The Backstage Pastors Podcast

Phil Taylor and Tyler Drewitz
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Christianity
  • Updated Monthly

The Backstage Pastors Podcast is dedicated to the unique challenges and opportunities facing executive pastors and second-chair leaders in churches and nonprofits. Hosts Phil Taylor and Tyler Drewitz share hard-earned insights and introduce listeners to diverse leaders doing meaningful work behind the scenes. Together, they offer practical, actionable conversations designed to strengthen the ministries and people they quietly support.

  1. 1d ago

    Outsourcing The Sunday Count to AI with Kingdom Metrics

    In this episode of the Backstage Pastors podcast, Phil Taylor sits down with Matt Steen, co-founder of Chemistry Staffing, to talk about church staffing, pastoral succession, and the evolving role of the executive pastor. Matt shares his unconventional journey into ministry and explains why Chemistry Staffing was created to help churches find healthier, longer-lasting ministry fits. They also discuss the shrinking pipeline of ministry leaders, why some churches may not actually need an executive pastor, and what aspiring XPs should consider when looking for the right role. Matt highlights concerning trends in staff retention and encourages church leaders to have intentional conversations about their team members’ health, calling, and future. They close with practical ways churches can develop and send leaders while creating healthier teams and more sustainable ministry. Mentioned Resources 🗣️Connect with Kingdom Metrics  💻Kingdom Metrics  📩 Contact Kingdom Metrics  💻 Learn more about Gateway Baptist Church 📩 Contact Joseph Daniel   Upcoming Events Harbor Network Conference — Fort Myers, Florida  The Church Hub Executive Pastor Cohort From Our Partners 💻 ⁠The Church Hub⁠: The Church Hub serves pastors, ministry leaders, and their spouses through equipping and training resources. Learn more at https://thechurchhub.org   Connect with Phil Taylor ✉️ ⁠Get Phil's Newsletter⁠ ✉️ ⁠⁠phil@backstagepastors.org⁠⁠ 🗣️ ⁠⁠@philtaylorxp⁠⁠  📚 ⁠Books by Phil⁠ 💻 ⁠backstagepastors.org⁠ 💻⁠plainjoestudios.com⁠  Connect with Tyler Drewitz ✉️ ⁠⁠tyler@myxp.church⁠⁠ 🗣️ ⁠⁠@tylerdrewitz⁠⁠ 💻 ⁠myxp.church⁠ 💻⁠ridgelineprinting.com⁠ The best way to support this podcast is to like, subscribe and share it with a friend. LIKE & SUBSCRIBE 📹 ⁠Youtube⁠ 🍏 ⁠Apple⁠ 🎤 ⁠Spotify CHAPTERS 03:59 — Matt Steen’s Unconventional Journey into Ministry 07:29 — Why Chemistry Staffing Was Started 10:13 — Succession and the Shrinking Ministry Pipeline 14:09 — Does Your Church Really Need an Executive Pastor? 16:48 — Advice for Aspiring Executive Pastors 22:15 — Surviving Your First Year as an XP 26:24 — What the Church Staff Health Assessment Is Revealing 30:04 — The Three-to-Five-Year Wall and Developing Staff 38:43 — How Chemistry Staffing Approaches Church Hiring – – Editing and Support by The Good Podcast Co.  Backstage Pastors™️ is a Registered Trademark

    Outsourcing The Sunday Count to AI with Kingdom Metrics

  2. Oct 7

    Outsourcing your Key Hires with Matt Steen from Chemistry Staffing

    In this episode of the Backstage Pastors podcast, Phil Taylor sits down with Matt Steen, co-founder of Chemistry Staffing, to talk about church staffing, pastoral succession, and the evolving role of the executive pastor. Matt shares his unconventional journey into ministry and explains why Chemistry Staffing was created to help churches find healthier, longer-lasting ministry fits. They also discuss the shrinking pipeline of ministry leaders, why some churches may not actually need an executive pastor, and what aspiring XPs should consider when looking for the right role. Matt highlights concerning trends in staff retention and encourages church leaders to have intentional conversations about their team members’ health, calling, and future. They close with practical ways churches can develop and send leaders while creating healthier teams and more sustainable ministry. Mentioned Resources 🗣️Connect with Matt Steen  💻 Chemistry Staffing  📩 Contact Matt Steen 📕Turn the Ship Around! by L. David Marquet Upcoming Events Harbor Network Conference — Fort Myers, Florida  The Church Hub Executive Pastor Cohort From Our Partners 💻 ⁠The Church Hub⁠: The Church Hub serves pastors, ministry leaders, and their spouses through equipping and training resources. Learn more at https://thechurchhub.org   Connect with Phil Taylor ✉️ ⁠Get Phil's Newsletter⁠ ✉️ ⁠⁠phil@backstagepastors.org⁠⁠ 🗣️ ⁠⁠@philtaylorxp⁠⁠  📚 ⁠Books by Phil⁠ 💻 ⁠backstagepastors.org⁠ 💻⁠plainjoestudios.com⁠  Connect with Tyler Drewitz ✉️ ⁠⁠tyler@myxp.church⁠⁠ 🗣️ ⁠⁠@tylerdrewitz⁠⁠ 💻 ⁠myxp.church⁠ 💻⁠ridgelineprinting.com⁠ The best way to support this podcast is to like, subscribe and share it with a friend. LIKE & SUBSCRIBE 📹 ⁠Youtube⁠ 🍏 ⁠Apple⁠ 🎤 ⁠Spotify CHAPTERS 03:59 — Matt Steen’s Unconventional Journey into Ministry 07:29 — Why Chemistry Staffing Was Started 10:13 — Succession and the Shrinking Ministry Pipeline 14:09 — Does Your Church Really Need an Executive Pastor? 16:48 — Advice for Aspiring Executive Pastors 22:15 — Surviving Your First Year as an XP 26:24 — What the Church Staff Health Assessment Is Revealing 30:04 — The Three-to-Five-Year Wall and Developing Staff 38:43 — How Chemistry Staffing Approaches Church Hiring – – Editing and Support by The Good Podcast Co.  Backstage Pastors™️ is a Registered Trademark

    Outsourcing your Key Hires with Matt Steen from Chemistry Staffing

  3. Sep 16

    Holly Tate on the "Yes Test" with Your Senior Leader

    Executive pastors and second-chair leaders are often responsible for turning a senior leader’s vision into action—but what happens when there are more ideas than the organization can realistically execute? Holly Tate of The Ready Network joins Phil and Tyler to discuss sustainable growth, second-chair leadership, and becoming “yes-obsessed.” Holly introduces the Yes Test, a five-question framework that helps church leaders evaluate new opportunities, protect organizational focus, and determine what deserves a yes—and what needs a no. Mentioned Resources 🗣️Follow Holly Tate 💻 More From Holly  💻The Ready Network  📩 Contact Holly - holly@thereadynetwork.com Upcoming Events Harbor Network Conference — Fort Myers, Florida -  From Our Partners 💻 ⁠The Church Hub⁠: The Church Hub serves pastors, ministry leaders, and their spouses through equipping and training resources. Learn more at https://thechurchhub.org   Connect with Phil Taylor ✉️ ⁠Get Phil's Newsletter⁠ ✉️ ⁠⁠phil@backstagepastors.org⁠⁠ 🗣️ ⁠⁠@philtaylorxp⁠⁠  📚 ⁠Books by Phil⁠ 💻 ⁠backstagepastors.org⁠ 💻⁠plainjoestudios.com⁠  Connect with Tyler Drewitz ✉️ ⁠⁠tyler@myxp.church⁠⁠ 🗣️ ⁠⁠@tylerdrewitz⁠⁠ 💻 ⁠myxp.church⁠ 💻⁠ridgelineprinting.com⁠ The best way to support this podcast is to like, subscribe and share it with a friend. LIKE & SUBSCRIBE 📹 ⁠Youtube⁠ 🍏 ⁠Apple⁠ 🎤 ⁠Spotify CHAPTERS 03:01 — Holly Tate’s Leadership Journey 09:18 — Helping Leaders and Teams Prepare for Growth 12:59 — What It Means to Be Yes-Obsessed 16:21 — The Yes Test for Second-Chair Leaders 20:24 — Five Questions for Evaluating New Opportunities 28:01 — Leading Up and Earning a Seat at the Table 34:00 — Building Healthier Church Boards 36:23 — Using AI to Help Executives Stay Focused – – Editing and Support by The Good Podcast Co.  Backstage Pastors™️ is a Registered Trademark

    Holly Tate on the "Yes Test" with Your Senior Leader

  4. Sep 2

    From Executive Pastor to The Gospel Coalition with Zach Cochran

    Zach Cochran, Vice President of Operations at The Gospel Coalition, joins Phil and Tyler to discuss his transition from executive pastor to nonprofit second-chair leadership, the importance of operational leaders in the church, and TGC’s work helping Christians navigate artificial intelligence. He also shares practical wisdom for XPs considering a ministry transition and explains why healthy church leadership often requires patience with the slow, relational nature of ministry. Mentioned Resources 🗣️Follow The Gospel Coalition 💻 The Gospel Coalition Articles  💻 TGC AI Policy  🎙️Silicon Spiritualities — TGC podcast exploring AI, its formative effects, and questions about wise Christian engagement with artificial intelligence. From Our Partners 💻 ⁠The Church Hub⁠: The Church Hub serves pastors, ministry leaders, and their spouses through equipping and training resources. Learn more at https://thechurchhub.org   Connect with Phil Taylor ✉️ ⁠Get Phil's Newsletter⁠ ✉️ ⁠⁠phil@backstagepastors.org⁠⁠ 🗣️ ⁠⁠@philtaylorxp⁠⁠  📚 ⁠Books by Phil⁠ 💻 ⁠backstagepastors.org⁠ 💻⁠plainjoestudios.com⁠  Connect with Tyler Drewitz ✉️ ⁠⁠tyler@myxp.church⁠⁠ 🗣️ ⁠⁠@tylerdrewitz⁠⁠ 💻 ⁠myxp.church⁠ 💻⁠ridgelineprinting.com⁠ The best way to support this podcast is to like, subscribe and share it with a friend. LIKE & SUBSCRIBE 📹 ⁠Youtube⁠ 🍏 ⁠Apple⁠ 🎤 ⁠Spotify CHAPTERS 02:00 Zach’s Journey from College Athletics to Ministry Operations 05:12 Sojourn, Multi-site Ministry, and the Executive Pastor Role 06:52 Moving from Executive Pastor to TGC 12:15 Inside The Gospel Coalition’s Ministry and Resources 15:00 AI, Theology, and the Church 21:28 What XPs Should Know Before Changing Roles 27:00 Unifying the Church and Equipping Pastors 30:12 Resources for Executive Pastors and Second-Chair Leaders 32:24 AI, “Slop Scanning,” and Closing Thoughts – – Editing and Support by The Good Podcast Co.  Backstage Pastors™️ is a Registered Trademark

    From Executive Pastor to The Gospel Coalition with Zach Cochran

  5. Aug 19

    What Warren Bird’s Latest Research Reveals About Large & Multi-Site Churches

    Dr. Warren Bird joins Phil Taylor and Tyler Drebits to discuss decades of research into the trends shaping churches in America. Warren shares his journey from pastor and church planter to researcher and author, including the unexpected opportunities that led to a writing career spanning 35 books. The conversation focuses on Warren’s latest research into multisite churches and large churches. He shares findings about the continued growth of multisite, the increasing importance of small groups, post-pandemic attendance and spiritual vitality, and the challenges churches face around campus leadership, video teaching, succession, and organizational structure. Warren also takes listeners behind the scenes of large-scale church research, explaining how his team identifies churches, builds reliable databases, gathers responses, and works to communicate findings responsibly. Finally, Warren discusses his newest book, Becoming a Future-Ready Church, and the need for churches to prepare for future generations by adapting their methods without changing the gospel. He also shares areas he hopes to research next, including multisite leadership, family succession, and ministry residencies. Mentioned Resources 🗣️Follow Dr. Bird 💻 Dr. Warren Bird’s Website 💻 Latest Research on Multi-Site Churches   💻 ECFA.org 📕Dr. Bird’s Latest Book - Becoming a Future-Ready Church From Our Partners 💻 ⁠The Church Hub⁠: The Church Hub serves pastors, ministry leaders, and their spouses through equipping and training resources. Learn more at https://thechurchhub.org   Connect with Phil Taylor ✉️ ⁠Get Phil's Newsletter⁠ ✉️ ⁠⁠phil@backstagepastors.org⁠⁠ 🗣️ ⁠⁠@philtaylorxp⁠⁠  📚 ⁠Books by Phil⁠ 💻 ⁠backstagepastors.org⁠ 💻⁠plainjoestudios.com⁠  Connect with Tyler Drewitz ✉️ ⁠⁠tyler@myxp.church⁠⁠ 🗣️ ⁠⁠@tylerdrewitz⁠⁠ 💻 ⁠myxp.church⁠ 💻⁠ridgelineprinting.com⁠ The best way to support this podcast is to like, subscribe and share it with a friend. LIKE & SUBSCRIBE 📹 ⁠Youtube⁠ 🍏 ⁠Apple⁠ 🎤 ⁠Spotify CHAPTERS 02:59 Warren’s Journey from Pastor to Researcher 05:42 The Latest Multisite Church Research 08:20 The Resurgence of Large Churches 12:49 Churches Get Bigger by Getting Smaller 17:00 Are Churches Moving Away from Multisite? 20:15 Live Teaching, Video Teaching, and Campus Leadership 26:15 Succession and the Future of Multisite Churches 32:43 Behind the Scenes of Church Research 41:04 Becoming a Future-Ready Church and What Warren Is Studying Next – – Editing and Support by The Good Podcast Co.  Backstage Pastors™️ is a Registered Trademark

    What Warren Bird’s Latest Research Reveals About Large & Multi-Site Churches

  6. Aug 5

    Micro-church movements with Lucas Pulley

    Most executive pastors spend their careers helping churches grow by building systems, hiring staff, and delegating responsibilities. But what happens when the goal isn't building a larger Sunday gathering at all? In this episode, Phil sits down with Lucas Pulley of the Underground Network to explore one of America's largest microchurch movements. Lucas shares his own ministry journey—from campus ministry in Illinois to leading decentralized networks of mission-focused microchurches—and explains how the Underground has developed systems that support hundreds of autonomous missionary leaders while preserving contextual freedom. The conversation explores what defines a church, why mission is essential alongside worship and community, how decentralized networks stay healthy without becoming overly institutionalized, and what executive pastors in traditional church settings can learn from movement thinking. Whether your church is 100 people or 10,000, this conversation offers valuable insights into leadership, delegation, coaching, governance, and creating structures that empower people for mission rather than simply managing programs. Mentioned Resources 🗣️Follow Drew  🗣️Follow the Underground Network 💻Tampa Underground 💻 Underground Network  📕On the Verge By Alan Hirsch & Dave Ferguson From Our Partners 💻 ⁠The Church Hub⁠: The Church Hub serves pastors, ministry leaders, and their spouses through equipping and training resources. Learn more at https://thechurchhub.org   Connect with Phil Taylor ✉️ ⁠Get Phil's Newsletter⁠ ✉️ ⁠⁠phil@backstagepastors.org⁠⁠ 🗣️ ⁠⁠@philtaylorxp⁠⁠  📚 ⁠Books by Phil⁠ 💻 ⁠backstagepastors.org⁠ 💻⁠plainjoestudios.com⁠  Connect with Tyler Drewitz ✉️ ⁠⁠tyler@myxp.church⁠⁠ 🗣️ ⁠⁠@tylerdrewitz⁠⁠ 💻 ⁠myxp.church⁠ 💻⁠ridgelineprinting.com⁠ The best way to support this podcast is to like, subscribe and share it with a friend. LIKE & SUBSCRIBE 📹 ⁠Youtube⁠ 🍏 ⁠Apple⁠ 🎤 ⁠Spotify CHAPTERS 02:34 Lucas Pulley's ministry journey 10:48 What is the Underground Network? 16:16 Defining the microchurch model 20:20 Mission-specific vs. distributive microchurches 29:03 Building systems for decentralized leadership 37:32 Supporting networks across the country 41:35 Challenges of leading a decentralized movement 48:07 The place of microchurches within the broader Church 50:55 Final reflections and ministry resources – – Editing and Support by The Good Podcast Co.  Backstage Pastors™️ is a Registered Trademark

    Micro-church movements with Lucas Pulley

  7. Jul 15

    Drew Hyun on Emotional Health for Executive Pastors

    Phil and Tyler sit down with Drew Hyun, Lead Pastor of Hope Church NYC and Executive Director of Emotionally Healthy Discipleship (EHD), to explore why emotional health is foundational for effective ministry leadership. Drew shares his ministry journey—from serving under Pete Scazzero at New Life Fellowship to planting Hope Church NYC and eventually stepping into leadership of Emotionally Healthy Discipleship. He reflects on how becoming a lead pastor revealed the importance of emotional health in ways he had never fully understood before. The conversation explores why executive pastors and highly driven leaders often struggle with emotional awareness, the relationship between emotional maturity and ministry effectiveness, and practical ways leaders can begin pursuing greater self-awareness. Drew also offers an inside look at the future of Emotionally Healthy Discipleship, including the School of Emotionally Healthy Leadership, a new Order of Emotionally Healthy Leaders, and Pete Scazzero's upcoming book on redefining success in ministry. This episode is a thoughtful invitation for church leaders to pursue both the Great Commandment and the Great Commission, recognizing that healthy ministry begins with healthy leaders. Mentioned Resources 🗣️Follow Drew  🗣️Follow Emotionally Healthy Discipleship   💻Drew’s Website 💻 Emotionally Healthy Discipleship Website    📕Emotionally Healthy Discipleship Resources  ⛪️ Hope Church NYC From Our Partners 💻 ⁠The Church Hub⁠: The Church Hub serves pastors, ministry leaders, and their spouses through equipping and training resources. Learn more at https://thechurchhub.org   Connect with Phil Taylor ✉️ ⁠Get Phil's Newsletter⁠ ✉️ ⁠⁠phil@backstagepastors.org⁠⁠ 🗣️ ⁠⁠@philtaylorxp⁠⁠  📚 ⁠Books by Phil⁠ 💻 ⁠backstagepastors.org⁠ 💻⁠plainjoestudios.com⁠  Connect with Tyler Drewitz ✉️ ⁠⁠tyler@myxp.church⁠⁠ 🗣️ ⁠⁠@tylerdrewitz⁠⁠ 💻 ⁠myxp.church⁠ 💻⁠ridgelineprinting.com⁠ The best way to support this podcast is to like, subscribe and share it with a friend. LIKE & SUBSCRIBE 📹 ⁠Youtube⁠ 🍏 ⁠Apple⁠ 🎤 ⁠Spotify CHAPTERS 02:54 Drew Hyun's ministry journey 09:12 Why emotionally healthy leadership matters 14:08 Growing in self-awareness as a leader 19:00 Practical first steps toward emotional health 23:50 Leading two organizations without burning out 35:09 The future of Emotionally Healthy Discipleship 42:00 Resources and next steps for church leaders 42:53 Wrap up – – Editing and Support by The Good Podcast Co.  Backstage Pastors™️ is a Registered Trademark

    Drew Hyun on Emotional Health for Executive Pastors

  8. Jul 1

    Rich Birch on Building Churches that Keep Growing

    Rich Birch joins Phil and Tyler for a wide-ranging conversation about church growth, executive leadership, and helping churches remove barriers that prevent people from encountering Jesus. Drawing from decades of executive pastor experience and hundreds of conversations through the UnSeminary Podcast, Rich shares the mission behind his work and the insights he's gathered from one of the largest ongoing executive pastor surveys. The conversation explores what today's executive pastors are experiencing, including an encouraging sense of optimism alongside widespread staff exhaustion. Rich discusses why people—not finances or facilities—remain the greatest concern for executive pastors and offers practical ideas for improving staff health and leadership development. Rich also challenges a common assumption about church growth by arguing that many churches don't actually have a "back door" problem—they have a "front door" problem. He explains why churches should become obsessed with the guest experience, simplify every step of the first-time visitor journey, and intentionally build systems that help newcomers connect. Rich explains why personal invitations continue to be the single greatest driver of church growth and offers practical ways churches can equip and encourage their people to invite others consistently.   Mentioned Resources 🗣️Follow Rich  🗣️Follow UnSeminenary   💻UnSeminenary Website 💻 Executive Pastor Direct Survey     📕Unlocking Your Church's Invite Culture by Rich Birch 📕Church Growth Flywheel by Rich Birch ⛪️ Connexus Church From Our Partners 💻 ⁠The Church Hub⁠: The Church Hub serves pastors, ministry leaders, and their spouses through equipping and training resources. Learn more at https://thechurchhub.org   Connect with Phil Taylor ✉️ ⁠Get Phil's Newsletter⁠ ✉️ ⁠⁠phil@backstagepastors.org⁠⁠ 🗣️ ⁠⁠@philtaylorxp⁠⁠  📚 ⁠Books by Phil⁠ 💻 ⁠backstagepastors.org⁠ 💻⁠plainjoestudios.com⁠  Connect with Tyler Drewitz ✉️ ⁠⁠tyler@myxp.church⁠⁠ 🗣️ ⁠⁠@tylerdrewitz⁠⁠ 💻 ⁠myxp.church⁠ 💻⁠ridgelineprinting.com⁠ The best way to support this podcast is to like, subscribe and share it with a friend. LIKE & SUBSCRIBE 📹 ⁠Youtube⁠ 🍏 ⁠Apple⁠ 🎤 ⁠Spotify CHAPTERS  07:55 – Rich's Mission and the Story Behind UnSeminary 11:20 – Executive Pastor Survey: Hopeful but Tired 20:40 – Why People Are Every Executive Pastor's Biggest Challenge 27:20 – The Front Door Problem: Helping First-Time Guests Connect 39:30 – Seeing Church Through the Eyes of a First-Time Visitor 42:00 – Building an Invite Culture That Fuels Growth 50:25 – Encouragement for Executive Pastors – – Editing and Support by The Good Podcast Co.  Backstage Pastors™️ is a Registered Trademark

    Rich Birch on Building Churches that Keep Growing
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About

The Backstage Pastors Podcast is dedicated to the unique challenges and opportunities facing executive pastors and second-chair leaders in churches and nonprofits. Hosts Phil Taylor and Tyler Drewitz share hard-earned insights and introduce listeners to diverse leaders doing meaningful work behind the scenes. Together, they offer practical, actionable conversations designed to strengthen the ministries and people they quietly support.

Information

  • Creator
    Phil Taylor and Tyler Drewitz
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    20
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Phil Taylor and Tyler Drewitz
  • Show Website
    The Backstage Pastors Podcast

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