How I Lead Leading Saints | An Interview with Kurt Francom

Leading Saints

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.

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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.

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