The Elemental Educator Podcast

The Brutally Honest Way to Rebuild Your Reputation

Identity is built by choices, not labels. Redemption requires accountability, and pressure reveals who you really are. One in a row. Quiet the noise. Tell the truth when your reputation is on the line. This episode breaks down tools for rebuilding identity and leadership when every decision matters. What you’ll take from this conversation: Why “choices” beats the label trap (and how it changes your identity).A values test for leadership: second chances, forgiveness, discipline, redemption. How to rebuild trust when your past comes up: “truthfully.” Decision-making under pressure in Spark or Burn: you only get to pick one. Subscribe to the Elemental Educator YouTube channel to help us keep bringing on guests like Chad. CHAPTERS 00:00 Convict vs Conviction: The Reinvention Mindset 01:11 First Day Out: Back to Work, Building a New Identity 05:57 The Support System: Parents, Jackie, and Persistence 07:41 “Choices, Not Labels”: The Lesson That Reframed Everything 08:39 Earth Segment: Grounded Values (Principle or Preference) 16:59 Air Segment: Headwinds & Tailwinds (Hot Seat Rapid Fire) 27:16 Flip the Script: Turn Adversity Beliefs into Power 28:27 Water Segment: Ripples of Change (Quick-Fire Leadership Tips) 29:25 Fastest Reset Tool: Just Breathe (Fear Into Focus) 33:09 Selling Water in the Desert: Know Your Audience 35:49 Fire Segment: Spark or Burn (Hard Choices, No Explanations) 39:00 Control vs Command: What You Can Actually Own 43:43 Question for the Next Guest + Closing

Performance Coach The “1% Better” Rule That Fixes Your Habits (Even When You Keep Failing)

Caden Vittorini, former college athlete and performance coach, breaks down the “1% better every day” method for building habits, staying consistent, leading with clarity, and making faster decisions under pressure. This conversation covers daily standards, discipline, adversity, leadership scenarios, reframing negative beliefs, and how to create real change when motivation disappears.Guest Links:Website: https://www.vittfactor.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vitt.factorMy Links :Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elemental_educatorYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ElementalEducatorTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@elemental.educatorWebsite: https://www.elementaleducator.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyler-comeau-961a49310/For speaking, consulting, coaching, guest recommendations, or other inquiries:tyler@elementaleducator.comChapters:00:00:00 The Truth You Don’t Want To Hear: Get 1% Better (Even On Your Worst Days) 00:00:42 First Job Guessing Game: Every Leader Starts Somewhere 00:09:31 The “Young Leader” Advantage: Why Youth Drives Change 00:10:21 Grounded Moments: Values Revealed Under Pressure 00:10:29 Principle Or Preference: Rapid-Fire Values Test 00:11:57 The 1% Better System: The One Question That Rebuilds You 00:17:21 Air Segment: Adversity, Headwinds, Tailwinds 00:17:39 The Hot Seat: Your First Move When Everything Goes Sideways 00:23:06 Flip The Script: Turn Negative Beliefs Into Power 00:24:33 Water Element: Ripples Of Change (Make Impact That Lasts) 00:24:51 Quick Tips: Sharp Leadership Advice In Seconds 00:29:39 Fire Element: Spark Or Burn (Decisions That Define You) 00:29:54 Final Answer Game: No Explanations—Only Your Choice 00:32:33 Creativity vs Clarity: The Real Leadership Tradeoff 00:32:55 Time Is The One Thing You Don’t Get Back 00:38:03 Final Thought: If You’re Not Proud Of Your Life—Change Your Daily Habits 00:38:32 Support The Show: Reviews + Subscribe

The Mindset Gap Between High Performers and Everyone Else (With JM Ryerson)

What You’ll Get From This Episode In this episode, I sit down with J.M. Ryerson—performance coach, bestselling author, entrepreneur, and co-founder of Let’s Go Win—for a raw and grounded conversation about success, adversity, and identity. JM opens up about the moments most people never see: personal loss, physical setbacks, business failures, near-divorce, and the internal reckoning that forced him to redefine what winning actually means. Together, we explore values versus ego, luck versus skill, vulnerability versus transparency, and why growth mindset isn’t a buzzword—it’s a daily choice. This episode challenges leaders to stop performing success and start living in alignment, so they can win at work without losing at home. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elemental_educator [https://www.instagram.com/elemental_educator]YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ElementalEducator [https://www.youtube.com/@ElementalEducator]TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@elemental.educator [https://www.tiktok.com/@elemental.educator]Website: https://www.elementaleducator.com [https://www.elementaleducator.com]LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyler-comeau-961a49310/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyler-comeau-961a49310/] For speaking, consulting, coaching, guest recommendations, or other inquiries: tyler@elementaleducator.com J.M. RyersonWebsite: https://letsgowin.com Win From Within Program: https://www.letsgowin.com/win-from-within Podcast on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lets-go-win-podcast/id1517669567 Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5NXkgcxlZ0moDtlKZRio2G LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jm-ryersonInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/letsgowin365 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/letsgowin365 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@letsgowin Twitter: https://x.com/Letsgowin365 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@letsgowin365 #WinningFromWithin#LeadershipDevelopment#HumanCenteredLeadership The Elemental Educator explores leadership through four foundational forces—Earth (values), Air (adversity), Water (change), and Fire (decision-making). Each conversation transforms lived experience into practical clarity, helping leaders align who they are with how they lead, so success doesn’t come at the expense of wellbeing.

Are Leaders Expected to Be Everything Except Human? (With Kurt Sacher and Ray Hoppins)

What You’ll Get From This EpisodeIn this episode, two of Alberta’s most respected educational leaders — Ray Hoppins and Kurt Sacher — unpack the realities of leadership that most people never see. Across decades of service as principals, superintendents, mentors, and system-builders, their insights cut beyond theory into the lived experience of leading people, culture, and complex organizations.Together, we explore the leadership moments that define careers: the values that hold under pressure, the misunderstandings that come with authority, the trust required to grow others, and the inner work leaders must do to stay grounded. If you want to understand how exceptional leaders think, decide, and elevate others, this conversation is your blueprint.00:00 — What would you tell your younger self before stepping into leadership?00:43 — How did Ray’s early life shape how he leads today?06:33 — What do leaders truly value when the pressure hits?07:13 — How do your values show up when you’re forced to choose?28:24 — Why does trust come before proving yourself as a leader?28:55 — What comes first: responsibility or belief in the person?29:04 — How do leaders create environments where people rise instead of retreat?36:59 — How do great leaders stay grounded when everything speeds up?37:40 — What’s the fastest way to break stress before it breaks you?37:54 — How do leaders regain focus instantly when distractions spike?These are the strongest, most high-impact leadership moments across the entire episode.CONNECT WITH MEInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/elemental_educatorYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ElementalEducatorTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@elemental.educatorWebsite: https://www.elementaleducator.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyler-comeau-961a49310/For speaking, consulting, coaching, guest recommendations, or other inquiries:tyler@elementaleducator.comCONNECT WITH OUR GUESTSRay HoppinsLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rayhoppins/Website: https://www.hoppins.ca/homeKurt SacherWebsite: https://www.sachersolutions.caLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kurt-sacher-71243665/#LeadershipAtItsHighestLevel#EducationalLeadership#HumanCenteredLeadership

I Failed My Biggest Test — and It Redefined Success (with Dr. Greg Wells)

What You’ll Get from This Episode In this conversation, human physiologist, author, and performance expert Dr. Greg Wells reveals the mindset shifts that turn adversity into adaptation. From breaking his neck at 15 to rebuilding his career after COVID, Greg has faced the kind of “shatter points” that force complete reinvention. He shares how radical responsibility, curiosity, and resilience shape true growth—and why our biggest breakthroughs often arrive disguised as setbacks. This episode challenges you to reframe difficulty, embrace failure as data, and lead yourself through uncertainty with calm and clarity. Connect With Me Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elemental_educator [https://www.instagram.com/elemental_educator] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ElementalEducator [https://www.youtube.com/@ElementalEducator] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@elemental.educator [https://www.tiktok.com/@elemental.educator] Website: https://www.elementaleducator.com [https://www.elementaleducator.com] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyler-comeau-961a49310/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyler-comeau-961a49310/] For Speaking, Consulting, Coaching, Guest Recommendations, or Other Inquiries tyler@elementaleducator.com [tyler@elementaleducator.com] Connect With Our Guest Website: https://www.drgregwells.com [https://www.drgregwells.com] Podcast: The Dr. Greg Wells Podcast Books: Rest, Recharge, Refocus | The Ripple Effect | Powerhouse #RadicalResponsibility #GrowthThroughAdversity #PerformanceMindset About the Elemental Educator The Elemental Educator podcast examines the four forces of lasting leadership — Earth (values), Air (adversity), Water (change), and Fire (decision-making). Each episode bridges lived experience with research-backed insight, helping leaders act with courage, discipline, and clarity in the moments that matter most. Timestamps 0:00 - Trailer to Show 1:02 - The Biggest Influence 3:03 - Advice to Younger Self 5:35 - Luck vs Skill 8:45 - Guest Introduction 10:57 - Grounded Moments 11:10 - First Job (game) 18:00 - Top 3 Things in Team Members 29:45 - Headwinds and Tailwinds 30:10 - The Hot Seat (game) 31:50 - Something to Unlearn 42:10 - Flip the Script (game) 44:25 - Ripples of Change 44:55 - Quick Tips (game) 47:50 - Change Process Steps 53:00 - A Lasting Impact 55:35 - Spark or Burn 55:55 - Final Answer (game) 59:35 - Separating Emotion from Logic 1:05:45 - One Year Left to Live 1:07:45 - Wrap Up