Podcast
Whole Hearted Leadership with Lantz Howard
Hosted by Lantz Howard · EN
The Whole Hearted Leadership is a deep dive into real-time coaching conversations with today's top-performing faith-driven leaders. The goal is to create space to have authentic conversations that move you forward.
Lantz has coaching conversations with leaders like John Delony, John Eldredge, Garrett Unclebach, Jordan Raynor, Brent Beshore, Jon Tyson, William Vanderblomen, Shawn Tolleson, Ben Dozier, Ryan Michler, Morgan Snyder, and Josh Straub.
To work with Lantz and receive his weekly Lead Wholeheartedly newsletter go to www.lantzhoward.com
32episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
159 | Reactivity, Anxiety, and the Well Self with Steve Cuss
1w ago00:54:11Tap to summarizeLantz sits down with Steve Cuss — founder of Capable Life, pastor at heart, and author of Managing Leadership Anxiety — for a conversation about the invisible dynamics that quietly run every room, marriage, and organization: reactivity.Steve traces his own story from a scary, incompetent childhood through arrogant overconfidence to the catalytic moment that broke him open — becoming a 24-year-old hospital chaplain sitting with dying people. That season killed the pretense and became the seedbed for everything he now teaches leaders about family systems theory, the "well self," and why the most anxious person in the room is running the show whether anyone notices or not.Along the way: micro-habits that reset a reactive nervous system, four simple questions that reveal the most anxious person in any group, and a candid look at 29 years of marriage to his best friend, Lisa. Steve closes with a challenge every leader needs to hear: the best asset you have to offer God's kingdom is a well self.-"I'm always looking to trip over God's goodness. That's kind of my goal.""I don't trust leaders that don't have a limp.""Reactivity is contagious. Unlike trauma or grief, it spreads through a room.""When you're bigger than human, you've pushed out the room in your soul where you attend to God.""Bob's not automatically evil — you're just as complicit for not confronting him.""You're not going to work on your marriage. You're going to work on yourself.""The best asset you have to offer God's kingdom is a well self."--This work — paying attention to your own reactivity, becoming a noticer, and growing yourself up before you try to fix everyone else — is at the heart of what I do with the leaders and couples I serve.If this conversation stirred something in you, I'd love to help you take the next step:For your leadership and calling → lantzhoward.com For your marriage → championhusband.com
Transcribe →158 | Sprints, Not Marathons - Leading With Rhythm, Purpose, and Joy with Lyle Wells
2w ago00:51:17Tap to summarizeLantz sits down with longtime friend Lyle Wells, president of Integris Leadership and a veteran executive coach who spends his days serving senior pastors, global nonprofit leaders, and CEOs. Lyle has been fired twice, coached college basketball, trained for ministry without the Greek and Hebrew, and been married to his wife Rhonda for nearly 37 years — and he brings all of it into a conversation about why leadership was never meant to be a marathon.The conversation moves from date nights and daily diversions to burnout, identity, and what it really means to hold your purpose tightly while holding your position loosely. Lyle unpacks the four roles he plays in every coaching relationship, why 80% of the leaders who call him are "stuck" rather than "struggling," and how uniqueness and eliteness can restore a leader's sense of aliveness. It's a conversation about rhythm — going out and coming in — and why ending well matters as much as starting well.Key Quotes"Life is a series of sprints, not marathons.""My tank is my responsibility. It's not my wife's job to fill it, and it's not my elders' job either.""Hold your purpose tightly. Choke the heck out of that thing. But hold your positions loosely.""We're really good at starting things. We're usually really bad at ending them — and ending well is just as important as starting well.""Struggling means we're wrestling. Stuck means hope is being lost.""Leadership is never meant to be harvested. It's only meant to be multiplied.""If it doesn't challenge you, it doesn't change you."--Coach Lantz Howard www.lantzhoward.comDownload Champion Husband Playbook: How to have More Peace, Passion, and Power in Your Marriage www.championhusband.com
Transcribe →157 | The Core: 8 Principles for Building Strong, Authentic Leadership | Author Dr. Matt Paden
May 1900:47:35Tap to summarizeIn this rich and honest conversation, Lantz Howard talks with longtime friend Dr. Matt Paden, co-author of the new USA Today bestselling book The Core. Matt shares the powerful story behind the book, his major life transitions over the past two years, and why great leadership is far more about who you are than what you can do.They explore ego vs. humility, the power of vulnerability, leading for the good of others, and how to navigate seasons of massive change in leadership, marriage, and family life.Character beats skills for long-term success. Skills get you the seat, but character keeps you there and sustains your influence.Ego out of control leads to destruction. The story of Haman vs. Mordecai in the Book of Esther shows that two people can have the exact same job — but completely different outcomes based on their character.Work for the good of your people. The best leaders focus on service over self-promotion. Ask: “Am I working for the good of the people I lead?”Vulnerability is strength, not weakness. Pretending to know everything breeds cynicism and toxicity. Admitting what you don’t know builds trust and unleashes your team.Leadership is messy, complex, and often lonely. Don’t try to do it alone — get a coach, build a trusted circle, and stay humble.Seasons of massive change are normal. Matt’s transition from higher education executive to entrepreneur, author, and company founder shows that change, while hard, can lead to rich growth.Strengthen your core first. When your inner life (character, humility, self-awareness) is healthy, everything else — team performance, marriage, family, and influence — improves.Date nights and marriage rhythms still matter in busy seasons. Even high-achieving leaders must intentionally protect time with their spouse.Resources Mentioned:Buy the Book: The Core by Dr. Matt Paden & Dr. Ken Jones (USA Today Bestseller)Learn more about Great Days Leadership – Coaching and Consulting organizationSubscribe to the podcast: Bad Days Leadership Podcast --Learn more about coaching with Lantz Howard at www.lantzhoward.com
Transcribe →156 | Daring to Dream Bigger: Building a Theme Park from Tragedy and Trust | Founder of Dirt WorldJacob Robinson
May 1200:49:58Tap to summarizeIn this inspiring conversation, Lantz Howard sits down with Jacob Robinson — entrepreneur, Shark Tank alum, and founder of Dig World. Jacob shares the powerful story behind Dig World, a unique theme park where kids and adults get to operate real construction equipment. What started as a father’s response to his son Pierce’s life-changing battle with bacterial meningitis has become a joyful destination that creates lifelong memories for families.Jacob opens up about faith, marriage, leadership, and the importance of dreaming crazy dreams while operating out of imagination instead of painful memories.Key Topics, Quotes & Takeaways:How a family crisis with bacterial meningitis sparked Dig World and strengthened Jacob and Melissa’s marriageDare to dream crazy dreams because it’s free — operate out of imagination, not memoryThe importance of clear communication and keeping your spouse fully in the loop while building a business“What would you do if you knew you couldn’t fail?” — Walk with “elephants” — surround yourself with people doing big thingsPractical Takeaways:Dream boldly — write down the scary dream you’re afraid to tell your spouse.Choose imagination over painful memories or past criticism.Prioritize radical clarity and communication in your marriage.-To learn more about coaching with Lantz visit www.lantzhoward.com
Transcribe →155 | The Future Narrative That Changed My Life: Healing Your Story: From Secrecy & Shame to Freedom & Resilience | Chick-fil-A Owner/Operator David Hamel
May 500:51:56Tap to summarizeIn this powerful and vulnerable conversation, I sit down with longtime friend and client David Hamel—Chick-fil-A Owner/Operator, former Kansas State football player, runner, and devoted husband and father. David shares his journey of confronting childhood wounds, decades-long struggles with pornography addiction, and the transformative power of rewriting his future narrative.Together, we explored what it looks like to move from living in secrecy and shame to walking in gospel-centered freedom, intentional leadership, and restored relationships.Moving from being a “flavor of the month” leader to living consistently in your true identityThe life-changing encounter with Miss Pauletta and “the soup that was meant to be coldYou have the capacity to change.”Tell the truth about your story, not the curated version of it. To learn more about coaching with Lantz, visit www.lantzhoward.com
Transcribe →154 | You Can Mentor: Relationships That Transform Lives | Founder and Mentor Zach Garza
Apr 2800:49:23Tap to summarizeIn this heartfelt episode, Lantz Howard sits down with Zach Garza — founder of You Can Mentor and passionate advocate for mentoring fatherless boys and girls.Zach shares:The power of simple, consistent presence over rigid routines (judge the fruit, not the watering schedule)His own story of growing up without a consistent father figure and how one mentor (Bob) changed the trajectory of his lifeWhy mentoring is discipleship — showing up, encouraging, and letting kids catch more than they’re taughtThe differentiator of You Can Mentor: faith-based mentoring that points kids to Christ and healthy familyPractical ways to start mentoring: do what you love, invite others, and include your own familyThe long obedience of faithfulness — “if you don’t quit, you win”A motivating conversation for any man or woman wondering if they have what it takes to mentor and how one faithful relationship can break generational cycles.--Learn more about coaching with Lantz Howard at www.lantzhoward.com
Transcribe →153 | Hosting the Party: Curating Connection, True Self vs. False Self, and Building a Coaching Practice | Coach Barrett Brooks
Apr 2100:56:09Tap to summarizeIn this rich conversation, Lantz Howard sits down with Barrett Brooks — executive coach, former COO of ConvertKit (now Kit), host of The Good Work Podcast, and steward of Presence-Based Coaching.Barrett shares openly about:The power of curating experiences and “hosting the party” (everyone wants to attend, few want to host)Date nights at Nostrana and what they reveal about intentional leadershipThe shift from false self (superhero, achievement-driven) to true self (enough, presence, “that’ll do, pig”)Lessons from burnout at Kit and acquiring Presence-Based CoachingHow to create meaningful entry and exit rituals in group coachingBuilding the organization he’s always longed for — one rooted in autonomy, wholeness, and long-term stewardshipWhy the coaching industry needs both deep skill and entrepreneurial clarityA thoughtful, practical episode for leaders, coaches, and creators who want to lead from wholeness rather than hustle.--Learn more about coaching with Lantz Howard at www.lantzhoward.com
Transcribe →152 | Staying Faithful in the Calling: 20+ Years Leading Boys & Girls Club | Robbie Slocum
Apr 1400:34:23Tap to summarizeLantz Howard sits down with Robbie Slocum, CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of North Georgia. With over two decades in after-school programming, Robbie shares what it looks like to stay grounded in a high-impact vocational calling while resisting the pull toward “something bigger.”Key topics include:The sacred rhythm of Tuesday night walks with his wife AprilHow running and Saturday morning prayer keep him centeredThe shift from “playing with kids” to fighting for kidsWhy relationships — not programs — are the heart of the Boys & Girls Club missionGenerational impact stories and the power of consistent presenceThe danger of busyness (“being busy is buried under Satan’s yoke”)Dying to self, making time, and modeling Christ-like leadership in everyday momentsA heartfelt conversation for leaders who want to stay faithful where God has placed them instead of chasing the next shiny opportunity.--Learn more about coaching with Lantz Howard at www.lantzhoward.com
Transcribe →151 | Identity Beyond Performance: From Applause Addiction to Secure Leadership | Dr. Trevor Hislop
Apr 700:55:45Tap to summarizeIn this conversation, Lantz Howard sits down with Dr. Trevor Hislop — former pastor, marriage and family therapist, Doctor of Ministry, Chief Development Officer at Live Well Behavioral Health, and developer of Renovi Relational Therapy (RRT).Trevor shares his journey from competitive athlete and worship leader chasing validation through achievements and stage applause, to discovering a more secure identity rooted in connection rather than performance. They explore:How early "little t" traumas and family dynamics shape achievement-driven leadershipAttachment styles and why identity forms in relationships, not isolation or credentialsThe detox from people-pleasing and over-functioningBalancing confidence with humility (e.g., owning your strengths without posturing)A raw, practical discussion for high-achieving leaders who want to lead from wholeness instead of wounds.--Learn more about coaching with Lantz Howard at www.lantzhoward.com
Transcribe →150 | Just Warming Up – A Heartfelt Milestone on Wholehearted Leadership
Mar 2400:12:04Tap to summarizeIn this special 150th episode, host Lantz Howard steps away from guest interviews for a personal, reflective solo conversation. Five years after launching the podcast with John Eldredge’s Daily Prayer, Lantz shares honest thoughts on the journey so far, the power of slowing down, and the importance of stewarding the unique calling God has placed on each of us.Key topics include:The honor and responsibility of stewarding conversations with world-class leadersWhy generosity and emptying ourselves for others is at the heart of wholehearted leadershipThe danger of protecting our gifts instead of releasing them for kingdom impactA practical journaling framework that has sustained Lantz in this season:Lantz also shares how he’s currently reading The Bible Recap by Tara-Leigh Cobble alongside his wife Jessica and how this rhythm of Scripture, worship, and journaling helps him stay integrated in identity, marriage, and vocation.Whether you’ve been listening since episode 1 or just joined the journey, this episode is an invitation to stay curious about your own story and keep moving forward in wholehearted leadership.Resources Mentioned:The Bible Recap by Tara-Leigh Cobble (book + podcast)Past guests: Patrick Lencioni, John Eldredge, Henry Cloud, Jon Tyson, Dr. C (Heal Your Hurting Mind), and many moreCall to Action:If this podcast or any previous conversation has encouraged or equipped you:Leave a 5-star review and write a short review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify – it helps others discover the show.Text or email Lantz your feedback – what you love, what you want more of, or how the message can keep growing.Your voice helps shape the future of Wholehearted Leadership and points other leaders toward gospel-centered content, community, and coaching.Connect with Lantz:WebsiteLinkedInInstagramEmailThanks for listening. Peace and courage to you on your leadership journey.
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