First time guest appearance on How Soccer Explains Leadership podcast

A few weeks ago, I was privileged to be a guest on the How Soccer Explains Leadership podcast with host Phil Darke. Over the course of the hour-long podcast, I reflected on my 24-year journey serving as a volunteer chaplain in professional soccer and some of the profound ways that the Beautiful Game intersects with faith, leadership, and personal growth.

In the episode (#165), I had the chance to talk with Phil about my passion for soccer, ministry, and how this relates to leadership. it was kind of fun to share my story of going from being a sub-average high school soccer player to college soccer team videographer to volunteer chaplain with the Colorado Rapids over two decades ago.

Not only did we cover my own soccer story, but we dove a bit into my experience in founding Soccer Chaplains United, and how I navigate my role as a chaplain with players from diverse cultural and religious backgrounds, and some of the leadership lessons I have learned along the way. Additionally, I shared some insights relating to identity, performance, purpose, and calling from my interactions with players and coaches. One of the things I try to emphasize most is the importance of holistic care and leadership both on and off the field.

One question I ask, “Can I help athletes move…from a sense of performance driven identity into purpose identity…someone can even understand that they are ‘called?’ And a calling is, I think, higher than purpose…and so to understand a calling is so much more helpful for athletes.

We also had a chance to discuss my book, The Soccer Psalms, as well as my own sense of calling and purpose. An interesting aspect, as well, was in sharing some experiences in using life lessons from soccer in my marriage and parenting.

To hear more, listen to episode 165 of How Soccer Explains Leadership, available on all major podcast platforms.