The Ascent Leader

08/25/2026

New episode! Pastor Matt Brown (Sandals Church) joins us to talk about the "hats" every pastoral leader wears, including friend, pastor, boss, and why confusing them wrecks relationships. Plus: hard lessons on giving feedback, building a team you can trust, and why problems addressed early hurt less than problems ignored.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leaders-in-living-rooms/id1482017413

08/18/2026

No church planter closes because they run out of money. They close because they get crushed under the weight of their own disappointment. On this episode, Mark Lee (Vantage Point Church) opens up about launching in the middle of a recession, hitting a wall at year five, and why perseverance beats perfection every time. A must-listen for any planter in the grind.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-unfair-advantage/id1621013979

08/11/2026

Are you measuring church growth or multiplying kingdom impact?

In this episode of Leaders in Living Rooms, sits down with to dive deep into Hero Maker principles. Discover why multiplying churches actually drives growth, how to track your ministry’s "family tree," and how changing your leadership language can transform your culture.

🎧 Stream the full episode now
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leaders-in-living-rooms/id1482017413

07/28/2026

Stepping into the lead role of a 26-location urban church brings a unique level of complexity and weight. On Episode 164 of Leaders in Living Rooms, Josiah Jobe shares how he stepped out of his father's shadow, protects his family boundaries, and keeps his private character aligned with a massive platform.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leaders-in-living-rooms/id1482017413

07/23/2026

07/21/2026

If your ministry team is exhausted, it might not be a spiritual attack. You might just be wearing the wrong shoe size. 👟
In the early days of a church plant, organic hustle works. But as you grow, those same lack of systems will start to pinch. If you don't evolve your structures, your church will hit an invisible ceiling.
In our latest episode of The Unfair Advantage, David Hibiske sits down with veteran church planter Wayne Cordeiro to unpack the exact shift leaders must make to stop doing all the ministry themselves and start empowering their teams.
If you are tired of being the primary bottleneck to your church’s growth, this conversation is your blueprint.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-unfair-advantage/id1621013979

07/14/2026

You can build a massive church, but you cannot build a platform big enough to heal a broken soul.

Too many leaders fake fine, over-function, and hope the next big win will fix the internal ache. It won’t.

In our latest episode of Leaders in Living Rooms, Sean Morgan sits down with Dr. Derwin Gray for an unfiltered conversation about moving past the performance trap and processing unaddressed trauma. If you’re leading on empty, this is your invitation to step off the treadmill.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leaders-in-living-rooms/id1482017413

07/09/2026

Deepen your investment in your leadership by joining our Lead Pastors Cohort with coach Dave Stone.

When you join a cohort of lead pastors, you're gaining leadership development and relationships that will carry forward with you in ways you may never know you needed. Don't wait to apply.

https://theascentleader.org/apply-now-transitions/

06/30/2026

Are you moving your church so fast that you’re leaving your people behind?

When you see a fresh vision from God, the temptation is to run hard and fast. But if you don't take the time to bring your core team and congregation along, you’ll spend double the energy dealing with the fallout later.

In our latest episode of Leaders in Living Rooms, Saddleback Church Senior Pastor Andy Wood shares a masterclass on leading institutional change without sacrificing your church’s DNA.

Whether you are anchoring your ministry in a new culture of prayer, or navigating the unique isolation that comes with senior leadership—this conversation is the tactical blueprint you need right now.

Three things you’ll walk away with:
👉 How to frame change as a continuation of a story, not an erasure of the past.
👉 The 4 macro-level prayer systems any church can implement.
👉 Why senior leaders must find circles outside their staff to fight loneliness.

🔗 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leaders-in-living-rooms/id1482017413