Scott Savage, a pastor and writer from Prescott, Arizona, shares his insightful journey through burnout and the importance of recovery rhythms. He highlights how leaders often struggle with emotional exhaustion and the necessity of sabbaticals for fostering healthy work cultures. Scott encourages reframing wilderness seasons as transformative experiences that deepen personal and spiritual growth. Listeners can expect practical advice on leading with intention and prioritizing mental health, making it essential for anyone navigating leadership challenges.
43:24
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
menu_book Books
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
question_answer ANECDOTE
Scott's Early Leadership Journey
Scott Savage's early leadership began in college ministry and grew through tough church contexts.
He learned valuable lessons from challenging environments and mentors over 10 years.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Scott's Burnout and Recovery
Scott hit burnout at 28 during a challenging church transition and with a newborn at home.
He recovered by embracing God's love and establishing practical health rhythms.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Recognizing and Navigating Burnout
Leaders should recognize burnout often builds slowly and pay attention to their spiritual and physical health.
Seek wise counsel before making major decisions during burnout to avoid twisted perceptions.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
The Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning emphasizes the message of God's unconditional love and grace. The book reminds readers that God accepts them as they are, broken and imperfect, and that His love is not based on their performance or worthiness. Manning argues that recognizing our brokenness and need for God’s grace allows us to drop pretenses and be merciful to others. The book highlights Jesus' interactions with sinners and the New Testament's passages on divine forgiveness, emphasizing that God makes the first move in our relationship with Him[3][4].
From Strength to Strength
Finding Success, Happiness, and Deep Purpose in the Second Half of Life
Arthur C Brooks
In 'From Strength to Strength', Arthur C. Brooks addresses the inevitable decline in abilities that comes with aging and provides a practical guide on how to transform this period into an opportunity for growth. Drawing on social science, philosophy, biography, theology, and eastern wisdom, as well as interviews with everyday men and women, Brooks advocates for refocusing on priorities such as deep wisdom, detachment from empty rewards, connection and service to others, and spiritual progress. He argues that by adapting our expectations and focusing on these areas, we can achieve increased happiness and purpose in our later years.
Burnout isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a quiet epidemic. Across every industry, leaders are exhausted, teams are stretched thin, and emotional resilience is wearing down. And it’s not just happening out there. It’s happening to us—in boardrooms, church offices, classrooms, and Zoom calls.
That’s why we’re revisiting one of our most timely and needed conversations: Scott Savage’s raw and hope-filled journey through burnout, wilderness seasons, and the rhythms that restore us.
Scott, a pastor and writer, shares what really happens when a leader hits the wall—and how to recover with grace, intention, and new resolve. If you’re feeling the pressure (or know someone who is), this episode is essential listening.
💥 Why this episode matters now:
New research shows:
Burnout is now one of the top three reasons employees leave organizations (Gallup, 2024).
Emotional exhaustion is contagious—leaders who aren’t well unintentionally wear out their teams.
Leaders who build in recovery rhythms like sabbaticals lead more engaged, resilient, and loyal teams.
🎧 What you'll take away:
What burnout really feels like—and why it often creeps in slowly
How to reframe a “wilderness season” from something to escape into something that transforms
The leadership power of sabbaticals and sustainable rhythms
How to lead yourself so you can lead others well
Practical ways to build a culture that prioritizes health, not just hustle
👀 Don’t miss this if you’re a leader who:
Feels like you’re running on fumes
Is navigating team disengagement or high turnover
Wants to build a healthier, more sustainable leadership culture
Is ready to lead from wholeness, not hustle
We need your help to get the LeadCulture podcasts in front of more leaders! There are three simple things you can do that truly help us:
Lead Culture with Jenni Catron 
