ROCK Cast
Technology
About
Podcast giving the latest updates and information about the Rock RMS system. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
- Episode 213: The Vacation Test Every Rock Admin Should Run Right Now
Imagine your Rock admin takes two weeks off for vacation with no handoff, no Slack notification, no "just text me if you need something" message. What breaks first? Whatever comes to mind is your starting point for what Nassim Taleb calls…
- Episode 212: What's Possible When AI Does the Heavy Lifting
In this episode, Jon, Emily, and Nicole dream about what's possible for church admins and ministries when AI does the heavy lifting. Jon shares where AI is headed in 2026 and why writing the spec first pays off, with the Spark API Gateway…
- Episode 211: How Church Leaders Should Respond to the AI Race
Jon and Emily are joined by a new voice on the show, Nicole Shibata, who handles marketing, fundraising, and conference planning for Rock. In this conversation, the team covers the most consequential three months in AI since Chat…
- Episode 210: The Science of Finding Greatness in People
In this episode of Rock Cast, the team gives a brief update to v19 heading into pre-alpha and revisit the heart behind Rock. More than a ChMS, Rock was designed as a relational management system to steward people, not just data. The featur…
- Episode 209: Escaping the Complexity Trap
Complexity is a well-intentioned trap that all churches fall into. In this episode, the team unpacks what they call the Complexity Trap, the moment when tools meant to support ministry start creating friction instead. Jon describes th…
- Episode 208: What Vibe Coding Means for Rock Churches
In episode 208 of Rock Cast, Jon and Emily tackle a hot topic in tech right now, vibe coding, and explore what it means for church software and digital ministry. As AI rapidly reshapes how software is built, some are asking whether tr…
- Episode 207: Success Isn't Measured by Church Size
Tune into this episode to learn what quality the most successful Rock churches have in common. Hint: it isn't church size! Jon, Emily, and Nick offer fresh insight into the Essentials model and discuss a new program they're building to tra…
- Episode 206: v19 Updates and Shaping Ministry Culture in 2026
In this episode of Rock Cast, Jon, Emily, and Nick highlight v19 updates like new Connections analytics, simplified status terms, a zero-config CAPTCHA and more. They also encourage churches to start 2026 by investing in their digital mini…
- Episode 205: Product Grooming & the Giving Landscape
In the final 2025 episode of Rock Cast, Jon, Emily, and Nick talk about product grooming and the Community's responsibility in it. As the team continues to prune and refine the software, you can look forward to more change towards meaningf…
- Episode 204: v18 Just Released & 2026 Goal Setting
Don't miss this conversational episode of Rock Cast as Jon, Emily, and Nick share three big updates: the v18 release, a conversation with a successful entrepreneur and goal setting ideas for your digital ministry in 2026. As many churches…
- Episode 203: Inside Rock’s Funding & Release Strategy
Jon, Emily, and Nick discuss Rock's unique funding model and the special advantage of giving at the updated rate. Tune in to hear them share where your giving goes and how it's affecting our new testing and release strategy. Hosted on Acas…
- Episode 202: Rock's Future Anchored in Vision
In this episode of Rock Cast, Jon, Emily, and Nick share how our latest development updates and implementations are anchored in wisdom and mission. Tune in for a behind-the-scenes look at what the team has been building from the Outreach T…
- Episode 201: Systems Thinking Can Change Your Digital Ministry
Learn seven mindsets for building smarter, simpler solutions with Rock and discover how systems thinking can change the course of your digital ministry. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- Episode 200: Milestones, Miracles, and Ministry
On this special 200th episode of Rock Cast, Jon, Emily, and Nick recount the milestones and miracles they've walked through since 2014. Despite their struggles and hardships, the team persisted. What started as a passion project is now a m…
- Episode 199: The Biggest Temptation in Rock Development and RX25 Countdown
In this episode, we dive into the latest updates with the release of v17.5 Alpha as well as a view on extensibility. With RX25 just two weeks away, we cover everything you need to know—including how to get the mobile app and where to follo…
- Episode 198: The Skill that Protects Your Credibility and Speeds Up Your Performance
This episode takes you behind the scenes of what's happening in Rock, starting with a version update and a look at what’s coming in v17.3. The team explores integration best practices and systems thinking to help church digital teams work…
- Episode 197: Volunteers, Stewardship, & Shaping Your Digital Team
This episode lays out the case for using volunteers on church digital teams, challenging the idea that paid staff should handle everything. The team unpacks why volunteers matter—from stewardship to discipleship—and offers practical tips f…
- Episode 196: v17.1 Update, Rumor Busting & Your Summer Mission
This episode kicks off with a look at Rock RMS version 17.1 updates, including a fix for Insights reports and guidance on unknown marital statuses. The team also addresses and clears up rumors around vendor incentives. Then, John lays out…
- Episode 195: Rock Updates, SQL Server, & Customization Insights
The latest Rock release is here – what does it mean for your instance? How can you customize Rock responsibly while leveraging SQL Server best practices? Explore insights from our RX25 discussion and discover key community announcements. H…
- Episode 194: Special Edition with Jimmy Witcher
Trinity Fellowship Church in Amarillo, TX has built a culture around technology—and even AI—to empower innovative and personalized ministry. Hear how Pastor Jimmy Witcher built this culture and where they are going next. Hosted on Acast. S…
- Episode 193: Choosing Services & Products That Support Your Mission
Choosing the right services and products is critical in ministry. What questions should you ask? Plus, explore feedback from over 80 churches and various vendors in the 2025 Integrated Services Survey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privac…
- Episode 192: Special Edition with Jay Kranda
Jay Kranda from Saddleback Church is one of the world’s first online pastors. Join Jon and Emily as they dive into a can't-miss conversation with Jay about the history and future of digital ministry. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy…
- Episode 191: v16, v17, v18 and more
In this episode, Jon, Emily, and Nick dive into the latest Rock updates, including v16 enhancements, v17 in beta and an exciting look at Chat coming soon. Plus, RX25 has been redesigned for all church leaders and submissions for Gold Circl…
- Episode 190: RX Reimagined – What’s Different This Year
Two events in one. Game-changing insights. A stronger community. Plus, we’re very excited to announce that world-class speaker and New York Times best-selling author Dan Heath will be speaking on mastering the art of organizational change…
- Episode 189: Special Edition with Alex Edmiston
Data analytics is a growing focus in the Rock community! Nearly a year ago, we welcomed Alex Edmiston to the Spark team as our first Spark Analyst. Since then, he’s been exploring Rock community data and building a Topical Hub for churches…
- Episode 188: AI and the Church, Next-Gen Check-In, and the Rock Community
Updates and features are coming quickly. Join Jon, Emily and Nick as they discuss what what is and is not included in Next-Gen Check-In as well as vision casting the future of AI and church ministry. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy…
- Episode 187: Rock RMS and Hurricane Helene
Listen in as Lee Boone, Data Director at Biltmore Church in North Carolina, discusses how their team prepared for Hurricane Helene and navigated the influx of needs, resources, and volunteers during their relief efforts. Hosted on Acast. S…
- Episode 186: LMS, Mobile Chat, and Engagement Tools
In addition to the General Release of v16.7, Jon, Emily, and Nick discuss many of the tools the Rock Core Team is currently developing including the Learning Management System, Mobile Chat, and engagement tools to spur discipleship opportu…
- Episode 185: Special Edition Lava Class Panel
Rock’s very first Rock Lava Class wrapped up in November and many graduates are already putting their newfound ninja skills to work in inspiring ways. We couldn’t wait to invite a few of them back to share their stories—why they took the c…
- Episode 184: Community Christmas Gifts and Growing in 2025
Before the year comes to a close, the Rock team has two gifts for the Rock community. (Did someone say embedded articles from The Bible Project?) Plan for what kind of warrior you are going to be in 2025 and hear more about the latest in t…
- Episode 183: Special Edition with Ryan Smith
Calvary Chapel Chattanooga knew Rock was the solution to bring everything together under one powerful system, but the technical complexities felt overwhelming. Join us to learn how they did it—and how your church can, too. Hosted on Acast.…
- Episode 182: We Get To Do This
Dive into how we can celebrate the amazing work taking place, along with some exciting updates you won’t want to miss. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- Episode 181: What's coming to Rock and updates at Spark
Join Jon, Nick, and Emily as they discuss updates coming soon in Rock. Learn more about Rock'n Roadshows, as we hope to have many throughout the country with a brand new presentation. Also, hear about the new hires we have made over the la…
- Episode 180: Community and Product Updates
Join Jon, Nick, and Emily as they dive into the latest updates in Rock and the Rock Community. Discover how you can get involved and make an impact in the Rock Community, no matter your technical skills. Plus, get a sneak peek into their f…
- Episode 179: RX24 Recap
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- Episode 178: Special Edition with AJ Chiepalich
Join us for an exciting live recording from RX24, where we chat with AJ Chiepalich, the Digital Director at Church of the Highlands! AJ shares his highlights from the conference, delves into the transformative impact Rock has had on their…
- Episode 177: Building Connections: Vision Casting with Digital Tools
In today’s digital age, churches face the challenge of maintaining personal connections while expanding their reach through technology. Vision casting and a robust digital strategy are crucial for meaningful interactions. This blog explore…
- Episode 176: Behind the Scenes - RX24
Join us as we go behind the scenes at RX24 to give you an exclusive preview of what to look forward to at our upcoming conference. Discover the exciting sessions, meet the speakers, and get insider tips on making the most of your experienc…
- Episode 175: Rock Tips and Recommendations
If you're looking for a collection of Rock RMS tips and tricks from the core team, this is the RockCast episode for you. Join Emily Forman, Jon Edmiston and Nick Airdo in discussing classifying people data, how to approach structured conte…
- Episode 174: Prioritize Ministry Thinking
This episode of RockCast wraps up the second of two podcasts devoted to community Q&A. Join Emily Forman, Jon Edmiston and Nick Airdo in a discussion that navigates NCOA, the move to Cloudflare for Captcha, the latest trends with Rock Mobi…
- Episode 173: Do the Hard Things First
In the first of two podcast episodes featuring answers to community questions, join Emily Forman, Jon Edmiston and Nick Airdo for insights into the progress with Obsidian, Rock Metrics and underused feature - Connection Statuses. Learn mor…
- Episode 172: Navigating Church Management with Insight and Innovation
Discover the latest insights and innovations in church management with the Rockcast podcast! Join Emily Forman, Jon Edmiston, and Nick Airdo as they discuss topics like utilizing ERA to track attendance and engagement, leveraging streaks f…
- Episode 171: Special Edition with TJ Peera
On Rockcast today, Tj Peera, Director of Data Insights at Fairhaven Church, shares his journey from healthcare to church tech. We discuss aligning volunteer leaders with a shared vision, leveraging data for spiritual health outcomes, and c…
- Episode 170: RockTech: Next Gen Insights
Tune in to this week's RockCast with Jon Edmiston, Emily Forman, and Nick Airdo as they dive into the Next Generation of Rock and Obsidian, exploring front and back-end changes, block completion rates, rollout updates, and the impact on pl…
- Episode 169: Special Edition- Scott Solimine
Today on Rockcast discover the tech journey of Scott Solimine from Nesconset Community Church, a small church thriving on Rock. Scott's advice: tackle Rock one bite at a time. Learn how he leverages technology to solve problems and what fe…
- Episode 168: Rocking Security: Navigating New Features and Email Safeguards
In this episode of RockCast, the core team discusses the latest upcoming Rock features, community updates and email protection strategies for optimal delivery. They address challenges like bot attacks and the intricacies of Mailgun integra…
- Episode 167: Beyond Limits: Rockcast on 2024's Reach
Listen to this episode as Rock's core team unveils exciting projects – from new versions to the integration survey and everything in between. Explore how the word "Reach" will shape our 2024 journey. Join us in the ascent; it's time to Rea…
- Episode 166: Wrapping Up 2023
Don't miss the Rock Cast 2023 wrap up! Join the core team as they explore this year's updates and offer a sneak peek into 2024's next-gen Check-in. Discover the power of generosity in time, words and talents. Tune in for insights that make…
- Episode 165: Special Edition with Bayne Hulburt
Join us for a special edition of Rockcast with Bayne Hulburt from RiverPointe Church. Explore Bayne's journey, discover how their church leverages data measurement for ministry, and learn the pivotal role of Rock's ERA tool in efficiently…
- Episode 164 : Mastering Best Practices: Navigating Core Block Cloning
Join the core team as they talk through the challenges of cloning core blocks in our new Best Practices series. Discover the latest updates and catch insights from the CITN conference in this tech-packed episode. Show Notes: Version Releas…