The YDisciple Podcast

# About this Episode Why is it becoming harder to find—and keep—great youth ministers? In this episode of The YDisciple Podcast, Annie Grandell welcomes Chris Wesley, founder of Marathon Youth Ministry and longtime youth ministry coach, to discuss one of the biggest challenges facing the Church today: developing healthy, sustainable ministry leaders. Drawing from more than two decades of ministry...

# About this Episode What if effective discipleship begins by paying attention to the friendships that already exist? In this episode of The YDisciple Podcast, Pete Burds and Annie Grandell welcome John Zimmer, Vice President of Apostolic Development at FOCUS. With nearly three decades of experience in evangelization and discipleship, John shares lessons learned from serving thousands of college s...

What do ministry leaders need most right now? In this special episode of The YDisciple Podcast , Pete Burds and Annie Grandell reflect on the recent Youth Discipleship Sprint and share some of the biggest themes that emerged throughout the week. Drawing from conversations with youth ministers, diocesan leaders, volunteers, and parish staff from across the country, they unpack the challenges, quest...

About this Episode What happens when ministry leaders are given the space not just to learn, but to be cared for? In this episode of The YDisciple Podcast, Pete Burds and Annie Grandell pull back the curtain on the Youth Discipleship Sprint, an immersive gathering hosted by NET Ministries that brings together youth ministers, diocesan leaders, campus ministers, pastors, and faith formation leaders...

About this Episode Can you actually “keep” kids Catholic—or is that the wrong question entirely? In this episode of the YDisciple Podcast, Pete and Annie are joined again by NET’s chaplain, Father Chad VanHoose, to wrestle with one of the most common—and pressure-filled—questions in ministry and parenting. Together, they unpack the heart behind the question and challenge the assumptions built into...

About this Episode What if the most impactful moments in ministry aren’t the ones you plan—but the ones you’re willing to follow? In this episode of the YDisciple Podcast, Annie Grandell are joined by YDisciple coaches Molly Gallagher and H. Dorian for another “Coaches at the Roundtable” conversation. Together, they explore what it really means to “go off script” in ministry—not as a lack of prepa...

About this Episode What if the way we approach ministry isn’t just about strategy—but about reflecting the very nature of God? In this episode of the YDisciple Podcast, Pete Burds and Annie Grandell unpack NET Ministries’ guiding philosophy: the “Trinitarian missionary dynamic.” While it might sound like a complex theological phrase, it points to something deeply practical—how our identity, relati...

About this Episode What does it really mean to discover your vocation—and how do we help young people get there? In this episode of the YDisciple Podcast, Pete Burds and Annie Grandell sit down with Father Chase Hilgenbrink, a former professional soccer player turned priest and vocations director. Father Chase shares his powerful story of chasing success at the highest levels of athletics, only to...

About this Episode What if summer isn’t just a break from ministry—but one of the most strategic seasons for it? In this episode of the YDisciple Podcast, Pete Burds and Annie Grandell explore seven practical and intentional ways ministry leaders can make the most of the summer months. Whether your schedule slows down or ramps up with camps, trips, and events, they highlight how this unique season...

About this Episode What does it actually look like to put prayer first—not just in theory, but in the real, busy life of ministry? In this episode of The YDisciple Podcast, Pete Burds and Annie Grandell sit down with Catholic speaker and evangelist Ali Hoffman to explore why personal prayer and the kerygma are not optional foundations, but essential starting points for anyone walking with young pe...

About this Episode What changes in ministry when we stop treating people like problems to solve and start seeing them as persons to reverence? In this episode of The YDisciple Podcast, Pete Burds and Annie Grandell continue their conversation following last week’s episode with Anna Carter, reflecting more deeply on what it means to honor the dignity and unique story of every person we encounter in...

About this Episode What does it look like to truly receive someone’s story with reverence, curiosity, and care? In this episode of The YDisciple Podcast, Pete Burds and Annie Grandell sit down with Anna Carter, co-founder of Eden Invitation, to talk about what it means to listen well when someone shares something vulnerable. Drawing from Anna’s work accompanying people with LGBTQ experiences who a...

About this Episode What happens when a young person is given the space to encounter God, grow in community, and be challenged to live on mission? In this episode of The YDisciple Podcast, Pete Burds and Annie Grandell pull back the curtain on one of NET Ministries’ most formative experiences: missionary training. What begins as preparation for ministry quickly reveals itself to be something much d...

About this Episode What does it look like to lead with a discipleship mindset from the diocesan level—not just in theory, but in a way that actually transforms parish ministry? In this episode of The YDisciple Podcast, Pete Burds and Annie Grande sit down with Andy Baker from the Diocese of Palm Beach for a rich conversation on relational ministry, diocesan leadership, and the slow, faithful work...

About This Episode In this episode of the YDisciple Podcast, Pete and Annie explore what it looks like to unlock your influence in ministry. Drawing from Pete’s recent workshop at the NFCYM Exchange, this conversation is a thoughtful and practical look at leadership, especially for ministry leaders who feel the tension between wanting change and not always having the authority to make it happen. T...

About This Episode In Episode 15 of The YDisciple Podcast, Annie and Pete are joined by Father Chad Van Hoose, chaplain of NET Ministries, to wrestle with a question that many ministry leaders quietly (or loudly) ask: Should Catholic Youth Ministry exist? Rather than offering easy answers, this conversation dives into the real tensions, objections, and assumptions behind the question. Together, th...

About This Episode In Episode 14 of The YDisciple Podcast, Annie and Pete welcome sociologist and researcher Dr. Josh Packard of Future of Faith for a deeply timely and surprisingly practical conversation: Listening. Drawing from years of research on young people, trust, and religious engagement, Dr. Packard challenges common assumptions about discipleship, formation, and what actually builds cred...

About This Episode In Episode 13 of The YDisciple Podcast, Annie is joined by two voices who live daily in the realities of parish ministry: YDisciple coaches Molly Gallagher and H Dorian. This episode marks the beginning of a new recurring series — Coaches of the Round Table — where conversations are grounded not just in theory, but in real stories from the field. Together, they tackle one of the...

About This Episode In Episode 12 of The YDisciple Podcast, Pete and Annie explore the role of conferences, camps, pilgrimages, and large-scale events in youth ministry. From Steubenville conferences to Extreme Faith Camp to World Youth Day, they share personal stories of powerful mountaintop encounters — moments of awakening, conversion, and deep consolation. They reflect on how these experiences...

About This Episode In this episode of The YDisciple Podcast, Pete and Annie welcome Chenele Shaw to talk about a theme that is both deeply personal and urgently needed in youth ministry: the power of adults who stay. Chenele shares her own story of being a teenager navigating her parents’ divorce, getting kicked out of high school, and reluctantly walking into youth group with a bad attitude and z...

About This Episode In this special mid-season episode of The YDisciple Podcast, we take a moment to pause, reflect, and say thank you. After ten episodes of honest conversations about discipleship, youth ministry, belonging, and accompaniment, we express our gratitude to the listeners who make this podcast possible. We reflect on the heart behind the show—not as a one-way delivery of content, but...

About This Episode In Episode 10 of The YDisciple Podcast, hosts Annie Grandell and Pete Burds dive into the art and importance of asking great questions in ministry—and in life. Drawing from personal stories, scripture, and years of ministry experience, Pete and Annie explore how questions build trust, foster authentic relationships, and create space for transformation. They reflect on Jesus’ own...

About This Episode In this episode of The YDisciple Podcast, hosts Pete Burds and Annie Grandell are joined by Elena Pope, junior high youth minister from the St. Gabriel the Archangel Family of Parishes in Dayton, Ohio. Elena shares her unexpected journey into youth ministry, how the Holy Spirit led her from a career outside the Church into eight years of missionary discipleship, and why junior h...

About this Episode In this episode of The YDisciple Podcast, Pete Burds and Annie Grandell continue their two-part series on Myths in Youth Ministry, turning their attention to four additional assumptions that often shape—and sometimes limit—our approach to ministry. They explore the belief that big budgets are required for big impact, the tension around whether “it’s about the numbers,” the idea...

About this Episode In this episode of The YDisciple Podcast, Pete Burds and Annie Grandell kick off a two-part conversation by naming and debunking some of the most common myths in youth ministry—and exploring how these assumptions can quietly limit our vision and fruitfulness. Together, they unpack the belief that you have to be young to work with young people, the pressure to always be entertain...