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The ChurchGear Podcast

The ChurchGear Podcast

Written by: Toby Walters [Church Tech Advocate]
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About this listen

Are you a church tech director? If so, this podcast exists to serve you specifically. Each week we pull the tech director out of the booth and place them onto the stage to share their most outlandish stories and hidden wisdom from the tech trenches. Hosted by Toby Walters and Blake Hodges.

© 2026 The ChurchGear Podcast
Christianity Ministry & Evangelism Music Spirituality
Episodes
  • From Tech Director to Executive Pastor [Fellowship Grapevine's Dave Clark]
    Jan 26 2026

    In this episode, we explore the rare but inspiring career path from Production Director to Executive Pastor.



    We are joined by Dave Clark of Fellowship Church (Grapevine) to discuss how he transitioned from technical leadership to executive leadership. We break down the difference between treating ministry as a "job" versus a "calling," and Dave shares practical advice on how tech directors can build trust with senior pastors and get "unstuck" when they feel stagnant.


    In this episode you'll hear:

    0:00 Toby’s Church Planting Story

    6:30 Dave Clark (Fellowship Church Grapevine) Joins

    14:30 Defining Ministry: A Job vs. A Calling

    17:00 Career Path: From Tech Director to Executive Pastor

    21:45 How to Minister to Production Volunteers

    27:00 Getting "Unstuck" in Your Ministry Career

    29:00 Building Trust with Senior Leadership

    38:00 Pastor Ed Young’s Wildest Production Requests

    48:00 Staying Calm During a Tech Disaster

    53:00 Avoiding "Imaginary Arguments"

    54:15 Tech Takeaway: Ask Questions to Understand

    55:45 C3 Conference Preview

    You can sign up for the C3 Conference with this link to get a special rate discount from $229 to $99.

    https://brushfire.com/fellowship/c3conference2026/598770/register?typeCode=C3COMEBACK

    Get Toby's new book "Sacred Spaces, Modern Production" here.

    Resources for your Church Tech Ministry

    • Sell Us Gear: Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here.
    • Buy Our Gear: Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can shop our gear store here.



    Connect with us:

    • Sales Bulletin: Get better deals than the public and get them earlier too here!
    • Early Service: Get our best gear before it goes live on our site here.
    • Instagram: Hangout with us on the gram here!
    • Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr
  • Lessons from Lauren Daigle & Tate McRae's Crew [Matt Potesta]
    Jan 12 2026

    In this episode, we sit down with Matt Potesta, System Engineer for artists like Lauren Daigle and Tate McRae. We dive deep into the high-stakes world of touring production, covering everything from how to land your first big road gig to the critical lessons every local church can learn about PA system tuning and system design.

    Whether you're looking to upgrade your sanctuary's sound or considering a jump into the professional touring industry, Matt shares the "real-world" costs of professional audio services and how to protect your health while working in a high-demand industry.



    In this episode you'll hear:

    01:00 Banter: Surprise Parties and Tech Interventions

    05:50 Guest Interview: Matt Potesta (Lauren Daigle & Tate McRae Tour)

    08:00 Career Roadmap: Landing a World-Class Touring Production Job

    13:00 Church Production vs. Touring: Pros, Cons, and Key Differences

    19:00 How to "Pay Your Dues" and Break into the Pro Audio Industry

    23:30 Touring System Design: Applying Road Lessons to Local Venues

    26:50 Budgeting for Sound: How Much Does Professional PA Tuning Cost?

    30:50 Should Churches Hire Independent Vetting for System Integrators?

    38:30 Career Advice: When to Transition from Church Tech to the Road

    43:20 Mental Health in Production: Prioritizing Health and Avoiding Burnout

    45:30 Pro Touring Disaster Story: Lessons from the Road

    48:00 Tech Takeaway: How to "Condition" Your Audience for Better Services



    Get Toby's new book "Sacred Spaces, Modern Production" here.

    Resources for your Church Tech Ministry

    • Sell Us Gear: Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here.
    • Buy Our Gear: Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can shop our gear store here.



    Connect with us:

    • Sales Bulletin: Get better deals than the public and get them earlier too here!
    • Early Service: Get our best gear before it goes live on our site here.
    • Instagram: Hangout with us on the gram here!
    • Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!
    Show More Show Less
    53 mins
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