13 of the best leadership podcasts to listen to in 2021
As another year begins, many of us will reflect on the past 12 months and put in place new goals, motivations and areas of improvement for the months ahead. For those in school business management or other leadership positions, one of the most popular areas of focus will be a key skill, like leadership.
If you’re looking to maximise your leadership skills and lead from the front at your school in 2021, there is plenty of guidance out there. Try out a few of these handpicked podcasts, each of which focus on developing leadership qualities or similar workplace traits.
2021’s Essential Leadership Podcasts
1. Better Leaders Better Schools
What it is: Hosted by Daniel Bauer, the Better Leaders Better Schools podcast features over 300 conversations with leaderships experts with the intention of helping listeners level up their skills in leadership. Many episodes focus on educational themes and topics, targeting what the creators describe as “Ruckus Makers” in education.
Average length of an episode: 20-40 mins
Where can I find it: Apple Podcasts
What the reviews say: “Danny is thoughtful, insightful and passionate about helping listeners level up their productivity so that we can impact young lives positively. Super applicable and realistic; excellent PD in a podcast!” Melandelijahsmom – Apple Podcasts Review
2. Global Institute for Women’s Leadership
What it is: Brought to you by no less than ex-Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard, the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership podcast (known as “A Podcast of One’s Own), features discussion with female (and sometime male) leaders from entertainment, sport, media and business. For women looking to progress, you can lean on the words of those who have been there and done in this pod.
Average length of an episode: 45 mins
Where can I find it: Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn
What the reviews say: ”Julia is a wonderful interviewer and her guests are brilliant. Amazing women. Strong women. Inspirational stories. Love this podcast. Wish it was weekly.” Baklava22 – Apple Podcasts Review
3. How to be Awesome at Your Job
What it is: This podcast focuses right in on your career and the skills you need to excel within it. Tackling key issues and barriers that cause is to underperform at work, episodes range from finding enjoyment at work to honing core skills like leadership. Applicable to people in any industry, How to be Awesome at Your Job is perfect for SBMs looking for actionable insights.
Average length of an episode: 30-45 mins
Where can I find it: Apple Podcasts, Stitcher
What the reviews say: “This podcast is so motivating and all the guests have such great insight to share! Keep up the amazing work.” Maya12345678901234567890 – Apple Podcasts
4. WorkLife with Adam Grant
What it is: Produced by legendary idea spreaders TED, organisational psychologist Adam Grant brings a scientific approach to loving your work. From improving remote work to learning to love criticism, Grant speaks to professionals from a variety of industries to bring you a fresh outlook on leadership and working life in general.
Average length of an episode: 35-45 mins
Where can I find it: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, TuneIn
What the reviews say: “As a young professional navigating the workspace, this podcast is absolutely amazing for keeping myself afloat. Adam brings up such great conversations and topics that you just relate so well to! Also helps with making work easier and developing good work habits.” CharZhao – Apple Podcasts
5. Manager Tools
What it is: From succession planning, performance reviews and providing better feedback, the Manager Tools podcast takes a deep dive into every possible topic and scenario for managers in workplaces across the world. If you’re having a management issues in your school, there is a podcast here for you.
Average length of an episode: 45 mins
Where can I find it: Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts
What the reviews say: “Terrific resource on specific behaviors to improve management practices. The management trinity is priceless. I have been listening to these podcasts since 2008. I highly recommend for anyone who wants to be a better manager.” Run to the podcast – Apple Podcasts
6. Habits of Leadership
What it is: Similar to the Manager Tools pod, Habits of Leaderships takes key topics and themes from management and expertly hands advice and actionable insight to allow managers to thrive. The most recent episode from November 2020 covers an area that many SBMs will deal with on a daily basis – how to have difficult conversations.
Average length of an episode: 30-60mins
Where can I find it: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts
What the reviews say: “In a new leadership role these podcasts have been so helpful. The interviews are hitting the stuff that comes up everyday in working in a school. The Q&A sessions also tackle the tricky levels of complexity that come with the job.” Ladykathleen - Apple Podcasts
7. HBR IdeaCast
What it is: The Harvard Business Review is one of the leading providers of business and management academic research. With their podcast you can glean leadership insights into key topics like managing burnout and lessons in diversity and culture in the workplace. Plus, one of the presenters, Alison Beard, oversees the HBR’s “Experience” section, helping guide individual managers in their careers.
Average length of an episode: 20-30mins
Where can I find it: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts
What the reviews say: ”HBR is my absolute favorite cast. I feel my mind expanding with every new episode and host Sarah is too notch! She guides the discussion so artfully with questions that get right to the heart of “why should I care?” or “make this information work for me”. Thought provoking stuff. JLBond – Apple Podcasts
8. Making Positive Psychology Work Podcast
What it is: Featuring leaders in positive psychology, positive organisational scholarship and neuroscience, the Making Positive Psychology Work podcast discuss business leadership through the lens of positivity. Check out key recent episodes such as “Are you a humble leader?” and “Can you thrive when times are tough?” for truly relevant topics for SBMs.
Average length of an episode: 30mins
Where can I find it: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher
What the reviews say: “This is my most listened to podcast - I learn so much from each episode and am often inspired to go and research more and add another book to my library. Enriching, stimulating and 100% useful. Definitely worthy of your time. Thank you Michelle and team!” Lou Wiles – Apple Podcasts
9. How I Built This
What it is: One tailored more for business owners, How I Built This speaks to some of the most revered innovators and business thinkers of our time. Discussing how they built some of the most recognisable brands in the world, this podcast is a still essential for anyone who wants to discover how the best in business lead their company to success.
Average length of an episode: 30-90mins
Where can I find it: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify
What the reviews say: “Guy has a way of soliciting details in the stories of these entrepreneurs that wouldn’t come out in a normal interview. I really enjoy listening to this podcast whether or not the particular product or service is of interest to me." djanis3 – Apple Podcasts
10. Leadership and Loyalty
What it is: Leadership and Loyalty is a fantastic place to start if you’re focusing on skilling up this year. Priding itself on being the pod that Fortune 500 execs tune in for, Leadership and Loyalty covers a range of career-focused topics to help you become a more rounded leader.
Average length of an episode: 60mins
Where can I find it: Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher
What the reviews say: “This podcast is a real find, always interesting, inspirational and upbeat, it never disappoints. Dov and Scott are a great hosting combo who challenge you to think not just outside the box but far beyond it. Keep up the fantastic work guys!” Lotusfleur – Apple Podcasts
11. The School Leadership Podcast
What it is: We’ve tried to offer pods that cover a wide range of industries and perspectives, but sometimes it’s good to get tailored advice for your role. Hosted by James Bowen, the Director of Policy and Edge Director at the National Union for Head Teachers, this pod takes the leading lights of education and discusses leadership and learning.
Average length of an episode: 30mins
Where can I find it: Apple Podcasts
What the reviews say: N/A
12. Happier with Gretchen Rubin
What it is: If you’re not happy in your role, you’ve little chance of leading others to be their best. That’s where Happier comes in. Hosted by Gretchen Rubin, the author of bestseller The Happiness Project, and her sister Liz, they bring manageable, practical advice about good habits and happiness in life and in work.
Average length of an episode: 30-40mins
Where can I find it: Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Spotify
What the reviews say: “Sisters Gretchen and Liz follow a trusty format that is both comforting and motivating. It’s the perfect podcast to listen to at the start of the new year. An example of one of Gretchen’s goals for the new year: “make an effort to appear visibly happy to see people.” Seagreen Girl – Apple Podcasts
13. The Mindful Podcast
What it is: Leading on from Happier, this final pod doesn’t discuss your leadership skills directly, but centres around mindfulness. Helping you boost your wellbeing, something that will be central to improving your leadership qualities, the Mindful podcast offers short meditations and other useful practices for complete harmony in your life.
Average length of an episode: 12mins
Where can I find it: Acast, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts
What the reviews say: N/A
