Alliance for Catholic Education
Hosted by Kevin Baxter, a new podcast invites Catholic school leaders to take a break and reflect.
School leadership can be consuming. Balancing the daily needs of students, teachers, and families in a moving landscape influenced by policy shifts and school choice initiatives, leaders rarely have time to take a step back.
Kevin Baxter, director of the Mary Ann Remick Leadership Program at the University of Notre Dame, hopes a new podcast will offer that space. Now. Here. This., launching on September 29, brings Catholic education leaders together to reflect on the challenges and joys of their experience, and the ongoing work of leadership formation.
Episodes run 25 to 30 minutes, short enough for a morning commute, a workout or a walk, intended as a pause in busy schedules, rather than another task. New episodes will be released weekly on Tuesdays.
"Catholic schools are such joyous places but the work can present many challenges," Baxter said. "The podcast is designed to be a mental and spiritual reset — to ground yourself in the values that led you to work in Catholic schools initially."
Baxter previously hosted a podcast while serving as chief innovation officer for the National Catholic Educational Association. He wanted to start another since arriving at Remick five years ago, inspired by the people he met in this work.
"There are so many gifted, talented, and engaging Catholic school leaders in the country," he said, adding that he sees the podcast as a way for them to share what they have learned with one another.
Topics are aimed first at those already in Catholic school leadership, but Baxter sees a wider audience with conversations centering on leadership more broadly. The series focuses on Catholic schools, so educators who lead in the classroom, or simply want to make a difference in their school community, can find something in them, too. Those aspiring to leadership roles will hear how guests navigated their paths.
Guests come from a variety of backgrounds; not everyone is a principal or superintendent. Upcoming conversations include author Ann Garrido, superintendent Greg Richmond, and University of Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua.
Whatever their role, each guest is navigating the same questions: how to lead well, and how to stay grounded while doing so.
Across conversations, the invitation to be more present to your community remains constant.
Now. Here. This. premieres Sept. 29, with new episodes airing weekly on Tuesdays wherever you get your podcasts. Hear a teaser for the upcoming series here.