Today on the Servant Leadership Podcast, we have superbowl winner, Don Beebe. Don is a true underdog turned NFL legend.

Don’s journey to the NFL is one of incredible perseverance, faith, and humility. From his small-town roots and unexpected path to professional football, Don’s story defies the odds. Over the course of his career, he played in six Super Bowls, became a superbowl champion with the Green Bay Packers, and delivered one of the most iconic plays in Super Bowl history when he chased down Leon Lett, refusing to give up even in the face of defeat.

In this episode, Don shares his unique perspective on character, faith, and leadership both on and off the field. From his incredible NFL career to his work mentoring young athletes and coaching, Don exemplifies the power of never giving up and leading with humility. Join us for an inspiring conversation with a true servant leader.

Timestamps:
00:00 Don Beebe Intro
00:59 Welcome Don Beebe
01:03 Don's NFL Journey
03:22 Overcoming Negative Opinions
06:06 NFL Career Thoughts
08:00 Super Bowl Experience
10:10 Servant Leadership In The Sports World
11:47 "Character" Characteristics
15:46 Never Give Up - Memorable Super Bowl Play
23:24 Never Give Up Devotional
27:07 A Father's Perspective on Servant Leadership
30:55 House Of Speed
33:35 How To Instill A Never Give Up Attitude
38:09 Ten Rapid-Fire Questions
43:09 Closing

Servant Leadership:

URL: https://servantleadershippodcast.org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ServantLeadershipPodcast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/servantleadershippodcast

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/servant-leadership-podcast/

X (Twitter): https://x.com/servant_podcast

Today on the Servant Leadership Podcast, we’re joined by Frank Carone, ranked as one of the most powerful people in New York.

Frank Carone has spent his life navigating law, politics, and business at the highest levels. He built one of Brooklyn’s top law firms and has advised some of the most influential leaders in the country, including New York City Mayor Eric Adams, whom he served as Chief of Staff.

Frank now leads Oaktree Solutions, a strategic advisory firm, and is the author of Everyone Wins — a book on creating outcomes where relationships thrive and no one loses.

In this episode, Frank shares what it takes to lead in complex spaces and the difference between power and influence. If you’re leading in high-pressure environments or want to see what servant leadership looks like when the stakes are real, this episode is for you.

Timestamps:

00:00 Frank Carone's Intro

00:48 Welcome Frank Carone

00:59 Frank's Career Journey

03:16 Servant Leadership Perspectives

05:19 Writing The Book - "Everyone Wins"

09:10 Making Hard Decisions

10:34 Becoming Chief of Staff For N.Y. Mayor

11:42 Staying Grounded During Times of Crisis

13:09 Building Solid Teams

14:27 The Culture Code

15:02 Overcoming Fear That Paralyzes People

15:30 Significant First Year Accomplishments

17:56 Navigating Risk Taking - Follow Your Heart

21:09 Doing What You Know Is Right

22:58 How To Keep Perspective When Being Criticized

24:14 Personal Examples Of Servant Leadership

26:36 Encouraging Servant Leadership In Others

28:40 Ten Rapid-Fire Questions

30:12 Whatever Decision You Make Is The Right One

32:11 Who Will Benefit From The Book - "Everyone Wins"

33:03 Closing

Frank Carone: https://www.frankcarone.com/everyone-wins

Servant Leadership:

URL: https://servantleadershippodcast.org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ServantLeadershipPodcast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/servantleadershippodcast

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/servant-leadership-podcast/

X (Twitter): https://x.com/servant_podcast

Today on the Servant Leadership Podcast, we’re joined by Steve Preston — a leader who has served at the highest levels of both business and government, and now leads dwill Industries, a Fortune 500 CFO, and a senior government official — serving as Administrator of the Small Business Administration and Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Today, he oversees one of the largest nonprofit networks in North America, focused on helping people find dignity and opportunity through work. In this episode, Steve shares how he’s navigated some of the toughest leadership challenges of his career — from turning around federal agencies in crisis to transforming workplace culture — and how servant leadership guides every decision he makes. If you’re passionate about using your influence to make a difference, this conversation is for you.

Timestamps:

00:00 Steve Preston's Intro

00:54 Welcome Steve Preston

01:01 Steve's Professional Journey

03:00 Why Take On New Job Challenges?

05:17 Katrina Crisis And The Small Business Association

09:46 Servant Leadership In Difficult Environments

11:15 Importance Of Clear, Decisive Leadership

11:59 Honesty Concerning The Severity Of The Crisis

13:40 Selection As Secretary Of Housing And Urban Development

15:07 A Square Peg For A Square Hole

17:06 Accepting The Goodwill Position

20:17 Steve's Personal Mission Statement

22:31 Employment As A Redemptive Force

25:30 Dealing With The Pressures Of Impacting Millions Of People

27:40 Building Trust In People, Teams, and Leadership

31:44 Advice For Developing Leadership Capabilities

35:58 Ten Rapid-Fire Questions39:26 Actions To Take Relative To Goodwill

40:04 Closing

Servant Leadership URL: https://servantleadershippodcast.org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ServantLeadershipPodcast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/servantleadershippodcast

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/servant-leadership-podcast/

X (Twitter): https://x.com/servant_podcast

Today on the Servant Leadership Podcast, we’re joined by Alec Hill — a leader well known around the world for his deep commitment to servant leadership. Alec spent 14 years as the president of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, leading thousands of people across 150 countries. His career has spanned law, refugee work, academia, and publishing — all woven together by a desire to lead with integrity and purpose. In this episode, Alec shares how a cancer diagnosis changed his perspective on life and how he’s found purpose in ‘bonus time.’ Whether you’re facing your own crisis or just want to lead with greater purpose, this conversation is one you won’t want to miss.

Timestamps:

00:00 Alec Hill's Intro

00:45 Welcome Alec Hill

01:00 Alec's Career Journey

01:50 "Just Business" - Christian Ethics

03:00 "Living In Bonus Time" - Surviving Cancer and Finding New Purpose

05:05 Encouraging People Who Are Going Through Trauma

06:43 Writing A Book - Intimidating?

07:49 Background Behind Writing Books

08:42 Biggest Takeaways From "Bonus Time"1

0:25 God's Presence On Dark Days

11:11 Trauma's Affect On Servant Leadership

12:28 Leading InterVarsity Christian Fellowship

14:03 Impact Of Crisis On Servant Leadership

15:55 Growing Through Organizational Crisis

17:37 Balancing Vision Casting and Caring For People

19:35 Maintaining Your Identity

21:22 Transition To Mentoring

23:10 Encouraging Potential In Others

24:30 Ethics In Leadership

26:03 Ten Rapid-Fire Questions

27:52 Closing

Servant Leadership:

URL: https://servantleadershippodcast.org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ServantLeadershipPodcast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/servantleadershippodcast

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/servant-leadership-podcast/

X (Twitter): https://x.com/servant_podcast

Today on the Servant Leadership Podcast, we’re joined by Steve Carter, nationally recognized pastor, author, and one of the most respected communicators in the church today.

Steve has preached on some of the largest stages in the country, led in high-profile ministry roles, and now serves as lead pastor of Christ Church of Oak Brook in the Chicago suburbs.

Steve is best known for his ability to help leaders grow in both character and communication, guiding them to lead from a place of integrity, emotional honesty, and spiritual depth.

In this episode, he shares what it looks like to stay grounded, lead through pain, and build the kind of life that can withstand both pressure and success. Whether you’re leading a team or not, this conversation will challenge and encourage you.

Timestamps:

00:00 Steve Carter's Intro

00:46 Welcome Steve Carter

01:16 Steve's Journey

03:12 Being Around Great Leaders

04:47 Staying A Humble Servant Leader

06:36 Spiritual Formation Practices

08:18 Importance Of Craft And Character

11:23 Steve's Podcast - Craft and Character

12:31 The Thing Beneath The Thing - Steve's Book

13:51 Potholes And Sinkholes

16:04 T.H.I.N.G. Acronym

18:06 Dealing With Change - Steve's Book: Grieve, Breathe, Receive

22:14 Breathe And Receive

25:24 High Character Leaders

28:18 Choosing The Best Opportunities

31:09 Engaging In The Mentoring Process - 4 Steps

34:46 Choosing Specific Areas For Mentoring

35:19 Saying "Yes" To Mentoring Others

38:27 Listen To Learn

41:02 Servant Leadership Takeaways

42:38 Ten Rapid-Fire Questions

44:38 Finding More Info About Steve Carter

45:15 Closing

Steve Carter: https://www.stevecarter.org/

Servant Leadership:

URL: https://servantleadershippodcast.org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ServantLeadershipPodcast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/servantleadershippodcast

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/servant-leadership-podcast/

X (Twitter): https://x.com/servant_podcast

Today on the Servant Leadership Podcast, we hear from Jim Gash, President of Pepperdine University.From shaping the future of Christian higher education to leading justice reform efforts in Uganda, Jim shares how Pepperdine is raising up leaders rooted in purpose, service, and leadership.This episode dives into what it looks like to serve faithfully in positions of influences and how saying “yes” to hard things can open doors to unimaginable impact.If you’re serious about servant leadership on aglobal scale, this one’s for you.Timestamps:00:00 Jim Gash's Intro00:35 Welcome Jim Gash00:44 History of Pepperdine University03:59 What Is Pepperdine's Purpose And Why Is it Different?06:06 Jim Gash's Personal and Career Journey12:39 Characteristics For The President Position14:13 Work In Uganda And The Developing World15:20 Bob Goff's Impact20:54 Working With 23 African Countries22:30 Servant Leadership At Pepperdine and Around The World25:14 Establishing A Plea Bargaining Process In Uganda29:39 Saying "Yes" To Hard Things31:34 Future Vision For Pepperdine - Resilience Training34:57 College Of Health Science35:23 A Hub For Spiritual Life - "The Mountain"38:00 Wanting Students To "See The World"40:12 Ten Rapid-Fire Questions41:16 ClosingCheck out Jim's Book: Divine Collision - https://divinecollision.com/book/Servant Leadership:URL: https://servantleadershippodcast.org/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ServantLeadershipPodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/servantleadershippodcastLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/servant-leadership-podcast/X (Twitter): https://x.com/servant_podcast

Today on the Servant Leadership Podcast, we hear from David Phillips, founder and president of Children’s Hunger Fund. For over 30 years, Children's Hunger Fund has delivered food and the hope of the gospel to children in need, serving thousands of churches and distributing hundreds of millions of meals around the world.

In this conversation, you’ll hear how Children's Hunger Fund grew from a garage-based startup in Los Angeles to a global ministry, serving some of the world’s most vulnerable places. If you want to see what faithful, lifelong servant leadership really looks like, this one’s for you.

Timestamps:

00:00 David Phillips' Intro

00:40 Welcome David Phillips

00:51 Children's Hunger Fund and Dave's Background

06:28 Founding of Children's Hunger Fund

07:34 Miraculous Provision Of Cancer Drug For Children

11:31 The Northridge Earthquake Story

18:50 Driving The Mission and Vision of CHF

19:35 Stewardship Of Resources

20:27 Establishing "The Poverty Encounter" Exhibit For Schools and Churches

29:45 Servant Leadership Perspective

31:56 Advice From Billy Graham and Bill Bright

34:37 Avoiding Leadership Isolation

35:33 Hiring Talented/Gifted People

37:00 Dealing With Hard Times And Missteps

44:10 Expanding Into Dallas

50:14 Ten Rapid-Fire Questions

51:43 Closing

Children's Hunger Fund:

https://childrenshungerfund.org/ Children's Hunger Fund Poverty Encounter: https://childrenshungerfund.org/poverty-encounter/

Servant Leadership:

URL: https://servantleadershippodcast.org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ServantLeadershipPodcast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/servantleadershippodcast

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/servant-leadership-podcast/

X (Twitter): https://x.com/servant_podcast

Tom Hsieh might be one of the most humble servant leaders you will ever meet. He helped grow Earthlink into a billion-dollar company, but chose a radically different path, capping his income at the national median and investing the rest into revitalizing communities like Pomona in California.

Today, he’s leading an airline company, supporting nonprofits, and still living with the same open-handed posture that marked his earliest days of faith. This episode is packed with wisdom on business, calling, humility, and how to lead with deep conviction, whether in tech, politics, or aviation. For anyone pursuing servant leadership with open hands and a humble heart, this one’s for you.

Timestamps:

00:00 Tom Hsieh's Intro

00:46 Welcome Tom Hsieh

01:01 Tom's Business and Faith Journey

03:13 Introduction To Urban Communities

04:16 Earthlink Business Career - Early Days

08:00 Drastic Decisions About Personal Finances

11:20 Dealing With Early Leadership Challenges

13:10 Involvement in Pomona California

15:32 A 50-Year Plan For Pomona

17:51 Learning Humility

26:45 Political Involvement

29:16 Fuller Seminary Moving To Pomona

31:48 What's Next? An Air-Transportation Business

35:20 Buying Ravn Alaska Airline

37:58 Adapting To Change - Team Involvement

40:57 Ten Rapid-Fire Questions

47:00 Importance Of Servant Leadership Podcast

49:42 Closing

Servant Leadership URL: https://servantleadershippodcast.org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ServantLeadershipPodcast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/servantleadershippodcast

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/servant-leadership-podcast/

X (Twitter): https://x.com/servant_podcast

Today on the Servant Leadership Podcast, we’re joined by Stephen Cloobeck — a dynamic entrepreneur, investor, and leader best known for founding Diamond Resorts and appearing on Undercover Boss. From studying neuroscience and psychology to building one of the largest hospitality brands in the world, Stephen has always looked for ways to solve problems, build strong teams, and lead with both compassion and conviction.

Now he’s bringing that same mindset to his run for Governor of California. In this episode, you’ll hear stories about leadership, risk, public service, and what it looks like to create real value in every room you walk into — whether it’s a boardroom, resort lobby, or the state capitol. Join us for an inspiring and energizing conversation that’ll challenge how you think about leadership, service, and impact.

Timestamps:

00:00 Stephen Cloobeck's Intro

00:44 Welcome Stephen Cloobeck

00:54 Diamond Resorts Background/Journey

02:11 A Life Of "Full Circles"

02:29 Importance Of Mentors and Serving

04:05 Instilling A Service Mentality

07:39 Undercover Boss Experience

09:20 Approach After Diamond Resorts

12:01 Living My Dream In California

13:11 Decision To Run For Governor

15:35 Why Haven't Others Succeeded?

17:28 Talk versus Action - Hope Feels Real

19:37 What Is Exciting About Government?

21:31 Facing Challenges

23:39 Some Simple Truths

24:18 New Book: Facing Hard Truths

27:15 Helping Others To Feel Leadership Confidence

29:56 The Concept Of Listening

31:04 Ten Rapid-Fire Questions

32:38 Why Is Servant Leadership Important?

33:22 Closing

Want to learn more about Stephen? Check out the links:

https://stephenjcloobeck.com/

https://californiagetacloo.com/

https://stephenjcloobeck.com/facing-hard-truths/

Servant Leadership URL: https://servantleadershippodcast.org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ServantLeadershipPodcast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/servantleadershippodcast

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/servant-leadership-podcast/

X (Twitter): https://x.com/servant_podcast

Today on the Servant Leadership Podcast, we’re joined by Pastor Matthew Barnett—founder of the Dream Center in Los Angeles and one of the most hands-on leaders I’ve ever met. At just 20 years old, Matthew took over a struggling church in the middle of gang-ridden LA. What started as a temporary assignment turned into a lifelong mission to serve people at rock bottom—from the homeless and addicted to single moms and veterans. Under his leadership, the Dream Center has grown into a 24/7 outreach hub that provides housing, food, rehab, and life transformation to thousands each day.On this episode, you’ll hear the real story of how the Dream Center started, what kept him going through burnout and crisis, and how he’s built a culture of servant leadership that’s changing lives—one person at a time.If you’ve ever felt like the dream you started with didn’t match the reality you’re living in, this conversation will give you hope and a whole new perspective. Join us for a powerful conversation with someone who’s redefined what it means to love people well.

Timestamps:

00:00 Matthew Barnett's Intro

00:53 Welcome Matthew Barnett

00:58 The Dream Center's History

03:08 Dying To The Dream

04:06 Dream Hitting Rock Bottom

04:27 Buying The Building

06:25 Rebuilding The Dream

07:02 Taking A Risk On Risky People

09:04 It's Not That Hard

09:44 Skid Row Experience

13:13 Keeping Your Heart Alive

13:50 The LA Fires of 2025

16:34 The Ministry Of "Showing Up"

20:20 Leading Through Crisis

22:00 Maintaining Passion And Sacrificial Love

24:58 Motivating Volunteer Involvement

27:33 Maintaining Motivation28:44 A Culture Of Celebration

29:54 Bringing Joy Through Dreams

31:38 Ten Rapid-Fire Questions

33:51 Closing

https://www.dreamcenter.org/

Servant Leadership URL: https://servantleadershippodcast.org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ServantLeadershipPodcast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/servantleadershippodcast

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/servant-leadership-podcast/

X (Twitter): https://x.com/servant_podcast