Try Tank Podcast

What might the church look like ten years from now? In this episode, Lorenzo Lebrija welcomes Loren Richmond Jr.—pastor, chaplain, consultant, author, and host of the Future Christian Podcast—for a conversation about twenty predictions for the future of the church. Inspired by futurist Jane McGonigal's work on imagination and forecasting, Loren reflects on the demographic, cultural, economic, and...

In this episode, Father Lorenz Lebrija talks with Sarah Holler, an Episcopal priest and spiritual director from Charlotte, North Carolina. Together, they explore the concept of "When God Gets Real," a podcast that invites individuals to share their transformative experiences of faith—those moments when God becomes undeniably present in their lives. Sarah shares her journey of creating this podcast...

In this episode, Father Lorenzo Lebrija talks with the Reverend Dr. Kyle Oliver, the new director of Hope Exchange, a groundbreaking storytelling initiative from Virginia Seminary. As they discuss the vision behind Hope Exchange, Kyle shares his passion for harnessing the power of storytelling to explore faith and spirituality in innovative ways. This program, part of a Lilly Endowment grant cycle...

In this enlightening episode of the Try Tank Podcast, Father Lorenzo Lebrija engages in a profound conversation with the Rev. Richard Carter, of St. Martin in the Fields in London. With over two decades of experience in urban ministry and a rich background as a member of the Melanesian Brotherhood, Richard shares the journey of founding the Nazareth Community—a movement centered on a sevenfold rul...

In this thought-provoking episode,Lorenzo Lebrija talks with futurist Bob Johansen to delve into the concept of a "BANI world"—characterized by being brittle, anxious, nonlinear, and incomprehensible. Their discussion challenges listeners to rethink the language we use to describe our current reality and the implications it has for leadership and community. Bob shares insights from his extensive e...

In this episode of the TryTank Podcast, we bring together two powerful lenses on Christian life today: the incarnational theology of the Rev. Dr. Sam Wells and the sociological insights of Dr. Josh Packard. Their conversation explores why God’s deepest desire is not to fix humanity, but to be with us —and why that shift in understanding might hold the key to renewing the Church in a low-trust, hig...

In this episode, Lorenzo Lebrija talks with Doyt Conn, the dynamic rector of Epiphany Parish in Seattle. They discuss Conn's transformative journey in revitalizing a struggling church and share invaluable insights for new and seasoned leaders alike. From the importance of establishing trust and relationships to managing expectations in the first 90 days, Doyt provides practical advice that is both...

In this episode of the Try Tank Podcast, Lorenzo Lebrija engages with Josh Packard to discuss his book "Faithful Futures: Sacred Tools for Engaging Younger Generations." They explore the evolving understanding of generational dynamics, the significance of sacred listening, and the role of relational ministry in today's diverse society. The conversation challenges traditional paradigms and offers n...

In this episode of the Try Tank Podcast, Father Lorenzo Lebrija introduces a compelling keynote address delivered by Dr. Miguel A. De La Torre, a leading voice in contemporary Christian ethics, during the Faithful Futures Conference.  In his keynote, Dr. De La Torre explores the intersection of artificial intelligence and ethics, calling for a liberative ethical framework that centers the experien...

In this episode of the Try Tank Podcast, Father Lorenz Lebrija continues his conversation with Matt Rogers, the vicar at St. Mark's in Grimsby, recorded at Windsor Palace in England. This second part delves deeper into the remarkable journey of revitalizing a church that once had a mere four attendees. Matt shares the innovative strategies he employed for church growth, emphasizing the power of so...

In this episode of the Try Tank Podcast, Father Lorenz Lebrija engages with Matt Rodgers, the vicar at St. Mark's Church in Great Grimsby, to explore the revitalization of a historically significant yet struggling church. Matt shares the inspiring journey of transforming St. Mark's from a dwindling congregation of four to a vibrant community of faith. He discusses the unique challenges and opportu...

In this episode of the Try Tank Podcast, Father Lorenzo Lebrija engages in a profound discussion with Dr. Josh Packard, the Director of Research at the Try Tank Research Institute and co-founder of Future of Faith. They explore the concept of sacred listening, a vital practice that emerges from a recent study highlighting its significance in faith formation. Dr. Packard shares insights on how list...

In this episode of the Try Tank Podcast, Father Lorenz Lebrija welcomes back Gabe Cervantes, the Director of Scalable Foresight at the Institute for the Future, to delve into the concept of scalable foresight and its significance for the church. Gabe shares insights on how organizations can cultivate a culture of futures thinking that involves everyone, not just a select few leaders. They discuss...

In this episode, Fr. Lorenzo Lebrija welcomes the Rev. Peter Levenstrong, Associate Rector at St. Gregory of Nyssa in San Francisco, to discuss the transformative power of Living Stories. This innovative preaching model shifts the sermon from a monologue to a communal act of storytelling and reflection, inviting congregations to co-create meaning through shared experiences. Peter shares insights i...

In this episode of the Tritank Podcast, Lorenzo Lebrija hosts Bob Johansen and Gabe Cervantes to discuss the intersection of artificial intelligence, leadership, and faith. They explore how AI can augment human capabilities, the fears surrounding its adoption, and the importance of maintaining human connections in a rapidly changing technological landscape. The conversation emphasizes a future-bac...

In this episode, Fr. Lorenzo Lebrija sits down with the Rev. Chantal McKinney, a dedicated Episcopal priest and church planter with over 20 years of experience in ministry. Recorded on the road in Kansas City, they explore the transformative journey of rediscovering a church's missional call. Chantal shares her insights from successfully planting a bilingual, multicultural church in a low-income n...

In this episode, Fr. Lorenzo Lebrija engages in a thought-provoking conversation with author Carey Wallace about her book, The Discipline of Inspiration: The Mysterious Encounter with God at the Heart of Creativity . They delve into the essence of inspiration, exploring how it transcends mere talent and technique to become a divine gift that fuels artistic expression. Carey shares her insights on...

In this episode, Fr Lorenzo Lebrija chats with the Rev Tricia Lyons about the Mutual Ministry initiative at Virginia Theological seminary. A grant initiative and multi-year process designed to leverage the strengths and address the challenges of a residential, denominational seminary to meet the urgent need for clergy and lay leaders trained as ministry developers in local, culturally specific con...

In this episode, Fr Lorenzo Lebrija and Fr. Dave Lloyd discuss the Garden Church Network in Norwich, England. Garden Churches Recorded in Dave's kitchen and car, the conversation explores how these lay-led missional communities are redefining faith through liminality, communitas, and radical hospitality. Dave highlights the core values of the Garden Church: devoted worshippers, loving families, eq...

In this episode, Fr Lorenzo Lebrija and Dr. Josh Packard discuss the transition of TryTank from an experimental research laboratory to an applied research institute. They explore the importance of data-driven research in understanding faith communities, particularly focusing on the role of sacred listening and the challenges of faith transmission among young adults. The conversation emphasizes the...

In this episode, Father Lorenzo and Anto discuss the characteristics and needs of Generation Z and the emerging Generation Alpha. They explore the age range and defining events of Gen Z, such as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change. They highlight the importance of community for Gen Z and the opportunity for the church to provide a third space where young people can find belongin...

In this episode, Father Lorenzo Lebrija sits down with Reverend Tay Moss to discuss the innovative AI tool, AskCathy.ai. Discover how this groundbreaking technology, infused with Anglican and Episcopal theology, is transforming the way people engage with faith, offering answers, resources, and support 24/7. From handling theological queries to providing pastoral care insights, Cathy is here to ass...

In this episode, Fr Lorenzo talks with The Rev Callie Swanlund about clergy burnout: how prevalent it is, some of the reasons causing it, and how clergy (or lay leaders too!) can avoid it. It’s based on her book: From Weary to Wholehearted: A Restorative Resource for Overcoming Clergy Burnout .   Callie shares her journey of deciding to write the book and the signs that led her to it. She highligh...

In this episode, Fr Lorenzo talks with The Rev Nandra Perry, Ph. D. about the emerging models of ministry as the church continues to change.    The conversation explores the changing landscape of the church and the emerging models of ministry, particularly focusing on lay-led and bi-vocational congregations. The statistics show a decline in the number of priests entering the workforce and an incre...

In this episode, Fr. Lorenzo chats with the Rev Canon Jaime Edwards Acton. Fr. Jaime is the rector of St. Stephen’s Church in Hollywood. When he arrived, he knew that they had just a few years of money and that traditional methods of church financing would not work. Here, he tells us the story of how social enterprise made the difference. Reverend Canon Jaime Edwards-Acton has been the rector at S...