Lifeline for Leaders

Great leadership isn't built in the easy seasons—it's forged through faith, perspective, and a willingness to stay true to your mission. In this episode of Lifeline for Leaders, Kirk and Linda Thomas welcome Maureen Metcalf, Executive Director of Legacy Pregnancy Care Center and leadership expert, for a practical conversation about what it takes to lead with wisdom, excellence, and unwav...

What happens when a ministry is forced to defend its mission all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court? In this powerful episode of Lifeline for Leaders , Kirk and Linda sit down with Aimee Huber, Executive Director of First Choice Women's Resource Centers, and Gabriella McIntyre, legal counsel with Alliance Defending Freedom, to discuss a landmark legal victory that has implications for pregnanc...

In a culture searching for answers, who is stepping up to guide the next generation of fathers? This week on Lifeline for Leaders, Kirk and Linda welcome Sean Corcoran , founder of Men for Life , to discuss one of the most overlooked opportunities in life-affirming ministry: engaging men. While many pregnancy centers focus on supporting women in crisis pregnancies, Sean believes lasting transforma...

What does it take to lead with conviction in one of today's most challenging cultural conversations? In this episode of Lifeline for Leaders, Linda Thomas sits down with Ashley Leenerts, Legislative Director for Texas Right to Life, to discuss leadership, advocacy, public policy, and the importance of supporting women and families through compassionate action. Ashley shares the personal story...

What does it take to build a statewide network that supports women, families, and pregnancy care centers with excellence, compassion, and lasting impact? In this episode of Lifeline for Leaders, Kirk and Linda Thomas sit down with Rita Gagliano, Executive Director and CEO of the Florida Pregnancy Care Network (FPCN), to explore how one organization is helping strengthen life-affirming care across...

What if the future of life-affirming healthcare is bigger than a single appointment? In Part 2 of our conversation with Jeanette Kuiphof, Kristy Stevens, and Jessica Ekstrom of Obria Medical Clinics Los Angeles, we explore what it looks like to build healthcare models that truly meet women and families where they are. From addressing common misconceptions about life-affirming medical clinics to ex...

Leadership in ministry and healthcare can be deeply meaningful—but it can also be emotionally exhausting. In this special two-part episode of Lifeline for Leaders, Kirk and Linda Thomas sit down with the leadership team from Obria Medical Clinics Los Angeles: Jeanette Kuiphof, Kristy Stevens, and Jessica Ekstrom. Together, they share honest insights on faith-based leadership, burnout, compassionat...

Fundraising can feel overwhelming for many nonprofit leaders—especially when so much pressure is placed on annual banquets, galas, and constant financial uncertainty. But what if sustainable fundraising is built less on events and more on intentional relationships? In this episode of Lifeline for Leaders, Kirk and Linda Thomas sit down with Haley Limo, founder of Least of These Philanthropy, to ta...

Leading a pregnancy center in today’s culture requires more than passion—it requires courage, clarity, adaptability, and deep trust in God. In this episode of Lifeline for Leaders, we sit down with Jennifer Shelton, CEO of RealOptions North Texas, to talk about what it looks like to lead boldly in a rapidly changing culture while staying grounded in mission and faith. Jennifer brings more than 22...

AI is everywhere—but for many nonprofit and pregnancy center leaders, it still feels overwhelming, unclear, or even a little intimidating. In this episode of Lifeline for Leaders , we welcome back Jon Merwarth, founder of ThrivePoint Consulting, to talk about how leaders can approach AI with wisdom, confidence, and practical strategy. Jon brings decades of experience in business, nonprofit leaders...

What if growth isn’t actually the goal? In this episode of Lifeline for Leaders , we sit down with Jon Merwarth of ThrivePoint Consulting to challenge one of the biggest assumptions in nonprofit and pregnancy center leadership—that doing more automatically means doing better. Jon brings years of experience as a former pregnancy center CEO and now works with organizations nationwide to strengthen l...

If your nonprofit finances feel overwhelming, unclear, or always a step behind—you’re not alone. And more importantly, it doesn’t have to stay that way. In this episode of Lifeline for Leaders , we sit down with Lisa Schmitz, founder of Gratia Bookkeeping, to talk about how leaders can take control of their financials without losing focus on their mission. Lisa brings decades of nonprofit leadersh...

What does it really take to grow a ministry or scale a nonprofit without losing sight of your mission? In this episode of the Lifeline for Leaders Podcast, Kirk and Linda Thomas sits down with Kirt Wiggins, President of Caring Network, to explore nonprofit leadership, ministry growth, mission-driven strategy, and sustainable organizational scaling in today’s challenging culture. From its humble be...

How can leaders create lasting impact, influence the next generation, and prevent problems before they begin? In this episode of the Lifeline for Leaders Podcast, Kirk and Linda Thomas are joined by Tracey Pike, a nationally recognized expert in sexual risk avoidance (SRA), youth leadership development, and prevention education. With decades of experience through Ascend, Tracey shares proven strat...

Fatherhood isn’t about perfection—it’s about presence, intentionality, and the legacy you leave behind. In this episode of the Lifeline for Leaders Podcast, Kirk Thomas sits down with Andrew Wood for a powerful, honest conversation about what it really means to show up as a dad in today’s world. Drawing from his book Hero, Ghost, Villain , Andrew challenges fathers to ask a simple but confronting...

Fathers play a powerful role in the health of families, the strength of communities, and the future of the next generation—but too often their voices are missing from the conversation. In this episode of the Lifeline for Leaders Podcast, Kirk and Linda Thomas sit down with Andrew Wood, a nationally recognized speaker, author, and founder of AHW Ministry Advisors. With more than 15 years of experie...

What makes the Heartbeat International Conference such a powerful experience for leaders in the pregnancy help movement? In this episode of Lifeline for Leaders Podcast, hosts Kirk and Jenn sit down with Andrea from Heartbeat International to talk about what attendees can expect from this year’s conference—and why it feels less like an event and more like a family reunion. From energizing workshop...

Conference season can feel exciting… and overwhelming. In this episode of Lifeline for Leaders, we sit down with Andrea Trudden, Vice President of Communications & Marketing at Heartbeat International, to talk about how leaders can prepare their hearts and minds before stepping into a major conference gathering. With thousands of pregnancy help leaders serving in communities across the globe,...

Today’s Lifeline is for the leader who feels the weight of responsibility — the pressure to stay strong, the expectation to carry the vision, and the quiet loneliness that comes with being the one everyone depends on. In this powerful conversation, Robin Fuller, founder of Bloom Coaching, shares what it truly means to finish well in leadership. After serving more than 23 years as an executive dire...

In this powerful final episode of our Saving Samaria series, Kirk and Jenn Walden return to help us look inward at what sustains leaders when the work feels heavy, progress seems slow, and hope feels fragile. Together, we explore the final strategy from Saving Samaria : Exude Gratitude. Through deeply personal stories—including Jenn’s battle with cancer and the experience of being carried through...

In Part 3 of our Saving Samaria series on Lifeline for Leaders, Kirk and Jenn Walden explore two transformative strategies for engaging today’s divided and emotionally charged culture: Fruit, Not Fire and Wear Compassion. In a time when disagreements easily escalate and relationships feel fragile, this episode invites leaders to consider a better way forward. Through personal stories and biblical...

In this episode of Lifeline for Leaders, Kirk and Jenn Walden continue unpacking key strategies from Saving Samaria: Seven Jesus Strategies for Healing a Broken Culture , focusing on two transformational leadership principles: vulnerability and ditching labels. Kirk reminds leaders that people don’t need polished answers — they need authentic connection. Vulnerability opens doors that professional...

In this opening episode of Life Line for Leaders , hosts welcome authors Kirk and Jenn Walden to discuss their new book, Saving Samaria: Seven Jesus Strategies for Healing a Broken Culture. Drawing from Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman, Kirk and Jenn explore how today’s leaders can faithfully navigate a divided and searching culture. Through personal stories, ministry experience, and bibl...

Leadership in pregnancy care clinics and pro-life ministries can feel heavy and often isolating. Life Line for Leaders is a podcast created to strengthen and encourage those serving on the front lines. Each episode features practical insight, trusted voices, and real conversations focused on community, connection, and clarity—so you’re equipped to lead with confidence and support. Because you don’...