The ChurchGear Podcast

Toby Walters [Church Tech Advocate]
  • 4.9 (114)
  • MUSIC INTERVIEWS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Are you a church tech director? If so, this podcast exists to serve you specifically. Each week we pull the tech director out of the booth and place them onto the stage to share their most outlandish stories and hidden wisdom from the tech trenches. Hosted by Toby Walters and Blake Hodges.

  1. 3D AGO

    The Clayton Gregory Incident & Remote Church Mixes [James Hurley]

    James breaks down the actual logistics of how remote mixing works, the philosophical question of whether online audiences are actually engaging in worship or just watching a sermon, and if your church should make the transition to a remote setup.  We also discuss practical leadership strategies for communicating with a frustrating pastor, recap our FILO 2026 hijinks, and comment on  the details of the infamous "Clayton Gregory Incident." In this episode you'll hear: 0:00 Intro: FILO 2026 Conference Hijinks 6:45 James Hurley Joins the Podcast 8:00 From NASA to Church Tech: Production at the Highest Level 11:00 The Big Debate: Should Every Church Remote Mix? 19:45 Online Engagement: Are People Actually Worshipping at Home? 25:45 The Logistics: How Remote Mixing Actually Works 27:15 Should Your Church Transition to Remote Mixing? 38:30 Storytime: The Clayton Gregory Incident 47:30 How to Communicate with Your Pastor When You're Frustrated 50:15 Church Production Disaster Story 55:15 Keep Sundays Running: The Power of Fellowship Get expert help and care on your next integration project with our friends at HouseRight here.  Get more money back in your budget and more space in your closet by selling us your used gear here.  Resources for your Church Tech Ministry Sell Us Gear: Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here. Buy Our Gear: Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can shop our gear store here.    Connect with us:  Sales Bulletin: Get better deals than the public and get them earlier too here!Early Service: Get our best gear before it goes live on our site here. Instagram: Hangout with us on the gram here! Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!

    1 hr

  2. MAY 18

    Mixing for NF, Subwoofer Setups & Timecode [Travis Stoker]

    What does it take to mix Front of House for a massive arena rap tour? And how can church technical directors apply those touring strategies to a Sunday morning service? In this episode, we are joined by Travis Stoker, the Front of House (FOH) Engineer for chart-topping rapper NF. Travis pulls back the curtain on NF's live audio setup, sharing exactly how he approaches mixing live rap and hip-hop, the specific gear he's taking on tour, and his secrets for managing massive subwoofer setups to get that perfect low-end punch. In this episode you'll hear: 0:00 Intro: Fun Concert Experiences 4:50 Travis Stoker (NF’s FOH Engineer) Joins 6:15 Travis’s Journey to Mixing for NF 12:00 How to Mix Audio for Rap and Hip-Hop 15:00 Gear Talk: What is Travis Using on Tour? 20:30 Using Backing Tracks: Concerts vs. Church 33:15 The Debate: Should Your Church Use Timecode? 36:00 Do FOH Engineers Need System Design Knowledge? 42:45 Subwoofer Setups for Mixing Heavy Low-End 50:00 Live Production Disaster Story 59:30 Keep Sundays Running: The Power of Teams Get expert help and care on your next integration project with our friends at HouseRight here.  Get more money back in your budget and more space in your closet by selling us your used gear here.  Resources for your Church Tech Ministry Sell Us Gear: Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here. Buy Our Gear: Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can shop our gear store here.    Connect with us:  Sales Bulletin: Get better deals than the public and get them earlier too here!Early Service: Get our best gear before it goes live on our site here. Instagram: Hangout with us on the gram here! Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!

    1h 6m

  3. MAY 11

    When to Pause an Integration & Stop Overspending on Gear [Neil Brown]

    How long can you keep your church's production running on "Band-Aid" fixes before you finally need a complete AVL upgrade? And how do you pitch that massive expense to your leadership team? In this episode, we are joined by Neil Brown of Henderson Hills Church to talk about smart budgeting, integration, and safety. Neil breaks down how to have the difficult conversation with leadership about moving from cheap, temporary fixes to a strategic, full-scale AVL upgrade. He also explains why it's okay to hit pause mid-integration if a project is heading in the wrong direction. In this episode you'll hear: 0:00 Intro: Does Toby Want to Burn ChurchGear Down? 6:45 Neil Brown (Henderson Hills Church) Joins 13:00 When to Pause and Reevaluate Mid-Integration 24:30 Moving from "Band-Aid" Fixes to Full AVL Upgrades 31:30 Cool Production Life Hacks on a Tight Budget 38:15 What Churches Are Spending Too Much Money On 42:00 Safety Warning: Double-Check Your Rigging! 46:00 Keep Sundays Running: Avoid Last-Minute Changes Get expert help and care on your next integration project with our friends at HouseRight here.  Get more money back in your budget and more space in your closet by selling us your used gear here.  Resources for your Church Tech Ministry Sell Us Gear: Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here. Buy Our Gear: Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can shop our gear store here.    Connect with us:  Sales Bulletin: Get better deals than the public and get them earlier too here!Early Service: Get our best gear before it goes live on our site here. Instagram: Hangout with us on the gram here! Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!

    52 min

  4. MAY 4

    Assaulted in the Booth! + The Gear vs. Acoustics Debate [Celebration Church's Ivan Diaz]

    How do you convince your senior pastor to approve the new AVL gear your church desperately needs? And if budgets get slashed, do you sacrifice your gear upgrades or your room's acoustic treatment? In this episode, we are joined by the team from City Church to tackle the hardest parts of church production leadership. We break down the strategy of using your church's specific vision to pick the right gear, rather than just the most expensive gear. We also dive into the technical weeds with a guide to Objective-Based Mixing and how to properly assess your room acoustics.  In this episode you'll hear:  0:00 The Dangers of Changing Things on Your Congregation5:00 Storytime: Being Assaulted in the Tech Booth!11:00 Networking: How to Meet Local Church Techs17:00 Gear Talk: What is City Church Using?18:00 How to Convince Your Pastor to Approve New Gear20:00 A Guide to Objective-Based Mixing27:00 Using Church Vision to Pick the Right Gear29:40 The True Importance of Room Acoustics31:30 Budget Cuts: Do You Sacrifice Gear or Acoustics?39:30 Keeping Church Tech Volunteers Excited to Serve43:30 Tech Takeaway: Set Your Volunteers Up for Success Get expert help and care on your next integration project with our friends at HouseRight here.  Get more money back in your budget and more space in your closet by selling us your used gear here.  Resources for your Church Tech Ministry Sell Us Gear: Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here. Buy Our Gear: Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can shop our gear store here.    Connect with us:  Sales Bulletin: Get better deals than the public and get them earlier too here!Early Service: Get our best gear before it goes live on our site here. Instagram: Hangout with us on the gram here! Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!

    49 min

  5. APR 27

    Immersive Mixing, Brownouts, & Blackouts [Community Bible Church's Eric Allen]

    Is the hype around immersive audio actually worth the massive investment for your church? And how do you keep your production and worship teams united when your church is experiencing explosive, multi-site growth? In this episode, we are joined by Eric Allen, Audio Engineer at Community Bible Church (CBC) in San Antonio. We start by unpacking what it takes to manage production across a rapidly growing, multi-site congregation, including exactly how CBC bridges the gap between the worship band and the tech booth. In this episode you'll hear 0:00 Intro: Toby & Blake Are Bad at First Dates 5:30 Eric Allen (Community Bible Church) Joins 8:45 Managing Explosive Church Growth 12:30 Integrating Production and Worship Teams 14:16 Uniting a Multi-Site Worship Experience 22:00 Defining Immersive Audio in a Church Setting 24:00 Things to Consider Before Upgrading to Immersive 28:30 The Real Benefits of Immersive-Based Mixing 39:30 Weighing the Decision: Is Immersive Worth the Cost? 42:48 Tech Disaster Story 1: The Brownout 47:25 Tech Disaster Story 2: The Blackout 51:45 Keep Sundays Running: The Work You Do Monday to Friday Get expert help and care on your next integration project with our friends at HouseRight here.  Get more money back in your budget and more space in your closet by selling us your used gear here.  Resources for your Church Tech Ministry Sell Us Gear: Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here. Buy Our Gear: Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can shop our gear store here.    Connect with us:  Sales Bulletin: Get better deals than the public and get them earlier too here!Early Service: Get our best gear before it goes live on our site here. Instagram: Hangout with us on the gram here! Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!

    59 min

  6. APR 20

    Production, Gear & Pastor Life Hacks in Africa [Estian Els]

    In this episode, we are joined by Estian Els to get a global perspective on church tech. We dive into the realities of running a massive 7,000-person church in Africa, breaking down exactly what gear they use and the unique struggles of navigating international supply chains to get it. Estian also shares a brilliant leadership hack: why you need to bring your senior pastor to the FILO Conference. Finally, we zoom out to discuss the broader state of the global church, exploring exactly what the American church needs to learn from the African church when it comes to worship, community, and production. In this episode you'll hear:  0:00 Intro: Are You Scared to Travel Internationally? 5:15 Estian Els Joins the Podcast 9:04 Estian’s Start in Church Production 17:30 Gear Talk: Production for a 7,000-Person Church in Africa 19:50 The Supply Chain Struggle: Getting AVL Gear in Africa 24:45 Life Hack: Take Your Pastor to the FILO Conference 34:30 The Current State of the Church in Africa 37:30 What the American Church Can Learn from the African Church 44:00 Church Tech Disaster Story 47:00 Keep Sundays Running Get expert help and care on your next integration project with our friends at HouseRight here.  Get more money back in your budget and more space in your closet by selling us your used gear here.  Resources for your Church Tech Ministry Sell Us Gear: Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here. Buy Our Gear: Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can shop our gear store here.    Connect with us:  Sales Bulletin: Get better deals than the public and get them earlier too here!Early Service: Get our best gear before it goes live on our site here. Instagram: Hangout with us on the gram here! Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!

    54 min

  7. APR 13

    Navigating a Moral Failure & Leading Tech Through Crisis [Gateway Church's Will Martin]

    In this heavy but incredibly important episode, we are joined by Will Martin of Gateway Church. Will shares the raw reality of navigating one of the most publicized church crises in recent history. We discuss the immediate emotional toll on the production team, how to lead volunteers through the shock, and the harsh realities of staff turnover and attendance drops following a major scandal. In this episode you'll hear: 0:00 Intro: False Miracles 6:14 Will Martin (Gateway Church) Joins 10:45 The Fallout: Navigating a Pastor's Moral Failure 18:00 Leading a Tech Team Through a Church Crisis 27:30 The Reality of Staff Turnover After a Scandal 32:30 How Moral Failures Impact Church Attendance 35:00 Should Lead Pastors Be Held to a Higher Standard? 47:30 Supporting Church Leadership During a Crisis 52:30 Gateway Church's Transition to a New Pastor 57:00 Keep Sundays Running: Knowing Your "Why" Get expert help and care on your next integration project with our friends at HouseRight here.  Get more money back in your budget and more space in your closet by selling us your used gear here.  Resources for your Church Tech Ministry Sell Us Gear: Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here. Buy Our Gear: Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can shop our gear store here.    Connect with us:  Sales Bulletin: Get better deals than the public and get them earlier too here!Early Service: Get our best gear before it goes live on our site here. Instagram: Hangout with us on the gram here! Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!

    1h 3m

  8. APR 6

    Communicating Your Value as a Technical Artist [FILO's Todd Elliott]

    How do you communicate your actual value to your church leadership without overwhelming them with tech jargon? In this episode, we are joined by FILO Founder Todd Elliott. Todd shares the origin story of how FILO was created to support the often-overlooked production community. We dive into a deep conversation about the title of "Technical Artist," why using intentional tech jargon to sound smart usually backfires with your senior pastor, and the best ways to bridge the communication gap between the tech booth and the executive team.  In this episode you'll hear:  0:00 Intro: Chicago Keeps Trying to Kill Us5:20 Todd Elliott (Founder of FILO) Joins11:00 Game: Church Camp or Frat House?17:15 The Origin Story of the FILO Conference27:30 The Debate: Are Church Techs "Technical Artists"?34:00 How to Communicate Your Value to Church Leadership38:00 The Danger of Using Tech Jargon with Pastors49:30 Keep Sundays Running: Forecasting Gear Failure Get expert help and care on your next integration project with our friends at HouseRight here.  Get more money back in your budget and more space in your closet by selling us your used gear here.  Resources for your Church Tech Ministry Sell Us Gear: Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here. Buy Our Gear: Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can shop our gear store here.    Connect with us:  Sales Bulletin: Get better deals than the public and get them earlier too here!Early Service: Get our best gear before it goes live on our site here. Instagram: Hangout with us on the gram here! Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!

    1 hr
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Trailer

4.9
out of 5
114 Ratings

About

Are you a church tech director? If so, this podcast exists to serve you specifically. Each week we pull the tech director out of the booth and place them onto the stage to share their most outlandish stories and hidden wisdom from the tech trenches. Hosted by Toby Walters and Blake Hodges.

Information

  • Creator
    Toby Walters [Church Tech Advocate]
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    224
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The ChurchGear Podcast
  • Show Website
    The ChurchGear Podcast

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