

PiXL Pearls
PiXL (a We Are In Beta production)
PiXL Pearls are short reflections on life and leadership which inspire, encourage, motivate and challenge thinking.
The series is hosted by Rachel Johnson (PiXL CEO), who draws on literature, life and experience in leadership to explore different elements of what it is to be a good leader and how we can become even better leaders, both in and out of schools.
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
The series is hosted by Rachel Johnson (PiXL CEO), who draws on literature, life and experience in leadership to explore different elements of what it is to be a good leader and how we can become even better leaders, both in and out of schools.
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
Episodes
Mentioned books

Nov 14, 2021 • 9min
Climbing the Stairs
Welcome to Series 3 of the PiXL Pearls podcast. Drawing on the story of Trump's unwillingness to climb the stairs to the 2nd floor offices in the Whitehouse from 'Landslide' by Micheal Wolff, this first episode examines what we may be missing out on if we choose to do the same in our own leadership. PiXL Pearls are short reflections on life and leadership, in schools. They are here to inspire, encourage, motivate, and challenge. The PiXL network spans almost 3,000 schools across key stages 1-5. We collaborate, share best practice, and equip leaders throughout the educational system. Series 2 and 3 are presented by Rachel Johnson, CEO of PiXL, and Series 1 was presented by Founder-Director Sir John Rowling. They both draw on literature, life, and experience in leadership to explore different elements of what it is to be a good leader and how we can become even better leaders, both in and out of schools. PiXL Pearls Podcast is a We Are In Beta Production. Subscribe now to download every episode directly to your phone automatically. PiXL Pearls is a We Are In Beta production. For more information visit: https://www.pixl.org.uk/

Nov 12, 2021 • 2min
PiXL Pearls Series 3 - November 14th
PiXL Pearls is back for season 3. November 14th. PiXL Pearls are short reflections on life and leadership, in schools. They are here to inspire, encourage, motivate, and challenge. The PiXL network spans almost 3,000 schools across key stages 1-5. We collaborate, share best practice, and equip leaders throughout the educational system. Series 2 and 3 are presented by Rachel Johnson, CEO of PiXL, and Series 1 was presented by Founder-Director Sir John Rowling. They both draw on literature, life, and experience in leadership to explore different elements of what it is to be a good leader and how we can become even better leaders, both in and out of schools. Subscribe now to download every episode directly to your phone automatically. PiXL Pearls is a We Are In Beta production. For more information visit: https://www.pixl.org.uk/

Jun 20, 2021 • 9min
Power Cut
Wouldn't it be great if human beings had trip switches? Just imagine it: you notice when faults begin appearing in your system. Your internal trip switch then turns on and tells you how to fix the problem. But sadly, we often don't stop and mend things before it spirals into a bigger issue. In this last episode of PiXL Pearls Series 2, Rachel Johnson uses the extended metaphor of power cuts to highlight that disruption can have many benefits if we listen to what they're trying to teach us. PiXL Pearls: Short reflections on life and leadership, in schools. They are here to inspire, encourage, motivate, and challenge. The PiXL network spans almost 3,000 schools across key stages 1-5. We collaborate, share best practice, and equip leaders throughout the educational system. Series 1 was presented by Founder-Director Sir John Rowling, and Series 2 is presented by Rachel Johnson, CEO of PiXL. They both draw on literature, life, and experience in leadership to explore different elements of what it is to be a good leader and how we can become even better leaders, both in and out of school. PiXL Pearls Podcast is a We Are In Beta Production

Jun 6, 2021 • 11min
The Point
Why are we doing this, and what is the point? These two small, but very important, questions often get left by the wayside. In this episode, Rachel Johnson tells the stories of two businesses who forgot 'the point', and what we must do as leaders to communicate the ultimate purpose and vision we all work towards, and keep the team focused on the 'why'. PiXL Pearls: Short reflections on life and leadership, in schools. They are here to inspire, encourage, motivate, and challenge. The PiXL network spans almost 3,000 schools across key stages 1-5. We collaborate, share best practice, and equip leaders throughout the educational system. Series 1 was presented by Founder-Director Sir John Rowling, and Series 2 is presented by Rachel Johnson, CEO of PiXL. They both draw on literature, life, and experience in leadership to explore different elements of what it is to be a good leader and how we can become even better leaders, both in and out of school. PiXL Pearls Podcast is a We Are In Beta Production

May 23, 2021 • 10min
Hub Tree
Did you know, every woodland has a 'hub tree' that is connected to all the other trees through a hidden underground network of fungi? In this episode, Rachel Johnson tells the incredible story of trees and how they care for those who are vulnerable or distressed. Trees stand alone, yet they are connected. As school leaders, we can often feel isolated, but, just like the trees, you are part of a much wider network that can share its expertise, resource, kindness and so much more to pick you up when you need it most. PiXL Pearls: Short reflections on life and leadership, in schools. They are here to inspire, encourage, motivate, and challenge. The PiXL network spans almost 3,000 schools across key stages 1-5. We collaborate, share best practice, and equip leaders throughout the educational system. Series 1 was presented by Founder-Director Sir John Rowling, and Series 2 is presented by Rachel Johnson, CEO of PiXL. They both draw on literature, life, and experience in leadership to explore different elements of what it is to be a good leader and how we can become even better leaders, both in and out of school. PiXL Pearls Podcast is a We Are In Beta Production

May 9, 2021 • 11min
The Team
In this episode of PiXL Pearls, Rachel Johnson tells us the real Lord of the Flies story, where six boys were shipwrecked for 15 months. Instead of assumed carnage, they established three things in particular which are the focus for this 10-minute episode: they agreed the roles of the team, created a system for handling conflict, and took deliberate steps to keep morale and hope high. What is it we can learn from these boys, and use in our own teams to not just allow us to survive but to thrive? PiXL Pearls: Short reflections on life and leadership, in schools. They are here to inspire, encourage, motivate, and challenge. The PiXL network spans almost 3,000 schools across key stages 1-5. We collaborate, share best practice, and equip leaders throughout the educational system. Series 1 was presented by Founder-Director Sir John Rowling, and Series 2 is presented by Rachel Johnson, CEO of PiXL. They both draw on literature, life, and experience in leadership to explore different elements of what it is to be a good leader and how we can become even better leaders, both in and out of school. PiXL Pearls Podcast is a We Are In Beta Production

Apr 25, 2021 • 11min
Finding Fun
The most intelligent animals exhibit the most playful behaviour. The difference, however, is that adults too often condition themselves out of it as they grow up. Why have we stopped having playful behaviour? And why is that a problem? In this episode of PiXL Pearls, Rachel outlines why fun and laughter are essential to both our personal wellbeing and our relationships with others. Human beings have a chronological age and a psychological age, and it doesn't seem to matter how old we get physically, there is a part of us that still longs to act like a child sometimes. It brings people together through a signal of agreement and acceptance, lightens our hearts and distracts our crowded minds. PiXL Pearls: Short reflections on life and leadership, in schools. They are here to inspire, encourage, motivate, and challenge. The PiXL network spans almost 3,000 schools across key stages 1-5. We collaborate, share best practice, and equip leaders throughout the educational system. Series 1 was presented by Founder-Director Sir John Rowling, and Series 2 is presented by Rachel Johnson, CEO of PiXL. They both draw on literature, life, and experience in leadership to explore different elements of what it is to be a good leader and how we can become even better leaders, both in and out of school. PiXL Pearls Podcast is a We Are In Beta Production

Apr 11, 2021 • 11min
The Pip
Moments of difficulty and trauma, that we've all been through with this pandemic, can be a way of starting our own personal growth: evaluating what's important, reflecting on the past, and thinking about who we want to be in the future. In this episode, Rachel Johnson begins by telling us a story from David Jason's book 'A Del of a Life', to make us consider how ultimately the hard things can help us to grow and blossom. PiXL Pearls: Short reflections on life and leadership, in schools. They are here to inspire, encourage, motivate, and challenge. The PiXL network spans almost 3,000 schools across key stages 1-5. We collaborate, share best practice, and equip leaders throughout the educational system. Series 1 was presented by Founder-Director Sir John Rowling, and Series 2 is presented by Rachel Johnson, CEO of PiXL. They both draw on literature, life, and experience in leadership to explore different elements of what it is to be a good leader and how we can become even better leaders, both in and out of school. PiXL Pearls Podcast is a We Are In Beta Production

Mar 28, 2021 • 10min
Super Chickens
If you got to choose to be a 'super chicken' leader or an 'average chicken' leader you'd choose the former, right? And yet, this isn't what drives the most high-achieving teams. In this episode, Rachel Johnson draws parallels between a bizarre (and somewhat disturbing) tale of the super chicken massacre and leadership styles. To have 'super chicken' leadership means to place value on those who outperform others, an environment where insecurity, fear, and not being in control can leave your staff feeling 'hen-pecked. We all understand what it means to have an organizational 'pecking-order but just how much can we learn from the 'average' happy chicken, belonging to a thriving healthy cage, where their social cohesion leads to success? PiXL Pearls: Short reflections on life and leadership, in schools. They are here to inspire, encourage, motivate, and challenge. The PiXL network spans almost 3,000 schools across key stages 1-5. We collaborate, share best practice, and equip leaders throughout the educational system. Series 1 was presented by Founder-Director Sir John Rowling, and Series 2 is presented by Rachel Johnson, CEO of PiXL. They both draw on literature, life, and experience in leadership to explore different elements of what it is to be a good leader and how we can become even better leaders, both in and out of school. PiXL Pearls Podcast is a We Are In Beta Production

Mar 14, 2021 • 11min
Hit Play
In order to be your best self, you need the power of the right people behind you and beside you. This episode draws upon the example of one of the most successful Olympians of our time, Michael Phelps, and how the relationship and routine he established with the help of his coach and friend Bob Bowman, set him up for success. Rachel Johnson speaks about habits, routine, and the significance of silence to ask us how we might focus on bringing our best selves to the fore. PiXL Pearls: Short reflections on life and leadership, in schools. They are here to inspire, encourage, motivate, and challenge. The PiXL network spans almost 3,000 schools across key stages 1-5. We collaborate, share best practice, and equip leaders throughout the educational system. Series 1 was presented by Founder-Director Sir John Rowling, and Series 2 is presented by Rachel Johnson, CEO of PiXL. They both draw on literature, life, and experience in leadership to explore different elements of what it is to be a good leader and how we can become even better leaders, both in and out of school. PiXL Pearls Podcast is a We Are In Beta Production


