Fly on the Wall Podcast With Chris Sonksen

If you could sit down with a seasoned leader and ask, “What do you wish you had known earlier?”—this episode is exactly that conversation. In Episode 197 of the Fly on the Wall Podcast, I’m joined by my good friend Pastor John Martin, Assistant Superintendent for the Southern California Assemblies of God and former lead pastor of a large multi-site church. This is a wisdom-filled, honest discussio...

What do you do when your church feels stuck—and your heart feels tired? In Episode 196 of the Fly on the Wall Podcast, I sit down with my good friend David Espinoza for a powerful and honest coaching conversation that hits two realities every long-term leader eventually faces: breaking through growth barriers and dealing with the pain that comes with leadership. David pastors a nearly 100-year-old...

How do you stay spiritually grounded when the weight of leadership feels heavy—and the pressure never really lets up? In Episode 196 of the Fly on the Wall Podcast , I sit down with my friend Brandon for a rich, honest conversation about the personal and spiritual life of a leader. This episode goes beneath strategies and systems and straight into the inner life that sustains everything else. We t...

We’re revisiting one of the most listened-to episodes of the entire year on the Fly on the Wall Podcast—because it hit a nerve in the best way. In Episode 173, Chris Sonksen sits down with Pastor Rob for a powerful, behind-the-scenes coaching session on one of the biggest leadership bottlenecks in the church: getting leaders to really lead. If you’ve ever felt stuck because your staff or volunteer...

Join Chris Sonksen for one of the most listened-to episodes of the year on the Fly on the Wall Podcast, featuring a powerful deep dive into leadership development and effective hiring strategies with special guest, Pastor Vince Cooper. This listener favorite is a must-listen for anyone looking to strengthen their team’s dynamics and recruit leaders who actually align with the vision God gave your...

Momentum is a powerful gift—but it can also be deceiving. That’s why we’re bringing back one of the most listened-to episodes of the entire year on the Fly on the Wall Podcast. In Episode 180, I sit down with my good friend Chris Norman to talk about the two most common places pastors get stuck: when the church is growing… and when it’s not. Pastors told us this conversation hit home because it sp...

You’re doing the work. Preaching your heart out. Leading your team. Pouring into your people. But if your first-time guest numbers are low, you may be fighting a quiet drift—and growth can stall before you even realize it. That’s why we’re bringing back one of the most listened-to episodes of the entire year on the Fly on the Wall Podcast. In Episode 181, I sit down with my friend Jason Norman to...

Don’t miss one of our most listened-to episodes of the year on the Fly On The Wall Podcast! In this powerful conversation, Chris Sonksen and Jeremiah Semmler dive into proven, practical assimilation strategies that are helping churches all over the country turn first-time guests into fully engaged members of their church family. This standout episode captured so much attention because it addresses...

As we wrap up an incredible year of leadership conversations, we’re bringing back one of the most listened-to Fly on the Wall episodes of the year . Pastor Darryl Beckett joined Chris Sonksen for a powerful discussion that resonated deeply with pastors, planters, and rural leaders across the country. The heartbeat of the episode is one defining question:  Would your city feel the loss if your chur...

What if the strength of your ministry wasn’t just in how you lead—but in how you follow? In this week’s Fly on the Wall Podcast, I talk with Pastor Brett about one of the most overlooked keys to ministry health: learning to support your leader. We unpack what it looks like to steward another person’s vision, lead with loyalty, and build unity that lasts. Here’s what we cover in Episode 194: How to...

Hey Pastor, What do you do when growth creates pressure—and not everyone’s ready for what’s next? In this week’s episode of the Fly on the Wall Podcast, I sit down with Pastor Marty from a small but growing church in rural America to talk about one of the most practical leadership challenges we all face: how to manage change and mobilize volunteers when your systems are stretched to the limit. We...

What if coaching isn’t a luxury—but a lifeline? In this week’s Fly on the Wall Podcast , I talk with Pastor Steve from California about two things every leader needs to get better at: receiving coaching and casting vision . Here’s what we break down in Episode 192: Why every pastor needs a coach (yes, even you!) The difference between coaching and consulting—and why both matter How to communicate...

What if the biggest growth barrier in your church… is your leadership pipeline? In this week’s Fly on the Wall Podcast, I sit down with Pastor Darren from Oklahoma to talk about the difference between discipleship and leadership development, the qualities that set apart high-capacity leaders, and how to stop leaving leadership to chance. Here’s what we get into in Episode 191: Why “just being disc...

It’s one thing to grow a church—it’s another thing to sustain that growth with the right leaders in the right places. In Episode 190 of the Fly on the Wall Podcast , I sit down with Pastor Eli from Ohio for a powerful conversation about building leadership pipelines that work—not just for a season, but for the long haul. If you’ve ever felt like you’re constantly plugging holes, re-training the sa...

There are two big questions we don’t talk about enough in ministry: How do I prepare now for the next 20 years of leadership and life? What do I do with the pain I’ve already walked through? In Episode 189 of the Fly on the Wall Podcast , I sit down with Pastor Jonathan for a powerful, vulnerable conversation on both. We talk about financial readiness, family rhythms, spiritual obedience—and the e...

Episode 188 of the Fly on the Wall podcast is here, and it's a must-listen for any church ready to stand out in a crowded city. In this episode, Chris Sonksen sits down with Pastor Brian from New Mexico for a dynamic coaching session on how to differentiate your church, double in size, and scale with clarity and confidence. If you’ve ever wrestled with how to define your church’s unique ident...

Episode 187 of the Fly on the Wall podcast is live—and it’s a big one for pastors and leaders. In this episode, Chris Sonksen sits down with Pastor Clyde to tackle a quiet challenge that’s holding churches back: We’re great at building teams, but not at building tribes. 👉 If your volunteers feel like they're just filling a spot…  👉 If your part-time or stipend staff aren’t sure what’s expec...

Episode 186 of the Fly on the Wall podcast just dropped —and this one is packed with insights that can help any pastor lead with greater focus, clarity, and momentum. In this episode, Chris Sonksen sits down with Pastor Nathan from Tennessee to unpack a bold question: What are great leaders doing that others are not? From coaching thousands of pastors across the country, Chris has spotted a few pa...

Episode 185 of the Fly on the Wall podcast is live—and this one cuts to the core of leadership. Chris Sonksen sits down with Pastor Joseph to tackle a topic many leaders avoid: how to give and receive correction in a way that builds trust and maturity. You’ll hear: ✅ How to create a culture of feedback without fear  ✅ The #1 phrase that defuses defensiveness  ✅ Why emotional intelligence is a n...

In this week’s episode of the Fly on the Wall Podcast , Chris Sonksen sits down with Pastor Brenton from Atmosphere Church for a powerful and honest conversation about living up to your God-given potential . If you’ve ever wrestled with discouragement, doubt, or wondering whether you’re truly making the most of what God has placed in your hands, this episode is for you. 💥 In This Episode, You’ll...

Episode 183 of the Fly on the Wall Podcast is live— and if you’re navigating church growth, staff retention, or post-COVID tension, this one is for you. In this episode, I sit down with Pastor Frank for a real coaching conversation around two key challenges: Building a budget that actually reflects your mission , not just your maintenance. Leading through political and cultural tension in a multic...

You’ve got passionate worship. A solid message. An engaged team. But if guests aren’t coming back—or your services feel flat—it might be time for a gut check on your Sunday experience. In Episode 182 of the Fly on the Wall podcast, I coach my friend Matt Fielder through a deep dive on how to elevate the weekend. We don’t just talk theory—we get into the gritty details. Here’s what we unpack: ✅ Ho...

You’re doing the work. Preaching your heart out. Leading your team. Pouring into your people. But if your first-time guest numbers are low, you’re likely fighting against a quiet drift—and growth will stall before you even realize it. In Episode 181 of the Fly on the Wall podcast, I talk with my friend Jason Norman about one of the most vital ingredients for church growth: invite culture. We break...

Momentum is a powerful gift—but it can also be deceiving. In Episode 180 of the Fly on the Wall podcast, I sit down with my good friend Chris Norman to talk about the two most common places pastors get stuck: when the church is growing… and when it’s not. This episode is packed with insight for both seasons. We cover: ✅ Why momentum hides weakness—and what to do before it runs out ✅ How to break...

You made it through the launch. You survived the first year. You’ve built momentum. But now… things are stalling. In Episode 179 of the Fly on the Wall podcast, I talk with David and Randall—church planters in L.A.—about breaking the 120 barrier and the realities of leading beyond year four. Here’s what we unpack in this raw, practical coaching convo: ✅ Why growing churches must move from ministe...