In this episode, Zach sits down with Jerrod Gunter, founder of Riot Starter, to discuss mobilizing students to respond to cultural tension with prayer, purpose, and the gospel. Together, they challenge mentors to move beyond ministry programs and help young people live on mission with bold, active faith.

• If this podcast has encouraged or equipped you, would you take 30 seconds to leave a 5-star rating? On Apple Podcasts, scroll to the bottom of the You Can Mentor page and click “Write a Review.” On Spotify, go to our page, click the three dots next to the settings wheel, and hit “Rate Show.” It helps us reach more mentors like you.

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On this episode of the You Can Mentor podcast, Zach Garza sits down with Aaron Parrott of Mentor Kids USA to explore how relationships rooted in faith can transform kids and communities. Aaron shares how his experiences growing up as a missionary kid shaped his leadership and mentoring philosophy, along with lessons learned from building sustainable, Christ-centered mentoring programs. Together, they discuss leadership development, measuring impact, and staying humble and faithful while serving kids from hard places in the name of Jesus.

• If this podcast has encouraged or equipped you, would you take 30 seconds to leave a 5-star rating? On Apple Podcasts, scroll to the bottom of the You Can Mentor page and click “Write a Review.” On Spotify, go to our page, click the three dots next to the settings wheel, and hit “Rate Show.” It helps us reach more mentors like you.

Want to go deeper?

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You can find everything at www.youcanmentor.com or follow us on instagram @youcanmentor

In this episode of the You Can Mentor podcast, Zach sits down with Matt McGill—a veteran ministry leader with 30+ years of experience serving in roles like youth pastor, teaching pastor, and executive pastor. Matt is also a husband, a dad to five boys, and a volunteer youth football coach, and he brings a ton of real-life perspective on what it looks like to build trust with kids and help them mature in faith and life.

Matt shares a practical framework for mentoring that goes beyond simply “hanging out.” He explains that strong mentoring has three key pieces: relational (life-on-life connection and authenticity), informational (sharing wisdom, guidance, and truth), and preparational (helping a young person build independence instead of becoming dependent on the mentor).

From there, Zach and Matt unpack four tensions every mentor has to learn to navigate: friend vs. leader, destination vs. journey, asking vs. answering, and directing vs. discovering. They talk about why mentoring isn’t a clean “A + B = C” formula—relationships are dynamic, and mentors have to learn discernment in the moment.

You’ll also hear helpful encouragement for mentors who feel stuck or discouraged—how to celebrate small wins, stay patient when progress feels slow, and remember you can’t fix or control a mentee (only God can change hearts). Matt offers practical insight on earning the right to be heard, learning to ask better questions (and getting comfortable with silence), and staying Spirit-led before and during meetups. Whether you’re new to mentoring or you lead volunteers, this conversation will equip you with clarity, perspective, and actionable tools to show up well... because you can mentor.

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• If this podcast has encouraged or equipped you, would you take 30 seconds to leave a 5-star rating? On Apple Podcasts, scroll to the bottom of the You Can Mentor page and click “Write a Review.” On Spotify, go to our page, click the three dots next to the settings wheel, and hit “Rate Show.” It helps us reach more mentors like you.

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Want to go deeper?

• Join our Learning Lab for mentoring resources and community

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You can find everything at www.youcanmentor.com or follow us on instagram @youcanmentor

On today’s episode of You Can Mentor, we’re joined by special guest Bobby Lopez from Passion SoCal, who shares his heart for mentoring youth in Los Angeles communities impacted by drugs, gangs, and homelessness. Bobby reflects on moments from his own life and how God used mentors to shape his journey. This encouraging conversation reminds mentors that even small acts of presence and love can spark light and hope through Jesus in the lives of the kids they serve. Please make sure to follow @bobbylopez.jr on his socials!

https://www.passionsocal.com/about

• If this podcast has encouraged or equipped you, would you take 30 seconds to leave a 5-star rating? On Apple Podcasts, scroll to the bottom of the You Can Mentor page and click “Write a Review.” On Spotify, go to our page, click the three dots next to the settings wheel, and hit “Rate Show.” It helps us reach more mentors like you.

Want to go deeper?

• Join our Learning Lab for mentoring resources and community

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You can find everything at www.youcanmentor.com or follow us on instagram @youcanmentor

In today’s episode, Zach Garza sits down with Derrick Sier from Reverb Mentoring for an honest conversation about race and culture in mentoring. Derrick shares why mentors should avoid assumptions or a “hero” mindset when working across racial lines, choosing instead to listen, observe, and truly understand. Together they highlight how mentoring becomes most powerful when we simply show up with humility and reflect the love of Jesus. Here's Reverb Mentoring's website for information on Derrick and Reverb - www.reverbmentoring.com

• If this podcast has encouraged or equipped you, would you take 30 seconds to leave a 5-star rating? On Apple Podcasts, scroll to the bottom of the You Can Mentor page and click “Write a Review.” On Spotify, go to our page, click the three dots next to the settings wheel, and hit “Rate Show.” It helps us reach more mentors like you.

Want to go deeper?

• Join our Learning Lab for mentoring resources and community

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You can find everything at www.youcanmentor.com or follow us on instagram @youcanmentor

Jose Rodriguez went from gang life in North Tulsa to helping transform cities through Jesus, coaching, and the power of presence. In this episode, Zach sits down with Jose, founder and CEO of Rescue a Generation, to talk about what it actually looks like to love and disciple kids from hard places for the long haul.

You will hear Jose’s wild story of growing up around drugs, gangs, and chaos, finding unexpected family through a bus ministry, and how a youth worker named Nancy refused to give up on him. Together, Zach and Jose unpack:

• How to have thick skin and a soft heart with students
• Why “giving up on giving up” matters in mentoring
• How gangs often disciple better than churches and what we can learn from that
• The ministry of presence and earning the right to be heard
• Why changing a young person’s mind can change their entire life
• The power of calling out identity and potential, even in the “worst” kid

If you mentor or work with urban or at risk youth, this conversation will fill your tank and sharpen your approach. Learn more about Jose and Rescue a Generation, and walk away reminded that love is a universal language, relationships change lives, and yes… you can mentor.

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To find out more about Rescue A Generation, check out their website - https://www.rescueageneration.com or @rescueagen
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• If this podcast has encouraged or equipped you, would you take 30 seconds to leave a 5-star rating? On Apple Podcasts, scroll to the bottom of the You Can Mentor page and click “Write a Review.” On Spotify, go to our page, click the three dots next to the settings wheel, and hit “Rate Show.” It helps us reach more mentors like you.

Want to go deeper?

• Join our Learning Lab for mentoring resources and community

• Sign up for our newsletter to stay in the loop

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You can find everything at www.youcanmentor.com or follow us on instagram @youcanmentor

In this episode, guest host Derrick Sier from Reverb Mentoring joins us for an honest conversation about the challenges and growth that can come from interracial mentoring. Together, we explore how differences in upbringing, culture, and lived experience can shape relationships, and how humility and listening open doors for deeper understanding. Through a Christ-centered lens, we discuss how mentors can create safe, compassionate spaces where every young person feels seen, valued, and supported.

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https://www.reverbmentoring.com/
https://www.restoreokc.org/
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If this podcast has encouraged or equipped you, would you take 30 seconds to leave a 5-star rating? On Apple Podcasts, scroll to the bottom of the You Can Mentor page and click “Write a Review.” On Spotify, go to our page, click the three dots next to the settings wheel, and hit “Rate Show.” It helps us reach more mentors like you.

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Want to go deeper?

• Join our Learning Lab for mentoring resources and community

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• Come to our annual You Can Mentor Gathering

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You can find everything at www.youcanmentor.com or follow us on Instagram @youcanmentor

What if mentoring wasn’t just one person investing in a kid—but an entire circle of caring adults surrounding them with encouragement, accountability, and faith? That’s exactly what Ben Bevis, Executive Director of Encircled, is doing. In this episode, host Zach Garza talks with Ben about how “mentor circles” are transforming the way we support young people from hard places.

On this episode, we will chat about:

• The Vision Behind Encircled: Ben shares how thirty years of youth ministry, therapy, and family coaching led him to launch Encircled—a nonprofit helping parents, mentors, and communities form intentional “circles” around youth.
• The Power of Many Mentors: Research shows that youth with multiple trusted adults are more resilient, more likely to thrive, and less likely to fall through the cracks. Ben explains why one mentor is good—but five can be life-changing.
• How the Encircled App Works: Using free resources and a simple app, mentors (or “guides”) help kids discover their God-given identity, gifts, and vision, then invite key people into a mentoring circle that walks with them for the long haul.
• Stories that Inspire: From the heartbreaking loss of a former mentee to the redemption story of “Bill,” whose circle helped him rediscover his love for music and faith, Ben illustrates the beauty and impact of shared mentorship.

“This next generation wasn’t meant to do life on their own, but in community.” — Ben Bevis

Mentors don’t have to do it alone. Surround yourself—and your mentee—with others who will show up, pray, encourage, and share the load.

Learn more about Ben Bevis and Encircled at encircled.org.

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If this podcast has encouraged or equipped you, would you take 30 seconds to leave a 5-star rating? On Apple Podcasts, scroll to the bottom of the You Can Mentor page and click “Write a Review.” On Spotify, go to our page, click the three dots next to the settings wheel, and hit “Rate Show.” It helps us reach more mentors like you.

Want to go deeper?

• Join our Learning Lab for mentoring resources and community

• Sign up for our newsletter to stay in the loop

• Come to our annual You Can Mentor Gathering

You can find everything at www.youcanmentor.com or follow us on instagram @youcanmentor