


Leadership succession is one of the most sacred — and most difficult — tasks for any pastor or ministry leader.
In this episode, I share the behind-the-scenes story of my second major succession — passing the baton of Emotionally Healthy Discipleship to Drew Hyun as our new President. I've rarely seen a succession done well. And that's exactly why I knew I had to do it differently — with prayer, intentionality, and surrender.
I walk through both the joy and the deep pain of letting go. I reflect on the lessons learned from my first succession at New Life Fellowship, the emotional disorientation that followed, and the profound spiritual formation that only comes through grief and relinquishment.
This is not a leadership technique. It's a spiritual crucible. A death and resurrection.
Whether you're years away from stepping down or you're mentoring the next generation now, this episode will help you face your limits, resist control, and steward your calling with integrity — for the sake of Jesus' mission in the world.
Every leader will face succession. The question is not if, but when.
Let's do it well.

Too many pastors live with a low-grade ache that their ministry—and they themselves—simply don't measure up. Quietly, comparison creeps in. We look at the growth of others' churches, their charisma, their staff, their buildings… and wonder, What's wrong with me?
In today's episode, I share deeply from my own journey of wrestling with these very questions. I was driven, angry, and often frustrated with my people and context—trying to build something God never asked of me.
But freedom came. Slowly. Through emotional honesty, interior silence, and deep formation.
We'll explore:
The deadly cost of living from your false self
How to spot comparison in your soul (and how to resist it)
Why embracing your unique call is a spiritual breakthrough
The ancient desert wisdom that reshapes your ministry success metrics
If you're a pastor, leader, or ministry worker who's tired of chasing an illusion of "success," this episode will give you permission to stop striving—and instead, lead from a place of joy, contentment, and union with Jesus.

⚡FREE E-BOOK: Spaciousness: Avoiding the 8 Traps That Steal Your Margin - Download at emotionallyhealthy.org/spaciousness
In this powerful replay of one of our most listened-to episodes, Pete Scazzero invites pastors and leaders into a radical, countercultural way of leading: unhurried, unrushed, and deeply rooted in Jesus.
Are you constantly running at a pace you can't sustain? Exhausted, overextended, and wondering how much longer you can keep going? This episode is for you.
Pete explores the cultural and spiritual forces that keep us trapped in busyness and offers practical, time-tested rhythms that create space for rest, reflection, and deep communion with God. Drawing from his own journey and decades of leadership, Pete names the lies we believe about productivity and success and points us back to a slower, more spacious life anchored in emotional and spiritual health.
This episode will:
Help you identify what's driving your pace
Offer 15 practical practices to embrace a slower rhythm
Encourage you to lead out of your being, not just your doing
This is more than a podcast. It's an invitation to freedom.

⚡FREE E-BOOK: Spaciousness: Avoiding the 8 Traps That Steal Your Margin - Download at emotionallyhealthy.org/spaciousness
In this powerful replay of one of our most listened-to episodes, Pete Scazzero invites pastors and leaders into a radical, countercultural way of leading: unhurried, unrushed, and deeply rooted in Jesus.
Are you constantly running at a pace you can't sustain? Exhausted, overextended, and wondering how much longer you can keep going? This episode is for you.
Pete explores the cultural and spiritual forces that keep us trapped in busyness and offers practical, time-tested rhythms that create space for rest, reflection, and deep communion with God. Drawing from his own journey and decades of leadership, Pete names the lies we believe about productivity and success and points us back to a slower, more spacious life anchored in emotional and spiritual health.
This episode will:
Help you identify what's driving your pace
Offer 15 practical practices to embrace a slower rhythm
Encourage you to lead out of your being, not just your doing
This is more than a podcast. It's an invitation to freedom.