Episodes

  • 003 - Building a Teaching Team

    003 - Building a Teaching Team
    Sep 17 2026
    This week, host Brandon "Blarg" Smart and "guest" Josh Griffin (Download Youth Ministry, Mariners Church) talk strategy for building and equipping a volunteer teaching team.

    (00:00) Catching Up & Josh's Shameless Self-Promotion

    (08:37) Roadmapping Debrief

    (12:32) Building a Teaching Team and Sharing the Stage

    (14:50) Does Teaching Quality Matter? (Yes, but...)

    (19:06) Choosing the Right Communicators

    (26:42) Helping Speakers Find Their Voice & Developping a Message

    (34:10) Keeping the Message Interesting (Stories and "Every 7 Minutes")

    (38:40) Giving Feedback

    (41:01) Knowing When It's a Bad Fit

    (47:15) Closing

    Got a question for our hosts? Submit them at craftingyouthministry@gmail.com

    Follow us on socials!
    @TheMasterBlarg
    @joshuagriffin
    @BlargThoughts
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    49 mins
  • 002 - Planning Your Roadmap

    002 - Planning Your Roadmap
    Aug 18 2026
    This week, Josh Griffin is back to talk about how to run a roadmapping meeting with your staff or volunteer team, be it for the Fall, Winter, Spring, or Summer.

    Check out Josh's new Podcast: Youth Ministry Debrief wherever you listen!

    (00:00:00) Welcome and Catching Up

    (00:03:06) Communicating Clearly with Parents

    (00:04:59) The Camp Cell Phone Policy

    (00:13:00) Wrapping Up the Summer & Sustainable Scheduling

    (00:17:42) Roadmapping 101

    (00:24:46) Aligning with the Whole Church

    (00:31:15) Setting Guardrails for Series, Events, and New Traditions

    (00:38:32) Ground Rules for Roadmapping

    (00:45:34) Turning the Plan into Action

    (00:51:17) After the Meeting Wraps...

    Got a question for our hosts? Submit them at craftingyouthministry@gmail.com

    Follow us on socials!
    @TheMasterBlarg
    @joshuagriffin
    @BlargThoughts
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    58 mins
  • 001 - Navigating Transitional Grief

    001 - Navigating Transitional Grief
    Jul 28 2026
    Brandon "Blarg" Smart sits down with veteran youth pastor Josh Griffin as they process how to grieve both transitioning out of a job and when someone on your team leaves.


    (00:00:00) Welcome and Catching Up

    (00:06:04) The Camp Helicopter Story

    (00:09:41) Grieving Leaving Your Church

    (00:11:53) Anger and Ungrieved Losses

    (00:17:04) Losing Control of the Narrative

    (00:22:34) "What-ifs" & Counteroffers (or lack thereof)

    (00:27:19) Life After Your Church

    (00:29:08) When Grief Sneaks Up On You

    (00:32:12) Maintaining Relationships After You Leave

    (00:33:55) How to Leave Well

    (00:36:20) "Downgrading" Churches

    (00:39:55) Measuring Kingdom Impact


    Got a question for our hosts? Submit them at craftingyouthministry@gmail.com

    Follow us on socials!
    @TheMasterBlarg
    @joshuagriffin
    @BlargThoughts
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    44 mins