Sensitivity Warning: This episode includes discussion of war, violence, genocide, and human suffering. Some of these topics are explored in personal and vivid detail and may be difficult for some listeners. Listener discretion is advised.

As we mark three years since October 7, 2023, it is more important than ever for Christians to remember that following Jesus means mourning with those who mourn and paying the high price for peace.

In this episode of The Disrupters, Caleb Campbell sits down with the executive director of Churches for Middle East Peace, Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon, to grapple with Christian complicity in global violence, the privilege of looking away, and the high cost of following the Prince of Peace.

Together, Caleb and Mae challenge the binary thinking that reduces complex conflicts to heroes and villains, which dehumanizes people made in the image of God. Mae shares heart-wrenching stories about the daily reality of families living in fear of the next missile strike. She challenges listeners to consider how their money, politics, and silence contribute to cycles of destruction, and what a gospel of good news actually looks like for those in the rubble.

Mae offers practical guidance in this episode: how to faithfully witness suffering, how to pray through feeling overwhelmed, how to engage with peacemaking long-term, and how to radically love your enemies. 

Join Mae, Caleb, and The Disrupters in refusing to look away from suffering.

This episode highlights the following themes:

• American complicity and Christian responsibility in global injustice
• The privilege of looking away and the biblical mandate not to
• The intersection of power, justice, fear, and the way of Jesus
• Stories of courage, peacemaking, and paying the high cost for peace

Links from the episode:

• Learn more about Mae Elise Cannon
• Read Mae Cannon’s book, Beyond Hashtag Activism
• Learn more about Churches for Middle East Peace
• Check out Mae Elise Cannon’s Substack for her latest writings
• Learn more about The Disrupters
• Learn more about Caleb Campbell
• Read Caleb Campbell's book, Disarming Leviathan
• Read the transcript here

Credits:

✅Special offer: Visit ivpress.com and use the code IVPDISRUPT40 for 40% off and free US shipping on any IVP resource mentioned in this episode.

✅Producers: Jack Reece, Helen Lee, and Travis Albritton

✅Assistant Producer: Christine Pelliccio Melo

✅Sound Engineering: Honest Podcasts

✅Social Media Manager: Makayla Payne

✅Podcast Art: Kate Lillard

✅Theme Song: "Sneakerhead" by Ghost Beatz

Disclaimer: The comments, views, and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host and/or the guests featured on the podcast and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of InterVarsity Press or InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

When faced with the injustice caused by sin and the powers of the world, the Church must respond with unity, compassion, and focused, righteous anger. 

In this episode of The Disrupters, Caleb Campbell sits down with pastor, organizer, and activist Rev. Dr. Alexia Salvatierra to explore how Christians can humbly, lovingly, and fearlessly promote justice for the vulnerable within the political systems of the world.

Alexia shows how the world’s obsession with “power over” keeps us trapped in cycles of domination and fear, while the way of Jesus offers an alternative “power with” that elevates the vulnerable for the good of all people. Drawing on decades of experience organizing for immigrants and the economically disadvantaged, Alexia shares practical wisdom for anyone longing to put prophetic anger to use—not as impotent rage, but as fuel for change.

They reflect on the dangers of individualism, the collective call to steward democracy, and why “loving our neighbors” means standing with the widow, the orphan, the immigrant, and the poor. Alexia offers stories, practical tips for advocacy, and a hopeful reminder that governments come and go, but the Church endures as a sign of God’s reconciling love on Earth.

If you want to learn how to support change for good in your own community, this episode is for you.

This episode highlights the following themes:

• The difference between power over and power with
• How faith changes our understanding and stewardship of power
• How individual Christians can practice faith-rooted organizing
• Walking in hope and humility amid division, rage, and systemic injustice

Links from the episode:

• Learn more about Alexia Salvatierra
• Read Alexia’s book, Faith Rooted Organizing
• Learn more about The Disrupters
• Learn more about Caleb Campbell
• Read Caleb Campbell's book, Disarming Leviathan
• Read The Very Good Gospel by Lisa Sharon Harper
• Read the transcript here

Credits:

✅Special offer: Visit ivpress.com and use the code IVPDISRUPT40 for 40% off and free US shipping on any IVP resource mentioned in this episode.

✅Producers: Jack Reece, Helen Lee, and Travis Albritton

✅Assistant Producer: Christine Pelliccio Melo

✅Sound Engineering: Honest Podcasts

✅Social Media Manager: Makayla Payne

✅Podcast Art: Kate Lillard

✅Theme Song: "Sneakerhead" by Ghost Beatz

Disclaimer: The comments, views, and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host and/or the guests featured on the podcast and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of InterVarsity Press or InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.

As an Amazon Affiliate, this channel earns commissions from qualifying purchases when you use the links above.

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

The Church’s power lies in loving broken people unconditionally, not in breaking people with conditional love.

In this episode of The Disrupters, Caleb Campbell welcomes writer, advocate, and co-founder of Deconstruction Doulas, Margaret Bronson, for a conversation about power, spiritual authority, and abuse in church spaces. Margaret shares about her journey out of a highly controlling religious environment, through the systems and structures of the modern American church, and now to her work as a “doula” for people navigating religious trauma. Together, they explore the deep wounds caused by unhealthy theology and conditional belonging, and what it takes to love the spiritually wounded.

Referencing Martin Luther, George Washington in Hamilton, and Babe the Pig, Margaret exposes how systems of coercion and tough love have replaced the vulnerable way of Jesus, and challenges the Church’s assumptions about where saving power resides. She invites us to rethink grace, to trust the Holy Spirit with those we love, and to practice radical hospitality for those carrying pain and fear.

This episode offers hope to survivors of spiritual abuse who are rebuilding their faith and gives Christians practical steps for fostering true belonging and safety in every part of church life. 

Tune in and discover how churches can become green pastures where everyone, especially the wounded and the downtrodden, can find rest, security, and peace.

This episode highlights the following themes:

• The difference between oppressive and healing power in the church
• Creating church spaces of safety, vulnerability, and genuine welcome
• The harm of conditional belonging and coercive “tough love” leadership

Links from the episode:

• Learn more about Margaret Bronson and Deconstruction Doulas
• Learn more about The Disrupters
• Learn more about Caleb Campbell
• Read Caleb Campbell's book, Disarming Leviathan
• Read the transcript here

Credits:

✅Special offer: Visit ivpress.com and use the code IVPDISRUPT40 for 40% off and free US shipping on any IVP resource mentioned in this episode.

✅Producers: Jack Reece, Helen Lee, and Travis Albritton

✅Assistant Producer: Christine Pelliccio Melo

✅Sound Engineering: Honest Podcasts

✅Social Media Manager: Makayla Payne

✅Podcast Art: Kate Lillard

✅Theme Song: "Sneakerhead" by Ghost Beatz

Disclaimer: The comments, views, and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host and/or the guests featured on the podcast and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of InterVarsity Press or InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

How did the church become more interested in holding power than sharing the Good News? 

Welcome to the seventh season of The Disrupters! In this first episode, host Caleb Campbell sits down with Rev. Dr. Soong-Chan Rah, Robert Boyd Munger Professor of Evangelism and Church Renewal at Fuller Theological Seminary, award-winning author, and renowned voice on faith and justice. Together, they explore how American Evangelicalism has been shaped not by a truth-pursued mindset, but by a truth-possessed one that values control and exclusion over humble evangelism.

Soong-Chan challenges us to rethink how we evangelize, moving beyond intellectual arguments and needless boundary-drawing toward a vision of embodied gospel presence. He reflects on the dangers of exceptionalism, the deep roots of power and narrative in American church life, and the need for prophetic lament as a corrective spiritual practice.

This conversation sets off an entire season that will unsettle your perspective of power and invite you to examine the stories and habits shaping your own faith. Whether you’re seeking a church that lives what it preaches, or you’re wrestling with the ways Christianity has missed the mark, this episode calls us back to the kind of power Jesus modeled, one that serves, invites, and chases after truth.

Listen now and rediscover what it means to follow Jesus and share the Gospel with true power.

This episode highlights the following themes:

• The problem with “truth-possessed” evangelism
• Incarnational apologetics vs. winning arguments
• Prophetic lament as spiritual resistance
• The weaknesses of revival-based evangelism

Links from the episode:

• Discover more about Dr. Soong-Chan Rah and his books
• Learn more about The Disrupters
• Learn more about Caleb Campbell
• Read Caleb Campbell's book, Disarming Leviathan
• Read the transcript here

Credits:

✅Special offer: Visit ivpress.com and use the code IVPDISRUPT40 for 40% off and free US shipping on any IVP resource mentioned in this episode.

✅Producers: Jack Reece, Helen Lee, and Travis Albritton

✅Assistant Producer: Christine Pelliccio Melo

✅Sound Engineering: Honest Podcasts

✅Social Media Manager: Makayla Payne

✅Podcast Art: Kate Lillard

✅Theme Song: "Sneakerhead" by Ghost Beatz

Disclaimer: The comments, views, and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host and/or the guests featured on the podcast and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of InterVarsity Press or InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

What should Christians do with power, and what if we’ve misunderstood it all along?

Welcome to season 7 of The Disrupters from InterVarsity Press, hosted by Caleb Campbell. Every episode promises honest conversations that push the church to rethink the ways it chases influence, security, justice, and above all—power.

Joining Caleb Campbell this season are leading voices like Soong-Chan Rah, Mae Elise Cannon, Alexia Salvatierra, Jonathan Walton, Amy Williams, Malcolm Foley, Margaret Bronson, and others. Together, they pull the curtain back on the ways power shapes our views of politics, race, gender, healing, nationalism, wealth, peacemaking, and justice.

At the center of this season is the radical person of Jesus. He rejected domination. He chose the cross, not the sword. His kingdom values humility, service, generosity, and love. In a world chasing power, what would it look like for Christians to surrender it?

If you’re searching for conversations that challenge the status quo and help you develop a more faithful perspective of power, this season is for you.

Season 7 of The Disrupters launches next week, September 16. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or watch on the IVP YouTube channel.

Links from the episode:

• Learn more about The Disrupters
• Learn more about Caleb Campbell
• Read Caleb Campbell's book, Disarming Leviathan
• Read the transcript here

Credits:

✅ Special offer: Visit ivpress.com and use the code IVPDISRUPT40 to get 40% off and free US shipping on any IVP resource mentioned in this episode.

✅ Producers: Jack Reece and Travis Albritton

✅ Executive Producer: Helen Lee

✅ Sound Engineering: Honest Podcasts

✅ Social Media Manager: Makayla Payne

✅ Assistant Producer: Christine Pelliccio Melo

✅ Podcast Art: Kate Lillard

✅ Theme Song: "Sneakerhead" by Ghost Beatz

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

You need to slow down.

So many leaders are driven by the fear of falling behind, convinced that impact requires urgency. And in the frantic pace of the modern world, we forget that God never told us to sprint ahead; he invited us to walk alongside him.

In the final episode of Season 6 of The Disrupters podcast, host Nicole Martin sits down with author, speaker, filmmaker, and VeggieTales creator Phil Vischer. In their conversation, Phil shares about the rapid rise and rapid fall of Big Idea Productions. He opens up about how speed became his idol and how slowing down has allowed God to redeem his failures. Now, as co-host of The Holy Post podcast and a storyteller for the next generation, Phil reflects on what it means to follow Jesus without being consumed by a relentless need to hurry.

Throughout their conversation, Phil warns listeners about the pressures of staying ahead and the toxic pace of modern ministry. From identity to insecurity, performance to obedience, this episode is a powerful reminder that you don’t need to impress God. You just need to patiently walk with him.

When we crucify speed, we find the joy, peace, and purpose only God’s pace can provide.

Tune in now to learn how slowing down might be the most faithful thing you can do as a leader.

This episode highlights the following themes:

• Crucifying speed in a culture addicted to hurry
• Redefining our failure and success through God’s eyes
• Obedience always outweighs outcomes

Links from the episode:

• Discover more about Phil Vischer
• Learn more about Nicole Martin
• Read Nicole Martin's book: Nailing It
• Read the transcript here

Credits:

✅Special offer: Visit ivpress.com and use the code IVPOD25 for 25% off any IVP resource mentioned in this episode.

✅Producers: Jack Reece and Travis Albritton

✅Executive Producer: Helen Lee

✅Sound Engineering: Honest Podcasts

✅Social Media Manager: Allie Noble

✅Production Assistant: Christine Pelliccio Melo

✅Podcast Art: Kate Lillard

✅Theme Song: "Something Else" by Nu Alkemi$t

Disclaimer: The comments, views, and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host and/or the guests featured on the podcast and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of InterVarsity Press or InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Leaders are expected to meet increasingly high standards, but many are silently suffering under the pressure of constantly needing to perform. But God never called us to perform—He called us to be relational people.

In this episode of The Disrupters, host Nicole Martin is joined by Sheila Wise Rowe and Dr. Nicholas Rowe, co-authors of Healing Leadership Trauma, spiritual formation mentors, and longtime leaders in ministry and education. Sheila Wise Rowe is an award-winning author and counselor who has spent over 30 years walking alongside abuse and trauma survivors. Dr. Nicholas Rowe is the Hansen Associate Professor of Leadership at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, with decades of experience in leadership, reconciliation, and formation. Together, they offer not only practical wisdom but a deep well of spiritual insight.

Through honest reflection, they unpack how unhealed trauma fuels performance-based leadership and how many Christian leaders carry the past, present, and future like a crushing weight. They discuss how early wounds, fear of failure, and pressure to succeed can disconnect leaders from their core identity in Jesus. But when you crucify performance, what rises is something far more powerful: character rooted in truth, leadership grounded in rest, and a witness that’s not built on performance, but presence.

Tune in now to discover how surrendering performance can allow you to lead as a “human being,” not a “human doing.”

This episode highlights the following themes:

• Crucifying performance and recovering authenticity
• Healing leadership trauma across past, present, and future
• Leading others by being rooted in your identity in Christ

Links from the episode:

• Learn more about Sheila Wise Rowe and Dr. Nicholas Rowe
• Check out their book: Healing Leadership Trauma
• Learn more about Nicole Martin
• Read Nicole Martin's book: Nailing It
• Read the transcript here

Credits:

✅Special offer: Visit ivpress.com and use the code IVPOD25 for 25% off any IVP resource mentioned in this episode.

✅Producers: Jack Reece and Travis Albritton

✅Executive Producer: Helen Lee

✅Sound Engineering: Honest Podcasts

✅Social Media Manager: Allie Noble

✅Production Assistant: Christine Pelliccio Melo

✅Podcast Art: Kate Lillard

✅Theme Song: "Something Else" by Nu Alkemi$t

Disclaimer: The comments, views, and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host and/or the guests featured on the podcast and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of InterVarsity Press or InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

In a culture that promises life will go "up and to the right," we're conditioned to believe that success follows a predictable trajectory of increasing achievement and personal fulfillment. But for Christians who desire to lead more faithfully, our expectations for life and leadership must come from what God says about us, about our calling, and about his kingdom.

In this episode of The Disrupters podcast, host Nicole Martin talks with Joanna Meyer, Director of Public Engagement at the Denver Institute for Faith and Work and author of the award-winning book Women, Work and Calling. As a leader in the national Women, Work and Calling initiative, Joanna brings deep insight into how Gospel-formed expectations become the foundation for authentic calling and faithful leadership.

Nicole and Joanna explore what it means to crucify our expectations and lead from a place of flexible surrender rather than rigid entitlement. They share about their experiences as women who lead and serve in the Church, and how they’ve needed to navigate and sometimes reject the expectations that have been placed upon them in the process. Joanna shares her journey through unmet expectations, revealing how beauty and brokenness have worked together to shape her calling and deepen her relationship with Jesus. Throughout their conversation, they emphasize the difference between being faithful and being fruitful, challenging listeners to align their hopes with what God promises will be rather than their own expectation of what should be.

Tune in now to discover how to develop faithful expectations, navigate disappointment, and remain anchored in the Gospel when life doesn't go according to plan.

This episode highlights the following themes:

• The difference between being faithful and being fruitful in leadership
• How broken expectations can deepen intimacy with Christ
• Moving forward in faithfulness when life doesn't meet expectations

Links from the episode:

• Learn more about Joanna Meyer
• Check out Joanna's book: Women, Work and Calling
• Learn more about Nicole Martin
• Read Nicole Martin's book: Nailing It
• Read the transcript here

Credits:

✅Special offer: Visit ivpress.com and use the code IVPOD25 for 25% off any IVP resource mentioned in this episode.

✅Producers: Jack Reece and Travis Albritton

✅Executive Producer: Helen Lee

✅Sound Engineering: Honest Podcasts

✅Social Media Manager: Allie Noble

✅Production Assistant: Christine Pelliccio Melo

✅Podcast Art: Kate Lillard

✅Theme Song: "Something Else" by Nu Alkemi$t

Disclaimer: The comments, views, and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host and/or the guests featured on the podcast and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of InterVarsity Press or InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

In a culture obsessed with numerical growth and expansion, Christian leaders often measure success by the size of their congregation, budget, or influence. But for believers who desire to lead with integrity and purpose, we must reframe our leadership goals with a different question in mind: "What are we measuring, and why?"

In this episode of The Disrupters podcast, host Nicole Martin welcomes Bishop Geoffrey Dudley, pastor of New Life in Christ Church and CEO of Ilead Enterprises. As a retired Air Force chaplain with over 20 years of service and the author of Leading Through the Storms, Bishop Dudley brings practical leadership wisdom and spiritual insight to navigating ministry growth and decline.

Together, Nicole and Bishop Dudley explore what it means to "crucify scale" and lead through the inevitable storms of ministry. Throughout their conversation, they emphasize that true success isn't measured merely by numbers but by the depth of maturity, spiritual growth, and kingdom impact. Bishop Dudley shares his journey from preaching at age thirteen, Air Force chaplaincy, and later to pastoring a thriving church, revealing how storms and challenges crystallized his calling and transformed his approach to leadership. Together, they invite us to practice honest self-reflection and align our understanding of scale with God’s vision.

If you've ever felt dissonance between your vision for growth and your current reality, this conversation is for you.

Tune in now to discover how to measure what truly matters and lead faithfully through both seasons of expansion and turbulence.

This episode highlights the following themes:

• Finding meaning beyond numerical metrics in ministry
• Preparing for inevitable leadership storms
• Developing multi-generational leadership for long-term impact
• Differentiating between growing a church and growing disciples

Links from the episode:

• Learn more about Bishop Geoffrey Dudley
• Check out Bishop Dudley's book: Leading Through the Storms
• Learn more about Nicole Martin
• Read Nicole Martin's book: Nailing It
• Read the transcript here

Credits:

✅Special offer: Visit ivpress.com and use the code IVPOD25 for 25% off any IVP resource mentioned in this episode.

✅Producers: Jack Reece and Travis Albritton

✅Executive Producer: Helen Lee

✅Sound Engineering: Honest Podcasts

✅Social Media Manager: Allie Noble

✅Production Assistant: Christine Pelliccio Melo

✅Podcast Art: Kate Lillard

✅Theme Song: "Something Else" by Nu Alkemi$t

Disclaimer: The comments, views, and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host and/or the guests featured on the podcast and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of InterVarsity Press or InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

In a culture that celebrates the pursuit of “more,” we’re taught that success is measured by the accumulation of wealth. But for Christians who desire to lead their families, churches, or organizations well, we must commit to a different teaching: “You cannot serve both God and money.”

In this episode of The Disrupters podcast, host Nicole Martin welcomes Bob Doll, CEO and Chief Investment Officer at Crossmark Global Investments, a long-time financial strategist and faithful servant leader. With over 40 years in the financial industry and regular appearances as a finance correspondent on CNBC and Bloomberg, Bob brings both economic insight and a gospel-centered mindset to wealth management.

Together, Nicole and Bob talk about what it looks like to follow Jesus in a consumption society. Throughout their conversation, they emphasize that God doesn’t want our money—he wants us—challenging us to reassess how we define our own value. Bob offers practical wisdom on confronting the love of money, decluttering our lives, and living with an eternal perspective. He shares how he balances wealth with generosity while keeping the Kingdom of God front and center. 

If you’ve ever struggled to serve God with your finances or felt trapped in the iron grip of material wealth, this conversation is for you.

Tune in now to discover how to live generously, steward well, and invest in eternal riches.

This episode highlights the following themes:

• The differences between temporary and eternal wealth
• Living in freedom from the fear of scarcity
• How to faithfully save, invest, and use our money

Links from the episode:

• Learn more about Bob Doll
• Check out Crossmark Global Investments
• Learn more about Nicole Martin
• Read Nicole Martin’s book: Nailing It
• Read the transcript here

Credits:

✅Special offer: Visit ivpress.com and use the code IVPOD25 for 25% off any IVP resource mentioned in this episode.

✅Producers: Jack Reece and Travis Albritton

✅Executive Producer: Helen Lee

✅Sound Engineering: Honest Podcasts

✅Social Media Manager: Allie Noble

✅Production Assistant: Christine Pelliccio Melo

✅Podcast Art: Kate Lillard

✅Theme Song: "Something Else" by Nu Alkemi$t

Disclaimer: The comments, views, and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host and/or the guests featured on the podcast and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of InterVarsity Press or InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

To whom have you given your loyalty? Who is loyal to you?

A hallmark of modern leadership is the demand for unquestioning loyalty—loyalty to the boss, loyalty to the organization, loyalty to the vision.  But when loyalty is demanded instead of inspired, it can quietly become a weapon of control that quashes dissent, silences the vulnerable, and enables abuse.  And misplaced loyalties can create harmful power imbalances in even the most equitable organizations.

In this episode of The Disrupters podcast, host Nicole Martin sits down with Dr. Natasha Sistrunk Robinson—writer, international speaker, leadership consultant, mentoring coach, and founder of Leadership LINKS, Inc. Natasha is a former Marine Corps officer, graduate of the US Naval Academy, and author of many books, including A Sojourner’s Truth. With over two decades of leadership experience across the military, government, church, and nonprofit spaces, she brings clarity and conviction to what it means to lead with integrity and inspire loyalty to God.

Natasha offers stories from her time in the military and the church, exposing how misplaced loyalty can cover abuse, silence victims, and keep leaders trapped in cycles of control. From church politics to mentoring dynamics, she names the hard truths: spiritual leaders are not immune to abusing people’s loyalty, and even Christians can be tempted to place their loyalty with people rather than with God. But she also shows a better way—how consistent meditation on God’s Word and practicing sacrificial leadership can inspire loyalty to God and his mission rather than to us and our own. 

Jesus never demanded loyalty, he invited people to follow. And healthy leaders should do the same. Tune in now.

This episode highlights the following themes:

• Practicing intentional, considerate, sacrificial leadership
• Power dynamics, boundaries, and abuse of loyalty
• How to lead to inspire loyalty to Jesus and his mission

Links from the episode:

• Learn more about Natasha Sistrunk Robinson
• Read Natasha Sistrunk Robinson’s book: A Sojourner’s Truth
• Explore Leadership LINKS
• Learn more about Nicole Martin
• Read Nicole Martin’s book: Nailing It
• Read the transcript here

Credits:

✅Special offer: Visit ivpress.com and use the code IVPOD25 for 25% off any IVP resource mentioned in this episode.

✅Producers: Jack Reece and Travis Albritton

✅Executive Producer: Helen Lee

✅Sound Engineering: Honest Podcasts

✅Social Media Manager: Allie Noble

✅Production Assistant: Christine Pelliccio Melo

✅Podcast Art: Kate Lillard

✅Theme Song: "Something Else" by Nu Alkemi$t

Disclaimer: The comments, views, and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host and/or the guests featured on the podcast and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of InterVarsity Press or InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

What if your desire to “get it right” is the very thing preventing you from doing what God wants to do through you? We often cling to perfection because we fear loss. However, transformation and leading through change always demand it.

In this episode of The Disrupters podcast, host Nicole Martin welcomes Tod Bolsinger, leadership expert, professor, and author of the new Practicing Change Series, as well as Canoeing the Mountains and Tempered Resilience. Tod is the founder of AE Sloan Leadership and serves as executive director of the DePree Center Church Leadership Institute. With decades of pastoral and consulting experience, he brings powerful wisdom on navigating real transformation in leadership, especially when the path forward is unclear, uncomfortable, and costly.

In this engaging conversation, Tod challenges the myth of lossless leadership and invites us into the real work of adaptive change. He confronts the idol of perfectionism in leadership, showing how anxiety, ego, and the pressure to always know what to do frequently get in the way of real growth. He challenges Christians to stop expecting that following Jesus will be a comfortable, lossless process. Tod also shares how spiritual resilience is formed, not found, and how keeping a Jesus-centered view of organizational leadership requires pursuing the mission, never the brand. 

When we stop trying to control the outcome and instead join hands with others, we begin to move forward one faithful, imperfect step at a time. Because the goal isn’t about looking like you’ve got it all together. It’s about trusting God enough to lose what’s safe, so something eternal can rise in its place.

Tune in now to discover what you need to lay down to lead with courage, clarity, and Christ at the center of everything.

This episode highlights the following themes:

• Crucifying perfection and embracing transformation
• Leading through loss and adaptive change
• Holding mission and identity above brand and image

Links from the episode:

• Learn more about Tod Bolsinger
• Read Tod Bolsinger’s new series: Practicing Change
• Read Tod Bolsinger’s books: Canoeing the Mountains and Tempered Resilience
• Learn more about Nicole Martin
• Read Nicole Martin’s book: Nailing It
• Read the transcript here

Credits:

✅Special offer: Visit ivpress.com and use the code IVPOD25 for 25% off any IVP resource mentioned in this episode.

✅Producers: Jack Reece and Travis Albritton

✅Executive Producer: Helen Lee

✅Sound Engineering: Honest Podcasts

✅Social Media Manager: Allie Noble

✅Production Assistant: Christine Pelliccio Melo

✅Podcast Art: Kate Lillard

✅Theme Song: "Something Else" by Nu Alkemi$t

Disclaimer: The comments, views, and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host and/or the guests featured on the podcast and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of InterVarsity Press or InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

What if the influence you’re chasing is costing you a more valuable, eternal reward? In a culture obsessed with instant likes, applause, and relevance, many leaders are settling for temporary honor instead of eagerly seeking God’s praise. 

In this episode of The Disrupters podcast, host Nicole Martin sits down with Christine Caine—speaker, author, activist, and founder of A21, Propel Women, and Equip & Empower. For over 30 years, Christine has served the global Church, fought human trafficking, and raised up women to walk boldly in their God-given purpose. She brings raw honesty and spiritual fire to this conversation, sharing what it really means to crucify our obsession with worldly influence and to influence the world for Jesus instead.

Christine speaks with conviction about the difference between fame and faithfulness, urging us to surrender to God in the hard seasons that He uses to shape us. She challenges the idea that anointing is about being seen when it is more often forged in the dark—through obscurity, faith, failure, and years of preparation. As Christine shares stories of the cost of her own faithfulness, we’re reminded that real influence starts, is sustained, and ends in deep dependence on God. 

True influence is not about how many people follow you, but whether your life leads others to follow Jesus. Listen to the full episode now.

This episode highlights the following themes:

• Eternal rewards over temporary applause
• God’s anointing as the source of true influence
• Trusting God's process over platform-building

Links from the episode:

• Learn more about Christine Caine
• Learn more about Nicole Martin
• Read Nicole Martin’s book: Nailing It
• Read the transcript here

Credits:

✅Special offer: Visit ivpress.com and use the code IVPOD25 for 25% off any IVP resource mentioned in this episode.

✅Producers: Jack Reece and Travis Albritton

✅Executive Producer: Helen Lee

✅Sound Engineering: Honest Podcasts

✅Social Media Manager: Allie Noble

✅Production Assistant: Christine Pelliccio Melo

✅Podcast Art: Kate Lillard

✅Theme Song: "Something Else" by Nu Alkemi$t

Disclaimer: The comments, views, and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host and/or the guests featured on the podcast and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of InterVarsity Press or InterVarsity Christian Fellowship

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Have you ever caught yourself craving applause more than God’s praise? In a culture that thrives on followers, likes, and platforms, it’s dangerously easy to let our egos take the lead. 

But what if leadership was never meant to be about who sees you, but about how you radically serve others? What if true authority isn’t marked by the applause you receive from people, but by the joy you receive from God? That’s the message that Jesus taught when he said, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to lay down his life as a ransom for many.”

In this episode of The Disrupters podcast, host Nicole Martin sits down with Chrishan Jeyaratnam, lead pastor at Hillsong East Coast. From growing up between cultures in Australia to leading one of the largest and most recognizable church communities in the world, Chrishan’s story is full of challenges, grace, and humble leadership. With profound vulnerability, he opens up about what it takes to tame the ego and stay grounded in God's love while standing on even the largest stages.

Chrishan shares his personal story—from navigating identity as a child of Sri Lankan immigrants in Australia to leading a global church in the heart of New York City. Along the way, he confesses the hidden weight many leaders quietly carry: the pressure to perform and the applause that feeds the ego. He reflects on how easy it is to confuse public affirmation with spiritual authority, and how even good intentions can become entangled with pride. But instead of shame, he offers a freeing truth: you don’t have to destroy your ego, you have to anchor it. Through contemplative silence, emotional intimacy with others, and a deep understanding of God’s unwavering delight, he urges leaders to stop leading for love and start leading from love. Because God’s message to his people isn’t just “Be strong”—it’s “Be still and know that I am God.” 

We invite you to join us in crucifying our egos together. Engage in God’s joy, feel his pleasure in your calling, and start leading from a place of wholeness and humility. Listen to the episode now!

This episode highlights the following themes:

• The essential, daily discipline of crucifying ego in leadership
• Narcissism, pride, and how societies reward self-centeredness
• Leading for God’s praise instead of worldly affirmation

Links from the episode:

• Learn more about Chrishan Jeyaratnam
• Learn more about Nicole Martin
• Read Nicole Martin’s Book: Nailing It
• Read the transcript here

Credits:

✅Special offer: Visit ivpress.com and use the code IVPOD25 for 25% off any IVP resource mentioned in this episode.

✅Producers: Jack Reece and Travis Albritton

✅Executive Producer: Helen Lee

✅Sound Engineering: Honest Podcasts

✅Social Media Manager: Allie Noble

✅Production Assistant: Christine Pelliccio Melo

✅Podcast Art: Kate Lillard

✅Theme Song: "Something Else" by Nu Alkemi$t

Disclaimer: The comments, views, and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host and/or the guests featured on the podcast and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of InterVarsity Press or InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

True power isn’t about control—it’s about surrender. When the world demands dominance, Jesus calls us to be servants, people who are a witness to God’s power by the way we live in “with-ness” with others.

In this first episode of the sixth season of The Disrupters podcast, Hosanna Wong joins host Nicole Martin to tackle one of the most common leadership idols: Power. Wong is an international speaker, bestselling author, and spoken word artist. Known for her powerful piece “I Have A New Name,” she challenges us in this episode to embrace the truth that God’s power actually is made perfect in our weakness. Her latest book, “You Are More Than What You've Been Told,” unpacks how God's love for us overshadows what the world says about us.

In this conversation, we’re confronting what it means to crucify our own power so that we can lead in God’s divine power instead. Step into the freedom of sharing the Good News with people, not holding it over them. Discover the hope found in real relationships and learn what it means to stay rooted in God's power, even when the pressures of leading become overwhelming. Be encouraged to trust God more deeply as Wong shares a story about her brother Elijah, a testament to the impact of God’s miraculous power in her own life.

Be inspired. Be challenged. Be disrupted. Tune in to discover how the power of God’s love can heal and transform us and our leadership practices.

This episode highlights the following themes:

• Leading in God’s power when you are powerless
• Authenticity and humility in leadership
• The impact of God's love over worldly power

Links from the episode:

• Learn more about Hosanna Wong
• Read Hosanna Wong’s book: You Are More Than What You've Been Told
• Learn more about Nicole Martin
• Read Nicole Martin’s Book: Nailing It
• Read the transcript here

Credits:

✅Special offer: Visit ivpress.com and use the code IVPOD25 for 25% off any IVP resource mentioned in this episode.

✅Producers: Jack Reece and Travis Albritton

✅Executive Producer: Helen Lee

✅Sound Engineering: Honest Podcasts

✅Social Media Manager: Allie Noble

✅Production Assistant: Christine Pelliccio Melo

✅Podcast Art: Kate Lillard

✅Theme Song: "Something Else" by Nu Alkemi$t

Disclaimer: The comments, views, and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host and/or the guests featured on the podcast and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of InterVarsity Press or InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.

As an Amazon Affiliate, this channel earns commissions from qualifying purchases when you use the links above. 

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

The world is undergoing a crisis of leadership.

Traditional models of leadership are no longer serving institutions and their constituents well.

Leaders need new, innovative paradigms to counter the status quo and to serve their organizations.

In season six of The Disrupters, host Nicole Massie Martin, IVP author and chief operating officer at Christianity Today, reveals healthy leadership disruptions that lead to flourishing in the home, the workplace, the church, and the world.

Martin converses with pastors, executives, parents, activists, and influencers like Hosanna Wong, Tod Bolsinger, and Christine Caine to inspire us to crucify our leadership idols and nail our outdated leadership practices to the cross.

Join Nicole Massie Martin as she explores the ways that Christians can disrupt unhealthy leadership structures and practices.

Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or watch on the IVP YouTube channel.

Season six of The Disrupters kicks off on April 9th.

Links and Credits

• Learn more about The Disrupters
• Learn more about Nicole Massie Martin
• Read Nailing It by Nicole Massie Martin

✅Special offer: Visit ivpress.com and use the code IVPOD25 for 25% off any IVP resource mentioned in this episode.

✅Producers: Jack Reece and Travis Albritton

✅Executive Producer: Helen Lee

✅Sound Engineering: Honest Podcasts

✅Social Media Manager: Allie Noble

✅Production Assistant: Christine Pelliccio Melo

✅Podcast Art: Kate Lillard

✅Theme Song: "Something Else" by Nu Alkemi$t

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Today is the day after the U.S. presidential election. As the results are being announced, we come together to pause and reflect on the truth about our calling to love God and love people in the neighborhoods, towns, and cities in which we live.

In these three bonus episodes of the fifth season of The Disrupters, host Miranda Zapor Cruz asks the question, "What does it mean to disrupt ourselves—and the noise?" during an election season? Join Miranda as she offers a disruption in the noise surrounding Election Day 2024 through meditations on her book Faithful Politics, accompanied by relevant Scripture readings, to combat the anxiety and uncertainties that accompany the selection of our next president. Together, these episodes educate, inspire, and reassure listeners who seek a healthy posture this election year, for the health of their souls as well as for the flourishing of their communities.

In this episode, releasing the day after Election Day 2024, Miranda offers a reflection on the unchanged calling of all Christians—to seek shalom where we live. She emphasizes that as Christians, we must join with Jesus Christ in loving and serving our neighbors and promoting the wellbeing of our towns and cities. This episode also features a reading of Jeremiah 29:4-14 from The First Testament, read by IVP authors Jay Kim, Carmen Imes, Dorena Williamson, and Robert Chao Romero.

Join us as we disrupt the noise of Election Day 2024 together.

Links from this episode:

• Get to know more about Miranda Zapor Cruz
• Check out Miranda’s book, Faithful Politics
• Check out The First Testament by John Goldingay
• Additional IVP Resources 2024 Election Season

 

Links and Credits

✅ Special offer: Visit ivpress.com and use the code IVPOD25 for 25% off any IVP resource mentioned in this episode.

✅ Producers: Jack Reece and Helen Lee

✅ Assistant Producer: Christine Pelliccio Melo

✅ Sound Engineering: Jack Reece

✅ Social Media Managers: Allie Noble and Makayla Payne

✅ Podcast Art: Kate Lillard

✅ Theme Song: "Half Life" by Adi Goldstein

Disclaimer: The comments, views, and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host and/or the guests featured on the podcast and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of InterVarsity Press or InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Today is the day of the U.S. presidential election. While we wait for the results to be counted, we come together to pause and reflect on the truth about our ultimate hope in the return of our eternal king, Jesus Christ.

In these three bonus episodes of the fifth season of The Disrupters, host Miranda Zapor Cruz asks the question, "What does it mean to disrupt ourselves—and the noise?" during an election season? Join Miranda as she offers a disruption in the noise surrounding Election Day 2024 through meditations on her book Faithful Politics, accompanied by relevant Scripture readings, to combat the anxiety and uncertainties that accompany the selection of our next president. Together, these episodes educate, inspire, and reassure listeners who seek a healthy posture this election year, for the health of their souls as well as for the flourishing of their communities.

In this episode, releasing Election Day 2024, Miranda offers a reflection on the eternal hope that we have in Jesus Christ. She emphasizes that as Christians, we are citizens of God’s kingdom and waiting for the U.S. election results must pale in comparison to waiting for the return of our savior, Jesus Christ. This episode also features a reading of Philippians 3:20-4:1 from The Second Testament, read by IVP authors Scot McKnight, Lynn Cohick, Terence Lester, and Prasanta Verma.

Join us as we disrupt the noise of Election Day 2024 together.

Links from this episode:

• Get to know more about Miranda Zapor Cruz
• Check out Miranda’s book, Faithful Politics
• Check out The Second Testament by Scot McKnight
• Additional IVP Resources 2024 Election Season

 

Links and Credits

✅ Special offer: Visit ivpress.com and use the code IVPOD25 for 25% off any IVP resource mentioned in this episode.

✅ Producers: Jack Reece and Helen Lee

✅ Assistant Producer: Christine Pelliccio Melo

✅ Sound Engineering: Jack Reece

✅ Social Media Managers: Allie Noble and Makayla Payne

✅ Podcast Art: Kate Lillard

✅ Theme Song: "Half Life" by Adi Goldstein

Disclaimer: The comments, views, and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host and/or the guests featured on the podcast and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of InterVarsity Press or InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Today is the day before the U.S. presidential election. Before we vote, we come together to pause and reflect on the truth about who we are and whose we are in Jesus Christ.

In these three bonus episodes of the fifth season of The Disrupters, host Miranda Zapor Cruz asks the question, "What does it mean to disrupt ourselves—and the noise?" during an election season? Join Miranda as she offers a disruption in the noise surrounding Election Day 2024 through meditations on her book Faithful Politics, accompanied by relevant Scripture readings, to combat the anxiety and uncertainties that accompany the selection of our next president. Together, these episodes educate, inspire, and reassure listeners who seek a healthy posture this election year, for the health of their souls as well as for the flourishing of their communities.

In this episode, releasing the day before Election Day 2024, Miranda offers a reflection on the importance of Christian identity in the context of the United States presidential election. She emphasizes that Christian identity is built upon Jesus Christ—the chief cornerstone and “living lodgepole” —rather than political parties or ideologies. This episode also features a reading of 1 Peter 2:4-12 from the First Nations Version, read by IVP authors Terry Wildman, Chloe Sun, Amy Williams, and Michael Bird.

Join us as we disrupt the noise of Election Day 2024 together.

Links from this episode:

• Get to know more about Miranda Zapor Cruz
• Check out Miranda’s book, Faithful Politics
• Check out the First Nations Version, edited by Terry M. Wildman
• Additional IVP Resources for the 2024 Election Season

 

Links and Credits

✅ Special offer: Visit ivpress.com and use the code IVPOD25 for 25% off any IVP resource mentioned in this episode.

✅ Producers: Jack Reece and Helen Lee

✅ Assistant Producer: Christine Pelliccio Melo

✅ Sound Engineering: Jack Reece

✅ Social Media Managers: Allie Noble and Makayla Payne

✅ Podcast Art: Kate Lillard

✅ Theme Song: "Half Life" by Adi Goldstein

Disclaimer: The comments, views, and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host and/or the guests featured on the podcast and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of InterVarsity Press or InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

For some, engaging in politics looks like watching particular cable news or social media networks and then amplifying whatever voices align with their own particular values or biases. But perhaps the key to healthy political engagement isn’t about spending time watching C-SPAN, but instead is about focusing on the people we are becoming.

In this last episode of season 5 of The Disrupters, Kaitlyn Schiess welcomes Michael Wear, founder of the Center for Christianity and Public Life. Together they explore the necessity of spiritual formation as an essential part of civic involvement and discuss the “election stress syndrome” that many have experienced after 2016. Wear also offers insights from his upcoming book The Spirit of Our Politics to challenge conventional ideas of what it means to be a faithful Christian in the realm of politics.

Tune into this fascinating conversation on navigating the intersection of faith and politics with wisdom and grace.

This episode highlights the following themes:

• The spiritual discipline of political engagement or abstention
• Distinction between meaningful political participation and political passivity
• The role of character and deep listening in transforming political discourse

Links from this episode:

• Get to know more about Michael Wear
• Learn more about the Center for Christianity and Public Life
• Check out Wear’s IVP book, Compassion (&) Conviction
• Check out Wear’s upcoming book, The Spirit of Our Politics
• Uncover insights from Politics is for Power by Eitan Hersh
• Read the document, Montgomery Improvement Association 
• Learn About Mack McCarter, Founder of Community Renewal in Louisiana
• Learn About the Impact of Lead for America, American Connection Corps

For its fifth season, hosted by Kaitlyn Schiess, The Disrupters podcast from IVP asks the question, "What does it mean to disrupt ourselves?" Join Kaitlyn as she explores the ways that Christians can prepare themselves—spiritually, emotionally, and relationally—to faithfully disrupt the church and the world. Pastors, scholars, activists, and therapists share their own experiences of formation and transformation to educate and inspire listeners who seek lasting change, both within themselves and in their communities. 

Other links

✅ Special offer: Visit ivpress.com and use the code IVPOD25 for 25% off any IVP resource mentioned in this episode.

✅ Producers: Maila Kim, Helen Lee, Travis Albritton, and Andrew Bronson

✅ Sound Engineering: Honest Podcasts

✅ Social Media Manager: Allie Noble

✅ Production Assistant: Christine Pelliccio and Isis Toldson

✅ Podcast Art: Kate Lillard

✅ Theme Song: "People" by Lightmuzik

Disclaimer: The comments, views, and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host and/or the guests featured on the podcast and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of InterVarsity Press or InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.

As an Amazon Affiliate, this channel earns commissions from qualifying purchases when you use the links above.

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands