Advertise on podcast: Leadership & Other Stuff with Brian Houston

Are you learning from great leaders, or simply copying them? In this episode of Leadership & Other Stuff, Pastor Brian Houston explores the difference between healthy imitation and losing your own identity as a leader. Drawing from decades of ministry experience, biblical principles, and personal stories, Pastor Brian unpacks the different types of imitators who can influence leadership, from those who learn from others to those who copy, compete, or seek personal gain.   Using Paul's instruction to "imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ" (1 Corinthians 11:1), Pastor Brian challenges pastors and leaders to learn from those who have gone before them without compromising who God has called them to be. He also highlights the importance of honoring those who have influenced us, recognizing our God-given gifts, and staying within the unique sphere of grace entrusted to us. The goal isn't to become a copy of someone else, it's to learn, grow, and become who God created you to be.   🔔 Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review. Leadership and Other Stuff with Brian Houston, equipping leaders and communicators with wisdom, faith, and practical tools for real-life impact. Subscribe to Leadership & Other Stuff with Brian Houston on YouTube. Support Our Ministry JesusFollowersTV: If you feel led to partner with us, your generosity will help us continue our work. Visit our Website: https://www.brianandbobbie.com/ If you would like Pastor Brian to speak at your church or conduct a Leadership Roundtable, you can send an email with your inquiry at [email protected]   Connect with Us: https://www.brianandbobbie.com/contact

In this episode, we dive into a highly anticipated Q&A with Pastors Brian and Bobbie Houston from the Excel Conference 2026 at Oceans Church in Orange County, California. They were interviewed by Pastors Mark and Rachelle Francey. Drawing from more than four decades of ministry experience, they share candid wisdom on building a lasting legacy, casting vision, developing people, taking risks of faith, navigating painful seasons, and staying faithful to your calling. Pastors Brian and Bobbie reflect on the journey of building Hillsong, the importance of creating environments where people can flourish, the power of living with an open hand, and what it means to lead through both the highs and lows. They also share deeply personal reflections on hardship, resilience, family, faith, worship, and what they hope their lives will ultimately be remembered for. Whether you lead in business, ministry, or the creative world, this conversation offers a powerful masterclass in vision, leadership, resilience, and faithfulness. 🔔 Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review. Leadership and Other Stuff with Brian Houston — equipping leaders and communicators with wisdom, faith, and practical tools for real-life impact. Subscribe to Leadership & Other Stuff with Brian Houston on YouTube. Support Our Ministry JesusFollowersTV: If you feel led to partner with us, your generosity will help us continue our work. Visit our Website: https://www.brianandbobbie.com/ If you would like Pastor Brian to speak at your church or conduct a Leadership Roundtable, you can send an email with your inquiry at [email protected] Connect with Us: https://www.brianandbobbie.com/contact

People are one of the greatest resources any organization can have, but are leaders truly stewarding them well? In this episode of Leadership & Other Stuff, Pastor Brian Houston explores the power of "Peoplenomics" and why people are essential to building something that lasts. From volunteers and creativity to community, talent, and financial resources, Pastor Brian shares how investing in people can create strength, momentum, and lasting impact. Drawing from decades of leadership experience, he challenges leaders to see people not simply as employees or numbers, but as a powerful resource capable of carrying vision and helping fulfill the mission. Invest in people, steward them well, and watch what can happen when people come together around a shared vision.   Subscribe for more conversations on leadership, church health, and building with long-term vision. 🔔 Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review. Leadership and Other Stuff with Brian Houston — equipping leaders and communicators with wisdom, faith, and practical tools for real-life impact. Subscribe to Leadership & Other Stuff with Brian Houston on YouTube. Support Our Ministry JesusFollowersTV: If you feel led to partner with us, your generosity will help us continue our work. Visit our Website: https://www.brianandbobbie.com/ If you would like Pastor Brian to speak at your church or conduct a Leadership Roundtable, you can send an email with your inquiry at [email protected] Connect with Us: https://www.brianandbobbie.com/contact

Offense rarely happens all at once. It often starts with a small hurt that, when left unaddressed, can grow into bitterness, isolation, and destructive decisions. In this episode of Leadership & Other Stuff, Pastor Brian Houston breaks down 15 steps in the progression of offense, from the initial wound to the point of separation and dislocation from God's purposes. Drawing from Scripture and decades of leadership experience, Pastor Brian explores how unresolved offense can distort our thinking, damage relationships, and ultimately take us off course. This candid conversation challenges leaders to recognize offense early, communicate before wounds take root, and choose forgiveness rather than allowing bitterness to control their future. Offenses will come. The question is what you do with them.   Subscribe for more conversations on leadership, church health, and building with long-term vision. 🔔 Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review. Leadership and Other Stuff with Brian Houston — equipping leaders and communicators with wisdom, faith, and practical tools for real-life impact. Subscribe to Leadership & Other Stuff with Brian Houston on YouTube. Support Our Ministry JesusFollowersTV: If you feel led to partner with us, your generosity will help us continue our work.   Visit our Website: https://www.brianandbobbie.com/   If you would like Pastor Brian to speak at your church or conduct a Leadership Roundtable, you can send an email with your inquiry at [email protected]   Connect with Us: https://www.brianandbobbie.com/contact

Healthy organizations are built by developing great people and addressing the behaviors that quietly undermine culture and momentum. In this episode of Leadership & Other Stuff, Pastor Brian Houston explores Paul's challenge to "not suffer fools gladly" and what it means to lead with both conviction and grace. Drawing from Scripture and decades of leadership experience, he shares practical insights on protecting your team's culture while being "wise as serpents and harmless as doves." From complacency and subtle undermining to pride, self-interest, and losing sight of the mission, Pastor Brian unpacks leadership behaviors that can derail any organization. This episode will equip you to lead with discernment, protect your culture, and build a team united around a common vision.   Subscribe for more conversations on leadership, church health, and building with long-term vision. 🔔 Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review. Leadership and Other Stuff with Brian Houston — equipping leaders and communicators with wisdom, faith, and practical tools for real-life impact. Subscribe to Leadership & Other Stuff with Brian Houston on YouTube. Support Our Ministry JesusFollowersTV: If you feel led to partner with us, your generosity will help us continue our work.   Visit our Website: https://www.brianandbobbie.com/   If you would like Pastor Brian to speak at your church or conduct a Leadership Roundtable, you can send an email with your inquiry at [email protected]   Connect with Us: https://www.brianandbobbie.com/contact

Leadership isn't just about vision, growth, and success, it's also about navigating challenges that no classroom, textbook, or mentor can fully prepare you for. In this episode of Leadership & Other Stuff, Pastor Brian Houston shares seven hard-earned lessons learned through decades of leadership. From the pressure to compromise your convictions and the loneliness of difficult decisions, to handling criticism, overcoming mental battles, and navigating broken relationships, Brian offers honest insights into the realities leaders face behind the scenes. Whether you're leading a church, business, ministry, or team, this episode will encourage you to trust your instincts, stand by your convictions, and lead with courage through every season.   Subscribe for more conversations on leadership, church health, and building with long-term vision. 🔔 Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review. Leadership and Other Stuff with Brian Houston — equipping leaders and communicators with wisdom, faith, and practical tools for real-life impact. Subscribe to Leadership & Other Stuff with Brian Houston on YouTube. Support Our Ministry JesusFollowersTV: If you feel led to partner with us, your generosity will help us continue our work.   Visit our Website: https://www.brianandbobbie.com/   If you would like Pastor Brian to speak at your church or conduct a Leadership Roundtable, you can send an email with your inquiry at [email protected]   Connect with Us: https://www.brianandbobbie.com/contact

Leadership comes with blessing, growth, and impact, but it also comes with hurt, betrayal, disappointment, and relational fallout. In this deeply personal episode of Leadership & Other Stuff, Pastor Brian Houston explores what it means to lead with a right spirit when people wound, misrepresent, or turn against you. Drawing from 2 Corinthians 5:19, he shares practical and spiritual insights on how leaders can stop "keeping score" and learn to move forward in freedom. Through honest stories from ministry and life, Pastor Brian unpacks 10 practical ways to stop counting trespasses, including: Choosing will over emotion Renewing your mind Pursuing peace instead of revenge Getting counsel and help Praying for those who hurt you Choosing the high ground and moving on This episode is a candid conversation about forgiveness, emotional health, leadership wounds, and protecting your spirit for the future God still has for you. If you've ever struggled with offense, betrayal, or disappointment in leadership, this message will challenge you to let go, heal, and lead free. Subscribe for more conversations on leadership, church health, and building with long-term vision. 🔔 Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review. Leadership and Other Stuff with Brian Houston — equipping leaders and communicators with wisdom, faith, and practical tools for real-life impact. Subscribe to Leadership & Other Stuff with Brian Houston on YouTube. Support Our Ministry JesusFollowersTV: If you feel led to partner with us, your generosity will help us continue our work.   Visit our Website: https://www.brianandbobbie.com/   If you would like Pastor Brian to speak at your church or conduct a Leadership Roundtable, you can send an email with your inquiry at [email protected]   Connect with Us: https://www.brianandbobbie.com/contact

10 Things That Will Halt Progress in Any Organization Why do some organizations grow with momentum while others get stuck in frustration, confusion, and stagnation? In this episode of Leadership & Other Stuff, Pastor Brian Houston unpacks 10 common leadership traps that can quietly stop progress in any church, business, or organization.   From endless meetings and indecision to bureaucracy, disunity, mediocrity, and fear of change, Pastor Brian shares practical leadership insights drawn from decades of building teams and leading globally. This episode explores:  -Why too many meetings can kill momentum -How indecision creates confusion and stalls growth -The dangers of bureaucracy, unclear vision, and "too many chiefs" -Why mediocrity and complacency destroy excellence -How fear of change can keep organizations from reaching their potential   Whether you lead a church, business, ministry, or team, this conversation will challenge you to identify what may be slowing progress and help you build with greater clarity, unity, and momentum.   Subscribe for more conversations on leadership, church health, and building with long-term vision. 🔔 Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review. Leadership and Other Stuff with Brian Houston — equipping leaders and communicators with wisdom, faith, and practical tools for real-life impact. Subscribe to Leadership & Other Stuff with Brian Houston on YouTube. Support Our Ministry JesusFollowersTV: If you feel led to partner with us, your generosity will help us continue our work.   Visit our Website: https://www.brianandbobbie.com/   If you would like Pastor Brian to speak at your church or conduct a Leadership Roundtable, you can send an email with your inquiry at [email protected]   Connect with Us: https://www.brianandbobbie.com/contact

Leadership comes with incredible highs, but also real lows that few people talk about. In this episode of Leadership & Other Stuff, Pastor Brian Houston unpacks the discouragement, pressure, loneliness, and unmet expectations that often come with leading over time. Drawing from Psalm 142 and personal experience, he speaks to the moments when leaders feel overwhelmed, overlooked, and even like no one truly cares for their soul. Pastor Brian also highlights the danger of leadership at its lowest point and how those moments can shape or derail a leader's future. But there's a turning point. Through David's story, he shares three anchors for every leader: praise, people, and perspective, keys to staying grounded and moving forward even in the toughest seasons. If you've ever felt like quitting or questioned your calling, this episode will remind you how to keep going.   Subscribe for more conversations on leadership, church health, and building with long-term vision.     🔔 Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review.   Leadership and Other Stuff with Brian Houston — equipping leaders and communicators with wisdom, faith, and practical tools for real-life impact. Subscribe to Leadership & Other Stuff with Brian Houston on YouTube. Support Our Ministry JesusFollowersTV: If you feel led to partner with us, your generosity will help us continue our work. Visit our Website: https://www.brianandbobbie.com/ If you would like Pastor Brian to speak at your church or conduct a Leadership Roundtable, you can send an email with your inquiry at [email protected]   Connect with Us: https://www.brianandbobbie.com/contact

In Part 3 of this ongoing leadership series, Pastor Brian Houston continues the conversation on one of the most critical issues facing churches today: governance, authority, and the role of church boards.   Drawing on more than five decades of ministry experience, Pastor Brian shares real-life examples of pastors removed by boards, churches thrown into crisis, and the often unseen dynamics that shape boardroom decisions. From large international ministries to small local congregations, the question remains the same: who is truly making the decisions and why? In this episode, Pastor Brian explores: Why the real decision-makers in a board are often only a few voices The difference between board governance and board control -Why external spiritual oversight is essential for healthy leadership What biblical leadership structures actually look like in the New Testament How the model in Exodus 18 reveals the proper role of leadership and management He also addresses the painful reality that some leaders face when boards act out of self-interest, offering encouragement for pastors who have experienced injustice, betrayal, or removal from the ministries they helped build. At its heart, this episode is a call for churches to return to biblical governance, spiritual accountability, and honor for those God has called to lead.   If you're a founding pastor, church planter, or senior leader building something meant to last for generations, this conversation is essential listening.   Subscribe for more conversations on leadership, church health, and building with long-term vision.   🔔 Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review.   Leadership and Other Stuff with Brian Houston — equipping leaders and communicators with wisdom, faith, and practical tools for real-life impact. Subscribe to Leadership & Other Stuff with Brian Houston on YouTube. Support Our Ministry JesusFollowersTV: If you feel led to partner with us, your generosity will help us continue our work. Visit our Website: https://www.brianandbobbie.com/ If you would like Pastor Brian to speak at your church or conduct a Leadership Roundtable, you can send an email with your inquiry at [email protected]   Connect with Us: https://www.brianandbobbie.com/contact

In Part 2 of this important leadership conversation, Pastor Brian Houston goes deeper into the question every church founder and senior pastor must wrestle with: Who is really in charge? Speaking directly to church planters, pioneers, and long-term lead pastors, Pastor Brian unpacks the warning signs of a church shifting from being board-governed to board-controlled. From curbing pastoral authority and rewriting history, to redefining a founder as merely an "employee," this episode explores how control can quietly creep into church governance, and the devastating impact it can have. Pastor Brian lays out practical, forward-looking counsel for structuring accountability the right way: • Why the senior pastor should chair the board • Why staff members and conflicted relationships should not determine a pastor's future • The importance of external, seasoned apostolic oversight • How to protect the long-term vision through constitutional clarity • And the limited, biblical grounds upon which a senior leader should ever be removed This is a candid and at times confronting episode about honor, authority, accountability, and generational stewardship. If you are building something meant to outlast you, this conversation will challenge you to think carefully about how your church is governed and who ultimately holds the power.   🔔 Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review.   Leadership and Other Stuff with Brian Houston — equipping leaders and communicators with wisdom, faith, and practical tools for real-life impact. Subscribe to Leadership & Other Stuff with Brian Houston on YouTube. Support Our Ministry JesusFollowersTV: If you feel led to partner with us, your generosity will help us continue our work. Visit our Website: https://www.brianandbobbie.com/ If you would like Pastor Brian to speak at your church or conduct a Leadership Roundtable, you can send an email with your inquiry at [email protected]   Connect with Us: https://www.brianandbobbie.com/contact

In this episode of Leadership & Other Stuff, Pastor Brian Houston speaks directly to church founders, planters, senior pastors, and pioneers about one of the most critical, and often misunderstood areas of leadership: church governance and boards. Drawing from over 50 years of firsthand experience serving on boards, leading executives, and planting churches around the world, Brian asks a confronting question many leaders avoid: Who actually holds authority in the local church and who keeps the board accountable? This candid conversation explores the biblical foundations of church leadership, the role of apostolic oversight, and the difference between board-governed and board-controlled churches. Brian unpacks common dangers that can creep into boards, including self-preservation, offense, personal ambition, control, and self-righteousness and why these issues can have devastating long-term consequences for pastors and congregations alike. If you are planting, pioneering, or leading a church or serving in governance, this episode will challenge you to think deeply about accountability, authority, and alignment with Scripture. This is Part 1 of an essential leadership conversation that every church leader needs to hear.   🔔 Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review.   Leadership and Other Stuff with Brian Houston — equipping leaders and communicators with wisdom, faith, and practical tools for real-life impact. Subscribe to Leadership & Other Stuff with Brian Houston on YouTube. Support Our Ministry JesusFollowersTV: If you feel led to partner with us, your generosity will help us continue our work. Visit our Website: https://www.brianandbobbie.com/ If you would like Pastor Brian to speak at your church or conduct a Leadership Roundtable, you can send an email with your inquiry at [email protected]   Connect with Us: https://www.brianandbobbie.com/contact

In this episode of Leadership & Other Stuff with Brian Houston, Pastor Brian unpacks seven seemingly simple decisions that can shape not only your future, but the future of generations to come. Drawing from decades of leadership, ministry, and life experience, Pastor Brian challenges the idea that decisions are ever "small" when the consequences are great. Through the framework of Who, Where, What, When, With, Why, and Wish, Pastor Brian explores how choices around relationships, location, calling, timing, community, motivation, and desire can either strengthen or undermine long-term impact. From marriage and friendships to career paths and spiritual priorities, this episode is a powerful reminder that leadership is lived out in everyday decisions. If you want to lead with intention, align your life with God's calling, and make choices that outlast you, this conversation will both inspire and challenge you to think generationally about the decisions you make today. 🔔 Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review.   Leadership and Other Stuff with Brian Houston — equipping leaders and communicators with wisdom, faith, and practical tools for real-life impact. Subscribe to Leadership & Other Stuff with Brian Houston on YouTube. Support Our Ministry JesusFollowersTV: If you feel led to partner with us, your generosity will help us continue our work. Visit our Website: https://www.brianandbobbie.com/ If you would like Pastor Brian to speak at your church or conduct a Leadership Roundtable, you can send an email with your inquiry at [email protected]   Connect with Us: https://www.brianandbobbie.com/contact

Rebuke is rarely welcomed, but according to Scripture, it may be one of the greatest gifts a leader can give or receive.   In this episode of Leadership & Other Stuff, Pastor Brian Houston tackles the often-avoided subject of rebuke and reveals why wise correction, received with an obedient ear, is pure gold. Drawing from Proverbs 25:12, decades of leadership experience, and personal stories from church, business, and life, Pastor Brian unpacks how rebuke—when done wisely—can become a catalyst for growth, maturity, and lasting impact.   You'll discover: -Why an inability to receive rebuke can quietly limit your future -The difference between destructive criticism and wise, life-giving correction -Seven keys to receiving rebuke with humility, honor, and strength -Eleven principles every leader must understand to give rebuke wisely -How timing, love, credibility, and discernment determine whether rebuke heals or harms   Whether you lead in church, business, family, or community, this episode will challenge your mindset, stretch your leadership capacity, and help you recognize the gold hidden in correction, without losing honor, heart, or people along the way. If you want to grow, lead well, and become all God has called you to be, this conversation is essential listening.    🔔 Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review.   Leadership and Other Stuff with Brian Houston — equipping leaders and communicators with wisdom, faith, and practical tools for real-life impact. Subscribe to Leadership & Other Stuff with Brian Houston on YouTube. Support Our Ministry JesusFollowersTV: If you feel led to partner with us, your generosity will help us continue our work. Visit our Website: https://www.brianandbobbie.com/ If you would like Pastor Brian to speak at your church or conduct a Leadership Roundtable, you can send an email with your inquiry at [email protected]   Connect with Us: https://www.brianandbobbie.com/contact

Pastor David Blunt sits down with Pastor Brian Houston to unpack calling, resilience, marketplace ministry, forgiveness, and team building. Discover why you shouldn't just live saved. Live called. Learn how heart beats talent when building teams, why your work is worship in the marketplace, and how leaders can walk out forgiveness without carrying a wounded spirit. Brian also shares governance lessons he'd apply if he were starting again in 1983   What you'll learn: • How a God-given calling fuels grit, endurance, and leadership resilience • Heart over talent: the character traits to prioritize when building teams • Marketplace ministry: turning your work into worship and Kingdom impact • Practical steps to forgive and avoid a wounded spirit as a leader • Governance wisdom: healthy boards, accountability, and longevity   🔔 Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review. Leadership and Other Stuff with Brian Houston — equipping leaders and communicators with wisdom, faith, and practical tools for real-life impact. Subscribe to Leadership & Other Stuff with Brian Houston on YouTube. Support Our Ministry JesusFollowersTV: If you feel led to partner with us, your generosity will help us continue our work. Visit our Website. If you would like Pastor Brian to speak at your church or conduct a Leadership Roundtable, you can send an email with your inquiry at [email protected] Connect with Us: https://www.brianandbobbie.com/contact