Leaders Who Create Opportunity: On this episode of Leaders Who Create, Jason Squires sits down with Ashley Thomas of Hope Street Ministries in Milwaukee, WI  to explore how leaders turn challenges into opportunities for others. Ashley shares how her own story, marked by both challenge and resilience, has shaped her leadership and the way she builds community at Hope Street. From helping people who arrive carrying pain and setbacks, to balancing compassion with accountability, she reveals the difference between giving temporary help and creating a real pathway for transformation. This conversation is full of insight for anyone wanting to understand how intentional leadership can empower people to rise, rebuild, and thrive.

Leaders Who Create From Story: We often think leadership is about skills, but what if it’s really about story? In this episode join Jason Squires as he sits down with Matt McCoy, President of Christian Copyright Licensing International (CCLI) and founder of Loop Community. Matt shares how life experiences, both good and hard, become the tools we use to lead others well. From lessons learned in ministry to leading at a global level, Matt unpacks how vulnerability, self-awareness, and perspective shape not just how we lead but who we become as leaders. If you’ve ever wondered whether your past disqualifies you, this conversation will challenge that belief and show you how your story might be your greatest strength.

Leaders Who Create From Story: Heather Evans joins Jason Squires to talk about the powerful role music plays in storytelling for television and film. Heather is a multi–award-winning singer-songwriter whose music has been featured on Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, FOX, MTV, and ABC. Heather shares how songwriters craft music to support the emotional arc of a scene, what it really takes to get songs placed on TV, and the balance between creativity and strategy in the world of sync licensing.

If you’re a songwriter, creative, or storyteller, this episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at how music helps bring stories to life. Connect with Heather at https://www.heatherevansmusic.com/.

Leaders Who Create from Story: Join Jason Squires as he sits down with Toby Walters, founder of ChurchGear, to talk about how an ordinary ministry challenge grew into a mission that’s helping churches across the country. Toby shares the story behind ChurchGear, how his ministry journey shaped the company’s purpose, and why the message behind the business eventually became a book called Sacred Spaces. Together they explore stewardship, leadership, and how ordinary stories can create extraordinary impact. If you’ve ever wondered whether your story really matters, this conversation will encourage you to see your potential.

Leaders Who Create From Story: Join Jason Squires for a powerful conversation with Matt Perkins. Matt is a husband, father, and worship leader whose personal story of loss has become a legacy of impact. After walking through an unexpected and life-altering journey, Matt and his wife Kari found their stories beautifully intertwined in a way only God could orchestrate. What began as deep grief has grown into a ministry that is already reaching lives and is poised to impact generations to come. Together, they now lead Grief to Growth, a ministry born from pain but fueled by purpose. In this episode, Jason and Matt talk about resilience, obedience in the middle of heartbreak, and what it looks like to build something eternal out of unimaginable loss. If you’ve ever wondered whether your hardest chapter could become someone else’s breakthrough, this conversation will remind you: your story isn’t over—and it may be bigger than you think. Learn more about Matt, Kari and Grief to Growth visit https://www.grieftogrowth.org/.

Leaders Who Create Collaboration: Join Jason Squires as he sits down with producer John McJunkin for an honest conversation about what it really means to create with others. John shares how his understanding of producing evolved from control to collaboration, and what it takes to build trust with artists you’ve never worked with before. Together, they explore how to navigate creative disagreements, what great collaboration actually feels like in the room, and why the principles producers use in the studio apply to leaders in every field, not just music.

Whether you’re a creative, entrepreneur, team leader, or builder of ideas, this episode will help you rethink how collaboration fuels innovation and meaningful work. Plus, John reveals his go-to studio snack, where you can connect with him online, and what new projects he has on the horizon. If you care about leadership, creativity, teamwork, and making something meaningful with others, this conversation is for you.

If something in this episode stirred an idea, a calling, or a creative step you’ve been putting off, we would love to help you move it forward. Through The Creative Launch coaching, we help business leaders, artists, and communicators turn ideas into impact. You can schedule a free call on our website. There is no pressure, just a conversation to help you gain clarity and momentum. Visit https://thecreativelaunch.com/scheduleacall/. 

Leaders Who Create Collaboration: Join Jason Squires as he sits down with his brother, Brad Squires, to talk about what it actually takes to bring people together across a community. From launching a local food bank to mobilizing a city through The Big Day of Service, Brad shares the behind-the-scenes realities of collaboration, what was harder than expected, how trust was built between churches, nonprofits, businesses, and civic leaders, and what leaders often misunderstand about getting people aligned around a shared vision. If you’ve ever wanted to create something bigger than what you could do alone, this conversation offers practical wisdom, honest stories, and a reminder that collaboration doesn’t start with strategy — it starts with people. And yes… it also involves good food.

If something in this episode stirred an idea, a calling, or a creative step you’ve been putting off, we would love to help you move it forward. Through The Creative Launch coaching, we help business leaders, artists, and communicators turn ideas into impact. You can schedule a free call on our website. There is no pressure, just a conversation to help you gain clarity and momentum. Visit https://thecreativelaunch.com/scheduleacall/. 

Leaders Who Create Collaboration: Join Jason Squires as he sits down with artist and songwriter Jason Gray for an honest conversation about the beauty of collaboration. Settle in with your favorite beverage as they explore the power of co-writing, the vulnerability it requires, and how shared creativity often produces something richer than we could create alone. Whether you’re a songwriter or simply someone with an idea in your heart, this episode will encourage you to embrace collaboration as one of the most powerful ways to bring vision to life.

If something in this episode stirred an idea, a calling, or a creative step you’ve been putting off, we would love to help you move it forward. Through The Creative Launch coaching, we help business leaders, artists, and communicators turn ideas into impact. You can schedule a free call on our website. There is no pressure, just a conversation to help you gain clarity and momentum. Visit https://thecreativelaunch.com/scheduleacall/. 

Leaders Who Create Collaboration: In this episode of Leaders Who Create, host Jason Squires sits down with Chris Carpenter during a pivotal season of change. As Chris steps into a new career chapter, he reflects honestly on what it means to leave a role with clarity, care, and intention. Together, they explore the often-overlooked leadership work that happens on the way out from collaborative handoffs to empowering others to lead in their own voice rather than replicating your own. Jason and Chris unpack how to discern what to release and what to protect during a leadership transition, why preparation matters long before the change is announced, and how leaders can set their teams up for strength and continuity even after they’re gone. This conversation is a must-listen for leaders navigating change, sensing a transition ahead, or wanting to steward their influence well to the very end. Leadership doesn’t stop when you leave. Connect with Chris at https://www.instagram.com/tangentartist.

If something in this episode stirred an idea, a calling, or a creative step you’ve been putting off, we would love to help you move it forward. Through The Creative Launch coaching, we help business leaders, artists, and communicators turn ideas into impact. You can schedule a free call on our website. There is no pressure, just a conversation to help you gain clarity and momentum. Visit https://thecreativelaunch.com/scheduleacall/. 

Leaders Who Create Community: Join Jason Squires as he sits down with Nick Breitbart of Chick-fil-A to explore what happens when a fast-food restaurant becomes a community catalyst. Nick shares the moment he realized Chick-fil-A was about far more than chicken sandwiches and how a distinct culture rooted in service, language, and shared values has shaped everything from how teams show up at work to how guests feel seen and cared for. Jason and Nick dig into the leadership ingredients behind Chick-fil-A’s reputation: empowering employees to be community builders, the subtle power of phrases like “My Pleasure,” and why the brand inspires both fierce loyalty and strong opinions. They also pull back the curtain on customer experience, consistency, and the kind of intentionality that can’t be faked. And because no episode is complete without a food question, Nick gives us his behind-the-scenes Chick-fil-A order. Learn how someone who has been around for a while orders their food. If you’ve ever wondered how culture becomes community, this conversation is for you.

If something in this episode stirred an idea, a calling, or a creative step you’ve been putting off, we would love to help you move it forward. Through The Creative Launch coaching, we help business leaders, artists, and communicators turn ideas into impact. You can schedule a free call on our website. There is no pressure, just a conversation to help you gain clarity and momentum. Visit https://thecreativelaunch.com/scheduleacall/.