Linch with a Leader

In today's episode of Linch with a Leader, Mike sits down best selling author and dynamic speaker Jon Gordon to talk about his new book, The Garden. This powerful spiritual fable is an incredible bridge for the readers to learn about the heart of God and the plan of the enemy!Jon's best-selling books and talks have inspired readers and audiences around the world. His principles have been put to the test by numerous Fortune 500 companies, professional and college sports teams, school districts, hospitals, and non-profits. He is the author of 20 books including 8 best-sellers: The Energy Bus, The Carpenter, Training Camp, You Win in the Locker Room First, The Power of Positive Leadership, The Power of a Positive Team, The Coffee Bean and his latest Stay Positive. Jon and his tips have been featured on The Today Show, CNN, CNBC, The Golf Channel, Fox and Friends and in numerous magazines and newspapers. His clients include The Los Angeles Dodgers, Campbell’s Soup, Dell, Publix, Southwest Airlines, Miami Heat, The Los Angeles Rams, Snapchat, BB&T Bank, Clemson Football, Northwestern Mutual, West Point Academy and more.Jon is a graduate of Cornell University and holds a Masters in Teaching from Emory University. He and his training/consulting company are passionate about developing positive leaders, organizations and teams.

In episode 82 of the Linch with a Leader podcast, Mike sits down with Phyllis Hendry Halverson.Phyllis serves as the inaugural President and CEO of Lead Like Jesus. Under her visionary leadership, the organization has grown exponentially since its founding in 1999, equipping and empowering thousands of people throughout the United States and around the world to lead as Jesus led. She is the co-author of Lead Like Jesus Revisited, along with Ken Blanchard and Phil Hodges.The epitome of Southern charm, Phyllis radiates passion, warmth, authenticity and wit in every presentation. As a result, she is a highly sought after speaker, regularly travelling across the U.S. and around the world to deliver the hope-filled, love inspired, story laden, and deeply personal messages that pour straight from her heart.  She has been featured as a keynote speaker for crowds of 5,000-plus – often simulcast to thousands more – sharing the stage with such well-known orators as Ken Blanchard, John Ortberg, Rosey Grier, Erwin McManus, Patrick Lencioni, Henry Blackaby and more. Firmly believing “there are no unimportant conversations,” Phyllis also finds great joy communicating in more intimate settings, such as for congregations, in small group retreats, and during one-on-one encounters.Phyllis has enjoyed a fulfilling career in leadership positions within business, nonprofits, and ministry. Prior to joining Lead Like Jesus, she served for 11 years as President of the National Science Center, Inc., in Augusta, a partnership with the United States Army. In this role, she collaborated with top military and government officials.Her heart’s greatest desire is to lead individuals into a deeper relationship with Jesus, so that their lives will be transformed and their leadership will have maximum influence.  Through the ministry of Lead Like Jesus, Phyllis is helping equip and empower believers around the world to adopt Jesus as their leader role model, so that through them the world will be forever changed.

On this episode of Linch with a Leader, Mike sits down with Dr. Derwin Gray. Derwin is a former defensive back, who played five seasons in the NFL with the Colts and Panthers. He’s now the pastor of Transformation Church near Charlotte, N.C.Selected in the fourth round of the 1995 NFL Draft (92nd overall) by the Indianapolis Colts, Gray played five seasons with Indy from 1993-1997 and finished his career in Carolina with the Panthers in 1998.He has authored five books, including his latest, “The Good Life: What Jesus Teaches about True Happiness,” which released everywhere at the beginning of June. Gray’s other books include “Limitless Life: You Are More Than Your Past When God Holds Your Future” (2013) and “The High-Definition Leader” (2015).Gray is also the host of the “Marinate On That: The Dr. Derwin Gray Podcast,” and he releases a new episode on the first Monday of each month.

In this episode of Linch with a Leader, Mike sits down with author & motivational speaker Damon West. Damon West, M.S. Criminal Justice, is a motivational speaker and best-selling co-author (with best-selling author and motivational speaker Jon Gordon) of The Coffee Bean: A simple Lesson to Create Positive Change. His first book and autobiography, The Change Agent: How a Former College QB Sentenced to Life in Prison Transformed His World, was published just three years after his release from a Texas maximum-security prison.Sentenced to sixty-five years in a Texas prison, Damon West once had it all. He came from a great family, in a home full of God, love, support, and opportunities to reach any goal. A natural born leader, an athlete with good looks and charm, he appeared to be the all-American kid pursuing his dreams.Underneath this facade, however, was an addict in the early stages of disease. After suffering childhood sexual abuse by a babysitter at the age of nine, Damon began putting chemicals into his body to alter the way he felt.Damon’s career as a Division 1 quarterback at the University of North Texas came to a premature end, after suffering an injury against Texas A&M. After graduation, he worked in the United States Congress, was a national fundraiser on a U.S. Presidential campaign and eventually trained to be a stock-broker for United Bank of Switzerland (UBS). One day at UBS, he was introduced to methamphetamines; he became instantly hooked—and the lives of so many innocent people would forever be changed by the choices he made in order to feed his insatiable meth habit.After a fateful discussion during his incarceration with a seasoned convict, Damon had a spiritual awakening. He learned that, like a coffee bean changing with the application of heat and pressure, he was capable of changing the environment around him. Armed with a program of recovery, a renewed faith, and a miraculous second chance at life, Damon emerged from over seven years of prison a changed man. His story of redemption, grit and determination continues to inspire audiences today.Today, Damon lives a life of recovery and service, going to meetings and sharing his story all over the country with schools, church's, athletic teams, corporations, conferences and inside correctional facilities. Over the past few years, he has been sharing the Coffee Bean lesson with dozens of college football teams such as Clemson, Alabama, Georgia, and Texas, and countless schools and businesses. His #coffeebeans message has inspired thousands, winning him the Service to Mankind Award in 2017. He works as a legal assistant for the Provost Umphrey Law Firm in Beaumont, Texas and recently earned his master’s degree, in Criminal Justice, from Lamar University.Damon’s story has been featured both nationally and globally. His second book, The Coffee Bean, co-authored with best-selling author Jon Gordon, became an instant best-seller. Damon is passionate about the Coffee Bean message and loves sharing how it changed his life and how it can change yours, too. He is excited about the Coffee Bean Clubs that are being started by students at schools across the country.

In this episode Mike sits down with former professional baseball player and speaker Chris Singleton. Chris shares his story of not only his life in baseball but his journey through tragedy.Chris is a former professional baseball player in the Chicago Cubs organization as well as an inspirational speaker who has traveled the country passionately speaking to over 60,000 students. Chris has also spread his message through various different media outlets and has been featured on ESPN’s E:60, Sports Illustrated magazine, CNN, and USA Today. His mother, Sharonda Coleman Singleton, was murdered along with eight other victims at Mother Emanuel AME church in Downtown Charleston, South Carolina on June 17th 2015 by a white male who wanted to start a race related war in the United States. Chris inspired his city and the nation by forgiving the man who murdered his mother and stating that “Love is stronger than hate.” Chris inspires his audiences through his personal experiences of adversity and his belief that God can guide you through any storm you will ever pass.You are going to love this conversation!

In this episode of Linch with a Leader, Mike sits down with business leader and entrepreneur Earnest Davis.  Earnest describes himself as a serial entrepreneur and a speaker.  His passion is to use his story to challenge them to be the best version of themselves that they can possibly be.  From growing up in a small town in Mississippi to today being the host of the "Real Money Real Talk" podcast & radio show, Earnest has been someone who knows his story was not meant for just him alone!In this episode, Mike & Earnest talk about his time in radio and as a business leader and brand strategist!  You are going to love this conversation!

On this episode of the Linch with a Leader podcast, Mike sits down with one of his heroes, Dr. Dwight "Ike" Reighard. Ike has pastored the great New Hope Baptist Church in Fayetteville, GA and helped oversee their growth from a small country church to the 2nd fastest growing church in the Southern Baptist Convention. After his time at New Hope, he was at FBC Atlanta and then founded NorthStar Church in Kennesaw, GA where he served for six years. Ike then went on to become the Chief People Officer of Homebanc Mortgage Company in Atlanta. The company was voted for four straight years as one of Fortune's Magazines Best Places to Work. In 2006 Ike became the interim pastor of Piedmont Church where he still pastors today. Because of Ike's leadership, Piedmont went from a church in decline to a growing vital part of the East Cobb Community. In 2007 Ike became the President and CEO of Must Ministries, a non-profit ministry located in Marietta, GA. Ike has written four books: Treasures from the Dark, Discovering Your NorthStar, Discovering Your NorthStar Journal and co-authored a devotional with Zig Ziglar called Daily Insights. Ike is married to Robin and has two daughters, Danielle & Abigail and is the proud grandfather of Addison Ruth.Mike and Ike talk about Ike's story, his journey in leadership and how God has seen him through!

In Episode 76 of Linch with a Leader Mike sits down with author, speaker & leadership expert Jenni Catron. Jenni and her team at the 4Sight Group come alongside leaders to help them navigate the complex world that we live in. Jenni not only founded and leads the 4Sight Group but also has been the author several books including Clout:Discover and Unleash Your God-Given Influence and The 4 Dimensions of Extraordinary Leadership. Mike & Jenni about not only talk about her extensive background in leadership but also her faith that drives her as she leads. Before her work at the 4Sight group, Jenni had been a founding member and Executive Director of Cross Point Church in Nashville, TN. She helped during the growth from 500 to 6000 and helped lead the expansion to five locations. She also served two years as the executive pastor at Menlo Park in California. She was recognized by Outreach Magazine as one of the thirty emerging influencing church leadership.

In this episode of Linch with a Leader, Mike sits down with a leader of leaders, Brad Lomenick. Brad made his name with the Catalyst movement and spent over 12 years helping to pour into this young generation of leaders. He interviewed such outstanding leaders such as Malcom Gladwell, Simon Sinek, Rick Warren, Dave Ramsey among many others! Prior to his time with Catalyst, Brad made his name with Life@Work Magazine and did management consulting for the Cornerstone Group. Currently Brad is still convening leaders and doing consulting through Blinc consulting! Brad has authored two books – The Catalyst Leader and H3 Leadership.Mike & Brad talk about not only leadership now but where it is going in this coming generation! No matter what part of leadership you find yourself in, Mike’s conversation with Brad will help you become in becoming the leader that God created you to be!

In this episode of Linch with a Leader, Mike sits down with apologist, author, pastor & leader - Lee Strobel. Lee is known for his best selling books: The Case for Christ, The Case for Faith, The Case for Grace, The Case for Miracles among many others! They have sold over 14 million copies in total. The Case for Christ was made into a movie as well chronicling his journey from award winning legal editor from the Chicago Tribune to his accepting of Jesus as his savior! Lee was educated at the University of Missouri (journalism) and Yale Law School (Master of Studies in Law).Mike and Lee talk not only about Lee's story but about what he wishes every Christian knew about what they believe!! Lee also shared about his newest endeavor with Colorado Christian University and their Lee Strobel Center of Evangelism and Applied Apologetics. What a way to kick off Easter week with this conversation with one of the world's leading experts on the resurrection of Christ!!