The Innovator’s Mindset Podcast

What does it take to innovate when everyone else is playing it safe?

In this episode of The Innovator's Mindset Podcast, George Couros sits down with legendary film producer Larry Kasanoff, author of A Touch of Madness, to explore why the biggest breakthroughs in film, business, and education often begin as ideas that others dismiss as impossible.

Drawing from his experiences producing films like Platoon and Mortal Kombat, Larry shares why true innovation requires the courage to move away from the comfortable "middle" and pursue ideas that challenge conventional thinking. From listening to a sixth grader who changed an iconic movie character, to explaining why Blockbuster missed Netflix, this conversation is filled with practical lessons for leaders, educators, entrepreneurs, and anyone looking to create meaningful change.

George and Larry also explore what these ideas mean for education today.

They discuss how schools can nurture creativity instead of compliance, why authentic learning matters more than simply earning grades, and how AI presents both opportunities and challenges for developing original thinkers.

Whether you are leading a school, building a business, or simply trying to bring a new idea to life, this conversation will challenge you to think differently about risk, creativity, and innovation.

In this episode, you'll learn:

Why the safest path often leads to irrelevance

How listening to your audience creates better ideas

Why asking is one of the most powerful innovation strategies

Lessons educators can learn from the film industry

How creativity can be developed, protected, and encouraged

The role of AI in authentic learning and creative work

📘 Get Larry Kasanoff's book, A Touch of Madness: How to Be More Innovative in Work and Life... by Being a Little Crazy: https://a.co/d/07N0isaK

Reflection Questions

Are you encouraging innovation, or rewarding people for playing it safe?

How can you create an environment where creative risk-taking is valued?

What opportunity have you assumed was impossible simply because you never asked?

___________

 

 

👉 Share your thoughts in the comments or connect with me on social media using #InnovatorsMindset

 

🌐 More at: https://georgecouros.com

 

🎙 Full audio podcast: https://linktr.ee/gcouros

 

Follow George Couros:

X: https://x.com/gcouros

 

Instagram: https://instagram.com/gcouros

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/georgecourosauthor/

 

LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/george-couros-a5146519

 

📚 Books by George Couros:

Forward, Together:

https://a.co/d/99RGvl3

 

The Innovator's Mindset: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0986155497?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

 

What Makes a Great Principal: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334739?tag=onamzgeorge0f-20

 

Because of a Teacher: https://www.amazon.com/dp/194833433X?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

 

Because of a Teacher 2: https://www.amazon.com/dp/194833450X?tag=onamzgeorge0f-20

 

Innovate Inside the Box: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334127?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

 

Music from Bensound - http://bensound.com/

What makes professional learning actually valuable for educators?

In this episode, I reflect on a recent keynote with nearly 400 school and district leaders in Pinellas County and share three powerful ideas that can transform professional learning experiences for teachers, principals, and leadership teams.

Drawing from themes in my book Forward, Together, this conversation explores how leaders can create learning experiences where people feel seen, heard, appreciated, and challenged to grow.

In this podcast, we discuss:

• Why educators need professional learning that feels relevant and personalized
• The importance of helping people “see themselves in the story”
• How humor and authenticity build stronger connections in leadership
• The “Warm Bath, Cold Shower” approach to leadership and growth
• Why people are more open to challenge when they know you genuinely care
• How school leaders can create better cultures for learning and innovation
• Practical strategies for making PD more meaningful and impactful

Whether you are a teacher, principal, superintendent, instructional coach, or district leader, this episode shares actionable ideas to improve professional learning, leadership development, and school culture.

If you are looking for ways to improve staff engagement, build trust, encourage innovation, and create more meaningful learning experiences in schools, this conversation is for you.

 

3 Questions for Consideration:

 

How can school leaders create professional learning experiences where educators feel both supported and challenged to grow?

What strategies help teachers and staff feel seen, heard, and valued during professional development?

How can districts make professional learning more relevant, personalized, and impactful for educators?

 

Signed Copies of Forward Together: https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/JEY8PVRZ6PUJS

 

Link to Newsletter: https://us12.campaign-archive.com/?u=9381017234135a9c6d5f7419a&id=f6260d0fce

 

Forward Together: https://a.co/d/011l40jv

 

___________

 

 

👉 Share your thoughts in the comments or connect with me on social media using #InnovatorsMindset

 

🌐 More at: https://georgecouros.com

 

🎙 Full audio podcast: https://linktr.ee/gcouros

 

Follow George Couros:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/gcouros

 

Instagram: https://instagram.com/gcouros

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/georgecourosauthor/

 

LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/george-couros-a5146519

 

📚 Books by George Couros:

Forward, Together:

https://a.co/d/99RGvl3

 

The Innovator's Mindset: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0986155497?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

 

What Makes a Great Principal: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334739?tag=onamzgeorge0f-20

 

Because of a Teacher: https://www.amazon.com/dp/194833433X?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

 

Because of a Teacher 2: https://www.amazon.com/dp/194833450X?tag=onamzgeorge0f-20

 

Innovate Inside the Box: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334127?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

Music from Bensound - http://bensound.com/

What does it look like when a CEO models the same learning, risk-taking, and growth she hopes to see throughout her organization?

In this episode of The Innovator’s Mindset Podcast, George Couros speaks with Brittany Lewis, CEO of Haven Schools, about creating a culture where high expectations for students are matched by a willingness to keep learning and improving as adults.

Brittany shares how her own visibility as a learner matters. Rather than asking others to take risks from the sidelines, she puts herself up front, tries new things, and demonstrates that growth requires a willingness to be vulnerable, reflect, and improve. Her example helps create the conditions for staff to take risks in their own learning and find better ways to serve students.

The conversation also explores an important question about change: Do we initiate change, or do we wait for change to happen to us? When we take an active role in creating change, we are better positioned to shape what comes next instead of simply reacting to it.

This episode is a conversation about high expectations, leadership, organizational learning, risk-taking, and the power of modeling the growth we hope to see in others.

Learn more about Haven Schools.

Questions for Reflection:

How do leaders model the learning and risk-taking they hope to see in others?

How can high expectations for students be matched by high expectations for adult learning and growth?

Where might we initiate change instead of waiting for change to happen to us?

___________

 

 

👉 Share your thoughts in the comments or connect with me on social media using #InnovatorsMindset

 

🌐 More at: https://georgecouros.com

 

🎙 Full audio podcast: https://linktr.ee/gcouros

 

Follow George Couros:

X: https://x.com/gcouros

 

Instagram: https://instagram.com/gcouros

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/georgecourosauthor/

 

LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/george-couros-a5146519

 

📚 Books by George Couros:

Forward, Together:

https://a.co/d/99RGvl3

 

The Innovator's Mindset: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0986155497?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

 

What Makes a Great Principal: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334739?tag=onamzgeorge0f-20

 

Because of a Teacher: https://www.amazon.com/dp/194833433X?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

 

Because of a Teacher 2: https://www.amazon.com/dp/194833450X?tag=onamzgeorge0f-20

 

Innovate Inside the Box: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334127?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

 

Music from Bensound - http://bensound.com/

Have you ever found yourself spending more energy focused on critics than on the people who have supported you all along?

In this episode of The Innovator’s Mindset Podcast, George Couros explores a powerful shift in perspective: moving from the desire to prove doubters wrong to the commitment to prove believers right.

Inspired by a comment from NBA player Jared McCain, George reflects on how encouragement from one educational leader changed the trajectory of his career and why the people who believe in us often deserve more of our attention than the people who don't. Through personal stories, lessons from leadership, and reflections on gratitude, purpose, and growth, this conversation explores a different kind of motivation, one rooted in honoring opportunity rather than responding to criticism.

Whether you're an educator, leader, parent, or someone navigating a challenging season, this episode is a reminder to recognize those who have invested in you and to use that belief as fuel for growth.

Questions for Reflection and Conversation:

When facing criticism or setbacks, do you spend more time focused on proving doubters wrong or proving supporters right?

Who are the people who believed in you during a pivotal moment in your life, and how has their support influenced your journey?

How might your mindset, work, or leadership change if gratitude toward your supporters became a greater source of motivation than criticism from others?

___________

 

👉 Share your thoughts in the comments or connect with me on social media using #InnovatorsMindset

 

🌐 More at: https://georgecouros.com

 

🎙 Full audio podcast: https://linktr.ee/gcouros

 

Follow George Couros:

X: https://x.com/gcouros

 

Instagram: https://instagram.com/gcouros

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/georgecourosauthor/

 

LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/george-couros-a5146519

 

📚 Books by George Couros:

Forward, Together:

https://a.co/d/99RGvl3

 

The Innovator's Mindset: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0986155497?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

 

What Makes a Great Principal: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334739?tag=onamzgeorge0f-20

 

Because of a Teacher: https://www.amazon.com/dp/194833433X?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

 

Because of a Teacher 2: https://www.amazon.com/dp/194833450X?tag=onamzgeorge0f-20

 

Innovate Inside the Box: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334127?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

Music from Bensound - http://bensound.com/

What does it take to develop school leaders who are prepared for the realities of today's educational landscape?

In this episode of The Innovator's Mindset Podcast, George Couros sits down with Justin Faulkner, founder and CEO of Connected Leadership Partners, to discuss how leadership development can move beyond theory and become practical, relevant, and immediately applicable.

Drawing from his experience as a teacher, coach, principal, higher education faculty member, and researcher, Justin shares insights from his work supporting leadership pipelines across Florida. Together, they explore why many principal preparation programs fall short, how leadership development should be grounded in real-world challenges, and why building strong professional networks may be just as important as the content itself.

The conversation also dives into the concept of fractional leadership, a model borrowed from the business world that helps schools and districts access expertise in innovative ways without adding full-time positions. Justin explains how districts can leverage existing talent, rethink traditional structures, and create more flexible systems to support growth and innovation.

Additional topics include:

• What Justin's research revealed about principal preparation programs
• Why stress management is often the biggest leadership preparation gap
• The importance of learning from leaders who are currently doing the work
• How coaching and cohort-based learning accelerate leadership growth
• The role of AI and emerging technologies in leadership development
• Why relationships and networking often become the most valuable part of professional learning
• How iterative feedback helps organizations continually improve leadership programs
• Lessons educational leaders can learn from working in the restaurant industry

Whether you're an aspiring administrator, a veteran principal, district leader, or someone passionate about leadership development, this conversation offers practical ideas for building stronger leadership pipelines and creating systems that support meaningful growth.

Questions for Reflection and Conversation:

What leadership skills are most difficult to learn through traditional preparation programs and require experience, coaching, or mentorship?

How could your school or district better leverage the expertise that already exists within your organization?

What structures help leaders move from simply learning new ideas to consistently implementing them in practice?

 

___________

 

👉 Share your thoughts in the comments or connect with me on social media using #InnovatorsMindset

🌐 More at: https://georgecouros.com

🎙 Full audio podcast: https://linktr.ee/gcouros

Follow George Couros:
X: https://x.com/gcouros

Instagram: https://instagram.com/gcouros

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/georgecourosauthor/

LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/george-couros-a5146519

📚 Books by George Couros:
Forward, Together:
https://a.co/d/99RGvl3

The Innovator's Mindset: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0986155497?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

What Makes a Great Principal: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334739?tag=onamzgeorge0f-20

Because of a Teacher: https://www.amazon.com/dp/194833433X?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

Because of a Teacher 2: https://www.amazon.com/dp/194833450X?tag=onamzgeorge0f-20

Innovate Inside the Box: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334127?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

Music from Bensound - http://bensound.com/