Calling in Seasons: Miles Larson on Leadership, Identity, and Holy Discontent | Caller ID

On Caller ID, host B. Davis Wells talks with Miles Larson, executive director of the Brethren Church, about calling as seasonal rather than permanent and how work matters without defining identity. Miles shares his curiosity-driven hobbies, early leadership lessons managing a catering hall at 14, and an unexpected career path from higher education and career services to pastoral ministry after experiencing “holy discontent.” He describes discernment through community, wise counsel, and practical signs like a seminary scholarship, and explains success as “fruitfulness” rather than metrics. They discuss moving toward new roles versus running away, guarding against titles becoming identity, the need for rest and sabbatical, challenges like cynicism and rigid processes, cultural shifts driving bivocational ministry, and his hoped-for legacy of rebuilding trust, clarifying key terms, and cultivating joy in the church.

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New episodes drop weekly, featuring conversations with people across disciplines who are thoughtful about their work and honest about the cost of doing it well.

I’m Brandon Davis Wells and thanks for answering the call.

Sarah Johnson joins the Caller ID Podcast to talk about her path from healthcare marketing to Case Western Reserve and now Chief Communications Officer for the City of Cleveland under Mayor Justin Bibb, overseeing everything from media and social to internal messaging for 8,000 employees—plus crisis communications during incidents like shootings and a cyberattack. She shares why she initially resisted government work before being pushed to meet the campaign and buy into the mayor’s vision, and why the role is both chaotic and deeply fulfilling because of resident impact. Sarah also opens up about imposter syndrome, the power of relationships over “networking,” and having a long-term mentor who validates and challenges her. As a Black woman in high-stakes rooms, she describes being scrutinized, navigating biased comments with grace, and showing up confidently in “male, pale, and stale” spaces.

Support the show

Thanks for listening to Caller ID.

You can follow Caller ID wherever you listen to podcasts, and if you’re enjoying the show, a quick rating or review helps more people find it.

New episodes drop weekly, featuring conversations with people across disciplines who are thoughtful about their work and honest about the cost of doing it well.

I’m Brandon Davis Wells and thanks for answering the call.

In this episode of Caller ID, Brandon Davis Wells talks with Dr. Mohsine Bensaid—Ashland University assistant professor and TESOL program director—about identity beyond the usual “what do you do?” question. Bensaid shares how growing up in Morocco, dreaming of pro soccer, and discovering English through an influential teacher shaped his path into language, education, and intercultural exchange. He recounts navigating rigid schooling, pursuing English linguistics and literature, and seizing opportunities that eventually brought him to the U.S., where he experienced higher education as a global “melting pot.” They discuss why language learning and intercultural understanding matter, the value of exploring in college, and how his Islamic faith frames work as worship rooted in integrity and service. The core takeaway: your job shouldn’t carry the full weight of your worth—balance means not losing yourself in any one role.

00:00 Burnout And Balance
00:24 Meet Dr Bensaid
01:00 Beyond What You Do
02:05 Soccer And Family Joy
03:16 Injury Ends The Dream
03:49 Morocco School Choices
05:03 Finding English Passion
09:46 University Culture Shock
12:26 Chasing Exchange Opportunities
15:18 Fulbright And The US Leap
17:39 Higher Ed Melting Pot
19:44 Making Intercultural Priority
20:20 Small Town Initiative
20:54 Why Languages Matter
22:17 Morocco vs US Schools
23:37 Back Home Teaching
26:28 Returning to Ashland
28:20 Networking Lands ACCESS
30:21 Exploring Careers
33:46 Faith and Work
36:43 Final Career Wisdom
39:34 Closing Thanks

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Thanks for listening to Caller ID.

You can follow Caller ID wherever you listen to podcasts, and if you’re enjoying the show, a quick rating or review helps more people find it.

New episodes drop weekly, featuring conversations with people across disciplines who are thoughtful about their work and honest about the cost of doing it well.

I’m Brandon Davis Wells and thanks for answering the call.

In part two of our 2-part call, Linda and I dive into all kinds of topics, including:why someone stays at a company like Southwest Airlines for a long time, mentorship, what growing up in a single parent household meant, mentorship, paying it forward, how to deal with imposter syndrome, women in leadership, Clifton Strengths, and what she looked for in candidates to work on her team.

Support the show

Thanks for listening to Caller ID.

You can follow Caller ID wherever you listen to podcasts, and if you’re enjoying the show, a quick rating or review helps more people find it.

New episodes drop weekly, featuring conversations with people across disciplines who are thoughtful about their work and honest about the cost of doing it well.

I’m Brandon Davis Wells and thanks for answering the call.

What does it take to go from an entry-level employee to the Chief Administration Officer of one of America's most beloved companies?

In Part 1 of my conversation with Linda Rutherford, we explore Linda's remarkable career journey from the newspaper industry to the executive leadership team at Southwest Airlines.

After losing her newspaper job when her employer closed, Linda found an opportunity at Southwest and spent decades growing into one of the airline's most influential leaders. Along the way, she discovered that one of the most important leadership skills isn't speaking—it's listening.

Linda shares how a fifth-grade teacher changed the course of her life by making her write the "Wise Old Owl" poem 500 times in a spiral notebook, a lesson that would later shape her leadership philosophy, influence her writing on listening, and guide her contributions to books on leadership and organizational change.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Making career pivots after unexpected setbacks
• Growing from an entry-level role into executive leadership
• Why listening is one of the most underrated leadership skills
• The leadership lessons behind her published work on listening and change management
• How childhood experiences can shape a lifetime of leadership

If you've ever faced a career detour, wondered how leaders build trust, or wanted to understand the difference between hearing and truly listening, this conversation is for you.

Thanks for Answering the Call.

🎙️ Caller ID Podcast: where life, career, and identity meet.

📲 Listen and subscribe at daviswells.com/caller-id-podcast.

Support the show

Thanks for listening to Caller ID.

You can follow Caller ID wherever you listen to podcasts, and if you’re enjoying the show, a quick rating or review helps more people find it.

New episodes drop weekly, featuring conversations with people across disciplines who are thoughtful about their work and honest about the cost of doing it well.

I’m Brandon Davis Wells and thanks for answering the call.

In part two of our call, Coach Ellenwood talks about his desire to keep learning and how he deal with getting a little bored.

He also leans into his calling as someone who isn't a hoops expert (although I'll tell you having spent countless days on the road with him and his staff, they're definitely expert level hoops tacticians).

How he deals with losing now vs when he was a younger coach is a marked change, you don't want to miss that.

What brings his biggest frustrations and joys.

And of course, our word association with failure, money, and more.

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Thanks for listening to Caller ID.

You can follow Caller ID wherever you listen to podcasts, and if you’re enjoying the show, a quick rating or review helps more people find it.

New episodes drop weekly, featuring conversations with people across disciplines who are thoughtful about their work and honest about the cost of doing it well.

I’m Brandon Davis Wells and thanks for answering the call.

This week is part one of my call with Ashland University Head Men's Basketball Coach, John Ellenwood. Coaching basketball wasn't the original plan, but it's definitely turned into a calling. Turning down opportunities with the FBI and other major retailers are pieces of the first part of our conversation. John. talks about nearly being fired, and what it took for him to save his job, including dangling by a thread from high in a factory.

John is a deeply, insighful, and loyal man, who happens to also be a fantastic basketball coach.

Listen in to our call as we talk career, identity, and leadership in part one of our two-part call.

Support the show

Thanks for listening to Caller ID.

You can follow Caller ID wherever you listen to podcasts, and if you’re enjoying the show, a quick rating or review helps more people find it.

New episodes drop weekly, featuring conversations with people across disciplines who are thoughtful about their work and honest about the cost of doing it well.

I’m Brandon Davis Wells and thanks for answering the call.

This week, I catch up with a former boss, Cleveland Cavaliers television producer, Brent Valenti. Brent has produced live Cavalier basketball for the last fifteen years. I served on his home crew for years in the truck.

We talk leadership, how to make it in sports television, what to learn from failure, and how to keep a family together while you're spending time on the road.

Support the show

Thanks for listening to Caller ID.

You can follow Caller ID wherever you listen to podcasts, and if you’re enjoying the show, a quick rating or review helps more people find it.

New episodes drop weekly, featuring conversations with people across disciplines who are thoughtful about their work and honest about the cost of doing it well.

I’m Brandon Davis Wells and thanks for answering the call.