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Lead with HOPE

Dr. Brandi Kelly

Lead with H.O.P.E. is a leadership podcast hosted by Dr. Brandi Kelly that equips leaders to grow through challenge, lead with purpose, and create lasting impact.

Rooted in faith and real-life stories, each episode explores resilience, leadership, and the power of hope in action; especially in seasons that feel uncertain or heavy.

Through meaningful conversations and practical insight, you’ll be encouraged to strengthen your mindset, elevate your leadership, and remember that God is still at work; even in hard seasons.

Whether you’re leading in education, business, or your personal life, this podcast will help you lead with clarity, courage, and hope.

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  • 27 episodes
  • weekly
  • Avg 25 min
  • English
Counted on this page — what you have heard stays on this device, so it is not something the list can be paged by.
  • #103
    June 16 · 26 min

    Episode 103 | Meant for More with Karen Olsen

    The conversation with Karen Olson, founder and CEO of Family Promise, delves into the power of turning pain into purpose, the importance of persistence, overcoming adversity, finding purpose and passion, building community and kindness, hope in humanity, and concludes with a call to action. Takeaways Turning pain into purpose The power of persistence Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Family Promise 06:06 The Power of Persistence 13:59 Finding Purpose and Passion 19:15 Building Community and Kindness 25:29 Hope in Humanity Links and Resources: Coversari (Legacy Partner: https://www.conversaripress.com/ Karen Olsen: https://www.karenolsonauthor.com/ Family Promise: https://familypromise.org/ Reach out to Brandi Kelly, Ed.D, LCSW at https://sparkhopeedu.com/

    • Transcript
  • #102
    June 15 · 33 min

    Episode 102 | Surviving a Secret Life with Mandi Pratt

    The conversation explores the journey of pain and purpose, highlighting the power of hope and leadership. It delves into facing unimaginable circumstances, finding purpose, taking micro steps, and leading at home and in business. The importance of self-care, reflection, and choosing how to respond to pain is emphasized, along with the message of finding hope and purpose in life. Takeaways Pain into Purpose Hope and Leadership Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Gratitude 05:12 Finding Purpose and Hope 13:38 Leading at Home and in Business 22:47 Talking to Yourself and Reflecting 31:25 Reflecting on the Journey Links and Resources: Our Legacy Partner - Conversari: https://www.conversaripress.com/ Learn more about Mandi Pratt: https://womenawareandprepared.com/ Learn more about Brandi Kelly @ Spark HOPE Edu: https://sparkhopeedu.com/

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  • #101
    June 14 · 41 min

    Episode 101 | Creating Breathing Room with Rachel D. Baker

    The conversation with Rachel Baker explores the themes of hope, resilience, and the power of connection. Rachel shares her journey, emphasizing the importance of daily best, acts of kindness, and the cultivation of hope and optimism. The discussion delves into the significance of self-awareness, prioritizing, and finding fulfillment in education. It also highlights the role of community, faith, and the impact of daily acts of kindness in fostering hope and resilience. Takeaways Connection and community are essential for cultivating hope and optimism. Daily best is enough, and it's important to hold onto hope and faith. Acts of kindness and love can bring hope to others and ourselves. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Gratitude 05:01 Creating Breathing Room in Life 10:09 Self-Care and Self-Worth 15:16 Hope in Daily Acts of Kindness 21:15 Choosing Hope and Optimism 26:16 Connection and Kindness in the World 32:20 Acts of Kindness and Love 38:30 Choosing Hope and Optimism 44:39 Hope in Daily Best and Faith Links & Resources Conversari Press (Legacy Partner): https://www.conversaripress.com/ Rachel D. Baker: https://racheldbaker.com/ Visit https://sparkhopeedu.com and schedule a Leadership Clarity Assessment by clicking on the button in the upper right hand corner!

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  • #100
    June 13 · 8 min

    Episode 100 | Holding H.O.P.E.: 100 Episodes, 100 Conversations, Countless Lives Impacted

    What started as a podcast became a movement. In this special 100th episode of Lead with H.O.P.E., Dr. Brandi Kelly reflects on the lessons, stories, and conversations that have shaped the journey. From the power of human connection to the responsibility of holding hope for others, this milestone episode is a reminder that leadership is less about programs and more about people. Key Takeaways Hope isn't a feeling—it's a practice. People matter more than programs. Great leaders hold hope for others until they can hold it for themselves. Chapters 00:00 – Celebrating 100 Episodes 06:21 – The Most Important Leadership Lesson: Holding Hope for Others Resources and Links Conversari (Legacy Partner): https://www.conversaripress.com/ Start Your Year Strong Resource Guide: https://www.startyouryearstrong.com/guide Visit Spark HOPE Edu to learn about Dr. Brandi Kelly's work: https://sparkhopeedu.com/hopefueledpd26

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  • #99
    June 6 · 32 min

    Episode 99 | Finding Joy in the Journey with George Philhower

    Are you feeling overwhelmed as a leader? Discover how focusing on joy can be an unexpected but powerful tool for inspiring your team and cultivating hope in education. In this episode, we explore superintendent George Philhower's innovative approach to leadership that emphasizes the importance of joy, connection, growth, and success—culminating in the inspiring annual Joy Jam conference. Key Topics Covered: The importance of intentional joy in education and leadership How Joy Jam was born out of strategic promises focused on joy, connection, growth, and success Practical ways to embed moments of joy into daily school experiences The impact of self-awareness and shifting out of autopilot to create hope and purpose Timestamps: 00:00 - Welcome 00:34 - Introducing George Philhower 01:24 - George's background 02:43 - The influence of early teaching experiences and impactful moments 04:43 - The significance of adults modeling joy and hope for students 05:37 - Challenges in recruiting and retaining educators 07:06 - How joy and intentionality are integrated into leadership and school culture 08:17 - The origins and evolution of Eastern Hancock’s core promises 09:14 - Deep dive into the concept of layers of joy and meaningful moments 10:13 - Making joyful moments memorable and impactful in learning 12:28 - Building connection and creating a safe space for vulnerability 13:24 - Focus on growth and lifelong learning for students and staff 13:53 - Ensuring academic success while cultivating a positive culture 14:23 - The origin story of Joy Jam and its purpose 15:48 - The experiential and fun elements of Joy Jam (circus, puppies, memorable moments) 16:57 - Extending the strategic vision through educator conferences 18:09 - Feedback from Joy Jam attendees and its influence on school culture 20:45 - Overcoming setbacks and creating a safe environment to grow 21:44 - Personal story of vulnerability and embracing mistakes 24:40 - Reimagining education through personal challenges and resilience 25:22 - How personal adversity fuels the passion for joyful leadership 26:23 - The importance of contagious joy in inspiring communities 27:38 - Practical strategies for sharing joy and hope 29:12 - The significance of intentionality 30:35 - The role of self-awareness in cultivating hope and joy 31:58 - How to connect with Joy Jam and start spreading joy in your community 32:50 - What gives George hope today 33:29 - Last words and encouragement Resources & Links: Joy Jam 2026 – Information on upcoming Joy Jam conference Lead with H.O.P.E. - Book by Dr. Brandi Kelly– Gain insight into hope-fueled leadership practices Legacy Partner: Conversari Press – Guided dialogue that listens deeply, probes thoughtfully, and reveals what truly matters

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  • #98
    May 30 · 9 min

    Episode 98 | Real Leadership Starts with Healing, Hope, and Purpose

    Dr. Brandi Kelly shares her journey of self-discovery and the importance of hope in leadership. She emphasizes the role of self-awareness, belief, and purpose in effective leadership, and introduces a system of hope to sustain leadership excellence. Takeaways Leadership starts with self-awareness Hope is essential for leadership Chapters 00:00 The Journey of Self-Discovery 05:18 Leadership and Belief Resources and Links Legacy Partner - Conversari Press: https://www.conversaripress.com/ Spark HOPE Edu Coaching Packages: https://sparkhopeedu.com/coachingpackages

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  • #97
    May 23 · 41 min

    Episode 97 | Authentic Leadership Starts with Identity | Dr. Eric Moyer

    Feeling overwhelmed by leadership, burnout, or uncertainty about your purpose? In this powerful episode, Dr. Eric Moyer explores how understanding your identity in Christ can transform the way you lead, grow, and navigate life’s challenges. Through a faith-based conversation on authentic leadership, biblical identity, and personal growth, listeners will discover practical strategies for overcoming counterfeit identities, aligning their principles and priorities with God’s truth, and leading with greater clarity, confidence, and purpose. This podcast episode offers encouragement for leaders seeking spiritual growth, leadership development, and hope while balancing the pressures of leadership and life transitions. Topics include overcoming leadership burnout, purpose-driven leadership, faith and leadership, spiritual transformation, Christian personal growth, mindset shifts, and becoming the leader God created you to be. Chapters with timestamps: Introduction to Identity and Growth (0:03) Dr. Eric Moyer's Journey (1:06) Identity-Based Leadership (5:14) Counterfeit Identities (5:36) Aligning with God's Vision (8:16) The Four Ps of Identity (13:01) Leadership and Priorities (17:31) The Story of Jonah (29:52) Hope and Transformation (43:08) Resources and Links: Conversari Press - a Legacy Partner of the Lead with HOPE Podcast Connect with Dr. Eric Moyer: https://redeemingidentity.com/ Keywords: Educational Psychology Biblical Truth Identity-Based Leadership Dr. Eric Moyer Redeeming Identity Counterfeit Identities Leadership Development Christian Faith Spiritual Growth Jonah Story Aligning with God Four Ps of Identity Leadership Priorities Hope and Transformation

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Showing 21–27 of 27 episodes