Who in your life is taking a risk on you? Also, who in your life has influenced you?This episode explores how influence is born out of trust, vulnerability, and the willingness to take risks for someone else’s benefit. Through honest stories and reflections, Bill and Scott show how the people who have most shaped our lives are those who dared to believe we were worth the risk. Influence, they reveal, is not about control or teaching—it’s about choosing to love and trust in a way that invites transformation.Topics Bill Thrall and Scott Boyd discuss in this episode: (01:22) The idea that both positive and negative influences can shape us. (03:06) How the influence of Bill’s wife, Grace, changed his life through love and honesty.(04:35) A pivotal moment unfolds when Grace tells Bill, “You won’t let me love you.” (06:04) Many people hide parts of themselves because they fear rejection if truly known.(07:38) The myth of self-sufficiency. (09:48) How hiding our needs keeps us from experiencing true relationship and healing.(12:19) The phrase “love can handle sin” reframes what it means to be known. (15:59) How influence extends outward. This episode was brought to you by Bill Thrall, Scott Boyd, and the Living Influence team. Learn about Living Influence: https://www.livinginfluence.com/ Subscribe to the Living Influence podcast: * YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LivingInfluencePodcast * Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/4kP9Mm2 * Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2F2RSvXKfU08Q5LVTCyIYI Learn about Bill Thrall’s books: https://www.livinginfluence.com/books Follow and like the Living Influence podcast on social media: * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livinginfluencepodcast * TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livinginfluencepodcast * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/61576202821527 This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co/
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23:35
Risk-Taking and Its Surprising Rewards in God's Plan
Are you willing to risk trusting the influence of God in you for the benefit of others?This episode explores what it means to risk trusting God’s influence within you for the benefit of others. Through stories of business, family, and faith, the conversation reveals how courage, grace, and trust reshape how we lead and love. Bill and Scott invite you to act upon the truth that God’s influence in you is meant to influence others.Topics Bill Thrall and Scott Boyd discuss in this episode: (0:00) Risking trust in God’s influence for the benefit of others.(1:18) How fear of failure keeps people from stepping into the game of life and leadership.(4:27) Coaching children to take small risks and how it shaped leadership philosophy.(5:53) Creating cultures of trust and removing fear of mistakes in business environments.(7:19) The power of believing in others and helping them feel valued.(8:25) How trusting people transformed a company’s growth and culture.(11:45) The danger of minimizing God’s work within us through “worm theology.”(13:44) A story about leading a young Jewish man to Christ and the lessons that followed.(17:17) The lifelong influence that came from helping others grow in purpose, not just direction.(21:04) The call to act upon the reality of God’s influence in us—and risk trusting it.This episode was brought to you by Bill Thrall, Scott Boyd, and the Living Influence team. Learn about Living Influence: https://www.livinginfluence.com/ Subscribe to the Living Influence podcast: * YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LivingInfluencePodcast * Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/4kP9Mm2 * Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2F2RSvXKfU08Q5LVTCyIYI Learn about Bill Thrall’s books: https://www.livinginfluence.com/books Follow and like the Living Influence podcast on social media: * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livinginfluencepodcast * TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livinginfluencepodcast * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/61576202821527 This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co/
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22:20
Why Satan Can Be the Author of Opportunity
Do you live your life looking for opportunities and open doors, or do you live it based on your convictions?Bill and Scott unpack the difference between living by open doors of opportunity versus living by convictions rooted in truth. Bill shares formative stories of discovering conviction, divine interruption, and learning to trust God without knowing outcomes. Together, they invite you to consider how God’s influence shapes your past, present, and future.Topics Bill Thrall and Scott Boyd discuss in this episode: (00:24) How Satan can use opportunity to distract from God’s purpose.(01:53) Mother Teresa’s decades of silent struggle were lived through conviction.(03:59) Bill recounts being invited to Bible college after becoming a Christian.(08:43) The importance of looking back at life to see God’s influence.(10:36) How our Creator’s presence is in our hearts to trust.(11:20) Bill’s first experience sensing God’s presence as a teenager.(16:53) How God brings people through suffering when they trust Him.(19:08) Unless we experience grace, we won’t truly understand God or ourselves.This episode was brought to you by Bill Thrall, Scott Boyd, and the Living Influence team. Learn about Living Influence: https://www.livinginfluence.com/ Subscribe to the Living Influence podcast: * YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LivingInfluencePodcast * Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/4kP9Mm2 * Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2F2RSvXKfU08Q5LVTCyIYI Learn about Bill Thrall’s books: https://www.livinginfluence.com/books Follow and like the Living Influence podcast on social media: * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livinginfluencepodcast * TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livinginfluencepodcast * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/61576202821527 This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co/
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21:36
When God’s Influence Shapes Destiny and Direction
How are you influenced? Also, do you disregard influence and purpose based on circumstances, or do you remain undeterred by struggle?In this episode, Bill and Scott share personal stories of how God has influenced and interrupted their lives in unexpected ways. They also reflect on the difference between blessing and success, and how true blessing always leads to purpose—sometimes through suffering. Together, they remind us that trusting God’s interruptions is the path to discovering our destiny and learning to influence others with humility and authenticity.Topics Bill Thrall and Scott Boyd discuss in this episode: (00:03) How blessing is often mistaken for success and shows how true purpose involves suffering.(03:41) God is always the initiator and introduces the idea of divine interruption.(06:51) Why God values humility more than excellence.(09:56) How Bill’s brothers were first influenced through a boys’ club.(11:13) Bill’s salvation at 17 after being asked, “What are you going to do with Jesus?”(13:31) Scott contrasts his Lutheran roots with how his wife and stepmother’s influence deepened his faith.(17:57) Trusting God when He interrupts and redirects life.(19:43) Obedience means trusting God and surrendering the results to Him.This episode was brought to you by Bill Thrall, Scott Boyd, and the Living Influence team. Learn about Living Influence: https://www.livinginfluence.com/ Subscribe to the Living Influence podcast: * YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LivingInfluencePodcast * Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/4kP9Mm2 * Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2F2RSvXKfU08Q5LVTCyIYI Learn about Bill Thrall’s books: https://www.livinginfluence.com/books Follow and like the Living Influence podcast on social media: * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livinginfluencepodcast * TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livinginfluencepodcast * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/61576202821527 This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co/
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20:51
Trusting God’s Truth to Live a Life of PURPOSE
What possibilities open when you embrace God’s purposes for your life?In this episode, Bill and Scott unpack what it means to live in freedom rather than in the bondage of shame. Drawing from Scripture and their own experiences, they highlight how trust in God’s truth reshapes identity, relationships, and daily choices. Together with guest Waldemar, they invite listeners to step out of the cage of familiarity and embrace the endless purposes of God.Topics Bill Thrall, Scott Boyd, and Waldemar Kohl discuss in this episode: (00:03) Freedom in Christ(01:43) Experiencing Bondage vs. Freedom(03:56) Possibilities and Purpose in Freedom(07:48) Saying Yes to God’s Purposes(12:20) Living Out Freedom DailyThis episode was brought to you by Bill Thrall, Scott Boyd, and the Living Influence team. Learn about Living Influence: https://www.livinginfluence.com/ Subscribe to the Living Influence podcast: * YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LivingInfluencePodcast * Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/4kP9Mm2 * Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2F2RSvXKfU08Q5LVTCyIYI Learn about Bill Thrall’s books: https://www.livinginfluence.com/books Follow and like the Living Influence podcast on social media: * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livinginfluencepodcast * TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livinginfluencepodcast * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/61576202821527 This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co/
About Living Influence with Bill Thrall and Scott Boyd
Discovering who God says you are may be your most important life pursuit. Imagine what our world might be like if we believed we were designed and gifted by God for each other.
Living Influence is co-hosted by Bill Thrall and Scott Boyd.
Bill Thrall is an author, mentor, public speaker, and co-founder of Trueface. He is married to Grace, who loves to mentor women and to come alongside leadership couples with Bill. They have three children, nine grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. They live in Phoenix.
Scott Boyd founded QuesTec Companies, a mechanical contracting and HVAC service business. He is married to Aileen. Scott and Aileen both lost their first spouses to cancer. They together have five children and seven grandchildren.
No matter who you are, your influence matters. We believe your view of you may be the most critical factor in your influence.
Whatever your role, professional, pastor, parent or student, the most significant expression of your influence will be from your person.
Listen to Living Influence with Bill Thrall and Scott Boyd, The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz) and many other podcasts from around the world with the radio.net app
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