The Unshakeable Life

Jim Burgoon
  • 5.0 (8)
  • CHRISTIANITY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Do you feel called to make a huge impact—to lead, create, and build what God has put on your heart—but find yourself feeling stuck, scattered, or spiritually off track? You are not alone. Welcome to The Unshakeable Life, the podcast for Christian leaders, entrepreneurs, and content creators who are ready to stop overthinking and start walking in their God-given calling. Hosted by Jim Burgoon, a 20+ year leader and transformational coach, this show is for the forgotten but called. It's for the leader who feels worthless because they don't fit the world's mold. It's for the defeated and the brokenhearted who still have a fire within them to create and impact the world. This is not another show about business tactics or hustle culture. This is your playbook for developing true inner strength and leading from the heart. Each week, we'll dive into the practical, biblical strategies to help you: 🎯 Build a Biblical Mindset: Overcome imposter syndrome, heal from past failures, and anchor your identity in Christ, not your performance. 🎯 Develop True Resilience: Learn to set boundaries that protect your peace, recover from burnout, and stand firm when life gets chaotic. 🎯 Take Courageous Action: Gain the confidence and clarity to find your voice, communicate your message, and lead with authentic, relational authority. If you're ready to break free from burnout and people-pleasing to become the Christian leader you were created to be, subscribe now. It's time to build an unshakeable life.

  1. 4D AGO

    The Curse of Competence: Why "I Can" Doesn't Mean "I Should"

    Description: Are you the person everyone relies on because you always get it done? In this episode, we tackle the "Curse of Competence"—the dangerous trap where your ability to handle everything becomes the very thing that leads to burnout. Jim dives deep into the "I Got This" reflex, explaining how high-performing leaders often use over-functioning as a trauma response to feel safe or valued. We explore the critical difference between capacity (ability) and calling (stewardship), and why doing good things can sometimes be the enemy of doing the right things. If you are tired of running on fumes while trying to save everyone else, this episode is your permission slip to stop, assess, and rest. In This Episode, You Will Learn: The "I Got This" Reflex: Why hyper-independence is often a sign of unhealed trust issues rather than leadership strength. Capacity vs. Calling: The two questions you must ask yourself before taking on any new task: Am I able to do this? vs. Is this mine to do?. The Jethro Principle: Lessons from Moses on why sustainable leadership requires community, not just individual heroism. Prayerful Yes vs. Automatic Yes: How to retrain your nervous system to pause and discern before committing. The Cost of "Good": How being praised for the wrong things can drain your energy and lead to physical autoimmune responses. Connect with Jim 🌐 Website: ⁠⁠www.leadwithjim.com⁠⁠ 🎙️ Ask a Question: ⁠⁠leadwithjim.com/ask⁠⁠ 📱 Instagram: ⁠⁠@leadwithjim⁠⁠ ▶️ YouTube: ⁠⁠Lead with Jim⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠@leadwithjim⁠⁠ Support & Engage with the Show ✅ Subscribe to The Unshakable Life wherever you listen: ⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠iHeartRadio⁠⁠ ✅ Leave a 5-star review if this episode encouraged your faith. ✅ For more faith-driven leadership content, visit ⁠⁠leadwithjim.com⁠⁠. Thanks for listening! Never miss an episode of The Unshakable Life. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app—and if this resonated, share it with a friend who needs the tools to develop an Unshakable Life! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    28 min

  2. FEB 4

    Why Your Friends and Family Are Killing Your Vision

    Episode Summary: You finally said it out loud. You shared that idea that wakes you up at 2:00 AM—the new boundary, the new vision, the new direction. You expected a spark of excitement, but instead, you were met with fear, doubt, and reasons why you "shouldn't". The hardest part isn't when this resistance comes from internet trolls; it’s when the sting comes from the people we respect and love . In this episode, Jim dives into the anatomy of a "dream killer" and why the people closest to us often project their own fears onto our potential . We aren't just talking about ignoring the haters; we are breaking down how to distinguish between a "dream" and a "mandate," how to filter feedback without bitterness, and why movement is the only real cure for doubt. If you are tired of waiting for consensus before you make your move, this episode is your permission slip to anchor yourself in your calling and leave the waiting room behind. Key Takeaways: The Anatomy of a Doubter: Most doubters aren't villains; they are just people projecting their own unhealed hurts and fears onto you . They are often trying to protect a version of you that makes them feel comfortable Mandate vs. Preference: We use the word "dream" too lightly—a dream is often just a preference, but a mandate is a responsibility. When God gives you a mandate, you do not need permission or affirmation from the crowd to obey it . The Feedback Filter: Not all advice is an investment; some of it is just noise. Learn to ask the hard question: "Has the person giving me this advice ever built what I am trying to build?" . Coach vs. Critic: A critic wants you to stay where they are so they can feel right; a coach wants you to win . You need to curate an inner circle of builders who aren't afraid to tell you the truth but will never ask you to stop being brave. Movement is the Antidote: Doubt grows in stillness and perfectionism. The only way to silence the inner critic is to take one messy step forward, because movement creates evidence that the doubt was wrong. Connect with Jim 🌐 Website: ⁠www.leadwithjim.com⁠ 🎙️ Ask a Question: ⁠leadwithjim.com/ask⁠ 📱 Instagram: ⁠@leadwithjim⁠ ▶️ YouTube: ⁠Lead with Jim⁠ Facebook: ⁠@leadwithjim⁠ Support & Engage with the Show ✅ Subscribe to The Unshakable Life wherever you listen: ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠ | ⁠Spotify⁠ | ⁠iHeartRadio⁠ ✅ Leave a 5-star review if this episode encouraged your faith. ✅ For more faith-driven leadership content, visit ⁠leadwithjim.com⁠. Thanks for listening! Never miss an episode of The Unshakable Life. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app—and if this resonated, share it with a friend who needs the tools to develop an Unshakable Life! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    26 min
  3. Is AI Stealing Your Voice? (A Reality Check for 2026)

    JAN 27

    Is AI Stealing Your Voice? (A Reality Check for 2026)

    Episode Summary: It’s 2026. The novelty of AI has worn off, and the fear that robots would "take our jobs" turned out to be wrong. They didn't take our manual labor—they started taking our voice. In this episode, Jim Burgoon draws a hard line in the sand between using a tool and surrendering to it. We are drowning in "good enough" content, but we are starving for human connection. Jim breaks down why "fast" content often leads to shallow impact and shares a wild personal story about the moment he had to "rebuke" ChatGPT for trying to give him a prophetic word (yes, really). If you are a Christian creator or leader, the danger isn't that AI will make you obsolete. The danger is that it will make you hollow. Here is how to take back your authenticity and stay the master of the machine. Key Takeaways: The Real Threat: AI didn't steal the truck driving jobs; it stole the writing, the thinking, and the mission statements. We have handed over our convictions to an algorithm. Drafting vs. Crafting: The new rule for creators: Use AI for Drafting (brainstorming, organizing, outlining), but never for Crafting (voice, emotion, story). Drafting is mechanical; Crafting is art. The Librarian Analogy: Think of AI as a librarian. It knows where all the information is, but it does not decide what matters. It cannot interpret meaning; only you can do that. The Speed Trap: Just because you can write 10 devotionals in an hour doesn't mean you should. Speed is not the same as faithfulness. If you bypass the struggle of creation, you bypass the growth of the creator. The "Prophetic" AI Story: Jim shares the moment ChatGPT tried to tell him "what God is saying," and why he had to set a hard boundary: AI is a learning model, not a prophetic conduit. Resources Mentioned: Watch the AI Experiments: Check out the YouTube channel at LeadWithJim.Live Connect with Jim 🌐 Website: www.leadwithjim.com 🎙️ Ask a Question: leadwithjim.com/ask 📱 Instagram: @leadwithjim ▶️ YouTube: Lead with Jim Facebook: @leadwithjim Support & Engage with the Show ✅ Subscribe to The Unshakable Life wherever you listen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | iHeartRadio ✅ Leave a 5-star review if this episode encouraged your faith. ✅ For more faith-driven leadership content, visit leadwithjim.com. Thanks for listening! Never miss an episode of The Unshakable Life. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app—and if this resonated, share it with a friend who needs the tools to develop an Unshakable Life! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    24 min
  4. 5 Subtle Mistakes That Keep You Stuck (and What to Do Instead)

    JAN 21

    5 Subtle Mistakes That Keep You Stuck (and What to Do Instead)

    Episode Summary: Most people who feel stuck aren't lazy. They aren't faithless. And they aren't broken. They are usually repeating a few quiet patterns that feel responsible but are actually killing their momentum. In this episode, Jim comes to you fresh from Podfest 2026 with a "Real Talk" update. He breaks down the 5 subtle mistakes that keep high-achievers circling the same mountain—from "waiting for clarity" to the spiritual bypass of "false peace." If you feel like you are constantly starting, stopping, praying, and planning—but never actually moving—this episode is your wake-up call. We are trading the "hype" of transformation for the boring, faithful work of next steps. Key Takeaways: Clarity vs. Certainty: You say you are waiting for clarity, but you are actually waiting for certainty. God rarely gives blueprints; He gives next steps. Motion builds clarity; stillness multiplies doubt. The "Conference High" Trap: We love the event, but we hate the process. Transformation isn't an emotional breakthrough; it is boring, repetitive habit. The Freeze Response: Trying to fix your business, health, and marriage all in one week isn't discipline—it's overload. Pick one battle to win this season. False Peace: Many people say "I'm at peace" when they are actually just disassociated or avoiding a hard truth. You cannot fix what you will not name. Shame vs. Identity: There is a difference between "I failed" and "I am a failure." One is an event; the other is an identity. You are not disqualified because you stumbled. Favorite Quotes: "Motion builds clarity. Stillness multiplies doubt and confusion." "Transformation, quite frankly, is boring." "Depth creates stability. Breadth creates collapse." "You can't fix what you don't name 'cause you don't know what you're healing." "Self-awareness is not self-condemnation." Connect with Jim 🌐 Website: www.leadwithjim.com 🎙️ Ask a Question: leadwithjim.com/ask 📱 Instagram: @leadwithjim ▶️ YouTube: Lead with Jim Facebook: @leadwithjim Support & Engage with the Show ✅ Subscribe to The Unshakable Life wherever you listen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | iHeartRadio ✅ Leave a 5-star review if this episode encouraged your faith. ✅ For more faith-driven leadership content, visit leadwithjim.com. Thanks for listening! Never miss an episode of The Unshakable Life. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app—and if this resonated, share it with a friend who needs the tools to develop an Unshakable Life! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    28 min
  5. From "Weird Kid" to Agency Owner: Finding Success in a Niche

    JAN 13

    From "Weird Kid" to Agency Owner: Finding Success in a Niche

    Episode Summary: We live in a world of noise. Marketers tell you to build a 5-step funnel, hustle harder, and cancel your Netflix. But what if the secret to success isn't doing more, but finding the specific path that works for you? In this episode, Jim sits down with Jamie Samples, owner of Yellow Barn Media. Jamie has spent 15 years running a successful marketing agency in a super-specific niche (the horse industry) while managing a hobby farm, a family, and high-functioning ADHD. They have a raw, "clear as mud" conversation about the messy middle of entrepreneurship. Jamie opens up about the moment she realized her identity was too wrapped up in her business, the "red flag" of losing her peace, and the practical hacks she uses to manage a busy brain. Key Takeaways: The Power of the Niche: You don't need to serve everyone. Jamie built a thriving agency by focusing on what she knew and loved: Horses. ADHD & Productivity: Standard advice like "wake up at 5 AM" doesn't work for everyone. Jamie shares her "finger trick" for remembering tasks and why she watches YouTube Shorts in the carpool line. Identity vs. Work: Two years ago, Jamie faced a hard truth: "If I died tomorrow, my business wouldn't care. My husband and son would." She shares how she disentangled her worth from her work. The "Peace" Barometer: How do you know when you are drifting back into toxic hustle? For Jamie, the red flag is "Losing Peace." Filtering the Noise: You don't need to listen to every guru. Find the people who align with your values and ignore the rest. Favorite Quotes: "I had to teach myself to slow down. I realized I could not do it all." "If I would've died the next day, my business, my clients aren't gonna care. My husband and my son are gonna care." "Losing peace... that's my red flag." "Discipline is rarely a personality trait. It is usually a calendar decision." (Jim) "Find the path that works for you... and work that plan over and over." Resources: Join the Newsletter: www.leadwithjim.com/nl Full Episode Show Notes & Transcript: www.leadwithjim.com/podcast Connect with Jamie: YellowBarnMedia.com Jamie’s Resources: Check out the courses and resources mentioned in the episode. Mentioned Episode: Balance is a Myth (The Unshakable Life) Connect with Jim 🌐 Website: www.leadwithjim.com 🎙️ Ask a Question: leadwithjim.com/ask 📱 Instagram: @leadwithjim ▶️ YouTube: Lead with Jim Facebook: @leadwithjim Support & Engage with the Show ✅ Subscribe to The Unshakable Life wherever you listen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | iHeartRadio ✅ Leave a 5-star review if this episode encouraged your faith. ✅ For more faith-driven leadership content, visit leadwithjim.com. Thanks for listening! Never miss an episode of The Unshakable Life. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app—and if this resonated, share it with a friend who needs the tools to develop an Unshakable Life! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    33 min
  6. Why Resolutions Fail (And the 90-Day Plan That Works

    JAN 7

    Why Resolutions Fail (And the 90-Day Plan That Works

    Episode Summary: Did you know that most resolutions die by January 17th? The reason is simple: Resolutions are just wishes attached to a calendar date. We treat January 1st like a magic portal that will change our personality, but by week three, the motivation fades and the old habits return. In this first episode of 2026, Jim Burgoon breaks down why "hype" fails and gives you a boring, tactical plan that actually works. We are ditching the year-long promises and building a 90-Day System based on clarity, tiny actions, and real accountability. If you want this year to look different than the last one, stop relying on willpower and start relying on a plan. Key Takeaways: Fewer Goals, More Clarity: Your brain cannot handle 12 priorities at once. Pick 3–4 specific goals for the next 90 days. "Get fit" is a wish; "Walk 30 minutes Mon/Wed/Fri" is a plan. The Weekly Review: A goal you don't review is just a daydream. Schedule 15 minutes a week to ask: What moved forward? What stalled? What is the one action that matters next week? Tiny Actions Beat Big Hype: Big goals fail because the next step is vague. Break your goals down into tiny, repeatable actions (e.g., "Two minutes of quiet prayer before I touch my phone"). Define the Win: You need two types of wins: Outcome Wins (the result) and Process Wins (the behavior). If you only measure the outcome, you will feel behind. If you measure the process, you will realize you are winning every day you show up. Real Accountability has Teeth: Real accountability isn't a cheerleader saying "Good job." It's a friend asking "Did you do it?" and a consequence if you didn't. Favorite Quotes: "Resolutions are about a mood. A plan is about a method." "If everything matters, nothing moves." "What isn't written is a daydream." "Discipline is rarely a personality trait. It is usually a calendar decision." "The amateur misses a day and quits for the year. The pro misses a day and returns the next morning." Resources: Join the Newsletter: www.leadwithjim.com/nl Full Episode Show Notes & Transcript: www.leadwithjim.com/podcast Connect with Jim 🌐 Website: www.leadwithjim.com 🎙️ Ask a Question: leadwithjim.com/ask 📱 Instagram: @leadwithjim ▶️ YouTube: Lead with Jim Facebook: @leadwithjim Support & Engage with the Show ✅ Subscribe to The Unshakable Life wherever you listen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | iHeartRadio ✅ Leave a 5-star review if this episode encouraged your faith. ✅ For more faith-driven leadership content, visit leadwithjim.com. Thanks for listening! Never miss an episode of The Unshakable Life. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app—and if this resonated, share it with a friend who needs the tools to develop an Unshakable Life! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    27 min
  7. Breaking the Cycle: 5 Lessons From 2025 to Leave Behind

    12/30/2025

    Breaking the Cycle: 5 Lessons From 2025 to Leave Behind

    Episode Summary: We usually end the year with a victory lap. We talk about the wins, the revenue, and the growth. But if we’re being honest, the most important lessons usually come from a face-plant. In this final episode of 2025, Jim Burgoon shares the "Ugly Truths" of the past year. From realizing that his "discipline" was actually fear dressed up as productivity, to a major health crash that came from ignoring his body's limits, Jim holds nothing back. If you want to walk into 2026 with a new foundation instead of just a new calendar, this episode is for you. We are leaving the hustle, the people-pleasing, and the burnout in 2025. Key Takeaways: Hustle is a Wound: If you can't rest without guilt, you aren't a high performer—you're a high-functioning captive. Jim admits how his "work ethic" was often just a way to avoid processing the grief of losing his mother and sister. Calling ≠ Invincibility: Your nervous system is not impressed by your calling. A holy mission with an unhealthy pace still ends in a crash (and sometimes an autoimmune diagnosis). Performance Kills Leadership: You cannot lead people you are secretly trying to impress. If you are addicted to approval, you will manage reactions instead of building trust. Belonging vs. Proving: Your best work happens when you stop trying to earn a seat at the table. You don't find your voice by forcing it; you find it by standing in it. Trust Your Intuition: Trauma can make you second-guess your gut. Jim shares why you must stop "logicking" your way out of red flags—if it feels off, it usually is off. Favorite Quotes: "You can't build a new future on old foundations." "When worth is the paycheck, you never clock out." "My nervous system is not impressed by my calling." "A holy mission with an unhealthy pace ends in a crash." "If I need you to like me, I cannot lead you." Resources: Join the Newsletter: www.leadwithjim.com/nl Full Episode Show Notes & Transcript: www.leadwithjim.com/podcast Connect with Jim 🌐 Website: www.leadwithjim.com 🎙️ Ask a Question: leadwithjim.com/ask 📱 Instagram: @leadwithjim ▶️ YouTube: Lead with Jim Facebook: @leadwithjim Support & Engage with the Show ✅ Subscribe to The Unshakable Life wherever you listen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | iHeartRadio ✅ Leave a 5-star review if this episode encouraged your faith. ✅ For more faith-driven leadership content, visit leadwithjim.com. Thanks for listening! Never miss an episode of The Unshakable Life. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app—and if this resonated, share it with a friend who needs the tools to develop an Unshakable Life! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    28 min
  8. Why Christmas Isn't a Hallmark Movie: The Untold Truths

    12/23/2025

    Why Christmas Isn't a Hallmark Movie: The Untold Truths

    Episode Summary: We have sanitized the Christmas story. We’ve turned it into a cozy postcard with silent nights, clean stables, and a glowing baby that never cries. But the real Christmas story wasn't cozy—it was chaotic, confusing, and messy. In this special Christmas episode, Jim Burgoon offers a fresh perspective on the nativity. We dive into five principles hidden in the chaos of Christmas—from why God chose the night shift workers first, to why obedience often requires confusion. If you are frantically trying to finish your year-end goals or just surviving the holiday travel, this episode is your permission slip to stop striving. God isn't allergic to your chaos; He was born right in the middle of it. Key Takeaways: God Delights in the Overlooked: The casting call for the incarnation included a teenage girl from a nowhere town and shepherds working the graveyard shift. God does His loudest work in the quietest places. Obedience in Confusion: Mary and Joseph didn't get a 10-step business plan; they got a disruption. Faith is saying "yes" to God when the path is unclear and the cost is real. God Steps Into Chaos: The first Christmas happened during a political crisis, a travel crisis, and a housing crisis. God moves toward your mess, not away from it. Glory Looks Ordinary: To the naked eye, the manger looked like poverty. To the spiritual eye, it was filled with angels. Don't confuse "visible success" with God's favor. For All People: The guest list included local blue-collar shepherds and foreign Gentile scholars. Jesus tears down every boundary we try to build. Favorite Quotes: "We have sanitized the Christmas story... but the real Christmas story wasn't cozy. It was chaotic, it was confusing, it was messy." "God does his loudest work in the quietest places." "Faith is saying yes to God when the path is unclear and the cost is real." "God is not allergic to your chaos. He always moves towards it." "Jesus wasn't meant for Christians. He was meant for a dying world." Resources: Join the Newsletter: www.leadwithjim.com/nl Full Episode Show Notes & Transcript: www.leadwithjim.com/podcast Connect with Jim 🌐 Website: www.leadwithjim.com 🎙️ Ask a Question: leadwithjim.com/ask 📱 Instagram: @leadwithjim ▶️ YouTube: Lead with Jim Facebook: @leadwithjim Support & Engage with the Show ✅ Subscribe to The Unshakable Life wherever you listen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | iHeartRadio ✅ Leave a 5-star review if this episode encouraged your faith. ✅ For more faith-driven leadership content, visit leadwithjim.com. Thanks for listening! Never miss an episode of The Unshakable Life. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app—and if this resonated, share it with a friend who needs the tools to develop an Unshakable Life! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    23 min
See All (77)

5
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

Do you feel called to make a huge impact—to lead, create, and build what God has put on your heart—but find yourself feeling stuck, scattered, or spiritually off track? You are not alone. Welcome to The Unshakeable Life, the podcast for Christian leaders, entrepreneurs, and content creators who are ready to stop overthinking and start walking in their God-given calling. Hosted by Jim Burgoon, a 20+ year leader and transformational coach, this show is for the forgotten but called. It's for the leader who feels worthless because they don't fit the world's mold. It's for the defeated and the brokenhearted who still have a fire within them to create and impact the world. This is not another show about business tactics or hustle culture. This is your playbook for developing true inner strength and leading from the heart. Each week, we'll dive into the practical, biblical strategies to help you: 🎯 Build a Biblical Mindset: Overcome imposter syndrome, heal from past failures, and anchor your identity in Christ, not your performance. 🎯 Develop True Resilience: Learn to set boundaries that protect your peace, recover from burnout, and stand firm when life gets chaotic. 🎯 Take Courageous Action: Gain the confidence and clarity to find your voice, communicate your message, and lead with authentic, relational authority. If you're ready to break free from burnout and people-pleasing to become the Christian leader you were created to be, subscribe now. It's time to build an unshakeable life.

Information

  • Creator
    Jim Burgoon
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    77
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Jim Burgoon
  • Show Website
    The Unshakeable Life