Got questions or comments? Text them to me!

Episode Summary:
In this episode, Paul shares how stepping into doctoral studies reshaped his confidence—not by gaining more knowledge, but by finding the freedom to develop ideas in community. Through the lens of Proverbs 27:17, we explore how “iron sharpening iron” transforms reluctant leaders into confident ones.

Key Takeaways:

• Sharpening happens in community, not isolation.
• Confidence grows when you develop ideas out loud, not just deliver them.
• Sharing = pressure; developing = freedom.
• Jesus and Paul modeled sharpening relationships.
• Every leader needs a circle, not just an audience.

Reflection Questions:

1. Who in your life sharpens you—and who do you sharpen?
2. Do you have a space where you can bring half-formed ideas without fear?
3. Where have you been trying to perform instead of grow?

Scripture References:

• Proverbs 27:17
• 2 Timothy 2:2

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Thanks for listening to The Reluctant Leader Podcast with Paul Jenkins! Find me on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, and be sure to read the stuff I'm writing on my blog.

Rather watch the video? Head over to The Reluctant Leader Podcast on my YouTube channel.

Got questions or comments? Text them to me!

What do you do when the story you were writing for your life suddenly gets flipped upside down? Nina Sossamon-Pogue knows a thing or two about that. From elite-level gymnast to Emmy-winning news anchor to tech exec — and then crashing hard when life unraveled — Nina’s story is a masterclass in resilience, reinvention, and the sacred work of getting back up.

In this episode, we talk about:

• 🌀 How to handle unexpected "plot twists" in your story
• 💥 Why identity crisis often follows big life transitions (and what to do with that)
• 🧠 The neuroscience of resilience — and why your brain resists change
• ✝️ How faith can reframe failure as formation, not finality
• 📖 Why your worst chapter might not be your last
• 🛠️ Practical tools for building emotional stamina when life breaks you open

Whether you're leading a church, navigating a personal storm, or just in a season of uncertainty — this conversation is an invitation to believe that what’s next might actually be better.

🔗 Resources Mentioned:

• Now What Workshop: https://www.nowwhatworkshop.com/
• Nina’s book: This Is Not the End
• www.ninasossamonpogue.com

🙌 Connect with Nina:
Instagram: @nina_sp.eaks
LinkedIn: Nina Sossamon-Pogue

🙏 If this episode encouraged you, share it with a friend who needs a reminder that this isn’t the end of their story either.

🔔 Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and follow us at pauljenkins.tv for more conversations that help you keep following Jesus — through doubt, devotion, and everything in between.

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Thanks for listening to The Reluctant Leader Podcast with Paul Jenkins! Find me on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, and be sure to read the stuff I'm writing on my blog.

Rather watch the video? Head over to The Reluctant Leader Podcast on my YouTube channel.

Got questions or comments? Text them to me!

📖 Episode Overview:

Let’s be honest — sometimes the hardest thing about leadership isn’t starting something new… it’s knowing when to stop. In this episode, Paul gets real about a recent decision to pause his weekly email, The Launch Pad, and redirect that time and energy into his leadership at The Gathering and his doctoral studies.

It’s a vulnerable, practical conversation about what it looks like to evaluate our efforts with wisdom and courage — and how to pivot without shame when God starts blessing a different lane.

🔑 What You’ll Learn:

• Why pivoting isn’t failure — it’s faithful leadership
• How to evaluate your current strategies through a wisdom-driven lens
• Practical questions to ask when deciding whether to press on or press pause
• Biblical encouragement from Acts 16 about trusting divine redirection
• Why God cares more about your mission than your methods

📖 Scripture Highlight:

Acts 16:6-10 — When Paul’s missionary strategy got blocked by the Holy Spirit, he didn’t fight it. He pivoted and ended up sparking a revival in Europe. God still works that way.

🛠️ Episode Resources:

• Proverbs 16:9 — “A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord determines his steps.”
• C.S. Lewis Quote: “There are far better things ahead than any we leave behind.”

🎧 Listen If You:

• Are wrestling with a project, ministry, or initiative that just isn’t bearing fruit
• Feel guilty about quitting something you once believed in
• Need wisdom and courage to reallocate your time, energy, and focus
• Want to hear a leader be honest about failure and faithfulness

📣 Stay Connected:

If this episode resonated with you, share it with a friend or teammate navigating a pivot of their own. And don’t forget to leave a review — it helps more reluctant leaders like us find their tribe.

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Thanks for listening to The Reluctant Leader Podcast with Paul Jenkins! Find me on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, and be sure to read the stuff I'm writing on my blog.

Rather watch the video? Head over to The Reluctant Leader Podcast on my YouTube channel.

Got questions or comments? Text them to me!

Before Jesus ever sent His disciples out to preach, heal, or lead—He simply invited them to be with Him. In this episode, Paul unpacks Mark 3:14 and explores how powerful it is when leaders prioritize presence over performance.

You’ll learn why Jesus’ leadership style wasn’t built on strategy first—it was built on shared space, vulnerability, and relational connection. Whether you're leading a team, a ministry, or just trying to keep your group chat alive, this episode will encourage you to slow down, lean in, and lead like Jesus.

✨ In This Episode:

• The overlooked leadership wisdom of Mark 3:14
• Why being with your team matters more than always doing for your team
• 3 key takeaways from how Jesus led:
  1. Presence Builds Trust
  2. Presence Prepares Hearts
  3. Presence Multiplies Impact
• Practical tips to become a more present, intentional leader
• A prayer for leaders who feel stretched thin but want to lead with more heart

🛠️ Practical Presence Practices:

• Schedule “presence blocks” with team members
• Start every meeting with five minutes of non-task talk
• Ditch the phone, make eye contact, and give your full attention
• Take a walk, grab a coffee, or send a spontaneous check-in text

⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️

Thanks for listening to The Reluctant Leader Podcast with Paul Jenkins! Find me on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, and be sure to read the stuff I'm writing on my blog.

Rather watch the video? Head over to The Reluctant Leader Podcast on my YouTube channel.

Got questions or comments? Text them to me!

In this milestone 50th episode of The Reluctant Leader Podcast, Paul sits down with Benjamin Crawshaw for an honest, relatable conversation about life, leadership, and what happens when everything falls apart. Benjamin shares his powerful story of how personal failure, ministry unraveling, and a season of isolation led him to rediscover God’s grace in unexpected places — including a 5-6 year-old girls’ softball team and a student ministry of four.

The episode dives into what it means to lead when you don’t feel qualified, how God often meets us in the margins, and why true leadership isn’t about numbers or titles but about showing up authentically. Benjamin opens up about how repressing emotions eventually catches up with us, and how his journey through counseling, community, and vulnerability has reshaped his perspective on faith, leadership, and mental health.

For anyone who’s ever felt burned out, overlooked, or unsure about their next step, this episode is a needed reminder that God’s not done with you yet. Paul and Benjamin also talk about how today’s culture, especially Gen Z and Gen Alpha,  craves authenticity more than ever, and why that’s the perfect environment for real conversations about faith and emotional health.

It’s a conversation full of wisdom, humor, and encouragement, perfect for leaders (reluctant or not) navigating the messy middle of life and ministry.

- - - - - - - - - -

🔗  Links to all the things:

To connect with Trueface, go to https://www.trueface.org/

You can contact Benjamin at [email protected]

📙 Books we mentioned:

The Cure > https://amzn.to/3MCvF8M

Bo's Cafe > https://amzn.to/3EPnZzC

The Path > https://amzn.to/3ZbrgzR

☕️ The Starbucks Coffee Giveaway

Grab the QR code on Paul's site and use it at Starbucks to grab a coffee drink. Thanks for being a part of The Reluctant Leader Podcast community!

⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️

Thanks for listening to The Reluctant Leader Podcast with Paul Jenkins! Find me on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, and be sure to read the stuff I'm writing on my blog.

Rather watch the video? Head over to The Reluctant Leader Podcast on my YouTube channel.

Got questions or comments? Text them to me!

Welcome to The Reluctant Leader Podcast—where we talk real leadership for those of us who sometimes feel like we’re not cut out for it… but keep showing up anyway.

In this episode, I’m unpacking what I learned from posting 21 straight days of hope-filled, one-minute videos on TikTok. I’ll share what surprised me, the comments that reminded me why this matters, and why consistency is your secret weapon—especially when no one’s clapping yet.

We’re talking:

• The identity-shaping power of showing up
• The spiritual truth behind compounding faithfulness
• Why success in leadership is often slow, quiet, and deeply worth it
• How a few seconds of encouragement can change someone’s entire day

Scripture Anchor:

🔗 LINKS & RESOURCES:

▶️ Watch the 21 Days of Hope Challenge on TikTok
https://www.tiktok.com/@pauljenkinstv
(Regular encouragement, straight to your scroll.)

📺 Subscribe to My YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/@pauljenkinsTV
(Real talk on life, leadership, and following Jesus authentically.)

🎧 More Episodes of The Reluctant Leader Podcast
http://www.thereluctantleaderpodcast.com
(For when you need a nudge to keep leading, even when it’s hard.)

🧠 Highlight Quotes:

🙌 Let’s Keep the Hope Going:

If this episode encouraged you, send it to a friend, leave a review, or tag me with your biggest takeaway. And remember: even reluctant leaders can lead with bold faith.

⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️

Thanks for listening to The Reluctant Leader Podcast with Paul Jenkins! Find me on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, and be sure to read the stuff I'm writing on my blog.

Rather watch the video? Head over to The Reluctant Leader Podcast on my YouTube channel.

Got questions or comments? Text them to me!

In a world overflowing with noise and polished personas, authentic leadership cuts through like a beacon of trust. In this episode, Paul unpacks why it's so powerful when leaders actually do what they say—how integrity, vulnerability, and consistency can create a kind of credibility that commands attention without shouting. Whether you lead a team, a church, or just your own life, this conversation will challenge and encourage you to lead with your whole, honest self.

🧭 What We Talk About:

• The “I’ll Go First” Principle: Why true leaders model what they expect.
• Consistency > Charisma: How everyday choices earn long-term trust.
• Owning Your Misses: How humility and honesty make you more credible, not less.
• The Jesus Blueprint: Leading with truth, not pretense—and why that still changes everything.
• Living the Message: Why people don’t need another highlight reel; they need an honest example.

📱 Social Media Snippets:

Use these for sharing across platforms like Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, or LinkedIn:

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Thanks for listening to The Reluctant Leader Podcast with Paul Jenkins! Find me on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, and be sure to read the stuff I'm writing on my blog.

Rather watch the video? Head over to The Reluctant Leader Podcast on my YouTube channel.

Got questions or comments? Text them to me!

Ever feel stuck between where you started and where you want to be? The messy middle can be frustrating, filled with uncertainty, doubt, and the temptation to give up. But what if this season isn’t a roadblock—it’s the real work of transformation?

In this episode, we’re diving into what it means to trust the process when things aren’t happening as fast as we’d like. You’ll discover:

✅ Why surrendering control leads to more peace and clarity
✅ How struggles strengthen you rather than stop you
✅ The power of perseverance and why your harvest is coming at the right time

If you’ve been feeling discouraged or questioning whether to keep going, this episode is your reminder to stay the course. Growth is happening—even if you can’t see it yet.

💬 Let’s keep the conversation going! Share your biggest takeaway on social media and tag me @pauljenkins. And if this episode encouraged you, consider leaving a review—it helps more people find hope in the process.

🎧 Listen now and take your next step forward with confidence!

⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️

Thanks for listening to The Reluctant Leader Podcast with Paul Jenkins! Find me on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, and be sure to read the stuff I'm writing on my blog.

Rather watch the video? Head over to The Reluctant Leader Podcast on my YouTube channel.

Got questions or comments? Text them to me!

In this episode of The Reluctant Leader Podcast, we dive into the biblical wisdom of seeking godly counsel and why no leader should make decisions in isolation. Proverbs tells us that wise advisers lead to success, but pride can keep us from listening. We’ll explore how humility opens the door to growth, how God often speaks through others, and why even the best leaders—Moses, David, and Paul—sought guidance. If you’ve ever felt the pressure to figure things out alone, this episode is for you!

⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️

Thanks for listening to The Reluctant Leader Podcast with Paul Jenkins! Find me on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, and be sure to read the stuff I'm writing on my blog.

Rather watch the video? Head over to The Reluctant Leader Podcast on my YouTube channel.

Got questions or comments? Text them to me!

The Bible has a lot to say about staying alert and keeping watch. If we aren't vigilant as leaders, the churches and organizations we're responsible for are often left in disarray and vulnerable to attack and vision creep.

As Jesus often told his followers: watch!

⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️

Thanks for listening to The Reluctant Leader Podcast with Paul Jenkins! Find me on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, and be sure to read the stuff I'm writing on my blog.

Rather watch the video? Head over to The Reluctant Leader Podcast on my YouTube channel.