iLEAD + Misti Blue: Strategy and Soul

In this episode of the Misti Blue Podcast, Misti Green shares how an ordinary Sunday in the kitchen turned into an extraordinary lesson about love, care, and God’s timing. On her brother and sister-in-law’s last day with her, she filled the table with homemade food: biscuits and gravy for breakfast, collard greens, and Sunday dinner in the evening.Through the slow work of cooking, she reflects on how love is often expressed through patience, intentionality, and sacrifice, and how God, much like a careful cook, prepares us with the same kind of deliberate care.If you’ve ever wondered whether your small acts of love matter, or if the process you’re in is worth it, this episode will remind you: nothing is wasted - release the spoon and, "Let It Cook."

Bullying isn’t just a student problem; it’s a leadership problem. In this episode, Misti Green breaks down what federal and state policies actually require, how schools should respond, and why advocacy matters when the system fails to protect kids.From classroom culture to district accountability, she exposes the gaps between policy and practice, and empowers parents, educators, and administrators to take action that gets results.💡 Learn the laws.🗣️ Find your voice.✊🏽 Protect every child.Because policies protect on paper - but people protect in practice.

In a world full of filters, trends, and imitation, Misti Green reminds us that authenticity still stands undefeated. This episode dives deep into the difference between pseudo-confidence and lived confidence, and why what’s real will always outlast what’s rehearsed.Pull up a chair - the table is set. It’s time to remember who you are and walk boldly in it.

Audacity isn’t arrogance - it’s alignment.Every difference-maker gets mislabeled. This episode invites you to have the audacity to be misunderstood—staying steady, rooted, and aligned when your calling is ahead of its time. Featuring David’s journey, Dr. King’s resolve, and my own story of leading through grief and grit. Pull up a chair, you’re in good company.When your heart is pure and your integrity is anchored, misunderstanding doesn’t disqualify you—it often means you’re early. In this episode, we unpack the courage it takes to be misread and keep moving anyway. From David’s caves to Dr. King’s cell to real moments from my own leadership journey, this is a call to alignment over applause, obedience over opinion, and light that disrupts what darkness made comfortable.In this episode, you’ll hear:Why “misunderstood ≠ misplaced”David’s restraint: purpose that refuses to rushDr. King’s urgency: obedience that won’t wait for consensusMy story of showing up through loss and leading with quiet strengthHow to stay steady when “tone” becomes the scapegoat for your confidenceQuotes to remember“Audacity isn’t arrogance - it’s alignment.”“You don’t need the understanding of others to validate the instruction of God.”“Being misunderstood doesn’t mean you’re wrong - it means you’re early.”“Obedience will always outlast opinion.”

In this final episode of Beauty for Ashes: Purpose in the Pain, we bring the journey full circle. From Leah’s rejection to Joseph’s betrayal, Ruth’s grief, David’s failure, and Esther’s fear, each story has revealed how God weaves pain, loss, and trial into a greater tapestry of purpose.Like the farmer in Isaiah’s parable, every strike, every pressing, every season of sifting has meaning. Nothing in your life has been wasted. What felt like ashes—failure, delay, rejection, or heartbreak has been preparation for the beauty God is still bringing into focus.If you’ve missed earlier episodes, go back and listen to the whole series. Each one offers a different lens into how God redeems pain and calls us to a higher level. And as we close this series, remember: your ashes are not the end. They are the soil where God grows beauty.

What do you do when life places you in a position you didn’t ask for — carrying a weight you never thought would be yours? Esther knew that ash. Orphaned, displaced, and living with a hidden identity, she faced fear and risk at every turn. And yet, God positioned her “for such a time as this.”In this episode of the Misti Blue Podcast, we walk through Esther’s story and discover that:Loss and displacement can position you for purpose.Courage doesn’t mean the absence of fear - it rises in the middle of it.Influence isn’t for applause - it’s for assignment.Esther’s ashes became the stage for her most excellent assignment, and her courage rewrote history. Her story reminds us that God can use our hidden seasons, our losses, and even our fears to position us for His purpose.Scripture Anchor: Esther 4:14 “And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”Listen in and be encouraged: your ashes may be the soil where God plants your calling.

What do you do when the ashes are your own fault? In this episode of the Misti Blue Podcast, we step into the life of David, the shepherd boy who became a king, the giant-slayer who became a leader, and the man after God’s own heart who also became an adulterer and a murderer.David’s story is messy and real. He knew the ash of rejection, the ash of fear, and the ash of moral failure. Yet his life reminds us that failure is not final when grace is your foundation.Through David’s highs and lows, we’ll uncover three truths:Being overlooked doesn’t disqualify you — it positions you.Your failures don’t cancel your calling — they can deepen your dependence.God’s grace can turn shame into a testimony of redemption.If you’ve ever felt disqualified by your mistakes, this message is for you. David proves that ashes are not the end — they are the soil where God grows beauty.Scripture Anchor: Isaiah 61:3 — “He will give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.”

Ruth’s story begins in heartbreak. She married into an Israelite family that moved to Moab during a famine, only to lose her father-in-law, her husband, and her brother-in-law. Widowed in a foreign land, Ruth faced grief, poverty, and uncertainty—ashes of a life she never expected.Yet Ruth chose loyalty over comfort. She left her homeland to care for her mother-in-law, Naomi, and worked humbly in the fields of Bethlehem. There, God’s quiet providence placed her in the path of Boaz, her kinsman-redeemer.In Part 3 of the Beauty for Ashes: Purpose in the Pain series, Misti Green explores how Ruth’s faithfulness in loss became the doorway to redemption and legacy:Loyalty in the ashes can open the door to a lasting legacy.Faithfulness in small, unseen places positions you for God’s bigger redemption.God’s provision often arrives through people and unexpected opportunities.Ruth’s life reminds us that grief and displacement are not the end of the story—God can turn the ashes of loss into the soil of legacy.

Betrayal hurts deepest when it comes from the people we trust most. Joseph knew that pain. Sold by his brothers, falsely accused in Potiphar’s house, forgotten for years in prison—his life seemed buried in ashes. Yet every setback became a step toward destiny.In Part 2 of the Beauty for Ashes: Purpose in the Pain series, Misti Green unpacks Joseph’s story from Genesis to show how:Betrayal can break your heart, but it cannot break your calling.Your pit is not permanent—it’s preparation.What others mean for evil, God can turn for good.Joseph’s journey proves that delay is not denial and that God’s elevation often comes through the very places of our deepest wounds.Your own betrayal or season of waiting may feel final, but God is still writing beauty into your story.

Leah’s life was marked by rejection. Bartered into marriage, overshadowed by her sister, and unloved by her husband Jacob, she knew the sting of comparison and the ache of being overlooked. Yet God’s plan for Leah did not end with her pain.In this opening episode of Beauty for Ashes: Purpose in the Pain, Misti Green unpacks Leah’s story from Genesis and shows how God turned the ashes of betrayal and unrequited love into the very soil of redemption. From Leah’s womb came Judah—the lineage of King David and ultimately Jesus Christ.This conversation invites every heart that has wrestled with rejection, betrayal, or feeling unseen to discover that:Being overlooked by people never cancels being chosen by God.Painful seasons can birth the greatest purpose.God sees what others ignore and writes beauty into the very places that feel wasted.Leah’s journey reminds us that even when people do not choose you, God still calls you, and your ashes can become the seedbed of His greatest work.

Step into Beauty for Ashes: Purpose in the Pain, a special series on the iLEAD | Misti Blue Podcast. Through the lives of Leah, Joseph, Ruth, David, and Esther, you’ll see how God turns betrayal, grief, rejection, and loss into the very soil of purpose.This 5–7 minute trailer invites you to: • Recognize that restoration doesn’t rewind—it reveals what’s next. • Name the ashes you carry and trust God to redeem what you release. • Notice the quiet signs of renewal—small wins, timely encouragement, and unexpected joy.Your process is the path to your purpose. Every shake, every sift, every season of pain is preparation for the beauty God has already planned. Subscribe and follow so you don’t miss an episode of this hope-filled journey.

Turnaround campuses are among the most challenging places to lead—but also among the most important. In this episode of the iLead Podcast, we break down what a turnaround campus really is, why so many of them serve our most marginalized students, and what it takes to flip the narrative.Drawing from real data and real examples—including Mike Miles’ bold work in Houston ISD—we discuss the systems, mindsets, and leadership required to transform a campus from failure to success. From the dangers of relying on “autopsy data” to the power of capacity building, rapid feedback, and coherent systems, this episode explores the weight and the promise of turnaround work.At the heart of it all is one fundamental principle: every student deserves access to high-quality instruction and educators who believe in their success, regardless of the barriers they face. If you don’t think that, turnaround work isn’t for you.Listen in and be challenged to rethink leadership, rebuild systems, and keep moving the needle of success for all students.

Misti Green shares real stories of students whose struggles are often hidden behind hoodies and bravado. This episode reminds educators that connection comes before compliance and that one caring adult can transform a school’s culture.

Misti Green shares her own journey from “hallway kid” and high school dropout to educator and leader, and the story of a student whose quiet resilience reminds us that every child’s life can be transformed. This episode calls educators to look beyond behavior, lead with compassion over compliance, and become the lifeline every student deserves.

At 14, I left home with no plan, no safety net, and more fight than fear. From sleeping on couches and eating leftovers, to crossing the border with a fake ID, I should not be here today—but God’s hand carried me the whole way. In this raw episode, I share the story of resilience, grit, and faith that turned a runaway into a comeback. Anchored by Psalm 91:11 and Deuteronomy 30:3, this is a reminder that your story isn’t over. No matter how scattered you feel, God can pick up the pieces, restore what was lost, and shape you into your own comeback kid.

In this raw and unfiltered episode of the Misti Blue Podcast, I open up about what it means to grow up as a preacher’s daughter — seeing the beauty and the brokenness of church life — and how that shaped my faith. I talk honestly about wrestling with my humanity, my use of profanity (“I use the F-word like a comma”), and still loving Christ with everything I am. Through the story of David — a man after God’s own heart despite his failures — I share why faith isn’t about perfection, but about pursuit. If you’ve ever felt unworthy to speak about God, this conversation is for you.

The first episode of the 'With Maddie in Mind' series seamlessly blends the strategy of iLEAD with the soulful storytelling of Misti Blue. Inspired by a joyful three-year-old diagnosed with autism, we explore early literacy, IEPs, and parent advocacy—helping families protect their child’s joy while building strong futures.Visit my website for downloadable resources to help you understand and navigate the system as your child's most prominent advocate: https://www.ileadmb.com/media-resources

Waiting seasons are some of the most difficult to navigate. In this episode, Misti unpacks the emotional weight of waiting—when prayers seem unanswered, doors stay closed, and silence fills the space. Through personal stories, scripture, and soulful reflection, she reminds listeners that the wilderness isn’t punishment—it’s preparation. You may feel forgotten, but God is still working. Stay rooted. Stay anchored.

Change doesn’t wait for the perfect moment, and neither can leadership. In this episode of The iLEAD Podcast, I discuss what it really takes to lead change that is felt, trusted, and lasting. Through personal stories, corporate parallels like Southwest Airlines, and the anchoring frameworks of Dr. Pete Gorman, this episode offers both heart and strategy. Whether you're leading in schools or systems, this is your call to lead with courage, clarity, and credibility.Visit my website for Change Leadership downloadable resources: https://www.ileadmb.com/media-resources

In this powerful episode of Misti Blue Moments, Misti reflects on what it means to lead with courage in the face of resistance. Drawing inspiration from the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona and the legacy of Claudette Colvin, she explores how true leadership means showing up - not for applause, but for impact. This is a call to rise, to root yourself, and to run with purpose.

The Nail That Sticks Out explores what it really means to stand out in life and leadership. I’m Misti Green, host of the Misti Blue Podcast. In this episode, I share the cost of being different, the resilience it takes to face criticism, and how resistance—like the wind that strengthens trees—can forge us into something unshakable. This is for anyone who’s ever felt hammered down for daring to be themselves, but knows they were made to stand tall.

In Episode 6, "What's Under That Hood", I share an inspiring story of resilience, kindness, and the power of education. Through the journey of a young boy who overcame personal trauma with courage and a smile, we explore the essence of being a force for positive change. This boy, with his simple acts of generosity and his triumph over adversity, taught me invaluable lessons about the impact of compassion over compliance in the classroom.Reflecting on this experience, I advocate for educators to look beyond the surface, understanding each student's unique challenges and strengths. I emphasize the importance of empathy and personal connections in fostering an environment where every student feels valued and supported.Join me as we discuss the importance of being "The Nail that Sticks Up" for transformative change and acting as a "Force Multiplier" in the lives of our students. This episode is a call to action for all educators to lead with kindness and intentionality, making a lasting difference in the educational journey of our students.

In this episode, I reflect on being, 'The Nail that Sticks Up' and embracing being a 'Force Multiplier'. I share a narrative of trauma and how I am choosing not to allow the traumatic experience to be the period or end point of my journey in this field I have grown to love deeply.I am anchoring myself to my passion for the field of education, my purpose to do what is best for students - all students, and my belief that every single student is salvageable and capable of success.Join me in being 'The Nail that Sticks Up' for change and being a 'Force Multiplier'.

In the final part of this three part series, we continue enhancing tier one planning practices by developing the skill of designing aligned learning objectives. Aligned learning objectives should be a first step in lesson planning. Aligned learning objectives provide students with part of the route on their journey toward academic mastery. Learning objectives are done ‘for students’ and ensure educators are accountable for aligned instructional moves.

In part two of a three part series we dive into deconstructing standards to support in predicting misconceptions and analyzing instructional gaps. Deconstructing standards is a critical step of planning for quality tier one instruction.

In part one of a three part series I dive into the process of strategically prioritizing skills and standards. During this episode, I will reference the Priority Standards work of Larry Ainsworth and Mike Mattos. Join me as we partner together to enhance our planning practices as we work to move the needle of student achievement toward excellence.

In this episode we discuss the power of response when faced with adding new skills or learning to our already proficient toolkit to improve our productivity, performance and proficiency. I will chat with my youngest son about a time when he had two choices - 1) to throw in the towel and quit, or 2) plow straight ahead - embracing the challenge to learn something new and embrace it as an opportunity to get better.

Introducing the iLEAD Podcast, a space for Instructional Leaders for Excellence, Action and Development. During this short introduction episode, I share the why behind iLEAD as I reflect on accepting my past, embracing my present and looking forward to the future.