Best Leadingteams Podcasts (2026)

1
How Great Leaders Navigate Crisis | Dr. Mark Rutland on Turnaround Leadership 36:47

Play Pause

21d ago36:47

36:47

A crisis doesn't have to break your church or organization. In this powerful conversation, Dr. Mark Rutland, Executive Director of the National Institute of Leadership and founder of Global Servants, joins Phil Cooke https://philcooke.com to share hard-earned insights on leading through crisis, turnaround leadership, and building a lasting leadersh…

1
The Courage to Stop A New Chapter in Leadership and Life 16:04

1M ago16:04

16:04

What if the bravest act of leadership is knowing when it's time to pause? In this deeply personal episode, Kris invites listeners into the raw, honest crossroads she's currently navigating—one marked by completion, uncertainty, and a longing for deeper, more human connection. After nearly 400 episodes, thousands of hours of recording, and decades s…

1
Church Communication Strategies That Actually Work | Brady Shearer, Pro Church Tools 41:18

2M ago41:18

41:18

Here's how to transform your church communications strategy with processes that really work. In this episode, Phil Cooke https://philcooke.com talks with Brady Shearer, founder of Pro Church Tools, about practical ways to simplify your church media, clarify your message, and reach more people online. From repurposing sermons and building better con…

1
Before You Hold Anyone Accountable, Start Here 20:17

2M ago20:17

20:17

We love the idea of accountability—until it gets uncomfortable. Until it requires us to tell the truth and stop making excuses for what we've been tolerating. In this powerful episode, Kris Plachy explores the deep connection between accountability, self-trust, and personal agency—and why even the most successful women can find themselves over-tole…

1
Why Play Belongs in Leadership 14:00

2M ago14:00

14:00

In this week's episode of Leadership is Feminine®, Kris speaks straight to the hearts of high-achieving women who are carrying so much—the businesses they run, the households they manage, the people they care for, and the decisions they make every hour of the day. Kris argues that successful women don't just deserve joy. They require it. After year…

1
Is Direct Mail Dead? Best Digital Fundraising Strategies for Nonprofits | Interview - Mark Dreistadt 39:13

2M ago39:13

39:13

Is direct mail still relevant in today's digital world? In this insightful interview, Phil Cooke https://philcooke.com talks with Mark Dreistadt, founder and president of Infinity Concepts, about why direct mail remains the foundation of successful fundraising—and how digital tools like email, Google ads, social media, and text-to-give options are …

1
The Real Cost of Avoiding Accountability 21:53

2M ago21:53

21:53

Kris is back with another round of the pet sitting saga—but this time, it's about more than just unreliable pet sitters. It's a story about accountability, boundaries, and leadership. Through a string of mishaps (and three fired sitters), Kris explores how these small, personal frustrations mirror the much larger issue of how we manage people in ou…

1
The Power of Discomfort in Developing Real Leaders 31:14

2M ago31:14

31:14

This week on Leadership is Feminine, Kris Plachy and her Director of Operations, Michelle Arant, sit down for an unscripted conversation that captures leadership in its most human form. What started as a casual team discussion turned into a powerful reflection on how we handle discomfort, accountability, and growth — both in business and in life. T…

1
Brainkeeping: The Leadership Practice You Didn't Know You Needed 18:13

3M ago18:13

18:13

What if your mind needed the same care as your home? In this episode, Kris introduces the concept of brainkeeping—a leadership practice as vital as housekeeping. Just as we tidy our physical spaces, our mental and emotional spaces require regular clearing, reflection, and renewal. Kris shares how her lifelong curiosity and deep conversations with f…

1
The Power of Video for Nonprofit Fundraising | Paul Steven Forrest, Author-Producer 32:56

3M ago32:56

32:56

Discover how to inspire generosity for your fundraising efforts through storytelling. In this episode, Phil Cooke https://philcooke.com talks with author and producer Paul Steven Forrest about the power of video for nonprofit fundraising and how your organization can use it to share your ministry's vision effectively. Learn how to create videos tha…

1
Stop Wing-ing It: Make Your Business an Asset (Not a Job) 21:56

3M ago21:56

21:56

As we head into the final quarter of the year, Kris invites you to shift your focus—from running the business to owning the business. She challenges high-achieving female founders to stop operating on autopilot and start thinking like the visionary asset holders they are. Too many women spend years building companies without ever asking the most im…

1
Tactical Advice Won't Save You, But Self-Trust Will 15:50

3M ago15:50

15:50

What does it feel like to finally stop overworking, over-explaining, and over-proving—and instead lead from a place of grounded confidence? In this episode, Kris shows us what life and leadership look like when self-trust and self-worth are fully integrated. She shares the story of a client who went from being minimized by her partners to running a…

1
Bible App Hits One Billion Downloads! | Bobby Gruenewald - Founder/CEO, YouVersion 19:19

3M ago19:19

19:19

Times Square and The Sphere in Las Vegas will be lighting up this November as YouVersion celebrates "Beyond a Billion" downloads of its Bible app. Join Phil Cooke https://philcooke.com in this conversation with Bobby Gruenewald, founder and CEO of YouVersion to talk about the upcoming event and new features of the Bible app for churches and individ…

1
Success Won't Fix Your Worthiness Problem 16:44

3M ago16:44

16:44

What if your worth wasn't tied to your revenue, your output, or anyone else's approval? In this episode, Kris takes us deeper into the heart of worthiness and why so many high-achieving women still wrestle with believing in themselves—even after building successful companies, raising families, and achieving goals most people only dream of. Kris bre…

1
Stop Compartmentalizing Your Confidence 18:49

4M ago18:49

18:49

Why can you trust yourself to build a multimillion-dollar company—but not to have one hard conversation? In this episode, Kris pulls back the curtain on the anatomy of self-trust. From visionary ideas to money, health, relationships, and leadership, she reveals why so many women compartmentalize their confidence—rock solid in some domains, shaky in…

1
Embrace Uncertainty: Faith, Media and Popular Culture 22:56

4M ago22:56

22:56

Can anyone predict the future? While Hollywood and media experts try to figure out what's next, media consultant Phil Cooke https://philcooke.com shares 5 essential strategies for embracing uncertainty and building resilience in today's chaotic culture. 🔑 What You'll Learn: ✅ How to get comfortable with uncertainty and think strategically about alt…

1
Breaking the Generational Code of Self-Doubt 12:42

4M ago12:42

12:42

Why do so many accomplished women still doubt themselves—even after building extraordinary lives and businesses? Kris continues her Self-Trust & Self-Worth mini-series with a powerful exploration of the programming women inherit from generations before us. She invites us to reflect on the systemic, cultural, and ancestral patterns that quietly shap…

1
What Happens When You Finally Believe in Yourself 21:00

4M ago21:00

21:00

Kris launches a brand-new mini-series with a masterclass on Self-Trust and Self-Worth for Female Founders. And she encourages us to ask: Why do we trust ourselves to build entire businesses—but not to have one hard conversation? After wrapping the seven transitions of Beyond the CEO, this next season dives deeper—into the paradox that so many succe…

1
Secrets to a Successful Ministry Transition | Steve Woodworth, CEO Masterworks 33:33

4M ago33:33

33:33

Transitions in ministry leadership can make or break an organization. Join Phil Cooke https://philcooke.com in a conversation with Steve Woodworth, CEO of Masterworks as they unpack the secrets to a successful ministry succession and how leaders can pass the baton with wisdom and humility. Whether you are a pastor, board member, ministry founder, o…

1
The Most Overlooked Step Between Leading and Leaving 24:23

4M ago24:23

24:23

What's your plan for the business you've worked so hard to build? After walking through all seven transitions in the Beyond the CEO series, Kris is turning her focus to what comes next: the tactical and strategic steps every founder must take to ensure the business can run—and even thrive—without her constant presence. This isn't just about getting…

1
The Transition That Changes Everything 23:13

4M ago23:13

23:13

Are you willing to release control and trust others with what you've built In this episode, Kris closes out the Beyond the CEO series by walking through the final transitions that take you from structure and strategy into wisdom and possibility. It's not just about building processes—it's about letting go of false truths, reclaiming clarity, playin…

1
Faith & Business: Insights for Christian Marketplace Leaders with Leray Heyne 21:45

5M ago21:45

21:45

Join Phil Cooke as he interviews Leray Heyne, a visionary CEO and founder of Jesus Christ's CEOs, transforming the Christian Business landscape. https://philcooke.com This powerful conversation explores how Christian Entrepreneurs and business leaders can thrive in today's marketplace, influence culture, and lead with Kingdom values. Learn how to i…

1
Your Next Chapter Won't Come From Your Old Blueprint 18:39

5M ago18:39

18:39

Have you been intentional about what stays in your life—and what goes? If you've been following this special Beyond the CEO mini-series on the seven transitions every founder must face, you know last week was all about play, curiosity, and exploration. Now, in Transition Six—Intentional Design—we take everything you've discovered in that playful, c…

1
You Don't Have to Stay in Your Comfort Cage 25:22

5M ago25:22

25:22

Play. Stillness. Curiosity. When did you stop giving yourself that permission? You're going through the motions in a life you once dreamed of—and wondering when that dream stopped being yours. In this episode—the next in Kris's series on the seven essential transitions every successful woman must navigate—she invites you to consider the one most of…

1
Supercharge Your Bible Study: Understand Scripture in Its Cultural Context 10:56

5M ago10:56

10:56

Do you struggle with understanding the Bible? I've found that only when you start to understand the cultural context, will you start to understand scripture. In this video, as a producer and media executive with a PhD in Theology, https://philcooke.com I share the single greatest way I've found to study the Bible using a chronological Bible. Find o…

1
The Striver's Dilemma: Who Are You Without the Push? 28:08

5M ago28:08

28:08

In this fourth installment of the Seven Transitions Every Successful Woman Must Navigate series, Kris explores the fog that can settle in after years of striving, building, leading, and achieving. When the urgency fades, when the goals have been met, when your days are no longer dictated by survival or ambition... who are you now? This is the striv…

1
If You're Still Holding On, What Are You Really Afraid Of? 20:08

5M ago20:08

20:08

You're not trapped by your business, your team, or even your schedule. You're trapped by the stories you've been telling yourself about what has to happen next. In this third installment of the special mini-series on the seven transitions every successful woman must navigate when she knows it's time for something new, Kris unpacks the beliefs that …

1
From Operator to Advisor: What Your Business Really Needs From You Now 15:10

6M ago15:10

15:10

Are you the biggest bottleneck in your business—and don't even realize it? You didn't build your company to babysit it. But if you're still the one making every call, solving every fire, and holding the reins so tightly no one else can lead...this episode is your wake-up call. In this second installment of the special mini-series on the seven essen…

1
Inside The Sphere Las Vegas | Exclusive Interview with Producer Ralph Winter 31:16

6M ago31:16

31:16

Go behind the scenes of The Sphere in Las Vegas as Phil Cooke https://philcooke.com interviews Head of Physical Production, Ralph Winter. Proven to be one of Hollywood's most profitable assets with blockbusters including X-MEN, PLANET OF THE APES, and WOLVERINE, Ralph takes us inside the production process of The Sphere's cinematic experience, incl…

1
When You're Ready to Move On, But You're Still Afraid to Let Go 24:57

6M ago24:57

24:57

You say you want freedom. But are you really ready for it? This week, Kris kicks off the first of seven essential transitions every successful woman must navigate when she knows it's time for something new. It starts with a brutally honest question: Is your business ready to run without you? And are you ready to let it? In this episode, Kris unpack…

1
What About The Restless Leader: A Call to Explore What's Next 12:24

6M ago12:24

12:24

This season marks a turning point—not just for the podcast, but for the visionary women who listen. If you've ever wondered what comes after success, you're in the right place. In this kickoff to a brand-new series, Kris introduces a deeply personal—and much-needed—conversation: what it means to go beyond the CEO. Because sometimes, the biggest tra…

1
How to Get Fired FAST: What NOT to Do at Work 10:03

6M ago10:03

10:03

What's the fastest way to get fired from your job? In this episode, Phil Cooke https://philcooke.com exposes unethical behaviors that can abruptly end your career. From minor breaches of trust to major confidentiality breaches, Phil offers a reality check for the digital world we live in. Based on his book, "Church on Trial: How to Protect Your Con…

1
When Leadership Isn't Enough Anymore—And You Know It's Time to Evolve 27:16

6M ago27:16

27:16

You built the business. You built the team. You built the life. But now… what? This is the moment no one warns you about. When the business you poured everything into is running—maybe even thriving—but you feel restless. Detached. Like maybe you've outgrown what once felt like everything. In this episode, Kris Plachy opens the door to a new convers…

1
Live Coaching Conversation: When the Mask Comes Off—and You Finally Say What You Want 41:05

7M ago41:05

41:05

This one's raw. Tender. And so incredibly real. My client came into this conversation thinking she needed clarity. She was looking for the right answers—about her role, her goals, her business. But what came out was something much more vulnerable: the pressure to perform, the fear of letting people down, and the quiet ache of not being fully seen. …

1
How to Start Conversations about Jesus – Interview with Evangelist J.John 45:34

7M ago45:34

45:34

If you've ever felt awkward sharing the gospel, join media executive Phil Cooke in this insightful and entertaining conversation with J.John, internationally known evangelist, speaker, and author, as they explore how to effectively share the Gospel and make disciples in a modern, digital world. In this interview, you'll gain actionable advice on: ·…

1
Live Coaching Conversation: You Can't Pivot Until You Admit You're Done 37:20

7M ago37:20

37:20

This one hit deep. I'm talking to a founder who's done everything "right." Built the business. Achieved success. Carried the weight. But now… she's just tired. Tired of running, of holding it all together, of pretending she still wants what she once did. She thought we'd be talking about planning and priorities. Instead, we had one of the most hone…

1
Live Coaching Conversation: When You're Ready to Let Go, But Don't Know What Comes Next 39:06

7M ago39:06

39:06

This episode is for the woman who's built a thriving business—and still hears a quiet voice inside asking, "Is this really it?" My client came to this session frustrated with herself for not trusting her team or delegating enough. But what we uncovered wasn't about delegation at all. It was about the fear of stepping away. The pressure to keep goin…

1
How to Maximize a Brainstorming Session | Interview with Executive Pastor Ben Stapley 45:18

7M ago45:18

45:18

How do you lead a creative brainstorming session that produces results? Join Phil Cooke in this Part 2 interview with Executive Pastor Ben Stapley as we discuss how to implement and maximize a brainstorming session in a church or ministry setting. Plus, find out the difference between a church communications director and media director and who your…

1
Live Coaching Conversation: Spotting the Right Hire in 5 Minutes 53:29

7M ago53:29

53:29

Ever hired someone because they "seemed great"... and then spent months wondering what the hell happened? This week on Leadership is Feminine starts the series where I am letting you listen in on actual coaching conversations with female founders. I coach a founder who's been there. She's rebuilding her team—and this time, she's determined to do it…

1
The Question Every Successful Woman Eventually Asks 21:41

8M ago21:41

21:41

What if the next step in your evolution has nothing to do with scaling, systems, or solving that one nagging employee issue—and everything to do with who you're becoming? In this very personal episode, Kris Plachy sets the stage for a powerful shift. If you've been a long-time listener—or a longtime leader—you'll want to hear where we're going next…

1
How PTZ Cameras Are Transforming Worship Services | Bryan Bailey, Director of Media, Prestonwood 43:38

8M ago43:38

43:38

Are you considering PTZ cameras for your church worship service? Join Phil Cooke and Bryan Bailey, Director of Media at Prestonwood Baptist Church, to explore how one of the nation's leading churches is leveraging PTZ robotic cameras to transform church worship experiences. Whether you're a church media director, on a media team, or training volunt…

1
Team Member Episode: Accountability Isn't a Toxic Workplace 24:24

8M ago24:24

24:24

This week on Leadership is Feminine, Kris Plachy offers a candid exploration of the employee-employer dynamic—and the personal responsibility that comes with being part of any team. With her trademark clarity and insight, Kris challenges listeners to rethink what it truly means to be employed: It's not just about time—it's about delivering results.…

1
Team Member Episode: It's Your Life. Don't Wait for the Business to Save You. 12:09

8M ago12:09

12:09

This week's episode of Leadership is Feminine is a little different. Kris Plachy offers a compelling call to action for team members everywhere to take ownership of their well-being and personal power in the workplace. Rather than placing full trust in employers to manage our financial, mental, or emotional health, Kris invites listeners to reexami…

1
Living the Dream – Faith-Based Documentary Filmmaking with Ryan Grow | Lifeway Films 31:30

8M ago31:30

31:30

Are you passionate about Christian storytelling and dreaming of a career in faith-based filmmaking? Join media executive Phil Cooke https://philcooke.com and Ryan Grow, Executive Producer and Head of Lifeway Films, for a powerful and practical conversation that dives deep into the world of Christian movies and documentary filmmaking. From pitching …

1
A Well-Resourced Woman & Leadership 12:57

8M ago12:57

12:57

In this week's episode of Leadership is Feminine, Kris Plachy explores the transformational power of leadership and what it really means to lead as a well-resourced woman. Kris invites listeners to rethink leadership not as a title or destination, but as a lived experience. Leadership is about taking up space, having a voice, and guiding others tow…

1
A Well-Resourced Woman and Personal Agency 8:54

8M ago8:54

8:54

In this week's episode of Leadership is Feminine, Kris Plachy unpacks the powerful connection between personal agency and what it truly means to be a well-resourced woman. She invites listeners to consider how much of their lives they're actually claiming—and how much they've unintentionally handed over. Kris speaks directly to the millions of wome…

1
A Well-Resourced Woman and Money 12:47

9M ago12:47

12:47

In this week's episode of Leadership is Feminine, Kris Plachy discusses the ever-important topic of money and how it influences the concept of being a "well-resourced woman." Kris doesn't just scratch the surface; she opens up about her personal experience and tackles the complex relationship many women have with money. Kris argues for seeing money…

1
Creative Ways to Transform Your Church Worship | Interview with Executive Pastor Ben Stapley 42:38

9M ago42:38

42:38

Church doesn't have to be boring! In this interview, Phil Cooke https://philcooke.com talks with Executive Pastor Ben Stapley of Zarephath Christian Church to uncover creative, practical ways to revitalize your worship experience. Whether you're running a traditional or contemporary church service, these creative strategies will boost engagement, i…

1
A Well-Resourced Woman and Health & Energy 16:33

9M ago16:33

16:33

In this episode of Leadership is Feminine, Kris Plachy shares a powerful reminder: your body is the vessel for your leadership, your dreams, and your impact—and it deserves your full attention. Kris explores what it means to be physically well-resourced as a woman in leadership, especially as we navigate the transitions of our 40s and 50s. Health a…

1
A Well-Resourced Woman & Time 22:41

9M ago22:41

22:41

Do you ever feel like your time and energy are stretched too thin? In this episode of Leadership is Feminine, Kris Plachy kicks off a limited series on what it truly means to be a well-resourced woman. She explores the unique challenges women in leadership face—especially the pressure to juggle it all. From running a business to managing personal r…