Jeremy is joined by Steve Zacharias to explore a topic most youth workers have wrestled with: how do you have meaningful conversations with students who are anxious, shut down, or unsure how to engage?

Steve draws from both personal experience and practical ministry to unpack how anxiety shows up in student behavior and how youth leaders can respond with empathy, curiosity, and calm. They talk about fight/flight/freeze/fawn responses, why students often seem resistant or disengaged, and what we can do to build trust, slow the pace, and help students feel seen and safe.

If you've ever walked away from a conversation thinking, “Did that even work?” this episode will help you rethink success, show up more helpfully, and ask better questions.

Have a question or want to dig deeper? You can email [email protected] or [email protected]

Here are a few of the practical next steps from Steve’s episode…

• Take a deep breath before youth group—your presence matters more than your pressure
• Learn to identify the four responses to anxiety: fight, flight, freeze, fawn
• Regulate your own anxiety first—what tone, pace, and posture are you bringing?
• Let students choose the space for deeper conversations (not always the foyer!)
• Ask fueling questions to explore anxiety:

1. “What are you feeling? How do you feel about talking with me?”
2. “What’s it like for you to feel this way?”
3. “When did you start feeling this way?”
4. “What was going on at the time?”

• Ask flipping questions to reframe the situation:

1. “If you switched places with someone else, what would you see?”
2. “Whose voice do you hear in the pressure you’re feeling?”
3. “What would you imagine Jesus saying to you in this moment?”

• Avoid “why” questions—reframe with what or how to reduce defensiveness
• Use Scripture gently to help students reflect, not just correct

In this episode, Jeremy sits down with Dr. Jason Burtt, sociology professor at Trinity Western University and former youth pastor, to explore the intersection of culture, discipleship, and what actually helps students grow and flourish today.

From pirates and pig roasts to positive sociology and generational shifts, Jason offers insights rooted in both research and real-life youth ministry experience. This wide-ranging conversation covers how students are formed, why embodied relationships still matter in a digital age, and how the love of Jesus is the most powerful and most often overlooked discipleship tool we have.

If you're a youth worker wondering whether your investment is really making a difference, this episode is a timely and encouraging reminder that your presence, love, and consistency are shaping students more than you realize.

Have a question or want to dig deeper? You can email [email protected].

You can catch up with Dr. Jason and check out Trinity Western University by heading to twu.ca

In this episode, Jeremy and Sid sit down with legendary youth ministry scholar and practitioner Dr. Chap Clark to unpack how cultural shifts have radically shaped the identity formation of today’s teenagers and what that means for youth workers today.

Chap introduces the idea of “avatars” (the multiple versions of self that students present in different spaces) and explains why helping young people discover and integrate their real identity in Christ through community is more urgent than ever. He shares insight from decades of research , youth work, and teaching, and offers a powerful vision for building ministry cultures that move beyond transactional relationships toward healing, belonging, and purpose.

This episode is rich, deep, and hopeful. If you want to help your students thrive as whole people in Christ, not just perform as Christian teens, don’t miss this one.

Check out Chap’s books on Amazon or see what he’s up to these days at MinistryLeadership.Church.

Have a question or want to dig deeper? You can email [email protected].

In this honest and heartfelt conversation, Jeremy and Sid tackle a question every youth worker will face at some point: What do I do when I’m struggling personally (whether it's emotionally, spiritually, or mentally) and I still have to lead?

They explore what it means to lead with integrity while feeling emotionally off, how to understand the difference between burnout and being overwhelmed, and how Scripture reframes our emotions as meaningful but not final. With stories from camp, personal leadership failure, and wise encouragement from Scripture, this episode is for every leader who has ever shown up tired, anxious, or unsure whether they should even be there.

Have a question or want to dig deeper? You can email [email protected].

In this episode, Jeremy talks with longtime pastor, professor, and former youth leader Ian Lawson about something every youth worker eventually faces: what do you do when you’re just not feeling it?

Whether it’s emotional exhaustion, spiritual discouragement, or the weight of a busy life, there are days when ministry feels heavy and it’s tempting to pull back. Ian brings wisdom from decades of leadership, teaching, and front-line ministry to encourage youth workers not to give up too quickly, and to help us see how God meets us even in our weakness.

Here are a few of the practical next steps from Ian’s episode…

• Don’t underestimate the power of simply showing up
• Remember that faithfulness over time is how fruit grows in ministry
• When you feel spiritual resistance or discouragement, text a friend and ask for prayer
• Ask God to use even your weakness, trusting that His power is made perfect there

Have a question or want to dig deeper? You can email [email protected].

In this episode, Jeremy and Sid dive into a big, practical question for youth workers: What do I do when a student shares something heavy about their family?

Whether you're at camp, in a small group, or hanging out one-on-one, chances are high that a student will eventually open up about something difficult at home. Sid unpacks what your role is (and what it isn’t) when that happens. They talk about mandatory reporting, emotional boundaries, practical tools, and how to love students without taking on more than you’re called to carry.

This conversation is packed with wisdom, stories, and clarity for youth workers who want to care well without burning out or stepping outside their lane.

Looking for a practical next step? Try out one of these things…

• Never promise confidentiality; rather, explain that you will only tell people who can help
• Create a simple incident reporting system (here is a sample of some of the questions you might include)
• Know who to call: have a go-to list of professionals for legal or safety issues
• Be clear about your emotional limits—don’t carry what you’re not meant to
• Spend time with both high-needs and emotionally healthy students
• Consider getting additional training if you’re consistently walking into deep situations
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Have a question or want to dig deeper? You can email [email protected].

You can also check out the podcast that Sid mentioned where he was a guest with his son Payton here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5g3Mz9Y62HvR8GzBc8WEjb?si=11c90542bf6a4637

In this episode, Jeremy is joined by veteran youth pastor Jonathan Kornelsen from Central Community Church in Chilliwack, BC, to unpack a question that every youth worker eventually faces: How do I care for a student whose family life is messy, broken, or confusing?

Jonathan brings 20+ years of youth ministry experience into this honest, compassionate conversation about the limits and opportunities of our role as youth workers. From mandatory reporting to faithful presence, from avoiding the savior complex to knowing when to just take a kid out for ice cream—this episode offers a practical guide for navigating the mess with wisdom and love.

Whether you’re a volunteer, point leader, or ministry director, this episode will help you better support students walking through complicated family dynamics.

Looking for a practical next step? Try out one of these things…

• Listen to Episode 104 – What Should You Know About Crisis, Trauma, Abuse & Neglect (interview with a police officer and social worker)
• If you’re unsure about a disclosure, report it or talk to someone who can.
• Be a calm, safe, trustworthy adult in a student’s life without trying to “fix” them.
• Know your community’s referral resources (counselors, food banks, support workers)
• Be quick to pray, often and out loud, for students navigating hard situations
• Commit to the long haul—healing takes time, and your presence matters more than you know

You should also get Jonathan’s new book Youth Ministry Blueprint, available on Amazon.

Have a question or want to dig deeper? You can email [email protected].

Jeremy and Sid pick up where we left off last week, adding a few more ideas to help you reset your focus on what matters most. Jeremy and Sid explore:

• Why love for God and others is the true center of youth ministry.
• The vital role of anchoring students in Scripture, not just for knowledge, but to shape their affections and actions.
• Why your modeling of faithfulness in whatever environment you are in matters more than you realize.

Whether you’re just stepping into a new season or coming off a hard stretch in ministry, this episode will encourage you to stay faithful, stay focused, and remember that what you do makes an eternal difference.

Have a question or want to dig deeper? You can email [email protected].

In this episode, Jeremy is joined by longtime youth pastor, Alpha Youth Series co-creator, and speaker Ben Woodman for a thoughtful and practical conversation on the most important goal in youth ministry: helping students grow in their love for Jesus and their love for others.

Ben shares stories and insights from over 20 years of ministry around the world, and together he and Jeremy reflect on how easy it is to get distracted from our core calling—especially in the chaos of running programs or managing small groups. From practical ideas to deeper theology, this episode is filled with encouragement and inspiration for any youth worker who wants to make space for real spiritual growth in students.

Looking for a practical next step? Try out one of these things…

• Be quick to pray with and for your students—even in spontaneous moments
• Try leading a small group through a reflective prayer time using a Psalm
• Play a worship song and ask students to listen for what God might say
• Create retreat, camp, or night-away moments where students can encounter God
• Remind students (and yourself): you don’t have to start over—God cherishes every step you’ve taken

You can also try out these resources:

• Alpha Youth Series (free and online)
• Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster
• Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer

We sent these things out to our email list too. If you’d like to join, head to youthworker.community/contact and hit subscribe.

Have a question or want to dig deeper? You can email [email protected].

In this episode, Jeremy and Dawn sit down with 15-year-old Ashlynn from Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, to talk about how volunteering in youth ministry has transformed her faith. Ashlynn’s story is a powerful reminder that young people don’t have to wait until they’re older to start leading and making a difference.

Ashlynn shares honestly about the insecurities she faced as a new Christian and young leader, what helped her overcome them, and how God is using her story to encourage others. This episode is a great listen for youth workers who want to know how to identify, equip, and support student leaders well.

Looking for a practical next step? Try out one of these three things…

1. Invite students to step into leadership earlier than you think
2. Assign real responsibilities that fit student strengths (announcements, small groups, game teams, etc.)
3. Offer regular check-ins and training to help young leaders grow

Have a question or want to dig deeper? You can email [email protected].