WELCOME TO THE THREAD
The Thread is Alpha’s leadership podcast hosted by Stephen Foster. Every episode makes space for fresh perspectives on Christian leadership, global culture, and evangelism in our changing world, with global insights, and diverse points of view from leaders from around the globe.
Bonus LC26 Series Coming soon! From 9th June, listen back to main stage talks and seminars from LC26, launching weekly on The Thread
The Thread season 1
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Jon Tyson
Setting your Spiritual Sails
Welcome to The Thread! In our first episode, Stephen Foster talks with Jon Tyson, who shares his own leadership journey - from dropping out of school at 14 to leading a community of people at Church of the City New York and seeking renewal and revival in the Western church today.In this conversation, Stephen and Jon discuss a God-centred approach to leadership, how our hunger attracts the presence of God, and some practical guidance for Christian leaders today on praying Kingdom prayers, living in reliance on the Holy Spirit and what to do when resistance gets in the way.
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Jodie Lintern
On the Ground with the Rising Generation
In our second episode of The Thread, Stephen is joined by Jodie Lintern, student outreach pastor at St Aldates Church in Oxford. Driven by her own radical coming to faith, Jodie shares wisdom from the front row of working with the rising generation in the church today.From the importance of authenticity, to creating a culture of feedback and the value of proximity over perfection, this conversation offers practical and hope-filled insights on what God is doing in young people today.
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Mark Sayers
Secularism is Having a Faith Crisis
In this episode of The Thread, Stephen talks with Mark Sayers on how the Church is uniquely placed to navigate today's 'grey zone' of transition and uncertainty with a steadfast hope and the presence of the Holy Spirit.In this conversation, Stephen and Mark look at the opportunities that are awakening as secularism faces a moment of doubt, discussing the historic pattern of crisis preceding renewal and how suffering is a well-worn track in the path of a leader.
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Shaila Visser
Clearing the Way for the Rising Generation
In episode 4 of The Thread, Stephen is joined by Shaila Visser, National Director of Alpha Canada and Global Senior Vice-President of Alpha International. Shaila shares learnings from her own remarkable journey in leadership.
In this conversation, Shaila and Stephen discuss what it looks like to live a truly surrendered life, why breadth of leadership requires spiritual depth, and how to clear the way for the rising generation.
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N.T. Wright
Living as New Creation People
In this episode of The Thread, Stephen Foster speaks with New Testament Scholar, thinker and theologian, N.T. Wright.
This conversation centres on the resurrection of Jesus, looking at both the historical evidence supporting its truth and the significance it marks for God’s new creation on earth. Talking about being identified in Christ, the role of the Church today and the importance of imagination in the life of a follower of Christ, we hope you this episode.
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Keithen Schwahn
Protecting the Hope in your Spirit
In this episode, Stephen is joined by Keithen Schwahn, who is Pastor of Young People at Church of the City New York.
In this conversation, Stephen and Keithen dive into what is rising in young people today – from boldness to a spiritual openness and a hunger for truth. Keithen shares from his own journey about the importance of protecting the hope in your own spirit, building on truth and how to become a person of intercession and be set on fire with a contending heart of prayer.
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Rachel Gardener
Authentic Disciple Making
In this episode, Rachel shares her journey from a theology dissertation on the Spice Girls to grassroots youth ministry in Blackburn. She explores the spiritual hunger of today’s teens, the most irreligious generation in history, yet simultaneously marked by a powerful spiritual hunger, and how the church can meet them with authenticity, hope, and the transformative presence of Jesus.
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Dan Blythe
Building on the Prayers of Generations
In this episode, Stephen is joined by Alpha’s Global Youth Director, Dan Blythe. Dan works alongside young people and youth leaders globally to inspire, innovate and support the mission of Alpha to bring the gospel to young people around the world. In this conversation, Dan shares his own journey into faith at a young age, the values and priorities of the ‘now’ generation and his own tips for fighting fear, dismantling pride and living out the ‘new thing’ that God has for your life.
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Abel Chea
Being a Disciple-Making Disciple
In this episode of The Thread, Stephen sits down with Abel Cheah, Vicar of HTBB Church in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to explore topics like the hunger, not for more leadership content, but for authentic examples of leadership, the raising up of new leaders, and what it takes to be a disciple-making disciple
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Jacintha Tagal
Spiritual Inheritance
Jacintha Tagal leads HTBB Church in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, with her husband, Abel Cheah. In this episode, she shares with Stephen how her father’s headhunting Lun Bawang tribe in East Malaysia received the gospel and experienced the miraculous. She and Stephen discuss revival, spiritual inheritance, ministry, grief, and doing succession well.
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Steve Chao
Going to God for Creativity
Content Warning: This episode contains several mentions of topics associated with warfare.
In this episode of The Thread, Stephen sits down with Director of the Chinese Alpha Film Series, the Alpha Youth Series and the upcoming new Alpha Series, and the CEO of SignalFlare Productions, Steve Chao. Steve shares incredible insights into leading with faith in creative spaces and how his background investigative journalism in war zones across the globe shaped his passion for storytelling.
The Thread x LC25 Bonus Series
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Dr. Johannes Hartl
This episode brings you Dr. Johannes Hartl's seminar from the Leadership Conference 2025, exploring how we can find clarity and rest in an age of distraction. To work creatively and to rest deeply, both need something our world seems to lack more and more: the willingness and capacity to focus on one thing. In this seminar, you will learn why focus is the crucial skill for our time, how to understand the deeper spiritual dimensions of it, and how to strengthen your own focus.
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Rachel Gardner
This episode brings you Rachel Gardner's mainstage talk from the Leadership Conference 2025. Rachel looks at what God is doing amongst younger generations today, and how we as the Church must respond in this particular cultural moment.
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Dr. Arthur Brooks
In this mainstage talk from the Leadership Conference 2025, Harvard professor, PhD social scientist, #1 bestselling author and columnist of The Atlantic's popular "How to Build a Life" column, Dr Arthur Brooks studies and teaches on the art of happiness. He shares data-backed methods for finding deep purpose and happiness at every stage of life.
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Priscilla Shirer
This episode brings you Priscilla Shirer's mainstage talk from the Leadership Conference 2025. Priscilla speaks on how to remain steadfast, immovable and always abounding in the work of the Lord through the course of time and different seasons of life.
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Nicky Gumbel
The Healing of the Nations
Opening the Leadership Conference 2025, Nicky makes a rallying call to the Church, to resist the spirit of the age and to embrace the Spirit of Jesus. Drawing from Revelation 22:1-2, Nicky speaks about God’s plan to use His Church for the healing of the nations and he encourages us all to lead with integrity, courage and a Kingdom mentality as we share the unchanging gospel of Jesus Christ.
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Pastor Andrés Spyker
The Insecure Leader
This episode brings you Pastor Andrés Spyker's mainstage talk from the Leadership Conference 2025. Andrés Spyker is the senior pastor of Masvida Church in Mexico City. In this talk he addresses the insecurities of a leader, the threat they pose to the church today and how we can overcome them.
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Bear Grylls
A Conversation with Bear Grylls
In this Bonus episode of The Thread from Leadership Conference 2025, we hear from multiple Emmy and BAFTA Award winner Bear Grylls. Bear joins Nicky Gumbel live from the Royal Albert Hall and shares about his new book "The Greatest Story Ever Told", the process of writing it, and how deeply it has impacted his life.
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Patricia Lau
Ordinary Jobs, Extraordinary Calling: Making a Kingdom Impact in the Workplace
In this Bonus episode from Leadership Conference 2025, Patricia Lau, Executive Director of Alpha Hong Kong, is joined by global business leaders to look at how we can transform everyday work into patterns of Kingdom impact in the workplace.
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Rachel Gardner & Young Leaders
Changemakers Rising – Conversations with Young Leaders Shaping Social Justice
In this Leadership Conference 2025 bonus episode, Rachel Gardner, Youth Innovation Lead at St Luke's church in Blackburn, is joined by emerging young leaders for a conversation on how we can reshape our thinking on social transformation, justice and God's kingdom, looking at how we can partner with God's work in bold new ways.
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Amy and Rachel Hughes, Tim and Jonny Hughes and Priscilla Shirer
Leader and Parent – Navigating the Dual Callings of Parenting and Leadership
In this episode from Leadership Conference 2025, Amy and Rachel Hughes are joined their husbands Tim and Jonny Hughes alongside Priscilla Shirer for a conversation on how we wear the dual hats of both parenting and leadership and how we navigate the challenges and the joys of wearing those two hats together.
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Al Gordon and Farida Matthews
Renaissance – Igniting your Creativity
In this bonus episode from Leadership Conference 2025, Al Gordon and Farida Matthews explore the biblical and psychological aspects of the imagination and look at how you can unlock the creative potential of your mind.
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Young Leaders
Awakening in the Rising Generation – Seizing a Moment of Spiritual Openness
In this next bonus episode from Leadership Conference 2025, we feature a seminar presented by those currently stewarding moves of God among young leaders in various global contexts. With a surprising and significant openness to faith among the rising generations in many places around the world, how can we – as emerging and established leaders – seize the moment, prepare for awakening, and respond to what God is doing?
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Jon Thompson and Tammy Comer join Pete Hughes
Doing Battle: Spiritual Warfare in the Life of a Leader
This bonus episode brings you a seminar from the Leadership Conference 2025 in which Jon Thompson and Tammy Comer join Pete Hughes to examine the influence that the demonic can have within our lives as Christians. Nothing of the kingdom goes uncontested. As we lead people into God’s purposes, we should expect spiritual resistance and opposition. What does this look like? How do we navigate and overcome it? Jon, Tammy and Pete share a theological overview, real stories, and what we can do about it.
The Thread Series 2
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Nicky Gumbel
Faith in a shaking World
In this episode, Stephen Foster talks with Nicky Gumbel about faith and leadership in a world marked by conflict and uncertainty. Nicky reflects on a growing spiritual hunger and openness he’s seeing, including in his own Alpha group. They discuss leading like Jesus, the challenges of leadership today, and the importance of unity and learning from the global church.
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Archie Coates, Al Gordon and Pete Hughes
Extraordinary Days with Archie Coates, Al Gordon and Pete Hughes: Spiritual Hunger, Openness and the Call to be Ready
Stephen Foster is joined by church leaders Archie Coates, Al Gordon, and Pete Hughes. Together they reflect on a growing spiritual openness across society and a renewed hunger for God within the church. They discuss the surge of people exploring faith, stories of healing and encounter, and what this moment calls for in terms of prayer, invitation, and relational leadership – especially in raising up the next generation.
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Louise Perry
Against the Current with Louise Perry: Sex, Truth and the Return to Faith
Author and journalist, Louise Perry, joins Stephen Foster to examine why the sexual revolution has failed many women and families. Drawing on data, lived experience, and her own journey from atheism to faith, she reflects on marriage, dating, power, and why ancient wisdom may speak more clearly to modern confusion than today’s promises of liberation.
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Arthur Brooks
The Science of Happiness with Arthur Brooks: Leadership, Meaning and the Cost of Success
Join Stephen Foster and Arthur Brooks, Professor at Harvard University and New York Times bestselling author, live from Leadership Conference 2025 as they discuss the science of happiness for leaders and the importance of reckoning with idols. Arthur shares fascinating findings on neurochemistry, covering the concepts of enjoyment, satisfaction, and meaning; the emotional cost of leadership; and insights on impulse control, dopamine, addiction, and truth-telling.
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Miles Toulmin, Shaila Visser and Patricia Lau
Faith Across Borders with Miles Toulmin, Shaila Visser & Patricia Lau: Stories of Growth, Renewal & The Next Generation
Stephen Foster speaks with Miles Toulmin, CEO of Alpha International; Shaila Visser, Global Vice President and National Director of Alpha Canada; and Patricia Lau, Executive Director of Alpha Hong Kong about Alpha’s impact around the world. From church planting in Malaysia to student-led Alpha in schools, they explore a global surge in faith, innovative outreach, and how even children as young as 10 are actively sharing their faith.
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Xenia James & Jessie Fellingham
The Open Generation, Going Viral, and Returning to First Love
Stephen Foster is joined by Xenia James and Jesse Fellingham, two hosts of the Alpha Youth Series and The Way UK. They share their personal journeys to faith, the story behind their street interviews with thousands of young people, and what they’re discovering about Gen Z’s openness to spirituality and Christianity. They also reflect on the pressures of online momentum, the importance of slowing down to prioritise time with God and tend to one’s own internal world, and the role of church community while working to reach a new generation.
The Thread x LC26 Bonus Series
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Nicky Gumbel, The Unshakeable Kingdom
In his LC26 address, Nicky Gumbel reminds us that in a world marked by instability, anxiety, and uncertainty, the Kingdom of God remains unshakable. Drawing on Hebrews 12:28 and the biblical image of Jesus as the Rock, he shares a message of resilience and hope – encouraging the church to unite around Jesus, the unshakable rock, and challenging us to play our part in the evangelisation of the nations, the revitalisation of the church, and the transformation of society.
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An interview with Evika Silina
"Fear is the worst advisor." In a captivating interview with Nicky Gumbel, Latvia's former Prime Minister Evika Siliņa shares her wisdom on leadership. She discusses everything from running Alphas and encountering the Holy Spirit, to being called into politics and her friendship with President Zelenskyy.
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Nicky Gumbel in Conversation with Cardinal Tagle
Speaking to Nicky Gumbel in Rome, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle – one of just 12 Cardinal-Bishops in the Catholic Church – shares his wisdom on humility, being a good listener, remaining anchored in Jesus, and being light of heart. He also summarises 12 concepts central to the Christian faith in just a few words each.
LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE 2026 LISTEN BACK BONUS SERIES LAUNCHING 9TH JUNE
LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE 2026 LISTEN BACK BONUS SERIES LAUNCHING 9TH JUNE
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