ✨ 01:53 The Spark Behind a Lifelong Mission🏛️ 02:46 Building Exalt and Transforming Systems and Lives🔮 04:43 Personal Reflections and Future Aspirations✍️ 17:12 Find support for writing your impact-driven book at booksthatmatter.org 🧠 26:25 Intellectual Inspiration and Family Legacy📍 29:45 Exalt Expands Its Impact to Syracuse📈 32:16 A Methodical and Strategic Approach to Scaling🏙️ 35:09 Building the Next Generation of Leadership in New York City🚀 38:24 Inside Exalt’s Leadership Development Model🌐 40:52 If you are a leader or changemaker looking for support, check out geniusdiscovery.org 🎙️ 52:29 Want a podcast just like this one? Check out podcastsmatter.com LinksWebsite: www.exaltyouth.orgExalt’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/exalt_2/Socials: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gisele-castro-9860b8b/ Connect with Dr. Gisele Castro’s work through Exalt and follow her journey as she continues to reimagine juvenile justice, leadership development, and systems built to help young people and communities thrive.Connect with Ron: www.linkedin.com/in/rapataloCheck Out Ron's Book: www.amazon.com/dp/1613431473 Leverage Publishing Group: www.leveragepublishinggroup.comPublish a Book That Matters: http://booksthatmatter.orgStart a Podcast That Matters: http://podcastsmatter.comGo from Expert to Thought Leader: http://geniusdiscovery.org For more great podcasts like this one, visit: https://podcaststhatmatter.org

The Stronger Podcast host, Mike Montoya, looks ahead to the future of school leadership, unpacking why the next hiring cycles will define whether schools stabilize or continue to struggle with turnover and burnout.In this episode, Mike reflects on what’s coming in 2026 and beyond for K–12 education, with a sharp focus on hiring season and leadership trends. Drawing on years of experience placing more than 90 school leaders and interviewing tens of thousands of candidates, he speaks candidly about the growing strain on principals and district systems alike. He names a clear inflection point in education, where teacher shortages, principal turnover, and fragmented talent pipelines are colliding.Mike explores why strong school leadership almost always begins with excellent teaching experiences paired with early-career mentorship and development. While there’s no national consensus on how to grow great leaders, research from organizations like the Wallace Foundation reinforces what Mike has seen firsthand: principals have a powerful, positive impact on school outcomes when they are supported and allowed to stay. Frequent leadership transitions, he explains, create organizational chaos that disrupts culture, instruction, and student success.It is unrealistic to expect one leader to manage instruction, operations, and community engagement alone. Mike shares examples of long-tenured principals who, with the right systems and support, built thriving school communities where both students and adults flourished. These environments serve learners across the spectrum through intentional resource allocation, data-informed decisions, and a deep commitment to belonging.Looking ahead, Mike predicts moderate turnover in the near term, with increased movement expected around 2027. Rather than competing in a tight market, he urges systems to double down on developing their own people. He offers a grounded, hopeful vision for how schools can invest in leaders who love the work and stay long enough to make a lasting difference. Tune in for a thoughtful look at what it will take to build stable, thriving schools in the years ahead.Chapters🎧 00:31  Want a Podcast Just Like This One? Check Out podcastsmatter.com🏫 00:45 The Current State of School Leadership🧭 01:57 Challenges and Pathways in School Leadership🌱 08:11 Success Stories and Leadership Reflections🔮 12:15 Predictions and Opportunities Ahead🔗 15:33 Find More Podcasts That Matter at podcaststhatmatter.orgLinks Connect with Mike: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mmsc/Stronger Consulting: https://strongerconsulting.comPublish a Book That Matters:  http://booksthatmatter.orgStart a Podcast That Matters:  http://podcastsmatter.comGo from Expert to Thought Leader: http://geniusdiscovery.orgFor more great podcasts like this one, visit https://podcaststhatmatter.org/ Stay strong.

From learning differently to leading differently, Josh Feldman shares how a childhood shaped by learning disabilities became the foundation for redesigning work culture around rest, humanity, and sustainable impact.Josh Feldman is the Founder and CEO of R&R: The Rest of Our Lives, a practice dedicated to helping mission-driven organizations build cultures where people can actually thrive. With over 20 years of experience as a master facilitator, coach, and community builder, Josh has worked across nonprofits and social impact spaces, bringing deep empathy, creativity, and systems thinking to leadership development. His work challenges the assumption that productivity and exhaustion must go hand in hand, especially for changemakers doing meaningful work.Josh traces this philosophy back to his childhood, sharing a formative fourth-grade memory of seeing beauty in New York City buildings while struggling to read. Navigating a learning disability with the support of thoughtful parents and teachers taught him early on that there are many valid paths to success. Those experiences shaped his belief that differences can become superpowers—building collaboration, empathy, and inclusive leadership skills that would later define his career.The conversation explores why so many leadership programs fail to create real change: people are simply too burned out to absorb what’s being offered. Josh explains how this realization led to founding R&R and advancing practices like sabbaticals, Break Weeks, and redefining rest as organizational infrastructure rather than individual self-care. He emphasizes that leaders must model rest themselves, normalize practices like naps and meeting-free time, and reject false urgency that keeps teams trapped in constant sprint mode.Josh is calling to redesign work around life, not the other way around. Josh and Ron reflect on hustle culture, nonprofit scarcity narratives, and the opportunity to use this moment of technological change to re-center humanity at work. Listeners will walk away with a more expansive understanding of rest, permission to experiment with what restoration looks like for them, and a vision for building workplaces that can sustain impact for generations to come. Tune in for a thoughtful, restorative conversation that just might change how you think about leadership, productivity, and what really matters.Chapters🎙️ 00:39 Meet Josh Feldman and His Mission to Transform Work and Leadership📚 01:24 Publish your book at https://leveragepublishinggroup.com/ 🌱 09:45 Founding R&R the rest of our lives🛌 13:37 Why rest belongs at the center of leadership and work culture✍️ 22:40 Find support for writing your impact-driven book at booksthatmatter.org 🧭 29:26 Reflections on leadership maturity and personal growth⏰ 31:23 Flexibility, autonomy and trusting people at work❤️ 32:55 Redefining rest and well-being beyond self-care🏗️ 39:13 Redesigning work culture for long-term sustainability🤝 47:44 If you are a leader or changemaker looking for support, check out geniusdiscovery.org ✨ 52:17 Final reflections and an invitation to rethink work🎧 57:09 Want a podcast just like this one? Check out podcastsmatter.comLinksWebsite: https://restofourlives.orgLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-josh-feldman-4a84297/Explore Josh Feldman’s work at R&R: The Rest of Our Lives to discover research, tools, and practical frameworks, like Break Weeks, sabbaticals, and glimmers, that help organizations and individuals build more humane, sustainable ways of working.Connect with Ron: www.linkedin.com/in/rapataloCheck Out Ron's Book: www.amazon.com/dp/1613431473 Leverage Publishing Group: www.leveragepublishinggroup.comPublish a Book That Matters: http://booksthatmatter.orgStart a Podcast That Matters: http://podcastsmatter.comGo from Expert to Thought Leader: http://geniusdiscovery.org For more great podcasts like this one, visit: https://podcaststhatmatter.org/