Five Minutes with Marko

Five Minutes with Marko

5 Minutes with Marko might be the shortest youth ministry podcast ever; but that doesn’t mean it’s shallow. Marko (Mark Oestreicher, of The Youth Cartel) gets right to the point, sharing thoughts and insights about some aspect of church work with teenagers.

Episodes

May 20, 2025 9 mins

This episode is a little longer and a lot more devotional. Marko offers six suggestions for those inevitable times when it feels that God is silent or distant.

Visiit https://theyouthcartel.com to learn more about our coaching programs.

Mark as Played

Marko speaks from his decades of experience as a youth ministry volunteer at his church, about what he (and other volunteers) need from the ministry point person.

To learn more about our coaching program, please visit https://theyouthcartel.com

Mark as Played

Marko speaks from his decades of experience as a youth ministry volunteer at his church, about what he (and other volunteers) need from the ministry point person.

To learn more about the Youth Ministry Coaching Program, visit https://theyouthcartel.com

Mark as Played

Marko tells the story of an 8th grade guy who responded differently than expected when being challenged to step up.

Mark as Played
April 8, 2025 5 mins

Marko points out how culture (and parenting) has dramatically swung in the direction of treating teenagers like children, and young adults like teenagers.

To learn more about Marko's coaching program, https://theyouthcartel.com

Mark as Played

The primary objective of youth ministry is to walk alongside young people on their own journeys toward Christlikeness. There, now you don’t need to listen to the episode!

Learn more about the Youth Cartel coaching program at https://theyouthcartel.com

Mark as Played

Not the most fun of episodes, but Marko gets honest about the trends facing youth worker employment in the coming decades.

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Marko goes on a rant about the poor logic being used to say that because parts of teenage brains are underdeveloped, they are broken and incapable. Hogwash!

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Marko provides a summary of a fascinating brain study on what’s happening in teenage brains while being asked questions about identity, then adds some implications.

Visit https://www.theyouthcartel.com/the-youth-ministry-coaching-program to learn about the Youth Ministry Coaching Program and currently forming cohorts.

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Marko starts a 3-episode sub-season on teenage brains, in this episode talking about the role of third-person perspective in the formation of a young teen’s identity.

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February 26, 2025 7 mins

Marko reads an open letter he wrote to youth workers when his (now adult) kids were teenagers, including four requests.

Learn more about Dreaming Youth Ministry's Future: https://www.theyouthcartel.com/blog/dreaming-youth-ministrys-future.

Mark as Played
December 10, 2024 4 mins

In this short (4 Minutes with Marko!) final episode of the year, Marko reflects on why patience is absolutely required when looking for outcomes and results in youth ministry.

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December 3, 2024 7 mins

Marko unpacks a simple assessment tool he regularly uses when coaching ministry leaders to think about how to address the different aspects of your job responsibilities in order to move toward greater vibrancy.

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Marko shares a bit about his own growth — deep into life — in understanding and experiencing spiritual discernment, and suggests some ways our ministries should prioritize collaborative discernment.

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November 12, 2024 5 mins

Marko shares a story that illustrates how a student’s sense of belonging can be lost or gained through seemingly tiny acknowledgements of “we see you; you belong here.”

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November 5, 2024 3 mins

In this super-short episode (3 Minutes with Marko!), we’ll look at the difference between stupid risk, and the sort of faith-fueled risk that is absolutely essential for great youth ministry.

To learn more about the Youth Cartel's coaching program, please visit TheYouthCartel.com/coaching.

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October 29, 2024 4 mins

Marko talks briefly about both the terminology of ‘junior high’ or ‘middle school’, as well as which grades are included. Bonus: a mini history lesson!

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October 22, 2024 4 mins

On the surface, this episode lists 12 ways to be a youth worker who stays put for a long time; but really, this episode is about humility.

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October 15, 2024 5 mins

Marko describes the characteristics of the sort of person who’s able to bring change from inside a church or organization.

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October 8, 2024 8 mins

Marko suggests that materialism isn’t the core problem, it’s consumerism. Bonus: this episode includes a snarky Top 10 Signs Your Youth Ministry Might Be Built on Consumeristic Assumptions.

Learn more about The Youth Cartel Coaching at theyouthcartel.com.

Mark as Played

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