The UnlearnT Podcast

Send us Fan Mail We go live to name the weight of leading through hard seasons and offer practical ways to endure with hope, clarity, and integrity. We unpack how to recover from mistakes faster, re-categorize relationships, and reinvest in the vision without burning out. • defining enduring leadership and long faith • guarding inputs, language and circles • year‑end discouragement and resetting h...

Send us Fan Mail Ruth and Jaquetta dive into the cult classic "Love & Basketball" as they kick off their summer series examining movies they had to unlearn from, breaking down the film's problematic messages about relationships, identity, and success. • Analyzing the movie in quarters, just like the film's structure • Unlearning identity limitations - you don't have to...

Send us Fan Mail We explore situational leadership with clear lines between crisis control and season-long guidance, naming the hero trap, burnout, and how to build trust, culture, and vision by developing people. Practical tools include better questions, motivation cues, and when to let safe balls drop. • definition of situational leadership and core traits • when authoritarian direction fits eme...

Send us Fan Mail We unpack transformational leadership through real stories, moving from identity and belief to sustainable action. We name the strengths, blind spots, and boundaries that keep charisma ethical and growth-centered. • defining transformational leadership and its core pillars • coaching belief before behavior using the be do have model • individualized consideration and long-term loy...

Send us Fan Mail We unpack transactional leadership—why it feels natural, where it works, and when it fails—and show how to pair it with relational styles so people and performance both thrive. Clear goals help, but autonomy, mastery, and purpose keep teams engaged and growing. • definition of transactional leadership and its roots in school rewards • where transactional systems fit: scale, sustai...

Send us Fan Mail We rethink servant leadership, tracing how values shape style, when closeness empowers, and where boundaries keep service from becoming control. We compare servant and transformational modes, test historical examples, and offer practical pivots for sustainable leadership. • values driving leadership styles and choices • definition and core traits of servant leadership • inspire ve...

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Send us Fan Mail The autocratic leadership style, often misunderstood but sometimes necessary, provides clear command and control when building something new or navigating through crisis. • Autocratic leadership is marked by a self-appointed, self-governing style where the leader maintains full control • This leadership style produces explosive results when there's no time for democratic proc...

Send us Fan Mail We explore the democratic leadership style, examining when this collaborative approach works best and when leaders need to pivot to different styles for effective team management. • Democratic leadership involves consulting with team members and valuing collaboration • This leadership style works best with highly skilled, experienced team members • Leaders must properly prepare te...

Send us Fan Mail Jaquetta Ross joins us to debunk common misconceptions about Generation Z in the workplace and shares insights from her 12 years of working with this young adult population. • Gen Z is often mischaracterized as entitled, naive, and lacking work ethic when they actually crave mentorship and genuine connection • They're exceptionally good at recognizing authenticity and will re...

Send us Fan Mail In this candid conversation, host Ruth Abigail speaks with Taniya Adams, a college student she has known since third grade, about the unique challenges and perspectives of Generation Z. • Finding identity amidst social media's influence and the pressure to know your purpose early • Learning it's "okay to be not normal" and breaking free from the exhaustion of t...

Send us Fan Mail In this candid conversation, Ruth Abigail welcomes back musician Savannah Brister to discuss the realities of Gen Z, information overload, and navigating creative entrepreneurship in today's digital landscape. • How Gen Z is perceived: either as exciting innovators or as the generation that will "take us down" • The overwhelming nature of constant information and ho...

Send us Fan Mail Pastor Deon Byers shares his decade of experience working with Generation Z, revealing what today's youth truly need from adults and how to build meaningful connections that transform lives. • Mentorship matters – Deon’s own life was transformed by an adult who showed him a world beyond his environment • Today's youth aren't fundamentally different from previous gen...

Send us Fan Mail Worship leader Darnell Moore unpacks the tension between following industry strategies and Spirit-led ministry in gospel music and church leadership. • The challenge of creating sustainable ministry while remaining faithful to God's leading • Using the metaphor of an exercise ball versus a lazy boy recliner to illustrate the tension between stability and Spirit-led flexibilit...

Send us Fan Mail Link to Darnell’s episode on Unlearning Marriage:  https://open.spotify.com/episode/0cRfDyy6EqqfTWewDvXs7Q?si=oOHrilbERvqC7KONjgSlEg Darnell Harris joins us for a special conversation about the tension between industry success and spiritual authenticity in worship leadership. • The episode was prompted by a controversial podcast featuring Norman from Tribl Records discussing his i...

Send us Fan Mail We examine leadership through the lens of the 1989 film "Lean On Me," exploring how different organizational phases require different leadership styles and what makes a leader effective in each one. • Different organizational phases (startup, turnaround, realignment, acceleration, sustaining success) require different leadership approaches • Joe Clark's authoritaria...

Send us Fan Mail We must learn to recognize how environments change us and evaluate whether our transformations align with our true selves. The journey of Andy in The Devil Wears Prada illustrates the tension between ambition and purpose. • Ambition has a shadow side that can reveal unexpected aspects of ourselves • The tradeoffs required when trying to "have it all" necessitate hard cho...

Send us Fan Mail Drumline offers powerful leadership lessons through the journey of three key characters navigating conflict and change within a college marching band. • Dr. Lee represents tradition and structure, struggling to adapt to changing times while maintaining excellence • Sean demonstrates how middle-management leadership requires overcoming insecurity to develop talent rather than contr...

Send us Fan Mail We explore leadership lessons from Pixar's Toy Story in this episode of our Summer Movies series, examining how disruption and change affect team dynamics and leadership development. • Teams typically go through four developmental stages: forming, storming, norming, and performing • Disruption (like Buzz arriving) moves teams from norming back to storming - a necessary part o...

Send us Fan Mail We examine the six Infinity Stones from Marvel's Avengers: Infinity War and extract powerful leadership lessons from each one that can help us become more effective, balanced leaders. • The Power Stone demonstrates the difference between personality-driven leadership and team-centered leadership • The Space Stone warns against taking up too much room in your organization out...

Send us Fan Mail We explore leadership lessons from Disney's The Lion King, examining how this iconic film portrays the journey from youth to mature leadership through Simba's story. • The Circle of Life establishes leadership as a circle, not a ladder – emphasizing contribution over position • Young Simba focuses on benefits of kingship without understanding responsibilities, similar to...

Send us Fan Mail The Remember the Titans episode explores leadership themes, racial tensions, and community transformation through the lens of this iconic sports movie featuring Denzel Washington. • Sports movies powerfully utilize the underdog narrative to touch on deeper social issues • Coach Boone and Coach Yost represent different leadership styles—visionary versus pastoral • Leaders can'...

Send us Fan Mail When emerging from crisis, we must reorient ourselves to new environments with new mindsets, as the habits and perspectives that sustained us during difficult times may not serve us in seasons of abundance. • The storm truly ends when you change, not when your circumstances do • True forgiveness is an ongoing practice, not a one-time event • Crisis reveals what was truly rooted in...

Send us Fan Mail The second part of our storm series focuses on what to do during moments of crisis, offering practical guidance for navigating through life's most challenging seasons. We share wisdom on how to maintain your sense of self and purpose when everything around you seems to be falling apart. • Stop pretending about your situation and be honest about where you are • Give yourself t...

Send us Fan Mail We explore the essential components of a crisis toolkit for millennials and middle adults who are feeling squeezed by life's challenges and uncertainties. • Community is foundational—know who's around you and be aware of what gifts they bring to your life • Being rooted in the same values is different from simply being bonded to others • Financial preparation requires do...