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Will Van Der Hart welcomes Thea Joshi to the podcast to discuss their new book, When Thoughts Get Stuck: Peace of Mind in the Battle Against OCD, which they co-wrote together. In this honest conversation with Will James, they explore OCD, intrusive thoughts, compulsions, faith and the journey towards finding peace of mind. If you have felt like you are fighting against your own mind, When Thoughts Get Stuck will help you understand why. Showing you a gentle pathway to peace, it will reintroduce you to the unshakeable love of God in the midst of fear. Written by two people who live with OCD, this book combines personal experience with psychological insight and spiritual wisdom. Well-being Chaplain Rev Will Van Der Hart and mental health communicator Thea Joshi expose the hidden struggle of obsessive thinking – especially when it gets tangled with Christian faith. In this book you’ll discover: What OCD really is (- and what it’s not)How Biblical principles and OCD mindsets interactWhy we can let go of persistent guilt and condemnationPractical tools for handling obsessions and compulsions when they appearBiblical truth and clinical insights that break the cycle of fear Find the book: https://www.hachette.co.uk/titles/will-van-der-hart/when-thoughts-get-stuck/9781399826532/

What can leaders learn from the military, entrepreneurship, and faith?In this live episode recorded at Focus 2026, Will Van Der Hart and Will James are joined by Oz Alashe OBE—former Lieutenant Colonel in the Parachute Regiment and UK Special Forces, founder of cybersecurity company CybSafe, and newly appointed Churchwarden at HTB.Oz shares the leadership principles that shaped him through 17 years of military service and now influence how he leads an AI software company. Together they explore why great leaders create other leaders, the difference between being kind and being nice, why healthy conflict matters, and the leadership discipline of truly listening.Whether you're leading a church, business, team or family, this conversation is full of practical wisdom about creating environments where others can flourish.

What can today's leaders learn from William Wilberforce and the Clapham Sect?Recorded live at Focus 2026, Will Van Der Hart and Will James are joined by Jago Wynne, Rector of Holy Trinity Clapham, to explore one of history's most influential Christian movements and what it means for leadership today.Jago shares his own journey from management consultancy into church leadership before unpacking why the Clapham Sect transformed society through deep discipleship, prayer, community and courageous faith.

What does it take to lead at the highest level—and still keep your faith, family and purpose at the centre?In this live episode from Focus 2026, Will Van Der Hart and Will James sit down with Amanda Nelson, former CEO of Vodafone Business and now CEO of International Justice Mission UK.Amanda shares the lessons she's learned from leading multinational organisations, raising four children, overcoming imposter syndrome, and making the bold move from the corporate world into the charity sector.Together they explore why leadership is about impact rather than popularity, how Christian leaders should think about performance, why organisations aren't families, and what it means to lead with courage, humility and purpose.Whether you're leading a business, church, charity or team, this conversation is packed with practical wisdom and encouragement.

Bishop Sandy Millar joins Will Van Der Hart and Will James live from Focus 2026 for a remarkable conversation reflecting on a lifetime of ministry, revival and leadership.From his time working as a barrister to his encounter with the Holy Spirit, Sandy shares the experiences that shaped both his own faith and the culture that helped influence generations of church leaders.

Listen on your way to Focus, Wildfires, or New Wine. How do you know when it's time to let go of the ministry you've built? In this special live episode from Summit 2026, Will Van Der Hart speaks with Ariana Walker, founder of Mercy UK, about leadership, calling, and the courage to step aside. Ariana shares the story behind Mercy UK, lessons from over 20 years of leadership, and why God led her to begin preparing for succession long before she stepped down. If you're leading a church, business, or ministry—or simply wondering how to lead well without burning out—this conversation offers practical wisdom rooted in faith.

Will Van Der Hart is joined live in Summit 2026 in Nottingham by John and Debbie Wright to explore what it means to lead with humility, courage and complete dependence on God. Drawing on decades of leadership in the Vineyard movement, John and Debbie reflect on their journey from planting churches to leading nationally and now serving the global Vineyard family. They share honest stories of fear, prophetic guidance, marriage in ministry, building healthy teams and why sustainable leadership begins with knowing your identity in Christ rather than your performance. Whether you're leading a church, team or organisation, this conversation offers practical wisdom on trusting God's call, embracing your limitations and creating cultures where others can flourish.

Recorded live at Summit 2026, Will Van Der Hart sat down with church leader and pastor Jonny Hughes for a deeply honest conversation about calling, friendship, leadership and the unexpected ways God shapes our lives.Johnny reflects on his surprising journey into ministry, despite once vowing he would never follow in his father's footsteps. Together they explore the tension between ambition and surrender, the importance of deep friendships, the role of play and joy in preventing burnout, and why many leaders are quietly struggling with isolation.

What does it look like to lead with genuine compassion without burning out?Recorded live at Summit 2026, Will Van Der Hart speaks with Justin Dowds from Compassion UK about poverty, responsibility, emotional resilience and the role of the local church in transforming communities. Justin shares powerful stories from Haiti, Uganda and beyond — including the moment God changed his life forever through one child living in extreme poverty.

In this episode of The Good Leader Podcast, presented by Will Van Der Hart and Will James, we sit down with Kitty Kay Shuttleworth—who has spent 22 years serving the global Alpha movement—to explore what it really takes to lead for the long haul.From a simple prompting at 23 to shaping leadership conversations on a global stage, Kitty reflects on the quiet foundations that have carried her: a daily rhythm of prayer, deep friendships, self-awareness, and the courage to lead without ego.This is a conversation about vision that evolves, leadership that is shared, and the kind of inner life that keeps you steady when the pressure rises.If you want to build something that lasts, this episode is for you.

In this episode of the Good Leader Podcast, Will is joined by veteran church leader Nick Cuthbert, whose ministry spans more than fifty years. Nick reflects on the explosive growth of his early ministry in Birmingham, the hidden dangers of apparent success, and the personal crisis that forced him to rethink everything about leadership, identity, and significance. Nick shares how burnout in midlife exposed deeper questions about ego, validation, and calling. From that point on, his leadership changed — becoming less about productivity and more about fruitfulness, less about individual responsibility and more about team.

In this episode of The Good Leader Podcast, Will Van Der Hart and Will James are joined by Patrick Regan, founder of XLP and pioneer of urban youth work in London, whose work placed him at the heart of knife crime, gang violence, and community trauma for over 22 years. From mobile youth buses and MTV projects to hospital beds and panic attacks, Patrick shares honestly about what sustainable leadership really requires — and why going gently isn’t weakness, but wisdom.

Will Van Der Hart and Will James are joined by Camilla Stephens, co-founder of Higgidy — a food business that grew from a kitchen table idea to employing over 350 people and operating 24/7, 365 days a year.Camilla shares her unconventional leadership journey, from leaving school without qualifications to leading a large manufacturing business for over 20 years. Together, they explore what sustainable leadership really looks like — not just financially, but emotionally, relationally, and spiritually.

On this episode of the Good Leader Podcast, we’re joined by Archie Coates, Vicar of Holy Trinity Brompton, for a deeply honest and refreshing conversation about sustainable leadership, emotional maturity, and staying rooted over the long haul. Archie reflects on his unexpected journey into ministry, from early days in sales to planting a church in Brighton and now leading one of the most influential churches in the UK. Together, we explore what it really takes to remain grounded after “a thousand Sundays,” why emotional calm matters more than hype, and how leaders can resist the pressure to strive and perform.We also talk about raising up the next generation of leaders, creating safe environments for risk and failure, staying connected in large organisations, and why being a disciple of Jesus matters more than leading a successful church.

On this episode of The Good Leader Podcast, Will and Will talk with Dr. Johannes Hartl — philosopher, theologian, author, musician, and founder of the Augsburg House of Prayer and Eden Culture. Together they unpack what it takes to make courageous decisions as a leader — especially when those choices come with disappointment, conflict, or criticism. https://johanneshartl.org/en/ https://www.youtube.com/@Dr.JohannesHartl_EN