Linch with a Leader

Mike Linch

What if you were able to sit down with some of the greatest leaders in the world? What would you ask? What would they say? Welcome to the “Linch with a Leader” Podcast with Mike Linch, where you are invited to join us in learning the spiritual principles behind big success.

  1. 4 DAYS AGO

    Why Great Leaders Put People Before Power with Dr. Matt Paden

    What if the way you’ve been leading… isn’t actually serving the people you’ve been called to lead? In this powerful conversation from Linch with a Leader, Mike Linch sits down with Dr. Matt Paden to unpack one of the most overlooked truths in leadership today: great leadership is not about power, position, or control… it’s about people. Many leaders have been taught that leadership is about results, authority, and getting things done. But what if leadership isn’t about building your platform… but working for the good of the people you’ve been entrusted with? Dr. Paden shares how ego, control, and transactional leadership quietly erode trust, while humility, truth, and grace build cultures that last. When leaders begin to see leadership not as something they have… but something they steward for others, it transforms how they lead, live, and influence those around them. In this conversation, Mike and Matt discuss: • Why leadership is hard, lonely, and often misunderstood • The difference between working for results vs. working for people • How unchecked ego quietly destroys leadership • Why leaders must not just hear truth… but embrace it • The role of grace in building trust and healthy culture • What it means to lead with purpose, faith, and integrity For Christian leaders, pastors, business owners, coaches, and anyone leading in the marketplace, this conversation is a powerful reminder: Leadership is not about you. It’s about the people God has entrusted to you. Read 'The Core': https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Core/Matt-Paden/9781637635582

    41 min
  2. 30 MAR

    What Most Christians Miss About God and the Bible with Marty Solomon

    What if the biggest challenge for a leader isn’t doing more… but seeing God, Scripture, and themselves correctly? In this episode of Linch with a Leader, Mike Linch sits down with Marty Solomon for a conversation that reframes how we read the Bible, understand discipleship, and live out our faith as leaders. Marty, host of the BEMA Podcast, has spent years helping people rediscover the Scriptures through a Jewish lens, bringing fresh depth, context, and meaning to stories many of us have heard our entire lives. What emerges is not a new Bible, but a fuller, richer understanding of the one we’ve always had. Mike and Marty explore what happens when leaders move beyond surface-level faith and step into a deeper, more curious walk with God. They challenge the idea that the Bible is something to be solved and instead invite us into a lifelong journey of mystery, growth, and transformation. Marty shares how understanding Scripture in its original context can bring it to life in powerful ways, why leaders must never stop learning, and how rediscovering our identity as “beloved” changes the way we engage with God and others. Whether you’re leading a church, building a business, coaching a team, or simply desiring a deeper relationship with God, this conversation will challenge your assumptions, expand your perspective, and invite you into a more authentic and transformative faith journey. Leadership Lessons from Marty Solomon • The Bible is not just a puzzle to solve, it’s a mystery to walk through. • When leaders stop learning, their leadership becomes dangerous. • You are not just a sinner to be fixed, you are beloved. • God is not distant or disappointed; He is inviting you into relationship. • Discipleship is not a weekly habit, it’s a way of life. • Our assumptions about God can limit our growth if we never challenge them. • True leadership flows from identity, not performance. • Hope, not fear, is the story God is telling. Read: The Gospel of Being Human ( https://www.amazon.com/Gospel-Being-Human-Questions-Reveals/dp/1641589485 )

    48 min
  3. 16 MAR

    Making Strategic Bets in a New Season with Elizabeth Dixon

    What if the biggest risk a leader faces isn’t failure… but never stepping into the season God is calling them to? In this episode of Linch with a Leader, Mike Linch sits down with Elizabeth Dixon, former Chick-fil-A Support Center leader, CEO of the Trilith Foundation, author, entrepreneur, and founder of Slumber Sleepwear—for a conversation every leader eventually faces: how to recognize a new season, take a strategic risk, and trust God when the future feels uncertain. After two decades helping shape the customer experience culture at Chick-fil-A and leading the Trilith Foundation alongside visionary leaders, Elizabeth stepped into a completely new season, launching her own businesses and consulting work. Her story is a powerful reminder that some of the most meaningful leadership moments happen when we’re willing to leave stability in order to pursue calling. Mike and Elizabeth unpack what it means to make a strategic bet in leadership. They talk about the tension between security and purpose, how wise leaders weigh risk and reward, and why some of the greatest opportunities in life only appear after you step out in faith. They also explore the difference between failure and feedback, why fear of failure holds so many leaders back, and how our identity can come under attack when we step into new territory. Elizabeth shares how entrepreneurship has deepened her dependence on God, why abiding matters more than striving, and how leaders can move forward with confidence, even when they don’t have every answer. Whether you’re leading a church, building a business, raising a family, or discerning what God’s next season might be for your life, this conversation will encourage you to think bigger, trust deeper, and take the kind of risks that shape a meaningful life. Leadership Lessons from Elizabeth Dixon • Risk isn’t just what you stand to gain, it’s what you stand to lose. • Sometimes others believe in us more than we believe in ourselves. • Strategic bets close the gap between where we are and where we could be. • Failure isn’t a verdict on your identity, it’s feedback that helps you grow. • The greatest regret isn’t failure; it’s never trying. • The enemy often attacks our identity when we step into new territory. • God didn’t call us to be the vine, He called us to be the branch. • Leaders who take bold steps of faith often discover opportunities they couldn’t see before.

    39 min
  4. 2 MAR

    Ray Johnston on the Vision Every Leader Needs and the Encouragement They Can't Lead Without

    What if the most important thing a leader does isn’t casting vision… but staying encouraged enough to live it? In this episode of Linch with a Leader, Mike Linch sits down with Ray Johnston, Senior Pastor of Bayside Church, founder of the Thrive Conference, and one of the most influential leadership voices in the American church. Together, they dive into a conversation every leader needs: how to cultivate fresh vision, stay deeply encouraged, and lead in a culture that often does everything it can to tear leaders down. From building a church of over 20,000 people… to coaching pastors around the world… to raising a family that genuinely loves each other and the church they serve, Ray’s story is a blueprint for leaders who want to last; not just succeed. Mike and Ray unpack the kind of leadership that doesn’t burn out, doesn’t lose heart, and doesn’t rely on charisma alone. They dive into the power of shared vision, why “announced vision” rarely works, and how Ray built a leadership culture where people don’t just follow... They own the mission. They explore how to lead with resilience, how to stay encouraged when criticism comes, and why the greatest impact you’ll ever make might show up in your home long before it shows up on a stage. Whether you’re pastoring a church, leading a company, coaching a team, or simply trying to influence the people around you, this episode will strengthen your heart, sharpen your leadership, and remind you what really matters. Mike’s Leadership Lessons from Ray Johnston: • “People don’t support what you announce. They support what they create.” • Encouragement isn’t optional, it’s a leader’s greatest responsibility. • Vision isn’t something you share at people; it’s something you build with them. • The leaders who last are the ones who stop reading their critics. • Fresh vision requires fresh air from God. • Legacy grows at home before it ever grows at church. • A great leader is a shock absorber, not a spotlight chaser. TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 Introduction and Shared Experiences 04:27 The Essence of Leadership 06:46 Creating Shared Vision 11:57 The Importance of Encouragement in Leadership 21:30 Navigating Challenges as a Leader 32:01 Balancing Leadership and Family Life 33:47 Parenting as a Leader 51:24 Building a Healthy Family Tree

    57 min

About

What if you were able to sit down with some of the greatest leaders in the world? What would you ask? What would they say? Welcome to the “Linch with a Leader” Podcast with Mike Linch, where you are invited to join us in learning the spiritual principles behind big success.

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