The H2 Leadership Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Stop Pretending You’re Fine: The Church & Mental Health with Dr. Mark Mayfield Sep 18, 2025

Show notes

Pastors and ministry leaders are carrying more than ever—and too many are doing it in silence. Dr. Mark Mayfield (author of The Mental Health Handbook for Ministry, professor, clinician, and former pastor) joins Alan to demystify mental health in the church, unpack the real difference between coaching and counseling, and give you a practical playbook for when struggles walk into your office… or show up on your staff.

This isn’t theory—it’s field-tested, grace-filled, and immediately actionable.

In this episode you’ll learn:

Coaching vs. Counseling (the clean line): when you need tools to move forward vs. when you need to heal backward
How to spot pop-psych “silver bullets” and what trustworthy care actually looks like
A fast diagnostic lens for depression: intensity + duration (and what to do next)
ADHD or overloaded attention? Trauma, screens, and why so many leaders are being mis-labeled
Burnout’s bottom layer: dissociation/avoidance—and how to interrupt the loop
Boundary basics for pastors (why “I don’t know—let me check” is leadership strength)
How to build a staff culture of care (and discuss hard topics without guessing)

Chapter Markers

00:00 — Why this conversation matters now
02:30 — Coaching vs. counseling: the simplest way to decide
05:25 — The danger of pop psychology & “quick fixes”
08:20 — Inside The Mental Health Handbook for Ministry (how to use it fast)
12:25 — High-performing families & hidden pressure
16:30 — Where churches are actually making progress
19:10 — Staff discussions you should be having (and how)
20:40 — Depression in leaders: signs & next steps
32:30 — ADHD or attention trained by trauma & screens?
36:00 — What sits under burnout—and how to respond
40:50 — A word to lonely leaders: you don’t have to know it all

Resources Mentioned

Book: The Mental Health Handbook for Ministry — Dr. Mark Mayfield (Baker)
Site: MentalHealthMadeSimple.life (discussion guides & tools)
Mental Health Made Simple: For the churches
Stay Forth: Coaching for healthy + high-impact leadership

About Dr. Mark Mayfield

Clinician, professor at Colorado Christian University, author, speaker, and former pastor. Mark equips churches to receive and care well for people in mental and emotional struggle—and to keep pastors healthy in the process.

When Your Calling Starts Killing You; With Dr. Arianna Molloy Sep 11, 2025

Show notes

Feeling called to your work is a gift — but it can also be the very thing that burns you out. In this conversation, Alan sits down with Dr. Arianna Molloy, author of Healthy Calling: From Toxic Burnout to Sustainable Work, to unpack the hidden costs of living from a deep sense of purpose.

Leaders who love what they do often give until they break. Arianna calls this deep shame — the disorienting feeling of losing yourself when the work you once loved starts consuming you. Together, Alan and Arianna explore how to recognize the early signs of burnout, why calling carries both resilience and risk, and how leaders can craft healthier rhythms to sustain their impact.

👉 In this episode:

Why those who feel “called” are statistically the most prone to burnout
The unique fingerprint of burnout that purpose-driven leaders face
Practical daily, weekly, and quarterly rhythms to de-stress and reset
The role of micro-breaks, community, and job-crafting in sustaining your leadership
How to pre-plan rest before you need it

This isn’t a “work less” conversation — it’s a “work sustainably” conversation. If your leadership matters, your health matters more.

📘 Grab Arianna’s book Healthy Calling anywhere books are sold.
🌐 Connect with us at Stay Forth and learn how to lead healthy + high impact.

Pilgrimage, Slowness & Spiritual Renewal: Alan Reflects from the Azores Sep 04, 2025

Show notes

In this special episode, Alan Briggs steps away from the usual pace of life—and leadership—and invites us into a slower, deeper rhythm.

Recorded on location from the island of Terceira in the Azores, Alan shares reflections from his very first pilgrimage—a spiritual journey with a physical component. What began as a walk through unfamiliar terrain turned into a profound time of rest, reflection, and reconnection with God.

If you’ve ever felt burned out, spiritually dry, or simply curious about how to slow down long enough to hear from God… this one’s for you.

In this episode, Alan explores:

What really is a pilgrimage—and why it matters today
The tension between being a tourist and a seeker
Unexpected spiritual lessons from Holy Spirit houses and Catholic cathedrals
Questions that shaped each day: How have I limited God? How am I different when I rest?
How nature, walking, and reflection unlock new clarity and connection

This isn’t your typical leadership episode—and that’s the point.

Feeling the nudge to take your own pilgrimage?
Whether that looks like a long walk or a short retreat, we hope this conversation helps you slow down, listen deeper, and reorient around what truly matters.

Stay in the Loop
Get resources, tools, and updates from the Stay Forth team: stayforth.com

Let’s Connect
Leave a review, share this episode, and tag us on social: #StayForthLeadership

Your Phone Is Owning You (Here’s How to Take It Back) Aug 29, 2025

Show notes

Our phones promise connection but often choke out what matters most. Alan Briggs and Joey Odom dive into the “PID loop” of proximity, interaction, and dependence — and share practical ways to reclaim your time, creativity, and relationships from constant distraction.

We all feel it. That little computer in our pocket is shaping our attention, our relationships, and even our leadership. But what if our phones aren’t just tools—they’re thorns?

In this episode of the Stay Forth Leadership Podcast, Alan Briggs sits down with Joey Odom, co-founder of Reclaim Well and the ARO Box

Book recommendation: The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt

Alan’s book The Sabbatical Journey — your field guide for deep rest and reorientation

Subscribe, rate, and review the Stay Forth Leadership Podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

Finding Your Compass: How Purpose Guides Your Leadership Aug 21, 2025

Show notes

Every leader faces seasons of busyness, drift, and distraction. When that happens, what helps you stay the course? Your purpose.

In this episode, Alan and Jonathan unpack why purpose acts like a compass — keeping you oriented, steady, and moving in the right direction when everything else feels chaotic. Alan shares his discipline of taking quarterly Think Days to step back, reflect, and regain clarity. You’ll hear how these rhythms not only renew his own leadership but also fuel alignment and energy for his entire team.

This conversation also dives into the Unique Design framework — the intersection of your wiring, gifting, and calling. When you discover and lead from your unique design, you stop running on fumes and start moving with focus, impact, and fulfillment.

Whether you’re leading a business, an organization, or your family, this episode will help you rediscover your compass and navigate with confidence.

What You’ll Learn:

Why leaders lose clarity when they don’t create space to think
How a Think Day can reset your focus and energy
The 4 H’s Alan looks for in every coaching client
How to spot your “fills and drains” and delegate wisely
The critical difference between dumping and delegating
Why aligning with your Unique Design increases resilience and impact
Two key reflection questions to help you realign with your deeper purpose

Resources Mentioned:

Unique Design Framework — Want to discover your unique leadership design?
👉 Email: Stayforth.com

Reflect + Respond:

Take a moment to sit with these two questions:

What’s the deeper purpose that’s driving your life and leadership?
Where have you lost sight of that purpose along the way?

Use them to journal, fuel a team discussion, or even guide your own Think Day.

Remember: Your purpose is your compass. Stay true to it, and you’ll lead yourself — and others — with clarity, health, and lasting impact.

Self-Leadership: The Competitive Advantage No One’s Talking About Aug 14, 2025

Show notes

What separates leaders people trust from leaders they just tolerate?
It’s not charisma.
It’s not talent.
It’s self-leadership — the ability to lead yourself with consistency, clarity, and accountability before you ever try to lead others.

In this episode, Jonathan Collier and Alan “Stay Forth” Briggs unpack why self-leadership is the hidden competitive advantage in today’s world, how to model it for your team, and what practical habits build trust faster than any title or resume ever could.

You’ll learn:

Why consistency breeds credibility (and how to spot it on any team)
The simple 3-foot rule that keeps your leadership grounded
How to model behaviors your team will actually copy
Why deadlines and follow-through create instant trust
How to manage your energy, not just your calendar
The tension between bringing your best and not being perfect
Practical steps to raise your self-leadership game this week

Reflection Questions:

Where are you leaking time and energy?
What’s one area in your leadership where you need more accountability?

Resources Mentioned:

Right Side Up Journal by Stay Forth — https://a.co/d/fUaXcFh

Subscribe for more healthy + high-impact leadership conversations so you can multiply your influence without losing yourself in the process.

Resilience in the Face of Change—How to Lead When the Seasons (and Life) Shift Aug 07, 2025

Show notes

Summer’s winding down, kids are heading back to school, and your weekly rhythm is about to look very different. In this episode of our H2 Leaders summer series, Jonathan and Alan define what true resilience looks like for a leader—and why it has nothing to do with “toughing it out” and everything to do with maintaining what matters most in your life.

You’ll learn Alan’s 3-C framework for navigating change (Change | Clarity | Communication), plus practical habits to build both proactive steadiness and responsive flexibility so you can lead with confidence through every season.

What You’ll Learn

What Is Resilience?
Why it’s not grit or forced optimism, but the ability to maintain your values, boundaries, and priorities when your world shifts.
The 3-C Framework:
1. Change is inevitable—embrace that it’s coming.
2. Clarity lets you decide your next move, even in uncertainty.
3. Communication (louder and clearer!) keeps your team trusting you through every pivot.
Proactive vs. Responsive Practices:
– Proactive: Routines that build your “resilience muscle” (sleep, exercise, Sabbath rhythms).
– Responsive: Short breaks and mental shifts when the unexpected pops up (a tech failure, a new tariff, a sudden deadline).
Why Reevaluation Matters:
How and why you must regularly revisit your goals, metrics and projections as conditions evolve.
Quick Tips for Staying Grounded:
– Five daily habits Jonathan and Alan swear by.
– The “stimulus → pause → response” window you can train for.

Key Takeaways

Change never knocks—it busts in like the Kool-Aid Man.
You can’t control every shift—but you can control how you prepare and respond.
Communicate more (not less!) when things feel most uncertain.
Clarity of next steps beats false hope: ask “Who can help me?” and “What 2–3 areas do I need to grow?”
Stop chasing certainty—build your resilience through repeated small wins and honest conversations.

Action Challenge

Pause & Reflect: How do you typically respond when change hits?
Pick One Practice: Schedule one proactive habit this week (e.g. a 10-minute walk, dedicated Sabbath hour, or quick mindfulness break).
Reevaluate: Block off 15 minutes to update your top 3 priorities in light of any recent shifts.

Resources Mentioned

Right Side Up Journal — Alan’s go-to tool for weekly audits and clarity
Anti-Burnout — a coaching-powered guide to sustainable leadership

The Wildly Important, Never-Urgent Practice of Hobbies Jul 31, 2025

Show notes

In today’s episode, Alan shares how a rare open Saturday—spent hiking into the Colorado mountains to fly-fish—quickly turned into another to-do list. He realized that our most life-giving pursuits (hobbies) are constantly at risk of becoming tasks we “have to” check off. In this conversation, Alan unpacks why hobbies are essential to flourishing, offers a framework for rediscovering them, and gives practical steps to reclaim joy, creativity, and rest in the midst of our busy “have-to” lives.

What You’ll Learn:

Why Hobbies Matter: How leisure activities serve as mental rest, spark creativity, and renew passion for work and family.
Focal Practices: The power of “idle,” present-moment activities that reconnect you to what truly matters.
Benefits of Hobbies: From distraction of weighty issues to replenishment cycles that boost productivity.
Rediscovery vs. Discovery: Tips for uncovering the hobbies you loved as a kid—or stumbling on new ones today.
Practical Steps: How to schedule your first hobby session in two weeks—no guilt, no strings attached.

Key Takeaways:

Hobbies are “get-to” activities in a “have-to” world.
Even large organizations credit “white-space” time for breakthroughs.
Simple focal practices (gardening, evening walks, hammocking) anchor joy and presence.
Your work, relationships, and well-being depend on carving out hobby time.

Action Challenge:
Block off a 2-hour window in your calendar this week for your rediscovered hobby—whether it’s fly-fishing, woodworking, dancing, or simply sitting in a hammock—and notice how you feel afterward.

Resources Mentioned:

Have questions or want to share your hobby rediscovery story? Drop us a note at hello@stayforth.com or leave a comment wherever you listen.

Relational Leadership vs. Transactional Management: Build Trust & Multiply Your Impact Jul 24, 2025

Show notes

Halfway through summer and already feeling the rush of back-to-school and end-of-year deadlines? In this episode of the H₂ Leader Summer Series, Alan Briggs and Jonathan Collier challenge the “grind-only” mentality by uncovering the power of relational leadership over mere transactions. You’ll learn:

The difference between transactional (BNI-style) and relational (Coharbor-style) approaches
How a high-trust culture drives better engagement, retention, and results
The 3 Cs every leader needs—Curiosity, Care, and Consistency—and how to practice them
Real-world signs your organization is drifting into “just manage” mode
Reflection questions to help you shift from “What can they do for me?” to “How can I serve them?”

Whether you lead a small team or a global enterprise, you’ll come away equipped to strengthen trust, spark engagement, and multiply your impact—one authentic connection at a time.

Show Notes

Welcome & Summer Check-in
- Mid-summer realities: schools shopping in July, transactional everywhere
- Why relational leadership matters now
Two Networking Models
- Transactional: “Get leads, hit quotas” (BNI-style)
- Relational: “Get to know the person first” (Coharbor-style)
Why Trust Trumps Transactions
- As goes the leader, so goes the culture
- Real-life boardroom example: cold, closed vs. warm, open
Signals of Low-Trust vs. High-Trust Cultures
- Do people feel safe to speak up?
- Are values just on the wall, or lived daily?
- Celebration vs. checkbox mentality
The 3 Cs of Relational Leadership
1. Curiosity: Ask what’s really on people’s minds
2. Care: Show genuine concern for the human, not just the role
3. Consistency: Do your values and words match your actions—every day
Practical Steps to Shift
- Check your own inbox: person or task?
- Communicate context + clarity + candor
- Use “three strikes” principle: when a tool or process fails repeatedly, pick up the phone
Reflection Questions
- How relational is my current leadership?
- Where am I defaulting to transactions over relationships?
- Who needs more of my presence (not just my direction)?

Resources & Links

Anti-Burnout ⇒ https://a.co/d/89z1Vrr
The Sabbatical Journey ⇒ https://a.co/d/i5dXSLS

How to Subscribe & Review

If you enjoyed this episode, please:

Subscribe to “Stay Forth Leadership” on Apple Podcasts
Rate & Review—your five stars help others find the show!
Share with a friend or colleague who’s ready to lead from relationship, not just transaction

From Scattered to Strategic Focus—Eliminate the Noise, Multiply Your Impact Jul 17, 2025

Show notes

We’re living through a hurricane of distraction—constant pings, endless opportunities, and FOMO-fueled comparison. In Episode 5 of our H2 Leader Summer Series, Alan and Jonathan unpack why today’s leaders feel overwhelmed yet under-productive, and share a simple but counter-intuitive answer: do fewer things—better.

Press play to learn how to develop “healthy tunnel vision” in a scattered world, why prioritization and elimination go hand-in-hand, and how to stay accessible (not available) so you can protect your best work. If you find yourself grasping at tasks like kids in a wind-tunnel booth grabbing dollar bills, this episode will give you a clearer, calmer path forward.

Key Takeaways

Scattered vs. Strategic: Today’s world bombards us like a wind-tunnel booth of swirling dollar bills. You must choose a few priorities—and let the rest go.
Effectiveness > Efficiency: Machines optimize for efficiency; leaders optimize for impact by focusing on the right 2–3 actions.
Prioritize & Eliminate: To truly excel, ruthlessly say “no” to good things so you can say “yes” to the best things.
Accessible ≠ Available: You can remain reachable without being on-call 24/7—protect deep-work blocks as sacred.
Model the Change: A leader’s bandwidth sets the bar for their team. Guard your own focus to help everyone guard theirs.

Reflect & Apply

Set aside 10–15 minutes today with your journal or notes app. Answer honestly:

How scattered am I right now? Where is your attention leaking?
What’s distracting me from what matters most? Identify the “dollar bills” you’re chasing.
What’s one commitment I must say “no” to this fall so I can laser-focus on my top priorities?

Links & Resources

📘 The Sabbatical Journey Field Guide
→ https://a.co/d/haM9rSR

📓 Right Side Up Journal (Weekly & Quarterly Audit)
→ https://a.co/d/fUaXcFh