Townsend Institute Podcast Series

083 | Bill Foltz: Building the OC Vibe

Can you build a thriving community hub while staying true to your values? On this episode of TIPS, hosts Ashlie and Gilbert welcome Bill Foltz, CEO of OC Vibe and longtime sports and entertainment executive, to explore how visionary leadership transforms a region while managing unprecedented complexity. Drawing from his journey with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Anaheim Ducks, and now OC Vibe, Bill reveals how intentional relationship-building, authentic leadership, and a relentless focus on human experience create thriving organizations and communities. You'll discover: * Why relationships, not resumes, open doors * The goosebump business: designing end-to-end experiences that create lasting memories * How to manage complexity at scale * The power of authenticity in leadership, wearing your emotions on your sleeve and letting people see who you really are * Why commitment matters more than consensus * Building for community impact goes beyond basic requirements Whether you're an emerging leader, an executive managing complex organizations, or anyone seeking to build something meaningful, this conversation offers a masterclass in experience design, authentic leadership, and community stewardship. Perfect for: Sports and entertainment professionals, organizational leaders, entrepreneurs, anyone seeking to build thriving cultures and communities. Website for OC Vibe [https://www.ocvibe.com/] ------- The Townsend Institute at Concordia University Irvine offers fully accredited online graduate degrees and professional certificates in three content areas: Organizational Leadership, Executive Coaching and Consulting, and Counseling. Experience transformational education that operates at the crossroads of competence, character, and connection through the Townsend Institute’s life-changing counseling and leadership programs. To find out more, visit our website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.cui.edu/townsend⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [http://www.cui.edu/townsend].  Enjoying the podcast? We want your input! Please email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tipodcast@cui.edu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [tipodcast@cui.edu] for any feedback or ideas you have on topics or guests you would like to learn from! ------- Episode music is "Psalm 1 (That Man)" featuring Tommy Walker, Ben Lange, & Kip Fox, produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Songwriter Initiative⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.cui.edu/academicprograms/christcollege/center-for-worship-leadership/songwriter] of The Center for Worship Leadership at Concordia University Irvine.

082 | Dr. Scott Keith: Being Family

What If the Secret to Happiness Is Something You've Been Taught to Delay? On this episode of TIPS, hosts Ashlie and Gilbert welcome back Dr. Scott Keith—executive director of 1517, author of Being Dad and the new book Being Family, and Concordia University Irvine alum—to challenge cultural narratives about marriage, family, and vocation. Drawing from biblical foundations and demographic research, Scott reveals why the church and society have inadvertently taught young people to prioritize career and financial stability over marriage and family—and why this is backfiring. You'll discover: * The demographic crisis: why churches are shrinking not from unbelief, but from delayed/declined family formation * How parents unknowingly teach their kids everything except the call to marriage and family * The data: married people with children report the highest happiness levels—more than education or wealth * Why "hidden holiness" transforms everyday parenting into sacred service to God * How to reframe marriage as service to others, not self-fulfillment—and why this brings joy Whether you're a young adult navigating marriage decisions, a parent wondering what to teach your kids, or someone seeking to understand vocation and purpose, this conversation offers a biblical blueprint for a life of meaning. Perfect for: Young adults, parents, faith-based leaders, anyone questioning cultural narratives about career, marriage, and happiness. Book: Being Family [https://shop.1517.org/products/9781964419961-being-family?utm_term=being+family+book&utm_campaign=Being+Family+-+Pre+Order&utm_source=adwords&utm_medium=ppc&hsa_acc=2592881568&hsa_cam=23533616110&hsa_grp=195481279169&hsa_ad=795952037225&hsa_src=g&hsa_tgt=kwd-2464058431590&hsa_kw=being+family+book&hsa_mt=b&hsa_net=adwords&hsa_ver=3&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23533616110&gbraid=0AAAAAC9YXkBo4Ek6X4mVybbH5-Fb4Ba2T&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIva6vvoCylAMV5SNECB0NrgxWEAAYASAAEgKl2_D_BwE] 1517.org [https://www.1517.org/] Thinking Fellows Podcast [https://www.1517.org/podcasts/thinking-fellows] Tough Texts Podcast [https://www.1517.org/podcasts/tough-texts] ------- The Townsend Institute at Concordia University Irvine offers fully accredited online graduate degrees and professional certificates in three content areas: Organizational Leadership, Executive Coaching and Consulting, and Counseling. Experience transformational education that operates at the crossroads of competence, character, and connection through the Townsend Institute’s life-changing counseling and leadership programs. To find out more, visit our website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.cui.edu/townsend⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [http://www.cui.edu/townsend].  Enjoying the podcast? We want your input! Please email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tipodcast@cui.edu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [tipodcast@cui.edu] for any feedback or ideas you have on topics or guests you would like to learn from! ------- Episode music is "Psalm 1 (That Man)" featuring Tommy Walker, Ben Lange, & Kip Fox, produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Songwriter Initiative⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.cui.edu/academicprograms/christcollege/center-for-worship-leadership/songwriter] of The Center for Worship Leadership at Concordia University Irvine.

081 | Brianna Montgomery: Scaling Company Culture

How Can You Maintain Culture When Your Company Scales Rapidly? On this episode of TIPS, hosts Ashlie and Gilbert welcome Brianna Montgomery—Director of Enterprise Learning and Development at Rivian, Concordia University Irvine alum, and former Townsend Institute faculty member—to explore how cutting-edge learning strategies scale culture in a rapidly growing company. Drawing from her journey through Jack in the Box, Chipotle, and now Rivian, Brianna reveals how innovative companies equip managers to lead through ambiguity, rapid growth, and high-stakes change. You'll discover: * How AI roleplay bots create psychological safety for managers to practice difficult conversations with real-time feedback * Why "meetings in a box" (30+ plug-and-play team tools) empower managers to lead through Tuckman's stages of team development * Rivian's Compass Values framework: turning aspirational values into specific, measurable behaviors embedded across the entire employee lifecycle * The power of "zoom out" and "stay open": how to see the bigger picture while holding convictions loosely * Why minimum viable product thinking (progress over perfection) accelerates both learning and innovation * How a two-day onboarding program becomes the first impression that shapes culture for thousands of new hires Whether you're scaling learning and development, building manager capability, or seeking to maintain culture during rapid growth, this conversation offers a blueprint for mission-driven leadership at scale. Perfect for: L&D professionals, organizational leaders, tech company executives, managers navigating rapid growth, anyone seeking to scale culture authentically. Rivian Stories | Electric Vehicle Adventures [https://stories.rivian.com/] ------- The Townsend Institute at Concordia University Irvine offers fully accredited online graduate degrees and professional certificates in three content areas: Organizational Leadership, Executive Coaching and Consulting, and Counseling. Experience transformational education that operates at the crossroads of competence, character, and connection through the Townsend Institute’s life-changing counseling and leadership programs. To find out more, visit our website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.cui.edu/townsend⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.  Enjoying the podcast? We want your input! Please email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tipodcast@cui.edu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for any feedback or ideas you have on topics or guests you would like to learn from! ------- Episode music is "Psalm 1 (That Man)" featuring Tommy Walker, Ben Lange, & Kip Fox, produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Songwriter Initiative⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ of The Center for Worship Leadership at Concordia University Irvine. "

080 | Pastor Jim Henkell: Silencing the Whispered Lies in Leadership

What Whispered Lies Are Keeping You from Leading with Confidence? On this episode of TIPS, hosts Ashlie and Gilbert welcome Pastor Jim Henkell—ministry executive for the Pacific Southwest District of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and Concordia University Irvine alum—to expose the hidden beliefs sabotaging pastoral and faith-based leaders. Drawing from over 25 years of ministry experience, Jim reveals how leaders can break free from the myths that isolate them and diminish their impact. You'll discover: * The whispered lies leaders often believe * Why finding a thought partner is essential for staying healthy and grounded * The power of being a participant, not the person in charge, and how stepping back strengthens your leadership * "True patience is less about passive waiting and more about actively watching for where God is already at work." * How shifting from performance metrics to God's assurance transforms both your leadership and your peace Whether you're a pastor, ministry leader, faith-based executive, or anyone seeking to lead with authenticity and confidence, this conversation offers a blueprint for increasing both influence and character. Perfect for: Pastoral leaders, ministry executives, faith-based coaches, church planters, anyone navigating leadership loneliness or imposter syndrome. LCMS Pacific Southwest District [https://www.psd-lcms.org/] ------- The Townsend Institute at Concordia University Irvine offers fully accredited online graduate degrees and professional certificates in three content areas: Organizational Leadership, Executive Coaching and Consulting, and Counseling. Experience transformational education that operates at the crossroads of competence, character, and connection through the Townsend Institute’s life-changing counseling and leadership programs. To find out more, visit our website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.cui.edu/townsend⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [http://www.cui.edu/townsend].  Enjoying the podcast? We want your input! Please email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tipodcast@cui.edu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [tipodcast@cui.edu] for any feedback or ideas you have on topics or guests you would like to learn from! ------- Episode music is "Psalm 1 (That Man)" featuring Tommy Walker, Ben Lange, & Kip Fox, produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Songwriter Initiative⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.cui.edu/academicprograms/christcollege/center-for-worship-leadership/songwriter] of The Center for Worship Leadership at Concordia University Irvine.

079 | Doug & Jesse Brown: Uniquely Knitted

What If Your Greatest Pain Could Become Your Greatest Purpose? On this episode of TIPS, hosts Ashlie and Gilbert welcome Jesse and Doug Brown—founders of Uniquely Knitted, a nonprofit dedicated to healing infertility trauma, and longtime friends of the Townsend Institute—to explore how turning personal heartbreak into community support transforms lives. Drawing from their own decade-long infertility journey, Jesse and Doug Brown reveal how they built a mission to end the isolation that comes with struggling to conceive. You'll discover: * How to show up as your genuine self to make real impact * The power of saying "you're not alone in the well"—and actually meaning it * How facilitated process groups and the Townsend Growth Model heal the pain of isolation * Why vulnerability and authentic connection are the ultimate "sneaky business tools” for lasting community * The dynamics of running a nonprofit as a married couple: leaving egos at the door while navigating entrepreneurship together Whether you're navigating infertility, leading a nonprofit, building community, or seeking to transform pain into purpose, this conversation offers a blueprint for resilience rooted in authenticity and connection. Perfect for: Couples navigating infertility, nonprofit leaders, faith-based community builders, anyone seeking to turn personal struggle into meaningful impact. Links: UniquelyKnitted.org [https://www.uniquelyknitted.org/] The Infertility Feelings podcast [https://www.uniquelyknitted.org/podcast/infertility-feelings-podcast] ⁠Uniquely Knitted Instagram⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/uniquely_knitted/] ------- The Townsend Institute at Concordia University Irvine offers fully accredited online graduate degrees and professional certificates in three content areas: Organizational Leadership, Executive Coaching and Consulting, and Counseling. Experience transformational education that operates at the crossroads of competence, character, and connection through the Townsend Institute’s life-changing counseling and leadership programs. To find out more, visit our website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.cui.edu/townsend⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [http://www.cui.edu/townsend].  Enjoying the podcast? We want your input! Please email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tipodcast@cui.edu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [tipodcast@cui.edu] for any feedback or ideas you have on topics or guests you would like to learn from! ------- Episode music is "Psalm 1 (That Man)" featuring Tommy Walker, Ben Lange, & Kip Fox, produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Songwriter Initiative⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.cui.edu/academicprograms/christcollege/center-for-worship-leadership/songwriter] of The Center for Worship Leadership at Concordia University Irvine.