The Monochrome

In this bonus episode, Luke sits down with John Mark Clark and Davi Lema from Orange Thread Live for a roundtable on the standout tech they encountered at InfoComm this year. From AI-driven audio cleanup tools that strip out everything but a clean vocal signal, to a transparent LED wall that nearly disappears on camera, to a programming platform that could have saved a past SALT Conference team do...

Darrel Girardier, Executive Director of Ministry Resources at Brentwood Baptist Church, joins the podcast for a candid conversation about one of the most uncomfortable questions in church leadership: how do you actually measure whether your staff is effective, not just busy? From leading indicators and lagging indicators to managing Gen Z employees who've never had to structure their own workday,...

AI is advancing faster than most of us can keep up with, but this episode makes the case that your creative instincts and eye for excellence are more valuable now than ever. Luke and Katelyn break down why the one thing AI can't replace is your ability to define and articulate quality, and how church creatives actually have a unique superpower in the age of AI. Whether you're a daily AI user or st...

Australian singer and worship leader Bella Taylor Smith - who gained recognition on The Voice Australia and led worship at SALT 2025 - sits down to talk about what it's really like to write songs when you feel spiritually dry, how to navigate creative collaboration, and the 3 D's that shape her songwriting process. The conversation expands into a deeper discussion about why busyness is the greates...

Andy Erwin, director of I Can Only Imagine 2 , joins the podcast for a behind-the-scenes conversation about what it takes to make a sequel better than the original — including filming at Red Rocks with only 6 hours and 8,500 fans. But the conversation goes deeper than filmmaking: Andy shares why he intentionally casts non-Christians in his films and how both the product and the process can be vehi...

In this behind-the-scenes episode, our host Luke McElroy sits down with SALT Conference's professional MC Joseph "Sojo" Sojourner (known from Dude Perfect) and producer Seth Bartlett to pull back the curtain on how one of the most creatively ambitious ministry conferences gets made. They dive deep into the value of creative risk-taking, why a safe brainstorming culture beats pressure-filled perfec...

In this episode, we dive into how Disney's voice experts craft dialogue with precision and emotion, showing that excellence lands far before perfection. We explore the neuroscience behind why tone impacts audiences in milliseconds, and how churches, teams, and leaders can apply these lessons to their own communication.  Show Notes JOIN THE COMMUNITY →  http://SALTCommunity.com SALT 2026 →  https:/...

In this episode with Gary Molander , we explore what actually protects (or kills) creativity inside teams. From being careful who you invite into early dreaming stages to understanding psychological safety, clarity, and when critique should enter the room, this conversation unpacks how healthy creative cultures are built. If you lead a team or carry a vision, this episode will challenge how you st...

In this episode, Dr. Andrew Johnston joins the conversation to unpack one of the most pressure-filled responsibilities of leadership: hiring. He challenges leaders with a simple but powerful principle, "P refer the pain of an open position to the pain of a bad hire." When teams are stretched thin, it's tempting to move quickly and fill a role just to relieve the pressure. But rushing the process o...

Training for creative teams is hard, but it doesn't have to be. In this episode, we talk about the next chapter for SALT Community and why it will be a game-changer for you and your team. Luke shares the origin story of SALT—not as a conference, but as a conviction about creativity, formation, and the role of art, media, and technology in the local church. From a late-night moment of clarity to ye...

In this special episode of The Monochrome Podcast , Katelyn, Luke, and JoeAngel pull back the curtain on SALT 2025 . From this year's theme to behind-the-scenes planning, they'll walk you through what to expect, how to prepare, and a few insider details to make your experience unforgettable. If you're joining us in Nashville (or online), this is the must-listen guide to get the most out of your ti...

In this Bonus Episode of The Monochrome Podcast , we're diving into the wild world of church construction, tariffs, budgets, and making the most of unexpected challenges. Luke is joined by Zach Carringer and Josh Auman, leaders with deep experience in church systems design, to talk about how to plan when prices change overnight, what teams often overlook, and why relational trust is more important...

For our Season 2 Finale , we're joined by Troy A. Miller , President & CEO of NRB and NRBTV, for a timely conversation on the future of Christian media. Troy unpacks insights from the latest Barna + NRB study and shares what's shifting in the Christian communications landscape from how Americans engage with faith-based content to why Christian media is more trusted than ever. Plus, the Monochrome...

In this episode of The Monochrome Podcast , we're joined by worship leader and songwriter Maryanne George for a beautiful and honest conversation about creativity, calling, and the personal side of worship leadership. Known for her work with Maverick City Music and her solo projects, Maryanne shares how she stays grounded in her identity, creates from a place of overflow, and handles the weight of...

In this episode of The Monochrome Podcast , we go behind the scenes with Jason Stafford , a seasoned First Assistant Director who has worked on major Christian films. From tight schedules to large crews, Jason breaks down the logistics of movie-making and why every second on set counts. If you've ever wondered what it's like to run the engine behind a film set—or how those skills apply to church c...

In this episode of The Monochrome Podcast , we're joined by powerhouse vocalist, worship leader, and creative leader Sarah Benibo . After leading a standing-room-packed workshop at SALT, Sarah sat down with us to talk about what it means to pour into your team, raise up others, and stay grounded in gospel-centered creativity. Whether you're leading from a platform or the background, Sarah's words...

In this episode of The Monochrome Podcast , we sit down with Jay Kranda - Innovative Tech Pastor at Saddleback Church and author of Online Church is Not the Answer - to explore what online church can do, what it can't do, and how to use it wisely in today's ministry landscape. Jay brings years of experience leading digital ministry at scale and offers practical advice for churches looking to engag...

In this episode of The Monochrome Podcast , we sit down with Warren Davis , Central Team Leader of Broadcast Support at Life. Church , to talk about his journey from doer to leading teams. From humble beginnings to overseeing large-scale broadcast operations, Warren shares the lessons he's learned about servant leadership, growth, and staying faithful through every season. This episode is a must-l...

In this special episode of The Monochrome Podcast , we sit down with four of the worship leaders behind the 2024 SALT Worship Team — MaryAnne George , Lauren Sloat , Terryl Padilla , and Kierre Bjorn — for an encouraging conversation about identity, leadership, and the heart behind worship. We talk about how to prepare spiritually and creatively, why you don't need to have it all together to lead...

In this episode of The Monochrome Podcast , we sit down with author and ministry leader Natalie Runion , the voice behind Raised to Stay , for an honest conversation about staying rooted in Jesus, even when church hurt makes it hard. If you've ever struggled with disappointment, burnout, or unmet expectations in ministry, this episode is for you. Natalie brings wisdom, warmth, and humor as we talk...

In this episode of The Monochrome Podcast , we sit down with Meredith Andrews —award-winning worship leader, songwriter, and creative voice in the church—for a powerful conversation on identity, calling, and why the journey matters more than the destination . Meredith opens up about what it means to trust God in the unseen places, lead from vulnerability, and stay rooted in the process even when o...

In this episode of The Monochrome Podcast , we explore the tension between leadership and family, ministry and rest. Samer Massad , Lead Pastor at Woodstock City Church , sits down with Luke to share his heart on leading from a place of health and how to model the life God has called us to —especially when ministry expectations pull us in every direction. If you've ever struggled with balancing yo...

In this episode of The Monochrome Podcast, we explore the shift toward Video and what it means for the future of church broadcasting. Our guest, Will Chapman —Online Pastor at Cottonwood Creek Church and writer for Church Production Magazine —joins Keith for a conversation on the benefits, challenges, and future of digital video infrastructure for churches. Whether you're streaming weekly services...

In this episode of The Monochrome Podcast, we talk about what it really means to lead worship beyond the stage. JT from the SALT team sits down with Robbie Seay from The Worship Initiative and Adam Westlake , a prolific songwriter and producer, to explore the role of mentorship, family rhythms, and how worship begins long before Sunday morning. This one is for every worship leader, creative, and c...

In this episode of The Monochrome Podcast, we talk about the tension of creative calling, what it's really like working at Life. Church, and how to build a sustainable creative rhythm. Plus, we catch up with SALT speaker, designer, and animator JT Burg for a candid conversation on team dynamics, expectations, and the spiritual side of creativity. Make sure to share the podcast with other creatives...