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.
In Season One, we’re diving into a topic most churches avoid until it’s too late: pastoral succession. Over 10 episodes, we’ll pull back the curtain on one of the most critical and complex leadership conversations in the Church today.
Whether you’re a senior pastor beginning to ask “what’s next?”, a board member trying to plan for the future, or a staff leader walking through change, this season will give you the tools, language, and courage to navigate succession well.
Here’s what you can expect each week:
Insight from decades of experience helping churches through transition
Honest stories from the frontlines
Tangible takeaways you can apply with your team, board, or congregation
And of course…our weekly Rants & Raves on everything from leadership to soft pants 😄
Because the truth is: Succession isn’t a moment. It’s a mindset. And it starts long before you think you’re ready.
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The LeadingSmart Podcast
Balancing Identity and Longevity in Church Leadership
Welcome back to The LeadingSmart Podcast! 🎙️
In this episode, Tim Stevens and Holly Tate dive deep into one of the most crucial aspects of ministry leadership: longevity and playing the long game.
After 40 years in ministry (with 20 of those at one church!), Tim shares hard-won wisdom about what it really means to build for lasting impact rather than burning out trying to "win the quarter."
What This Episode Covers
✅ The beautiful benefits of long-term ministry relationships
✅ How to recognize when longevity becomes unhealthy codependency
✅ Tim's honest story about the "detox" process after leaving a 20-year ministry role
✅ Practical wisdom on building sustainable rhythms that won't flame you out
✅ Why thinking "long game" is essential for lasting kingdom impact
PLUS - We're launching a new segment: "Hard to Believe Church Memories" where Tim and Holly share some pretty wild stories from their church kid days. Let's just say... half-wolf attacks and Tammy Wynette's house are involved. 😅
Whether you're in your first year of ministry or your fortieth, this conversation will help you think differently about sustainability, identity, and building the kind of impact that lasts decades.
Next Episode: Holly interviews Tim AND his amazing wife Faith Stevens. You won't want to miss it!
Got your own crazy church memories? Email us at tim@leadingsmart.com - we'd love to hear them!
Resources Mentioned:
🤝 Learn more about our partners at Generosity OS https://www.leadingsmart.com/partners
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🎧 Listen to the full 40 Lessons In 40 Years series
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