Youth Ministry Booster

Youth Ministry Booster

Welcome to the Youth Ministry Booster podcast! The most honest and hilarious podcast in student ministry. Hosted by Zac Workun and Chad Higgins. We are the biggest fans of youth ministry leaders like you! We are here for you with the humor and the help to engage, entertain, equip, and encourage. Youth ministry is better together. Learn more @ http://www.youthministrybooster.com

Episodes

Send us a text

If you're experiencing ministry burnout or feeling your passion fading, establish accountability with someone who knows you well enough to speak truth when you're drifting, and intentionally surround yourself with those newer to ministry who bring fresh perspective and enthusiasm.

SPECIAL GUEST ALERT: Jameson Barker

Veteran youth minister Jameson Barker shares how he maintains ministry passion after two decade...

Mark as Played

Send us a text

What's it like to be new? Feel like you are the only one? 

Welp you are not! There is a growing trend of folks leading youth ministry that are 1. new to the role 2. home grown from the church where they attend. In this episode we learn firsthand all about it! 

Join us for an eye-opening discussion about the journey into youth ministry with Miguel Adesokan, who shares his unique experiences as he transitions from vo...

Mark as Played

Send us a text

What happens when a vibrant young leader embraces his calling in the unpredictable setting of youth ministry?


Special Guest Alert: Mariano Sarabia

This episode explores the path of youth ministry through the experience of Mariano, who shares his calling, challenges, and successes in empowering young leaders. The importance of humility, prayer, and authentic relationships in ministry are emphasized throughout the co...

Mark as Played

Send us a text

Could You Survive the 1800s?  The password is Clifford the Big Red Dog.

Could you hack it in the 1800s armed only with modern knowledge? Wild question, right? 

Zac and Chad wrote a book! 

This episode kicks off with some fun, lighthearted speculation before we take a deep dive into childhood nostalgia—Dr. Seuss, Clifford the Big Red Dog, and how those early books shaped our love for reading. But this isn't just a tr...

Mark as Played

Send us a text

Youth ministry is relational work. The work isn't not quality time but quality time. Relationships that are growing are resilient. 

🚨SPECIAL GUEST ALERT 
Daniel Kim
dkim@gospelife.com
Daniel__Tokyo

Youth ministry flourishes when leaders invest in relationships, mentorship, and personal growth. In this episode of the Youth Ministry Booster Podcast, we sit down with a young pastor Dan...

Mark as Played

Send us a text

This episode explores the significance of building authentic relationships in youth ministry while challenging traditional metrics of success. T-doe shares his personal experiences, from grassroots initiatives like Fast Food Valentine's to creating psychological safety for young people, emphasizing the impact of community and connection in nurturing today's youth. 

• The origin of the nickname "...

Mark as Played

Send us a text

You can't quite make it on your own! 

This episode focuses on the essential characteristics of effective youth ministry, emphasizing the need for community, accountability, and ongoing development of leaders. Zac and guest Ian explore common roadblocks leaders face, along with practical strategies for fostering a healthy ministry environment centered on relationships.

🚨SPECIAL GUEST ALERT 
...

Mark as Played

Send us a text

If there is a ministry genie that can grant wishes then here are our 5 for 2025! 

Happy New Year's episode everyone! This week we explore how to shape youth ministry in 2025, emphasizing relational connections, purposeful engagement, and the joy of community. Chad and Zac have five  wishes that will guide ministries to build stronger connections with youth while incorporating fun, service, and social med...

Mark as Played

Send us a text

Picture this: a repaired wise man figurine named King Christmas, hidden for joyous family fun and stories of Christmas Eve steak dinners at Longhorn. These are just a few of the festive gems shared by our guests Chris Trent, Matt Flanagan, and Todd Sanders on the Youth Industry Booster podcast. As we unwrap their cherished holiday traditions, we also explore how these customs evolve, especially with life's change...

Mark as Played

Send us a text

Remember a time when cell phones were a novelty and social media was just a distant dream? 

*Special Guest Alert Kevin Libick* 
This episode is a nostalgic rewind featuring a seasoned ministry leader who’s been on the front lines since the late '90s. From the days of mailing out calendars and jazzing up bulletin boards with clip art (yes, clip art!) to the arrival of video editing software, we swap s...

Mark as Played

Send us a text

What if the most challenging parts of your past could fuel a transformative future? 

What if your toughest challenges could become your greatest ministry? 

In this episode, we reconnect with our friend Jose Rodriguez from Tulsa, now leading Rescue a Generation in Southern California.
He shares his incredible story of transformation—from growing up in a tough neighborhood, navigating gang life and racial st...

Mark as Played

Send us a text

20 years in and still learning new things!

🎧 Special Guest Alert: TJ Scrapper from  Tahlequah, Oklahoma, who has dedicated two decades to guiding young people through their spiritual journeys.

🎙️ Youth Ministry In A New Era (Reimagined)

In this episode, we dive into the evolving role of youth pastors and the growing recognition of their transformative contributions. Discover how the digital age an...

Mark as Played

Send us a text

🎉 Let's kick it! Join us and our good buddy Cameron! as we dive into a fun fall episode. Do you ever wondered what happens when a Christmas game goes hilariously off the rails? Or how much leadership is a team sport?
This episode is packed with laughs and real talk on the wild ride that is youth ministry!

Special guest alert: Cameron Crow

Rethinking Youth Ministry Metaphors: Start thinking of your y...

Mark as Played

Send us a text

But how do you teach the Bible? So that students will learn?

Special Guest Alert: Karen Workun! 

In this engaging episode Zac Workun and his guest Karen Workun dive deep into effective strategies for teaching scriptural texts. Karen shares her unexpected passion for genealogy, likening it to storytelling through concise biographies, and how this interest parallels the narrative engagement required in...

Mark as Played

Send us a text

Catchphrase... the things we tell ourselves (and others) 

*Chad's Back!* 
Join us as we share laughs and insights on relationship, care, and catchphrase. We also touch on the balancing act between Chad’s new responsibilities and his ongoing commitment to our podcast, highlighting the importance of consistency in both ministry and podcasting.

As the holidays approach, we reflect on the unique...

Mark as Played

Send us a text

Coming to you live

*Special Guest Alert* Join us in the ETCH podcast ring with Zach Burke!

The heart of the conversation lies the exploration of ministry across contexts from Kentucky, to Tennessee, to Florida. Zac and Zach share stories from our time in home churches, where familiar faces can be both a blessing and a challenge, and how mentorship guided us through these early stages. Transitioning ...

Mark as Played

Send us a text

Ever wondered about the coolness of names from different languages? 

Join us for a lighthearted chat with Chad Daugherty from Pensacola, Florida, as he shares his love and experiences in middle school ministry. As we bond over the shared quirks of middle school or "J-High." 

Get ready for some laughs as we recount some of our best misfire youth group games. This episode meanders through the...

Mark as Played

Send us a text

What if your life took an unexpected turn, leading you from a planned career in medicine to a rewarding path in ministry? From career work to calling?

Special guest alert! This week Jacob Dunn, family pastor at Valley Creek Baptist Church, joins us live from #ETCH24 Tune in for a lively chat about the power of  friendships, the unexpected paths our lives can take, and the ultimate soda. 

Our chat tak...

Mark as Played

Send us a text

Who is your friend that autocorrect can't figure out how to spell their name? 

Our special guest this week is Daryn Fox and she will have you in stitches! 
Join us for this week's heartfelt episode with amusing stories and Daryn's daring toilet-papering adventure and call to ministry.

Transitioning into the new role.
In this episode we discuss how to take on new roles and the w...

Mark as Played

Send us a text

Wait Chad Higgins is a verb now? 

In this episode, we're excited to welcome Christian Moore to the garage floor!

Join us for a fun and lighthearted conversation where we imagine Chad Higgins' latest adventures—most likely cracking jokes at a Waffle House—and share our own quirky late-night memories from this iconic spot. We talk favorite orders and those infamous Waffle House training videos that are...

Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

    Stuff You Should Know

    If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

    Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang

    Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.

    Dateline NBC

    Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

    Math & Magic: Stories from the Frontiers of Marketing with Bob Pittman

    How do the smartest marketers and business entrepreneurs cut through the noise? And how do they manage to do it again and again? It's a combination of math—the strategy and analytics—and magic, the creative spark. Join iHeartMedia Chairman and CEO Bob Pittman as he analyzes the Math and Magic of marketing—sitting down with today's most gifted disruptors and compelling storytellers.

    The Breakfast Club

    The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy And Charlamagne Tha God!