Townsend Institute Podcast Series

What if your burnout is actually a spiritual battle you haven't recognized? When most people think of spiritual warfare, they imagine dramatic Hollywood encounters. But what if the enemy's most effective weapon isn't sensational at all, but mundane? For ministry leaders, professionals, and believers alike, spiritual attacks most often look like creeping cynicism, imposter syndrome, exhaustion, and the urge to suffer in silence. In this episode of TIPS, hosts Ashlie and Gilbert sit down with Rev. Dr. Jonathan Ruehs, Associate Professor and Interim Dean of Christ College at Concordia University Irvine and a specialist in apologetics and missiology. Dr. Ruehs demystifies spiritual warfare, showing how the subtle integration of sin, the world, and the devil preys on isolation and how leaders can actively fight back. You’ll discover: The Predator Strategy: Why the enemy targets isolated leaders and the non-negotiable need for external confidants and support networks. The Mundane Attack: How unchecked burnout, compassion fatigue, and a messiah complex create fertile ground for spiritual defeat. The Sword and the Mask: Martin Luther’s framework for pairing biblical truth with daily vocational calling and professional counseling. Reframing Ephesians 6: Why the armor of God is not a checklist of human effort, but an invitation to rest in Christ’s finished victory. Daily Spiritual Rhythms: Simple, actionable practices that reset your baseline, from scripture memorization to living out your baptism. Whether you're carrying the weight of organizational leadership or navigating quiet personal doubt, this conversation delivers biblical grounding and practical strategies for spiritual resilience. Perfect for: Pastors, church leaders, Christian educators, counselors, and anyone seeking theological depth and practical tools to overcome isolation. ------- Interested in the Townsend Coffee Club? Whether you want to join for the coffee and swag or to apply for a scholarship, visit https://ti-advising.cui.edu/coffee-club for more information! ------- The Townsend Institute at Concordia University Irvine offers fully accredited online graduate degrees and professional certificates in three content areas: Organizational Leadership, Executive Coaching and Consulting, and Counseling. Experience transformational education that operates at the crossroads of competence, character, and connection through the Townsend Institute’s life-changing counseling and leadership programs. To find out more, visit our website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.cui.edu/townsend⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Enjoying the podcast? We want your input! Please email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for any feedback or ideas you have on topics or guests you would like to learn from! ------- Episode music is "Psalm 1 (That Man)" featuring Tommy Walker, Ben Lange, & Kip Fox, produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Songwriter Initiative⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ of The Center for Worship Leadership at Concordia University Irvine.

What if the coach sitting across from your client is holding back their growth? In the coaching world, knowledge and technical skills often get top billing. But what happens when a coach has the right certifications, yet lacks the internal self-regulation to hold space under pressure? The coaching industry is finally catching up to what counseling learned decades ago, and it's changing everything. In this episode of TIPS, hosts Ashlie and Gilbert celebrate the return of Dr. Michelle Thompson, PCC, Program Director of Executive Coaching and Consulting at the Townsend Institute. Drawing from her doctoral research on professional dispositions, Dr. Thompson reveals why coaching competence begins with who you are, not just what you know, and how this shift transforms both coaches and their clients. You'll discover: The 3-Part Triad: How internal identity directly determines whether your clients get real results—knowledge and skill alone fall short. The Counseling Precedent: What the coaching industry must learn from counseling's 40-year regulatory evolution to protect clients and raise standards. Self-Regulation vs. Self-Awareness: Why knowing your triggers isn't enough if you cannot regulate them in real time during a session. Can't vs. Won't: How to distinguish between a developing coach building a skill and a fixed mindset that resists ethical coaching boundaries. The Concentric Model: How deep internal identity work directly dictates ethical decisions, conflict-of-interest management, and coaching presence. If you've ever wondered why some coaches transform clients while others just check boxes—this episode has the answer. Whether you are a seasoned executive coach, a coach educator, or a leader seeking to deepen your character capacity, this conversation provides an essential blueprint for developing the whole practitioner from the inside out. Perfect for: Executive coaches, coach educators, counselors, HR leaders, and anyone pursuing ICF certification or advanced character-based leadership. Link to Dr. Michelle Thompson's dissertation ------- Join us for our next Townsend Institute Live Virtual Information session on October 14, 2026 at 11AM Pacific time to hear from our faculty, academic advisors, current students, and alumni about their experience in the Townsend Institute! During this live online information session, you will have the opportunity to: Ask faculty and fellows your questions about the Institute and our offerings. Learn how our counseling and leadership programs can advance your career. Connect with other prospective students exploring our programs. Become eligible for scholarships and other prizes by participating in our info session. ------- The Townsend Institute at Concordia University Irvine offers fully accredited online graduate degrees and professional certificates in three content areas: Organizational Leadership, Executive Coaching and Consulting, and Counseling. Experience transformational education that operates at the crossroads of competence, character, and connection through the Townsend Institute’s life-changing counseling and leadership programs. To find out more, visit our website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.cui.edu/townsend⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Enjoying the podcast? We want your input! Please email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for any feedback or ideas you have on topics or guests you would like to learn from! ------- Episode music is "Psalm 1 (That Man)" featuring Tommy Walker, Ben Lange, & Kip Fox, produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Songwriter Initiative⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ of The Center for Worship Leadership at Concordia University Irvine.

Leading on Mission: The Power of Organizational Alignment. In a rapidly growing organization, how do you prevent mission drift? It’s easy for departments to become silos, focusing so intently on their specific tasks that they lose sight of the big picture. True leadership isn't just about hitting targets; it’s about ensuring that every member of the team—from the front-line staff to the executive suite—is a living embodiment of the organization’s core values. In this episode of TIPS, hosts Ashlie and Gilbert sit down with Reverend Dr. Steven Mueller—Chief Mission Officer at Concordia University Irvine and recipient of the 2026 Servant Leadership Award. Dr. Mueller shares his journey from student to senior leader, offering a masterclass on how to weave mission, vision, and values into the very fabric of an institution. You’ll discover: Mission Fit vs. Culture Fit: Why hiring for alignment is critical, and how to avoid using culture as a mask for lack of diversity. The Front Line Philosophy: Why the person unloading a car or serving in the cafeteria is the organization to the outside world. Leading with Humility: The importance of owning mistakes and knowing your boundaries within the organizational hierarchy The Unbreakables: Practical rhythms for spiritual and physical health that prevent leadership burnout. Whether you are a new manager or a seasoned executive, this conversation provides the tools to lead with clarity, humility, and a relentless focus on what matters most. Perfect for: Organizational leaders, HR professionals, educators, and anyone seeking to align their professional vocation with a deeper sense of mission. ------- The Townsend Institute at Concordia University Irvine offers fully accredited online graduate degrees and professional certificates in three content areas: Organizational Leadership, Executive Coaching and Consulting, and Counseling. Experience transformational education that operates at the crossroads of competence, character, and connection through the Townsend Institute’s life-changing counseling and leadership programs. To find out more, visit our website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.cui.edu/townsend⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Enjoying the podcast? We want your input! Please email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for any feedback or ideas you have on topics or guests you would like to learn from! ------- Episode music is "Psalm 1 (That Man)" featuring Tommy Walker, Ben Lange, & Kip Fox, produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Songwriter Initiative⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ of The Center for Worship Leadership at Concordia University Irvine.

Are You Leading with Stress or Inspiration? Most leaders rely on goals and financials to drive performance, yet global engagement numbers remain miserable. Why? Because the very tools we use to get things done often trigger a neurological stress response that shuts down creativity and kills motivation. To lead effectively, you must learn to navigate the emotional contagion you spread to everyone around you. In this episode of TIPS, hosts Ashlie and Gilbert sit down with the legendary Dr. Richard Boyatzis—MIT aeronautics alum, Harvard PhD, and a world-renowned pioneer in emotional intelligence. Dr. Boyatzis reveals the science behind Intentional Change Theory and explains why your inner thoughts are neurologically infecting your team in as little as eight-thousandths of a second. You’ll discover: PEA vs. NEA: How to activate the Positive Emotional Attractor to open minds and the Negative Emotional Attractor to get tasks done—without burning out. The Goal Paradox: Why specific goal-setting can actually cause cognitive impairment and revert desired changes. Brain-to-Brain Connection: The unconscious speed at which your family and subordinates pick up on your true feelings, regardless of your poker face. The Feedback Fallacy: Why most professional feedback is useless and how to wait for the genuine ask to make an impact. Vision over Financials: Why starting meetings with numbers is the hallmark of an ineffective leader. Whether you are leading a global corporation or navigating a relationship with a teenage daughter, this conversation provides a blueprint for resonant leadership and sustained, desired change. Perfect for: Executive coaches, organizational leaders, educators, and anyone committed to the "influence business" of helping others grow. ------- The Townsend Institute at Concordia University Irvine offers fully accredited online graduate degrees and professional certificates in three content areas: Organizational Leadership, Executive Coaching and Consulting, and Counseling. Experience transformational education that operates at the crossroads of competence, character, and connection through the Townsend Institute’s life-changing counseling and leadership programs. To find out more, visit our website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.cui.edu/townsend⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Enjoying the podcast? We want your input! Please email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for any feedback or ideas you have on topics or guests you would like to learn from! ------- Episode music is "Psalm 1 (That Man)" featuring Tommy Walker, Ben Lange, & Kip Fox, produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Songwriter Initiative⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ of The Center for Worship Leadership at Concordia University Irvine.

Is AI a Threat to Coaching, or the Ultimate Tool for Human Transformation? Many coaches feel "twitchy" about the rise of artificial intelligence, fearing a loss of connection or the total substitution of the human element. But what if AI could actually deepen your cognitive engagement rather than replace it? The secret lies in knowing the difference between outsourcing your brain and augmenting your impact. In this episode of TIPS, hosts Ashlie and Gilbert welcome back Jonathan Reitz, a Master Certified Coach (MCC), Director at Fluxify, and a leading pioneer in AI-integrated coaching. Jonathan breaks down a powerful four-part framework for AI deployment, moving beyond simple inversion to true augmentation and redefinition. You’ll discover: The Moneyball of Coaching: How to value client contributions in a way that predicts higher success rates and organizational change. The Four Levels of AI Engagement: Why you should never outsource your cognitive engagement to a bot mid-session. The Mercenary Breakthrough: How a simple code error revealed the massive value of automated, long-term client reflection. Ethics & Transparency: Navigating AI clauses in contracts and the one deal-breaker rule for recording sessions. AI Literacy: Why learning the language of AI is the most important skill for the 2026 practitioner. Whether you’re a tech enthusiast or a skeptic, this conversation offers a roadmap for leveraging technology to serve your clients with greater depth, clarity, and integrity. Perfect for: Executive coaches, leadership consultants, HR professionals, and anyone committed to the future of human-centric leadership. Links: JonathanReitz.com Bauer, E., Greiff, S., Graesser, A. C., Scheiter, K., & Sailer, M. (2025). Looking Beyond the Hype: Understanding the Effects of AI on Learning. Educational Psychology Review, 37(45). ------- The Townsend Institute at Concordia University Irvine offers fully accredited online graduate degrees and professional certificates in three content areas: Organizational Leadership, Executive Coaching and Consulting, and Counseling. Experience transformational education that operates at the crossroads of competence, character, and connection through the Townsend Institute’s life-changing counseling and leadership programs. To find out more, visit our website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.cui.edu/townsend⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Enjoying the podcast? We want your input! Please email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for any feedback or ideas you have on topics or guests you would like to learn from! ------- Episode music is "Psalm 1 (That Man)" featuring Tommy Walker, Ben Lange, & Kip Fox, produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Songwriter Initiative⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ of The Center for Worship Leadership at Concordia University Irvine.