We have a massive problem in healthcare leadership. We’re losing our brightest minds not because the work is too hard, but because the culture is too cold.If you are running a ward, a practice, or an entire hospital, you’ve felt the friction: the endless tension between meeting financial targets and actually caring for the people who do the healing.In this episode, I’m sitting down with Professor Andy Knox to talk about what actually keeps a team together when the pressure is at a breaking point. We’re moving past the textbook definitions of leadership and diving into the real, messy, human work of building a culture where staff don't just survive, they thrive.We’re breaking down:The "Culture of Joy": How to make your department a place where people actually want to show up.The Truth About Burnout: It’s not just a workload issue; it’s a leadership issue. Here is how to fix it.The Secret to Retention: Why a sense of vocation matters more than the paycheck, and how you can nurture it.Stop managing a workforce and start leading a community. This is the blueprint for the next generation of healthcare.

Many experienced SLPs think they just need to plan better.Tweak the activity. Adjust the visuals.Try a new printable or protocol.But what if none of that is the real problem?What if your sessions are already so skillful that no one else can reinforce what you're doing?🧠 What if the very clinical decision-making that gets you results is the thing preventing generalization?In episode 254 of De Facto leaders, I share the top three pieces of unconventional advice I give SLPs when they’re designing their language therapy system. It’s not just about what you should do, but about what you SHOULDN’T do.In this episode, I mentioned Language Therapy Advance Foundations, my program that gives speech pathologists a framework for building language skills needed to thrive in school, social situations, and daily life. You can learn more about the program here: https://drkarenspeech.com/languagetherapy

Anne Stricherz (St. Ignatius High School, San Francisco) shares how sports can become a living classroom for faith—a place where students practice prayer, discipline, community, and purpose in real time. From the “spirit of play” to the line between ritual and superstition, Anne offers simple ways to help students find God not only in chapel, but also on the court, in the end zone, and in the highs and lows of competition. This conversation equips educators and coaches to connect theology to students’ lived experience so faith feels less like a unit to memorize and more like a life to live.For the Faith in Every Arena – Quick-Start Guide, please visit us here.  If you need help planning for your unique staffing situation, please schedule a time to talk with us today. https://bit.ly/Build-IT-Better-TogetherAnne Stricherz has been speaking the language of sports and spirituality her entire life. In 2009, Anne created a blog and theology course entitled Sports & Spirituality. An avid sports fan, Anne believes we can learn more about the spiritual life through the analogy of sports. The class and her writing is fortified by Anne’s experience in having coached girls' high school rowing, cross-country and golf.Today she works with coaches to help them create their own program for the spiritual development of their athletes. She is the author of "Pray and Practice with Purpose: A Playbook for the Spiritual Development of Athletes"—a book to serve as a complimentary resource. Anne has spoken about Sports and Spirituality at parishes, local and national conferences. She is now working with other athletic departments—in particular at secondary schools nationwide—to help them "faith train" their athletes.St. Ignatius College Preparatory is a community of lifelong learners that supports students as they develop into thriving adults. With a commitment to intellectual excellence, leadership, service, and justice, our students strive to respond courageously to the opportunities and challenges of our time.Through a rigorous and integrated program of academic, spiritual, and co-curricular activities, St. Ignatius educates all aspects of our students according to the Jesuit philosophy of cura personalis, care for the whole person.The In Search of Catholic School Excellence Podcast is brought to you by I Love My Tech Team. When technology doesn’t work, Catholic school leaders lose time, trust, and momentum. We partner with schools to restore reliable systems, empower teachers, and create the foundation for innovative learning centered on students.Lead Your School Into What’s Possible with I Love My Tech Team.Restoring What’s Broken. Advancing What’s Possible.Find out more at https://ilovemytechteam.com

In this episode, a friend of the podcast Bart Hoffman, interviews Frank Rodriguez and Gene Tavernetti about their new book and the importance of being more intentional about how technology is used in schools. They discuss the challenges educators face in balancing digital tools with meaningful human interaction in learning environments.Digital Captives: Helping Schools Strike a Balance Between Humans and Hardware, written by Frank Rodriguez, Donna Smith, and Gene Tavernetti, explores how schools can thoughtfully integrate technology while keeping teaching, learning, and relationships at the center.See bios for the authors at the Schools Next website.www.schoolsnext.org

Shannon welcomes Benjamin Albaum (CEO/Founder) and John Mina (CIO/Founder) of VIZQ to discuss their revolutionary speech therapy technology.Key Topics:The Generalization Problem: John explains how students master skills in therapy but struggle to transfer them to real-world settings—the core problem Viscu aims to solve.What is VIZQ?: A VR-based digital extension of speech therapy that collects real-time data and personalizes treatment, creating continuity of care between therapy, home, and school.Speech Therapy Scope: John clarifies that SLPs work on far more than lisps—including speech sounds, fluency, voice, and the critical area of language (expressive, receptive, and pragmatic/social skills).Why Toothbrushing?: The team chose this as their first activity because it incorporates receptive language, cognition, sequencing, and behavior—all foundational skills wrapped in one essential daily task.Research-Based Approach: VIZQ uses systematic prompting and evidence-based special education practices, making it adaptable for any learner, not just those with disabilities.Real Results: Deployed in 10+ Kentucky schools across 5 counties, students are requesting to use VIZQ, cheering each other on, and—most importantly—10 of 11 kids in a study showed independent toothbrushing at 1 and 3-month follow-ups.Future Vision: Expanding to life skills like laundry and coffee-making that double as job skills, with the ultimate goal of creating "a therapist in your pocket" for lifelong independence.