Untapped Potential with Brian Mueller

What Happens After You Hit Bottom with Paul Young

Today on the Servant Leadership Podcast, we welcome New York Times bestselling author Paul Young. Originally written as a Christmas gift for his children, The Shack has gone on to sell more than 25 million copies, and became a major motion picture starring Sam Worthington, Octavia Spencer, and Tim McGraw. Paul's journey is anything but conventional. Raised among a Stone-Age tribe in the highlands of New Guinea, he later worked three jobs while writing The Shack on a commuter train. After twenty-six publishers rejected the book, he and two friends self-published it with just three hundred dollars in marketing — and watched it become one of the most-read books of the 21st century. The real story behind The Shack is the eleven-year unraveling that came before it — a story of failure, forgiveness, and the kind of grace that only shows up when you've stopped pretending. Join us as we talk about leading through hidden pain, the cost and freedom of forgiveness, and his long-awaited sequel, Return to the Shack. Timestamps: 00:00 Opening 00:12 Paul Young Intro 01:06 Welcome Paul Young 01:25 Paul’s Journey - A Rough Start 03:43 Bringing Troubles Into Marriage 05:21 Seeking Help And Healing 07:23 The Birth Of The Shack 09:40 Longing For Authenticity 11:19 Living Out That Authenticity 13:40 Advice For Those On The Path To Rock Bottom 15:37 Mending His Relationship With His Father 16:43 How To Live Without Expectations 19:08 Dangers Of Hiding Behind A False Persona 20:52 Being Remembered Only For Your Worst Day 23:33 The Themes Behind The Shack 25:14 From Christmas Gift To Best Seller 27:21 The Impact Of The Shack 29:07 Unrighteous Wealth Vs. Self Giving 30:54 The Film Adaptation 33:04 The Right Time To Give Away The Movie 35:11 Return To The Shack 36:57 Death Row And The Sequel 39:19 “Our Prison Is Obvious” 41:22 A Journey Into Redemption 43:54 Living A Life Of Gratitude And Forgiveness 46:15 Ten Rapid-Fire Questions 48:34 Importance Of A Servant Leadership Podcast 49:06 Closing Learn more about Paul here: https://wmpaulyoung.com/ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-paul-young-podcast/id1733287109 Preorder Return to the Shack: https://www.amazon.com/Return-Shack-Journey-into-Redemption/dp/154600887X Servant Leadership: URL: https://servantleadershippodcast.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ServantLeadershipPodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/servantleadershippodcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/servant-leadership-podcast/ X (Twitter): https://x.com/servant_podcast

The Moral Case for Bitcoin with Jimmy Song

Today on the Servant Leadership Podcast, we welcome Jimmy Song. Jimmy is one of the most respected voices in the Bitcoin world and known to many as the Bitcoin cowboy. After years in the startup space, he made the jump into Bitcoin early and has since become a developer, educator, and author dedicated to helping people actually understand Bitcoin. He is the author of multiple books, including Programming Bitcoin, Thank God for Bitcoin, and FIAT Ruins Everything. What makes Jimmy's perspective stand out is that he does not talk about Bitcoin simply as a technology or an investment. He talks about money as a moral issue, about Bitcoin as a human rights tool, and about sound money as a form of stewardship. Join us as we talk about how Bitcoin works, why it's different from the money most of us use every day, and the practical first steps for people who want to understand Bitcoin and blockchain. Timestamps: 00:00 Opening 00:29 Jimmy Song Intro 01:21 Welcome Jimmy Song 01:29 Jimmy’s Journey - The Bitcoin Cowboy 02:54 What Is Bitcoin? 06:25 Why Make The Jump? 09:57 Bitcoin vs. Standard Currency 12:18 A Fixed Supply 14:58 How Bitcoin Holds Value 18:13 The Advantage Of An Absolutely Scarce Currency 20:21 Morals And Money 21:24 Historical Analysis Of Currency 23:41 Morality With Vulnerable Currency 28:02 Bitcoin As A Human Rights Tool 31:37 Bitcoin As A Tool For Stewardship 34:41 Faith And Bitcoin 36:21 A More Subtle Approach 37:07 Application To Sharing Faith 40:35 A Tight-Knit Community In Bitcoin 43:44 Bitcoin vs. Altcoins 45:41 Double-Edged Sword Of Centralization 47:16 Unpredictability Of Market Response 49:41 How To Get Into Bitcoin Today 53:18 Ten Rapid-Fire Questions 55:34 Importance Of A Servant Leadership Podcast 56:59 Closing Learn more about Jimmy here: https://jimmysong.org/ Servant Leadership: URL: https://servantleadershippodcast.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ServantLeadershipPodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/servantleadershippodcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/servant-leadership-podcast/ X (Twitter): https://x.com/servant_podcast Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, tax, or legal advice. All views and opinions expressed by the host are solely his own. Bitcoin and cryptocurrency investments are highly volatile and involve significant risk. Always do your own research and consult with a licensed professional before making any financial decisions.

The 5 Voices of Servant Leadership with Jeremie Kubicek

Today on the Servant Leadership Podcast, we welcome Jeremie Kubicek, co-founder of GiANT Worldwide and one of the most recognized thought leaders in the leadership development space. Jeremie is a Wall Street Journal bestselling author whose work has shaped how executives, teams, and organizations around the world think about influence, communication, and self-awareness. His books, including 5 Voices, 5 Gears, and The 100X Leader, have given leaders practical, visual frameworks to become more effective at home and at work. His newest book, The Voice-Driven Leader, takes everything he's learned about developing people and distills it into a modern playbook for leaders who want to bring out the best in the voices around them. In this episode, Jeremie unpacks how the Peace Index can transform the way you lead yourself before leading others, and what a modern, balanced approach to servant leadership actually looks like in practice. Join us as Jeremie shares why great leaders learn to both challenge and support the people around them and how great cultures are built by making sure every voice is heard. Timestamps: 00:00 Opening 00:20 Jeremie Kubicek Intro 01:23 Welcome Jeremie Kubicek 01:27 Jeremie’s Journey - Authentic Thought Leadership 02:58 Servant Leadership - The Voice-Driven Leader 04:58 The 5 Voices - Finding Your Voice 06:15 The 5 Gears 08:18 How Objective Language Mitigates Drama 10:34 The Peace Index 11:51 The 5 Components To Peace 15:47 Servant Leadership - Support Matrix 18:32 Elevating Challenge Positively 19:34 How To Avoid Being Passive 22:46 The 5 Voices And AI 24:46 Visualizing Information 27:15 The 100X Leader Toolkit 28:24 How To Narrow An Idea Into A Visual Tool 28:55 The Duality Of Influence 32:57 When Do You Adjust To Others 34:37 Implementing The 5 Voices 36:59 Avoiding A Business Inside A Business 38:57 Ten Rapid-Fire Questions 41:58 Importance Of A Servant Leadership Podcast 43:43 Closing Learn more about Jeremie or take the 5 Voices Assessment here: https://www.jeremiekubicek.com/ https://5voices.com/ Servant Leadership: URL: https://servantleadershippodcast.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ServantLeadershipPodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/servantleadershippodcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/servant-leadership-podcast/ X (Twitter): https://x.com/servant_podcast

The Four Pillars That Saved a University with Everett Piper

Today on the Servant Leadership Podcast, we welcome Dr. Everett Piper, President Emeritus of Oklahoma Wesleyan University and the best-selling author of Not a Day Care: The Devastating Consequences of Abandoning Truth. For seventeen years, Everett led Oklahoma Wesleyan from relative obscurity and the brink of financial collapse to a position of national recognition and influence, eliminating the school's debt, more than doubling its revenue, and completing over $17 million in capital improvements along the way. At the heart of that turnaround were his Four Ps — the Primacy of Christ, the Priority of Scripture, the Pursuit of Truth, and the Practice of Wisdom — a framework that shaped every decision he made and every challenge he faced as a leader. Everett gained national attention in 2015 when his viral essay, "This Is Not a Day Care. It's a University!," sparked a cultural conversation about courage, conviction, and what it truly means to educate the next generation. A recipient of the Jeane Kirkpatrick Award for Academic Freedom and a columnist for The Washington Times, Everett has built his life's work around leading with clarity and standing firm when it's easier to stay silent. Join us as we talk about leading with boldness, knowing when to step into the gap, and how to finish well when it's time to hand the baton to the next leader. Timestamps: 00:00 Opening 00:42 Everett Piper Intro 01:57 Welcome Everett Piper 02:51 Everett’s Journey - Road To Oklahoma Wesleyan 04:29 Turning Down The Offer 06:05 Inheriting Failure As A Blessing 07:13 Craft A Mission 09:05 Budgeting For Depreciation 10:11 Know Your Mission 11:53 The New Mission - The 4 Pillars 14:18 OKWU’s Rise To Fame 17:09 Believe In Your Sales Pitch 18:10 Meeting With The Drakes 21:25 Not A Day Care 23:25 The Controversial Chapel 25:34 Valuing Truth Over Feelings 28:14 Overwhelming Support 29:43 Servant Leadership - Love And Discipline 32:03 Tolerance And Affirmation Can Be Harmful 34:09 Application In Sports And Music 36:24 Leaving While Strong 39:19 Leading When You Are Gone 40:30 One Thing For Young Leaders 43:26 Always Look For A Broom 44:53 Ten Rapid-Fire Questions 50:42 Importance Of A Servant Leadership Podcast 53:19 Closing Learn more about Everett here: https://dreverettpiper.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@Dr.EverettPiper Servant Leadership: URL: https://servantleadershippodcast.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ServantLeadershipPodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/servantleadershippodcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/servant-leadership-podcast/ X (Twitter): https://x.com/servant_podcast

Untapped Potential with Brian Mueller

Today on the Servant Leadership Podcast, we welcome Brian Mueller, President of Grand Canyon University — the largest Christian university in the world. Brian's path to leading GCU is one of the most unlikely stories in American higher education. A high school teacher and basketball coach turned tech-driven education executive, Brian first helped grow the University of Phoenix to 400,000 students and a $16 billion market cap. After his success at the University of Phoenix, he decided to go to Grand Canyon University, which at the time was a struggling Christian university $20 million in debt, with fewer than 1,000 students, in one of the toughest neighborhoods in Phoenix. Today, GCU has grown to over 100,000 students and invested over 2 billion dollars into the campus, which ranks among the most beautiful in the country — all while holding tuition flat for the last 17 years. What makes Brian's story truly remarkable isn't the growth, it's the why behind it. From producing 26,000 teachers and the largest nursing program in the country, to rehabbing over 600 homes and awarding 2,300 full-ride scholarships to local kids living below the poverty line, GCU has become inseparable from the community it serves. Join us as we talk about what happens when you build a university around untapped potential, why every vocation is a sacred calling, and hear how vision is one of the most important traits a leader can have. Timestamps: 00:00 Opening 00:31 Brian Mueller Intro 01:52 Welcome Brian Mueller 02:05 Brian’s Journey - Becoming The Leader Of GCU 04:05 Recruiting Students At University Of Phoenix 06:57 Grand Canyon Calls 09:50 Servant Leadership - Accepting God’s Plan 13:20 The Vast Amount Of Untapped Potential 15:36 Helping Fight The Teacher Shortage 18:11 Using AI To Increase World Productivity 20:06 AI Programs At GCU 22:03 Create Workers, Not Welfare Dependents 23:04 Investing In The Community Around You 25:09 Fighting The Poverty Line 28:02 CityServe - Serving The Phoenix Community 31:00 Sending Students Out Better Than They Came In 32:35 Change The World By Changing The Workplace 34:11 How To Make The Pie Bigger 35:44 Growth Of The Early Church 37:05 The Irresistible Christian Philosophy 39:12 How To Maintain Energy Amidst Failure 41:03 Modernized Programs 42:39 Meeting The Needs Of Education 44:21 The 360 Teacher Program 46:28 Making College What It Should Be 48:41 Ten Rapid Fire Questions 52:17 The Importance Of Servant Leadership 53:56 Closing Learn More About GCU: https://www.gcu.edu/ [https://www.gcu.edu/] Servant Leadership: URL: https://servantleadershippodcast.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ServantLeadershipPodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/servantleadershippodcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/servant-leadership-podcast/ X (Twitter): https://x.com/servant_podcast