Podcasts

Podcast: Leaders Coaching Leaders

April 29, 2025

Leadership isn’t just about guiding others; it’s about growing yourself. On this episode of the Leaders Coaching Leaders Podcast, cohosts Peter DeWitt and Michael Nelson talk with Jennifer Abrams, renowned educator and author of Stretching Your Learning Edges: Growing Up at Work. Jennifer dives into the essential skills leaders need to succeed, including building resilience, managing challenging conversations, and cultivating professional cultures rooted in trust and collaboration. Drawing on her extensive experience working with schools and organizations, Jennifer offers advice on fostering self-awareness and navigating interpersonal dynamics with confidence and care. Don’t miss this empowering conversation packed with practical wisdom for leaders looking to grow their impact.

Schurtz and Ties Podcast

April 4, 2025

In this episode with Schurtz and Ties, educators and leaders, Kasey Schurtz and Brian T. Miller, talk with Jennifer about having hard conversations and tangible strategies to use to have them more effectively and humanely.

Podcast: In Conversation

February 24, 2025

In this episode of In Conversation, Steph Hawkins, Positive Psychology Expert & Coach, sits down with Jennifer to explore the power of difficult conversations in leadership. They discuss: (1) Why hard conversations matter for well-being—and how avoiding them can take a toll. (2) How leaders can approach them without losing sleep—strategies to reduce stress and build confidence. (3) Balancing clarity and care—how to be direct while supporting the other person’s well-being. Packed with insights, practical takeaways, and a fresh perspective on leadership communication, this is a must-watch for school leaders, coaches, and anyone looking to strengthen their conversations at work.

Podcast: The Wayfinder

February 6, 2025

What does it mean to be your best adult self at work? Abril connects with Jennifer Abrams, a communications consultant who supports educators, health care personnel, and others on new employee support, being generationally savvy, effective collaboration skills, having hard conversations, and creating identity-safe workplaces. Their conversation centers the concept of lifelong growth and how this is used as a guiding principle in developmentally-minded organizations like NESA. In practical terms, what does prioritizing adult development look like? How important is it for us to look deeply at ourselves? Join Abril and Jennifer as they explore what it means to curl up to our learning edges in the workplace – and beyond.

Podcast: The Counter Narrative Podcast

January 3, 2025

In this episode of the Counter Narrative Podcast, Charles Williams engages in a deep conversation with Jennifer Abrams about the significance of having hard conversations in educational settings. They explore the challenges of professional development, the necessity of adult development in schools, and the importance of emotional hygiene during professional learning. Jennifer shares her insights on how to navigate time constraints in PD sessions and emphasizes the need for intentionality in designing effective professional development experiences. The discussion also highlights the hunger for connection and meaningful learning among educators, and the resources available to support their growth.

Podcast: The Community Connection

September 20, 2024

In this podcast with Nathaniel Provencio, Jennifer talks about how the skills and mindsets she talks about in her book, Stretching Your Learning Edges: Growing (Up) at Work, can help team members in PLCs and on any team.

Podcast: Space to Think

July 18, 2024

Jennifer joined Sarah Philip, UK psychologist and coach, on her Space to Think podcast to explore the ideas from her book, Stretching Your Learning Edges: Growing (Up) at Work

Podcast: Take Notes with Jen Rafferty

January 11, 2024

In this podcast, Jennifer speaks with Jen Rafferty about empowering educators through effective communication and dealing with hard conversations.

Podcast: Principal Matters

January 3, 2024

Listen to Jennifer on Principal Matters: The School Leader's Podcast talk with William Parker about her books Having Hard Conversations and Stretching Your Learning Edges: Growing (Up) at Work.

Podcast: All Things Pilates with Darien Gold

November 7, 2023

Teachers - Have you ever had a disruptive student? If so, how did you handle this situation? And if you’re a student, have you ever had a teacher you wanted to 'divorce'? Having Hard Conversations by Jennifer Abrams is our guest today and I’ve asked her to talk about how to navigate uncomfortable conversations in our studios. Jennifer is a communications expert, keynote speaker, facilitator and author.