Soul Care Conversations

How a Leader’s Body Signals Spiritual Fear w/ Jason Malec

In this episode, host Mindy Caliguire is joined by longtime friend and advisor Jason Malec to discuss the deep integration of spiritual formation and leadership. Jason shares his personal journey from a Catholic upbringing to a period of severe deconstruction during seminary, and his eventual move into church planting and leading major non-profits. The conversation explores the manifestation of fear and stress in a leader's life, the power of breath prayer, and a thoughtful perspective on how AI can be used for human flourishing. 00:00 Introduction to SoulCare Conversations 05:30 Jason’s Journey into Ministry and Early Faith 10:10 Deconstruction in Seminary: The Metaphor of Dangling Garments 14:48 Finding Safe Spaces for Doubt and Prayer 19:07 Four Phases of Spiritual Development 22:20 The Power of Breath Prayer and the Jesus Prayer 25:22 Creating Safe Places for Seekers 27:23 The Physical Manifestation of Leadership Stress and Fear 33:02 AI and Faith: Confronting the Singularity and Existential Fear 37:52 Redemptive Technology: AI as a Mirror of Human Character 41:11 The Future of AI in Human Flourishing and Disease Correction 42:59 Trusted Resources for Faith and Technology 45:16 Connecting with God through Sacred Pathways 49:30 Closing Remarks and Contact Information Resources Mentioned Thomas Merton’s Prayer:A prayer about the comfort of not knowing everything and the desire to please God being enough.https://reflections.yale.edu/article/seize-day-vocation-calling-work/merton-prayer Sacred Pathways by Gary Thomas: A book exploring the diverse ways individuals connect with God (e.g., naturalist, intellectual, activist).https://garythomas.com/books/sacred-pathways/ The Jesus Prayer: A traditional breath prayer: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner".https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus_Prayer Links & Connections Jason Malec: You can connect with Jason at ide8.org or find him on LinkedIn, where he is currently running a series on AI and human flourishing. Jeremy Utley: For more on technology and faith, visit jeremyutley.com or listen to his podcast (details available in his web resources). SoulCare Conversations: Join the mailing list for weekly scripture engagement and guidance.

When a T-Bone Collision Becomes a Divine Reset w/ ECFA

For nearly 50 years, the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA) has served as the "gold standard" for donor trust among Christian organizations. However, a new crisis of confidence is emerging that goes beyond financial numbers to focus on the health of the leaders themselves. In this episode, the President and CEO of ECFA and the Senior VP of Member Accountability discuss the groundbreaking Excellence in Leader Care Standard. They share personal journeys, from life-altering accidents to the "messy middle" of organizational change which led to the realization that the health of an organization is inseparable from the health of its senior leader. 00:00 – Introduction to the intersection of spiritual formation and leadership. 01:58 – The 50-year legacy of ECFA and the "blue seal of trust". 03:57 – Origin story: How Billy Graham and other leaders formed ECFA to address a national crisis of confidence. 06:21 – Adopting a redemptive posture: Moving from "policing" to coaching and building up the church. 08:51 – The heart behind the mission: Why accountability accelerates the gospel.14:16 – Breaking down the Excellence in Leader Care Standard: Requiring boards and leaders to co-create annual care plans. 18:15 – Biblical foundations and practical commentary for holistic leader care. 20:51 – "As the leader goes, so goes the organization": Why leadership health is the foundation of integrity. 27:51 – Resilience in the "messy middle": Staying the course through organizational change. 34:02 – Michael Martin on hitting the wall and finding God’s strength in weakness. 41:56 – Jake Lapp’s T-Bone moment: When a physical crisis forced a new reliance on the Creator. 50:31 – The "Trickle-Down" effect: How board-level care for a CEO transforms the entire staff culture. 56:11 – Shifting from legal preparation to speaking from the heart. Resources Mentioned ECFA Official Website: https://www.ecfa.org 10Leader Care Standard: https://www.ecfa.org/leadercare Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ecfaccountability/

Spiritual Direction as Sacred Space for Staff Health w/ Randy Cochran

Mindy Caliguire sits down with Randy Cochran to discuss the "jet fuel" world of high-capacity leadership and the essential, often overlooked, "candlelight" work of soul care. Randy shares his personal journey from a place of professional success but deep internal desperation to finding a sustainable, integrated life with God.Together, they explore what it means to lead a staff toward health, the significance of spiritual direction, and why every leader is ultimately responsible for the condition of their own soul. Whether you are leading a large organization or simply trying to navigate a fast-paced life, this conversation offers practical wisdom for moving from "organizational anorexia" to holistic flourishing.Resources Mentioned in this Episode:Victory Church (Atlanta): victoryatl.comSoul Care Resources: Strengthening Our Souls (SOS)https://www.soulcare.com/pathways/str... [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbU12SWlkR1VIVUZTcDR2clJPY2FmalByeThKZ3xBQ3Jtc0trRWFucnp6NEwySFc3eHNJLXBsWWluOXRISGdRVFQ2NXFqNGpoQ2M0Mmd3YWw2TU9NNDVDaFlzMUhMWE0wbm9id29KRFZfNThWOFZ1WGY1OFBOVGFwblVteWdXUHlVTXpQUUEzU3dtN3lDaXREWV80WQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.soulcare.com%2Fpathways%2Fstrengthening-our-souls&v=fUKQcZA-RJQ]Books:The "Surrender to Love" trilogy by David Benner.Works by Henri Nouwen.Leadership & Wellness:Steve Cuss (Managing Leadership Anxiety).ECFA Standards for Excellence in Leader Care.Key Moments:00:43 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUKQcZA-RJQ&t=43s] - Overseeing high-capacity teams in a "jet fuel" environment.06:34 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUKQcZA-RJQ&t=394s] - Leading out of desperation vs. inspiration.09:02 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUKQcZA-RJQ&t=542s] - Lessons from a first sabbatical.11:41 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUKQcZA-RJQ&t=701s] - Taking responsibility for your own soul care.27:12 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUKQcZA-RJQ&t=1632s] - The concept of "structural integrity" in leadership.32:46 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUKQcZA-RJQ&t=1966s] - Introducing spiritual direction as a staff benefit.51:48 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUKQcZA-RJQ&t=3108s] - A vision for integrated, mature believers in the workplace.

Writing for the Soul w/ Shawn Smucker

In this episode of SoulCare Conversations, Mindy Caliguire is joined by author, bookstore owner, and longtime friend of SoulCare, Shawn Smucker. They discuss Shawn’s diverse career as a writer and entrepreneur, and explore how he maintains the well-being of his soul amidst the challenges of life and business.Topics Covered:The Power of Books: Shawn shares his lifelong love for reading and his belief in the unique, intimate impact a well-written book can have on a person's life compared to other forms of media.Facing "Soul Crashes": Shawn opens up about a particularly suffocating season in 2014 when the pressures of managing a new business, raising six children, and experiencing family loss led him to a breaking point.Practices for Resilience: To navigate difficult times, Shawn relies on the strength of his local community and a consistent daily habit of physical handwriting in a journal to process his concerns.The Journey to Becoming a Writer: Shawn discusses his transition to full-time writing in 2009, his experience with co-writing and ghostwriting, and the inspiration behind his first novel, The Day the Angels Fell.Creativity and Soul Care: The conversation touches on the importance of creating without being fixated on outcomes, treating the first draft like a personal journal entry to serve one's own soul rather than just commercial success.Building Community Through Independent Bookstores: Shawn shares the story of purchasing "Nooks" and the vital role physical bookstores play in fostering cross-cultural conversations and "co-regulating" in a disembodied digital age.Shawn's Substack: https://substack.com/@shawnsmuckerBookstore: Nooks Gallery (Instagram: @noooooks)Support Local Bookstores: bookshop.org/shop/nooks

Leading Without Apology: Overcoming the Likability Tax w/ Kadi Cole

In this episode, we continue our conversation with leadership expert Kadi Cole, diving deep into the intersection of spiritual formation and organizational leadership. We explore the journey from "striving to abiding" and how a leader’s interior life serves as the essential source for everything they do. Kadi shares insights on: The Broken Rung: Why many female leaders struggle to transition from high-productivity roles to positions of relational influence. Renewable Resources: Shifting the leadership mindset to view people not as expendable commodities, but as renewable resources to be nurtured. The Three Circles of Leadership: Navigating the complex overlapping dynamics of Community, Cause, and Corporation within a ministry context. Leading Without Apology: Overcoming the "likability tax" and the pressure to play small in order to be respected. Connect with Kadi Cole: Website: www.KadiCole.com Books: Developing Female Leaders Find Your Confidence About Soul Care Conversations: Soul Care Conversations is dedicated to exploring the vital connection between leadership and spiritual formation, helping leaders move toward a life of deep integration and healthy mission.