Follow 2 Lead: A Christian Leaders Podcast

What happens when praising God no longer comes naturally? In this episode, Tony  sits down with author, speaker, and Bible teacher Wendy Speake for a deeply personal conversation about praise, perseverance, spiritual disciplines, and learning to trust God when life gets hard. For years, praise had been a natural overflow of Wendy’s faith—until she entered a season where life became...

What if everyone on your team is saying yes—but you’re not actually aligned? In this episode, Tony Miltenberger sits down with real-life friends Allison Steele and Rachel Huffman of Emerge Recovery & Trade Initiative to talk about what it takes to build a team that can move in the same direction without avoiding the hard conversations along the way. Rachel shares a recent realization from Emerge’s...

What if one of the biggest things holding you back as a leader is believing you’re supposed to have the answer? In this episode of the Follow 2 Lead Podcast, Tony Miltenberger sits down with Joni Fedders, President and CEO of Aileron, for a conversation about vision, self-leadership, creating space to think, and what it really takes to help people and organizations grow. After more than two d...

What have you already decided you could never do—before you’ve even explored what might be possible? In this episode of the podcast, Tony Miltenberger welcomes back bestselling author, podcaster, entrepreneur, and longtime friend Annie F. Downs for a conversation about vision, leadership, risk, relationships, and what happens when we stop allowing “no” to be our first answer. As Annie prepare...

Are you actually leading your organization toward the future—or just getting really good at managing today? In this episode of the podcast, Tony Miltenberger sits down with longtime leadership expert, bestselling author, and former Chick-fil-A executive Mark Miller to talk about two responsibilities leaders can’t afford to delegate: casting vision and creating alignment. Mark explains why so...

#470: Monika Kirkland — When You're Called to It but Can't Keep Carrying It What happens when you know God called you to something—but you’re exhausted trying to carry it? In this episode of the Follow 2 Lead Podcast, Tony Miltenberger sits down with author, podcaster, and speaker Monika Kirkland to talk about overwhelm, surrender, spiritual disciplines, and what happens when high-capacity leaders...

Here is the application to the Integrated Leader Mastermind. What if the answer to feeling overwhelmed isn't doing more—but getting clearer about what was yours to do in the first place? In this episode of the Follow 2 Lead Podcast, Tony Miltenberger sits down with longtime executive coach, author, and leadership advisor Dr. Stephen Graves to talk about building a life and leadership that flourish...

Who really knows you—not your title, your responsibilities, or the version of you that shows up to lead, but you? In this episode of the Follow 2 Lead Podcast, Tony Miltenberger welcomes back counselor, author, and speaker Trey Tucker for a conversation about what leaders need when the weight of leadership starts to feel heavy. They explore everything from silence and solitude to mentoring th...

What if feeling overwhelmed isn't a sign you're failing—but a sign you're growing? In this episode of the Follow2Lead Podcast, Tony Miltenberger sits down with author, pastor, and leadership expert Eric Geiger to unpack one of the biggest misconceptions leaders face today: burnout and overwhelm are not the same thing. While burnout can drain your passion and purpose, seasons of healthy overwhelm o...

What if your greatest leadership challenge isn't your strategy, your team, or your circumstances—but the story you're telling yourself? In this special episode of the Follow 2 Lead Podcast, we're sharing Tony Miltenberger's guest appearance on the Culture Is an Inside Job podcast. In this thought-provoking conversation, Tony joins the hosts to explore why emotional maturity is one of the...

How do great leaders build trust when their team has been through disappointment, uncertainty, or change? In this solo episode of the Follow 2 Lead Podcast, Tony Miltenberger shares a deeply personal story about a devastating ACL injury that sidelined him for years—and how finally running two miles again revealed one of the most important leadership lessons he's ever learned. The finish line...

What earns trust when you're leading people who aren't sure they should follow you? In Episode 464 of the Follow 2 Lead Podcast, Tony Miltenberger sits down with Scott Smith, Superintendent of Troy Christian Schools, to explore one of the most overlooked principles of Christian executive leadership: people don't trust leaders because of their title—they trust leaders because of their pre...

In Episode 463 of the Follow 2 Lead Podcast, Tony Miltenberger sits down with Laura Hope Whitaker, CEO of Extra Special People (ESP), for a powerful conversation about leading before you feel qualified. Laura shares how God often calls leaders before they feel ready, why embracing uncomfortable moments leads to unexpected growth, and how investing in the next generation creates lasting influence....

#462: Before They Misunderstand You with William Lutz In Episode 462 of the Follow 2 Lead Podcast, Tony Miltenberger sits down with William Lutz, Executive Director of a faith-based Ohio nonprofit, leadership consultant, and author of the growing Civic Capacity Substack. Bill shares practical wisdom on one of the greatest challenges Christian executives face: communicating with clarity before assu...

In Episode 461 of the Follow2Lead Podcast, Tony Miltenberger sits down with Stacey Baxter, Senior Marketing and Growth Engagement Officer for the Come and See Foundation, the organization helping bring The Chosen to audiences around the world. Stacey shares her journey of stepping into a new season of leadership, learning to trust God's calling, and embracing opportunities that require faith over...

In Episode 460 of the Follow 2 Lead Podcast, Tony Miltenberger sits down with Jodi Cowles, COO of Blue Hat Publishing and author of Then Came Joy, for a meaningful conversation about storytelling, leadership, and the importance of remembering God's faithfulness.  Jodi shares why stories matter so deeply and how leaders, communicators, and authors can become more intentional about the messages they...

In Episode 459 of the Follow2Lead Podcast, Tony Miltenberger tackles one of the most searched leadership questions on the internet: How do effective leaders handle conflict? Drawing from Matthew 18 and his own coaching experience, Tony explores why most leaders develop a conflict style long before they ever become leaders. Whether you naturally run toward conflict or avoid it at all costs, your ap...

In Episode 458 of the Follow2Lead Podcast, Tony Miltenberger sits down with Dave Ferguson for a powerful conversation on what it really means to multiply as a leader. Drawing from his latest book Multipliers, Dave challenges leaders to confront a foundational truth: you will always reproduce what’s already inside of you. Whether you're leading a team, a church, or a movement, your internal health...

In this solo episode of the Follow 2 Lead Podcast, Tony Miltenberger walks through a powerful leadership diagnostic rooted in Matthew 7—reminding leaders that the difference between those who stand and those who fall in hard seasons isn’t talent, intelligence, or even faith… it’s preparation. Tony challenges leaders to stop waiting for the storm to figure out who they are and instead begin buildin...

In Episode 456 of the Follow 2 Lead Podcast, Tony Miltenberger brings a powerful conversation from the Ohio Business Spotlight featuring Charlie McMahan, lead pastor of Southbrook Christian Church, alongside Greg Fay. https://southbrook.org/ https://www.playersbox.org/ Charlie shares honest insight into the weight leaders carry and what it really means to lead at a high level. This conversation go...

In Episode 455 of the Follow 2 Lead Podcast, Tony Miltenberger delivers a powerful solo episode on what it really looks like to lead in uncertain times. Drawing from his experience serving in Kuwait, Tony unpacks the tension leaders feel when everything looks normal on the surface—but something deeper is shifting underneath. When clarity is low and pressure is high, many leaders default to trying...

In Episode 454 of the Follow 2 Lead Podcast, Tony Miltenberger sits down with Steve and Jenia Williams, parents of Grammy Award-winning artist Zach Williams, for a deeply moving conversation about faith, patience, and loving someone through seasons of wandering. Steve and Jenia share their personal journey of walking alongside a prodigal son—navigating the tension between love and boundaries, pray...

In Episode 453 of the Follow 2 Lead Podcast, Tony Miltenberger sits down with Jennifer Y. Afriyie for a timely conversation on leadership style, effectiveness, rest, and sustainable success. Jennifer challenges the idea that success requires constant hustle. Instead, she invites leaders to reflect honestly on their strengths, stop confusing busyness with progress, and build a healthier rhythm for...

In Episode 452 of the Follow 2 Lead Podcast, Tony Miltenberger sits down with Dr. Matt Paden for a thoughtful and practical conversation on what it takes to lead with authenticity and intention. Dr. Paden, an academic turned entrepreneur and leadership coach, shares insights from his new book CORE: The 8 Principles for Building Strong, Authentic Leadership, co-authored with his mentor Ken Jones. T...

#451: Procrastination-Proof Leadership: Jon Acuff on Action, Feedback, and Getting Unstuck In Episode 451 of the Follow 2 Lead Podcast, Tony Miltenberger sits down with bestselling author and speaker Jon Acuff for a high-energy, practical conversation about overcoming procrastination and stepping into action. Jon shares insights from his latest book Procrastination Proof, breaking down why we get...