The YDisciple Podcast

YDisciple Podcast

Welcome to a space where curiosity meets mission. In this podcast, we explore the shifting landscape of youth culture and what it really means to walk with young people in faith today. Whether you’re a youth minister, teacher, pastor, volunteer, or simply someone who cares about the next generation — you’ll find insight, encouragement, and community here. We don’t pretend to have all the answers. But through years of experience (and conversations with incredible ministry leaders in the trenches), we’ve gathered stories, lessons, and honest reflections worth sharing. This is a space to stay curious, spark new ideas, and learn together as we serve young people and help them encounter Christ in a rapidly changing world. We’re learners and leaders on the same journey — and we’re so glad you’re here.

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25 episodes
weekly
Avg 29 min
English

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October 12 · 40 min
EP44: Why Your Ministry Needs Margin with Emma Chaplin
In a world overflowing with content, what young people may need most is something their phones can't give them: relationship and margin. Pete and Annie sit down with Emma Chaplin from Alpha to explore why creating space for conversation, belonging, and the Holy Spirit can be just as important as the content we share. Because sometimes the most meaningful moments in ministry happen when we stop trying to fill every minute.
October 5 · 24 min
EP43: 5 Ways to Start Your Ministry Year Well
The start of a new ministry year can feel like a sprint. In this episode, Pete and Annie share five practical ways to begin the year well: safeguard your prayer, schedule margin, look ahead, breathe, and prioritize relationships. Because healthy ministry isn't just about getting things done—it's about staying close to Jesus and making space for the people you're called to serve.
September 28 · 31 min
EP42: Inspire, Inquire, Invite, and Invest with Sr Karolyn Nunes and Eve Anders of the FSGM
What if vocation discernment isn't about getting young people to figure out their future—but teaching them how to listen to Jesus?
September 21 · 28 min
EP41: I Hated YDisciple… with Lauren Riggs
Lauren Riggs went from a teenager who “hated YDisciple” to a mentor who discovered the power of relational discipleship. In this episode, she joins Pete and Annie to talk about slowing down, empowering young people, and letting relationships—not the guide—shape the small group experience.
September 14 · 31 min
EP40: What If the Thing That Drains You Is Someone Else’s Gift? Discovering Working Genius
In this episode, Pete Burds and Annie Grandell explore Patrick Lencioni’s Working Genius framework and what it can teach ministry leaders about their strengths, frustrations, and team dynamics. They unpack the six working geniuses and discuss how recognizing the gifts of others can help build healthier teams, share the work of ministry, and create greater joy in serving.
September 7 · 35 min
EP39: When Ministry and Marriage Collide
Pete and Annie invite their spouses, Emily and Jason, onto the podcast for an honest conversation about marriage and ministry. They discuss the challenges of balancing family life with ministry, the importance of boundaries and expectations, avoiding ministry becoming your identity, and what it means for a family to embrace a shared call.
August 31 · 21 min
EP38: The Ordinary Man Behind an Extraordinary Pope
In this episode, Pete Burds and Annie Grandell explore the incredible story of Jan Tyranowski, the ordinary tailor whose small-group discipleship helped shape the life of St. John Paul II. His story reveals the power of simple, relational discipleship—and reminds ministry leaders that they may never see the full impact of the people they faithfully invest in.
August 24 · 24 min
EP37: Myths in Youth Ministry (Part 3)
What assumptions might be limiting your ministry? Annie Grandell and Pete Burds debunk four common myths in youth ministry, challenging leaders to move beyond bigger programs and better curriculum and instead focus on what truly transforms lives: relationships, trust, and intentional discipleship.
August 17 · 34 min
EP36: Work-Life Balance is Possible in Ministry with Bobby Moren
Does growing your ministry have to mean sacrificing your family life? Bobby Moren shares how empowering adult leaders, embracing small groups, and rightly ordering his priorities helped him reach more students while finding greater peace, balance, and joy in ministry.
August 10 · 23 min
EP35: Stop Watching Videos
Should youth ministers stop using videos? Not exactly—but they should remember that videos are tools, not discipleship itself. Annie Grandell and Pete Burds explore how to move beyond screens and create small groups where relationships, Scripture, prayer, and real conversations help young people grow in faith.
August 3 · 25 min
EP34: When Faith Becomes Action
Discipleship doesn't end when the discussion is over. Annie Grandell and Pete Burds explore why serving together helps young people deepen their faith, strengthen relationships, and discover that following Jesus means loving both God and neighbor in practical, life-changing ways.
July 27 · 25 min
EP33: The Discipleship Practice We Skip Too Often
What role should accountability play in discipleship? Annie Grandell and Pete Burds explore why accountability isn't about perfection or performance—it's about creating relationships that help young people build lasting habits, grow closer to Jesus, and become lifelong disciples.
July 20 · 33 min
EP32: From Programs to Discipleship: Stories from the Field with Nick Scanlan & Makenzie Conner (Live Podcast Recording)
Recorded live at the Youth Discipleship Sprint, Annie Grandell talks with Makenzie Connor and Nick Scanlan about what it actually looks like to launch small group discipleship in a parish. Together, they share practical lessons on recruiting mentors, casting vision, empowering leaders, and creating a ministry where authentic relationships become the foundation for lasting faith.
July 13 · 26 min
EP31: Are Our Efforts Paying Off?
In this episode, Pete Burds and Annie Grandell continue their conversation with Father Chad VanHoose by exploring why the goal of ministry isn't simply to keep young people Catholic, but to accompany them toward a lasting relationship with Jesus. They discuss freedom, discipleship, curiosity, and how ministry leaders can respond with hope and compassion—even when people choose to walk away from the faith.
July 6 · 36 min
EP30: The Real Reason You Can't Find a Youth Minister with Chris Wesley
Chris Wesley joins Annie to discuss why the youth ministry staffing crisis runs deeper than hiring. Together they explore mentorship, leadership development, burnout, and how churches can create sustainable pathways that help ministry leaders flourish for the long haul.
June 29 · 32 min
EP29: Affinity Groups– Is this the future of Small Group Ministry? with John Zimmer from FOCUS
John Zimmer of FOCUS joins Pete and Annie to discuss why authentic friendship remains one of the most effective pathways for discipleship. Together, they explore affinity groups, incarnational evangelization, and how faith takes root when leaders invest deeply in relationships that already exist.
June 22 · 27 min
EP28: Enhance Your Ministry in 4 Days
Pete Burds and Annie Grandell reflect on the Youth Discipleship Sprint and share key insights from ministry leaders across the country. They explore why trust has become one of the defining challenges of our moment, how authentic relationships create traction in ministry, and what gives them hope for the future of youth discipleship.
June 15 · 24 min
EP27: What Happens When Great Ministry Minds Share a Room?
Pete Burds and Annie Grandell take listeners behind the scenes of the Youth Discipleship Sprint, NET Ministries' immersive training event for ministry leaders. They explore the power of practical discipleship, authentic community, and intentional accompaniment, while sharing why caring for ministry leaders is essential to forming the next generation of disciples.
June 8 · 32 min
EP26: “Can We Keep Kids Catholic?” with Fr Chad VanHoose
Pete, Annie, and Father Chad VanHoose explore the question “Can you keep kids Catholic?” and why it may be the wrong goal. They discuss the limits of control in discipleship, the importance of personal witness, and how introducing young people to a relationship with Jesus—rather than relying on formulas—leads to deeper, lasting faith.
June 1 · 35 min
EP25: Going Off Script with YD Coaches, Molly & H
In this episode, Annie Grandell and YDisciple coaches Molly Gallagher and H. Dorian discuss the importance of “going off script” in ministry. They share practical examples of adapting in real time, prioritizing relationships over rigid plans, and trusting the Holy Spirit to guide conversations—leading to deeper connection and more meaningful discipleship.

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