Stay Forth Leadership Podcast

There's something about a leader who has the ability to change the hearts of skeptical people even in the heardest situations.  On Today's episode, Alan sits down with Dean Williams, who is the Executive Director of Corrections for the state of Colorado. Dean has spent 35 years in the justice and public safety sector. He led Alaska's unified correctional system that includes small community jails, large prisons, probation, parole, and a pre-trial enforcement division. I was hired to make extensive reforms within the prison system and initiated major changes to improve safety. Dean also led new efforts to reduce the high recidivism rate in Alaska. Dean has extensive experience in juvenile corrections as well and initiated reform efforts to curb the school to the prison pipeline issue. Dean recently took over the Colorado Department of Corrections and is deeply honored to now serve the good people of Colorado.  Dean has a tough job, from stewarding a 1 billion dollar budget to overseeing over 6,000 employees and 20,000 men and women who are in the custody of the Dept. Of Corrections.  In part 1 of our two-part series dean shares his approach to leadership and how he is bringing form, and as a faith leader how he is sowing seeds of hope and redemption within the prison system. Dean discusses normalization efforts being implemented within the prison system and why this shift is so important.    Connect with Dean LinkedIn With(in) Podcast Episode 1

Every leader has someone that they can invest in. Likewise, every leader needs to be invested in. You can't water a garden with an empty watering can. On today's episode, we have a great conversation with Dillon Smith who has been crowned our youngest guest ever. Dillon may be a young leader, but he delivers quite a few wisdom bombs as he and Alan discuss the importance of mentorship. Dillon Smith is the content manager for leadership expert Carey Nieuwhof. Dillon is passionate about challenging other young leaders to set themselves apart through mentorship, networking, and becoming coachable. He also wants to help the already established generation of leaders better understand and lead this new wave of young leaders. Whether you're a young leader or a seasoned leader, we want to encourage you to take the time to consume this episode.  Connect with Dillon www.dillonsmith.com careynieuwhof.com

Questions are powerful. The way we ask questions and the way we answer questions can have a major impact on those around us especially when it comes to questions surrounding our faith.  On today's episode, we have a great conversation with Craig Springer, executive director of Alpha USA, about questions that move people. His book How To Follow Jesus. How Alpha's approach to evangelism and discipleship is spreading like wildfire, and how the church can be more effective at building relationships with those that don't know Jesus. Craig has a strong personal history with Alpha from his time at non-denominational megachurches and most recently, Cherry Hills Community Church where he was an Executive and Teaching Pastor. He and his wife Sarah, were also church planters in Prague, Czech Republic. Craig has a deep passion for the local church and a broad personal church background including Vineyard churches, evangelical Presbyterian churches, and international church planting. As a result, he views Alpha as a vital tool for all churches. He is a husband to Sarah and father to two children, Isaiah and Isabelle. They enjoy spending time as a family hiking and skiing in the mountains of Colorado (and let’s be honest; plenty of grocery shopping and suburb hopping too). They love to party, play and dig into the everyday challenges of life together.  Connect with Craig Alpha How To Follow Jesus    

On today's episode, Alan sits down with is brother J.R for a great conversation about the power of questions and why it is important for leaders to not only ask good questions but the right questions.  J.R. Briggs possesses four passions: Following Jesus, equipping and investing in hungry kingdom leaders, growing fruit on other people’s trees and to collaborating with others to create good kingdom mischief. In short, his calling is to partner with people who are called to follow Jesus while leading others. He received a Masters of Missional Theology from Biblical Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Missio Seminary, writing his dissertation on how to equip kingdom leaders to ask better questions. He also serves as an adjunct professor of practical theology at Missio Seminary and guest instructor at Friends University in the Masters of Arts in Spiritual Formation program. He has guest lectured, taught and spoken at over a dozen colleges, universities, and seminaries in the U.S. He also serves as the Director of Leadership & Congregational Formation for The Ecclesia Network as well as the Mid-Atlantic Coordinator and National Trainer for Fresh Expressions U.S. He is the author, co-author and/or contributor of ten books and Bible studies (and well as a contributor for a not-yet-released study Bible) on a wide variety of topics, most of which seek to equip faith leaders for their health, equipping and flourishing. He has also published articles in publications including Christianity Today, Huffington Post, Preaching Today, American Bible Society, N.T. Wright Online, Missio Alliance, Relevant Magazine, Outreach Magazine and Faith & Leadership, among others (see full list here). Using his four passions, his Big Dream is to fully fund the Bible college tuitions for 100 pastors and missionaries for persecuted Christians who lead and serve in places hostile to the Gospel. That’s why he launched the Hall of Tyrannus Initiative in 2019. He serves on the board of Jerusalem University College, an academic institution which offers short-term study programs, semester study abroad opportunities and a Masters of Arts program right on Mt. Zion. He is also the co-host of the Monday Morning Pastor podcast. Connect with J.R. Hall of Tyrannus Initiative Kairos Partnerships Books Twitter: @Jr_briggs

There are times when what we do for the mission of God becomes how we fellowship and pursue God personally. It's very easy to become information-rich and experientially poor. On today's episode, Alan sits down with pastor and author Robert Gelinas for a very rich discussion about what it means to be discipled by Jesus, and how to keep your performance in ministry from defining your relationship with God.  Robert Gelinas is a pastor who deeply desires for people to experience God's unfathomable love and presence. He leads Colorado Community Church, a multi-cultural, inter-denominational mission of 3000+ practicing Christians committed to washing the feet of the city. He holds a BA in Biblical Studies and an MA in Missiology. Robert and his wife, Barbara live with their six children in the Denver area. Connect with Robert www.robertrgelinas.com Books

What do you need to eliminate from your life? What 'hurry' exists in your life and leadership exists that needs to be eliminated?  On today's episode, Alan sits down with Alan and Gem Fadling for a great discussion on what it means to live an unhurried life.  Alan serves as a frequent speaker and consultant with local churches, national organizations and leaders internationally. His content is approachable, usable and transferable. He shows leaders how to get perspective so their leadership flows from a full soul and out of healthy rhythms of rest and work. A trained Spiritual Director, Alan is author of An Unhurried Life,  An Unhurried Leader, and Inhaling Grace. Gem is a trained Spiritual Director who enjoys serving as a guide, with the intention of helping people encounter God in their very real lives. Always seeking transformation over mere information, Gem shares from her heart and her own relationship with God. In addition to retreat speaking and facilitating, Gem has co-authored (along with Alan) a book for Intervarsity Press entitled, What Does Your Soul Love? Eight Questions That Reveal God's Work in You (IVP 2019). This is a crucial episode, and the questions asked during this conversation are ones we recommend you wrestle with. Really listen to this one, slow down, and un-hurry because there is leadership gold here.  Connect with Alan and Gem: www.unhurriedliving.com Instagram: @alanfadling, @gemfadling, @unhurriedliving

How do you eliminate hurry from your life and leadership? How would you define the hurry in your life? Those are big questions that many leaders wrestle with.  On today's episode, Alan has a very rich conversation with John Mark Comer about his book The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry: How to Stay Emotionally Healthy and Spiritually Alive in the Chaos of the Modern World . John Mark Comer lives, works, and writes in the urban core of Portland, Oregon, with his wife, Tammy, and their three children, Jude, Moses, and Sunday. He is the pastor for teaching and vision at Bridgetown Church. Prior to planting Bridgetown, John Mark was the lead pastor of a suburban megachurch. Before that, he played in a band. John Mark has a master's degree in biblical and theological studies from Western Seminary and is the author of Loveology, My Name is Hope, Garden City and God Has a Name. Connect with John Mark: For more of John Mark's teachings on the Scriptures, Jesus, and life, go to bridgetown.church and sign up for the podcast or visit www.johnmarkcomer.com. Instagram: @johnmarkcomer Twitter: @johnmarkcomer Facebook: @johnmarkcomer John Mark's books: https://amzn.to/2OQdNt7

We live in an interesting age where more and more teams and organizations are working together, remotely. But how do you know if you or your team is right for a decentralized model?  On today's episode, Alan has a great conversation with Tricia Sciortino from Belay Solutions about all things de-centralized and the gig economy.  Born and raised in Long Island, Tricia attended the University of Hartford where she obtained a degree in Business Administration and Management. For ten years, she passionately served as a District Manager for the retail chain Pacific Sunwear, however, when her first child was born, Tricia, like many other women, found herself struggling to balance her high profile career with her new role as a mom. Seeking a more balanced life, Tricia relocated to Charlotte, NC, and scored a job working remotely supporting an executive in Atlanta, Bryan Miles. Their long-distance arrangement was so successful that when Bryan and his wife, Shannon, were looking for a way out of the corporate grind themselves and began contemplating some sort of entrepreneurial venture, Bryan had an epiphany:  “If the virtual assistant thing works for Tricia and me, why can’t it work for everyone?” In 2010, after much prayer and due diligence, Bryan and Shannon gave notice to their successful jobs to start a company that would help professionals get administrative support in an incremental way that could scale with their needs. Tricia was brought on board as BELAY’s very first employee and became instrumental in helping Bryan and Shannon cast their vision of creating a new industry in staffing. Tricia quickly worked her way up the virtual corporate ladder, serving as Director, Vice President, President, and COO. In 2020, Tricia was named CEO of BELAY.  She is grateful for the opportunity to live out her “third option” every day as a hands-on mom to her two daughters and stepson while leading a vibrant organization that has become known for excellence and a willingness to serve. Connect with Tricia: Instagram: @triciamsciortino, @belay_solutions LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/triciasciortino/  

Are you emotionally healthy? That's a very important question that anyone in leadership needs to answer. On today's episode, Alan and his guest, Pete Scazzero, have a very practical conversation about healthy leadership and unpack what it means to be emotionally healthy.   Pete Scazzero is the pioneer of Emotionally Healthy Discipleship, a groundbreaking global ministry that transforms church culture through the multiplication of deeply changed leaders and disciples. Pete hosts the weekly Emotionally Healthy Leader Podcast for pastors and church leaders exploring the practices needed to transform their church culture. He is also the author of a number of bestselling books, including The Emotionally Healthy Leader and Emotionally Healthy Spirituality. Pete and his wife Geri authored The Emotionally Healthy Discipleship Course (Part 1 and 2) a countercultural resource that moves people from shallow Christianity to depth in Christ. Connect with Pete: Visit emotionallyhealthy.org  Twitter @petescazzero Instagram @petescazzero.

On today's episode, Alan has a great conversation with Monica Zuniga about investing in and equipping females and young leaders in both business and ministry.  Monica serves as the Director of Operations for the Initiative Network and also serves as an associate for Leadership Network. She is a graduate of Dallas Baptist University with a degree in Business Management. She spent over a year in Hong Kong as a missionary during her studies. Monica has experienced great success in the corporate world as a recruiter, and for the past 5 years, she has built a career in the non-profit space serving both local and global non-profits. In addition to serving non-profits, Monica launched her own non-profit- We Are Unveiled - an online organization empowering women with their story which has effectively reached the female millennial generation. This is a great conversation about how we can open doors of opportunity for females and young leaders within the leadership space.  Connect with Monica:  Initiative Network