Mission Driven With Dr. A C Cristales

You don’t have to finish rebuilding your own life before you can help someone else. In this final episode of the Brick by Brick series , A.C. reflects on lessons learned through career risks, relationships, and a business that didn’t work out as hoped. Those experiences didn’t give him every answer, but they gave him something he could offer. Sometimes the brick someone needs is a lesson. Sometime...

What happens when you take a real chance on yourself—and it doesn’t work out? You followed the dream, accepted the position, started the business, entered the relationship, or made the sacrifice. You burned the boats. Then the plan fell apart, leaving you to question not only what happened, but whether you can trust yourself to try again. In this episode, A.C. shares his own experiences of returni...

What happens when purpose shows up before you’ve healed, recovered, or forgiven yourself? In the fifth installment of the Brick by Brick series, Dr. A.C. Cristales explores grace—the brick that gives us room to take responsibility without allowing our worst moments to define us. Reflecting on heartbreak, financial loss, depression, and his return to teaching in 2022, A.C. shares how purpose contin...

What if the reason you stopped pursuing your dream wasn’t only purpose—but fear? For years, Dr. A.C. Cristales believed he had stepped back from speaking to be present for his daughter. That choice was real, meaningful, and rooted in the kind of father he wanted to become. But it wasn’t the whole truth. Underneath that decision was another reality: after years of pursuing a dream that had not unfo...

Keep Building When No One Is Watching | Leadership Lesson #3 Most leaders experience seasons when the room feels empty, the response is quiet, and the work goes unnoticed. But silence is not failure—and a lack of recognition does not mean a lack of impact. In this episode, Dr. A.C. Cristales shares why leaders must learn to separate a disappointing moment from their identity. Through practical lea...

What do you do when you're doing everything right and still feel invisible? When you've shown up, put in the work, given everything — and nobody's clapping, calling, or opening the door? In this episode, Dr. A.C. Cristales tells a story he's never shared publicly before: speaking to a packed, standing-room-only session at the TASP Summer Conference — and walking into an empty room the very next da...

Keep Planting Because The Work Is Still Speaking | Leadership Lesson #2 Most leaders quit too soon—not because they lack talent, but because they mistake silence for failure. In this episode, Dr. A.C. Cristales shares why the greatest leadership impact often happens long after the work is done. Through personal stories, practical leadership principles, and a reminder that faithfulness always outla...

What if the work you thought nobody noticed is still opening doors years later? It's easy to become discouraged when you don't see immediate results. You show up. You serve. You lead. You pour into your family. You build your business. You stay faithful...and sometimes it feels like nothing is happening. In this episode of Mission Driven , Dr. A.C. Cristales shares two deeply personal stories that...

Leadership Lesson #1 — The Silence Isn't Wasted What if the opportunities you've been praying for never arrived because they weren't the opportunities you actually needed? In this episode of Mission Driven Leadership Lessons, Dr. A.C. Cristales shares one of the hardest lessons he's learned as a leader: success without alignment eventually drains you—but purpose sustains you. After years of pursui...

The Silence Has a Purpose | Brick by Brick Ep. 1 I'm back. After a season of pain, disappointment, unanswered prayers, and closed doors, I realized something important: the silence does not mean God is absent, and the waiting does not mean your purpose has disappeared. Welcome to the first episode of the Brick by Brick series on the Mission Driven Podcast with Dr. A.C. Cristales. In this episode,...

Author and speaker Dr. A.C. Cristales is back with a new episode for Mission Driven! In this episode, A.C. shares a bit of his 2022 journey. He shares what he learned about entrepreneurship and more importantly how failure reveals has the power to reveal who you truly are. If you want to grow and thrive in your journey of success despite the difficulties of life, you have to listen to this episode...

Author, educator and speaker A.C. Cristales is back with the first episode of Mission Driven in 2022. In this episode, A.C. interviews creator and fitness coach of Urbane Body, Philip Cristales. In this episode, Philip shares a bit of his journey from what inspired him to start his online fitness program. Additionally, he shares what you can do to get started on your journey of success. This is an...

Author, educator and speaker A.C. Cristales is back with another episode for Season 3 of Mission Driven. In this episode, A.C. interviews author and therapist, Axel Cristales. In this episode, Axel shares a bit of his journey from working in public schools to now serving as mental health therapist. Additionally, he shares what inspired him to write his newest book, Love Eternal. This is an intervi...

Author, educator and speaker A.C. Cristales is back with another episode for Season 3 of Mission Driven. In this episode, A.C. takes us back to his first EVER Reflection Blog he wrote in 2009, entitled, The Thunderstorm Season. In this podcast episode, he shares how storms and troubles don't last forever. If you want to grow and thrive in your journey of success despite the difficulties of life, y...

Author, educator and speaker A.C. Cristales is back with another episode for Season 3 of Mission Driven. In this episode, A.C. has the honor of interviewing Iris Lopez, founder of Mija, Yes You Can, a nonprofit organization created by women FOR women to provide a platform that allows ALL women to come together to learn from each other, relate to each other and achieve their ambitions in life. In t...

Author, educator and speaker A.C. Cristales is back with another episode for Season 3 of Mission Driven. In this episode, A.C. has the honor of interviewing Rand Scott Carlson, who is on the leadership team at the Men of Nehemiah, a Christian Non-Profit located in South Dallas that is designed to rebuild the lives of men and families that have been torn apart by substance abuse, homelessness,...

Author, educator and speaker A.C. Cristales is back with another episode for Season 3 of Mission Driven. In this episode, A.C. takes us back to a Reflection Blog he wrote in 2009, entitled, The Power of Failure. In this podcast episode, he shares how failure can either propel you to your destiny and purpose or it can dispel you away from it. If you want to grow and thrive in your journey of succes...

Author and speaker A.C. Cristales returns for Season 3 of Mission Driven! In this episode, A.C. further discusses the importance of an anchor in your life. In this podcast episode, he shares that an anchor can help you possess constancy, a quality that means you are enduring, unchanging and dependable. If you want to grow and thrive in your journey of success despite the difficulties of life, you...

Author and speaker A.C. Cristales returns for Season 3 of Mission Driven! In this episode, A.C. further discusses the importance of an anchor in your life. In this podcast episode, he shares that an anchor can help you stay put when you feel life drifting you back to old habits that were not helping you out. If you want to grow and thrive in your journey of success despite the difficulties of life...

Author and speaker A.C. Cristales returns for Season 3 of Mission Driven! In this episode, A.C. poses an important question for everyone going after a dream and goal: What is your anchor? In this podcast episode, he shares what an anchor is, the importance of having an anchor and what an anchor provides during the difficult times of life. If you want to grow and thrive in your journey of success d...

On this episode of Mission Driven, author and speaker A.C. Cristales interviews not only one of the pioneers of the Houston rap scene, but also one of the original pioneers of Christian Hip Hop, Delbert R. Harris, better known to many as RAS or Lil' Raskull. In this interview, RAS shares with us how we was introduced to rap music and how he then used it to reach souls for Christ. RAS also discuss...

Author and speaker A.C. Cristales returns for Season 2 of Mission Driven! In this episode, A.C. celebrates his one-year podcast anniversary and he shares the advantage of having staying power. He also shares with you 5 benefits of self-reflection. If you want to grow and thrive in your journey of success despite the difficulties of life, you have to listen to this episode. It will empower and enco...

On this episode of Mission Driven, author and speaker A.C. Cristales has a conversation with school leader and educator, Rachael Brown. They discuss Race and Education in America and also the importance of cultural competency, vulnerability and being intentional. This is an episode for all educators that will empower them to be better teachers for all of their students. For more information about...

On this episode of Mission Driven, author and speaker A.C. Cristales interviews Jesse The Messenger. Jesse The Messenger is an evangelist and poet and has been involved in ministry since 1991. In this episode, The Messenger shares a bit of his story, how he went in looking for a fight, but instead found a Savior, and how he held strong to his faith during the darkest moments of his life. This is a...

On this episode of Mission Driven, author and speaker A.C. Cristales interviews Adam Bergman. Adam is a senior at the University of Texas, who has been involved in student leadership and government since high school. In this episode, Adam shares a bit of his story, how he chose to be involved in student leadership and government, and some of the lessons drawn from his experiences. He also provides...