336: Christmas Special

Joe Way returns to his “annual Christmas episode” roots with a personal reflection recorded during Christmas week. Using Isaiah 9:6 as the backbone, Joe walks through the four names—Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace—and connects them to a transformational year of health, leadership growth, humility, and a renewed focus on peace (both internal and relational). He also previews what’s ahead: a special episode next week, followed by four weeks of ISE prep with guests.What You’ll Hear in This Episode

• Why Joe brought back the classic Christmas episode format: reflection, grounding, and meaning—not “Santa’s bag of stuff.”
• The headline transformation this year: lifestyle change and losing nearly 80 pounds since ISE.
• A leadership reframe: moving from “my strength” to humility, team, and reliance on something bigger than yourself.
• The core theme: Isaiah 9:6 as a lens for personal growth and professional leadership in AV.
• A practical challenge for listeners: where are you seeking peace, and how are you creating it for others?

Key Scripture AnchorIsaiah 9:6 (referenced throughout):
“For to us a child is born… and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”Segment Breakdown1) Welcome + Christmas Episode Reset

• Joe explains this is his Christmas-week reflection tradition.
• He’s intentionally letting the episode “come to him” rather than over-scripting it.
• Quick look ahead: special episode next week + four-week ISE guest series.

2) A Transformational Year

• The visible milestone: major weight loss since last ISE.
• The deeper shift: re-centering priorities, stepping back from nonstop tasks, and choosing what’s sustainable.

3) Wonderful Counselor

• Joe shares a “coming to Jesus” moment post-ISE: needing change, recognizing willpower alone wouldn’t hold.
• The takeaway: strength isn’t always self-generated; it can come from faith, community, and trusted counsel.
• AV tie-in: your “counselor” can include your people—team, mentors, leaders, support systems—especially in high-demand roles.

4) Mighty God

• A meditation on power + humility: the Creator arriving as a vulnerable infant.
• Leadership parallel: real strength can show up through vulnerability, not force.
• AV tie-in: your work serves a mission bigger than tickets and installs—education changes lives; uptime supports outcomes.

5) Everlasting Father

• A leadership responsibility theme: consistency, integrity, safety, and support.
• Joe connects this to a hard year in higher ed (budget pressure, freezes, uncertainty) and the need for a stable foundation.
• AV tie-in: being the leader (at any level) who creates security—resources, clarity, and space for others to succeed.

6) Prince of Peace

• Joe frames this as a 2026 focus: peace isn’t just “less noise,” it’s wholeness and restored unity.
• He speaks to conflict, tension, reconciliation, and becoming someone who restores rather than escalates.
• AV tie-in: be the calming presence in the room—compassionate leadership that helps teams move through pressure together.

7) Closing Blessing + Community

• Joe wishes listeners a Merry Christmas and a meaningful season for whatever they celebrate.
• He reinforces the message: peace is personal, and for him it’s found in Jesus.
• Gratitude to the audience + reminder to follow, connect, and join HETMA.

Memorable Quotes / Pull-Quotes (for social or episode page)

• “Peace isn’t the absence of noise and tension—it’s the presence of wholeness.”
• “If the strength were based on me, it would fail.”
• “Our job is bigger than signal flow—what we support changes lives.”

Listener Takeaways

• Identify where your “counsel” comes from when things get heavy—and stop trying to white-knuckle it alone.
• Lead with vulnerability: people follow humans, not flawless job titles.
• Build a culture of safety and consistency—your team should know you’ll show up the same tomorrow.
• Pursue peace as restoration, not avoidance: be the person who brings unity back into the room.

What’s Next (Tease)

• Next week: a “very special” episode Joe thinks you’ll enjoy.
• After that: four weeks of ISE prep with guests and updates on what’s happening at ISE.

Connect with Joe Way:

Web: https://www.josiahway.com
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/josiahway
X (Formerly Twitter): https://www.x.com/josiahway
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