Pictured in Studio 22 from left, Dr. William Lamb, founder of ServeCast and show host, with Tyler Shores, a youth minister who also serves as show writer
Since fall 2016, Lee University’s Leonard Center has produced ServeCast, a bi-weekly podcast which reflects on faith, leadership, and service and explores ways individuals and communities can be agents of change for good.
The podcast, which has recorded 52 episodes to date, normally runs 45 minutes and features a new guest(s) each week.
“Part of the inspiration to begin ServeCast was the desire to frame the Leonard Center as an organization that not only works behind the scenes of service, but encourages people to serve through interactive discussion,” said Dr. William Lamb, director of the Leonard Center and host of ServeCast. “It is meant to champion the work of the people that committed their lives to service, and in doing so, perpetuate the ideas of compassion that is expected of all Christ followers.”
According to Dr. Lamb, the content on ServeCast has a consistent theme that is educational, motivational, and informational to its listeners. The latest episode featured Jerry Redman from Second Life Tennessee to discuss a team approach to eradicating human trafficking.
The podcast has been streamed in 38 states in the United States and 15 countries including Afghanistan, Australia, Ghana, Germany, and Greece. Episodes have been downloaded over 3,500 times.
“The value of podcasts is that they are usually concise and focused so you can always gain something from them,” said Dr. Lamb.
Past guests include Clark Beckham, a Lee alum who placed as runner-up on American Idol’s season 14; Dr. Brad Moffett and several students from the Lee U Worship team; Nikole Lim, co-founder and international director of Freely in Hope; Rebekah Lyons, co-founder of Q Ideas and a published author and speaker; and Dr. John Perkins, civil rights activist from Mississippi, among others. Students also are frequently asked to speak on the podcast.
“ServeCast is such a creative outlet for all who listen to be encouraged and challenged to be better servants of Christ, better citizens, better people entirely,” said Haley Dorsey, a junior intercultural studies major at Lee. “It was truly an honor to be a guest speaker. I felt empowered to embolden others to think and act intentionally and justly in their surrounding communities.”
Along with Dr. Lamb, the ServeCast team includes Grayson Long, the audio engineer intern; Christian Schweer, an intern who co-hosts with Lamb; and Tyler Shores, a founding member of the show who now works as a youth minister in the state of Washington, but is still involved with the show by writing the show notes.
“When Dr. Lamb invited me to come on board with ServeCast as the audio engineer, I was excited to be involved with a project that promotes a healthy outlet of discussion on Christian faith and our responsibility as Christians to the world around us,” said Long, a senior music and worship major. “I have personally been challenged by the conversations held in Studio 22 and love the opportunity to share them with others.”
The show is produced on campus at Studio 22, which is inspired by Jude 22, “and some have compassion, making a difference.” According to Dr. Lamb, while Studio 22 calls the Leonard Center home, it can be found wherever people are moved by compassion, always striving to remind listeners they are made for more.
In addition to the bi-weekly podcast, ServeCast Live happens once a semester, which invites students and community members to a live-audience recording of the podcast.
Episodes are released twice a month on Fridays. Lee alum Noah Herrin, who currently works at North Cleveland Church of God and is an Instagram influencer, will speak on millennials on an upcoming episode.
ServeCast can be downloaded from the iTunes podcast app or found online at www.servecast.podbean.com.
To suggest a topic or guest speakers, email servecast22@gmail.com.
For more information about ServeCast or Lee’s Leonard Center, email Dr. Lamb at wlamb@leeuniversity.edu.