Dr. Matt Paden is the President and Managing Partner of Great Days Leadership. He specializes in aligning teams around mission, building healthy cultures and developing clear, values-driven leadership. He received his doctorate in organizational leadership from Pepperdine University and has recently released The Core: 8 Principles for Building Strong Authentic Leadership alongside his coauthor, Dr. L. Ken Jones.

This book is available for purchase now at https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Core/Matt-Paden/9781637635582

Reach out to Dr. Paden at https://greatdaysleadership.com/

TIMESTAMPS

0:00 Introduction

1:08 Are the fundamentals the same for any area of leadership?

3:06 Is leadership for everyone? Can anyone be a leader?

4:47 How did you and your writing partner, Dr. L. Ken Jones, approach writing the leadership fable?

9:45 Why is the book of Esther such a big part of your book?

20:55 This is ego such a big issue for leaders?

24:45 What do you mean by "lead with your ears"?

29:40 What do you mean by "pace yourself and extend the game"?

36:16 Is there one practice you'd recommend for someone to improve their leadership skills?

39:43 Closing Thoughts

Questions or comments? Email us at [email protected]

DONATE:

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RESOURCES:

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Father's are an incredibly important and rewarding role in life and they're rightfully celebrated every year on Father's Day. But, many people have a more complicated relationship with their own father or with being a father themselves. In episode 418, Richard and Daniel discuss biblical examples of fathers, the joys of fatherhood, and the impact of a father on a child's life far into the future.

TIMESTAMPS 0:00 Introduction and Announcements 4:45 Leadership Trivia 6:25 Fathers' importance, biblical examples, and complicated relationships 41:40 Leadership Trivia Response

Questions or comments? Email us at [email protected]

DONATE: If you have enjoyed this podcast and want to support our ministry into the next 20 years, click here: https://bit.ly/382Exi3

RESOURCES: Order Experiencing God in Everyday Life now at: https://www.lifeway.com/en/product/experiencing-god-in-everyday-life-bible-study-book-with-video-access-P005853831

CONNECT: X: @richardblackaby Facebook: https://bit.ly/2WvZPzw Read Richard's latest blog posts at www.richardblackaby.com

Many leaders struggle to find true rest and time to vacation. In episode 417, Richard and Daniel discuss biblical rest, sabbath, and rearranging priorities to find joy in vacationing with your family.

TIMESTAMPS 0:00 Introduction and Announcements 4:00 Leadership Trivia 5:00 Rest and Vacation as a Leader 40:17 Leadership Trivia Response

Questions or comments? Email us at [email protected]

DONATE: If you have enjoyed this podcast and want to support our ministry into the next 20 years, click here: https://bit.ly/382Exi3

RESOURCES: Order Experiencing God in Everyday Life now at: https://www.lifeway.com/en/product/experiencing-god-in-everyday-life-bible-study-book-with-video-access-P005853831

CONNECT: X: @richardblackaby Facebook: https://bit.ly/2WvZPzw Read Richard's latest blog posts at www.richardblackaby.com

Just like the seasons of the year there are seasons of life that each offer something different and good to embrace. Experiencing God in Everyday Life is out now! Order at the link here: https://www.lifeway.com/en/product/experiencing-god-in-everyday-life-bible-study-book-with-video-access-P005853831

TIMESTAMPS

0:00 Introduction

3:40 What does it look like to experience God through every season of life?

18:36 How do we live each season faithfully?

24:50 Trusting God with the unknown of a new season

32:23 General reflection on Experiencing God 2

Questions or comments? Email us at [email protected]

DONATE:

If you have enjoyed this podcast and want to support our ministry into the next 20 years, click here: https://bit.ly/382Exi3

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Read Richard's latest blog posts at www.richardblackaby.com

We all develop habits whether it is conscious or not. How can we develop habits that grow us spiritually? Experiencing God in Everyday Life comes out on June 1st. Preorder at the link here: https://www.lifeway.com/en/product/experiencing-god-in-everyday-life-bible-study-book-with-video-access-P005853831

TIMESTAMPS

0:00 Introduction

4:10 Defining Rhythms and Habits

10:52 How do habits function?

30:35 The Point of Habits

Questions or comments? Email us at [email protected]

DONATE:

If you have enjoyed this podcast and want to support our ministry into the next 20 years, click here: https://bit.ly/382Exi3

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Read Richard's latest blog posts at www.richardblackaby.com

Mountaintops are incredible experiences, but the true test of spiritual maturity is seeing God in the valleys, in the small things of life. Experiencing God in Everyday Life comes out on June 1st. Preorder at the link here: https://www.lifeway.com/en/product/experiencing-god-in-everyday-life-bible-study-book-with-video-access-P005853831

TIMESTAMPS 0:00 Introduction 1:30 Foundation of the Study 7:20 What is the purpose of mountaintop moments? 14:06 What does it mean to live in the valley? 24:06 Seeing God in the Small Things 35:32 Final Thoughts

Questions or comments? Email us at [email protected]

DONATE: If you have enjoyed this podcast and want to support our ministry into the next 20 years, click here: https://bit.ly/382Exi3

CONNECT: X: @richardblackaby Facebook: https://bit.ly/2WvZPzw Read Richard's latest blog posts at www.richardblackaby.com

This week, Dr. Mike Blackaby joins the podcast to discuss what it meanz to be spiritually mature. Experiencing God in Everyday Life comes out on June 1st. Preorder at the link here: https://www.lifeway.com/en/product/experiencing-god-in-everyday-life-bible-study-book-with-video-access-P005853831

TIMESTAMPS

0:00 Introduction to Experiencing God in Everyday Life

18:00 What makes Experiencing God in Everyday Life different from the original?

22:30 What is spiritual maturity?

35:15 Closing Thoughts

Questions or comments? Email us at [email protected]

DONATE:

If you have enjoyed this podcast and want to support our ministry into the next 20 years, click here: https://bit.ly/382Exi3

RESOURCES:

Mark your calendars for May 18-20, 2026 when Richard will be presenting Experiencing God – Part 2 at the Cove in Asheville, NC. Register here: https://register.thecove.org/events/detail/4154?_gl=1*m0v287*_gcl_au*MTI3Mjk0NDM2MC4xNzc3OTIyMzYy

CONNECT:

X: @richardblackaby

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Read Richard's latest blog posts at www.richardblackaby.com

There are certainly beautiful things in the world, but how does beauty relate to leadership? In episode 412, Richard and Daniel discuss how surrounding yourself with things that are beautiful can uplift your spirit and help you to love your neighbor well.

TIMESTAMPS

0:00 Introduction and Announcements

3:46 Leadership Trivia

5:00 Daniel's Background in Beauty

8:45 What does God consider beautiful?

12:14 What is it about sight and sound that makes them the only two senses we perceive beauty with?

18:40 Surrounding Yourself with Beauty

28:26 Embodying Beauty and Loving Your Neighbor

37:16 Leadership Trivia Response

Questions or comments? Email us at [email protected]

DONATE:

If you have enjoyed this podcast and want to support our ministry into the next 20 years, click here: https://bit.ly/382Exi3

RESOURCES:

Mark your calendars for May 18-20, 2026 when Richard will be presenting Experiencing God – Part 2 at the Cove in Asheville, NC. Register here: https://register.thecove.org/events/detail/4154?_gl=1*m0v287*_gcl_au*MTI3Mjk0NDM2MC4xNzc3OTIyMzYy

Preorder Experiencing God in Everyday Life at: https://www.lifeway.com/en/product/experiencing-god-in-everyday-life-bible-study-book-with-video-access-P005853831

CONNECT:

X: @richardblackaby

Facebook: https://bit.ly/2WvZPzw

Read Richard's latest blog posts at www.richardblackaby.com

Are humility and ambition mutually exclusive? Can they coincide in a leader at the same time? In episode 411, Richard and Daniel discuss the importance of ambition in a leader.

TIMESTAMPS 0:00 Introduction 4:23 Leadership Trivia 5:46 Should a Christian leader be humble and not ambitious? 12:37 What are the dangers of not having ambition? 27:49 Where does your ambition come from? 29:57 Leadership Trivia Response

Questions or comments? Email us at [email protected]

DONATE: If you have enjoyed this podcast and want to support our ministry into the next 20 years, click here: https://bit.ly/382Exi3

RESOURCES: Mark your calendars for May 18-20, 2026 when Richard will be presenting Experiencing God – Part 2 at the Cove in Asheville, NC. More info to come.

Join Blackaby Ministries' next Spiritual Leadership Coaching Workshop - April 27-29, 2026 - here: https://www.blackabycoaching.org/workshop

CONNECT: X: @richardblackaby Facebook: https://bit.ly/2WvZPzw Read Richard's latest blog posts at www.richardblackaby.com

There are key similarities in good leaders, but God made each person unique with their own strengths and weaknesses and leadership is no different. In episode 410, Richard and Daniel talk about the differences between Christian leaders and leaders of the world.

TIMESTAMPS 0:00 Introduction 6:33 Leadership Trivia 7:30 Is there only one kind of leadership? 13:03 How should a Christian leader operate as opposed to a general leader out in the world? 20:47 What is different about the perspective of a Christian leader? 28:03 What are some practical things a Christian leader can do to lean into those differences? 32:54 Leadership Trivia Response

Questions or comments? Email us at [email protected]

DONATE: If you have enjoyed this podcast and want to support our ministry into the next 20 years, click here: https://bit.ly/382Exi3

RESOURCES: Mark your calendars for May 18-20, 2026 when Richard will be presenting Experiencing God – Part 2 at the Cove in Asheville, NC. More info to come.

Join Blackaby Ministries' next Spiritual Leadership Coaching Workshop - April 27-29, 2026 - here: https://www.blackabycoaching.org/workshop

CONNECT: X: @richardblackaby Facebook: https://bit.ly/2WvZPzw Read Richard's latest blog posts at www.richardblackaby.com