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. 7h ago

    Volunteer-Heavy Ministries & Taking A Sunday Off [Jeremy

    As a Technical Director, when was the last time you were actually able to take a Sunday off? If your church relies heavily on volunteers, stepping away from the tech booth can feel completely impossible. We also tackle the massive, ongoing debate regarding the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in church tech. Is it a helpful tool or a dangerous shortcut? Finally, we share a hilarious Church Tech Disaster story and wrap up with a crucial reminder: the only way to keep Sundays running long-term is by providing actual, genuine care for your team. In this episode you'll hear:  0:00 Intro: Touring Atlanta Churches 6:30 Jeremy McKee  Joins 12:45 Running a Volunteer-Heavy Production Ministry 28:00 Which Tech Workflows You Should Automate 34:15 The Big Question: Can a Tech Director Take a Sunday Off? 39:15 Should Your Church Be Using AI in Production? 42:30 Church Tech Disaster Story 45:45 Keep Sundays Running: Genuine Volunteer Care Get expert help and care on your next integration project with our friends at HouseRight here.  Hang out with us at The Mix in Vegas 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

  2. Jun 15 ·  Video

    Christian Magicians, Blind Tech Booths & Hosting SALT Conference

    How do you handle the immense pressure of designing a creative live event specifically for creatives? And as technology rapidly evolves, should church production teams be embracing or avoiding Artificial Intelligence (AI)? In this episode, we are joined by Luke McElroy, the visionary founder of the SALT Conference and the SALT Community. Luke pulls back the curtain on the difficulty of live events, sharing the inspiring origin story of SALT and what it actually takes to run a massive gathering for church technical artists. We also zoom out to discuss the profound, eternal impact that worship and production teams have on their congregations every single Sunday. In this episode you'll hear:  0:00 The Reality and Difficulty of Live Events 4:00 Luke McElroy (Founder of SALT Conference) Joins 8:45 The Origin Story of the SALT Conference 15:30 Behind the Scenes: Running Events for Creatives 18:15 The Eternal Impact of Worship and Production Teams 22:50 The Pressure of Designing a Conference For Creatives 26:30 Storytime: The Christian Magicians Disaster 35:40 The Big Debate: Should Church Production Use AI? 45:20 Church Tech Disaster Story: "We Couldn’t See a Thing" Get expert help and care on your next integration project with our friends at HouseRight here.  Hang out with us at The Mix in Vegas 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!

    56 min

  3. Jun 8

    Streamlining AVL Gear & The Battle of a Lifetime [Josh Suender]

    Where do you start when you want to level up the production at a new church? And how do you keep pushing forward when life throws you a devastating diagnosis? In this episode, we are joined by Josh Suender of Faith Community Church (Clayton, NC). We start with some practical, high-value tech talk, breaking down the exact first steps you should take to level up your church production. Josh shares his favorite creative AVL gear moves to streamline your workflow, how to keep MultiTracks from getting "weird" and chaotic on stage, and the massive benefits of implementing Bitfocus Companion in your tech booth. In this episode you'll hear:  0:00 Intro: Toby’s Adventures in Worship Leading 5:30 Josh Suender (Faith Community Church) Joins 7:45 Josh’s Start in Church Production 11:20 Assessing the Production Baseline at a New Job 14:00 The First Steps to Level Up Your Church Production 16:20 Creative AVL Moves to Streamline Your Tech 28:45 Keeping MultiTracks from Getting "Weird" on Stage 30:15 Implementing Bitfocus Companion in Your Setup 36:00 Josh’s Battle for His Life: A Stage 4 Diagnosis 48:15 Keep Sundays Running Get expert help and care on your next integration project with our friends at HouseRight here.  Hang out with us at The Mix in Vegas 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!

    56 min

  4. Jun 1

    How Much Do You HAVE To Care? [Willow Hodge]

    We dive into the heart of volunteer leadership, discussing why people always matter more than the production, and establishing the true "minimum standard of care" every Technical Director owes their team.  Willow also shares incredible insights on the specific benefits of having more women in church production and actionable strategies for how to recruit them. In this episode you'll hear:  0:00 Intro: Toby Hates Talking to People 5:00 Willow Hodge (Hope Fellowship Church) Joins 8:45 Willow’s Start in Church Production 11:15 The Golden Rule of Tech: Why People Matter Most 20:00 Timecode Debate: How Much Should Your Service Depend On It? 22:15 The Minimum Standard of Care for Tech Volunteers 33:40 The Power and Benefits of Women in Church Production 39:00 How to Actively Recruit More Women to Your Tech Team 41:15 Church Tech Volunteer Disaster Story 44:15 Keep Sundays Running: Ask Questions and Listen Get expert help and care on your next integration project with our friends at HouseRight here.  Hang out with us at The Mix in Vegas 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!

    51 min

  5. May 25

    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.  Hang out with us at The Mix in Vegas 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

  6. 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.  Hang out with us at The Mix in Vegas 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

  7. 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.  Hang out with us at The Mix in Vegas 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

  8. 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.  Hang out with us at The Mix in Vegas 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
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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
    228
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The ChurchGear Podcast
  • Show Website
    The ChurchGear Podcast

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