The ChurchGear Podcast

Hosted by Toby Walters [Church Tech Advocate]

Technology Interviews Religion Spirituality Christianity

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Episodes

237

Latest episode

Aug 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

September 28, 2026Episode 23742 min

Austin Stone's Production Setup: Soundscape Rigs & Less Gear [Dwight Theaker]

Does running production for a massive, multi-site mega-church mean you need to buy every single piece of gear on the market? And when it comes to Sunday morning audio, can you actually trust a volunteer to mix Front of House? In this episode, we are joined by Dwight Theaker of Austin Stone Community Church. We dive deep into the specific logistics of broadcasting across multiple locations and break down exactly what AVL gear Austin Stone prioritizes. Dwight shares the surprising revelation that their production team actively chooses to use less gear than the average church, and explains the massive benefits of that streamlined philosophy. In this episode you'll hear: 0:00 Intro: Toby Lost a Job & Chris Tomlin Stories 5:00 Dwight Theaker (Austin Stone Community Church) Joins 10:00 Gear Talk: What is Austin Stone Church Actually Using? 14:00 The Logistics of Broadcasting Across Multiple Campuses 15:45 Comparing Gear Priorities: 12Stone vs. Austin Stone 18:00 Why Austin Stone Uses Less Gear Than the Average Church 22:00 The Big Debate: Should Your Church Buy a d&b Soundscape Rig? 25:00 Can You Actually Trust Volunteers to Mix FOH Audio? 32:15 Church Tech Disaster Story 35:30 Keep Sundays Running Take our survey here and you'll get the full report emailed to you December 4th! Connect with HouseRight on your next integration project here . Check out jobs at HouseRight 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 Ministry Sell 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!

September 21, 2026Episode 23658 min

Fixing Church Announcements & The Livestream Debate [Brady Shearer]

Are mega-churches actually more creative, or do they just have bigger budgets? And when it comes to your online service, should you really be livestreaming your worship set, or just the preaching? In this episode, we are joined by Brady Shearer, founder of Pro Church Tools, to tackle some of the most debated topics in church communications and media. We dive into the unrealistic expectations that mega-churches set for local congregations, and try to identify the single biggest issue facing the church today. In this episode you'll hear: 0:00 Intro: Toby Is Obsessed With AI 5:15 Brady Shearer (Pro Church Tools) Joins the Podcast! 11:00 How Mega-Churches Set Unrealistic Expectations for Everyone Else 15:40 Are Mega-Churches Actually More Creative? 21:00 Identifying the Biggest Issue in the Church Today 24:30 The Livestream Debate: Should You Stream Worship or Just the Sermon? 32:30 Hot Take: Why Your Church Needs Fewer Announcements 39:00 The Absolute Best Way to Recruit Church Tech Volunteers 44:00 Church Tech Disaster Stories 49:00 Keep Sundays Running: If It Works, Do It Again 51:00 The Most Common Mistakes Churches Make During Announcements Take our survey here and you'll get the full report emailed to you December 4th! Connect with HouseRight on your next integration project here . Check out jobs at HouseRight 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 Ministry Sell 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!

September 14, 2026Episode 23545 min

Church Lighting Trends, MA2 vs. MA3 & Freelance AVL [Aria Hailey]

Are modern church services finally moving away from dark, concert-style rooms and shifting back toward brighter environments? And if you are a lighting director, how do you make the jump from the MA2 console to the MA3? In this episode, we are joined by freelance AVL production expert Aria Hailey. Aria shares her journey into live production and discusses the reality of freelancing in the current industry. We explore a massive trend happening right now: why so many highly skilled audio and lighting techs are actually leaving the touring world to take full-time church tech jobs. In this episode you'll hear: 0:00 Intro: How Much Trouble Will Toby Get Into in Vegas? 4:45 Aria Hailey’s Journey Into AVL Production 9:15 The Highs and Lows of Freelancing in Live AVL 13:00 Overcoming "Blue Dot Syndrome" in Live Production 15:15 The Trend: Are Techs Leaving Tours for Church Jobs? 20:00 Designing Church Lighting for the Congregation (Not Your Ego) 23:00 Lighting Trends: Are We Shifting Back to Brighter Church Services? 28:15 How to Train the Next Generation of Church Lighting Techs 33:00 Console Talk: The Biggest Differences Between MA2 vs. MA3 35:30 Tech Disaster Story: "Hey, There is Smoke Behind Me!" 40:00 Keep Sundays Running: The Power of Snacks Take our survey here and you'll get the full report emailed to you December 4th! Connect with HouseRight on your next integration project here . Check out jobs at HouseRight 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 Ministry Sell 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!

September 7, 2026Episode 23651 min

Touring with Petra, 12Stone's Culture & Stop Copying Everyone [Ronny Cates]

What is it like to transition from playing arenas with a legendary Christian rock band to running Sunday morning production for a massive multi-site congregation? In this incredible episode, we are joined by Ronny Cates, former bassist for the iconic band Petra and current production leader at 12Stone Church. Ronny shares amazing behind-the-scenes stories of what Petra's massive concerts and touring gear looked like in their prime, and tackles the heavy debate of whether or not modern Christian music has officially stalled out. In this episode you'll hear: 0:00 Intro: The Live Event "Blue Dot" Trend 4:45 Ronny Cates (12Stone Church / Petra) Joins 9:20 How Ronny Ended Up in the Legendary Rock Band Petra 13:00 Behind the Scenes: Petra Concerts & Touring Gear 16:00 The Big Debate: Has Christian Music Stalled Out? 22:00 Stop Copying Other Churches' Audio Mixes 28:30 Mixing for Your Congregation (Not Your Personal Preference) 37:00 Transitioning from Arena Tours to Church Tech 40:00 Inside the Production Culture at 12Stone Church 41:30 Church Tech Disaster: Double Checks and Backups 45:00 Keep Sundays Running Take our survey here and you'll get the full report emailed to you December 4th! Connect with HouseRight on your next integration project here . Check out jobs at HouseRight 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 Ministry Sell 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!

August 31, 2026Episode 23552 min

Worship in the Round & Production for 3,000 People [Debbie Uecker-Keough]

How do you manage the massive logistical nightmare of running production for a 3,000-seat auditorium? And more importantly, how do you pull off a center-stage "Worship in the Round" setup without completely ruining your audio and lighting? In this episode, we are joined by Debbie Uecker-Keough from Water of Life Church to talk about high-level church production at scale. We chat about the gear challenges and visual challenges of designing a service "in the round," and debate whether it is actually crazy to buy permanent AVL gear for those types of center-stage setups. In this episode you'll hear: 0:00 Intro: Toby’s Iron Gut 6:25 Debbie Uecker-Keough (Water of Life Church) Joins 8:00 Debbie’s Start in Church Production 10:40 The Unique Challenges of a 3,000-Seat Auditorium 13:00 The Logistics of Doing "Worship in the Round" 17:45 Is It Crazy to Buy Permanent Gear for In-the-Round Setups? 20:30 Training Church Tech Volunteers at Scale 26:45 Gear Talk: Is Debbie on AVID’s Payroll? 33:30 Navigating Church Production as a Female Leader 35:45 Church Tech Disaster: LED Wall Dilemmas & Planning to Fail 46:00 Keep Sundays Running Take our survey here and you'll get the full report emailed to you December 4th! Connect with HouseRight on your next integration project here . Check out jobs at HouseRight 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 Ministry Sell 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!

August 24, 2026Episode 23454 min

Fixing Communication Breakdowns & Debriefing Without Finger-Pointing [ServiceCrew Pt3]

What happens when a simple lack of communication leads to a complete Sunday service meltdown? And more importantly, how do you fix it before it happens again? In this episode, we sit down with Marc Millan, an experienced executive pastor and ministry leader, to tackle the vital role of communication between church leadership and the tech booth. We break down the early warning signs of a communication breakdown and establish exactly who should be responsible for managing the Sunday service flow. Link to ServiceCrew resources. In this episode you'll hear: 0:00 Intro: Marc Millan’s Background & Ministry Journey 4:45 When a Communication Breakdown Causes a Sunday Meltdown 12:00 Early Warning Signs of a Tech Team Communication Failure 20:00 Key Sunday Service Details You Must Know Ahead of Time 22:45 Who Is Actually Responsible for the Sunday Service Flow? 27:30 How to Debrief a Sunday Failure Without Finger-Pointing 34:15 Is It Possible to Communicate Too Far in Advance? Take our survey here and you'll get the full report emailed to you December 4th! Connect with HouseRight on your next integration project here . Check out jobs at HouseRight 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 Ministry Sell 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!

August 17, 2026Episode 23355 min

From Wall Street to Exec Pastor: Budgeting & Tech Lifecycles [ServiceCrew Pt.2]

How do you actually get your Executive Pastor to say "Yes" to new church tech gear? And on the flip side, what does your leadership team wish you understood about the church's finances? In this highly practical episode, we are joined by Pete Rodriguez, who shares his incredible journey of leaving his career during the Wall Street financial crisis to becoming an Executive Pastor. Pete brings his high-level financial expertise into the church tech world, breaking down exactly how to weigh a "want" versus a "need" when planning your AVL budget. ServiceCrew Resources Link In this episode you'll hear: 0:00 Intro: Pete Rodriguez Joins the Podcast! 1:00 From the Wall Street Financial Crisis to Executive Pastor 8:45 Budgeting: Weighing a "Want" vs. a "Need" in Church Tech 11:45 Knowing When Your Church Should Actually Spend Money 17:00 How to Pitch the Tech Gear Lifecycle to Your Executive Pastor 21:30 Is It Time for a Budget Band-Aid or a Full Upgrade? 26:00 Strategy: How to Stagger Your Gear Replacement Costs 37:30 The Instant "Yes" and "No" for Church Tech Purchases 44:00 Advice Pete Would Give to His Past Self as an XP 45:00 What Every Executive Pastor Wishes Their Tech Director Knew 47:00 What Every Tech Director Wishes Their XP Knew Take our survey here and you'll get the full report emailed to you December 4th! Connect with HouseRight on your next integration project here . Check out jobs at HouseRight 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 Ministry Sell 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!

August 10, 2026Episode 23253 min

Don't Let Your Knowledge Base Literally Walk Out [ServiceCrew Pt1]

Get your ServiceCrew resources here ! What happens to your Sunday service when your most critical technical volunteer gets sick, goes on vacation, or moves away? If your church production relies entirely on one or two people, you are one person away from a total disaster. In this episode, we tackle the danger of having a "single point of failure" in your tech booth. We break down the crucial importance of cross-training your church tech volunteers so that your audio, video, and lighting positions are never dependent on just one person. In this episode you'll hear: 0:00 Intro: Meet Our Guest & Guest Host 7:00 What Happens When Your Lead Techs Miss a Sunday? 14:00 The Crucial Importance of Cross-Training Volunteers 22:00 Documentation: Building a Church Tech Knowledge Base 33:00 Is Building a Massive Volunteer Bench Actually Realistic? 40:40 How to Communicate Your Need for Volunteers to Leadership 43:30 The Danger of Depending on Just One Tech Volunteer Take our survey here and you'll get the full report emailed to you December 4th! Connect with HouseRight on your next integration project here . Check out jobs at HouseRight 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 Ministry Sell 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!

August 3, 2026Episode 23147 min

How Many Errors Are Your Tech Volunteers Allowed to Make? [David Leuschner]

How do you define "excellence" in a church tech ministry? And when a volunteer consistently falls short of that standard, how do you actually "fire" them and find a new ministry that better suits them? In this episode, we are joined by church production veteran David Leuschner to tackle the hardest leadership conversations in ministry. We discuss the biblical definition of excellence, debate whether there should be different standards for the on-stage worship team versus the behind-the-scenes production techs, and answer the uncomfortable question: how many errors are your volunteers actually allowed to make? In this episode you'll hear: 0:00 Intro: The HouseRight Event & Toby’s Lack of Taste 4:30 David Leuschner (Digital Great Commission Ministries) Joins 8:15 Defining True "Excellence" in Church Production 14:45 How to Train Your Volunteers for Excellence 21:00 The Debate: On-Stage vs. Behind-the-Scenes Volunteer Standards 26:00 What Does the Bible Actually Say About Excellence? 28:45 The Budget Debate: Is It Okay to Spend a Fortune on AVL Gear? 30:30 Grace vs. Standard: How Many Errors Are Volunteers Allowed? 35:00 The Hardest Conversation: How to Fire a Tech Volunteer 41:45 Keep Sundays Running: Focus on Transitions Take our survey here and you'll get the full report emailed to you December 4th! Connect with HouseRight on your next integration project here . Check out jobs at HouseRight 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 Ministry Sell 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!

July 27, 2026Episode 2301 hr 11 min

Identifying Burnout & Celebrities on the Team [Shaun Miller]

What is it actually like to run Sunday morning production when global superstar Carrie Underwood is on your worship team? And more importantly, how do you sustain the intense pace of church tech without completely burning out? In this episode, we are joined by Shaun Miller of Rolling Hills Church (Franklin, TN). After Toby recaps his recent trip to an L-Acoustics event, Shaun shares his experiences balancing a healthy marriage with the chaotic touring lifestyle. We then dive into the unique culture at Rolling Hills, breaking down their specific church tech setup and what it is like to mix a service with a celebrity on the stage. In this episode you'll hear: 0:00 Intro: Toby’s Trip to the L-Acoustics Event 6:40 Shaun Miller (Rolling Hills Church) Joins 11:15 Balancing Marriage and the Touring Lifestyle 19:00 What It's Like Having Carrie Underwood on Your Worship Team 22:15 Behind the Scenes: The Rolling Hills Tech Setup 29:00 Avoiding Burnout: How to Identify It Before It’s Too Late 47:45 Did Shaun Actually Like Toby’s Book? 58:00 Tech Disaster Story: "I Swear We Sent You the Videos!" Take our survey here and you'll get the full report emailed to you December 4th! Connect with HouseRight on your next integration project here . Check out jobs at HouseRight 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 Ministry Sell 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!