The H2 Leadership Podcast

Questions aren't always comfortable.  Sometimes they lead to more questions. Sometimes they make us feel uneasy and uncertain. Sometimes they expose bias or ignorance.  While questions aren't always safe, we believe they are essential for learning, growth and leadership.   In this episode, Alan had the privilege of talking with author, pastor, professor and podcaster, Stephanie O'brien. In this conversation, Stephanie walks us through her book, "Stay Curious." In the book she curates years of conversations, questions and her journey with questions and doubts that strengthened her faith. Stephanie helps us let go of the idol of "certainty" in favor or faith, trust and wonder.  Connect with Stephanie www.pastorsteph.com Read "Stay Curious" 

Sometimes the best thing you can do as a leader is get out of the way. There is freedom to know that it doesn't all rest on you, and sometimes you connecting and convening the right people together is where the magic truly happens.  In this episode, Alan sits down with leader and author, Brad Lomenick. Brad has worn many hats, including leading the Catalyst Leadership movement, a speaker, and an author. An obvious gift of Brad's is his ability to connect the right people together and this has opened up all sorts of opportunities for greater Kingdom impact.  Brad and Alan talk through leadership principles, trends and practical tips and tools for navigating life as a young or experienced leader.  Follow Brad  www.bradlomenick.com  www.catalystleader.com Read Brad's book H3 Leadership 

What if chaos, stress and anxiety didn't have to be the routine? What if we could march to the beat of a different drum?  In this episode, Alan has a conversation with speaker, blogger and best-selling author Rebekah Lyons to talk about her book, Rhythms of Renewal.  Rebekah draws on her own battle with anxiety to encourage all of us that there are rhythms that we can grab hold of that help us swap stress and anxiety for peace and purpose. Rebekah talks about how our culture instills in us unhealthy and unsustainable rhythms that we must acknowledge and reshape to help us pursue God and the ways he's designed us to live.  Explore more Read Rhythms of Renewal Learn more about Rebekah and take the anxiety quiz at www.rebekahlyons.com

You may think "I don't have a creative bone in my body." However, if you are in leadership, you are creative. It may not be in the narrow sense that we've defined it, only within the arts. But leadership is helping to guide people into a new experience, challenge or preferred future and that journey is inherently creative.  In this episode, we do something a little different. Alan had the opportunity to speak to a leadership class at Denver Seminary about creativity and leadership. Alan pulls out concepts and principles from his book "Everyone's a Genius" to encourage us to embrace the creativity that comes with leading anything and the change that comes along with the process.  Whether you classify yourself as a creative or not - if you are a leader in any sense of the word, this episode is for you.  Explore More Read "Everyone's a Genius" here Connect with us or leave us feedback at www.stayforth.com/podcast

Does our life beg a question? Does our faith lead to curiosity?  In this episode, Alan sits down with author and Pastor of New Life Church, Brady Boyd. The conversation moves through two of Brady's books, "Addicted to Busy" and "Remarkable." Brady unpacks rhythms of rest and longevity, as well as how we can reclaim the curious and "salty" lives the early church models in scripture. Brady shares decades of ministry and leadership experience and some of the ways we can avoid the pitfalls that seem to be waiting for every kingdom leader.  Connect with Brady Follow him @pastorbrady Read Addicted to Busy: Recovery for the Rushed Soul Read Remarkable: Living a Faith Worth Talking About Listen to the Essential Church Podcast

Change means disorientation.  Whether it feels like "good" change or "bad" change, it will always bring a degree of fear, loss and the need to reorient yourself and your team. When we talk about change we often talk about managing it, but in this episode, Alan and David talk about practical ways to lead through change. Alan and David recap the recent changes in their lives and the excitement and fears that come along with that. They also unpack several practical steps you can take to lead through the change in your life.  If you or your organization are walking through a season of change and you need some help reorienting, consider reaching out to us to explore coaching or consulting. Stay Forth Designs has a team of coaches and consultants who thrive in bringing clarity and next steps during seasons of change.  Explore Coaching & Consulting What is coaching? - www.stayforth.com/coaching Meet our team! - www.stayforth.com/team

Sometimes God uses pain and tragedy to clarify calling.   In this episode, Alan has a conversation with Jake Skifstad about Shield 616. As a police officer and S.W.A.T. team member in Colorado Springs, Jake experienced two horrific active shooter events. In these moments, Jake realized two things. First, that law enforcement needs upgraded equipment to handle the kind of rifles being used in some of these shootings. Second, these officers who are laying their lives on the line need the hope of Jesus.  Jake shares both stories, which made national news, and how they birthed the vision of Shield 616, which bridges the gap between law enforcement and local churches. Through Shield 616 churches can partner to buy, active shooter protection kits and pray for, encourage and support the police officers in their own community.  Jake has seen so much fruit through this non-profit and Shield 616 was even featured during the 2019 NFL Super Bowl. Connect with Jake and Shield 616 www.shield616.org Super Bowl commercial

Do others need to fail so you can succeed? I think most of us would instinctively say "no, of course not!" But do we live like it is true? Do we want our "competitors" to succeed? Maybe a little, but lets not get carried away.  In leadership, a common trap that we can fall into is a scarcity mindset, where we fear there is only so much resources and market share to go around. This even bleeds over into church/kingdom work as we think others need to go backwards for us to go forward.  In this episode, Alan has a conversation with author Chris Horst about collaborating for the sake of greater impact. Chris works for Hope International and he and his co-author noticed the tendency for organizations and leaders to isolate and compete. Chris went on a journey to explore the challenges and benefits of working together for greater impact and he shares the beauty and real stories of organizations around the world learning that we are better together.  More about Chris www.chris-horst.com Follow Chris @ChrisHorst www.hopeinternational.org Read "Rooting for Rivals"

Pain and heartbreak can often be an opportunity for impact. Obviously, we never go looking for pain but God has a knack for taking our brokeness and redeeming it with purpose. In today's episode, Alan has a conversation with Ben and Laura Harrison. Ben and Laura have an amazing story and purpose that was birthed out of their son's eye condition. Their son Jonas we born with an eye condition which required specialized eyewear to even have limited sight. As they went this journey, Ben and Laura realized a need for children's eyewear and out of that need they created their company "Jonas Paul Eyewear" where they create beautiful eyewear for kids and teens. Because of their experience they built their business on a model of "buy sight, give sight." With each eyewear purchase Jonas Paul Eyewear makes a donation to help kids all around the world deal with preventable eye disease.  Find Out More www.jonaspauleyewear.com

How do you lead through a difficult conversation? How do you lead when a topic is deeply personal and polarized?  There are few topics more polarizing than sexuality in our culture. New conversations have surfaced and people are waiting and watching to see how the church will respond.  In this episode, Alan has a conversation with pastor and author Bruce Miller about navigating and leading in a era of sexual questioning. Bruce offers encouragement and challenge to church leaders to face their own broken sexuality and to educate themselves on the issues that their people are wrestling with.  While this episode may bring up all sorts of emotions and questions, we pray that it ultimately brings freedom, healing and redemption to this area of your life and leadership.  Connect with Bruce www.brucemiller.com @Bruce_B_Miller Read his book "Leading the Church in a Time of Sexual Questioning"