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Podcast
The Shema Podcast is for the person beneath the pastor. We explore the inner life of ministry leaders—the identity, pressures, relationships, and spiritual formation that shape life behind the scenes of public leadership. We believe the deepest leadership development is Christian formation, so join Wil Ryland and Zach Wertish for honest conversations about leading from communion with Jesus. Each episode helps close the gap between the gospel you proclaim, the ministry work you do, and the person you want to become.
Episode 1: Why We Started Shema | The Person Beneath the Pastor
In this first episode of The Shema Podcast, Wil Ryland and Zach Wertish introduce the stories, heart, and convictions driving Shema. They take the conversation beyond leadership strategies, church systems, or ministry techniques to ask a deeper question: Who is the person beneath the pastor?
About Your Hosts
Wil Ryland is a husband, father, and the founder and president of Shema. He has spent more than twenty years serving pastors, churches, and Christian leaders. He recently completed his PhD at the University of Manchester, where his research explored Christian formation, identity, meaning, and the role of beauty in shaping human life and desire. Through Shema, Wil helps leaders cultivate deeper communion with Christ, greater vocational clarity, and resilient ministry in a secular age. A pastor, teacher, writer, and burnout survivor he is passionate about recovering the wisdom of the Christian tradition and helping leaders discover that renewal in the Church begins with the formation of its leaders.
Zach Wertish is a husband to Ceciley and dad to Ari and Beckham, which is easily his favorite and most important role. He is a pastor, communicator, and ministry leader who loves helping people understand the heart of God and become more like Jesus. Over the last ten years, Zach has served across worship, creative ministry, church leadership, team development, and operations—which is a polished way of saying he has worn a lot of hats. Through Shema, he hopes to have honest conversations about spiritual formation, healthy leadership, church culture, and following Jesus without losing your soul in the process.
Episode 1: Why We Started Shema | The Person Beneath the Pastor
In this first episode of The Shema Podcast, Wil Ryland and Zach Wertish introduce the stories, heart, and convictions driving Shema. They take the conversation beyond leadership strategies, church systems, or ministry techniques to ask a deeper question: Who is the person beneath the pastor?