The Trailhead Podcast: Lead | Create| Inspire | Interviews

This week on The Trailhead Podcast Benji chats with Stephen Brewster.  Stephen Brewster:  Grew up all over the world with parents as Missionaries Previously Served as the Creative Arts Pastor at Cross Point Church in Nashville,Tennessee. Executive Creative Pastor at Freedom House Church  Podcast: Free to Lead Instagram: @b_rewster || Website: stephenbrewster.me   Songs:      - Bon Cantina     - Benedek - Dial My Number     - Borrtex - We Are Saved     - David_Szesztay - Throughout The City     - Blank Kytt - RSPN     - Savage Gringo Productions

This week on The Trailhead Podcast Benji chats with Donnie Maib. Donnie Maib: Raised in Tennessee  Played Football at University of Georgia Strength & conditioning Coach at University of Texas Keynote Speaker Instagram: @donniemaib || Twitter: @coachdonnie Songs: You're on the Run by Greater the Flamingo Savage Gringo Productions Blank Kytt - Jangle Blank Kytt - Sgt Frog Borrtex -We Are Saved  

This week on The Trailhead Podcast Benji chats with Dr. Dick Foth.  Dr Dick Foth: Author of "Known: Finding Deep Friendships in a Shallow World" Doctorate from Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary He and his wife Ruth have invested twenty-five years working with leaders in the marketplace of business and government to encourage them in their personal lives. Dick serves on the teaching team of National Community Church pastored by Mark Batterson in Washington, D. C. Website: www.known.fm  Songs: Hometeam by Jaylon Ashaun Savage Gringo Productions Running Waters by Jason Shaw  The Polish Ambassador By Erotic Robotics Pierlo By Barbarian  

This week on The Trailhead Podcast Benji chats with Kendall Phillips.  Kendall Phillips:  From Gulf Shores Alabama Studied as South Eastern University Interned with A21 Campaign Founder of The Penny Story helping to Fight Slavery around the world Instagram: @kendallphillips || Website: thepennystory.com Songs:      - The River by Jenny Dee     - Kick, Push by Ryan Little     - Savage Gringo Productions

Listen as Benji shares a preview of his new podcast series, "The Trailhead Podcast". The is the Trailhead Podcast is a collection of conversations centered around creativity & leadership. You've found a gold mine of encouragement, inspiration, and wisdom that you can take with you on your journey toward living your best life. Season one premieres March 4th, 2018. Music: Lift It Up by Ryan Anderson 

089: What's Next for Trailhead? In this episode Benji talks about where The Trailhead Podcast is headed in 2018. blaze-trails.com We are taking a short break but will be back in 2018 better than ever! There will be some exciting changes over the next few months, we believe the best days are ahead. Thanks for all your support so far, keep updated on our website or on Instagram!  Stay Connected: Instagram: @benjiblock Website: www.blaze-trails.com Instagram: @We_Are_Trailblazers

088: The Art of Self-Control Discipline produces freedom but often we feel the opposite. What does it mean to thrive in self-control and find the true freedom found in discipline? blaze-trails.com Episode Highlights:  The cocktail is pace & patience.  Self control grants you permission to say we can't do everything now, but that will not hinder us from taking a step in the right direction.    What is a leader without self control? Unreliable… hard to follow… Prioritize and Execute. Book: Discipline = Freedom by Jocko Willink  Stay Connected: Instagram: @benjiblock Website: www.blaze-trails.com Instagram: @We_Are_Trailblazers

087: Overcoming Anxiety What do we do when life wakes us up in the middle of the night and tells us to take a hike? How do we keep holding hope high in the midnight hour of our souls? blaze-trails.com Episode Highlights:  In the last year... - Does life have you feeling uneasy? - Do you find yourself worried or afraid? - Have you experienced feelings of being overwhelmed? - Do you find yourself avoiding certain people, places, or conversations out of nervousness or inner-panic? - Do you worry about the same things over and over again? Statistically anxiety is on the rise like never before. Mental Health America records that nearly 20% of Americans are struggling with anxiety and depression. Anxiety: - a divided mind. - takes us away from the present. - pulls us into past guilt and regret. - constantly asks "what ifs" about the future. 4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is

086: Follow us on Instagram today! @We_Are_Trailblazers RATE / SUBSCRIBE / SHARE Blaze-trails.com In this episode we sit down with Sam Farina, Sam is a life coach and great at asking questions. Tons of insight and practical takeaways. Resources: The 5 Disfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni From Spiritual Slavery to Spiritual Sonship Quotes:  " A lot of times we call groups teams, but many times groups are not teams even though they wish they were." Questions to ask Yourself: What have I missed? What didn't I see? Where could I have thought bigger? How does this move forward the mission my organization wants to accomplish? Was I really listening in that conversation? Stay Connected with Sam Farina: sfarina@samfarina.com samfarina.com Stay Connected with Benji Block: Instagram: @benjiblock Website: www.blaze-trails.com Instagram: @We_Are_Trailblazers

085: Comfortable in Your Calling, with Jeff Ramos In this Interview with Jeff Ramos hear a story of walking in your calling and thriving where you are planted. Follow us on Instagram today! @We_Are_Trailblazers RATE / SUBSCRIBE / SHARE Blaze-trails.com Connect With Jeff: Facebook/ Instagram / Twitter: @JeffRamosfca Even Life Church: http://www.evenlife.co Stay Connected: Instagram: @benjiblock Website: www.blaze-trails.com Instagram: @We_Are_Trailblazers

084: Faithful is Fruitful Faithfulness hinges on what we value as important combined with commitment. Show Notes:  Faithful: - Longevity - What is in your hands right now that you are not valuing?  Faithfulness looks like you not taking for granted the current spaces that you have influence in…  Faithful = Fruitful  Faithful doesn't always get celebrated…  faithful doesn't get the credit it deserves.  Flash in the pan success can be microwaved, but lives of meaning are built on faithfulness.  Stories of others HUGE success cause us to doubt the season of faithfulness God has us in right now.  Stay Connected: Instagram: @benjiblock Website: www.blaze-trails.com Instagram: @We_Are_Trailblazers

083: New Wine & Old Wineskins  You can't put new ideas into old mind-sets. You can't get new results with old behaviors. Show Notes:    "People do not pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved." Matthew 9:17 "You can't put new ideas into old mind-sets. You can't get new results with old behaviors." "Yet you, LORD, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand." Isaiah 64:8 What areas of your heart have become hard?  What old mind-sets are you stuck in?  What are you doing that is keeping you from thriving? What Got You Here…. Won't Get You there…. Stay Connected: Instagram: @benjiblock Website: www.blaze-trails.com Instagram: @We_Are_Trailblazers

082: Love Where You Live with Autumn Katz It is easy to talk about wanting to make an impact, it's a lot harder to actually step out and do something. In this episode we sit down with Autumn Katz to talk all about having influence here and now.  Follow us on Instagram today! @We_Are_Trailblazers RATE / SUBSCRIBE / SHARE Blaze-trails.com     Connect With Autumn: Facebook/ Instagram / Twitter: @AutumnKatz Anthem Church: theanthemchurch.com Stay Connected: Instagram: @benjiblock Website: www.blaze-trails.com Instagram: @We_Are_Trailblazers

081: Fighting Mind Games & Anxiety The extreme nagging our brains berate us with can be exhausting. Lets get rid of the mind games and anxiety! Show Notes:    "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:5). "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things" (Philippians 4:8). What would it look like to take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ? How much better could life be if we would sift through our thoughts and block the negativity? The insecurity? The restlessness? "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will" (Romans 12:2). How you th

080: 3 Questions to Ask When You're Overwhelmed, with Taka Iguchi In this episode Benji sits down with Taka Iguchi to talk about how to overcome that overwhelming feeling many leaders face. Follow us on Instagram today! @We_Are_Trailblazers RATE / SUBSCRIBE / SHARE Blaze-trails.com RESOURCES: Chris Stapelton Hamilton (The Musical)  Favorite Apps: Pocket, Audible, OverCast Reclaiming Conversations by Sherry Turkle QUOTES:  "Do what you'll be glad you did." "You can't start the next season well, until you finish your current season well." "Some people are an example. Some people are a warning." "Your job in leadership is not to tell people what to think. Your job as a leader is to help them learn how to think." "Never waste a good crisis. Crisis gives you the rare opportunity to introduce you to yourself." "The only way you grow is through resistance." "Leadership is influence. You cannot lead someone unless they trust you. Trust is build over time, not just a couple weeks." "Don't do what

079: A Recipe for Leadership Development, with Donnie Maib Becoming a great leader takes time and intentionality. In this interview Donnie unpacks 4 ingredients involved in a leaders development. blaze-trails.com 4 Ingredients to Leadership Development: 1. Desire What are you hungry for? Develop your desire! 2. Discipline  Discipline is the connector between your dream and your destiny. Morning routine matters GREATLY! Wake up early, schedule time for quiet and reflection.  3. Disappointment  Don't trust a leader who doesn't walk with a limp. 4. Destiny Our destiny is often more uncovered and less discovered. This isn't something you just rush into.  We make the big time the job, the big time job by how we approach life every single day.  Books Mentioned: Leading on Empty by Wayne Cordeiro   John Maxwell Peak Performance by Brad Stulberg, Steve Magness Connect with Donnie Maib:  Instagram: Donnie Maib Twitter: @coachdonnie Connect with Benji: Instagram: benjib

078: 4 Things That Are Sure To Ruin You Great leaders and creatives must be extremely aware of potential pitfalls. In this episode Benji explores 4 things that have the potential to ruin you. Show Notes:  1. Live for Approval & Applause + Stop Trying to be Your Heroes + Stop making idols out of ordinary men.  Don't do things because people will like you more for doing them. Do great work because it will help people.g   2. Wait for the Perfect Time It is always the perfect time to take a step toward your dreams... Start working and stop wishing...  It is always the time to tighten up your character and continue to grow in integrity, honesty, empathy, and love.  Is who you are now truly ready for the increase you so desperately desire?    3. Ignore Your Physical & Mental state You want to stay at peak awareness? You want to operate at a high level? How much sleep are you getting? What are you eating? Have you been lying to yourself and trying to think those things

077: A Rant on Hustle I've needed to rant on the topic of "Hustle" for a while now… So I took my scattered notes and am letting it fly. Show Notes:  Hustle- Obtain by forceful action; busy movement and activity. Grow the Hustle Muscle! You can take everything from me, but you can't take my heart.  Nobody wants the rejection, everyone wants the celebration… But there is a gap between wherever you are and celebration… and within that gap there is ALWAYS the potential for rejection or failure. Train your mind to own every room you walk into regardless of title Train your eye to see problems…  Train your hands to fix them… Train your ear to hear discouragement & hopelessness… Train your mouth to speak against it with hope & encouragement. Connect with Benji: Instagram: benjiblock Email: benji@blaze-trails.com More Trailblazer content: blaze-trails.com

Episode 076: We made it to Episode 76!!!!!! We are talking all about the past 25 episodes and Benji is giving away the top 5 lessons he has learned. blaze-trails.com Instagram: @We_Are_Trailblazers Share what you've learned in the first 75 episodes on Social Media! Tag us, we would love to hear from you. Episode Highlights: 052: Christian Ferretti  Turn doubt & failure into fuel not a grudge. Prove them wrong… not to rub it in their face but in order to continue moving forward.  054: Jeremy Dewerdt  How do you shock the waters when things feel stagnant, broken, or hard.  055: Brad Lomenick  H3 Leaders Humble Hungry Hustle. This is the posture I want  to have & these are the types of people I want to be around.  071: Grant Skeldon Mentorship is less about coffee together and more about following someone as they do something you admire, join in.  074: Benji Block   We must be authentic and in order to live this way you must know who y