Gen X Jugglers Podcast

Today on the Gen X Juggler podcast, Deb welcomes Dustin Kleinschmidt, an author, coach, and former pastor with over 25 years of ministry experience and the author of The Wilderness Way: Finding Freedom in Life’s Fractures. Dustin shares his unconventional path into ministry and how returning to a Texas church after a senior pastor’s affair and COVID-era turmoil led to years of crisis leadership, resignation, and a severe spiral into depression and anxiety. He describes how God challenged him to examine his unmet expectations behind the disappointment and reframed this season in the “wilderness” between rescue and the promised land, where beauty and brokenness coexist and God is present. They discuss ministry’s performance pressures, identity and significance, setting values and boundaries, and Dustin’s coaching approach focused on spiritual, emotional, relational, and organizational health, plus his book, workbook, and upcoming music release.