Side by Side

Have you ever felt prompted to close the door on a chapter of your life even when you don't known what’s next? Endings can bring a mix of excitement and fear as God calls you out of one season and into the next season. In this final episode, co-hosts Annie and Heidi talk about how they knew it was time to bring their podcast collaboration to a close and how to recognize if you’re being called to something new, too.

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How do you want to show up for yourself and others? However you answer that question means you will have to invest in yourself to make that happen. And, there can be a hundred reasons why we don’t do that. In this episode, Annie talks to April Diaz, former pastor of 17 years and now a coach with Ezer & Co, about activating women to live and lead with wholeness. Investing in yourself is hard, but it’s the best way to grow.

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When was the last time you were offended? More often than we realize, the comments or remarks we personalize weren’t intended to hurt us and, ultimately, what we do with them is a choice. One choice hurts us and the other builds a bridge to understanding. In this episode, Heidi talks to Gari Pisca, Executive Director of Operations at Eagle Brook Church, about how to raise the sensitivity bar for you and those you work with to be more of the leader God made you to be.

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Even as kids we are taught to compare and contrast. It’s actually a necessary and important discernment activity. But, it can get tricky when it becomes the scale by which we measure our success or even unhealthy if it begins to define who we are. In this episode, Annie talks with Amber Cullum, host of Grace Enough Podcast, about what comparison really is and how we can think about it differently to leverage it for good.

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When life gets busy, the pressures turn up and we need God the most, yet that's when He often seems farther away. Our answer can be to try harder to do the right spiritual disciplines. What if, instead, God actually designed us to connect with Him in unique ways that are more meaningful for us and for Him? In this episode, your co-hosts Heidi Zwart and Annie Perdue-Olson combine personal stories and practical strategies for how to connect with God in your own unique way.

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Have you ever felt inadequate as a mother? Or felt like you were dropping the ball in ministry? Being a mom and managing a ministry role can feel overwhelming no matter how young or old your kids are today. In this episode, Heidi talks with Amy Wicks, founder of Simply Wholehearted, about how your Enneagram type can unlock the confidence, language, and lens you need to thrive in ministry and motherhood.

“Each of us is driven to ‘do it all’ for the sake of security, significance or passion for justice. That motivator is great, but you just can’t. You’ve got to link arms.”

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If you’re pursuing a balanced life, you might be chasing after the wrong thing. While the idea of work/life balance sounds good, in reality it’s elusive and ineffective. The good news is there’s a way to be more productive and more impactful in your work and life by shifting your focus. In this episode, Annie & Heidi talk about how to better “balance” the parts of your life that matter most and achieve a better outcome than balance can.

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How do you approach a necessary conversation with your leader? Does your pulse race or palms sweat just thinking about it? Initiating a significant conversation with your manager can feel scary and difficult unless you know how to prepare, guide, and finish it well. In today’s episode, we talk to Mary Stieber Reynhout, founder of Threshold, about how to be more persuasive, influential, and confident in the conversations that matter with your leader.

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Over and over we hear that one of the difficult leadership conversations that leader’s would love to avoid is feedback. It’s certainly a complicated one and yet so important to the success of our teams and the people we work with every day. In today’s episode, Annie & Heidi, talk about three types of feedback everybody needs to hear and how to offer it.

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What is it that holds you back from taking that next step? Maybe the message you tell yourself. Maybe the unknown shakes confidence. Maybe seeing others makes  you wonder if you have what it takes. In today’s episode, Annie Perdue-Olson is joined by Sharon Gill to talk about the confidence we need to fulfill our leadership calling and serve others well.

Related Episodes: Conversations that Matter Series

What do you tell yourself when you look in the mirror? How do you recover when you make a mistake? Are you at peace or war? Your inner dialogue matters and it’s the most important conversation you have every day. In today’s episode, Annie & Heidi, talk about how to stop the negative self-talk by noticing, naming, and reprogramming the messages in your mind.

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Great conversational skills matter for every leader. Trust is built, however, by the experience you create in the middle of the conversation. In today’s episode, Annie Perdue-Olson is joined by Mary Verstraete of the Center for Coaching Excellence to talk about what it means to be a conversational leader, why it’s important and how we can do it.

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People often come asking for advice to solve problems. What they really need is a guide to help them find their own answers. We can become facilitators of great questions that help draw out the solutions from within. In today’s episode, your hosts, Annie Perdue-Olson and Heidi Zwart, talk about having conversations that matter by getting better at asking questions.

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Churches and nonprofits run on volunteers. But serving goes beyond filling holes with bodies and it requires having the right conversations to find the right fit. How do you do this and why does it matter? In today’s episode, we talk to Christa Foss, the Hospitality & Connections Director, at a growing Twin Cities church about how to have “I see you conversations” that build a strong and committed volunteer culture others want to join.

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Like it or not, remote work and life is here to stay for awhile. While our future relationship with Zoom may look different than it does today, this technological platform has allowed us to stay connected to our work and one another. In today’s episode, Annie & Heidi, look at the do’s and don’ts of using remote technology to build relationships and have conversations that matter.

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Who needs a little encouragement when things get hard? If you are busy doing ministry, then encouragement can be hard to come by. Let’s shift mindsets and engage the conversations to bring Godly encouragement into the world. In this episode, we talk to Andrea Coli, Teaching Pastor at CrossWinds Church and Executive Director of Lead Bold! about the space and place every woman in ministry needs to be encouraged, equipped and challenged to do the work that God has called us to do.

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As female leaders in ministry, we can sometimes negate relational or intuitive leadership strengths over strategic ones. Yet when we lead authentically with empathy and a soul care lens, we build strong relationships with our team and confidence in how God wired us. In this episode, we talk to Tami Stordahl, a 26 year ministry veteran, about leading from these strengths while caring for yourself in the daily demands of leadership.

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Last week launched Season 2: Conversations that Matter, with a 2-part episode talking about the difficult conversations that matter. We started the conversation with the preparation steps you need to take to lead yourself before you say a word. In this episode, co-hosts Annie Perdue-Olson & Heidi Zwart, dive into designing the conversation you know you need to have, but don’t know where to start.

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Welcome to Season 2 of the Side by Side Podcast! Our theme for this season is “Conversations that Matter.” Being a great leader means attending to two things: leading self and leading others. Without great self-leadership, we’ll never lead others well. In this two-part episode, co-hosts Annie & Heidi talk about how to prepare for a difficult conversation by leading yourself well. With the right preparation steps, your difficult conversation might be easier than you think!

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Many of us likely made New Year's resolutions or commitments that involve our health. By now, many of us have probably already let our best intentions fall by the wayside. In this episode, we revisit the topic of physical health with certified health coach, Sarah Alves. We dive into why it's so important to love our body and take care of it for our emotional, spiritual, and spiritual health.

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Have you ever felt drained by leading? Do your same old ways to refresh your soul just leave you still feeling empty? In this episode, Kristin Evenson, Change and Transitions Coach shares bite-size spiritual practices that rewire the brain and enable us to step into the holy invitation God offers in the crazy-making circumstances that often happen in life and leadership.

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The Enneagram is one of the most talked about assessments in the ministry world these days. Respected leaders across the country are turning to this tool to help them lead their teams. In this episode we talk to Certified Enneagram Coach, Kristi Erickson, about why it’s so important to view this assessment through the lens of faith and how it helps us understand ourselves, God, and others so much better.

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We were never meant to do this alone. Every person is meant for connection and purpose. Yet, people with disabilities and those who care for them often hit barriers in the Christian communities where they seek connection and purpose. In this episode, Joan Borton of Luke 14 Exchange shares both her professional and personal journey supporting people with disabilities and their caregivers. She offers practical insight into how Christians, leaders, and ministries can create a welcoming culture for people with disabilities.

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According to the Fresh Start effect, people are more likely to take action towards a goal after temporal landmarks or special occasions that represent new beginnings. A new year is a perfect time to look ahead with greater optimism and re-focus on what matters most. In this episode, Annie & Heidi talk about how a new year brings an opportunity for greater clarity and better creative problem-solving when we lean in to what we’ve learned from the past and press on toward all that’s to come. 

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Looking back on 2020, we see more chaos than we could have imagined a year ago. Let’s just pause for a moment to say, “We made it!” It took effort to maintain a bold confidence to keep moving forward into what God has called you toward. It has required making decisions even when you don’t have it all figured out. It's meant getting creative to bring people together despite the isolation of social distancing. As 2020 comes to a close, let’s reinforce our confidence and rethink how we create meaningful connections in 2021.

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Vocational ministry is a calling for some, but not all. When you’re a Christian leader who uses your gifts outside of a traditional ministry setting, God gives you a unique platform to live and lead in a way that reflects character, competence, and confidence in who He made us to be. In this episode, we talk to Jane Page, CEO of Lionstone Investments, about what it’s like to lead with excellence as a respected Christian female leader and how faith is foundational to great leadership wherever you work.

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We are in ministry for good reasons and all the right motivations. Yet, the pressures and demands can sometimes get the better of us. Ignoring unresolved issues can lead you to burn out or lash out. In this episode, we’re talking about ways to manage emotional triggers that can catch us by surprise with the help of Kathy Johnson, Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, who works with missionaries and individuals to move toward experiencing a full and free life.

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Sometimes when we think about creativity in ministry we think big productions, fancy lighting, and great artistry. But this isn’t possible for every church nor is it necessary. When we start comparing our ministry to someone else’s we can quickly lose our confidence. In this episode, we talk with a creative leader of 25+ years, Tanya Pinkerman, about a new way to think about creativity and how the church can use this difficult season to prepare for unprecedented opportunity and impact through creative problem-solving.

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We assume people “get it” when we communicate ideas, expectations, requests, or needs. It made sense to us, right? Only they don’t and it can lead to misunderstandings, confusion or even hurt. We need a framework to understand these differences so that we can find our path toward productive dialogue. In this episode, Heidi turns the tables and puts Annie, a Certified Myers Briggs professional and leadership coach, on the “hot seat” to help you build more positive communication on your team and in your relationships.

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Do you have trouble finding joy? We can seek and find joy rather than waiting for it to drop on our lap. Even when we hit “bottom,” we have the opportunity for joy to enter into our life and begin its healing work. Listen in as Kristen Joy shares her own journey and how she helps others in ministry find the joy that so easily can slip away as we serve others.

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Busy leaders need energy. But our grab and go, quick fix world encourages food choices that deplete instead of restore. So, what does a leader do to stay healthy and energized in the midst of busy and why does it matter? Get ready for a high energy conversation with Lainey Younkin, a Registered Dietician who specializes in helping women build better habits. With a blend of education, inspiration, and real-world solutions, you will feel better equipped to make small changes for a healthier life.

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Just because God has called us to do a specific thing, doesn’t mean it will be easy. One of the challenges that keep leaders up at night is how to resource the mission God has given them. Tammy Kocher, Executive Director of New Life Family Services learned this “how-to” by first doing the wrong things, which led her to a relationship-focused approach fueled by truly caring for what people are passionate about. When passion matches mission, people give generously.

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Do you do what you do best every day? Have you ever wished you could? CliftonStrengths (StrengthsFinder) will help you discover your natural talents so that you can do just that. But knowledge isn’t enough. You need to turn what you know into action steps so that you can lead yourself and your team effectively, preserve your energy, and make better decisions. In this episode, Annie puts Heidi, a Certified Gallup Strength Coach, on the “hot seat” to take CliftonStrengths to the next level so that you can truly lead with your strengths.

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Are leaky emotions getting in the way of you being all you can be as a leader? Do you know when and why you’re being mastered by them and how they show up in your interactions with those you lead? In this episode, we’re taking a closer look at these questions and more with the help of Amanda Cornelius, an experienced therapist and business leader at The Wellspring Group who specializes in helping women and leaders live healthier lives.

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Change is inevitable and sometimes tricky. We can get stuck in the messy middle. Change starts with an event that leaves us unprepared for the emotional response and journey to acceptance that is unique for everyone. In this episode, leadership coach, Heidi Lewerenz, guides us through a proven framework that helps leaders navigate their own layers of change and waves of emotions while leading others through it well, too. Change IS messy in the middle, but there's hope for moving beyond it!

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What’s your first instinct when when you hear the word “strategy?” Do you jump up and down with excitement or sprint in the opposite direction? In ministry, we sometimes forget that great vision always needs a great strategy. We can’t maximize our missional impact without having a plan to do it. In this episode, we’re talking with experienced strategist, Jennifer Fuller, to learn how to connect strategy to action and how leaders in ministry can be strategic, even if it’s not a natural talent.

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Have you been knocked off balance navigating an unexpected or hard season? Are you in one of those moments where you felt grounded, but suddenly lost your footing? Maybe it’s been more like a slow simmer of little things building over time. If you aren’t in it now, you will probably experience it at some point. Get real with co-hosts Annie & Heidi in a discussion about facing the reality of hard seasons and how navigating through them is an ongoing journey.

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How are you addressing issues of race in your church or ministry? Do you know what to say or are you stumbling for the right words? In this episode, we’re taking a closer look at these questions and more with guidance of Chaneika Polk, an experienced ministry leader who’s worn multiple hats in a multi-ethnic, multisite church for nearly a decade.

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When faced with a difficult situation or challenging opportunity, how do you react? We come to a situation with our own mindset -- we think our own thoughts. If we think only our own thoughts, our perspective is void of Christ’s perspective. Let’s find out from Kathleen Fischer how we can manage our mindset more effectively to find better solutions and perspective. 

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Is it possible to have a healthy marriage and a healthy ministry? Or is it one at the expense of the other? In this episode, we’re taking a closer look at this question through the lens of Joanne Thompson, a seasoned leader who’s spent nearly 50 years in ministry living out the answer to this question. And how a DQ Buster Bar holds a clue!

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Life in ministry is amazing - when you’re not overwhelmed. And, a huge part of fighting the overwhelm is to reduce the busyness of your life. In this inaugural episode, we’re looking at the ways female leaders can overcome busy so that they can continue to feel resourced, feel capable, and breathe easier for impact in ministry.

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