Next Step Leadership
Episodes
270 episodes
Interview with Jon Oliver, Part 1 - Season 6, Episode 9
In this episode, Chris and Tracy sit down with Jon Oliver for a wide-ranging conversation about calling, leadership, and faithfulness in ministry. Jon shares his personal story and testimony, including the influence of growing up with a father ...
Interview with Cheryl & Jackie Johns, Part 2 - Season 6, Episode 8
In their second episode, Jackie and Cheryl Johns continue the conversation by exploring how Scripture shapes leaders from the inside out. They discuss how leaders can approach Scripture with humility, expectation, and openness to the Spirit’s w...
Interview with Cheryl & Jackie Johns, Part 1 - Season 6, Episode 7
In this rich and thoughtful episode, Chris and Tracy welcome Jackie David Johns and Cheryl Bridges Johns for a conversation shaped by years of ministry, scholarship, and spiritual formation. They share their story of serving in both church and ...
Interview with Chris Maxwell, Part 2 - Season 6, Episode 6
Continuing their conversation on the new book Contentment: What You’re Searching for Is Already Yours, Tracy Reynolds and Chris Maxwell focus on the daily practice of contentment and its role in leadership, relationships, and spiritual...
Interview with Chris Maxwell, Part 1 - Season 6, Episode 5
In this episode of Next Step Leadership podcast, Tracy Reynolds guides a thoughtful conversation with Chris Maxwell as Chris steps into the guest seat to discuss his newest book, Contentment: What You’re Searching for Is Already Yours....
Interviews with Trudy Simmons, Part 2 - Season 6, Episode 4
In her second conversation, Trudy Simmons continues to speak with wisdom and compassion about the deep hurts she sees in today’s leaders and ministries. Chris and Tracy explore the pressures leaders face, the emotional weight many carry in sile...
Interview with Trudy Simmons, Part 1 - Season 6, Episode 3
In this episode of the Next Step Leadership Podcast, Chris Maxwell and Tracy Reynolds welcome Trudy Simmons for an honest and hope-filled conversation about leadership, healing, and faith. Trudy shares her powerful personal story—worki...
Interview with Jon & Erica Campbell, Part 2 - Season 1, Episode 2
Continuing the conversation, Jon and Erica Campbell return to share what life and ministry look like now in Los Angeles. Chris and Tracy ask about the realities of serving in a complex city, sustaining hope when progress feels slow, and caring ...
Interview with Jon & Erica Campbell, Part 1 - Season 6, Episode 1
What happens when God calls you to leave what’s familiar and step into the unknown? In this inspiring episode, Chris and Tracy talk with Jon and Erica Campbell about their journey of faith, obedience, and courage that led them to Los Angeles.
Interview with April Yamasaki, Part 2 - Season 5, Episode 52
Grief, loss, and change touch every life—and leaders are no exception. In this moving episode, April Yamasaki returns to discuss her book Hope Beyond Our Sorrows and what it means to live with sorrow while holding on to hope.Chr...
Interview with April Yamasaki, Part 1 - Season 5, Episode 51
In a world that rarely slows down, this episode invites leaders to rediscover the spiritual power of pause. Chris Maxwell and Tracy Reynolds welcome pastor and author April Yamasaki for a reflective conversation about writing, stillnes...
Interview with Travis Lowe, Part 2 - Season 5, Episode 50
Money can be one of the most difficult topics for leaders to talk about—yet it’s deeply connected to faith and discipleship. In this episode, Travis Lowe returns to explore stewardship, finances, and meaning in ministry.Chris and Tracy t...
Interview with Travis Lowe, Part 1 - Season 5, Episode 49
What does faithful pastoring look like in a changing world? In this episode of the Next Step Leadership Podcast, Chris Maxwell and Tracy Reynolds sit down with pastor and writer Travis Lowe for a thoughtful conversation about ministry, leadersh...
Interview with Kathleen Norris, Part 2 - Season 5, Episode 48
In this deeply moving follow-up episode, Kathleen Norris guides Tracy and Chris into the heart of her newest book, Rebecca Sue: A Sister’s Reflection on Disability, Faith, and Love. Hear the reflections from Kathleen’s latest work, whi...
Interview with Kathleen Norris, Part 1 - Season 5, Episode 47
In this opening conversation with acclaimed writer Kathleen Norris, Chris and Tracy welcome one of Chris Maxwell’s all-time favorite authors into the Next Step Leadership studio. Kathleen shares the story behind her vocation—her upbringing, her...
Interview with Todd Korpi, Part 2 - Season 5, Episode 46
Episode 2 — Todd Korpi / AI Goes to Church: Wisdom for a Digital Age In this insightful and highly practical episode, Tracy Reynolds and Chris Maxwell dive with Todd Korpi into the central ideas of his book, AI Goes to Church: P...
Interview with Todd Korpi, Part 1 - Season 5, Episode 45
Episode 1 — Todd Korpi / AI Goes to Church: Wisdom for a Digital Age Learn in this episode about a leader’s journey and why the church must talk about artificial intelligence. Chris and Tracy begin their two-part series with Todd Ko...
Interview with Dave Richardson, Part 2 - Season 5, Episode 44
Episode 2 — Wisdom for the Next Generation with David RichardsonIn this second conversation with David Richardson, Tracy and Chris turn toward the lessons learned over a lifetime of faithful ministry. David speaks candidly about enduranc...
Interview with Dave Richardson, Part 1 - Season 5, Episode 43
Episode 1 — The Story Behind the Leader with David RichardsonIn the first of two episodes with Pastor David Richardson, Chris and Tracy guide listeners through an intimate and heartfelt conversation about David’s life story. David reflec...
Interview with Mary DeMuth, Part 2 - Season 5, Episode 42
The dialogue continues in Part 2 as Chris and Tracy go deeper with Mary DeMuth into the heart of her work. Together they explore specific themes from her books, each one offering wisdom for today’s leaders—regardless of age, background, or pers...
Interview with Mary DeMuth, Part 1 - Season 1, Episode 41
In this inspiring first conversation, hosts Chris Maxwell and Tracy Reynolds welcome Mary DeMuth—author, literary agent, podcaster, and storyteller. Chris shares how he first heard Mary speak at a conference, began reading her books, and eventu...
Interview with Stephen Jones, Part 2 - Season 5, Episode 40
The conversation with Stephen Jones continues as he and the hosts turn their attention more fully to ministry itself. Stephen reflects on his years of leading and mentoring young people, offering practical wisdom for anyone serving the next gen...
Interview with Stephen Jones, Part 1 - Season 5, Episode 39
In this heartfelt episode, Tracy Reynolds and Chris Maxwell sit down with their longtime friend Stephen Jones, a leader who has dedicated his life to showing God’s love to the younger generation. Stephen shares his personal testimony, weaving i...
Interview with John Plake, Part 2 - Season 5, Episode 38
In the second part of the conversation, Tracy Reynolds and Chris Maxwell dive deeper with Dr. John Plake into the urgent cultural questions raised at the end of Part 1. As editor-in-chief of the annual State of the Bible research, John brings c...
Interview with John Plake, Part 1 - Season 5, Episode 37
In this first conversation, Tracy Reynolds and Chris Maxwell welcome Dr. John Farquhar Plake, Chief Innovation Officer at the American Bible Society. John begins by sharing his personal journey—more than three decades of ministry as a pastor, m...