What if the key to resilience wasn’t about avoiding suffering—but learning to embrace it with grit, faith, and silence?
In this episode of Decidedly, we sit down with Father Stephen J. Gadberry – Catholic priest, Air Force veteran, and ultra-endurance athlete – to uncover how tragedy, discipline, and devotion shaped his approach to decision-making and leadership. From losing his father and sister in a car accident at age eight, to serving in the military, to leading thousands in his parish, Father Stephen reveals how resilience is forged in silence and tested in service.
We dive deep into the role of suffering in spiritual growth, the power of identity before mission, and why leaders must learn to “know where their mess is.” This conversation isn’t about perfection – it’s about the freedom that comes from honesty, faith, and radical perseverance. If you’ve ever wrestled with pain, purpose, or what it means to lead with integrity, this episode will shift how you see your own journey.
KEY TOPICS
How childhood tragedy forged resilience and grit
Why silence is essential for strong decision-making
The dangers of radical independence, and how to ask for help
Vulnerability in leadership: why showing your mess frees others
Faith, perseverance, and the gift of suffering
Identity before mission: why who you are comes before what you do
How to discern between God’s will and personal preference
Why men are hungry for authentic guidance, and what leaders must do about it
Lessons from endurance racing, the military, and the priesthood
CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction
03:15 Father Stephen’s Childhood Tragedy and Early Faith
07:45 How Grit Became the Theme of His Life
10:30 Resilience, Independence, and Asking for Help
14:20 Discernment: God’s Will vs. Personal Preference
18:00 Vulnerability and Leadership in the Church
21:15 Why Men Are Craving Authentic Guidance
25:00 Identity Before Mission: The Foundation of Leadership
28:15 Making Hard Decisions and Setting Boundaries
32:00 The Role of Coachability in Growth and Faith
35:40 Training for the Leadville 100 and Lessons from Endurance Sports
40:00 Competing on American Ninja Warrior to Preach the Gospel
43:15 Wrestling with Psychedelics, Spirituality, and Discernment
47:00 Father Stephen’s Top Tip for Decision-Making: Silence
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CONNECT WITH FATHER STEPHEN
Father Stephen Gadberry, a native of the Arkansas Delta, is a Catholic priest for the Diocese of Little Rock, ordained in 2016. A U.S. Air Force veteran before studying philosophy at St. Joseph Seminary College and earning advanced theology degrees in Rome, specializing in St. Augustine and Cardinal Ratzinger.
A fellow of the Word on Fire Institute, Father Stephen is active in Bishop Robert Barron’s ministries. He appeared on American Ninja Warrior in 2018 and currently serves as pastor of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Batesville and St. Cecilia’s in Newport, as well as dean of the Northeast Arkansas deanery.