The RISE Leadership Podcast

What does real leadership growth look like? 
In this episode of the Rise Leadership Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Dixon and Phil McMichael sit down with executive coach Ben Cashion to talk about the three critical jumps leaders must make as they grow: becoming a five-star contributor, learning to lead as a builder manager, and stepping into enterprise leadership. 
Ben shares practical insight from years of coaching CEOs and high-capacity leaders, including why promotions don’t always equal readiness, how leaders get stuck when they keep doing instead of leading, and what healthy career progression really looks like. He also brings the conversation into the church context, showing how these same principles apply to volunteers, team leaders, and coaches. 
This episode will help you recognize where you are, what skills you need next, and how to grow with humility, clarity, and purpose. 
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Most people picture ministry on a stage. 
But what if real ministry also looks like boardrooms, budgets, and carrying the weight of decisions that affect thousands of lives? 
In this episode of the RISE Leadership Podcast, Jeremy Dixon and Phil McMichael sit down with Jeff Pearson, Executive Director of Compassion 479 and Strategic Initiatives at Cross Church. 
Before joining church staff, Jeff spent nearly three decades at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, including 15 years as CFO of the organization responsible for raising the majority of its funding. He woke up every day knowing millions of dollars had to be raised — and that children’s lives depended on it. 
In this honest conversation, Jeff shares: 
What the “weight of leadership” really feels like 
How to view your workplace as ministry 
The difference between platform and stewardship 
How to discern when God is releasing you from a role 
Why obedience sometimes means walking away from something you love 
If you’re leading in business, healthcare, education, ministry, or anywhere in between, this episode will challenge how you think about calling. 
Ministry isn’t about visibility. 
It’s about faithfulness with what God has entrusted to you. 
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What if the very thing you walked through is the very thing God wants to use? 
In this episode of The RISE Leadership Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Dixon and Phil McMichael sit down with Cross Church dream teamer Kelly Stamps to explore how God turns seasons of waiting, pain, and ordinary obedience into powerful ministry. Kelly never set out to build a platform but through simple faithfulness, God used her story to impact thousands and to connect couples around the world. 
This conversation will challenge you to see your life differently. Your leadership doesn’t start on a stage—it starts in your story. If you’ve ever wondered whether God could use your past, your pain, or your everyday faithfulness to make a difference, this episode will remind you: He already is. 
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What really happens behind the scenes of worship ministry? 
In this episode, Dr. Jeremy Dixon and co-host Phil McMichael sit down with Nick Hardeman, Cross Church’s Associate Worship Pastor/ Springdale Campus Director, to give an inside look at worship ministry at Cross Church. From auditions and development to heart posture and biblical worship, this conversation pulls back the curtain on what it means to lead people into God’s presence. 
Whether you’re a talented musician, someone curious about getting involved, or a church member who simply wants to worship with greater intention, this episode will help you understand the why behind what we do—and how every person has a role to play. 
This is an encouraging, honest, and practical introduction to worship ministry for dream teamers, staff, seminary residents, and anyone who wants to raise their expectation in worship. 
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In Part 2 of our Don’t Flinch conversation, Dr. Jeremy Dixon and co-host Phil McMichael sit down again with Cross Church Senior Pastor, Dr. Nick Floyd, for a candid and behind-the-scenes look at how Cross Church is navigating one of the most significant seasons of change in its 150+ year history.
Dr. Floyd shares the story of Cross Church’s long legacy of faithful leadership, the evolution into a multi-campus church, and what’s driving the launch of new campuses across Northwest Arkansas. 
You’ll also hear practical insight into how Cross Church is adjusting its teaching model to scale for future growth, why unified vision matters more than ever, and how leadership development accelerates in seasons of expansion. 
Whether you’re leading in ministry, business, or any growing organization, this episode will challenge you to stay steady, courageous, and mission-focused when change comes.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
·      Why healthy organizations must embrace change instead of resisting it
·      How Cross Church has navigated pastoral transitions and multi-campus growth
·      The tension between personal preference and organizational mission
·      Why leadership clarity and consistent vision are essential in seasons of expansion
·      How change creates new opportunities for leadership development and ownership
·      What it really means to “not flinch” when the pressure increases
If you’re leading through change, growth, or uncertainty, this episode will equip and encourage you to lead with confidence, humility, and faith.
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