Shows
The ChurchGear PodcastFrom Tech Director to Executive Pastor [Fellowship Grapevine's Dave Clark]In this episode, we explore the rare but inspiring career path from Production Director to Executive Pastor.We are joined by Dave Clark of Fellowship Church (Grapevine) to discuss how he transitioned from technical leadership to executive leadership. We break down the difference between treating ministry as a "job" versus a "calling," and Dave shares practical advice on how tech directors can build trust with senior pastors and get "unstuck" when they feel stagnant.In this episode you'll hear:0:00 Toby’s...
2026-01-261h 00The ChurchGear PodcastChurch Tech Confessional Awards [2025]Church techs confessed some absolutely wild things to us in 2025. -Volunteering so you can marry the tech director-The worst TV stage rollout possible -Deciding to "kill" the file for the spicy "Marriage Conference Talks" In this episodes you'll hear: 1:00 Toby’s little story: Nate Bargatze stand up 5:15 Why you should have a billionaires kid on your volunteer team9:15 “Lemons into Lemonade” Award 14:50 “Funniest Moment of the Year” Award 20:15 “Awkward Moment of the Year” award24:30 “Hero of the Year” award30:00 “Worst Sin of the Year” award 33:20 “T...
2025-12-2956 minThe ChurchGear Podcast7 Tips To Choose The Right Integrator [Luke Hesher]We've seen the disastrous effects of picking the wrong integrator for your church: over budget projects, late projects and even firings. How do you pick the right integrator for your church so your church body is served well? Luke Hesher joins us with 7 Tips to pick the right integrator for your church. Follow this playbook and you'll be setup for success when you start interviewing integrators. In this episode you'll hear: 1:00 Inside Toby’s Life.Church Production Tour5:45 Luke Hesher...
2025-12-011h 00The ChurchGear PodcastRed Rocks Production Playbook [Jesse O' Brien]If you increase your skills, can you get by with lower quality gear?Jesse O’Brien joins us this week to reveal the Red Rocks playbook for stretching a gear budget and still delivering excellent production quality.In this episode you'll hear: 1:00 – Toby crawls under the stage to fix church AVL integration issues7:30 – Jesse O’Brien from Red Rocks Church joins the podcast9:00 – How Jesse got into church production at Red Rocks Church12:15 – The production gear Red Rocks Worship brings on tou...
2025-11-2456 minThe ChurchGear PodcastWhy You Need Production Pals [Justin Firesheets]How important is it to have fellow church tech friends? Justin Firesheets joins us to discuss how production friends can help improve your church's production, your morale and keep you sane! In this episode you'll hear: 0:00 – Intro: Why church techs need church production friends and community1:00 – How many friends do you actually need in church production?5:36 – How Toby’s church tech connections saved the day7:00 – Justin Firesheets on building relationships in the church tech world22:00 – Why connecting...
2025-11-1753 minThe ChurchGear PodcastSaving Your Church Production Budget [Jerod Togger]Are churches allocating their church production budget in the right places?Church Tech Consultant, Jerod Togger, joins the ChurchGear podcast this week to discuss In this episode you'll hear: 1:00 Toby’s thrifty upbringing shaped his gear buying habits 6:00 Jerrod Togger joins us!10:10 What’s the first place to start in church production in AVL20:00 Where should you spend and save money on church production lighting? 32:30 Does anyone watch the church broadcast? 33:30 Should churches only broadcast the message? 36:00 Do you know your church's broadcast purpose? 44:00 Church production disaster st...
2025-11-0350 min
The ChurchGear PodcastHow Flying Drummer Boys Save Souls [Prestonwood's Bryan Bailey]How does production bring souls to Christ?Bryan Bailey joins us from Prestonwood Baptist Church to tell us how excellence in production brings people closer to the Kingdom. In this episode you'll hear: 1:00 Did ChatGPT Write Toby’s Church Production Book?4:00 The Most Overlooked Element of a Successful Church Production7:25 Creative Church Outreach Idea: Build a Fence for Your Community15:45 How to Cast Vision That Inspires Your Church Production Team24:00 Maintaining Excellence with a Large Volu...
2025-10-131h 04
The ChurchGear PodcastHistory of Church Production [Sweetwater's Kent Morris]Did church production only start in the past few decades during the worship wars? Or did church production start centuries ago instead of decades? Kent Morris of Sweetwater joins us this week to school us in the history of church production. In this episode you'll hear: 1:00 – Toby’s new church production book release6:20 – History of church production and how it evolved26:00 – Theology behind church production and worship tech29:20 – Why church production is essential ministry35:00 – Future trends in church production and AVL ministry44:00 – Church tech takeaways for...
2025-10-0650 minThe ChurchGear PodcastPassion Conference Principles & Stories [Makenzie Collins]How do you pull off a massive event like the Passion Conference? Makenzie Collins has worked on the Passion Conference multiple years and joins us this week for the principles it takes to execute a big event well. In this episode you'll hear:1:00 – How Toby and Blake landed their wives (Church Meet Cutes) 5:45 – Interview with Makenzie Collins (church tech & AVL insights)10:00 – What AVL gear and production does it take to run Passion Conference?15:15 – Principles for pulling off massive...
2025-09-2952 min
The ChurchGear PodcastShould Every Church Live Stream? [Resi's Steve Kaminsky]How much should you prioritize live streaming? Resi's Steve Kaminsky joins us to discuss live streaming, multisite streaming and the pro/cons of 4k. In this episode you'll hear: 1:00 Toby’s “friendly gesture” gone wrong 7:15 Steve’s journey into church production10:30 Does church need to be in person vs. livestream church services?22:00 Should a new church livestream at launch?26:45 How Resi helps churches stream to multisite campuses29:30 What’s new and upcoming with Resi church streami...
2025-09-2252 minThe ChurchGear Podcast10 Takeaways [XP & Church Tech Series]What were the key takeaways for the XP and Church Tech relationship series? We give our top 10 takeaways for the series here!In this episode you'll hear:1:00 Toby’s Hot Water Moment on a Podcast9:15 Takeaway #1: Building Trust in Church Production12:50 Takeaway #2: Shorter Presentations for Pastors16:15 Takeaway #3: Avoiding “No” in Tech Conversations18:30 Takeaway #4: Why 90% Is Enough in Church Production22:00 Takeaway #5: Presenting Options to Leadership25:30 Takeaway #6: Why New Gear Won’t Fix Production Problems28:20...
2025-09-1546 minThe ChurchGear PodcastExecutive Pastor & Tech Series: Trust [Crossroads Church Pt1]How do you build trust with your executive pastor? Our friends from Crossroads Church join us for part 1 of our executive pastor series. In this episode you'll hear:1:00 Toby’s Church Tour & Travels5:00 Crossroads Church Production Team Joins6:00 Ideal Church Auditorium Size12:30 Church Production Budget: How Much to Spend20:00 Building Trust with Your Executive Pastor24:45 Explaining Tech Value to Your Pastor28:15 Tech Questions That Annoy Pastors31:15 How Pastors Should Share Big Vision with...
2025-08-2553 min
The ChurchGear PodcastLive-streaming Expert! [Josh Nassar]Should your church livestream? Josh Nassar joins us on the ChurchGear podcast this week to discuss livestreaming, budgeting for livestreaming and Toby gives a conversion story you can't miss! In this episode you'll hear: 1:00 – How to Meet Your Spouse While Serving in Church Production5:00 – Church Production Pro Josh Nassar Joins the Podcast7:45 – Josh Nassar’s Journey Into Church AVL & Tech Ministry11:15 – Getting Started in Church Live Streaming: Tips for Beginners20:45 – The Cheapest Way to Live Stream a Church Service29:00 – “Baffle Blake” Segment with...
2025-08-1850 min
The ChurchGear PodcastPastor. Integrator. Tech. [Ark Church's Chris Allgood]How do you get the title of "Pastor" in your title as a church tech? Chris Allgood joins us from Ark church to tell us about his unique role as a church production pastor, how Ark church integrates and a truly painful church tech disaster story. In this episode you'll hear: 1:00 – Near-death stories from Toby & Blake’s 20s4:00 – Meet Chris from Ark Church (church tech leader spotlight)7:00 – Chris’s journey into...
2025-06-161h 08
The ChurchGear PodcastIntegration Insights & Tech Horror Story [Terry Rhodes]Can you save money by doing integration projects yourself?Terry Rhodes joins us this week to discuss wireless mics, integration dos and don'ts and he gives us a chilling cautionary tell unlike any story we've ever heard on the podcast before. In this episode you'll hear:1:00 – Funny Church Tech Stories: Toby's Mic Antics4:30 – Interview Begins: Meet Terry Rhodes 8:15 – Church Audio in the Analog Days: What Was It Like?14:15 – Mixing Philosophy: Is Less Really More in Church Sound?
2025-05-2650 min
The ChurchGear PodcastAI's Impact on Church Production [Gloo's Brad Hill]How will AI impact church production? Brad Hill joins us from Gloo to discuss how the church can be out in front of the AI revolution to make our services more accessible to everyone. In this episode you'll hear:1:00 – Toby & Blake Dive into Church Tech Mindsets (Behind the Curtain)4:30 – Brad Hill from Gloo Joins the Conversation (Church Data & Tech Insight)8:15 – Brad’s Journey in Church Technology (From Strategy to Software)14:30 – Should Churches Use AI to Translate Services? (T...
2025-05-1251 min
The ChurchGear PodcastFrom Willow Creek to CCV: A Church Production Veteran’s InsightsTouring Life + Willow Creek Production + Christ's Church of the Valley = A Production Pro. Ivan Talamantes (Christ’s Church of the Valley, Willow Creek) shares his journey from touring pro to church tech leader. He gives us insights on volunteers, gear, and the best (and worst) audio consoles in church production!In this episode you'll hear: 1:00 🎙️ Toby never set a lineup in the CG Fantasy Football League4:45 🎛️ Special Guest: Ivan Talamantes from Christ’s Church of the Valley10:00 🎚️ How Ivan got started in church production12:00 🎤 Behind the scenes of Willow Creek C...
2025-02-2449 min
The ChurchGear PodcastFrom Mixing to Marriage: A Church Production Love Story [Fellowship Church]"What’s it like to marry someone from your church production team—and then keep working side by side every Sunday? Let’s talk about it!"Alexa and Daniel join us for a special Valentine’s Day episode! Hear how their shared passion for church production led them to find love—not just in their work, but in each other. Plus, all the unique challenges and surprises that come with being married to your church production co-worker!In this episode you'll hear: 1:00 How Church Production Led Toby to His...
2025-02-1049 min
The ChurchGear PodcastCentral Church's Production Approach [Ryan Fuller]How do you do church production in Las Vegas? Ryan Fuller joins us this week to discuss Central Church's gear setup, approach to production and sources for inspiration. In this episode you'll hear: 1:00 Toby’s first Vegas trip 6:20 Ryan Fuller joins us from Central Church in Vegas 12:20 How did Ryan get into church production at Central Church? 15:30 What AVL productions do you watch for inspiration? 16:30 How do you do church production in Las Vegas? 20:00 Why is Central Church moving from Red Cameras to Cannon?22:45 How does Central Church in Vegas use came...
2025-02-0350 min
The ChurchGear PodcastWhat Conferences Should You Consider in 2025? [Jerod Togger]How do you pick the perfect conference to further your skills and networking? We run through the list of conferences to consider in 2025, the various reasons to go and end on some tips to pitch for budget to attend. In this episode you'll hear: 1:00 Toby causing chaos at SALT and the Amplio Golf Tournament 10:45 How did Jerod get into church production ministry? 12:24 Planning and Budgeting for Conferences18:30 NAB and InfoComm conference 29:37 Maximizing Conference Benefits for Church Techs27:30 What will you takeaway from a church production conference?32:00 How do you get invi...
2025-01-2046 min
The ChurchGear PodcastElevating Without Imitating [Elevation Church's Shep]How do you draw inspiration from other churches without also bringing expectations to make your church service be just like theirs?Stephen Sheppard is the Broadcast Engineer for Elevation Church and he joins us this week to discuss gear, live streams and the importance of staying true to your church's vision. In this episode you'll hear: 0:30 Toby’s new favorite church production celebrity 3:30 Shep joins the podcast! 14:30 How did you get involved in church production? 17:40 Who does Shep look to for inspiration? 20:45 How are you making the Elevation Livestream right now? 26:30 What adv...
2025-01-1353 min
The ChurchGear PodcastWill AI Change Church Production? [Kenny Jahng]How will AI change church production jobs? Kenny Jahng joins us to discuss how AI will help, change and shape church production. In this episode you'll hear: 1:00 Podcast editing failure & Toby cheats on Blake3:00 Kenny Jahng joins us from SALT Conference 8:30 How can AI help church production people do work easier? 16:30 What church production jobs will AI replace? 18:30 Will AI impact every church tech job? 26:25 Tech Takeaway: How to introduce AI to your Tech Team 29:16 Church Tech Confessional: I started delaying the worship leader click track Get chapter one of Toby...
2024-12-3031 min
The ChurchGear PodcastGood & Bad Reasons to Change Jobs [Dennis Choy]How do you know when it is time to change churches and take a new church production job? Dennis Choy joins us this week to discuss his new job and the process he went through to make the decision. If you're looking for real life insight into the good and bad reasons to change church production jobs, this is your episode. In this episode you'll hear:1:00 Toby doesn’t know who Pentatonix is?5:00 Dennis Choy joins us!11:30 Dennis’s background in church production 15:45 Good and bad reasons to change church tech j...
2024-12-0948 min
The ChurchGear PodcastBecoming a System Integrator on the Fly [Dream City Church's Eric Mooney]Your church needs you as their church tech to be their integrator. Now what?Eric Mooney is the Audio Director at Dream City Church and he joins us to tell us his journey of going from youth pastor, to audio director, to integration work for his church. In this episode you'll hear: 1:00 Toby meeting Blake for the first time3:45 Eric Mooney joins us! 17:00 Eric’s church production background 23:30 Becoming a system integrator on the fly 35:00 Learning to lead in church production 38:00 Learning to become a church tech quickly 43:15 Church Tech Disaster...
2024-11-1155 min
The ChurchGear PodcastBattle Royale: Audio Consoles [Jeff Sandstrom & Drew Hester]What happens when you pit two audio experts against one another in a mixing Battle Royale conversation? Drew Hester and Jeff Sandstrom are too polite to fully fight it out in a Battle Royale, but they both join us for our first "fight it out" episode in the church production space. Join us for takes on what matters most in audio, the best consoles for the best situations and the best audio disaster stories. In this episode you'll hear: 1:00 People telling Toby to turn it down 4:00 How to know when it’s too...
2024-11-0452 minThe ChurchGear PodcastBest Takeaways [Pastors & Production Series Pt.6]What were the biggest takeaways from the Pastors & Production podcast series?For our final episode in the series we discuss the biggest moments, the stats from the survey and wrap with the best quote from the series. In this episode you'll hear: 1:00 What was Toby like working at churches in his 20s? 5:45 BD joins us to wrap up the Pastors & Production Series 7:15 Stats about Pastors & Production people’s relationship 12:45 Top takeaways from the series 13:00 “It takes reps to build a relationship”15:50 Mistakes are fine as long as they aren’t consistent17...
2024-09-0249 min
The ChurchGear PodcastFrom Youth Minister to Production Director [Journey Church's Kyle Bowman]You've been hired to be the youth minister and now you're told you're doing church production. What? Kyle Bowman is the Production Director at Journey Church and he joins us to discuss transitions, volunteer recruitment and more! In this episode you'll hear:1:00 Toby and Blake have been responsible for the youths of America 5:45 Kyle Bowman joins us! 15:00 What is production at Journey Church like? 19:45 From Youth Ministry to Production in 5 seconds flat 22:40 Where do you find church production volunteers? 29:30 Should you go to college for church production? 35:30 Disaster Story: First Christm...
2024-07-0843 min
The ChurchGear PodcastLighting Life Church [Live at FILO with Caleb Darago]How does one of the biggest churches in the country approach lighting design? Caleb is the Senior Lighting Designer for Life Church. He tells us about Life Church's approach to lighting, some disaster stories and more on our final live FILO episode. In this episode you'll hear: 1:00 Toby and Blake go to a baseball game before FILO6:30 Caleb Darago joins us live at FILO! 14:00 How to have AR/VR/XR at church! 19:00 Caleb’s journey as a lighting and video tech at Life Church 21:15 How does Life Church do lighting design? 37:00 “We put the...
2024-05-2747 min
The ChurchGear PodcastStewarding Gear & Community [Live at FILO with Matt Kotthoff]What production upgrades should you recommend to your church leadership? Matt Kotthoff joins us live at FILO 2024! We discuss gear stewardship, community building and wrap with a disaster story that has us all wondering if there is ever a right time to allow software updates to go through. In this episode you'll hear: 1:00 “Toby! Unhand that woman!” 6:19 Matt Kotthoff joins us at FILO Live! 12:40 Matt’s FILO teaching session topic 14:15 Todd Elliott cameos! 17:00 What is Sun Valley Community Church's production setup like? 22:30 What PA does Sun Valley Community Church use? 24:10 How do you deci...
2024-05-2046 min
The ChurchGear PodcastFILO After Party [Amplio Studios 2024]We took over the Amplio Podcast studio after day one of FILO to recap the conference and bring the party to you!In this episode you'll hear: 1:00 FILO Amplio After Party Pod! 4:00 What happened at FILO 2024 Day 1? 7:00 Toby’s horrific Gene Kim introduction 11:00 FILO pre party activities 15:00 Amplio’s podcast has launched! 20:00 Game: Classic Rock pop quiz!26:00 Game: Name that song for Toby29:15 Game: Songs the Government plays to torture people 33:00 Rapid round questions 40:00 Worship Sound Guy joins us! 43:00 The Rest of the ChurchGear Crew & Jeff Vandergiessen joins! 53:20 Church Tech Confessional: "I shouldn't have listened...
2024-05-1356 min
The ChurchGear PodcastHarvest Crusades & Church Tech Confessional's Debut [Chris Eguizabal]What's it like doing production for the Harvest Crusades? Chris Eguizabal is the Production Manager at Harvest Riverside Church and he joins us to discuss production for The Harvest Crusades, lighting design approaches and he wraps our episode with a mic mix up story that you can't miss! In this episode you'll hear: 1:00 Toby isn’t fancy enough for a benefit dinner6:45 Chris Eguizabal joins us!14:45 How did Chris get into church production? (Started at Disney!)19:00 What’s it like doing production for the Harvest Crusades? 24:00 How do you do produc...
2024-04-1551 min
The ChurchGear PodcastCurrent State of Church Production [FILO's Todd Elliott]How do you define the goal of your Sunday service? What can we aim for beyond "well I saw this one church do it this way"? Todd Elliott joins us to discuss what a successful Sunday looks like, the overall pulse on the production community and what he is jazzed about for FILO 2024! In this episode you'll hear: 1:00 Alligator alley & Toby on a Panel?!5:00 Mr. FILO joins us! Todd Elliott! 11:00 What’s going on in the production community right now? 24:00 Have church production people’s salaries improved? 26:40 How do you talk to y...
2024-04-011h 00
The ChurchGear PodcastTeamwork Fuels Production [Southeast Christian Church’s Brad Bramer]How do you have multiple departments collaborate, communicate and coordinate well? Brad Bramer is the Worship and Creative arts Executive Producer at Southeast Christian Church and he joins us to discuss how multiple church departments can work in concert to achieve an overarching vision. In this episode you'll hear: 1:00 What is Toby reading right now? 5:00 Toby’s literary confession 6:40 Brad Bramer joins us! 10:55 “I was forcibly removed from Ryan Secrest” 16:45 Leading the Church Production Team at Southeast Christian Church19:00 Should worship and tech be one team or two?23:00 How does the product...
2024-03-2550 min
The ChurchGear PodcastDeveloping Your Church's System, Not Yours. [Houseright’s Luke Hesher]How do you build an AVL system for your church that meets today's needs and the demands of the future? How do you make sure it works for everyone on staff and the volunteer team as a whole? Luke Hester works with churches to design systems at Houseright and he joins the ChurchGear podcast to discuss how you can make a system that works for the whole rather than just one person.In this episode you'll hear: 1:00 Toby sacks Denver 6:30 Luke Hesher of Houseright Joins us!10:00 “I called my senior pastor a Bast...
2024-03-1152 min
The ChurchGear PodcastProduction Phases & Dante's Inferno [Shaun Miller of Rolling Hills]How do you grow the production team and gear at multiple locations at a sustainable pace? Shaun Miller is the Central Production Director at Rolling Hills Church and he drops by the pod to discuss baptism, pacing gear growth and more. In this episode you'll hear: 1:00 How do Baptisms impact church production? 5:30 Shaun Miller joins us! 11:00 More wireless gear than Garth Brooks 13:45 "Then we got drug searched" 19:45 How did Shawn get into Church Production? 28:00 How do you manage multiple church production locations? 33:30 Toby heckles Shawn 35:00 Shawn’s writing on Church Production...
2024-03-041h 05
The ChurchGear PodcastBig Events, Bigger Impact [Jeff Sandstrom of MxU]Your LED screen has fallen, you're in water up to your ankles and thousands of students are about to show up for a night of worship. Jeff Sandstrom joins us this week to discuss the AVL challenges of the Super Bowl and the most difficult event he has ever been a part of. In this episode you'll hear: 1:00 Toby isn’t with us this week! 3:20 Jeff Sandstrom joins us! 4:00 Rattlesnakes and how great is our God8:30 Soundcheck & Demolition Derby 11:20 “Five Truths and a Lie” MxU Pop Ups Edition! 16:30 SuperBowl Production 26:30 The Toughest Live...
2024-02-261h 11
The ChurchGear PodcastBuilding Production Teams [Gateway Church's Brandon Conn]How do you build a strong production team that furthers the Gospel? Brandon Conn is the Audio Director at Gateway Church and he joins us this week to discuss all the practical principles Gateway church utilizes to build strong production teams. In this episode you'll hear: 1:00 Toby visits Chauvet Lighting in Florida! 6:00 Brandon Conn joins us for “5 Truths & A Lie” 16:30 How did Brandon get into church production? 20:30 How does Gateway Church set up their production team?23:30 How does Gateway Church find and hire tech staff?29:00 How do you launch a new chur...
2024-02-1959 min
The ChurchGear PodcastTouring Tips, Bad Rooms & Coffee Trivia [Gene Kim] What production tips do you pick up from a lifetime of touring? Gene Kim had a spare moment where he wasn't mixing for Phil Wickham, so he dropped by the podcast studio to discuss mixing in bad rooms, AVL trends and coffee. In this episode you'll hear:1:00 Stage Shenanigans and Forbidden Rocks 6:50 What shows has Gene been working on recently? 11:45 The pressure of subbing in your tech buddy's seat 13:45 Hardest church production event Gene mixes 15:50 AVL Trends Gene is seeing in churches20:10 What is it like jumping into various church FOH b...
2024-02-1252 min
The ChurchGear PodcastSoapboxes & Hot Takes [Worship Sound Guy’s Johnny Ragin]What are the quickest ways to improve our church's mix? Johnny Ragin drops by the pod to talk awesome mixing tips, hilarious disaster stories and more hot takes than we've ever had in a single episode. In this episode:1:00 Toby taught production in college?!5:00 Johnny Ragin from Worship Sound Guy joins us! 12:00 Johnny’s tech background 20:00 How do you find church production educational resources? 24:00 Learning by Mentor vs. Self Education 27:00 Mixing with your “ears” not “eyes”32:30 2 Quick Wins to improve your church’s audio mix 35:00 Improving the mix via collaboration with the Worship T...
2024-01-2251 min
The ChurchGear PodcastChris Tomlin, Passion, & Jay Desai vs Bus [Stephen Bailey]When you've worked with Louie Giglio at Passion and built Chris Tomlin's Track Rig, what can you not do? Stephen Bailey joins us on the ChurchGear podcast this week to discuss his production time at Passion, the advice he'd give his younger self and who would win in a fight between a bus or Jay Desai. In this episode you'll hear: 1:00 Toby’s Fellowship Church Visit in Dallas6:00 Stephen Bailey joins us! 6:30 Jay Desai Vs. Buses 8:30 Five Truths and a Lie 16:00 Stephen’s tech journey: Elevation Band & Audio Free...
2024-01-1553 min