The Reluctant Leader Podcast with Paul Jenkins

Got questions or comments? Text them to me! Dallas Willard once described Jesus with a word that feels almost impossible in today's world: relaxed . Not careless. Not disengaged. Not indifferent. Relaxed. Meanwhile, many of us feel pulled in a dozen different directions at once. Responsibilities, relationships, ministry, work, finances, notifications, expectations—the pressure is real. The Ap...

Got questions or comments? Text them to me! Have you ever felt like you're constantly trying to catch up? Behind on work. Behind on goals. Behind on expectations. Maybe even behind on life itself. In Episode 73 of The Reluctant Leader Podcast, Paul reflects on a question that has become increasingly important in his own journey: What if God isn't rushing you? As this episode releases, Pa...

Got questions or comments? Text them to me! Why do so many of us feel guilty when we slow down? In this episode of The Reluctant Leader Podcast, Paul explores the deeper reasons rest can feel uncomfortable — especially for leaders, helpers, pastors, and high-capacity people who have quietly tied their identity to productivity. From ultramarathon training to the pace of Jesus, this conversation loo...

Got questions or comments? Text them to me! For this episode of The Reluctant Leader Podcast , we’re talking about something most of us wrestle with: how to measure progress in a healthy way. In a culture obsessed with instant results, it’s easy to believe we’re failing when growth feels slow . But whether it’s physical training, spiritual formation, emotional health, or leadership development, th...

Got questions or comments? Text them to me! We live on a planet sustained by five great oceans. But what sustains the human soul? In this episode, Paul shares how a simple morning rhythm—shaped through the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises and grounded in everyday objects—has become a pathway to deeper attachment with Christ. A candle. A cup of coffee. A faithful companion named Eden. A chair. And abov...

Got questions or comments? Text them to me! We live in a world built for speed—instant answers, constant connection, and endless noise. But what if all that “progress” is quietly costing us something deeper? In this episode, Paul explores the tension between the fast-paced superhighways we’ve grown used to and the ancient paths God invites us to walk. Through a simple but powerful question— Could...

Got questions or comments? Text them to me! We live in a world that rewards speed, noise, productivity, and visible results. So it makes sense that a lot of us have learned how to do things for God without really slowing down to be with God. In this conversation, Paul talks with Angela, a fellow doctoral cohort member, counselor, and woman of deep wisdom, about what it means to move beyond a check...

Got questions or comments? Text them to me! Leadership pressure is unavoidable. Expectations, decisions, criticism, responsibility—it all adds weight. Most leaders spend their energy trying to reduce pressure, avoid pressure, or escape pressure. But what if pressure isn’t just something to eliminate? In this episode, we explore a different lens from James 1 : pressure produces something in us. Whe...

Got questions or comments? Text them to me! What if the very thing you think is protecting you as a leader is actually holding you back? In this episode of The Reluctant Leader Podcast , Paul sits down with Natasha Skolny , a former professional ice skater who is now a leadership coach and founder of The Leadership Cabin.  It's a wide-ranging, deeply practical conversation about authenticity,...

Got questions or comments? Text them to me! In a world more connected than ever, leadership has quietly become more distant. We have constant access to people—texts, emails, meetings, metrics—but proximity isn’t the same as presence. And when leaders begin leading from a distance, something subtle but serious happens: our decisions start to lose their soul . In this episode of The Reluctant Leader...

Got questions or comments? Text them to me! In this episode, Paul sits down with Maggie Mastin — life coach, spiritual director, and director of career development at Indiana Wesleyan University — for a conversation that brings leadership back into the real world… your actual body. They explore what happens when leaders live from the neck up, why “slowing down” is more spiritual than it sounds, an...

Got questions or comments? Text them to me! In this episode of The Reluctant Leader Podcast , we dig into the difference between trending right (short-term hype, emotional highs, quick wins) and right trending —the slow, often unsexy work of real growth that actually changes your life. We even talk football. Yes, the Carolina Panthers lost—but somehow the future feels brighter. Why? Because improv...

Got questions or comments? Text them to me! Emmanuel: The God Who Chose Us Christmas reminds us that God is not just with us— He wanted to be with us. In this special Christmas-week episode of The Reluctant Leader Podcast , we reflect on the meaning of Emmanuel and the often-overlooked truth behind it: God didn’t come reluctantly. He came willingly . Drawing from Philippians 2 , this episode explo...

Got questions or comments? Text them to me! In this episode of The Reluctant Leader Podcast , Paul unpacks a powerhouse Greek word hidden in Philippians — συναθλέω ( soon-ath-LEH-oh ), a term ripped straight from the ancient athletic arena. It doesn’t just mean “work hard for Jesus.” It means strive together — shoulder-to-shoulder, like teammates fighting for the same goal. Then we take that truth...

Got questions or comments? Text them to me! Episode Theme: How choosing gratitude reshapes our leadership, our relationships, and our mental and spiritual health. Episode Summary: We live in a culture trained to obsess over what’s missing. But the way of Jesus flips that narrative. Gratitude doesn’t ignore hard circumstances — it invites us to see God’s goodness right in the middle of them. In thi...

Got questions or comments? Text them to me! In this episode of the Reluctant Leader Podcast, host Paul Jenkins explores the power of narratives and how they shape our perceptions of others and ourselves. Using the contrasting stories of NFL players Bryce Young and CJ Stroud, Paul illustrates how initial impressions can be hard to change, but emphasizes that our stories are never finished. He ties...

Got questions or comments? Text them to me! My guest is Dustin Scott — husband, dad to a miracle five-year-old named Roman, and a leader who’s spent years walking with people through recovery. He’s from Tucson, Arizona, and recently shifted from working in addiction recovery to teaching theology—because, as he says, “recovery is spiritual formation.” In this episode, Dustin and I talk about what i...

Got questions or comments? Text them to me! In this powerful and honest conversation, Paul sits down with Christa Cordova , a mental health educator and fellow doctoral student, to talk about something many believers quietly carry — spiritual hurt and church trauma . Christa has walked the road herself, serving in both church and parachurch roles that left deep scars. Now, she uses her experience...

Got questions or comments? Text them to me! What do you do when the place that was supposed to heal you is the place that hurt you? In this honest and hope-filled conversation, Paul sits down with Sarah Holstra – pastoral counselor and self-described “boundary coach” – to talk about the messy but holy work of relational repair. They cover: What a “boundary coach” actually does (and why you probabl...

Got questions or comments? Text them to me! Episode Summary: In a culture that’s always chasing the next new thing, why are so many young people drawn to what feels ancient, rooted, and steady? In this episode, Paul explores how the ancient paths (Jeremiah 6:16), the old wells (Genesis 26:18–33), and the deep roots of old trees point to the surprising attractiveness of tradition. Whether your chur...

Got questions or comments? Text them to me! Episode Summary: In this episode, Paul shares how stepping into doctoral studies reshaped his confidence—not by gaining more knowledge, but by finding the freedom to develop ideas in community. Through the lens of Proverbs 27:17, we explore how “iron sharpening iron” transforms reluctant leaders into confident ones. Key Takeaways: Sharpening happens in c...

Got questions or comments? Text them to me! What do you do when the story you were writing for your life suddenly gets flipped upside down? Nina Sossamon-Pogue knows a thing or two about that. From elite-level gymnast to Emmy-winning news anchor to tech exec — and then crashing hard when life unraveled — Nina’s story is a masterclass in resilience, reinvention, and the sacred work of getting back...

Got questions or comments? Text them to me! 📖 Episode Overview: Let’s be honest — sometimes the hardest thing about leadership isn’t starting something new… it’s knowing when to stop. In this episode, Paul gets real about a recent decision to pause his weekly email, The Launch Pad , and redirect that time and energy into his leadership at The Gathering and his doctoral studies. It’s a vulnerable,...

Got questions or comments? Text them to me! Before Jesus ever sent His disciples out to preach, heal, or lead—He simply invited them to be with Him . In this episode, Paul unpacks Mark 3:14 and explores how powerful it is when leaders prioritize presence over performance . You’ll learn why Jesus’ leadership style wasn’t built on strategy first—it was built on shared space, vulnerability, and relat...

Got questions or comments? Text them to me! In this milestone 50th episode of The Reluctant Leader Podcast , Paul sits down with Benjamin Crawshaw for an honest, relatable conversation about life, leadership, and what happens when everything falls apart. Benjamin shares his powerful story of how personal failure, ministry unraveling, and a season of isolation led him to rediscover God’s grace in u...