Leader Lab with Andy Bruce
86 episodes - English - Latest episode: 11 months ago - ★★★★★ - 3 ratingsYou know you've been called by God to love and influence others. And you're willing to do whatever it takes. But the problem is figuring out what that is and how to do it. Welcome, friend, you're in the right place. Join Andy every Wednesday to discover how to deepen your influence on others, how to love and lead others, and to receive practical tips for purposeful living. If you know God has something more for you that you haven’t yet experienced, if you want to know Him more, and if you have prayed for women who get you, this podcast is for you.
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Episodes
71 - Discovering YOUR Leadership voice w/ Dave Kountz
June 07, 2023 10:00 - 54 minutes - 50.6 MBHey Leader Friends! Today, Dave Kountz is on the podcast! Dave is our good friend and mentor who teaches leaders, companies, nonprofits, etc. the power of identifying and utilizing their unique leadership voice. This is REALLY good stuff! Dave walks us through each of the 5 Voices including what they are, how to use it, and my personal favorite: the pitfalls your voice typically falls into. This is a fun conversation so jump in with us! On the podcast, Dave mentions the link to a free asses...
70 - 5 Things I’m doing to Enjoy Summer
May 25, 2023 10:30 - 31 minutes - 29.5 MBEvery summer I get a pretty good case of mom guilt because my expectations are way too high for all I want my kids and I to do and learn. This summer, I am taking a whole different approach. In this episode, I am sharing why I’m chilling out and five things I’m doing to take the pressure off of summer time fun. Obviously my ideas to enjoy summer probably won’t cut it for you since we’re all in different seasons, but I’m hoping they will spur on some of your own creativity so you can enjoy sum...
69 - Hearing from God with Katie Marstin
May 12, 2023 17:31 - 50 minutes - 46.7 MBI think it’s safe to say that if you are in Christ Jesus, you hear from God. Right? I also think it’s safe to say that women struggle to hear from God. And when they do, they frequently doubt they’ve heard God. So, what’s the deal? How do we know if it’s God? What are women getting tangled up in that makes them feel inadequate to hear from God? And what are some guardrails to hearing from God without going off the deep end? All this and more are what Katie Marstin and I are talking about tod...
69 - Hearing from God with Katie Marston
May 12, 2023 17:31 - 50 minutes - 46.7 MBI think it’s safe to say that if you are in Christ Jesus, you hear from God. Right? I also think it’s safe to say that women struggle to hear from God. And when they do, they frequently doubt they’ve heard God. So, what’s the deal? How do we know if it’s God? What are women getting tangled up in that makes them feel inadequate to hear from God? And what are some guardrails to hearing from God without going off the deep end? All this and more are what Katie Marstin and I are talking about tod...
68 - Leadership & Changes - 3 things we've Learned
April 18, 2023 14:43 - 34 minutes - 31.7 MBFor anyone who has ever led you know that change just goes with the territory. But HOW you do the change and WHY you make a change, well, that’s a different story. On this episode of the Leader Lab podcast, Melissa Dunn and I talk about the (stupid) changes we’ve made, where we went wrong, and a thing or two we’ve learned along the way. Take a listen; it’s gonna be fun!
67 - Lessons Learned about being a Creative
April 13, 2023 16:45 - 32 minutes - 29.9 MBThis week’s podcast was super fun to make! I asked Melissa Dunn to join me for a conversation about being creative. Before you skip this episode thinking, “Well, I’m not a creative so….” hold on! Melissa and I talk about how we have BECOME creative - slowly, over time as we’ve stepped out in gifting. Then we talk about the struggle to communicate our creativity in a way others can understand and how vulnerable that communication is. There’s lots more practical stuff, too.
66 - Melissa & Andy talk about Spiritual Sleepwalking
April 05, 2023 17:00 - 12 minutes - 11.4 MBLet's talk about sleepwalking. Because I think when we can wrap our heads around the actual, physical behavior of sleepwalking, it might shed some light on the spiritual behavior - spiritual sleepwalking. In this episode, Melissa and I have a conversation about something that can sound a little woo-woo: being spiritually asleep. So here's the question we wrestle with: What is spiritual sleepwalking and how does it impact us today? Take a listen to an honest conversation and see what you thin...
65 - 3 Signs you're Spiritually Sleepwalking
March 29, 2023 16:10 - 18 minutes - 17.4 MBHave you ever interacted with someone who was sleepwalking? I have, and it's really interesting. Sleepwalkers do typical activities, yet they aren't awake; they look engaged and present, yet they are ASLEEP. I think many, many women in the Church today are doing the same thing.... just sleepwalking through life and in their relationships with God. But here's the crazy part. They don't know it! So let's talk about 3 characteristics of women who are spiritually sleepwalking.
64 - 4 Ways to Handle being a Female Leader
March 15, 2023 17:01 - 28 minutes - 26.1 MBOhhhhh, today’s podcast is going to get interesting! I found this recent data set comparing what men and women think about women in leadership. Let me just say, the results are surprising. In a nutshell, men are generally okay with women leaders. But here’s the kicker… women have some pretty tough (and inaccurate!) views about what others think of them. So let’s talk about what women think about how they’re perceived, what those perceptions might indicate, and what to do about it.
63 - Reading the Bible wasn't meant to be just a solo sport
March 08, 2023 18:00 - 35 minutes - 33.2 MBI don't know about you, but I've always been taught that if I really loved God, I would read the Word of God. Cool, I'm on board with that. But there was another message I received about said Bible time: it should be done alone. So that's what I did for decades; I read the Word of God by myself, in my room, alone. And I regularly wondered why I wasn't getting more out of it. Or if I was doing it right. Today on the podcast, my super good friend Melissa Dunn and I have a conversation about st...
62 - Why does faith stall out? Part 2
March 01, 2023 18:00 - 1 hour - 55.7 MBWe know that faith develops gradually, over time. But what happens when people get “stuck” in their faith and they stop growing? What’s up with that? That’s exactly what we’re talking about today! And as leaders, understand where WE are and where those we love and lead are, well, it really matters. Because we don’t want to damage or hinder someone’s faith development. Take a listen to this podcast episode to understand more about faith development, what to watch out for, and how to move deep...
61 - Why women stall out in their spiritual growth
February 22, 2023 18:00 - 49 minutes - 45.4 MBWe've all seen it. The woman we've invested in stalls out in her spiritual growth. Or disappears altogether. Or panics when, after a long season of intense and enjoyable spiritual growth, suddenly comes to an end. Why faith doesn’t seem to stick for some people? In today's episode, we're talking about spiritual growth. This stuff is so important because, as leaders, we see the problems, but if don’t know what’s causing them, we won't be helpful in solving them. So let's talk about a really h...
60 - 10 Tips for Leading with Men
February 15, 2023 18:00 - 43 minutes - 39.8 MBI know you’ve been there. You are leading with men - you’re in meetings, you are a supervisor, you implement the vision of the guy at the top, you collaborate with guys - whatever it looks like, it’s pretty inevitable that you do or will lead with men. So, as women who love Jesus, what’s the deal? How do we do this?
59 - These 2 verses tell us SO MUCH about women leaders in the church
February 08, 2023 18:00 - 45 minutes - 42 MBFor the last month I’ve been chewing on some stuff and I’m thrilled to share it with you because there are so many implications for us as women leaders. So here’s our plan. Let’s spend a few minutes talking about what we know about Phoebe from the Bible. Even though there are only 2 verses, we can learn or at least infer a lot. Then, I want to look at 3 or 4 really interesting words that Paul uses to describe or refer to her. Whoa! This is where this stuff gets juicy! I don’t know about you,...
58 - Open your mouth and lead! Here's how...
February 01, 2023 17:17 - 27 minutes - 25.5 MBYou know the group you lead or are a part of that doesn't seem to catch traction? Or that relationship that isn't cutting it? Let's talk about 3 SIMPLE ways to open your mouth and invite others into the process. These 3 SIPMLE things are my go-to when it comes to leadership. And over the years as I've taught them to friends and leaders, their stories of group shift are the proof in the pudding. Join the conversation!
57 - Learning to Lead YOURSELF
January 25, 2023 17:59 - 40 minutes - 37.5 MBAs a leader, I need to be able to lead myself, not just other people. And we all know leading ourselves requires discipline, planning, follow through, integrity, etc. But catch this. If we struggle to lead ourselves - i.e. we don’t follow through on personal goals, we’re struggling to read Scripture, there’s a gap in how we behave at home and at church - we will struggle with impostor syndrome. You know what I mean by that, don’t you? Impostor syndrome is a mindset that says, “I’m a fraud. I...
56 - Momentum is more important than you think!
January 17, 2023 21:17 - 33 minutes - 30.9 MBIf you want to see change, you do what the rest of us do. Chew on a plan for quite some time, and then pop out a planner or your laptop or set up a meeting. Why? Because we are programmed to think that in order to see change, you have to have a plan. By the way, in general, I agree with this. But today, we are talking about momentum, which in my opinion is the secret weapon for leaders when it comes to change. Momentum defies the norms of change, plans, goals, and projects. Momentum isn’t c...
55 - Fix It: Less Disappearing/Back-stepping when there's tension
January 10, 2023 15:09 - 41 minutes - 38.2 MBToday we’re talking about what you can do when you experience a tension that creates anxiety. For me, when I experience anxiety, my default is to disappear from people. Today on the podcast I’m sharing 5 experiments, a metaphor, and some ideas on how to overcome disappearing/taking steps back. Let’s do this!
54 - How to Make Changes Stick
January 04, 2023 13:25 - 53 minutes - 49.1 MBIt’s a new year, which means most people have a new goal they are working toward. Bad news: stats say less than 10% of those who start a new thing won’t finish it. But not me. I’ve learned through lots and lots of failures, and a good handful of successes how to finish personal goals. On today’s episode I’m sharing a few principles on starting something new/changing something and the 5 steps I use to implement a change. Because learning how to cross the finish line on the small things matter...
53 - How I’m having the most meaningful Christmas EVER!
December 20, 2022 18:57 - 27 minutes - 25.8 MBOkay my friend, confession time. Every year I do this weird and annoying thing right after Thanksgiving. I put a lot of pressure on myself to REALLY experience Jesus during Christmas time. The problem is, it never quite works out, leaving me feeling guilty and bummed. BUT…. this year, I’m having a BLAST engaging with the nativity story, doing new spiritual reflections, all the while having a great time. So, take a listen to Andy’s version of the 12 Days of Christmas - which by the way has no...
52 - The power of your family traditions!!!
December 19, 2022 19:29 - 42 minutes - 39.5 MBHey gang. So it’s Christmas time right now which means my family and I are doing all our favorite traditions, and just to warn you - we have a lot of them. And I bet you do too. This episode is filled with practicals to incorporate when your family/team/friends/etc. do your fun and meaningful traditions. So let's talk about what makes traditions work, why they matter, what kills traditions, and how to start them.
51 - My holiday triple weapon: goodie, gift, and party trick
December 08, 2022 14:14 - 18 minutes - 16.9 MBYou know how at Christmastime your schedule and life gets crammed, cluttered, and crazy? Well, I want to help you by sharing my go-to, all time favorite recipe that can triple as a family goodie, party food, and gift. Yup, this little baby does it all. And it’s just 3 ingredients, it won’t break the bank, and you can get neighbor/teacher/coworker gifts off your list in less than an hour. See? I’m here to help.
50 - Momentum - your secret weapon
November 30, 2022 18:06 - 35 minutes - 32.5 MBWhen there’s momentum, you don’t have to work so hard to create energy/engagement/depth/fun, which leads to an environment you and those around you can't get enough of. Everyone knows when there’s energy, and everyone knows when there’s NOT energy. Amongst groups, momentum is THE “It” factor. When there’s momentum, you hear people say things like, “Wow, that was better than I expected.” “There’s something special happening there.” “I can’t wait to be back.” When there’s momentum people tell ...
Melissa Interviews me about my VOICE
November 23, 2022 19:36 - 50 minutes - 47.1 MBThis week on the podcast, I’m really excited to share an interview that Melissa and I did together. She riddled me with questions about how I found my voice, what is a “voice,” the mistakes I’ve made in using it, and how God has graciously, SLOWLY honed my voice. This was a fun, deep, weird conversation. For Melissa and I, it’s given us a lot to chew on and talk about and I hope the same is true for you.
49 - Melissa Interviews me about my VOICE
November 23, 2022 19:36 - 50 minutes - 47.1 MBThis week on the podcast, I’m really excited to share an interview that Melissa and I did together. She riddled me with questions about how I found my voice, what is a “voice,” the mistakes I’ve made in using it, and how God has graciously, SLOWLY honed my voice. This was a fun, deep, weird conversation. For Melissa and I, it’s given us a lot to chew on and talk about and I hope the same is true for you.
48 - Do THIS at your Thanksgiving Table!
November 17, 2022 20:58 - 28 minutes - 26.4 MBNo matter who we gather with at our Thanksgiving table, we want it to be significant, meaningful, and reflective of Jesus. The questions is how to make this happen. In this episode, Andy gives you way more than you want to know about the last few weeks, and the one thing that she can't wait to do around the Thanksgiving table. Take a listen!
Do THIS at your Thanksgiving Table!
November 17, 2022 20:58 - 28 minutes - 26.4 MBNo matter who we gather with at our Thanksgiving table, we want it to be significant, meaningful, and reflective of Jesus. The questions is how to make this happen. In this episode, Andy gives you way more than you want to know about the last few weeks, and the one thing that she can't wait to do around the Thanksgiving table. Take a listen!
47 - Are you an Avoider? 5 Steps to Take to Avoid Avoiding
October 26, 2022 14:12 - 40 minutes - 37.8 MBIs there something that comes up in your life and you find yourself regularly avoiding it? Something that you work hard to dodge, disappear, hide, and avoid? And the thing is, you don’t want to avoid it, hide or ignore it because you probably genuinely feel like God has put it here for now. For me, this is the story of my life. When it comes to leading, I’m like Caspter the Friendly Ghost - here today, gone tomorrow. So what’s going on and how do we fix it? Let’s dive into why we avoid and h...
46 - When those you love and lead fail
October 19, 2022 18:19 - 35 minutes - 33.3 MBI bet you're a “people investor.” Because you love God so much, you really love people in your own way, whatever it looks like for you. I’m a people investor, too. I love putting my resources into someone - like my time, my thoughts, my prayers, my God-given giftings - in hopes that it increases who God is and how God uses that person. And even though I genuinely love to invest in people, it’s not easy. Today we’re talking about what we do when those we love and lead fail. Take a listen to h...
45 - Melissa & Andy: Finding your Voice
October 06, 2022 17:00 - 39 minutes - 37 MBIt finally happened! Melissa Dunn is on the podcast today and she didn't hold back. I peppered Melissa with questions about how to find your voice - the thing that God puts in each of us to express the things of God to others. Finding your voice matters! Take a listen to the surprising journey Melissa experienced in LOSING her voice, then DISCOVERING her voice, then FINDING her voice. There's lots to think about, and I hope, lots of encouragement for you along the way; there was for me. I'm ...
44 - The most important things I've learned about spiritual warfare
September 29, 2022 17:00 - 29 minutes - 27.6 MBConsidering what a boring life I've had, I've experienced my fair share of spiritual warfare. In fact, I vividly remember asking God to teach me how to deal with the attacks of the enemy - so that I could teach other women. So here we are. Today I'm sharing some hard lessons I've learned about spiritual warfare and a few of my go-to's for standing firm when Satan comes prowling. For me, these little nuggets have been game changers. Take a listen and see if any resonate with you and can slip ...
43 - 4 stories and 4 principles about spiritual warfare
September 22, 2022 17:00 - 46 minutes - 43.5 MBl remember seasons of spiritual warfare that just about cut my legs out from under me. I had no idea what was really happening or what to do about it. On today’s podcast, I’m sharing 4 stories and 4 lessons learned about what to DO and how to THINK when spiritual warfare comes knocking on your door.
42 - 5 ways to know if it's spiritual attack or just you
September 14, 2022 17:00 - 47 minutes - 44 MBIf you’ve ever wondered what the enemy’s lies really sound like and if he speaks them to you, then this podcast is for you! Today, we are talking about how to know the difference between the enemy speaking lies and accusations - or it’s just you? I want to give you 5 ways to identify the lies and accusations of the evil one. Because here’s the sad part. Many women have no idea that their thoughts have been planted by the evil one. They think they are the problem, and some of them even think...
41 - Guarding your Mind - Why and How
September 07, 2022 11:00 - 40 minutes - 37.2 MBIf we don’t know who our enemy is and how God has already equipped us to withstand the enemy’s advances, then our leadership and our influence could very well be short lived, or at the very least, we could take too many hits from the evil one that aren’t necessary. In this episode, we’re talking about 2 names found in the BIble for Satan - really important ones since they inform us big time about Satan’s tactics that he uses on you and me. Then we get really practical about a major step to t...
40 - 4 names for Satan and 4 promises from God - Part 1
August 30, 2022 10:01 - 27 minutes - 25.9 MBThe Bible uses a lot of names for Satan, and for good reason. The names of Satan tell us about his character, his nature, and his tactics. Take a listen to a few names of Satan and what they tell us about who he is and how he operates. Then, let’s talk about 4 promises God makes when it comes to his role in spiritual warfare.
39 - Who is the enemy and what does he want from me?
August 23, 2022 10:00 - 22 minutes - 21.2 MBSome leaders believe that when it comes to Satan, if they avoid him, he will avoid them. Wrong! That’s not how spiritual warfare works. So instead of avoiding the enemy, today’s podcast describes the origins and motives of Satan. Because in order to handle spiritual warfare, you need to know your enemy.
38 - Spiritual Warfare’s impact on your life and leadership
August 16, 2022 10:00 - 36 minutes - 33.8 MBAs leaders, we face challenges. We do hard things. Making hard decisions, having hard conversations, working with hard people, leading with hard people, not having enough resources, hard things happening at home, getting our feelings hurt. But. There’s a whole other element to leadership and life that all too often catches us off guard: spiritual warfare. Today, Andy unpacks how Satan blindsided her and the tactics he used to do it. You will here her experience with the evil one’s lies, her ...
6 Lessons & 1 Story about Calling
October 18, 2021 18:29 - 40 minutes - 37.2 MBGod uses vision to invite us into our callings. And to step into our calling, we have to be ready to say to God, whatever He asks. How do we do this? It starts with understanding how to respond to God when He gives you vision. In today’s episode Andy shares one of the most significant moments in her life - when God gave her vision… which has turned out to be her calling. Take a listen to hear how letting the vision simmer, inflating and deflating the vision, writing the vision, telling the v...
37 - 6 Lessons & 1 Story about Calling
October 18, 2021 18:29 - 40 minutes - 37.2 MBGod uses vision to invite us into our callings. And to step into our calling, we have to be ready to say to God, whatever He asks. How do we do this? It starts with understanding how to respond to God when He gives you vision. In today’s episode Andy shares one of the most significant moments in her life - when God gave her vision… which has turned out to be her calling. Take a listen to hear how letting the vision simmer, inflating and deflating the vision, writing the vision, telling the v...
36 - How to Articulate the Vision God Gave You
October 11, 2021 10:00 - 38 minutes - 35.8 MBWe’re talking about how on earth to articulate the vision God gave you. My friends, this is not easy. How do you capture what God showed you? How do you put into words what He spoke to you? Because think about it. For most people, when God comes and gives them His vision, there usually aren’t words. There are thoughts. There’s an idea. There’s an understanding. But often there are no words. And we need words - accurate words so we can make sense of the vision God spoke to us. Because until y...
How to Articulate the Vision God Gave You
October 11, 2021 10:00 - 38 minutes - 35.8 MBWe’re talking about how on earth to articulate the vision God gave you. My friends, this is not easy. How do you capture what God showed you? How do you put into words what He spoke to you? Because think about it. For most people, when God comes and gives them His vision, there usually aren’t words. There are thoughts. There’s an idea. There’s an understanding. But often there are no words. And we need words - accurate words so we can make sense of the vision God spoke to us. Because until y...
35 - Am I making it up? Or is this from God? Discerning the voice of God
October 04, 2021 12:00 - 34 minutes - 31.9 MBIt’s getting good on the podcast today! We’re talking about big stuff. “How do you know if something is from God or if you’re just making it up?” Because if you’ve ever received a vision from God, it feels like you’re losing your mind. Right? One second you’re like, “I KNOW this is from God,” and the next second you're like, “Why am I always making things up? That wasn’t real. Wait. Was it?” Which is why you feel somewhat like you’re going crazy. Scripture says to test and approve what God...
Am I making it up? Or is this from God? Discerning the voice of God
October 04, 2021 12:00 - 34 minutes - 31.9 MBIt’s getting good on the podcast today! We’re talking about big stuff. “How do you know if something is from God or if you’re just making it up?” Because if you’ve ever received a vision from God, it feels like you’re losing your mind. Right? One second you’re like, “I KNOW this is from God,” and the next second you're like, “Why am I always making things up? That wasn’t real. Wait. Was it?” Which is why you feel somewhat like you’re going crazy. Scripture says to test and approve what God...
3 Mistakes Women Make when it Comes to Vision
September 27, 2021 10:00 - 29 minutes - 27.6 MBI’m really excited about today’s podcast because we’re talking about big stuff: 3 common mistakes women make when it comes to vision. Yup! This is big stuff. The reason this is big stuff is because I know how deeply you want God to speak to you and use you to expand His Kingdom. Yet, I also know how common it is for women to receive vision from God and then… things don’t work out. And then the enemy uses that against them. And then she loses confidence and believes God doesn’t really have so...
34 - 3 Mistakes Women Make when it Comes to Vision
September 27, 2021 10:00 - 29 minutes - 27.6 MBI’m really excited about today’s podcast because we’re talking about big stuff: 3 common mistakes women make when it comes to vision. Yup! This is big stuff. The reason this is big stuff is because I know how deeply you want God to speak to you and use you to expand His Kingdom. Yet, I also know how common it is for women to receive vision from God and then… things don’t work out. And then the enemy uses that against them. And then she loses confidence and believes God doesn’t really have so...
33 - 3 Things to Know about Biblical Vision
September 20, 2021 11:00 - 39 minutes - 36.3 MBLast week we started talking about vision and leadership development, and research. And guess what I forgot to do? I forgot to fill you in on why this podcast is making a turn to focus more on character and calling development! Ugh, whoops! My mistake! Here’s the plan for today’s podcast. We’re going to pick up where we left off last week and keep talking about vision, specifically women and vision. Instead of being inundated by popular culture's definition of vision, let's look at what Sc...
3 Things to Know about Biblical Vision
September 20, 2021 11:00 - 39 minutes - 36.3 MBLast week we started talking about vision and leadership development, and research. And guess what I forgot to do? I forgot to fill you in on why this podcast is making a turn to focus more on character and calling development! Ugh, whoops! My mistake! Here’s the plan for today’s podcast. We’re going to pick up where we left off last week and keep talking about vision, specifically women and vision. Instead of being inundated by popular culture's definition of vision, let's look at what Sc...
The Secret Life of women who hate vision and why you don't have to join it
September 13, 2021 11:00 - 20 minutes - 17.3 MBThose who listen to this podcast are part of a not-so-secret group of women. We want God to speak to us, inspire us, and equip us to passionately and joyfully live our God-given callings. There’s probably no argument there, right? BUT, what if you’re part of a secret group of women that’s so secretive that you don’t even know you’re in it? Take a listen to what the research says about women and vision and decide for yourself if you are in the majority of women who get suspicious about vision...
32 - The Secret Life of women who hate vision and why you don't have to join it
September 13, 2021 11:00 - 20 minutes - 17.3 MBThose who listen to this podcast are part of a not-so-secret group of women. We want God to speak to us, inspire us, and equip us to passionately and joyfully live our God-given callings. There’s probably no argument there, right? BUT, what if you’re part of a secret group of women that’s so secretive that you don’t even know you’re in it? Take a listen to what the research says about women and vision and decide for yourself if you are in the majority of women who get suspicious about vision...
31 - 3 things to remember when our friends fail
September 06, 2021 14:01 - 20 minutes - 9.76 MBToday we’re talking about what we do when the women we love and lead fail. When they seem to botch their calling. When there’s major sin. When they are deceived or they deceive others. When their secret life comes barreling out and their duplicity is exposed. How do you - the one who is loving and leading them handle it? Rather than emotionally and mentally going off the rails with her, let’s talk about some guardrails to keep you from spiraling.