The Discerning Leader Podcast

Host: Steve Macchia, Guests: Gail Edmonson, Matt Scott "Community is built through trust, but it is redeemed through love, grace, forgiveness, and a lot of listening." - Steve Macchia In this episode, Steve Macchia, Matt Scott, and Gail Edmondson explore the beauty, challenges, and transformative power of spiritual community. Together they discuss why healthy community requires trust, humility, listening, and commitment; how God uses relationships to shape us into the image of Christ; and why true belonging often emerges in the midst of life's messiness. You'll discover practical wisdom for creating safe spaces where people can be heard, loved, honored, and known. Whether you're searching for deeper friendships, seeking to strengthen a small group, or longing for authentic connection in your church, this conversation offers hope and encouragement for the journey. We've provided a 3 page Soul Care Audit that will offer you a handful of questions to consider how well you're caring for your soul. You can download the PDF here and spend some time prayerfully reflecting on your current rhythms and practices.  Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.

Host: Steve Macchia, Guests: Susan Currie, Matt Scott "I'm becoming more and more convinced that every leader needs a spiritual director." – Steve Macchia This week's episode of The Discerning Leader Podcast, offers a thoughtful conversation about the transformative practice of spiritual direction. Steve Macchia and Susan Currie explore what spiritual direction is, how it differs from counseling, mentoring, and coaching, and why it has become one of the most meaningful practices for nurturing intimacy with God. Susan shares her own journey into spiritual direction and explains how a spiritual director serves not as someone who fixes problems or gives answers, but as a companion who helps us attend to the presence and voice of the Holy Spirit. Along the way, the conversation explores the importance of contemplative listening, the role of silence, the gift of being deeply heard, and the value of having trusted companions for the journey of faith. Whether you're curious about spiritual direction for the first time or looking to deepen your own practice, this episode offers wisdom, encouragement, and practical guidance for tending the health and vitality of your soul. We've provided a 3 page Soul Care Audit that will offer you a handful of questions to consider how well you're caring for your soul. You can download the PDF here and spend some time prayerfully reflecting on your current rhythms and practices.  Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.

Host: Steve Macchia, Guests: Rick Anderson, Matt Scott "We all need people who believe the best in us, stand beside us when we feel like falling, and help us keep going." – Steve Macchia If you've ever longed for deeper connection, wondered how to cultivate genuine soul friendships, or found yourself feeling isolated in leadership or life, this conversation offers encouragement and practical next steps. In this episode of The Discerning Leader Podcast, Steve Macchia is joined by friends and colleagues Rick Anderson and Matt Scott for a conversation on spiritual friendship and its impact on the health and vitality of our souls. Together they explore the difference between surface friendship, deep friendship, and spiritual friendship—and why so many people, especially men and leaders, often experience isolation and loneliness beneath the surface. Through stories, reflections, and shared wisdom, they discuss the courage it takes to be truly known, the importance of vulnerability and trust, and how spiritual friends help us become more fully ourselves. We've provided a 3 page Soul Care Audit that will offer you a handful of questions to consider how well you're caring for your soul. You can download the PDF here and spend some time prayerfully reflecting on your current rhythms and practices.  Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.

Host: Steve Macchia, Guests: Marcos Leon, Matt Scott "If we don't go to the place of owning and identifying our feelings and emotions, we won't be able to embrace both our brokenness and wholeness." – Steve Macchia Why do so many of us struggle to name what we feel? How do family systems and early experiences shape our emotional lives? And what might happen if we stopped treating emotions as enemies and started receiving them as messengers? In this episode of The Discerning Leader Podcast, Steve Macchia is joined by Marcos Leon and Matt Scott for a conversation on emotional well-being and its profound impact on the health of our souls. Together they explore how emotions are not obstacles to our spiritual lives but invitations into deeper awareness, healing, and communion with God.  We've provided a 3 page Soul Care Audit that will offer you a handful of questions to consider how well you're caring for your soul. You can download the PDF here and spend some time prayerfully reflecting on your current rhythms and practices.  Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.

Host: Steve Macchia Guest: Suz Skinner, Matt Scott "Soul care begins by creating space to listen." - Steve Macchia If you feel spiritually weary, distracted, or hungry for deeper intimacy with God, this episode offers a gentle invitation to create space for the One who refreshes our souls. Steve Macchia is joined by Suz Skinner and Matt Scott for a rich conversation about creating space to be with God and how that space nourishes the soul. Together they explore the many ways God meets us—in prayer closets and art studios, through journaling and gratitude, in silence, Scripture, creativity, nature, and the ordinary rhythms of daily life. This conversation invites listeners to slow down, pay attention, and rediscover that soul care is less about perfect practices and more about relational presence with God. We've provided a 3 page Soul Care Audit that will offer you a handful of questions to consider how well you're caring for your soul. You can download the PDF here and spend some time prayerfully reflecting on your current rhythms and practices.  Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.

In this reflective episode of the Discerning Leader podcast, Steve Macchia, Matt Scott, and Dr. Kim Alexander explore the deep spiritual practice of Sabbath rest and its impact on the soul. Moving beyond the idea of simply "stopping," they unpack what it means to truly rest—embracing surrender, trust, and delight in God's presence. Through personal stories, cultural observations, and spiritual insights, the conversation highlights the challenge of practicing Sabbath in a fast-paced, always-on world. Listeners are invited to reconsider Sabbath not as restriction, but as a life-giving rhythm of freedom, identity, and belovedness—an intentional space to be with God rather than merely doing for God. We've provided a 3 page Soul Care Audit that will offer you a handful of questions to consider how well you're caring for your soul. You can download the PDF here and spend some time prayerfully reflecting on your current rhythms and practices.  Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Matt Scott, Fyfe Blair "What are the 'pillows' that allow your soul to finally rest in God?" – Steve Macchia In this episode of the Discerning Leader Podcast, Steve Machia is joined by Matt Scott and Fyfe Blair for a rich and reflective conversation on silence and solitude. Together, they explore why these ancient practices feel so difficult in a distracted, fast-paced world—and why they remain essential for the health of our souls. Drawing from Scripture, lived experience, and the wisdom of the Desert Fathers, this episode invites you to move beyond surface-level quiet into a deeper stillness of heart. You'll discover how silence and solitude are not ends in themselves, but pathways into a life rooted in God's presence—a life marked by what Fife calls a "cadence of grace." If your soul feels hurried, noisy, or stretched thin, this conversation offers a gentle but honest invitation: slow down, make space, and learn again how to be with God. We've provided a 3 page Soul Care Audit that will offer you a handful of questions to consider how well you're caring for your soul. You can download the PDF here and spend some time prayerfully reflecting on your current rhythms and practices.  Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Matt Scott, Jeremy Stefano "The mind must be renewed if the soul is to be transformed." – Steve Macchia In a world saturated with distraction, misinformation, and anxiety, what we think about—and how we think—deeply shapes the condition of our soul. In Episode 03 of Season 40, Steve Macchia, Jeremy Stefano and Matt Scott unpack how examining truth, prayerful reflection, and intentional thought lead to transformation. From the renewal of the mind in Romans 12 to the call in Philippians 4 to dwell on what is true, honorable, and pure, this conversation offers a grounded and hopeful vision for cultivating a healthy inner life. If you've ever felt mentally scattered, spiritually dry, or overwhelmed by competing voices, this episode is an invitation to slow down, reflect, and allow God to renew your mind...and restore your soul. We've provided a 3 page Soul Care Audit that will offer you a handful of questions to consider how well you're caring for your soul. You can download the PDF here and spend some time prayerfully reflecting on your current rhythms and practices.  Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Matt Scott and Dr. Brenda Woods "We cannot separate the body and the soul—our bodies impact our spiritual health." – Steve Macchia How does your physical body shape the health of your soul? In this episode, Dr. Brenda Woods joins Steve Macchia and Matt Scott as they explore the deep connection between our physical and spiritual well-being. Together, they challenge the false divide between body and soul, inviting listeners into a more holistic vision of health. With practical wisdom and gentle encouragement, they highlight the power of small, intentional choices in caring for our bodies as an essential part of tending to the soul. We've provided a 3 page Soul Care Audit that will offer you a handful of questions to consider how well you're caring for your soul. You can download the PDF here and spend some time prayerfully reflecting on your current rhythms and practices.  Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.    

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Matt Scott "The soul is the only part of us that is eternal—so why do we neglect it the most?" - Steve Macchia "How is it with your soul?" This timeless question opens the door to a deeper awareness of our life with God. In this first episode of the new season, Steve Macchia and Matt Scott explore the meaning, depth, and importance of the soul—described as the very essence of who we are and the center of our relationship with God. As they reflect on Scripture and lived experience, they invite listeners to consider the health of their own soul and the ways it shapes every part of life. With honesty and hope, this conversation marks the beginning of a journey toward greater attentiveness, intentionality, and care for the most vital—and often neglected—part of our being. Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.  

Featuring: Steve Macchia, Suz Skinner, Matt Scott "Each parable of Jesus is an invitation—not just to understand, but to be transformed." - Steve Macchia What if the parables of Jesus are not simply stories to understand—but invitations to be transformed? In this concluding episode of Season 39: Praying the Parables of Jesus, Steve Macchia, along with Suz Skinner and Matt Scott, reflects on the final collection of parables and the deeper themes they reveal—faithfulness, righteousness, humility, and persistent prayer. Together, they explore the surprising wisdom of the shrewd manager, the courageous persistence of the widow, and the quiet humility of the tax collector—each inviting us to examine the posture of our own hearts before God. As this journey comes to a close, the invitation remains open: to move beyond insight and information into transformation. May this sacred journey deepen your intimacy with Jesus—and awaken in you a faith that is persistent, a heart that is humble, and a life that is truly transformed. Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.  

Featuring: Steve Macchia, Suz Skinner, Matt Scott "Tell me your story…and I'll companion you in your lack of trust." - Steve Macchia What might change if you encountered the parables of Jesus as an invitation into a life of deeper trust? Episode 39.6 reflects on a powerful gathering of parables centered on the theme of trust—trusting in God's provision, His love, His rescue, and His heart toward us. From the cost of discipleship to the tenderness of the Good Shepherd, this conversation confronts our tendency to hold tightly to, control outcomes, and resist surrender. What emerges is a compelling invitation: to let go, to trust more deeply, and to rest in the faithful, initiating presence of a God who is always pursuing, always loving, and always at work. To join the 40 day Lenten Prayer Experience, sign up today at www.leadershiptransformations.org/lent2026. Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.

Featuring: Steve Macchia, Suz Skinner, Matt Scott "Ask. Seek. Knock… there's initiative attached to every one of those words." - Steve Macchia In this episode of The Discerning Leader Podcast, Steve Macchia, Suze Skinner, and Matt Scott continue their journey through Praying the Parables of Jesus, reflecting on a group of parables centered around one simple word: serve. Through prayerful conversation, they explore how the stories of Jesus invite us to serve with persistence, humility, watchfulness, and faithfulness. Slowing down with the parables through practices like Lectio Divina and Visio Divina reveals layer upon layer of meaning—reminding us that these seemingly simple stories continue to form and transform us again and again. This conversation invites listeners to wrestle honestly with God, trusting that the parables are meant to wake us up, deepen our trust, and shape us into servants of God's kingdom. Join us on the Lenten Prayer Journey! Learn more here.  Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.    

Featuring: Steve Macchia, Suz Skinner, Matt Scott "God's invitation is always the same: come close, draw near, follow Me." - Steve Macchia What does it mean to truly receive God's invitation? In this episode of The Discerning Leader Podcast, Steve Machia, Sue Skinner, and Matt Scott explore a powerful grouping of parables from the book Praying the Parables of Jesus—each echoing a single, compelling word: come. Through reflections on the wedding banquet (Matthew 22), the ten virgins, and the vineyard stories, the conversation turns toward the condition of our hearts. Why do we hesitate at the King's invitation? Why do we find distractions, excuses, divided loyalties? And what might it look like to live with oil in our lamps—alert, expectant, and ready? To sign up for the Lenten Prayer Experience, visit www.leadershiptransformations.org/lent2026 Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.  

Featuring Steve Macchia, Suz Skinner, and Matt Scott "The parables confront us with a question: Kingdom of God or kingdom of earth?" - Steve Macchia In this episode of The Discerning Leader Podcast (Season 39, Ep 02), Steve Macchia, Suz Skinner, and Matt Scott reflect on six parables that share one compelling invitation: be all in for the kingdom of God. Through the practices of lectio and visio divina, they explore the recurring theme of Jesus inviting us to labor and live for the Kingdom of Heaven rather than the kingdom of earth. Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.  

Featuring Steve Macchia, Suz Skinner, and Matt Scott As Season 39 of the Discerning Leader podcast begins, Steve Macchia, Sue Skinner, and Matt Scott invite listeners into a 40-day journey of praying the parables of Jesus. Rooted in the ancient practices of lectio divina and visio divina, this season explores how word and image together awaken a posture of receptivity to God's kingdom. Through honest reflection and personal stories, this conversation explores what it means to come to God empty-handed—ready to receive rather than achieve. Tune in as they share how Jesus' parables invite us to receive and live into the realities of the Kingdom of God. To join the 40 day Lenten Prayer Experience, sign up today at www.leadershiptransformations.org/lent2026. Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.  

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: James Hauptman "And that's the ripple effect that happens when men of God like you take this seriously and put real teeth into noticing what's necessary for this season." - Steve Macchia In this concluding episode of Season 38, Steve Macchia welcomes James Hopman to share how he crafted his personal rule of life in the midst of an exceptionally full season. As a pastor, seminary student, husband, and father of four, James reflects on how intentional rhythms of prayer, Sabbath, family connection, and mission keep his life from becoming chaotic — even when it is undeniably busy. Together, they explore why any season is the right season to begin a rule of life, why belovedness must be the foundation, and how a rule of life remains a living, revisable document. James offers a practical and deeply personal glimpse into the daily, weekly, quarterly, and yearly rhythms that anchor his life in union with God. This episode is an invitation to slow down, notice God's initiatives, and courageously craft your own rule of life. Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.    

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Rev. Jen Keifer "You and I, we find our passion somewhere between a fist in the air of injustice and the tear in our eye of compassion and mercy." - Steve Macchia In this episode of The Discerning Leader Podcast, host Steve Macchia is joined by Rev. Jen Kiefer, who shares her deeply personal journey of crafting and living a rule of life rooted in belovedness rather than burnout. Jen reflects on a transformative season of brokenness that led her into contemplative rhythms, restorative justice, and a renewed understanding of God as the lover of her soul. Through vivid storytelling—including the creation of a quilt inspired by Micah 6:8—she explores how fury, mercy, and hope shape both her spiritual formation and pastoral ministry.  Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.  

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: James Hauptman "If God's going to be in the center of our lives, we have to be willing to let him come in and take over every single aspect of our lives." - Steve Macchia In this episode of The Discerning Leader Podcast, Steve Machia and James Hauptman explore how a personal rule of life is ultimately lived out in community. Drawing from ancient Christian wisdom and the monastic tradition, they reflect on the purpose of a rule of life as a way of safeguarding love—honoring one another, nurturing unity, and choosing commitment over convenience. With biblical insight and practical examples, this conversation invites leaders and churches to imagine what could happen if we truly preferred one another and allowed our shared life together to become a living witness of God's transforming presence. Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.  

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: James Hauptman "If God's going to be in the center of our lives, we have to be willing to let him come in and take over every single aspect of our lives." - Steve Macchia What do we do with the raw materials of our lives? Episode 3 of Season 38 invites you into a reflective and practical conversation about crafting a personal Rule of Life. Host Steve Macchia welcomes James Hauptman to explore how intentional rhythms can help us across five essential areas of life: spiritual, physical, relational, financial, and missional. Filled with wisdom and grounded practices, this episode offers guidance for weaving together a personal Rule that is fruitfully and faithfully lived out.  Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.  

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: James Hauptman "A rule of life allows us to live with intention and purpose in the present moment." - Steve Macchia How do you actually begin crafting a Rule of Life? What steps can you take, and what tools can help you along the way? In this week's episode of The Discerning Leader Podcast, Steve Macchia and James Hauptman share practical insights and concrete guidance for getting started. They walk through five key areas of life that benefit from intentional and prayerful attention as you assess your current rhythms, relationships, and daily practices. Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.  

Host: Steve Macchia Guest: James Hauptman "Without a humble, attentive heart our self centeredness will not lead to the abundance of a God-empowered life."  - Steve Macchia 2026 begins with a brand new season of The Discerning Leader Podcast. Featuring James Hauptman, Steve Macchia hosts a rich conversation around well-ordered living that comes from crafting a personal rule of life. Whether you've been operating from a rule of life for years or are hearing about it for the first time, this ancient spiritual practice will help you live into Spirit-empowered rhythms and relationships that create, redeem, sustain, and transform the life God invites you to live. Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.  

Host: Steve Macchia Co-Host: Matt Scott As we step into a new year, this episode invites us to resist the urge to sprint and instead begin 2026 with deliberate, unhurried intentionality. In this final episode of Season 37, Steve Macchia and Matt Scott offer a thoughtful conversation about the gift of slowing down and embracing inefficiency. They explore how slowness creates space for the deeper formation our souls long for—an invitation for each of us to lay down demands, hustle, and urgency as we embrace practices that make room for God's transforming work. Also, here's the Year End Examen to assist you in slowing down as you conclude 2025 and begin 2026. Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.

Host: Steve Macchia, Co-Host: Matt Scott "Solitude and silence are a gift when experienced together. And when they are practiced within a community, they can become a place of significant growth and maturation." - Steve Macchia Many people find solitude uncomfortable. The idea of being alone with our own thoughts can feel overwhelming—even daunting. Yet solitude is not the same as loneliness. In this episode of The Discerning Leader Podcast, we explore how solitude invites us into a cadence of reflective and responsive living. Rather than isolating us, this practice creates space for deeper awareness, clarity, and attentiveness.The gifts of solitude include a deepened love for God and a renewed love for others. As we practice solitude, we discover how to be alone without feeling lonely. Also, here's the companion reflection guide and spiritual exercise to help you enter into stillness and silence this season of Advent.  Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.  

Host: Steve Macchia, Co-Host: Matt Scott "Silence is the place where the deepest work happens in our lives." - Steve Macchia Advent loses its meaning when it is overwhelmed by constant noise. Silence invites the noise to quiet down, helping us recognize the inner distractions we often ignore. It is in these moments of stillness that God works most deeply—transforming our hearts and drawing us closer to Him. In Episode 03, Join Steve Macchia and Matt Scott for a conversation about cultivating attentiveness, spiritual discernment, and leading from a place of holy stillness in a noisy world. Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.  

Host: Steve Macchia, Co-Host: Matt Scott "We have to say no to the demands of this world. We have to create some space that is sacred and holy and dedicated wholly to our heart's devotion to Jesus." - Steve Macchia We often give into a compulsion to complicate the simple and clutter that which is spacious. What if this Advent was different for you? In this podcast conversation, Steve Macchia and Matt Scott explore ways to declutter and create spacious settings for your soul, resisting the cultural pressures and societal norms surrounding us. As you do so, you'll experience a greater awareness and attentiveness to the true reason for the season...experiencing the nearness of Jesus - God with us! Also, here's the companion reflection guide and spiritual exercise to help you declutter this season of Advent.  Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.  

Host: Steve Macchia, Co-host: Matt Scott "Simplicity? It goes against the grain of our society. We're needing to make a concious choice to say no to the excess and to the busyness." - Steve Macchia How is it that the most wonderful time of the year often draws us into excess and exhaustion? Tune into the first episode of Season 37 as Steve Macchia and Matt Scott explore the posture and practice of simplicity. May God grant you rest and renewal this season as you choose the most important things to give yourself to.  Also, here's your reflection guide. Set aside some spacious and unhurried time to prayerfully consider how you might embrace simplicity this Advent season.   Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.  

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: J.R. Briggs "We don't know how to ask good questions and point to another because we're just so fixated on ourselves." - Steve Macchia Steve Macchia and J.R. Briggs remind leaders that transformation begins by asking better, more honest questions. Their conversation invites us to slow down, listen deeply, and cultivate curiosity that leads to wiser, Spirit-led discernment. Receive the invitation to shift from having all the answers to pursuing the right questions. Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.      

Host: Steve Macchia Guest: Gary Thomas "A simple definition of spiritual formation is that the pathway to a deeper walk with God is aligning a deep understanding of the truth about God with the truth about ourselves." – Steve Macchia In this week's episode of The Discerning Leader Podcast, Steve Macchia shares a conversation with long-time friend Gary Thomas. In Gary's most recent book, The Life You Were Reborn to Live, he exposes twelve subtle but powerful deceptions that quietly drain joy and block intimacy with God. Steve and Gary offer practical ways we can dismantle the false beliefs that keep us from the abundant, joy-filled life God has already placed within reach. Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.  

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Alison Cook "To have a healthy sense of identity and focus intently on what matters most, that's what we're all longing for." - Steve Macchia Curiosity, boundaries, healing, and integration. In Episode 10 of Season 36, Steve Macchia interviews Dr. Alison Cook as she shares wisdom and insight from these themes in her recent book "I Shouldn't Feel This Way." A psychotherapist, author, online educator and the host of "The Best of You" podcast, Alison helps other heal painful emotions, develop confidence from the inside out, forge healthy relationships, and fully live out their God-given potential. Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.  

"Relational health and vitality is based on our ability to be empathetic toward one another as God has been empathetic toward us." - Steve Macchia In Episode 36.09 of The Discerning Leader Podcast, Steve Macchia interviews Bill and Kristi Gaultiere of Soul Shepherding as they share wisdom from their recent book, Deeply Loved. Together, they discuss how the life-giving and life-changing power of empathy raises emotional intelligence, cultivates healthier emotions, heals relationships and draws us closer to Jesus. Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.

“Reading is yet another way we can notice and discern the work of God in everyday life.” – Steve Macchia Why should we read? It's a question Jeff Crosby both poses and beautifully answers through engaging personal stories, literary reflections, and spiritual insights. His rich and thought-provoking book, World of Wonders, explores how reading can be an act of worship and spiritual formation. Tune into this conversation with Steve Macchia and Jeff Crosby.  Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.    

“There's so much of us that is yet to be explored because we don't access our imagination.” - Steve Macchia  Is it possible to experience a life of fruitful obedience when we're exhausted, anxious, and busy? In their book A Fruitful Life, Ashley and Bryce Hales help readers dive deep into the Sermon on the Mount and discover Jesus' vision of a good and fruitful life. This podcast episode, hosted by Steve Macchia, offers a rich conversation around Jesus' most famous teaching as well as the surprising and renewing power of Christian imagination.  Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.    

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Bill Simmons “We tend to go other places…our work, our relationships, our hobbies, our attachments as opposed to simply finding our rest in God.” - Steve Macchia In this episode of The Discerning Leader Podcast, Steve Macchia welcomes Bill Simmons to share themes from his new book, The Way of Interruption: Spiritual Practice for Organizational Life. Bill is the president and CEO of Hope Rises, International. In this conversation, he shares wisodm in how letting go of control and embracing established practices can transform an organization's spiritual culture. Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.  

Host: Steve Macchia, Guests: Mimi Dixon “Let us reflect with gratitude on this movement-making piece of literature that has entered our hearts and the spiritual formation world. We are so grateful for the faithfulness of Richard Foster.” - Steve Macchia Miriam (Mimi) Dixon began her ministry in 1979 and has been building up local churches ever since. Holding both an MDiv and DMin degree from Fuller Theological Seminary, she has served in pastoral roles, on the Renovaré Board of Directors, a teacher for the Renovaré Institute, and the faculty for Next Frontiers. In this conversation with Steve Macchia, she graciously shares the influence of Richard Foster and the story behind her book Worth Celebrating: A Biography of Richard J. Foster's Celebration of Discipline. Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.  

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Jimmy Mellado “When we have an awareness of a need, will we run to the need? Are we going to be known for our generosity or for our stinginess?” - Steve Macchia   Steve Macchia and Jimmy Mellado connect in Episode 04 of Season 36. After serving for more than 20 years as the president of the Willow Creek Association, Jimmy has been the President and CEO of Compassion International since 2013. He and Steve discuss spiritual leadership, lessons learned as a decathlete, and the daily rhythms of surrender, restoration, rest, replenishment and communion with God.  Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.  

Host: Steve Macchia, Guests: Nicholas and Sheila Rowe “We've been instructed to act justly, to love mercifully and to walk humbly with the Lord. We want to take the risk of extending friendship across the lines that have historically separated us.” - Steve Macchia  In Episode 03 of Season 36, Nicholas and Sheila Rowe offer their expertise in helping leaders process painful and traumatic experiences. In their book Healing Leadership Trauma, they lay out the emotional challenges of leadership and offer encouragement, prayer, and therapeutic tools to help leaders face their pain and begin to heal. Steve Macchia hosts a rich conversation with the Rowes to offer hope for leaders feeling the weight of their past trauma, present struggles, and uncertainty of the future.   Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.

Host: Steve Machia, Guest: Dave Ripper “In essence, the number one question we ought to be asking ourselves is 'How can I help you draw closer to God?'" - Steve Macchia  In Episode 02 of Season 36, Steve Macchia hosts Dave Ripper, author of ‘Experiencing Scripture as a Disciple of Jesus.' In this conversation, Steve and Dave discuss Dallas Willard's approach to reading the Bible and how we can move toward an experiential knowledge of God in our lives. Don't miss this conversation as Dave shares personal stories about his relationship with the Willards, his heart behind his new book, and how we can encounter God in transforming ways through the Scriptures.   Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.  

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Suz Skinner “Our prayer is that our eyes will be open, our ears will be attentive, and our hearts will receive the gift of the parables of Jesus.” - Steve Macchia  Season 36 begins with a conversation between Steve Macchia and Suz Skinner. They share about their soon-to-release book, Praying the Parables of Jesus, an immersive encounter with the teachings of Jesus. Using the spiritual practices of Lectio and Visio Divina, readers can connect more deeply with the teachings of Jesus as they prayerfully discern God's invitation in the parables.   Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Gordon Macdonald  This episode originally aired on May 5, 2022 as Episode 6 of Season 18  “Expect to reorganize your interior life every 7-10 years.” –Gordon MacDonald  Gordon Macdonald joins Steve Macchia again for the conclusion of this 2-part conversation around his book “The View from Eighty.” Sharing the final 8 insights that make for success or failure in ministry, this REWIND episode will encourage you to live modestly, remain humble and devote time to building and reorganizing your interior life.  Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Gordon Macdonald  This episode originally aired on April 28, 2022 as Episode 5 of Season 18  “Your number one priority in the Lord's work is your family.” –Gordon MacDonald  Gordon Macdonald joins Steve Macchia for the first of two conversations, drawing from his book “The View from Eighty.” A summary of 15 things that make for success or failure in ministry, Gordon and Steve explore the first 7 insights that come from 6 decades of ministry experience. This REWIND episode will encourage you to prioritize your most important relationships and maintain a healthy spiritual life.   Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Eric Peterson  This episode originally aired on April 7, 2022 as Episode 2 of Season 18  “God is in everything, in all the details of life, and not just the pleasant ones.” – Eric Peterson  In this REWIND episode, Eric Peterson joins Steve Macchia to reflect upon the luminous trail of spiritual discernment. Using the metaphors of mountain climbing and hiking, Eric and Steve explore how spiritual friendships are like headlamps that shine on the pathway of life. Tune into this rich conversation between Eric and Steve as they offer insights around how each of us can live a life of illumination and spiritual discernment.  Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Carolyn Arends  This episode originally aired on October 13, 2022 as Episode 2 of Season 22  “The promise we always have is not no pain – it's no wasted pain. There's nothing that He can't redeem.” – Carolyn Arends  Carolyn Arends joins Steve Macchia to share watershed moments of her life story. Highlighting several major turning points and milestones, she offers personal anecdotes on how to cultivate a discerning life. In this REWIND episode, Carolyn shares how the formation required to cultivate a life of discernment is similar to that which makes a great writer or artist.  Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.  

Host: Steve Macchia, Guests: Bill and Kristi Gaultiere  This episode originally aired on November 10, 2022 as Episode 6 of Season 22  “Ohh, I need to do some more inner journey work. This is an invitation.” –Kristi Gaultiere  Bill and Kristi Gaultiere join Steve for a rich conversation about spiritual practices, discernment and soul care. In their book Journey of the Soul, they reflect on more than 70,000 hours of therapy and spiritual direction with people. In this REWIND episode of The Discerning Leader podcast, Bill and Kristi share six stages of spiritual growth and different walls that we experience. These walls start as periods of disorientation but become transition times to a more Christ-centered way of being. Listen as they share personal stories and offer a map to help every person through their own journey of the soul.  Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: James Bryan Smith  This episode originally aired on November 3, 2022 as Episode 5 of Season 22  “Every need that my soul has, Jesus meets them – every single one of them.” – James Bryan Smith  James Bryan Smith joins Steve for a conversation about how our view of God transforms our understanding and experience of spiritual disciplines. In this REWIND episode of The Discerning Leader podcast, James explores the harm of having a legalistic approach to spiritual practices and a toxic view of God. On the other hand, a right perspective of the spiritual disciplines offers us the gift of intimacy with God.   Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Nathan Foster  This episode originally aired on April 14, 2022 as Episode 3 of Season 18  “The Jesus way is clear: hang out with 12 nobodies and then give them the keys.” –Nathan Foster  Nate Foster joins Steve Macchia for a conversation about our awareness of God and quiet reflection. In this REWIND episode, Nate invites us to consider how God often fills in the gaps after times of quiet discernment and prayer. Viewing spiritual practices as what we do in the ordinary parts of life, this conversation welcomes us to experience renewed joy in the wonderfully ordinary, and grace-filled moments of life.   Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Rowena Day  This episode originally aired on April 13, 2023 as Episode 1 of Season 26. “There are so many ways that our attention is pulled, and we are divorced from our own bodies which make it really hard to notice God.” – Rowena Day  In this REWIND episode of The Discerning Leader podcast, Rowena Day shares with Steve how she notices the presence of God through the mighty oceans and the minute details of everyday living. Encouraging us with the notion that only when our mind, heart, body and spirit are fully integrated can we be receptive to what God has for us in the present, Rowena offers practical insights to living an embodied and integrated spirituality.  Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.

Host: Steve Macchia,  Guest: Trevor Hudson  This episode originally aired on October 6, 2022 as Episode 1 of Season 22.  Trevor Hudson joins Steve Macchia to discuss what it means to discern the voice of God and follow Jesus in family and vocational life as well as times of discontent and suffering. Drawing from the wisdom of Saint Ignatius of Loyola and Dallas Willard, Trevor offers insights and practical ways we can seek and find God in everyday living. This REWIND episode was originally aired in October of 2022 and remains one of the most downloaded episodes of The Discerning Leader podcast.  Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.    

Co-Hosts: Steve Macchia and Matt Scott “It's important to be surrounded by people who model what a Christ-like life looks like, invest in you regularly, offer spiritual friendship, ongoing guidance and encouragement.” — Steve Macchia  The final episode of Season 35 explores what it looks like to walk with the saints. You'll hear personal stories from Steve and Matt as they share some of the relationships that have helped them embody and emulate the things that make for community (presence, listening, hospitality, forbearance, humility, trust-building, repairing and restoring). Tune into this conversation as you consider who is helping to feed your soul and whose soul you're companioning along the way.   Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.  

Co-Hosts: Steve Macchia and Matt Scott “Those who have an articulated communal rule of life stick together longer and more faithfully...and go deeper in their walk together with the Lord.” — Steve Macchia  Healthy churches and healthy spiritual communities are comprised of those who learn, live and grow together in Christ. These communities offer a safe place to share hurts and heartaches, pray for and care for one another, grow together in grace, and offer forgiveness and selfless love to one another. Of course, this way of living doesn't happen without great purpose and intention. Enjoy this podcast conversation centered around how to live out a share rule of life within a spiritual community.   Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.