Entrusted to Lead Podcast

Danita Cummins
  • 5.0 (7)
  • CHRISTIANITY
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Entrusted to Lead is the podcast for faith-driven founders, CEOs, nonprofit leaders, and mission-minded teams who want to lead with clarity, courage, and God-centered confidence. Hosted by Danita Cummins—military veteran, strategist, founder, and leadership coach—each episode helps you align your leadership with Kingdom values so you can ditch the chaos, strengthen your systems, and lead from a place of peace and purpose. Drawing from her decades in U.S. Special Operations, government leadership, entrepreneurship, and nonprofit work, Danita equips you with practical strategies, biblical wisdom, and real-world tools to help you lead with intention—not overwhelm. Whether you're scaling a business, building a ministry, navigating team growth, or serving in the defense and technology space, you’ll find encouragement, clarity, and a roadmap forward. Because you’ve been entrusted to lead—and those you serve deserve your best, healthy, spirit-led leadership.

  1. From Pressure to Purpose: 3 Questions That Clarify Your Leadership Legacy

    NOV 27

    From Pressure to Purpose: 3 Questions That Clarify Your Leadership Legacy

    Are you carrying the weight of leadership pressure? Wondering if your daily faithfulness is making a real difference? In this episode, Danita Cummins reveals how a tiny post-it note from her daughter sparked a profound truth: legacy isn't built through perfection or performance—it's grown through presence. Discover the 3 pillars of legacy-centered leadership (clarity, consistency, and character) and walk through 3 powerful questions that will help you shift from pressure to purpose. Whether you're juggling family, ministry, calling, and responsibilities, or simply need a reminder that your everyday obedience matters, this episode will encourage your heart and recalibrate your focus on what truly lasts. In This Episode, You'll Discover: Why legacy grows in the quiet, hidden places rather than in public momentsThe difference between building something big and building something that reflects God's heartHow "busting brush" became a metaphor for faithful, incremental obedienceThe question that shapes Danita's leadership posture: "What do you have in your hand today?"Why alignment matters more than pressure when carrying the weight of leadershipThe 3 Pillars of Legacy-Centered Leadership:Lead with Clarity (not a 10-year plan)Lead with Consistency (not perfection)Lead with Christ-like Character (the legacy that echoes longest)Key Quotes: "Legacy is shaped less by what we do, and it's more by who we are while we're doing it.""You don't build legacy through perfection. You build it through your presence.""Legacy is not built through pressure. It's built through alignment—alignment with God's voice and his timing and his assignments for this season.""Character is the part of your leadership that will outlive you forever.""You're not planting for applause. You are planting for the kingdom." Reflection Questions: Where do I see evidence of the legacy I'm already building?Which of the three pillars—clarity, consistency, or character—is God highlighting to me right now?What seeds am I planting today that align with the legacy I want to leave? Perfect For Leaders Who: Feel stretched thin juggling family, ministry, calling, and responsibilitiesWonder if their everyday faithfulness is making a real differenceNeed a reminder that their presence matters more than their performanceWant to lead with Christ at the center, not cultureAre ready to release what God never asked them to carry Connect with Danita Cummins:  www.danitacummins.com Subscribe & Review: If this episode encouraged you, please subscribe to ENTRUSTED to Lead and leave a review. Your feedback helps this podcast reach more faith-driven leaders who need to hear: "Hi. You're doing amazing." Episode Release: Perfect for Thanksgiving week or end-of-year reflection Episode Length: Approximately 13 minutes Keywords: faith-driven leadership, Christian leadership podcast, How are you enjoying this episode? Send us a note! Support the show ✨ Thanks for Listening! ✨ If you enjoyed this episode of Entrusted to Lead, don’t forget to: ✅ Subscribe to the podcast for weekly insights on leadership with heart. ✅ Leave a review and let us know how this episode inspired you. ✅ Share this episode with your team, friends, or anyone who wants to lead with impact. ✅ Sign up for the Entrusted to Lead newsletter for exclusive updates and resources:

    14 min
  2. Close 13 Tabs: Reclaim 40% of Your Day with Faith-Centered Focus

    SEP 15

    Close 13 Tabs: Reclaim 40% of Your Day with Faith-Centered Focus

    Feeling exhausted at day's end but wondering what you actually accomplished? You're likely caught in the multitasking trap that's silently stealing nearly half your productive time. This eye-opening episode reveals the startling truth: what we proudly call "multitasking" is actually "micro task switching" – a productivity killer costing leaders up to 40% of their workday. Drawing from both neuroscience and spiritual wisdom, Danita unpacks why our brains aren't designed for simultaneous tasks and introduces the game-changing FOCUS framework that transforms how you approach your day. You'll discover practical steps to implement immediate focus sprints that create momentum without overwhelming your already full schedule. The simple acronym – Fix your eyes on what matters, Obey the rules and rhythms, Capture ideas without chasing them, Uphold your boundaries, and Steward the results – provides a complete roadmap for reclaiming your time and attention. What sets this approach apart is how it bridges productivity and faith. As Danita reminds us, "Focus is a spiritual practice – choosing faithfulness over frenzy." The guidance connects seamlessly to Proverbs 4:25-26, showing how intentional focus allows us to steward the gifts God has entrusted to us. Whether you're battling constant team interruptions, feeling perpetually reactive, or struggling to maintain attention, this episode offers tailored solutions to your specific focus challenges. Ready to stop the spin and start leading with clarity? Try just one focus sprint today. Your leadership impact – and your peace of mind – depend on it. For personalized guidance, book a 90-minute clarity session with Danita to map your ideal week and establish healthy guardrails that bring the peace you deserve in your leadership journey. Additional References:  Deep Work (Cal Newport): https://calnewport.com/deep-work-rules-for-focused-success-in-a-distracted-world/ Focus on This Podcast: https://focusonthispodcast.com/ Work with Danita Find out what's blocking your leadership clarity!  Take the FREE Leadership Clarity Quiz: https://www.tryinteract.com/share/quiz/67ee83fb842bf6890d7a7875 Book a 90-minute Clarity/Discovery Session ($525+ value): https://calendly.com/danitacummins/90-minute-clarity-call Entrusted to Lead podcast hub: https://danitacummins.com/podcast/ Keywords/Tags Focus, Clarity, Productivity, Leadership, Ministry, Nonprofit, Deep Work, Faith at Work How are you enjoying this episode? Send us a note! Support the show ✨ Thanks for Listening! ✨ If you enjoyed this episode of Entrusted to Lead, don’t forget to: ✅ Subscribe to the podcast for weekly insights on leadership with heart. ✅ Leave a review and let us know how this episode inspired you. ✅ Share this episode with your team, friends, or anyone who wants to lead with impact. ✅ Sign up for the Entrusted to Lead newsletter for exclusive updates and resources:

    27 min
  3. What Are Pajamas? How One Child's Question Built a Leadership Legacy with Genevieve Piturro

    AUG 21

    What Are Pajamas? How One Child's Question Built a Leadership Legacy with Genevieve Piturro

    What happens when a simple question from a child completely upends your successful corporate career? Genevieve Peturro never expected her life to take a sudden turn after 12 years of climbing the television industry ladder in New York City. Yet when a little girl in a shelter whispered, "What are pajamas?" everything shifted. That moment launched Genevieve's extraordinary journey from corporate success to founding the Pajama Program, which has since distributed over 8 million pajamas and books to children across America. Her story challenges us to reconsider how we define success and what truly matters in our leadership journeys. Through our conversation, Genevieve reveals the profound differences between traditional corporate leadership and leading with love. She dismantles the myth that heart-centered leadership sacrifices effectiveness, showing instead how vulnerability, collaboration, and joy create stronger, more innovative teams. "It's not about control, it's about connection," she emphasizes—a philosophy that transforms workplaces regardless of industry. For leaders contemplating change, Genevieve offers wisdom from her "jump" into purpose-driven work. She acknowledges the fear that accompanies major transitions but encourages finding cheerleaders who understand your vision. Whether you're considering a dramatic career pivot or simply seeking greater fulfillment in your current role, her practical advice on making "jumps" or "slides" provides a roadmap for authentic living. Perhaps most moving is Genevieve's insight into how providing comfort changes lives on both sides of the equation. The bedtime rituals many take for granted—clean pajamas, storybooks, a loving presence—offer vulnerable children the essential security and peace they need. Meanwhile, volunteers repeatedly express how their service provides unexpected healing during their own difficult times. Ready to lead with greater heart and purpose? Connect with Genevieve through her website for her "Lead with Love" tips and a free brainstorming session to explore your next steps. Your greatest impact might be waiting just beyond your comfort zone. How are you enjoying this episode? Send us a note! Support the show ✨ Thanks for Listening! ✨ If you enjoyed this episode of Entrusted to Lead, don’t forget to: ✅ Subscribe to the podcast for weekly insights on leadership with heart. ✅ Leave a review and let us know how this episode inspired you. ✅ Share this episode with your team, friends, or anyone who wants to lead with impact. ✅ Sign up for the Entrusted to Lead newsletter for exclusive updates and resources:

    47 min

  4. AUG 7

    3 Questions to Redefine Success: From Striving to Surrender in Leadership

    IAre you chasing a version of success that looks good on the outside but doesn't actually fulfill you? You can be doing all the things—building the business, climbing the ladder, serving the people—and still feel like something's missing. In this heart-to-heart episode, Danita Cummins unpacks Proverbs 16:3 and reveals why God's definition of success is radically different from the world's. She shares the difference between persistence and striving, why surrender is actually a position of strength, and how to measure your leadership by obedience instead of outcomes. Discover the 3 clarifying questions that will help you redefine success on God's terms, find peace in the midst of uncertainty, and trust Him with the outcomes you can't control. If you're ready to release the pressure of performance and lead from a place of surrender, this episode is for you. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: Why doing “all the right things” can still leave you emptyHow to release the pressure to perform and embrace peaceThe difference between striving and surrenderThree clarifying questions to redefine what success looks like for your soul right nowWhy margin is a sacred gift in leadership and lifeReflection Questions: What version of success have I been chasing that may not be from God?Where do I need to surrender the outcome and trust His process?Am I being faithful to what’s in my hand — not just what’s on my vision board?Resources to Go Deeper: Take the Free Leadership Clarity QuizSchedule a No-Pressure Strategy CallDownload the Strategic Planning ChecklistShare the Journey: If this message encouraged your heart, would you share it with someone in your circle who needs to hear it too? Tag @DanitaCummins and let’s talk about how God is rewriting your success story from the inside out. How are you enjoying this episode? Send us a note! Support the show ✨ Thanks for Listening! ✨ If you enjoyed this episode of Entrusted to Lead, don’t forget to: ✅ Subscribe to the podcast for weekly insights on leadership with heart. ✅ Leave a review and let us know how this episode inspired you. ✅ Share this episode with your team, friends, or anyone who wants to lead with impact. ✅ Sign up for the Entrusted to Lead newsletter for exclusive updates and resources:

    14 min
  5. Beyond Burnout: Rediscovering Purpose in Your Leadership Journey with Dr. Christie McMullen

    JUL 17

    Beyond Burnout: Rediscovering Purpose in Your Leadership Journey with Dr. Christie McMullen

    Ever looked around your workplace and thought, "There must be a better way"? In this transformative conversation with Dr. Christie McMullen, we uncover how joy and productivity work as essential allies rather than opposing forces. Dr. McMullen brings her 25 years of education experience into the business world with a refreshingly simple framework that makes every workplace interaction safe, logical, fun, and memorable. She explains how psychological safety forms the foundation for everything else—when people feel truly seen and valued, they bring their best selves to work. Through her engaging personality assessment (which reveals whether you are a paperclip, magnifying glass, teddy bear, or slinky), she demonstrates how understanding your team's natural strengths fosters harmony rather than friction. The conversation takes a decisive turn when we explore why so many workplaces feel joyless. "People quit things that aren't fun," Christie notes, whether through actual resignation or just mentally checking out. Her perspective challenges the notion that work must be endured rather than enjoyed, offering practical strategies for leaders to create environments where people genuinely want to contribute. We discuss the warning signs of quiet quitting and how self-aware leadership can prevent team burnout. What makes this episode particularly valuable is the balance of spiritual wisdom with practical application. We explore how the biblical concept of being called to "build our own section of the wall" applies to modern workplace dynamics and how shifting from an "I have to" mindset to an "I get to" perspective transforms our relationship with work. Whether you lead a team of two or two hundred, this conversation will equip you with actionable insights to create a workplace culture where people thrive. Ready to make your workplace interactions more intentional, engaging, and productive? This episode is your blueprint for getting started. Want to learn more? You can purchase Dr.Christie McMullen's book, 'Make Work Fun So People Don't Quit: How To Hit Your Target In Business And Life': https://www.amazon.com/Make-Work-People-Dont-Quit/dp/B0DF5CJWNL?ref_=ast_author_dp&th=1&psc=1 Connect with Dr. Christie McMullen: Website: aimwithus.com Instagram: @drchristiemcmullen How are you enjoying this episode? Send us a note! Support the show ✨ Thanks for Listening! ✨ If you enjoyed this episode of Entrusted to Lead, don’t forget to: ✅ Subscribe to the podcast for weekly insights on leadership with heart. ✅ Leave a review and let us know how this episode inspired you. ✅ Share this episode with your team, friends, or anyone who wants to lead with impact. ✅ Sign up for the Entrusted to Lead newsletter for exclusive updates and resources:

    46 min
  6. The Strength to Stay: Leading with Endurance When You Feel Like Quitting

    JUL 3

    The Strength to Stay: Leading with Endurance When You Feel Like Quitting

    Leadership can be quietly exhausting. You're doing all the right things—showing up, serving faithfully, leading with vision—yet still wondering if any of it makes a difference. That hidden weariness is exactly what we're tackling in this powerful episode centered around Galatians 6:9. "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." These words from Paul acknowledge the reality of leadership fatigue while offering profound hope. What makes this verse particularly challenging is the phrase "at the proper time"—a frustrating reminder that God's timeline rarely matches our own. The harvest is coming, but on His schedule, not ours. Through personal stories and practical wisdom, I share three leadership truths that have sustained me through seasons of doubt: First, faithful leaders continue sowing even when the soil feels dry. The most important work often happens underground, invisible to everyone including ourselves. Second, rest isn't quitting—leaders burn out not because they work hard, but because they work empty. Finally, look for sprouts rather than applause. Leadership growth shows up in tiny moments that remind us why we started in the first place. Whether you're leading a ministry, running a business, managing a team, or raising a family, this episode offers the encouragement you need to keep going when quitting feels tempting. The harvest is already in motion, even when you can't see it yet. Ready to find renewed strength for your leadership journey? Listen now and discover how to stay faithful when the fruit isn't visible. In this heartfelt episode, Danita invites leaders into an honest conversation about what it means to keep showing up, even when the results feel invisible. Inspired by Galatians 6:9, we reflect on the quiet but powerful endurance it takes to lead well and live faithfully. Stay tuned for an upcoming conversation with Dr. Christie McMullen — bringing neuroscience and soul together to help sustain your leadership journey. Scripture: Galatians 6:9  Take the Leadership Clarity Quiz and book your free coaching call at www.danitacummins.com How are you enjoying this episode? Send us a note! Support the show ✨ Thanks for Listening! ✨ If you enjoyed this episode of Entrusted to Lead, don’t forget to: ✅ Subscribe to the podcast for weekly insights on leadership with heart. ✅ Leave a review and let us know how this episode inspired you. ✅ Share this episode with your team, friends, or anyone who wants to lead with impact. ✅ Sign up for the Entrusted to Lead newsletter for exclusive updates and resources:

    12 min
  7. Break the Grip of Fear: Overcoming Failure with Lana Sheppard

    JUN 19

    Break the Grip of Fear: Overcoming Failure with Lana Sheppard

    Fear of failure is one of the most silent yet powerful roadblocks to leadership growth—and for purpose-driven leaders, it can be especially limiting. In Episode 64 of Entrusted to Lead, Danita Cummins welcomes mindset coach and author Lana Sheppard to unpack how limiting beliefs, perfectionism, and fear of judgment can hold us back from making clear decisions and building the impact we’re called to lead. Lana shares her own journey through grief, entrepreneurship, and reinvention. After running and selling a successful payroll and bookkeeping firm, she turned her attention to coaching and authored the Give Up book series—helping leaders examine and release beliefs that no longer serve their vision. Whether you’re stuck in perfectionism, overthinking your next move, or afraid to launch something new, this episode offers clarity, encouragement, and practical tools to help you break free from hesitation and lead with greater confidence. Key Topics Covered: Why fear of failure is one of the biggest leadership obstaclesThe hidden connection between perfectionism and approval-seekingHow to recognize and release limiting beliefs in business and lifeTools for navigating big decisions with clarity and preparationThe value of financial literacy and understanding your numbersHow humility builds healthier teams and stronger leadership cultureThe difference between having a coach vs. a mentor—and why both matterFavorite Quote:“Holding back your gifts because of fear is sometimes the greatest disservice to the people you’re meant to serve.” — Lana Sheppard Resources Mentioned: Give Up: Ignition by Lana Sheppard📘 Paperback on Amazon💻 Kindle Edition🌐 Connect with Lana Sheppard: Website: giveupbook.comLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lanasheppardCall to Action: 💬 How do you overcome fear in your life and leadership? DM Danita or leave a review sharing your biggest takeaway from this episode.  Ways to Engage: Share this episode with a team leader or friend who’s feeling stuck.Tag @danitacummins and @lanasheppard on social with your thoughts using #EntrustedToLeadPodcast.Rate and review the show on Apple or Spotify—it helps more leaders like you find us.How are you enjoying this episode? Send us a note! Support the show ✨ Thanks for Listening! ✨ If you enjoyed this episode of Entrusted to Lead, don’t forget to: ✅ Subscribe to the podcast for weekly insights on leadership with heart. ✅ Leave a review and let us know how this episode inspired you. ✅ Share this episode with your team, friends, or anyone who wants to lead with impact. ✅ Sign up for the Entrusted to Lead newsletter for exclusive updates and resources:

    30 min
  8. Overcoming Fear: Breaking Free from Mindset Traps

    JUN 5

    Overcoming Fear: Breaking Free from Mindset Traps

    Have you ever found yourself stuck in fear, overthinking decisions, or wrestling with the pressure to get everything right? In this deeply personal June solo episode, I explore the transformative power of renewed thinking and how our mindset profoundly shapes our leadership effectiveness. Drawing from Romans 12:2, I share my own journey confronting what I call the "shame, fear, and control triad" – a powerful framework that helped me understand how these three elements create limiting beliefs in leadership. During a sabbatical last year, I underwent what I affectionately call "spiritual therapy" where I confronted decades-old patterns of perfectionism and fear-based decision making. The breakthrough came through identifying specific ungodly beliefs like "I have to do everything perfectly or I will be judged" and replacing them with scriptural truth. This practice of speaking truth aloud daily for 30 days began reshaping not just my thinking but my entire leadership approach. Fear manifests differently for each of us – sometimes as logic, excessive planning, or analysis paralysis. Whatever form it takes, unaddressed fear leads to delay and indecision that limits our impact. That's why I share five practical tools for mindset transformation: naming patterns, replacing lies with truth, creating white space for clarity, surrounding yourself with truth-tellers, and leading from identity rather than insecurity. As I navigate my own transition season with my youngest son graduating high school, I'm reminded that our journeys constantly evolve. The mindset work never truly ends, but it's worth it. You have unique gifts and perspective needed in this world. Don't let fear rob you or those you lead of these gifts. Grab your journal, reflect on the questions shared in this episode, and start your journey toward renewed thinking today. How are you enjoying this episode? Send us a note! Support the show ✨ Thanks for Listening! ✨ If you enjoyed this episode of Entrusted to Lead, don’t forget to: ✅ Subscribe to the podcast for weekly insights on leadership with heart. ✅ Leave a review and let us know how this episode inspired you. ✅ Share this episode with your team, friends, or anyone who wants to lead with impact. ✅ Sign up for the Entrusted to Lead newsletter for exclusive updates and resources:

    24 min
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5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

Entrusted to Lead is the podcast for faith-driven founders, CEOs, nonprofit leaders, and mission-minded teams who want to lead with clarity, courage, and God-centered confidence. Hosted by Danita Cummins—military veteran, strategist, founder, and leadership coach—each episode helps you align your leadership with Kingdom values so you can ditch the chaos, strengthen your systems, and lead from a place of peace and purpose. Drawing from her decades in U.S. Special Operations, government leadership, entrepreneurship, and nonprofit work, Danita equips you with practical strategies, biblical wisdom, and real-world tools to help you lead with intention—not overwhelm. Whether you're scaling a business, building a ministry, navigating team growth, or serving in the defense and technology space, you’ll find encouragement, clarity, and a roadmap forward. Because you’ve been entrusted to lead—and those you serve deserve your best, healthy, spirit-led leadership.

Information

  • Creator
    Danita Cummins
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2025
  • Episodes
    72
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Entrusted to Lead Podcast
  • Show Website
    Entrusted to Lead Podcast