Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping how we work, learn, create, and connect—but what will these changes mean for our communities and the people within them?

Join Leaders in the Arena for a conversation with Tim Estes, pioneering AI entrepreneur and founder of Angel AI, guest hosted by Dr. Lance Wescher of Covenant College. Together, they’ll explore where AI is headed, its potential to advance—or challenge—human flourishing, and the responsibility leaders have to shape how these technologies are used. The conversation will challenge leaders to consider not only what AI can do, but how we can ensure it serves people, strengthens communities, and contributes to a future worth building.

Leaders in the Arena is a podcast from the Brock-Barnes Center for Leadership at Covenant College. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠brockbarnes.covenant.edu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

What does it look like to lead organizations that achieve results while genuinely helping people grow, contribute, and flourish?

Join Leaders in the Arena for a conversation with Ralph Romero, Chief People Officer at Southern Champion Tray, where he leads the company's people strategy, leadership development, organizational effectiveness, and culture initiatives. Throughout his career spanning manufacturing, transportation, technology, and logistics, Ralph has focused on a central leadership challenge: how do organizations develop people in ways that strengthen both performance and purpose?

Drawing on decades of experience in talent management, leadership development, and organizational transformation, Ralph brings a unique perspective on the intersection of business strategy and human flourishing. His work has centered on helping organizations navigate growth, develop leaders at every level, and create cultures where individuals are equipped to contribute their best work while continuing to grow personally and professionally. His leadership philosophy combines data-driven organizational effectiveness with a deep commitment to developing people.

At Southern Champion Tray, a company whose mission emphasizes valuing people, serving customers, and glorifying God, Ralph operates within an organizational culture that seeks to integrate business excellence with stewardship, service, and community impact. Together, we'll explore how leaders build cultures that not only drive results but also cultivate trust, engagement, and long-term flourishing for individuals, teams, and organizations.

Leaders in the Arena is a podcast from the Brock-Barnes Center for Leadership at Covenant College. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠brockbarnes.covenant.edu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

What does faithful leadership require as artificial intelligence reshapes how we work, learn, create, and make decisions? Join Leaders in the Arena for a conversation with Dr. Andrew Yuengert, Professor of Economics at Pepperdine University, and Dr. Michael Rhodes, Dean of Faculty and Lecturer in Old Testament at Carey Baptist College, guest hosted by Dr. Lance Wescher of Covenant College.

Drawing from economics, theology, Scripture, and Christian social thought, the conversation explores human dignity, work, wisdom, and flourishing in the age of AI. The guests also reflect on themes raised in Pope Leo XIV’s encyclical on artificial intelligence, including the need to protect the human person, resist reducing people to tools of technology, and approach AI as a moral—not merely technical—question.

Leaders in the Arena is a podcast from the Brock-Barnes Center for Leadership at Covenant College. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠brockbarnes.covenant.edu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

What does it take to build an organization where people thrive, culture matters, and operational excellence follows?

Join Leaders in the Arena for a conversation with Joey Ballard, Chief People & Safety Officer at Covenant Logistics, where she leads enterprise-wide initiatives in safety, human resources, recruiting, talent development, and employee retention. With more than 27 years of leadership experience, Joey has helped build a culture where servant leadership, operational excellence, and genuine care for people reinforce one another. From developing future leaders and strengthening organizational culture to advancing safety and employee engagement, her work demonstrates that sustainable organizational success begins by investing in people.

Beyond the workplace, Joey's commitment to mentoring women leaders and serving organizations such as Fellowship of Christian Athletes reflects a leadership philosophy grounded in stewardship, service, and lasting impact. Join us as we explore how leaders can build organizations where people are known, valued, and equipped to flourish while pursuing excellence with humility, integrity, and purpose.

Leaders in the Arena is a podcast from the Brock-Barnes Center for Leadership at Covenant College. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠brockbarnes.covenant.edu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

How do leaders bridge the gap between organizational objectives and individual values to build teams that truly thrive?

Listen to this episode of Leaders in the Arena for a conversation with Hudson Brock, founder of AlloHire. Hudson is a Chattanooga-based strategist and team-building expert who is redefining how modern organizations approach culture, talent acquisition, and leadership development.

Drawing on his experience building AlloHire—a boutique recruiting agency defined by its allocentric approach of centering interest and attention entirely on others—Hudson embodies what it means to lead by serving. He will unpack his signature framework for helping individuals and teams create actionable roadmaps (the How) that deeply integrate personal values (the Why) with professional responsibilities (the What).

This conversation invites leaders to move beyond cold HR metrics and view team building as a high-stakes responsibility. By centering leadership around true relationships, deep alignment, and a willingness to put others first, Hudson demonstrates how prioritizing people is the ultimate catalyst for organizational excellence and long-term retention.

Leaders in the Arena is a podcast from the Brock-Barnes Center for Leadership at Covenant College. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠brockbarnes.covenant.edu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

How can leaders expand their mission and increase Kingdom impact in ways that are sustainable, relational, and deeply aligned with their calling?

Join Leaders in the Arena for a conversation with Ashley and Ben Baldwin of Mission Increase Chattanooga as we explore how nonprofit and ministry leaders can strengthen organizations through intentional stewardship, relational generosity, and mission-centered leadership.

Drawing on their experience coaching and equipping nonprofits across Chattanooga, Ashley and Ben will share practical insights on developing healthy organizational cultures, building strong donor and stakeholder relationships, and creating strategies that expand mission impact while remaining grounded in purpose and service.

This conversation invites leaders to rethink fundraising, leadership, and growth—not as isolated activities, but as part of faithfully stewarding people, resources, and opportunities for greater Kingdom impact.

Leaders in the Arena is a podcast from the Brock-Barnes Center for Leadership at Covenant College. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠brockbarnes.covenant.edu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

How should Christian leaders faithfully engage emerging technologies in ways that honor God, serve others, and promote human flourishing?

Join Leaders in the Arena for a special AI edition featuring Dr. Lance Wescher as guest host. Drawing on his expertise in artificial intelligence, economics, technology, and higher education, Lance will help establish a thoughtful framework for engaging one of the most significant technological developments of our time. Rather than beginning with what artificial intelligence can do, this conversation begins with a more fundamental question: How should Christian leaders think about technology?

Together, we'll explore how biblical principles of stewardship, wisdom, and human dignity provide a foundation for faithfully evaluating, adopting, and leading through technological change.

Leaders in the Arena is a podcast from the Brock-Barnes Center for Leadership at Covenant College. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠brockbarnes.covenant.edu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

What does it mean to lead with humility, integrity, courage, and stewardship in a world that often rewards self-promotion and short-term results? For young leaders, the answer often starts not with a title, but with the mentors who show them the way.

In this episode of Leaders in the Arena, hear a conversation with Covenant College graduate Payton Prys and current student Jonathan Marshall. Together, we explore how some of the core characteristics of servant leadership shape the next generation of leaders to act with character, make bold decisions, and manage responsibility well.

Rather than viewing leadership as a one-size-fits-all formula, Payton and Jonathan share personal stories of the influential mentors who poured into them, demonstrating how different people can uniquely encompass these traits. You’ll hear how a young leader can balance deep curiosity with making a tangible impact, choosing collaboration over dominance.

Leaders in the Arena is a podcast from the Brock-Barnes Center for Leadership at Covenant College. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠brockbarnes.covenant.edu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.