Episode 10: Soulcraft & Stewardship with Tim Rhoades

In this special tenth episode, Josh and Patrick sit down with Tim Rhoades—the original founder of Lighthouse Institute, Josh’s mentor, and a man whose lifelong pursuit of becoming a better human helped shape Lighthouse into what it is today. Tim shares the experiences that formed his view of leadership: learning hard work and craftsmanship alongside his father on construction sites, discovering the power of high-performing teams through sports, and being shaped by mentors who saw him, accepted him, and modeled selflessness. He also traces his unlikely path from plastering to teaching math, working in technology, and eventually building a leadership-development company from the ground up. What began as a personal search to understand people and live a meaningful life became decades of helping others experience lasting transformation. Together, they explore the difference between coaching and mentoring, why the best leaders make people feel seen, and why nothing truly great happens when leadership becomes about the leader. Tim reflects candidly on insecurity, humility, faith, marriage, purpose, and the emotional process of handing Lighthouse to Josh—only to realize it had never truly belonged to him in the first place. This is a conversation about building an organization, but even more about building a life: crafting your soul, finding great humans, doing the hard work, and learning the joy of giving something meaningful away. In This Episode • How working alongside his father shaped Tim’s understanding of work, character, craftsmanship, and leadership • The difference between a coach pursuing results and a mentor investing in a person • “Soulcraft” and the lifelong work of becoming a better human • Tim’s path from plasterer to teacher, technology director, and Lighthouse founder • The grit, relationships, and defining opportunity that helped Lighthouse survive and grow • Why investing in people during difficult seasons prepares organizations to thrive • The power of seeing, accepting, and patiently allowing people to grow • Selflessness, service-minded leadership, and the difference between humility and minimizing yourself • Tim’s emotional journey of handing Lighthouse to Josh • How leaders earn discretionary effort through genuine care • Rewiring instead of retiring, 45 years of marriage, and living your purpose in new ways • The five questions that shape a worldview • Why imperfection makes you human—not a hypocrite Resources Mentioned • The Good Life by Robert Waldinger — https://a.co/d/004FBqbJ • The Untethered Soul by Michael Singer — https://a.co/d/0ak81xpr • Good to Great by Jim Collins — https://a.co/d/07BR1BOm • Brené Brown’s work on vulnerability, courage, and connection — https://brenebrown.com/ • The Next Conversation by Jefferson Fisher — https://a.co/d/0hoY8FZK • The Second Mountain by David Brooks — https://a.co/d/0gfOrRcl • The Lighthouse Model of Leadership — https://lighthouseinstitute.com/servi... Timestamps 00:00 — Introducing Tim Rhoades, founder of Lighthouse Institute 01:57 — Central Coast roots and learning a trade from his father 05:53 — The power of teams through sports 06:55 — Coach vs. mentor 10:45 — “Soulcraft” and pursuing a good life 17:45 — Transformation through the Leadership Series 29:12 — Another high-performing team: teaching 34:50 — The gritty early years of Lighthouse 37:22 — The opportunity that changed the business 51:27 — What “the right stuff” looks like in a leader 55:25 — A silent participant’s transformation 1:00:28 — The art and science of facilitation 1:07:49 — Leadership driven by insecurity and ego 1:14:27 — Handing Lighthouse to Josh 1:20:27 — Sharing stories and accelerating connection 1:33:47 — Rewiring instead of retiring 1:36:53 — Love, commitment, and 45 years of marriage 1:39:41 — Five questions that shape your worldview 1:54:31 — How Josh has changed at Lighthouse 1:56:04 — Imperfection, hypocrisy, and being human 1:59:48 — The salmon metaphor: growth means swimming upstream 2:01:24 — Finding joy in simple things 2:13:03 — Carrying the Lighthouse legacy forward About Lighthouse Institute Lighthouse Institute helps people and organizations develop the self-awareness, skills, and relationships needed for meaningful, lasting change through leadership development, executive coaching, and transformational experiences. Its work is rooted in a simple belief: better humans make better leaders. The Leadership, AND… podcast explores leadership through real life—work, parenting, marriage, conflict, purpose, growth, and everything in between. Hosted by Josh Donovan and Patrick Ibarra, it focuses on the human side of leadership beyond theory. Subscribe for more conversations about leadership, relationships, growth, and becoming a better human. Share this episode with someone doing the work of becoming a better leader. Let’s Go Shine Bright ✨