Practical conversations for small and midsize church leaders.
Hosted by Dale Sellers, Executive Director of 95Network and former small church pastor, the 95Podcast addresses the real challenges pastors face every week—from church health, leadership clarity, to the everyday realities of leading without large staff or large budgets. These are straightforward conversations rooted in experience, not theory.
New episodes release every Tuesday wherever you listen to podcasts or delivered straight to your inbox.
We’re setting a record on The 95 Podcast today… We’re welcoming back a guest for the THIRD TIME! Karl Vaters is joining us back on the show for an incredible conversation that I truly can’t wait to share with you.
Chris Vitarelli is the pastor of The Road Community Church, a small multi-site church in Fenton and Howell, MI. He is the creator of the Small Church BIG Deal Conference and author of Small Church BIG Deal: How to Rethink Size, Success and Significance in Ministry.
Today, Jimmy Dodd shares why so many pastors fall, what they consistently are hearing from leaders at PastorServe, what separates remorse and repentance, and the most common lies the Enemy whispers to church leaders.
Imagine a movement of people loving their neighbors that leads to revival and renewal in our churches, our cities, and our world. That’s exactly what Jonathan Weibel & Steve Lutz are pursuing through Front Yard Mission.
We’ve got a different type of podcast today, and it’s one I’m so grateful to be able to share with you. I’ve known Tracy Hamilton, Lead Pastor of Tri-County Worship Center, for years. This past year was an especially tough one for him and his family as he lost his wife to cancer. I was out to lunch with him recently and he was sharing some things God has been teaching him as he has navigated this loss, and he was gracious enough to come on the podcast to share those things with you as well.
In this episode, John Finkelde shares incredible wisdom including how he navigated a healthy pastoral transition, what he’s been consistently sharing with leaders he’s coaching this last year, why you have to lead from a place of rest, and why your mission is deeper than church growth.
Mark Sties is co-owner (along with his wife) of Sties Design Agency. Their company has a huge heart for the Church.
Steve Smith is the founder of Church Equippers and has a long history of pastoral leadership and coaching.
Kaleb is the Director of Student Ministry at NewSpring Church, and a young leader with an incredible perspective and pulse for the times we’re living in.
Carl & Kalani Culley have a long history of ministry and are the pioneers of Lacamas Creek Church in Camas, WA, pastoring there for the last 25 years.
Rich Birch is one of the leading voices in church leadership today focusing on highlighting practical solutions to support leaders in impacting their communities.
Mary Ann Sibley is the founder of MatterSpark, an organization all about helping churches build leaders to build healthy volunteer teams.
Fault leads to shame; responsibility leads to freedom. Responsibility shows you what you can actually change and release what you cannot control.
Discernment stays human. AI can help refine communication, brainstorm, or summarize—but leaders must verify and own what’s shared.
Connection starts with God first. If leaders are not connected to God, they will not lead people into meaningful connection.
Kids ministry deserves top-tier support. If the mission includes evangelism and disciple-making, the next generation should be resourced accordingly.
Most pastors aren’t refusing rest—they’re trapped by systems. Without a plan (and a bench), even a short break can feel impossible.
Preparation beats panic. Healthy leaders build a plan before the crisis—then execute calmly when disruption hits.
Equipping can’t be reduced to a weekly performance; it requires presence, relationship, modeling, and shared life.
Prayer isn’t the warm-up—it’s the engine. Ministry strength doesn’t come from personal drive; it comes from dependence on Jesus and consistent prayer.
“If you got a pulse, he’s got a purpose for you.” Retirement isn’t the end of ministry; it’s a new season with fresh opportunities to serve, mentor, and impact the kingdom.
Self-awareness protects leaders from self-deception. Honest feedback is a guardrail for character and culture.
Build discipleship around practice, not just information. People grow through doing, feedback, and repetition in relationships.
