The Emotionally Healthy Leader Podcast

Pete Scazzero
  • 4.8 (630)
  • CHRISTIANITY
  • UPDATED SEMIMONTHLY
The Emotionally Healthy Leader Podcast

Many pastors and church leaders today feel overwhelmed, exhausted, and frustrated that their churches don’t seem to be making mature disciples. The Emotionally Healthy Leader Podcast explores the paradigms and practices leaders need to transform their church culture and multiply deeply changed disciples.

  1. DEC 10

    Slowness Over Speed: Lessons from the Mustard Seed

    📣 Transform your church culture with the Emotionally Healthy Discipleship Course. Curious? Download and preview TWO full sessions from the course for FREE. https://www.emotionallyhealthy.org/preview/ --------------------------- In today’s episode, we’re tackling a powerful yet countercultural truth: God’s way is slow, small, and often weak—and that’s exactly why it’s unstoppable. So many of us are addicted to speed. We rush decisions, launch initiatives prematurely, and burn ourselves out in the name of productivity. But this impatience not only sabotages our leadership—it blinds us to the quiet, steady work of God. Drawing from the profound parable of the mustard seed, we’ll explore how the Kingdom of God begins small and seemingly insignificant but grows into something world-changing. Together, we’ll unpack three key lessons: the value of slowness, the power of small beginnings, and the surprising strength found in weakness. This episode is a wake-up call to embrace patience and resist the cultural obsession with instant results. Whether you’re leading a church, raising a family, or shaping your community, God invites you to align your pace with His—and trust that His plan is advancing in ways we may not see. Slow down. Listen in. Discover the mustard-seed way of leadership.

    33 min

  2. NOV 26

    Names Before Numbers: The Dramatic Shift True Shepherds Must Make

    🎄Christmas Sermon Prep Webinar -   Join me for a FREE webinar on Dec. 5th at 2 pm ET to learn about preaching a Christmas message that deeply changes lives. https://www.emotionallyhealthy.org/sermonprep/ --------------------------- The truth is, you can’t shepherd numbers. You can only shepherd names. And yet, in a culture obsessed with metrics, many leaders feel trapped, measuring success by attendance, budgets, and fast growth rather than the flourishing of the people God has entrusted to them. In this episode, Pete unpacks the heart of biblical shepherding—leading with Jesus’ love, slowing down to be present, and praying over the specific names God has placed under your care. He explains how this dramatic shift, though countercultural and painfully slow, leads to a deeply transformative and spacious life for both shepherds and sheep. If you’re longing to move beyond hurried leadership into a ministry marked by patience, prayer, and personal connection, this episode is for you. Pete shares four practical ways to shepherd like Jesus and invites you to reflect: Who is on your list?

    29 min

  3. NOV 12

    Declaring the Word of the Lord in Anxious Times

    🕯️Christmas Sermon Prep Webinar -  Join me for a FREE webinar on Dec. 5th at 2 pm ET to learn how to craft a powerful Christmas message that deeply changes lives. (without losing your soul) https://www.emotionallyhealthy.org/sermonprep/ --------------------------- In today’s episode, we’re diving into a theme that should resonate with pastors and leaders all around the world. Reflecting on the life and ministry of John the Baptist, we’ll explore how to speak with conviction and clarity amidst a world overwhelmed by fear, information overload, and shifting power structures. John’s world was much like ours—fraught with political unrest, corrupt leaders, and widespread anxiety. And yet, it was to him, a voice in the wilderness, that God’s Word came. He shows us that real leadership doesn’t come from platforms or applause but from a place of inner surrender, courage, and freedom from people’s approval. This episode will challenge you to lead with authenticity and to center your life on a slower, deeper spirituality. If you’re feeling called to renew your heart and strengthen your church’s culture in the midst of today’s chaos, join us as we learn from John the Baptist’s powerful, countercultural example. Listen in to reorient, refocus, and be inspired to become an instrument in God’s hands.

    32 min

  4. OCT 29

    The Key to Unlock Passionate Mission in Every Member of Your Church

    🗓️ Discover the Sabbath -  Download a free e-book to learn the 4 countercultural practices of a biblical Sabbath day. https://www.emotionallyhealthy.org/sabbath/   ---------------------------   Today, pastors and leaders are grappling with burnout, shallowness in discipleship, and a waning passion for God’s mission. On today’s episode, I share some insights that have transformed the way I view mission and ministry—insights rooted in Celtic Christian spirituality. Geri and I just returned from a two-week journey through Ireland, where we had the privilege of meeting with pastors and church leaders in both Belfast and Dublin. This trip refreshed us in so many ways, especially in reconnecting with the powerful legacy of St. Patrick.  I believe that St. Patrick’s life and leadership are a map to rekindle the fire of mission that flows from a deep, inner life with God—an “overflowing cup” that sustains outward action. Through Patrick’s leadership, the Celtic church rooted themselves in prayer, community, and a mission-focused monastic life. In doing so, they transformed an entire nation. This is one of the missing keys that I believe will unlock passionate, world-changing mission in every member of our churches.

    29 min

  5. OCT 15

    The Power of a Hidden Life (Leadership Lessons from Elijah) Pt. 2

    ⏰ DAILY OFFICE STARTER GUIDE -  The Daily Office is an ancient practice to help you stop 2 - 3 times a day to quiet yourself and be with Jesus. https://www.emotionallyhealthy.org/dailyoffice --------------------------- For most leaders, success is based on numbers, influence, and impact. But the life of Elijah teaches us something different. On today’s podcast, we continue our journey in Part 2 of The Power of a Hidden Life: Leadership Lessons from Elijah. We’ll explore a profound truth often overlooked in leadership: before we stand on large platforms or lead others, our inner life with God must be well-rooted and established. Elijah’s story in 1 Kings 17-19 reveals that God shapes leaders in the quiet, hidden places—like the cave—long before the public victories. We'll dive into Elijah's time of hiddenness, fed by ravens and a widow, as God worked in his soul. These hidden seasons are critical because they teach us to lead from a place of deep connection with God, not simply from activity or impact. Elijah teaches us that success is about discerning the voice of God, not the pressures of Western values. Take a deep breath, let God care for you, and allow His abundance to overflow into every part of your life!

    31 min

  6. OCT 1

    The Power of a Hidden Life (Leadership Lessons from Elijah) Pt. 1

    ✅ DAILY OFFICE STARTER GUIDE -  The Daily Office is an ancient practice to help you stop 2 - 3 times a day to quiet yourself and be with Jesus. https://www.emotionallyhealthy.org/dailyoffice --------------------------- In today’s chaotic and disorienting world, where leaders face intense challenges, Elijah’s life offers us profound wisdom.  Whether you lead a ministry, organization, or family, Elijah’s hidden life with God speaks to the core of how we navigate leadership in tumultuous times. In 1 Kings 19, Elijah faced overwhelming exhaustion, fear, and disillusionment after pouring out his heart in service to God. As a fugitive, fleeing from Jezebel’s threats, he reached his breaking point—ready to give up entirely. It’s here, in the wilderness, that God met him in a way that transformed his leadership and life. God didn’t fix Elijah’s problems immediately or offer a grand inspirational speech. Instead, He invited Elijah into the stillness and silence in the cave at Mount Horeb.  In today’s podcast episode, we’ll reflect on how entering our own “caves” of silence can transform not only our leadership but also our relationship with God.

    30 min

  7. SEP 17

    How to Grow a Flourishing Ministry Without Losing Your Soul

    ✅ PREVIEW THE COURSE -  Ready to introduce your church to Emotionally Healthy Discipleship? Preview our game-changing discipleship course for FREE and find the right time to run it in your church. https://www.emotionallyhealthy.org/preview --------------------------- As leaders, we have an internal drive to see our ministries flourish.  We have a vision for our churches, families, marriages, and cities to experience the resurrection life of Jesus. That’s why we do what we do! Also, many of us know how easy it is for our God-given ambition to be hijacked by our shadows, fears, and insecurities.  The truth is - it's possible to build a large ministry, but in the process, lose your soul. On today’s podcast, I hit this topic head-on and share with you 5 MUSTS for growing a flourishing ministry without losing your soul.

    32 min

  8. SEP 3

    5 Distinctives of an Emotionally Healthy Staff Meeting

    ✅ [FREE VIDEO] Learn a 5-part framework for communicating with others https://www.emotionallyhealthy.org/community --------------------------- Staff meetings, like it or not, are a critical building block for an emotionally healthy church culture. Over the years, I have learned that staff meetings are a powerful opportunity to bring encouragement, clarify roles, and learn how to be with Jesus together. There are books written about how to have a productive or efficient staff meeting, but in today’s podcast, I take a different approach. I’ve identified 5 ways to cultivate emotional health in your regular meetings.

    31 min
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Many pastors and church leaders today feel overwhelmed, exhausted, and frustrated that their churches don’t seem to be making mature disciples. The Emotionally Healthy Leader Podcast explores the paradigms and practices leaders need to transform their church culture and multiply deeply changed disciples.

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