StrongTeams.com Podcast

What if the most important thing you learned about yourself last year is already incomplete? In this episode, Rodney Cox unpacks why Leading From Your Strengths® is not a one-and-done assessment — it's an iterative tool designed to grow with you. Learn how LFYS and StrengthsFinder complement each other, why we recommend retaking the assessment every year or six months after a significant role...

The toughest crossroads you'll face as a leader isn't a strategic decision—it's the moment you discover something you didn't know and must choose between defending yourself or taking a transformational step. In this episode, we explore that vulnerable space between "I didn't know" and "Now I do!" where humility battles pride and one small step separates...

Every January, we feel it, don't we? That pressure to be more. More visionary, more decisive, more capable. We look at the year ahead and we unconsciously slip into hero mode. We start believing that great leadership means having all the answers, carrying all the weight, being the smartest person in the room. If I don't do it, it won't get done right. How many times have you thought...

You know, it's January. The confetti has been swept away, the champagne glasses are in the dishwasher, and those ambitious New Year's resolutions are staring us in the face. If you're leading a church staff, managing a business team, or guiding a ministry, you know that familiar weight: How can I do more? How can I lead better? How can we finally break through this year? Today I wan...

Hey friends, welcome back to the podcast. I've got a story for you that I think is going to hit home, especially with Thanksgiving just around the corner. So last week, I'm sitting in this community board meeting. Now, this is an open board meeting, which means any member can attend and add items to the agenda for discussion. And let me tell you, things got... interesting. I'm watch...

Are you ready to revolutionize your approach to finance and faith? Join me, Rodney Cox, on the StrongTeams.com podcast as I sit down with Harry Pearson, the visionary founder and CEO of OneAscent. This episode is a game-changer for anyone seeking to align their values with their investments and create lasting kingdom impact. Harry's journey from a blue-collar background in Baton Rouge to beco...

Are you struggling to build a truly unified, high-performing team? Chances are, one hidden culprit is sabotaging your efforts: pace! That's the central insight from a powerful article by Duane Donner, founder of Heritage Forum and my good friend. Duane examines how the relentless hustle of modern life undermines our ability to lead with empathy, patience, and wisdom. He writes: "Hurry an...

Leadership is one of the most rewarding callings in life - but also one of the most challenging. How can you build a team of people who feel valued, empowered and able to bring their best when you're struggling to stay afloat yourself If you've ever felt misaligned, depleted or ill-equipped for the demands of leadership, you're not alone. In fact, my recent conversation with Dr. Gre...

Do you struggle with feelings of shame, guilt or a distorted view of how God sees you? In this powerful interview, Don Ankenbrandt, author of the book "Your True Reflection," shares his transformative journey of uncovering his true identity in Christ. Over 30 years ago, during a day of solitude, Don had a revelation that he had been looking at his relationship with God through a distorte...

One of the most critical moments for any church is navigating a senior pastoral transition. Getting it right can launch a new season of fruitful ministry. Getting it wrong can lead to devastating consequences like decline, conflict, and erosion of trust. So how can church leaders confidently hire the right long-term fit for their unique situation and church culture?  In this episode, Rodney Cox ta...

Are you a leader struggling with chaos in your organization? In this insightful podcast episode, we interview Gary Harpst, New York Times bestselling author and former CEO, about overcoming organizational chaos through timeless biblical leadership principles. Gary unpacks the three types of chaos leaders face - external chaos from circumstances, social chaos from team dynamics, and internal chaos...

In our digital age, the way people consume content has radically shifted. Yet many churches still deliver monologue-style sermons designed for a reality that no longer exists. I recently interviewed David Murrow, an online preaching coach, who argues: "Preaching stopped working 20 years ago." As audiences migrated to social media and bite-sized videos, the traditional sermon format has s...

If you've ever struggled to connect your faith to your work or felt like your job was just a necessary evil, this episode is for you! Join me as I explore the powerful biblical truth that ALL work is sacred and eternally significant to God. I recently interviewed Jordan Raynor about his paradigm-shifting book "The Sacredness of Secular Work" and it completely transformed my perspect...

What enables some teams to achieve incredible results under intense pressure, while others flounder? Retired Navy SEAL leader Kyle Bucket and business leader Chris Mefford have seen extraordinary teams accomplish the near impossible across military, government, nonprofit, and corporate worlds.   In this episode, Chris and Kyle decode the key practices that set elite teams apart. Drawing from exper...

What separates a church that’s just getting by from one that’s thriving and making an impact in people’s lives? Strong leadership – and specifically, a strong senior leadership team.  My guest on the StrongTeams.com podcast this week is Tony Morgan, founder of the Unstuck Group, an expert on team development and alignment. Tony consults with churches to help get them “unstuck” and move forward int...

Rodney Cox spoke with Dr. David “Fletch” Fletcher, founder of XPastor.org, about the vital yet often overlooked topic of strengthening integrity in church leadership. David, or Fletch as he is called by his friends, served as a pastor for 35 years in single and multisite churches ranging in size from 1,000-8,000 members. In 2003 he founded XPastor.org which has become a popular resource for leader...

Our guest today is best-selling author and podcaster, Chris Bolinger.  In addition to his duties as the co-host of the Throwing Mountains podcast, Chris is the author of the popular devotional titled, Daily Strength for Men -- which has sold over 300,000 copies. Chris’ latest devotional is, 52 Weeks of Strength for Men, which tackles topics like the one we will address today—avoiding pride. Find C...

Podcast hosts Rodney Cox and Steve NeSmith discuss some of their favorite clips from the past year. Tune in to find out which clips made the list and what the hosts learned from those guest interviews. Guest clips: 1. Ben Mandrell, Pres/CEO of Lifeway 2. Trudy Cathy White, Chick-fil-A 3. Tom Harper, CEO of BiblicalLeadership.com 4.  Christina and Jim Angelakos, Co-founders of VolunteerU.org 5. Mar...

Rodney's podcast guest is Dr. Bob Whitesel. Bob is a sought after speaker, church health consultant and award-winning writer of 14 books on missional leadership, church change and church growth. Another area of expertise for Bob is in developing new leaders , which we will talk more about today. He has also earned two doctorates from Fuller Theological Seminary. Find Bob online at https://lea...

Our guest today is Robby Angle. Robby is the President and CEO of Trueface, a ministry based in Dawsonville, GA.  He specializes in helping churches develop leaders through relational ministry. Prior to Trueface, Robby served for seven years as the Director of Adult Ministry Environments and Men’s Groups for North Point Community Church in Atlanta, a church founded by Andy Stanley. Before North Po...

Chick-fil-A executive Mark Miller makes a second appearance on this podcast. We recorded this episode with Mark at the Chick-fil-A headquarters in Atlanta. Listeners may recall that Mark's career at Chick-fil-A began 45 years ago as an hourly team member in one of the local restaurants. At the time of our interview, Mark was serving as Vice President of High-Performance Leadership at Chick-fi...

Rodney's podcast guest is Chris Turner. Chris serves as Communications Director for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board. In addition to decades of work in corporate media relations and two masters degrees, he has worked in 37 countries as a magazine correspondent. Chris is also a former sportswriter.   We interviewed Chris because he has done extensive research on internal communications as i...

Rodney's guest on this episode is Shawn Lemon, and in 2013 Shawn founded The Digital Organizer.  He shares with Rodney how organizing your assets can help ministry teams operate at a higher level. The Digital Organizer partners with businesses to create streamlined, effective, and easy-to-use digital organization systems. It's their mission to empower people with the tools they need to s...

Rodney's podcast guest is Dave Travis. Dave has advised large church pastors for over 30 years, facilitating focused conversations that drive change and action. Twenty-three of those years were spent with Leadership Network, where he retired as CEO in 2018. Since then, Dave has worked with dozens of churches and their leaders, helping guide them to solve sticky challenges through his role as...

Rodney's guest is Bob Hasson. Bob is an accomplished CEO, author, and podcaster. In addition to his entrepreneurial accomplishments, for decades Bob has been active as a consultant and board member for churches, ministries, nonprofits, and school boards. He has authored several books like, Business of Honor,  Wired to Hear and his most recent title, Shortcuts: The Proven Path to Purpose, Exce...