Christian Woman Leadership Podcast with Esther Littlefield & Holly Cain

How can the church develop women in leadership? How can male pastors support women in ministry? What are the main challenges female leaders face in ministry? And how should you handle an insecure leader?

In this episode Holly and I speak with female leader, consultant, entrepreneur, and author Kadi Cole about women in leadership. Regardless of where you stand theologically on the idea of women in leadership within the church, this is a must-listen episode for those curious about how women can grow God's kingdom in a biblical way.

We talk through how to understand where your church stands on the issue of female leadership, what to do when you don't agree with its stance, and why this issue is coming to the forefront now.

This episode is a replay of episode 60, and is one of my favorite conversations we've had on the show over the past 5 years. In choosing this episode, I was sure to choose something that I felt personally challenged by, as well as a conversation that I believe will inspire and encourage you in your leadership journey.

For the full show notes to this episode, please head to estherlittlefield.com/episode220

Connect with Kadi:

Website Free Download: Theological Cheat Sheet Facebook Instagram Ministry Chick Facebook Group

Other Ways to Connect with Esther & Holly and the Christian Woman Leadership Podcast:

• Esther's Instagram

• Holly's Instagram

• Podcast Instagram

• Facebook Page

In this episode, I talk with Jenny Randle, wife, mom, business owner, entrepreneur, and author about how God created each of us to create, how to fight for our creative nature, and how she handles being multi-passionate. Whether or not you believe you're creative, this is an episode you will not want to miss.

This episode is a replay of episode 43, and is one of my favorite conversations we've had on the show over the past 5 years. In choosing this episode, I was sure to choose something that I felt personally challenged by, as well as a conversation that I believe will inspire and encourage you in your leadership journey.

For the full show notes to this episode, please head to estherlittlefield.com/episode219

Connect with Jenny:

• Website

• Instagram

• Facebook

Other Ways to Connect with Esther & Holly and the Christian Woman Leadership Podcast:

• Esther's Instagram

• Holly's Instagram

• Podcast Instagram

• Facebook Page

Have you ever wondered what the people you lead need from you? We often talk about what we as leaders need to be doing and how we can be developing, but today I want to talk with you about what your followers or team members need from you. And it starts with a teenager.

I didn't expect to get a powerful leadership insight from listening to a teenager give a speech. But that's what happened this past weekend.

Take a listen to this short solo episode where I share what I believe to be the most importnat thing you can give to those you lead.

Related listening:

Communication Series

Podcast update:

For the next few months, I'll be re-sharing some older episodes here on the podcast. This is a great chance to catch up on episodes you may have missed, or re-listen to ones that could bring new insights the 2nd time around.

Stay Connected:

Subscribe on your favorite podcast app. Click here to find all the options where you can find the podcast.

Join our Purposeful Leadership Facebook group! In the Facebook group, we can chat about what you need as a leader, what your challenges are, as well as celebrate the wins. This is a great community to learn and grow together. We want to get to know YOU.

Other Ways to Connect with Esther and the Christian Woman Leadership Podcast:

• Esther's Instagram

• Holly's Instagram

• Holly's Website

• Facebook Page

Five years ago, we had a mission: we wanted to create a resource for Christian women leaders who are looking to grow in their leadership and hear from other women just like them. We never imagined this podcast would last this long or reach as many women as it has.

Holly and I are grateful to each and every listener, and in this episode, we are celebrating our five year milestone! In this conversation, we are sharing the top episodes from the past year, our favorite conversations, and we're getting personal with some lessons God is teaching us through our lives right now.

Past Anniversary Episodes:

1 year Anniversary: Episode 57: One Year Anniversary - Top 5 Episodes & Our Favorite Conversations

2 year Anniversary: Episode 109: Lessons Learned from 2 Years Podcasting & Answering Your Questions

3 year Anniversary: Episode 162: All Things Podcasting with Holly and Esther [3 Year Podcast Celebration]

4 Year Anniversary: Episode 197: Celebrating 4 Years - Top Episodes & Fave Conversations of the Past Year

Top 5 Episodes from the past year:

These are the top 5 most downloaded episodes from the past year. If you haven't taken a listen, be sure to check them out.

Number 5: 199: How to Increase Focus & Decrease Stress as a Leader with Sonita Reese

Number 4: 197: Celebrating 4 Years - Top Episodes & Fave Conversations of the Past Year

Number 3: 198: When Your Voice Isn't Heard, Dealing with Toxic Leadership, and Stepping Out Without a Plan with Rachael Groll

Number 2: 195: What Confident Leaders Look Like [Revisiting Leading with Confidence]

Number 1: 196: Fulfilling Your God-Given Purpose: What's Money Got to Do With It? with Portia Jackson

Esther's Favorite Conversations from the Past Year:

• Episode 205: Sharing the Truth in a Post-Christian Culture with Phylicia Masonheimer

• Episode 203: Leading in Higher Education & Why We Must Prioritize Relationships with Heather Thompson Day

Holly's Favorite Conversations from the Past Year:

• Episode 216: Owning Your Voice and Using Your Gifts as a Female Leader with Jo Saxton

• How To Series

• How to Effectively Network & Build Relationships

• How to Get the Most Out of Live Events

• How Leaders Can Support Someone Through Crisis

• How to Deal with the Pressures of Leading as a Female

Share with us in our Facebook Group what your favorite episodes from the last year have been!

Leaders are Learners: What have you been learning lately?

Podcasts Esther has been listening to:

1. A Little Bit Culty

2. Get Your Hopes Up - Christy Wright

3. EntreLeadership

4. Raw, Real, Redeemed

Books Esther has read recently:

• All My Knotted-Up Life by Beth Moore

• Forgiving What You Can't Forget by Lysa Terkeurst

Podcasts Holly has been listening to:

1. Scamanda

2. Counterclock

3. Crime Junkie

Books Holly has read recently:

• Anne of Green Gables

• Becoming Free Indeed by Jinger Vuolo

• Still Here and Still Struggling to Serve by Gena McCown

Life Updates, Lessons, and What's Working Well Right Now:

Holly: Family and friends visiting; challenges with parenting; big changes for her son in recent weeks. God is teaching her patience through gardening.

Esther: Husband transitioned out of ministry; recent move to Tennessee; taking a full-time job at Ramsey Solutions. God is teaching her about letting go through her move.

Connect with us:

• Esther's website

• Esther's Instagram

Do you ever struggle to own your gifts and voice and feel like you have to hide them in the name of humility? Do you wish you could really put your expertise and knowledge forward in order to make the jump into that next big dream?

In episode 216, our guest Jo Saxton shares her views on women in leadership, the unique gifts women bring to those roles, and the ways their gifts enhance any space. Jo goes on to teach the truths of our identity as women as the Bible teaches and encourages us to live in the light of the truth of that identity.

Jo's message is one of empowerment and confidence. She speaks on how to know when and how to really put our voice out there, and how to own your expertise rather than hiding it in the name of humility. She also speaks into what female leaders are struggling with right now in her opinion, and offers wisdom and hope for how to combat it.

For the full show notes for this episode, head to estherlittlefield.com/episode216

Connect with Jo:

Jo Saxton is a speaker, podcaster, author, and leadership coach. She hosts a digital coaching community and is the founder of Ezer Collective – an initiative dedicated to investing in women leaders around the world, equipping them to own their voice and boldly step into their calling.

Born to Nigerian parents and raised in London, England, Jo now lives in Minneapolis with her husband and two daughters. She loves the every-day stuff like good music, good food, and good friends.

And Target. She really, really loves Target.

Website

Instagram

Lead Stories Podcast

Stay Connected:

Subscribe on your favorite podcast app. Click here to find all the options where you can find the podcast.

Join our Purposeful Leadership Facebook group! In the Facebook group, we can chat about what you need as a leader, what your challenges are, as well as celebrate the wins. This is a great community to learn and grow together. We want to get to know YOU.

Other Ways to Connect with Esther and the Christian Woman Leadership Podcast:

• Esther's Instagram

• Holly's Instagram

• Holly's Website

• Facebook Page

When was the last time you found yourself in some sort of networking event? Do you find it easy to engage with others and build relationships at either in-person or virtual events, or does it feel like your worst nightmare?

No matter what kind of leadership role you have, you will likely find yourself in situations where networking is essential. The good news is that networking is truly just about building relationships, which is a huge part of being a leader.

In this episode, you'll hear Holly and I break down networking into categories. We're going to start by shifting our perspective about networking and move into what to do at an event (or virtual room)! We'll also coach you on what to say when someone asks you about yourself because that can be such a hard question to answer.

Stay Connected:

Subscribe on your favorite podcast app. Click here to find all the options where you can find the podcast.

Join our Purposeful Leadership Facebook group! In the Facebook group, we can chat about what you need as a leader, what your challenges are, as well as celebrate the wins. This is a great community to learn and grow together. We want to get to know YOU.

Other Ways to Connect with Esther and the Christian Woman Leadership Podcast:

• Esther's Instagram

• Holly's Instagram

• Holly's Website

• Facebook Page

Have you ever wondered when it was time to really buckle down on a project, or when it was time to lay it down? Do you struggle to know how to discern between the two, or feel the freedom to move on from something you once felt passionate about?

In episode 214 of the podcast, you'll hear from Rebecca George. Rebecca is an author, speaker and host of the podcast, Radical Radiance. She also recently wrote a book called Do the Thing: Gospel-Centered Goals, Gumption and Grace for the Go-Getter Girl.

In this episode, Rebecca is going to dive deep into the topics of going after our goals, knowing when to pick up projects, and discerning when it's time to lay those same projects down. She'll also share with us a very practical way to silence our inner critic by walking through Philippians 4 step by step. Rebecca offers such wisdom and truth as we all learn how to be leaders in our own ways, and as we navigate the ins and outs of our daily walk with The Lord.

For the full show notes for this episode, head to estherlittlefield.com/episode214

Connect with Rebecca:

Rebecca George is an author, speaker, and host of the popular podcast Radical Radiance. Her greatest joy is helping women pursue their passions in a way that builds God's kingdom. In her free time, she loves running outside or trying a new recipe with Garth Brooks playing in the background.

Website

Instagram

Tiktok

Radical Radiance Podcast

• Episode 261. The Freedom of a Blank Canvas with Esther Littlefield

Free: Shine Bright Journal

Do the Thing: Gospel Centered Goals, Gumption and Grace for the Go-Getter Girl Book

Stay Connected:

Subscribe on your favorite podcast app. Click here to find all the options where you can find the podcast.

Join our Purposeful Leadership Facebook group! In the Facebook group, we can chat about what you need as a leader, what your challenges are, as well as celebrate the wins. This is a great community to learn and grow together. We want to get to know YOU.

Other Ways to Connect with Esther and the Christian Woman Leadership Podcast:

• Esther's Instagram

• Holly's Instagram

• Holly's Website

• Facebook Page

Have you ever attended a live event and not known the best ways to prepare for the event, how best to engage while you were there, or debrief afterward? There's so much time and planning that goes into getting to a live event that sometimes we don't take the time to think through what we need to do before, during, and after the actual event takes place.

If you're a listener of this podcast, you're likely a leader of some sort in some capacity. You likely like to attend events, learn new things, and grow and build new relationships. But sometimes we get back from those events and we just feel overwhelmed. We feel like there's so much that we took away from it, but we have no idea what to do with that information. So, in episode 213 of the podcast, we break that tension down and talk about how to get the most out of these kinds of events.

These tips and tricks cover all sorts of live events, from attending a women's conference at your church, a bigger event or conference, to a business event, or even a smaller one, like a networking event. Take what you need from this conversation and apply it to whatever type of event you're headed to next!

For the full show notes for this episode, head to estherlittlefield.com/episode213

Stay Connected:

Subscribe on your favorite podcast app. Click here to find all the options where you can find the podcast.

Join our Purposeful Leadership Facebook group! In the Facebook group, we can chat about what you need as a leader, what your challenges are, as well as celebrate the wins. This is a great community to learn and grow together. We want to get to know YOU.

Other Ways to Connect with Esther and the Christian Woman Leadership Podcast:

• Esther's Instagram

• Esther's Website

• Holly's Instagram

• Holly's Website

• Facebook Page

Have you ever struggled with how to have integrity in a situation with a friend, family member, spouse, or coworker? Even as Christians, we can allow our pride to get the better of us, and it can be hard to approach every interaction with humility and integrity.

In episode 212 of the podcast, you're going to hear from Liv Dooley. Liv is a Bible Teacher who has a huge passion and heart for others to know Scripture. In this conversation you'll hear all about Liv's past and current leadership roles, her own battles with integrity, and how she has shown time and time again how beautiful and important it is to approach others with humility, even if it's way after the fact.

You'll hear about the ways the Church is speaking to integrity and the importance of serving in any capacity with a humble spirit. If you're a leader of any kind, this podcast episode will surely speak to you as you continue to pursue the people in your circle and lead them with purity and integrity.

For the full show notes for this episode, head to estherlittlefield.com/episode212

Listen to Esther's other podcast, The Christian Woman Business Podcast

Connect with Liv

There is nothing Liv Dooley loves to talk about more than the Word of God. She is a Bible teacher, author, and podcast host of The Best Kept Secret with Liv Dooley, which has featured some of the leading teachers and best-selling authors of our day. Liv is passionate about helping people enjoy greater intimacy and confidence in Christ Jesus in prayer, and you can now find her writing on the YouVersion Bible app.

Liv writes and speaks to help others enjoy greater intimacy and authority in Christ Jesus. When she's not writing or podcasting, you can find Liv hiking a mountain, taking a road trip with her husband, or curled up in the corner with a good book. You can connect with her blog at livdooley.com or follow her on Instagram @candidliv to connect with her.

Website

Instagram

The Best Kept Secret Podcast

Youtube

Confidence Quiz

Stay Connected:

Subscribe on your favorite podcast app. Click here to find all the options where you can find the podcast.

Join our Purposeful Leadership Facebook group! In the Facebook group, we can chat about what you need as a leader, what your challenges are, as well as celebrate the wins. This is a great community to learn and grow together. We want to get to know YOU.

Other Ways to Connect with Esther and the Christian Woman Leadership Podcast:

• Esther's Instagram

• Holly's Instagram

• Holly's Website

• Facebook Page

Have you ever been either on the giving or receiving end of support in the midst of a crisis? Perhaps you've been the one in the middle of the crisis, and a friend showed up and loved you really well, or maybe you've been the friend to show up for someone else. What does it look like to show up and support our people well in the midst of tragedy?

If you are a leader, one skill you will inevitably need at some point is how to support someone through crisis.

You may need to support your teen through a friendship crisis, a friend through a marriage crisis, or a team member through a health crisis.

Helping someone through a crisis is not necessarily something that comes naturally to all of us, and it's definitely not something that we are good at teaching in our culture.The good news is that even if it's not a natural gift that you have, it is a skill that can be developed. There are some guidelines and principles that can help you when you encounter a situation where you need to support someone else who is facing a crisis.

Recently, when I was going through my own crisis, my amazing friend and co-host, Holly supported me in ways that I didn't even realize I needed, so episode 211 is an interview-style conversation we shared all about how to best support someone going through a crisis.

For the full show notes for this episode, check out estherlittlefield.com/episode211

Stay Connected:

Subscribe on your favorite podcast app. Click here to find all the options where you can find the podcast.

Join our Purposeful Leadership Facebook group! In the Facebook group, we can chat about what you need as a leader, what your challenges are, as well as celebrate the wins. This is a great community to learn and grow together. We want to get to know YOU.

Other Ways to Connect with Esther and the Christian Woman Leadership Podcast:

• Esther's Instagram

• Holly's Instagram

• Holly's Website

• Facebook Page