Catching Jesus

Chris Beland is a singer-songwriter, barista, husband and father. Chris and I get to talk about his childhood, which was pretty wild. But we also talk about music and Jesus, both of which have been by his side the whole way. This conversation is heartbreaking, beautiful, redemptive and so insightful. Hope you enjoy this episode with Chris Beland. 

Lauren O'Keefe is the owner of a wine a beer garden called Bodega, which is in Los Alamos California. She's also a podcaster and co-host of "The Morning Rage" where she and Jenn Prentice talk through issues in culture, society, politics....and the Bachelor.    On this episode with Lauren, we talk about our shared baptist upbringing, Lauren's time in New York and Paris interning for fashion companies like GQ and Donna Karen, and how she's navigated some of the big decisions she's made throughout her life. Specifically, how being in tune with yourself can help you actually hear and follow the spirit of God. 

Kenneth grew up in Los Angeles and from an early age had the drive and ambition to become a UCLA football play, which he accomplished. But then an injury ended his football career. And later on in his life a string of tragedies from his son almost dying to rampant sickness in his family and losing his father-in-law to cancer left him with some deep scars…but a deeper trust in a God who is with us through it and the joy of living all in with Jesus.

Eric Cabrera was always the guy who said yes to everything, which got him into a lot of trouble, including an 11 year prison sentence. But now he's out and saying yes to the Lord, who is using him in some incredible ways.  And Eric wants you to say yes to the Lord as well. To realize that you've got a calling and purpose in your life that shouldn't be wasted. 

Lauren Hargreaves took a risk and started a Facebook group called “Let’s Bible Journal,” which has turned into an amazing community of people who are approaching their Bibles in really unique and creative ways. Lauren and I talk about obeying what can feel like the nagging voice of the Holy Spirit, pushing us to step out of our comfort zones and do something for the kingdom. Hope you enjoy this episode with Lauren Hargreaves.

Karin and I talk about growing up in the church and some of the things we've had to unlearn as adults. Karin shares some great insights on how to teach your kids about faith and then I go on a rant about the Bible. 

In this episode, I talk with Ryan Delmore about his family’s restaurant, the local favorite, Del’s Pizzeria and how a Vegas bet in 1973 helped start the family business. Ryan also happens to be a super talented musician, so we get into our youthful dreams of stardom and how glad we are that God knows us better than we know ourselves.

From England to California to Nashville, the Clarkes have been following Jesus for a long time. They've run music schools, written popular worship songs, been in rock bands and now are trying to figure out how to follow Jesus in the seemingly mundane, day to day stuff of life. 

Whether you're a man yourself, are raising a man, or have men in your life, John has great insights on the burdens men carry, the cost of not dealing with them, and how we might move forward into healthy masculinity. John worked for over 30 years at NBC television, pursuing all the wrong things until he re-evaluated his life in his 40's and began to reinvest in his relationship with Jesus. He has since devoted this half of his life to helping mentor and encourage men to be intentional and God-honoring in every domain of their lives. 

Jamey is the Director of Cru Central Coast, an evangelism and discipleship ministry for college students. Jamey had an encounter with the Lord in college himself, but also had some deep questions that were roadblocks to his faith. Outside of the philosophical questions, he also had to learn that leadership comes in many forms and that God can use all of us in whatever form that takes. 

Jena walks us through her road to producing music and leading worship. She encourages us to have a proper understanding of who we are in Christ, and that this identity is developed through intimacy with Jesus. We also discuss the beauty of different seasons in our lives and how they are not wasted in Christ. 

Jenn is a communicator, writer, wife and mom...and a whole host of other things. In this episode, we talk about intentional living and the importance of mentorship, specifically for 20-somthings. We also discuss what we can do as parents to prepare our kids for these formidable years, and spend some time talking about our own paths in life and how pursuing a relationship with Jesus is the real goal. 

Dr. Bravo shares about pivotal moments in his faith, his battle with childhood cancer which led him to become a doctor, and how the prerequisite for being used by God is being willing to be used by God. 

Dani Sumner shares the origin story of her non-profit, "The 11th Initiative," which was started by her then 11 year old daughter Makenzie to provide aid to Syrian refugees. We also discuss the importance of childlike faith and not worrying about the outcome as much as the "yes."

Greg Squires, CEO of The Parable Group, talks about his journey through business and how he tries to find the intersection of business and mission. We talk about how the path to our calling is often a meandering path versus a straight one, and Greg shares 6 "P's" that have helped him make big decisions in his life. 

Lindsay Pratt shares her story of growing up in Ukraine, getting a verse from the Lord that would define her whole life, but then having to wait over a decade to understand how all of the pieces would fit together. We talk about the importance of having people around you that will encourage you even when you loose steam, and the importance of obedience in the face of struggle. 

Travis talks about what to expect throughout this podcast, as well as a bit about his own journey getting to this point. From dinner parties to Pink Flamingos to our identity as Jesus followers - Travis' story is filled with a bunch of questions about what it means to be a Christian and how we can live into our biblical identity and partner with Jesus to bring His kingdom into our own lives.