On The Trail

How do you grow your capacity to feel emotions without having them define or control you?

In this episode, we look at the second element of a R.A.R.E. Leader, the ability to "act like yourself." We discuss three categories of leader: predators, possums, and protectors. The mature version of you will always be a protector. How do you develop the skills to be the more mature version of yourself? How do you grow the habits of acting like yourself? Understanding your true identity, managing triggers, and developing healthy routines can transform your leadership and personal growth.

The goal of this series is to equip you to live and lead with more emotional intelligence and resilience on your walk with God.

The book Rare Leadership by Marcus Warner & Jim Wilder combines theology, brain science, and decades of counseling and consulting experience to equip you to cultivate maturity in yourself and others, develop strong group identity, keep relationships bigger than problems, and more! Over the course of this series, we'll be unpacking the four habits of a rare leader: Remain relational. Act like yourself. Return to joy. Endure hardship well.

Check out the free discussion guide for this book in the description links. 

📕 Rare Leadership BOOK: https://deeperwalk.com/product/rare-leadership-book/

🎁 DIY BOOK CLUB KIT: https://tinyurl.com/OTTDIY-RARE

💝 PAY IT FORWARD: https://deeperwalk.com/donate/

🙏 PRAYER MINISTRY REFERRALS: https://deeperwalk.com/ministry-referrals/

📸 Follow OTT on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onthetrail_podcast

💚 HEART-FOCUSED COMMUNITY COURSE: https://deeperwalk.com/sp/heart-focused-community-course/

⚔️ IDENTITY COURSE: https://deeperwalk.com/sp/identity-course/

Go Deeper:

📚 The Pandora Problem by Jim Wilder - https://deeperwalk.com/product/the-pandora-problem-book/ 

Thank you for joining us – father-daughter duo Marcus Warner and Stephanie Warner – on the trail to a deeper walk with God! 

Chapters -

00:00 A Window of Gratitude & Anticipation

1:50 Act Like Yourself

6:03 Protectors, Predators, & Possums

14:12 Growing in Maturity

16:59 Triggers & Why You Struggle to Act Like Yourself

22:19 Healthy Habits

25:52 Redemption & Restoration

One of the defining qualities of a mature leader is the ability to remain relational even in the face of problems or conflict. This does not mean ignoring problems but handling issues in a relational way and treating people like people, not problems.

In this episode we're discussing relational strategies (C.A.K.E.), fear mapping and problem solving, and recognizing that sometimes we can't save every relationship, but how can we remain our relational selves and have the best chance to maintain relationships even when conflict arises?

The goal of this series is to equip you to live and lead with more emotional intelligence and resilience on your walk with God.

The book Rare Leadership by Marcus Warner & Jim Wilder combines theology, brain science, and decades of counseling and consulting experience to equip you to cultivate maturity in yourself and others, develop strong group identity, keep relationships bigger than problems, and more! Over the course of this series, we'll be unpacking the four habits of a rare leader: Remain relational. Act like yourself. Return to joy. Endure hardship well.  

Check out the free discussion guide for this book in the description links. 

📕 Rare Leadership BOOK: https://deeperwalk.com/product/rare-leadership-book/

🎁 DIY BOOK CLUB KIT: https://tinyurl.com/OTTDIY-RARE

💝 PAY IT FORWARD: https://deeperwalk.com/donate/

🙏 PRAYER MINISTRY REFERRALS: https://deeperwalk.com/ministry-referrals/

📸 Follow OTT on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onthetrail_podcast

💚 HEART-FOCUSED COMMUNITY COURSE: https://deeperwalk.com/sp/heart-focused-community-course/

⚔️ IDENTITY COURSE: https://deeperwalk.com/sp/identity-course/

Go Deeper:

🎧 Building Bounce, Ch 7: S4E239- "Connecting With People" https://deeperwalk.com/podcast/39-connecting-with-people-building-bounce-ch-7-s4e39/

Thank you for joining us – father-daughter duo Marcus Warner and Stephanie Warner – on the trail to a deeper walk with God!  

Chapters -

00:00 Welcome!

1:04 R.A.R.E. Recap & Remain Relational

3:26 You Can't Save Every Relationship

10:46 Fear Mapping & Problem Solving

15:13 C.A.K.E. Relational Strategies

18:17 Envelope Conversations

22:46 Relational Training Wheels & Assessment

27:37 You Can Be Straightforward & Relational

How can we be intentional about noticing and imitating people with maturity skills we need to strengthen? How do we "practice the presence of God"? What's the difference between an Identity Group and an Accountability Group?

This episode looks at Chapter Six "Where You Start: Imitation, Identity, Intimacy" and builds the framework we'll use for the rest of the series to put what we're learning into practice. We're talking about mirror neurons, intimacy with God, heart-focused communities, and more!

The goal of this series is to equip you to live and lead with more emotional intelligence and resilience on your walk with God.

The book Rare Leadership by Marcus Warner & Jim Wilder combines theology, brain science, and decades of counseling and consulting experience to equip you to cultivate maturity in yourself and others, develop strong group identity, keep relationships bigger than problems, and more! Over the course of this series, we'll be unpacking the four habits of a rare leader: Remain relational. Act like yourself. Return to joy. Endure hardship well.

Check out the free discussion guide for this book in the description links. 

📕 Rare Leadership BOOK: https://deeperwalk.com/product/rare-leadership-book/

🎁 DIY BOOK CLUB KIT: https://tinyurl.com/OTTDIY-RARE

💝 PAY IT FORWARD: https://deeperwalk.com/donate/

🙏 PRAYER MINISTRY REFERRALS: https://deeperwalk.com/ministry-referrals/

📸 Follow OTT on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onthetrail_podcast

💚 HEART-FOCUSED COMMUNITY COURSE: https://deeperwalk.com/sp/heart-focused-community-course/

⚔️ IDENTITY COURSE: https://deeperwalk.com/sp/identity-course/

Go Deeper:

🎧 Jumpstart Your Prayer Life: S4E28 - "The Two Notebook Approach to Prayer" https://deeperwalk.com/podcast/28-the-two-notebook-approach-to-prayer-jumpstart-your-prayer-life-part-5-s4e28/

🎧 Building Bounce: S4E40 - "Connecting with God" https://deeperwalk.com/podcast/40-connecting-with-god-building-bounce-ch-8-s4e40/

Thank you for joining us – father-daughter duo Marcus Warner and Stephanie Warner – on the trail to a deeper walk with God! 

Chapters -

00:00 Hope Together Recap

00:47 Rare Leadership: Theory vs. Practice

4:29 Imitation of Maturity Skills

12:07 Intimacy with God

22:30 Identity Groups vs. Accountability Groups

27:54 Where Is Your Current Growth Edge?

When you know who you are, you get results.

In leadership, many think almost exclusively in terms of getting results. Results do matter, and there's no getting around that in leadership. But chapter five of Rare Leadership argues that our top priority should be our culture and then from there we pursue results. Who are we as a group, as a company? How is it like us to act? People who focus only on results and not on culture often end up creating toxic environments motivated by fear.

This week we're looking at the difference between management and leadership, how to build identity and belonging that shape culture, what maturity has to do with community building, and more.

The goal of this series is to equip you to live and lead with more emotional intelligence and resilience on your walk with God.

The book Rare Leadership by Marcus Warner & Jim Wilder combines theology, brain science, and decades of counseling and consulting experience to equip you to cultivate maturity in yourself and others, develop strong group identity, keep relationships bigger than problems, and more! Over the course of this series, we'll be unpacking the four habits of a rare leader: Remain relational. Act like yourself. Return to joy. Endure hardship well.

Check out the free discussion guide for this book in the description links. 

📕 Rare Leadership BOOK: https://deeperwalk.com/product/rare-leadership-book/

🎁 DIY BOOK CLUB KIT: https://tinyurl.com/OTTDIY-RARE

💝 PAY IT FORWARD: https://deeperwalk.com/donate/

🙏 PRAYER MINISTRY REFERRALS: https://deeperwalk.com/ministry-referrals/

📸 Follow OTT on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onthetrail_podcast

💛 HOPE TOGETHER CONFERENCE: https://hopetogether.com/deeperwalk/

Go Deeper:

🫡 Rare Leadership BOOT CAMP: https://deeperwalk.com/churches/rare-leadership-boot-camp/

💚 HEART-FOCUSED COMMUNITY COURSE: https://deeperwalk.com/sp/heart-focused-community-course/

⚔️ IDENTITY COURSE: https://deeperwalk.com/sp/identity-course/

Thank you for joining us – father-daughter duo Marcus Warner and Stephanie Warner – on the trail to a deeper walk with God! 

Chapters -

00:00 Happy Birthday Ben! & Hope Together Conference

2:23 Chapter 5: Results vs. Culture

8:30 Management vs. Leadership

12:14 Building Identity

15:30 Building Belonging

18:27 How Has Culture Led to Better Results?

21:05 Community Builders & Maturity

25:57 Start Where You're At

Fear controls us when we avoid emotions we can't handle.

What makes communities toxic, and how do we foster healthier, more resilient communities?

In this episode, we continue to unpack how the "Slow Track" and "Fast Track" in the brain influence leadership and relational dynamics and how this all affects toxicity in a group. And if the Slow Track is by nature Slower than the Fast Track, what hope do we have of changing it? As we unpack Chapter 4, learn how to recognize warning signs that the Fast Track needs fixing, the dangers of isolation, motivating with joy vs. with fear, the consequences of avoiding negative emotions, and more!

The goal of this series is to equip you to live and lead with more emotional intelligence and resilience on your walk with God.

The book Rare Leadership by Marcus Warner & Jim Wilder combines theology, brain science, and decades of counseling and consulting experience to equip you to cultivate maturity in yourself and others, develop strong group identity, keep relationships bigger than problems, and more! Over the course of this series, we'll be unpacking the four habits of a rare leader: Remain relational. Act like yourself. Return to joy. Endure hardship well.

Check out the free discussion guide for this book in the description links. 

📕 Rare Leadership BOOK: https://deeperwalk.com/product/rare-leadership-book/

🎁 DIY BOOK CLUB KIT: https://tinyurl.com/OTTDIY-RARE

🫡 Rare Leadership BOOT CAMP: https://deeperwalk.com/churches/rare-leadership-boot-camp/

⚔️ IDENTITY COURSE: https://deeperwalk.com/sp/identity-course/

💝 PAY IT FORWARD: https://deeperwalk.com/donate/

🙏 PRAYER MINISTRY REFERRALS: https://deeperwalk.com/ministry-referrals/

📸 Follow OTT on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onthetrail_podcast

Go Deeper:

🎧 S3E12 - This Is Your Brain On Fear - https://deeperwalk.com/podcast/12-this-is-your-brain-on-fear/

🎧 S3E13 - Do You Have A Fear Bond With God? - https://deeperwalk.com/podcast/13-do-you-have-a-fear-bond-with-god/

Thank you for joining us – father-daughter duo Marcus Warner and Stephanie Warner – on the trail to a deeper walk with God! 

Chapters -

00:00 Happy Autumn! Happy Hobbit Day (Week)!

1:43 Fast Track & Slow Track

3:27 Toxic Community & Fast Track

3:56 Consequences of Avoiding Negative Emotions

9:35 How to Spot Warning Signs

15:09 Healing vs. Skills Training

17:09 The Dangers of Isolation

19:51 Motivating with Fear vs. Joy

25:18 Fellowship & Hope for Facing Problems

Good news! You can build your emotional competence.

God designed our brains to run on the fuel of joy, and we have the ability to grow our capacity for joy as long as we live.

In this episode, we're in Chapter Three: The Elevator in Your Brain where we look at Jesus Christ as a wonderful example of emotional competence and then unpack the four levels of the Joy Elevator. When these functions are working properly, everything else about how we operate goes more smoothly.

So, let us walk you through the Attachment Center, the Assessment Center, the Attunement Center, and the Action/Identity Center in your brain. How does it all flow together and lead to more emotional competence?

The goal of this series is to equip you to live and lead with more emotional intelligence and resilience on your walk with God.

The book Rare Leadership by Marcus Warner & Jim Wilder combines theology, brain science, and decades of counseling and consulting experience to equip you to cultivate maturity in yourself and others, develop strong group identity, keep relationships bigger than problems, and more! Over the course of this series, we'll be unpacking the four habits of a rare leader: Remain relational. Act like yourself. Return to joy. Endure hardship well.

Check out the free discussion guide for this book in the description links. 

📕 Rare Leadership BOOK: https://deeperwalk.com/product/rare-leadership-book/

🎁 DIY BOOK CLUB KIT: https://tinyurl.com/OTTDIY-RARE

🫡 Rare Leadership BOOT CAMP: https://deeperwalk.com/churches/rare-leadership-boot-camp/

⚔️ IDENTITY COURSE: https://deeperwalk.com/sp/identity-course/

💝 PAY IT FORWARD: https://deeperwalk.com/donate/

🙏 PRAYER MINISTRY REFERRALS: https://deeperwalk.com/ministry-referrals/

📸 Follow OTT on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onthetrail_podcast

Go Deeper:

🎧 S3E11 - Your Brain Runs On Joy - https://deeperwalk.com/podcast/11-your-brain-runs-on-joy/

🎧 S4E35 - A Basic Brain Model (Building Bounce: Ch 3) - https://deeperwalk.com/podcast/35-a-basic-brain-model-building-bounce-ch-3-s4e35/

Thank you for joining us – father-daughter duo Marcus Warner and Stephanie Warner – on the trail to a deeper walk with God! 

Chapters -

00:00 Welcome, We're in Chapter Three!

1:04 Spiritual Growth & Brain Science

5:54 The Joy Elevator in the Brain

7:53 Attachment & Craving

11:15 Assessment: Good, Bad, Scary

16:16 Attunement & Mutual Mind

20:22 Action, Identity, & Joy

25:52 Enemy Mode in the Brain

28:34 This Makes Communication Easier

Immaturity is rampant in our culture, is it not? But it doesn't have to stay this way.

In this episode, we discuss the difference between mature and immature leadership, the importance of IDENTITY + BELONGING = TRANSFORMATION, and how to build cultures that produce results through joy rather than fear.

Celebrating Ten Years of Rare Leadership!

Since its release in 2016, this book has equipped leaders, organizations, households, and more across the world with increasing trust, joy, and engagement in the people they lead. This fall we're journeying through Rare Leadership as our book study series on the podcast.

The goal of this series is to equip you to live and lead with more emotional intelligence and resilience on your walk with God.

Check out the free discussion guide for this book in the description links. 

📕 Rare Leadership BOOK: https://deeperwalk.com/product/rare-leadership-book/

🎁 DIY BOOK CLUB KIT: https://tinyurl.com/OTTDIY-RARE

🫡 Rare Leadership BOOT CAMP: https://deeperwalk.com/churches/rare-leadership-boot-camp/

⚔️ IDENTITY COURSE: https://deeperwalk.com/sp/identity-course/

💝 PAY IT FORWARD: https://deeperwalk.com/donate/

🙏 PRAYER MINISTRY REFERRALS: https://deeperwalk.com/ministry-referrals/

📸 Follow OTT on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onthetrail_podcast

Go Deeper:

🎧 S1E59 - Attachment Based Identity (Part 1) - https://deeperwalk.com/podcast/59-attachment-based-identity-part-1/

🎧 S2E19 - The Broken Discipleship Factory (Series Compilation) - https://deeperwalk.com/podcast/19-the-broken-discipleship-factory-series-compilation/

Thank you for joining us – father-daughter duo Marcus Warner and Stephanie Warner – on the trail to a deeper walk with God! 

Chapters -

00:00 Ten Years of Rare Leadership!

2:53 Sandbox Leaders & Immaturity

7:40 What is maturity from a brain science pov?

9:28 Super Chickens or Predator Chickens?

11:39 Leadership that Leads to Transformation

15:47 Identity & Belonging

20:52 Flipping the Culture

23:44 Group Identity & Individual Identity

26:16 When Accountability Works, It's Because...

29:26 Coaches You Love to Follow

New book study series!

The goal of this series is to equip you to live and lead with more emotional intelligence and resilience on your walk with God.

The book Rare Leadership by Marcus Warner & Jim Wilder combines theology, brain science, and decades of counseling and consulting experience to equip you to cultivate maturity in yourself and others, develop strong group identity, keep relationships bigger than problems, and more! Over the course of this series, we'll be unpacking the four habits of a rare leader: Remain relational. Act like yourself. Return to joy. Endure hardship well.

In this episode, we're looking at the heart behind the book with some personal stories from the author, and we're setting up the brain science of how the brain was designed to run on the fuel of joy.

Leaders create engagement around what matters. If you have influence in someone else's life, you are exercising leadership through that influence. Whether or not you identify as a "leader," this series is applicable for you.

Check out the free discussion guide for this book in the description links.

📕 Rare Leadership BOOK: https://deeperwalk.com/product/rare-leadership-book/

🎁 DIY BOOK CLUB KIT: https://tinyurl.com/OTTDIY-RARE

🫡 Rare Leadership BOOT CAMP: https://deeperwalk.com/churches/rare-leadership-boot-camp/

⚔️ IDENTITY COURSE: https://deeperwalk.com/sp/identity-course/

💝 PAY IT FORWARD: https://deeperwalk.com/donate/

🙏 PRAYER MINISTRY REFERRALS: https://deeperwalk.com/ministry-referrals/

📸 Follow OTT on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onthetrail_podcast

Go Deeper:

🎧 How Do I Know Who I Am? - The Fast Track to Identity (S3E22): https://deeperwalk.com/podcast/22-how-do-i-know-who-i-am-the-fast-track-to-identity/

Thank you for joining us – father-daughter duo Marcus Warner and Stephanie Warner – on the trail to a deeper walk with God! 

Chapters -

00:00 New Series!

1:57 Rare Leadership Origins

8:36 Marcus & Jim Life Missions

12:25 Leadership at the Speed of Joy

15:18 Slow Track & Fast Track

20:21 Habits Affect the Fast Track

24:47 We're All Called to Leadership

28:41 The Big Picture Journey

Can Christians command holy angels?

Do parents have authority over the enemy in the lives of their adult children?

Where are the boundaries on authority & jurisdiction when praying for someone else?

This week is a Q&A episode. Thank you for submitting your questions and testimonies!

More questions will be answered at the Battle Ready Conference happening August 29, 2026. (link in description) So we’re going to start that ball rolling by answering a couple questions you submitted here. Plus, we announce the next series topic!

If you missed it, check out the series we just finished: What Every Believer Should Know About Spiritual Warfare. The goal of that series is to equip you with a spiritual warfare first aid kit, so you can function with more freedom on your deeper walk with God. Check out the book and its free discussion guide in the links below!

🧐 Q&A FORM for the Battle Ready Conference: https://forms.gle/9nLsaXbpPDXjy3T58

⚔️ BATTLE READY CONFERENCE:

https://deeperwalk.com/product/battle-ready-spiritual-warfare-conference-2026/

📕 BOOK STUDY: https://deeperwalk.com/product/what-every-believer-should-know-about-spiritual-warfare-2nd-edition-book/

🎁 DIY BOOK CLUB KIT: https://tinyurl.com/WEBSKA-DIYGuide

⚔️ FREEDOM COURSE: https://deeperwalk.com/sp/freedom-course/

💝 PAY IT FORWARD: https://deeperwalk.com/donate/

🙏 PRAYER MINISTRY REFERRALS: https://deeperwalk.com/ministry-referrals/

📸 Follow OTT on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onthetrail_podcast

Go Deeper:

🎧 Power & Authority (Compilation Series) | S2E35 - https://deeperwalk.com/podcast/35-power-authority-compilation-series/

Thank you for joining us – father-daughter duo Marcus Warner and Stephanie Warner – on the trail to a deeper walk with God! 

Chapters -

00:00 Welcome & Travels

1:10 Testimonies

3:05 Q1: Can Christians command angels?

10:28 Q2: Do parents have authority over the enemy in the lives of their adult children?

18:23 Q3: Where are the boundaries on authority & jurisdiction?

20:52 Practical Application

23:47 It's not always a demon.

28:33 Rare Leadership

31:04 Union with Christ & a Warfare Worldview

Experience often guides our perspective of spiritual realities. But what is it's role in understanding spiritual warfare?

This week we wrap up the What Every Believer Should Know About Spiritual Warfare series. We're reading out of Appendix 2, looking at the sufficiency of Scripture, biblical examples of appeals to experience, the importance of worldview and interpretation, navigating various theological perspectives and more.

The goal of this series is to equip you with a spiritual warfare first aid kit, so you can function with more freedom on your deeper walk with God. Check out the free discussion guide in the links below!

🧐 Q&A FORM for the Battle Ready Conference: https://forms.gle/9nLsaXbpPDXjy3T58

📕 BOOK STUDY: https://deeperwalk.com/product/what-every-believer-should-know-about-spiritual-warfare-2nd-edition-book/

🎁 DIY BOOK CLUB KIT: https://tinyurl.com/WEBSKA-DIYGuide

⚔️ BATTLE READY CONFERENCE: https://deeperwalk.com/product/battle-ready-spiritual-warfare-conference-2026/

⚔️ FREEDOM COURSE: https://deeperwalk.com/sp/freedom-course/

💝 PAY IT FORWARD: https://deeperwalk.com/donate/

🙏 PRAYER MINISTRY REFERRALS: https://deeperwalk.com/ministry-referrals/

📸 Follow OTT on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onthetrail_podcast

Go Deeper:

🎧 How Should Christians Engage with Halloween? (S4E9) - https://deeperwalk.com/podcast/9-how-should-christians-engage-with-halloween/

Thank you for joining us – father-daughter duo Marcus Warner and Stephanie Warner – on the trail to a deeper walk with God! 

Chapters -

00:00 Family Time

0:34 But Wait, There's More!

2:06 Experience & the Sufficiency of Scripture

7:53 The Bible's Appeal to Experience

13:15 Experience, Priorities, & Worldview

17:08 Stories of New Perspectives

19:58 Biblically Balanced Trial & Error

24:40 Common Reasons People Avoid Spiritual Warfare Topics

27:52 Final Series Thoughts & Prayer for You