

The Thread, from Alpha
Alpha International
The Thread is a space for fresh perspectives on Christian leadership, global culture, and evangelism in our changing world. Brought to you by Alpha, The Thread shares timely talks, relevant insights, and hosts open free-flowing conversations with diverse leaders from around the globe. All hosted by Stephen Foster.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 27, 2025 • 51min
Going to God for Creativity with Steve Chao
In this episode of The Thread, Stephen sits down with Director of the Chinese Alpha Film Series, the Alpha Youth Series and the upcoming new Alpha Series, and the CEO of SignalFlare Productions, Steve Chao. Steve shares incredible insights into leading with faith in creative spaces and how his background in journalism at the heart of war zones across the globe shaped his passion for storytelling. Content Warning: This episode contains several mentions of topics associated with warfare.

Aug 19, 2025 • 45min
LC25 Bonus Episode: Ordinary Jobs, Extraordinary Calling - Making a Kingdom Impact in the Workplace
In this Bonus episode from Leadership Conference 2025, Patricia Lau, Executive Director of Alpha Hong Kong, is joined by global business leaders to look at how we can transform everyday work into patterns of Kingdom impact in the workplace.

Aug 13, 2025 • 43min
Spiritual Inheritance with Jacintha Tagal
Jacintha Tagal leads HTBB Church in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, with her husband, Abel Cheah. In this episode, she shares with Stephen how her father’s headhunting Lun Bawang tribe in East Malaysia received the gospel and experienced the miraculous. She and Stephen discuss revival, spiritual inheritance, ministry, grief, and doing succession well.

Aug 12, 2025 • 1h 2min
LC25 Bonus Epsiode: Changemakers Rising - Conversations With Young Leaders Shaping Social Justice
In this Leadership Conference 2025 bonus episode, Rachel Gardner, Youth Innovation Lead at St Luke's church in Blackburn, is joined by emerging young leaders for a conversation on how we can reshape our thinking on social transformation, justice and God's kingdom, looking at how we can partner with God's work in bold new ways.

Aug 5, 2025 • 1h 1min
LC25 Bonus Episode: Leader and Parent - Navigating the Dual Callings of Parenting and Leadership
In this episode from Leadership Conference 2025, Amy and Rachel Hughes are joined their husbands Tim and Jonny Hughes alongside Priscilla Shirer for a conversation on how we wear the dual hats of both parenting and leadership and how we navigate the challenges and the joys of wearing those two hats together.

Jul 30, 2025 • 50min
Being a Disciple-Making Disciple with Abel Cheah
In this episode of The Thread, Stephen sits down with Abel Cheah, Vicar of HTBB Church in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to explore topics like the hunger, not for more leadership content, but for authentic examples of leadership, the raising up of new leaders, and what it takes to be a disciple-making disciple.

Jul 29, 2025 • 1h 2min
LC25 Bonus Episode: Renaissance - Igniting your Imagination
In this bonus episode from Leadership Conference 2025, Al Gordon and Farida Matthews explore the biblical and psychological aspects of the imagination and look at how you can unlock the creative potential of your mind.

Jul 22, 2025 • 26min
LC25 Bonus Series: Rachel Gardner and The Hunger of the Next Generation
This episode brings you Rachel Gardner's mainstage talk from the Leadership Conference 2025. Rachel looks at what God is doing amongst younger generations today, and how we as the Church must respond in this particular cultural moment.

Jul 16, 2025 • 44min
Building on the Prayers of Generations with Dan Blythe
In this episode, Stephen is joined by Alpha’s Global Youth Director, Dan Blythe. Dan works alongside young people and youth leaders globally to inspire, innovate and support the mission of Alpha to bring the gospel to young people around the world. In this conversation, Dan shares his own journey into faith at a young age, the values and priorities of the ‘now’ generation and his own tips for fighting fear, dismantling pride and living out the ‘new thing’ that God has for your life.

Jul 15, 2025 • 1h 8min
LC25 Bonus Series: Awakening in the Rising Generation - Seizing a Moment of Spiritual Openness
In this next bonus episode from Leadership Conference 2025, we feature a seminar presented by those currently stewarding moves of God among young leaders in various global contexts. With a surprising and significant openness to faith among the rising generations in many places around the world, how can we – as emerging and established leaders – seize the moment, prepare for awakening, and respond to what God is doing?