Avoiding Burnout in Speaking and Life with Arthur James

Dec 30, 2025

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“One of the things that has helped me stay in ministry, and one of my keys that I share in my talk about burnout, is doing something new to refuel you. I’m still doing ministry thirty years later, but I find new ways to do it and that helps increase the fuel and the fire for me to do it.”

Welcome back to The Speaker Lab podcast! On today’s episode, host Grant Baldwin is joined by Arthur James, a seasoned pastor, educator, and speaker who’s been making a difference from the pulpit and the podium for nearly three decades.

In this conversation, Arthur opens up about his unique journey as a bivocational pastor, juggling roles in ministry, education, and business, while building his speaking career from the ground up. He reflects on crucial turning points, including the shift from viewing public speaking as a side hustle to embracing it as a purposeful business.

Together, Grant and Arthur dive into the realities of transitioning from full-time work in education and hospitality to full-time ministry and professional speaking, highlighting the challenges of balancing financial responsibility with a heart for serving others. Arthur reveals how discovering The Speaker Lab framework helped him gain clarity, structure, and momentum in growing his speaking business.

Whether you’re a pastor with a message to share, a speaker ready to make an impact, or simply someone searching for practical wisdom about building a business around your calling, you’ll find valuable lessons and encouragement in this episode. Listen in for a look at what it truly takes to turn your gifts as a communicator into a sustainable career!

You’ll learn:

Definition and explanation of “bivocational pastor”
Mental shift required to approach speaking as a business
Tailoring messages for different contexts
Research and outreach methods for finding speaking engagements
The importance of personal relevance and passion for the topic
Staying current and relevant in chosen speaking areas
Adapting communication style based on audience familiarity
Techniques for building trust and engagement with new groups
And much, much more!

“One of the things that’s very critical that is taught in The Speaker Lab program is to look at your speaking as a business and not just as getting on a stage to do a speech.”

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