Flourishing Leadership in Tough Times

About Flourishing Leadership in Tough Times

A Video and Audio Podcast To Help You Forge Bold, Courageous Leadership and Flourish in a Challenging, Shifting World. Hosted by leadership coach and spiritual director Deborah Owen, this show features spacious, honest conversations with leaders across fields—from education to business, theology to the arts, and more. Each episode explores what it means to flourish in the face of complexity and overwhelm—by staying rooted in integrity, rising with courage, and leading from the inside out. New episodes weekly. Subscribe and join the journey. debbieowen.substack.com (https://debbieowen.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast)

Publisher

Debbie Owen

Category

society & culture · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

6 Jan 2026

Latest episode

14 Apr 2026

Latest episodes

13 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   14 Apr 2026

   What If the Problem Isn’t Them? with Shaunti Feldhahn

   Rooted & Rising: Flourishing Leadership in Tough Times, Season 1, Episode 13Small Shifts, Big Impact: Kindness, Leadership, and Human Flourishing with Shaunti Feldhahn What if the key to flourishing leadership isn’t doing more—but changing small, everyday interactions? In this insightful and highly practical episode of Flourishing Leadership in Tough Times, Deborah Owen sits down with Harvard-trained social researcher and bestselling author Shaunti Feldhahn to explore: ✅ Why small behavioral shifts can dramatically change relationships and outcomes ✅ How hidden assumptions shape the way we lead and relate to others ✅ The surprising role of kindness as a driver of motivation, connection, and well-being ✅ How leaders can prevent burnout by creating safe, honest conversations ✅ Why instilling hope may be one of the most powerful tools leaders have Drawing from decades of research, Shaunti shares how something as simple as reframing a question, offering genuine affirmation, or practicing consistent kindness can retrain our thinking—and transform our leadership and relationships. She also introduces the powerful 30-Day Kindness Challenge, a practical framework that has helped improve 89% of relationships by reshaping mindset and behavior over time. 🎧 Listen now to discover how small shifts can lead to lasting change—and how flourishing leadership is built one interaction at a time. 🔗 Subscribe for more episodes on staying rooted with integrity and rising with courage:https://debbieowen.substack.com/ (https://debbieowen.substack.com/) 🔗 Learn more about Shaunti Feldhahn and her work:https://shaunti.com/ (https://shaunti.com/) 🔗 Listen to Shaunti’s podcast, I Wish You Could Hear This:https://shaunti.com/podcast/ (https://shaunti.com/podcast/) Find out more in Shaunti’s books:https://shaunti.com/books-and-studies/ (https://shaunti.com/books-and-studies/) How have small shifts—or acts of kindness—changed your leadership or relationships? Share your thoughts in the comments! ==== HERE ARE THE NEURO-BASED ENNEAGRAM BOOKS mentioned in the middle of the episode: The Lent books, When Sorrow Speaks:https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GGQBSX24 (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GGQBSX24) The Advent books, The Awaiting:https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G1Z6QHP5?binding=kindle_edition&qid=1776132046&sr=1-18&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tkin (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G1Z6QHP5?binding=kindle_edition&qid=1776132046&sr=1-18&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tkin) Tags:leadership, Shaunti Feldhahn, Deborah Owen, kindness, emotional intelligence, workplace culture, leadership development, human flourishing, relationships, burnout prevention, motivation, connection, neuroscience, habits, Christian leadership, resilience, flourishing leadership, tough times, leadership podcast, personal growth Get full access to Rooted & Rising at debbieowen.substack.com/subscribe (https://debbieowen.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

2. 

   24 Mar 2026

   When Telling the Truth Could Cost You Everything, with Margaret Donovan

   Rooted & Rising: Flourishing Leadership in Tough Times. Season 1, Episode 12. Truth, Loyalty, and Leadership; A Conversation with Ex-JAG Margaret Donovan. What happens when the people in charge stop leading? In this compelling episode of Flourishing Leadership in Tough Times, Deborah Owen sits down with former Army JAG officer and Assistant U.S. Attorney Margaret Donovan to explore what real leadership looks like when institutions are strained and credibility is on the line. They discuss: ✅ Why holding a title doesn’t make someone a leader ✅ How “loyalty” without truth corrodes integrity ✅ The hidden cost of speaking out in volatile systems ✅ Why mentorship anchors leaders in moments of crisis ✅ How to fortify your character before you find yourself in the foxhole Drawing from her experience in the military and the Department of Justice, Margaret reflects on moral courage, institutional accountability, and why citizens are not required to accept every official as a model of leadership. 🎧 Listen now and discover what it truly means to lead when it costs something. 🔗 Subscribe for more episodes on staying rooted with integrity and rising with courage: https://debbieowen.substack.com/ (https://debbieowen.substack.com/) What distinguishes a leader from someone who simply holds power? Share your thoughts below. Margaret teaches at Yale Law School and writes publicly on issues of leadership and institutional accountability. ==== HERE ARE THE NEURO-BASED ENNEAGRAM BOOKS mentioned in the middle of the episode: Links to the Lent series, “When Sorrow Speaks”https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GGQBSX24?binding=kindle_edition&ref_=dbs_s_ks_series_rwt_tkin&qid=1774199947&sr=1-1 (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GGQBSX24?binding=kindle_edition&ref_=dbs_s_ks_series_rwt_tkin&qid=1774199947&sr=1-1) Links to the Advent series, “The Awaiting” https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G1Z6QHP5?binding=paperback&searchxofy=true&ref_=dbs_s_aps_series_rwt_tpbk&qid=1774199908&sr=8-1 (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G1Z6QHP5?binding=paperback&searchxofy=true&ref_=dbs_s_aps_series_rwt_tpbk&qid=1774199908&sr=8-1) ==== leadership, integrity, truth and loyalty, Margaret Donovan, Deborah Owen, ex JAG, moral courage, institutional accountability, leadership under pressure, mentorship, ethical leadership, resilient leadership, public service, rule of law, tough times, flourishing leadership, leadership podcast, leadership development Get full access to Rooted & Rising at debbieowen.substack.com/subscribe (https://debbieowen.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

3. 

   17 Mar 2026

   When “Being Helpful” Is Actually Hurting Your Leadership, with Cyd Holsclaw

   Rooted & Rising: Flourishing Leadership in Tough Times Leading from Secure Love: Attachment & Transformation with Cyd Holsclaw What if the key to courageous leadership isn’t better strategy—but healing your attachment wounds? In this deep and insightful episode of Flourishing Leadership in Tough Times, Deborah Owen sits down with spiritual director and coach Cyd Holsclaw to explore: ✅ Why attachment theory matters for leaders ✅ How healing anxious or avoidant patterns transforms how we show up ✅ How spiritual formation begins with secure love, not striving ✅ Practical ways to stay grounded in God’s delight when leading under pressure With honesty and grace, Cyd shares how she moved from self-protection and perfectionism to secure, embodied leadership—grounded in the love of God and the safety of connection. 🎧 Listen now and discover how attachment healing can lead to greater wholeness, resilience, and freedom in your leadership journey. 🔗 Subscribe for more episodes on staying rooted with integrity and rising with courage: https://debbieowen.substack.com/ (https://debbieowen.substack.com/) 🔗 Learn more about Cyd Holsclaw and her book Landscapes of the Soul: https://www.cydholsclaw.com/ (https://www.cydholsclaw.com/) 🔗Or at the Center for Embodied Faith: https://www.embodiedfaith.life/ (https://www.embodiedfaith.life/) How have attachment patterns shaped your own leadership story? Let us know in the comments! ==== HERE ARE THE NEURO-BASED ENNEAGRAM BOOKS mentioned in the middle of the episode: The Lent books, "When Sorrow Speaks": https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GGQBSX24?binding=paperback&searchxofy=true&ref_=dbs_s_aps_series_rwt_tpbk&qid=1773679851&sr=8-1 (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GGQBSX24?binding=paperback&searchxofy=true&ref_=dbs_s_aps_series_rwt_tpbk&qid=1773679851&sr=8-1) The Advent books, "The Awaiting": https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G1Z6QHP5?binding=kindle_edition&ref_=dbs_s_ks_series_rwt_tkin&qid=1773679928&sr=1-1 (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G1Z6QHP5?binding=kindle_edition&ref_=dbs_s_ks_series_rwt_tkin&qid=1773679928&sr=1-1) ==== Tags: leadership, attachment theory, Cyd Holsclaw, Deborah Owen, secure attachment, spiritual formation, embodied leadership, inner healing, resilience, faith and psychology, flourishing leadership, rooted leadership, tough times, performance vs. presence, anxious attachment, avoidant attachment, coaching, personal growth, Christian leadership, trauma-informed leadership, leadership podcast Get full access to Rooted & Rising at debbieowen.substack.com/subscribe (https://debbieowen.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

4. 

   10 Mar 2026

   Leadership In a Lonely World, with Dori Gorman

   Rooted & Rising: Flourishing Leadership in Tough TimesWhole-Person Wellness: Chaplaincy, Courage, and Community with Dori Gorman What does it mean to care for minds, bodies, and spirits in an era of burnout, division, and disconnection? In this insightful and deeply grounded episode of Flourishing Leadership in Tough Times, host Deborah Owen speaks with Dori Gorman, Association Chaplain for the YMCA of Middle Tennessee, about how chaplaincy can reweave the fabric of community and well-being in unexpected spaces. Together, they explore: ✅ Leading from authenticity and vulnerability in non-traditional roles ✅ How whole-person wellness requires integrating spiritual and mental health ✅ Bringing chaplaincy into public life—and why it matters now more than ever ✅ Creating sacred space for staff, members, and volunteers in secular contexts ✅ Holding space for grief, complexity, and hope as a form of leadership Drawing from her experience as a pastor, church planter, chaplain, and spiritual companion, Dori shares how courageous leadership begins with presence, listening, and a deep commitment to human dignity. 🎧 Listen now for a conversation that reframes leadership not as power over, but as care within—especially in the spaces where people often feel unseen. 🔗 Subscribe for more episodes on staying rooted with integrity and rising with courage: (https://debbieowen.substack.com/) (https://debbieowen.substack.com/](https://debbieowen.substack.com/)) 🔗 Learn more about Dori Gorman’s work with the YMCA’s Spirit & Mind program: (https://www.ymcamidtn.org/programs/he...) (https://www.ymcamidtn.org/programs/he...](https://www.ymcamidtn.org/programs/he...)) How are you holding space for others—and yourself—this season? Share your reflections below. ====HERE ARE THE NEURO-BASED ENNEAGRAM BOOKS mentioned in the middle of the episode: The Lent books, "When Sorrow Speaks" (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GGQBSX24?binding=paperback&searchxofy=true&ref_=dbs_s_aps_series_rwt_tpbk&qid=1773163108&sr=8-1) The Advent books, "The Awaiting" (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G1Z6QHP5?binding=paperback&searchxofy=true&ref_=dbs_s_aps_series_rwt_tpbk&qid=1773163139&sr=1-1) ==== Tags: leadership, flourishing leadership, Deborah Owen, Dori Gorman, YMCA, chaplaincy, whole-person wellness, spiritual care, mental health, nonprofit leadership, grief and hope, servant leadership, spiritual formation, resilience, inclusive leadership, vocation, rooted and rising, listening, secular chaplaincy, pastoral care, tough times, leadership podcast Get full access to Rooted & Rising at debbieowen.substack.com/subscribe (https://debbieowen.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

5. 

   3 Mar 2026

   How to Lead When You Don’t Know the Ending, with Karen Georgia Thompson

   Rooted & Rising: Flourishing Leadership in Tough Times – Standing in the Doorway of Becoming; A Conversation with Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson. Season 1, episode 9. What does it mean to lead faithfully in seasons of uncertainty, change, and sacred pause? In this grounded and reflective episode of Flourishing Leadership in Tough Times, host Deborah Owen sits down with Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson—General Minister and President of the United Church of Christ—to explore: ✅ How leadership is a spiritual journey of becoming, not arriving ✅ Why liminal spaces are fertile ground for transformation ✅ Finding joy and rootedness as antidotes to fragmentation and despair ✅ The role of kindness, clarity, and grace in leading divided communities ✅ How God’s “bigness” holds us through the unpredictable and unfinished With pastoral wisdom and poetic vision, Dr. Thompson invites listeners to rethink leadership not as mastery, but as movement; an unfolding life with God through every threshold we face. Tune in now to rediscover the sacredness of the in-between, and how to flourish even when the path isn’t yet clear. Resources & Next Steps --Learn more about the United Church of Christ: www.ucc.org (http://www.ucc.org) --Connect with Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson’s leadership: UCC Newsroom --Reflect on your own season of becoming: Where are you being invited to trust the process, not rush the outcome? ==== HERE ARE THE NEURO-BASED ENNEAGRAM BOOKS mentioned in the middle of the episode: The Lent books, "When Sorrow Speaks" (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GGQBSX24?binding=paperback&searchxofy=true&ref_=dbs_s_aps_series_rwt_tpbk&qid=1772555818&sr=8-1) The Advent books, "The Awaiting" (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G1Z6QHP5?binding=paperback&searchxofy=true&ref_=dbs_s_aps_series_rwt_tpbk&qid=1772555860&sr=1-1) ==== leadership, spiritual formation, liminal space, becoming, joy, grace, United Church of Christ, Karen Georgia Thompson, Deborah Owen, kindness, faith, clarity, tough times, resilience, Christian leadership, podcast Get full access to Rooted & Rising at debbieowen.substack.com/subscribe (https://debbieowen.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

6. 

   24 Feb 2026

   There Is No First In a Circle, with Kavita Ramdas

   Rooted & Rising: Flourishing Leadership in Tough Times – Leading with Courage, Rest, and Community; A Conversation with Kavita N. Ramdas Season 1, Episode 8 How do we lead with both courage and compassion in a world that glorifies burnout and hierarchy? In this soulful and expansive episode of Flourishing Leadership in Tough Times, host Deborah Owen is joined by renowned global advocate Kavita N. Ramdas to explore: ✅ What it means to lead with others instead of over them ✅ The power of rest and self-care as forms of resistance and renewal ✅ Navigating the tension between patience and courage in moments of injustice ✅ Why flourishing leadership begins with following, listening, and community ✅ How nature and diversity teach us about sustainability and strength With wisdom drawn from decades of activism, philanthropy, and feminist leadership, Kavita offers a radical re-visioning of what flourishing looks like in tough times—not as individual triumph, but as collective, interconnected resilience. Tune in now to reflect on how you lead, when you rest, and the kind of world we’re called to co-create. Resources & Next Steps Learn more about Kavita’s current work: www.knrsisters.com (http://www.knrsisters.com) Reflect on your own leadership model—where do you need more community, more rest, more courage?(Apologies for a few technical issues.) ==== HERE ARE THE NEURO-BASED ENNEAGRAM BOOKS mentioned in the middle of the episode: The Lent books, When Sorrow Speaks (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GGQBSX24?binding=paperback&ref=dbs_m_mng_rwt_sft_tpbk_tkin&qid=1771723048&sr=1-1) The Advent books, The Awaiting. (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G1Z6QHP5?binding=paperback&searchxofy=true&ref_=dbs_s_aps_series_rwt_tpbk&qid=1771722949&sr=8-1) ==== leadership, feminist leadership, flourishing, community, courage, rest, activism, human rights, justice, burnout, spiritual leadership, self-care, nature, Kavita Ramdas, Deborah Owen, tough times, global equity, podcast Get full access to Rooted & Rising at debbieowen.substack.com/subscribe (https://debbieowen.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

7. 

   17 Feb 2026

   When the Storm Comes and Leadership Feels Heavy, with Tammy Dunahoo

   Rooted & Rising: Flourishing Leadership in Tough Times: Wisdom & Stewardship with Tammy Dunahoo How do leaders stay grounded, wise, and resilient during life’s toughest seasons? In this inspiring episode of Flourishing Leadership in Tough Times, Deborah Owen sits down with Tammy Dunahoo, Executive Dean of Portland Seminary, to explore: ✅ How internal formation shapes external leadership ✅ Practical wisdom and discernment for making decisions ✅ Viewing leadership as stewardship, not identity ✅ Building supportive communities for honest reflection ✅ Practices to maintain rootedness and flourish under pressure Tammy shares powerful insights on transforming challenges into opportunities for growth, staying humble in leadership, and embracing wisdom as the hallmark of spiritual maturity. 🎧 Listen now and discover how to lead with courage, humility, and resilience. 🔗 Subscribe for more episodes on staying rooted with integrity and rising with courage: https://debbieowen.substack.com/ (https://debbieowen.substack.com/) 🔗 Learn more about Tammy Dunahoo: https://www.georgefox.edu/seminary/fa (https://www.georgefox.edu/seminary/fa)... (https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa2xSNU5vY3VKTWlfVTZvUXFETF9BNUNaZ2ZGZ3xBQ3Jtc0treVoxODY5VWNQR1NNcnFOLXljdzZzdGg1cHdnWlFhdEsxOVBOanBzZ2U4amdBQWNiNm0xWFQwWDZzYUNkSkNEV2liSzNtVU9Xa3BibXUzLVZpVFF5R0JZU0ZRbDJKakxOQWoxcFNLcTdGMzhmN2xwUQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.georgefox.edu%2Fseminary%2Ffaculty%2Fdunahoo-tammy.html&v=OyTg__tFMbw) What’s the biggest challenge you face in staying rooted as a leader? Share your thoughts below! ==== HERE ARE THE NEURO-BASED ENNEAGRAM BOOKS mentioned in the middle of the episode:The Lent books (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GGQBSX24?binding=paperback&qid=1771218100&sr=8-1&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tpbk).The Advent books (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G1Z6QHP5?binding=paperback&ref=dbs_m_mng_rwt_sft_tpbk_tkin). === leadership, resilient leadership, Tammy Dunahoo, Deborah Owen, wisdom in leadership, spiritual leadership, stewardship, rooted leadership, Christian leadership, tough times, flourishing leadership, leadership podcast, leadership resilience, wisdom and discernment, personal growth, leadership development Get full access to Rooted & Rising at debbieowen.substack.com/subscribe (https://debbieowen.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

8. 

   10 Feb 2026

   When Sorrow Becomes a Place of Fellowship, with Grace Carol Bomer

   Rooted & Rising: Flourishing Leadership in Tough Times Art as Witness: Grace Carol Bomer on Suffering, Paradox, and Hope What if making art is an act of both resistance and reverence? In this luminous and layered episode of Flourishing Leadership in Tough Times, host Deborah Owen sits down with Grace Carol Bomer—a visual artist whose textured, theologically rich mixed-media work grapples with the ache of a broken world and the beauty of God’s redemptive story. Together they explore: ✅ Why art is an act of faith—and of seeing the unseen✅ How paradox and pain give shape to deeper hope✅ The artist’s vocation as both witness and truth-teller✅ The quiet resistance of making beauty in a disordered world✅ How Scripture, suffering, and silence shape a life of creative prayer With depth and honesty, Grace shares how her life and work are anchored in the “already and not yet”—where longing and the love of God meet, where art becomes a way of wrestling, and where God’s presence emerges through shadow and light. 🎧 Tune in now to discover how faithful artistry can help us name the pain of the world, bear witness to grace, and live more fully into hope. 🖼 Resources & Next Steps:– Learn more about Grace’s art and writing at: https://gracecarolbomer.com/ (https://gracecarolbomer.com/)– Explore the Rooted & Rising series at: https://debbieowen.substack.com/ (https://debbieowen.substack.com/)– Reflect this week: Where might God be inviting you to pay attention—to beauty, to brokenness, or to the holy paradoxes in your own life? ==== HERE ARE THE NEURO-BASED ENNEAGRAM BOOKS mentioned in the middle of the episode: The Lent books (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GGQBSX24?binding=paperback&searchxofy=true&ref_=dbs_s_aps_series_rwt_tpbk&qid=1770592424&sr=8-1). The Advent books. (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G1Z6QHP5?binding=paperback&searchxofy=true&ref_=dbs_s_aps_series_rwt_tpbk&qid=1770592484&sr=8-3) ==== Tags: art, theology, suffering, paradox, Christian creativity, beauty, hope, Grace Carol Bomer, Deborah Owen, visual art, spiritual formation, lament, flourishing in hard times, witness, faith and art, podcast Get full access to Rooted & Rising at debbieowen.substack.com/subscribe (https://debbieowen.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

9. 

   3 Feb 2026

   Courageous Leadership Begins with Belonging, with Latrina Denson

   Rooted & Rising: Flourishing Leadership in Tough Times. Season 1, Episode 5.Courageous Leadership; A Conversation with Latrina Denson.How do leaders cultivate courage and foster belonging, especially in today's challenging climate? In this inspiring episode of Flourishing Leadership in Tough Times, Deborah Owen sits down with Latrina Denson, Associate Dean of Students and Executive Director for the Office of Community and Belonging at Mount Holyoke College, to explore:✅ Overcoming fear to act on convictions and lead with courage ✅ Creating spaces of belonging where people can be authentically themselves and feel valued ✅ Balancing servant leadership with strategic decision-making in difficult situations ✅ Investing in relationships and community-building to navigate crises with trust ✅ Prioritizing mental, physical, and spiritual well-being for resilient leadership Latrina shares powerful insights on believing in possibilities not yet visible , having grace for self and others , and the importance of continuous growth and learning as leaders.🎧 Listen now and discover how to lead with courage, authenticity, and a deep sense of belonging.🔗 Subscribe for more episodes on staying rooted with integrity and rising with courage: https://debbieowen.substack.com/ (https://debbieowen.substack.com/)🔗 Learn more about Latrina Denson's work: https://www.mtholyoke.edu/directory/f (https://www.mtholyoke.edu/directory/f)... (https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbldiS2VRdVo0RWlueThhdXVubTRKODBXdnRYd3xBQ3Jtc0tteVZ0OUhJWW90MlRITi1xY2N0dURyam9RTWhDTExYOHE0X1BGNmN3LXRtQmN4cXBTQThSd3M3c0hWR1FZTVNsczR3bmw5QnlybHBnYUNGMFowNmZLTU53Wmx4WTB6cmJQQ1MxMlEtLWNUZTNWbVJmNA&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mtholyoke.edu%2Fdirectory%2Ffaculty-staff%2Flatrina-l-denson&v=55mm0GuxwsY) or LatrinaDenson@gmail.com (mailto:LatrinaDenson@gmail.com). What's one way you've fostered a sense of belonging in your community? Share your thoughts below!HERE ARE THE NEURO-BASED ENNEAGRAM BOOKS mentioned in the middle of the episode:The Lent books: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GGQBSX24 (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GGQBSX24)?... (https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbmxERHc2NURJY2g1SWFiQXNmenJyelRqWFFjZ3xBQ3Jtc0tsVHIzbGQ1RkhnV0dtWE5ZbjM4QXl3cmZRSWZBTG1MTEtBclpod2dkZW9nbGtmci1qZGxpUzJ6eW1ZRTd1US1CNWxnY3k3UWJxSWpXTm5xQXcySGoydlU1dDlEellTeWNQai0yajhnOWVqV1k4am1tOA&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fdp%2FB0GGQBSX24%3Fbinding%3Dpaperback%26searchxofy%3Dtrue%26ref_%3Ddbs_s_aps_series_rwt_tpbk%26qid%3D1769980214%26sr%3D8-1&v=55mm0GuxwsY)The Advent books: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G1Z6QHP5 (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G1Z6QHP5)?... (https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqblRDSXptRmtJNW02dW5IYkxDYkVPRFZ0dVFkZ3xBQ3Jtc0tsb2REaFViekFwakxNWHNpVUNoazM3dUktSXdMRXVkY3dpVEtvdUxXNEcyRGpZY2FiM1N1M0pHOWdiVlpBb3pJbE5ZSnp5emltdnptRGRUd2JlUTFOeWFrMFdlYzh3NENGUzdnMkZVdGxIazlxVVVzQQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fdp%2FB0G1Z6QHP5%3Fbinding%3Dpaperback%26ref%3Ddbs_m_mng_rwt_sft_tpbk_tkin&v=55mm0GuxwsY)====leadership, courageous leadership, Latrina Denson, Deborah Owen, belonging, inclusive communities, higher education, resilient leadership, servant leadership, strategic vision, self-care, social justice, Mount Holyoke College, tough times, flourishing leadership, leadership podcast, leadership resilience, community building, personal growth, leadership development Get full access to Rooted & Rising at debbieowen.substack.com/subscribe (https://debbieowen.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

10. 

    27 Jan 2026

    Living a Better Story: Hope, Joy, and Meaning in Leadership, with Jennifer Holberg

    Rooted & Rising: Flourishing Leadership in Tough Times. Season 1, Episode 4. Shaping Leadership Through Personal Stories | A Conversation with Jennifer Holberg What kind of story are you living—and how does that shape your leadership? In this rich and reflective episode of Flourishing Leadership in Tough Times, host Deborah Owen welcomes Jennifer Holberg—Professor of English at Calvin University, co-director of the Calvin Center for Faith & Writing, and author of Nourishing Narratives—for a heartfelt conversation about: ✅ How the stories we tell shape who we are and how we lead ✅ Why joy is not a luxury, but essential to resilience ✅ Cultivating hope, wonder, and spiritual imagination as daily practices ✅ Navigating institutional pressures with integrity and courage ✅ The power of narrative to reframe difficulty and root us in meaning With grace and wisdom, Jennifer shares how reading, writing, and reflecting on story can help leaders flourish—not by escaping struggle, but by paying deeper attention to what matters most. 🎧 Tune in now to explore how a life grounded in joy, imagination, and narrative truth can transform the way you lead. Resources & Next Steps– Learn more about Jennifer Holberg’s writing and work: https://www.jenniferholberg.com/ (https://www.jenniferholberg.com/) – Buy Nourishing Narratives: https://amzn.to/49H9Il6 (https://amzn.to/49H9Il6) – Explore the Flourishing Leadership in Tough Times series at https://debbieowen.substack.com/ (https://debbieowen.substack.com/) – Reflect this week: What story are you telling yourself—and is it nourishing your leadership? Here are the Neuro-Based Enneagram Devotional books mentioned in the episode: The Lent books: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GGQBSX24?binding=paperback&qid=1768616409&sr=8-1&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tpbk (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GGQBSX24?binding=paperback&qid=1768616409&sr=8-1&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tpbk) The Advent books: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G1Z6QHP5?binding=paperback&qid=1768620554&sr=8-5&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tpbk (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G1Z6QHP5?binding=paperback&qid=1768620554&sr=8-5&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tpbk) Tags: leadership, narrative identity, Jennifer Holberg, Deborah Owen, joy in leadership, resilience, spiritual formation, vocation, story and meaning, hope, imagination, Christian leadership, reading and writing, flourishing, rooted and rising, leadership podcast Get full access to Rooted & Rising at debbieowen.substack.com/subscribe (https://debbieowen.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

11. 

    20 Jan 2026

    Flourishing in a Fiery Season, with Karise Hutchinson

    Rooted & Rising: Flourishing Leadership in Tough Times. Season 1, Episode 3. Becoming a Leader: It’s About Place, Not Pace | A Conversation with Karise Hutchinson What if true leadership isn’t about running faster—but about being fully present where you are? In this spacious and deeply personal episode of Flourishing Leadership in Tough Times, host Deborah Owen sits down with Karise Hutchinson— professor, leadership mentor, and faith-formed thinker—to explore: ✅ Why God is more interested in place than pace ✅ How integrated leadership begins with wholeness—head, heart, and soul ✅ What it means to lead from authenticity rather than achievement ✅ The importance of presence, rest, and relational rootedness in a hurried world ✅ How spiritual formation and self-knowledge shape wise, embodied leadership With warmth and insight, Karise invites listeners to slow down, to lead from within, and to rediscover that flourishing leadership is less about performance and more about presence—where God meets us in the ordinary rhythms of life and work. 🎧 Tune in now to reflect on what it means to become a leader who is grounded, grace-filled, and truly at home in the place God has planted you. Resources & Next Steps– Learn more about Dr. Karise Hutchinson’s leadership and writing: Illuminaire Leadership: https://www.illuminaireleadership.com/ (https://www.illuminaireleadership.com/) Substack, Leadership Letters: https://substack.com/@illuminaireleadership?utm_campaign=profile&utm_medium=profile-page (https://substack.com/@illuminaireleadership?utm_campaign=profile&utm_medium=profile-page) – Explore the Rooted & Rising series at https://debbieowen.substack.com/ (https://debbieowen.substack.com/) – Reflect this week: Where might God be inviting you to slow your pace so your roots can grow deeper? HERE ARE THE NEURO-BASED ENNEAGRAM BOOKS mentioned in the middle of the episode: The Lent books: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GGQBSX24?binding=paperback&qid=1768616409&sr=8-1&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tpbk (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GGQBSX24?binding=paperback&qid=1768616409&sr=8-1&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tpbk) The Advent books: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G1Z6QHP5?binding=paperback&qid=1768620554&sr=8-5&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tpbk (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G1Z6QHP5?binding=paperback&qid=1768620554&sr=8-5&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tpbk) Tags: leadership, spiritual formation, presence, pace, wholeness, Christian leadership, resilience, Karise Hutchinson, Deborah Owen, faith, authenticity, rest, integrated leadership, vocation, tough times, flourishing leadership, podcast Get full access to Rooted & Rising at debbieowen.substack.com/subscribe (https://debbieowen.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

12. 

    13 Jan 2026

    Finding Community Through Music, with Julia Edwards

    Rooted & Rising: Flourishing Leadership in Tough Times - Season 1, Episode 2. Building Connection: Music, Neuroscience, and Community with Julia Edwards What does it look like to teach—and lead—with creativity, compassion, and curiosity in a time of collective stress and disconnection? In this engaging and hope-filled episode of Flourishing Leadership in Tough Times, host Deborah Owen sits down with Julia Edwards, 2026 Maine Teacher of the Year and choral music educator, to explore: ✅ How music builds bridges across generations, cultures, and identities ✅ Why understanding the brain is essential for compassionate, effective teaching ✅ Creating a classroom culture of safety, inquiry, and belonging ✅ Leading through change while staying rooted in joy and purpose ✅ Using music and somatic tools to stay grounded as a leader Julia’s passion for neuroscience, equity, and creative education shines through as she shares how music can be a vehicle for community-building, healing, and transformation. 🎧 Listen now to be inspired by a leader whose classroom is a sanctuary for growth—and whose leadership flows from deep integrity and heart. 🔗 Subscribe for more episodes on staying rooted with integrity and rising with courage: https://debbieowen.substack.com/ (https://debbieowen.substack.com/) 🔗 Learn more about Julia Edwards and her work: https://juliaedwardsmusic.com/ (https://juliaedwardsmusic.com/) 🧠 What role has music played in your own story of resilience or connection? Share your thoughts below! THE BOOKS MENTIONED in the middle of the show can be found here. (https://www.amazon.com/stores/Deborah-C.-Owen/author/B00KCXV53Q?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1767483163&sr=8-1&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=c10892e1-061a-4e08-95b2-a26c952752f2) The new books for Lent should be available by the end of January, 2026. Tags: leadership, flourishing leadership, Julia Edwards, Deborah Owen, neuroscience of learning, music education, community, resilience, education leadership, Maine Teacher of the Year, teacher well-being, somatic practices, creative leadership, middle and high school education, trauma-informed teaching, rooted and rising, education podcast, inclusive teaching, choral education, public education, classroom culture Get full access to Rooted & Rising at debbieowen.substack.com/subscribe (https://debbieowen.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

13. 

    6 Jan 2026

    Setting the Table: Why Flourishing Leadership Matters Now, Deborah Owen with Kari Kinard

    Flourishing Leadership in Tough Times podcast (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU-mxs6SllJdLu5leuFWOmiB5SobvojGe), Season 1, episode 1 Rooted & Rising: Flourishing Leadership in Tough Times — Setting the Table How do leaders flourish without losing themselves—especially in seasons of complexity, fatigue, and unseen responsibility? In this opening episode of Flourishing Leadership in Tough Times, host Deborah Owen is joined by trusted colleague and friend Kari Kinard, for a mutual conversation that sets the tone for the season. Together, they explore leadership as formation, not performance—and what it means to lead from the inside out over time. This episode invites listeners into a spacious, honest conversation about leadership, limits, and hope, including: ✅ Why so many thoughtful leaders are exhausted—even when they’re doing meaningful work ✅ What it means to lead from the inside out in real life ✅ How overwhelm and burnout often signal misalignment, not failure ✅ Staying rooted with integrity while rising with courage ✅ Why leadership formation happens slowly, relationally, and beneath the surface 🎧 Listen now and begin a season of conversations centered on formation, wisdom, and resilient hope. 🔗 Subscribe for weekly episodes of Flourishing Leadership in Tough Times:https://debbieowen.substack.com/ (https://debbieowen.substack.com/) 💬 What helps you stay grounded when leadership feels heavy? Share your reflections below. HERE ARE THE BOOKS (https://www.amazon.com/stores/Deborah-C.-Owen/author/B00KCXV53Q?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1767483163&sr=8-1&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=c10892e1-061a-4e08-95b2-a26c952752f2) mentioned in the middle of the episode. Lent devotional books: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GGQBSX24?binding=paperback&searchxofy=true&ref_=dbs_s_aps_series_rwt_tpbk&qid=1774203302&sr=8-1 (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GGQBSX24?binding=paperback&ref=dbs_m_mng_rwt_sft_tpbk_tkin&qid=1774203375&sr=1-1) Advent devotional books: https://www.amazon.com/Awaiting-Caregiving-Neuro-Based-Devotional-Devotionals/dp/B0G24W3N5H/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Ubz6QUR9ZdqaenKeaigTyQnkbpP5WSWBM2iWHeO1Je_GjHj071QN20LucGBJIEps.-azhLP8vKnyFGgFbAfIiSjmEwtCGXDc2BeaLNCEusuM&qid=1774203347&sr=1-1 (https://www.amazon.com/Awaiting-Caregiving-Neuro-Based-Devotional-Devotionals/dp/B0G24W3N5H/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Ubz6QUR9ZdqaenKeaigTyQnkbpP5WSWBM2iWHeO1Je_GjHj071QN20LucGBJIEps.-azhLP8vKnyFGgFbAfIiSjmEwtCGXDc2BeaLNCEusuM&qid=1774203347&sr=1-1) Tags / Keywords leadership, flourishing leadership, resilient leadership, leadership formation, spiritual leadership, Christian leadership, burnout and leadership, inside out leadership, rooted and rising, leadership podcast, non-anxious leadership, leadership resilience, vocation and leadership, leadership wisdom, leadership in tough times, Kari Kinard, Deborah Owen, Debbie Owen Get full access to Rooted & Rising at debbieowen.substack.com/subscribe (https://debbieowen.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

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Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.