Faithly Podcast

In this episode of the Faithly Stories podcast, join host Alicia Lee as she welcomes Tracy Mathews, founder of Attune, for a thoughtful conversation on spiritual leadership, discernment, and learning to slow down in a world that constantly pushes us to hurry.

Tracy shares her journey from the fast-paced world of biotech and business strategy to a ministry rooted in helping leaders listen for God's voice. After a life-changing encounter with the Holy Spirit in 2007, she began pursuing what she calls “scandalously patient leadership,” waiting on God’s timing with courage and intentionality. Through Attune, Tracy equips leaders and teams with tools to listen deeply to the Holy Spirit in their decision-making and relationships. In this episode, she guides listeners through a powerful spiritual exercise called Search Me and Know Me, designed to help you process both emotional and physical responses and experience God's nearness in real time.

Website: https://attunetogrow.org 

(00:01) Attune to Grow
(10:17) Search Me and Know Me Exercise
(24:48) Navigating Emotions Through Motherhood
(33:51) Scandalously Patient
(43:44) Empowering Church Leaders With Faithly

Follow us on social media:

Website: https://faithly.co/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefaithlyco/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/faithly.co/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/faithly/
X: https://x.com/faithlyco 

Today on the Faithly Stories podcast, meet Samura Jones: author, minister, and Area Director for CarePortal NYC—for a powerful conversation with host Alicia Lee on healing, resilience, and purpose-driven leadership.

From surviving trauma in foster care to leaving a secure role at Apple to follow God’s call, Samura’s life is a testimony to radical faith and emotional restoration. Through the support of a loving community, as well as therapy and spiritual formation, she has transformed deep pain into a thriving ministry that empowers others to find wholeness.

Samura shares how her work in child advocacy and community development has become a mission rooted in compassion and connection. As she leads CarePortal’s efforts to bridge churches and social agencies, her vision is clear: healing happens in relationship, and the Church has a vital role to play.

Website: https://samurajones.com/ 

(00:01) Journey of Faith and Resilience
(14:33) Healing Through Faith and Community
(18:18) Childhood Resilience and Professional Growth
(23:32) Pathway to Community Care
(34:16) Community Care and Emotional Restoration
(41:55) Emotional Restoration and Leadership Insights

Follow us on social media:

Website: https://faithly.co/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefaithlyco/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/faithly.co/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/faithly/
X: https://x.com/faithlyco 

This week, join host Alicia Lee on the Faithly Stories podcast as she welcomes Dr. Joseph Mattera, a global leader, theologian, and author known for calling the Church back to biblical foundations and cultural renewal.

Throughout their discussion, Dr. Mattera shares how an early passion for music gave way to a powerful calling to ministry, leading him from the streets of Brooklyn to international mission fields in Turkey and the former Soviet Union. His story is a testament to the power of obedience and the resilience of stepping into leadership without a roadmap.

Speaking to the challenges facing today’s pastors, Dr. Mattera offers wisdom on navigating burnout and guarding yourself against isolation, while prioritizing spiritual disciplines over performance-driven models. With deep conviction and pastoral care, he reminds us that cultivating a sustainable ministry begins with prayer and relies on both community and accountability to flourish.

Website: https://josephmattera.org

(00:01) Ministry Evolution Through Four Decades
(16:20) Challenges Facing the American Church
(25:50) Prayer Transformation and Community Accountability
(30:52) Pastoral Accountability and Protection
(35:42) Networks and Transitioning Leadership
(40:18) Navigating Ministry Transitions and Leadership Focus

Follow us on social media:

Website: https://faithly.co/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefaithlyco/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/faithly.co/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/faithly/
X: https://x.com/faithlyco 

Today on the Faithly Stories podcast, host Alicia Lee welcomes Sam Hodges, President of Church Initiative - the international ministry behind GriefShare, DivorceCare, and other Christ-centered programs that bring hope to people facing life’s most difficult seasons.

Throughout their conversation, Sam shares how Church Initiative began with a personal story of healing and a small group in a living room, and how it’s grown into a global movement that equips churches to walk alongside people experiencing grief, divorce, and other life crises. With a background in both theology and media, Sam’s path uniquely prepared him to help lead the development of video-based resources that are now used in thousands of churches worldwide. From expanding into new languages to adapting during the pandemic, Sam reflects on how the ministry continues to evolve while staying rooted in a simple mission: comforting others with the comfort we’ve received.

Website: https://www.griefshare.org/

(00:01) Supporting Churches Through Grief and Divorce
(15:50) Global Impact of Church Initiative
(31:33) Starting and Sustaining Church Ministries
(37:28) Empowering Church Leaders Through Faithly

Follow us on social media:

Website: https://faithly.co/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefaithlyco/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/faithly.co/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/faithly/
X: https://x.com/faithlyco 

In this episode of the Faithly Stories podcast, host Adam Durso is joined by guest Rev. Elliott Johnson—a dynamic leader, innovator, and workplace minister whose life exemplifies what it means to be a “Kingdompreneur.”

Raised on Chicago’s South Side and educated at Howard University, Rev. Johnson has spent decades bridging the worlds of business, public service, and faith. From advising U.S. presidents and Chicago mayors to serving as Chairman of the Board for the YMCA and United Way in the Midwest, his leadership has left a lasting impact on various communities and institutions alike.

Rev. Johnson shares how every season of his career—from executive roles at Miller and Coors to his decision to attend seminary at age 60—was preparation for God’s call to integrate faith into every sphere of influence. Drawing on Deuteronomy 8:18, he unpacks the vision of kingdom entrepreneurship: stewarding your gifts to serve others and honor God’s purposes in the marketplace.

Website: https://r400.org/leaders/elliot-johnson/ 

(00:01) Faithly Stories Podcast With Rev. Johnson
(10:06) Faith and Purpose in Various Spaces
(20:58) Leadership Reflection

Follow us on social media:

Website: https://faithly.co/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefaithlyco/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/faithly.co/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/faithly/
X: https://x.com/faithlyco 

Join us on the Faithly Stories podcast, as host Pastor Adam Durso sits down with Bishop Dale Bronner, Founder and Senior Pastor of Word of Faith Family Worship Cathedral, for a powerful conversation on faith, leadership, and the ideas that shape our lives.

Drawing from decades of experience pastoring one of the nation’s largest churches, Bishop Bronner shares practical wisdom for leaders navigating the demands of ministry and the realities of family life. From the power of our words to the importance of cultivating a strong home, his insights remind us that God often crafts our future not from what we’ve lost, but from what remains within our hands.

Bishop Bronner has taught at nearly every 30 for 30 Pastors Retreat, encouraging pastors to invest in the next generation, build relationships rooted in authenticity, and lead with both vision and humility. His reflections on legacy, mentorship, and the seeds we plant—whether ideas, time, or faith—offer a timely reminder that what we steward today impacts the harvest of tomorrow.

Website: https://www.woffamily.org/our-leaders/bishop-bronner-2/

(00:01) The Power of Language and Creation
(13:32) The Importance of Family and Faith
(26:23) The Power of Trust and Language
(35:21) Passing the Leadership Baton Forward
(47:18) Empowering Church Leaders With Faithly

Follow us on social media:

Website: https://faithly.co/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefaithlyco/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/faithly.co/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/faithly/
X: https://x.com/faithlyco 

In this episode of the Faithly Stories podcast, Pastor Adam Durso is joined by Pastor Sam Collier, Lead Pastor of Christian Cultural Center Atlanta.

From serving as a 16-year-old music minister to becoming the first Black pastor of Hillsong Atlanta, Pastor Sam’s journey has been defined by courage, vision, and resilience. His story reflects the transformative impact of spiritual mentors and the power of community to sustain leaders through seasons of both influence and adversity.

Pastor Sam shares how formative relationships—from his time at Ebenezer Baptist Church to his work at North Point Community Church under Andy Stanley—shaped his passion for building a beloved community rooted in Kingian principles and unity across cultures. Through personal reflection, he also speaks candidly about navigating public challenges, loss, and renewal, and how the covering of trusted leaders like Dr. A.R. Bernard and Pastor Jamaal Bernard helped him find restoration and purpose beyond difficult chapters.

Website: https://cccatlanta.church/

(00:01) Faithly Stories Podcast With Pastor Sam
(05:10) Navigating Different Ministry Environments
(16:41) Journey of Faith Through Trials
(24:04) Navigating Ministry Challenges and Restoration
(30:14) Generosity Saves Church From Closure
(37:03) Navigating Ministry Challenges With Accountability

Follow us on social media:

Website: https://faithly.co/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefaithlyco/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/faithly.co/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/faithly/
X: https://x.com/faithlyco 

Join host Alicia Lee on today’s episode of the Faithly Stories podcast, where she meets with Matt Davis, President and Chief Pastoral Officer of Ministry Transitions, to explore how faith and resilience can guide us through seasons of profound change.

Raised in a Messianic Jewish congregation and called to pastoral ministry early in life, Matt spent over two decades leading churches in Southern California, where he experienced both the joys and challenges of spiritual leadership. When it came time to step away from the pulpit, Matt discovered a new calling to walk alongside pastors and ministry leaders navigating seasons of transition.

From embracing fresh starts and working unconventional jobs, to building a life rooted in storytelling and community, Matt’s journey reflects the courage to redefine one’s identity beyond titles and embracing God’s purpose in every chapter. Today, through Ministry Transitions and his Life After Ministry podcast, he equips fellow leaders to face change with grace, clarity, and hope.

Website: https://ministrytransitions.com/

(00:01) Ministry Transition
(11:43) Journey to Ministry Transition Services
(23:40) Navigating Ministry Transitions With Grace
(28:33) Impact of Poorly Handled Staff Transitions
(33:54) Navigating Church Staff Transitions With Grace
(37:38) Caring for Leaders in Transition
(43:46) Recognizing and Addressing Burnout in Ministry
(49:29) Helping Leaders in Ministry Transitions
(58:50) Empowering Church Leaders Through Faithly

Follow us on social media:

Website: https://faithly.co/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefaithlyco/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/faithly.co/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/faithly/
X: https://x.com/faithlyco 

In this episode of the Faithly Stories podcast, host Alicia Lee sits down with husband and wife duo SQuire Rushnell and Louise DuArt, co-founders of the Godwink Brands.

SQuire, the author of 13 books and a former television executive, led Good Morning America to its first-ever #1 ranking and pioneered Schoolhouse Rock and The ABC Afterschool Specials, which together earned 75 Emmy Awards. Louise is a celebrated comedic impressionist whose acclaimed career spans Broadway, television, and national tours. She is also the co-author of six books in the Godwink Series. Join us for an inspiring conversation about their creative legacy, the power of faith-driven storytelling, and the story behind the Godwink movement.

Website: https://godwinks.com/

(00:01) Godwinks
(14:14) Godwinks for Moms
(21:48) The Power of Praying Together
(28:32) Praying Together
(43:06) The Power of Prayer and Faith
(51:32) Godwinkscom and Faithly Podcast Connection

Follow us on social media:

Website: https://faithly.co/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefaithlyco/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/faithly.co/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/faithly/
X: https://x.com/faithlyco 

In this episode of the Faithly Stories podcast, hosts Alicia Lee and Adam Durso speak with Daria Nardozza, co-founder of City Leaders Collective, about how faith, healing, and vision can transform both lives and cities.

Raised in a home marked by addiction and mental health struggles, Daria shares how Bible camp and the steady love of her grandmother shaped her journey into ministry and leadership. Her calling now fuels a movement of over 100 city networks across North America, equipping local leaders through collaboration, coaching, and gospel-centered community work. With insight from her academic and ministry experience, Daria reflects on spiritual formation, interdenominational unity, and balancing leadership with family life—offering a hopeful picture of what’s possible when faith takes root in the heart of a city

Website: http://www.cityleaderscollective.org

(00:01) Faithly Stories
(12:37) Urban Network Leaders Collective Building
(23:46) Unity Through City Network Leadership
(30:14) Juggling Big Dreams & Responsibilities

Follow us on social media:

Website: https://faithly.co/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefaithlyco/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/faithly.co/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/faithly/
X: https://x.com/faithlyco