• James Bryan Smith | Summer 2025: Rewind, Episode 4
    Jul 24 2025

    Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: James Bryan Smith

    This episode originally aired on November 3, 2022 as Episode 5 of Season 22

    Every need that my soul has, Jesus meets them – every single one of them.” – James Bryan Smith

    James Bryan Smith joins Steve for a conversation about how our view of God transforms our understanding and experience of spiritual disciplines. In this REWIND episode of The Discerning Leader podcast, James explores the harm of having a legalistic approach to spiritual practices and a toxic view of God. On the other hand, a right perspective of the spiritual disciplines offers us the gift of intimacy with God.

    Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.

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    42 mins
  • Nathan Foster | Summer 2025: Rewind, Episode 3
    Jul 17 2025

    Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Nathan Foster

    This episode originally aired on April 14, 2022 as Episode 3 of Season 18

    The Jesus way is clear: hang out with 12 nobodies and then give them the keys.” –Nathan Foster

    Nate Foster joins Steve Macchia for a conversation about our awareness of God and quiet reflection. In this REWIND episode, Nate invites us to consider how God often fills in the gaps after times of quiet discernment and prayer. Viewing spiritual practices as what we do in the ordinary parts of life, this conversation welcomes us to experience renewed joy in the wonderfully ordinary, and grace-filled moments of life.

    Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.

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    46 mins
  • Rowena Day | Summer 2025: Rewind, Episode 2
    Jul 10 2025

    Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Rowena Day

    This episode originally aired on April 13, 2023 as Episode 1 of Season 26.

    There are so many ways that our attention is pulled, and we are divorced from our own bodies which make it really hard to notice God.” – Rowena Day

    In this REWIND episode of The Discerning Leader podcast, Rowena Day shares with Steve how she notices the presence of God through the mighty oceans and the minute details of everyday living. Encouraging us with the notion that only when our mind, heart, body and spirit are fully integrated can we be receptive to what God has for us in the present, Rowena offers practical insights to living an embodied and integrated spirituality.

    Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.

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    53 mins
  • Trevor Hudson | Summer 2025: Rewind, Episode 1
    Jul 3 2025

    Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Trevor Hudson

    This episode originally aired on October 6, 2022 as Episode 1 of Season 22.

    Trevor Hudson joins Steve Macchia to discuss what it means to discern the voice of God and follow Jesus in family and vocational life as well as times of discontent and suffering. Drawing from the wisdom of Saint Ignatius of Loyola and Dallas Willard, Trevor offers insights and practical ways we can seek and find God in everyday living. This REWIND episode was originally aired in October of 2022 and remains one of the most downloaded episodes of The Discerning Leader podcast.

    Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.

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    44 mins
  • Walking with the Saints | Life Together: Discerning God in Spiritual Community Episode 10
    Jun 26 2025

    Co-Hosts: Steve Macchia and Matt Scott

    “It’s important to be surrounded by people who model what a Christ-like life looks like, invest in you regularly, offer spiritual friendship, ongoing guidance and encouragement.” — Steve Macchia

    The final episode of Season 35 explores what it looks like to walk with the saints. You'll hear personal stories from Steve and Matt as they share some of the relationships that have helped them embody and emulate the things that make for community (presence, listening, hospitality, forbearance, humility, trust-building, repairing and restoring). Tune into this conversation as you consider who is helping to feed your soul and whose soul you’re companioning along the way.

    Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.

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    34 mins
  • Living a Shared Rule of Life | Life Together: Discerning God in Spiritual Community Episode 9
    Jun 19 2025

    Co-Hosts: Steve Macchia and Matt Scott

    Those who have an articulated communal rule of life stick together longer and more faithfully...and go deeper in their walk together with the Lord.” — Steve Macchia

    Healthy churches and healthy spiritual communities are comprised of those who learn, live and grow together in Christ. These communities offer a safe place to share hurts and heartaches, pray for and care for one another, grow together in grace, and offer forgiveness and selfless love to one another. Of course, this way of living doesn’t happen without great purpose and intention. Enjoy this podcast conversation centered around how to live out a share rule of life within a spiritual community.

    Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.

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    35 mins
  • Can You Be Trusted With Power? | Life Together: Discerning God in Spiritual Community Episode 8
    Jun 12 2025

    Co-Hosts: Steve Macchia and Matt Scott

    Leadership is about whether or not the people are doing better because of your decisions.” — Steve Macchia

    We know all-too-well the destruction that comes when power, influence and authority are mishandled and misguided in selfish ambition. This conversation explores “power” and how we can healthily steward the influence and authority entrusted to us in a way that honors, empowers, and equips others to flourish.

    Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.

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    32 mins
  • Speaking and Hearing the Truth in Love | Life Together: Discerning God in Spiritual Community Episode 7
    Jun 5 2025

    Co-Hosts: Steve Macchia and Matt Scott

    If we could practice listening first before speaking, how different our words would be and how different our relationships would be.” — Steve Macchia

    Humbly receiving the preached Word of God is one means of speaking and hearing the Truth in love. But what does this look like within the context of our relationships? How do we humbly and gratefully accept reproach and admonition from others? This conversation offers wisdom and practical steps around what it looks like for us to both speak and hear the truth in love.

    Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.

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    34 mins