Phil Cooke Podcast

Hosted by Phil Cooke

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Oct 2026

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Helping leaders navigate their career and calling in today's distracted media-driven culture. Do you have a message or story that could influence the world? Get expert tips from Hollywood producer and media consultant Phil Cooke on creative leadership, digital media, branding and marketing strategies, film and TV production and more – and the faith to make it happen. Find out more at PhilCooke.com. His philosophy? Get your ideas out there and change the world in the process.

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October 6, 2026Episode 18530 min

Ideas on a Deadline: 10 Ways to Stay Creative When You're Out of Time

What do you do when you're up against a wall and you have to be creative? Phil Cooke https://philcooke.com offers 10 tips to help you stay creative when the pressure's on. Based on his book, "Ideas on a Deadline: How to Be Creative When the Clock is Ticking," these proven principles will help creative leaders ramp up their creativity to meet deadlines with brilliance. Whether you are a designer, writer, musician, filmmaker or a business executive, you'll find out how to overcome mind blocks and deliver great ideas when you need them most. 👉 Listen now and transform your creative leadership career! Get the book: "Ideas on a Deadline: How to Be Creative When the Clock is Ticking" Order today and get BONUS resource materials to instantly elevate your creativity. https://www.philcooke.com/ideasonadeadline/ Support The Influence Lab! Give a gift and get a copy of "Ideas on a Deadline." Find out more here: https://influencelab.com/donate 🔥 Masterclasses – Elevate your leadership and creative skills quickly! Church on Trial—Crisis Management with Phil Cooke https://philcooke.com/masterclass Ideas on a Deadline Masterclass with Phil Cooke https://philcooke.com/ideasonadeadline Phil Cooke, Ph.D. — Strategic Advisor | Cultural Influence & Crisis Leadership Phil Cooke, Ph.D., is a strategic advisor to church, nonprofit, and media leaders navigating crisis, credibility, and cultural influence in a rapidly changing digital world. Founder of Cooke Media Group in Los Angeles and Nashville, he works with senior leadership teams globally to strengthen reputation and clarify mission. Author of "Church on Trial" and several other books on leadership and creativity, he has produced award winning media projects seen worldwide. 👉 Get weekly strategy and creative input delivered to your inbox: https://www.philcooke.com/subscribe/ ⚡️ Join the conversation with Phil on social media: Twitter https://twitter.com/philcooke Facebook https://www.facebook.com/philcookepage/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/philcooke/ TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@philcookeofficial Find out about Cooke Media Group here: https://www.cookemediagroup.com Subscribe to my YouTube Channel and Expand your Creative Leadership https://www.youtube.com/c/philcookeofficial?sub_confirmation=1 **More About This Episode ** Ideas on a Deadline: 10 Ways to Stay Creative When You're Out of Time Need creative ideas when the clock is ticking? Learn how to generate high-quality work under a tight deadline. Break the myth of the eureka moment with Phil Cooke's 10 tips for being creative on demand. Read more on how Phil captures ideas here: https://www.philcooke.com/how-i-capture-ideas-and-why-you-need-to-start/ (As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for the support! ) ⏰ Timecodes ⏰ 00:00 Creativity Under Pressure 01:50 Core Principles for Creative Success 02:57 The First Three Keys to Creativity 07:50 Expanding Your Creative Capacity 12:22 Going to the Source for Inspiration 25:36 The Holy Trinity of Creative Routine

September 15, 2026Episode 18419 min

Build a Stronger Nonprofit: Why You Should Outsource Your Back Office with Shae Hinson, Accordus

Is your nonprofit bogged down by administrative tasks? Learn how to streamline your operations by outsourcing your back office. Join Phil Cooke https://philcooke.com in this conversation with Shae Hinson, founder of Accordus, as they discuss the benefits of moving beyond traditional staffing models to outsourcing essential roles, allowing your team to focus on the mission rather than the paperwork. Whether you are struggling with the complexities of nonprofit accounting or need a more reliable approach to database systems, marketing, fundraising and administrative duties, this conversation offers practical solutions for outsourcing that enables your organization to grow and reach more people. "If you've got a great idea for launching a ministry but you're held back because you can't find the right team to help with the back office, you should talk to Shae." —Phil Cooke 👉 Watch now and build a stronger nonprofit! Like, comment, and subscribe for more tips on faith, media and culture for executive pastors, nonprofit leaders, and church media and communications creatives. Phil Cooke, Ph.D. — Strategic Advisor | Cultural Influence & Crisis Leadership Phil Cooke, Ph.D., is a strategic advisor to church, nonprofit, and media leaders navigating crisis, credibility, and cultural influence in a rapidly changing digital world. Founder of Cooke Media Group in Los Angeles and Nashville, he works with senior leadership teams globally to strengthen reputation and clarify mission. Author of "Church on Trial" and several other books on leadership and creativity, he has produced award winning media projects seen worldwide. 👉 Get weekly strategy and creative input delivered to your inbox: https://www.philcooke.com/subscribe/ Get creative! Get Phil's book " Ideas on a Deadline: How to Be Creative When the Clock is Ticking" today! Print and Kindle: https://amzn.to/3Lj9gNU Audio: https://amzn.to/3ywcINP ⚡️ Join the conversation with Phil on social media: Twitter https://twitter.com/philcooke Facebook https://www.facebook.com/philcookepage/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/philcooke/ TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@philcookeofficial Find out about Cooke Media Group here: https://www.cookemediagroup.com 🔥 Masterclasses – Elevate your leadership and creative skills quickly! Church on Trial—Crisis Management with Phil Cooke https://philcooke.com/masterclass Ideas on a Deadline Masterclass with Phil Cooke https://philcooke.com/ideasonadeadline Subscribe to my YouTube Channel and Expand your Creative Leadership https://www.youtube.com/c/philcookeofficial?sub_confirmation=1 Subscribe and hit the Notification bell to be notified when they go live. **More About This Episode ** Build a Stronger Nonprofit: Why You Should Outsource Your Back Office with Shae Hinson, Accordus What could you accomplish with your nonprofit organization if someone else managed the back office? Don't hold back from launching your ministry! Get the organizational help you need to accomplish what God has called you to do. About Shae Hinson, Founder/President, Accordusd: S hae Hinson is a follower of Christ, a husband of a beautiful bride, a dad of four, and lives life with a "ready, fire, aim" mindset. He wants to be good at a few important things in life: leading people wisely, starting new things, and glorifying God in all he does. He is an elder at his church, owns a few businesses, and is writing this bio from an airplane with his family flying from Iceland to Denmark. Traveling is the way Shae and Katie get to spend time with their kids. So…. they do it a lot. Find out more about Accordus: https://www.accordus.com/ Find out more about Worker Bee: https://workrbee.com ⏰ Timecodes ⏰ 00:00 Phil talks about benefits to freelancers and outsourcing. 01:28 Meet Shae Hinson, founder and president of Accordus. 03:50 Get help setting up your nonprofit organization. 04:38 The benefits of remote working. 07:30 Best practices for outsourcing back office work. 09:37 Who Accordus helps: churches, ministries, nonprofit organizations. 14:31 Gain the freedom to focus on ministry. 15:30 Find out if Accordus is right for you: https://accordus.com 17:18 Get creative! Get Phil's book and masterclass! "Ideas on a Deadline" https://www.philcooke.com/ideasonadeadline/ (As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for the support! )

September 1, 2026Episode 18318 min

4 Things You Can Do When People Don't Recognize Your Talent

How do you deal with criticism? If you're a creative person, you'll eventually run into people who don't recognize your talent or your potential. With examples drawn from the lives of Walt Disney, Oprah Winfrey, Steve Spielberg and more creative greats, Phil Cooke https://philcooke.com shares four key points to help you respond to criticism in a way that will lead to creative growth. "Just because people don't recognize your talent doesn't mean it's not there." —Phil Cooke 👉 Listen now and transform your creative leadership career! Phil Cooke, Ph.D. — Strategic Advisor | Cultural Influence & Crisis Leadership Phil Cooke, Ph.D., is a strategic advisor to church, nonprofit, and media leaders navigating crisis, credibility, and cultural influence in a rapidly changing digital world. Founder of Cooke Media Group in Los Angeles and Nashville, he works with senior leadership teams globally to strengthen reputation and clarify mission. Author of "Church on Trial" and several other books on leadership and creativity, he has produced award winning media projects seen worldwide. 👉 Get weekly strategy and creative input delivered to your inbox: https://www.philcooke.com/subscribe/ ⚡️ Join the conversation with Phil on social media: Twitter https://twitter.com/philcooke Facebook https://www.facebook.com/philcookepage/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/philcooke/ TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@philcookeofficial Find out about Cooke Media Group here: https://www.cookemediagroup.com 🔥 Masterclasses – Elevate your leadership and creative skills quickly! Church on Trial—Crisis Management with Phil Cooke https://philcooke.com/masterclass Ideas on a Deadline Masterclass with Phil Cooke https://philcooke.com/ideasonadeadline Subscribe to my YouTube Channel and Expand your Creative Leadership https://www.youtube.com/c/philcookeofficial?sub_confirmation=1 ⚡️ BOOK "Church on Trial – How to Protect Your Congregation, Mission, and Reputation During a Crisis" Get your copy here: https://philcooke.com/crisis **More About This Episode ** 4 Things You Can Do When People Don't Recognize Your Talent Struggling to get others to recognize your talent? Feeling ignored in a work environment can be incredibly frustrating, especially when you know you have something unique to offer. This episode of the Phil Cook Podcast addresses the reality of having skills that go unnoticed by teammates or leadership. Whether you are dealing with a lack of visibility or simply want to ensure your voice is heard, this discussion provides practical perspectives on navigating these common office dynamics. Phil breaks down the importance of your response to criticism to better position yourself for long-term professional growth. Just because people don't recognize your potential, doesn't mean it's time to give up. This episode first appeared on YouTube here: What to Do When People Don't Recognize Your Talent https://youtu.be/JgUhfbbVpcQ?si=EVVJ5M-39NjgD8Aq (As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for the support! ) ⏰ Timecodes ⏰ 0:00 When Your Talent Goes Unnoticed 2:21 Lessons From History's Greatest 5:01 The Power of Self-Reflection 8:06 Handling Trolls and Negative Voices 11:29 The Resilience Mindset

August 18, 2026Episode 18241 min

The Slow Drift: 6 Subtle Behaviors That Tear Church Leadership Teams Apart | Chris Sonksen

What happens when a church leadership team begins to slowly drift? The warning signs may be subtle—but over time, they can damage trust, create division, and undermine the health of the entire church. In this interview, Phil Cooke https://philcooke.com sits down with Chris Sonksen, founding pastor of SouthHills Church and founder of ChurchBOOM, to uncover six subtle behaviors that can tear leadership teams apart—and what senior pastors can do before small issues become major problems. Chris shares practical wisdom on how to recognize leadership drift, including pride in your leadership team, artificial harmony in lieu of true loyalty, the danger signs of isolation, when a critical spirit replaces a constructive one, and the gradual shutdown of a leader on your team. Leaders will gain wisdom in managing tensions while mindfully building towards a healthy church that can thrive. 👉 Listen now and transform your leadership career! Like, comment, and subscribe for more tips on faith, media and culture. Phil Cooke, Ph.D. — Strategic Advisor | Cultural Influence & Crisis Leadership Phil Cooke, Ph.D., is a strategic advisor to church, nonprofit, and media leaders navigating crisis, credibility, and cultural influence in a rapidly changing digital world. Founder of Cooke Media Group in Los Angeles and Nashville, he works with senior leadership teams globally to strengthen reputation and clarify mission. Author of "Church on Trial" and several other books on leadership and creativity, he has produced award winning media projects seen worldwide. 👉 Get weekly strategy and creative input delivered to your inbox: https://www.philcooke.com/subscribe/ ⚡️ Join the conversation with Phil on social media: Twitter https://twitter.com/philcooke Facebook https://www.facebook.com/philcookepage/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/philcooke/ TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@philcookeofficial Find out about Cooke Media Group here: https://www.cookemediagroup.com 🔥 Masterclasses – Elevate your leadership and creative skills quickly! Church on Trial—Crisis Management with Phil Cooke https://philcooke.com/masterclass Ideas on a Deadline Masterclass with Phil Cooke https://philcooke.com/ideasonadeadline Subscribe to my YouTube Channel and Expand your Creative Leadership https://www.youtube.com/c/philcookeofficial?sub_confirmation=1 ⚡️ BOOK "Church on Trial – How to Protect Your Congregation, Mission, and Reputation During a Crisis" Get your copy here: https://philcooke.com/crisis **More About This Episode ** The Slow Drift: 6 Subtle Behaviors That Tear Church Leadership Teams Apart | Chris Sonksen Chris is the founder of SouthHills Church, a thriving, multi-site church in many locations around the nation. He is also the founder of ChurchBOOM, a coaching organization for pastors that also focuses on rescuing churches. He is the author of several books, including "When Your Church Feels Stuck," "Quit Church," "Traction," and his latest book "Making Vision Happen." Learn more about Chris Sonksen and ChurchBOOM: https://www.chrissonksen.com/ https://churchboom.org/ Read the Article: " The Slow Drift: When What You Tolerate Turns Toxic" https://www.theartofleadership.com/blog/the-slow-drift (As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for the support! ) ⏰ Timecodes ⏰ 00:00 Phil Cooke introduces the topic: helping leaders avoid drift. 01:00 Meet Chris Sonksen, Founding Pastor, SouthHills Church/ChurchBoom 04:06 Help for small churches to keep them from shutting down. 06:22 Keys to church growth. 07:56 Church Rescue for churches less than 100 in attendance. 09:00 Leadership article: The Slow Drift: When What You Tolerate Turns Toxic 12:36 The key word for leaders to remember: subtle. 14:18 Artificial harmony versus true church health. 16:09 Isolation masquerading as maturity can lead to church splits. 23:00 Recognizing and dealing with a critical spirit. 27:28 Competing visions and how they lead to division. 30:42 The danger of gradual shutdown. 33:45 Accountability of leaders and the importance of awareness. 35:30 Who the enemy goes after in a church. 39:24 Find more leadership resources at https://philcooke.com and support The Influence Lab at https://influencelab.com Send this conversation to a pastor or church leader who needs to hear it. #ChurchLeadership #SeniorPastor #ChurchLeadershipTeam #HealthyChurch #ChurchCulture #ChristianLeadership #ChrisSonksen

August 4, 2026Episode 18113 min

Failed? Here's How to Bounce Back Stronger

Failure can knock you down or move you forward! If the bottom just dropped out in your creative career, Phil Cooke https://philcooke.com offers 5 keys to help you gain resilience and come back stronger. Many of your ideas are going to fail – but if you're not failing on a regular basis, you're not pushing the envelope very hard. Here's how to turn failure into success. "Don't let failure derail your dream. Your failure does not define you." —Phil Cooke Phil Cooke, Ph.D. — Strategic Advisor | Cultural Influence & Crisis Leadership Phil Cooke, Ph.D., is a strategic advisor to church, nonprofit, and media leaders navigating crisis, credibility, and cultural influence in a rapidly changing digital world. Founder of Cooke Media Group in Los Angeles and Nashville, he works with senior leadership teams globally to strengthen reputation and clarify mission. Author of "Church on Trial" and several other books on leadership and creativity, he has produced award winning media projects seen worldwide. 👉 Get weekly strategy and creative input delivered to your inbox: https://www.philcooke.com/subscribe/ ⚡️ Join the conversation with Phil on social media: Twitter https://twitter.com/philcooke Facebook https://www.facebook.com/philcookepage/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/philcooke/ TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@philcookeofficial Find out about Cooke Media Group here: https://www.cookemediagroup.com 🔥 Masterclasses – Elevate your leadership and creative skills quickly! Church on Trial—Crisis Management with Phil Cooke https://philcooke.com/masterclass Ideas on a Deadline Masterclass with Phil Cooke https://philcooke.com/ideasonadeadline Subscribe to my YouTube Channel and Expand your Creative Leadership https://www.youtube.com/c/philcookeofficial?sub_confirmation=1 ⚡️ Get the book: Ideas on a Deadline: How to Be Creative When the Clock is Ticking https://amzn.to/3Lj9gNU *More About This Episode* Failed? Here's How to Bounce Back Stronger If you're dealing with failure, these 5 tips will help you gain resiliency in your career: 1. Don't overthink the failure. Whether you're an actor who didn't get the role you auditioned for or a filmmaker whose pitch fell flat, you may never know what went wrong. Don't overthink it; move on. 2. Don't take it personally. Try to separate the failure of your project from who you are as a person. 3. Get objective advice. Get a third-party objective with the maturity and professionalism that you can trust. 4. At the moment of rejection, keep a cool head. If possible, see if you can ask questions about what you could have done better. That information you acquire can help set you up for future success. 5. Don't let rejection or failure derail your dream. Your career is much bigger than any single project. You never know when tweaking a concept could work for something else. Change your thinking about failure: Read Phil's blog: " Gain a Better Perspective on Failure" https://www.philcooke.com/failure/ (As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for the support! ) ⏰ Timecodes ⏰ 00:00 Intro with Phil Cooke: How to recover from a failure. 00:42 Many of your ideas will fail. 01:50 Resiliency matters. 02:14 1. Don't overthink failure. 02:44 Actors and auditions: how to deal with rejection. 03:32 2. Don't take failure personally. 04:52 3. Get objective advice. 05:43 4. Keep a cool head. 06:49 5. Don't let failure derail your dream. 07:53 The truth about day jobs. 10:14 Daily rituals to stir creativity. 10:45 Understand the power of your story. 12:30 Get Phil's book, "Ideas on a Deadline" at https://philcooke.com

July 14, 2026Episode 1808 min

Work Cultures: How to Build a Creative Team that Thrives

In today's design-driven world, creativity is more important than ever before. If you're leading a creative team, Phil Cooke https://philcooke.com highlights five ways leaders can create a work culture where ideas flow and creatives thrive. Inspire and challenge your creative team and they'll do amazing things for your organization. Phil Cooke, Ph.D. — Strategic Advisor | Cultural Influence & Crisis Leadership Phil Cooke, Ph.D., is a strategic advisor to church, nonprofit, and media leaders navigating crisis, credibility, and cultural influence in a rapidly changing digital world. Founder of Cooke Media Group in Los Angeles and Nashville, he works with senior leadership teams globally to strengthen reputation and clarify mission. Author of "Church on Trial" and several other books on leadership and creativity, he has produced award winning media projects seen worldwide. 👉 Get weekly strategy and creative input delivered to your inbox: https://www.philcooke.com/subscribe/ ⚡️ Join the conversation with Phil on social media: Twitter https://twitter.com/philcooke Facebook https://www.facebook.com/philcookepage/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/philcooke/ TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@philcookeofficial Find out about Cooke Media Group here: https://www.cookemediagroup.com 🔥 Masterclasses – Elevate your leadership and creative skills quickly! Church on Trial—Crisis Management with Phil Cooke https://philcooke.com/masterclass Ideas on a Deadline Masterclass with Phil Cooke https://philcooke.com/ideasonadeadline Subscribe to my YouTube Channel and Expand your Creative Leadership https://www.youtube.com/c/philcookeofficial?sub_confirmation=1 Subscribe and hit the Notification bell to be notified when they go live. BOOK "Church on Trial – How to Protect Your Congregation, Mission, and Reputation During a Crisis" Get your copy here: https://philcooke.com/crisis **More About This Episode ** Work Cultures: How to Build a Creative Team that Thrives Build a creative team that does their best work! Here's Phil's five to make it happen: 1. Create stability. Creative people need stability to thrive. If they're worried about losing their job, financial problems, or excessive turnover, they'll never release their best ideas. 2. Be flexible. Be open to different hours or working conditions for your creative team. Give your team some flexibility and it will revolutionize their attitude. 3. Get them the tools they need. Don't hold your creatives back with outdated equipment. Think about it: The less time and energy they spend overcoming technical and equipment problems, the more time and energy they can spend on developing amazing ideas. 4. Understand the difference between organizational structure and communication structure. Hierarchy is important within your organization, but when it comes to communication, I recommend you throw the organizational structure out the window. Your creative team should be able to call anyone to ask questions and discuss ideas. Create a free-flowing communications system, and the ideas will grow. 5. Give them credit. A great creative culture allows everyone to be noticed for their accomplishments. Let them have credit for their ideas and they will do amazing things for your team! Bonus: Don't be afraid to push creative people out of their comfort zone! While they probably won't admit it, creative people love deadlines because it gives them perspective on the project. Read more about building a creative culture here: https://www.philcooke.com/ten-critical-keys-for-designing-a-creative-culture/ (As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for the support! ) ⏰ Timecodes ⏰ 00:00 Phil Cooke introduces the topic on the importance of building a creative culture. 01:04 1. Create stability in your organization. 01:28 2. Be flexible with your creatives. 02:04 3. Provide the right tools for your team to do their best work. 02:47 4. Understand the difference between organizational structure and communication structure. 04:13 5. Give credit where credit is due! 05:45 Don't be afraid to push creatives out of their comfort zone. Creative people love deadlines. 07:12 Building a creative culture in your nonprofit or ministry is important to allow brilliant ideas to happen.

July 1, 2026Episode 17932 min

Rebuilding After Your World Falls Apart: Helping Leaders Heal with Steve Robinson

Trauma can be a one-time event or a cumulation of crisis events – but most leaders ignore the symptoms that lead to post traumatic stress. In this conversation, Phil Cooke https://philcooke.com sits down with Steve Robinson, pastor of Church of the King in New Orleans, to talk about his book, "Soul Leadership: Rebound from Crisis, Grow in Resilience, Live from Wholeness." Based on Steve's personal journey of healing after a meltdown, this interview will help leaders struggling with mental health and emotional trauma to find the pathway to recovery through the integration of theology, therapy and neural science. If you're dealing with stress, trauma, crisis, and adversity, you'll find out how to experience post traumatic growth and weather the challenges of leadership with more resiliency. "When you're tired, you take a nap. When you're traumatized and your brain has actually been restructured by constant pressure and stress, there's a different pathway to recovery." —Steve Robinson, Pastor, Church of the King 👉 Listen now and transform your creative leadership career! Phil Cooke, Ph.D. — Strategic Advisor | Cultural Influence & Crisis Leadership Phil Cooke, Ph.D., is a strategic advisor to church, nonprofit, and media leaders navigating crisis, credibility, and cultural influence in a rapidly changing digital world. Founder of Cooke Media Group in Los Angeles and Nashville, he works with senior leadership teams globally to strengthen reputation and clarify mission. Author of "Church on Trial" and several other books on leadership and creativity, he has produced award winning media projects seen worldwide. 👉 Get weekly strategy and creative input delivered to your inbox: https://www.philcooke.com/subscribe/ Join the conversation with Phil on social media: Twitter https://twitter.com/philcooke Facebook https://www.facebook.com/philcookepage/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/philcooke/ TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@philcookeofficial Find out about Cooke Media Group here: https://www.cookemediagroup.com 🔥 Masterclasses Church on Trial—Crisis Management with Phil Cooke https://philcooke.com/masterclass Ideas on a Deadline Masterclass with Phil Cooke https://philcooke.com/ideasonadeadline Subscribe to my YouTube Channel and Expand your Creative Leadership https://www.youtube.com/c/philcookeofficial?sub_confirmation=1 ⚡️ BOOK "Church on Trial – How to Protect Your Congregation, Mission, and Reputation During a Crisis" Get your copy here: https://philcooke.com/crisis More About This Episode: Rebuilding After Your World Falls Apart: Helping Leaders Heal with Steve Robinson Pastor Steve Robinson is a pastor, speaker, and author whose ministry impacts lives across the globe. He is the founder and senior pastor of Church of the King—a growing multi-site church with six locations across the United States, a thriving online campus, and an expanding international presence—including a newly launched campus in Cape Town, South Africa. His weekly television and digital broadcasts further extend the mission of reaching people and building lives. A graduate of Tulane University, Pastor Steve also holds a Doctorate in Ministry from Southeastern University with a dissertation focus on leaders and trauma. He serves on the board of Equip, the global leadership organization led by John Maxwell, and has authored several books, including "Soul Leadership,"Decide to Thrive," and "Perspective Shift." With a deep passion for reaching people far from God, Pastor Steve is committed to helping individuals grow into fully devoted followers of Christ. He and his wife, Jennifer, live in the Greater New Orleans area and are blessed with four children and a son-in-law—Isabelle and her husband, Stone, Conrad, William, and Annaliese. Find out more and get the book: https://steverobinson.com Find out more about Church of the King: https://churchoftheking.com (As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for the support! ) ⏰ Timecodes ⏰ 00:00 Phil introduces the topic of mental health for leaders 01:00 Meet Pastor Steve Robinson, Church of the King 02:19 Steve shares about "Soul Leadership: Rebound from Crisis, Grow in Resilience, Live from Wholeness" 05:45 Hurricane Katrina and the stressors that led to Steve's meltdown 08:04 Neuroplasticity and the brain's role in crisis response 09:37 The pressure on pastors and leaders 13:25 Neuroplasticity of the brain and mind, dealing with PTSD 16:30 Five factors that lead to leadership breakdowns 19:40 Bible examples of unprocessed pain and trauma 23:08 Crisis situations and the role of gratitude 25:21 Hope and the possibility of post traumatic growth 27:45 Find out more and get the book at https://steverobinson.com 28:00 The role of the cross of Jesus Christ in your healing 31:15 Phil shares more about Church of the King https://churchoftheking.com

June 17, 2026Episode 17835 min

Church on Trial: Legal Lessons Every Leader Needs | David Middlebrook, The Church Lawyers

Does your church have a crisis communication plan? In this interview, Phil Cooke https://philcooke.com talks with David Middlebrook, one of the country's leading practitioners in religious nonprofit organizations law and founder of The Church Lawyers. David's team provides legal support to churches, ministries and nonprofits, domestically and internationally, with years of experience helping churches with crisis planning and crisis management. In this interview, you'll gain practical wisdom on how to: 👉 Prepare a crisis communication plan 👉 Develop a crisis communication team 👉 Implement risk management, spot red flags and avoid a crisis 👉 Manage media relations during a crisis and... 👉 Make sure you have the legal resources in place to handle any crisis—external, internal and child related A crisis doesn't have to break your church. This interview will help you navigate through it. 👉 Watch now and transform your leadership career! Like, comment, and subscribe for more tips on faith, media and culture for executive pastors, nonprofit leaders, and church media and communications creatives. ⚡️ Get Phil's book: "Church on Trial – How to Protect Your Congregation, Mission, and Reputation During a Crisis" Get your copy here: https://philcooke.com/crisis 🔥 Prepare yourself and your team with these masterclasses: Church on Trial—Crisis Management with Phil Cooke https://philcooke.com/masterclass Ideas on a Deadline Masterclass with Phil Cooke https://philcooke.com/ideasonadeadline Phil Cooke, Ph.D. — Strategic Advisor | Cultural Influence & Crisis Leadership Phil Cooke, Ph.D., is a strategic advisor to church, nonprofit, and media leaders navigating crisis, credibility, and cultural influence in a rapidly changing digital world. Founder of Cooke Media Group in Los Angeles and Nashville, he works with senior leadership teams globally to strengthen reputation and clarify mission. Author of "Church on Trial" and several other books on leadership and creativity, he has produced award winning media projects seen worldwide. 👉 Get weekly strategy and creative input delivered to your inbox: https://www.philcooke.com/subscribe/ ⚡️ Join the conversation with Phil on social media: Twitter https://twitter.com/philcooke Facebook https://www.facebook.com/philcookepage/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/philcooke/ TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@philcookeofficial Find out about Cooke Media Group here: https://www.cookemediagroup.com Subscribe to my YouTube Channel and Expand your Creative Leadership https://www.youtube.com/c/philcookeofficial?sub_confirmation=1 Subscribe and hit the Notification bell to be notified when they go live. **More About This Episode ** David Middlebrook is one of the country's leading practitioners in religious nonprofit organizations law, both domestic and international. Mr. Middlebrook has an in-depth knowledge of risk management for charities, religious organizations, private schools, and universities. He is a frequent conference speaker, an award-winning author, and has published numerous articles on nonprofit topics. Mr. Middlebrook founded Middlebrook | Group, PLLC ("The Church Lawyers"). Find out more at https://www.thechurchlawyers.com/ (As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for the support! ) ⏰ Timecodes ⏰ 00:00 Phil Cooke introduces the topic of crisis communication and crisis management 00:51 Meet David Middlebrook, founder, The Church Lawyers 07:20 The importance of legal matters for churches – bylaws, background checks, child abuse reports 12:25 Creating a crisis communication plan 15:27 Developing a crisis communication team 18:10 Example of a crisis management plan 20:21 Media relations in a crisis and reputation management 22:49 Telling the truth in the age of AI 25:17 Why you need a church lawyer 27:39 Prepare for a crisis 30:26 Contact David Middlebrook at https://www.thechurchlawyers.com/

June 3, 2026Episode 17730 min

No Burn Out! How Pastors Can Flourish in Ministry | Josh Turner, The 10Ten Project

"When guys have moral failure, I always ask them, 'What got you there?'" Helping pastors and ministry leaders avoid burnout is the topic of today's conversation as Phil Cooke https://philcooke.com sits down with Josh Turner, founder of the 10Ten Project. Josh has dedicated his life to helping Christian men flourish in their calling and in every area of life. If you're a pastor or ministry leader, the 10Ten project offers connection, coaching and care for spiritual, emotional and mental health as you serve the Lord. "We give pastors a safe place to say dangerous things — to be honest, open." —Josh Turner, Founder – 10Ten Project 👉 Watch now and find out if the 10Ten Project is for you! ⚡️ Who do you know who needs to hear this episode? Please share this! Phil Cooke, Ph.D. — Strategic Advisor | Cultural Influence & Crisis Leadership Phil Cooke, Ph.D., is a strategic advisor to church, nonprofit, and media leaders navigating crisis, credibility, and cultural influence in a rapidly changing digital world. Founder of Cooke Media Group in Los Angeles and Nashville, he works with senior leadership teams globally to strengthen reputation and clarify mission. Author of "Church on Trial" and several other books on leadership and creativity, he has produced award winning media projects seen worldwide. 👉 Get weekly strategy and creative input delivered to your inbox: https://www.philcooke.com/subscribe/ ⚡️ Join the conversation with Phil on social media: Twitter https://twitter.com/philcooke Facebook https://www.facebook.com/philcookepage/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/philcooke/ TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@philcookeofficial Find out about Cooke Media Group here: https://www.cookemediagroup.com 🔥 Masterclasses – Elevate your leadership and creative skills quickly! Church on Trial—Crisis Management with Phil Cooke https://philcooke.com/masterclass Ideas on a Deadline Masterclass with Phil Cooke https://philcooke.com/ideasonadeadline Subscribe to my YouTube Channel and Expand your Creative Leadership https://www.youtube.com/c/philcookeofficial?sub_confirmation=1 ⚡️ BOOK "Church on Trial – How to Protect Your Congregation, Mission, and Reputation During a Crisis" Get your copy here: https://philcooke.com/crisis **More About This Episode ** No Burn Out! How Pastors Can Flourish in Ministry | Josh Turner, The 10Ten Project About Dr. Josh Turner With more than two decades of ministry experience, Josh has dedicated his life to helping leaders flourish — not just in their calling, but in every area of life. He holds a Doctorate of Ministry in Spiritual Formation from Southeastern University, where his work focused on leadership longevity, spiritual formation, and the practices that sustain healthy, impactful ministry over time. Throughout his career, Josh has served churches and ministries across the country, teaching, coaching, and walking alongside leaders as they navigate both the challenges and the calling of ministry. Josh is also the author of "Into the Storm," a book that weaves together personal story, biblical insight, and hope for those walking through life's hardest seasons. His passion is to see leaders stay grounded in their identity, connected in community, and deeply rooted in Christ — so they can lead with clarity, courage, and joy. He lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with his wife, Becca, and their two children, Ayden and Riley. Follow Josh: https://www.instagram.com/joshuaturner/ Find out more about The 10/Ten Project: https://www.10tenproject.com/ Get Josh's book, "Into the Storm: How to Face Down Any Crisis with Deep, Unshakeable Faith" here: https://amzn.to/3RMpSmC (As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for the support! ) ⏰ Timecodes ⏰ 00:00 Meet Phil Cooke and this episode's topic: helping pastors avoid burnout and moral failure 02:35 Meet Josh Turner, founder of the 10Ten Project 05:08 A pastor's suicide and the beginnings of the 10Ten Project 09:46 The 10Ten Project's connection with Biola University and Notre Dame 16:28 Testimonies from Christian leaders and the impact of the 10Ten Project 22:50 How to connect with Josh Turner and the 10Ten Project 24:57 Josh's special needs daughter and his new book, "Into the Storm" 28:40 Phil shares about his book and masterclass for pastors and leaders: "Church on Trial"

May 20, 2026Episode 1766 min

3 Rules for Pitching: Connecting with the People Who Can Make Your Dream Happen

If you're having trouble getting your ideas heard, media executive Phil Cooke's https://philcooke.com three rules for pitching will help you share your creative vision with clarity and confidence. Whether you're pitching a film idea, business idea, creative project or ministry vision, these pro tips will help you connect with the people who can make your dream happen. 👉 Listen now and transform your creative leadership career! Rate and subscribe for more tips on faith, media and culture for executive pastors, nonprofit leaders, and church media and communications creatives. Get the book: " Ideas on a Deadline: How to Be Creative When the Clock is Ticking" Print and Kindle: https://amzn.to/3Lj9gNU Audio: https://amzn.to/3ywcINP Phil Cooke, Ph.D. — Strategic Advisor | Cultural Influence & Crisis Leadership Phil Cooke, Ph.D., is a strategic advisor to church, nonprofit, and media leaders navigating crisis, credibility, and cultural influence in a rapidly changing digital world. Founder of Cooke Media Group in Los Angeles and Nashville, he works with senior leadership teams globally to strengthen reputation and clarify mission. Author of "Church on Trial" and several other books on leadership and creativity, he has produced award winning media projects seen worldwide. 👉 Get weekly strategy and creative input delivered to your inbox: https://www.philcooke.com/subscribe/ ⚡️ Join the conversation with Phil on social media: Twitter https://twitter.com/philcooke Facebook https://www.facebook.com/philcookepage/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/philcooke/ TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@philcookeofficial Find out about Cooke Media Group here: https://www.cookemediagroup.com 🔥 Masterclasses – Elevate your leadership and creative skills quickly! Church on Trial—Crisis Management with Phil Cooke https://philcooke.com/masterclass Ideas on a Deadline Masterclass with Phil Cooke https://philcooke.com/ideasonadeadline Subscribe to my YouTube Channel and Expand your Creative Leadership https://www.youtube.com/c/philcookeofficial?sub_confirmation=1 **More About This Episode ** Read more about pitching: "Why You Need an Elevator Pitch for Your Life" https://www.philcooke.com/elevator-pitch-for-your-life/ (As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for the support! ) #PitchingIdeas #ElevatorPitch #PhilCooke #CreativeLeadership #CommunicationSkills #PersonalBranding #Storytelling #LeadershipDevelopment #CreativeEntrepreneur #PublicSpeaking ⏰ Timecodes ⏰ 00:00 What not to do in a pitch meeting 00:33 Rules for pitching your ideas 01:43 Rule 1: Start with the idea 02:24 Rule 2: Practice clarity. Read Phil's blog on elevator pitches 02:58 Rule 3: Tell me why your idea matters 03:23 Practical tips to practice your pitch with confidence 05:02 Get the book, "Ideas on a Deadline"