What does it mean to be truly welcoming? In this episode of The Leader's Journey Podcast, Trisha Taylor is joined by author and spiritual director Laura Murray to explore welcome as a guiding principle for life and leadership. Together they unpack how hospitality goes deeper than surface-level friendliness, why boundaries are essential to real welcome, and how leaders can create environments of safety, curiosity, and belonging. This conversation will inspire you to rethink what welcome looks like in your home, your leadership, and your community.

Laura Murray is a minister, author, and spiritual director who brings faith formation into the digital space through her innovative work with online retreats and resources. She is passionate about integrating ideas, connecting people, and releasing the gifts of others. Her newest book, Becoming a Person of Welcome, explores what it means to embody hospitality in ways that are healthy, grounded, and transformative. Learn more about Laura's work, including her retreats and resources, at laurabmurray.com.

Conversation Overview

• Welcome as more than friendliness

• Why genuine welcome requires boundaries and limits

• Protecting both people and purpose in our communities

• The grief and gift of acknowledging our limitations

• Learning to welcome our own humanity before we can welcome others

• Endings, closure, and repair as essential parts of welcome

• The multiplying effect of welcome beyond ourselves

• How God's welcome shapes the way we welcome others

Resources Mentioned

• Becoming a Person of Welcome by Laura Murray

• LauraBMurray.com

• The Leader's Journey Coaching