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In a world more connected than ever, leadership has quietly become more distant.

We have constant access to people—texts, emails, meetings, metrics—but proximity isn’t the same as presence. And when leaders begin leading from a distance, something subtle but serious happens: our decisions start to lose their soul.

In this episode of The Reluctant Leader Podcast, Paul Jenkins reflects on an often-overlooked moment in Exodus 28:30, where God instructs the high priest to wear the breastplate—the place of discernment—over the heart.

That detail is more than symbolic. It’s formative.

This episode explores why:

• Good decisions flow from a well-connected heart
• Leadership always moves in two directions—toward people and toward God
• Distance shows up first in our decisions
• Vulnerability isn’t a soft skill, but a leadership necessity

When leaders close the gap emotionally, relationally, and spiritually, people stop being projects and start being people again. Stories stay close. Pain stays human. Growth stays personal.

If you’ve been feeling cynical, sharp, or detached in your leadership, this episode offers a hopeful invitation—not to work harder, but to move closer.

Closer to God.
Closer to people.
Closer to the heart.

Key Takeaways

• You can be around people and still not be with them
• Discernment belongs near compassion, not distance
• Leadership breaks down when either people or God drift from the heart
• Vulnerability keeps decision-making human and God-honoring
• The heart must stay involved for leadership to remain effective

Scripture Referenced

• Exodus 28:30

Leadership Practice for the Month

Wear the breastplate again.
Let decisions be shaped by love.
Lead with people, not over them.

If this episode encouraged you, share it with someone you’re leading—or another leader who needs the reminder. And as always, keep giving God your best, and He’ll do the rest.

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Thanks for listening to The Reluctant Leader Podcast with Paul Jenkins! Find me on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, and be sure to read the stuff I'm writing on my blog.

Rather watch the video? Head over to The Reluctant Leader Podcast on my YouTube channel.

Got questions or comments? Text them to me!

In this episode, Paul sits down with Maggie Mastin — life coach, spiritual director, and director of career development at Indiana Wesleyan University — for a conversation that brings leadership back into the real world… your actual body.

They explore what happens when leaders live from the neck up, why “slowing down” is more spiritual than it sounds, and how paying attention to physical sensations can become a surprising pathway to discernment, emotional health, and Spirit-led presence.

This one is equal parts practical, pastoral, and (yes) a little funny—because apparently Paul still can’t do a British accent without getting roasted.

What you’ll hear in this episode

• Why the body often reacts before the brain can explain
• The tension between having a body and being a body
• A simple practice: noticing tightness, warmth, restlessness, or peace as “data”
• How to create slower space in leadership without getting weird about it
• A powerful moment from Paul’s church: anxiety in worship as discernment, not distraction
• Seasons of the soul: why you can’t live in “spring” forever
• The “embers and flames” metaphor for faith that sustains you over time
• What farm life teaches about patience, limits, and trust
• Why play and whimsy matter more than we admit
• Photography as a “thin place”: capturing holy moments in ordinary life

Key quotes (short and shareable)

• “Your body moves toward what you want before you can explain it.”
• “You’re not the season you’re in—but the season you’re in matters.”
• “You can’t have flame without ember.”
• “Pay attention to the tension.”

Try this today (a 60-second practice)

Before your next meeting, sermon prep session, or hard conversation:

1. Take one slow breath.
2. Ask: What’s happening in my body right now?
3. Name it without fixing it (tight, heavy, energized, restless, calm).
4. Ask: God, what are You inviting me into through this?

About Maggie

Maggie is a spiritual director, life coach, educator, and the director of career development at Indiana Wesleyan University. She helps people grow in self-awareness, discern their next steps, and live with greater integration—body, soul, and story.

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Thanks for listening to The Reluctant Leader Podcast with Paul Jenkins! Find me on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, and be sure to read the stuff I'm writing on my blog.

Rather watch the video? Head over to The Reluctant Leader Podcast on my YouTube channel.

Got questions or comments? Text them to me!

In this episode of The Reluctant Leader Podcast, we dig into the difference between trending right (short-term hype, emotional highs, quick wins) and right trending —the slow, often unsexy work of real growth that actually changes your life.

We even talk football.
Yes, the Carolina Panthers lost—but somehow the future feels brighter. Why? Because improvement changes perspective. And the same is true for us.

When we’re getting stronger—physically, emotionally, spiritually—it reshapes how we see setbacks, disappointments, and even losses. Progress breeds hope.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why progress matters more than perfection
• How getting physically stronger can shift your mental and emotional outlook
• The danger of confusing emotional spikes with true spiritual formation
• Why fragmentation keeps us stuck—and integration sets us free
• How spiritual and emotional health grow best when they grow together
• What Scripture has to say about endurance, growth, and becoming whole

This episode is for leaders, pastors, and everyday followers of Jesus who want more than a quick fix. It’s for those who are willing to play the long game—the Jesus way.

Because the best lives aren’t lived when everything goes right…
They’re lived when we’re right trending.

Key Scripture:

• Romans 5:3–5
• 1 Timothy 4:8
• Philippians 1:6

Listen & Subscribe

If this episode encouraged you:

• 👍 Like the episode
• 🔔 Subscribe to the podcast
• 📤 Share it with someone who needs hope rooted in progress

And as always—
Keep giving God your best, and He’ll do the rest.

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Thanks for listening to The Reluctant Leader Podcast with Paul Jenkins! Find me on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, and be sure to read the stuff I'm writing on my blog.

Rather watch the video? Head over to The Reluctant Leader Podcast on my YouTube channel.

Got questions or comments? Text them to me!

Emmanuel: The God Who Chose Us

Christmas reminds us that God is not just with us—
He wanted to be with us.

In this special Christmas-week episode of The Reluctant Leader Podcast, we reflect on the meaning of Emmanuel and the often-overlooked truth behind it: God didn’t come reluctantly. He came willingly.

Drawing from Philippians 2, this episode explores the humility of Jesus, the intentionality of the incarnation, and the deep comfort found in knowing that God chose proximity—not distance.

Because there’s a big difference between someone being present…
and someone wanting to be present.

In This Episode:

• Why Emmanuel means more than “God is with us”
• The difference between presence and desire in relationships
• How Philippians 2 reveals the heart behind the incarnation
• Why Jesus’ humility points to God’s longing for closeness
• What it means to be wanted by God—especially when you feel overlooked

Key Scripture:

• Matthew 1:23 – “They will call him Emmanuel (which means ‘God with us’).”
• Philippians 2:5–11 – The humility, obedience, and love of Christ

Big Idea:

God didn’t come because He had to.
He came because He wanted to.

Take a Moment:

As you move through the busyness of Christmas, pause and sit with this truth:
You are not an obligation to God.
You are loved.
You are wanted.

Next Steps:

• Share this episode with someone who needs to hear they matter
• Subscribe to The Reluctant Leader Podcast
• Leave a review—it helps others find the show

Merry Christmas from TRLP.
Keep giving God your best—and He’ll do the rest.

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Thanks for listening to The Reluctant Leader Podcast with Paul Jenkins! Find me on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, and be sure to read the stuff I'm writing on my blog.

Rather watch the video? Head over to The Reluctant Leader Podcast on my YouTube channel.

Got questions or comments? Text them to me!

In this episode of The Reluctant Leader Podcast, Paul unpacks a powerhouse Greek word hidden in Philippians — συναθλέω (soon-ath-LEH-oh), a term ripped straight from the ancient athletic arena. It doesn’t just mean “work hard for Jesus.” It means strive together — shoulder-to-shoulder, like teammates fighting for the same goal.

Then we take that truth straight into Christmas. When Jesus was born, He wasn’t called “God with me.” He was named Immanuel — God with us. Plural. Team language. Community hope. The incarnation is God yelling into our isolation:

This one’s for every leader feeling the grind, carrying too much weight, and wondering if they’re supposed to fight these battles by themselves. You’re not.

In this episode:

• Why Christianity isn’t a solo sport
• The gritty team-language of συναθλέω
• How Christmas pulls us into community courage
• What “Immanuel” means for worn-out leaders
• A practical reminder: joy grows when faith goes side-by-side

Key Scriptures:
Philippians 1:27 • Isaiah 7:14

Takeaways:

• Faith is shared sweat
• God came close and brought others with Him
• We fight better when we fight together

If this hits home, share it with someone on your team — encouragement multiplies when it’s passed around.

Connect:
Follow, like, and subscribe to keep the conversation going each week. And if this episode helped you today, consider sharing it with the teammate God’s placed in your life.

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Thanks for listening to The Reluctant Leader Podcast with Paul Jenkins! Find me on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, and be sure to read the stuff I'm writing on my blog.

Rather watch the video? Head over to The Reluctant Leader Podcast on my YouTube channel.

Got questions or comments? Text them to me!

Episode Theme: How choosing gratitude reshapes our leadership, our relationships, and our mental and spiritual health.

Episode Summary:
We live in a culture trained to obsess over what’s missing. But the way of Jesus flips that narrative. Gratitude doesn’t ignore hard circumstances — it invites us to see God’s goodness right in the middle of them. In this episode, Paul shares how thankfulness reorients us, strengthens us, and becomes a weapon against the lies that drain our joy. We’ll laugh a little, reflect a lot, and walk away with a practical practice to help gratitude come alive in real life.

What You’ll Hear:

• Why gratitude doesn’t always come naturally
• How thankfulness actually rewires the brain
• Why Paul calls gratitude “resistance” in a culture of scarcity
• Where Scripture anchors us when the struggle gets real (1 Thess. 5:18, Psalm 100:4, Luke 22:19, Philippians 1:3)
• A simple daily challenge to speak gratitude into someone’s life

Key Takeaways:

• Gratitude shifts your focus from what’s lacking to Who’s present
• Thanksgiving is a doorway into God’s presence, peace, and perspective
• You can give thanks in all circumstances without pretending you’re thankful for all circumstances
• Naming what you’re grateful for disrupts the enemy’s lies
• Leaders become healthier when love, not lack, sets the tone

Practice of the Week — “Name It Forward”
1️⃣ Think of someone God has used to bless your life
2️⃣ Tell them specifically why you’re thankful
3️⃣ Watch how encouragement multiplies joy

Questions for Reflection:

• Where do I naturally drift — toward gratitude or grumbling?
• What’s one gift from God I’ve been overlooking?
• Who can I thank today for the impact they’ve had on me?

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Thanks for listening to The Reluctant Leader Podcast with Paul Jenkins! Find me on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, and be sure to read the stuff I'm writing on my blog.

Rather watch the video? Head over to The Reluctant Leader Podcast on my YouTube channel.

Got questions or comments? Text them to me!

My guest is Dustin Scott — husband, dad to a miracle five-year-old named Roman, and a leader who’s spent years walking with people through recovery. He’s from Tucson, Arizona, and recently shifted from working in addiction recovery to teaching theology—because, as he says, “recovery is spiritual formation.”

In this episode, Dustin and I talk about what it really means to let Jesus meet us in our mess instead of waiting to get our act together first. We dig into why slowing down to breathe—really breathe—isn’t some new-age trick, but a way to remember that God’s Spirit still fills our lungs like He did in Genesis 2.

We also talk about the tension leaders live in: bringing peace to others while fighting for it ourselves, holding joy and pain in the same hand, and realizing that fixing a problem isn’t the same as healing a soul.

Dustin shares the incredible story of his son Roman’s birth—a miracle that came after years of heartbreak—and how that experience reshaped his view of faith, leadership, and what it means to walk with a limp but still lead with love.

We end up where Philippians 2 points us: Jesus came close, so we can, too. Whether it’s addiction, anxiety, or just the everyday chaos of life, formation happens when we stay close enough to let Him shape us through it.

Connect with Dustin: Recovery Formation on Substack

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Thanks for listening to The Reluctant Leader Podcast with Paul Jenkins! Find me on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, and be sure to read the stuff I'm writing on my blog.

Rather watch the video? Head over to The Reluctant Leader Podcast on my YouTube channel.