The RISE Leadership Podcast

Most of the Bible teaching at Cross Church doesn’t happen from a stage. It happens in small groups, kids’ classrooms, and student ministry rooms — led by Dream Team volunteers who have probably asked themselves, “Who am I to teach this?” 

Dr. Jeremy Dixon and Phil McMichael sit down with Dr. Chris Deitsch — Campus Pastor at Cross Church Pinnacle Hills and Professor of Biblical Exposition at Cross Theological Seminary — to talk about what it actually takes for ordinary people to handle God’s Word well.  

They talk about the three ditches lay teachers fall into (fear, casualness...

Luke Humphrey showed up at the University of Arkansas as a "good Christian kid" and was at his first college party within 48 hours. A few months later, sitting in a strip mall on Weddington at C3, he realized he knew about Jesus but had never surrendered his life to Him. 

Today Luke is the Discipleship Pastor at Cross Church Fayetteville. He's also one of the easiest people on our team to develop. In this episode, Jeremy and Phil talk with Luke about what it looks like to receive feedback without getting defensive, why humility has to come b...

Eleven years ago, Pablo Daut and his wife Flor moved from Spain to Northwest Arkansas to start a Spanish-speaking ministry inside Cross Church beginning with one couple and a cup of coffee. Cross Church Español has since grown to 1,000+ on a Sunday, and now a second campus is launching. Pablo, the Espanol Teaching Pastor, talks with Jeremy and Phil about the early years with no model to follow, losing five years of momentum to COVID, and the mentor in Argentina who taught him small-group multiplication. He also shares the tools behind the growth (Casas de Paz, Grupos de V...

What does following Jesus actually look like—not just on Sunday, but in everyday life? Jesus never called us simply to believe in Him; He called us to follow Him, and that decision should shape every part of our lives. Today I want to give you four essentials of following Jesus—and then ask one very personal question: Do these four things describe my life?

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Buster Pray has served at Cross Church for almost 33 years — as worship pastor, as campus pastor at Pinnacle Hills, and now leading our Legacy Ministry. Along the way, he buried his father at 20, lost his son Andrew in a cycling accident the day before Thanksgiving 2012, and survived a heart attack seven years ago, all while leading at a high level.  

This episode isn't about frameworks or five-step plans. It's a conversation about what actually holds a leader together when life falls apart — how to grieve without faking it, how to show up for someone else's pain, and how r...

The Pipeline series ends where leadership development reaches its highest calling — not just leading a team, but developing the leaders on your team. In Part 4, Dr. Jeremy Dixon and Phil McMichael sit down with Tony Cobb, Director of Training and Development at Black Raven Group and coach at Cross Church's Highway 62 campus. Tony brings a rare perspective: he's been a student pastor in Oklahoma, Florida, and Texas, and now he'scoaching leaders of dream teamers— including the setup and teardown crew when Hwy 62 was still meeting in a high school gym. In this conversation, they break down what a coach actu...

She's the better half of our senior pastor at Cross Church — and today she's finally on the podcast. 

Meredith Floyd joins Dr. Jeremy Dixon and Izzy Hoffarth for a fun, personal conversation about growing up on a farm in Florida, meeting Nick at Liberty University, and what life with the cookie-baking, song-singing Pastor Nick actually looks like at home. 

She also shares her heart for the women of Cross Church, what it means to keep your priorities in order, and what's on her heart for our upcoming Women's Gathering. 

If you've ever wanted to si...

Two regular people with regular jobs outside of church walls — and they're leading some of the most meaningful ministry happening at Cross Church. In Part 3 of The Pipeline, Dr. Jeremy Dixon and Phil McMichael sit down with Chris and Kendall to talk about what it actually looks like to serve, lead, and find joy in it. From the parking lot to the living room, they share how saying yes changed everything — and why the step you've been putting off might be the one that changes your life too. 

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Most people think serving is what you do before real leadership starts. They're wrong. 

In this episode, Dr. Jeremy Dixon and Phil McMichael sit down with Nick Bethea — Cross Church's Pastor of Growth and Leader Development — to talk about why serving isn't a stepping stone. It's THE thing. 

Nick unpacks why leadership is service, service is obedience, and obedience leads to godliness — and what it actually looks like to use the gift God gave you right where you are. Whether you've been waiting for the right role, the right season, or the right moment, this episode...

What do you do when you can see a problem your organization doesn't know it has? 

That's exactly where Ryan Blackwell found himself as Executive Pastor of Cross Church — watching a healthy, growing church with campuses, baptisms, and momentum, and seeing something most people at the table weren't seeing: the leadership bench wasn't deep enough for where the church was headed. 

In this episode, Ryan walks us through how that conviction took shape and what Cross Church actually did to build a leadership pipeline from the ground up.  

And then there's the turn: Ryan...

In this episode Pastor Ralph Johnson discusses lessons of leadership and personal growth that the Lord has taught him through an early career in the Navy and his transition into the ministry. From insight on organizational structures, to discipleship, to personal growth and transformation, Pastor Ralph dives into wisdom that will strengthen any lay leader, minister, or man or woman in the military or work force. 

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What happens when God blesses your career more than you deserve — and you start believing you earned it? In this episode, Dr. Jeremy Dixon and Phil McMichael sit down with James Young, who spent 29 years at Tyson Foods climbing from a night shift plant manager to Group Vice President of International, overseeing operations across five continents. James gets brutally honest about the demotion that became his greatest stepping stone, the pride that nearly cost him everything, and what God had to strip away before he found real peace. This isn't a theory or a framework. It's a life. And it...

You're praying for clarity. You're waiting for God to tell you what to do. But what if that's not actually what He's after? 

Dr. Jeremy Dixon and Izzy Hoffarth sit down with Dr. Nick Floyd — Senior Pastor of Cross Church and author of When You Don't Know What to Do — for an honest conversation about the seasons where you feel stuck and God seems silent. 

Nick opens up about why desperation can be the healthiest place you've ever been, the difference between health and perfection, and why the measure of spiritual maturity might not be what y...

You're not trying to build a platform. You're trying to steward one. In this episode, Dr. Jeremy Dixon and Phil McMichael sit down with Hollywood producer and media consultant Phil Cooke and executive producer Dan Wathen — two men who've spent decades helping the world's largest churches and ministries communicate the gospel more effectively. In this conversation, they get honest about what a media-driven world actually demands from the church, why your story is your most powerful tool, where AI fits and where it doesn't, and why the goal was never performance — it was always stewardship. Whether you lead a medi...

The next generation doesn't need a better show, they need a real home. In this episode, Dr. Jeremy Dixon is joined by co-hosts Ben Stoken and Mark Hutchinson to sit down with Noah Herrin, lead pastor of Way Church in Nashville and author of “Holy Habits” and “Welcome to Manhood.” Noah planted Way Church in September 2023, and in under two years has seen over 1,500 people give their life to Jesus, including 53 salvations on launch day alone. In this conversation, Noah gets honest about what the local church is getting wrong with young adults, why community has to come before mission...

What does it actually cost to say yes to God's call? In this episode, Dr. Jeremy Dixon and Izzy Hoffarth sit down with Cross Church Missions Pastor Julio Arriola — a man whose story spans Mexico, Argentina, Nashville, Texas, and Northwest Arkansas. Julio planted a church in Guadalajara that grew to become the largest Baptist church in a city of 1.5 million people, and has since coached and deployed church planters across the country. In this conversation, Julio gets real about the hardest decision of his life, the moment his son's tears confirmed their calling, the biggest mistake church planters make, an...

Shelley Simpson is the President & CEO of J.B. Hunt Transport Services — one of the largest logistics companies in North America, with over 33,000 employees. She started as an hourly customer service rep. She climbed every rung. And she did it without letting go of her faith, her family, or her character. 

In this conversation recorded at Cross Church’s Summit Business Luncheon, Senior Pastor Nick Floyd goes deep with Shelley on what it actually looks like to lead at the highest level — while navigating a freight recession, a personal health crisis, and the pressure of Wall Street all at...

What does real leadership growth look like? 

In this episode of the Rise Leadership Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Dixon and Phil McMichael sit down with executive coach Ben Cashion to talk about the three critical jumps leaders must make as they grow: becoming a five-star contributor, learning to lead as a builder manager, and stepping into enterprise leadership. 

Ben shares practical insight from years of coaching CEOs and high-capacity leaders, including why promotions don’t always equal readiness, how leaders get stuck when they keep doing instead of leading, and what healthy career progression really looks like...

Most people picture ministry on a stage. 

But what if real ministry also looks like boardrooms, budgets, and carrying the weight of decisions that affect thousands of lives? 

In this episode of the RISE Leadership Podcast, Jeremy Dixon and Phil McMichael sit down with Jeff Pearson, Executive Director of Compassion 479 and Strategic Initiatives at Cross Church. 

Before joining church staff, Jeff spent nearly three decades at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, including 15 years as CFO of the organization responsible for raising the majority of its funding. He woke up every day knowing milli...

What if the very thing you walked through is the very thing God wants to use? 

In this episode of The RISE Leadership Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Dixon and Phil McMichael sit down with Cross Church dream teamer Kelly Stamps to explore how God turns seasons of waiting, pain, and ordinary obedience into powerful ministry. Kelly never set out to build a platform but through simple faithfulness, God used her story to impact thousands and to connect couples around the world. 

This conversation will challenge you to see your life differently. Your leadership doesn’t start on a...

What really happens behind the scenes of worship ministry? 

In this episode, Dr. Jeremy Dixon and co-host Phil McMichael sit down with Nick Hardeman, Cross Church’s Associate Worship Pastor/ Springdale Campus Director, to give an inside look at worship ministry at Cross Church. From auditions and development to heart posture and biblical worship, this conversation pulls back the curtain on what it means to lead people into God’s presence. 

Whether you’re a talented musician, someone curious about getting involved, or a church member who simply wants to worship with greater intention, this episode...

In Part 2 of our Don’t Flinch conversation, Dr. Jeremy Dixon and co-host Phil McMichael sit down again with Cross Church Senior Pastor, Dr. Nick Floyd, for a candid and behind-the-scenes look at how Cross Church is navigating one of the most significant seasons of change in its 150+ year history.

Dr. Floyd shares the story of Cross Church’s long legacy of faithful leadership, the evolution into a multi-campus church, and what’s driving the launch of new campuses across Northwest Arkansas. 

You’ll also hear practical insight into how Cross Church is adjusting...

As we kick off Season 2 and step into a new year filled with uncertainty, change, and transition, how do leaders stay steady instead of shaken? 

In this episode of the RISE Leadership Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Dixon and Phil McMichael sit down with Dr. Nick Floyd, Senior Pastor of Cross Church, to unpack what it really means to not flinch when leadership gets heavy. 

Rooted in 1 Corinthians 15:58, this conversation explores how the resurrection of Jesus empowers leaders to remain steadfast and immovable—no matter what’s happening around them. Pastor Nick shares person...

In this episode of The RISE Leadership Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Dixon and Phil McMichael wrap up 2025 with a discussion on the personal prayer life of the leader. As part of this episode they will dive deep into 3 specific prayers every leader should be praying persistently, and how taking those prayers to the Lord will impact their effectiveness as a leader in the new year. 

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Coach Houston Nutt—one of the most beloved Razorback coaches of all time—joins Dr. Jeremy Dixon and Phil McMichael to talk about the power of positivity in leadership. From his days as a three-time SEC Coach of the Year to guiding players toward grit, mental toughness, and academic excellence, Coach Nutt shares the principles that fueled his career and still inspire leaders today. In this episode, you’ll hear about the impact of his parents on his leadership style, the art of motivating a team through highs and lows, and why belief in people can change everything. Whether you’re...

In this episode of The RISE Leadership Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Dixon and Phil McMichael our back in our Introduction to Ministry series with a behind-the-scenes look at one of the most influential—and often least understood—areas of church life: Media Ministry. 

They’re joined by Brian Dunaway and Justin Hume, two of the key leaders shaping the creative, technical, and storytelling engine of Cross Church. From weekend services to online engagement, from production to photography to livestream strategy, Brian and Justin unpack how media amplifies the gospel, serves our peo...

What do you do when you inherit something broken? Most leaders will eventually step into a role they didn’t start—whether it’s a ministry, a team, or an organization—and face the challenge of rebuilding trust, culture, and vision. In this episode of The RISE Leadership Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Dixon and Dr. Nick Floyd sit down with Dr. Jon Chasteen, Lead Pastor of Victory Church in Dallas, former President of The King’s University, and author of ReLeader: How to Fix What You Didn’t Break. Jon shares powerful lessons from leading through crisis, stepping into broken systems, and...

What happens when life throws a curveball you never saw coming? 

Mike Matheny—known as one of the toughest men to ever wear the gear—played 13 seasons in Major League Baseball with the Brewers, Blue Jays, Cardinals, and Giants. After a fastball to the face in 2004, broadcasters began to refer to him as “the toughest player in baseball.” But beyond his reputation for grit, Mike’s story is one of faith, resilience, and learning to trust God when everything changes. 

In this episode of The RISE Leadership Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Dixon and Phil McMichael sit down with Mi...

Real leadership isn’t tested in calm waters—it’s forged in the storms. In this episode, Dr. Jeremy Dixon and Phil McMichael talk with Dr. Keith McDaniel, Superintendent of Shiloh Christian School and seasoned military veteran, about what resilience really looks like, why it matters, and how to grow it—both in yourself and in teams. 

Keith shares stories from his 17 years in uniform, leading schools through change, and building strong environments where young leaders don’t just survive but thrive. If you’re a young leader feeling stretched, a volunteer trying to carry too much, or someone wh...

Discover insights with Tim Stevens, Founder and CEO of Leading Smart, a leading consulting firm dedicated to empowering business and church leaders to achieve their full potential. In this episode, Tim shares proven strategies for developing your team from within, key indicators for when to seek external talent, and common pitfalls to avoid. Whether you're scaling your organization or nurturing your current staff, this conversation will equip you with the knowledge to lead more effectively and build a stronger, more resilient team.

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John Rausch, Chairman and CEO of Rausch Companies, joins the podcast to discuss expanding a business begun by his grandfather, leading toward and through a major transition, and maintaining team and organizational culture. 

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How do you live out your faith when the cameras are always on? 5News anchor Tiffany Lee joins The RISE Leadership Podcast to share her journey of following Christ while working in the public eye. She opens up about the importance of Biblical community, the challenge of balancing faith with a demanding work schedule, and how she maintains and communicates hope in a profession that often highlights tragedy and darkness.

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Josh Carson is the Executive Vice President and General Counsel for Rausch Companies. Josh joins Jeremy & Phil to discuss how he has been able to create avenues for spiritual conversations and encouragement for his team, and how his own walk with the Lord continues to impact his life as a leader.

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Dave Kinney, our Cross Church Pastor of Operations, discusses layers of organizational, personal and regional crisis he has walked through, and leadership lessons that helped him to navigate those seasons. 

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In this episode, Phil & Jeremy sit down with Eli Laughlin, College Pastor at Cross Church, to discuss the vision, mission & opportunities of C3. If you are a college student interested in finding community and even looking for your own personal mission, or if you are an adult looking for a way to leave a legacy in the lives of college students, this podcast will introduce you to those possibilities with this behind the scenes look at the college ministry at Cross Church. 

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In this episode of The RISE Leadership Podcast, Jeremy and Phil sit down with Brennan Washington—former Cross Church staff member and now a church planter in Kentucky—for a powerful conversation on spiritual leadership that lasts. Brennan shares wisdom on consistency through seasons, the prayer life that anchors a leader, and what it means to honor a legacy while stepping into your own calling.

Reflecting on the recent loss of an amazing father-in-law, Brennan opens up about the grief, gratitude, and growth that come with continuing a legacy. We also talk about the tension and humility requ...

In this episode of The RISE Leadership Podcast, Dr. Jeff Crawford—President of Cross Theological Seminary—joins Jeremy and Phil for a special behind-the-scenes look at how CTS came to life. From a simple dream to a thriving seminary, Dr. Crawford unpacks the origin story, the moments of divine confirmation, and the unexpected miracles that marked its inaugural year.

More than just a seminary story, this episode is packed with leadership gold. You’ll hear lessons on leading with vision before there’s a blueprint, the power of innovation through organic growth, and what it looks...

IMB missionaries Seth & Amanda join our podcast to discuss lessons they have learned from serving and leading large numbers of team members who are stationed in remote locations. 

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How do you influence the leaders above you without overstepping—and empower those below you to speak into your leadership? In this episode, Champion Forest Baptist Church Lead Pastor Jarrett Stephens joins us to unpack the art of “leading up.” With wisdom shaped by decades of ministry, Jarrett shares how humility, longevity, and faithfulness create lasting influence, why trusting your leader is a choice, and how honoring authority ultimately expands your own. If you're eager to grow your leadership while strengthening your team and culture, this conversation is for you.

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Host Jeremy Dixon is joined by leadership consultant, author, and former Catalyst leader Brad Lomenick. Together, they explore the weighty and essential leadership themes of identity, calling, and assignment—unpacking what it means to steward your influence well, whether you’re leading in the church or the marketplace.

Brad shares insights from decades of experience leading thousands of young leaders and working alongside voices like John Maxwell. You’ll hear practical wisdom on discovering your calling, owning your current assignment, and showing up with an “owner” mentality—no matter your title. 

If you’re seeking to lead with gr...