The Discerning Leader Podcast

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.  

Co-Hosts: Steve Macchia and Matt Scott “Leadership is about whether or not the people are doing better because of your decisions.” — Steve Macchia  We know all-too-well the destruction that comes when power, influence and authority are mishandled and misguided in selfish ambition. This conversation explores “power” and how we can healthily steward the influence and authority entrusted to us in a way that honors, empowers, and equips others to flourish.   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 “If we could practice listening first before speaking, how different our words would be and how different our relationships would be.” — Steve Macchia  Humbly receiving the preached Word of God is one means of speaking and hearing the Truth in love. But what does this look like within the context of our relationships? How do we humbly and gratefully accept reproach and admonition from others? This conversation offers wisdom and practical steps around what it looks like for us to both speak and hear the truth in love. 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 “That's the hard reality...that I, too, irritate others. I need others to bear with me, also.” - Steve Macchia  How do we lovingly bear with one another and suffer alongside others in spiritual community? This episode tackles some of the hard realities we all face when we stay in one place long enough. What does it look like to move beyond tolerating and enduring to loving and serving those we find irritating, challenging, and hard-to-love? How can we humbly walk alongside one another in an empathetic, compassionate and gracious manner? This conversation offers helpful tools and wisdom around what Dietrich Bonhoeffer called “The Ministry of Bearing.”   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 "This welcoming spirit of graced hospitality is to be shared and received continuously, one at a time and in community." - Steve Macchia  Learning to offer soul hospitality to another only comes after first experiencing the hospitality of God. In this episode of The Discerning Leader podcast, Steve and Matt define soul hospitality, how it shapes and builds spiritual community, and suggest tangible ways we can offer it to those around us. This conversation also explores how we can approach holy interruptions and embrace one another with a non-judgmental, gracious and generous spirit.   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.  

In a heartfelt conversation, Matt Scott, a colleague and friend of Steve Macchia, delves into the intricacies of navigating conflict within spiritual communities. They discuss the importance of trust and reconciliation when faced with broken relationships. Practical wisdom is shared on listening, humility, and the continuous journey of restoring trust after rupture. Listeners are encouraged to actively seek forgiveness and embrace empathy as essential steps for fostering healthy connections. Their insights transform conflict into an opportunity for growth and spiritual depth.