The CharacterStrong Podcast

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CharacterStrong
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6.5K - 10.8K listeners Female/Male 4.9 rating 430 reviews 447 episodes USA
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30s Ad: $198 - $249 60s Ad: $241 - $292 CPM Category: Education
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The CharacterStrong Podcast: Weekly conversations for anyone in education.

CharacterStrong provides an evidence-based, multi-tiered solution to support whole child success. Curricula and trainings that improve behavior, increase safety, and support mental health.

For more information visit our website: characterstrong.com

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Recent Hosts, Guests & Topics

Here's a quick summary of the last 5 episodes on The CharacterStrong Podcast.

Hosts

Previous Guests

Cory McCarthy is the Chief of Student Support for Boston Public Schools, focusing on holistic approaches to student well-being and success.
Dr. Vince Breunig has dedicated over 30 years to serving students, staff, and families in public education. He began his career as a school psychologist, then transitioned into school administration. Over the past 24 years, he has served as an educational leader in Wisconsin, including roles as Director of Student Services, High School Principal, and currently as District Administrator for the School District of Lodi since 2020. He was named a 2024-25 Superintendent to Watch by the National School Public Relations Association.
Dr. Clay Cook is the Chief Development Officer at CharacterStrong. He specializes in supporting schools through sustainable implementation of educational programs. Clay focuses on embedding new practices into school culture, monitoring fidelity, and providing consultative support to ensure lasting impact. His expertise helps schools avoid implementation drift and achieve long-term success in character education and mental health initiatives.
John Hellwich is the Director of Secondary Teaching and Learning at the Peninsula School District in Washington. He is involved in initiatives addressing youth mental health and digital habits, notably leading community campaigns inspired by the book 'The Anxious Generation' to promote healthy tech use among students.
Alex Kajitani is the 2009 California Teacher of the Year and a Top-4 Finalist for National Teacher of the Year. He is the author of several books, including 'Owning It', which was named Recommended Reading by the U.S. Department of Education. He has a new book out for new teachers titled 'You’re a Teacher Now! What’s Next?' which is receiving rave reviews. Known globally as The Rappin' Mathematician, Alex has delivered a popular TED Talk and was honored at The White House. He has also been featured on The CBS Evening News, where Katie Couric expressed her admiration for him.

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Biography

Creating a more loving world through education 💚 An evidence-based, multi-tiered solution to support whole child success.

Episodes

Here's the recent few episodes on The CharacterStrong Podcast.

0:00 19:01

Holistic Student Support In Action - Cory McCarthy

Hosts
N/A
Guests
Cory McCarthy
Keywords
holistic student support adaptive progress monitoring relational work MTSS whole child success

Today our guest is Cory McCarthy, the Chief of Student Support for Boston Public Schools. We talk with Cory about what it means to take a truly holistic approach to student support. He explains the critical difference between technicaland adaptive progress monitoring—and why getting to the “third why” in conversations with students and staff is a game-changer. Cory also shares how Boston Public Schools opens its doors seven days a week to meet student needs and why relational work is at the heart of their approach.

Learn More About CharacterStrong: 

0:00 21:01

Celebrate the Small Stuff: The Power of Positive School Storytelling - Dr. Vince Breunig

Hosts
N/A
Guests
Dr. Vince Breunig
Keywords
positive school storytelling school culture community trust social media in education student involvement branding in schools small moments in education

Today our guest is Dr. Vince Breunig, District Administrator at the School District of Lodi. We talk to Dr. Breunig about the power of consistently sharing the good happening in our schools. He shares practical strategies for celebrating small but meaningful moments, filling the community with positivity, and making space for authentic engagement—especially through social media. Dr. Breunig also highlights how involving students in storytelling and using creative, intentional branding can strengthen school culture and community trust.


Learn More About CharacterStrong:
 

 

Dr. Vince Breunig has dedicated over 30 years to serving students, staff, and families in public education. He began his career as a school psychologist, a role he held for six years before transitioning into school administration. Over the past 24 years, Vince has served as an educational leader in two Wisconsin school districts. For the last 17 years, he has proudly served the School District of Lodi—as Director of Student Services, High School Principal, and currently as District Administrator, a position he has held since 2020. In recognition of his leadership and communication efforts, Vince was named a 2024–25 Superintendent to Watch by the National School Public Relations Association—one of just 25 superintendents nationwide to receive this honor. Vince has been married to his wife Melanie for 28 years. Her unwavering support has been a cornerstone of his journey in education. Together, they are the proud parents of four children.

0:00 15:24

Sustainability: A Key to Lasting Impact in Education - Dr. Clay Cook

Hosts
Unknown
Guests
Dr. Clay Cook
Keywords
sustainability implementation school culture fidelity monitoring MTSS curriculum educational support

Today our guest is Dr. Clay Cook the Chief Development Officer at CharacterStrong. We talk to Clay about one the most important parts of implementation: sustainability. From onboarding and monitoring fidelity to embedding new practices into the fabric of school culture, Clay shares the essential systems that help schools avoid implementation drift. He also highlights how CharacterStrong supports schools through a unique consultative approach focused on sustainable implementation.

Learn More About CharacterStrong: 

 

0:00 20:21

Tackling Tech & Teen Anxiety: A Community on a Mission - John Hellwich

Hosts
Unknown
Guests
John Hellwich
Keywords
teen anxiety tech habits community campaign digital age mental health unstructured play social media detox phone-free weekends

Today our guest is John Hellwich, the Director of Secondary Teaching and Learning at the Peninsula School District in WA. We talk to John about the Gig Harbor/Key Peninsula community campaign inspired by the book The Anxious Generation. With anxiety rising and screen time out of control, this grassroots movement is bringing together schools, faith leaders, doctors, and local organizations to reimagine what healthy tech habits look like for students. From phone-free weekends and social media detoxes to reigniting the power of unstructured play, John shares how the community is taking bold, united action to protect youth mental health in the digital age.

Learn More About CharacterStrong: 

0:00 19:15

Showing Up Matters: The Power of Daily Connection - Alex Kajitani

Guests
Alex Kajitani
Keywords
relationships education confidence competence daily connection students

Today our guest is Alex Kajitani the 2009 California Teacher of the Year and also The Rappin' Mathematician.

We talk to Alex about the foundational role that relationships play in education. He unpacks the three essential components every relationship must have and highlights the different types of relationships students navigate daily—with themselves, their peers, the adults on campus, and the content they’re learning. Alex challenges the common belief that confidence leads to competence, offering a powerful reframe. He leaves us with a compelling reminder: the simple act of consistently showing up can make a profound difference in a student’s life.

Learn More About CharacterStrong: 

 

Alex Kajitani is the 2009 California Teacher of the Year, and a Top-4 Finalist for National Teacher of the Year.  He is the author of several books, including Owning It, which **was named “Recommended Reading” by the U.S. Department of Education. He also has a new book out, for new teachers, titled “You’re a Teacher Now! What’s Next?” and it's getting rave reviews.

Alex is known around the world as “The Rappin’ Mathematician, has a popular TED Talk, and was honored at The White House. He was also featured on The CBS Evening News, where Katie Couric exclaimed, “I LOVE that guy!” (and you will too!). For more info, visit www.AlexKajitani.com

Ratings

Global:
4.9 rating 430 reviews

USA

4.9 ratings 422 reviews

Canada

4.8 ratings 6 reviews

UK

5.0 ratings 1 reviews

New Zealand

5.0 ratings 1 reviews

Ireland

0.0 ratings 0 reviews

Australia

0.0 ratings 0 reviews

Singapore

0.0 ratings 0 reviews

South Africa

0.0 ratings 0 reviews