Spiritual Life and Leadership

Jay Bakker, son of televangelists Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker, shares his journey from growing up in the spotlight to watching his father go to prison - and how those experiences shaped his understanding of grace. In this conversation, Jay talks about judgment, unconditional love, and what it means to extend grace even to enemies. A deeply personal and challenging conversation about what grace actually looks like in practice.

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The most-downloaded episode in the history of this podcast. Michael Frost and Alan Hirsch, two of the most influential voices in missional church thinking, discuss what it means to recalibrate everything around Jesus in a post-Christendom world. A powerful conversation about reimagining church, mission, and what it means to follow Jesus in contemporary culture.

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One of our earliest conversations, recorded in 2018 with Tod Bolsinger about his groundbreaking book Canoeing the Mountains. Tod explores what it means to lead in uncharted territory, the difference between technical and adaptive challenges, and how leaders can navigate change when the old maps no longer work. This conversation helped shape the direction of this podcast and remains essential listening for anyone leading through unc...

In this special episode of Spiritual Life and Leadership, Markus Watson reflects on the incredible six-and-a-half-year journey of the podcast, shares the story of its beginnings, and reveals exciting news about its next chapter. With a partnership ending and fresh possibilities ahead, Markus opens up about his plans for a creative sabbatical, new formats, and future topics that matter to church leaders today. Plus, he invites liste...

This is it—the final episode of our partnership with the Church Leadership Institute. It's hard to believe how quickly these years have flown by.

In this episode, Tod Bolsinger and Markus Watson look back on what this collaboration has meant, what we've accomplished together, and where the road leads from here.

THIS EPSODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:

• Markus Watson reflects on starting the podcast during a time of per...

What does it really mean to create a “safe space” for young people in our churches—not just a place free from harm, but a place where their deepest questions and unique experiences are genuinely welcomed?

In this episode, Tanita Tualla Maddox, National Director for Generational Impact for Young Life and author of What Gen Z Really Wants to Know About God, helps us understand Gen Z’s core questions about faith, the meaning of safety ...

Discover why real leadership is never a solo journey—and how embracing your own vulnerability can unlock the supportive relationships you need to thrive through change.

Tod Bolsinger and Markus Watson discuss Tod's own quote in Ep. 283, Disorientation and Spiritual Leadership:

“The vulnerability of leadership needs the security of many relationships.” 

THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:

• Leaders thrive when they work ...

Do you ever feel like you’re alone in your leadership?  Why is that? Why do so many church leaders feel isolated—and how did we come to believe that ministry is something we’re supposed to do alone?

In this episode, E.K. Strawser, author of You Were Never Meant to Lead Alone, unpacks what it means to move from solo leadership to a model shaped by shared responsibility and the APEST framework—apostle, prophet, evangelist, shepherd, a...

Learn how mastering your anxiety with simple, God-given tools like deep breathing can transform your leadership in the moments that matter most.

Tod Bolsinger and Markus Watson discuss this quote from Audrey Davidheiser in Ep. 284, How to Respond Thoughtfully Instead of Reacting:

"If you feel anxious or rushed or concerned or fearful, deep breaths. Because taking deep breaths from the belly is just a natural way that God has ins...

Why is it so hard for pastors and church people to be truly open and honest with one another? In ministry, we talk a lot about authenticity, vulnerability, and grace—but in reality, putting those ideals into practice can feel risky, messy, and even dangerous.

In this episode, Tom Bennardo, author of Open-Hearted People, Soul-Connected Church, draws on decades of pastoral experience to unpack the journey from guarded exteriors to sou...

Learn how breaking out of your comfort zone and embracing new perspectives can transform your leadership and help dismantle bias in your church.

Tod Bolsinger and Markus Watson discuss this quote from Erin Devers in Ep. 282, The Cost of Bias in the Church:

“One of the strategies for reducing bias is to go bigger, to widen your perspective.”

THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:

• People tend to hold onto their biases because t...

Jews for Jesus helps Jewish people come to know Jesus, the Jewish Messiah. What’s fascinating is how Jews for Jesus has not only remained committed to that mission of sharing the hope of the Jewish Messiah, but has also adapted as the world around it has changed. As ministry leaders, we face the tension between time-honored tradition and the need for fresh approaches—and the story of Jews for Jesus offers some compelling lessons in...

Explore how real transformation in spiritual leadership begins with listening deeply to your community and letting curiosity—not certainty—shape your mission.

Tod Bolsinger and Markus Watson discuss this quote from Shannon Kiser in Ep. 280, Empowering Leaders for Creative Mission:

“Fresh expressions always start with listening and being attentive to who God is putting on your heart.”

THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:

• Lea...

What if the best leadership isn’t about having the answers, but about asking the questions that draw out wisdom, connection, and creativity from those around us? What if the most transformational moments in ministry happen not when we speak—but when we invite others to share, reflect, and dream with us?

In this episode, J.R. Briggs, author of The Art of Asking Better Questions discusses how asking great questions can open new possib...

Discover why leading in today’s church means listening deeply to people’s questions, griefs, and dreams—before ever stepping into the pulpit.

Tod Bolsinger and Markus Watson discuss this quote from Mark Glanville in Ep. 278, Preaching in Today's Post-Christian World:

"People are walking to church now, not with the Bible under their arm, but with complex and genuine questions, with hopes, with dreams, with griefs on their he...

As ministry leaders, we often imagine that building trust is the ultimate goal—once we have it, the road to transformation should be clear. But what happens when trust alone isn’t enough? The truth is, trust is only the starting point. Moving beyond it requires us to invest our trust in ways that actually make change possible, even when it means taking risks and facing loss together.

In this episode, Tod Bolsinger, author of Invest ...

Learn how transformational leaders can unlock real change by listening deeply to their neighborhoods—before making big plans for the future.

Tod Bolsinger and Markus Watson discuss this quote from Josh Hayden in Ep. 272, Beyond Church Revitalization.

"Remissioning leaders have to do the steady work of exegeting the neighborhood, and doing the exegesis work of the church before they make big plans about what success or flourishin...

Why is it that so many ministry leaders—people called to reflect Christ’s love—so often end up burned out, disillusioned, or driven by power and platform instead of humility and service? It’s heartbreaking when church leadership doesn’t “smell like the gospel,” and instead resembles the very systems of profit and self-promotion it should prophetically resist.

In this episode, Jason Jensen, Vice President of Spiritual Foundations for...

Discover why real transformation happens when leaders have the courage to journey with people into their sorrow and bring the hope of Christ to the places of deepest pain.

Tod Bolsinger and Markus Watson discuss this quote from Andrew Root in Ep. 270, Evangelism as Consolation:

"What we really need, what people yearn for, is someone who will journey with them into their sorrow and to proclaim and witness to a Jesus Christ who is...