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What if the very thing holding you back as a leader is trying to become someone God never intended you to be? In this episode of the Follow 2 Lead Podcast, Tony Miltenberger welcomes back Mac Bridges and Kenz, co-founders of Delight Ministries, for a conversation about leadership identity, vulnerability, partnership, and learning to trust God when life doesn't go according to plan. Early in their leadership journeys, both Mac and Kenz spent years comparing themselves to other leaders and trying to develop strengths they simply weren't wired to have. Everything began to change when they stopped chasing someone else's definition of leadership and started embracing the unique gifts God had given them. Together, they've learned that great leadership doesn't require identical strengths. In fact, their differences have become one of their greatest advantages. They also share why vulnerability is essential to building trust, how practicing humility in everyday conversations can transform relationships, and why leaders need to get comfortable admitting when they've gotten something wrong. Drawing from their new book, This Wasn't the Plan, Mac and Kenz explore what it means to move forward when expectations fall apart. Through the biblical framework of Ask, Seek, Knock, they offer a practical way to pursue God in seasons of uncertainty rather than remaining stuck or giving up. In this episode, you'll discover: Why trying to imitate other leaders can keep you from developing your own gifts. How to identify and embrace your God-given leadership strengths. Why the best leadership partnerships often bring together very different personalities. How vulnerability creates trust and gives others permission to be honest. Why great leaders practice humility through reflection and apology. How to share difficult stories without compromising other people's privacy. What Jesus' invitation to ask, seek, and knock teaches us about moving through uncertainty. Why seasons of disappointment require both stillness and action. How to surrender your expectations without abandoning your calling. Coaching Question Where are you trying to lead like someone else instead of embracing the gifts God has given you—and what would change if you stopped? Connect with Mac & Kenz Mac Bridges and Kenz are the co-founders of Delight Ministries, a ministry dedicated to helping college women grow in their relationships with Jesus. Their new book, This Wasn't the Plan, offers encouragement and practical direction for navigating life's unexpected seasons through the biblical invitation to ask, seek, and knock. Delight Ministries: https://www.delightministries.com/ Book: https://a.co/d/040AHmse Integrated Leader Mastermind — Applications Open Strong leaders weren't meant to lead alone. Tony Miltenberger and Trey Tucker are bringing together 12 Christian men for a six-month mastermind focused on growing professionally, personally, and spiritually alongside other leaders committed to doing the same. Learn more and apply: https://leader-integrated-cohort.replit.app/ Connect with Tony Miltenberger Website: https://www.twmilt.com/ 12 Questions: https://www.follow2leadbenchmark.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@twmilt Substack: https://twmilt.substack.com/ Instagram: @twmilt | @follow2lead Please check out our sponsors: EBEB Solutions https://www.ebebsolutions.com/ That Sounds Fun Network https://thatsoundsfunnetwork.com/ Follow 2 Lead Coaching https://www.follow2leadbenchmark.com/ Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/follow-2-lead-a-christian-leaders-podcast/id1429933082 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if your phone isn't just stealing your time, but quietly changing the way you lead, think, and connect with the people who matter most? In this episode of the Follow 2 Lead Podcast, Tony Miltenberger sits down with Jedd Medefind, president of the Christian Alliance for Orphans (CAFO) and author of Rule Your Tech So It Won't Rule You, for a conversation about technology, attention, spiritual formation, and the hidden costs of constant connectivity. Jedd believes one of the greatest gifts a leader can offer is their presence. Not simply showing up, but bringing a sense of calm, hope, and genuine attentiveness to the people around them. Unfortunately, the technology we rely on every day is making that increasingly difficult. Drawing from research, personal experience, and his work leading a global network of Christian organizations, Jedd explores how our devices influence our ability to focus, maintain healthy relationships, and experience peace. He also shares why technology itself isn't the enemy—and how small, intentional boundaries can help us reclaim what matters most. From phone-free bedrooms to team-wide spiritual practices, this conversation offers practical encouragement for leaders who want to use technology wisely without allowing it to shape their priorities. In this episode, you'll discover: Why your presence may be the most valuable gift you offer as a leader. How constant connectivity can undermine focus, calm, and meaningful relationships. The three ways technology affects us: content, displacement, and brain formation. Why technology boundaries matter for adults just as much as children. How to recognize when your devices are making decisions about your attention. What Jedd learned about leadership and collaboration while serving in the White House. How shared spiritual practices can strengthen an organization's culture. Why keeping your phone out of the bedroom can make a meaningful difference. How small, consistent choices can help you become a more attentive, grounded, and Christ-centered leader. Coaching Question What is one boundary you could establish with technology this week that would help you become more fully present with God, your family, or the people you lead? Connect with Jedd Medefind Jedd Medefind serves as president of the Christian Alliance for Orphans (CAFO), a collaborative network of organizations committed to caring for vulnerable children. Previously, he served in the George W. Bush administration, including at the White House, helping advance the Faith-Based and Community Initiative. His book, Rule Your Tech So It Won't Rule You, explores how intentional technology choices can protect our attention, relationships, and well-being. CAFO Website: https://cafo.org/ Book: Rule Your Tech So It Won't Rule You — Available on Amazon Integrated Leader Mastermind — Applications Open Strong leaders weren't meant to lead alone. Tony Miltenberger and Trey Tucker are bringing together 12 Christian men for a six-month mastermind focused on growing professionally, personally, and spiritually alongside other leaders committed to doing the same. Learn more and apply: https://leader-integrated-cohort.replit.app/ Connect with Tony Miltenberger Website: https://www.twmilt.com/ 12 Questions: https://www.follow2leadbenchmark.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@twmilt Substack: https://twmilt.substack.com/ Instagram: @twmilt | @follow2lead Please check out our sponsors: EBEB Solutions https://www.ebebsolutions.com/ That Sounds Fun Network https://thatsoundsfunnetwork.com/ Follow 2 Lead Coaching https://www.follow2leadbenchmark.com/ Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/follow-2-lead-a-christian-leaders-podcast/id1429933082 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens when the thing you're working so hard to build becomes the very thing God is asking you to surrender? In this episode of the Follow 2 Lead Podcast, Tony Miltenberger sits down with author, speaker, and coach Ryan Miller for a conversation about ambition, identity, surrender, and the surprising power of meekness in Christian leadership. Ryan knows what it's like to chase a big vision. In his twenties, he was on the verge of a major Hollywood deal for a multimillion-dollar film project. Then, at the height of its momentum, he made the difficult decision to walk away. What followed were years of financial uncertainty, failed ventures, and a painful confrontation with an identity built around achievement. But in that wilderness season, Ryan began discovering something that would change the way he understood leadership: meekness isn't weakness. It's strength surrendered to God. Drawing from his new book, Meek as a Mustang, Ryan shares how the process of taming wild horses became a powerful picture of discipleship, trust, and the freedom that comes from letting God lead. Tony and Ryan also explore the importance of spiritual rhythms, discerning whose voices to trust, protecting your priorities, and recognizing when even good ambitions have become distractions. In this episode, you'll discover: Why ambition and achievement can quietly become the foundation of your identity. How to recognize when you're pursuing your own success instead of God's direction. What walking away from a major opportunity taught Ryan about surrender. Why meekness is a leadership virtue, not a personality type or a sign of weakness. How seasons of failure and uncertainty can reshape your understanding of success. Why spiritual disciplines should deepen your relationship with God rather than become another performance metric. How to discern which mentors and voices deserve influence in your life. Why healthy boundaries are essential to leading and loving others well. What it means to develop leaders who seek God's presence more than personal recognition. Coaching Question Where might your ambition be getting in the way of your obedience—and what would it look like to surrender that area of your leadership to God? Connect with Ryan Miller Ryan Miller is an author, speaker, and coach passionate about sharing stories that point people toward Jesus. His book, Meek as a Mustang, explores how surrender, trust, and meekness can transform the way we live and lead. Website: https://jesuspeoplemovement.org/ Instagram: @ryan_miller Integrated Leader Mastermind — Applications Open Strong leaders weren't meant to lead alone. Tony Miltenberger and Trey Tucker are bringing together 12 Christian men for a six-month mastermind focused on growing professionally, personally, and spiritually alongside other leaders committed to doing the same. Learn more and apply: https://leader-integrated-cohort.replit.app/ Connect with Tony Miltenberger Website: https://www.twmilt.com/ 12 Questions: https://www.follow2leadbenchmark.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@twmilt Substack: https://twmilt.substack.com/ Instagram: @twmilt | @follow2lead Please check out our sponsors: EBEB Solutions https://www.ebebsolutions.com/ That Sounds Fun Network https://thatsoundsfunnetwork.com/ Follow 2 Lead Coaching https://www.follow2leadbenchmark.com/ Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/follow-2-lead-a-christian-leaders-podcast/id1429933082 Learn more about your ad choices. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You want to develop better leaders. But are you still developing yourself? In this episode, Tony sits down with Peter Hiskey for an in-person conversation about developing leaders, remaining a lifelong learner, discerning God’s call, and continuing to grow in every season of life. Peter has spent decades discipling and developing people in the world of professional golf, carrying forward a ministry that began when his father started gathering PGA Tour players for Bible study more than 60 years ago. His approach to developing leaders starts with something simple: never stop being a learner yourself. Tony and Peter also explore the major transitions that have shaped Peter’s life—from leaving a successful 25-year career with Ping to following God into ministry, to building The Saltire House at St. Andrews, to climbing Kilimanjaro, to taking on one of his biggest assignments at an age when many people are thinking about retirement. Through it all, Peter has learned to keep asking where God is leading, stay aligned with his wife, and remain willing to move when the answer comes.  In this episode, you’ll discover: Why developing other leaders starts with continuing to develop yourself. How to recognize when someone is ready to lead and learn on their own. Why lifelong learners make better disciplemakers and leaders. How Peter discerned it was time to leave a successful 25-year career. The rhythms Peter and his wife have used for 40 years to stay aligned. Why your calling may require you to surrender your timeline and expectations. What climbing Kilimanjaro taught Peter about faith, fear, and letting go. Why retirement can be less about what you’re leaving and more about what you’re moving toward. How to identify the work you may be uniquely called and equipped to do.  Coaching Question If you want the people you lead to keep growing, where do you need to become a learner again? Connect with Peter Hiskey Peter Hiskey has spent decades discipling and developing people throughout the world of golf. Today, his work includes The Saltire House at St. Andrews, creating opportunities for discipleship, connection, and spiritual formation at the historic home of golf. Website: The Saltire House Email: [email protected] Integrated Leader Mastermind — Applications Open Strong leaders weren't meant to lead alone. Tony Miltenberger and Trey Tucker are bringing together 12 Christian men for a six-month mastermind focused on growing professionally, personally, and spiritually alongside other leaders committed to doing the same. Learn more and apply: leader-integrated-cohort.replit.app Connect with Tony Miltenberger Website: twmilt.com 12 Questions: follow2leadbenchmark.com YouTube: youtube.com/@twmilt Substack: twmilt.substack.com Instagram: @twmilt | @follow2lead SEEDS Download the free SEEDS app and take one small step today: plant your first seed and see what God can grow. Please check out our sponsor: EBEB Solutions ebebsolutions.com That Sounds Fun Network thatsoundsfunnetwork.com Follow 2 Lead Coaching follow2leadbenchmark.com Apple Podcasts Follow 2 Lead on Apple Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens when praising God no longer comes naturally? In this episode, Tony  sits down with author, speaker, and Bible teacher Wendy Speake for a deeply personal conversation about praise, perseverance, spiritual disciplines, and learning to trust God when life gets hard. For years, praise had been a natural overflow of Wendy’s faith—until she entered a season where life became tremendously difficult. In the middle of feeling physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and relationally broken, Wendy began to discover that praise and thanksgiving aren’t dependent on our circumstances. Sometimes, they become a discipline we choose precisely when we don’t feel like it. Wendy shares the unexpected airplane conversation that led her into an “ask fast,” where she temporarily stopped petitioning God for what she wanted and instead focused on praising Him for who He is. That practice became an important part of her healing—and ultimately inspired her new book, A Sacrifice of Praise and Thanksgiving. Tony and Wendy also explore the daily practices that keep faith rooted, how our thought patterns shape our relationships, what it means to share vulnerably without sharing every detail, and why persevering in our relationship with God matters even when everything else feels like it’s falling apart. In this episode, you’ll discover: Why praise is a spiritual discipline—not just a response to good circumstances. What an “ask fast” is and how it can shift the way you approach prayer. How to build spiritual disciplines without turning them into shame-filled checklists. Why intentionally focusing on what is true and praiseworthy can reshape your thought patterns. How surrendering control can change the way you relate to the people you love. The important difference between vulnerability and transparency. Why leaders should be thoughtful about sharing wounds that haven’t fully healed. What it looks like to persevere with God when you’re barely persevering in life.  Coaching Question What spiritual discipline are you building today that will help anchor you when life gets hard? Connect with Wendy Speake Wendy Speake is an author, speaker, and Bible teacher whose latest book, A Sacrifice of Praise and Thanksgiving, explores what it means to praise God through difficult seasons. Website: wendyspeake.com Integrated Leader Mastermind — Applications Open Strong leaders weren't meant to lead alone. Tony Miltenberger and Trey Tucker are bringing together 12 Christian men for a six-month mastermind focused on growing professionally, personally, and spiritually alongside other leaders committed to doing the same. Learn more and apply: leader-integrated-cohort.replit.app Connect with Tony Miltenberger Website: twmilt.com 12 Questions: follow2leadbenchmark.com YouTube: youtube.com/@twmilt Substack: twmilt.substack.com Instagram: @twmilt | @follow2lead SEEDS Download the free SEEDS app and take one small step today: plant your first seed and see what God can grow. Please check out our sponsor: EBEB Solutions ebebsolutions.com That Sounds Fun Network thatsoundsfunnetwork.com Follow 2 Lead Coaching follow2leadbenchmark.com Apple Podcasts Follow 2 Lead on Apple Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if everyone on your team is saying yes—but you’re not actually aligned? In this episode, Tony Miltenberger sits down with real-life friends Allison Steele and Rachel Huffman of Emerge Recovery & Trade Initiative to talk about what it takes to build a team that can move in the same direction without avoiding the hard conversations along the way. Rachel shares a recent realization from Emerge’s leadership team: they were good at making decisions and moving forward, but sometimes they were acting like “good soldiers” instead of spending enough time in healthy conflict. Real alignment requires more than agreement—it requires trust, curiosity, honest conversation, and a willingness to stay at the table when perspectives differ. Tony, Rachel, and Allison also explore leading through rapid growth, navigating relationships with founders, discerning God’s direction, and Allison’s approach of simply doing the “next one right thing.” And they get personal about the relationship they’ve built as leaders—one where disagreement is safe, hard conversations are possible, and neither has to lead alone. In this episode, you’ll discover: Why agreement and alignment aren’t the same thing. How healthy conflict can actually strengthen a leadership team. Why curiosity is a leadership muscle worth developing. How core values create clarity around hiring, decisions, goals, and accountability. What it looks like to lead an organization when the founders are still involved. Why Allison focuses on the “next one right thing” instead of figuring out the whole path. How trust creates the safety leaders need to disagree and grow. Why great leaders weren’t meant to lead alone. Coaching Question Where might your team be settling for agreement when you need to spend more time building real alignment? Connect with Emerge Recovery & Trade Initiative Emerge Recovery & Trade helps people build healthy, sustainable lives through an integrated ecosystem of behavioral health services, supportive housing, and workforce development—including its on-site Trades Institute. Website: https://emergerecoverytrade.com/about Integrated Leader Mastermind — Applications Open Strong leaders weren't meant to lead alone. Tony Miltenberger and Trey Tucker are bringing together 12 Christian men for a six-month mastermind focused on growing professionally, personally, and spiritually alongside other leaders committed to doing the same. Learn more and apply: leader-integrated-cohort.replit.app Connect with Tony Miltenberger Website: twmilt.com 12 Questions: follow2leadbenchmark.com YouTube: youtube.com/@twmilt Substack: twmilt.substack.com Instagram: @twmilt | @follow2lead SEEDS Download the free SEEDS app and take one small step today: plant your first seed and see what God can grow. Please check out our sponsor: EBEB Solutions ebebsolutions.com That Sounds Fun Network thatsoundsfunnetwork.com Follow 2 Lead Coaching follow2leadbenchmark.com Apple Podcasts Follow 2 Lead on Apple Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if one of the biggest things holding you back as a leader is believing you’re supposed to have the answer? In this episode of the Follow 2 Lead Podcast, Tony Miltenberger sits down with Joni Fedders, President and CEO of Aileron, for a conversation about vision, self-leadership, creating space to think, and what it really takes to help people and organizations grow. After more than two decades leading Aileron, Joni has seen the power of a clear vision play out across hundreds of privately held businesses—and in her own life. She shares why a vision should be more than words on a wall, how it changes the way you show up today, and why leaders need to intentionally get out of the urgent and immediate if they want to think differently about the future. Tony and Joni also explore the influence of her longtime mentor and Aileron founder Clay Mathile, the unexpected career path she believes was guided by the Holy Spirit, and the coaching lesson that transformed the way she leads: the person sitting across from you doesn’t need you to have the perfect answer. They need you to help them discover theirs. In this episode, you’ll discover: Why a vision is a “dream with a plan”—and why you have to keep working it. How shifting from “I want” to “I am” can change the way you show up. Why your vision doesn’t have to be perfect before you start moving toward it. How creating physical and mental space helps leaders escape the urgent and think bigger. Why Joni came to see leadership and business as a vocation. What one mentor taught her about humility, self-awareness, and leading through deeply held values. Why great coaching starts with empowering questions instead of advice. How busyness can keep leaders from becoming aware of what’s really happening inside them. Why growth in your organization and growth in yourself can’t be separated. Coaching Question Where are you trying to provide the answer when your leadership would be more powerful if you asked a better question? Joni Fedders + Aileron Summit Joni Fedders is President and CEO of Aileron, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping privately held businesses build healthier organizations through professional management, leadership development, coaching, and community. She has led Aileron since 2003 and has spent decades helping business owners and leaders grow themselves as they grow their organizations. Aileron Summit brings business owners, CEOs, presidents, and their teams together to step away from the day-to-day, connect with other leaders who understand the weight of leadership, and create space for meaningful conversations about building healthier businesses. There’s still time to register and join Tony at Summit. Learn more: aileron.org Integrated Leader Mastermind — Applications Open Strong leaders weren't meant to lead alone. Tony Miltenberger and Trey Tucker are bringing together 12 Christian men for a six-month mastermind focused on growing professionally, personally, and spiritually alongside other leaders committed to doing the same. Learn more and apply: leader-integrated-cohort.replit.app Connect with Tony Miltenberger Website: twmilt.com 12 Questions: follow2leadbenchmark.com YouTube: youtube.com/@twmilt Substack: twmilt.substack.com Instagram: @twmilt | @follow2lead SEEDS Download the free SEEDS app and take one small step today: plant your first seed and see what God can grow. Please check out our sponsor: EBEB Solutions ebebsolutions.com That Sounds Fun Network thatsoundsfunnetwork.com Follow 2 Lead Coaching follow2leadbenchmark.com Apple Podcasts Follow 2 Lead on Apple Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What have you already decided you could never do—before you’ve even explored what might be possible? In this episode of the podcast, Tony Miltenberger welcomes back bestselling author, podcaster, entrepreneur, and longtime friend Annie F. Downs for a conversation about vision, leadership, risk, relationships, and what happens when we stop allowing “no” to be our first answer. As Annie prepares to release her new book, Don’t Let That Hold You Back, she shares why hearing people repeatedly say, “I could never do that,” made her start questioning the limits we place on our own lives. Sometimes the door you thought you were heading toward will close—but taking the next step may reveal doors you couldn’t see from where you started. Tony and Annie also get candid about leading through major life change, protecting a God-given vision without softening it to keep everyone happy, surrounding yourself with people who expand your thinking, knowing when to end something that’s still successful, and learning to hold the things you build with open hands. In this episode, you’ll discover: Why softening your vision can actually make alignment harder. What Annie has learned about leading a company while preparing for marriage. How to build a personal “board of directors” that expands your thinking. Why the people you need around you may change as your life changes. How Annie knew it was time to sunset something that was still successful. Why “no” usually shouldn’t be your answer before you’ve explored what’s possible. What Seth Godin taught Annie about leadership, learning, and expanding an idea. How Don’t Let That Hold You Back challenges the stories keeping us from taking the next step. Coaching Question Where have you already told yourself “I could never” without first asking, “Could I?” Connect with Annie F. Downs Annie F. Downs is a bestselling author, podcaster, speaker, entrepreneur, and founder of the That Sounds Fun Network. Her new book, Don’t Let That Hold You Back, releases September 15 and challenges readers to examine what has kept them from becoming who God created them to be. Website: anniefdowns.com Don’t Let That Hold You Back: dontletthatholdyouback.com Integrated Leader Mastermind — Applications Open Strong leaders weren't meant to lead alone. Tony Miltenberger and Trey Tucker are bringing together 12 Christian men for a six-month mastermind focused on growing professionally, personally, and spiritually alongside other leaders committed to doing the same. Learn more and apply: leader-integrated-cohort.replit.app Connect with Tony Miltenberger Website: twmilt.com 12 Questions: follow2leadbenchmark.com YouTube: youtube.com/@twmilt Substack: twmilt.substack.com Instagram: @twmilt | @follow2lead SEEDS Download the free SEEDS app and take one small step today: plant your first seed and see what God can grow. Please check out our sponsor: EBEB Solutions ebebsolutions.com That Sounds Fun Network thatsoundsfunnetwork.com Follow 2 Lead Coaching follow2leadbenchmark.com Apple Podcasts Follow 2 Lead on Apple Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you actually leading your organization toward the future—or just getting really good at managing today? In this episode of the podcast, Tony Miltenberger sits down with longtime leadership expert, bestselling author, and former Chick-fil-A executive Mark Miller to talk about two responsibilities leaders can’t afford to delegate: casting vision and creating alignment. Mark explains why so many leaders struggle to articulate where they’re going, why knowing exactly how you’ll get there isn’t a prerequisite for casting vision, and what it takes to get an entire organization moving toward the same preferred future. Tony and Mark also dig into the leadership discipline of margin, the power of storytelling, personal development planning, and the lessons Mark learned through decades of working alongside Chick-fil-A founder Truett Cathy. In this episode, you’ll discover: Why leadership begins with a clear picture of the future. How to create alignment through role modeling, storytelling, and strategic repetition. Why leaders need to delegate today’s work so they can focus on tomorrow’s. How intentional time to reflect, assess, and create strengthens your leadership. Why stories can communicate what facts alone can’t. How to build a personal development plan you’ll actually use. Why identifying your critical gaps should come before simply developing your strengths. Coaching Question What leadership work are you neglecting because the urgent work keeps winning? Connect with Mark Miller Mark Miller is an author, speaker, leadership coach, and former Chick-fil-A executive whose work is dedicated to serving and developing leaders. His latest release is the fourth edition of The Secret, co-authored with Ken Blanchard. Lead Every Day: leadeveryday.comThe Secret: https://a.co/d/02PZvYst Integrated Leader Mastermind — Applications Open Strong leaders weren't meant to lead alone. Tony Miltenberger and Trey Tucker are bringing together 12 Christian men for a six-month mastermind focused on growing professionally, personally, and spiritually alongside other leaders committed to doing the same. Learn more and apply:leader-integrated-cohort.replit.app/ Connect with Tony Miltenberger Website: twmilt.com12 Questions: follow2leadbenchmark.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@twmiltSubstack: twmilt.substack.comInstagram: @twmilt | @follow2lead Please check out our sponsors: SEEDS: Download the free SEEDS app and take one small step today: plant your first seed and see what God can grow. EBEB Solutionshttps://www.ebebsolutions.com/ That Sounds Fun Networkhttps://thatsoundsfunnetwork.com/ Follow 2 Lead Coachinghttps://www.follow2leadbenchmark.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#470: Monika Kirkland — When You're Called to It but Can't Keep Carrying It What happens when you know God called you to something—but you’re exhausted trying to carry it? In this episode of the Follow 2 Lead Podcast, Tony Miltenberger sits down with author, podcaster, and speaker Monika Kirkland to talk about overwhelm, surrender, spiritual disciplines, and what happens when high-capacity leaders begin relying on their own strength. Monika shares the wake-up call that forced her to reevaluate a very full life. She couldn’t simply walk away from her work, family, or responsibilities. Instead, she had to learn how to carry the same things from a different posture—moving from striving and self-reliance toward surrender and dependence on the Holy Spirit. Tony and Monika also explore storytelling, creativity, discerning God’s voice, navigating seasons when He feels distant, and the message behind Monika’s book, Ever With You. In this episode, you'll discover: How to recognize when you’re white-knuckling your calling. Why “Scripture before screens” can change the way you begin your day. Simple spiritual disciplines for surrendering what you’re carrying. Why feelings are valuable signposts—but shouldn’t make your decisions. How wise counsel can bring clarity when the stakes are high. Why creativity needs both discipline and freedom from pressure. How to trust God’s nearness even when He feels far away. Coaching Question Where are you trying to carry a God-given calling in your own strength? Connect with Monika Kirkland Monika Kirkland is an author, podcaster, and speaker whose work explores intimacy with God and what it means to live an integrated life of faith. Her new book, Ever With You, is about becoming fully awake to the God who is near. Website: monikakirkland.comInstagram: @monikakirkland Integrated Leader Mastermind — Applications Open Strong leaders weren't meant to lead alone. Tony Miltenberger and Trey Tucker are bringing together 12 Christian men for a six-month mastermind focused on growing professionally, personally, and spiritually alongside other leaders committed to doing the same. Learn more and apply:leader-integrated-cohort.replit.app/ Connect with Tony Miltenberger Website: twmilt.com12 Questions: follow2leadbenchmark.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@twmiltSubstack: twmilt.substack.comInstagram: @twmilt | @follow2lead Please check out our sponsors: EBEB Solutionshttps://www.ebebsolutions.com/ That Sounds Fun Networkhttps://thatsoundsfunnetwork.com/ Follow 2 Lead Coachinghttps://www.follow2leadbenchmark.com Apple Podcastshttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/follow-2-lead-a-christian-leaders-podcast/id1429933082 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Here is the application to the Integrated Leader Mastermind. What if the answer to feeling overwhelmed isn't doing more—but getting clearer about what was yours to do in the first place? In this episode of the Follow 2 Lead Podcast, Tony Miltenberger sits down with longtime executive coach, author, and leadership advisor Dr. Stephen Graves to talk about building a life and leadership that flourish over time. After nearly four decades of coaching CEOs, founders, and executives, Steve has learned that great leaders don't try to be great at everything. They learn to distinguish between God-given assignments and good opportunities, surround themselves with trusted voices, make wise choices consistently, and recognize what each season requires. Tony and Steve also explore partnership, learning to say no, managing yourself well, and Steve's countercultural perspective that aging isn't a problem to be solved. In this episode, you'll discover: Why trying to do everything well can keep you from flourishing. How to distinguish an assignment from an opportunity. Why every leader needs trusted voices outside their own head. Why managing yourself is a responsibility you can't outsource. How saying no can affirm your identity and calling. Why aging isn't a problem to solve—and what it means to age well. Coaching Question Where in your life do you need to surrender a little control and realize this isn't a problem to be solved? Connect with Dr. Stephen Graves Dr. Stephen Graves is an executive coach, author, strategist, and founder of Cornerstone Group. Website: stephenrgraves.comCornerstone Group: cornerstoneco.com Integrated Leader Mastermind — Applications Open Strong leaders weren't meant to lead alone. Tony Miltenberger and Trey Tucker are bringing together 12 Christian men for a six-month mastermind focused on growing professionally, personally, and spiritually alongside other leaders committed to doing the same. Learn more and apply:leader-integrated-cohort.replit.app/ Connect with Tony Miltenberger Website: twmilt.com12 Questions: follow2leadbenchmark.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@twmiltSubstack: twmilt.substack.comInstagram: @twmilt | @follow2lead Please check out our sponsors: EBEB Solutionshttps://www.ebebsolutions.com/ That Sounds Fun Networkhttps://thatsoundsfunnetwork.com/ Follow 2 Lead Coachinghttps://www.follow2leadbenchmark.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Who really knows you—not your title, your responsibilities, or the version of you that shows up to lead, but you? In this episode of the Follow 2 Lead Podcast, Tony Miltenberger welcomes back counselor, author, and speaker Trey Tucker for a conversation about what leaders need when the weight of leadership starts to feel heavy. They explore everything from silence and solitude to mentoring the next generation, building meaningful friendships, and surrounding yourself with people who challenge you to grow. Trey explains why our brains need space from the constant stream of information we consume, why leaders may be running from the very thoughts and emotions they need to process, and how even a few minutes of intentional silence can begin to change the way we show up. As Trey puts it, choosing short-term discomfort can lead to long-term peace. Tony and Trey also announce the Integrated Leader Mastermind, a new six-month experience designed to give a small group of Christian men a place to grow professionally, personally, and spiritually alongside other leaders who are committed to becoming more integrated versions of themselves. If you're leading a business, nonprofit, church, school, or executive team, this conversation is a reminder that strength doesn't mean doing leadership alone. The right people in your corner can help you grow faster, lead healthier, and last longer. In this episode, you'll discover: Why silence may be one of the simplest tools for leaders experiencing overwhelm. What happens when we continually choose short-term comfort over processing what's happening beneath the surface. How to tell whether a struggling employee needs more mentoring—or simply isn't the right fit. Why developing other leaders requires both trust and high standards. The three qualities Trey looks for when deciding who belongs in his inner circle. Why even strong, successful leaders need meaningful relationships with people who truly know them. What Tony and Trey are building with the new Integrated Leader Mastermind—and who it's designed for. Coaching Question How are you doing with silence? Take an honest look at where God may be calling you to create more space—and what silence could look like in this season of your life. Connect with Trey Tucker Trey Tucker is a counselor, author, speaker, and founder of Rugged Counseling. Through his work, Trey helps people better understand mental health, relationships, faith, and what it looks like to live a healthy, integrated life. Website: https://www.ruggedcounseling.com Social Media: @ruggedcounseling Please check out our sponsors: EBEB Solutionshttps://www.ebebsolutions.com/ That Sounds Fun Network:https://thatsoundsfunnetwork.com/ Connect with Tony: Follow2Lead Coachinghttps://www.follow2leadbenchmark.com Formed in the Tension Substack: https://twmilt.substack.com/ Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/twmilt/ https://www.instagram.com/follow2lead/ Check out our YouTube pagehttps://www.youtube.com/@twmilt Be sure to leave us a review on Apple Podcastshttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/follow-2-lead-a-christian-leaders-podcast/id1429933082 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if feeling overwhelmed isn't a sign you're failing—but a sign you're growing? In this episode of the Follow2Lead Podcast, Tony Miltenberger sits down with author, pastor, and leadership expert Eric Geiger to unpack one of the biggest misconceptions leaders face today: burnout and overwhelm are not the same thing. While burnout can drain your passion and purpose, seasons of healthy overwhelm often become the catalyst for your greatest growth. Drawing from his new book The Rooted Leader, Eric shares practical wisdom on building leadership rhythms that help you weather storms, embrace challenges without being crushed, and lead from a place of deep spiritual and personal health. If you're leading a business, nonprofit, church, school, or executive team, this conversation will help you develop greater resilience, steward your influence well, and build the kind of leadership that lasts. In this episode, you'll discover: Why overwhelm can actually be a gift for your leadership. The critical difference between feeling overwhelmed and experiencing burnout. How rooted leaders grow through pressure instead of being crushed by it. Practical rhythms that help leaders sustain influence over the long haul. Why Christian leaders have an "unfair advantage" in the workplace. How protecting your priorities at home strengthens your leadership everywhere else. Coaching Question Is your current season stretching your leadership—or slowly draining it? What would change if you viewed your overwhelm as an opportunity to grow instead of a problem to escape? Connect with Eric Geiger Eric Geiger is the Senior Pastor of Mariners Church in Southern California and the author of The Rooted Leader. He is a trusted voice on Christian leadership, organizational health, and developing leaders who thrive through every season. Website: https://www.ericgeiger.com Book: The Rooted Leader, https://a.co/d/06wgDzVO Mariners Church: https://www.marinerschurch.org Please check out our sponsors: EBEB Solutionshttps://www.ebebsolutions.com/ That Sounds Fun Network:https://thatsoundsfunnetwork.com/ Connect with Tony: Follow2Lead Coachinghttps://www.follow2leadbenchmark.com Formed in the Tension Substack: https://twmilt.substack.com/ Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/twmilt/ https://www.instagram.com/follow2lead/ Check out our YouTube pagehttps://www.youtube.com/@twmilt Be sure to leave us a review on Apple Podcastshttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/follow-2-lead-a-christian-leaders-podcast/id1429933082 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if your greatest leadership challenge isn't your strategy, your team, or your circumstances—but the story you're telling yourself? In this special episode of the Follow 2 Lead Podcast, we're sharing Tony Miltenberger's guest appearance on the Culture Is an Inside Job podcast. In this thought-provoking conversation, Tony joins the hosts to explore why emotional maturity is one of the greatest leadership advantages you can develop—and how doing the inner work changes the way you lead others. Drawing from his book Wisdom in the Wound, his executive coaching experience, and his own personal journey, Tony explains why feelings are meant to inform us, not lead us. He shares practical tools for recognizing emotional triggers, responding with intention instead of reaction, and building healthier relationships at work and at home. If you're leading a business, nonprofit, church, school, or executive team, this conversation will help you grow in self-awareness, strengthen your leadership, and create a culture where people feel seen, valued, and empowered to thrive. In this episode, you'll discover: Why great leaders don't let feelings drive the car. How unresolved wounds quietly shape your leadership and influence your decisions. Why feelings are decision points—not decision makers. How curiosity and empathy create healthier teams and stronger workplace cultures. Why emotional awareness is one of the greatest leadership advantages you can develop. A practical coaching question to help you lead with greater clarity, wisdom, and purpose. Coaching Question Where was the last time your emotional intensity spiked above a six—and what might that reaction reveal about you instead of the other person? Connect with Tony Miltenberger Tony Miltenberger is an executive coach, speaker, and founder of Follow 2 Lead Coaching. He helps Christian executives, business owners, and organizational leaders build healthier cultures, strengthen trust, and lead with greater clarity and purpose. Website: https://www.twmilt.com Executive Coaching: https://www.follow2leadbenchmark.com Instagram: @twmilt Substack: https://twmilt.substack.com/ Please check out our sponsors: EBEB Solutions https://www.ebebsolutions.com/ That Sounds Fun Network: https://thatsoundsfunnetwork.com/ Follow 2 Lead Coaching https://www.follow2leadbenchmark.com Tony on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/twmilt/ Check out our YouTube page https://www.youtube.com/@twmilt Be sure to leave us a review on Apple Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do great leaders build trust when their team has been through disappointment, uncertainty, or change? In this solo episode of the Follow 2 Lead Podcast, Tony Miltenberger shares a deeply personal story about a devastating ACL injury that sidelined him for years—and how finally running two miles again revealed one of the most important leadership lessons he's ever learned. The finish line wasn't the victory. The daily decisions, trusted coaches, and consistent investments along the way were. Tony explains why trust isn't built through authority, vision statements, or one-time team retreats. It's built one small, faithful decision at a time. If you're leading a business, nonprofit, church, school, or executive team, this episode offers practical coaching for creating a culture where people feel trusted, valued, and equipped to do their best work. In this episode, you'll discover: Why trust begins when leaders admit they don't have every answer. How vulnerability creates stronger executive leadership. Why healthy team culture is built through everyday conversations—not occasional events. The overlooked leadership habit that quietly strengthens (or weakens) trust. How consistent actions create lasting influence across your organization. One simple question every leader should ask their team this week. Coaching Question What would your team look like one year from now if you started doing the trust work today? Connect with Tony Miltenberger Tony Miltenberger is an executive coach, speaker, and founder of Follow 2 Lead Coaching. He helps Christian executives, business owners, and organizational leaders build healthier cultures, strengthen trust, and lead with greater clarity and purpose. Website: https://www.twmilt.com Executive Coaching: https://www.follow2leadbenchmark.com Instagram: @twmilt Substack: https://twmilt.substack.com/ Please check out our sponsors: EBEB Solutions https://www.ebebsolutions.com/ That Sounds Fun Network: https://thatsoundsfunnetwork.com/ Follow 2 Lead Coaching https://www.follow2leadbenchmark.com Tony on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/twmilt/ Check out our YouTube page https://www.youtube.com/@twmilt Be sure to leave us a review on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/follow-2-lead-a-christian-leaders-podcast/id1429933082 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices