Podcast
The Unstuck Church Podcast
Hosted by The Unstuck Group · EN
With THE UNSTUCK CHURCH PODCAST, we invite you into the real-time conversations our team is having about church leadership every week.
Hosted by Amy Anderson, this podcast explores common challenges in ministry and practical steps for tackling them. It's like getting to be a fly on the wall of our staff meetings.
Tune in weekly for:
Insights, observations and trends for church leaders from the Unstuck team.
Benchmarks in church growth and health from The Unstuck Group's work serving hundreds churches across North America each year.
Practical advice to help you lead your church towards sustained health.
We think that after listening to The Unstuck Church Podcast, you'll want to start these discussions with your own team at your next staff meeting.
Add your thoughts to the conversation on social media using #unstuckchurch.
32episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
The Volunteer Bench Issue - Episode 451
1w ago00:31:23Tap to summarizeYou need great volunteers if you want to hire internally. But to develop volunteers, you need more great staff… It can feel like an endless cycle. But it doesn't have to be. Trying to find leaders as quickly as possible leads to high turnover and hard conversations. But when you develop leaders with a sustainable volunteer leadership pipeline, leaders are identified earlier and developed more intentionally, which ultimately results in a healthier, higher performing church team. In this new series, we'll share a practical, repeatable pathway for increasing leadership capacity. We'll talk through clear levels of leadership: strengthening your volunteer bench, developing volunteer leaders and equipping staff leaders. Today, we're starting at the foundation—the volunteer bench itself—because you have to know how to fill the bench and how to identify leadership capacity before you can develop great volunteer leaders. This Episode is Sponsored by The Church Lawyers Every church needs trusted legal counsel, but finding attorneys who truly understand ministry can be challenging. The Church Lawyers specialize in church and nonprofit law, serving thousands of organizations nationwide. From by-laws and governance, to IRS compliance and employment matters, The Church Lawyers provide the expertise you need with sound legal advice giving you peace of mind. Discover practical free resources and affordable membership options at TheChurchLawyers.com. Join the Conversation on Social Media We use hashtag #unstuckchurch on X and on Instagram.
Transcribe →Ask Anything (No. 2) - Episode 450
2w ago00:27:39Tap to summarizeWe're back with another "Ask Anything" episode! Sean invited Ron Baum, a long-time consultant at The Unstuck Group and ministry leader who has served in the local church for over 30 years, to answer some questions that YOU, our listeners, have sent in. We have some fun questions to address today—a few about space and adding service times and several about strategic planning and getting traction. If you've got a question for the next "Ask Anything" episode, call our voicemail line at (615) 398-9171 or send us a message on social media. This Episode is Sponsored by Planning Center: Planning Center is software designed to help churches help people. With multiple tools in one connected platform, you can stay organized, communicate with your team and create meaningful ways to connect with your congregation. Start for free at planningcenter.com—pay only for what you need, and cancel anytime. Join the Conversation on Social Media We use hashtag #unstuckchurch on X and on Instagram.
Transcribe →This Isn't Working Anymore: The Old Way of Thinking About the Spiritual Engagement Journey - Episode 449
3w ago00:21:53Tap to summarizeFor many years, one of the main reasons for stuckness in the Church was that churches lacked discipleship steps. Instead, they just had a lot of programs for church people to engage in. Now, most churches have done the work of designing next steps for people. They've created a pathway instead of a program calendar. So, why is it still not working? In this episode, Sean and Tiffany break down the most quietly misunderstood thing in church ministry: the Spiritual Engagement Journey. Common gaps in the Spiritual Engagement Journey Why outcomes matter more than participation How to accurately measure spiritual catalysts This Episode is Sponsored by Planning Center: Planning Center is software designed to help churches help people. With multiple tools in one connected platform, you can stay organized, communicate with your team, and create meaningful ways to connect with your congregation. Start for free at planningcenter.com—pay only for what you need, and cancel anytime. Join the Conversation on Social Media We use hashtag #unstuckchurch on X and on Instagram.
Transcribe →This Isn't Working Anymore: Multisite Without Nuance - Episode 448
May 1300:30:46Tap to summarizeEveryone has opinions about multisite. Advice often gets shared like it's one-size-fits-all, but multisite is complex; what worked for one church in one city at one moment may not work for another church. There are best practices you can follow, but the truth is that multisite comes with a lot of nuance. In this episode, we're continuing our "This Isn't Working Anymore" series by getting into the nuance that tends to get left out of conversations about multisite. "Acting your age" as a multisite church Launch, multi-stuck and adding locations: the phases of multisite Building your own multisite strategy This Episode is Sponsored by Planning Center: Planning Center is software designed to help churches help people. With multiple tools in one connected platform, you can stay organized, communicate with your team, and create meaningful ways to connect with your congregation. Start for free at planningcenter.com—pay only for what you need, and cancel anytime. Join the Conversation on Social Media We use hashtag #unstuckchurch on X and on Instagram.
Transcribe →This Isn't Working Anymore: Vision Vs. Direction - Episode 447
May 600:23:18Tap to summarizeThis isn't working anymore... Too many churches keep running the same plays that used to work, even when the results have clearly changed. Ministry is a moving target, and what worked in 2010 doesn't automatically work in 2026. The ministry landscape has shifted, and it's time to make some upgrades. At The Unstuck Group, one of our core values is "Make It Better," and we are committed to practicing what we preach. So, in this series, we're being honest about where we've had to upgrade our own thinking and why we think you should, too. In this episode, Sean is joined by Tiffany Deluccia, our Director of Business Development, to discuss a topic that might be one of the most talked about—but least understood topics—in ministry: the difference between vision and direction. And why, in this era, we've learned that clear direction wins. The problem with "organizational statement clutter" The design flaw in the traditional format of vision statements Creating concrete, current and actionable direction This Episode is Sponsored by Planning Center: Planning Center is software designed to help churches help people. With multiple tools in one connected platform, you can stay organized, communicate with your team, and create meaningful ways to connect with your congregation. Start for free at planningcenter.com—pay only for what you need, and cancel anytime. Join the Conversation on Social Media We use hashtag #unstuckchurch on X and on Instagram.
Transcribe →How Fountain City Church Navigated Structure and Growth Challenges: Interview With Donny Wadley - Episode 446
Apr 2900:24:56Tap to summarize"Structure changes have really changed our church... and it's changed me." We're doing something different this week on the podcast. We invited Pastor Donny Wadley from Fountain City Church in Knoxville, TN, to share his experience of going through The Unstuck Process. Before engaging with us, the church was hitting a growth barrier—like many of the churches in our tribe. They had facility challenges and questions about making room for all the people who were coming to their church, and they needed an outside perspective to guide them through it. In this episode, Sean and Pastor Donny talk about the impactful learnings and changes Fountain City went through as they navigated growth. Using metrics to look at ministry in a comprehensive way Getting the right people in the right positions The journey to creating a fresh vision This Episode is Sponsored by PlainJoe Studios: Unlock the power of story in your worship space. The creative, passionate team at PlainJoe, a Storyland Studio, works with churches to create beautiful, engaging spaces that connect with your community. They're a team of architectural, design, and branding experts who transform worship spaces into attractive, engaging hubs for the community. Reach out to their team at plainjoestudios.com and dream up the bright future of your church. Join the Conversation on Social Media We use hashtag #unstuckchurch on X and on Instagram.
Transcribe →Leading From a Healthy Soul With Lance Witt - Episode 445
Apr 2200:35:23Tap to summarizeHow do you know if burnout isn't structural...but is personal? We're closing out our "Structured for Burnout " series with something that doesn't always make it onto the agenda: caring for yourself and your soul while you're busy caring for everyone else. We invited Lance Witt, a member of The Unstuck Group's lead team and a respected voice to pastors all across the country on the topic of leading from a healthy soul, to share his wisdom and experience. In this episode, Lance and Sean dig into the topic of personal burnout: what it actually looks like and what practical next steps leaders can take to lead from a healthier place. Burnout warning signs for church leaders: structurally and personally Why do we believe that busyness equals importance? How to keep yourself out of burnout and stay replenished This Episode is Sponsored by PlainJoe Studios: Unlock the power of story in your worship space. The creative, passionate team at PlainJoe, a Storyland Studio, works with churches to create beautiful, engaging spaces that connect with your community. They're a team of architectural, design, and branding experts who transform worship spaces into attractive, engaging hubs for the community. Reach out to their team at plainjoestudios.com and dream up the bright future of your church. Join the Conversation on Social Media We use hashtag #unstuckchurch on X and on Instagram.
Transcribe →Structuring Around Your Wiring With Cody Thompson - Episode 444
Apr 1500:42:16Tap to summarizeNoticing signs of burnout on your team? You could have the right people, just in the wrong roles. Teams work best when they're structured around each person's unique wiring. Understanding your own wiring, what each role requires and how your team's strengths fit together can help you lead and work in a way that is more effective, fulfilling and sustainable. In this episode, Amy and Sean sit down with Cody Thompson, Chief Operating Officer at The Table Group, to talk about how Working Genius can help your staff avoid burnout and serve in the way God has wired them. What is Working Genius? How to tell if someone is in the right role or the wrong role Burnout patterns that show up when people work outside their natural strengths How to build a team with a healthy mix of strengths IMPORTANT NOTE FOR OUR UNSTUCK PODCAST LISTENERS: We are sad to have share that Amy experienced a brain bleed last week that caused her to have a stroke. She is recovering, and we are sharing updates here. We recorded this episode prior and made the decision with her husband Jason to move forward with releasing this conversation. Thank you for your prayers for Amy and her family as she heals. This Episode is Sponsored by PlainJoe Studios: Unlock the power of story in your worship space. The creative, passionate team at PlainJoe, a Storyland Studio, works with churches to create beautiful, engaging spaces that connect with your community. They're a team of architectural, design, and branding experts who transform worship spaces into attractive, engaging hubs for the community. Reach out to their team at plainjoestudios.com and dream up the bright future of your church. Join the Conversation on Social Media We use hashtag #unstuckchurch on X and on Instagram.
Transcribe →Getting the Senior Leadership Team Structure Right - Episode 443
Apr 800:22:28Tap to summarizeA personality might draw a weekend crowd, but it takes a team to create the healthy systems that foster sustained growth—that's the role of the Senior Leadership Team. Without it, you're depending on heroism at the top. If the SLT is structured well, you can take the lid off your church and create space for sustained health. If it's not, you'll keep funneling everything back to the top. In this episode, Sean and Amy talk about the Senior Leadership Team—the team of people who sit at the top of your org chart. They'll help you see: What the SLT should actually look like How the roles of each member are defined Why getting the SLT right is so important This Episode is Sponsored by PlainJoe Studios: Unlock the power of story in your worship space. The creative, passionate team at PlainJoe, a Storyland Studio, works with churches to create beautiful, engaging spaces that connect with your community. They're a team of architectural, design, and branding experts who transform worship spaces into attractive, engaging hubs for the community. Reach out to their team at plainjoestudios.com and dream up the bright future of your church. Join the Conversation on Social Media We use hashtag #unstuckchurch on X and on Instagram.
Transcribe →Structure Moves That Fuel Lead Pastor Burnout - Episode 442
Apr 100:20:24Tap to summarizePastoral burnout is one of the most critical issues facing church leaders today. And it's not just about overwork or lack of boundaries: Your structure might be the very thing that's creating the conditions for burnout—for both you and your staff. We're seeing this pattern play out in churches everywhere. Lead pastors are drowning under impossible spans of care, unclear role definitions and organizational structures that create silos. Meanwhile, growth is creating momentum that feels exciting but leaves no time to build the systems that would actually sustain health. In this series, we're going beyond the symptoms to address the structural realities that either fuel burnout or create space for sustained health. This week Sean and Amy discuss the structure moves that lead to burnout and provide a set of structural questions to ask to help relieve it. This Episode is Sponsored by PlainJoe Studios: Unlock the power of story in your worship space. The creative, passionate team at PlainJoe, a Storyland Studio, works with churches to create beautiful, engaging spaces that connect with your community. They're a team of architectural, design, and branding experts who transform worship spaces into attractive, engaging hubs for the community. Reach out to their team at plainjoestudios.com and dream up the bright future of your church. Join the Conversation on Social Media We use hashtag #unstuckchurch on X and on Instagram.
Transcribe →