Rusty George Podcast

I got to have a fantastic conversation with Dr. Sean McDowell. Sean is an educator and speaker, the son of evangelist Josh McDowell, and he is passionate about helping people view all areas of life through a Biblical worldview. Sean shared so many great insights about some major questions the world is asking when it comes to why faith matters.If you've ever wondered how to articulate your faith or answer the questions your kids are asking about the beliefs you've always had but now they don't. Or, if you've ever wondered what Iron Man has to do with Jesus, then trust me. This episode is for you. I'd love to hear your thoughts on our conversation. You can join in and leave a comment here: https://pastorrustygeorge.com/kLBsySpecial thanks to BELAY Solutions for sponsoring this week's episode!

It’s good to have Kyle Costello on the podcast this week. He’s a pastor, speaker, and church planter. Kyle grew up in the Mormon church as a sixth-generation Mormon, so he’s well-equipped to answer these questions and more. Kyle and I sit down to talk about his journey to faith and the upcoming church plant Kyle is building. It’s an incredible conversation, and I think you’re gonna learn a lot from Kyle. I know I did.ResourcesKyle Costello's Instagram

My next guest needs no introduction. It’s always a great time when Brian Dodd is on the podcast. Brian’s got a knack for pulling leadership lessons from sports, which is one of the reasons we get along so well. You can hear some of his past episodes here, and here. And this time around was no exception. It was incredible hearing his insights from the football playoffs, the incredible team coaches, and Dolly Parton?Well, you’ll just have to listen to the episode for that last one.Resources Brian Dodd’s Website Gridiron Genius by Michael Lombardi The Cubs Way by Tom Verducci The Score Takes Care of Itself by Bill Walsh Legacy by James Kerr How to Beat a Broken Game: The Rise of the Dodgers in a League on the Brink by Pedro Moura Brian Dodd’s Blog Post on Dolly Parton 2021: The Year in Leadership by Brian Dodd

Christmas movies are great, and of course, I have my favorites. If you missed last week’s podcast episode with Dan Angel, we discussed what makes a Christmas movie legendary. But regardless of who you ask, there is one that seems to be on everyone’s top five list, and this Christmas at Real Life, we dove into the themes behind this movie and how they can change our outlook on life.If you’ve had a rough year or question your purpose, please take the time to listen to this message. God has so much more for your life than the lies you’ve told yourself, and with Him, you can live a truly wonderful life.

My friend Dan Angel is back on the podcast again, and it’s an honor to have him. It made sense to have such a great film producer and writer back on the podcast and this time, we’re talking about some of the greatest Christmas movies of all time. Take a listen as Dan and I go through our favorite Christmas movies and dissect what makes a truly wonderful film for the season. It was a great time recording this episode, so I hope you have just as much fun listening to it. And be sure to share your favorite Christmas movies with me in the comments below. Happy holidays from me and the Leading Simple team!HighlightsA little about Dan - 2:44 His early life in Orange County How he started making movies What Dan and Daniel have in common Fezziwig Studios - 10:13 Pitching Rescued by Ruby Building Fezziwig Studios The best Christmas movies of all time - 17:42 Dan’s take on It’s a Wonderful Life Dan and Rusty share their top picks for Christmas movies. Resources Episode Transcript Fezziwig Studios website

Today’s episode is a real treat. I had the chance to talk with Cheryl Ladd. You may recognize that name from several movies & TV shows, including the 1970s hit Charlie’s Angels. We sat down to talk about how she navigated through Hollywood as a young actress and how she landed her iconic role in the show.We also had the chance to dig a little deeper as Cheryl shared about her experience with a marriage ending, as well as how she found a better work-life balance and how she came full circle to faith. Cheryl’s story is incredible. Whether you’re a fan of Charlie’s Angels, an entertainer yourself, or someone who’s figuring out how to fight workaholism, I can say that there’s something for you in this episode. HighlightsHow Cheryl Ladd got her Start – 2:08 Early beginnings in South Dakota Her faith background From singing in a band to acting in Hollywood Finding Balance – 16:22 Cheryl lands Charlie’s Angels On the hamster wheel of success Finding her purpose A New Direction – 31:50 Defining herself post-Ange

It's the season for giving! The Christmas season has always been a time to reflect on our own sense of generosity. Generosity is something that my guest, John Rinehart, knows a little something about. John Rinehart is an author who found in his early working days that there was more to life than working to accumulate as much as possible. He had seen God’s faithfulness in his own life and took a leap of faith thanks to his wife that would change the trajectory of his entire life.John and I sit down to talk about the Gospel Patrons and what it looks like to develop the gift of giving in ourselves. John is a fantastic guy, and I think you'll enjoy our conversation. So listen in, and let me know what you think in the comments below.Resources Episode Transcript Gospel Patrons (book) by John Rinehart Instagram: @GospelPatrons Facebook: @GospelPatrons Website: www.gospelpatrons.org

This week’s episode was a dream come true for me. I had the chance to talk with Crawford Loritts, a pastor and evangelist with an incredible legacy.  Crawford also happens to be the author of one of the best leadership books I’ve ever read (you can see some of my other leadership book recommendations here), and we get the chance to talk a bit about it as well. We talked through his experience leading Fellowship Bible Church for 15 years, processed the effects of deconstruction on the church, and how we can impact the culture around us as Christian leaders.  I know you're going to appreciate what he has to say, whether you're a church leader or a leader in a church.Special thanks to Serve.HQ for sponsoring this week’s episode!HighlightsSimplicity and Clarity - 1:34 Crawford Lorrits’ background Becoming a cheerleader for leaders. Why simplicity and clarity are the keys to great leadership. Church & Culture - 13:09 Current trends in the church Crawford shares points of pride and heartbreak in the church Gett

I had heard incredible things about Tiana Spencer as a pastor, speaker, and teacher. And I’ve got to say, I learned so much from her in our conversation. We got to talk about her love of teaching scripture and the encouragement she found to pursue it. She shared how she developed a desire for a more holistic faith. And I was moved to hear her talk about her passion for creating an emotionally healthy church. Maybe you’re wrestling with your calling or your identity. Or you’ve experienced some traumas that you’re working through. No matter where you fall on that spectrum, I think you’ll love hearing my conversation with Tiana.Special thanks to Serve HQ for sponsoring this week’s episode!HighlightsAbout Tiana Spencer - 2:47 Tiana’s start leading bible study at 14 Finding a starting point if you’re new to scripture What Tiana’s reading that’s impacting her How Tiana and her husband navigate ministry together. Connecting with God - 12:59 Tiana shares how her family connects with God Finding anchors to stay connec

We’ve had some great guests come on the podcast to talk about their experiences with church planting, like Carl Kuhl, Tim Celek, and Joseph Barkley. You can listen to their episodes here, here, and here respectively. And we’re keeping that train going with our guest today.Clint Dupin co-leads Eastown Church with his wife in San Jose, California. He gets honest with me about his experience going from a mega church to planting a church, leading that church plant during the pandemic, and the wisdom he’s gained along the way. Special thanks to Serve HQ for sponsoring this week’s episode!About Clint Dupin - 01:44 Clint’s ministry background Clint shares about “the broken road” that led him to ministry. Highlights and Lowlights  - 13:53 Planting a church: How do you know whether it’s from God or you? The highlights and lowlights Clint’s experienced Clint keeps it real - 30:00  Clint shares his COVID experience as a church planter. What it’s like co-pastoring with your spouse. Resources Episode Transcript Eastown Ch

I had the chance to sit down with Shawn Lovejoy, an incredible leader and former pastor who shifted his focus from vocational ministry to developing a coaching program sure to change the lives of so many leaders. Shawn was coached by Dan Reiland, a guest on the podcast (you can listen to his episode here), and is now coaching pastors and business leaders on how they can make the days between their Sundays even better.Shawn and I chat about how to have hard conversations with staff and what the best coaching clients he's taken on all have in common. Shawn also digs into his books Be Mean About The Vision and Building A Killer Team Without Killing Yourself or Your Team. You won’t want to miss this episode full of incredible insights.Special thanks to Serve.HQ for sponsoring this week’s episode!

It’s not often that we talk politics on this podcast, so I know this will be controversial. I wanted to sit down with Theresa Brennan to help make sense of the overturning of Roe v. Wade, what it means for us, and how to better understand the variety of perspectives on this issue. I’m grateful that she took the time to sit down with me and process not just what happened, but what our responsibility is now as Christians. Take a listen to our conversation with an open heart and an open mind.Special thanks to Serve.HQ for sponsoring this episode!Highlights About Theresa and the Right to Life League - 2:21 Theresa shares about how she got started. The beginnings of the Right to Life League. Making Sense of Current Events - 5:16 Understanding the overturning of Roe v Wade. Answering some of the biggest questions surrounding abortion. The spiritual implications around abortion. Practical Steps - 19:41 The best way churches can support pro-life initiatives. Creating a healthy community for post-abortive women. What

How can you prepare for sabotage?What does it look like to build resilience as a leader in a time of conflict and controversy? Tod Bolsinger explores these questions and more in his book Tempered Resilience, which I loved. Now, I hadn’t had the chance to meet Tod before we recorded this episode, but I learned so much from his input into how people can lead through uncertainty. Tod is a seminary professor, author, and leads a leadership coaching and consulting firm dedicated to helping faith leaders thrive as change leaders. That passion is evident in our conversation, and I’m so glad we had a chance to sit down together.Let me know in the comments how you’ve been leading your church or your family through the unfamiliar. I’d love to hear some of your stories.Special thanks to Serve HQ for sponsoring this week’s episode!HighlightsAbout Tod Bolsinger - 1:26 How Tod started in ministry The differences in ministry when Tod started versus now. Digging into Tod’s books - 15:45 Tod asks the question: how do you lead

Drew Moore is my guest this week, and I’m so glad to have him on the podcast. Drew is the lead pastor of Canyon Ridge Church, a church in Las Vegas that has an incredible legacy. The founding pastor is my friend and friend of RLC, Mike Breaux (you can hear Mike on the podcast here). Watching Drew's journey, I can say that I've learned so much from him about what it means to make disciples and I hope you'll appreciate his insights too.Drew and I talk about his journey becoming lead pastor, leading a church through a transition to a new direction, and practical ways to make discipleship simple for your church.HighlightsAbout Drew Moore - 1:55 Drew’s background What it’s like leading a church in Las Vegas, Nevada Forging a new path - 10:39 Following Mike Breaux and leading Canyon Ridge in a fresh direction. Drew’s goal and how his church got there. How to make disciples in this day and age - 21:48 How to approach discipleship with your average, first time attender. Assumptions we make about the impact of a weeke

If you've been listening to the podcast for a while, then you've heard me speak to some incredible pastors who have led their churches through different tragedies and transitions. Navigating through a crisis is no easy feat. I know on our end, we've done some things right and we've done some things wrong. But through it all, we've had these experiences that we don't feel like we should keep to ourselves. That's why I’m grateful to Fred Gray, the executive pastor at Real Life Church. Fred and I designed a course called Leading Through Crisis. Our hope is to equip you with ways to lead through a crisis as healthily as possible, so you don’t have to become one.Now, I’d love for you to check out the course. There are so many great resources available including how to address a national loss, how to work with the press, and the preventative measures you should take before a crisis ever happens. If you’re curious and want a deeper dive into why we created this course, join my conversation with Fred Gray as we talk

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.

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 - 2:26 Kevin’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?  - 8:11 The three intang

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 - 2:59 A bit about Monte How he came to ministry Meeting Rusty as an intern Leading simply from internships to lead pastoring - 05:41 The value of internships Transitioning from Southland to NorthEast Building up disciplined time with God More life wisdom from Monte - 37:40 How to transition healthily from a staff role to a leadership position. Righting the ship after a diff

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.

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