The ChurchGear Podcast

60:07

Production at Church of the Highlands [Griffin McCravy]

The ChurchGear Podcast ·

2026/10/05

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

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42:38

Austin Stone's Production Setup: Soundscape Rigs &...

The ChurchGear Podcast ·

2026/09/28

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

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58:56

Fixing Church Announcements & The Livestream Debate...

The ChurchGear Podcast ·

2026/09/21

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

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45:42

Church Lighting Trends, MA2 vs. MA3 & Freelance AVL...

The ChurchGear Podcast ·

2026/09/14

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

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51:55

Touring with Petra, 12Stone's Culture & Stop Copying...

The ChurchGear Podcast ·

2026/09/07

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

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52:29

Worship in the Round & Production for 3,000 People...

The ChurchGear Podcast ·

2026/08/31

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

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54:46

Fixing Communication Breakdowns & Debriefing Without...

The ChurchGear Podcast ·

2026/08/24

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

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55:23

From Wall Street to Exec Pastor: Budgeting & Tech...

The ChurchGear Podcast ·

2026/08/17

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

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53:19

Don't Let Your Knowledge Base Literally Walk Out...

The ChurchGear Podcast ·

2026/08/10

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

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47:19

How Many Errors Are Your Tech Volunteers Allowed to...

The ChurchGear Podcast ·

2026/08/03

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

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71:53

Identifying Burnout & Celebrities on the Team [Shaun...

The ChurchGear Podcast ·

2026/07/27

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

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51:34

Inside Sight & Sound Theatres: Disappearing LED Walls...

The ChurchGear Podcast ·

2026/07/20

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, Missouri5:15 Tim Zeager (Sight & Sound Theatres) Joins10:45 The Story Behind Sight

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53:55

Can Non-Christians Serve in Tech? + The LED Wall...

The ChurchGear Podcast ·

2026/07/13

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 Him4:30 Dave Bookhout (Grace Family Church) Joins14:15 The Debate: Can Non-Christians Serve on the Tech

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66:31

Navigating Church Hurt & Knowing When to Quit...

The ChurchGear Podcast ·

2026/07/06

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

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45:58

Inside North Point Church: Tech Setups & Volunteer...

The ChurchGear Podcast ·

2026/06/29

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

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51:49

Volunteer-Heavy Ministries & Taking A Sunday Off [Jeremy

The ChurchGear Podcast ·

2026/06/22

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

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56:08

Christian Magicians, Blind Tech Booths & Hosting SALT...

The ChurchGear Podcast ·

2026/06/15

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

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56:03

Streamlining AVL Gear & The Battle of a Lifetime...

The ChurchGear Podcast ·

2026/06/08

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

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50:18

How Much Do You HAVE To Care? [Willow Hodge]

The ChurchGear Podcast ·

2026/06/01

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 People5:00 Willow Hodge (Hope Fellowship Church) Joins8:45

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59:36

The Clayton Gregory Incident & Remote Church Mixes...

The ChurchGear Podcast ·

2026/05/25

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

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