The Called to Flourish Podcast

Traders Point Christian Church 's staff culture was once, in Greg Anderson's own words, "barely healthy." Since then, they've built a healthy, flourishing workplace culture — and the church itself has become one of the fastest-growing in the country. Executive Pastor Greg Anderson makes the case that those two facts are directly connected. He traces the turning point back to the humbling season af...

A leader's metrics can be strong and their mission moving forward while their soul quietly erodes underneath — and most leaders miss it until it becomes a crisis. This conversation with Mindy Caliguire, co-founder and CEO of Soul Care, unpacks why external success so often hides internal depletion, what the early warning signs actually look like, and what it means to lead from overflow instead of...

Most leaders assume a toxic culture means bad people — but the leaders who turn it around know it usually means nobody's been tending the garden. Leaders inheriting a toxic culture face a familiar temptation: fix it fast, or avoid naming what's actually broken. Phil EuBank, Lead Pastor of Menlo Church , has led two church staff turnarounds — one in Colorado, one currently underway at Menlo Church—...

Most leaders think they still have time to figure out their AI policy. Dustin W. Stout says that clock ran out the moment their staff opened ChatGPT for the first time. Christian leaders are facing a technology shift moving faster than most policies can keep up with. In this episode, Dustin W. Stout — CEO of Magai and a former youth pastor — talks through why AI adoption inside organizations is al...

Not every leader gets to choose when growth arrives. David Corry , General Counsel for Liberty University , didn't choose the timing — but what he did with the opportunity is the real story. When Liberty University committed to investing in its leaders' growth, David Corry was one of the executives given the chance to go through a full 360 assessment. In this episode, David shares why he chose to...

Most Christian leaders believe they value women's full contribution — but the structures working against that belief are often invisible until someone measures them. Leaders in Christian-led organizations are facing a quiet retention problem: women disengaging not over pay, but over voice, access, and influence. This episode unpacks how ordinary policies — job descriptions, meeting habits, mentors...

Most leaders who plateau aren't missing feedback — they're avoiding what honest feedback requires of them. Self-identification, it turns out, is only 20% of self-awareness. Leadership development has a blind spot of its own: it focuses heavily on skills while overlooking the inner work that growth actually demands. In this episode, leadership strategist and executive coach Amy Clark explores why s...

Many leaders assume disengagement is primarily a motivation or performance problem. But what if the real issue is that people no longer experience their work as life-giving? In this episode, Jay Bransford , President & CEO of Best Christian Workplaces , explores why Life-Giving Work is the second most powerful driver of employee engagement. Drawing from decades of workplace culture research, he ex...

Many Christian-led organizations are passionate about serving people externally—but struggle to care for the health of their own teams internally. In this episode, Michael Martin , President & CEO of ECFA , explains why flourishing cultures require intentional stewardship, leadership rhythms, and a deep commitment to caring for people well. Drawing from ECFA's experience building a 100th-percentil...

Trust problems rarely begin with strategy. More often, they begin with fear, self-protection, and leaders trying to create stability externally while struggling internally. In this episode, Dr. Rob McKenna —CEO of WiLD Leaders and bestselling author of Whole Leaders, Wild Trust —shares why trust grows through honesty, vulnerability, and truth-telling rather than perfection. He explains how interna...

Employee engagement across Christian-led organizations has reached its highest level in 15 years. Yet nearly 4 in 10 employees still cannot bring their best to work each day . In this episode, Dr. Doug Waldo, Research Director and Senior Consultant at Best Christian Workplaces , explains what the 2026 State of the Christian Workplace Report reveals about trust in leadership, employee voice, and th...

Many leaders assume diversity creates tension on teams. But the deeper threat to engagement isn't difference—it's disconnection. In this episode, Dr. James Borishade of Circle Urban Ministries explains how leaders can create psychological safety across differences so teams remain unified around mission. He shares practical lessons on listening well, modeling humility, and repairing trust when lead...

What happens when leaders invite feedback before decisions are finalized instead of after they're announced? In this episode of Called to Flourish , Peter Krol , President, and Tom Hallman , Vice President of DiscipleMakers , share how their ministry built one of the most engaged workplace cultures in their sector by creating clear rhythms of listening, collaboration, and shared ownership. Rather...

What happens when leaders stop guessing about culture and start listening to what their teams are actually experiencing? In this episode of Called to Flourish , Brad Cooper , Lead Pastor of Culture and Direction at NewSpring Church , shares how honest feedback and engagement surveys helped their leadership team face cultural blind spots, respond to a season of challenge, and build deeper trust acr...

What happens when unforgiveness quietly shapes your workplace culture? In this episode of Called to Flourish , Tara VanderSande , Senior Engagement and Talent Consultant at Best Christian Workplaces , explores why forgiveness is not just a personal spiritual practice—but a leadership discipline that directly impacts trust, innovation, and organizational health. Drawing from engagement survey data,...

Why do some teams flourish while others stall — even under strong leadership? In this episode of Called to Flourish , Jay Bransford , President & CEO of Best Christian Workplaces , explores why thriving cultures are built on unified teams aligned around shared mission and trust. Drawing from Scripture and decades of research-backed insight, Jay explains how fantastic teams handle conflict, cultiva...

What makes people truly want to follow a leader — not out of obligation, but out of trust and belief? In this episode of Called to Flourish , Jim Brown, Founder of OrgHealth and leadership coach, challenges the myth of perfect leadership and shares why authenticity, humility, and curiosity are the real foundations of influence. Drawing from decades of coaching executives and leadership teams, Jim...

What does it take to build a workplace culture where people genuinely trust leadership—and want to stay? In this episode of  Called to Flourish , Dr. Larry Taylor , President & CEO of ACSI , shares how ACSI strengthened organizational trust through intentional listening, leadership transparency, and faith-centered culture practices. Larry offers practical insight on turning employee feedback into...

What if your business is more than profit — or even social good? In this episode of Called to Flourish, Barry Slauenwhite and Robert Wachter explore how Christian leaders can see the marketplace as a mission field, using daily business decisions to advance eternal purpose. From "return on eternity" to leading with integrity, generosity, and kingdom lenses, this conversation reframes what faithful...

What does it truly mean to flourish—and why does Scripture present flourishing as God's original design, not a modern ambition? In this opening episode of Called to Flourish , Robert Wachter, Global Marketing Director, sits down with Jay Bransford , President & CEO of Best Christian Workplaces , to explore God's heart for human flourishing. Drawing from Genesis and the words of Jesus, Jay reflects...

A new chapter is beginning at Best Christian Workplaces.  In early January, we're launching the Called to Flourish Podcast —a new conversation space designed to equip Christian leaders to build healthy, Christ-centered workplace cultures across churches, ministries, nonprofits, and faith-driven businesses. In this short teaser, host Robert Wachter shares why we're launching Called to Flourish, wha...

Join us for this encore episode with Ruth Haley Barton , founder of the Transforming Center, as she explores the critical question every leader must face: 'How is it with your soul?' Discover why leaders who neglect their inner spiritual life risk losing themselves, and how cultivating spiritual disciplines can transform both your leadership and your organization's culture. Find full show notes he...

What if the way we give and receive feedback could unlock healthier relationships and stronger workplace cultures? In this conversation, Sheila Heen —Harvard Law School lecturer, co-author of Thanks for the Feedback , and expert on negotiation and communication—shares powerful insights into why feedback is so hard and how leaders can navigate it with wisdom and grace. Find full show notes here: ht...

Inspirational leadership has the power to shape culture, energize teams, and move an organization toward its mission with renewed passion. In this episode, RightNow Media president Brian Mosley shares how his multigenerational ministry story and commitment to using media for God's purposes offer fresh insights for building a flourishing workplace. Find full show notes here: https://workplaces.org/...

Join Mark Maxwell, President of Prairie College , as he shares the inspiring story of how a struggling campus culture was transformed into a thriving, engaged community. In this conversation with Al Lopus, Mark reveals practical leadership lessons on building trust, valuing employees, and multiplying impact in Christian higher education. Find full show notes here: https://workplaces.org/podcast/45...