How I Lead Leading Saints | An Interview with Kurt Francom

Carlos L. Chacon, Jr. takes the reins to interview Kurt Francom,
the founder and executive director of Leading Saints and the usual
host of the podcast, as they discuss the organization's future
plans and the evolution of its content. This was originally a
livestream on YouTube, December 30, 2024. Carlos is a zealous
father of five trying to balance faith and family life while making
a living in IT. He served as a missionary in the Buenos Aires South
Mission, where he developed a deep love for the people and culture
of Argentina. As a frequent recipient of the Savior's grace, he has
also served as an early morning seminary teacher. He enjoys sharing
the teachings of Jesus Christ and supporting others on the covenant
path, and can eat his weight in raspberries. Carlos and his family
live in Richmond, Virginia, where he currently serves as a bishop.
He is a host on the SQL Data Partners Podcast. Links Share your
thoughts in the Leading Saints community. Read the transcript of
this podcast Get 14-day access to the Core Leader Library
Highlights Kurt shares insights about upcoming events, including
potential live workshops and a BYU cruise experience, emphasizing
the value of in-person interactions for leadership development. As
they delve into the history of Leading Saints, Kurt recounts his
journey from a frustrated church leader to the founder of a
nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing leadership within the
Latter-day Saint community. He reflects on the challenges of
leadership, the importance of empathy, and the need for a
supportive community. The episode also touches on the relationship
between Leading Saints and the Church, clarifying that while they
operate independently, they maintain a positive rapport with church
leaders. Kurt expresses his desire to create more in-depth content,
including long-form interviews and thoughtful explorations of
leadership principles, while encouraging listeners to engage with
the platform by sharing ideas and suggesting potential guests. The
episode concludes with a call for collaboration and a reminder of
the significance of leadership in establishing a supportive and
thriving community within the church. 03:53 - Plans for 2025 04:25
- Upcoming Live Events 08:06 - BYU Cruise Experience 09:34 - Future
Content Ideas 10:06 - Long-Form Interviews 12:50 - Exploring
Leadership History 15:27 - Shifting Focus to Zion 16:20 - Engaging
New Audiences 18:01 - History of Leading Saints 24:23 - Growth and
Impact 25:39 - Motivation Behind Leading Saints 30:03 - Favorite
Episodes and Topics 32:44 - Navigating Podcast Content 36:36 -
Engaging with Potential Guests 40:38 - Relationship with the Church
44:28 - Importance of Independent Voices 45:19 - The Challenge of
Providing Formulas The award-winning Leading Saints Podcast is one
of the top independent Latter-day Saints podcasts as part of
nonprofit Leading Saints' mission to help Latter-day Saints be
better prepared to lead. Learn more and listen to any of the past
episodes for free at LeadingSaints.org. Past guests include Emily
Belle Freeman, David Butler, Hank Smith, John Bytheway, Reyna and
Elena Aburto, Liz Wiseman, Stephen M. R. Covey, Elder Alvin F.
Meredith III, Julie Beck, Brad Wilcox, Jody Moore, Tony Overbay,
John H. Groberg, Elaine Dalton, Tad R. Callister, Lynn G. Robbins,
J. Devn Cornish, Bonnie Oscarson, Dennis B. Neuenschwander, Kirby
Heyborne, Taysom Hill Anthony Sweat, John Hilton III, Barbara
Morgan Gardner, Blair Hodges, Whitney Johnson, Ryan Gottfredson,
Greg McKeown, Ganel-Lyn Condie, Michael Goodman, Wendy Ulrich,
Richard Ostler, and many more in over 800 episodes. Discover
podcasts, articles, virtual conferences, and live events related to
callings such as the bishopric, Relief Society, elders quorum,
Primary, youth leadership, stake leadership, ward mission, ward
council, young adults, ministering, and teaching.