Crucifying Loyalty to Protect the Poor and Powerless with Natasha Sistrunk Robinson

To whom have you given your loyalty? Who is loyal to you?

A hallmark of modern leadership is the demand for unquestioning loyalty—loyalty to the boss, loyalty to the organization, loyalty to the vision.  But when loyalty is demanded instead of inspired, it can quietly become a weapon of control that quashes dissent, silences the vulnerable, and enables abuse.  And misplaced loyalties can create harmful power imbalances in even the most equitable organizations.

In this episode of The Disrupters podcast, host Nicole Martin sits down with Dr. Natasha Sistrunk Robinson—writer, international speaker, leadership consultant, mentoring coach, and founder of Leadership LINKS, Inc. Natasha is a former Marine Corps officer, graduate of the US Naval Academy, and author of many books, including A Sojourner’s Truth. With over two decades of leadership experience across the military, government, church, and nonprofit spaces, she brings clarity and conviction to what it means to lead with integrity and inspire loyalty to God.

Natasha offers stories from her time in the military and the church, exposing how misplaced loyalty can cover abuse, silence victims, and keep leaders trapped in cycles of control. From church politics to mentoring dynamics, she names the hard truths: spiritual leaders are not immune to abusing people’s loyalty, and even Christians can be tempted to place their loyalty with people rather than with God. But she also shows a better way—how consistent meditation on God’s Word and practicing sacrificial leadership can inspire loyalty to God and his mission rather than to us and our own. 

Jesus never demanded loyalty, he invited people to follow. And healthy leaders should do the same. Tune in now.

This episode highlights the following themes:

• Practicing intentional, considerate, sacrificial leadership
• Power dynamics, boundaries, and abuse of loyalty
• How to lead to inspire loyalty to Jesus and his mission

Links from the episode:

• Learn more about Natasha Sistrunk Robinson
• Read Natasha Sistrunk Robinson’s book: A Sojourner’s Truth
• Explore Leadership LINKS
• Learn more about Nicole Martin
• Read Nicole Martin’s book: Nailing It
• Read the transcript here

Credits:

✅Special offer: Visit ivpress.com and use the code IVPOD25 for 25% off any IVP resource mentioned in this episode.

✅Producers: Jack Reece and Travis Albritton

✅Executive Producer: Helen Lee

✅Sound Engineering: Honest Podcasts

✅Social Media Manager: Allie Noble

✅Production Assistant: Christine Pelliccio Melo

✅Podcast Art: Kate Lillard

✅Theme Song: "Something Else" by Nu Alkemi$t

Disclaimer: The comments, views, and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host and/or the guests featured on the podcast and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of InterVarsity Press or InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.

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