The LeadingSmart Podcast

Honest conversations. Practical insights. Smarter leadership.

Hosted by Tim Stevens and Holly Tate, The LeadingSmart Podcast exists to equip church leaders who care deeply about leading with integrity, clarity, and wisdom—even when it’s hard.

We are officially on Season 3! This season is about staying sharp in today’s rapidly changing environment. We’ll dive into the practical issues leaders are facing right now—from running effective executive team meetings to navigating crucial conversations to leading in moments when the playbook doesn’t exist yet.

Holly and Tim are moving out of the studio into our offices, and they will be recording and posting in real time, responding to current events as they happen, sharing fresh insights from our work with leaders across North America.

Be sure to email us at tim@leadingsmart.com if there are specific topics you want us to cover!

Enjoy!

#LeadingSmartPodcast, #ChurchLeadership, #SuccessionPlanning, #LeadershipDevelopment, #ExecutivePastor, #LeadershipTools, #MinistryCoaching, #LeadershipPodcast

The LeadingSmart Podcast

Episodes

[S3EP7] 5 Leadership Lessons Churches Learned in 2025 (Boards, Meetings, Succession & More)

[S3EP6] Strategic Planning for Churches: What It Is, What It Isn’t, and Why It Matters

[S3EP5] Stop Wasting Time: How to Lead Executive Team Meetings

[S3EP4] Patrick Lencioni's Working Genius: Why Your Team Gets Stuck (And How to Fix It)

[S3EP3] Increase Church Giving with these 6 Tiers of Generosity

[S3EP2] Gen Z Church Attendance Is Up—Here's What Barna's New Data Means for Your Ministry

[S3EP1] How Men Can Create Environments Where Women Thrive in Leadership │ Leading In Real Time

Season 3 Preview: Leading in Real Time │ The LeadingSmart Podcast

[S2EP12] Ministry Burnout: 5 Warning Signs & How to Protect Your Faith │ 40 Lessons In 40 Years

[S2EP11] Lessons from Granger: The Cost of Growth │ 40 Lessons In 40 Years

[S2EP10] Navigating Change: Staffing and Structure in Leadership Transition │ 40 Lessons In 40 Years

[S2EP9] 7 Shifts Every Church Board Must Make to Lead with Wisdom│ 40 Lessons In 40 Years

[S2EP8] Why Most Leaders Fade…And How Not To │ 40 Lessons In 40 Years

[S2EP7] Why Systems Are the Most Pastoral Part of Leadership │ 40 Lessons In 40 Years

[S2EP6] 40 Lessons, 4 Voices: The Stevens Kids on Growing Up in Ministry │ 40 Lessons In 40 Years

[S2EP5] How To Lead Through Messy Situations │ 40 Lessons In 40 Years

[S2EP4] The Single Greatest Responsibility of Every Leader (& Why Most Get It Wrong) │ 40 Lessons In 40 Years

[S2EP3] 35 Years of Marriage in Ministry: Real Talk About Tough Transitions & Building Unity with Faith Stevens │ 40 Lessons In 40 Years

[S2EP2] Balancing Identity and Longevity in Church Leadership │ 40 Lessons In 40 Years

[S2EP1] 5 Lessons I Wish I Knew At 18 │ 40 Lessons In 40 Years

[S1EP10] What Does A Healthy Pastoral Transition Look Like?│ Pastoral Succession

[S1EP9] How To Build The Ideal Senior Pastor Profile │ Pastoral Succession

[S1EP8] The 8 Key Responsibilities of an Effective Transition Team | Pastoral Succession

[S1EP7] How To Communicate the Transition When It Comes To Pastoral Succession | Pastoral Succession

[S1EP6] Church Finances and Pastoral Succession | Pastoral Succession