The Reluctant Leader Podcast with Paul Jenkins

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In this powerful and honest conversation, Paul sits down with Christa Cordova, a mental health educator and fellow doctoral student, to talk about something many believers quietly carry — spiritual hurt and church trauma.

Christa has walked the road herself, serving in both church and parachurch roles that left deep scars. Now, she uses her experience and training in Critical Incident Stres...

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What do you do when the place that was supposed to heal you is the place that hurt you?

In this honest and hope-filled conversation, Paul sits down with Sarah Holstra – pastoral counselor and self-described “boundary coach” – to talk about the messy but holy work of relational repair.

They cover:

• What a “boundary coach” actually does (and why you probably need one)
• Why most church hurt is ...

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Episode Summary:
In a culture that’s always chasing the next new thing, why are so many young people drawn to what feels ancient, rooted, and steady? In this episode, Paul explores how the ancient paths (Jeremiah 6:16), the old wells (Genesis 26:18–33), and the deep roots of old trees point to the surprising attractiveness of tradition. Whether your church is 200 years old or just a te...

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Episode Summary:
In this episode, Paul shares how stepping into doctoral studies reshaped his confidence—not by gaining more knowledge, but by finding the freedom to develop ideas in community. Through the lens of Proverbs 27:17, we explore how “iron sharpening iron” transforms reluctant leaders into confident ones.

Key Takeaways:

• Sharpening happens in community, not isolation.
• Confid...

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What do you do when the story you were writing for your life suddenly gets flipped upside down? Nina Sossamon-Pogue knows a thing or two about that. From elite-level gymnast to Emmy-winning news anchor to tech exec — and then crashing hard when life unraveled — Nina’s story is a masterclass in resilience, reinvention, and the sacred work of getting back up.

In this episode, we talk about:

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📖 Episode Overview:

Let’s be honest — sometimes the hardest thing about leadership isn’t starting something new… it’s knowing when to stop. In this episode, Paul gets real about a recent decision to pause his weekly email, The Launch Pad, and redirect that time and energy into his leadership at The Gathering and his doctoral studies.

It’s a vulnerable, practical conversation about what it l...

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Before Jesus ever sent His disciples out to preach, heal, or lead—He simply invited them to be with Him. In this episode, Paul unpacks Mark 3:14 and explores how powerful it is when leaders prioritize presence over performance.

You’ll learn why Jesus’ leadership style wasn’t built on strategy first—it was built on shared space, vulnerability, and relational connection. Whether you're l...

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In this milestone 50th episode of The Reluctant Leader Podcast, Paul sits down with Benjamin Crawshaw for an honest, relatable conversation about life, leadership, and what happens when everything falls apart. Benjamin shares his powerful story of how personal failure, ministry unraveling, and a season of isolation led him to rediscover God’s grace in unexpected places — including a 5-6 ye...

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Welcome to The Reluctant Leader Podcast—where we talk real leadership for those of us who sometimes feel like we’re not cut out for it… but keep showing up anyway.

In this episode, I’m unpacking what I learned from posting 21 straight days of hope-filled, one-minute videos on TikTok. I’ll share what surprised me, the comments that reminded me why this matters, and why consistency is your se...

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In a world overflowing with noise and polished personas, authentic leadership cuts through like a beacon of trust. In this episode, Paul unpacks why it's so powerful when leaders actually do what they say—how integrity, vulnerability, and consistency can create a kind of credibility that commands attention without shouting. Whether you lead a team, a church, or just your own life, thi...

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Ever feel stuck between where you started and where you want to be? The messy middle can be frustrating, filled with uncertainty, doubt, and the temptation to give up. But what if this season isn’t a roadblock—it’s the real work of transformation?

In this episode, we’re diving into what it means to trust the process when things aren’t happening as fast as we’d like. You’ll discover:

✅ Why su...

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In this episode of The Reluctant Leader Podcast, we dive into the biblical wisdom of seeking godly counsel and why no leader should make decisions in isolation. Proverbs tells us that wise advisers lead to success, but pride can keep us from listening. We’ll explore how humility opens the door to growth, how God often speaks through others, and why even the best leaders—Moses, David, and P...

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The Bible has a lot to say about staying alert and keeping watch. If we aren't vigilant as leaders, the churches and organizations we're responsible for are often left in disarray and vulnerable to attack and vision creep.

As Jesus often told his followers: watch!

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Thanks for listening to The Reluctant Leader Podcast with Paul Jenkins! Find me on Twitter, Fac...

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Too many of us are so addicted to the rush of something new that we've accepted that anything that gets repeated has to become boring or stale. But repetition is only a bad thing when we're repeating bad things! I repeat: repetition is only a... 

You get the idea.

So let's change the narrative, and get busy repeating what needs to be repeated. As you'l...

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I've always been motivated by JFK's "we do them because they are hard" speech, and clearly, so was our country because we did get to the moon (regardless of what conspiracy theorists might think). But what happens after we've done hard things and we need time to rest and recover? Maybe more importantly, how do we find the strength to get back up and do another hard...

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In this interview, we take a deep dive with Karl Vaters, a seasoned pastor and author, as he challenges the conventional obsession with church size. For over 40 years, Carl has been an advocate for small churches and has worked to redefine success beyond just mere numbers.

Whether you're a church leader feeling the pressure to grow or just curious about the future of faith in America, ...

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All of us know that our words have power but too many times we talk as if they don't. In this episode, Paul shares how one simple statement ignited passion and launched him into action. We're sure that you'll be encouraged, and will be challenged to consider the kindness - or lack of - in the words you speak to those around you.

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Thanks for listening to...

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Does God ever seem distant when you ask him about things that really matter to you? Of course, he does. But the good news is that you aren't alone! Anyone who has ever spent any amount of time in prayer has felt that way, and often, the more desperate we are, the longer he seems to take.

In this episode, Paul walks us through Luke 18 and shows us what to do when we face the u...

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As we wrap up our "Restored to Health" miniseries in Psalm 126, the psalmist reminds us that even after we've been restored, there is work to be done.

Even more importantly, he reminds us that the work often still feels like work, and yet he holds out the very real hope that when the sowing brings us pain, the reaping will bring us bounty.

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Tha...