Season 2 Episode 1: If AI can do everything, do we humans still matter?

YOUR PERSPECTIVE IS LYING TO YOU; IT'S COSTING YOU YOUR LEADERSHIP

What if the problem is not the pressure you are under, but the perspective you are leading from? In this episode of The Deep Dive with Jose St. Phard, Jose explores one of the most expensive blind spots in leadership: perspective. Drawing from a childhood memory of experiencing snow for the first time, the psychology of perceptual contrast, the story of Elisha in 2 Kings 6, and the wisdom of Philippians 4:12, Jose unpacks how the lens through which we see our circumstances shapes the way we lead through them. Two leaders can face the same crisis, carry the same pressure, and work with the same level of talent. Yet one sees a threat while the other sees an opportunity.  In this episode, you’ll learn how perspective can distort your reality, why discouragement often begins with a misread situation, and how to reframe what you are facing without denying the difficulty of it. You’ll also be introduced to practical tools like the Perspective Audit, the Jonathan List, and a simple prayer that can help you begin to see what God is already doing in the middle of your situation. This episode is for executive leaders, pastors, healthcare leaders, organizational change-makers, and anyone who has ever looked at their circumstances and thought, “It’s over.” It is not over. You may just need a new lens. In this episode: * Why perspective is one of the most overlooked leadership issues * How perceptual contrast shapes the way we interpret reality * The danger of overestimating problems and underestimating God * Why your identity is not your performance * What Elisha teaches us about seeing beyond the surface * How to build a support system that helps recalibrate your perspective * The prayer every leader needs when fear starts winning Referenced in this episode: Philippians 4:12 2 Kings 6 Influence by Robert Cialdini Reflection Question: What is one area of your leadership where your perspective may be lying to you? Connect with Jose St. Phard: Website: www.thedeepdivewithjose.com [http://www.thedeepdivewithjose.com/] Instagram: @iamsaintphard Podcast Instagram: @thedeepdivewithjose Speaking and Coaching Inquiries: jose@deepdivewithjose.com [jose@deepdivewithjose.com] Subscribe to The Deep Dive with Jose St. Phard for conversations on leadership formation, innovation & organizational change.

Leading on Empty? What Jesus Knew That Most Leaders Miss

Leadership can slowly disconnect you from yourself. Most leaders are not dealing with a strategy problem or a culture issue. They are dealing with a formation problem. They are leading from empty. And no amount of hustle, productivity, or better planning fixes a leader who is running on fumes. In this episode of The Deep Dive, Jose St. Phard unpacks what it means to become a Word-Shaped Leader. This is more than reading the Bible. This is about letting Scripture form you from the inside out. Using Matthew 4 as the foundation, we explore how Jesus modeled something most leaders desperately need but rarely practice. He entered the wilderness full. He faced pressure from a place of identity, not insecurity. He led from fullness, not exhaustion. That sequence is intentional formation. In this episode you will learn: Why leadership burnout is often a formation problem and not just a workload problem. Why leaders are tempted to lead from authority instead of responsibility and why that distinction changes everything. How Scripture forms your identity, stabilizes your perspective, and builds resilience from the inside out. How to write a personal identity statement rooted in Scripture so you know who you are before the pressure tells you otherwise. How to build a resilience list, a collection of verses that anchor you in hard seasons. The simple daily rhythm that quietly separates leaders who last from leaders who break. Whether you are a pastor, executive, healthcare leader, entrepreneur, or caregiver, this episode is for anyone who has been pouring out for others and quietly wondering how much longer they can keep going at this pace. Contrary to popular believe, the answer is not more hustle; rather it is deeper formation. It is time to dive deep. Follow Jose on Instagram: @iamsaintphard If this episode helped you, share it with one leader who has been running on empty. That is the most generous thing you can do.

You’re Not Consistent Because You Don’t Have a System (0→10K in 5 months Framework) | Alex Portillo

Episode Description If you’re trying to grow on social media but you keep falling off, it’s not a motivation problem. It’s a system problem. In this episode, pastor and creator Alex Portillo shares the framework that helped him grow from 0 to 10K in 5 months and post consistently without running out of ideas. We break down the “no weeks off” rule, why growth often plateaus after early momentum, and how to create content that serves the person scrolling instead of making it about you. If you’re a leader or faith leader building trust online, this conversation will reset your approach. In this episode, you’ll learn: * The “no weeks off” rule that protects consistency * How to build a repeatable content system so you don’t rely on inspiration * Why 10K → 20K can take longer than 0 → 10K (and how to stay steady) * The viewer first mindset that builds trust * Why short form content is disposable and why that should relieve pressure, not add to it About The Deep Dive: The Deep Dive helps leaders lead from a healed heart and create high impact in the church, in business, and in the world. Follow + Connect * Jose St. Phard (Host): @thedeepdivewithjose on Instagram & TikTok * Guest: Alex Portillo: @SanBertoAlejandro on Instagram Website: https://deepdivewithjose.com [https://deepdivewithjose.com/]

Season 2 Episode 1: If AI can do everything, do we humans still matter?

In this powerful episode of The Deep Dive with Jose St. Phard, Jose sits down with Dr. Kessia Reyne Bennett, a theologian and thinker who helps us wrestle with one of the most critical questions of our time: What does it mean to be human in the age of artificial intelligence? Together, they explore how generative AI is reshaping the conversation around creativity, technology, and human consciousness. Whether you're a pastor, leader, entrepreneur, creator, or dreamer, this episode will challenge how you think about what truly makes us human. In the age of AI, Jose & Dr. Bennett remind us that human presence and human connection are still humanity's most incredible superpowers. Watch on YouTube → https://youtu.be/WK0FDkWPaIs [https://youtu.be/WK0FDkWPaIs] Connect with Jose: Instagram: @iamsaintphard Instagram: @ThedeepdivewithJose Website: www.thedeepdivewithjose.com [http://www.thedeepdivewithjose.com] BIO: Jose St. Phard is a pastor, executive coach, and speaker. Through his work in leadership and personal growth, he’s guided thousands of people to strengthen their spiritual lives and lead with greater confidence. He’s the host of The Deep Dive Podcast and serves as Lead Pastor at Oasis Christian Center in Vancouver, Washington, where he lives with his wife, Tiffany, and their two children. Subscribe for more conversations on faith, leadership, and what it means to be human in a changing world.

Episode 8: NO ONE TALKS ABOUT THIS PART OF LEADERSHIP

THIS IS THE PART NO ONE TALKS ABOUT:  Growth as a faith leader is directly tied to your capacity to carry and process pain well. What you don’t transform, you will inevitably transmit. It will come out in your church, your team, or your family. In this episode, we go beneath the surface of leadership success and explore the real, raw process God uses to shape your soul. Episode Summary: Leadership isn’t just about vision-casting, strategic planning, or building platforms. It's about learning to lead through pain. In this episode, Jose shares personal reflections on leadership wounds, the loneliness of responsibility, and how God uses pain as a crucible for transformation. Drawing from Samuel Chand’s Leadership Pain, scripture, and real-world experience, this conversation exposes the often-ignored truths of the leader’s journey and how to make peace with pain instead of running from it. Whether you're a pastor, coach, creative, or organizational leader, this episode is for anyone who’s ever whispered, “I didn’t know it would hurt this much.”   Takeaways: 1. The Deeper the Pain, the Greater the Potential. “You’ll grow only to the threshold of your pain.” — Samuel Chand Pain is not the enemy of your calling; it’s often the pathway God uses. Every level of leadership requires a new level of dying to self, and many leaders quit because no one prepared them for the pain. Reflection Question: Are you resisting what God is using to refine you? 2. Pain Is a Part of the Process. Pain reshapes your identity. Loss, betrayal, and chronic pressure force us to redefine what success really means. As Dr. Chand writes, “Pain is the classroom where God teaches His deepest lessons.” Transformation is always personal before it’s public. While God doesn't waste your pain, He won’t bypass it either. 3. You Can’t Lead Well if You Don’t Lament Honestly Church culture often rushes to “hope” while bypassing “hurt.” Leaders need to reengage the lost discipline of lament. David wrote his most powerful psalms from caves, not castles (Psalm 142). Jesus wept before He resurrected Lazarus. True leadership honors emotion without being ruled by it. Takeaway Practice: Try a 5-minute journaling exercise where you write honestly about your leadership wounds as a form of prayer. Bonus Resources: From Leadership Pain by Samuel Chand: * “You’ll grow only to the threshold of your pain.” * “Discomfort can be a catalyst for growth. It makes us yearn for something more. It forces us to change, stretch, and adapt.” * “Pain is a part of progress. Anything that grows experiences some pain. If I avoid all pain, I’m avoiding growth.”   Spiritual Practices for Processing Pain: * Pray Lament Psalms: Start with Psalm 13, 77, or 88. * Soul Check-ins: Ask yourself weekly, “What’s bleeding in me that I’m trying to lead through?” This is the Perfect Listen For: * Pastors and spiritual leaders battling burnout * Visionaries navigating disappointment * Emerging leaders asking, “Is this normal?” * Anyone carrying silent wounds while trying to lead well Send this to a leader who needs to hear this. Leave a review if this hit deep. And most importantly, don’t walk through pain alone. Let us journey with you.