Ep. 190: Deciding to Lead with Grit: Father Stephen J. Gadberry on Silence, Resilience & True Faith cover art

Ep. 190: Deciding to Lead with Grit: Father Stephen J. Gadberry on Silence, Resilience & True Faith

Ep. 190: Deciding to Lead with Grit: Father Stephen J. Gadberry on Silence, Resilience & True Faith

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 What if the key to resilience wasn’t about avoiding suffering—but learning to embrace it with grit, faith, and silence?In this episode of Decidedly, we sit down with Father Stephen J. Gadberry – Catholic priest, Air Force veteran, and ultra-endurance athlete – to uncover how tragedy, discipline, and devotion shaped his approach to decision-making and leadership. From losing his father and sister in a car accident at age eight, to serving in the military, to leading thousands in his parish, Father Stephen reveals how resilience is forged in silence and tested in service.We dive deep into the role of suffering in spiritual growth, the power of identity before mission, and why leaders must learn to “know where their mess is.” This conversation isn’t about perfection – it’s about the freedom that comes from honesty, faith, and radical perseverance. If you’ve ever wrestled with pain, purpose, or what it means to lead with integrity, this episode will shift how you see your own journey.KEY TOPICSHow childhood tragedy forged resilience and gritWhy silence is essential for strong decision-makingThe dangers of radical independence, and how to ask for helpVulnerability in leadership: why showing your mess frees othersFaith, perseverance, and the gift of sufferingIdentity before mission: why who you are comes before what you doHow to discern between God’s will and personal preferenceWhy men are hungry for authentic guidance, and what leaders must do about itLessons from endurance racing, the military, and the priesthoodCHAPTERS00:00 Introduction03:15 Father Stephen’s Childhood Tragedy and Early Faith07:45 How Grit Became the Theme of His Life10:30 Resilience, Independence, and Asking for Help14:20 Discernment: God’s Will vs. Personal Preference18:00 Vulnerability and Leadership in the Church21:15 Why Men Are Craving Authentic Guidance25:00 Identity Before Mission: The Foundation of Leadership28:15 Making Hard Decisions and Setting Boundaries32:00 The Role of Coachability in Growth and Faith35:40 Training for the Leadville 100 and Lessons from Endurance Sports40:00 Competing on American Ninja Warrior to Preach the Gospel43:15 Wrestling with Psychedelics, Spirituality, and Discernment47:00 Father Stephen’s Top Tip for Decision-Making: Silence#FaithAndResilience #DecisionMaking #CatholicPodcast #FatherStephen #GritAndGrace #LeadershipThroughFaith #ResilientLiving #SpiritualGrowth #IdentityBeforeMission #VulnerabilityInLeadership #DecidedlyPodcast #TrueFaith #PowerOfSilence #HealingThroughFaith #CatholicLeadershipCONNECT WITH USwww.decidedlypodcast.com Join us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/decidedlypodcast Join us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/decidedlypodcast Shawn’s Instagram: www.instagram.com/shawn_d_smith Sanger’s Instagram: www.instagram.com/sangersmith MAKING A FINANCIAL DECISION?At Decidedly Wealth Management, we focus on decision-making as the foundational element of success, in our effort to empower families to purposefully apply their wealth to fulfill their values and build a thriving legacy.LEARN MOREwww.decidedlywealth.com SUBSCRIBE TO OUR WEEKLY DECISION-MAKING TIP EMAILJoin us every Wednesday for more strategies to DEFEAT bad decision-making - one episode at a time!CONNECT WITH FATHER STEPHENInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/fatherstephenjgadberry/?hl=en Father Stephen Gadberry, a native of the Arkansas Delta, is a Catholic priest for the Diocese of Little Rock, ordained in 2016. A U.S. Air Force veteran before studying philosophy at St. Joseph Seminary College and earning advanced theology degrees in Rome, specializing in St. Augustine and Cardinal Ratzinger.A fellow of the Word on Fire Institute, Father Stephen is active in Bishop Robert Barron’s ministries. He appeared on American Ninja Warrior in 2018 and currently serves as pastor of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Batesville and St. Cecilia’s in Newport, as well as dean of the Northeast Arkansas deanery.
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