Lead Stories Podcast

Annie Downs chats to Jo on today's Lead Voices episode.  Listen in to hear how author and speaker Annie Downs manages her daily life and leadership, how she managed get her book published 6 years and 47 rejections later, and why she doesn't have email on her phone!   Check out Annie's Latest book: 100 days to Brave www. Anniefdowns.com @Anniefdowns   Also mentioned: The Tech-wise Family by Andy Cr...

It's Jo's turn to talk about how her life has unintentionally and then over time, intentionally broken molds.  Jo discusses how her cultural background has meant she has always broken molds and caused her to question her identity. However, as she has become increasingly comfortable with being uncomfortable she has been able to accept the calling God has given her and accept God's invitations to br...

Steph shares stories from her life about how she has unintentionally broken the mold on many occasions by standing up for what she feels is right or following God's calling. Listen in to hear how not to stand up to a gym teacher like teenage Steph did, but how God used it to grow her capacity and for God's truth to be proclaimed. Steph also shares how being a female pastor (and previously a single...

What does the phrase 'breaking the mold' mean? Is it a good thing? In this introductory episode to a new series, Jo and Steph talk about the limitations of molds, how we can be blind to them and how they hold us back as leaders - both by keeping us from stepping into things and also stopping us from helping others to step into things.   Discussion questions: 1) What are ways which we are being hel...

Lead Stories listeners get the privilege of hearing one of the new 'The Dream of You' podcast episodes right here on Lead Stories!   In this first episode of the 7-part mini-podcast you can hear Steph interview Jo on her new book, also called 'The Dream of You' and hear Jo talk candidly about the writing process, the reasons why she wrote the book and how it feels to have her personal journey of r...

Want a sneak peek into Jo and Steph's hello/goodbye process? Listen in to hear Jo talking about what last year's word 'flourish' ended up looking life for her and why she feels that 'focus' is the word for 2018.   Find out what saying goodbye to other people's expectations looked like for Steph and what she thinks God may be saying to her through the phrases: 'Keys of the Kingdom' and 'Break the M...

Welcome to Season 4! In today's episode Jo and Steph talk Hello / Goodbye and share how we can examine the past year well and embrace 2018 intentionally.   There is an accompanying Hello / Goodbye workbook which you can pick up www.leadstoriesmedia.com/resources - check it out!   Steps for Hello / Goodbye: 1. Meditate Try Proverbs 4:4-19 2. Review Look at the highs and lows of the year. 3. Release...

Jo and Steph pull the curtain on Season 3 of Lead Stories by looking back over the past season and forward to the next one.  Listen in to find out more!   Check out the new hello-goodbye resource and the feedback tool: https://www.leadstoriesmedia.com/resources/   Steph's article on Imposter Syndrome at Christianity Today: http://www.christianitytoday.com/women-leaders/2017/october/beat-imposter-s...

Writer and podcaster Osheta Moore is talking shalom with Jo and Steph today as they discuss what it means to be intentional about wholeness and peace in our relationship with God, others and the world and its broken systems. Listen in to here Osheta's dramatic testimony and her manifesto to help women pursue shalom in their lives and make a difference in the world around them. Check out Osheta's b...

Steph and Michelle Steffenhagen are talking about becoming more aware of where our thoughts automatically go when we are anxious or stressed and how to take greater control over our reactions.   In this episode they discuss 5 types of self-defeating thoughts and how we can identify them and stop them in their tracks: 1) All or nothing thinking 2) Catastrophizing 3) Unrealistic thinking - oughts an...

Sarah Bessey is chatting to Steph about the reality of leading on in the midst of difficulty, failure and seasons on healing and resurrection.   In a candid interview, Sarah shares how this year started with a major car accident and how that has impacted her ability to work, write and lead, has led to failures and meeting with God in a new way in the midst of it.   You can find Sarah over at www.s...

Daniel Hill from Chicago is talking white supremacy, racism and his own awakening to his white cultural background.   Listen to understand: - why people so often congregate with their own racial groups even when given many positive opportunities to interact with others.     - What makes white people so oblivious to white culture - What we can all do to be less ignorant and make race relations bett...

Dorcas Cheng-Tozun is a writer and speaker Author, writer and columnist and is talking to Jo and Steph today about anxiety, marriage and her new book, Start, Love, Repeat: How to Stay in Love with Your Entrepreneur in a Crazy Start-up World . Listen in to hear how Dorcas and her husband have cultivated their marriage through international moves and juggled family life and their careers as they hav...

How can we access whether the feedback we get (and give) is worth investing time and energy in or not? That's where the feedback assessment tool comes in.  Looking in depth at the 4 spectrums, Jo and Steph examine how we can filter our feedback and invest our energies where they should be - in growth and learning, no matter how the feedback is presented.   The 4 spectrums: 1) Kind of feedback it i...

Amena Brown is laughing with Jo and Steph on the podcast today as she shares about her new book and what it means to be a businesswoman offering the service of poetry, the spoken and written word.   Listen in to hear her journey in growing in confidence in her calling and her laugh-out loud stories!   Check out her new book: How to Fix a Broken Record out now!   Www.amenabrown.com   Books Amena re...

When you lead you will be criticized. So how can we lead on in the midst of criticism? Jo and Steph talk from personal experience about how they have received criticism and how to filter negative feedback without getting bitter or discouraged.     Discussion questions: What have you not done for the Kingdom because of the fear of rejection or criticism?     What inner critique do you have of other...

There is a take-over on Lead Stories today!   To celebrate the 100 th Episode, Keisha Polonio and Sally Breen have taken over the mics and are quizzing Jo and Steph on some very important questions: Jo, what is your favorite lip gloss color? Steph, what has been something about marriage that has surprised you? And what has been a challenge? Jo, what are you and Chris doing to prepare your girls fo...

Don't miss today's podcast as Christine shares her journey into leading A21 an anti-trafficking organization which is dedicated to abolishing this century's modern day slavery and 'holocaust'.  She also shares about her heart with the two other strands of her ministry - Propel and Equip and Empower Ministries. In a passionate and profound conversation with Jo and Steph, Christine challenges us to...

Lead Stories is Live at Awaken Community Church in St. Paul where listeners are getting a chance to ask their questions about leading in the midst of anxious times.  Listen in to hear how Jo and Steph answer the following questions: As a leader in whatever space we may have influence, what does it look like to use our platform and privilege to elevate the voices that are not the same as ours? We l...

We need practical tools to help us thrive in a world of comparison and competition, which so often begins with our minds!   This week Jo and Steph talk about internal and external struggles with comparison and competition and how we can practically face them head on, changing our mindsets, practice and culture.   Discussion questions: 1.   Where is your biggest struggle with comparison and competi...

Steph is chatting to Steve Wiens about his new book Whole: Restoring What Is Broken in Me, You and The Entire World.  Listen in to hear their conversations about 5 Biblical questions and what it means to engage with them as leaders: 'Where are you?' 'Am I my brother's keeper?' 'What are you seeking?' 'Where are you going? 'What will you bring?'   Should we embrace mystery or mastery as leaders? Is...

Comparison and competition are as old as Cain and Abel. Rachel and Leah struggled with it and the disciples too.   This week Jo and Steph discuss the difference between a scarcity and an abundance mindset and ask how we can create cultures where people can flourish rather than strive or withdraw.   Discussion questions: 1. Can you think of a time when you compared yourself to someone else and then...

Last week Jo and Steph discussed the Imposter Syndrome and this week they show you how to overcome it!   Using the letter A (because Jo has loved Sesame Street since childhood) they are going to discuss 8 points which use the letter A.   1) Admit this a problem and begin to address it. 2) Assess your strengths and your weaknesses 3) Asking for feedback 4) Awareness of spiritual warfare 5) Accept a...

Jo talks leadership today with Tyler Reagin, the President of Catalyst, which runs events to support and empower leaders.   Listen in to hear them practically discuss leadership, millennials, grace and what it means to steward our influence.   https://catalystleader.com/ http://tylerreagin.com/blog/ Follow Lead Stories Podcast to interact with Steph and Jo: Twitter: @LeadStoriesVox Instagram: @Lea...