The ChurchGear Podcast

Hosted by Toby Walters [Church Tech Advocate]

Technology Interviews Religion Spirituality Christianity

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Episodes

227

Latest episode

Jun 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

Are you a church tech director? If so, this podcast exists to serve you specifically. Each week we pull the tech director out of the booth and place them onto the stage to share their most outlandish stories and hidden wisdom from the tech trenches. Hosted by Toby Walters and Blake Hodges.

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60 recent

June 15, 2026Episode 22556 min

Christian Magicians, Blind Tech Booths & Hosting SALT Conference

How do you handle the immense pressure of designing a creative live event specifically for creatives? And as technology rapidly evolves, should church production teams be embracing or avoiding Artificial Intelligence (AI)?In this episode, we are joined by Luke McElroy, the visionary founder of the SALT Conference and the SALT Community. Luke pulls back the curtain on the difficulty of live events, sharing the inspiring origin story of SALT and what it actually takes to run a massive gathering for church technical artists. We also zoom out to discuss the profound, eternal impact that worship and production teams have on their congregations every single Sunday.In this episode you'll hear: 0:00 The Reality and Difficulty of Live Events4:00 Luke McElroy (Founder of SALT Conference) Joins8:45 The Origin Story of the SALT Conference15:30 Behind the Scenes: Running Events for Creatives18:15 The Eternal Impact of Worship and Production Teams22:50 The Pressure of Designing a Conference For Creatives26:30 Storytime: The Christian Magicians Disaster35:40 The Big Debate: Should Church Production Use AI?45:20 Church Tech Disaster Story: "We Couldn’t See a Thing"Get expert help and care on your next integration project with our friends at HouseRight here. Hang out with us at The Mix in Vegas here! Get more money back in your budget and more space in your closet by selling us your used gear here. Resources for your Church Tech MinistrySell Us Gear: Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here. Buy Our Gear: Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can shop our gear store here. Connect with us: Sales Bulletin: Get better deals than the public and get them earlier too here!Early Service: Get our best gear before it goes live on our site here. Instagram: Hangout with us on the gram here! Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!

June 8, 2026Episode 22456 min

Streamlining AVL Gear & The Battle of a Lifetime [Josh Suender]

Where do you start when you want to level up the production at a new church? And how do you keep pushing forward when life throws you a devastating diagnosis?In this episode, we are joined by Josh Suender of Faith Community Church (Clayton, NC). We start with some practical, high-value tech talk, breaking down the exact first steps you should take to level up your church production. Josh shares his favorite creative AVL gear moves to streamline your workflow, how to keep MultiTracks from getting "weird" and chaotic on stage, and the massive benefits of implementing Bitfocus Companion in your tech booth.In this episode you'll hear: 0:00 Intro: Toby’s Adventures in Worship Leading5:30 Josh Suender (Faith Community Church) Joins7:45 Josh’s Start in Church Production11:20 Assessing the Production Baseline at a New Job14:00 The First Steps to Level Up Your Church Production16:20 Creative AVL Moves to Streamline Your Tech28:45 Keeping MultiTracks from Getting "Weird" on Stage30:15 Implementing Bitfocus Companion in Your Setup36:00 Josh’s Battle for His Life: A Stage 4 Diagnosis48:15 Keep Sundays RunningGet expert help and care on your next integration project with our friends at HouseRight here. Hang out with us at The Mix in Vegas here! Get more money back in your budget and more space in your closet by selling us your used gear here. Resources for your Church Tech MinistrySell Us Gear: Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here. Buy Our Gear: Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can shop our gear store here. Connect with us: Sales Bulletin: Get better deals than the public and get them earlier too here!Early Service: Get our best gear before it goes live on our site here. Instagram: Hangout with us on the gram here! Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!

June 1, 2026Episode 22351 min

How Much Do You HAVE To Care? [Willow Hodge]

We dive into the heart of volunteer leadership, discussing why people always matter more than the production, and establishing the true "minimum standard of care" every Technical Director owes their team. Willow also shares incredible insights on the specific benefits of having more women in church production and actionable strategies for how to recruit them.In this episode you'll hear: 0:00 Intro: Toby Hates Talking to People5:00 Willow Hodge (Hope Fellowship Church) Joins8:45 Willow’s Start in Church Production11:15 The Golden Rule of Tech: Why People Matter Most20:00 Timecode Debate: How Much Should Your Service Depend On It?22:15 The Minimum Standard of Care for Tech Volunteers33:40 The Power and Benefits of Women in Church Production39:00 How to Actively Recruit More Women to Your Tech Team41:15 Church Tech Volunteer Disaster Story44:15 Keep Sundays Running: Ask Questions and ListenGet expert help and care on your next integration project with our friends at HouseRight here. Hang out with us at The Mix in Vegas here! Get more money back in your budget and more space in your closet by selling us your used gear here. Resources for your Church Tech MinistrySell Us Gear: Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here. Buy Our Gear: Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can shop our gear store here. Connect with us: Sales Bulletin: Get better deals than the public and get them earlier too here!Early Service: Get our best gear before it goes live on our site here. Instagram: Hangout with us on the gram here! Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!

May 25, 2026Episode 2221 hr 0 min

The Clayton Gregory Incident & Remote Church Mixes [James Hurley]

James breaks down the actual logistics of how remote mixing works, the philosophical question of whether online audiences are actually engaging in worship or just watching a sermon, and if your church should make the transition to a remote setup. We also discuss practical leadership strategies for communicating with a frustrating pastor, recap our FILO 2026 hijinks, and comment on the details of the infamous "Clayton Gregory Incident."In this episode you'll hear:0:00 Intro: FILO 2026 Conference Hijinks6:45 James Hurley Joins the Podcast8:00 From NASA to Church Tech: Production at the Highest Level11:00 The Big Debate: Should Every Church Remote Mix?19:45 Online Engagement: Are People Actually Worshipping at Home?25:45 The Logistics: How Remote Mixing Actually Works27:15 Should Your Church Transition to Remote Mixing?38:30 Storytime: The Clayton Gregory Incident47:30 How to Communicate with Your Pastor When You're Frustrated50:15 Church Production Disaster Story55:15 Keep Sundays Running: The Power of FellowshipGet expert help and care on your next integration project with our friends at HouseRight here. Hang out with us at The Mix in Vegas here! Get more money back in your budget and more space in your closet by selling us your used gear here. Resources for your Church Tech MinistrySell Us Gear: Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here. Buy Our Gear: Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can shop our gear store here. Connect with us: Sales Bulletin: Get better deals than the public and get them earlier too here!Early Service: Get our best gear before it goes live on our site here. Instagram: Hangout with us on the gram here! Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!

May 18, 2026Episode 2211 hr 6 min

Mixing for NF, Subwoofer Setups & Timecode [Travis Stoker]

What does it take to mix Front of House for a massive arena rap tour? And how can church technical directors apply those touring strategies to a Sunday morning service?In this episode, we are joined by Travis Stoker, the Front of House (FOH) Engineer for chart-topping rapper NF. Travis pulls back the curtain on NF's live audio setup, sharing exactly how he approaches mixing live rap and hip-hop, the specific gear he's taking on tour, and his secrets for managing massive subwoofer setups to get that perfect low-end punch.In this episode you'll hear:0:00 Intro: Fun Concert Experiences4:50 Travis Stoker (NF’s FOH Engineer) Joins6:15 Travis’s Journey to Mixing for NF12:00 How to Mix Audio for Rap and Hip-Hop15:00 Gear Talk: What is Travis Using on Tour?20:30 Using Backing Tracks: Concerts vs. Church33:15 The Debate: Should Your Church Use Timecode?36:00 Do FOH Engineers Need System Design Knowledge?42:45 Subwoofer Setups for Mixing Heavy Low-End50:00 Live Production Disaster Story59:30 Keep Sundays Running: The Power of TeamsGet expert help and care on your next integration project with our friends at HouseRight here. Hang out with us at The Mix in Vegas here! Get more money back in your budget and more space in your closet by selling us your used gear here. Resources for your Church Tech MinistrySell Us Gear: Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here. Buy Our Gear: Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can shop our gear store here. Connect with us: Sales Bulletin: Get better deals than the public and get them earlier too here!Early Service: Get our best gear before it goes live on our site here. Instagram: Hangout with us on the gram here! Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!

May 11, 2026Episode 22051 min

When to Pause an Integration & Stop Overspending on Gear [Neil Brown]

How long can you keep your church's production running on "Band-Aid" fixes before you finally need a complete AVL upgrade? And how do you pitch that massive expense to your leadership team?In this episode, we are joined by Neil Brown of Henderson Hills Church to talk about smart budgeting, integration, and safety. Neil breaks down how to have the difficult conversation with leadership about moving from cheap, temporary fixes to a strategic, full-scale AVL upgrade. He also explains why it's okay to hit pause mid-integration if a project is heading in the wrong direction.In this episode you'll hear:0:00 Intro: Does Toby Want to Burn ChurchGear Down?6:45 Neil Brown (Henderson Hills Church) Joins13:00 When to Pause and Reevaluate Mid-Integration24:30 Moving from "Band-Aid" Fixes to Full AVL Upgrades31:30 Cool Production Life Hacks on a Tight Budget38:15 What Churches Are Spending Too Much Money On42:00 Safety Warning: Double-Check Your Rigging!46:00 Keep Sundays Running: Avoid Last-Minute ChangesGet expert help and care on your next integration project with our friends at HouseRight here. Hang out with us at The Mix in Vegas here! Get more money back in your budget and more space in your closet by selling us your used gear here. Resources for your Church Tech MinistrySell Us Gear: Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here. Buy Our Gear: Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can shop our gear store here. Connect with us: Sales Bulletin: Get better deals than the public and get them earlier too here!Early Service: Get our best gear before it goes live on our site here. Instagram: Hangout with us on the gram here! Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!

May 4, 2026Episode 21949 min

Assaulted in the Booth! + The Gear vs. Acoustics Debate [Celebration Church's Ivan Diaz]

How do you convince your senior pastor to approve the new AVL gear your church desperately needs? And if budgets get slashed, do you sacrifice your gear upgrades or your room's acoustic treatment?In this episode, we are joined by the team from City Church to tackle the hardest parts of church production leadership. We break down the strategy of using your church's specific vision to pick the right gear, rather than just the most expensive gear. We also dive into the technical weeds with a guide to Objective-Based Mixing and how to properly assess your room acoustics. In this episode you'll hear: 0:00 The Dangers of Changing Things on Your Congregation5:00 Storytime: Being Assaulted in the Tech Booth!11:00 Networking: How to Meet Local Church Techs17:00 Gear Talk: What is City Church Using?18:00 How to Convince Your Pastor to Approve New Gear20:00 A Guide to Objective-Based Mixing27:00 Using Church Vision to Pick the Right Gear29:40 The True Importance of Room Acoustics31:30 Budget Cuts: Do You Sacrifice Gear or Acoustics?39:30 Keeping Church Tech Volunteers Excited to Serve43:30 Tech Takeaway: Set Your Volunteers Up for SuccessGet expert help and care on your next integration project with our friends at HouseRight here. Hang out with us at The Mix in Vegas here! Get more money back in your budget and more space in your closet by selling us your used gear here. Resources for your Church Tech MinistrySell Us Gear: Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here. Buy Our Gear: Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can shop our gear store here. Connect with us: Sales Bulletin: Get better deals than the public and get them earlier too here!Early Service: Get our best gear before it goes live on our site here. Instagram: Hangout with us on the gram here! Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!

April 27, 2026Episode 21859 min

Immersive Mixing, Brownouts, & Blackouts [Community Bible Church's Eric Allen]

Is the hype around immersive audio actually worth the massive investment for your church? And how do you keep your production and worship teams united when your church is experiencing explosive, multi-site growth?In this episode, we are joined by Eric Allen, Audio Engineer at Community Bible Church (CBC) in San Antonio. We start by unpacking what it takes to manage production across a rapidly growing, multi-site congregation, including exactly how CBC bridges the gap between the worship band and the tech booth.In this episode you'll hear0:00 Intro: Toby & Blake Are Bad at First Dates5:30 Eric Allen (Community Bible Church) Joins8:45 Managing Explosive Church Growth12:30 Integrating Production and Worship Teams14:16 Uniting a Multi-Site Worship Experience22:00 Defining Immersive Audio in a Church Setting24:00 Things to Consider Before Upgrading to Immersive28:30 The Real Benefits of Immersive-Based Mixing39:30 Weighing the Decision: Is Immersive Worth the Cost?42:48 Tech Disaster Story 1: The Brownout47:25 Tech Disaster Story 2: The Blackout51:45 Keep Sundays Running: The Work You Do Monday to FridayGet expert help and care on your next integration project with our friends at HouseRight here. Hang out with us at The Mix in Vegas here! Get more money back in your budget and more space in your closet by selling us your used gear here. Resources for your Church Tech MinistrySell Us Gear: Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here. Buy Our Gear: Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can shop our gear store here. Connect with us: Sales Bulletin: Get better deals than the public and get them earlier too here!Early Service: Get our best gear before it goes live on our site here. Instagram: Hangout with us on the gram here! Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!

April 20, 2026Episode 21753 min

Production, Gear & Pastor Life Hacks in Africa [Estian Els]

In this episode, we are joined by Estian Els to get a global perspective on church tech. We dive into the realities of running a massive 7,000-person church in Africa, breaking down exactly what gear they use and the unique struggles of navigating international supply chains to get it.Estian also shares a brilliant leadership hack: why you need to bring your senior pastor to the FILO Conference. Finally, we zoom out to discuss the broader state of the global church, exploring exactly what the American church needs to learn from the African church when it comes to worship, community, and production.In this episode you'll hear: 0:00 Intro: Are You Scared to Travel Internationally?5:15 Estian Els Joins the Podcast9:04 Estian’s Start in Church Production17:30 Gear Talk: Production for a 7,000-Person Church in Africa19:50 The Supply Chain Struggle: Getting AVL Gear in Africa24:45 Life Hack: Take Your Pastor to the FILO Conference34:30 The Current State of the Church in Africa37:30 What the American Church Can Learn from the African Church44:00 Church Tech Disaster Story47:00 Keep Sundays RunningGet expert help and care on your next integration project with our friends at HouseRight here. Hang out with us at The Mix in Vegas here! Get more money back in your budget and more space in your closet by selling us your used gear here. Resources for your Church Tech MinistrySell Us Gear: Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here. Buy Our Gear: Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can shop our gear store here. Connect with us: Sales Bulletin: Get better deals than the public and get them earlier too here!Early Service: Get our best gear before it goes live on our site here. Instagram: Hangout with us on the gram here! Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!

April 13, 2026Episode 2161 hr 3 min

Navigating a Moral Failure & Leading Tech Through Crisis [Gateway Church's Will Martin]

In this heavy but incredibly important episode, we are joined by Will Martin of Gateway Church. Will shares the raw reality of navigating one of the most publicized church crises in recent history. We discuss the immediate emotional toll on the production team, how to lead volunteers through the shock, and the harsh realities of staff turnover and attendance drops following a major scandal.In this episode you'll hear:0:00 Intro: False Miracles6:14 Will Martin (Gateway Church) Joins10:45 The Fallout: Navigating a Pastor's Moral Failure18:00 Leading a Tech Team Through a Church Crisis27:30 The Reality of Staff Turnover After a Scandal32:30 How Moral Failures Impact Church Attendance35:00 Should Lead Pastors Be Held to a Higher Standard?47:30 Supporting Church Leadership During a Crisis52:30 Gateway Church's Transition to a New Pastor57:00 Keep Sundays Running: Knowing Your "Why"Get expert help and care on your next integration project with our friends at HouseRight here. Hang out with us at The Mix in Vegas here! Get more money back in your budget and more space in your closet by selling us your used gear here. Resources for your Church Tech MinistrySell Us Gear: Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here. Buy Our Gear: Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can shop our gear store here. Connect with us: Sales Bulletin: Get better deals than the public and get them earlier too here!Early Service: Get our best gear before it goes live on our site here. Instagram: Hangout with us on the gram here! Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!