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Pastoral Ministry
Pastoral Care
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Practical Shepherding
Expository Preaching
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Preaching
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Church Planting
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Suffering
Pastoral Burnout
Pastoral Perfectionism
Younger Pastors
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Practical Shepherding is a Gospel-driven resource center for pastors and church leaders to equip them in the practical matters of pastoral ministry. In this podcast, pastor Brian Croft sits down with other pastors to discuss the gritty details of pastoral ministry. Our goal is to examine the life and work of a pastor and give helpful guidance for our brothers laboring with us. This is a podcast by... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes300Founded11 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ChristianityReligion & Spirituality

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Artwork for Trench Talk

Latest Episodes

Contact us. We’d love to serve youGive financially to support the work of helping pastors thriveApply for a stay at The Shepherd’s HouseWrite a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify(03:35) Biblical and Historical Perspectives on Ministry Longevity

(05:... more

Contact us. We’d love to serve youGive financially to support the work of helping pastors thriveFind out more and apply for the 2027 Practically Trained Pastors CohortApply for a stay at The Shepherd’s HouseWrite a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify... more

Contact us. We’d love to serve youGive financially to support the work of helping pastors thriveApply for a stay at The Shepherd’s HouseWrite a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify(00:00) Introduction and recap of Part 1(01:47) Developing preaching as... more

Contact us. We’d love to serve youGive financially to support the work of helping pastors thriveApply for a stay at The Shepherd’s HouseWrite a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify(03:58) Austin Walker’s Life and Ministry After Retirement

(06:12) The ... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Austin Walker
Pastor with more than 60 years of ministry experience
Episode: Ep. 339: Short Counsel for a Long Ministry with Austin Walker Pt. 2
Steve Bray
Pastor, Mile One Mission; speaker in Newfoundland
Mile One Mission
Episode: Ep. 333: Advancing the Church Conference (Equip 2026)
Mez McConnell
Co-founder of 20 Schemes; Church in Hard Places leadership
20 Schemes; Church in Hard Places
Episode: Ep. 333: Advancing the Church Conference (Equip 2026)
Matthew Spandler-Davidson
Leader involved with Practical Shepherding and Church in Hard Places
Practical Shepherding; Church in Hard Places
Episode: Ep. 333: Advancing the Church Conference (Equip 2026)
Bethel Webb
Leads the Practical Shepherding women's ministry; focuses on Pastors' Wives and Pastors' Kids
Practical Shepherding
Episode: Ep. 332: Caring for pastors wives and pastors kids with Bethel Webb
Jim Sebastio
Guest discussing pastoral preaching and tenderness toward conscience
Pastoral colleague/guest
Episode: Ep. 329: Preaching to the tender conscience
Kyle McClellan
Pastor, Pooler, Georgia
Presbyterian Church in Pooler
Episode: Ep. 328: Pastoral Attire with Kyle McClellan
Sean Courser
Longtime staff member at Practical Shepherding; transitioning to Enid, Oklahoma as an associational mission strategist
Practical Shepherding; Enid Association (Oklahoma)
Episode: Ep. 323: When a Church Doesn’t Revitalize
Ronnie Martin
Pastor, musician, and co-author of The Unhurried Pastor
Harbor Network
Episode: Ep. 319: The Unhurried Pastor Revisited with Ronnie Martin

Hosts

Brian Croft
Host of the show and pastor involved with Practical Shepherding; long-standing leader in the ministry community
Jim Sebastio
Co-host and guest interlocutor on pastoral topics; experienced in church ministry discussions

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 280 ratings
  • Wise words for hard times!

    This podcast is a wonderful heart-pouring of men that have been in the trenches for years. The biblical truth is tangible, the advice is solid, valuable and practical. I love how each episode is framed biblically and how heartfelt are the closing prayers.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    PastorHumberto
    United States2 years ago
  • Love Trench Talk!

    Brian and Jim are solid guys who love God and the local church. It’s a must listen for any man in ministry!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    hallmarc87
    United States2 years ago
  • Essential listening for the pastor

    Biblically faithful and pastorally wise advice and encouragement for the pastor. Highly recommended to anyone in pastoral ministry

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Norfolk Pastor
    United Kingdom2 years ago
  • Real, practical, helpful!

    The stuff you just can’t learn in seminary!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    BrandonTyler024
    United States3 years ago
  • So beneficial

    This podcast is so helpful and addresses a wide range of pastoral issues in a very practical way.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Keithmcilwaine
    United Kingdom3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Guests are seen as credible and helpful voices for pastors navigating leadership challenges.
Many describe episodes as encouraging and grounding for daily ministry life.
Praise for consistency in addressing real ministry pain points and discouragement.
Audiences appreciate heartfelt authenticity and actionable takeaways for mentoring and care.
Listeners value the practical, biblically faithful guidance that balances truth with pastoral tenderness.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Ep. 338: Short Counsel for a Long Ministry with Austin Walker Pt. 1
Q: Where is the line between a pastor's family dealing with suffering and difficulty and something that is actually disqualifying?
Sebastiao says pastors need not present perfect homes, but should model enduring love, patience, faithfulness, repentance, and forgiveness. Walker adds that families require daily effort and that pastors should admit when they have wronged their wives or children and ask forgiveness.
Ep. 338: Short Counsel for a Long Ministry with Austin Walker Pt. 1
Q: What were you going for in this first counsel, pay careful attention to your personal life?
Walker grounds the counsel in 1 Timothy 4:16, saying pastors must attend to their own spiritual lives and doctrine. He warns that without a continuing walk with God, ministers are vulnerable to moral failure, losing faith, or giving up.
Ep. 339: Short Counsel for a Long Ministry with Austin Walker Pt. 2
Q: How important is it that we're not just reading books written now, but we're reading books from the past, four or five hundred years ago, or a thousand years ago?
Austin Walker says reading earlier Christian writers helps pastors understand the church's history and learn how earlier generations addressed foundational doctrines. Jim Sebastio adds that history and biographies broaden perspective and help readers think beyond contemporary debates.
Ep. 339: Short Counsel for a Long Ministry with Austin Walker Pt. 2
Q: When you say develop your preaching to a pastor, what are you referring to?
Austin Walker explains that preaching is a lifelong process of studying Scripture, learning from other preachers, and adapting sermons to a congregation's needs. He recommends clarity, feedback, and practice teaching audiences of different ages.
Ep. 328: Pastoral Attire with Kyle McClellan
Q: What are the five prepositions that drive the book's argument?
The five prepositions are to dress like a man, to dress for the office, to dress for the occasion, to dress to communicate elegance, and to dress to communicate capability and competence, which together guide how pastors should present themselves.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Trench Talk

What is Trench Talk about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show centers on practical pastoral ministry, with senior pastors discussing real-world challenges and solutions for life in the trenches. Conversations cover care for pastors and their families, preaching with sensitivity, leadership transitions, church revitalization, and maintaining pace and vitality in ministry, all rooted in Scripture and pragmatic application. Notable strengths include frank, mentoring-style dialogue, guest experts drawn from Practical Shepherding networks, and a consistent emphasis on pastoral faithfulness, humility, and communal support for pastors and church leaders.

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Which podcasts are similar to Trench Talk?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Trench Talk:

1. Pastors Talk - A podcast by 9Marks
2. Pastor Well with Hershael York
3. The Everyday Pastor
4. Room for Nuance
5. Counseling Talk — A podcast by 9Marks

How many episodes of Trench Talk are there?

Trench Talk launched 11 years ago and published 300 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Trench Talk?

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Where can I see ratings and reviews for Trench Talk?

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What guests have appeared on Trench Talk?

Recent guests on Trench Talk include:

1. Austin Walker
2. Steve Bray
3. Mez McConnell
4. Matthew Spandler-Davidson
5. Bethel Webb
6. Jim Sebastio
7. Kyle McClellan
8. Sean Courser

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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