In today's podcast, I talk more extensively about the 6 stages of the wall and it can lead to complete life transformation.  This episode is a continuation of&nbsp;an 8-week podcast series in which we explore the seminal work from&nbsp;Emotionally Healthy Spirituality.&nbsp;If you are a pastor, leader, or listener and you want to start the journey toward emotional and spiritual health, this series is a must-listen.  If you missed the first episode on the&nbsp;problem of emotionally unhealthy spirituality,&nbsp;

Part 4 | Journey Through the Wall | Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Series

Is your life and leadership the same on the INSIDE as it is on the OUTSIDE? You might respond "Of course it is!". But reality is - sometimes it's hard to know. That's why God often sends others to help us see our own blindspots. In today's podcast, I share this full sermon and 3 invitations that I believe are critical for the day in which we live.&nbsp;

Leadership Blindspots & Whitewashed Walls

I was 19 when I came to Christ and started my training as a Christian leader.  As a young leader, I was taught many valuable things.&nbsp;But nobody told me about the most powerful gift leaders can bring to those they lead. But I've learned (through my own failures) that the greatest gift leaders can actually give is becoming an "incarnational presence" – being DEEPLY PRESENT with people like Jesus. In today's podcast episode, we look at the norm for most churches and leaders, but then we'll explore the beauty of what can happen in our church cultures when we learn to lead in this way. I encourage you to watch our&nbsp;&nbsp;online in our Leader's Training Vault. It's completely free and only takes one minute to register.  For now, you can listen to today's episode here...

The Most Powerful Gift Leaders Can Give

Many of us have come to believe that the Christian life is synonymous with constant happiness. We think we're on the right track if the trajectory of our lives is "up and to the right" - always improving, always leveling up.  But this way of thinking leaves little room for grief and sadness. When we experience real loss, we see it as an abnormal alien invasion, not as a divine invitation.  And yet, Jesus shows us that&nbsp;to welcome and hold sorrow before God is central to our leadership and discipleship.  In today's podcast episode, I share the importance of finding the treasure buried in grief and loss, and how we can train other leaders to do the same.  I encourage you to watch our&nbsp;&nbsp;online in our Leader's Training Vault. It's completely free and only takes one minute to register.  For now, you can listen to today's episode here...

Why Skimming Over Your Losses Kills Discipleship

I was recently asked by someone...  "Pete, if you could go back and give yourself advice in the different seasons of life and ministry, what would you say?" The truth is – every decade has its own unique invitations. As I reflected, I realized that I would say something slightly different to myself at 25, 35, 45, and even 55.  Today on the podcast, I share with you some fresh insights as I look back on my own journey and development. While my journey is different than yours, I'm hoping you'll be able to learn from my lessons - both the good and the bad!

What Would I Say to My 25, 35, 45-Year-Old Self?

Recently we crossed an unbelievable threshold with the&nbsp;&nbsp;with over 10 million lifetime podcast downloads. I couldn't be more surprised, humbled, and thankful for this milestone moment.&nbsp;  I say "surprised" because back in 1996, when we first started, the term "emotional health" was considered heretical in much of the church!  Now 25 years later, we can see that the cultural landscape has changed dramatically. Not only is emotional health received, but in many ways, it is now considered a promotional buzzword.  In today's podcast, I share my observations of what I consider 3 counterfeit versions of emotional health that we settle for, but then cast a vision for an authentic life with God.

3 Counterfeits of Emotionally Healthy Spirituality

Many leaders today "know" the importance of a slowed-down spirituality.  So why do so many continue to feel overloaded and over scheduled, often working 3 jobs, taking on new side hustles, and remain driven by the fear of missing out? Why can't we stop&nbsp;overcommitting? Listen, I know this struggle firsthand. And I've found that it goes deeper than knowing intellectually and theologically the right thing to do. On today's podcast, I tackle this question head-on in two parts:  How do you break free from the roots of overcommitment inside yourself? How do you help others break free from overcommitment as you lead them?  This is an important one. I pray that as you listen, you begin to experience a newfound freedom in Christ.

The Real Reason You Can't Stop Overcommitting (and what to do about it)

One of the greatest threats to leading with joy is giving into the temptation of overcommitment. When our lives are crowded, cluttered, and cramped, it is difficult to hear God and live in loving union with Him. The irony is, we can "fit in" regular practices of Sabbath and silence while still being driven by an overscheduled life.  But how do we resist this temptation? Silence, solitude, and sabbath must become our&nbsp;practices. AND spaciousness must become our&nbsp;mindset. In order to live spacious lives, we must avoid the critical traps that keep us settling for an overcommitted life.  What would it feel like to live with breathing room? How would it feel to limit your "Yes"&nbsp;and claim more margin in your schedule? What if you could build in time for extended thinking, praying, and being?   On today's podcast, I identify several traps that keep you from the gift of spaciousness and offer wisdom that will help you live with a renewed sense of joy.

Spaciousness: Avoiding the Traps that Steal Our Margin

👉 Download the FREE Emotionally Healthy Leader Discussion Guide at   —--------------------------------------------------- In today’s episode, we dive deep into one of the most misunderstood and undervalued aspects of Christian leadership—leading out of your singleness. Whether you’re 25 or 75, single by calling or circumstance, you are not a problem to be fixed or a “not-yet-married” Christian waiting in the wings. You are a sign and wonder—a prophetic witness to the kingdom of God. Drawing from Scripture, early church history, personal stories, and modern discipleship tools, I’ll challenge the prevailing theology that sidelines singleness and offer a fresh, liberating vision rooted in Jesus’ own life. You'll learn why emotionally healthy singleness is not only a gift to the church, but essential for her transformation. If you’ve ever felt unseen or unsure how to lead from your current season of life, this episode will expand your vision, affirm your worth, and equip you to live—and lead—out of your God-given identity. Plus, get access to a free study guide at  to help you and your team take the next steps.

The Power of Leading From Your Marriage or Singleness as a Sign and Wonder: Pt.2

After 30 years of wrestling with the tension between vision and limitation, I’ve come to see that how we handle limits can make—or break—our leadership. In this episode, I explore the subtle but powerful difference between good and bad limits. Bad limits are driven by fear, faulty thinking, and self-protection. But good limits? They’re gifts from God—meant to ground us, guide us, and grow us. You’ll hear how ignoring God’s limits nearly cost me everything: my marriage, my leadership, my soul. But when we stop trying to be God and instead embrace the limits He gives us, we begin to see Him in ways we never could have imagined. I’ll share practical ways you can discern the difference and walk in the freedom of wise, Spirit-led boundaries. This episode is both personal and pastoral—meant to help you lead from a deeper place. Listen now—and rediscover the God who meets you right in the middle of your limits. &nbsp;

Good Limits vs. Bad Limits: How Wise Leaders Know the Difference

If you’ve ever found yourself stuck in patterns you can’t explain or hitting a wall in your leadership that won’t budge—there’s a reason. In this episode of the Emotionally Healthy Leader Podcast, I explore one of the most overlooked but powerful forces shaping your life and leadership: your family of origin. The truth is, we all carry a family story. And unless we allow Jesus to meet us there—deep in those places—our leadership, relationships, and even our ability to hear God will be compromised. I’ll walk you through how your family of origin influences your emotional maturity, your capacity to lead from your true self, and your ability to discern God’s voice. I’ll also share stories from my own journey and those of other leaders to help you recognize where you might be stuck—and how to move forward. This is part one of a two-part series you don’t want to miss. The work of transformation begins with you. &nbsp;

5 Ways Your Family of Origin Is Undermining Your Leadership (Part 1)

What if your family of origin is still running your leadership — and you don’t even know it? In Part 2 of this vital conversation, Pete Scazzero continues unpacking how the emotional and relational patterns we inherited growing up deeply shape how we lead today — often more than we realize. If you missed Part 1, go back and listen first. In this episode, Pete explores:   Why so many leaders struggle to build healthy, emotionally mature community   How unspoken family scripts muddle our priorities and calendars   A powerful diagnostic checklist to help you reflect on your leadership   You’ll discover why your ability to lead from your true self, set wise boundaries, and create healthy spiritual culture is often determined by the invisible hand of your upbringing — unless Jesus breaks in. This episode is both a mirror and a map — calling us to deeper freedom and alignment with the new family of Jesus. 📍 Start your journey toward emotional and spiritual maturity today at  &nbsp;

5 Ways Your Family of Origin Is Undermining Your Leadership (Part 2)

In last week's podcast, Pete introduced us to the first five questions that he has asked himself and others when preaching a message. In part 2 of this week's podcast, Pete dives into the final five questions, while making suggestions that will make your preaching experience rich and enjoyable. May this podcast be a blessing for you!

10 Distinctives of Emotionally Healthy Preaching: Part 2

In this podcast, Pete shares with us his first seventeen years as a Christ-follower and leader were in different expressions of the Pentecostal/charismatic stream. A dramatic shift, both theologically and practically, happened as God led Pete into the journey we call Emotionally Healthy Discipleship in 1996. Pete examines three unique ways emotionally healthy discipleship enables us to tap into the explosive power of listening to the Spirit. Enjoy! &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

The Explosive Power of Listening

Back in June, I released&nbsp;&nbsp;of today's topic, making a case that leaders must dramatically change the way we approach our devotional life with Jesus. In today's podcast, I recommend a new way forward.&nbsp;I'll share with you four keys that will breathe life back into your devotions.

Why Leaders Need More than a "Quiet Time" Pt. 2

, we learn an important lesson from Martin Buber, a well-known German-Jewish theologian who lived during WWI. From there, we'll explore 3 questions for how we can know whether or not we are actually loving our enemies.

Seeing God in the Eyes of Your Enemies

Join Pete Scazzero (founder of Emotionally Healthy Spirituality) and Rich Villodas (pastor of New Life Fellowship in New York) as they discuss Emotionally Healthy Spirituality in the life of every leader.

Emotionally Healthy Leader Podcast

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