The Deep Dive With Jose St. Phard

What if the problem is not the pressure you are under, but the perspective you are leading from?

In this episode of The Deep Dive with Jose St. Phard, Jose explores one of the most expensive blind spots in leadership: perspective.

Drawing from a childhood memory of experiencing snow for the first time, the psychology of perceptual contrast, the story of Elisha in 2 Kings 6, and the wisdom of Philippians 4:12, Jose unpacks how the lens through which we see our circumstances shapes the way we lead through them.

Two leaders can face the same crisis, carry the same pressure, and work with the same level of talent. Yet one sees a threat while the other sees an opportunity. 

In this episode, you’ll learn how perspective can distort your reality, why discouragement often begins with a misread situation, and how to reframe what you are facing without denying the difficulty of it.

You’ll also be introduced to practical tools like the Perspective Audit, the Jonathan List, and a simple prayer that can help you begin to see what God is already doing in the middle of your situation.

This episode is for executive leaders, pastors, healthcare leaders, organizational change-makers, and anyone who has ever looked at their circumstances and thought, “It’s over.”

It is not over. You may just need a new lens.

In this episode:

Referenced in this episode:

Philippians 4:12
2 Kings 6
Influence by Robert Cialdini

Reflection Question:

What is one area of your leadership where your perspective may be lying to you?

Connect with Jose St. Phard:

Website: www.thedeepdivewithjose.com
Instagram: @iamsaintphard
Podcast Instagram: @thedeepdivewithjose
Speaking and Coaching Inquiries: [email protected]

Subscribe to The Deep Dive with Jose St. Phard for conversations on leadership formation, innovation & organizational change. 

Leadership can slowly disconnect you from yourself. Most leaders are not dealing with a strategy problem or a culture issue. They are dealing with a formation problem. They are leading from empty. And no amount of hustle, productivity, or better planning fixes a leader who is running on fumes.

In this episode of The Deep Dive, Jose St. Phard unpacks what it means to become a Word-Shaped Leader. This is more than reading the Bible. This is about letting Scripture form you from the inside out.

Using Matthew 4 as the foundation, we explore how Jesus modeled something most leaders desperately need but rarely practice. He entered the wilderness full. He faced pressure from a place of identity, not insecurity. He led from fullness, not exhaustion. That sequence is intentional formation.

In this episode you will learn:

Why leadership burnout is often a formation problem and not just a workload problem. Why leaders are tempted to lead from authority instead of responsibility and why that distinction changes everything. How Scripture forms your identity, stabilizes your perspective, and builds resilience from the inside out. How to write a personal identity statement rooted in Scripture so you know who you are before the pressure tells you otherwise. How to build a resilience list, a collection of verses that anchor you in hard seasons. The simple daily rhythm that quietly separates leaders who last from leaders who break.

Whether you are a pastor, executive, healthcare leader, entrepreneur, or caregiver, this episode is for anyone who has been pouring out for others and quietly wondering how much longer they can keep going at this pace. Contrary to popular believe, the answer is not more hustle; rather it is deeper formation.

It is time to dive deep.

Follow Jose on Instagram: @iamsaintphard

If this episode helped you, share it with one leader who has been running on empty. That is the most generous thing you can do.

Episode Description

If you’re trying to grow on social media but you keep falling off, it’s not a motivation problem. It’s a system problem.
In this episode, pastor and creator Alex Portillo shares the framework that helped him grow from 0 to 10K in 5 months and post consistently without running out of ideas.

We break down the “no weeks off” rule, why growth often plateaus after early momentum, and how to create content that serves the person scrolling instead of making it about you. If you’re a leader or faith leader building trust online, this conversation will reset your approach.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

About The Deep Dive:
The Deep Dive helps leaders lead from a healed heart and create high impact in the church, in business, and in the world.

Follow + Connect

In this powerful episode of The Deep Dive with Jose St. Phard, Jose sits down with Dr. Kessia Reyne Bennett, a theologian and thinker who helps us wrestle with one of the most critical questions of our time: What does it mean to be human in the age of artificial intelligence?

Together, they explore how generative AI is reshaping the conversation around creativity, technology, and human consciousness. Whether you're a pastor, leader, entrepreneur, creator, or dreamer, this episode will challenge how you think about what truly makes us human. In the age of AI, Jose & Dr. Bennett remind us that human presence and human connection are still humanity's most incredible superpowers.

Watch on YouTube → https://youtu.be/WK0FDkWPaIs

Connect with Jose:
Instagram: @iamsaintphard
Instagram: @ThedeepdivewithJose

Website: www.thedeepdivewithjose.com

BIO: Jose St. Phard is a pastor, executive coach, and speaker. Through his work in leadership and personal growth, he’s guided thousands of people to strengthen their spiritual lives and lead with greater confidence. He’s the host of The Deep Dive Podcast and serves as Lead Pastor at Oasis Christian Center in Vancouver, Washington, where he lives with his wife, Tiffany, and their two children.

Subscribe for more conversations on faith, leadership, and what it means to be human in a changing world.

THIS IS THE PART NO ONE TALKS ABOUT: 

Growth as a faith leader is directly tied to your capacity to carry and process pain well. What you don’t transform, you will inevitably transmit. It will come out in your church, your team, or your family. In this episode, we go beneath the surface of leadership success and explore the real, raw process God uses to shape your soul.

Episode Summary:
Leadership isn’t just about vision-casting, strategic planning, or building platforms. It's about learning to lead through pain. In this episode, Jose shares personal reflections on leadership wounds, the loneliness of responsibility, and how God uses pain as a crucible for transformation. Drawing from Samuel Chand’s Leadership Pain, scripture, and real-world experience, this conversation exposes the often-ignored truths of the leader’s journey and how to make peace with pain instead of running from it. Whether you're a pastor, coach, creative, or organizational leader, this episode is for anyone who’s ever whispered, “I didn’t know it would hurt this much.”

Takeaways:

1. The Deeper the Pain, the Greater the Potential. “You’ll grow only to the threshold of your pain.” — Samuel Chand Pain is not the enemy of your calling; it’s often the pathway God uses. Every level of leadership requires a new level of dying to self, and many leaders quit because no one prepared them for the pain.

Reflection Question: Are you resisting what God is using to refine you?

2. Pain Is a Part of the Process. Pain reshapes your identity. Loss, betrayal, and chronic pressure force us to redefine what success really means. As Dr. Chand writes, “Pain is the classroom where God teaches His deepest lessons.” Transformation is always personal before it’s public. While God doesn't waste your pain, He won’t bypass it either.

3. You Can’t Lead Well if You Don’t Lament Honestly
Church culture often rushes to “hope” while bypassing “hurt.” Leaders need to reengage the lost discipline of lament. David wrote his most powerful psalms from caves, not castles (Psalm 142). Jesus wept before He resurrected Lazarus. True leadership honors emotion without being ruled by it.

Takeaway Practice: Try a 5-minute journaling exercise where you write honestly about your leadership wounds as a form of prayer.

Bonus Resources:

From Leadership Pain by Samuel Chand:

Spiritual Practices for Processing Pain:

This is the Perfect Listen For:

Send this to a leader who needs to hear this.
Leave a review if this hit deep.
And most importantly, don’t walk through pain alone. Let us journey with you.

If It Makes Everyone Comfortable, It’s Probably Not From God

Welcome to The Deep Dive with Jose St. Phard!
The podcast created specifically for dreamers, leaders, and changemakers.

In this episode, we're tackling a topic every dreamer faces but rarely talks about openly: criticism and misunderstanding. When you're pursuing a God-sized vision, you'll inevitably encounter skeptics, doubters, and critics. But here’s the powerful truth—it’s meant to be that way.

We dive deep into the life of Joseph (Genesis 37–50), a visionary whose God-given dreams took him on a journey filled with misunderstanding, betrayal, setbacks, and ultimately into extraordinary purpose. His story will help you understand why critics are often a sign you're on the right path, how setbacks can be setups for your purpose, and why it’s essential to believe boldly even when no one else sees your vision.

If you've ever felt pressure to shrink your dreams to fit other people's comfort zones, let this episode empower you to dream bigger, louder, and more boldly than ever before.

Key Episode Highlights:

Scriptures Explored:

Reflection for Dreamers:

Ask yourself: "Where have I been shrinking my dream to fit other people's comfort zones?" Remember—your dream isn’t just about you. It’s about all the people God will impact through you.

Action Steps:

Connect & Engage:

Remember—if your dream makes everyone comfortable, it’s probably not from God.

Let’s keep diving deep!

We’ve all chased the myth of “work-life balance” — juggling career, home, faith, and impact with a constant sense of guilt and fatigue. But what if that whole idea is upside down? Are you exhausted chasing this impossible dream? What if everything you’ve heard about balancing work and life is actually holding you back?

In this episode of The Deep Dive with Jose St. Phard, we uncover why work-life balance is a trap—and reveal the powerful rhythm God designed for you instead. Drawing from Scripture and real-life leadership experience, Jose shows how embracing a rhythm of rest hard, work easy can transform your productivity, creativity, and relationships.

What You’ll Learn:

If you’re a leader, parent, or change-maker longing for rest while creating meaningful impact, this episode is for you.

Don’t forget to LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE for weekly insights to help you live and lead with intention.

Share this episode with someone who needs a fresh perspective on work and rest!

Connect with Jose St. Phard:
Instagram: @iamsaintphard
Podcast Website: thedeepdivewithjose.com

Join the Community:
Podcast IG & TikTok: @thedeepdivewithjose

Episode Overview:

In this powerful episode, Jose sits down with author, digital storyteller, and cultural bridge-builder Kevin Spencer Wilson—better known as Cross Culture Kev—to explore the truth that your story isn’t just part of your journey—it’s the strategy God wants to use.

From arriving in the U.S. alone at 18 to becoming the CEO of Chai and author of The Way of Chai, Kevin shares a deeply personal journey of reinvention, resilience, grief, and grace.

Together, they dive into how suffering shapes the soul, how to reclaim your story as a leader, and why the very things you once saw as liabilities might be the superpowers God intends to use for impact.

If you’re navigating change, healing from pain, or searching for your voice in leadership—this conversation will remind you: God doesn’t waste your story. He works through it.

Topics Covered:

Scriptures Referenced

Quotes

“Grief is not the absence of joy. It’s the strongest memory of joy.”

“Art plus story equals trust.”

“You were created because you were loved—not to be loved.”

“Leadership isn’t about usefulness; it’s about belovedness.”

“Practice curiosity. Lean into community. See every person as an invitation to wonder.”

Extra Resources

 How to Go Deeper

Action Steps:

There’s one powerful skill great leaders quietly master—a hidden key to stronger connections, greater impact, and thriving organizations. In this eye-opening episode of The Deep Dive Podcast, Jose St. Phard reveals the profound yet often overlooked skill of listening. Drawing from biblical wisdom, personal leadership experiences, and compelling stories from leaders like King Solomon and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, Jose shares why active, empathetic, and mindful listening can completely transform your leadership approach.

You'll discover:

This hidden skill isn’t just helpful—it’s essential. Ready to unlock the listening superpower that could transform your relationships, leadership, and community? Press play!

➡️ Subscribe and follow The Deep Dive Podcast:
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➡️ Connect personally with Jose:
Instagram: @iamsaintphard

For more content, visit our website www.deepdivewithjose.com and stay tuned for new episodes, resources, and exclusive insights!

Remember to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who needs to hear this today!

Why do so many high-capacity leaders—pastors, entrepreneurs, parents, and visionaries—burn out after they've achieved success?

In this powerful episode of The Deep Dive, Jose St. Phard sits down with pastor and leadership coach Benjamin Lundquist to expose the hidden cracks in even the most accomplished leaders. Together, they explore the difference between leading strong for a season and leading well for a lifetime.

What if your greatest leadership threat isn’t failure, but success without sustainability?

This conversation is raw, honest, and necessary.

You’ll learn:

If you're building something big—but feeling stretched thin—this is your call to realign, refocus, and lead from a place of wholeness.

This episode will challenge and equip you to not just lead better—but live better.

Let’s stay connected!

Follow us and let us know what stood out to you from today’s episode:

Benjamin Lundquist — @benjaminlundquist on Instagram
Jose St. Phard — @iamsaintphard
️ The Deep Dive with Jose — @thedeepdivewithjose on Instagram & TikTok

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