Field Notes for Transformation

By Spritual Leadership Inc.

Environments shape everything—how we lead, how we grow, and how we impact others. Hosted by Lindsay Martin, Field Notes for Transformation is your go-to resource for cultivating impactful teams and mi... more

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FAQs about Field Notes for Transformation:

How many episodes does Field Notes for Transformation have?

The podcast currently has 24 episodes available.

Field Notes for Transformation episodes:

November 20, 2025Ep 24: The Future of Worship is Both/And with Michael Huerter
In this conversation, Michael Huerter opens up about his unexpected journey into worship and music ministry and the way hybrid worship is reshaping the life of the church. He names both the beauty and the tension of weaving technology into our worship practices—how we can use new tools without losing the human connections that make church feel like church.
Michael talks honestly about the challenges leaders face right now: the overwhelm of adapting to online spaces, the pressure to “keep up,” and the fear of getting it wrong. But he also points us toward the opportunities, for example, how music can create connection even through a screen, how creativity can build real community, and how relationships will always matter more than platforms.
Takeaways
Technology can open surprising doors for connection, but it should never replace the sacred gift of human relationships—it’s here to serve community, not define it.
For leaders feeling the weight of constant change, the invitation is simple and steady: focus on relationships first. The tech will follow.
Hybrid worship isn’t a stop-gap anymore; it’s a real and lasting expression of church life when we approach it with intention.

Episode field note: Technology and online ministry aren’t replacing relationships but they’re deepening them and reminding us we’re not alone.
Even though the pace of new technology can feel overwhelming, this moment is also opening unexpected doors for connection and support in ministry. Online spaces, Zoom calls with mentors, glimpses into a friend’s worship service, shared creative work can actually strengthen the relationships we nurture in person. Instead of choosing between online and offline, we’re invited to see them as a hybrid whole and lean into the creativity, curiosity, and community this season makes possible.

Resources and links
Michael’s book: The Hybrid Congregation
Follow Michael on Facebook
Follow SLI: @spiritualleadershipinc
Head to Spiritual Leadership, Inc to take a look at resources for ministry leaders.
...more
46min
November 04, 2025Ep 23: Finding Freedom in Limits: A conversation with Alan Noble
In this conversation, Alan Noble helps us name the weight we all feel in a world that tells us we must be everything on our own. Drawing from his book You Are Not Your Own, Alan invites us to imagine a different kind of freedom, one found not in limitless choice, but in belonging to a loving God. Alan talks about the exhaustion of modern life, the grace of limits, and the practices of gratitude and attention that can reorient us. This is a conversation about recovering our humanity and remembering that we were never meant to carry the world alone.

Takeaways:
Freedom isn’t found in endless choice, it’s found in belonging.
Gratitude and attention are small rebellions.
Modern life is heavy, but we were never meant to carry it alone.
The fruit of our labor belongs to God. (Our work has meaning not because it’s impressive, but because it’s offered back to Him.)
Love people for who they are, not for what they achieve.

Episode field note: Get to know someone really well
When we move beyond surface conversations and risk true connection, we start to see one another as we are, not as we present ourselves to be. That kind of knowing creates room for compassion, for shared humanity, for healing.
Bearing each other’s burdens isn’t about fixing what’s broken. It’s about standing close enough to feel the weight and say, “You’re not alone in this.”

Resources and links:
Alan’s website
Alan’s book w/ IvPress
Follow SLI: @spiritualleadershipinc
This episode is brought to you by Spiritual Leadership, Inc
Head to spiritual-leadership.org to take a look at resources for ministry leaders.
...more
42min
October 22, 2025Ep 22: Leading Through Storms with Bishop Geoffrey Dudley
In this episode, Bishop Geoffrey Dudley shares what it takes to lead through the storms of life and ministry. Drawing from his experiences in both the military and the church, he talks about calling, resilience, and the connection between leadership and mental health. This conversation explores what authentic leadership looks like when you’re navigating real challenges, for example, crafting vision, managing the movement, and building teams that can bend without breaking.

Takeaways
Calling isn’t static, it evolves as we do and is tested, refined by resistance and clarified through rest.
Leadership isn’t proven by what you achieve, it is revealed by how you show up when things get hard.
Authenticity outlasts performance.

Episode field note: Get to know you
“Set aside time for self-reflection and get to know you.
He already knows you. He fearfully and wonderfully made you. But when you begin to know you, that’s when He can really start working with you.”

Before you can lead others, you have to sit with your own story. Like Jacob, we wrestle with identity, with the question God still asks: Who are you?

Resources and links
Bishop Dudley’s website
Book: Leading Through Storms with IvPress
Follow Bishop Dudley on socials:
   YouTube
   Instagram: @bishopdudleyphd
   Facebook
Follow SLI: @spiritualleadershipinc
This episode is brought to you by Spiritual Leadership, Inc
Head to spiritual-leadership.org to take a look at resources for ministry leaders.
...more
44min
October 07, 2025Ep 21: When You Think You're Right with Erin Devers
In this conversation, Dr. Erin Devers discusses the concept of bias, its implications for self-perception and leadership, and the importance of understanding our identity. She emphasizes the role of confirmation bias in decision-making and the need for leaders to cultivate humility. Erin also explores the intersection of faith and bias research, highlighting how community can either amplify or reduce bias.
Takeaways
Confirmation bias leads us to seek information that supports our beliefs.
Self-perception is often clouded by our biases.
Understanding our identity in Christ can help us navigate bias.

Episode field note: The easiest way to cultivate humility is to communicate clearly
Erin suggests adding probabilities to your decision making, being honest about where you are - for example, “I’m 80% confident that we should go in this direction.” This approach can help build trust and fosters connection.

Resources and links
Erin’s website
Erin’s Book: The Unbiased Self
Follow SLI: @spiritualleadershipinc
Head to Spiritual Leadership, Inc to take a look at resources for ministry leaders.
...more
48min
September 23, 2025Ep 20: Never Coasting: Ron Watts on Lifelong Growth in Leadership
In this conversation, Ron shares the story of his own call to ministry, the early influences that shaped him, and the lessons he’s in almost 40 years of leading La Croix Church. We dive into what it means to build a healthy church culture, the power of storytelling to draw people into God’s bigger story, and why developing leaders is always worth the risk of giving away ownership, and even letting them learn through failure. As Ron looks toward retirement, he reflects on the hope that drives him: raising up disciples who wholeheartedly follow Jesus.
Takeaways
Healthy leadership multiplies, it doesn’t center on one person.
Painful seasons often become the very soil where transformation takes root.
The legacy of a leader is discipleship - raising up others, giving them ownership and having that person learn through success and failure.

Episode field note: Stay open to God’s stretching work
Ron reminds us that growth is a lifelong posture. That kind of hunger to learn, to receive feedback, to stay open to God’s stretching work, even when it’s uncomfortable.

Resources and links
La Croix website: lacroixchurch.org
La Croix on socials: Facebook
Instagram
YouTube
Follow SLI: @spiritualleadershipinc
Head to Spiritual Leadership, Inc to take a look at resources for ministry leaders.
...more
39min
September 02, 2025Ep 19: Redemption on the Clock: Rethinking Faith at Work with Elaine Howard Ecklund
In this episode, Lindsay talks with Elaine Howard Ecklund (Rice University) to talk about the intersection of faith and work and why it matters in the places we spend most of our lives. We dig into insights from her new book, co-written with Denise Daniels (Wheaton College), Working for Better: a New Approach to Faith at Work. We talk about her research on how people experience calling in their jobs and what it takes to create systemic change. Elaine and Lindsay explore how leaders and congregations can foster environments where faith isn’t just something we carry to church on Sunday, but something we live out every day, helping workplaces become more redemptive for everyone.

Takeaways
Faith can actually make us more committed and effective at work.
Everyday employees have the power to shift workplace culture from the inside.
Churches/clergy can help people thrive professionally, not just spiritually.

Field Note: For leaders in the workplace, take the time to understand the specific challenges at work. Find a group of trusted peers (at church for example) and create the space to thoughtfully address similar challenges.
For clergy, get to know the kind of work your congregants do and the challenges they face each day. This will have an impact on workplaces and help people bring more of themselves to both their work environment and church.

Resources and links
Elaine Howard Eckland’s website: https://www.elainehowardecklund.com/
Working for Better book with InterVarsity Press: https://www.ivpress.com/working-for-better
SLI’s Spiritual Leadership Generator Tool: https://www.spiritual-leadership.org/leadershipgenerator/
Head to spiritual-leadership.org to take a look at resources for ministry leaders.
...more
44min
August 19, 2025Ep 18: Come and See: Why Joy Is Magnetic with Melissa Meiner
Melissa Meiner’s story is one where faith, music, and leadership keep weaving together in unexpected ways. From a single invitation that reshaped her family’s faith, to discovering her own calling through music and worship. She talks about what it means to lead across different church settings, the power of hospitality, and why unlearning is sometimes just as important as learning.

Takeaways
Creativity plants seeds of calling, often before we notice.
Spiritual formation grows in honesty and shared stories.
Calling needs community - surround yourself with people who see it in you.
Episode field note: At the center of leadership is love. Never forget your first love.

Resources and links
Melissa's Campus Website: https://www.bayhope.church/trinity-campus
Follow SLI: @spiritualleadershipinc
This episode is brought to you by Spiritual Leadership, Inc
Head to spiritual-leadership.org to take a look at resources for ministry leaders.
...more
48min
August 06, 2025Ep 17: Ecosystems, Not Programs: Discipleship Among the Everyday with Bryan Sallee
In this episode, Lindsay talks with Bryan Sallee, a pastor in Eagle River, Alaska, about what it really takes to cultivate a culture of discipleship in the everyday life of the church. From the challenges of small church leadership to the power of team-based ministry, Bryan shares what he's learning about adaptive leadership, navigating conflict, and building trust.
Takeaways
Adaptive challenges can’t be solved with yesterday’s strategies.
Discipleship isn’t a pipeline, it’s an ecosystem.
Transformation is best measured through stories
Field Note: What Are You Willing to Do Within You?
In ministry, it’s easy to chase the big idea. To look out at the future, name the vision, and start sprinting toward it. But what if the real work starts with this question: What are you willing to do within you?
As Eugene Peterson says, this is a long obedience in the same direction.
And that kind of obedience doesn’t come quickly.

Resources and links
Bryan’s church website: https://skylinefamily.com/
Follow SLI: @spiritualleadershipinc
This episode is brought to you by Spiritual Leadership, Inc
Head to spiritual-leadership.org to take a look at resources for ministry leaders.
...more
45min
July 22, 2025Ep 16: Healthy Calling, Burnout, and the Way Forward with Dr. Arianna Molloy
Summary
In this conversation, Dr. Arianna Molloy talks about what happens when our deep sense of calling starts to wear thin. She shares her own story of discovering what a healthy calling looks like and how burnout, when left unchecked, can unravel our identity. Arianna reframes calling not as a personal mission to chase but as a relational act. She walks through the signs of burnout, boundaries and why rest is essential.

Takeaways
Burnout isn’t all or nothing but creeps in gradually, and recognizing where we are on the spectrum is part of healing.
Burnout from calling can cut deep. It can distort your sense of identity and connection to God.
Rest isn’t what happens after the work, it’s part of the work.

Episode field note: Don’t despise the process of slowing down.
Rest isn’t the absence of work, it’s a vital part of it. Healthy leaders know that excellent work and excellent work together.

Resources and links
Arianna’s book, Healthy Calling: IV Press
Arianna’s website: https://www.ariannamolloy.com/

Follow SLI: @spiritualleadershipinc
This episode is brought to you by Spiritual Leadership, Inc
Head to spiritual-leadership.org to take a look at resources for ministry leaders.
...more
46min
July 08, 2025Ep 15: Leadership that Listens with Ellen Marmon
In this episode, Dr. Ellen Marmon talks about her recent essay, “Operationalizing Humility in the Leadership Classroom: Listening, Apologizing, and Other Awkward Practices”.
Ellen invites us to consider leadership as more than a set of competencies but a reflection of who we are becoming. She shares how humility, listening, and the courage to apologize are transformative practices.
Together, we talk about how to create spaces where people feel safe enough to grow, the challenge (and gift) of receiving feedback, and what it means to lead with authenticity. Ellen also offers beautiful reflections on the future of leadership, especially what she’s seeing in emerging generations.

Takeaways
Humility isn’t soft; it’s a strength that transforms how we lead and live.
When leaders create safe spaces, trust grows and transformation follows.
Authenticity matters, especially to the next generation.

Episode field note: Laughter and hurry reveal the posture of your leadership.
Start by paying attention to two things: laughter and hurry.
Ask yourself:
When was the last time you laughed at yourself, in a good way, in a way that kept things in perspective?
How often does hurry shape your leadership posture?
When we don't take time to laugh at ourselves or slow down enough to notice, we lose access to the very posture (humility) that keeps us grounded in God and connected to others.

Resources and links
Ellen’s website: https://asburyseminary.edu/faculty/ellen-marmon/
Ellen’s essay is available in the book Crossroads and Classrooms: https://ethicspress.com/products/crossroads-in-classrooms?INTEGRITY
Follow SLI: @spiritualleadershipinc
This episode is brought to you by Spiritual Leadership, Inc
Head to spiritual-leadership.org to take a look at resources for ministry leaders.
...more
38min

FAQs about Field Notes for Transformation:

How many episodes does Field Notes for Transformation have?

The podcast currently has 24 episodes available.