Linch With A Leader

<p>Joan has spent her career changing the landscape of women’s athletics at the collegiate level. She spent a couple of decades as the Women’s Athletic Director at the University of Tennessee. Most notably, she was over the athletic department when Pat Summitt brought the Tennessee Lady Volunteers basketball team to the national stage due to their tremendous success. Joan is also known for serving on the First Tennessee Bank Advisory Board, a Trustee for the U.S. Sports Academy, and she is on the Board of Trustees at Carson-Newman College. She’s been named a Champion in Sports Business by Sports Business Journal. She was elected President of the National Association of College Directors of Athletics. She has also been inducted into the Louisiana State University Hall of Distinction, the College of Charleston Hall of Fame, the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame, the Knoxville Sports Hall of Fame, and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ Hall of Champions. Today, Joan is a nationally recognized speaker and business consultant. <br><br>In this episode, Mike Linch talks with Joan Cronan about what it’s like to spend so much of her career at the University of Tennessee, the difficulties of rising up the ranks in the athletic field, leadership lessons she has learned, what it’s like working with a dynamic leader, and how her faith has played such a pivotal role in her life.</p>

<p>Patrick is currently a fullback in the NFL for the Buffalo Bills. He grew up just outside Orlando, Florida in a town called Altamonte Springs where he starred at Lake Brantley High School. He went on to play collegiate football in the SEC at the University of South Carolina playing for the legendary Steve Spurrier. After a great career with the Gamecocks, Patrick was signed as an undrafted free agent by the San Diego Chargers in the NFL. He had stops in San Diego and Kansas City before breaking onto the scene as a fullback with the Atlanta Falcons. The 2015 season was a big one for DiMarco when he won the 2015 Walter Payton Man of the Year Award for the Falcons and was named to his first Pro Bowl and a second team All-Pro. In 2016, he was on the NFC championship team with the Falcons who made it all the way to the Super Bowl. In 2017, he signed a four-year contract to go play for the Buffalo Bills.<br><br>In this episode, Mike Linch talks with Patrick DiMarco about his upbringing and the role sports played, what is was like playing for Steve Spurrier, some of the adversity the he’s dealt with in sports and life, and how his faith has grown through the years.</p>

<p>Andy has been working in the food service industry for over 40 years of his life. He has been in and out of restaurants his entire life. He owned several restaurants early on in his career, but was ready to take on the opportunity with a big company and joined Bennigan’s as an assistant manager. After six months he was promoted and placed in charge of the entire state of California where the company was struggling. He quickly turned things around and was honored with one of only four creative excellence awards in Pillsbury’s 60 year history. He has been climbing the ladder in the restaurant world ever since working at not only Bennigan’s, but has also been a part of the groups with Rain Forest Café and Harrah’s Worldwide.<br><br>In this episode, Mike Linch talks with Andy Revella, about how his faith has played a role in his life and career, how he got his start in the restaurant industry, and some of the lessons that he has learned from the food business along the way.</p>

<p>Luke is the senior minister of the Westover Hills Church in Austin, Texas. On top of pastoring week in and week out, he is also an author and the host of his own podcast entitled Newsworthy with Norsworthy. In the podcast, Luke will discuss a variety of topics including, Spirituality, Christianity, and other news worthy events that occur. In October of 2018, he released his first book God over Good. <br><br>In this episode, Mike Linch talks with Luke Norsworthy, about his life as a pastor and what he has learned, things he learned from his father growing up, the things that motivate him to keep growing, his journey to beginning the podcast and the lessons he’s learned from it, why he doesn’t enjoy reading leadership books, and some of the lessons that life has taught him through the years.</p>

<p>Christy Wright is a Certified Business Coach, author, speaker, podcast host, and business owner. When Christy isn’t speaking to Fortune 500 companies or students at some of our nation’s greatest universities, she is working with many start-up business leaders as a Certified Business Coach. She is also the host of Dave Ramsey’s podcast, and contributes as a content writer for <a href="http://entreleadership.com" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">entreleadership.com</a>. Her work with EntreLeadership extends to the Master and Performance Series as well, where she covers the area of personal development such as leadership, life balance, setting and reaching goals, creating boundaries, and time management. <br><br>In this episode, Mike Linch talks with Christy Wright about her background and how she got to where she is and what she learned from her mother, the difficulties of balancing work and family, how her faith became a pivotal part of her life, her journey to joining the Dave Ramsey Team, lessons for leaders who need to dive into what God’s calling them to, the things she hates women say to themselves.</p>

<p>Ken Coleman is an acclaimed interviewer, broadcaster, author and host of The Ken Coleman Show as well as hosting the EntreLeadership Podcast. Ken joined the Ramsey Solutions team in 2014 and is a frequent guest host on The Dave Ramsey Show which is one of the most listened to shows in the United States. From there, he launched into his interviewing career which has led Ken into authoring a book entitled: One Question- Life Changing Answers from Today’s Leading Voices.<br><br>In this episode, Mike Linch talks with Ken Coleman about what it was like to be one of the earliest podcasters out there, where he learned and built the passion for interviewing and asking questions, his experience at Liberty University and how it shaped him, Ken’s favorite aspects of leadership, and how his faith has impacted all that he does.</p>

<p>Aaron Niequist is a liturgist, writer, and pastor in the Chicago, Illinois area. He has led worship at large churches such as Mars Hill Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan and at Willow Creek in Barrington, Illinois. He went on to create a new set of modern worship recordings that are called A New Liturgy. Aaron has also gone on to author a book entitled: The Eternal Current: How a Practice-Based Faith Can Save Us from Drowning which is focused on a practice-based faith.<br><br>In this episode, Mike Linch talks with Aaron Niequist about his background in leadership, the growth that he has found in his faith, relationships that changed him throughout his journey, practices that he uses to exercise his faith outside of church on Sunday’s, and what he hopes God does through his new book.</p>

<p>Pastor Terry Smith is the Lead Pastor of The Life Christian Church in West Orange and Paramus, New Jersey. He has been at TLCC for the past 27 years and has seen the church grow to over 3,000 people, but he is also heavily invested in his local community. He co-founded The New York City Leadership Center and is involved with the West Orange Government Reform Commission, West Orange Rotary Club, and Concerts of Prayer Greater New York. He has also authored an Amazon best seller titled, Live 10: Jumpstart the Best Version of Your Life. He is also set to release a brand new book, The Hospitable Leader, which is set to release in early October 2018.<br><br>In this episode, Mike Linch talks with Pastor Terry Smith about his background and upbringing, the release of his new book, how Jesus served as a hospitable leader, the different aspects of being and becoming a hospitable leader, while also applying all of these principles to our own journeys.</p>

<p>Coach Curry was born and raised in College Park, Georgia. He starred on the football team at Georgia Tech under the iconic coach, Bobby Dodd. In 1965, he was drafted by the Green Bay Packers where he won his first of two Super Bowls under Vince Lombardi. Curry was in the NFL until 1974, playing not only for the Packers, but also for the New Orleans Saints, Baltimore Colts, Houston Oilers, and Los Angeles Rams. He then made the transition to the sidelines as an assistant coach at Georgia Tech in 1976. He moved to the NFL as an Offensive Line Coach for the Packers, but returned to Georgia Tech in 1980 as the head coach. He was named the ACC Coach of the Year in 1985, but then went on to become the head coach at the University of Alabama. His three-year tenure at Alabama gave him the highest winning percentage among coaches at the school since Bear Bryant. After Alabama, Bill Curry became the new head coach at the University of Kentucky for a few seasons. His last stop coaching came in 2010, when he was named the first ever head coach at Georgia State University to begin the football program at the school. <br><br>In this episode, Mike Linch talks with Coach Curry about his upbringing in College Park, the role that men play in the family dynamic, the lessons he learned from legendary coaches like Bobby Dodd, Vince Lombardi and Don Shula, his transition from playing to coaching, the difficulties of the expectations that come from the public spotlight, and the reconciliation we can see in our country.</p>

<p>Carey is the founding pastor of Connexus Church in Ontario, Canada. He is also the host of the widely popular podcast, The Carey Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast, and the author of many books with a brand new one about to be released entitled, Didn’t See It Coming. Carey is a native of Canada and originally had intentions of being a lawyer. He eventually made the transition to ministry, and founded Connexus Church in 1995. He now oversees the communication and is working to expand Connexus’ broader ministry. <br><br>In this episode, Mike Linch talks with Carey about the content of his new book, Didn’t See It Coming, and his passion and experiences that led him to authoring the book. They also dive into the struggles of many leaders, how leaders can keep perspective on what they do and how leaders handle things within their private lives, the struggles of becoming irrelevant, and how pride is one of the biggest struggles of a leader.</p>

<p>Chris is the Vice President of Client Success for The John Maxwell Company. Growing up between Ohio and Florida, Chris began to excel on the athletic field and earned a football scholarship to Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. While at Liberty, he studied sport management and business, but went on to play in the Canadian Football League for a few seasons. Afterwards, Chris began to launch and lead fast growing startup companies in the real estate and manufacturing world. In his current role with The John Maxwell Company, Chris’ role is to “guide corporate clientele through the process of leadership discovery by leveraging his organization’s proprietary suite of solutions.” <br><br>In this episode, Mike Linch talks with Chris about his college experience, sports background and how that has translated to the business world, how learning influences the role of a leader, how his faith has influenced not only his job but his personal life, what he has learned from John Maxwell, and some common traits of the most successful leaders.</p>

<p>William is the CEO and Founder of the Vanderbloemen Search Group which is a search firm that serves churches, ministries, and faith-based organizations. Previously, he was in ministry for over 15 years serving as a Senior Pastor. He also draws on his previous experience studying executive search, and serving as a Manager in Human Resources in a Fortune 200 company. Vanderbloemen serves as a keynote speaker for many events across the country, and he’s also authored Next: Pastoral Succession That Works, Search: The Pastoral Search Committee Handbook and Culture Wins: The Roadmap to an Irresistible Workplace. He holds degrees from both Wake Forest University and Princeton Theological Seminary. <br><br>In this episode, Mike Linch talks with William about his background and journey to where he is, what business leaders may not know about people in ministry, the first days of his search group, some of their successful things that they have learned, the importance of culture.</p>

<p>Chris is located in Tennessee, and currently serves as a member of the Dave Ramsey team. Before joining Ramsey in 2014, he was known for his work in the church serving as a pastor and speaker. However, he also had a background in business and real estate that played a role in his success as a campus pastor. He managed the churches multi-million dollar budget that had eight different campuses and over 12,000 members. With the Dave Ramsey team, Chris communicates to audiences the importance of stewardship through a biblical perspective. He also helps them to understand that stewardship extends from not only finances but to other important roles such as marriages and parenting. He also has a podcast entitled Life Money Hope with Chris Brown.<br><br>In this episode, Mike Linch talks with Chris about not only his background, but the role he plays with the Dave Ramsey team, the importance of stewardship in our personal lives, and the role his spiritual walk plays in the entire journey.</p>

<p>Annie is currently based in Nashville, Tennessee but was born and raised in Marietta, Georgia and has burst onto the scene with her unique and creative writing style. Authoring books such as Looking for Lovely, Let’s All Be Brave, Perfectly Unique, and Speak Love, she has captivated a wide-ranging audience. Many of her books have moved on to become best-sellers, but she is also known as a speaker and podcaster. Annie frequents many churches, conferences, and large gatherings to inspire audiences. She also hosts the weekly podcast entitled That Sounds Fun Podcast where she sits down with a wide variety of well-known guests.<br><br>In this episode, Mike Linch talks with Annie about her upbringing, how the doors opened for her to begin writing and speaking, the passion and vision behind some of her books and the lessons God has taught her through them, learning how to deal with the tough moments of life, and the books right now that are helping her grow as a leader.</p>

<p>John Flood is currently the Founder and Managing Director of Elevate which is located in St. Simons, Georgia. Elevate serves to assist executive teams to develop a performance strategy that results in performance improvement. Previously, he has served as the Vice President and General Manager of Further Processing at Wayne Farms Incorporated. He has made his career in the food industry with his 30+ years of experience in the business. Before Wayne Farms, he has worked for other giants in the industry such as: Oscar Meyer Company, Sara Lee Corporation, and King & Prince Seafood Corporation as well as others. John Flood received his degree from Michigan State University with a degree in marketing. <br><br>In this episode of Linch with a Leader, Mike and John Flood dive into not only lessons learned from the business world, but also how John’s relationship with the Lord influenced decisions that he made and how it guided him throughout his career.</p>

<p>Kevin was born and raised in southern California. He jumped onto the baseball scene at Poway High School, and become a first-round pick of the Boston Red Sox in the 1981 MLB draft. During his playing career, he spent time with not only the Boston Red Sox, New York Mets, San Francisco Giants, and Kansas City Royals organizations. He made it all the way to AAA with both the Giants and Royals. Once his playing career was over in 1992, he was not out of the game long, and he began to climb the ranks as a scout in professional baseball. Since then he has been the one to draft a multitude of current and former players who spent time in the major leagues.<br><br>In this episode, our host, Mike Linch, has a conversation with Kevin Burrell about not only his playing career, but the tools needed to be a great scout, the role character plays in the development of an athlete, some of the players he has had a role in drafting, and how his faith plays a vital role in all that he does; including living out what God is calling him to do.</p>

<p>Dr. Chand was born in India and raised in a Pastor’s home, and equipped him from an early age to be around leadership development. In1973, he became a student at Beulah Heights Bible College where he served as a janitor, cook, and dishwasher at the school. Dr. Chand went on to become a youth pastor and senior pastor, before returning to Beulah Heights in 1989 to become the President Emeritus of the school. Under his leadership, it became the country’s largest predominantly African-American Bible College. Dr. Chand has also gone on to become a leadership consultant to pastors and business leaders, and he has authored eleven books along the way. His expertise and background in the world of leadership has him at the forefront of the community at this time.<br><br>In this episode, our host, Mike Linch, has a conversation with Dr. Sam Chand about his background in leadership, the leadership style of Jesus, leadership styles he sees in church and in business, and the vision he had as he authored some of his latest books.</p>

<p>Molly Fletcher has always made a mark wherever she is involved. That’s been true since her time at Michigan State University, where she was the captain of the women’s tennis team, and earned her bachelor’s degree in communications. She spent much of her career serving as a one of the only female sports agents in the world, representing many of the biggest names in the industry such as: John Smoltz, Matt Kuchar, Erin Andrews, Tom Izzo and Doc Rivers. In her time serving as president of client representation for sports and entertainment agency CSE, Molly negotiated well over $500 million in contracts for her clients. She’s been noted for her work by ESPN, Fast Company, Forbes, and Sports Illustrated. Her success in the industry allowed opportunities for her to not only become a published author, but also a motivational speaker, reaching people all across the world. Today, she is the CEO of the Molly Fletcher Company, which has the goal of “helping leaders, teams, and organizations get unstuck from whatever it is that is blocking you from reaching your full potential.”<br><br>In this episode, our host, Mike Linch, has a great discussion with Molly Fletcher about the obstacles on the road to success, her lessons from the world of sports, and the role her faith has played in getting her to where she is today.</p>

<p>This month’s podcast features author and speaker Todd Gongwer.<br><br>Todd Gongwer has made many stops throughout his leadership journey, but you will be hard pressed to find one where he did not make an incredible impact. He learned about leadership from a very young age on growing up around his family’s food service business. As he grew, he kept his entrepreneurial spirit as he built restaurants, and even dabbled in the world of real estate. In 1992, he began serving as an Assistant Basketball Coach at Bethel College, where in 11 seasons, he helped led them to three NAIA National Championships. In 2009, he founded Kardia Transformation Group, which was built to help audiences motivate and transform their lives. Shortly after, Todd, authored LEAD… for God’s Sake! which has gone on to sell thousands and thousands of copies. Today, Todd not only authors, but speaks to audiences all over the United States.<br><br>Today, our host, Mike Linch, discusses with Todd Gongwer the inspiration and vision for LEAD… for God’s Sake!, the leadership roles he has assumed throughout his career, his faith journey, common things that leaders face, the important attributes of leaders.</p>

<p>This month’s podcast features Chris Hogan, who is a part of the Dave Ramsey team.<br><br>Chris Hogan received his undergraduate degree from Georgetown College in Georgetown, Kentucky, where he was a star on the football team as he became an All-American. After graduating from college, he transitioned to the coaching side of football while completing his graduate degree. Chris found lots of success in the business world, as he climbed the ladder becoming the vice president of a prestigious company. However, Chris felt the call to do more than sit behind his desk, and watch clients struggle with their finances. Shortly thereafter, he connected with Dave Ramsey and a new career opportunity emerged. Now, Chris helps spread the message of financial hope to audiences all over the country. He is an expert on subjects like mortgages, healthcare, and investing. Chris Hogan is also considered one of America’s leading voices regarding retirement, and has authored the book Retire Inspired.<br>In this episode, our host, Mike Linch, has a discussion with Chris Hogan about the leadership lessons he took away from his time playing collegiate football, his incredible story that led to meeting Dave Ramsey, the lessons America needs to learn about retirement, and the correlation he sees between financial freedom and spiritual leadership.</p>

<p>This month’s podcast features the founder of the L.E.A.D. Academy in Atlanta, CJ Stewart.<br><br>Stewart was born and raised right in the heart of Atlanta, Georgia. Baseball became a part of his story early on in life, and was an outlet that led to the career path he would one day follow. He had the opportunity to play competitively in high school, which eventually lead to a scholarship to play at Georgia State University. After his time as a Panther, CJ was drafted by the Chicago Cubs giving him a chance at professional baseball. Once his playing career ended, it did not end his influence and involvement in the game of baseball. After serving a short time as an area scout, he became the founder and CEO of Diamond Directors. In his years in player development, he has worked with players such as Jason Heyward, Dexter Fowler, and Andrew McCutchen. Stewart is also the founder of a non-profit called L.E.A.D. (Launch, Expose, Advise, Direct). He and his wife, Kelli, have the goal of creating positive outcomes for inner-city youth by engaging the relationships between education, athletics, and service. To date, 100% of L.E.A.D.’s Ambassador Student-Athletes have graduated from high school and enrolled in college, while 92% have received baseball scholarship opportunities. <br><br>In this episode, our host, Mike Linch, has a deep discussion with CJ Stewart, not only about player development and his passion with L.E.A.D, but the role that race has in it, all from a spiritual context.</p>

<p>This extra podcast features the Head Baseball Coach of Sam Houston State University, Matt Deggs.<br><br>On top of being a highly successful baseball coach, Deggs’ has also authored a book and frequently speaks in the off-season. He has worked his way up the coaching ranks, finding success at about every stop from Northwestern State to Texas A&M University. Deggs’ teams are known for a ‘Pack’ philosophy that focuses on creating a positive and transformational culture within a team. Most recently, Matt Deggs has helped lead Sam Houston to back-to-back 40-win seasons, and the first ever NCAA Super Regional birth in 2017. Deggs’ has also authored a book entitled 15 to 28, which highlights his journey and the work that the Lord has done in life.<br><br>In this interview, Mike and Matt Deggs dive into what it’s like to have your identity wrapped up in baseball, the difference between transactional and transformational leadership, the difficulties of dealing with addiction, and how Jesus overcame it all in his life.</p>

<p>This month’s podcast features the founder of inteGrREAT, and speaker/author, Randy Gravitt.<br><br>Randy Gravitt describes himself as a C.E.O. (Chief Encouragement Officer), who is looking to help leaders grow. After attending seminary, he began teaching and coaching at a local Christian school. He then went on staff at Crossroads Church in Newnan, Georgia. Since then his career in the leadership industry has taken off. Not only has he authored and become a keynote speaker, but he created inteGREAT Leadership, which helps organizations create a culture of leadership that is built off of integrity. Through this, he has worked with organizations such as: Chick-fil-A, Advocare, Arrow Exterminators, the WinShape Foundation, Georgia Southern University, and the Pittsburgh Pirates.<br> <br>In this episode, Mike Linch talks with Randy Gravitt about the journey that has led him to this leadership platform he now has through inteGREAT. Throughout the discussion, Randy talks about the intangibles he sees that make certain leaders great, how leaders apply leadership to all aspects of their lives, tips for young leaders, and resources that Randy uses to grow as a leader.</p>

<p>This month’s podcast features the third base coach of the Texas Rangers, Tony Beasley.<br><br>Tony has had a long and impressive resume in the game of baseball, with his collegiate career taking place at Liberty University, where he was a teammate of podcast host, Mike Linch. In 1989, he was selected in the 19th round of the MLB draft by the Baltimore Orioles. He played professional baseball until 1998, spending his time in both the Orioles and Pittsburgh Pirates systems. In his career, he was a two-time Carolina League All-Star and a Southern League All-Star in 1996. He began his managerial career in 2001 with the Williamsport Crosscutter, and garnered back-to-back Low Class-A Manager of-the-Year selections by Baseball America at the helm of the Hickory Crawdads. Beasley began his major league coaching career in 2006, serving as the third base coach for the Washington Nationals. He then spent time between Pittsburgh and Washington, serving in multiple capacities for both organizations. In 2014, he was hired by the Texas Rangers to serve as their MLB third base coach. In 2016, Beasley was diagnosed with rectal cancer, forcing him to miss some of the 2016 season. He was declared cancer-free in December of 2016.<br><br>In this episode, our host, Mike Linch, catches up with his former teammate and friend about not only the ups-and-downs of professional sports, but also the role his faith plays in not only how he coaches, but how he relied on Jesus in his battle with cancer.</p>

<p>This month’s podcast features sports agent, attorney, and the Founder and President of Kelli Masters Management “KMM Sports,” Kelli Masters.<br><br>Kelli attended the University of Oklahoma, and was named Miss Oklahoma in 1997. She began practicing Business Litigation in 2000, and became a partner and shareholder of the firm from 2005-2012. Now, she is the Founder and President of Kelli Masters Management, and was named a SuperLawyers Rising Star in 2011 and 2012. She has been noted for her fantastic reputation with not only coaches and owners, but as well with the NFLPA for her work with her professional football clients. In 2014, she was named to the 25 Most Influential Women in Sports by Bleacher Report.<br><br>In this episode, Mike Linch talks with Kelli Masters about her thoughts on building and leading a legal agency. They also discuss the difference between leadership and spiritual leadership, and how those principles influence her day-to-day work. She also gives advice to athletes on things she has seen in the sports world, as well as her advice to women working in leadership positions.</p>

<p>This month’s podcast features the eighth, and current President and CEO of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Shane Williamson. <br><br>Shane attended Wofford receiving a degree in biology as well as playing football. He then went on to get his master’s degree from Converse College in secondary education. He started his career as a teacher and coach in the South Carolina school system, and serving as an FCA sponsor at the schools. After 2002, he began his journey with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, eventually working his way up to becoming the President and CEO in the beginning of 2017.<br><br>In this episode, Mike Linch talks with Shane Williamson about the impact that coaches have had on Shane’s life and why they are such important figures in the lives of young people. He also discusses where the Fellowship of Christian Athletes currently stands, and some of his dreams for FCA.</p>

<p>This month’s podcast features prominent speaker, and author Jon Gordon.<br><br>Jon Gordon has captivated millions throughout his incredible career as both a best-selling author and keynote speaker. Whether he is speaking to a Fortune 500 company, or professional sports team, his leadership conversations have influenced a countless number of men and women. Jon is a graduate of Cornell University, and received his Masters in Teaching from Emory University. He is also a well-known, and popular author with five of his 15 books becoming best-sellers, including: The Energy Bus, The Carpenter, Training Camp, You Win in the Locker Room First and The Power of Positive Leadership. He is truly one of the positive leadership experts of this generation.<br><br>In this episode, Mike Linch talks with Jon Gordon about his upbringing and what launched him into the positive leadership culture, searching for your purpose in life, the relationships he’s built through his leadership journey, the importance of loving the people you lead, and some of his projects that he has loved the most.</p>

<p>This month’s podcast features the Executive Director of the NFL Legends Community, and NFL veteran, James Trapp.<br><br>James Trapp, originally from Greenville, South Carolina, became a household name when he starred as a Clemson Tiger from 1989 until 1993. Not only known for achievements on the football field, but he was also a two-sport athlete with the Tigers, also participating in track and field. Trapp became a 14-time ACC champion and 10-time All-American on the track team, which eventually led to a trip to the Olympics as an alternate for the United States team in 1992 4x100 meter relay. However, many remember Trapp for his play on the football field. He was a third-round selection in the 1993 NFL Draft, to the Los Angeles Raiders, where he spent six seasons in Los Angeles and Oakland. In his time at Clemson and as a Raider, Trapp was known as one of the meanest players in the league, however, when he signed with the Baltimore Ravens in 1999 the Lord began to transform his life. He was a member of the Ravens and Jacksonville Jaguars for his last five seasons in the NFL, which culminated with a Super Bowl XXV championship with Baltimore in 2000. After retiring from the NFL, Trapp has served as the team chaplain for the Atlanta Falcons and Clemson Tigers, and then serving as the assistant director of Player Engagement for the Buffalo Bills in 2015. Today, James Trapp, works for the NFL league office, his role is to “lead the league’s ongoing efforts to assist players in successful transition into their post-playing experience,” according to NFL Operations. <br><br>In this episode, Mike Linch talks with James Trapp about his career in athletics and the lessons he learned, as well as the spiritual transformation that took place in his life while playing for the Ravens. James also discusses how his relationship with the Lord influences his leadership in his life away from playing football, things he learned from Coach Dabo Swinney in his time serving at Clemson University, and his battle off the field after being diagnosed with leukemia.</p>

<p>This month’s podcast features the Lead Pastor of Gwinnett Church, and prominent speaker, Jeff Henderson.<br><br>Jeff attended the University of Georgia, in Athens, Georgia, where he received his degree in journalism and advertising. He spent the first years of his professional career in the world of marketing. He worked for many prominent companies and organizations such as the Atlanta Braves and Chick-fil-A, Inc., in his 21-year marketing career. After his marketing career, Jeff joined North Point Ministries, and became the Lead Pastor of Buckhead Church. At the time, it made Jeff Henderson, the first lead pastor of a North Point multi-site location. Currently, he serves as the Lead Pastor of Gwinnett Church. Gwinnett Church was the fourth multi-site church plant site made by North Point Ministries. <br><br>In this episode, Mike Linch gains some great leadership and life insights from Jeff Henderson. They discuss what the role of a North Point multi-site pastor looks like, as well as communication and leadership lessons that he has learned from working alongside Andy Stanley. They also talk about some of the principles that Jeff has taken from his career in marketing, and how they influence his disciplines and culture that they have built at Gwinnett Church. Finally, we learn some personal lessons from Jeff Henderson, and what spiritual leadership looks like and means to him.</p>

<p>This month’s podcast features the tight end of the Philadelphia Eagles, and former Florida Gator, Trey Burton.<br><br>Trey was born in Venice, Florida, where he went onto become a star at Venice High School , where he played quarterback for the Indians. He graduated in 2010, and was a three star recruit , and signed his letter of intent to play at the University of Florida. He played under Urban Meyer from 2010 to 2013, and although he was brought in as a quarterback, he played a variety of positions for the Gators, including wide receiver, tight end, fullback, and quarterback. He also played at Florida the same time as his brother, Clay Burton. Trey was apart of the 2014 NFL Draft, where he went undrafted during the seven rounds. He signed with the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent, and took the improbable road to making the 53-man roster after a great preseason. Since then, Burton has been a key contributor to the Eagles both offensively and on special teams, and is a big part of the Eagles’ success in the 2017 season. Throughout his football career, Trey Burton has been unapologetic about his faith and walk with Jesus Christ.<br><br>In this episode, Mike Linch talks with Trey Burton about what life is like as a collegiate and professional football star. They also discuss the success of the Philadelphia Eagles to this point of the 2017 season, and what some of the keys to the season have been thus far. They also dive into the role that Trey’s faith plays not only with his football career, but also as a husband and father.</p>

<p>This month’s podcast features the founder of North Point Ministries, world-renowned author, and communicator, Pastor Andy Stanley. <br><br>Andy Stanley attended Georgia State University before going on to receive his master’s degree from Dallas Theological Seminary. After graduation, he went on staff and helped his father, Dr. Charles Stanley, at First Baptist Church of Atlanta. In 1995, he founded North Point Ministries, which now serves around 90,000 people at one of their six Atlanta churches and 50 churches around the world. In addition to all of his duties overseeing North Point Ministries, he is also known for his gift in communication, where’s spoken at events such as the National Prayer Service following the inauguration in 2009. Andy has also authored over 20 books, hosts his own leadership podcast The Andy Stanley Leadership Podcast, and began a television show called Your Move, that airs late at night on Friday’s and Saturday’s. One article on <a href="http://Preaching.com" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Preaching.com</a>, listed Pastor Andy Stanley as one of the most influential pastors over the past 25 years. <br><br>In this episode, Mike Linch talks with Pastor Andy Stanley about his stance on leadership, and what has led him to become one of the greatest leaders of this generation. They also discuss what Andy has learned from his father, Dr. Charles Stanley, parenting, and the preparation he puts into every message he gives.</p>

<p>This month’s podcast features the founder and President of Growing Leaders, and author of Habitudes and over thirty more books, Tim Elmore. <br><br>Tim Elmore began his career in the 1970’s as a youth pastor. In 1983, he began his career working with Dr. John Maxwell and all of his leadership materials. In 2003, Elmore founded Growing Leaders, who’s vision is to “see a world improved, even transformed, by the next generations.” Since that time, Elmore has gone on to become not only an author, but an incredibly well-respected teacher and communicator regarding leadership and the next generation. He’s spoken to over 350,000 students and faculties teaching leadership. He has his own podcast that he does, called Leading the Next Generation. <br><br>In this episode, Mike Linch dives into a great discussion with Tim Elmore focusing in on the different aspects of leadership. Not only does Tim give incredible insight to his passion behind leadership in the next generation, but he also discusses the importance of being able to adjust leadership styles to the current culture that exists today. Also on this episode of Linch with a Leader, Mike and Tim discuss some of the sports teams who have made adjustments in their pursuit of being great, the changes that are on the horizon in our world, and what this current generations thoughts are on church as well as the current standing of where the world is today. Tim also highlights some of the topics of his new book, Marching Off the Map, and some of the key principles that it contains.</p>

<p>Shannon was born in Florida, and moved north to Lynchburg to attend Liberty University for college. She graduated from Liberty in 1993 and went on to attend the Florida State University College of Law. She began her career as a lawyer, in Tampa, Florida, but made a career change to pursue television news in 2001. Since her career change, Bream has risen in the television ranks, and joined the FOX News Channel in 2007. Shannon Bream has also gained notoriety for becoming the first female keynote speaker at Liberty University for their 2013 graduation. She is also one of a handful women to compete in two national pageants in different states, as the winner of Miss Virginia in 1990 and Miss Florida in 1994. On top of all of Shannon’s responsibilities as a FOX News Channel correspondent, anchoring America’s Newsroom with Bill Hemmer, she also has her own podcast called: “Livin’ The Bream”.<br><br>In this episode, Mike Linch talks with Shannon Bream about the journey that has led her to being one of the main anchors on The FOX News Channel, and how her relationship with the Lord has guided her throughout her journey.</p>

<p>Coach Dooley was born and raised in Alabama. He was a multi-sport star at Auburn University for the Tigers. After his time in college, Coach Dooley, became an infantry officer in the United States Marine Corps. After his time in the military, Coach Vince Dooley returned to Auburn, Alabama to begin his coaching career with the Tigers. His life changed in December 1963, when he accepted the position as head football coach at the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia. Coach Dooley established his coaching legacy with the Bulldogs, compiling a record of 201-77-10, and winning a national title in the 1980 football season. During his 25 seasons as the head coach in Athens, he led the Bulldogs to 20 bowl games, coached 12 consensuses All-Americans, and was named SEC Coach of the Year four times. In 1979, he was appointed as the athletic director, and saw the Bulldogs win 18 national championships and 75 SEC championships during that period. Coach Dooley, and his wife Barbara, have become mainstays in the Athens area since they arrived in town in the 1960’s.<br>In this episode, Mike Linch talks with Coach Vince Dooley about not only his coaching journey, but some of the leadership lessons he learned on the football field as well. Coach Dooley also talks about the things he’s learned in his 50+ years of marriage to his wife, Barbara, and the role his faith has played in his journey through life.</p>

<p>In this episode, Mike Linch talks with Jason Romano about not only his career at ESPN, but how his faith has impacted his personal and professional journey.</p>