Explore every episode of the podcast The ChurchGear Podcast
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pay Series 2.0 - Secular Pay Ranges & Salary Bands [Scott Ragsdale] | 09 Nov 2026 | 01:19:25 | |
Are modern church tech job descriptions completely unrealistic compared to the salaries being offered? What is it actually like to leave a church tech job for a massive touring gig? And more importantly, do touring audio engineers actually make that much more money? In this episode, we are joined by Scott Ragsdale to talk about the massive career shift between local church production and mixing world tours for artists like Joe Bonamassa. In this episode you'll hear: 0:00 Intro: Toby & Blake’s Previous Job Searches 7:00 Scott Ragsdale Joins the Podcast! 10:45 Scott’s Journey Into Production Ministry 15:30 Is the Grass Greener? Church Tech vs. Touring Production 20:15 The Salary Reality: Do Touring Audio Engineers Actually Make More Money? 26:15 Do Church Techs Have the Skills to Mix a World Tour for Joe Bonamassa? 38:40 The "Salary Band" Trap: Why Churches Lose Their Best Techs 45:00 The Big Debate: Can You Survive on a Small Church Tech Salary? 54:15 Closing the Pay Gap Between Touring and Church Production 1:07:40 How to Become the Tech Director Your Church Wants to Retain 1:15:30 Church Tech Confessional: Ghost Take our survey here and you'll get the full report emailed to you December 4th! Check out HouseRight here to see why we recommend them as an integrator AND a great place to work! 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
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| Pay Series 2.0 - Salary Negotiating & Market Rate Determinators [Johnny Ragin] | 02 Nov 2026 | 01:03:52 | |
If you are currently working in ministry, how do you actually negotiate for better pay? We're joined by Johnny Ragin, the founder of the massively popular Worship Sound Guy platform. We dive deep into the taboo topic of church finances, discussing Johnny's starting church tech salary, and debate if churches have to consider touring/corporate AVL jobs when they look at the market rate for church techs salaries. In this episode you'll hear: 0:00 Intro: Toby’s Gear Flipping Origin Story 7:00 Johnny Ragin (Worship Sound Guy) Joins the Podcast! 11:00 The Reality of Starting Salaries in Church Tech 20:10 Who Actually Sets the Market Rate for Church Tech Salaries? 27:00 Why the Role of Technical Director Has Gotten Significantly Harder 31:30 The Disconnect: Job Description Demands vs. Offered Salary 35:00 The Case for (and against) Hiring Highly Skilled, Part-Time Church Techs 40:00 Strategy: How to Ask for a Raise Without Getting a Promotion 46:30 Should You Bring Personal Life Circumstances into a Salary Negotiation? 55:00 Keep Sundays Running: Why Johnny Actually Left His Church Role 1:00:00 Church Tech Confessional: An AI Translation Disaster Take our survey here and you'll get the full report emailed to you December 4th! Check out HouseRight here to see why we recommend them as an integrator AND a great place to work! 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
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| Navigating Divorce on Church Staff [Justin Firesheets] | 26 Oct 2026 | 01:01:46 | |
What actually happens to your ministry job when your marriage falls apart? Will you be immediately fired, or will your leadership team walk alongside you? In this incredibly vulnerable and necessary episode, we sit down with Justin Firesheets to tackle the taboo and deeply painful reality of navigating a divorce while serving on church staff. Justin opens up about his own personal journey, walking us through exactly how and when he approached his executive leadership team. In this episode you'll hear: 0:00 Intro: The Difficulty of Marriage 5:15 Justin Firesheets Joins the Podcast! 9:45 Navigating a Divorce While on Church Staff 12:00 How to Talk to Executive Leadership About a Coming Divorce 24:15 How Long Should You Wait Before Disclosing It to Leadership? 25:30 Did the Church Have an Official Policy on Staff Divorce? 29:25 The Fear of Losing Your Ministry Job During a Personal Crisis 43:15 The Debate: Should Divorce Policies Differ Depending on Your Church Role? 47:15 Justin’s Advice: When to Bring Leadership in to Help 57:50 Church Tech Confessional Take our survey here and you'll get the full report emailed to you December 4th! Check out HouseRight here to see why we recommend them as an integrator AND a great place to work! 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
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| Worst Tech Sunday of Your Life [Prestonwood's Mike Smith & Bryan Bailey] | 19 Oct 2026 | 00:56:06 | |
What happens when the production team at one of the largest mega-churches in the country experiences a complete Sunday morning meltdown? And more importantly, how do you face your executive leadership the next day? In this incredibly vulnerable episode, we are joined by Live Production Lead Mike Smith and Director of Media Bryan Bailey from the massive Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas. Mike pulls back the curtain to share the absolute worst Sunday of his entire church production career, walking us through the terrifying reality of the failure and advice on handling leadership conversations that follow these moments. In this episode you'll hear: 0:00 Intro: Toby and Blake’s Vehicle Disasters 5:30 Mike Smith & Bryan Bailey (Prestonwood Baptist Church) Join the Podcast 11:15 The Worst Sunday of Mike Smith’s Church Production Career 22:10 Navigating the Monday Meeting: The Conversation with Leadership 30:00 The Big Debate: Has Modern Church Production Gotten Too Fancy? 37:50 The Mental Game: How Long Does It Take to Recover from a Bad Sunday? 41:40 Practical Advice to Prevent Massive Church Tech Mistakes 47:30 Keep Sundays Running 52:00 Church Tech Confessional Take our survey here and you'll get the full report emailed to you December 4th! Check out HouseRight here to see why we recommend them as an integrator AND a great place to work! 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
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| Will AI Replace Your Church Tech Team? [Jake Gosselin] | 12 Oct 2026 | 00:51:00 | |
Are we outsourcing too many of our actual thoughts to Artificial Intelligence? And more importantly, is AI going to eventually replace the need for human volunteers in the tech booth? In this episode, we are joined by Jake Gosselin, founder of Churchfront, to tackle the most highly debated topic in modern ministry: Artificial Intelligence. Jake shares his personal journey into live production before diving deep into exactly how AI is currently being integrated into the church tech space. In this episode you'll hear: 0:00 Intro: Are We Outsourcing Too Many Thoughts to AI? 5:00 Jake Gosselin’s Journey into Church Tech (Churchfront) 16:00 How AI is Actually Being Integrated into Church Production 19:15 Can AI Fill the Gap for Understaffed Tech Ministries? 22:50 The Big Debate: Will AI Replace Church Tech Volunteers? 29:15 How to Start Integrating AI into Your Workflow Today 35:00 Will AI Kill Us All Terminator Style? 37:30 Church Tech Disaster Stories 42:45 Keep Sundays Running Take our survey here and you'll get the full report emailed to you December 4th! Check out HouseRight here to see why we recommend them as an integrator AND a great place to work! 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
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| Production at Church of the Highlands [Griffin McCravy] | 05 Oct 2026 | 00:59:54 | |
How does one of the largest churches in America handle their Sunday morning production, and more importantly, how do they recruit and train enough volunteers to make it happen? In this episode, we are joined by Griffin McCravy, the Broadcast Lighting Director at Church of the Highlands. After kicking things off with some amazing stories about growing up with Dolly Parton, Griffin shares his personal journey into live production. We then pull back the curtain on the massive AVL operation at Church of the Highlands. In this episode you'll hear: 0:00 Intro: Losing Dolly Parton 4:00 Griffin’s Experience Growing Up with Dolly Parton 13:20 Griffin’s Journey into Becoming a Lighting Director 20:00 Behind the Scenes: Production at Church of the Highlands 24:45 How to Find Great Church Tech Volunteers 28:00 Strategies for Training Tech Volunteers Well 35:00 Lighting Design at Church of the Highlands 43:00 ChurchGear Disaster Story with Highlands 47:15 Church Tech Disaster: Christmas Joy 49:20 Live Production Disaster: When the Lighting Guy Does Audio 52:15 Keep Sundays Running: Don’t Let It Become Normal 55:55 Church Tech Confessional Take our survey here and you'll get the full report emailed to you December 4th! Check out HouseRight here to see why we recommend them as an integrator AND a great place to work! 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
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| Austin Stone's Production Setup: Soundscape Rigs & Less Gear [Dwight Theaker] | 28 Sep 2026 | 00:42:26 | |
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! Check out HouseRight here to see why we recommend them as an integrator AND a great place to work! 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
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| Fixing Church Announcements & The Livestream Debate [Brady Shearer] | 21 Sep 2026 | 00:58:43 | |
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:
Take our survey here and you'll get the full report emailed to you December 4th! Check out HouseRight here to see why we recommend them as an integrator AND a great place to work! 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
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| Church Lighting Trends, MA2 vs. MA3 & Freelance AVL [Aria Hailey] | 14 Sep 2026 | 00:45:29 | |
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! Check out HouseRight here to see why we recommend them as an integrator AND a great place to work! 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
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| Touring with Petra, 12Stone's Culture & Stop Copying Everyone [Ronny Cates] | 07 Sep 2026 | 00:51:42 | |
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! Check out HouseRight here to see why we recommend them as an integrator AND a great place to work! 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
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| Worship in the Round & Production for 3,000 People [Debbie Uecker-Keough] | 31 Aug 2026 | 00:52:25 | |
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:
Take our survey here and you'll get the full report emailed to you December 4th! Check out HouseRight here to see why we recommend them as an integrator AND a great place to work! 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
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| Fixing Communication Breakdowns & Debriefing Without Finger-Pointing [ServiceCrew Pt3] | 24 Aug 2026 | 00:54:42 | |
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! Check out HouseRight here to see why we recommend them as an integrator AND a great place to work! 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
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| From Wall Street to Exec Pastor: Budgeting & Tech Lifecycles [ServiceCrew Pt.2] | 17 Aug 2026 | 00:55:00 | |
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! Check out HouseRight here to see why we recommend them as an integrator AND a great place to work! 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
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| Don't Let Your Knowledge Base Literally Walk Out [ServiceCrew Pt1] | 10 Aug 2026 | 00:52:56 | |
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! Check out HouseRight here to see why we recommend them as an integrator AND a great place to work! 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
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| How Many Errors Are Your Tech Volunteers Allowed to Make? [David Leuschner] | 03 Aug 2026 | 00:46:55 | |
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! Check out HouseRight here to see why we recommend them as an integrator AND a great place to work! 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
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| Identifying Burnout & Celebrities on the Team [Shaun Miller] | 27 Jul 2026 | 01:11:30 | |
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! Check out HouseRight here to see why we recommend them as an integrator AND a great place to work! 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
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| Inside Sight & Sound Theatres: Disappearing LED Walls & Monitor Setups [Tim Zeager] | 20 Jul 2026 | 00:51:10 | |
How do you manage the audio and production logistics for a massive, Broadway-level biblical stage production? And how exactly do you engineer a giant LED wall to completely disappear in under 15 seconds? In this episode, we are joined by Tim Zeager to get an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at Sight & Sound Theatres(Branson, MO). In this episode you'll hear: 0:00 Intro: Toby Discovers Theater in Branson, Missouri 5:15 Tim Zeager (Sight & Sound Theatres) Joins 10:45 The Story Behind Sight & Sound Ministries 21:45 Behind the Scenes: The Monitor Setup at Sight & Sound 25:00 Engineering: Making a Massive LED Wall Disappear in 15 Seconds 29:00 Gear Talk: The PA System Powering Sight & Sound 35:45 Lessons From Tim’s Time in the Studio 39:00 Live Production Disaster: Mixing From the Basement 43:00 Keep Sundays Running: Preparation is Key Take our survey here and you'll get the full report emailed to you December 4th! Check out HouseRight here to see why we recommend them as an integrator AND a great place to work! 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
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| Can Non-Christians Serve in Tech? + The LED Wall Debate [Dave Bookhout] | 13 Jul 2026 | 00:53:32 | |
In this episode, we are joined by Dave Bookhout from Grace Family Church to tackle some of the biggest debates in church tech. We dive deep into the culture of the tech booth, discussing how to actively recruit church tech volunteers and answering the tough question of who should actually be allowed to serve on Sunday mornings. In this episode you'll hear: 0:00 Intro: Toby Claims God Tricked Him 4:30 Dave Bookhout (Grace Family Church) Joins 14:15 The Debate: Can Non-Christians Serve on the Tech Team? 23:15 Strategies for Recruiting Church Tech Volunteers 30:45 Gear Talk: Production Setup at Grace Family Church 33:45 Current Church Production Tech Trends to Watch 39:30 Should Your Church Actually Buy an LED Wall? 42:45 Church Tech Disaster: "Are You on Fire, or Am I?" 47:00 Keep Sundays Running Take our survey here and you'll get the full report emailed to you December 4th! Check out HouseRight here to see why we recommend them as an integrator AND a great place to work! 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
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| Navigating Church Hurt & Knowing When to Quit [Stephen Brewster] | 06 Jul 2026 | 01:06:08 | |
What exactly is "Church Hurt," and how do you heal when the very place meant to provide spiritual safety becomes the source of your deepest pain? In this heavy but incredibly necessary episode, we are joined by creative leader Stephen Brewster. After kicking things off by discussing his journey in helping local churches write and produce their own original music, the conversation shifts to the painful reality of serving in ministry. Stephen opens up about his own personal experiences with church hurt and explains why we might need to reframe the conversation from "the church hurt me" to "broken people hurt me." In this episode you'll hear: 0:00 Intro Antics 5:30 Stephen Brewster: Helping Churches Release Original Music 13:30 Defining "Church Hurt" in Modern Ministry 25:00 Stephen’s Personal Story of Church Hurt 33:00 Reframing the Pain: "Church Hurt" vs. "People Hurt Me" 41:00 Why You Still Need to Go Back to Church 54:00 How to Be a Solution to Toxic Church Culture 57:00 Thinking of Quitting Ministry? Start Here. Take our survey here and you'll get the full report emailed to you December 4th! Check out HouseRight here to see why we recommend them as an integrator AND a great place to work! 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
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| Inside North Point Church: Tech Setups & Volunteer Culture [Bailey Binder] | 29 Jun 2026 | 00:45:35 | |
How does one of the most influential mega-churches in the country handle their production, and what makes their team culture so unique? In this episode, we are joined by Bailey Binder of North Point Church. We dive into the personal journey of making the massive decision to move out of state for a new ministry role. Then, we pull back the curtain on North Point, breaking down what makes their church culture so wildly different, how their massive church tech setups are designed, and the exact strategies they use to manage their production volunteers. In this episode you'll hear: 0:00 Intro: Blake & Toby’s Lifetime Achievement Awards 4:45 Bailey Binder (North Point Church) Joins 11:00 Navigating a Move to an Out-of-State Church Role 15:30 What Makes North Point Church's Culture So Different? 25:30 Behind the Scenes: The North Point Church Tech Setup 28:15 How North Point Manages Production Volunteers 34:15 Church Tech Disaster Story 37:30 Keep Sundays Running: The Importance of Self-Care Take our survey here and you'll get the full report emailed to you December 4th! Check out HouseRight here to see why we recommend them as an integrator AND a great place to work! 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
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| Volunteer-Heavy Ministries & Taking A Sunday Off [Jeremy | 22 Jun 2026 | 00:51:25 | |
As a Technical Director, when was the last time you were actually able to take a Sunday off? If your church relies heavily on volunteers, stepping away from the tech booth can feel completely impossible. We also tackle the massive, ongoing debate regarding the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in church tech. Is it a helpful tool or a dangerous shortcut? Finally, we share a hilarious Church Tech Disaster story and wrap up with a crucial reminder: the only way to keep Sundays running long-term is by providing actual, genuine care for your team. In this episode you'll hear: 0:00 Intro: Touring Atlanta Churches 6:30 Jeremy McKee Joins 12:45 Running a Volunteer-Heavy Production Ministry 28:00 Which Tech Workflows You Should Automate 34:15 The Big Question: Can a Tech Director Take a Sunday Off? 39:15 Should Your Church Be Using AI in Production? 42:30 Church Tech Disaster Story 45:45 Keep Sundays Running: Genuine Volunteer Care Take our survey here and you'll get the full report emailed to you December 4th! Check out HouseRight here to see why we recommend them as an integrator AND a great place to work! 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
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| Christian Magicians, Blind Tech Booths & Hosting SALT Conference | 15 Jun 2026 | 00:55:42 | |
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 Events 4:00 Luke McElroy (Founder of SALT Conference) Joins 8:45 The Origin Story of the SALT Conference 15:30 Behind the Scenes: Running Events for Creatives 18:15 The Eternal Impact of Worship and Production Teams 22:50 The Pressure of Designing a Conference For Creatives 26:30 Storytime: The Christian Magicians Disaster 35:40 The Big Debate: Should Church Production Use AI? 45:20 Church Tech Disaster Story: "We Couldn’t See a Thing" Take our survey here and you'll get the full report emailed to you December 4th! Check out HouseRight here to see why we recommend them as an integrator AND a great place to work! 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
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| Streamlining AVL Gear & The Battle of a Lifetime [Josh Suender] | 08 Jun 2026 | 00:55:37 | |
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 Leading 5:30 Josh Suender (Faith Community Church) Joins 7:45 Josh’s Start in Church Production 11:20 Assessing the Production Baseline at a New Job 14:00 The First Steps to Level Up Your Church Production 16:20 Creative AVL Moves to Streamline Your Tech 28:45 Keeping MultiTracks from Getting "Weird" on Stage 30:15 Implementing Bitfocus Companion in Your Setup 36:00 Josh’s Battle for His Life: A Stage 4 Diagnosis 48:15 Keep Sundays Running Take our survey here and you'll get the full report emailed to you December 4th! Check out HouseRight here to see why we recommend them as an integrator AND a great place to work! 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
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| How Much Do You HAVE To Care? [Willow Hodge] | 01 Jun 2026 | 00:50:38 | |
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 People 5:00 Willow Hodge (Hope Fellowship Church) Joins 8:45 Willow’s Start in Church Production 11:15 The Golden Rule of Tech: Why People Matter Most 20:00 Timecode Debate: How Much Should Your Service Depend On It? 22:15 The Minimum Standard of Care for Tech Volunteers 33:40 The Power and Benefits of Women in Church Production 39:00 How to Actively Recruit More Women to Your Tech Team 41:15 Church Tech Volunteer Disaster Story 44:15 Keep Sundays Running: Ask Questions and Listen Take our survey here and you'll get the full report emailed to you December 4th! Check out HouseRight here to see why we recommend them as an integrator AND a great place to work! 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
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| The Clayton Gregory Incident & Remote Church Mixes [James Hurley] | 25 May 2026 | 00:59:56 | |
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 Hijinks 6:45 James Hurley Joins the Podcast 8:00 From NASA to Church Tech: Production at the Highest Level 11:00 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 Works 27:15 Should Your Church Transition to Remote Mixing? 38:30 Storytime: The Clayton Gregory Incident 47:30 How to Communicate with Your Pastor When You're Frustrated 50:15 Church Production Disaster Story 55:15 Keep Sundays Running: The Power of Fellowship Take our survey here and you'll get the full report emailed to you December 4th! Check out HouseRight here to see why we recommend them as an integrator AND a great place to work! 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
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| Mixing for NF, Subwoofer Setups & Timecode [Travis Stoker] | 18 May 2026 | 01:05:43 | |
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 Experiences 4:50 Travis Stoker (NF’s FOH Engineer) Joins 6:15 Travis’s Journey to Mixing for NF 12:00 How to Mix Audio for Rap and Hip-Hop 15:00 Gear Talk: What is Travis Using on Tour? 20:30 Using Backing Tracks: Concerts vs. Church 33:15 The Debate: Should Your Church Use Timecode? 36:00 Do FOH Engineers Need System Design Knowledge? 42:45 Subwoofer Setups for Mixing Heavy Low-End 50:00 Live Production Disaster Story 59:30 Keep Sundays Running: The Power of Teams Take our survey here and you'll get the full report emailed to you December 4th! Check out HouseRight here to see why we recommend them as an integrator AND a great place to work! 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
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| When to Pause an Integration & Stop Overspending on Gear [Neil Brown] | 11 May 2026 | 00:51:28 | |
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) Joins 13:00 When to Pause and Reevaluate Mid-Integration 24:30 Moving from "Band-Aid" Fixes to Full AVL Upgrades 31:30 Cool Production Life Hacks on a Tight Budget 38:15 What Churches Are Spending Too Much Money On 42:00 Safety Warning: Double-Check Your Rigging! 46:00 Keep Sundays Running: Avoid Last-Minute Changes Take our survey here and you'll get the full report emailed to you December 4th! Check out HouseRight here to see why we recommend them as an integrator AND a great place to work! 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
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| Assaulted in the Booth! + The Gear vs. Acoustics Debate [Celebration Church's Ivan Diaz] | 04 May 2026 | 00:48:46 | |
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:
Take our survey here and you'll get the full report emailed to you December 4th! Check out HouseRight here to see why we recommend them as an integrator AND a great place to work! 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
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| Immersive Mixing, Brownouts, & Blackouts [Community Bible Church's Eric Allen] | 27 Apr 2026 | 00:59:01 | |
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 hear 0:00 Intro: Toby & Blake Are Bad at First Dates 5:30 Eric Allen (Community Bible Church) Joins 8:45 Managing Explosive Church Growth 12:30 Integrating Production and Worship Teams 14:16 Uniting a Multi-Site Worship Experience 22:00 Defining Immersive Audio in a Church Setting 24:00 Things to Consider Before Upgrading to Immersive 28:30 The Real Benefits of Immersive-Based Mixing 39:30 Weighing the Decision: Is Immersive Worth the Cost? 42:48 Tech Disaster Story 1: The Brownout 47:25 Tech Disaster Story 2: The Blackout 51:45 Keep Sundays Running: The Work You Do Monday to Friday Take our survey here and you'll get the full report emailed to you December 4th! Check out HouseRight here to see why we recommend them as an integrator AND a great place to work! 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
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| Production, Gear & Pastor Life Hacks in Africa [Estian Els] | 20 Apr 2026 | 00:53:22 | |
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 Podcast 9:04 Estian’s Start in Church Production 17:30 Gear Talk: Production for a 7,000-Person Church in Africa 19:50 The Supply Chain Struggle: Getting AVL Gear in Africa 24:45 Life Hack: Take Your Pastor to the FILO Conference 34:30 The Current State of the Church in Africa 37:30 What the American Church Can Learn from the African Church 44:00 Church Tech Disaster Story 47:00 Keep Sundays Running Take our survey here and you'll get the full report emailed to you December 4th! Check out HouseRight here to see why we recommend them as an integrator AND a great place to work! 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
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| Navigating a Moral Failure & Leading Tech Through Crisis [Gateway Church's Will Martin] | 13 Apr 2026 | 01:02:38 | |
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 Miracles 6:14 Will Martin (Gateway Church) Joins 10:45 The Fallout: Navigating a Pastor's Moral Failure 18:00 Leading a Tech Team Through a Church Crisis 27:30 The Reality of Staff Turnover After a Scandal 32:30 How Moral Failures Impact Church Attendance 35:00 Should Lead Pastors Be Held to a Higher Standard? 47:30 Supporting Church Leadership During a Crisis 52:30 Gateway Church's Transition to a New Pastor 57:00 Keep Sundays Running: Knowing Your "Why" Take our survey here and you'll get the full report emailed to you December 4th! Check out HouseRight here to see why we recommend them as an integrator AND a great place to work! 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
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| Communicating Your Value as a Technical Artist [FILO's Todd Elliott] | 06 Apr 2026 | 00:59:26 | |
How do you communicate your actual value to your church leadership without overwhelming them with tech jargon? In this episode, we are joined by FILO Founder Todd Elliott. Todd shares the origin story of how FILO was created to support the often-overlooked production community. We dive into a deep conversation about the title of "Technical Artist," why using intentional tech jargon to sound smart usually backfires with your senior pastor, and the best ways to bridge the communication gap between the tech booth and the executive team. In this episode you'll hear:
Take our survey here and you'll get the full report emailed to you December 4th! Check out HouseRight here to see why we recommend them as an integrator AND a great place to work! 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
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| Cheap LED Walls, Minimum Budgets & Live Stream Strategy [People's Church | Eduardo Rivera] | 30 Mar 2026 | 00:50:06 | |
When money is tight, is it ever a good idea to buy a cheap, imported LED wall? In this episode, we sit down with Eduardo Rivera from People's Church to tackle the harsh realities of church tech budgets. We discuss how to start upgrading your gear when your budget is basically zero, and how to coach volunteer teams who yearn for new gear. Topics Covered: Prioritizing budgets: Live Stream vs. In-Person Worship The hidden costs of cheap LED walls Defining production excellence without comparing your church to others Gear and setups currently used at People's Church Leading and coaching tech volunteers who suffer from "Gear Acquisition Syndrome" In this episode you'll hear: 0:00 Stop Paying to Store Used AVL Gear 5:55 Eduardo Rivera from People's Church Joins 8:15 Eduardo’s Start in Church Tech 13:30 Defining Production Excellence at People's Church 15:45 The "Church Down the Street" Comparison Trap 19:45 Gear Talk: What is People's Church Using? 23:00 Budget Strategy: Live Stream vs. The Auditorium 25:00 Should You Buy a Cheap LED Wall? 34:15 Where to Start When Your AVL Budget is Zero 36:45 Coaching Techs Who Always Want New Gear 39:49 Church Tech Disaster Story 44:44 Tech Takeaway: Always Carry a Flashlight Take our survey here and you'll get the full report emailed to you December 4th! Check out HouseRight here to see why we recommend them as an integrator AND a great place to work! 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
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| Are We Failing The Next Generation? [Lauren Daigle's FOH Gene Kim] | 23 Mar 2026 | 01:05:39 | |
Is the church doing enough to invest in the next generation of technical artists? And how do you balance the pressure for a "perfect" Sunday mix with the need to let young volunteers make mistakes and learn? In this episode you'll hear: 0:00 HouseRight Event Recap & Listener Shoutouts 6:15 Gene Kim (Lauren Daigle’s FOH Engineer) Joins 12:30 Are We Investing in the Next Generation of Church Techs? 32:30 Mentorship: Allowing Volunteers to Make Mistakes 37:30 Core Topics for Mentoring Young Audio Engineers 46:00 What It's Like Mixing FOH for Lauren Daigle 48:00 Gear Talk: Gene Kim’s Favorite Audio Tools Right Now 57:00 Disaster Story: “Take it all off” 1:00:30 Tech Takeaway: Providing Peace of Mind Take our survey here and you'll get the full report emailed to you December 4th! Check out HouseRight here to see why we recommend them as an integrator AND a great place to work! 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
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| Tornados, Helicopters & Executive Requests with Mac Brown [2nd Baptist Houston] | 16 Mar 2026 | 00:52:45 | |
How do you lead your church tech team after a tornado has lifted off your church's roof? In this episode, we are joined by Mac Brown of Second Baptist Church in Houston, TX. We start by tackling the tension between the pulpit and the tech booth before diving into one of the wildest stories we've ever heard on the podcast: leading a church tech team after a literal tornado ripped the roof off their building. In this episode you'll hear: 0:00 Pastor vs. Production: Who Wins Setup Disputes? 6:30 Mac Brown (Second Baptist Houston) Joins 8:30 When a Tornado Rips the Roof Off Your Church 10:30 Mac’s Start in Church Production 17:45 Leading a Tech Team Through a Tornado Disaster 23:00 Acoustic Treatment vs. Room Aesthetics 25:00 Lessons from Portable Church to Permanent Building 28:30 Did Pastor Ed Young Take a Helicopter Between Services? 31:00 Second Houston’s Most Difficult Production Projects 34:15 Communicating Unrealistic Executive Requests to Your Team 40:45 Church Tech Disaster Story 43:45 Tech Takeaway Take our survey here and you'll get the full report emailed to you December 4th! Check out HouseRight here to see why we recommend them as an integrator AND a great place to work! 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
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| Don't Buy A DiGiCo 338 [Spencer De Young & Dillan Howell] | 09 Mar 2026 | 01:01:13 | |
Is buying the best, most expensive gear always the right answer to your church's production problems? (Spoiler alert: Usually not.) In this special episode recorded live at MxU, we are joined by Spencer De Young and Dillan Howell. We dive straight into the controversial stuff, discussing exactly why your church probably shouldn't buy a DiGiCo 338 console and the hard truth about whether you actually need a giant LED wall. In this episode you'll hear: 0:00 The "Great Gear Fixes Everything" Myth 4:30 Spencer De Young & Dillan Howell (Live at MxU) Join 6:30 Why Your Church Shouldn’t Buy a DiGiCo 338 17:00 Are AVL Integrators Overselling to Churches? 20:45 How to Choose the Right AVL Gear for Your Room 36:00 The Hard Truth About Giant LED Walls 41:15 What New Tech Volunteers Actually Need 48:45 Storytime: Getting "Blaked" at MxU 52:30 Tech Takeaway: Spend Church Budget Like It’s Yours Take our survey here and you'll get the full report emailed to you December 4th! Check out HouseRight here to see why we recommend them as an integrator AND a great place to work! 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
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| Church Techs Perish Without Community [Celebration Church's Christian Acevedo] | 02 Mar 2026 | 00:46:46 | |
Serving in the production booth can be incredibly isolating. Without a strong culture, church tech volunteers and staff often burn out in silence. So, how do you fix it? In this episode, we sit down with Christian Acevedo of Celebration Church to talk about the life-saving power of community in church production. In this episode you'll hear:
Take our survey here and you'll get the full report emailed to you December 4th! Check out HouseRight here to see why we recommend them as an integrator AND a great place to work! 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
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| AVL Budgets, LED Walls & Mixing for Matt Redman [Aaron Ruse] | 23 Feb 2026 | 00:52:01 | |
How do you allocate a new church build budget between Audio, Video, and Lighting? And at what church size does production start to get exponentially more expensive? In this episode, we sit down with Aaron Ruse (former Technical Director at Saddleback Church and FOH engineer for Matt Redman) to break down the reality of modern church production. Before diving into the interview, the guys react to the massive production behind the Super Bowl Halftime Show. In this episode you'll hear:
Take our survey here and you'll get the full report emailed to you December 4th! Check out HouseRight here to see why we recommend them as an integrator AND a great place to work! 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
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| Inside Willow Creek Production & The Leadership vs. Tech Debate [Max Brown] | 16 Feb 2026 | 01:00:13 | |
When hiring a new church tech director, should you look for the person with the most technical knowledge or the best leadership potential? And if you are currently in the role, which skill set should you be developing first? In this episode, we are joined by Max Brown (formerly of Willow Creek Church) to tackle the age-old debate of Competence vs. Character. Max shares his experience running production at one of the most influential churches in the country, revealing the reality of their team size and workflows. In this episode you'll hear: 0:00 Blake’s Beach Blunder 4:45 Max Brown (Former Willow Creek) Joins 9:00 Principles of Leading Church Production 13:00 Debate: Developing Leadership vs. Technical Skills 22:00 Hiring Strategy: Character vs. Competence? 28:30 Inside Production at Willow Creek Church 32:20 Can You Run a Sunday Service with Just Tracks? 34:45 Willow Creek’s Production Team Size 46:20 Is Church Production an Art or a Science? 51:30 Tech Takeaway Take our survey here and you'll get the full report emailed to you December 4th! Check out HouseRight here to see why we recommend them as an integrator AND a great place to work! 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
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| Immersive Audio & Remote Mixing in Church? [Worship Sound Guy's Johnny Ragin] | 09 Feb 2026 | 00:57:08 | |
If you had a limited budget, would you spend it on a better PA system or a better mixing console? And with all the hype around spatial audio, should your church actually be looking at Immersive Audio installs? In this episode, we are joined by Johnny Ragin, the face behind Worship Sound Guy, and we dive deep into the gear debates every church tech has. In this episode you'll hear: 0:00 Handling Unsolicited Feedback 5:00 Johnny Ragin (Worship Sound Guy) Joins 7:00 Segment: Five Truths & A Lie 16:45 Johnny’s Start in Church Production 21:15 Overcoming the Tech "Knowledge Gap" 25:15 Training New Audio Volunteers 27:45 Debate: Better PA vs. Better Console? 28:45 Overused Production Effects & Tools 33:00 Real Talk: Church Drum Budgets 34:45 Is Immersive Audio Worth It for Churches? 37:45 The Pros & Cons of Remote Mixing 47:45 Rapid Fire: Favorite Audio Consoles 49:00 Favorite PA System of All Time 49:25 Favorite Audio Plugin 51:00 Tech Takeaway: Keep It Simple Take our survey here and you'll get the full report emailed to you December 4th! Check out HouseRight here to see why we recommend them as an integrator AND a great place to work! 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
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| Taking Strategic Risks in Production & Starting a New Role [John Williams] | 02 Feb 2026 | 00:48:54 | |
Taking risks in church production is terrifying. If you try something new and it fails, everyone notices. But if you never take risks, your production gets stale. So, how do you find the balance? In this episode, we sit down with John Williams, Production Director at Church of the King, to discuss how to push your church forward with strategic risks. We cover how to approach the first few months of a new church tech role, the safest ways to test new gear or workflows on a Sunday, and how to have difficult conversations with your pastor when a volunteer makes a mistake. In this episode you'll hear: 0:00 Intro: The Biggest Risks We’ve Ever Taken 5:00 John Williams (Church of the King) Joins 6:15 John’s Origin Story in Production 15:00 Starting a New Role: The First 90 Days Strategy 18:30 Taking Strategic Risks on Sunday Mornings 22:00 Safe Ways to Test New Gear & Workflows 35:30 Handling Volunteer Mistakes with Your Pastor 38:45 Disaster Story: A Squirrel Destroyed Our Service 43:45 Tech Takeaway: Keep the Main Thing the Main Thing Take our survey here and you'll get the full report emailed to you December 4th! Check out HouseRight here to see why we recommend them as an integrator AND a great place to work! 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
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| From Tech Director to Executive Pastor [Fellowship Grapevine's Dave Clark] | 26 Jan 2026 | 01:01:42 | |
In this episode, we explore the rare but inspiring career path from Production Director to Executive Pastor. We are joined by Dave Clark of Fellowship Church (Grapevine) to discuss how he transitioned from technical leadership to executive leadership. We break down the difference between treating ministry as a "job" versus a "calling," and Dave shares practical advice on how tech directors can build trust with senior pastors and get "unstuck" when they feel stagnant. In this episode you'll hear: 0:00 Toby’s Church Planting Story 6:30 Dave Clark (Fellowship Church Grapevine) Joins 14:30 Defining Ministry: A Job vs. A Calling 17:00 Career Path: From Tech Director to Executive Pastor 21:45 How to Minister to Production Volunteers 27:00 Getting "Unstuck" in Your Ministry Career 29:00 Building Trust with Senior Leadership 38:00 Pastor Ed Young’s Wildest Production Requests 48:00 Staying Calm During a Tech Disaster 53:00 Avoiding "Imaginary Arguments" 54:15 Tech Takeaway: Ask Questions to Understand 55:45 C3 Conference Preview You can sign up for the C3 Conference with this link to get a special rate discount from $229 to $99. https://brushfire.com/fellowship/c3conference2026/598770/register?typeCode=C3COMEBACK Take our survey here and you'll get the full report emailed to you December 4th! Check out HouseRight here to see why we recommend them as an integrator AND a great place to work! 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
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| Lessons from Lauren Daigle & Tate McRae's Crew [Matt Potesta] | 12 Jan 2026 | 00:54:03 | |
In this episode, we sit down with Matt Potesta, System Engineer for artists like Lauren Daigle and Tate McRae. We dive deep into the high-stakes world of touring production, covering everything from how to land your first big road gig to the critical lessons every local church can learn about PA system tuning and system design. Whether you're looking to upgrade your sanctuary's sound or considering a jump into the professional touring industry, Matt shares the "real-world" costs of professional audio services and how to protect your health while working in a high-demand industry. In this episode you'll hear: 01:00 Banter: Surprise Parties and Tech Interventions 05:50 Guest Interview: Matt Potesta (Lauren Daigle & Tate McRae Tour) 08:00 Career Roadmap: Landing a World-Class Touring Production Job 13:00 Church Production vs. Touring: Pros, Cons, and Key Differences 19:00 How to "Pay Your Dues" and Break into the Pro Audio Industry 23:30 Touring System Design: Applying Road Lessons to Local Venues 26:50 Budgeting for Sound: How Much Does Professional PA Tuning Cost? 30:50 Should Churches Hire Independent Vetting for System Integrators? 38:30 Career Advice: When to Transition from Church Tech to the Road 43:20 Mental Health in Production: Prioritizing Health and Avoiding Burnout 45:30 Pro Touring Disaster Story: Lessons from the Road 48:00 Tech Takeaway: How to "Condition" Your Audience for Better Services Take our survey here and you'll get the full report emailed to you December 4th! Check out HouseRight here to see why we recommend them as an integrator AND a great place to work! 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
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| Don't Waste Your Event Budget: $50k Reality Check [Dillan Howell] | 05 Jan 2026 | 00:58:08 | |
Dillan Howell has run many large scale events. From corporate ballroom events to managing the artists for the Charlie Kirk Memorial, Dillan's see it all. What lessons has he learned from his time in large scale events that he would bring back to church production if he returned to a church tech role? In this episode you'll hear:
Take our survey here and you'll get the full report emailed to you December 4th! Check out HouseRight here to see why we recommend them as an integrator AND a great place to work! 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
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| Church Tech Confessional Awards [2025] | 29 Dec 2025 | 00:57:28 | |
Church techs confessed some absolutely wild things to us in 2025. -Volunteering so you can marry the tech director -The worst TV stage rollout possible -Deciding to "kill" the file for the spicy "Marriage Conference Talks" In this episodes you'll hear:
Take our survey here and you'll get the full report emailed to you December 4th! Check out HouseRight here to see why we recommend them as an integrator AND a great place to work! 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
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| Where to Splurge (and Save) on Gear + Ableton Hot Takes [Justin Hume] | 22 Dec 2025 | 00:47:19 | |
Stop us if you’ve heard this one: Leadership has a massive vision, but the tech budget doesn’t match the dream. This week, we sit down with Justin Hume from Cross Church to discuss how to bridge that gap without losing your mind. From planning your next console upgrade to the 'mission-critical' gear you should never buy cheap, we’re covering the practical side of church production—plus a spicy hot take on why Ableton-run lyrics might be a mistake." In this episode you'll hear:
Take our survey here and you'll get the full report emailed to you December 4th! Check out HouseRight here to see why we recommend them as an integrator AND a great place to work! 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
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| 9 Emmys & The Dallas Mavericks: High-Level Church Production [Dave Evans] | 15 Dec 2025 | 00:54:59 | |
What happens when you bring 9 Emmys and a background with the Dallas Mavericks into the church control room? You get a masterclass in production excellence. On today’s show, we’re joined by Dave Evans of Cottonwood Creek Church. We’re diving into the Broadcast vs. Cinema style debate, how AI tools are changing ministry, and practical ways to make your church production budget go further. Plus, stay tuned for a QR code disaster story that every tech director needs to hear." In this episode you'll hear:
Take our survey here and you'll get the full report emailed to you December 4th! Check out HouseRight here to see why we recommend them as an integrator AND a great place to work! 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
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| Too Much AI in Church Production? [Cottonwood Creek's Will Chapman] | 08 Dec 2025 | 00:57:13 | |
In this episode, Will Chapman from Cottonwood Creek Church joins us to explore the changing world of church production. We cover Crossroads Church’s LED wall vision, Gen Z’s worship preferences, and how AI, AR, and VR are shaping the future of Sunday services. A must-listen for church techs, worship leaders, and production volunteers looking ahead. In this episode you'll hear: 1:00 Crossroads Church’s LED wall vision + the future of church production Take our survey here and you'll get the full report emailed to you December 4th! Check out HouseRight here to see why we recommend them as an integrator AND a great place to work! 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
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| 7 Tips To Choose The Right Integrator [Luke Hesher] | 01 Dec 2025 | 01:02:05 | |
We've seen the disastrous effects of picking the wrong integrator for your church: over budget projects, late projects and even firings. How do you pick the right integrator for your church so your church body is served well? Luke Hesher joins us with 7 Tips to pick the right integrator for your church. Follow this playbook and you'll be setup for success when you start interviewing integrators. In this episode you'll hear: 1:00 Inside Toby’s Life.Church Production Tour Take our survey here and you'll get the full report emailed to you December 4th! Check out HouseRight here to see why we recommend them as an integrator AND a great place to work! 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
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| Red Rocks Production Playbook [Jesse O' Brien] | 24 Nov 2025 | 00:57:25 | |
If you increase your skills, can you get by with lower quality gear? Jesse O’Brien joins us this week to reveal the Red Rocks playbook for stretching a gear budget and still delivering excellent production quality. In this episode you'll hear: 1:00 – Toby crawls under the stage to fix church AVL integration issues Take our survey here and you'll get the full report emailed to you December 4th! Check out HouseRight here to see why we recommend them as an integrator AND a great place to work! 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
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