IL #659: 5 Lessons from Ishamel: A Warning Against Ambition Without God
Inspired Leadership Podcast with Ron R. Kelleher
Release Date: 10/06/2025
IL #670: Thou Who Wast Rich Beyond All Spendor
Inspired Leadership Podcast with Ron R. Kelleher
In the busyness of Christmas, we often move from task to task, celebration to celebration—without ever truly receiving the most important gift of the season. In this reflective episode, Ron shares a deeply personal story of a forgotten gift left unopened on his desk—a small brown bag with his name on it, quietly waiting amid the rush of end-of-year leadership responsibilities. What begins as a simple memory unfolds into a powerful spiritual metaphor. Through a surprising note tucked inside a devotional book, Ron is reminded how easily we admire the wrapping of Christmas—songs,...
info_outline
IL 669 mixdown
Inspired Leadership Podcast with Ron R. Kelleher
info_outline
IL #668: 7 Reasons Why Christian Leaders Fail and How You Can Stand Firm
Inspired Leadership Podcast with Ron R. Kelleher
The headlines are all too familiar: another Christian leader fails, trust is shattered, and followers are left reeling. These public downfalls aren’t random—they follow a sobering pattern of spiritual drift and moral compromise. In this episode, we explore the seven most common reasons leaders fall—and more importantly, how you can stand firm. Drawing on insights from Pastor Shane Idleman and supported by biblical examples, Ron Kelleher outlines why even the most gifted leaders stumble: pride that blinds, busyness that burns out, compromise that erodes character, and relationships that...
info_outline
IL #667: 5 Lessons from the Paralyzed Man: Leadership That Brings Others to Jesus
Inspired Leadership Podcast with Ron R. Kelleher
Some stories in Scripture capture the essence of faith and leadership in just a few verses. The story of the paralyzed man and his four friends in Mark 2:1–12, Matthew 9:1–8, and Luke 5:17–26 is one of them—a story of faith in motion, compassion in action, and teamwork that moved heaven itself. In this episode, Ron explores what this moment reveals about authentic Christian leadership. These friends weren’t scholars, pastors, or CEOs. They were ordinary people who believed that Jesus could do what no one else could—and their determination changed a life forever. Their example...
info_outline
IL #666: Bridging the Bravery Gap in Leadership: Choosing Courage When Conmfort Calls
Inspired Leadership Podcast with Ron R. Kelleher
Why do so many leaders fall short—not for lack of skill, but for lack of courage? In this powerful episode, Ron explores what author Jill Schulman calls “The Bravery Gap”—the space between knowing the right thing to do and actually doing it. Every leader faces it: the moment when faith collides with fear, and comfort feels safer than courage. Drawing wisdom from both Scripture and experience, Ron shows how Christian leaders can close that gap and step into bold, God-honoring leadership. Using Schulman’s four practical steps and adding a fifth distinctly spiritual one—prayer—this...
info_outline
IL #665: The 5 Woes of Hypocritical Leaders: Lessons from Jesus’ Warning
Inspired Leadership Podcast with Ron R. Kelleher
In Matthew 23, Jesus delivered a powerful rebuke to the religious leaders of His day—those who wore masks of holiness but whose hearts were far from God. These “woes” weren’t just criticisms of ancient Pharisees. They were—and still are—timeless warnings for every leader who is tempted to prioritize image over integrity. In this episode, we explore five specific traits of hypocritical leaders that Jesus condemned: Pride and Self-Exaltation – The desire to be admired often takes precedence over serving others. Legalism Without Love – Leaders focus on rules while neglecting...
info_outline
IL #662: What the Bible Says About Worry and How Leaders Can Model Faith Over Fear
Inspired Leadership Podcast with Ron R. Kelleher
Worry has a way of creeping into every corner of leadership—especially in seasons of pressure, uncertainty, or high stakes. As Christian leaders, we often carry the burdens of our teams, organizations, and even our families. But what does the Bible say about worry? More importantly, how can leaders respond in a way that builds faith rather than spreads fear? In this episode, we explore biblical wisdom on worry and offer a fresh, faith-filled perspective for leaders feeling overwhelmed. You’ll discover: Jesus’ direct command to “not worry” (Matthew 6:25–34) and what it means for...
info_outline
IL #661: Surrounded by Opposition: 5 Leadership Lessons from Nehemiah 4
Inspired Leadership Podcast with Ron R. Kelleher
When you live your faith boldly in the workplace, you’re bound to face opposition—from policies that restrict expression, to coworkers who mock your values, to cultural narratives that paint you as out of touch. You’re not imagining it—and you’re not alone. In this episode, we turn to Nehemiah 4 for encouragement and direction. Nehemiah’s leadership during the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls reveals what it means to lead with courage when pressure comes from every direction. North, south, east, and west—Nehemiah was surrounded. But he stayed focused, stayed faithful, and...
info_outline
IL #664: Christian Leadership Ethics — When Telling the Truth Conflicts with Doing What’s Right
Inspired Leadership Podcast with Ron R. Kelleher
As Christian leaders, we’re called to speak the truth. But what happens when truth-telling could lead to injustice, betrayal, or harm? Is there ever a time when discretion honors God more than full disclosure? In this episode, we explore the tension between truth and righteousness—a complex but essential part of Christian leadership ethics. Drawing from four powerful biblical examples—Rahab, the Hebrew midwives, Samuel, and Elisha—we examine how faithful leaders have navigated difficult moral decisions when obedience to God required something more than strict rule-following. This...
info_outline
IL #663: Watchfulness vs. Worry — What the Bible Really Says
Inspired Leadership Podcast with Ron R. Kelleher
Worry is a heavy burden, especially for leaders. It shows up in boardrooms, late-night thoughts, and critical decisions—robbing us of peace and pulling our eyes off God's promises. But Scripture offers a better way: watchfulness. In this episode, we explore the stark difference between worry and watchfulness. Worry is fear-driven and reactive. It drains energy, clouds judgment, and spreads anxiety across teams. But watchfulness is faith-fueled and proactive. It's rooted in prayer, focused on God’s Word, and alert to both spiritual challenges and God’s guidance. You’ll discover...
info_outlineOver the course of my career, I’ve seen leaders who seemed to have it all—intelligence, charisma, opportunity—yet squandered their potential by chasing ambition rather than serving others. The Bible gives us such an example in Ishmael, a man of royal descent whose story is recorded in Jeremiah 40–41.
Ishmael had every chance to influence his people for good, but his choices revealed a dangerous truth: leadership without God at the center will always fail. Instead of building trust, he betrayed it. Instead of protecting the innocent, he harmed them. Instead of leaving a legacy of faith, he disappeared into obscurity.
In this episode, we’ll walk through Ishmael’s tragic story—his betrayal of Gedaliah, his violence against worshipers, and his ultimate flight into exile. Along the way, we’ll uncover five critical leadership lessons:
- Ambition without God leads to destruction.
- Trust is a leader’s most valuable currency.
- Abuse of power reveals a corrupt heart.
- Godly leadership requires humility and service.
- Your legacy depends on obedience to God.
These lessons are as relevant in the boardroom as they were in Jeremiah’s day. Christian leaders today still face the temptation to lead like Ishmael—driven by pride, ambition, or the pursuit of recognition. But God calls us to a higher standard: leadership rooted in humility, compassion, and faithfulness.
If you’ve ever wondered what kind of legacy you’re building as a leader, Ishmael’s story offers both a warning and a challenge. Join me as we explore how to avoid Ishmael’s mistakes and instead build a life and legacy that honor the One who called us.