Shows
The Healthy Church Staff PodcastThe Succession Conversation Nobody's Having (Part 1): Why We Avoid the Elephant in the RoomIn this episode of the Healthy Church Staff Podcast, Todd Rhoades tackles the often avoided topic of succession planning for senior pastors. He discusses why many church leaders resist having this crucial conversation, the anxiety it causes within church leadership, and the importance of proactive succession planning to ensure the church's future. Rhoades encourages pastors and board chairs to begin openly discussing timeline considerations to avoid leadership void situations that can destabilize the organization.• Succession planning is often avoided by senior pastors and church boards, creating anxiety and risk.• Discussing succession isn't about leaving; it's about considering the church's futu...
2026-02-2307 minThe Healthy Church Staff PodcastEgo, Entitlement, and the Jesus Way: How Power Slowly Convinces You That You Deserve a PassIn this episode of the Healthy Church Staff Podcast, Todd Rhoades discusses lessons from leadership collapses in churches, particularly focusing on the issues of ego and entitlement. The episode concludes a series based on his book 'When the Church Falls.' Rhoades emphasizes the importance of humility, accountability, and remaining teachable to prevent moral failures among church leaders.• Discusses leadership collapses in churches and lessons learned.• Focus on issues of ego and entitlement among church leaders.• Emphasizes the importance of humility and teachability.• Encourages accountability and grounding in daily, ordinary tasks.• Provides an online assessment to evaluate leadership health.• Encourages r...
2026-02-2010 minThe Healthy Church Staff PodcastEveryone Talks about Fallen Pastors. Nobody Talks Aoub the Wreckage.This episode of the Healthy Church Staff Podcast, hosted by Todd Rhoades, explores the often overlooked impact of church leadership scandals on congregations, victims, and staff. Emphasizing the deeper wounds left after a leader's moral failure, Rhoades discusses the inadequate responses from churches and advocates for honest lamentation and slow, patient recovery. The episode is part of a series based on Rhoades' book 'When the Church Falls,' which aims to help churches navigate and prevent such crises.• Focus on overlooked impact on congregation and victims after church scandals.• Discusses inadequate church responses and the secondary wounds left behind.• Advoca...
2026-02-1711 minThe Healthy Church Staff PodcastPower, Sex, and Secrets: The Toxic Trinity that Takes Leaders DownThis episode of the Healthy Church Staff Podcast, hosted by Todd Rhoades, addresses recurring issues of leadership failures and scandals within churches. Rhoades discusses the dynamics of power, entitlement, and secrecy, which often lead to moral failures among church leaders. He emphasizes the importance of transparency, accountability, and building personal guardrails to prevent such downfalls. The episode highlights the consequences of secrecy and the complicity of churches when failing to address issues transparently.• Recurrence of church scandals involving power, sexual brokenness, and secrecy.• Leadership failures often evolve slowly through entitlement and lack of accountability.• Entitlement and secrecy are major contri...
2026-02-1609 minThe Healthy Church Staff PodcastThe Tyranny of the Nice: Why the Most Dangerous Pastors Aren't Always the BulliesIn this episode of the Healthy Church Staff Podcast, Todd Rhoades discusses themes from his new book, *When the Church Falls*, focusing on unexpected leadership failures. He emphasizes that dangerous church leaders are not always overtly controlling or egotistic; sometimes they are seemingly humble and quiet, yet subtly manipulative and unaccountable. Rhoades highlights the need for true accountability, suggesting that both aggressive and passive leadership styles can lead to unhealthy environments, especially in smaller churches with long-term pastors. He encourages listeners to assess their church's susceptibility to leadership failures through an online assessment linked to his book.• Dangerous leaders ca...
2026-02-1310 minThe Healthy Church Staff PodcastAccountability Theatre: Why Most Church Accountability Systems Do Virtually NothingIn this podcast episode, Todd Rhoades discusses the often superficial nature of accountability in church leadership structures. Despite having formal accountability systems, many churches fail to enforce genuine oversight, leading to leadership collapses. Rhoades emphasizes the need for true accountability, where independent voices with real authority can question decisions and prevent power abuses.• Churches can have accountability structures that appear effective on paper but lack substance.• Staff and board often fail to challenge questionable leadership decisions, fearing conflict or repercussions.• Charisma is often confused with character in church leadership, leading to overlooked misconduct.• Accountability is needed for all leaders, not just...
2026-02-1209 minThe Healthy Church Staff PodcastCulture will Eat Your Mission for Breakfast: Watch Out for This...In this episode, Todd Rhoades discusses the disparity between a church's mission statement and its actual culture, emphasizing that culture ultimately prevails over mission. He shares insights from his book 'When the Church Falls,' analyzing leadership and church failures, their common causes, and how to prevent them. A key message is that culture is defined by daily actions rather than aspirational values, and toxic cultures emerge through gradual compromises. Rhoades encourages identifying and addressing tolerated cultural issues to align church culture with its mission.• Church culture often contradicts its mission statement.• Culture is determined by practice, not aspiration.• Toxic...
2026-02-1107 minThe Healthy Church Staff PodcastWhy Every Church Scandal Was Probably Years in the MakingIn this introductory episode of the Healthy Church Staff Podcast's new series, host Todd Rhoades discusses leadership failures in churches, which often develop slowly over time rather than appearing suddenly. Based on his new book, "When the Church Falls," Rhoades explores the erosion of personal and spiritual health in church leaders, emphasizing the disconnect between outward success and inner deterioration. He highlights the culture of silence around addressing leaders' struggles and presents introspective questions and preventative measures to maintain alignment between leaders' private character and public persona.• Leadership failures in churches often result from long-term erosion rather than sudden ac...
2026-02-0909 minThe Healthy Church Staff PodcastMinistry Friendships vs. Professional BoundariesIn this episode of the Healthy Church Staff Podcast, Todd Rhoades explores the complexities of blending friendship with professional relationships in church settings. While building friendships with team members is natural, maintaining professional boundaries is essential for genuine relationships. Rhoades suggests a 'both-and' approach to balance personal and professional interactions, emphasizing clarity in expectations and separating friendship from work responsibilities. He encourages healthy communication to prevent blurred lines and protect relationships.• Church work involves close personal interactions, making friendships common.• Professional boundaries enable authentic relationships.• Blurred lines between friendship and work can complicate team dynamics.• 'Both-and' approach: balance caring with pro...
2026-01-2306 minThe Healthy Church Staff PodcastYour Leadership Mindtraps - The Mental Obstacles Killing Your ImpactThis episode of the Healthy Church Staff Podcast, hosted by Todd Rhoades, tackles the mental traps that challenge effective leadership. These traps include perfectionism, people-pleasing tendencies, and the need for control. Rhoades offers practical steps to overcome these traps and emphasizes the importance of prioritizing effective leadership over perfect leadership.• Mental traps are bigger hindrances to leadership than workload.• Common traps include perfectionism, people-pleasing, and control issues.• Perfectionism leads to unnecessary work and delays.• People-pleasers fill their schedules with others’ priorities, avoiding difficult conversations.• Control issues result in micromanagement and stifled innovation.• Effective leadership requires breaking free from these mental traps.• Soluti...
2026-01-1307 minThe Healthy Church Staff PodcastThe January Comparison Trap - When Other Churches' Success Stories Steal Your JoyThis episode of the Healthy Church Staff podcast addresses the issue of church leaders comparing their progress to others on social media, particularly around the new year. Todd Rhoades encourages listeners to focus on their unique circumstances and the small, impactful moments in their church community rather than chasing the successes of others. He emphasizes that faithfulness isn't always flashy and that God's assignment for each leader is significant. Rhoades concludes by suggesting leaders write down unshared victories to remind themselves of their unique contributions.• Church leaders often feel inadequate due to comparison with others on social media.• January marks peak...
2026-01-0906 minThe Healthy Church Staff PodcastChurch Staff Goals That Actually Stick - Avoid January BurnoutIn this episode, Todd Rhoades discusses the challenges of goal setting in ministry, contrasting it with corporate practices. He emphasizes the importance of being adaptable and focusing on directional rather than destination goals in ministry settings. Rhoades encourages listeners to focus on faithfulness, character, and flexibility when dealing with unforeseen interruptions, which are common in ministry work.• Challenges of goal setting in ministry versus corporate environments.• Importance of directional goals over destination goals.• Focus on building relationships and discipleship, not just metrics.• Plan for interruptions as part of the ministry process.• Encouragement to make goals 'Wednesday proof' to endure real-world challenges...
2026-01-0707 minThe Healthy Church Staff PodcastGod May Surprise You More Through the Unplanned Than the StrategizedIn this episode of the Healthy Church Staff Podcast, host Todd Rhoades emphasizes the importance of leaving room for surprises and divine interruptions in church planning. While strategic planning and organization are essential, giving space for unplanned God moments can lead to unexpected blessings and adjustments. Rhoades draws from biblical examples to illustrate how deviations from personal plans often lead to significant outcomes, suggesting that flexibility might hold greater value than strict efficiency in the new year.• Importance of leaving margin for surprises in planning• Biblical examples of God interrupting personal plans• Balancing strategic planning with openness to divine interventions• Flexibil...
2026-01-0204 minThe Healthy Church Staff PodcastYour Invisible Ministry Still MattersIn this Christmas Eve episode of the Healthy Church Staff podcast, Todd Rhoades emphasizes the significance of unnoticed, behind-the-scenes ministry work. He uses the example of anonymous figures in the Christmas story, like the stable owner who made room for Mary and Joseph, to highlight how quiet acts often play pivotal roles in God's work. Rhoades encourages church staff to recognize the eternal impact of their invisible contributions, asserting that every small effort helps set the stage for divine encounters, even if they go unrecognized by others.• Podcast focuses on unnoticed ministry work.• Examples from the Christmas story illustrate the impa...
2025-12-2405 minThe Healthy Church Staff PodcastWhat If Your Waiting Is Sacred_In this episode of the Healthy Church Staff podcast, Todd Rhoades explores the concept of waiting, not as a passive state of frustration, but as a sacred practice. He highlights the biblical figures Simeon and Anna, who exemplify active, hopeful waiting. Rhoades discusses how waiting is a significant aspect of leadership and discipleship, challenging listeners to view it as a formative period rather than wasted time. He encourages reflection on personal and ministry-related waiting, urging a shift in perspective to see it as an opportunity for deep spiritual growth.• Sacred vs. passive waiting• Biblical examples of Simeon and Anna• Waiting as par...
2025-12-2205 minThe Healthy Church Staff PodcastYou Might Be More Like Joseph Than You ThinkIn this episode of the Healthy Church Staff Podcast, host Todd Rhoades discusses the theme of unsung heroes in ministry, highlighting Joseph from the Nativity story. Joseph, often overlooked, is portrayed as a model of silent, faithful service, much like many church staff who work diligently behind the scenes. Rhoades encourages listeners to see their hidden roles as sacred, reminding them that their efforts are crucial, even if unnoticed by others, as God sees and values their contributions.• Introduction to the Christmas series 'Unwrapped', focusing on unexpected aspects of the Christmas story.• Discussion on the overlooked role of Joseph in the...
2025-12-1607 minThe Healthy Church Staff PodcastWhen God Interrupts Your NormalIn this episode of the Healthy Church Staff Podcast, host Todd Rhoades introduces the 'Unwrapped' Christmas series, examining often-overlooked aspects of the Christmas story that highlight how God works through chaos and disruption. Rhoades encourages listeners to see disruptions as opportunities for redemption, reflecting on how God's unexpected timing often leads to greater purposes. Listeners are invited to reflect on personal disruptions and consider them as invitations to witness God's work in tumultuous times.• Introduction to the 'Unwrapped' Christmas series• Exploration of overlooked aspects of the Christmas story• God's actions within chaos and disruption• Encouragement to view disruptions as invitations for rede...
2025-12-1506 minThe Healthy Church Staff PodcastThe Staff Personality Problem You’re IgnoringIn this episode of the Healthy Church Staff Podcast, host Todd Rhoades discusses the limitations of personality assessments and the importance of addressing deeper team dynamics in avoiding personality clashes that can harm workplace culture. He emphasizes that assessments alone don't create healthy teams, urging leaders to focus on behaviors and relational expectations. Rhoades offers strategies to manage team dynamics effectively and highlights the importance of empathy, maturity, and mission alignment in building successful teams.• Personality assessments alone are insufficient for creating healthy teams.• Unchecked personalities can result in destructive team dynamics.• Personality tests cannot determine emotional maturity or spiritual health...
2025-12-0807 minThe Healthy Church Staff PodcastThe Soft Landing_ Helping a Staff Member Exit WellIn this podcast episode, Todd Rhoades discusses the complexities of transitioning church staff members out of their roles, emphasizing the importance of handling these situations with both clarity and care. He explains how poor off-boarding can damage both individuals and the organization, while a well-handled transition can preserve relationships and the church's reputation. Rhoades shares common pitfalls in the process and offers insights into how churches can implement a compassionate and clear off-boarding process that honors departing staff and supports their future endeavors.• The importance of handling staff transitions with clarity and care.• Common mistakes churches make include delaying conversations and...
2025-12-0410 minThe Healthy Church Staff PodcastThe Staff Culture You're Accidentally CreatingIn this episode of the Healthy Church Staff podcast, Todd Rhoades explores the crucial yet often unnoticed elements that shape church staff culture. He emphasizes the importance of intentional actions in creating a positive team atmosphere, outlining key strategies to align staff culture with organizational values. Rhoades provides practical steps to transform unintentional cultural habits into supportive and healthy environments within church staff settings.• Church staff culture is shaped by small, often unnoticed moments.• Unintentional culture, if not addressed, can become a liability.• Staff culture is formed in handling conflicts, promotions, failures, and celebrations.• Signs of an unhealthy culture include silence...
2025-12-0105 minThe Healthy Church Staff PodcastThe Ministry That’s Still in You (Even When You’re Tired, Bitter, or Burned Out)In this Thanksgiving-themed episode of the Healthy Church Staff Podcast, host Todd Rhoades discusses the challenges of burnout and bitterness in ministry. He encourages listeners to view feelings of exhaustion and discouragement as signs of deep care rather than failure. Rhoades emphasizes the power of gratitude to rejuvenate one's ministry spirit, even when burnout is prevalent, and offers reflection questions to help listeners identify and appreciate moments of gratitude in their lives.• Addressing ministry burnout and bitterness during Thanksgiving.• Viewing discouragement as a sign of ongoing dedication, not failure.• Encouragement to use gratitude to rekindle ministry passion.• The importance of recogniz...
2025-11-2707 minThe Healthy Church Staff PodcastThe Gratitude You Owe Your CriticsIn this episode of the Healthy Church Staff Podcast, Todd Rhoades discusses the unconventional aspect of gratitude, focusing on giving thanks for critics and those who may have misunderstood, underestimated, or even hurt you. He emphasizes that critics can play a significant role in personal growth and leadership development by exposing blind spots, refining motives, and teaching the importance of forgiveness and reliance on God. Rhoades encourages listeners to reflect on their critics as unintentional mentors who can foster deeper character development and spiritual growth.• Upside-down approach to gratitude, focusing on critics, not just supporters.• Critics can reveal blind spots and...
2025-11-2608 minThe Healthy Church Staff PodcastThe Gift You Didn’t Want (and Still Wouldn’t Choose)In this Thanksgiving special episode of the Healthy Church Staff Podcast, Todd Rhoades encourages listeners to explore gratitude beyond the typical blessings. By reflecting on biblical examples and personal stories, Rhoades challenges the audience to find thankfulness in difficult, unexpected situations that lead to personal and spiritual growth.• Introduction of a five-part Thanksgiving series focusing on unconventional gratitude.• Encouragement to appreciate transformative experiences disguised as burdens.• Discussion of biblical examples, including Joseph's and Paul's hardships.• Reflection on Jesus's suffering as a transformative gift.• Personal anecdote on embracing challenges and unexpected outcomes.• Challenge to listeners to identify and be thankful for unwanted gif...
2025-11-2405 minThe Healthy Church Staff PodcastMinistry Overcommitment Is Wrecking Your TeamIn this episode of the Healthy Church Staff Podcast, host Todd Rhoades discusses the detrimental impact of chronic overcommitment in church ministries. He emphasizes that constantly saying yes to every request leads to exhaustion, misalignment, and burnout. Rhoades offers strategies for establishing healthier, more sustainable church cultures by recognizing margin as a necessity, not a luxury. He encourages leaders and staff to critically evaluate commitments and prioritize rest to maintain spiritual and relational health.• Chronic overcommitment leads to exhaustion and burnout• Over-commitment is not a virtue but a warning sign• Many church staff members juggle multiple roles, leading to decreased qualit...
2025-11-1807 minThe Healthy Church Staff PodcastSacred Cows Are Eating Your BudgetIn this episode of the Healthy Church Staff podcast, host Todd Rhoades discusses the concept of 'sacred cow' roles in churches—positions that persist out of habit rather than necessity. These roles were relevant in a previous season but may no longer align with the church's current mission. Rhoades urges listeners to evaluate these roles, considering whether they should be retired, redeployed, or maintained. He highlights strategies like zero-based budgeting to help in reassessing staffing structures in alignment with the church's mission and resources.• Sacred cow roles are positions that feel untouchable but may no longer serve the church's mission.• These...
2025-11-1106 min