Rusty George Podcast

My guest this week is Andrew Stanley.  If his name sounds familiar, it’s just might be. His dad is Andy Stanley (you can listen to Andy on the podcast here), and his grandfather is Charles Stanley, both well known pastors. And Andrew’s carrying on the torch of on-stage communication in a different way as a stand up comedian.I had a chance to sit down with Andy to hear more about how he got into stand up and nerd out about the ins and outs of being a comedian. Andy also shares his tips for how you can find the funny in your own life. Did you know that over 6 billion people around the world don't know Jesus? Even more staggering, 3 billion have never even heard His name. Good News Productions International (GNPI) is on a mission to change that by harnessing the power of media to help people discover, know, and follow Jesus.For decades, GNPI has been dedicated to spreading the Good News globally, and now they're launching an ambitious initiative: Mission15. The goal? To share the gospel over one billion times in

I love getting to talk sports on the podcast, and man, have we had had some incredible guests this year, including Ned Yost from the Kansas City Royals and Marty Lamb from the LA Dodgers. (You can listen to my episodes with Ned and Marty here). Today, you’ll get to hear from Kevin Burrell. Kevin is a talent scout for the Chicago White Sox. I sit down with Kevin to talk shop as he takes me through what day-to-day life as a talent scout looks like. Kevin also shares his passion for discipleship, and how he lives that out in his career today. If you are a baseball fan, you’re in for a great episode. But you don’t have to be a baseball fan to get some incredible value from what Kevin has to share this week.Special thanks to Serve.HQ for sponsoring this week’s episode!HighlightsAbout Kevin Burrell - 2:26Kevin’s start as a baseball player himself.What scout life looks like for Kevin.A few things Kevin knows that he wishes he knew when he started.What do scouts look for in a team player?  - 8:11The three intangible

Monte Wilkinson is a pastor, a mentor, and one of my closest friends. I have to say that I wouldn’t be the pastor I am today without his example. He’s the lead minister at NorthEast Christian Church out in Lexington, Kentucky, and has seen a thing or two when it comes to leading a ministry. I can’t wait for you to hear the wisdom Monte shares.Take a listen to our conversation as Monte talks about what it was like having me as an intern, the lessons he learned transitioning into a new church, and how the golden rule influences the way that he leads.Special thanks to ServeHQ for sponsoring this week’s episode!HighlightsAbout Monte Wilkinson - 2:59A bit about MonteHow he came to ministryMeeting Rusty as an internLeading simply from internships to lead pastoring - 05:41The value of internshipsTransitioning from Southland to NorthEastBuilding up disciplined time with GodMore life wisdom from Monte - 37:40How to transition healthily from a staff role to a leadership position.Righting the ship after a difficult tran

Volunteering at church looks different in today’s landscape. How do you navigate those waters? I had the chance to sit down with Scott Magdalein for this episode to tackle that issue. I know leaders are trying to figure out how to recruit and support their volunteers. I hope this episode is a helpful resource for you. Listen in as Scott and I talk about how to find healthy spiritual rhythms after COVID. Scott also shares how ServeHQ can help leaders train their volunteers better, and we talk through the question that churches can ask themselves when they see volunteerism down. Did you know that over 6 billion people around the world don't know Jesus? Even more staggering, 3 billion have never even heard His name. Good News Productions International (GNPI) is on a mission to change that by harnessing the power of media to help people discover, know, and follow Jesus.For decades, GNPI has been dedicated to spreading the Good News globally, and now they're launching an ambitious initiative: Mission15. The goal?

Podcasts have been such a valuable part of my life. From Craig Groeschel and Andy Stanley to Annie F Downs and my friend Michael Hinton, I’ve been able to learn from the things they’ve shared over the years. And when I started sharing my own experiences and conversations with different leaders on Leading Simple, I had no idea where we would be 217 episodes later. I’m grateful for every person who’s listened, left a comment or review, or shared an episode with someone. So today, I want to shift my focus to you: the listener. I’ll be announcing the winner of the listener giveaway. You’ll get to hear some exciting news about something special I’ve been working on behind the scenes. You’ll also get a preview of some of the great episodes coming up this month.Thanks for listening, and a special thanks to this month’s sponsor, ServeHQ.-------------------------Here’s where you can find some of Rusty’s favorites:Skyline ChiliThe Road Less Stupid by Keith J. CunninghamKansas City Chiefs Jersey Did you know that over 6

Leadership looks like getting comfortable with growth, taking risks, and appreciating the journey along the way. And this week, we have someone who is a living, breathing example of how to live that out that well. Dan Reiland is an author, leadership coach, executive pastor, and a legend when it comes to innovation in the world of ministry. He’s passionate about developing and empowering leaders; you can hear that passion come through in our conversation.You’ll get to hear Dan share about interning with John Maxwell, how he learned to live out his calling to reach people, and why focusing on the culture you’re building is a crucial part of leading an organization. I’m telling you, this episode is a masterclass in ministry and leadership no matter where you are in your journey.Special thanks to Stadia Church Planting for sponsoring this week’s episode!HighlightsWho is Dan? -  2:24How Dan Reiland broke John Maxwell’s internship.The life lesson he applies the most to this day.How Dan started blogging before blog

Jodi Tonarelli is my guest this week, and it's an honor to have her on the podcast.  Her background in broadcast journalism (and a lot of prayers) led her to the role of Executive Pastor at The Ridge Community Church, where Mark Weigt is the lead pastor. You can hear my conversation with Mark on the podcast here. I enjoyed hearing her take on what an executive pastor does and her journey navigating that role.There were some great takeaways from this conversation: From how to seek God before stepping into a new role to what leaders can do to create a more inclusive workplace. I'm telling you, what you'll learn from her when it comes to leadership will benefit you no matter what you do. Special thanks to Stadia Church Planting for sponsoring this week's episode!HighlightsAbout Jodi Tonarelli - 2:48How she got started at The Ridge.Her background in Broadcast JournalismWhat the transition from working outside of the church to working in the church was like for Jodi.Being an Executive Pastor - 12:07What goes into

What do Notre Dame, the Coachella Valley, and John Adams have in common? Ricky Jenkins is the Senior Pastor of Southwest Church in Indian Wells, CA, a Gospel-Centered, Multiethnic, Intergenerational church. We had the chance to talk through what it’s like leading a church that has navigated difficult transitions and trauma. He also highlighted why authenticity is key to leading a multiethnic church. There were so many noteworthy moments in this conversation that I couldn’t even write all of them down. Trust me: If you’re leading a church or any organization and you’ve questioned how to support a hurting church or how to shift the culture of your church, you’ll love this episode.Special thanks to Stadia Church Planting for sponsoring this episode!HighlightsAbout Pastor Ricky Jenkins - 2:25What brought Ricky and his family to Southwest Christian Church.The rewards and challenges of pastoring in the Coachella valley.Leading a church through crisis and trauma.Gospel Centered. Multiethnic Make. Intergenerational W

90% of new churches in America are small churches, and there are some incredible lessons we can learn from what those are doing well. Our guest, Karl Vaters, is a champion for building a healthy small church, and I'm glad to have him back on the podcast. You can take a listen to the first episode we recorded here.Karl sheds light on small churches' advantages when connecting with new people and shares some essential tips that anyone can integrate into their organization. He also gives a behind the scenes look at his upcoming book, the process of writing it, and what it means to be a proactive leader rather than a reactive leader. Whether you're a business owner, a pastor, or a church leader, there's something for you in our conversation.Special thanks to Stadia Church Planting for sponsoring this week's episode!HighlightsLessons from small churches - 02:48What every church can learn from navigating COVID.How churches can stand out in an increasingly digital world.The difference between visiting a small church

Planting a church isn't easy. There are so many factors to consider, like where you'll plant the church and how to support the community you'll serve.Carl Kuhl knows a thing or two about that experience, and I'm glad to have him on the podcast this week to share his insights. He's a pastor, a church planter, and an incredible leader with a fascinating perspective on leading a church.Not only do we dig into the ins and outs of church planting, but I also had the chance to talk with Carl about his new book Blood Stained Pews and the life change that can happen when people in the church are less afraid to be honest about their struggles.Special thanks to Stadia Church Planting for sponsoring this episode!HighlightsAbout Carl - 1:56Carl’s start in ministry.The benefits of growing up in a healthy church.How the seed was planted in Carl to start planting churches.Planting Mosaic Christian Church - 16:32How Carl landed on Baltimore as the location to plant Mosaic.Learning the culture of the area.The toughest thing a

Everyone has opinions, and as a Pastor, I have the pleasure of hearing a lot of them, particularly regarding my teaching style. You're not deep enough. You talk too much sports.We want more Bible.We want less Bible.How about some Greek or Hebrew.I wish you would __________________. (You can fill in the blank) For a long time, I didn't know what to do with that feedback. So I broke how I preach. Or, in other words, I broke myself trying to be someone else. Emulating what I thought people wanted, I looked at the success of other pastors and incorporated their style into what I did. It took me a while to learn the lessons I want to share with you on this episode of How I Broke This. ResourcesEpisode Transcript Did you know that over 6 billion people around the world don't know Jesus? Even more staggering, 3 billion have never even heard His name. Good News Productions International (GNPI) is on a mission to change that by harnessing the power of media to help people discover, know, and follow Jesus.For decades,

Marty Lamb is a scout for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He’s signed some incredible talent from high schools and colleges. Learning how to spot talent early isn’t an easy feat, so I’m grateful to hear some of his insights on what it takes to do just that every day. We get a chance to talk about some of his learnings on the road and the highlights of his career so far. Marty also takes time to share about the incredible work he does with Refuge for Women, a non profit organization that supports survivors of sexual exploitation and human trafficking. Special thanks to our sponsor Stadia for sponsoring this episode!HighlightsAbout Marty Lamb - 2:11Marty’s start as a baseball player.How he became a baseball scout.What Does it Take to Spot Talent? - 08:29The qualities Marty looks for in an up-and-coming player.What makes an LA dodger different from other players?How do you balance the analytics with the classic way of scouting talent?Marty’s Work with Refuge for Women - 43:32What is Refuge for Women?An in-depth look at

Some of the best leadership lessons I've learned have come from conversations I've had with sports legends like Ned Yost on the podcast (you can listen here as he talks about how to build a winning team culture). But there's nothing like learning alongside a friend. That's why I'm glad to have Brad Williams back for this episode of Leading Simple. Join us as we sit down to talk about the lessons on leadership we’ve picked up on throughout the summer, our hopes for the Lakers, and why magnifying the positive is crucial for any leader.Special thanks to Stadia for sponsoring this month's podcast.Resources​​Blood in the Garden: The Flagrant History of the 1990s New York Knicks - Chris HerringExtreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win - Jocko Willink and Lief BabinDiscipline Equals Freedom - Jocko Willink Trillion Dollar Coach: The Leadership Playbook of Silicon Valley's Bill Campbell - by Eric Schmidt, Jonathan Rosenberg, and Alan Eagle A Beautiful Constraint - Andrew Morgan and Mark BardenMansfield’s Bo

Kyle Idleman from Southeast Christian Church is my guest for this week's episode. What you may not know is that Kyle is the one who planted Real Life Church, where I am today. As we sat down, I learned a bit more about what it was like for Kyle to grow up under the microscope as a pastor's kid. (Something my daughters know a little something about. You can listen to their take on being a pastor's kid here). He shared with me how being open and authentic can be a catalyst for a better connection with your people. We also got to talk about his new book One at a Time. Kyle shares some great insights in this episode that I hope are helpful for you too.Special thanks to our sponsor for the month, Stadia Church Planting!HighlightsAbout Kyle - 2:05Kyle’s start in ministryPlanting Real Life ChurchFrom under the microscope to in the fishbowl - 20:28Kyle’s experiences as a pastor’s kidHow that helped him navigate being a pastor himselfUnderstanding brokennessThe importance of vulnerability in leadershipLeading Southeas

The Kansas City Royals were a significant part of my childhood. So, imagine how excited I am to have Ned Yost on the podcast. Ned Yost was the manager of the Kansas City Royals in 2014-15 when they went to the World Series and won. Ned and I sit down and talk all things baseball, of course. I got to hear some of the lessons he’s learned as a coach, how he listened to his instincts and honed his ability to develop talent. Ned also talked about his faith journey: how he because a Christian and how his faith ultimately impacted his coaching. You don’t have to be a baseball fan to learn incredible lessons from Ned’s life and leadership. And if you are a baseball fan, I have to say that this will be a special episode for you. Did you know that over 6 billion people around the world don't know Jesus? Even more staggering, 3 billion have never even heard His name. Good News Productions International (GNPI) is on a mission to change that by harnessing the power of media to help people discover, know, and follow Jesus

Lance Witt joins me on the podcast this week, and we’re talking about burnout. Burnout is an issue that I think every person, no matter their industry, has had to navigate. Lance openly shares his experience as a pastor at Saddleback and the pivotal moment when he realized he needed a shift in his life. Lance also provides some helpful tips on combating burnout and increasing your self awareness, so that you can lead and work from a healthier place. Did you know that over 6 billion people around the world don't know Jesus? Even more staggering, 3 billion have never even heard His name. Good News Productions International (GNPI) is on a mission to change that by harnessing the power of media to help people discover, know, and follow Jesus.For decades, GNPI has been dedicated to spreading the Good News globally, and now they're launching an ambitious initiative: Mission15. The goal? To share the gospel over one billion times in the next few years. You can be a part of this bold mission by visiting mission15.glo

Savannah Kimberlin is the Director of Research Solutions at Barna Group, and I am honored to have her as a guest on the podcast this week. Sometimes, data and statistics can be a little intimidating to people (myself included). Thankfully, there are people like Savannah and the incredible team at Barna Group who are called to research so we can see how the numbers reflect the world around us.Join Savannah and me as we talk through what our culture and faith look like after COVID, how to use trends in data to inform how you lead your organization, and what the stats have to say about how different generations engage church and faith.Special thanks to Growmentum for being our sponsor this month. Did you know that over 6 billion people around the world don't know Jesus? Even more staggering, 3 billion have never even heard His name. Good News Productions International (GNPI) is on a mission to change that by harnessing the power of media to help people discover, know, and follow Jesus.For decades, GNPI has been

Kye Chung and Lee Coate from Growmentum sit down with Rusty and share their insights on what it takes to grow your organization. Special thanks to Growmentum for sponsoring Leading Simple throughout the month of June.

There are so many great articles and podcasts out there about how to create a healthy staff culture.This is not one of them.This week, Rusty reflects on how he broke his staff culture, and what it took to repair it. Did you know that over 6 billion people around the world don't know Jesus? Even more staggering, 3 billion have never even heard His name. Good News Productions International (GNPI) is on a mission to change that by harnessing the power of media to help people discover, know, and follow Jesus.For decades, GNPI has been dedicated to spreading the Good News globally, and now they're launching an ambitious initiative: Mission15. The goal? To share the gospel over one billion times in the next few years. You can be a part of this bold mission by visiting mission15.global or gnpi.org.By pledging just $15 a month—less than the cost of a couple of lattes—you can help bring the message of Jesus to those who have never heard it. Tune in to our podcast episode with Mike Schragge to learn more about the incr

Paul Hicks joins Rusty on the podcast this week. He is a part of Search Ministries based in Texas, along with another Leading Simple guest, Bruce Matthews.When we think about evangelism, our minds can immediately go to planning some big event with a lot of people. But in Rusty's conversation with Paul, he breaks down a process to share your faith that is centered on one person, one day at a time.If you’ve ever wondered how to get more confident in sharing the gospel with people who may not believe in God, or you are curious about what it means to make disciples, then you’ll enjoy hearing Paul's insights. Did you know that over 6 billion people around the world don't know Jesus? Even more staggering, 3 billion have never even heard His name. Good News Productions International (GNPI) is on a mission to change that by harnessing the power of media to help people discover, know, and follow Jesus.For decades, GNPI has been dedicated to spreading the Good News globally, and now they're launching an ambitious initi