{"podcast":{"title":"Life After Ministry","slug":"life-after-ministry-6573611","podcast_index_feed_id":6573611,"rss_url":"https://api.riverside.com/hosting/Q7dyZo24.rss","website_url":"https://lifeafterministry.podbean.com","image_url":"https://hosting-media.riverside.com/media/imports/podcasts/fac660fe-98c1-4a31-9ea1-72e91819fd5c/Life_After_Ministry_Coverayrcd.jpg","author":"Matt & Marilee Davis","episode_count":96,"summary":"Many of us have experienced the sting of losing a job. But there’s something uniquely challenging about leaving a position in full-time vocational ministry. Whether you’re stepping down from a church or leaving a kingdom nonprofit, it’s not as simple as just changing jobs. Suddenly, everything changes. You’re left navigating not just a career transition, but also a profound shift in identity, community, and daily routines. It feels like stepping into an unknown, filled with questions like, ”What’s next? How do I redefine myself outside the ministry? How do I maintain my faith amidst this transition?” Welcome to the Life After Ministry Podcast. We’ve been there, navigating the complex journey from vocational ministry to a new chapter in our lives. We’ll explore stories of transformation, hear from those who’ve walked this path before, and provide practical strategies to turn your transition into transformation.","last_synced_at":"2026-07-15T08:22:15.146726+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/life-after-ministry-6573611"},"episode":{"title":"The New Dawn of Retirement (featuring Doug Bullock)","slug":"the-new-dawn-of-retirement-featuring-doug-bullock","published_at":"2026-03-11T15:35:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/life-after-ministry-6573611/the-new-dawn-of-retirement-featuring-doug-bullock","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/life-after-ministry-6573611","url":"https://lifeafterministry.podbean.com/e/the-new-dawn-of-retirement-featuring-doug-bullock/","audio_url":"https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/j7f3iggvx7b44mce/Life_After_Ministry_Podcast_Episode_809bl2m.mp3","summary":"What happens when a pastor steps away after decades of leading a church? Many leaders imagine retirement will bring peace and freedom. But for pastors, the transition often carries unexpected weight. The loss of identity, the quiet grief of leaving a community, and the challenge of rediscovering purpose can make the next season far more complicated than anticipated. After serving the same church for 35 years, Doug Bullock faced this reality firsthand. What began as a thoughtful transition into retirement turned into a deeper journey through loss, identity, and calling. In the process, he discovered that many pastors are unprepared for the emotional and spiritual questions that follow the end of pastoral leadership. In this conversation, Doug shares what surprised him most after stepping away from ministry and why retiring pastors still have a crucial role in strengthening the church. Together they explore how pastors can process loss, redeem past pain, and find renewed purpose beyond the pulpit.","meta_description":"What happens when a pastor steps away after decades of leading a church? Many leaders imagine retirement will bring peace and freedom. But for pastors, th…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":2084,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/life-after-ministry-6573611/episodes/the-new-dawn-of-retirement-featuring-doug-bullock/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/life-after-ministry-6573611/the-new-dawn-of-retirement-featuring-doug-bullock.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}