Linch with a Leader

Mike Linch
  • 5.0 (178)
  • RELIGION & SPIRITUALITY
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

What if you were able to sit down with some of the greatest leaders in the world? What would you ask? What would they say? Welcome to the “Linch with a Leader” Podcast with Mike Linch, where you are invited to join us in learning the spiritual principles behind big success.

  1. 2D AGO

    Takeaways From My Time with Ray Johnston

    In this episode, Mike Linch discusses the importance of shared vision, encouragement, and leadership legacy, with insights from Pastor Ray Johnston. Topics include how to foster ownership in vision, stay encouraged as a leader, and leave a lasting family legacy.

    14 min

  2. MAR 2

    Ray Johnston on the Vision Every Leader Needs and the Encouragement They Can't Lead Without

    What if the most important thing a leader does isn’t casting vision… but staying encouraged enough to live it? In this episode of Linch with a Leader, Mike Linch sits down with Ray Johnston, Senior Pastor of Bayside Church, founder of the Thrive Conference, and one of the most influential leadership voices in the American church. Together, they dive into a conversation every leader needs: how to cultivate fresh vision, stay deeply encouraged, and lead in a culture that often does everything it can to tear leaders down. From building a church of over 20,000 people… to coaching pastors around the world… to raising a family that genuinely loves each other and the church they serve, Ray’s story is a blueprint for leaders who want to last; not just succeed. Mike and Ray unpack the kind of leadership that doesn’t burn out, doesn’t lose heart, and doesn’t rely on charisma alone. They dive into the power of shared vision, why “announced vision” rarely works, and how Ray built a leadership culture where people don’t just follow... They own the mission. They explore how to lead with resilience, how to stay encouraged when criticism comes, and why the greatest impact you’ll ever make might show up in your home long before it shows up on a stage. Whether you’re pastoring a church, leading a company, coaching a team, or simply trying to influence the people around you, this episode will strengthen your heart, sharpen your leadership, and remind you what really matters. Mike’s Leadership Lessons from Ray Johnston: • “People don’t support what you announce. They support what they create.” • Encouragement isn’t optional, it’s a leader’s greatest responsibility. • Vision isn’t something you share at people; it’s something you build with them. • The leaders who last are the ones who stop reading their critics. • Fresh vision requires fresh air from God. • Legacy grows at home before it ever grows at church. • A great leader is a shock absorber, not a spotlight chaser. TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 Introduction and Shared Experiences 04:27 The Essence of Leadership 06:46 Creating Shared Vision 11:57 The Importance of Encouragement in Leadership 21:30 Navigating Challenges as a Leader 32:01 Balancing Leadership and Family Life 33:47 Parenting as a Leader 51:24 Building a Healthy Family Tree

    57 min

  3. FEB 25

    Takeaways From My Time with Dawn Cazedessus

    This episode features Mike Linch discussing leadership principles, the importance of wisdom over knowledge, leading with empathy, and overcoming imposter syndrome, with insights from his conversations with Dawn and upcoming interview with Ray Johnston.

    8 min

  4. FEB 16

    Dawn Cazedessus from the Trailer Park to Leading Thousands with Grit and Vision

    What if the biggest thing holding your leadership back isn’t your circumstances… but the story you still believe about yourself? In this episode of Linch with a Leader, Mike Linch sits down with Dawn Cazedessus, Regional Director for Keller Williams’ Southeast Region overseeing 17,000+ agents, entrepreneur, ultramarathon runner, and author of Trailer Park CEO, to unpack a leadership journey built on grit, discipline, and unshakable faith. From growing up in poverty in rural Louisiana: to battling imposter syndrome at the highest levels of leadership… to learning the difference between grinding and “gritting on purpose,” Dawn’s story is a masterclass in resilience, self-awareness, and leading on assignment. Together, Mike and Dawn explore what it really means to build success without losing your soul, how faith reshapes ambition, how discipline fuels longevity, and why failure is often the foundation of future influence. They talk about overcoming scarcity thinking, leading with empathy in high-performance environments, building kingdom impact in the workplace, and why your leadership ceiling is often tied to your internal healing. Whether you’re running a business, leading a team, or wrestling with whether you’re “ready” for your next assignment — this episode will challenge how you define success and encourage you to lead with purpose. Mike’s Leadership Lessons from Dawn: • Stop grinding. Start gritting on purpose. • You can leave your past physically, but growth requires leaving it mentally. • Self-awareness removes ego and strengthens influence. • Failure isn’t the opposite of success, it’s the foundation of it. • Discipline isn’t intensity. It’s consistency. • Movement is not achievement. Alignment is. • You are not in control — and that’s where freedom begins. Welcome to the Linch with a Leader Podcast, where you’re invited to join the spiritual principles behind big success, with host Mike Linch. Subscribe to the channel so you never miss an episode: Watch: @linchwithaleader Prefer just listening? SUBSCRIBE to the podcast here: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0dJfeLbikJlKlBqAx6mDYW?si=6ffed84956cb4848 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/linch-with-a-leader/id1279929826 Find show notes and more information at: www.mikelinch.com Follow for EVERYDAY leadership content and interaction: Follow on X: https://x.com/mikelinch?s=20 Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikelinch JOIN Mike for a Sunday at NorthStar Church: www.northstarchurch.org Watch: @nsckennesaw Read 'Trailer Park CEO: https://a.co/d/01kkvPeA TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Dawn's Early Life and Challenges 10:25 Lessons from Adversity 20:02 Empathy and Leadership 24:32 Understanding Grit in Leadership 34:57 The Power of Discipline 39:05 Wisdom vs. Knowledge in Leadership 43:20 Finding Purpose and Calling

    47 min

  5. FEB 11

    Takeaways: What I Learned from Rod Olson with Mike and Casey Linch

    In this conversation, Casey Linch and Mike Linch explore the nature of leadership, emphasizing the importance of stewardship, team alignment, trust, and prioritizing family. They discuss how leaders can effectively steward their roles, build cohesive teams, and maintain trust for long-term success, while also addressing the common pitfalls of neglecting family in pursuit of professional recognition.

    13 min

  6. FEB 2

    Rod Olson on What the Elite Leaders Do Differently

    What if the greatest tool in your leadership arsenal isn’t charisma but clarity? In this episode of Linch with a Leader, Mike Linch sits down with Rod Olson, better known as Coach O, a former college football coach turned trusted voice to elite performers, from Navy SEALs to CEOs to professional athletes. Rod Olson has spent decades inside the pressure cookers of high performance first on the sidelines, and now in the boardrooms, battlefields, and locker rooms of America’s most demanding leadership environments. From helping leaders find their “sweet spot”… to coaching instead of motivating… to building cultures where character beats talent every time, Rod’s wisdom is equal parts tough love, tactical clarity, and transformational vision. Together, Mike and Coach O unpack the biggest challenges today’s leaders face—and what separates those who flame out from those who finish well. They explore how to lead without ego, how to shape culture with your words, and why the greatest leadership moments often happen when no one is watching. Whether you’re coaching a team, leading a business, mentoring the next generation, or navigating your own leadership crossroads this episode will sharpen your edge and remind you that clarity is the new charisma. Mike’s Leadership Lessons from Coach O: • “You don’t motivate Navy SEALs. You coach them.” • Talent might get you the job, character keeps you in it. • Leaders don’t rise to the level of hype they fall to the level of systems and clarity. • The best cultures are built on language, not slogans. • You can’t lead what you don’t love. And you can’t love what you don’t know. • Legacy isn’t what you build, it’s what you leave in people. Welcome to the Linch with a Leader Podcast, where you’re invited to discover the spiritual principles behind big success—with host Mike Linch. 🎯 Subscribe to the channel so you never miss an episode: 📺 Watch: @linchwithaleader 🎧 Prefer just listening? SUBSCRIBE to the podcast here: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0dJfeLbikJlKlBqAx6mDYW?si=6ffed84956cb4848 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/linch-with-a-leader/id1279929826 📓 Find show notes and more info: www.mikelinch.com 📱 Follow for EVERYDAY leadership content and interaction: Twitter (X): https://x.com/mikelinch?s=20 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikelinch/ 🙌 JOIN Mike for a Sunday at NorthStar Church: www.northstarchurch.org 📺 Watch: @nsckennesaw TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 The Journey to Leadership Passion 09:22 Integrating Faith and Coaching 14:30 The Changing Landscape of Leadership 19:40 Identifying True Leadership 22:56 Excellence Across Domains 26:45 Understanding Team Dynamics and Accountability 28:04 Lessons from Working with Elite Leaders 33:56 Navigating Personal Challenges and Growth 39:08 The Role of Family in Leadership and Values

    46 min

  7. JAN 28

    Takeaways: What I Learned from Chuck DeGroat with Mike and Casey Linch

    In this episode, Casey and Mike discuss the importance of emotional health in leadership, the challenges leaders face, and the concept of creating margin for personal growth and healing. They explore the idea of God's presence in difficult times and the significance of simply being present for others in their struggles. The conversation emphasizes the need for leaders to navigate their own storms while supporting those around them.

    11 min

  8. JAN 19

    What No One Tells Leaders About Burnout, Soul Care, and Emotional Survival

    Episode 258: What if the most important work of leadership isn't what you do for others, but what God is doing in you? In this episode of Linch with a Leader, Mike Linch sits down with Chuck DeGroat—professor of pastoral care, licensed therapist, spiritual director, and author of When Narcissism Comes to Church—for a deeply honest conversation about soul care, burnout, trauma, and the slow work of spiritual leadership. Chuck’s journey spans decades of ministry, counseling, and formation: from early certainty and ambition in ministry… to walking alongside leaders through moral failure, collapse, and burnout… to confronting his own breaking point when his body finally forced him to slow down… to devoting his life to helping leaders heal what’s beneath the surface. What unfolds is a vulnerable, hope-filled conversation about what happens when leaders ignore their inner life—and what becomes possible when they finally tend to it. Together, Mike and Chuck explore why burnout isn’t just about overwork, how trauma quietly shapes leadership styles, what it means to create safety in homes and churches, and why real spiritual formation can’t be rushed. They talk about the lies leaders believe, the danger of performing health instead of living it, and how God often does His deepest work in seasons of darkness, disorientation, and slowing down. Whether you’re a pastor running on empty, a leader carrying pain you’ve never named, or someone wondering why “doing all the right things” still feels hollow—this episode offers language, permission, and hope for the healing journey. 🎯 Leadership Lessons from Chuck: You can’t lead others to wholeness if you ignore your own soul. Burnout is often unprocessed pain, not just too many hours. Spiritual leadership requires emotional maturity. Healing is slow—but sacred. Safety is the soil where transformation grows. God doesn’t disappear in the dark—our false certainties do. Leaders don’t need to perform health; they need to practice honesty. 🎧 Listen & Subscribe Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/linch-with-a-leader/id1279929826 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0dJfeLbikJlKlBqAx6mDYW?si=3be196d45ecc469c 📝 Show notes & more www.mikelinch.com 📺 Watch on YouTube www.youtube.com/@linchwithaleader 🗓️ Join Mike on a Sunday at NorthStar www.northstarchurch.org www.youtube.com/@nsckennesaw 📱 Follow Mike Instagram: @MikeLinch X/Twitter: @mikelinch TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Journey into Soul Care 06:07 The Rewards and Challenges of Soul Care 09:16 Creating Safety in Relationships 11:50 Parenting and Connection 14:50 Creating Safe Spaces in Ministry 17:52 Recognizing Unhealth in Leadership 20:35 Personal Breaking Points and Growth 22:54 The Wake-Up Call: Health and Leadership 24:02 Questions from the Garden: A New Perspective 28:07 Belief Systems: The Foundation of Spiritual Formation 30:52 Embracing the Darkness: Lessons Learned 34:57 The Impact of Dark Nights on Character Formation 36:58 The Slow Work of Character Development 40:55 Finding Comfort in Invisibility: A Leader's Journey

    45 min
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5
out of 5
178 Ratings

About

What if you were able to sit down with some of the greatest leaders in the world? What would you ask? What would they say? Welcome to the “Linch with a Leader” Podcast with Mike Linch, where you are invited to join us in learning the spiritual principles behind big success.

Information

  • Creator
    Mike Linch
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2026
  • Episodes
    281
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Northstar Church - GA

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