The ChurchGear Podcast

Touring Life + Willow Creek Production + Christ's Church of the Valley = A Production Pro. 

Ivan Talamantes (Christ’s Church of the Valley, Willow Creek) shares his journey from touring pro to church tech leader. He gives us insights on volunteers, gear, and the best (and worst) audio consoles in church production!

In this episode you'll hear: 

1:00 🎙️ Toby never set a lineup in the CG Fantasy Football League4:45 🎛️ Special Guest: Ivan Talamantes from Christ’s Church of the Valley10:00 🎚️ How Ivan got started in church production12:00 🎤 Behind the scenes of Willow Creek C...

How can you connect with fellow church production friends to navigate the journey of church tech together?

Todd Elliott joins us to share church tech disaster stories, tips for effectively communicating with leadership, and how to build meaningful friendships in the church production space—so you never have to walk the journey alone.

In this episode you'll hear: 

1:00 What happened to the back tracks at the inauguration?7:00 Todd Elliott joins us! 9:00 Five Truths and a Lie for FILO 2025 16:00 What is the FILO conference? 23:20 Disaster Story: “I prayed to God and my p...

"What’s it like to marry someone from your church production team—and then keep working side by side every Sunday? Let’s talk about it!"

Alexa and Daniel join us for a special Valentine’s Day episode! Hear how their shared passion for church production led them to find love—not just in their work, but in each other. Plus, all the unique challenges and surprises that come with being married to your church production co-worker!

In this episode you'll hear: 

1:00 How Church Production Led Toby to His...

How do you do church production in Las Vegas?


Ryan Fuller joins us this week to discuss Central Church's gear setup, approach to production and sources for inspiration.


In this episode you'll hear: 

1:00 Toby’s first Vegas trip 6:20 Ryan Fuller joins us from Central Church in Vegas 12:20 How did Ryan get into church production at Central Church? 15:30 What AVL productions do you watch for inspiration? 16:30 How do you do church production in Las Vegas? 20:00 Why is Central Church moving from Red Cameras to Cannon?22:45 How does Central Church in Vegas use came...

How do you balance expectations and budgets simultaneously?


Chase Donald works in production at Red Rocks church and he joins us to discuss balancing expectations, maximizing gear, and focusing on your church's unique production goals. 


In this episode you'll hear: 

1:00 What games did ChurchGear play at the annual retreat? 4:15 Chase Donald joins us! 13:00 How did Chase get a job in church production at Red Rocks Church? 14:45 How does Red Rocks do so much production on a tight budget? 32:00 How do you balance budget and expectations? 35:30 What should production people focus on impr...

How do you pick the perfect conference to further your skills and networking?


We run through the list of conferences to consider in 2025, the various reasons to go and end on some tips to pitch for budget to attend.


In this episode you'll hear: 

1:00 Toby causing chaos at SALT and the Amplio Golf Tournament 10:45 How did Jerod get into church production ministry? 12:24 Planning and Budgeting for Conferences18:30 NAB and InfoComm conference 29:37 Maximizing Conference Benefits for Church Techs27:30 What will you takeaway from a church production conference?32:00 How do you get invi...

How do you draw inspiration from other churches without also bringing expectations to make your church service be just like theirs?


Stephen Sheppard is the Broadcast Engineer for Elevation Church and he joins us this week to discuss gear, live streams and the importance of staying true to your church's vision.

In this episode you'll hear: 

0:30 Toby’s new favorite church production celebrity 3:30 Shep joins the podcast! 14:30 How did you get involved in church production? 17:40 Who does Shep look to for inspiration? 20:45 How are you making the Elevation Livestream right now? 26:30 What adv...

What factors should you consider when deciding whether to stay or leave a church tech job?

Slingshot helps churches with their talent searches. They joined us on the podcast to give their advice on the nuances of staying or leaving a church production job and the factors influencing that decision.

We discuss self-awareness, effective resume building, hiring dynamics, and important salary negotiations, ultimately encouraging listeners to focus on personal growth and meaningful ministry.

In this episode you'll hear: 

0:00 Two Idiots Make a Podcast13:17 Navigating Career Transitions and Interviews17:45 How do y...

How will AI change church production jobs?


Kenny Jahng joins us to discuss how AI will help, change and shape church production.


In this episode you'll hear: 

1:00 Podcast editing failure & Toby cheats on Blake3:00 Kenny Jahng joins us from SALT Conference 8:30 How can AI help church production people do work easier? 16:30 What church production jobs will AI replace? 18:30 Will AI impact every church tech job? 26:25 Tech Takeaway: How to introduce AI to your Tech Team 29:16 Church Tech Confessional: I started delaying the worship leader click track 

Whether you're looking for you...

What were the best Church Tech Confessionals in 2024? 


Listen to all of 2024's Church Tech Confessionals in a single episode and then hang with us as we give our reactions and crown a winner for the best Church Tech Confessional of the 2024 year. 


In this episode you'll hear: 

1:00 Blake confesses: Where is the camera card? 4:50 Blake confesses: Vehicular Misplacement 16:50 2024’s Church Tech Confessionals 33:15 What were our hot takes from the Church Tech Confessionals?53:15 What was the top Church Tech Confessional of 2024? 56:30 Chris Tomlin Tour Prank 

Whether you're loo...

What church production history and wisdom do you pick up when you've been in the game for 45 years? 


Kent Morris joins the ChurchGear podcast this week to discuss the changes he has seen over the years, the lessons he has picked up along the way and he ends on some very encouraging words for those currently in the tech trenches. 


In this episode you'll hear: 

1:00 Hanging out at Church of the Highlands 5:10 Kent Morris of Sweetwater joins us!16:45 How did Kent get into church production? 20:00 What was church production like 45 years...

How do you know when it is time to change churches and take a new church production job?


Dennis Choy joins us this week to discuss his new job and the process he went through to make the decision. If you're looking for real life insight into the good and bad reasons to change church production jobs, this is your episode. 


In this episode you'll hear:

1:00 Toby doesn’t know who Pentatonix is?5:00 Dennis Choy joins us!11:30 Dennis’s background in church production 15:45 Good and bad reasons to change church tech j...

How do you lead your production team after a devastating hurricane hits?


Tyler Flores is the Central Production Minister of Biltmore Church, and he joins the podcast to discuss how the church is helping the community in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.



In this episode you'll hear: 

1:00 Funny observations of celebrity golf tournaments 5:30 Tyler Flores, the Central Production Minister of Biltmore Church, joins! 14:00 How did Tyler become the Central Production Minister of Biltmore Church? 16:40 How did Hurricane Helene impact Biltmore Church? 21:15 How did Biltmore Church pivot to help the commu...

How do you recover from Church Hurt?  


Lee Fields joins us this week to discuss Church Hurt. We get into his journey to recover and the reflections he has had now that some time and counseling have happened. 


In this episode you'll hear:

1:00 Speculating about the Mike Tyson & Jake Paul fight3:15 Lee Fields joins 8:00 Lee’s UFC fight story 10:00 What goes into pulling off production for a UFC fight?13:00 Five Truths and a Lie with Lee Fields 24:00 What's it like Mixing for Hillsong United? 25:00 Is every worship band the same right now? 32:30 How do yo...

What are Christmas services like in Portland, Oregon?


Peter Zatsepin is a Production Technician at Mannahouse Church and he joins us this week to discuss preparing for Christmas.


In this episode you'll hear: 

1:00 How much does the weather impact your mood? 4:30 Peter Zatsepin joins us from Mannahouse Church!14:00 How did you get into church production?18:30 What's it like doing church in Portland Oregon?21:50 What is it like prepping Christmas services for Mannahouse church? 24:15 How do you maintain your health during the Christmas Service Season? 27:00 How do you communicate the upcoming chur...

Your church needs you as their church tech to be their integrator. Now what?


Eric Mooney is the Audio Director at Dream City Church and he joins us to tell us his journey of going from youth pastor, to audio director, to integration work for his church. 


In this episode you'll hear: 

1:00 Toby meeting Blake for the first time3:45 Eric Mooney joins us! 17:00 Eric’s church production background 23:30 Becoming a system integrator on the fly 35:00 Learning to lead in church production 38:00 Learning to become a church tech quickly 43:15 Church Tech Disaster...

What happens when you pit two audio experts against one another in a mixing Battle Royale conversation? 

Drew Hester and Jeff Sandstrom are too polite to fully fight it out in a Battle Royale, but they both join us for our first "fight it out" episode in the church production space. Join us for takes on what matters most in audio, the best consoles for the best situations and the best audio disaster stories. 


In this episode you'll hear: 

1:00 People telling Toby to turn it down 4:00 How to know when it’s too...

How do you respond when you are given 3 months to live?


Armando Fullwood joins us this week to tell us what his health journey taught him about faith, life and mixing.


In this episode you'll hear:

1:00 Mixing behind glass windows 4:45 Armando Fullwood joins us!11:00 How did you get into live production?15:00 What is happening in live production outside of church?19:30 How can you prevent burnout? 22:20 What a health crisis taught Armando about Mixing and Life 27:30 How to stay healthy as you mix 38:00 Disaster story: The console just blew up 41:30 Tech Takea...

What's it like running audio for a Vegas residency?


Todd joins the pod to tell us about running sound for Miranda Lambert in Vegas, a disaster story and we wrap with a church tech confessional.


In this episode you'll hear:

1:00 Touring Willow Creek Church5:00 Todd Wines joins us 16:00 How did Todd get into church production? 22:00 Running FOH for Miranda Lambert in Vegas 29:30 Handling a bad source 36:00 Giving advice to your younger self 40:00 Disaster story 46:40 Tech Takeaway 49:40 Church Tech Confessional 

Resources for your Church Tech Ministry

Does y...

How do you end up mixing for legendary artists like Jay Z and Marilyn Manson?


Doug Kimball got into the mixing game early via editorials and he stops by the podcast this week to give us the lessons he learned along the way. We wrap with some wild disaster stories and a church tech confessional that'll have you laughing and cringing. 


In this episode you'll hear:

1:00 Meeting celebrities 4:45 Doug Kimball joins us!11:15 How did Doug get into production? 13:15 Mixing for Jay Z 16:00 How did Doug become the mixer for A leve...

How do you build a volunteer team when your main service is Saturday night?


Blair drops by to discuss their unusual service times, recruiting volunteers and wraps with multiple disaster stories.


In this episode you'll hear:

1:00 What do you do when your production gear gets stolen? 4:50 Blair Drake joins us! 13:00 How did Blair get started in church production? 16:15 How do they pull off their weekly services with their volunteers? 19:30 Where are you recruiting volunteers? 26:00 What big events do you do? 30:30 Disaster stories40:45 Church Tech Confessional 

Resources for you...