Five Minutes with Marko

The primary objective of youth ministry is to walk alongside young people on their own journeys toward Christlikeness. There, now you don’t need to listen to the episode! Learn more about the Youth Cartel coaching program at https://theyouthcartel.com

Not the most fun of episodes, but Marko gets honest about the trends facing youth worker employment in the coming decades.

Marko goes on a rant about the poor logic being used to say that because parts of teenage brains are underdeveloped, they are broken and incapable. Hogwash!

Marko provides a summary of a fascinating brain study on what’s happening in teenage brains while being asked questions about identity, then adds some implications. Visit https://www.theyouthcartel.com/the-youth-ministry-coaching-program to learn about the Youth Ministry Coaching Program and currently forming cohorts.

Marko starts a 3-episode sub-season on teenage brains, in this episode talking about the role of third-person perspective in the formation of a young teen’s identity.

Marko reads an open letter he wrote to youth workers when his (now adult) kids were teenagers, including four requests. Learn more about Dreaming Youth Ministry's Future: https://www.theyouthcartel.com/blog/dreaming-youth-ministrys-future .

In this short (4 Minutes with Marko!) final episode of the year, Marko reflects on why patience is absolutely required when looking for outcomes and results in youth ministry.

Marko unpacks a simple assessment tool he regularly uses when coaching ministry leaders to think about how to address the different aspects of your job responsibilities in order to move toward greater vibrancy.

Marko shares a bit about his own growth — deep into life — in understanding and experiencing spiritual discernment, and suggests some ways our ministries should prioritize collaborative discernment.

Marko shares a story that illustrates how a student’s sense of belonging can be lost or gained through seemingly tiny acknowledgements of “we see you; you belong here.”

In this super-short episode (3 Minutes with Marko!), we’ll look at the difference between stupid risk, and the sort of faith-fueled risk that is absolutely essential for great youth ministry. To learn more about the Youth Cartel's coaching program, please visit TheYouthCartel.com/coaching .

Marko talks briefly about both the terminology of ‘junior high’ or ‘middle school’, as well as which grades are included. Bonus: a mini history lesson!

On the surface, this episode lists 12 ways to be a youth worker who stays put for a long time; but really, this episode is about humility.

Marko describes the characteristics of the sort of person who’s able to bring change from inside a church or organization.

Marko suggests that materialism isn’t the core problem, it’s consumerism. Bonus: this episode includes a snarky Top 10 Signs Your Youth Ministry Might Be Built on Consumeristic Assumptions. Learn more about The Youth Cartel Coaching at theyouthcartel.com .

In this first half of a two-parter, Marko sets up the problem of materialism and why it’s so difficult to effectively address

Marko wrongly says this episode is 8 minutes (it’s 11); but he rightly sets up presence as the central practice and vision for our youth ministries.

In the first half of this two-parter, Marko identifies the source-code for how our youth ministries became so program-driven. To learn more about the Youth Cartel and it's coaching options and resources, please visit TheYouthCartel.com .

In this double-length episode, Marko talks honestly about the forces that corrode innovation and the resources youth workers need to stay in orbit of the understandable hairball of their church.

A super-sized episode about the importance of cultivating and protecting trust as you head into summer programs.

Marko shares the story of an annoying conversation in a plane that reminded him of the power of listening and presence.

Marko uses the old video game Frogger to explain the transition young teens are living through.

In this episode, Marko explains how the onset of third-person perspective plays a huge role in young teen identity formation.

A final Nuggets episode, with two of ’em: the most important questions when making a programming change, and changing the implication of the title ‘youth pastor.’

3 more Nugs, this time on making wrong decisions, closed churches, and reframing ‘senior fade.’