Episode 125: Different Doesn't Mean Wrong | Europe, Cultural Differences, Leadership, and the Humility to Learn

Episode 125: Different Doesn't Mean Wrong | Europe, Cultural Differences, Leadership, and the Humility to Learn

One of the biggest surprises from our family's journey across Europe wasn't the Colosseum... Or the Eiffel Tower... Or even the Acropolis. It was discovering how many everyday assumptions I didn't even realize I had. Meals lasted longer. People walked almost everywhere. Air conditioning wasn't nearly as common. Public transportation was simply part of everyday life. Even something as simple as personal space felt different. At first, I caught myself comparing everything to home. Then I realized something that changed the way I viewed not only Europe—but leadership, relationships, and life. Different doesn't mean wrong. In this episode of Summit After the Storm, I share how traveling through Italy, Greece, the Netherlands, France, and England challenged my assumptions and reminded me that growth often begins when we're willing to learn from people who see the world differently. In this episode: • The unexpected cultural differences we experienced across Europe • Why comparison often prevents growth • Leadership lessons from curiosity instead of judgment • What Kilimanjaro taught me about trusting a different approach • James 1:19 and the wisdom of listening before speaking • How humility opens the door to better leadership, stronger relationships, and a richer life Season 4 follows our family's journey across Europe, discovering timeless lessons from history, culture, faith, leadership, and family. Every destination has a story. Every story has a lesson. The world is full of lessons. Sometimes you just have to travel far enough—or slow down enough—to discover them. Keep climbing. Pole pole. #SummitAfterTheStorm #LeadershipPodcast #Leadership #ChristianLeadership #Faith #EuropeTravel #CulturalDifferences #PersonalGrowth #TravelLessons #GrowthMindset #Perspective #Humility #KeepClimbing #PolePole #LeadershipDevelopment

Episode 124: How Many People Fit on a Bus? | Europe's Crowded Public Transportation, Personal Space, and Discovering Hidden Capacity

I never did figure out how many people fit on a European bus. Every time I thought it was completely full... Five more people climbed aboard. Then five more. Then somehow... even more. At one point, I wasn't entirely sure if the sweat on my shirt belonged to me or the passenger standing next to me. What started as one of the funniest moments of our family's journey across Europe became an unexpected lesson about personal space, perspective, resilience, and discovering that we often have more capacity than we think. In this episode of Summit After the Storm, I share how crowded buses, cultural differences, and a little humor revealed a powerful leadership lesson that followed me all the way back home. In this episode: • The surprising reality of public transportation in Europe • Why different cultures define "personal space" differently • What crowded buses taught me about resilience • The connection between Europe and Mount Kilimanjaro • Philippians 4:13 and finding strength beyond our perceived limits • Why we often have more capacity than we believe Season 4 follows our family's journey across Italy, Greece, the Netherlands, France, and England, discovering timeless lessons from history, culture, faith, leadership, and family. Every destination has a story. Every story has a lesson. The world is full of lessons. Sometimes you just have to travel far enough—or slow down enough—to discover them. Keep climbing. Pole pole. #SummitAfterTheStorm #LeadershipPodcast #Leadership #ChristianLeadership #Faith #EuropeTravel #PublicTransportation #TravelLessons #Resilience #PersonalGrowth #Perspective #Italy #KeepClimbing #PolePole #GrowthMindset

Episode 123: I Couldn't Understand a Single Word | Rome, the Colosseum, and the Universal Language of Love

I sat outside the Colosseum in Rome expecting to admire one of history's greatest landmarks. Instead, I witnessed something I'll never forget. A young Italian mother quietly sang to her baby while gently rocking the stroller. I couldn't understand a single word she sang, yet somehow I understood everything she was trying to say. In this episode of Summit After the Storm, I share one of the most unexpected moments from our family's journey through Italy and how a simple lullaby became a powerful reminder that love, kindness, and compassion transcend language, culture, and borders. In this episode: • A quiet moment outside the Colosseum that changed my perspective • Why love is understood in every language • Leadership lessons about presence over performance • The connection between Rome and Mount Kilimanjaro • What Scripture teaches us about communicating through love • How the smallest moments often become the most unforgettable memories Season 4 follows our family's journey across Italy, Greece, the Netherlands, France, and England, discovering timeless lessons from history, culture, faith, leadership, and family. Every destination has a story. Every story has a lesson. The world is full of lessons. Sometimes you just have to travel far enough—or slow down enough—to discover them. Keep climbing. Pole pole. #SummitAfterTheStorm #LeadershipPodcast #Leadership #ChristianLeadership #Faith #Rome #Colosseum #Italy #Motherhood #Love #FamilyTravel #TravelLessons #PersonalGrowth #KeepClimbing #PolePole

Episode 122: Seeing Rome Through New Eyes | The Colosseum, Family Travel, Wonder, and Leadership Lessons from Italy

I've visited Rome several times. Amanda and I had even experienced this incredible city together before. But this trip was completely different. For the first time, I wasn't experiencing Rome for myself—I was watching my children experience it for the very first time. That changed everything. In this episode of Summit After the Storm, I share how walking through the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, and the ancient streets of Rome with my family reminded me that sometimes the greatest adventures aren't about discovering new places—they're about rediscovering familiar ones with fresh eyes. In this episode: • Why Rome felt brand new even though I'd been there before • What my children taught me about wonder • Why curiosity is one of a leader's greatest strengths • The connection between Rome and Mount Kilimanjaro • Matthew 18 and seeing life with childlike faith • How to rediscover wonder in your everyday life Whether you're a parent, a leader, a traveler, or someone who has allowed routine to replace curiosity, I hope this episode reminds you that sometimes the destination hasn't changed... You have. Season 4 of Summit After the Storm follows our family's journey across Italy, Greece, the Netherlands, France, and England—discovering timeless lessons from history, culture, faith, leadership, and family. Every destination has a story. Every story has a lesson. The world is full of lessons. Sometimes you just have to travel far enough—or slow down enough—to discover them. Keep climbing. Pole pole. #SummitAfterTheStorm #Leadership #LeadershipPodcast #ChristianLeadership #Faith #Rome #Italy #Colosseum #FamilyTravel #Wonder #Curiosity #PersonalGrowth #TravelLessons #KeepClimbing #PolePole

Episode 121: The World Is Bigger Than Your Routine | An Unexpected Reunion, Lessons from Europe, and Why Perspective Changes Everything

Last year, I ran into an old friend, Richard Burt, in the Delta Sky Club in Memphis as Amanda and I prepared to leave for Tanzania and climb Mount Kilimanjaro. The next time I saw him was completely unexpected. After weeks of traveling through Rome, Athens, Amsterdam, Paris, and London, I boarded a flight home from Atlanta and discovered Richard sitting directly behind me. That chance encounter became a powerful reminder of how much can change in a single year, and how quickly life moves. In this episode, I share lessons learned from crowded European subways, packed buses, ancient cathedrals, and standing in places where history changed the world. More importantly, I explore how travel, faith, and perspective can help us see beyond our routines, our frustrations, and our daily worries. Because sometimes the greatest lesson isn't found in the destination. It's found in realizing the world is bigger than your routine. 🎙 In this episode: • The unexpected reunion that bookended two life-changing journeys • What Europe taught me about perspective • Why inconvenience isn't always a problem • The connection between Europe and Kilimanjaro • Psalm 121 and lifting our eyes beyond today's challenges • A leadership lesson every leader needs to hear Season 4 of Summit After the Storm follows our family's journey across Italy, Greece, the Netherlands, France, and England—discovering timeless lessons from history, culture, faith, leadership, and family. Every destination has a story. Every story has a lesson.If you've ever felt overwhelmed, stuck, frustrated, or consumed by what's directly in front of you, this episode is for you. The world is bigger than your problems. And sometimes God uses unexpected moments to remind us. Keep climbing. Pole pole. #SummitAfterTheStorm #Leadership #LeadershipPodcast #Faith #ChristianLeadership #EuropeTravel #TravelLessons #Perspective #PersonalGrowth #Resilience #Kilimanjaro #Purpose #GrowthMindset #KeepClimbing #PolePole