Leading Forward

Summary In this episode of Leading Forward , hosts Nick and Jeremy break down 10 common "Christian clichés"—widely accepted phrases that many people mistakenly believe are in the Bible. They discuss how these cultural sayings can lead to toxic theology, poor decision-making, and a loss of credibility for Christian leaders. Ultimately, they challenge listeners to stop relying on subjective feelings...

In Episode 39 of Leading Forward , co-hosts Nick and Jeremy sit down with entrepreneur and former professional soccer player Ryan Wileman. Ryan opens up about his journey from pursuing his third-grade dream of becoming a pro athlete to navigating the transition into the corporate world during the 2008 recession. With deep insights into perseverance, Ryan discusses the leap of faith it took to open...

Rod Rodriguez, owner of PSG Security, @psgrodrodriguez, joins the show to discuss find brotherhood, life transformation, and making a lasting impact. In this powerful episode of the Leading Forward podcast, hosts Nick and Jeremy sit down with Rod Rodriguez, a military veteran, former law enforcement officer, and the owner of PSG Security. Rod transparently shares his remarkable life journey, touch...

Episode Summary In this episode of the Leading Forward podcast, hosts Jeremy Prather and Nick Edwards explore the concept of the "Speed of Success." Throughout the discussion, they challenge the modern obsession with overnight success and examine the strategic patience required for sustainable achievement (0:00:00-0:35:29). A central portion of the episode uses the film Moneyball as a framework to...

In Episode 36 of the Leading Forward podcast, hosts Nick Edwards and Jeremy Prather dive into the practical skills every leader must possess to be successful. Moving beyond innate character traits, they break down the learned competencies required to "pay the bills" in leadership. Drawing from their personal top 10 lists, they debate and discuss critical abilities—ranging from adaptability and pro...

Episode Summary In this episode of Leading Forward , hosts Nick and Jeremy sit down with Ian Barnett, better known as the Christian hip-hop artist ASAP Preach (Always Say A Prayer). Ian shares his powerful and raw testimony of coming from a deeply broken past filled with childhood trauma, drug addiction, gang involvement, and multiple stints in jail. He opens up about the rock-bottom moment that l...

How do we raise children who don't just inherit our faith, but actually own it for themselves? [ 02:18 ] In this episode of Leading Forward , hosts Nick and Jeremy sit down with Chris Collins, owner and CEO of Collins Walker—a third-generation commercial HVAC supply company based in Dallas, Texas [ 01:18 ]. Chris shares insights from 30 years of marriage and leading a family enterprise [ 01:18 ],...

Summary This episode of the "Leading Forward" podcast features guest James Tanner, a business leader, entrepreneur, and student of wisdom. The conversation centers around the difference between simply accumulating knowledge and actually acquiring timeless wisdom through a Christian leadership perspective. Tanner shares personal stories, including "back porch witticisms" learned from his father, na...

In this moving and deeply insightful episode, hosts Nick Edwards and Jeremy Prather sit down with Jeff Brown, the Chief Operations Officer of Forney Fence Supply. Jeff shares his extraordinary life trajectory—from being convicted of drug distribution and serving 16 years in federal prison to climbing the corporate ladder from a warehouse driver to a C-suite executive managing over 100 employees an...

Episode Summary In this mid-season reflection episode, co-hosts Nick and Jeremy look back at the powerful leadership lessons shared by their recent guests—including Andrew Jones, Justin Wagner, Clarence, and Coach Joey McGuire. The core theme tying these leaders together is the power of vulnerability, rawness, and authenticity. Nick and Jeremy break down why modern leadership requires dropping the...

In this episode of Leading Forward , hosts Nick Edwards and Jeremy reflect on an interview with Texas Tech head football coach Joey McGuire . The hosts, who were both present at an FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) event where the interview took place, review the recording to break down key leadership principles shared by the coach. Key leadership themes discussed include: Faith-Driven Leader...

In this episode of Leading Forward , hosts Nick Edwards and Jeremy Prather interview entrepreneur and investor Clarence Bethea. Clarence shares his powerful, redemptive life journey—from growing up on the streets of Decatur, Georgia, selling drugs and facing a 15-year prison sentence, to receiving a second chance from a compassionate judge. Guided by humility and an openness to learn, he transitio...

Podcast Summary In this episode of Leading Forward , hosts Nick and Jeremy sit down with Justin Wegner, entrepreneur and founder of Day41 Apparel . Justin shares his raw and deeply transparent journey from working as a web developer and graphic designer to launching a multi-million dollar apparel brand, originally called Backbone Swag , and pivoting it entirely by faith into Day41 Apparel . The co...

Podcast Episode Summary In this episode of the Leading Forward Podcast , host Nick Edwards kicks off Season 3 ("Learning from Leaders") by sitting down with Andrew Jones , a faith-driven entrepreneur and the owner of Abel Solutions . Throughout the conversation, Andrew shares his journey from working a secure corporate job at Halliburton to leaping into the volatile world of entrepreneurship. Anch...

Podcast Summary In the season three premiere, hosts Nick and Jeremy shift their focus toward continuous development with a theme centered on "Learning from Leaders." Exploring the foundational premise that everyone is being discipled by something , they challenge listeners to intentionally audit and curate what they consume. The hosts openly share their personal leadership journeys—including a can...

Episode Summary What happens when corporate mandates collide with the Kingdom of God? In this heavy-hitting season finale, Nick and Jeremy look straight into the belly of the beast: the growing conflict between corporate compliance, Human Resources, legal frameworks, and uncompromised spiritual conviction. Utilizing current legal case studies—including John MacArthur’s multi-thousand dollar lockdo...

Summary: Episode 2.11 - Courage to be Hated In this episode, Nick and Jeremy tackle the difficult tension between being liked and being respected as a leader [ 00:03 ]. They argue that leaders who prioritize their "approval rating" over the mission effectively raise a ceiling on their own influence and potential for impact [ 30:15 ]. The discussion explores the tactical differences between a "prop...

Summary: In this final episode of the season, Nick and Jeremy address the "courage problem" that stalls progress in businesses, families, and churches. They dive into why leaders avoid "crucial conversations" and provide a tactical blueprint for addressing underperformance and behavioral issues without destroying morale. From the "F.B.I." framework to the danger of the "meeting after the meeting,"...

Summary: In this episode, Nick and Jeremy tackle the "fragmented life" that plagues modern leadership. They define Functional Atheism —the tendency to profess faith while operating as if we are the final authority and ultimate responsible party for our success. They challenge leaders to move past the "Control Trap" and "Anxiety Metrics" to find the "fire and precision" of a life fully aligned with...

Summary: In this powerful episode, Nick and Jeremy explore the foundational element of any successful organization: Trust. They dive into why a lack of trust acts as a total stop for progress and provide a blueprint for both establishing initial trust and restoring it once it has been broken. Drawing from the wisdom of Henry Cloud and Patrick Lencioni, they tackle real-world scenarios of theft, ch...

Show Notes: Episode 2.6 - The Generational Divide Summary: In this high-impact episode, Nick and Jeremy tackle the "Great Divide" in modern leadership. With up to four generations working side-by-side, leaders often find themselves struggling with a perspective problem rather than a people problem. The hosts break down the "firsts" and "paradoxes" of Gen Z (ages 17–32) and provide a tactical bluep...

Show Notes: Episode 2.5 - Toxic Empathy Summary: In this episode, Nick and Jeremy confront one of the most celebrated virtues of modern culture: Empathy. They dive into how empathy, when hijacked by a need for approval, becomes "Toxic Empathy"—a force that suffocates potential, kills productivity, and sabotages the sacred assignment of leadership. They move beyond the shallow definitions of the st...

Podcast Show Notes Series: Season 2: The Uncompromised Leader Episode 7: DEI: Spiritual Truth, Corporate Pressure, and Practical Action Hosts: Nick and Jeremy Episode Overview In an era of mandatory corporate DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) training and hiring quotas, Christian leaders face a unique dilemma: How do we value every individual as an image-bearer of God without compromising the...