Shows / ACSI Podcasts
ACSI Podcasts
On this channel are ACSI’s four podcasts: Sharpening Kingdom Leaders, with President & CEO Dr. Larry Taylor. Grafted Together, with Chief Ministry Officer Jerry Nelson. Student Leadership & Learning, with SLL Director Emily Pigott. The Flourishing Journey, with Director of Leadership Programs Dr. Edward Bunn. ACSI’s podcasts aim to equip Christian school educators and strengthen you in your calling to impact the next generation for Christ. On a weekly basis, you can hear interviews, stories…
Episodes
- ACSI Podcasts
Grafted Together Ep 46: Faith, Reconciliation, and the Blessings of Diversity, with John Murray
Should we consider a faith-informed form of risk and reward for educators who choose to teach in a population other than their own? How can leaders navigate…
- ACSI Podcasts
Grafted Together Ep 45: Biblical Infusion: Equipping Educators to Teach Like Jesus, with Dr. Kevin Miller
What does it mean to be a Christlike teacher? Kevin Miller, Director of Spiritual Life at Cincinnati Christian Schools, joins the Grafted Together Podcast…
- ACSI Podcasts
Grafted Together Ep 44: Christian Education: The Next Generation, with Tatiana Smith
Tatiana Smith, the Superintendent’s Assistant for the Enlightium School System Agency, discusses the evolution of Christian education, the role of…
- ACSI Podcasts
Grafted Together Ep 43: From Spiritual Formation to Biblical Unity, with Deon Parker
Deon Parker rejoins the Grafted Together Podcast to discuss biblical themes stemming from the recent ACSI Biblical Unity Summit. Deon is the author of…
- ACSI Podcasts
Grafted Together Ep 42: A Spiritual Formation Plan That Gets a Result, with Dr. Cy Smith
When a school leader gets fired up about the right things, transformation happens. Dr. Cy Smith joins Jerry Nelson to discuss practical ways for spiritual…
- ACSI Podcasts
Grafted Together Ep 41: Race and Grace: A Providential Journey, with Dr. James Noble
Jerry Nelson discusses Gospel-centered racial reconciliation with Dr. James Noble, the Vice President for the Center of Community, Dignity, and Inclusive…
- ACSI Podcasts
Student Leadership & Learning Ep 27: The Leadership Gap | Why Capable Students Often Lack Leadership Readiness
Why do some students seem to be ready for leadership but don't take the initiative, and what can we do about it? Emily Pigott has insights on what leads to the…
- ACSI Podcasts
Grafted Together Ep 40: Parental Engagement to Spiritual Formation, with Toyin Atolagbe
What would happen if our desire for more parental involvement extended beyond the child's academics to something of greater worth? Dr. Toyin Atolagbe shares…
- ACSI Podcasts
Aha Leader Series Ep 5: Neglecting Middle Leaders (Flourishing Journey Podcast)
Rachael Jones sits down with Dr. Edward Bunn to discuss ways to recognize the crucial role that middle leaders serve as the "bridge" between upper-level…
- ACSI Podcasts
Grafted Together Ep 39: An Education for All Times, with Dr. Chuck Fuller
Dr. Chuck Fuller, Associate Professor of Christian Studies at Anderson University, shares his transition from pastoral ministry to higher Christian education…
- ACSI Podcasts
Grafted Together Ep 38: Spiritual Formation is a Team Sport, with Dr. David Brinkley
How does someone in charge of spiritual formation build a team to ensure growth continues beyond themself? Are you a spiritual formation lone ranger? Dr. David…
- ACSI Podcasts
Stronger Together Ep 12: FSi, the Federal Tax Credit Scholarship, and an ACSI Europe Update
Hear a snippet of Trevin Wax's presentation at the 2026 FSi Dallas, learn more about the Federal Tax Credit Scholarship, and hear how God is working through…
- ACSI Podcasts
Grafted Together Ep 37: The Transformative Power of Christian Education: Serving the Least of These, with Jonathon Basurto
To discuss how underserved students have been transformed by Christian education, Jonathon Basurto joins the Grafted Together Podcast. Jonathon is the…
- ACSI Podcasts
Grafted Together Ep 36: Putting the Human back in Human Resources, with Chris Loncar
What is the responsibility of leaders to invest in the spiritual formation of the employees they steward? Chris Loncar, ACSI's VP of Human Resources, discusses…
- ACSI Podcasts
Grafted Together Ep 35: Building an Organizational Commitment to Biblical Unity, with Darin Long
Darin Long hosts a session on making biblical unity a goal across your entire organization, using stories from his Christian school leadership experience…
- ACSI Podcasts
Grafted Together Ep 34: Christians: Pursue and Promote Unity Biblically, with Deon Parker
Deon Parker hosts a session on pursuing biblical unity with Jesus Christ as the pace setter. To view Deon Parker's presentation slides, view here. Deon Parker…
- ACSI Podcasts
Student Leadership & Learning Ep 26: The Architecture of Influence: How Classroom Culture Forms Student Leaders Before You Ever Teach a Lesson
The question isn't if culture transforms students, but how. Emily Pigott shares what it means to make classrooms a place of safety and being known for the sake…
- ACSI Podcasts
Grafted Together Ep 33: Biblical Unity: The Antidote to Hate, with Dr. Matt Daniels
Dr. Matt Daniels hosts a session on biblical unity and looking to Dr. King for an antidote to political hate. For more on Dr. Matt Daniels, visit here. Click…
- ACSI Podcasts
Aha Leader Series Ep 4: Communication Echo Chambers (Flourishing Journey Podcast)
Rachael Jones interviews Dr. Edward Bunn to discuss strategies for clear communication that lead to collaboration and clarity. Watch this episode on YouTube!…
- ACSI Podcasts
Grafted Together Ep 32: The Proper Care and Feeding of a Spiritual Life Director
What are common pitfalls for a spiritual life director, and how can they best care for themselves as they lead others? Greg Tonkinson has insights on this and…
- ACSI Podcasts
Stronger Together Ep 11: Dr. Michael Lindsay on "Hinge Moments" and a Federal Tax Credit Scholarship explainer
Dr. Michael Lindsay, keynote speaker at FSi 2026, shares how to capitalize on life's "hinge moments," the topic of his keynote presentation at FSi this month…
- ACSI Podcasts
Grafted Together Ep 31: The Transformative Power of Christian Education: The Gospel in the City
Russ Gregg started a Christian school in Minneapolis not only for his own kids, but for his neighborhood with no access to quality Christian education. Hear…
- ACSI Podcasts
Student Leadership & Learning Ep 25: Before We Teach, God Forms
Spiritual Formation is the Foundation of Student Leadership and Engaged Learning. Emily Pigott shares encouragement on being a Christlike example in the…
- ACSI Podcasts
Grafted Together Ep 30: Accreditation as Stewardship, with Stephen Deck
Jerry Nelson and Stephen Deck discuss a biblical view of accreditation. For more on accreditation, visit…
- ACSI Podcasts
Grafted Together Ep 29: Ethnic Diversity and the Teacher/Leader Pipeline, with Dr. Page Curlee
Jerry Nelson and Dr. Page Curlee share research on recruiting and retaining a more diverse staff in Christian schools, drawing from Dr. Curlee's experience…
- ACSI Podcasts
Grafted Together Episode 28: Civil Discourse in an Age of Tribalism, with Philip Scott
Philip Scott, ACSI VP for Legal Affairs, discusses how what civil discourse should look like for Christians today, and how to properly view our involvement and…
- ACSI Podcasts
Aha Leader Series Ep 3: Mission Drift Through Busyness (Flourishing Journey Podcast)
Rachael Jones sits down with Dr. Edward Bunn to discuss how to recognize when our mission begins to drift and explore strategies for helping our teams stay…
- ACSI Podcasts
Stronger Together Ep 10: Why parents would leave a Christian school, and more, with Simon Jeynes
Simon Jeynes, Co-Founder of Christian School Management, discusses cultural shifts in and around Christian education, and more. Watch this episode on YouTube!…
- ACSI Podcasts
Grafted Together Ep 27: Spiritual Formation Network Wrap-up: ESOs & Assessment
Douglas Campbell hosts an episode with three major contributors to ACSI's Spiritual Formation Network meetings: Laurie LaFon, Sean Englert, and Sam Farinacci…
- ACSI Podcasts
Student Leadership & Learning Ep 24: The Gift of Presence - Rediscovering Stillness in a Noisy Season
Emily Pigott shares how to lead with presence to remind students that peace is not the absence of chaos, it's the awareness of Christ in that chaos. Isaiah 9:6…
- ACSI Podcasts
Aha Leader Series Ep 2: Resistance to Feedback (Flourishing Journey Podcast)
Rachael Jones sits down with Dr. Edward Bunn to discuss strategies for receiving and implementing healthy feedback as leaders. The Flourishing Journey podcast…
- ACSI Podcasts
Stronger Together Ep 9: Catalyst, Apologetics, and Asheville Christian Academy's Recovery
This episode features Dr. Chad McNatt, Superintendent at Seattle Christian School (WA), on the topic of apologetics and students asking tough questions. We…
- ACSI Podcasts
Grafted Together Ep 26: Trickle-Down Spiritual Formation and Worldview, with Dr. Jeff Lawrence
Jerry Nelson and Dr. Jeff Lawrence talk through building spiritual formation in schools from the top down, including defining a biblical worldview and…
- ACSI Podcasts
Student Leadership & Learning Ep 23: Equipping a Generation for Courageous Influence, Pt. 3
This episode completes a three-part series on equipping students to make a courageous influence, with this episode focused on actionable steps to call students…
- ACSI Podcasts
Aha Leader Series Ep 1: Ignoring Your Own Spiritual Formation (Flourishing Journey Podcast)
Rachael Jones sits down with Dr. Edward Bunn to discuss ways to ensure that we as leaders intentionally focus on our own spiritual formation. The Flourishing…
- ACSI Podcasts
Grafted Together Ep 25: Engaging Students at the Intersection of Christ & Culture, with Dan Stuart
Every school is being discipled by culture. Often, it happens subconsciously. To discuss how to engage students where Christ & culture meet, Dan Stuart joins…
- ACSI Podcasts
Stronger Together Ep 8: Student Leadership in Europe, Tim Shuman, and Leader Advice
The recent Student Leadership Conference in Hungary was a major success. Hear updates on that event, from outgoing Senior Director of the International…
- ACSI Podcasts
Grafted Together Ep 24: Stewarding your Circumstances as a Christian Educator, with Mark Senseman
Jerry Nelson and Mark Senseman, Director of Business Development with Servant Solutions, discuss stewardship over finances, a biblical view of retirement, and…
- ACSI Podcasts
Grafted Together Ep 23: Measuring Spiritual Formation, with Paris Shewey
How do we know if we're producing faithful followers of Jesus? Paris Shewey, campus pastor at King's Way Christian Schools (WA), joins the podcast to share his…
- ACSI Podcasts
Grafted Together Ep 22: How to Tell the Story of Spiritual Formation at Your School, with Steve Dang
Steve Dang joins the podcast to discuss spiritual formation, how to share the gospel based on varying school contexts. DOCS: An example of how to tell the…
- ACSI Podcasts
Student Leadership & Learning Ep 22: Equipping a Generation for Courageous Influence, Pt. 2
Educators can help students understand their identity in Christ and foster genuine relationships in a digitally connected but lonely world. Learn more about…
- ACSI Podcasts
Flourishing Journey Ep 19: Leadership Development & Growth
Rachael Jones, Assistant Director of Professional Development sits down with Dr. Edward Bunn, Director of Professional Development, to discuss Leadership…
- ACSI Podcasts
Stronger Together Ep 7: PPA Summit, ACSI's New Board Chair, Accreditation, & a Student Revival
Hear about the 2025 Public Policy & Advocacy Summit that just wrapped up in D.C., get to know ACSI's new Board Chair, Elisa Carlson, and enjoy a spotlight on…
- ACSI Podcasts
Grafted Together Ep 21: Pursuing Excellence and Righteousness in Sports, with Billy Sparacio
Billy Sparacio brings nearly 30 years of experience in high school athletics, and he uses sports as a platform to mold young men and women for life beyond the…
- ACSI Podcasts
Student Leadership & Learning Ep 21: Equipping a Generation for Courageous Influence
Even if students know they're meant to stand for truth, are they equipped to do so? Emily Pigott shares ways to equip students to actually follow through on…
- ACSI Podcasts
Stronger Together Ep 6: Latin Am. Update, International Education, & Early Ed
Stuart Salazar, ACSI Divisional Director for Latin America, provides an update. Beth Afanador, a longtime international school educator, gives her reasons why…
- ACSI Podcasts
Grafted Together Ep 19: AI and Biblical Worldview Integration, with Dr. Steve Mason
Dr. Steve Mason, Student Success Services Teacher at Southside Christian School in South Carolina, joins the Grafted Together Podcast to discuss Artificial…
- ACSI Podcasts
Grafted Together Ep 18: Expected Student Outcomes, with Josh Leonard
Josh Leonard rejoins the podcast to discuss targets for students to know, understand, and believe upon graduation. They are integrated with academic and…
- ACSI Podcasts
Grafted Together Ep 20: Following Jesus the Teacher (TKA Devotional)
Jerry Nelson led this devotional at The King's Academy (FL), an ACSI Exemplary Accredited School, on August 7, 2025. He challenged TKA's faculty to emulate…
- ACSI Podcasts
Student Leadership & Learning Ep 20: What They Are Bringing Back: a Teacher's Guide to Post-Summer Culture
Students are returning to school shaped by culture, for better or for worse. Hear actionable strategies on how to capitalize on the beginning of the school…
- ACSI Podcasts
Stronger Together Ep 5: Global Updates & How to Capitalize on the Career Center
Hear from ACSI's Divisional Directors in East Asia, Africa, and Asia Pacific, plus learn how to utilize ACSI's Career Center. Thanks to Divisional Directors…
- ACSI Podcasts
Grafted Together Ep 17: Kingdom Education Principle #1
Building on Dr. Glen Schultz's Kingdom Education Principles, Jerry Nelson covers Principle #1 in this episode: The education of children and youth is the…
- ACSI Podcasts
Student Leadership & Learning Ep 19: A New Way to Think About Leadership
Do you have a mistaken perception of leadership? Does it emphasize authenticity, selflessness, and Christ-like love? Emily Pigott encourages educators to model…
- ACSI Podcasts
Flourishing Journey Ep 18: The Soft Skills of Leadership: Self-Awareness
Dr. Edward Bunn sits down with Rex Miller, Author and Speaker, to discuss the leadership soft skill of self-awareness. The Flourishing Journey podcast explores…
- ACSI Podcasts
Stronger Together Ep 4: International School Leader Spotlight with Eric Moore in Ukraine
Eric Moore, Director of Kyiv Christian Academy, discusses his background in Christian education and his current school in Kyiv, Ukraine. Moore and ACSI's…
- ACSI Podcasts
Stronger Together Ep 3: Reviewing Rooted and Previewing the Public Policy & Advocacy Summit
We look back at this month's Rooted Educator Worldview Summit in Dallas, and preview the Public Policy & Advocacy Summit in Washington, DC this September. To…
ACSI PodcastsStudent Leadership & Learning Ep 18: Creativity in Leadership
Creativity is part of God's nature, and we are made in his image, so creativity is a divine gift. How can we use it in leadership for problem-solving and…
ACSI PodcastsThe Flourishing Journey 17: Learning to Lead Through Change Management
Dr. Edward Bunn sits down with Dr. Chris Hobbs, Head of School at Indian Rocks Christian School, to discuss the leadership soft skill of change management. The…
ACSI PodcastsStronger Together Ep 2: Updates from the IELC, and the upcoming Public Policy & Advocacy Summit
Hear from Dr. Larry Taylor at the International Educator Leadership Conference in Budapest, and from Phil Hills, Executive Regional Director of ACSI Western…
- ACSI Podcasts
Student Leadership & Learning Ep 17: Leading By Example, Lessons from Biblical Leaders
Emily Pigott emphasizes the importance of leading by example through biblical leaders Nehemiah, Deborah, Ruth, and Moses. She highlights various leadership…