The Church Podcast

Episode 053 – Leading from Wholeness: Self-Care, Burnout, and Sustainable Ministry with Kathy Goller

Written by Christopher Wesley | Mar 24, 2026 12:41:28 PM

In this episode of The Church Podcast, Christopher sits down with Kathy Goller, founder of Teal Horizon Coaching and Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach, through the NFCYM Podcast Network.

Kathy shares how more than twenty years of diocesan ministry in the Diocese of Buffalo — and a season of unexpected transition during the pandemic — led her to found Teal Horizon Coaching, where she now works with ministry leaders, nonprofit professionals, and others in service-oriented work. A master's-level pastoral minister and certified coach, Kathy brings both lived experience and practical tools to the challenges facing Church leaders today.

Together, Christopher and Kathy explore what sustainable ministry leadership actually looks like — from recognizing the early warning signs of burnout, to reframing self-care as a spiritual practice rather than an indulgence, to building practical rhythms of rest, renewal, and review into an already full life. They also unpack the importance of identity, delegation, healthy boundaries, and the courage to ask for help.

This conversation is an honest and encouraging call for ministry leaders to stop running on empty and start leading from wholeness — for the sake of themselves, their families, and the people they serve.

In This Episode

  • Kathy's journey from lifelong youth ministry participant to diocesan director to founding Teal Horizon Coaching — and why midlife transition became an unexpected invitation to purpose

  • The story behind the name "Teal Horizon" and how the concepts of self-leadership, wholeness, and purpose became the foundation of her coaching work

  • Common patterns Kathy sees in ministry leaders struggling with burnout: weak boundaries, difficulty saying no, lack of delegation, and over-functioning driven by talent strengths like empathy and responsibility

  • Why self-care can feel selfish or indulgent to people in ministry — and how reframing it as energy stewardship rather than self-indulgence changes the conversation

  • The "overflow model" of ministry: instead of pouring yourself out until empty, letting God continually fill you so that blessings overflow naturally to others

  • Kathy's three-part framework for sustainable self-care — Rest (replenishing energy), Renewal (generating new energy), and Review (pausing to examine your life with God) — and how each maps to prayer forms already present in Catholic tradition

  • How to build a weekly review and planning rhythm that starts with gratitude and self-awareness before moving to tasks — and why having a plan is about integrity, not control

  • Practical first steps for exhausted ministry leaders, including a free self-care guide at tealhorizoncoaching.com/self-care

About Kathy Goller

Kathy Goller is the founder of Teal Horizon Coaching, where she helps Catholic ministry leaders and nonprofit professionals cultivate sustainable, faith-rooted leadership through coaching, workshops, and retreats. After more than twenty years in diocesan ministry — including serving as a diocesan director in the Diocese of Buffalo — Kathy now draws on that experience, along with her Master's degree in Pastoral Ministry and certifications as a Gallup Strengths Coach and REALIFE Process® Certified Coach, to help people lead from wholeness rather than exhaustion.

Resources Mentioned

Connect with Kathy

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