I've been listening to podcasts since Apple started rolling them out. I listen mostly while I'm driving, washing dishes, or mowing the lawn. I've always enjoyed listening to podcasts that relate to my work (church leadership, youth ministry, church planting, etc.), but in the last few years, I've stumbled upon a few great podcasts that branch out.
I need to make a quick disclaimer here. I know a lot of my friends are from the church world, and many of you won't be interested in listening to anything with strong language. I totally get that! Some of these podcasts are raw, honest interviews that aren't edited for content.
Lifepoint Church Podcast - Dean Fulks has become a friend a mentor to me. He is the Lead Pastor at Life Point Church and the Send City Missionary for Columbus, Ohio. He invests in church planters all over Columbus and beyond; more than that, he is the real deal! It's a joy to know him and I'm so thankful for his investment in our church! Life Point's podcast has been listed as one of the top 25 sermon podcasts to subscribe to, and Dean is in some really great company! Check it out!
Andy Stanley Leadership Podcast - Andy Stanley has long been known for his organizational prowess and it's always helpful information on how to lead better. Andy has been a mentor from a distance for a very long time. In fact, his book, Next Generation Leader, was one of the books that catalyzed my desire to serve in the local church! He's a fantastic communicator and has influenced many pastors all over the world. In this podcast, he talks about a lot of the practical leadership ideas that drive North Point's success. This monthly podcast is worth the wait for sure!
Dissect - A Serialized Music Podcast - This podcast isn't quite going to fit in the same category as the other two. In fact, if you don't like hip hop, you can probably go ahead and close this browser. Dissect was suggested to me by my friend Jordan Springer. The host of Dissect, Cole Cuchna, takes a deeper look at the lyrics of Kendrick Lamar's "To Pimp A Butterfly." If you've been paying attention to the Grammy's the last few years, you know that Kendrick has earned a seat at the top of the rap game, deservedly so. His lyrics are storied and multi-layered. At first glance, you might think he glorifies sex, drugs and the other things that a young man growing up in Compton deals with, but a closer look at his albums show a much deeper narrative. Cole guides us through each phase of the album through his long form critique. I've really enjoyed listening to this one!