The Good Leader Podcast, presented by Rev. Will Van Der Hart and Will James, explores what it means to lead well in today’s world. From navigating holy ambition to setting healthy boundaries, these honest, practical conversations are packed with wisdom and tools to help you flourish—whether you're leading a church or directing award-winning films.
Listen on your way to Focus, Wildfires, or New Wine. How do you know when it's time to let go of the ministry you've built? In this special live episode from Summit 2026, Will Van Der Hart speaks with Ariana Walker, founder of Mercy UK, about leadership, calling, and the courage to step aside. Ariana shares the story behind Mercy UK, lessons from over 20 years of leadership, and why God led her to begin preparing for succession long before she stepped down. If you're leading a church, business, or ministry—or simply wondering how to lead well without burning out—this conversation offers practical wisdom rooted in faith.
Will Van Der Hart is joined live in Summit 2026 in Nottingham by John and Debbie Wright to explore what it means to lead with humility, courage and complete dependence on God. Drawing on decades of leadership in the Vineyard movement, John and Debbie reflect on their journey from planting churches to leading nationally and now serving the global Vineyard family. They share honest stories of fear, prophetic guidance, marriage in ministry, building healthy teams and why sustainable leadership begins with knowing your identity in Christ rather than your performance. Whether you're leading a church, team or organisation, this conversation offers practical wisdom on trusting God's call, embracing your limitations and creating cultures where others can flourish.
Recorded live at Summit 2026, Will Van Der Hart sat down with church leader and pastor Jonny Hughes for a deeply honest conversation about calling, friendship, leadership and the unexpected ways God shapes our lives.Johnny reflects on his surprising journey into ministry, despite once vowing he would never follow in his father's footsteps. Together they explore the tension between ambition and surrender, the importance of deep friendships, the role of play and joy in preventing burnout, and why many leaders are quietly struggling with isolation.
What does it look like to lead with genuine compassion without burning out?Recorded live at Summit 2026, Will Van Der Hart speaks with Justin Dowds from Compassion UK about poverty, responsibility, emotional resilience and the role of the local church in transforming communities. Justin shares powerful stories from Haiti, Uganda and beyond — including the moment God changed his life forever through one child living in extreme poverty.
In this episode of The Good Leader Podcast, presented by Will Van Der Hart and Will James, we sit down with Kitty Kay Shuttleworth—who has spent 22 years serving the global Alpha movement—to explore what it really takes to lead for the long haul.From a simple prompting at 23 to shaping leadership conversations on a global stage, Kitty reflects on the quiet foundations that have carried her: a daily rhythm of prayer, deep friendships, self-awareness, and the courage to lead without ego.This is a conversation about vision that evolves, leadership that is shared, and the kind of inner life that keeps you steady when the pressure rises.If you want to build something that lasts, this episode is for you.
In this episode of the Good Leader Podcast, Will is joined by veteran church leader Nick Cuthbert, whose ministry spans more than fifty years. Nick reflects on the explosive growth of his early ministry in Birmingham, the hidden dangers of apparent success, and the personal crisis that forced him to rethink everything about leadership, identity, and significance. Nick shares how burnout in midlife exposed deeper questions about ego, validation, and calling. From that point on, his leadership changed — becoming less about productivity and more about fruitfulness, less about individual responsibility and more about team.
In this episode of The Good Leader Podcast, Will Van Der Hart and Will James are joined by Patrick Regan, founder of XLP and pioneer of urban youth work in London, whose work placed him at the heart of knife crime, gang violence, and community trauma for over 22 years. From mobile youth buses and MTV projects to hospital beds and panic attacks, Patrick shares honestly about what sustainable leadership really requires — and why going gently isn’t weakness, but wisdom.
Will Van Der Hart and Will James are joined by Camilla Stephens, co-founder of Higgidy — a food business that grew from a kitchen table idea to employing over 350 people and operating 24/7, 365 days a year.Camilla shares her unconventional leadership journey, from leaving school without qualifications to leading a large manufacturing business for over 20 years. Together, they explore what sustainable leadership really looks like — not just financially, but emotionally, relationally, and spiritually.
On this episode of the Good Leader Podcast, we’re joined by Archie Coates, Vicar of Holy Trinity Brompton, for a deeply honest and refreshing conversation about sustainable leadership, emotional maturity, and staying rooted over the long haul. Archie reflects on his unexpected journey into ministry, from early days in sales to planting a church in Brighton and now leading one of the most influential churches in the UK. Together, we explore what it really takes to remain grounded after “a thousand Sundays,” why emotional calm matters more than hype, and how leaders can resist the pressure to strive and perform.We also talk about raising up the next generation of leaders, creating safe environments for risk and failure, staying connected in large organisations, and why being a disciple of Jesus matters more than leading a successful church.
On this episode of The Good Leader Podcast, Will and Will talk with Dr. Johannes Hartl — philosopher, theologian, author, musician, and founder of the Augsburg House of Prayer and Eden Culture. Together they unpack what it takes to make courageous decisions as a leader — especially when those choices come with disappointment, conflict, or criticism. https://johanneshartl.org/en/ https://www.youtube.com/@Dr.JohannesHartl_EN
In this week’s episode of The Good Leader Podcast , we chat with Joanna Mollo, founder of Pitch Ninjas, a global coaching business helping leaders master the art of communication. Joanna shares how our words—and the energy behind them—can unlock influence, trust, and creativity in teams. She talks about the tension between authenticity and performance, what to do when you’re “running thin” as a leader, and why communication is the most overlooked leadership skill of all.
Henry Kaestner is a serial entrepreneur, investor, and faith-driven leader. He co-founded Bandwidth and Sovereign’s Capital, and helped launch the Faith Driven Entrepreneur and Investor movements. In this episode of The Good Leader Podcast, Henry shares how mission and clarity shape leadership, and why faith brings both joy and resilience to the journey.
What do you do after you’ve lived the dream? Ugo Monye sits down to talk about life after rugby, learning to love the work again, and the mindset shift that helped him rediscover purpose. It’s honest, hopeful, and full of practical wisdom on leadership, transition, and finding joy beyond burnout.
Tammy Comer joins The Good Leader Podcast to share a powerful story of suffering, healing, and deep faith. From leadership burnout to miraculous recovery, she speaks candidly about humility, integrity, and meeting God in reality—not fantasy.
In this episode of The Good Leader Podcast , Will Van Der Hart is joined by Dr. Amy Orr-Ewing , renowned author, theologian, and speaker known for making complex biblical ideas deeply accessible. In this episode, Amy explores what makes biblical leadership distinct, how to navigate the tension between commercial ambition and spiritual calling.
Jay Pathak, National Director of Vineyard USA and lead pastor of Mile High Vineyard in Denver. Jay reflects that all leaders eventually face crises — moments of identity doubt, failure, or pressure — and these become opportunities for deeper spiritual formation.
Counsellor Roy Akins refuses to write people off. He has spent career working with men in the prison system, those in exclusion or special education projects and those who have perpetrated domestic violence. Roy talks about his commitment to those on the outside, as well as how he personally manages the emotional strain of some of his work.
Director Ben Caron is a multi-film award nominee (BAFTA, OSCA). He directed series including The Crown and Andor and films including Sharper for Apple. Ben talks about his journey into leadership and the power of deep collaboration on set.
Musician, composer and conductor has won an Ivor Novello award and a PRS award for the most performed work, “Giant” with Calvin Harris. Troys career is quite incredible and yet it is his care of people that is even more remarkable.
Theo Brun was educated at Cambridge before becoming a successful city lawyer before giving it all up to cycle 10,000 miles (about 16093.44 km) home from China to the UK. His creative drive led him to become a successful fiction writer. He discusses the power of story and creativity with Will and Will.
