The H2 Leadership Podcast

In this deeply moving and insightful conversation, Alan Briggs sits down with bestselling author and pastor John Ortberg to explore the profound relationship between pain, spiritual growth, and authentic community. Drawing from his own personal journey, the teachings of Jesus, and the wisdom of the AA movement, John shares how embracing our brokenness can lead to deep transformation.

About John

John Ortberg was born in Rockford, Illinois. He earned his undergraduate degree from Wheaton College, and his M.Div. and Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Fuller Theological Seminary. He has also studied at the University of Aberdeen, Scotland. From 1985 to 1990 he served as senior pastor at Simi Valley Community Church, and then from 1990 to 1994 at Horizons Community Church (now Baseline Community Church) in Claremont, California. He then moved from California to Illinois to serve as a teaching pastor at Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Illinois until 2003, when he became the senior pastor at Menlo Park Presbyterian Church, a multi-campus church in Northern California. Now, John leads the ministry Become New focused on helping people grow spiritually one day at a time through daily teaching and community. 

John's wife, Nancy, is also a pastor and published author. She currently leads Transforming the Bay with Christ in San Jose, California. John and Nancy have three children: Laura, Daniel, and John III. 

A central theme of John’s teaching is spiritual formation, the transforming of human character through authentic experiences with God. John was a friend and mentee of the late Dallas Willard, a Christian teacher and author who wrote works such as The Divine Conspiracy and Renovation of the Heart. John draws much of his inspiration from Dallas. Today John continues to work alongside authors and teachers such as John Mark Comer, the founder and leader of Practicing the Way.

John has been a speaker at many events including: Promise Keepers, Global Leadership Summit, Catalyst, and Practicing the Way.

John is currently working on a new book based on the Become New teaching series “Ashes to Beauty” in which he explores the importance of embracing personal inadequacy as a means to experience spiritual renewal.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

✅ Why pain is often the greatest catalyst for spiritual growth
✅ The lessons John has learned from suffering and how they changed him
✅ How true connection and healing come through vulnerability
✅ What the church can learn from AA and the 12-step journey
✅ The power of confession, community, and finding a fully disclosing friend
✅ Why hitting rock bottom may actually be the beginning of real hope

Key Quotes:

💬 "There is no barrier to my joyfully serving God today."
💬 "We can only be fully loved when we are fully known."
💬 "The worse your story, the warmer your welcome—who does that sound like? That’s Jesus."
💬 "God’s address is at the end of your rope."

Resources & Links:

📖 John Ortberg’s latest book: Steps – Get Your Copy Here
🎧 John Ortberg’s Daily Podcast: Listen Here
📚 Recommended Reading: Life Together by Dietrich Bonhoeffer

We often hear about "awareness" and "seasons" in leadership, but what if the key to making better decisions isn't about setting the right goals—but recognizing the season you're actually in? 

In this episode, Jonathan and Alan dive deep into the overlooked yet powerful concept of leadership seasons. They discuss how understanding the phase you're in—whether it's one of pruning, growth, acceleration, or transition—can bring clarity, reduce overwhelm, and lead to more effective actions.

Key Takeaways

Your goals aren’t the problem—your season might be. Are you in a time of expansion or a period where slowing down is wiser?
Seasons change, and so should your leadership strategy. You can’t hustle the same way at 40 as you did at 25.
Naming your season brings clarity. Learn two powerful methods for identifying where you are.
Leadership isn’t always about acceleration. Organizations, teams, and individuals go through rhythms of pruning and growth.
Action follows awareness. Once you know your season, what courageous steps will you take?

Reflection Questions

Hit pause, grab a journal, and reflect on these:
What season have you just come from?
When did (or will) that season end?
What season are you currently in?
What should you say yes to in this season?
What should you say no to?
What’s scary about this season change?

In this episode, Alan sits down with author, pastor, and speaker Zach Meerkreebs to explore the journey of humility, pain, and redemption that led to his powerful new book, Lower. Zach shares how God shaped his life through challenges, failures, and moments of transformation. The conversation dives deep into themes like radical humility, the crushing seasons of life, and finding God's presence in unexpected places—whether it’s cleaning windows or working at a donut shop. Zach offers raw, heartfelt reflections on grief, leadership, and the power of embracing the low places to let God work in profound ways.

Key Moments:

• Childhood & Faith Journey: Zach's unique story of growing up in a Jewish household and finding Jesus through authentic relationships with mentors like Alan.
• Lessons in Leadership: Insights from Zach's experiences at the Asbury revival and how 16 days transformed his understanding of humility and spiritual leadership.
• The Crushing & Formation: Zach shares candidly about personal failures, the painful process of restoration, and how God uses "compost moments" to cultivate growth.
• Radical Humility Defined: A deep dive into the biblical concept of humility as "agreeing with God's assessment of who we are and who He is."
• Living in Tension: Zach talks about the paradox of writing a book on humility and navigating the challenges of staying grounded while sharing his story widely.

Quotes to Remember:

• "Humility isn’t about thinking less of yourself; it’s agreeing with who God says you are and trusting Him to lead."
• "You can choose to let suffering deform you—or let it form you into the image of Christ."
• "Radical humility is one of the most countercultural and compelling traits Christians can live out today."

A Message for the Weary:
If you're in a season of crushing, Zach offers encouragement rooted in Ephesians 2:10: "You are God’s workmanship, created for good works." He shares a powerful reminder to trust the process and let God’s Spirit testify to your adoption, even in the midst of hardship.

Resources Mentioned:

• Zach Meerkreebs’ book, Lower: The Journey of Radical Humility
• Philippians 2:1-11 – A passage that anchored Zach during the Asbury revival

Call to Action:
Be sure to grab your copy of Lower to dive deeper into the principles of radical humility and the stories that shaped Zach’s faith. Available on Amazon and other major retailers now! https://bit.ly/lowerzm

In the second half of this two-part series, Alan Briggs continues his conversation with Steve Cuss, diving deeper into the challenges leaders face in managing their inner critic, breaking predictable patterns, and finding freedom in their faith.

Steve shares powerful tools to notice and navigate reactivity, align your beliefs with God’s truth, and relax into His presence. This episode is packed with practical strategies and wisdom to help leaders thrive emotionally, spiritually, and relationally.

Highlights from Part 2:

• How reactivity blocks our awareness of God’s presence—and ways to overcome it.
• Strategies for quieting the inner critic and embracing God’s truth over self-condemnation.
• Why predictable patterns in leadership and faith keep us stuck—and how to break free.
• The importance of staying "human-sized" in leadership and relationships.
• Practical ways to trip over God’s love throughout your day.

Resources Mentioned:

• Steve Cuss’s book: The Expectation Gap
• Steve Cuss’s Website
• Listen to Steve’s Podcast, Being Human
• Register for the Demystifying Sabbaticals Webinar on January 29th: Learn More Here

Stay Connected:

• Subscribe to the podcast and leave a review on iTunes to share what resonated with you most.
• Follow us on YouTube for more inspiring conversations and practical tools.

We’ll see you next week with more content to help you live and lead with clarity, purpose, and impact!

In the first part of this two-part conversation, Alan Briggs sits down with Steve Cuss, author of The Expectation Gap, to explore the challenges of managing expectations, staying human-sized in overwhelming spaces, and starting the year with curiosity instead of pressure.

Steve shares personal stories about imposter syndrome, the power of micro-habits, and practical tools to help you "stub your toe" on God's love throughout your day. This episode is packed with insight for leaders, parents, and anyone feeling the weight of expectations as the year begins.

Highlights from Part 1:

• Why New Year’s resolutions often miss the mark and how to set achievable goals.
• The concept of staying “human-sized” in rooms that feel too big.
• Practical ways to manage the inner critic and reconnect with God’s love.
• Steve’s reflections on his own predictable patterns and how to break free.

Resources Mentioned:

• Steve Cuss’s book: The Expectation Gap
• Demystifying Sabbaticals Webinar - January 29th (Register now!)
• Follow us on YouTube for more practical content every single week.

Be sure to tune in next week for Part 2, where Steve dives deeper into recognizing reactivity, breaking predictable patterns, and sharing his favorite tools for lasting change.

In this special Christmas edition of the Stay Forth Leadership Podcast, hosts Alan Briggs and Jonathan Collier invite you to take a deep breath, step back, and embrace the power of gratitude. As the year winds down, they share practical insights for leaders to close out the year with intentionality and step into the next chapter with clarity and focus.

This episode is packed with reflections on:

• How gratitude rewires your brain and transforms your leadership approach.
• Two powerful year-end exercises: creating a gratitude list and embracing "necessary endings."
• Heartfelt shoutouts to the Stay Forth team, coaching clients, and loyal listeners.

Alan and Jonathan also revisit some of the year's standout podcast episodes. Get ready to be inspired by their conversation with Patrick Lencioni on organizational health and leadership and an energizing chat with Tabitha Scott on aligning productivity with purpose.

Whether you're cozying up with family this holiday season or finding solitude in nature, Alan and Jonathan encourage you to rest deeply, reflect intentionally, and set the tone for a healthier, impactful year ahead.

Key Takeaways:

• Gratitude is more than a feeling—it's a leadership discipline.
• The value of pruning and making space for what's truly important.
• Highlights from memorable episodes featuring Patrick Lencioni and Tabitha Scott.

Resources & Links:

• Subscribe to our YouTube channel for exclusive video clips from this episode.
• Listen to the full episodes with Patrick Lencioni and Tabitha Scott.

Call to Action:
As you wind down your year, don't miss the chance to reflect, refocus, and recharge. Subscribe, share, and join the Stay Forth community as we walk this leadership journey together. 🌟