Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership
A Podcast with Ruth Haley Barton
Welcome to the Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership podcast with Ruth Haley Barton. In each 30-minute episode, you will discover how forging and maintaining your own life-giving connection with God is the best thing you bring to leadership.
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Bonus Episodes
Season 28
Midwinter Light: Scriptures, Poems and Spiritual Readings for AdventIn this season of the Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership podcast, Ruth invites listeners to embark on a unique journey during Advent 2025. Departing from traditional liturgical approaches, we will focus on the overlap between the seasons of Advent and winter, inspired by Marilyn McIntyre's book Midwinter Light: Meditations for the Long Season. Ruth will be joined all through Advent by Marilyn McIntyre, herself. Together they will explore themes such as inner reflection, the significance of silence, and the profound connections between spirituality and the physical season of winter.
Season 27
Taming our Technologies: [Spiritual] Practices for a Digital AgeThis season's special co-host, Jay Y. Kim, will be joining Ruth all season long to explore the impact technology is having on our lives with God, our attention span, our parenting, our community, and our creativity. Jay and Ruth will wrestle with their own questions and wonderings about finding balance in using technology in good and helpful ways while also acknowledging its challenges. This season aims to be gracefully thought-provoking, practically helpful, and ultimately hopeful and encouraging.
Season 26
Tarry with Me Awhile: Learnings from the Black ChurchOur 26th season of the Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership Podcast will be an ideal companion for Lent. We will be using Selina Stone’s book, Tarry Awhile: Wisdom from Black Spirituality for People of Faith, as a guide. Ruth will be joined by the author and Black leaders from within the Transforming Community to grasp a deeper understanding of waiting on God in the liminal spaces — where the resurrection feels far off, and our deaths and suffering are in the present. Black spirituality has much to offer us in understanding the concept of tarrying. This season will be a great compliment to the invitations of Lent.
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Season 25
Advent 2024 (Cycle C)This season, as Advent falls on the heels of a contentious election season here in America and amidst the reality of war and violence around the world, we here at the Transforming Center wanted to approach the Advent podcast season with the awareness that many people are deeply in need of space and hope right now. TC staff member Charity McClure and ministry partner Jeff James will be walking listeners through Advent with the intention of broadening and deepening the practice and experience of silence as a way to hold that space. Using Enuma Okoro’s book 'Silence and Other Surprising Invitations of Advent, which highlights the story of Elizabeth and Zachariah, for inspiration and wisdom, Charity and Jeff will be joined by guests as they explore themes of lament, barrenness, waiting, dependence on God, community, friendship, and hope.
Season 24
The Future of Christian SpiritualityWelcome to season 24! This season we are exploring the future of Christian spirituality. Based on her own experience and the lives of people she accompanies on the journey, Ruth has been naming what she is noticing and observing regarding the future of Christian spirituality—how the Spirit is moving and how we can align ourselves to participate in the future God is leading us into. Elements she is naming include respect for the role of desire; emphasis on spiritual direction; welcoming and inclusive; committed to justice; and more.
This season Ruth will sit down with thoughtful Christian leaders to discuss their thoughts on one of these elements, as it has to do with the future of Christian spirituality. This season was inspired by the Beyond Words series by the same name. Check out those posts here.
Season 23
How the Enneagram Can Help Us Navigate a Troubled WorldThis season we are using the framework of the enneagram, and in particular the ways the 3 instinctual subtypes impact each enneagram number, to help people do the necessary inner work of knowing themselves and managing anxiety, triggers, and stuck patterns so that they can lead others well. This season, we are moving beyond the basics of describing each number type to look at our instincts and what motivates our behaviors. Special guest, Erin Baute, a leadership behavior strategist with over 20 years of experience in behavior change and professional development, joins us all season long to help us do this important work.
Season 22
The Role of Suffering in the Spiritual LifeCoinciding with the themes of Lent, psychiatrist and author Dr. Curt Thompson joins Ruth to discuss his newest book, The Deepest Place: Suffering and the Formation of Hope.
Season 21
Honest AdventAdvent is upon us again. This season, we’ve invited artist, author, and speaker Scott Erickson to join us. Transforming Center team member Charity McClure is also on the microphone. Together with Ruth, the three will discuss how an honest Advent leads to honest hope. Using images from his book, Honest Advent, they will explore issues of vulnerability, humanity, and uncertainty, all while wondering where is God in these things?
Season 20
Transforming WorshipThis season we’re focusing on worship, particularly worship that is transformative. Our season long guest is Rory Noland and we will be working with his book, Transforming Worship: Planning and Leading Sunday Services as If Spiritual Formation Mattered. In addition to Rory and Ruth, we will also be bringing other guests into the conversations about worship with spiritual formation at its core. This season is for all who worship, not just pastors and leaders who plan the weekly services!
Season 19
Lent: Invitation to a Just LentThis season we are focusing on justice as an aspect of spiritual formation and we believe Lent to be the perfect season to explore this connection. Using A Just Passion: A Six-Week Lenten Journey, and the lectionary, we will look at various aspects of justice, its importance to God and why the church has often regrettably failed to live out God’s call to “do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with the Lord.”
Season 18
When Sabbath is Not Enough: Embracing the Gift of SabbaticalThis season we continue to celebrate the launch of Ruth's newest book, Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest From Sabbath to Sabbatical and Back Again, with a focus on sabbatical. Ruth will continue her discussions on the themes of her book as they relate to sabbatical with a variety of guests. We hope this will be practical and helpful for anyone who is looking to plan a sabbatical or help their pastors and leaders create space for one!
Season 17
Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest From Sabbath to Sabbatical and Back AgainThis season we are celebrating the launch of Ruth’s newest book, Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest From Sabbath to Sabbatical and Back Again. Ruth has invited a number of friends to come on the show to discuss the themes found in her book. These episodes are for pastors and leaders who are tired and longing for new rhythms of rest and work.
Season 16
Transforming Leadership: Managing Anxiety Within Our CommunitiesWelcome to Season 16, Transforming Leadership: Managing Anxiety Within Our Communities. This season we will be exploring Systems Theory, also called Family Systems Theory. Many of us have seen the troubling Barna research about the extreme levels of burnout pastors are experiencing right now. As we look at Systems theory, we will be examining how it relates to and can transform our lives in leadership. Ruth welcomes guest Steve Cuss, pastor and author of Managing Leadership Anxiety, Yours and Theirs, to help us unpack Systems Theory.
Support the podcast! This season, patrons will receive exclusive bonus content that includes conversations with Ruth and Steve that delve into episode topics a little deeper. Become a patron today by visiting our Patreon page!
Season 15
Lent for Leaders: With God in the WildernessRuth Haley Barton and Steve Weins will journey through Lent with a spirit of self-examination and desire for intimacy with God. Each episode will highlight a particular temptation found in one of the passages from Cycle C of the Revised Common Lectionary for Lent that is relevant for leaders today and Ruth and Steve will provide practices to combat those temptations.
Support the podcast! Patrons at the $10 level will receive a digital download of Ruth Haley Barton’s Lent: A Season of Returning. It includes Cycle C scriptures and space to journal your own thoughts and prayers. This season $10 patrons will also receive guided spiritual practices like Lectio Divinas and Examens that correspond with each week’s episode. Become a patron today by visiting our Patreon page.
Season 14
Advent Reflections: Come, Lord Jesus, ComeThis season we invite you to walk through Advent by engaging with the lectionary Scripture readings and listening for what God might want to say through them. In each episode, Ruth and members of the Transforming Center staff will read and reflect on the themes of Cycle C of the Revised Common Lectionary for Advent together.
This podcast season is designed to be a companion to this year’s updated Advent Reflections, Come, Lord Jesus, Come: Walking Through the Advent Season Together, Year C. The Advent Bundle includes both the softcover and digital edition of the Advent Reflections and a set of 5 corresponding Advent Liturgies to print out and pray as a family or with others. It is available now in our online store.
This month, patrons at all levels received a bonus conversation between the creator of the Advent Liturgies, Charity McClure, and podcast producer, Colleen Powell where they discussed their experience using these liturgies with their families. Become a Patron today to hear that conversation and all of our other bonus content.
Season 13
Invitations From GodWe are excited to be back with a new season with Ruth’s friend and fellow spiritual director Adele Calhoun. She and Ruth Haley Barton will be walking through Calhoun’s book, Invitations From God. If you would like to read along with this podcast season you can purchase Calhoun’s book at your favorite place to buy books or visit our online store.
Or if you sign up to become a patron in the month of June you will receive a free ebook of Invitations From God, as a thank you for your support. Patrons will now also receive regular bonus content as well as opportunities to hear Ruth answer their questions. Become a patron today and support our podcast ministry.
Season 12
The Deeper JourneyWe are excited to be back with our first season of 2021. Ruth Haley Barton and Steve Wiens will be walking through Robert Mulholland’s book, The Deeper Journey. If you would like to read along with this podcast season you can purchase Mulholland’s book at your favorite place to buy books or visit our online store.
Season 11
Advent Reflections (Cycle B)Happy New Year! Advent marks the beginning of the church year. Join Ruth Haley Barton and Steve Weins for spiritual encouragement based on this year’s Advent Reflections (Cycle B) with an episode for each week of Advent. This podcast season is designed to help leaders (and everyone) carve out time to make Advent a season of transformation. If you would like to make listening to the scriptures each day a spiritual practice for this season, follow this link. The podcast conversation begins at 7:19.
Season 10
Invitation to a JourneyIn this season Ruth and her conversation partner, Steve Weins, discuss one of Dr. M. Robert Mulholland, Jr.’s most important works, Invitation to a Journey. In each episode Steve and Ruth engage in a lively discussion of Mulholland’s profoundly biblical road map for spiritual formation.
Season 9
Ruth and Friends: “Conversations on Spiritual Transformation and…”Ruth and Friends: “Conversations on Spiritual Transformation and…” is the title of season 9 of the Strengthening the Soul of Leadership podcast. In each episode Ruth invites leaders with diverse callings and expertise to dialogue and explore how spiritual transformation intersects with some of the most significant topics of this time.
Season 8
Advent and Christmastide Reflections (Cycle A)Join us for this series of Advent and Christmastide reflections. The seasons of the church year are meant to teach us something about the spiritual life we need to learn. In fact, by entering into these seasons we experience the deeper dynamics and rhythms of the spiritual life by walking closely with Jesus and learning from him as we go. In this season of the Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership podcast, we are privileged to prepare and walk through the season of Advent together.
Season 7
Lent: A Season of ReturningThe seasons of the church year are meant to teach us something about the spiritual life we need to learn. In fact, by entering into these seasons we experience the deeper dynamics and rhythms of the spiritual life by walking closely with Jesus and learning from him as we go. In this season of the Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership podcast, we are privileged to prepare and walk through the season of Lent together.
Season 6
Invitation to RetreatIn Season 6, Steve Wiens and Ruth Haley Barton walk through Ruth's new book, Invitation to Retreat. Why did Ruth write another book? How does it relate to Invitation to Solitude and Silence? We start with a delicious word – invitation. Ruth moves in to define our terms and discuss how retreat has been compromised in our culture. Ruth and Steve even discuss who should go on retreat. Let's reclaim the word retreat!
Season 5
Invitation to Silence and SolitudeIn Season 5: Invitation to Solitude and Silence, Steve Wiens and Ruth Haley Barton will walk through Ruth’s book by the same name. Join us for a rich conversation, and grab a copy of the book to take a deeper dive into solitude and silence.
Season 4
Strengthening the Soul of Your LeadershipIt was 10 years ago that Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership was published by InterVarsity Press. Last year we launched this podcast by the same name, and this year to celebrate the 10th anniversary, InterVarsity released an expanded edition with a group experience and an assessment tool (check it out). Ruth and Steve will focus this podcast season on seeking God in the crucible of ministry.
Season 3
Pursuing God’s Will TogetherSeason 3 follows the content from Transforming Center's Discernment Summit.
Season 2
Life Together in ChristMany of us are carrying a lot of baggage regarding Christian community. Ruth has often commented that it is one of the most over-promised, under-delivered aspects of the Christian life—which means that Christians who have been deeply involved in church are often the most cynical and disillusioned. In Season 2 of the Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership podcast, Ruth and Steve will discuss how to cultivate communities where people regularly and routinely experience spiritual transformation. Season 2 follows the book Life Together in Christ by Ruth Haley Barton.
Season 1
Sacred Rhythms in the Life of the Leader: A Taste of the Transforming Community ExperienceYou’re invited on the journey of transforming leadership! Sacred Rhythms in the Life of the Leader is Season 1 of Ruth Haley Barton’s podcast Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership. Each episode highlights a quarterly theme of the Transforming Community experience. Join Steve Wiens (a Transforming Community alum) for a lively dialogue with Ruth Haley Barton about forging and maintaining a life-giving connection with God in the midst of leading.
Tell us what topic you'd like to see covered on a future season of the podcast. Email communications@