Claim OwnershipThe Reluctant Leader Podcast with Paul Jenkins
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© 2025 The Reluctant Leader Podcast with Paul Jenkins
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Throughout the years, I've come to believe two truths: one, everyone leads someone, and two, no one really feels qualified to lead anyone. Add the pressure put on us by culture to have all the answers in a world full of confusion, and you've got a recipe for reluctant leaders.
Thankfully, when it comes to leading in the Bible and in life, the most qualified aren't always the most obvious. This podcast is a conversation for all of us who want to lead well but never feel like we are. New episodes are released on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of each month.
62 Episodes
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Got questions or comments? Text them to me! In this episode of The Reluctant Leader Podcast, Paul unpacks a powerhouse Greek word hidden in Philippians — συναθλέω (soon-ath-LEH-oh), a term ripped straight from the ancient athletic arena. It doesn’t just mean “work hard for Jesus.” It means strive together — shoulder-to-shoulder, like teammates fighting for the same goal. Then we take that truth straight into Christmas. When Jesus was born, He wasn’t called “God with me.” He was named Immanuel...
Got questions or comments? Text them to me! Episode Theme: How choosing gratitude reshapes our leadership, our relationships, and our mental and spiritual health. Episode Summary: We live in a culture trained to obsess over what’s missing. But the way of Jesus flips that narrative. Gratitude doesn’t ignore hard circumstances — it invites us to see God’s goodness right in the middle of them. In this episode, Paul shares how thankfulness reorients us, strengthens us, and becomes a weapon agains...
Got questions or comments? Text them to me! In this episode of the Reluctant Leader Podcast, host Paul Jenkins explores the power of narratives and how they shape our perceptions of others and ourselves. Using the contrasting stories of NFL players Bryce Young and CJ Stroud, Paul illustrates how initial impressions can be hard to change, but emphasizes that our stories are never finished. He ties this concept to biblical examples, showing how God continues to rewrite stories despite past mist...
Got questions or comments? Text them to me! My guest is Dustin Scott — husband, dad to a miracle five-year-old named Roman, and a leader who’s spent years walking with people through recovery. He’s from Tucson, Arizona, and recently shifted from working in addiction recovery to teaching theology—because, as he says, “recovery is spiritual formation.” In this episode, Dustin and I talk about what it really means to let Jesus meet us in our mess instead of waiting to get our act together first....
Got questions or comments? Text them to me! 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 Stress Management to help others heal, discern what they’ve exper...
Got questions or comments? Text them to me! 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 more about relationships than leadershipHow to walk with peopl...
Got questions or comments? Text them to me! 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 teenager, this conversation will encourage you to rediscover the tr...
Got questions or comments? Text them to me! 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.Confidence grows when you develop ideas out loud, not just deliver them.S...
Got questions or comments? Text them to me! 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: 🌀 How to handle unexpected "plot twists" in your story💥 Why i...
Got questions or comments? Text them to me! 📖 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 looks like to evaluate our efforts with wisdom and courage — ...
Got questions or comments? Text them to me! 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 leading a team, a ministry, or just trying to keep your group chat...
Got questions or comments? Text them to me! 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 year-old girls’ softball team and a student ministry of four. T...
Got questions or comments? Text them to me! 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 secret weapon—especially when no one’s clapping yet. We’r...
Got questions or comments? Text them to me! 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, this conversation will challenge and encourage you to lead with your ...
Got questions or comments? Text them to me! 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 surrendering control leads to more peace and clarity ✅ How st...
Got questions or comments? Text them to me! 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 Paul—sought guidance. If you’ve ever felt the pressure to figu...
Got questions or comments? Text them to me! 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! ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️ Thanks for listening to The Reluctant Leader Podcast with Paul Jenkins! Find me on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, and be sure to read the stuff I'm writing on my blog. ...
Got questions or comments? Text them to me! 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'll find out in this episode of The Reluctant Leader Podcast, some of the best things in life ...
Got questions or comments? Text them to me! 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 thing? In this episode, Paul reminds us that while we may need to step back from tim...
Got questions or comments? Text them to me! 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, I think you’ll find this interview fascinating, and Karl’s perspe...
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