IgniteCast - Official Podcast of the Ignite Leadership Conference by CDF

SEE THE SHOW NOTES, TRANSCRIPT AND MORE AT:  https://cdf.ms/s9e2-shelley

What does it take to turn a setback into momentum?

In the 50th episode of IgniteCast, Judd Wilson and Taylor Tutor sit down with Shelly Miller, Tupelo High School teacher and girls soccer coach, to explore John C. Maxwell’s Law of Momentum and what it looks like on the field, in the classroom and in everyday leadership.

Shelly shares the story behind T...

What does it really mean to put people first?

In the Season 9 premiere of Ignitecast, Judd Wilson and Taylor Tutor sit down with Jay Carney, senior pastor of Life at Tupelo Church, for a conversation about servant leadership, the Law of Addition in John Maxwell's 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership.

Jay shares lessons from his journey from the construction industry to ministry, his experience with John Maxwell and Maxwell Leadership, a...

The wait is over—the speakers for the 10th annual Ignite Leadership Conference have officially been revealed!

In this special bonus episode of IgniteCast, Judd Wilson and Taylor Tutor celebrate a decade of Ignite and look back at the impact the conference has made over the years. Since its beginning in 2018, Ignite has welcomed more than 40 speakers including bestselling authors, CEOs, Olympic athletes, and more.

Now, for year ...

What can adults learn from kids?

Quite a lot, actually.

In this special bonus episode of IgniteCast, Judd Wilson and Taylor Tutor welcome campers from Wear It Well Kids Day Camp back to the studio for the second year in a row to share their thoughts on leadership, teamwork, kindness, and purpose.

The campers tackle big questions with remarkable wisdom: What makes a great leader? What advice would they give adults? How do you become a ...

What does it take to lead a team of creative thinkers while building a business that serves clients across the South—all from Tupelo, Mississippi?

In this episode of IgniteCast, Judd Wilson and Taylor Tutor sit down with Josh Mabus, founder and CEO of The Mabus Agency, to explore the leadership principles that have helped grow one of the region's leading marketing agencies.

From launching his business in the Renasant Center for...

What happens when a Gen Z student, a Millennial entrepreneur, a Baby Boomer nonprofit leader, and a Gen X host all sit down at the same table?

A lot of laughs—and a few leadership lessons.

In this special episode of IgniteCast, Judd Wilson and Taylor Tutor welcome Autumn Simmons, a Tupelo High School graduate and ICC sophomore; Zell Long, retired CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of North Mississippi; and Luis Sosa, manager of ...

In this episode of IgniteCast, Judd Wilson and Taylor Tutor sit down with Molly Nolan, Executive Director of the GumTree Museum of Art, to discuss leadership, confidence, community impact, and the power of stepping into opportunities before you feel fully ready.

Molly shares her journey from graphic designer and startup employee to leading one of Tupelo’s most treasured cultural institutions. She reflects on the importance of ...

Season 8, Episode 2: Leading with Kindness with Lori Dillon

What if one of the most powerful leadership strategies is also one of the simplest?

In this episode of Ignite Cast, Judd Wilson and Taylor Tutor sit down with Lori Dillon, Director of Marketing at Absolute Restoration, community advocate, wife, mother, and self-described "goldendoodle in a room full of people."

Lori shares how kindness, authenticity, and intentional connectio...

Season 8 of Ignite Cast kicks off with one of the most recognizable voices in Mississippi weather — Matt Laubhan. In this episode, Matt sits down with hosts Taylor and Judd to share the story behind launching Mississippi Live Weather after stepping away from his longtime role as chief meteorologist. 

Matt opens up about leadership, faith, overcoming uncertainty, and what it takes to build something from the ground up. Fro...

In this episode of Ignite Cast, Judd Wilson sits down with Bernard Bean of the Eat With Us Group (https://eatwithusrestaurants.com) for a conversation about leadership, culture, and what it really takes to build a strong team. Bernard shares how his organization transformed retention by focusing on three simple but powerful principles: hire right, train right, and treat right. He talks about the importance of never stopping the sea...

What does leadership look like for Gen Z? In this episode of IgniteCast, Judd Wilson sits down with Jenna Hope Harris to talk about mentorship, mindset, and what it really means to “be the leader you would love to follow.” As a Gen Z leader deeply engaged in her community and passionate about growth, Jenna shares how cross-generational leadership can strengthen organizations instead of divide them. From investing in oth...

What do a bold 1970s visionary, a tornado displaced football team, and a regional ice storm have in common? They reveal what real leadership looks like. Serving.

In this episode of IgniteCast, Judd Wilson talks with Mike Clayborne, President of the Create Foundation, about leadership that brings people together and makes life better for others. They reflect on the legacy of George McLean and Jim Ingram, the partnership between Creat...

Artificial Intelligence is here, and it is not slowing down. In this episode of IgniteCast, Ashley and Chris Elkins, founders of Vitality South and leaders across multiple technology ventures, join the conversation to unpack what it truly means to lead in the age of AI. From startup growth to scaling companies, they share how vision, culture, and leadership discipline shape innovation rather than fear it. 

Using the powerful &l...

In this episode of IgniteCast, Judd Wilson sits down with Kim Rushing, Community Development & Outreach Coordinator for the City of Tupelo, and Captains Michael and Schelika Chisolm of The Salvation Army in Tupelo, to talk about what it means to lead through partnerships. Each guest shares practical leadership insight centered on presence, readiness, humility, and stepping up when you see a need. The conversation makes it clear...

Judd Wilson is joined by Ignite co-host and CDF team member Carol Ann Padgett for a candid conversation about leadership, clarity, and what it really takes to bring Ignite to life each year.

From Andy Stanley’s powerful reminder that “people follow clarity” to the intentional process of selecting speakers who motivate, teach, and challenge leaders, this episode pulls back the curtain on the vision calls, post-event...

In this episode of IgniteCast, hosts Taylor Tutor and Judd Wilson sit down with David Rumbarger for a practical conversation on leadership fundamentals that never go out of style.

David shares why moving from Good to Great starts with doing things right the first time, putting in the work on the front end, and embracing the timeless truth of the 5 P’s: Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance. He reflects on the idea that lead...

In this special New Year’s Day episode of Ignite Cast, hosts Taylor Tutor and Judd Wilson sit down with John Darnell, CEO of Global Outreach International, to talk about goal setting with purpose.

As the leader of a mission-sending organization headquartered in Tupelo and working around the world, John shares how he approaches setting goals that are both vision-driven and flexible, especially when leading people across culture...

In Episode 4 of Season 6, IgniteCast hosts Taylor and Judd sit down with Kristen Long, Chief Nurse Executive at North Mississippi Medical Center, for a powerful and heartfelt conversation about leadership, burnout, and building resilient teams.

Kristen shares how relationship-building shapes every aspect of patient care, why listening is a leader’s most important tool, and what it really took to guide frontline nurses through ...

IgniteCast S6 E3: “Rolling With the Dough & the Punches” Featuring Tiffany Grice of Kreechers Creations

In this inspiring episode of IgniteCast, hosts Taylor Tutor and Judd Wilson sit down with local entrepreneur Tiffany Grice, owner of the beloved French-inspired bakery Kreechers Creations. From buttery croissants to bold business moves, Tiffany shares the real story behind her rapid rise—from baking out of a ...