Sidecar Leader Podcast

Peter Haas on AI, Content Creation, and the Future of Church Governance Peter Haas, lead pastor of Substance Church and author of Happy Church Governance , Broken Escalators , and Pharisectomy , joins the show for a wide-ranging conversation on how artificial intelligence is reshaping sermon writing, content creation, and church leadership. Peter has been in ministry for nearly 30 years and pulls...

Most pastors don't know how to lead the high-capacity business leaders sitting in their church—and those leaders are often just one invitation away from a breakthrough. In this episode of The Sidecar Leader, Executive Pastor Nate Puccini shares how he went from a lonely, workaholic millionaire running 21 business locations to giving it all up to serve the local church. Nate gets honest about the i...

What separates high-performing organizations from ones that stay stuck? It comes down to two things: collaboration and execution — and most teams are only good at one. In this episode, we sit down with Jordan, COO of Highlands College, to unpack the leadership frameworks and operational principles that have helped one of the most respected ministry training institutions in the country scale with e...

Most leaders are taught how to launch. Nobody teaches you how to end. In this episode, Nathan and Jason sit down with Tony Calabrese — a leader who has navigated church closings, season endings, and the kind of transitions that test not just your strategy but your identity. Tony has planted twice, which means he's also had to convince himself — and his family — to believe again after things didn't...

You've hired the right people. You have a clear vision. You've tried the new framework. So why does it feel like nothing is actually sticking? In this episode, Nathan and Jason make the case that most organizational problems aren't structural — they're cultural. And until you fix what's underneath, nothing you build on top of it will last. They walk through four culture types that show up in almos...

Your team has things they want to say to you — but they won't. Not because they don't care. Because they don't feel safe, don't want the conflict, or assume you're too busy to hear it. In this episode of the Sidecar Leader Podcast, we say the things your employees are probably thinking right now. Five honest truths about clarity, feedback, trust, consistency, and growth — and what it costs your te...

What does faithful leadership look like in a world where every cultural moment seems to demand an immediate response? In this episode of the Sidecar Leader Podcast, we sit down with Jon Rush to talk about the growing pressure pastors and church leaders feel on social media - from politics and public tragedy to theological controversy and cultural debates. Together, we explore how leaders can resis...

Most leaders don't need more help. They need more ownership. In this episode, Jason and Nathan unpack what your boss wants to say to you (but probably hasn't yet) and give five practical leadership shifts that make you a high capacity, low maintenance teammate. If you want to grow, get promoted, earn trust faster, and carry more responsibility without creating chaos, this one is a blueprint. 00:00...

A casual bike ride turns into a brutal compound fracture - and somehow that moment becomes the gateway into a masterclass on relationships, leadership, and influence. Wayne Francis opens up about the accident, the fear of getting back on the bike, and why real leadership is built with "the righteous and the ratchet" - staying close to everyday people so leaders don't lose tenderness, perspective,...

In this conversation, Chris shares why relationships are not just a leadership strength, but a leadership responsibility. From planting a church in small-town Ohio to building a culture where people feel seen, he breaks down how to scale connection beyond the charismatic leader and into the whole team. You will also hear a simple, freeing definition of excellence: doing the best with what and who...

What makes teams actually healthy over the long haul? In this conversation with Brian Cromer, we talk about the fundamentals that never stop mattering: caring for people before correcting them, giving the "gift of clarity" (not just big vision), and building cultures where people feel heard and own the mission. Brian also opens up about navigating "church hurt" without becoming bitter, and the wor...

If you've got a lot of options in front of you right now and the emotions are high… this episode is for you. In this early-2026 conversation, we talk about the difference between vision decisions and emotional decisions - and why leaders often get stuck when the water gets muddy. Then we walk through five questions to clarify vision and five principles to communicate it in a way that people can ru...

Excellence is more than polished services and clean environments – it's a spirit that permeates everything you do as a leader. In this Sidecar Leader conversation, Pastor Jason unpacks a biblical and practical vision for excellence in both church and organizational life. Drawing from the story of Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, he paints a picture of excellence that literally "takes people's breat...

In this conversation, Jason sits down with Beth, a longtime kids and next gen leader at Church of the Highlands, to unpack how you build a thriving kids ministry that actually recruits, retains, and disciples volunteers and families. Beth shares how she went from music major and worship leader to executive assistant, then into leading Highlands Kids across multiple campuses— without a traditional...

Most organizations don't have a vision problem—they have an execution problem. In this conversation we unpack why consistency beats creativity, the real cost of poor follow-through, and the practical tools leaders can use to close the gap between ideas and implementation: ownership, roadmapping, time-blocking, check-ins, and the "eat the frog" principle. If you feel stuck, this one's for you. 00:0...

Australian church planter Chris Carmona shares the gritty, unfiltered path of planting in Chicago—fast growth, painful pruning, pandemic shutdowns, losing a house two days before Christmas, a cancer diagnosis, and the revelation that changed his leadership: stop trying to attract people, start attracting God. We unpack culture vs. charisma, hiring fast vs. building people, leading without fear of...

Seasons determine seasons. In this candid conversation, our guest (a senior pastor and church planter) unpacks the real tensions of transition—shifting from staff to lead pastor, inviting your leaders into the process, and walking out integrity when timelines and decisions don't go your way. We talk honesty and honor, calling vs. ambition, counting the cost for your family, and how senior leaders...

Respectful debate sharpens leaders. In this episode, we unpack how to argue with honor, why truth + love increases impact, and a simple lens for diagnosing problems: spiritual, practical, or clinical. We pull from early church debates, coaching calls, spans of care, and the Jethro Principle—then land on a usable one-on-one framework (the 4Cs: Care, Cover, Correct, Communicate) you can apply this w...

In this Sidecar Leader conversation, we dive deep into two of the toughest realities leaders face: discerning God's voice in decision-making and leading through seasons of suffering. Our guest unpacks a practical G-O-S-P-E framework for discernment—Glory, Others, Scripture, Prayer, Evangelism, and Lifestyle—while also challenging common misconceptions about "peace" and God's will. We talk candidly...

What does it take to lead with grit, resilience, and humility—especially when stepping into an established church with decades of history? In this episode, Kevin Lewis, Lead Pastor of Lighthouse Church in Newbury Park, CA, joins us for a powerful conversation about resilience in leadership, the tension of honoring the past while leading into the future, and staying faithful to the prophetic mandat...

In this episode of Sidecar Leader, we sit down with Pastor Dave Patterson of The Father's House to unpack the balance of spirit and structure in church leadership. From cultivating a culture of prayer to creating space for the Holy Spirit without sacrificing excellence, Dave shares decades of wisdom from leading a thriving multi-site church. We explore the biblical picture of "digging wells" from...

What does it really take to lead lasting change in a legacy church? In this episode, we sit down with Landon Pickering, Lead Pastor of Trademark Church in Texas, to unpack a 7-year journey of revitalization — from honoring the past to building a culture of diversity, unity, and growth. Landon shares the lessons he's learned on: Leading change with pace and patience Building trust without sacrifici...

In this episode of the Sidecar Leader Podcast, Noah Herrin shares the honest journey of launching Way Church in Nashville and the unexpected lessons that came with it—from leading as a young pastor to building a culture of connection over content. He unpacks how he and his wife Maddie co-lead, develop leaders, and shift their teams toward deeper trust, ownership, and discipleship. You'll hear: The...

In this powerful episode of the Sidecar Leader Podcast, Pastor Mike Burnette joins us for a raw and deeply personal conversation on the character it takes to lead over the long haul.   From his unlikely journey as a classically trained opera singer turned pastor, to leading a multi-campus church through growth, heartbreak, and spiritual formation—Mike shares what integrity really looks like when n...

What does it look like to serve faithfully in one church for over two decades? In this episode, we sit down with John Larson, worship and production leader at Church of the Highlands, who shares the inside story of his 24-year journey helping build one of the most influential churches in America. From running the tape and CD ministry in 2001 to overseeing production across 26 campuses today, John...