Spiritual Life and Leadership

JR Woodward is the National Director of the V3 Movement, a faculty member in the Doctor of Global Leadership cohort at Fuller Theological Seminary, and the author of The Scandal of Leadership: Unmasking the Powers of Domination in the Church. In this conversation, JR and Markus explore what it looks like to lead communities that bring the Kingdom of God to life in the places where we live. THIS EP...

Mark Scandrette has spent over twenty years wrestling with a hard realization: knowing a lot about God doesn't mean you're good at following Jesus. Dave Kludt spent fifteen years in pastoral ministry learning that everything, down to how you arrange the chairs in a room, forms people. Together they co-teach a Doctor of Ministry cohort at Fuller Seminary built around two words: integral a...

Jeff Crosby reads about 75 books a year. But in this conversation—his third appearance on the podcast—he's quick to say the number isn't the point. What matters is what reading does to you, including what he calls being "unselfed." Jeff Crosby is a 24-year veteran of InterVarsity Press, current executive with ECPA, and author of World of Wonders: A Spirituality of Reading . REL...

Administration is more than paperwork—it’s a spiritual calling. Jana Holiday, author of Taking Good Care: Administration for Christian Formation , explores how stewardship, imagination, and hospitable leadership can transform administration into a ministry of care and Christian formation. THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: Jana Holiday explains that she loves administration because it involve...

What happens when you visit 33 different churches in a year? Richard Riccardi, author of T he Wandering Worshipper , shares his journey of exploring worship spaces, the surprising power of radical hospitality, and how authentic community can transform even the most unexpected visitor. THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: Richard Riccardi describes walking into 33 places of worship and discoveri...

Ministry can stir up all kinds of feelings, especially when we’re dealing with conflict, with grief, with change. And the better we understand what’s happening beneath the surface, the better we can lead ourselves—and our people—more thoughtfully and more effectively. In this episode, I’m speaking with Dr. Audrey Davidheiser, a licensed psychologist and the author of Grieving Wholeheartedly . Audr...

Effective youth ministry isn’t about changing more programs—it’s about deep listening and real relationships. Josh Packard, sociologist and researcher, explores how sacred listening transforms faith formation, the unique needs of Gen Z and Gen Alpha, and why scaling relational ministry requires curiosity and humility. THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: Markus Watson asks Josh Packard to share...

Pastoral ministry is both a sacred joy and a heavy burden. Kurt Fredrickson, Associate Dean for Professional Doctoral Programs at Fuller Seminary, discusses the struggles pastors face, how church leadership is shifting in a changing culture, and why creating life-giving congregational environments matters more than ever. THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: Markus Watson introduces the episode...

Tim Alberta, journalist, author, and frequent cable news commentator, explores the complex relationship between political power and American evangelicalism. In this timely conversation, we discuss what happens when the church gets too cozy with empire, how pastors can navigate politically divided congregations, and what Jesus actually has to say about power. Essential listening for anyone trying t...

Mark Scandrette explores Jesus' most countercultural teaching, the Beatitudes, and what it means for how we lead. This conversation digs into the upside-down kingdom values of mourning, meekness, mercy, and peacemaking, and asks what spiritual leadership looks like when it's rooted in these ancient rhythms. Mark and I became friends after this interview when we walked the Camino de Santi...

Jay Bakker, son of televangelists Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker, shares his journey from growing up in the spotlight to watching his father go to prison - and how those experiences shaped his understanding of grace. In this conversation, Jay talks about judgment, unconditional love, and what it means to extend grace even to enemies. A deeply personal and challenging conversation about what grace actua...

The most-downloaded episode in the history of this podcast. Michael Frost and Alan Hirsch, two of the most influential voices in missional church thinking, discuss what it means to recalibrate everything around Jesus in a post-Christendom world. A powerful conversation about reimagining church, mission, and what it means to follow Jesus in contemporary culture. Send me a text! I’d love to know wha...

One of our earliest conversations, recorded in 2018 with Tod Bolsinger about his groundbreaking book Canoeing the Mountains . Tod explores what it means to lead in uncharted territory, the difference between technical and adaptive challenges, and how leaders can navigate change when the old maps no longer work. This conversation helped shape the direction of this podcast and remains essential list...

In this special episode of Spiritual Life and Leadership , Markus Watson reflects on the incredible six-and-a-half-year journey of the podcast, shares the story of its beginnings, and reveals exciting news about its next chapter. With a partnership ending and fresh possibilities ahead, Markus opens up about his plans for a creative sabbatical, new formats, and future topics that matter to church l...

This is it—the final episode of our partnership with the Church Leadership Institute . It's hard to believe how quickly these years have flown by. In this episode, Tod Bolsinger and Markus Watson look back on what this collaboration has meant, what we've accomplished together, and where the road leads from here. THIS EPSODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: Markus Watson reflects on starting th...

What does it really mean to create a “safe space” for young people in our churches—not just a place free from harm, but a place where their deepest questions and unique experiences are genuinely welcomed? In this episode, Tanita Tualla Maddox, National Director for Generational Impact for Young Life and author of What Gen Z Really Wants to Know About God , helps us understand Gen Z’s core question...

Discover why real leadership is never a solo journey—and how embracing your own vulnerability can unlock the supportive relationships you need to thrive through change. Tod Bolsinger and Markus Watson discuss Tod's own quote in Ep. 283, Disorientation and Spiritual Leadership : “The vulnerability of leadership needs the security of many relationships.”  THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:...

Do you ever feel like you’re alone in your leadership?  Why is that? Why do so many church leaders feel isolated—and how did we come to believe that ministry is something we’re supposed to do alone? In this episode, E.K. Strawser, author of You Were Never Meant to Lead Alone , unpacks what it means to move from solo leadership to a model shaped by shared responsibility and the APEST framework—apos...

Learn how mastering your anxiety with simple, God-given tools like deep breathing can transform your leadership in the moments that matter most. Tod Bolsinger and Markus Watson discuss this quote from Audrey Davidheiser in Ep. 284, How to Respond Thoughtfully Instead of Reacting : "If you feel anxious or rushed or concerned or fearful, deep breaths. Because taking deep breaths from the belly...

Why is it so hard for pastors and church people to be truly open and honest with one another? In ministry, we talk a lot about authenticity, vulnerability, and grace—but in reality, putting those ideals into practice can feel risky, messy, and even dangerous. In this episode, Tom Bennardo, author of Open-Hearted People, Soul-Connected Church , draws on decades of pastoral experience to unpack the...

Learn how breaking out of your comfort zone and embracing new perspectives can transform your leadership and help dismantle bias in your church. Tod Bolsinger and Markus Watson discuss this quote from Erin Devers in Ep. 282, The Cost of Bias in the Church : “One of the strategies for reducing bias is to go bigger, to widen your perspective.” THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: People tend to h...

Jews for Jesus helps Jewish people come to know Jesus, the Jewish Messiah. What’s fascinating is how Jews for Jesus has not only remained committed to that mission of sharing the hope of the Jewish Messiah, but has also adapted as the world around it has changed. As ministry leaders, we face the tension between time-honored tradition and the need for fresh approaches—and the story of Jews for Jesu...

Explore how real transformation in spiritual leadership begins with listening deeply to your community and letting curiosity—not certainty—shape your mission. Tod Bolsinger and Markus Watson discuss this quote from Shannon Kiser in Ep. 280, Empowering Leaders for Creative Mission : “Fresh expressions always start with listening and being attentive to who God is putting on your heart.” THIS EPISODE...

What if the best leadership isn’t about having the answers, but about asking the questions that draw out wisdom, connection, and creativity from those around us? What if the most transformational moments in ministry happen not when we speak—but when we invite others to share, reflect, and dream with us? In this episode, J.R. Briggs, author of The Art of Asking Better Questions discusses how asking...

Discover why leading in today’s church means listening deeply to people’s questions, griefs, and dreams—before ever stepping into the pulpit. Tod Bolsinger and Markus Watson discuss this quote from Mark Glanville in Ep. 278, Preaching in Today's Post-Christian World : "People are walking to church now, not with the Bible under their arm, but with complex and genuine questions, with hopes...