The Young Life Podcast

It's important to have a "constellation of Yodas" as you prepare for college. Today, a panel of College Directors discuss how YOU can crush your freshmen year, or prepare people you lead to eventually do so. Topics include pressure, relationships, faith, and much more. Our panel, in order of appearance, is Sarah Foster (Boise State University), Brad Akin (University of Mississippi), Shanay Scott (Temple University), Cat Ryden (University of North Texas), and Pete Hardesty (Eastern Divisional Coordinator). KEEP PIONEERING, and stay away from food trucks and hipster coffee.  

Today, an exploration into the world of Young Life College/University and the lives of a few of those who have been drastically impacted by the ministry. With different ages and perspectives, our guests have one thing in common — no one told them in high school. Special thanks to Mike and Shari Gaffney (VP of Young Life College and University; Executive Admin of YLC/U). We’re @younglife — hit us up with your YLC/U experience!  

Does your leadership include building a culture where people are comfortable to learn? Do most leaders think of themselves as followers and learners — in addition to being leaders? Lyn Ten Brink (@lyn10brink) certainly does. Her beliefs about leadership, deeply rooted in scripture and experience, produce culture builders unafraid to ask questions. Where most lead to influence, Lyn also leads to learn. She discusses all that, YL Forward, training, and more. Follow along @younglifepod!  

Annie Udell joins for a short look back at some favorite moments from our first fall of shows, including an update on #2 and #11. Then, we kick off a momentous 2018 with our first call-in show, featuring pioneers from around the world! Finally, Sean McGever (Area Director — Paradise Valley, Arizona) is the first guest on "Why'd You Say It That Way?", a new recurring segment that will take us into the mind of great leader’s to break down the messages they craft and deliver. We're @younglifepod if you have ideas on future speaker's you'd like to hear featured.  

Aswan Morris (Regional Director — Manhattan) is on the show to finish a conversation about building Young Life's future by looking closely at three pages from the past. The second installment of this episode includes a new special (surprise) guest of honor — someone who made history in Young Life and honored God in a way you do not want to miss. This episode concludes our investigation of Jeff Chesemore's Made For This, a book about Young Life. Here's to the next chapter in 2018, written by you. We're @younglifepod.

Jeff Chesemore’s (Senior Editor) book Made For This is packed with the radical history of Young Life. Today, Aswan Morris (Regional Director — Manhattan) joins the show to discuss how the past helps us build the future, including a drop in with a very special (surprise) guest of honor, straight from the pages of history. We’re @younglifepod. 

Instead of seeking balance, Kristy Fox (Regional Director — South Coast Region) creates margins in her life. Her experiences as a leader, a woman, and a mother in ministry allow us to hear a perspective becoming an organization where men and women are 'better together', and presents the opportunity to discuss how we might accomplish that goal mission-wide. We’re @younglifepod on your favorite social media channel. 

Whose responsibility is it to start Young Life in places it doesn't exist? Upon investigating, we found the answer in an unexpected place. Join us in a conversation with Scott Berg (Regional Director — Moutain State Region) and a few special guests, as Young Life tackles what some call 'forgotten places' — we're @younglifepod, and we have a short newsletter. Keep pioneering! 

Andre went to camp, but remembers nothing about it. This week, we explore why by diving into the generational effect of YoungLives with Veroinca Tutaj (YoungLives Divisional Coordinator, South Central), and some very special guests. We're @younglifepod if your tweeting/instagramming. Sign up here for more info. PS — Lebron or Jordan?

Did you enjoy your middle school years? For most, this time period gets a bad rap. Julie Clapp (Mission Director of WyldLife), however, has a different vision for what comes after elementary school and before high school. She has hope, and so can you. We're @younglifepod if your tweeting/instagramming. Sign up here for more info.

L.A. is warm, and warm is the new cool. This week, we journey to the Greater L.A. Young Life Summit (#LAYL17), with an interview from one of the keynote speakers, Dr. Kara Powell (Fuller Youth Institute.) Check out Dr. Powell's work here, including her most recent book, Growing Young, and another, Sticky Faith. Hit us up: @younglifepod.

Do you build community the summer staff way? How do summer staff coordinators do what we all try to do everyday? Today, we take a dive into the world of summer staff with Josh Griffin (VP— Strategy), Anneke Brown (RD— Capital Region), and a 'guinea pig' named Luke Waltermire (Volunteer Leader— George Mason University), fresh off a recent stint on a summer staff crew. We're @younglifepod, and today use #IdidSummerStaff if you have your own reflections.

Carolina Pujol (Regional Director— Patagonia) brings her rich perspective on life, leadership, and Young Life. She proposes the simplest, but most profound question, one you might consider today— ‘Why not me if He called me?’ We’re @younglifepod.

A ‘fireside chat’ with our president, Newt Crenshaw, including reflections on this ‘freshmen’ year, early wins in the Forward movement, actively shaping Young Life’s culture, and his willingness to take a hit, if necessary. We’re @younglifepod on twitter/instagram. You can contribute to the show by joining our newsletter, where you’ll be prompted to share your ideas/comments/stories! Keep pioneering. 

Annie Udell (ARD— Chiacgoland Region) joins the show to discuss Young Life's radical camping experience, including what made her summer at Clearwater Cove feel like 'home'. Then, Chad Sievert (VP— Camping), discusses camping's 2017 impact, some radical behind the scenes camping practices you can apply anywhere, and the ongoing efforts around the world from his team to give everyone a chance to be welcomed home at one of our camps. Hit us up @younglifepod. PS — You, too, can build a cairn.

Ken Tankersley (SVP— Global Innovation & Training) knows we are made for this, but are we ‘built’ for this? That requires life on life training, a posture of innovation, and focus on some key roles in the mission. You can hit us up on Twitter & Instagram (@younglifepod), and contribute to the show by joining our newsletter.  

Owen Apfel's Young Life leaders saw him not as someone to do ministry to, but with. The result? He made history in the mission of Young Life, but really, his story has just begun. In this episode, we consider the beautiful and effective results of working to ensure adolescents of every ethnicity, gender, and ability can see themselves on stage, represented in leadership. You can hit us up on Twitter & Instagram, and contribute to the show by joining our newsletter, where’ll you’ll be prompted to share your ideas/comments. 

After a few introductory remarks, Donna Hatasaki debuts The Young Life Podcast with a masterful discussion on prayer, including a compelling encouragement to sustain our mission with an engine of silence and solitude with God. We're @younglifepod on Twitter & Instagram. You can contribute to the show by joining our newsletter, where you’ll be prompted to share your ideas/comments!