Podcasts about influence podcast

Ever wonder how G2 employees manage to completely dominate your LinkedIn feed with high-value content?In this episode, Lewis Gray and Elliot Elsley sit down with Jenny Gardynski, Senior Director of Content and Communications at G2. With over 13 years of PR agency experience representing fast-growing B2B tech giants, Jenny knows exactly how to build authentic brand awareness from the inside out.Listeners will dive into the exact mechanics behind G2's manual advocacy program, learning how their communications team builds high-performing social kits, launches tactical Slack engagement loops, and embeds custom LinkedIn branding into new-hire onboarding.Jenny shares strategies on why workforce personalization outpaces corporate channels by 5x, how to execute strategic quarterly contests that prompt passive employees to start posting, and how to effectively build custom GPT structures to scale executive voices while completely eliminating robotic "AI-isms".If you're currently struggling to prove a proof of concept with a manual social pilot, or if your employees are hesitant to share content because they are afraid of sounding unauthentic, this episode provides a realistic blueprint.Resources:Want to know how your employee advocacy strategy really stacks up?Grab your FREE Employee Advocacy Health Check and see how you compare against your competitors.Book a call to discover how employee advocacy can benefit your team.Ready to elevate your employee advocacy? Get a free copy of Bradley Keenan's essential book, ‘Employee Advocacy: 101 Cheat Codes' for deeper insights and actionable strategies.Download The World's Biggest Employee Advocacy Study.Subscribe to the Employee Advocacy & Influence Podcast on Spotify or your favorite platform to never miss an episode.

Welcome to the Influence Podcast! I'm George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. "Honesty matters, and people care a great deal about it," writes Christian Miller. Yet we are facing an unprecedented erosion of honesty today — what I call an honesty crisis. Indeed, we are facing not just one crisis, but a variety of honesty crises in different parts of our society. … Fortunately, in many cases, there are concrete steps we can take to turn the tide." In this episode of the Influence Podcast, I talk about those steps with Christian Miller. He is the A. C. Reid Professor of Philosophy at Wake Forest University, president of the Society of Christian Philosophers, and author of The Honesty Crisis: Preserving Our Most Treasured Virtue in an Increasingly Dishonest World, published by Oxford University Press.   Sponsor AdThis episode of the Influence podcast is brought to you by Gospel Publishing House, distributors of Trusted with Treasureby Assemblies of God General Secretary Brad Kesler. Just as nautical charts and lighthouses guide captains safely past hazards, this handbook on ministerial ethics will help equip you to build healthy relationships, avoid unwise behaviors, and serve with integrity and the highest ethical standards. For more information about Trusted with Treasure visit GospelPublishingHouse.com. Show Notes 00:00 — Introduction and Sponsor Ad 02:25 — What is honesty, and why do you think we're having an "honesty crisis"? 07:30 — How honest are most people typically, and why do we lie? 13:24 — What's the "online infidelity" crisis, and what can we do about it? 25:58 — What is the "fake news and politics" crisis, and what can we do about it? 35:30 — What is "sermon plagiarism," why is it wrong, and what can we do about it?? 46:23 — Pastors sometimes fall to the temptations of "online infidelity" and "celebrity." What's going on here and what can we do about it? 50:44 — As a Christian philosopher, what general advice would you give pastors about helping their congregations become more honest both individually and corporately?? 57:40 — What are you reading right now that is interesting, helpful, and/or personally challenging? 1:00:16 — Conclusion

Welcome to the Influence Podcast! I'm George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. "Paul didn't want believers to detach themselves from life in this world," writes Nijay Gupta. "He didn't want 'otherworldliness' only. He also didn't want them to be preoccupied with only temporary and fleeting things, 'cheap worldliness.' He wanted believers to imitate Christ and walk in the Spirit here and now — 'holy worldliness'." In this episode of the Influence Podcast, I talk to Gupta about what this means, based on his new book. Nijay Gupta, Ph.D., is Julius R. Mantey Professor of New Testament at Northern Seminary and author of Paul for the World, published by Brazos Press.   Sponsor AdThis episode of the Influence podcast is brought to you by Gospel Publishing House, distributors of What Paul Really Taught About Women in Ministry. In this insightful study, New Testament scholar Waldemar Kowalski carefully examines the historical and cultural contexts behind Paul's most challenging statements about women in ministry. By placing these passages within their proper setting, Kowalski helps readers see a clearer picture of Paul's intent. The result is both thoughtful and compelling: Paul's message about women in ministry was ultimately one of affirmation, not restriction. For more information about What Paul Really Taught About Women in Ministry visit GospelPublishingHouse.com.   Show Notes 00:00 — Introduction and Sponsor Ad 01:49 — For many listeners, "holy worldliness" is an oxymoron. So, what do you mean by that phrase? 07:45 — Why do you think Paul was a good exemplar of holy worldliness? 11:03 — How does Paul inform Christians on the topic of ethnic equality? 20:21 — What does a first-century Roman have to say to 21st-century Americans about economics? 26:02 — Paul rarely if ever used the Greek terms for friendship. So, what does he have to say about a topic he seemingly wrote nothing about? 30:33 — What does Paul say to us about sports? 38:08 In your opinion as a seminary professor, what is the spiritual and intellectual value of doing research for yourself? Do you have concerns about ministers using AI? 44:58 — What are you reading right now that is interesting, helpful, and/or personally challenging? 46:18 — Conclusion

Welcome to the Influence Podcast! I'm George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. "Regardless of your Sunday attendance numbers, your church can become one of the most influential organizations in your city," writes Kevin Foster. "As culture drifts further from the local church, one of the most powerful ways to become relevant again is to engage with the brokenness in the community around you." In this episode of the Influence Podcast, I talk to Foster about his book, Run to the Brokenness. We discuss the relationship between evangelism and compassion, better metrics for measuring ministry effectiveness, how to operationalize compassion in your congregation, and much more. Kevin Foster is the founding pastor of LifeBridge Community Church in Fresno, Calif., and author of Run to the Brokenness: How Your Church Can Be the Center of Your Community, published by Avail.   Sponsor AdThis episode of the Influence podcast is brought to you by Gospel Publishing House, distributors of Trusted with Treasureby Assemblies of God General Secretary Brad Kesler. Just as nautical charts and lighthouses guide captains safely past hazards, this handbook on ministerial ethics will help equip you to build healthy relationships, avoid unwise behaviors, and serve with integrity and the highest ethical standards. For more information about Trusted with Treasure visit GospelPublishingHouse.com.   Show Notes 00:00 — Introduction and Sponsor Ad 01:53 — What does "Run to the brokenness mean," and what was the impetus for this concept in your life and ministry? 09:06 — Why do we need to do redefine success in the local church? And what are better metrics for measuring success? 11:48 — Different communities have different needs, so how does a church identify points of brokenness in its community? 16:19 — How do you address the brokenness within a church? And how do you operationalize your ministry to those points of brokenness? 22:20 — How do you respond to these three objections: (1) My church isn't big enough to do this. (2) As a pastor, I don't have enough capacity. (3) We don't have enough money. 24:31 — How do we create the culture that wants to address the points of pain and need in a community? 30:20 How do you keep evangelism and compassion together? 33:28 — What are you reading right now that is interesting, helpful, and/or personally challenging? 34:43 — Conclusion

How do you turn employees into active brand advocates in less than 90 days?In this episode, Anna Laura McGranahan, the driving force behind the social media strategy at Aptean, an AI-enhanced enterprise software, shares her blueprint for migrating from manual, untrackable social sharing to a high-performance advocacy engine that hit its end-of-year goals in just four weeks.Listeners will discover how to build a structural foundation for scale, from navigating IT requirements like Single Sign-On to leveraging executive leadership to drive immediate adoption. Anna Laura also pulls back the curtain on her use of Generative AI agents to remove the “blank page syndrome” for employees, ensuring that even engineers and R&D teams feel confident posting on LinkedIn.Resources:Want to know how your employee advocacy strategy really stacks up?Grab your FREE Employee Advocacy Health Check and see how you compare against your competitors.Book a call to discover how employee advocacy can benefit your team:​Ready to elevate your employee advocacy? Get a free copy of Bradley Keenan's essential book, ‘Employee Advocacy: 101 Cheat Codes' for deeper insights and actionable strategies.​Download the 2026 Employee Advocacy Benchmark Report.Subscribe to the Employee Advocacy & Influence Podcast on Spotify or your favorite platform to never miss an episode.

Welcome to the Influence Podcast! I'm George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. Recently, a prominent Southern Baptist leader called on his denomination to end the confusion caused when Baptist churches allow women to be called pastors. "The vast majority of Southern Baptists … are absolutely clear and have been all along that the office of pastors is restricted to men as qualified by Scripture," he said. By contrast, the Assemblies of God position paper, "Women in Ministerial Leadership," says, "Scripture clearly advocates for women as ministers and leaders." Consequently, the Assemblies of God credentials those whom God has called and empowered, whether they are women or men. Both groups appeal to Scripture and argue about two passages in particular: 1 Corinthians 14:34–35 and 1 Timothy 2:8–15. In this episode, I talk to Waldemar Kowalski about what these passages actually mean. Waldemar Kowalski, Ph.D., is a global worker with the Assemblies of God, the teaching pastor at IES Bandung (AG) in Indonesia, and author of What Paul Really Taught About Women in Ministry: Matching Paul's Practice and Instruction, published by Logion Press. My conversation with Kowalski is coming up after a brief word from our sponsor.   Sponsor AdThis episode of the Influence podcast is brought to you by Gospel Publishing House, distributors of The Assemblies of God: Our Story by Daniel D. Isgrigg. Explore the inspiring history of the Assemblies of God from a handful of ministers to a worldwide fellowship of more than 85 million believers. Discover the legacy, mission, and Spirit-filled story that continues to impact the world today. For more information about The Assemblies of God: Our Story visit GospelPublishingHouse.com.   Show Notes 00:00 — Introduction and Sponsor Ad 02:17 — What does the biblical evidence say women did in Paul's churches? Why is what Paul did as important as what we believe Paul said? 06:07 — What are the basic hermeneutical rules that ought to guide us as we interpret Scripture? And what does 1 Corinthian 14:34–35 actually prohibit? 14:22 — Some New Testament scholars argue that 1 Corinthians 14:34–35 is not authentic. You disagree. Why do you think the verses are original? 16:42 — The biggest impediment to women serving as pastors or any other leadership role in the Church is the traditional interpretation of 1 Timothy 2:8–15. What is the traditional interpretation of those verses, Why do you think it fails? And what is the best interpretation of 1 Timothy 2:8–15? 27:02 — Another set of passages that seems to imply a prohibition of women leading churches is 1 Timothy 3:1–12 and Titus 1:5–9, which talk about elders and deacons being the "husband of one wife," which seems to imply that they're male. What's the best understanding of those passages? 30:45 — You and your wife serve together on the mission field. She is the senior pastor, and you're a Bible professor. Based on your experience, what do churches lose when they block half the church from living out the callings God has called and empowered them to perform? 31:54 — What are you reading right now that is interesting, helpful, and/or personally challenging? 35:14 — Conclusion

Welcome to the Influence Podcast! I'm George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. In this episode I talk to Prof. Matthew D. Kim about his new book, Becoming a Friendlier Church: A Pathway to Genuine Community, forthcoming from Baker Books. Our focus is why churches are unfriendly and how they can become friendlier. "In this book, I want to draw attention to a crisis in congregations that may not be on many people's radars: too many churches are less friendly than they realize," Kim writes. "Unfriendliness might be furtively devouring their church's ministry effectiveness, influence, and longevity." Every church thinks it's friendly. But Kim writes, "Just as in the first round of American Idol, where some contestants overstate their singing abilities as they audition, many Christians believe they are good, friendly welcomers even if they're not." Matthew D. Kim, Ph.D., is professor of preaching and pastoral leadership, holder of the George W. Truett Endowed Chair in Preaching and Evangelism, and director of the Ph.D. in preaching program at Baylor University's Truett Seminary.   Sponsor AdThis episode of the Influence podcast is brought to you by Gospel Publishing House, distributors of Autism in the Church. Make your church a place where everyone belongs. Many congregations feel unprepared to walk beside individuals with autism and their loved ones. Autism in the Church equips churches to create an environment where individuals with autism are not just present, but known, discipled, and celebrated as vital parts of the body of Christ. For more information about Autism in the Church visit GospelPublishingHouse.com. Show Notes 00:00 — Introduction and Sponsor Ad 02:27 — Defining friendliness and unfriendliness 04:43 — Why church friendliness is at crisis levels 07:03 — Apathy 11:50 — Busyness 17:32 — Prejudice 24:32 — Friendliness during a person's greatest needs 27:27 — What preachers can do 30:04 — What are you reading right now that is interesting, helpful, and/or personally challenging? 32:14 — Conclusion

Can you run a successful employee advocacy program when every single post is subject to regulatory enforcement?Beatrice Edera Panariello, Senior Digital Marketing Manager at Aviva Investors, joins the show to reveal how she built an award-winning program that's delivered over half a million pounds in equivalent media value within one of the world's most tightly regulated industries.This episode provides a masterclass in navigating the risk of social media by co-creating guardrails with legal teams, reframing advocacy as a tool for personal professional growth rather than just a corporate megaphone, and leveraging AI to streamline the compliance process. Beatrice shares how to transition to a high-trust, expert-led LinkedIn presence that reaches four times the audience of a corporate account.Whether you are struggling with low engagement or high-risk barriers, this conversation offers a proven roadmap for scaling influence globally while staying 100% compliant.Resources:Want to know how your employee advocacy strategy really stacks up?Grab your FREE Employee Advocacy Health Check and see how you compare against your competitors.Book a call to discover how employee advocacy can benefit your team.​Ready to elevate your employee advocacy? Get a free copy of Bradley Keenan's essential book, ‘Employee Advocacy: 101 Cheat Codes' for deeper insights and actionable strategies.​Download the 2026 Employee Advocacy Benchmark Report.Subscribe to the Employee Advocacy & Influence Podcast on Spotify or your favorite platform to never miss an episode.

Your employees are your company's most underutilized marketing channel. Relying solely on corporate pages means missing out on the authentic, human-centric voice that modern buyers and candidates trust.In this episode, we are joined by Zach Blew, a Talent Brand and People Programs Leader formerly of Meta and Glassdoor. Zach shares his experience from his time at Meta, including the nuts and bolts of building an employee advocacy program from the ground up, starting with a pilot that achieved a staggering 40% adoption rate.Zach shares his “Goldilocks method” for engaging everyone from the on-the-go sharer to the high-touch executive, and explains how to move past vanity metrics to track hard ROI, such as cost-per-click and direct job applications. He also debunks the myth that advocacy requires a massive content production budget, highlighting how authentic employee voices now take priority over flashy, polished content.Whether you're struggling to get executive buy-in or looking to scale an existing program, this episode provides a masterclass in driving reach, trust, and bottom-line results through the power of your people.Resources:Want to know how your employee advocacy strategy really stacks up?Grab your FREE Employee Advocacy Health Check and see how you compare against your competitors.Book a call to discover how employee advocacy can benefit your team.​Ready to elevate your employee advocacy? Get a free copy of Bradley Keenan's essential book, ‘Employee Advocacy: 101 Cheat Codes' for deeper insights and actionable strategies.​Download the 2026 Employee Advocacy Benchmark Report.Subscribe to the Employee Advocacy & Influence Podcast on Spotify or your favorite platform to never miss an episode.

A lot of men look strong on the outside but feel directionless, numb, and disconnected on the inside. In this episode of the Men of Influence Podcast, we talk about why so many men drift into addiction, pornography, alcohol, achievement-chasing, and emotional emptiness when they don't have a clear spiritual mission. If you've ever felt like you were working hard but still missing purpose, peace, and meaning, this conversation is for you. Justin Stewart shares his powerful story of going from living in the back of a tattoo shop, battling alcoholism, and feeling trapped in hopelessness to answering God's call, rebuilding his life, and stepping into a mission that now helps other men find direction. This episode is for Christian men, fathers, leaders, first responders, and any man who knows he was made for more than survival. You'll hear why purpose cannot be self-invented, how mission shapes identity, and what practical daily habits help men walk with discipline, brotherhood, and faith. If you are tired of drifting and ready to live with conviction, clarity, and spiritual purpose, this episode will challenge and equip you. In this conversation, you'll learn why so many men stay stuck in cycles of escape and self-destruction when they lack mission, how childhood wounds and the need for love and enoughness shape adult behavior, why values are the first step to discovering purpose, and how daily habits like prayer, journaling, exercise, learning, and community help men stay grounded in their calling. 00:00 Intro00:10 Welcome to the Men of Influence Podcast00:35 Justin's story: from alcoholism to spiritual awakening02:40 What drifting without direction really looks like05:43 The pit men face: fear, purposelessness, and identity loss08:12 Why mission is essential for men08:38 What happens when men live without purpose09:32 The inner mindset keeping men stuck13:08 How society and conditioning shape broken identity15:32 Step one to discovering your mission17:57 Why men need systems, discipline, and brotherhood18:52 Daily habits that support a spiritual mission20:51 Journaling and writing your mission oath21:23 What's been on Justin's heart lately25:26 Where to find Justin Stewart and The Guild26:12 Closing thoughts #MensPurpose #SpiritualMission #ChristianMen #MenOfInfluence #PurposeDrivenLife Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do you transform a global icon known for luxury cars into a performance-driven technology powerhouse through the voices of its own people?In this episode, we are joined by Steven Brand, Global Employer Brand Lead at Rolls-Royce. Listeners will hear why employee voices carry more weight than corporate channels and how Rolls-Royce uses a unified employer brand to challenge and correct market misconceptions about its business. Discover the importance of shifting the narrative from corporate requirements to individual career benefits and reputation building, while still finding the room to play within strict tone-of-voice and design guidelines. Plus, understand why early-stage advocacy programs need a balance of hard metrics and powerful anecdotal stories to successfully win over leadership and drive long-term adoption.This episode offers a practical, step-by-step guide to proving the business value of employee advocacy.Resources:Want to know how your employee advocacy strategy really stacks up? Grab your FREE Employee Advocacy Health Check and see how you compare against your competitors.Book a call to discover how employee advocacy can benefit your team.​Ready to elevate your employee advocacy? Get a free copy of Bradley Keenan's essential book, ‘Employee Advocacy: 101 Cheat Codes' for deeper insights and actionable strategies.​Download the 2026 Employee Advocacy Benchmark Report.Subscribe to The Employee Advocacy & Influence Podcast for more expert insights into employee influence!

Guests:Todd Blair, Vice President & Assistant General Counsel as CoreSitePatricia Donkor, Senior Corporate Counsel at Steampunk, Inc.Herrin Hopper, Associate General Counsel at Truth Initiative FoundationCo-hosts:Phil Feigen,  ShareholderSuzanne Bassett, Associate

Welcome to the Influence Podcast! I'm George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. "The church is called to be a place of belonging for all people," writes Julie Pratt. "Paul reminded us in 1 Corinthians 12:12–27 that the body of Christ is made up of many different parts, each one valuable and necessary. In verse 22 he wrote, 'Some of the parts that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary' (NLT)." Pratt goes on to write, "That means individuals with autism aren't just people we need to 'accommodate' out of obligation. They are essential to the life of the church. When we fail to make space for them, we're not just failing those individuals and their families. We're missing out on the fullness of the body of Christ." In this episode, I talk to Pratt about what churches need to know about people with autism in order better to include them in the life of the congregation. Julie Pratt is Kidmin Discipleship Director for the Assemblies of God and author of Autism in the Church, published by Salubris. My conversation with her begins after a brief word from our sponsor.   Sponsor Ad This episode of the Influence podcast is brought to you by Gospel Publishing House, distributors of A Disciple's Growth. Get a clear and practical roadmap for following Jesus with depth and purpose. Drawing from Scripture, the power of the Holy Spirit, and real-life examples, discover seven key dimensions of spiritual formation—Bible, Holy Spirit, missions, prayer, worship, service, and generosity—that shape believers into fully devoted disciples.   Show Notes 00:00 — Introduction and Sponsor Ad 02:27 — Let's start with your personal experience with autism then move to a more formal definition of autism and a description of its prevalence in the U.S. 09:00 — You ask, "Is autism also a part of Your image, God?" How do you answer that question? 15:29 — What are some of the challenges people with autism face in attending church, and how can leadership address those challenges? 21:10 — What are some of the things church leaders should keep in mind when it comes to discipling people with autism? 25:19 — How do we train volunteers throughout the congregation to minister more effectively to people with autism? 29:48 — We have been talking about ministry to people with autism, but what about ministry with and by people with autism? 35:32 — How can we support families who have a member with autism beyond the four ways of the church on Sunday morning? 40:59 — What are you reading right now that is interesting, helpful, and/or personally challenging? 42:21 — Conclusion

What happens when you stop shouting into the void of corporate social media and start empowering your most authentic assets: your people?In this episode, we are joined by Vicky Cunningham, Marketing Director at Efficio. With a background in financial services, journalism, and even acting, Vicky brings a unique perspective on how people buy from people, particularly in the niche world of procurement and supply chain consulting.This conversation dives into the practicalities of scaling a global advocacy program. Vicky shares how Efficio uses “LinkedIn Post Pro” (a custom GPT) to help consultants overcome blank-page syndrome by providing a simple starting point for posts, and why empowering early adopters to lead with microcasts and interview-style content proved more effective than relying solely on written articles. Discover how a single LinkedIn post translated directly into a new business bid, highlighting the real impact of social selling in niche consulting, and the crucial role a dedicated employee advocacy manager and regular drop-in sessions play in supporting employees and removing common barriers to participation.If you've struggled to turn employee intent into action or need to prove the ROI of advocacy to a time-poor leadership team, this episode provides the blueprint for a steady, sustainable rollout that delivers real-world business opportunities.Resources:Want to know how your employee advocacy strategy really stacks up?Grab your FREE Employee Advocacy Health Check and see how you compare against your competitors.Book a call to discover how employee advocacy can benefit your team.Ready to elevate your employee advocacy? Get a free copy of Bradley Keenan's essential book, ‘Employee Advocacy: 101 Cheat Codes' for deeper insights and actionable strategies.Download the 2026 Employee Advocacy Benchmark Report.Subscribe to The Employee Advocacy & Influence Podcast for more expert insights into employee influence!

Welcome to the Influence Podcast! I'm George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. "The doctrine of hell can be a powerful motivator," writes Allen Tennison. "Many believers initially responded to a salvation message for fear of going to hell. Christians have also dedicated themselves to prayer, evangelism, and global missions over the threat of hell." "Images of hell can also move people in the other direction," Tennison says. "Some reject Christianity because of its teaching on hell. They refuse to believe in a God who would allow people to suffer eternal torment or dismiss what they see as fear-based threats from preachers," "What some view as motivation, others consider manipulation," Tennison concludes. In this episode, I talk to Tennison about the problem of hell based on his article, "What We Believe About the Final Judgment," from the Winter 2026 issue of Influence. Allen Tennison is theological counsel to the General Council of the Assemblies of God and author of the long running What We Believe series in Influence magazine. He will conclude that series in the Spring 2026 issue with an article titled, "What We Believe About the New Heavens and New Earth." Show Notes 00:00 — Introduction 01:28 — What words does the Bible use both to name hell and to describe it? 09:12 — Why is hell a "problem" for believing Christians? 13:03 — Questions about annihilationism/conditional immortality 20:14 — Questions about universalism 26:26 — Questions about eternal conscious torment 35:33 — Advocates of the traditional doctrine of hell utilize use two apologetic strategies: retribution and choice. Does the AG have a position? 45:53 — How do we preach the doctrine of hell in a spiritual formative way? 49:10 — What are you reading right now that is interesting, helpful, and/or personally challenging? 58:02 — Conclusion

How do you convince a room full of engineers that they belong on social media? It's a challenge many marketers face, but Tolulope Aribisala-Tijani has cracked the code at Hatch by focusing on how social media will help them achieve their goals.In this episode, Tolulope, Social Media Marketing Manager at Hatch, shares the blueprint for building an employee advocacy strategy within a global engineering firm. Tolulope provides a masterclass in launching a program from scratch, covering everything from the initial homework of tool selection to the rigorous IT security and legal due diligence required for a successful rollout.You will learn how to navigate foundational hurdles by securing leadership backing and providing training to turn subject matter experts into active LinkedIn contributors. Tolulope shares her proven strategies for activating non-social engineers by shifting the focus to the personal benefits of participation, such as strengthening their personal brand and securing invitations to speak at industry events.Tolulope also explores the cultural shift from hard metrics like reach toward anecdotal success, where social media becomes an ingrained, organic habit across the workforce.Resources:Want to know how your employee advocacy strategy really stacks up? Grab your FREE Employee Advocacy Health Check and see how you compare against your competitors.Book a call to discover how employee advocacy can benefit your team.​Ready to elevate your employee advocacy? Get a free copy of Bradley Keenan's essential book, ‘Employee Advocacy: 101 Cheat Codes' for deeper insights and actionable strategies.​Download the 2026 Employee Advocacy Benchmark Report.Subscribe to The Employee Advocacy & Influence Podcast for more expert insights into employee influence!

Welcome to the Influence Podcast! I'm George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. "Most professions have ethical codes of conduct that govern the behavior of members," writes Brad Kesler. "If ethical behavior is important for other professions, how much more for ministers of the Lord Jesus Christ?" Kesler wrote a just-published book on ministerial ethics to "equip all God's people, and especially ministers, to conduct ministry in such a way that it glorifies God, protects and encourages the church, and sets up the minister for long-term, healthy ministry. Too many ministers have shipwrecked their ministries on the rocks of ignorance and sin." In this episode, I talk to Kesler about the importance of ministerial ethics generally as well as the issues of money, sex, and power specifically. Brad Kesler is general secretary of the Assemblies of God and (full disclosure) my boss. He is author of Trusted with Treasure: A Handbook of Ethics in Ministry, published by Gospel Publishing House.   Sponsor Ad This episode of the Influence podcast is brought to you by Gospel Publishing House, distributors of The Third Voice. Students are surrounded by noise—voices that distract, entertain, and shape their beliefs—yet they feel more alone than ever. Anxiety, identity struggles, and hopelessness are rising. What's missing is a third voice: a mentor who speaks truth, hope, and biblical wisdom. The Third Voice equips youth pastors, leaders, and mentors to step into that gap. For more information about The Third Voice visit GospelPublishingHouse.   Show Notes 00:00 — Introduction and Sponsor Ad 01:55 — Why is ethics crucial to Pentecostal ministry? 02:55 — Chapter 3 outlines a process for ethical decision-making. Can you walk us through that process? 06:35 — Why do you focus on the issues of money, sex, and power. And what temptations does money pose to ministers. 11:30 — How should ministers face the temptations posed by sex outside of marriage? 14:39 — How should ministers navigate the dilemmas power poses to them? 16:38 — What are best practices for relationships on a church or ministry team? 24:13 — What are best practices for relating to the fellowship, whether at the sectional, district, or national level? 28:35 — What are some practical ways for ministers to use social media well? 33:18 — What are you reading right now that is interesting, helpful, and/or personally challenging? 34:47 — Conclusion

How do you convince 400+ employees in a global financial technology firm to become active brand advocates on LinkedIn?In this episode, we are joined by Lauren Harbury, Head of Social and Paid Media at Broadridge. With over a decade of experience at Fortune 500 brands like Wells Fargo, Lauren is a master at navigating the complexities of social strategy within highly regulated environments.Lauren breaks down the exact tactics used to scale Broadridge's employee advocacy program in a highly regulated environment, proving that success comes from meeting people where they are. You'll hear how President Chris Perry's active use of LinkedIn became a shining beacon for the entire organization, setting the tone from the top and even sparking a friendly competitive spirit via the company leaderboard. Lauren shares how her team built trust with compliance by positioning advocacy as a controlled, supported framework rather than a risk, and by implementing a three-fold enablement strategy: company-wide onboarding, targeted team training, and responsive ad hoc support. The episode explores the transition from a “glitchy” legacy tool to a high-impact platform, how to turn salespeople into your most active advocates by directly connecting posts to client conversations and closed deals, and why organic company pages are increasingly losing reach to individual employee profiles.Whether you're launching in a regulated sector or trying to reignite a stagnant program, this episode gives you the data-backed ammunition to prove ROI, win internal buy-in, and scale advocacy from social activity to measurable business impact.Resources:Want to know how your employee advocacy strategy really stacks up? Grab your FREE Employee Advocacy Health Check and see how you compare against your competitors.Book a call to discover how employee advocacy can benefit your team.Ready to elevate your employee advocacy? Get a free copy of Bradley Keenan's essential book, ‘Employee Advocacy: 101 Cheat Codes' for deeper insights and actionable strategies.​Download the 2026 Employee Advocacy Benchmark Report.Subscribe to The Employee Advocacy & Influence Podcast for more expert insights into employee influence!

Welcome to the Influence Podcast! I'm George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. "The so-called worship wars often consist of ill-suited judgments about worship," writes Steven Félix-Jäger. "The debates generally center around the question of what constitutes appropriate worship and can include issues such as the use of contemporary music versus traditional hymns, the role of preaching, the usual of visual aids and technology, and the role of personal experience in worship." In this episode, I talk to Félix-Jäger about how to assess the arguments in these debates and use good judgment when planning a worship service. Steven Félix-Jäger is associate professor and chair of Worship Arts and Media at Life Pacific University and a credentialed minister in the Foursquare Church. He is author of How to Worship for All Its Worth, published by Zondervan Academic. Sponsor Ad This episode of the Influence podcast is brought to you by Gospel Publishing House, distributors of A Disciple's Growth. Get a clear and practical roadmap for following Jesus with depth and purpose. Drawing from Scripture, the power of the Holy Spirit, and real-life examples, discover seven key dimensions of spiritual formation—Bible, Holy Spirit, missions, prayer, worship, service, and generosity—that shape believers into fully devoted disciples. For more information about A Disciple's Growth visit GospelPublishingHouse.com. Show Notes 00:00 — Introduction and Sponsor Ad 01:49 — How do you define "worship"? 06:20 — Should all churches adopt a common worship style or improve whatever style they currently utilize? Or both? 11:35 — What do you mean by "judgment," generally speaking, and what is good "biblical judgment"? 23:30 — What is aesthetics, and how do we exercise good aesthetic judgment? 31:58 — How is theological judgment different from biblical judgment, and how do you use it in the context of planning a worship service? 47:37 — What is pastoral judgment, and how do we use it? 53:18 — What is "flow," and how do we plan a worship service for better flow? 1:03:48 — What are you reading right now that is interesting, helpful, and/or personally challenging? 1:04:34 — Conclusion

The most effective way to launch and run a successful employee advocacy program in a regulated industry is to build momentum first, track meaningful metrics, and demonstrate impact early to earn internal buy-in.In this episode, we are joined by Michela Di Giorgio Martin, the Lead Manager - Social Media at AICPA & CIMA. Michela breaks down the journey of launching a highly successful advocacy program in a regulated industry. You'll learn how she transitioned the program from a simple pilot focused on participation to a sophisticated strategy that tracks shares per active user and EMV. We dive deep into the tactics of meeting employees where they are via emails and Microsoft Teams, the importance of leadership buy-in for adoption, and how even the most technical tax updates can become engaging social content when shared by a trusted peer rather than a corporate page.Resources:Want to know how your employee advocacy strategy really stacks up?Grab your FREE Employee Advocacy Health Check and see how you compare against your competitors.Book a call to discover how employee advocacy can benefit your team.Ready to elevate your employee advocacy? Get a free copy of Bradley Keenan's essential book, ‘Employee Advocacy: 101 Cheat Codes' for deeper insights and actionable strategies.Download the World's Biggest Employee Advocacy Study for free and discover data-backed insights to supercharge your program:Subscribe to The Employee Advocacy & Influence Podcast for more expert insights into employee influence!

Welcome to the Influence Podcast! I'm George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. "Children's ministry is arguably one of the most difficult ministries to lead, but it is also the most rewarding," writes David Reneau. "We get the sacred opportunity to be some of the first people to tell little children — the next generation — about Jesus. We get to plant the seeds, tend and water the soil, and watch the first little tender sprouts peek out of the ground as our kids begin their faith journey and discover their calling." What are the best ways to maximize this opportunity? In this episode, I talk to David Reneau about how to make the most of your congregation's children's ministry. Reneau is an ordained Assemblies of God minister and lead pastor at Encounter Church in Toccoa, Georgia, with over 17 years of hands-on children's ministry experience. He is author of Next-Level Kidmin: The Children's Pastor's Practical Guide to Building a Thriving Ministry.   Sponsor Ad This episode of the Influence podcast is brought to you by Gospel Publishing House, distributors of The Heart of a Pathfinder. You're not just leading for now; you're building for what's next. How big would you dream if you saw your ministry through a generational lens? Melissa Alfaro challenges us to approach leadership through the lens of a pathfinder. She calls ministry leaders to do the hard work of clearing the path so future generations can step into their call. For more information about The Heart of a Pathfinder visit GospelPublishingHouse.com. ​ Show Notes 00:00 — Introduction and Sponsor Ad 02:05 — How do we keep the gospel central to our Kidmin leadership? 04:36 — What are the three fundamental elements of children's ministry? 16:51 — What are the best practices for recruiting, training, and even firing volunteers? 27:15 — How do you decide whether a Sunday school model or a small group model is the best fit for you congregation's children's ministry? 30:15 — How do you plan a children's church service that keeps the kids' energies at appropriate levels throughout the service? 35:37 — Give us a few ideas about how to pick the best curriculum. Also, how do we incorporate action — evangelism, missions, compassion — into our lesson planning? 41:41 — How do we do the work of ministry in a way that doesn't kill the work of God in us personally? 44:31 — What are you reading right now that is interesting, helpful, and/or personally challenging? 45:35 — Conclusion

In this episode, we sit down with Robyn Fawcett, Social Media Manager at BT Group. Robyn is a unique breed of practitioner, a former e-learning designer turned influencer who now runs a thriving employee-generated content program for one of the UK's largest telecommunications brands.Want to know how your employee advocacy strategy really stacks up? Grab your ⁠FREE Employee Advocacy Health Check⁠ and see how you compare against your competitors.This conversation explores the how-to of scaling employee-generated content. Robyn explains how she focuses on training employees to be original creators, using her own reporter-style videos to lead by example. You'll learn how to identify your low-hanging fruit advocates, the importance of providing a technical toolkit to boost employee confidence, and the specific strategy BT uses to get senior leadership active on social media to drive organizational change. By shifting from a control-first mindset to one of empowerment, Robyn demonstrates how to transform a corporate brand into a relatable, story-driven entity that attracts top talent in the Gen Z era.If you are struggling to move past corporate noise and want to unlock the organic reach of your workforce, this episode is your roadmap.Resources:Book a call to discover how employee advocacy can benefit your team:Ready to elevate your employee advocacy? Get a free copy of Bradley Keenan's essential book, ‘Employee Advocacy: 101 Cheat Codes' for deeper insights and actionable strategies.Download the World's Biggest Employee Advocacy Study for free and discover data-backed insights to supercharge your program:Subscribe to The Employee Advocacy & Influence Podcast for more expert insights into social strategy and employee influence!

Welcome to the Influence Podcast! I'm George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. Ministers hear a lot about church multiplication these days. Sometimes, the phrase is little more than a synonym for church planting. Other times, it refers to multisite ministry in which one church exists in many locations. "Multiplication isn't just about strategy or structure," Gerad Strong writes, however. "It's about Spirit-empowered imagination. When we lead through the power of the Holy Spirit, we're not simply managing what is — we're awakening to what could be." In this episode, I talk to Gerad Strong about how ministers can develop this Spirit-empowered imagination. Strong is director of Leadership and Training for the Church Multiplication Network of the Assemblies of God. His new book is Multiplication Mindset: How Spirit-Empowered Leaders Build People, Not Just Platforms, forthcoming from Gospel Publishing House.   Sponsor Ad This episode of the Influence podcast is brought to you by My Healthy Church, distributors of As In Heaven. This six-week study is designed to help you move beyond fear or formality and step into confident, life-giving prayer. Each week unpacks a portion of the Lord's Prayer, pairing Jesus' words with reflection questions, group discussion prompts, and a Bible memory verse to guide your journey. For more information about As In Heaven visit GospelPublishingHouse.com.   Show Notes 00:00 — Introduction and Sponsor Ad 02:04 — What is "multiplication," as you use the term in your book? 02:48 — Tell us a little about your own journey with multiplication, as this informs what you write about in the book. 07:48 — What are the essential elements of a multiplication mindset? 12:28 — What is the foundation of multiplication? 19:13 — How does growth begin with maximizing what you already have? And what role does strategic thinking play? 20:48 — What are the traditional metrics of ministry, and what should they be? 26:49 — What resources does CMN provide for ministers and churches that are considering church planting, church multiplication, church revitalization? 30:31 — What are you reading right now that is interesting, helpful, and/or personally challenging? 31:17 — Conclusion

In this episode, we sit down with Holly Kerr, the Global Social Media Lead at AtkinsRéalis. Holly reveals how she transitioned the company from pockets of uncoordinated social activity into a structured global employee advocacy strategy.Want to know how your employee advocacy strategy really stacks up? Grab your FREE Employee Advocacy Health Check and see how you compare against your competitors.Listeners will learn how to transition from the inconsistent ebbs and flows of campaign-led social media to a stable, central content strategy that sustains long-term employee sharing habits. Holly explains how to navigate diverse regional barriers by providing localized content and support, from addressing location-specific differences to ensuring global teams are fully onboarded and invested in employee advocacy. You'll also discover how to activate senior leadership through internal competition and gamification, using leaderboards to encourage executives to model the right social behaviors. The conversation explores the future of their employee advocacy strategy, outlining how to leverage AI for data analysis and ideation rather than as a shortcut for content generation.This episode provides a strategic blueprint for driving influence through your employees and scaling global employee advocacy.Resources:Book a call to discover how employee advocacy can benefit your team.Ready to elevate your employee advocacy? Get a free copy of Bradley Keenan's essential book, ‘Employee Advocacy: 101 Cheat Codes' for deeper insights and actionable strategies.Download the World's Biggest Employee Advocacy Study for free and discover data-backed insights to supercharge your program.Subscribe to The Employee Advocacy & Influence Podcast for more expert insights into social strategy and employee influence!

Welcome to the Influence Podcast! I'm George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. "In the last sixty years in the USA, some churches shifted strategies and adopted a model that focused almost exclusively on numerical expansion," writes Marroquin. "New sanctuaries and program adjustments were made with the goal of reaching the unchurched. And praise God, the model produced some good results." She goes to note that this model replaced Sunday school and discipleship groups to make room for more worship services. "Somehow, churches believed they would still be making disciples without intentionally placing emphasis on God's Word. The results are in: We have many churches filled with followers of Jesus who desperately need help." In this episode, I talk to Marroquin about what churches can do to refocus on discipleship, based on her new book, A Disciple's Growth: 7 Dimensions of Spiritual Formation. Elloy Marroquin is an ordained minister and national director of Christian Education, Discipleship, and Family Ministries for the Assemblies of God. My conversation with her begins after a brief word from our sponsor.   SPONSOR AD This episode of the Influence podcast is brought to you by My Healthy Church, distributors of Europe 365 Daily Devotions. Europe 365 is a powerful year-long devotional written by Assemblies of God World Missions missionaries serving on the front lines of evangelism. You will be inspired by devotional thoughts and dynamic testimonies of the Holy Spirit in action, answers to prayer, miracles, divine protection, supernatural provision, the call to missions, and more. For more information about Europe 365 Daily Devotions, visit GospelPublishingHouse.com.   SHOW NOTES 00:00 — Introduction and Sponsor Ad 02:12 — Why did an emphasis on numerical growth displace the emphasis on discipleship depth, and what have the consequences been for American churches? 04:07 — What are the seven dimensions? And how did you arrive at these seven dimensions? 10:53 — How do the seven dimensions relate to Jesus? 16:19 — How can pastors and other church leaders assess (1) how they're doing personally as disciples as well as (2) how their churches discipleship efforts are going? 25:18 — What advice would you give pastors and other church leaders for implementing new discipleship programs or revising existing ones? 28:10 — What are some of the resources the AG provides, whether in terms of curriculum, training, books, etc.? 36:49 — What are you reading right now that is interesting, helpful, and/or personally challenging? 38:12 — Conclusion

Discover how Nick Martin, Social Media Marketing Manager at Tipalti, scales social influence and employee advocacy at a mid-sized fintech organization.Want to know how your employee advocacy strategy really stacks up? Grab your FREE Employee Advocacy Health Check and see how you compare against your competitors.In this episode, we explore the unique middle ground of employee advocacy, where you have more resources than a startup but less than a mega-enterprise. Nick shares his journey of building repeatable systems at Tipalti, explaining how to drive high-impact engagement without a massive team.You'll learn why catching new hires on day one is the secret to building lasting employee advocacy habits, how to swap spammy gamification for quality-focused incentives, and the best way to stop corporate-speak by encouraging employees to write like they're texting a friend. Nick also reveals a powerful “President's Club” success story: a single shared post revived a “lost whale” account and closed a massive deal. Whether you're a solo marketer or leading a global rollout, Nick's insights on securing executive buy-in and proving sales ROI are essential.Resources:Book a call to discover how employee advocacy can benefit your team.Ready to elevate your employee advocacy? Get a free copy of Bradley Keenan's essential book, ‘Employee Advocacy: 101 Cheat Codes' for deeper insights and actionable strategies.Download the World's Biggest Employee Advocacy Study for free and discover data-backed insights to supercharge your program:Subscribe to The Employee Advocacy & Influence Podcast for more expert insights into social strategy and employee influence!

Welcome to the Influence Podcast! I'm George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. In this episode, I talk to Melissa Alfaro about her new book, The Heart of a Pathfinder: Charting Paths for the Next Generation. "A pathfinder's greatest motivation is not the sustainability of their legacy but their ability to launch members of the next generation into their call," Alfaro writes. "Obstacles don't discourage pathfinders. They see obstacles as opportunities to clear a path so the next generation can step into their purpose. Pathfinders take risks. They path the price because they realize that their greatest legacy is not what they have built with their hands, but the paths that they have opened for others with their feet." Alfaro is senior pastor of Tab Church in Houston, Texas, along with her husband Jay. She is an executive presbyter of the Assemblies of God, as well as chair of the Network of Women Ministers.   SPONSOR AD This episode of the Influence podcast is brought to you by Gospel Publishing House, distributors of A Disciple's Growth. Get a clear and practical roadmap for following Jesus with depth and purpose. Drawing from Scripture, the power of the Holy Spirit, and real-life examples, discover seven key dimensions of spiritual formation—Bible, Holy Spirit, missions, prayer, worship, service, and generosity—that shape believers into fully devoted disciples. For more information about A Disciple's Growth visit GospelPublishingHouse.com.   SHOW NOTES 00:00 — Introduction and Sponsor Ad 01:58 — W hat was the impetus for writing this book? 04:25 — What is a pathfinder, and how is a pathfinder different from other ways of describing leadership? 09:43 — You write, "There are three areas that the enemy uses to cause us to camp out in the shadows and stop the flow of God's presence in the life of a leader: comfort, fear, and offense." Expand on that insight. 15:02 — Talk about the kinds of things leaders need to think and do when bad stuff interrupts life. 20:15 — Are ministers embarrassed to admit they have personal things that interrupt their lives? 23:01 — What lessons should we take from Nehemiah during the seasons of ministry when we face obstacles in ministry? 28:50 — How do we use our unique voice for Kingdom purposes, and who are the "five people every leader needs in their life" that you mention? 37:08 — What types of resources does the Network of Women Ministers provide? 41:35 — What are you reading right now that is interesting, helpful, and/or personally challenging? 42:44 — Conclusion

Welcome to the Influence Podcast! I'm George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. "The founders of the Assemblies of God believed they were experiencing a significant historical moment," writes Daniel Isgrigg. "They recognized God was moving by His Spirit to enable them to evangelize the world. Leaders were set apart by their understanding that this mission could not be accomplished without the Spirit and without each other." In this episode, I talk to Daniel Isgrigg about his new book, The Assemblies of God: Our Story, from which this quotation comes. Isgrigg is associate professor of the History of Spirit-empowered Christianity at Oral Roberts University and an ordained Assemblies of God minister. He is also author of Imagining the Future: The Origin, Development, and Future of Assemblies of God Eschatology and Aspects of Assemblies of God Origins. I interviewed him about these books in Episodes 277 and 359, respectively. My conversation with Daniel Isgrigg begins after a brief word from our sponsor.   SponsorThis episode of the Influence Podcast is brought to you by Gospel Publishing House, publishers of A Disciple's Growth: 7 Dimensions of Spiritual Formation. In A Disciple's Growth, Elly Marroquin provides a clear and practical roadmap for following Jesus with depth and purpose. Drawing from Scripture, the power of the Holy Spirit, and real-life examples, she outlines seven key dimensions of spiritual formation—Bible, Holy Spirit, missions, prayer, worship, service, and generosity—that shape believers into fully devoted disciples. For more information about A Disciple's Growth visit GospelPublishingHouse.com.   Show Notes 00:00 — Introduction and Sponsor Ad 03:13 — Why should Assemblies of God ministers be interested in church history generally and AG history specifically? 08:43 — How is your new history of the Assemblies of God similar to and different from previous AG histories? 14:27 — Along with Azusa Street, what are the various streams of Christianity that flowed into the AG. 21:35 — What are the three or four major theological controversies that helped refine AG identity? 32:48 — How does the commitment to evangelism and missions explain AG growth and diversification? 37:03 — What are three or four major ways in which the Assemblies of God has changed over the years? And how has it remained the same? 45:57 — What are some things that people routinely misunderstand about the AG, whether inside or outside the Movement? 50:32 — What are you reading right now that is interesting, helpful, and/or personally challenging? 52:58 — Conclusion

Discover the secret sauce of purpose-driven employer branding with Matt Eyre, the EVP Lead at Co-op.Want to know how your employee advocacy strategy really stacks up?Grab your FREE Employee Advocacy Health Check and see how you compare against your competitors.In this episode, we explore how one of the UK's most iconic member-owned organizations approaches employee advocacy. Matt shares the journey of launching Co-op's colleague promise, explaining how to align a 180-year-old heritage with the expectations of the modern workforce. You'll learn how to build trust by embracing the honest views of your team, how to identify and support natural content creators in your frontline staff, and why the most effective employer brands are built on a golden thread of purpose. Whether you're managing a global brand or a scaling startup, Matt's insights on cross-functional alignment between HR and Marketing are essential. Resources:Book a call to discover how employee advocacy can benefit your team.Ready to elevate your employee advocacy? Get a free copy of Bradley Keenan's essential book, 'Employee Advocacy: 101 Cheat Codes' for deeper insights and actionable strategies.Download the World's Biggest Employee Advocacy Study for free and discover data-backed insights to supercharge your program.Subscribe to The Employee Advocacy & Influence Podcast for more expert insights into social strategy and employee influence!

Welcome to the Influence Podcast! I'm George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. In this episode, I talk to Mark Hausfeld about how ministers can move toward physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health — and why they should. Hausfeld is executive director of the Institute for Ministerial Wholeness and an ordained Assemblies of God minister, Ministry is demanding, even for Jesus. Matthew 8 tells us "large crowds followed him." Jesus goes on to heal a leper, resurrect a servant, cure Peter's mother-in-law, exorcize demonized persons, and calm a storm on the Sea of Galilee. The detail that strikes me is Jesus falling asleep during a storm (8:24). No wonder! He was tired. If ministry wore out Jesus, it will wear out us too. We need to be rested and ready to do God's work. I'll talk about how with Mark Hausfeld after a brief word from our sponsor.   SPONSOR This episode of the Influence Podcast is brought to you by Gospel Publishing House, distributors of The Holy Spirit in the Life of the Discipler. The Holy Spirit in the Life of the Discipler equips you with an understanding of the Holy Spirit's role in your life. As a resource for both laypeople and ministry leaders, it also imparts practical insight for anyone discipling others in receiving the baptism in the Holy Spirit. For more information about The Holy Spirit in the Life of the Discipler visit GospelPublishingHouse.com.   SHOW NOTES 00:00 — Introduction and Sponsor Ad 01:40 — Why is wholeness of body, mind, soul, and spirit necessary? 04:25 — How does physical health or illness impact our ministries, and how do we get healthier? 14:38 — Why should ministers commit to lifelong learning, and what are ways to do that? 23:39 — How does emotional messed-up-ness derail ministry, and how can ministers get back on track? 28:55 — What is spiritual formation? 34:34 — What is spiritual direction, and why is it necessary for pastors? 40:36 — Tell us a little about the certificate in spiritual direction offered by the Institute for Ministerial Wholeness through the auspices of Assemblies of God Theological Seminary. 44:54 — What are you reading right now that is interesting, helpful, and/or personally challenging? 49:15 — Conclusion

Discover how TOPdesk uses a dual approach to employee advocacy to drive authentic engagement and outperform paid media results.Want to know how your employee advocacy strategy really stacks up?Grab your FREE Employee Advocacy Health Check and see how you compare against your competitors here.In this episode, Lewis Gray and Elliot Elsley welcome Suzanne Meijer, Social Media & Employee Advocacy Specialist at TOPdesk. Suzanne explains how she manages a high-impact team of employee influencers to ensure the brand stays human and reachable.Listeners will learn the specific workflow for extracting thought leadership from senior executives via interviews, as well as the reporting framework that convinced TOPdesk leadership to prioritize advocacy over traditional organic social. Whether you are struggling with CEO buy-in or looking for ways to motivate a modest workforce to share more on LinkedIn, this conversation provides a practical roadmap for 2026 and beyond.Resources:Book a call to discover how employee advocacy can benefit your team.​Ready to elevate your employee advocacy? Get a free copy of Bradley Keenan's essential book, 'Employee Advocacy: 101 Cheat Codes' for deeper insights and actionable strategies.​Download the World's Biggest Employee Advocacy Study for free and discover data-backed insights to supercharge your program.Subscribe to The Employee Advocacy & Influence Podcast for more expert insights into social strategy and employee influence!

Welcome to the Influence Podcast! I'm George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. In this episode, I talk to Doug Clay about the state of the Assemblies of God as the New Year begins. Clay is AG general superintendent and author of Conversations with My Younger Self and 13: Leadership Is More Than Luck, both published by Gospel Publishing House. This past year, the Assemblies of God received favorable notice in political scientist Ryan Burge's popular religious data Substack, Graphs About Religion. One post, titled "The Assemblies of God: A Denomination That May Be Growing," reported that the AG is bucking the trend of denominational decline. "Almost every major denomination is losing members at an incredibly rapid pace," he writes, with the exception of two small denominations. "But there is a major denomination that was on an upward trajectory for a very long time and stood as an aberration in the larger Protestant landscape: The Assemblies of God. They experienced very consistent growth over the last couple of decades." Burge focused on steady AG growth over several decades, but in his editorial for the Winter 2026 issue of Influence, Doug Clay notes that the AG experienced growth between 2023–24, the last year for which there is a complete statistical report. "From 2023–24, adherence rose 2.5%, Spirit baptisms 3.9%, membership 4.1%, in-person attendance 6.2%, conversions 10%, water baptisms 12.1%, and new church charters 33.6%," he writes. Every year, the President gives a State of the Union Address to Congress. Think of this podcast as an AG State of the Union for 2026.   SHOW NOTES 00:00 — Introduction 02:08 — Why is the Assemblies of God growing? 07:00 — How do we balance church growth with the fact that outward success isn't a reliable measure of the Church's strength? 10:16 — The AG in the United States is having a remarkable run, but what can you tell us about what's happening in AG churches around the world that don't share our experience? 13:47 — What new ministry initiatives is the AG pursuing this year? 20:33 — Update listeners on the progress of the building renovations of the national office. 24:10 — What headwinds are the AG facing, and what are the best Spirit-empowered practices for responding to them? 30:03 — Based on your recent sabbatical, make the case for ministers scheduling regular times for rest and recovery. 33:50 — What are you reading right now that's interesting, helpful, and/or personally challenging? 36:03 — Conclusion

Trust is the most important currency a brand has. Learn how Amnesty International uses employee voices to build it organically.

Welcome to the Influence Podcast! I'm George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. In this episode, I talk to Allen Tennison about what Pentecostal ministers should read in 2026. Tennison serves as theological counsel to The General Counsel of the Assemblies of God. Reading may not be at or even near the top of many ministers' new year's resolutions, but it should be. In an August 1760 letter to John Premboth, John Wesley wrote: "What has exceedingly hurt you in time past, nay, and I fear to this day, is want of reading. "I scarce ever knew a preacher read so little. And perhaps, by neglecting it, you have lost the taste for it. Hence your talent in preaching does not increase. It is just the same as it was seven years ago. It is lively, but not deep; there is little variety, there is no compass of thought. Reading only can supply this, with meditation and daily prayer. You wrong yourself greatly by omitting this. You can never be a deep preacher without it, any more than a thorough Christian." Even if you agree with Wesley, questions remain: How long should I read every day? What should I read? How do I balance reading with my other pastoral responsibilities? Those are the questions Tennison and I discuss after a brief word from our sponsor.   IN THIS PODCAST 0:00:00 — Introduction 0:01:34 — Sponsor Copy 0:02:38 — How does reading help ministers deepen their preaching and spiritual formation? 0:07:18 — How much time should ministers devote to reading, and what's a realistic goal for how many books they should read? 0:14:43 — What kinds of knowledge should ministers seek in books? 0:20:00 — What Bible study books — commentaries, biblical theologies, reference works, etc. — would you recommend? 0:37:14 — What theology books would you recommend? 0:48:55 — What histories and biographies do you recommend? 1:03:10 — What books about ethics and pastoral theology would you recommend? 1:08:07 — What books on preaching and church administration would you recommend? 1:15:36 — Conclusion   SPONSOR COPY This episode of the Influence Podcast is brought to you by Gospel Publishing House, distributors of The Holy Spirit in the Life of the Discipler. The Holy Spirit in the Life of the Discipler equips you with an understanding of the Holy Spirit's role in your life. As a resource for both laypeople and ministry leaders, it also imparts practical insight for anyone discipling others in receiving the baptism in the Holy Spirit. For more information visit GospelPublishingHouse.com.  

What happens when every employee acts like an influencer? Megan Batterbury from incident.io shares the exact tactics their talent team used to spike web traffic and reach niche candidates without a formal employee advocacy program.

"Jesus is up front with us that there is a cost to following him," writes Craig Keener. "From God's side, the gift of him in him is free—or rather, already paid for by what Christ suffered for us. But we live in a world that challenges our faith, so from the world's side our faith is bound to cost us hardships. Yet God empowers us by his Spirit to maintain our witness for Christ in this world no matter what." In this episode of the podcast, I talk to Keener about how Pentecostal Christians should think about suffering. I'm George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. Craig Keener is F.M. and Ada Thompson Professor of Biblical Studies at Asbury Theological Seminary, an ordained Assemblies of God minister, and author of Suffering: Its Meaning for the Spirit-Filled Life, published by Baker Academic. NOTE: This will be the final Influence Podcast of 2025. Episode 411 — the first podcast of 2026 — will drop on Thursday, January 8.   ————— This episode of the Influence podcast is brought to you by My Healthy Church, distributors of Open When . . . Parenting through Everyday Moments. In Open When . . . Parenting through Everyday Moments, child development professionals and Christian education experts discuss the most common parenting scenarios faced by families today. Readers will be empowered with knowledge, tools, and strategies for navigating the complexities of each issue while also nurturing the child's spirit through scriptural application. For more information about Open When . . . Parenting through Everyday Moments visit MyHealthyChurch.com.

Donna Barrett is retiring at the end of this year from her position as general secretary of the Assemblies of God. Elected unanimously by the executive presbytery in 2018 to fill the unexpired term of her predecessor, Jim Bradford, then elected twice by the General Council in 2019 and 2023, she is the first woman to hold executive office at the national level in the history of the AG. Full disclosure: I am one of Barrett's direct reports. But I can honestly say that she is universally regarded by her employees, fellow executives, district officials, and ministry peers as a woman of God, conscientious leader, good friend, and great boss. In this episode of the podcast, I talk to Barrett about her unique perspective on topics such as women's leadership, the grind of ministry, and the necessity of prayer. I'm George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. Barrett is the 11th general secretary of The General Council of the Assemblies of God. Her final day in office is December 31, 2025. ————— This episode of the Influence Podcast is brought to you by My Healthy Church, distributors of The Holy Spirit in the Life of the Discipler. The Holy Spirit in the Life of the Discipler equips you with an understanding of the Holy Spirit's role in your life. As a resource for both laypeople and ministry leaders, it also imparts practical insight for anyone discipling others in receiving the baptism in the Holy Spirit. For more information about The Holy Spirit in the Life of the Discipler visit MyHealthyChurch.com.

"Young men are leading a religious resurgence," wrote Erica Pandey in a May 10, 2025 report on Axios.com. "Within older generations, there's a consistent gender gap among Christians, with women more likely to be religious than men," she explained. "Within Gen Z, the gap has closed, as young men join the church and young women leave it. If the current trajectory sticks, the gender gap will flip." Are churches ready to minister to the young men returning to church? Are they ready to minister to men at all? And if they are, what are the best ways to do so? Those are the kinds of question I discuss with Rick Allen in this episode of the Influence Podcast. I'm George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. Rick Allen is an ordained Assemblies of God minister and national director of Men's Ministries and Light for the Lost. ————— This episode of the Influence podcast is brought to you by My Healthy Church, distributors of 30 Under 30. In 30 Under 30: Young Adults in Scripture Who Heard from God, you'll meet 30 young adults from the Bible who had their own defining moments. Heroes or cautionary tales—they all had a choice. This isn't just a history lesson. It's a call to action. God still speaks, and if you're willing to listen, He's got something to say to you. For more information about the 30 Under 30, visit MyHealthyChurch.com.

This past Tuesday, the Executive Presbytery of the Assemblies of God announced that Brad Kesler will succeed Donna Barrett as general secretary of the Fellowship. Kesler's first day in office is January 1, 2026. He will serve the remainder of Barrett's unexpired term. Kesler has been an ordained AG minister since 2000. He has served as a youth pastor in Sitka, Alaska, and a senior pastor in Juneau. For 15 years, he worked as business administrator in the Alaska Ministry Network and nine years as district secretary. Since 2024, he has served as assistant to the general secretary, providing that office with administrative and technical support. In Episode 406 of the Influence Podcast, I talk to Kesler about his life, ministry, and the duties of his new office, as well as his forthcoming book on ministerial ethics, Trusted with Treasure, published by Gospel Publishing House early next year. I'm George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. ————— This episode of the Influence podcast is brought to you by My Healthy Church, distributors of the Ignite Parenting Conversation Cards. Strengthen your family's relationships with God and each other with these easy-to-use Conversation Cards. Each card is uniquely designed with a question, faith builder statement, and a Bible verse to spark meaningful conversations that cultivate an open and nurturing environment in your home. For more information about the Ignite Parenting Conversation Cards visit MyHealthyChurch.com.

Jaret Brown, co-host of the Under the Influence Podcast from Christian Influence, stops by to share his tales of bathroom woe and slip in some bathroom wisdom. -- Listen to and follow Christian Influence and the Under the Influence Podcast/Other Podcasts -- Connect: www.privy-cast.com Social and Contact Links: drum.io/privycast Follow Hunter -- To a Freer World and Cleaner Water: $1 Donated for every rating and review. Wounded Warrior Project Living Water International -- Music:  Intro and Outro: "Barroom Ballet" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ -- Privy is proud to be hosted by Podbean. Looking to start a podcast? Learn more at: https://www.podbean.com/Privycast

The goal of the Church Health Partners is clear. "To foster healthy, vibrant churches by equipping pastors and their teams with the tools, strategies, and support they need to lead effectively and fulfill their unique calling. We want to see a healthy church in every community, led by empowered and passionate leaders, making a lasting impact for the Kingdom of God." In Episode 405 of the Influence Podcast, I talk to Gerad Strong about what a healthy church is, why churches become unhealthy, and what to do to get them back to health. I'm George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. Gerad Strong is director of Church Health Partners, a ministry of the Assemblies of God. He is author of Multiplication Mindset, forthcoming in [month, year] from [GPH?]. ————— This episode of the Influence podcast is brought to you by My Healthy Church, distributors of 13: Leadership is More Than Luck. As the thirteenth general superintendent of the Assemblies of God, Doug Clay reflects on the powerful legacy of twelve spiritual pioneers who came before him. Through personal stories, timeless principles, and the Spirit-led wisdom of these men, 13: Leadership is More Than Luck invites readers into a heritage of leadership that has shaped a Movement and impacted the world. For more information about the 13: Leadership is More Than Luck, visit MyHealthyChurch.com.

"In many Christian theological circles, especially in Pentecostal circles, the person who has the role of pastor is the one who is supposed to have the spiritual answers, and so this [spiritual and social] shutdown [due to trauma] is counterintuitive to the position they hold," writes Dale Sanger. "The challenge for Pentecostal pastors is that they have an underlying theology of glory which does not appropriately consider personal trauma." In this episode of the Influence Podcast, I talk to Dale Sanger about the reality of clergy trauma, and what Pentecostal ministers should do in response. I'm George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. Dale Sanger is adjunct professor at Bridges Christian College in New Orleans, Louisiana, and Vanguard College in Edmonton, Alberta, as well as chaplain at a homeless men's shelter. He is author of When Ministry Hurts: Triumphalism and the Crisis of Trauma among Clergy, published by Wipf & Stock. ————— This episode of the Influence Podcast is brought to you by My Healthy Church, distributors of The Holy Spirit in the Life of the Discipler. The Holy Spirit in the Life of the Discipler equips you with an understanding of the Holy Spirit's role in your life. As a resource for both laypeople and ministry leaders, it also imparts practical insight for anyone discipling others in receiving the baptism in the Holy Spirit. For more information about The Holy Spirit in the Life of the Discipler visit MyHealthyChurch.com.

"How did you go bankrupt?" one character asks another in Ernest Hemingway's The Son Also Rises. "Two ways," the other character responds. "Gradually and then suddenly." But as Mark Batterson points out in his new book, "That's also how you get out of debt. That's how you start a business, write a book, or run a marathon — and a thousand other things." "Regardless of craft or career, dreams don't become reality overnight," he writes. "Reverse engineer any success story, and I daresay it happened two ways — gradually then suddenly." In this episode of the Influence Podcast, I talk to Mark Batterson about how to succeed in ministry, based on insights from his new book. I'm George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. Mark Batterson is lead pastor at National Community Church in Washington, DC, and an ordained Assemblies of God minister. A New York Times-bestselling author, his newest book is Gradually Then Suddenly: How to Dream Bigger, Decide Better, and Leave a Lasting Legacy, published by Multnomah. ————— This episode of the Influence podcast is brought to you by My Healthy Church, distributors of 13: Leadership is More Than Luck. As the thirteenth general superintendent of the Assemblies of God, Doug Clay reflects on the powerful legacy of twelve spiritual pioneers who came before him. Through personal stories, timeless principles, and the Spirit-led wisdom of these men, 13: Leadership is More Than Luck invites readers into a heritage of leadership that has shaped a Movement and impacted the world. For more information about the 13: Leadership is More Than Luck, visit MyHealthyChurch.com.

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Which way are American young adults going when it comes to religion? Pew Research Center's Religious Landscape Survey reports that only 45% of Americans 18–29 years old identify as Christians, compared to 54% of those aged 30–49, 72% of 50–64, and 74% of 65+. Barna Group's State of the Church initiative reports that young adults are leading “a resurgence in church attendance.” Gen Z (born 1999–2015) and Millennials (born 1984–98) attend church 1.9 and 1.8 weekends a month, respectively. By contrast, Gen X (born 1965–83), Boomers (born 1946–64), and Elders (born pre-1946) attend 1.6, 1.4, and 1.4 weekends monthly, respectively. So are American young adults secularizing or experiencing a revival? It's impossible to say for sure. The only way for Christians to find out is to do the work of evangelism and discipleship. In this episode of the Influence Podcast, I talk to Josh Wellborn about ministry to the next generation of adults. I'm George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. Josh Wellborn is director of the Assemblies of God's Young Adults ministry and author of 30 Under 30. ————— This episode of the Influence podcast is brought to you by My Healthy Church, distributors of 30 Under 30. In 30 Under 30: Young Adults in Scripture Who Heard from God, you'll meet 30 young adults from the Bible who had their own defining moments. Heroes or cautionary tales—they all had a choice. This isn't just a history lesson. It's a call to action. God still speaks, and if you're willing to listen, He's got something to say to you. For more information about the 30 Under 30, visit MyHealthyChurch.com.

The Preamble to the Assemblies of God “Statement of Fundamental Truth” says: “The Bible is our all-sufficient rule for faith and practice. This Statement of Fundamental Truths is intended simply as a basis of fellowship among us …. The phraseology employed in this statement is not inspired or contended for, but the truth set forth is held to be essential to a full-gospel ministry. No claim is made that it contains all biblical truth, only that it covers our need as to these fundamental doctrines.” This Preamble serves as the epigraph of Mike Ivaska's new book, A Basis of Fellowship, which contains sermons he preached about the “Statement of Fundamental Truths” at Vachon Island Community Church in the Fall of 2024. In this episode of the Influence Podcast, I talk to Ivaska about why and how he preached those sermons, and why and how AG ministers should do something similar. I'm George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. Mike Ivaska is pastor of Vashon Island Community Church in Washington state and an ordained Assemblies of God minister. He wrote “Preaching Doctrine” in the Summer 2025 issue of Influence magazine and is author of A Basis of Fellowship, published by Resource Publications. ————— This episode of the Influence Podcast is brought to you by My Healthy Church, distributors of The Holy Spirit in the Life of the Discipler. The Holy Spirit in the Life of the Discipler equips you with an understanding of the Holy Spirit's role in your life. As a resource for both laypeople and ministry leaders, it also imparts practical insight for anyone discipling others in receiving the baptism in the Holy Spirit. For more information about The Holy Spirit in the Life of the Discipler visit MyHealthyChurch.com.

“Christians are called to be ‘in the world' and ‘not of the world',” says a new Assemblies of God position paper, citing John 17:11–16. “We must embrace our identity as Christian citizens, as public witnesses, and as salt and light,” it continues, “Believers must also maintain their Christian character while engaging in politics. We prioritize our calling in Christ and do not condone the demonization of fellow citizens with whom we disagree. Such negative conduct can detract from the mission of Christ and the aligned Assemblies of God mission to evangelize, worship God, build disciples, and show compassion.” In this episode of the Influence Podcast, I talk to Allen Tennison about “Christians and Citizenship,” a new position paper adopted by the General Presbytery of the Assemblies of God during its August 2025 meeting. I'm George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. Allen Tennison is theological counsel of the General Council of the Assemblies of God and chair of its Commission on Doctrines and Practices. ————— This episode of the Influence podcast is brought to you by My Healthy Church, distributors of 13: Leadership is More Than Luck. As the thirteenth general superintendent of the Assemblies of God, Doug Clay reflects on the powerful legacy of twelve spiritual pioneers who came before him. Through personal stories, timeless principles, and the Spirit-led wisdom of these men, 13: Leadership is More Than Luck invites readers into a heritage of leadership that has shaped a Movement and impacted the world. For more information about the 13: Leadership is More Than Luck, visit MyHealthyChurch.com.

“The Assemblies of God was founded as a cooperative fellowship that honors the calling and gifting of all Spirit-filled believers, not as a clerical hierarchy,” says a new Assemblies of God position paper. “As we seek to cultivate healthy spiritual leadership,” it continues, “we must resist any drift toward positional superiority and instead affirm diverse models of leadership found throughout the global church. To walk in step with the Spirit, we must honor the voices of those God has raised up from within, not just those with titles. The nature of spiritual leadership listens, learns, and leads in discernment within community.” In this episode of the Influence Podcast, I talk to Allen Tennison about “Misuse of Spiritual Leadership” (also in Spanish), a new position paper adopted by the General Presbytery of the Assemblies of God during its August 2025 meeting. I'm George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. Allen Tennison is theological counsel of the General Council of the Assemblies of God and chair of its Commission on Doctrines and Practices. ————— This episode of the Influence podcast is brought to you by My Healthy Church, distributors of Fostering an Environment for Connection. Fostering an Environment for Connection will equip you with proven techniques to handle disruptions, develop positive relationships, and build a culture of structure, respect, and growth in your Kidmin classrooms. This resource will empower you to lead with confidence as a mentor—following the model of Jesus—while fostering an environment for connection. For more information about Fostering an Environment for Connection, visit MyHealthyChurch.com.

In this episode of the Voice of Influence Podcast, Andrea hosts Kyle McDowell, a former Fortune 10 executive turned inspirational speaker, bestselling author, and leadership coach. They discuss Kyle's book, Begin with We, which offers a framework for addressing business dysfunction through a set of 10 principles that prioritize collective success ('We') over individual accolades ('I'). Kyle shares his personal journey from a focus on self-achievement to empowering others, resulting in transformative organizational change. He emphasizes the importance of authenticity, the power of mentorship, the impact of sustainable culture, and how true leadership can counteract corporate apathy and foster engagement. Kyle's philosophy is underscored by real-life examples, including his experience with a once-challenging colleague who became one of his closest allies. The episode ultimately serves as a call to action for maintaining individuality and fostering a culture of excellence within any organization.     Find the show notes here:   https://www.voiceofinfluence.net/367   Mentorship Guide - This VOI guide and journal for mentors and mentees includes 12 sessions covering key topics young professionals need to set themselves up for success at work. Listener Feedback Form - Share how you see people shaping the future - and/or ask a question for Andrea and guests to address on the show! 

In this episode of the Voice of Influence Podcast, host Andrea interviews John Gallagher, founder and CEO of Growing Champions, a faith-based executive coaching and performance consulting company. John discusses his journey of integrating faith into his business, the importance of living out core values, and his personal health transformation. He also shares insights on managing change, the significance of self-development, and methodologies for fostering a productive yet balanced work environment. Key topics include the impact of AI on leadership, the role of mentors, and strategies for effective team management and personal growth.   Find the show notes here:   https://www.voiceofinfluence.net/366   Mentorship Guide - This VOI guide and journal for mentors and mentees includes 12 sessions covering key topics young professionals need to set themselves up for success at work. Listener Feedback Form - Share how you see people shaping the future - and/or ask a question for Andrea and guests to address on the show!