- 44 minutes 53 secondsEp 208: Leading When the Plan Falls Apart with Craig Groeschel
Every leader eventually faces a moment when the plan stops working. A strategy fails, a team dynamic breaks down, growth creates new complexity, or an unexpected circumstance forces a change in direction. In this episode, David Ashcraft talks with Craig Groeschel, founder and senior pastor of Life.Church, about how leaders can respond when leadership does not go as planned.
Craig reflects on failed ideas, organizational pivots, team conflict, and the ongoing discipline of letting go as leadership expands. He also shares how humility, preparation, prayerfulness, candor and trust have shaped the way he leads through uncertainty. For leaders navigating disruption—whether external circumstances or internal challenges—this conversation offers a grounded reminder: the mission matters more than the method, and growth often requires the courage to release what you can no longer carry.
20 May 2026, 12:30 pm - 50 minutes 27 secondsEp 207: Leading Through Leadership Hijacks with Edgar Sandoval
Every leader eventually encounters disruption—moments that challenge assumptions, redirect plans, and test resilience. In this episode, GLN President and CEO David Ashcraft talks with Edgar Sandoval, President and CEO of World Vision, about navigating what David calls "leadership hijacks": unexpected events that reshape both leadership and life.
Edgar shares his journey from immigrating to the United States as a teenager with little money and no English skills, to leading one of the world's largest Christian humanitarian organizations. Along the way, he reflects on lessons learned through personal hardship, raising children with special needs, leaving a successful corporate career at Procter & Gamble, and leading World Vision through COVID and global uncertainty.
This conversation explores how leaders can remain grounded during disruption, communicate hope without ignoring reality, and create healthy organizational cultures that help people thrive even in difficult seasons.
13 May 2026, 12:31 pm - 20 minutes 58 secondsEp 206: When Leadership Gets Hijacked: Reclaiming Your Focus, Identity, and Definition of Success (with David Ashcraft)
Leadership doesn't usually derail all at once—it gets hijacked slowly by subtle internal forces like comparison, self-doubt, and misplaced definitions of success. In this episode, Whitney Putnam sits down with David Ashcraft to unpack the internal and external "hijacks" that pull leaders off course. They explore how even confident leaders can fall into comparison traps, how self-doubt often disguises itself in different ways, and why defining success based on others' metrics leads to frustration. This conversation brings leaders back to what matters most: clarifying personal priorities, choosing the right voices to listen to, and aligning success with purpose rather than perception. If you've ever questioned your place, your progress, or your impact, this episode offers a grounded way to refocus and move forward with clarity and intention.
6 May 2026, 12:30 pm - 26 minutes 11 secondsEp 205: Our Favorite Moments, Winter 2026 — Lessons on Resilience, Presence, and Perspective (with Whitney Putnam and Eric Case)
Leadership is often formed in the middle—when progress is slow, challenges persist, and outcomes are unclear. This episode highlights key moments from recent conversations to help you stay grounded in those seasons.
You'll hear insights on perseverance from Walker Hayes, practical wisdom on resilience from David Ashcraft, and a timely reminder from John Maxwell about embracing the season you're in. Whitney and Eric also share personal leadership challenges and what helped them keep going.
If you're facing pressure, uncertainty, or slow progress, this episode will help you focus on what you can control—and continue leading with purpose where you are.
29 April 2026, 12:30 pm - 48 minutes 18 secondsEp 204: Why Culture Is a Leader's Responsibility (and How to Shape It) with Jenni Catron
Every organization has a culture—but not every leader is shaping it intentionally. In this episode, Jenni Catron explains why culture is one of the most important (and often overlooked) responsibilities of leadership.
In this conversation with GLN President and CEO David Ashcraft, Jenni offers a practical definition of culture, along with clear ways to translate values into everyday behaviors and reinforce them through consistent rhythms.
Jenni also outlines what it actually takes to change culture—where to start, how long it takes, and why many efforts stall. Along the way, she highlights the subtle signs of an unhealthy culture and the role leaders play in either reinforcing or correcting them.
If you're responsible for a team, this conversation will help you take a more intentional, long-term approach to building a culture where people and performance can thrive.
22 April 2026, 12:30 pm - 20 minutes 15 secondsEp 203: How Leaders Use Strategy (with David Ashcraft)
Strategy can feel intimidating.
Maybe it brings up pressure to get it right. Maybe it feels restrictive. Or maybe it's something you've been avoiding because you're not quite sure where to start.
In this episode, Whitney Putnam sits down with GLN President and CEO David Ashcraft to simplify strategy and make it practical. Together, they unpack why strategy matters at every level of leadership—and why waiting for perfect clarity might be the very thing holding you back.
If you've ever felt stuck trying to "figure it all out" before taking a step forward, this conversation will help you move.
8 April 2026, 7:30 pm - 38 minutes 21 secondsEp 202: Creating Meaningful Change Through Faith and Entrepreneurship (with Justin Forman)
Leadership isn't just about building something successful; it's about building something meaningful, aligning what you believe with how you lead and using what you've been given to make a difference. Today's guest is someone who has spent years helping leaders do exactly that.
Justin Forman is a strategist and leader working at the intersection of faith, entrepreneurship. He's the cofounder and president of Faith Driven Entrepreneur and Faith Driven Investor: global movements helping more than 1 million leaders integrate faith and how they lead and build businesses. Justin brings people together—entrepreneurs investors, and leaders—to move from good intentions to lasting impact. GLN President and CEO David Ashcraft recently sat down with Justin to talk about how faith, media and entrepreneurship can create meaningful change and what it looks like to build something that truly matters overtime.
25 March 2026, 1:48 pm - 48 minutes 53 secondsEp 201: Five Essential Functions of Leadership (with Henry Cloud)
Dr. Henry Cloud is a bestselling author, psychologist, and leadership expert whose work on boundaries, relationships, and emotional health has shaped leaders around the world.
If you are familiar with Henry, you know that he doesn't just diagnose problems—he helps leaders understand what growth actually looks like, and how we can take responsibility for it in real life.
Our President and CEO, David Ashcraft, recently sat down with Dr. Cloud for a conversation about his upcoming book Your Desired Future. This book is basically a masterclass in how to lead—yourself and other people and is exactly what we've come to expect from Henry: deep psychological insight with super practical application.
Whether you are just getting started in your leadership journey, or you've been at it for a while now, this conversation is an absolute game-changer, and we are so glad we can bring it to you today.
18 March 2026, 2:27 pm - 22 minutes 27 secondsEp 200: Resilience for Leaders (with David Ashcraft)
Today we're talking with GLN president and CEO David Ashcraft about resilience. Honestly, sometimes I love the word, "resilience." However, sometimes I kind of hate it: usually when I'm in the middle of a really challenging time that I just wish would end. This conversation will help you think about why resilience is necessary and the importance of celebrating small wins. With the right inputs, we can be resilient leaders.
4 March 2026, 4:29 pm - 38 minutes 44 secondsEp 199: Creativity, Perseverance and Gratitude (with Walker Hayes)
In this episode, David Ashcraft sits down to do a live webinar with Walker Hayes, the singer and songwriter behind hits like "Fancy Like" and "Stetson", to talk about the faith and grit that it takes to create over the long-term, and how an attitude of gratefulness changes your perspective on just about everything.
25 February 2026, 8:42 pm - 45 minutes 58 secondsEp 198: The World of Creativity (with Fredrik Haren)
Whether it's ideating from nothing, feeling pressure to be original or wondering if creativity is something you either have or you don't, most of us struggle with creativity at some level. However, for today's guest, to be creative is to be human. Author, speaker and "Creativity Explorer" Fredrik Heron has spent decades helping leaders understand that creativity isn't about talent or personality: it's about practice, environment and perspective. GLN President and CEO David Ashcraft sat down with Fredrik to talk about his new book The World of Creativity and together they unpack what it really means to lead creatively—even when the ideas don't come easily.
18 February 2026, 4:08 pm - More Episodes? Get the App