The Discerning Leader Podcast

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Gordon Macdonald  This episode originally aired on April 28, 2022 as Episode 5 of Season 18  “Your number one priority in the Lord’s work is your family.” –Gordon MacDonald  Gordon Macdonald joins Steve Macchia for the first of two conversations, drawing from his book “The View from Eighty.” A summary of 15 things that make for success or failure in ministry, Gordon and Steve explore the first 7 insights that come from 6 decades of ministry experience. This REWIND episode will encourage you to prioritize your most important relationships and maintain a healthy spiritual life.   Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Eric Peterson  This episode originally aired on April 7, 2022 as Episode 2 of Season 18  “God is in everything, in all the details of life, and not just the pleasant ones.” – Eric Peterson  In this REWIND episode, Eric Peterson joins Steve Macchia to reflect upon the luminous trail of spiritual discernment. Using the metaphors of mountain climbing and hiking, Eric and Steve explore how spiritual friendships are like headlamps that shine on the pathway of life. Tune into this rich conversation between Eric and Steve as they offer insights around how each of us can live a life of illumination and spiritual discernment.  Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Carolyn Arends  This episode originally aired on October 13, 2022 as Episode 2 of Season 22  “The promise we always have is not no pain – it’s no wasted pain. There’s nothing that He can’t redeem.” – Carolyn Arends  Carolyn Arends joins Steve Macchia to share watershed moments of her life story. Highlighting several major turning points and milestones, she offers personal anecdotes on how to cultivate a discerning life. In this REWIND episode, Carolyn shares how the formation required to cultivate a life of discernment is similar to that which makes a great writer or artist.  Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.  

Host: Steve Macchia, Guests: Bill and Kristi Gaultiere  This episode originally aired on November 10, 2022 as Episode 6 of Season 22  “Ohh, I need to do some more inner journey work. This is an invitation.” –Kristi Gaultiere  Bill and Kristi Gaultiere join Steve for a rich conversation about spiritual practices, discernment and soul care. In their book Journey of the Soul, they reflect on more than 70,000 hours of therapy and spiritual direction with people. In this REWIND episode of The Discerning Leader podcast, Bill and Kristi share six stages of spiritual growth and different walls that we experience. These walls start as periods of disorientation but become transition times to a more Christ-centered way of being. Listen as they share personal stories and offer a map to help every person through their own journey of the soul.  Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: James Bryan Smith  This episode originally aired on November 3, 2022 as Episode 5 of Season 22  “Every need that my soul has, Jesus meets them – every single one of them.” – James Bryan Smith  James Bryan Smith joins Steve for a conversation about how our view of God transforms our understanding and experience of spiritual disciplines. In this REWIND episode of The Discerning Leader podcast, James explores the harm of having a legalistic approach to spiritual practices and a toxic view of God. On the other hand, a right perspective of the spiritual disciplines offers us the gift of intimacy with God.   Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Nathan Foster  This episode originally aired on April 14, 2022 as Episode 3 of Season 18  “The Jesus way is clear: hang out with 12 nobodies and then give them the keys.” –Nathan Foster  Nate Foster joins Steve Macchia for a conversation about our awareness of God and quiet reflection. In this REWIND episode, Nate invites us to consider how God often fills in the gaps after times of quiet discernment and prayer. Viewing spiritual practices as what we do in the ordinary parts of life, this conversation welcomes us to experience renewed joy in the wonderfully ordinary, and grace-filled moments of life.   Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Rowena Day  This episode originally aired on April 13, 2023 as Episode 1 of Season 26. “There are so many ways that our attention is pulled, and we are divorced from our own bodies which make it really hard to notice God.” – Rowena Day  In this REWIND episode of The Discerning Leader podcast, Rowena Day shares with Steve how she notices the presence of God through the mighty oceans and the minute details of everyday living. Encouraging us with the notion that only when our mind, heart, body and spirit are fully integrated can we be receptive to what God has for us in the present, Rowena offers practical insights to living an embodied and integrated spirituality.  Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.

Host: Steve Macchia,  Guest: Trevor Hudson  This episode originally aired on October 6, 2022 as Episode 1 of Season 22.  Trevor Hudson joins Steve Macchia to discuss what it means to discern the voice of God and follow Jesus in family and vocational life as well as times of discontent and suffering. Drawing from the wisdom of Saint Ignatius of Loyola and Dallas Willard, Trevor offers insights and practical ways we can seek and find God in everyday living. This REWIND episode was originally aired in October of 2022 and remains one of the most downloaded episodes of The Discerning Leader podcast.  Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.    

Co-Hosts: Steve Macchia and Matt Scott “It’s important to be surrounded by people who model what a Christ-like life looks like, invest in you regularly, offer spiritual friendship, ongoing guidance and encouragement.” — Steve Macchia  The final episode of Season 35 explores what it looks like to walk with the saints. You'll hear personal stories from Steve and Matt as they share some of the relationships that have helped them embody and emulate the things that make for community (presence, listening, hospitality, forbearance, humility, trust-building, repairing and restoring). Tune into this conversation as you consider who is helping to feed your soul and whose soul you’re companioning along the way.   Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.  

Co-Hosts: Steve Macchia and Matt Scott “Those who have an articulated communal rule of life stick together longer and more faithfully...and go deeper in their walk together with the Lord.” — Steve Macchia  Healthy churches and healthy spiritual communities are comprised of those who learn, live and grow together in Christ. These communities offer a safe place to share hurts and heartaches, pray for and care for one another, grow together in grace, and offer forgiveness and selfless love to one another. Of course, this way of living doesn’t happen without great purpose and intention. Enjoy this podcast conversation centered around how to live out a share rule of life within a spiritual community.   Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.