PiXL Leadership Bookclub

Shift

We’re starting the season with Shift by Dr Ethan Kross, a fascinating exploration of how our emotions work and how we can take charge of them using simple tools that sit right in front of us. From shifting perspective to grounding ourselves in our senses by pausing, Kross opens the door to practical, science-backed strategies that help us think clearly and make better decisions. Host Rachel Johnson (PiXL CEO) is joined by school leaders Dr Chris Baker and Rozina Mulla to discuss what these ideas look like in the everyday lives of educationalists. Together, they explore how leaders can use emotional awareness to improve decision-making, support their teams and create healthier, more productive school cultures. Expect honest reflections and relatable stories, as well as plenty of practical insights you can put to use straightaway like carrying out "space audits" and visualising techniques to manage emotions. Whether you’re keen to manage stress more effectively or help your staff navigate the emotional demands of the job, this episode offers powerful guidance grounded in neuroscience but fully rooted in education. Prepare to lead by managing your emotions, rather than being managed by your emotions. If you enjoyed PiXL Leadership Book Club... Check out the PiXL website: ⁠https://www.pixl.org.uk/⁠ for free downloads Read Rachel's three books: ⁠ Time to Think 1: The Things that stop us and how to deal with them⁠ ⁠Time to Think 2: The Things that stop our teams and what to do about them⁠ ⁠ Box Clever: Quadrants to change the way we live and lead⁠ Listen to the PiXL Pearls. ⁠Subscribe on Apple Podcasts⁠ ⁠ Subscribe on Spotify PiXL Pearls Podcast is a We Are In Beta Production. PiXL is a partnership organisation of thousands of schools, colleges and alternative education providers spanning KS1-5. Find out more about how you could gain value from a PiXL subscription: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.pixl.org.uk/membership⁠⁠⁠⁠

Season 7 - starting 25th March

The PiXL Leadership Book Club is back for Season 7 - with new books, new guests and lots of new takeaways to share. In each episode, two school leaders discuss how non-educational leadership books can help with leading remotely, building resilience, and even learning to rest. Now, there is a concept for leaders! We look at how the thinking behind huge corporations, and of change making leaders, can be applied to our teams in our settings, because our leadership is stronger when ideas are shared. So if you're looking for fresh thinking, actionable ideas, and a chance to pause and reflect, this is your invitation to join the conversation.  Join PIXL CEO - Rachel Johnson - every Wednesday, on the PiXL Leadership Book Club. Starting 25th March 2026. Follow us now in your podcast app to make sure you don't miss out. Books we’ll be discussing are: Come What May - Lucy Easthope Leading Remotely – Mike Parkes Rest - Alex Soojung-Kim Pang Shatterproof - Tasha Eurich Shift - Ethan Kross Team Habits - Charlie Gilkey The Founders Mentality: How to Overcome the Predictable Crises of Growth - Chris Zook and James Allen The Laws of Connection - David Robson

Be a guest on Series 7

We hope you are enjoying your summer holidays! We are preparing for Series 7 of the PiXL Leadership Book Club Podcast and now it's your turn to be a guest discussing the books on the list. Click here to see which books we'll be discussing and to register your interest in taking part. Or... know someone who would be a great guest? Send them the link to this and tell them how brilliant they'd be. PiXL is a partnership organisation of thousands of schools, colleges and alternative education providers spanning KS1-5. Find out more about how you could gain value from a PiXL subscription: https://www.pixl.org.uk/membership PiXL Leadership Bookclub is a We Are In Beta production.

The One Thing

What if doing less is the key to achieving more? In this final episode of the PiXL Leadership Book Club, Rachel Johnson is joined by school leaders Tom Moseley and Stephanie Shaldas to discuss The One Thing by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan – a book that challenges everything we think we know about productivity, balance and success. Together, they unpack the dangers of distraction, the myth of multitasking and the liberating clarity of asking one powerful question: What's the ONE thing I can do such that by doing it everything else will be easier or unnecessary? In a profession that demands so much, this episode is a chance to pause and reflect on where we're really putting our energy, bravely asking ourselves 'what might change if we dared to focus?' Listen now, and if you are a PiXL member, explore the Leadership Thinking Guide on getting serious about subtraction to help you apply the insights to your work and your life. If you enjoyed PiXL Leadership Book Club... Check out the PiXL website: https://www.pixl.org.uk/ for free downloads Read Rachel's three books: Time to Think 1: The Things that stop us and how to deal with them Time to Think 2: The Things that stop our teams and what to do about them Box Clever: Quadrants to change the way we live and lead Listen to the PiXL Pearls. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Subscribe on Spotify The PiXL network spans thousands of schools across key stages 1-5. We collaborate, share best practice, and equip leaders throughout the educational system. Subscribe now to download every episode directly to your phone automatically. PiXL Podcasts are We Are In Beta productions. For more information visit: https://www.pixl.org.uk/

Poor

What does it take to break the cycle and who helps make that possible? In this deeply moving episode of the PiXL Leadership Book Club, Rachel Johnson is joined by Rebecca Broadley and Sapna Vadher to discuss Poor by Katriona O'Sullivan, a story of survival, resilience and the transformative power of education. Growing up in poverty, becoming a mum at 15 and experiencing homelessness, Katriona defied the odds and credits the teachers and mentors who saw something in her when it felt like no one else did. Her memoir is a fierce call to action to recognise the invisible battles many children face and to lead with compassion, high expectations and belief. Katriona has previously joined us to share her story at PiXL events and it never fails to stop people in their tracks. This conversation builds on that legacy, offering school leaders a powerful reminder: your words, your care, your belief might just be the turning point in a child's life. An unforgettable listen for anyone who leads, teaches or holds space for young people. If you enjoyed PiXL Leadership Book Club... Check out the PiXL website: https://www.pixl.org.uk/ for free downloads Read Rachel's three books: Time to Think 1: The Things that stop us and how to deal with them Time to Think 2: The Things that stop our teams and what to do about them Box Clever: Quadrants to change the way we live and lead Listen to the PiXL Pearls. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Subscribe on Spotify The PiXL network spans thousands of schools across key stages 1-5. We collaborate, share best practice, and equip leaders throughout the educational system. Subscribe now to download every episode directly to your phone automatically. PiXL Podcasts are We Are In Beta productions. For more information visit: https://www.pixl.org.uk/