Exceptionally Good: Leaders for a Better World

Ryan Maxwell
  • 5.0 (17)
  • NON-PROFIT

We bring you in-depth interviews with exceptional leaders who drive toward a different bottom line — leaders from health care, philanthropy, non-profits, education and rescue services who are doing exceptional work for the good of the world.  Exploring their origin stories, their leadership journey and the lessons they learned on their path -- sometimes the hard way -- we bring you close to understand how exceptional leaders tick.On Instagram and Threads@e.g.exceptionallygood.org Follow us on Instagram and Threads @e.g.exceptionallygood Exceptionally Good Articles on Substack: https://substack.com/@exceptionallygood More from Exceptionally Good: 📧 ryan@exceptionallygood.org Work with Ryan:https://www.exceptionallygood.org/services

  1. 4D AGO

    23. Lina Jean Fritz — Rising with Resilience & Evolving Leadership from Warrior to Diplomat

    This episode's guest is Lina Jean Fritz, a Chicago-based, C-suite nonprofit leader in strategy and innovation whose work sits at the intersection of equity and moral courage in access to the work force and higher education. Lina is a first-generation college graduate, the daughter of restaurant workers, and someone whose early life was shaped by movement—growing up across Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi before graduating from a public high school in Mississippi and heading north to attend the University of Chicago. From there, Lina’s career took her through teaching, instructional leadership, and senior nonprofit leadership—most recently as an Executive Director at OneGoal, a national organization grounded in a powerful belief: every young person deserves an equitable opportunity to get to and through college. Lina has consistently pushed leaders to rethink what readiness really means. In a widely shared piece for Chalkbeat, she asked a question that still challenges the field: What if highly selective colleges focused on being student-ready instead of placing the burden on students to be college-ready? She goes further—pressing higher-education institutions to confront uncomfortable truths about moral courage, risk, and sacrifice: What risks should we ask institutions to take—risks that may require reputational and financial sacrifice—in service of equity? In this episode, we talk about the real meaning of opportunity and how we can build systems that honor the truth that talent is equally distributed—even when opportunity is not. We also explore leadership lessons Lina has learned along the way, including accepting feedback as an act of love, and recognizing that what got you where you are may not get you where you want to go. Lina reflects on her evolution as a leader—from being the person who figures it out when it seems impossible to becoming someone who leads through discernment, influence, and trust. Drawing on wisdom often attributed to Lao Tzu, she shares a lesson that reshaped her leadership: “To lead the people, walk behind them.” Because when you do, you can finally see. This is a conversation about feedback, humility, and moral courage ...and about using your talents, fully and honestly, in service of exceptional social good. And with that… let’s dive in. •••••••••• About Exceptionally Good: https://www.exceptionallygood.org/about Follow us: @e.g.exceptionallygood More from Exceptionally Good: 📧 ryan@exceptionallygood.org Work with Ryan: https://www.exceptionallygood.org/services Exceptionally Good on Substack: https://substack.com/@exceptionallygood Producer, editor and host: Ryan Maxwell Theme music: Ryan Raddatz Guitar music: Adeline’s Guitar Credits/Outro Read by: Adeline, Advice and Jess The views shared on this podcast are those of my guests and the host and do not necessarily reflect those of any employer past or present.

    1h 17m

  2. FEB 2

    22. Professor Scott Seider — Educating for Purpose, Justice, and Democracy

    In this episode of Exceptionally Good, I’m joined by Scott Seider, a professor, former public school teacher, and one of the most thoughtful voices I know on what it means to educate young people for a just and democratic society. Scott is a Professor of Applied Developmental and Educational Psychology at Boston College Lynch School of Education and Human Development, where his research centers on how schools can support young people in developing a sense of purpose, critical consciousness, moral courage, and civic responsibility. Before entering academia, Scott taught high school in Boston Public Schools …experience that continues to ground his scholarship in the lived realities of classrooms and communities. He is the author of Character Compass and co-author of Schooling for Critical Consciousness, works that have shaped how educators across the country think about character development, equity, and the role of school culture in young people’s lives. Across his writing, research, and teaching, Scott consistently asks a deeper question:  What kinds of human beings—and citizens—are our schools helping to cultivate? In this conversation, we explore: What “critical consciousness” actually looks like in practiceHow schools can nurture purpose and moral courage without slipping into ideologyThe role of identity, power, and belonging in adolescent developmentWhat it means to prepare young people not just for college and careers—but for democracy itselfIf you’re an educator, school leader, or anyone wrestling with how to raise and teach young people in uncertain times, this episode offers both grounding and hope. Links & Resources Mentioned Character Compass  — https://hep.gse.harvard.edu/9798895570302/character-compass-second-edition/ Schooling for Critical Consciousness  — https://hep.gse.harvard.edu/9781682534298/schooling-for-critical-consciousness/ More on Scott www.scottseider.com Info on a project in which we collaborated, Critical Consciousness in Crew, is available at www.bc.edu/4cs •••••••••• About Exceptionally Good https://www.exceptionallygood.org/about About Exceptionally Good: https://www.exceptionallygood.org/about Follow us: @e.g.exceptionallygood More from Exceptionally Good: 📧 ryan@exceptionallygood.org Work with Ryan: https://www.exceptionallygood.org/services Exceptionally Good on Substack: https://substack.com/@exceptionallygood Producer, editor and host: Ryan Maxwell Theme music: Ryan Raddatz Guitar music: Adeline’s Guitar Credits/Outro Read by: Adeline, Advice and Jess The views shared on this podcast are those of my guests and the host and do not necessarily reflect those of any employer past or present.

    52 min

  3. FEB 2

    22. Professor Scott Seider — Educating for Purpose, Justice, and Democracy

    In this episode of Exceptionally Good, I’m joined by Scott Seider, a professor, former public school teacher, and one of the most thoughtful voices I know on what it means to educate young people for a just and democratic society. Scott is a Professor of Applied Developmental and Educational Psychology at Boston College Lynch School of Education and Human Development, where his research centers on how schools can support young people in developing a sense of purpose, critical consciousness, moral courage, and civic responsibility. Before entering academia, Scott taught high school in Boston Public Schools …experience that continues to ground his scholarship in the lived realities of classrooms and communities. He is the author of Character Compass and co-author of Schooling for Critical Consciousness, works that have shaped how educators across the country think about character development, equity, and the role of school culture in young people’s lives. Across his writing, research, and teaching, Scott consistently asks a deeper question: 
 What kinds of human beings—and citizens—are our schools helping to cultivate? In this conversation, we explore: * What “critical consciousness” actually looks like in practice * How schools can nurture purpose and moral courage without slipping into ideology * The role of identity, power, and belonging in adolescent development * What it means to prepare young people not just for college and careers—but for democracy itself As a fellow white educator committed to working across lines of race, class, gender, and language in pursuit of justice, I’ve long admired Scott’s combination of intellectual rigor and deep moral clarity. This conversation feels especially important in a moment when civic life feels fragile and young people are searching—often with unclear role models—for meaning and agency. If you’re an educator, school leader, or anyone wrestling with how to raise and teach young people in uncertain times, this episode offers both grounding and hope. Links & Resources Mentioned Character Compass — https://hep.gse.harvard.edu/9798895570302/character-compass-second-edition/ Schooling for Critical Consciousness — https://hep.gse.harvard.edu/9781682534298/schooling-for-critical-consciousness/ More on Scott www.scottseider.com Info on a project in which we collaborated, Critical Consciousness in Crew, is available at www.bc.edu/4cs •••••••••• About Exceptionally Good https://www.exceptionallygood.org/about Follow us: @e.g.exceptionallygood More from Exceptionally Good: 📧 ryan@exceptionallygood.org Work with Ryan:
 https://www.exceptionallygood.org/services Exceptionally Good on Substack: https://substack.com/@exceptionallygood Producer, editor and host: Ryan Maxwell Theme music: Ryan Raddatz Guitar music: Adeline’s Guitar Credits/Outro Read by: Adeline, Advice and Jess The views shared on this podcast are those of my guests and the host and do not necessarily reflect those of any employer past or present.

    52 min

  4. JAN 26

    21. Sheeba Jacob & Anay Shah - Growing from Challenge, Transition and Loss — and Partnered for Love

    In this episode of Exceptionally Good: Leaders for a Better World, I’m joined by two remarkable humans—Sheeba Jacob and Anay Shah—for a conversation about purpose, partnership, and the clarity that can emerge through challenge and loss. Two compelling and humble leaders for good… who just happen to be married to each other! Sheeba is the Director of Middle School Design at Citizen of the World Charter Schools, a researcher, educator, and musical artist whose work explores how teachers—and all of us—can cultivate hope in uncertain times. Her recent article in the Journal for Multicultural Education examines how contemporary teacher preparation often neglects hope and healing justice, the deeply human frameworks needed to build empathy, community, and connection. When she’s not writing or leading, Sheeba composes music that tells stories of parenthood, identity, and solidarity across communities. Anay is an investor, storyteller, and systems thinker. As co-founder of Stepchange Fund, he works at the intersection of capital and justice, reimagining how financial systems can fuel more equitable and sustainable futures. His work reflects a deep curiosity about how complex systems—from data centers to markets—shape our lives and possibilities. In our conversation, Sheeba and Anay talk candidly about how periods of transition and loss helped them clarify what truly matters—both in their work and in their life together. We explore how they’ve learned to name priorities, let go of what no longer serves them, and protect the relationships that make meaningful work possible. They also share the small but powerful rituals that help them stay connected amid demanding roles and ambitious social-good goals—including Tequiza: a Friday-night ritual involving pizza, tequila, and intentional time together as partners. This episode is an invitation to reflect on what it looks like to build a life of purpose not just as an individual, but alongside someone else—to do good work, tend to love, and keep choosing connection, even when the work is hard. •••••••••• About Exceptionally Good https://www.exceptionallygood.org/about Follow us: @e.g.exceptionallygood More from Exceptionally Good: 📧 ryan@exceptionallygood.org Work with Ryan:   https://www.exceptionallygood.org/services Exceptionally Good on Substack: About Exceptionally Good: https://www.exceptionallygood.org/about Follow us: @e.g.exceptionallygood More from Exceptionally Good: 📧 ryan@exceptionallygood.org Work with Ryan: https://www.exceptionallygood.org/services Exceptionally Good on Substack: https://substack.com/@exceptionallygood Producer, editor and host: Ryan Maxwell Theme music: Ryan Raddatz Guitar music: Adeline’s Guitar Credits/Outro Read by: Adeline, Advice and Jess The views shared on this podcast are those of my guests and the host and do not necessarily reflect those of any employer past or present.

    1h 5m

  5. JAN 26

    21. Sheeba Jacob & Anay Shah - Growing from Challenge, Transition and Loss — and Partnered for Love

    In this episode of Exceptionally Good: Leaders for a Better World, I’m joined by two remarkable humans—Sheeba Jacob and Anay Shah—for a conversation about purpose, partnership, and the clarity that can emerge through challenge and loss.
 Two compelling and humble leaders for good… who just happen to be married to each other! Sheeba is the Director of Middle School Design at Citizen of the World Charter Schools, a researcher, educator, and musical artist whose work explores how teachers—and all of us—can cultivate hope in uncertain times. Her recent article in the Journal for Multicultural Education examines how contemporary teacher preparation often neglects hope and healing justice, the deeply human frameworks needed to build empathy, community, and connection. When she’s not writing or leading, Sheeba composes music that tells stories of parenthood, identity, and solidarity across communities. Anay is an investor, storyteller, and systems thinker. As co-founder of Stepchange Fund, he works at the intersection of capital and justice, reimagining how financial systems can fuel more equitable and sustainable futures. His work reflects a deep curiosity about how complex systems—from data centers to markets—shape our lives and possibilities. In our conversation, Sheeba and Anay talk candidly about how periods of transition and loss helped them clarify what truly matters—both in their work and in their life together. We explore how they’ve learned to name priorities, let go of what no longer serves them, and protect the relationships that make meaningful work possible. They also share the small but powerful rituals that help them stay connected amid demanding roles and ambitious social-good goals—including Tequiza: a Friday-night ritual involving pizza, tequila, and intentional time together as partners. This episode is an invitation to reflect on what it looks like to build a life of purpose not just as an individual, but alongside someone else—to do good work, tend to love, and keep choosing connection, even when the work is hard. •••••••••• About Exceptionally Good https://www.exceptionallygood.org/about Follow us: @e.g.exceptionallygood More from Exceptionally Good: 📧 ryan@exceptionallygood.org Work with Ryan:
 https://www.exceptionallygood.org/services Exceptionally Good on Substack: https://substack.com/@exceptionallygood Producer, editor and host: Ryan Maxwell Theme music: Ryan Raddatz Guitar music: Adeline’s Guitar Credits/Outro Read by: Adeline, Advice and Jess The views shared on this podcast are those of my guests and the host and do not necessarily reflect those of any employer past or present.

    1h 5m

  6. JAN 19

    20. Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King — I Have Been to the Mountaintop

    “Let us rise up tonight with a greater readiness. Let us stand with a greater determination. And let us move on in these powerful days, these days of challenge to make America what it ought to be. We have an opportunity to make America a better nation.”   - Dr. King This year, I’m doing something a bit different.  One in what I hope is a yearly series.  Instead of our usual conversation with powerful, human and reflective leaders for social good, I’m sharing a reading from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have Been to the Mountaintop” speech — a voice grounded in courage, nonviolence, and moral clarity that still speaks to our work for justice and social good. Dr. King delivered this speech in Memphis on April 3, 1968, the night before his assassination. In it he lifted up the struggle for human dignity, rooted justice in nonviolent moral force, and reminded us that the arc of history bends toward justice …when and because we choose to push it there. It does not bend itself. It does not bend when we doomscroll or lament.  Those might inform us or motivate us.  But it is action that bends that arc. For all of us working for social good, Dr. King’s words offer two leadership lessons that still matter: Justice is pursued through nonviolence and the moral high ground — true power is grounded in love for the humanity of every person: allies and detractors.Courage is built in solidarity and community — even when the path is steep and the mountain high, we are not alone. This reading is offered in the spirit of exceptional good — honoring the courage of all who stand for justice and human rights through non-violent action and civil courage. Listen to Dr. King’s original speech here: https://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkivebeentothemountaintop.htm To all leaders who carry both hope and heaviness, who stand for dignity in the face of fear, who hold fast to justice when the world tests your resolve: Link arms.  Keep going.  Your work matters.  About Exceptionally Good: https://www.exceptionallygood.org/about •••••••••• Follow us: @e.g.exceptionallygood More from Exceptionally Good: 📧 ryan@exceptionallygood.org Work with Ryan:  https://www.exceptionallygood.org/services Exceptionally Good on Substack: About Exceptionally Good: https://www.exceptionallygood.org/about Follow us: @e.g.exceptionallygood More from Exceptionally Good: 📧 ryan@exceptionallygood.org Work with Ryan: https://www.exceptionallygood.org/services Exceptionally Good on Substack: https://substack.com/@exceptionallygood Producer, editor and host: Ryan Maxwell Theme music: Ryan Raddatz Guitar music: Adeline’s Guitar Credits/Outro Read by: Adeline, Advice and Jess The views shared on this podcast are those of my guests and the host and do not necessarily reflect those of any employer past or present.

    10 min

  7. 09/08/2025

    19. Brad Barrett - No Margin, No Mission - How the Tenets of Financial Independence Can Enable Your Exceptionally Good in the World

    In this episode - Brad Barrett, CPA and co-founder of the ChooseFI Podcast, one of the most influential platforms in the Financial Independence (FI) movement. While Brad’s career began in accounting, it’s his work making FI accessible to everyone that makes him a leader worth learning from. The FI movement, as Vicki Robin framed it, asks a simple but profound question: your money or your life? At its core, FI isn’t about hoarding wealth... it’s about using intentional financial choices to reclaim your time, create freedom, and build resilience.  Or, as Sister Irene Kraus, leader of a hospital for those in need, once said: “No margin, no mission.”   Money is not the mission — but it is a necessary and enabling condition to have the impact you dream about. And Brad’s work shines light on how to make margin for good.  In this conversation, Brad and I explore: How margin (or savings rate) empowers people and organizations to stay on mission.The traps of traditional financial services — and why Brad shares freely instead of selling.Practical FI principles that help anyone in service, leadership, or social good sustain impact over the long run.The importance of aligning financial choices with values and mission.Margin isn’t just a personal concept—it’s essential for organizations dedicated to social good. Nonprofits, schools, and community groups need breathing room in their budgets to weather crises, survive policy shifts, and keep serving when a grant runs dry. The same holds true for individuals: without margin, mission falters. Financial independence tools provide a framework to create that margin, ensuring both people and organizations can endure and thrive in pursuit of their highest purpose. Brad could easily have stepped away after reaching FI. Instead, he uses his talents and skills to lead for exceptional good — helping others see through the noise and build a life of intention, impact, and joy. So dive in and learn how having margin for the mission helps you soar above.  Links: ChooseFI Podcast  - a wealth of accessible conversations about financial independence JL Collins’ Blog – The Simple Path to Wealth  - a brilliant grounding in the principles, the how and why of FI The Monk and the Minister -  a parable about freedom and the trappings of high salary The Shockingly Simple Math Behind Early Retirement  From Mr. Money Mustache About Exceptionally Good: https://www.exceptionallygood.org/about Follow us: @e.g.exceptionallygood More from Exceptionally Good: 📧 ryan@exceptionallygood.org Work with Ryan: https://www.exceptionallygood.org/services Exceptionally Good on Substack: https://substack.com/@exceptionallygood Producer, editor and host: Ryan Maxwell Theme music: Ryan Raddatz Guitar music: Adeline’s Guitar Credits/Outro Read by: Adeline, Advice and Jess The views shared on this podcast are those of my guests and the host and do not necessarily reflect those of any employer past or present.

    1h 6m

  8. 09/07/2025

    19. Brad Barrett - No Margin, No Mission - How the Tenets of Financial Independence Can Enable Your Exceptionally Good in the World

    In this episode - Brad Barrett, CPA and co-founder of the ChooseFI Podcast, one of the most influential platforms in the Financial Independence (FI) movement. While Brad’s career began in accounting, it’s his work making FI accessible to everyone that makes him a leader worth learning from. The FI movement, as Vicki Robin framed it, asks a simple but profound question: your money or your life? At its core, FI isn’t about hoarding wealth... it’s about using intentional financial choices to reclaim your time, create freedom, and build resilience.  Or, as Sister Irene Kraus, leader of a hospital for those in need, once said: “No margin, no mission.”   Money is not the mission — but it is a necessary and enabling condition to have the impact you dream about. And Brad’s work shines light on how to make margin for good.  In this conversation, Brad and I explore: * How margin (or savings rate) empowers people and organizations to stay on mission. * The traps of traditional financial services — and why Brad shares freely instead of selling. * Practical FI principles that help anyone in service, leadership, or social good sustain impact over the long run. * The importance of aligning financial choices with values and mission. Margin isn’t just a personal concept—it’s essential for organizations dedicated to social good. Nonprofits, schools, and community groups need breathing room in their budgets to weather crises, survive policy shifts, and keep serving when a grant runs dry. The same holds true for individuals: without margin, mission falters. Financial independence tools provide a framework to create that margin, ensuring both people and organizations can endure and thrive in pursuit of their highest purpose. Brad could easily have stepped away after reaching FI. Instead, he uses his talents and skills to lead for exceptional good — helping others see through the noise and build a life of intention, impact, and joy. So dive in and learn how having margin for the mission helps you soar above.  Links: ChooseFI Podcast  - a wealth of accessible conversations about financial independence https://choosefi.com/ JL Collins’ Blog – The Simple Path to Wealth  - a brilliant grounding in the principles, the how and why of FI https://jlcollinsnh.com/stock-series/ The Monk and the Minister -  a parable about freedom and the trappings of high salary https://jlcollinsnh.com/2011/06/02/the-monk-and-the-minister/ The Shockingly Simple Math Behind Early Retirement  From Mr. Money Mustache https://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2012/01/13/the-shockingly-simple-math-behind-early-retirement/ Jim Collins's (another Collins!) concept of “Preserve the Core / Stimulate Progress” https://www.jimcollins.com/concepts/preserve-the-core-stimulate-progress.html •••••••••• Follow us: @e.g.exceptionallygood More from Exceptionally Good: 📧 ryan@exceptionallygood.org Work with Ryan:
https://www.exceptionallygood.org/services Exceptionally Good on Substack: https://substack.com/@exceptionallygood Producer, editor and host: Ryan Maxwell Theme music: Ryan Raddatz Guitar music: Adeline’s Guitar The views shared on this podcast are those of my guests and the host and do not necessarily reflect those of any employer past or present.

    1h 6m
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
17 Ratings

About

We bring you in-depth interviews with exceptional leaders who drive toward a different bottom line — leaders from health care, philanthropy, non-profits, education and rescue services who are doing exceptional work for the good of the world.  Exploring their origin stories, their leadership journey and the lessons they learned on their path -- sometimes the hard way -- we bring you close to understand how exceptional leaders tick.On Instagram and Threads@e.g.exceptionallygood.org Follow us on Instagram and Threads @e.g.exceptionallygood Exceptionally Good Articles on Substack: https://substack.com/@exceptionallygood More from Exceptionally Good: 📧 ryan@exceptionallygood.org Work with Ryan:https://www.exceptionallygood.org/services

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