Summary

In this episode, Meghan engages in a deep conversation with Ian Bowen who shares his inspiring journey from being a paraplegic to running marathons. He emphasizes the importance of coaching, mentorship, and the role of educators in helping individuals reach their potential. The discussion highlights the similarities between coaching and teaching, focusing on how both professions guide individuals to overcome obstacles and achieve their goals. The guest introduces his RINSE methodology, which stands for Remember, Imagine, Notice, and Expect, as a framework for personal growth and resilience. He shares personal anecdotes and insights on how to cultivate a positive mindset and the significance of stepping outside one’s comfort zone to foster growth and development.

The conversation also touches on the challenges of entrepreneurship, parenting, and the importance of maintaining a positive outlook in the face of adversity. The guest encourages listeners to embrace their struggles and use them as stepping stones towards success, reinforcing the idea that everyone has the potential to overcome their circumstances and achieve greatness. This episode serves as a motivational reminder that with the right mindset and support, individuals can transform their lives and inspire others along the way.

Keywords

personal growth, resilience, coaching, mentorship, RINSE methodology, overcoming adversity, positive mindset, entrepreneurship, education, motivation

Takeaways

"A coach is someone who takes you to a destination you can't reach alone."

"You have to get uncomfortable because when you sit in that comfort zone, you're not growing."

"If you can look up, you can get up."

"It's not about learning anything new; it's about understanding that you already have everything you need in you."

"Expect the journey to be difficult, but also expect to win."

Welcome to Season 2 of No Name Paper — where we dig into the real work of education: the messy middle, the big shifts, and the people pushing our profession forward.

We’re kicking off the season with a powerful conversation featuring Chad Ostrowski, co-founder and CEO of the Teach Better Team.

Chad shares his journey from high-needs classrooms to developing the Grid Method, a mastery-based, self-paced learning framework designed to center learning over compliance. Together, we unpack what it really means to move away from “playing school” and toward classrooms where students take ownership — and teachers regain balance.

This episode is for educators who are questioning traditional grading, wrestling with engagement, navigating AI in the classroom, or looking for instructional models that actually work in real schools with real kids.

• Why coverage is not competence — and what to do instead

• How mastery learning changes student motivation, grit, and accountability

• What the Grid Method looks like in real classrooms (not just in theory)

• Why discomfort is often a sign that learning is actually happening

• How self-paced learning can reduce burnout and improve classroom management

• The impact of AI on learning — and why mastery-based instruction matters more than ever

• Practical entry points for teachers who want to try mastery learning without overhauling everything

• “If students are working harder and learning more, we’re winning — even if it’s uncomfortable.”

• “The value of teaching isn’t the knowledge we hold — it’s the experience we create.”

• “Mastery learning gives us better information, and better information never hurts instruction.”

• 🌐 Website: https://www.teachbetter.com

• 📚 Free Grid Method Course: Teach Better Academy

• 📲 Follow Chad on social media: @ChadOstrowski

• 📲 Follow Teach Better: @TeachBetterTeam

No Name Paper is where teaching is more than one size fits all. We highlight educators, ideas, and strategies that challenge the status quo and bring humanity back to the classroom.

If this episode resonated with you, be sure to follow, rate, and share — it helps other educators find the conversations they need.

In this episode, we discuss:Notable moments:Connect with Chad & Teach BetterAbout No Name Paper

Episode 42 — Culture First Classrooms with Dr. Darrin Peppard

Happy New Year and welcome back to No Name Paper! To kick off the year, Meghan and Candice revisit and re-release one of the most powerful conversations from early in the podcast—an inspiring, wisdom-packed interview with Dr. Darrin Peppard, leadership expert, bestselling author, consultant, and host of the Leaning Into Leadership podcast.

Dr. Peppard dives deep into what it truly means to build culture-first classrooms and schools—places where students and staff feel seen, valued, trusted, and empowered to thrive. From practical shifts teachers can make tomorrow, to transformational leadership lessons learned the hard way, this episode is rich with reflection, hope, and actionable strategies.

• Why classroom management isn’t about control—it’s about intentional culture-building

• How relationships, visibility, and curiosity change school communities

• Culture over compliance: moving beyond punishment to support and growth

• Serving multilingual and marginalized students with belonging and dignity

• Leadership truths: how administrators support culture instead of stifling it

• The real impact of culture on attendance, achievement, and discipline data

• How teachers build legacy through micro-moments students remember forever

• Encouragement for teachers who feel alone in the work of positive culture

• “We’re in the people business.”

• “Put culture first—and everything else follows.”

• “Kids don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”

• “Titles don’t make leaders. Actions do.”

• “Belonging drives achievement.”

✔️ Teachers focusing on classroom climate
✔️ School leaders navigating change
✔️ Educators feeling burned out or isolated
✔️ Anyone who believes culture shapes everything

A few rapid-fire highlights? Relationships matter most. Self-reflection changes practice. Leadership isn’t firefighting—it’s intentionally guiding people and culture.

Author of:

• Road to Awesome: The Journey of a Leader

• Culture First Classrooms

Host of:

• Leaning Into Leadership podcast

Culture isn’t accidental. It is built—moment by moment, choice by choice, relationship by relationship. This episode is your reminder that your presence, your intention, and your heart matter.