Tim Rush and Andy Spell explore the multifaceted nature of leadership, focusing on Andy's personal journey and insights gained over nearly 40 years in ministry. They discuss the importance of recognizing one's leadership style, the role of personality in leadership, and the significance of self-care and validation. Andy shares his experiences with ego management, the journey of self-acceptance, and the value of learning from failures. Here are some of the topics we cover in our podcast episodes:...
Dec 09, 2024•38 min
Lewis Yuan sits down with host Mark Dunning to share his journey from faithlessness, self-doubt, and personal struggle to finding purpose, healing, and hope through vulnerability and connection. Lewis recounts how years of self-reliance led to brokenness and how his Crucible retreat helped him confront his deepest fears, embrace radical honesty, and connect with a community of men with reignited faith. His story is a testament to God’s grace and the power of stepping into intentional spaces for ...
Dec 02, 2024•24 min
Leadership Series Host Tim Rush sits down with a very special guest, his wife Kim Rush, certified Crucible Retreat Leader and Coach . Kim reflects on the challenges of leadership, the balance of family and ministry, and the deep personal growth that comes from leaning into soul work. From lessons learned in Mexico, to navigating identity through seasons of loss and change, to embracing the importance of honesty in community—Kim offers wisdom for anyone striving to lead with integrity and heart. ...
Nov 25, 2024•32 min
Kevin Heraly sits down with host Andy Spell to share his transformative journey of stepping into true manhood and embracing soul-deep authenticity. From a pivotal moment that exposed hidden truths to discovering The Crucible Project, Kevin recounts how faith, grace, and accountability reshaped his marriage, fatherhood, and personal integrity. "Sometimes, 48 hours can change your life." Here are some of the topics we cover in our podcast episodes: Radical honesty and grace Spiritual growth Discip...
Nov 18, 2024•35 min
In this special Veterans Day episode, Armando Batista, U.S. Service Member, sits down with host Martin Brooker, retired Commodore of the Australian Navy. They discuss their transformative journeys through Crucible and Armando shares how he confronted hidden wounds and because of it, now better understands his own behavior and connects more deeply with his family. Armando describes how Crucible’s intense self-reflection process has empowered him to become a more compassionate and present leader, ...
Nov 11, 2024•30 min
Mackenzie Wojta sits down with host Joy Dunning just 72 hours after her first Crucible retreat. Mackenzie shares some of the profound insights gained from confronting personal challenges and embracing vulnerability during a candid conversation about the journey toward authentic connection and self-discovery. "Don’t hold back—take that step. It’s worth the discomfort and the challenge." Here are some of the topics we cover in our podcast episodes: Radical honesty and grace Spiritual growth Discip...
Nov 04, 2024•30 min
Sandy Corrigan shares with host Joy Dunning how she shifted from a victim mindset to recognizing the gifts of leadership, responsibility, and service. After overcoming challenges like divorce and single motherhood, she found healing and rediscovered her voice. Now, she encourages others to embrace soul work and step into their full potential, including her own decision to enter the Mrs. Colorado 2025 pageant at age 69 as a way to push herself and inspire others. Here are some of the topics we co...
Oct 28, 2024•34 min
Dr. Chris R. Mazzarella, PsyD, LCP discusses how The Crucible Project has made a positive difference in his counseling practice. He also shares personally how his Crucible retreat impacted his life and now benefits his clients, stating, “I’ve been in this profession for 27 years... Crucible is the real catalyst for lasting change. I know if my clients take advantage of this resource, it’s like six months of therapy in one weekend. It saves a ton of time and money.” Here are some of the topics we...
Oct 21, 2024•32 min
Nathaniel Harrison shares his Crucible journey with host Martin Brooker. He reflects on how the weekend opened him up to deeper authenticity, improved relationships with his family and work, and gave him a renewed sense of purpose in bringing "heaven on earth" to others. Nathaniel shares, "I went from resisting it with every fiber of my being to it becoming a turning point in my life... it opened me up to being more authentic and real with myself and those around me." Here are some of the topics...
Oct 14, 2024•21 min
Host Jess Donovan sits down with Pastor and Crucible alum Matt Furr as he shares the impact of Crucible on his work in the church as Lead Pastor of a church in New Hampshire. Matt also shares how Crucible has helped him come alongside other pastors looking for a safe space to tend to their own souls and uncover barriers in their relationship with God. Here are some of the topics we cover in our podcast episodes: Radical honesty and grace Spiritual growth Discipleship Mentorship Personal developm...
Oct 07, 2024•43 min
Tony Bradburn sits down with host Andy Spell to share his Crucible story and the impact it had on his identity. From attending his initial Crucible retreat and then staffing other weekends, Tony found a way to bring together all of his identities - "as a black man, as a believer, as someone who was adopted, that was a powerful experience for me. All of these parts of myself deserve to be integrated and deserve to be seen and if not, they become warring parts of me. I can love my whiteness and my...
Sep 30, 2024•34 min
Radio personality Robb Paolasso sits down with host Jay Mountjoy to discuss his Crucible journey, transformation, and living life on mission. Robb shares how attending a second-level weekend with Crucible, Mission and Purpose, sparked a renewed passion for radio and how he intentionally uses his platform to speak life now. He also discusses co-parenting, loss, making amends with adult children, and what it looks like to live life with integrity, grace, and courage. Here are some of the topics we...
Sep 23, 2024•40 min
Mark Dunning, community leader in Green Bay, WI, shares his Crucible journey with host Andy Spell. After searching to find his self-worth through validation from others, Mark's retreat helped him discover where his true worth comes from. He shares the power of community, authenticity, and the impact one weekend can have in a man's life. Here are some of the topics we cover in our podcast episodes: Radical honesty and grace Spiritual growth Discipleship Mentorship Personal development Life transf...
Sep 16, 2024•29 min
Host Tim Rush sits down with Dr. James Henderson, missionary and co-Founder and Director of Ashrei , a center for Spiritual Formation in Mexico City to discuss cross-cultural leadership, priorities, and balance. "Jesus has this extraordinary balance of God pouring into Him and then Jesus is able to pour Himself out to others and respond to whatever is the need right in front of Him with just the right energy and tone and strength. To learn to be balanced like Jesus - can you imagine the freedom,...
Sep 09, 2024•39 min
After going through a period of harsh loss, Crucible Men’s Ministry Assistant Dan Ripple shares how Crucible "saved my life. It made all the difference in the world." Following his initial weekend, he participated in Crucible's two-year program and has found life and community volunteer staffing retreats and bringing soul work to other men. "We all have gifts and talents but to be able to carry those to men, to be in service to men, to support what God has intended for us and supporting men in t...
Sep 02, 2024•19 min
James Henderson, co-Founder and Director of Ashrei , a center for Spiritual Formation in Mexico City, shares his Crucible testimony with host Andy Spell. When asked what brought him to his Crucible retreat, James shares, "I didn’t like the man that I saw in the mirror. I was doing mission work and I felt like I was called to serve in the world that God loves and to do it cross-culturally, and so I had big dreams and a vision for loving and serving the world but I don’t think I had the character ...
Aug 19, 2024•33 min
Leadership Series: Roy Wooten, Executive Director of The Crucible Project , sits down with host Tim Rush to discuss his leadership journey. Hear more about Roy's early days in leadership as a teenager and what he has learned along the way about what true leadership is and how leaders go first both in work and vulnerability to pave the way for others. Here are some of the topics we cover in our podcast episodes: Radical honesty and grace Spiritual growth Discipleship Mentorship Personal developme...
Aug 12, 2024•24 min
Dr. Dan Bouchelle , President and CEO of Mission Resource Network , shares with host Joy Dunning about his Crucible experience and the impact it had on him as a leader of other leaders. MRN is a leadership development and training organization that partners with churches and global workers to ensure sustained and impactful mission work globally. Dr. Bouchelle shares how MRN’s partnership with Crucible has been instrumental in this mission, offering global leaders a rare opportunity for self-awar...
Aug 05, 2024•26 min
Dan Holzer and Fred Macaluso, the visionary founders of Project 5130 , sit down with host Joy Dunning to share their story and mission. Based on their transformative experiences with Crucible, Dan, and Fred created Project 5130 to mentor and disciple high school teens. Through candid stories and heartfelt reflections, they share how their program fosters authentic relationships, accountability, and Christ-centered growth. Here are some of the topics we cover in our podcast episodes: Radical hone...
Jul 29, 2024•32 min
Host Andy Spell interviews Brian Smith from the Crucible Connecticut men's community. Brian shares how Crucible helped him unearth some of the messages in his life that kept him stuck and starting to move forward. He also shares how Crucible has positively impacted his marriage and parenting as a blended family with unique challenges. Brian states, "I can walk my talk. I can be honest with my emotions. Integrity has set me free, and it has given me power." Here are some of the topics we cover in...
Jul 22, 2024•28 min
Jess Donovan, Crucible leader and Family Program Manager at her church in New Hampshire shares her observations on the multigenerational impact of Crucible, the intersection of Crucible and the local church, and how each generation can contribute to each other. Here are some of the topics we cover in our podcast episodes: Radical honesty and grace Spiritual growth Discipleship Mentorship Personal development Life transformation Christian men's ministry Christian women's ministry Faith-based retr...
Jul 15, 2024•31 min
Chris Rice, a community leader from the Chicagoland area, shares with host Joy Dunning about the impact of his Crucible retreat on his parenting, marriage, and anger. Through honesty with God and himself, Chris found a new path forward where he knew he was God's beloved son, even in the midst of pain and difficulty. He shares, "To be able to tell God how I really felt - even though I knew in my head that He knew, "I wasn't hiding anything from Him - there was something different about a Crucible...
Jul 08, 2024•28 min
Pastor and Crucible Leader John Casey is interviewed by Leadership Series host Tim Rush about his leadership journey. He shared how his leadership really began by being a good student and doing what was needed. He stated, “One has to learn to lead yourself before being able to lead others.” He highly values doing things well, which has propelled his leadership. In his fifties, he learned that he also needed to accept his imperfections because they were his mistakes that endeared him to others. H...
Jul 01, 2024•44 min
Terry Gjeldum shares with podcast host James Damey how he believed he was "stupid" most of his life. His greatest fear was that someone would find out he was stupid, and he lived with a lack of assertiveness and fear. During his Crucible retreat, he experienced an exercise where he learned that God does not think he is stupid. His parenting was impacted for the better, and his relationships with his wife and children greatly improved. He shares how he moved from an authoritarian parent to an hon...
Jun 24, 2024•43 min
Terrance Foster, church and Crucible leader, shares how he became the leader he has always wanted in his life as he is interviewed by leadership series podcast host Tim Rush. Terrance describes listening as the most important skill he has developed in his leadership and the importance of listening as he leads his community, family, church, and The Crucible. He also shares the impact of The Crucible programs on his leadership development and how many people quickly feel at ease to share deep conc...
Jun 17, 2024•28 min
Host Joy Dunning interviews Kenton Larson and Joe Troupe about the remarkable relationship between the two children's father and stepfather. When Kenton, the stepfather, experienced a Crucible retreat, it impacted his parenting of his stepchildren and his relationship with his wife. He and his wife encouraged Joe, the father, to attend a Crucible retreat, which he did during a dark time in his life. All four parents are now in sync, communicating about issues with common language and doing their...
Jun 10, 2024•27 min
Author, coach, and leader Jason Wilson continues his interview with Andy Spell, challenging men to be strong and comprehensive. He shares how the Crucible weekend brought healing in the source of his anger and allowed him to find compassion, empathy, and patience to nurture and care for his mother through her dementia journey. Allowing access to empathy significantly impacted his relationship with his wife and children. He challenges men to practice compassion by moving toward their vulnerabilit...
Jun 03, 2024•26 min
Jason Wilson, author of Cry Like a Man and Battle Cry and founder of The Cave of Adullam, is interviewed by podcast host Andy Spell. They discuss Jason's viral video , which has over 3.2 million views worldwide and is titled Overcoming Barriers . Jason shares that men’s ability to be like Christ is limited by our focus on the world’s definition of masculinity. Jesus wasn’t all lion and no lamb. He fully felt his emotions and was safe and nurturing. Jason challenges men to experience then face th...
May 27, 2024•35 min
Warning: Podcast host James Damey interviews Sexual Addiction Recovery Coach Scott Cone about the impact of men’s formative years on unwanted sexual behaviors. Scott shares his testimonial and The Crucible’s impact on his recovery as a healing community of healthy men where shame is defeated. He states, “Sobriety is not the opposite of addiction. Connection is.” He reports that all sexual acting out and fantasy has its origins in some harm in the formative years. He reports that 1 in 3 men were ...
May 20, 2024•39 min
Deb Gustafson shares with podcast host Joy Dunning about her journey through sexual and spiritual abuse that has driven her mission to create a world where every survivor is believed and supported for as long as it takes. Deb reports on Crucible’s impact on her healing journey and the power of soul work in recovery. She reports her desire for every pastor or church leader who notices abuse temptation to go through the Crucible Project retreat to prevent sexual and spiritual abuse. She also encou...
May 13, 2024•51 min
