The ChurchGear Podcast
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.
Pay Series 2.0 - Salary Negotiating & Market Rate Determinators [Johnny Ragin]
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
Navigating Divorce on Church Staff [Justin Firesheets]
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:
Worst Tech Sunday of Your Life [Prestonwood's Mike Smith & Bryan Bailey]
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...
Will AI Replace Your Church Tech Team? [Jake Gosselin]
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...
Production at Church of the Highlands [Griffin McCravy]
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.
<...
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...
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:
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...
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.
...
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...
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.
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...
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 p...
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 a...
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...
Inside Sight & Sound Theatres: Disappearing LED Walls & Monitor Setups [Tim Zeager]
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 & S...
Can Non-Christians Serve in Tech? + The LED Wall Debate [Dave Bookhout]
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 De...
Navigating Church Hurt & Knowing When to Quit [Stephen Brewster]
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...
Inside North Point Church: Tech Setups & Volunteer Culture [Bailey Binder]
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...
Volunteer-Heavy Ministries & Taking A Sunday Off [Jeremy
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...
Christian Magicians, Blind Tech Booths & Hosting SALT Conference
How do you handle the immense pressure of designing a creative live event specifically for creatives? And as technology rapidly evolves, should church production teams be embracing or avoiding Artificial Intelligence (AI)?
In this episode, we are joined by Luke McElroy, the visionary founder of the SALT Conference and the SALT Community. Luke pulls back the curtain on the difficulty of live events, sharing the inspiring origin story of SALT and what it actually takes to run a massive gathering for church technical artists. We also zoom out to discuss the...
Streamlining AVL Gear & The Battle of a Lifetime [Josh Suender]
Where do you start when you want to level up the production at a new church? And how do you keep pushing forward when life throws you a devastating diagnosis?
In this episode, we are joined by Josh Suender of Faith Community Church (Clayton, NC). We start with some practical, high-value tech talk, breaking down the exact first steps you should take to level up your church production. Josh shares his favorite creative AVL gear moves to streamline your workflow, how to keep MultiTracks from getting "weird" and chaotic on stage, and the massive benefits of implementing...
How Much Do You HAVE To Care? [Willow Hodge]
We dive into the heart of volunteer leadership, discussing why people always matter more than the production, and establishing the true "minimum standard of care" every Technical Director owes their team.
Willow also shares incredible insights on the specific benefits of having more women in church production and actionable strategies for how to recruit them.
In this episode you'll hear:
0:00 Intro: Toby Hates Talking to People
5:00 Willow Hodge (Hope Fellowship Church) Joins
8:45 Wi...
The Clayton Gregory Incident & Remote Church Mixes [James Hurley]
James breaks down the actual logistics of how remote mixing works, the philosophical question of whether online audiences are actually engaging in worship or just watching a sermon, and if your church should make the transition to a remote setup.
We also discuss practical leadership strategies for communicating with a frustrating pastor, recap our FILO 2026 hijinks, and comment on the details of the infamous "Clayton Gregory Incident."
In this episode you'll hear:
0:00 Intro: FILO 2026 Conference Hijinks
6:45 James Hurley Joins the Podcast
...Mixing for NF, Subwoofer Setups & Timecode [Travis Stoker]
What does it take to mix Front of House for a massive arena rap tour? And how can church technical directors apply those touring strategies to a Sunday morning service?
In this episode, we are joined by Travis Stoker, the Front of House (FOH) Engineer for chart-topping rapper NF. Travis pulls back the curtain on NF's live audio setup, sharing exactly how he approaches mixing live rap and hip-hop, the specific gear he's taking on tour, and his secrets for managing massive subwoofer setups to get that perfect low-end punch.
<...When to Pause an Integration & Stop Overspending on Gear [Neil Brown]
How long can you keep your church's production running on "Band-Aid" fixes before you finally need a complete AVL upgrade? And how do you pitch that massive expense to your leadership team?
In this episode, we are joined by Neil Brown of Henderson Hills Church to talk about smart budgeting, integration, and safety. Neil breaks down how to have the difficult conversation with leadership about moving from cheap, temporary fixes to a strategic, full-scale AVL upgrade. He also explains why it's okay to hit pause mid-integration if a project is heading...
Assaulted in the Booth! + The Gear vs. Acoustics Debate [Celebration Church's Ivan Diaz]
How do you convince your senior pastor to approve the new AVL gear your church desperately needs? And if budgets get slashed, do you sacrifice your gear upgrades or your room's acoustic treatment?
In this episode, we are joined by the team from City Church to tackle the hardest parts of church production leadership. We break down the strategy of using your church's specific vision to pick the right gear, rather than just the most expensive gear. We also dive into the technical weeds with a guide to Objective-Based Mixing and...
Immersive Mixing, Brownouts, & Blackouts [Community Bible Church's Eric Allen]
Is the hype around immersive audio actually worth the massive investment for your church? And how do you keep your production and worship teams united when your church is experiencing explosive, multi-site growth?
In this episode, we are joined by Eric Allen, Audio Engineer at Community Bible Church (CBC) in San Antonio. We start by unpacking what it takes to manage production across a rapidly growing, multi-site congregation, including exactly how CBC bridges the gap between the worship band and the tech booth.
<...
Production, Gear & Pastor Life Hacks in Africa [Estian Els]
In this episode, we are joined by Estian Els to get a global perspective on church tech. We dive into the realities of running a massive 7,000-person church in Africa, breaking down exactly what gear they use and the unique struggles of navigating international supply chains to get it.
Estian also shares a brilliant leadership hack: why you need to bring your senior pastor to the FILO Conference. Finally, we zoom out to discuss the broader state of the global church, exploring exactly what the American church needs to learn from...
Navigating a Moral Failure & Leading Tech Through Crisis [Gateway Church's Will Martin]
In this heavy but incredibly important episode, we are joined by Will Martin of Gateway Church. Will shares the raw reality of navigating one of the most publicized church crises in recent history. We discuss the immediate emotional toll on the production team, how to lead volunteers through the shock, and the harsh realities of staff turnover and attendance drops following a major scandal.
In this episode you'll hear:
0:00 Intro: False Miracles
6:14 Will Martin (Gateway Church) Joins
10:45...
Communicating Your Value as a Technical Artist [FILO's Todd Elliott]
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.
Cheap LED Walls, Minimum Budgets & Live Stream Strategy [People's Church | Eduardo Rivera]
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
Are We Failing The Next Generation? [Lauren Daigle's FOH Gene Kim]
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
3...
Tornados, Helicopters & Executive Requests with Mac Brown [2nd Baptist Houston]
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 Pa...
Don't Buy A DiGiCo 338 [Spencer De Young & Dillan Howell]
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 Y...
Church Techs Perish Without Community [Celebration Church's Christian Acevedo]
![Church Techs Perish Without Community [Celebration Church's Christian Acevedo] episode artwork](https://storage.buzzsprout.com/kzzqoadfftn0y1y9rv4zw6kremdc?.jpg)
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:
0:00 Intro: Snowstorms & "The Mix" Events5:30 Christian Acevedo (Celebration Church) Joins9:40 Christian’s Journey to Celebration Church1...AVL Budgets, LED Walls & Mixing for Matt Redman [Aaron Ruse]
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:
0:00 Production B...Inside Willow Creek Production & The Leadership vs. Tech Debate [Max Brown]
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...
Immersive Audio & Remote Mixing in Church? [Worship Sound Guy's Johnny Ragin]
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 Gu...
Taking Strategic Risks in Production & Starting a New Role [John Williams]
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...
