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If you listened to my novel The Cul de Sac you know that twenty minutes west of Boston (give or take) sits a quiet, secluded little place called Woodland Hills. The town exudes quintessential New England charm, pretty neighborhoods, classic New England architecture, and a handful of local businesses on a charming main street. Yes, it does contain a demonically infested cul de sac - but really, the rest of the town is quite normal. Its residents are typical New Englanders, hardy, preppy, and true to their regional reputation, they are kind, but they are not nice. It is a quiet town. A cozy town. A town where families live and work and go to school. So, next week, on Friday, February 13th - join me and the Woodland Hills West PTA for a cozy mystery right here on the Ghosts in the Burbs podcast feed. As always, Instagram is the best place to get updates on the podcast - go take a peek - you'll find that the WHW PTA has already taken over my account. See you back here next Friday - go Rams!
Growing up in New England meant old houses and unexplained noises—but this one felt different. What started as small disturbances slowly became impossible to dismiss, leaving the family searching for answers within the faith they knew best.When those efforts failed, outside help was brought in quietly. The names Ed and Lorraine Warren surfaced not as public figures, but as a last resort. What followed was private, deliberate, and never meant to be discussed—especially by someone still very young.The house eventually grew quiet.But the experience didn't end there. It left behind a lasting shift in perception, an awareness that never fully faded, and the understanding that some encounters don't announce themselves loudly—or disappear completely when the noise stops.#RealGhostStoriesOnline #ParanormalExperience #HauntedHouse #TheWarrens #TrueHaunting #ExorcismStory #ParanormalWitness #HauntedNewEngland #LifeAfterHaunting #TrueGhostStoryLove real ghost stories? Want even more?Become a supporter and unlock exclusive extras, ad-free episodes, and advanced access:
Carlos Rafael ran one of the biggest fishing operations in New England. He was successful. Almost too successful. Probably because his seafood empire was built through fraud. This week, reporter Ian Coss brings us to the story of The Codfather. Plus, Natasha Pickowicz invites everyone to hot pot, and Christopher Kimball and Sara Moulton answer your questions on Norwegian pancakes, Julia Child's Gâteau de Crêpes, and more.Want to hot pot at home? Get the blog post featuring Natasha's equipment recommendations and shopping guide here.Listen to Catching the Codfather on the Big Dig Podcast from GBH here.Listen to Milk Street Radio on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify
From 02/06 Hour 4: The Sports Junkies preview New England vs Seattle.
The Seattle Seahawks enter Super Bowl Sunday as heavy favorites against the New England Patriots, and the confidence level among the 12s is high. The Patriots path to victory appears razor-thin, relying heavily on Drake Maye's mobility, hopes for multiple Seattle turnovers, and the chance that Jaxon Smith-Njigba can somehow be stopped by this New England defense that has only faced two of the league's best wideouts this season. The Pats offensive line faces a nightmare matchup against Seattle's defensive front led by Leo Williams and DeMarcus Lawrence. The Patriots postseason run—featuring wins over injury-depleted teams and bottom-tier offensive lines—pales in comparison to Seattle's gauntlet through the NFC West. Nick Emmanwori sustained an ankle injury this week, which does provide some concern for the defense. But we've seen how capable the depth of this defense was in dealing with Emmanwori's absense earlier in the season as well as the injury to Julian Love. Mike Macdonald should be able to plan around any limitations by the rookie defender. In an episode earlier this week, we enjoyed a guest with thoughful football analysis. In this show, we're getting into 'Know Your Rival' mode with one of the Patriots bitter rivals. Dolphins fan Sam Marcoux is back on the show to talk about everything we need to know about the Pats and their entitled fanbase. Offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak's impending departure to the Raiders has loomed over the leadup to this game. What potential impact could it actually have in this matchup? The NFL Honors ceremony was happening as we recorded and Jaxon Smith-Njigba was the only one to be awarded one of the top honors -- offensive player of the year. We discuss some of the wildest narratives and idiotic lines of questions in the Do Better Segment. Better at life honors go out to a group of monks and their walk for peace as well as the NFL for sending our NFC West rivals into a dangerous country to start the 2026 season. Join our Sea Hawkers Podcast Pickem League - free prizes for weekly winners. Support the show Get in the Flock! Visit GetInTheFlock.com Or visit our website for other ways to support the show Subscribe via: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | YouTube | TuneIn | RSS Follow us on: Facebook | Twitter Listen on our free app for Android, iOS, Kindle or Windows Phone/PC Call or text: 253-235-9041 Find Sea Hawkers clubs around the world at SeaHawkers.org Music from the show by The 12 Train, download each track at ReverbNation
Before we tackle the big game, we ask Stan what the Chiefs can learn from watching the Seahawks and Patriots and how they got here for Super Bowl 60. His answer will surprise you, not because it's detailed and thorough. It's because it involves asking Patrick Mahomes to be different kind of quarterback as we start KC 2.0. As you may know, Stan famously created a mathematic, interesting and fun board game decades ago that plugs in an entire season's stats so he can play teams against each other with his friends the entire off season. He's played a bunch of games between Seattle and New England and he will share his results. As analyst for the K-State Network, Stan has been courtside for most of the really good teams in the Big 12 and he will rank them in order for us. Spoiler... KU is really climbing. And he shares what it will take for the Missouri Tigers to make the NCAA Tourney.
Get ready for Kowloon on the water in the North Shore and a street in Avon saw another crash on a very controversial street in the New England Nightly News.
It's the biggest game of the year. George Tsilfidis & Fabian Sommer break down the Super Bowl with sharp analysis, real betting angles, and no wasted takes. 0:00 Intro 2:44 Seattle's Offense Discussion 10:44 New England's Offense Discussion 17:24 Special Teams Chat 18:58 Final Prediction Score/MVP Outro
A trivia brawl to start, a chess match to finish. We kick off with a fast, penalty-happy Super Bowl quiz that forces us to relive the moments that define February football—record throws in losses, special-teams heroics, blackout delays, and the painful beauty of split-second decisions. After crowning a champion, we pivot hard into a grounded preview of Patriots vs Seahawks, and the conversation quickly narrows to where big games are actually won: ball security, field position, and which quarterback blinks first when the pocket turns claustrophobic.We dig into Drake May's evolution—how he can win ugly with his legs, then flip a game with one fearless deep shot—and where his risk profile still lives, especially with blindside pressure and late holds. On the other side, we map the exact path for Sam Darnold to finish a redemption arc: early rhythm throws, trust in JSN's detail, and a commitment to take the profitable gains rather than chase hero-ball. Seattle's top scoring defense is built to punish loose football, while New England's defense disguises well enough to bait a rushed read and steal a drive. It's less about fireworks and more about who survives third downs, protects the pocket edge, and makes the smarter fourth-quarter choice.We also wrestle with Tom Brady's public neutrality. Is it brand strategy, competitive ego, or simply a clean break from the past? The debate opens a bigger question about what cements a legend: is it titles alone, or the sense that a city knows you? We land in a nuanced place—Ortiz as heartbeat, Bird as cultural backbone, Brady as the ultimate executor—and admit that the banners speak louder than any quote.Predictions are tight and respectful, reflecting a game that feels like a grind rather than a coronation. If you love tactical football, this one's for you. Listen, then tell us your winning path: who controls turnovers and who hits the one deep shot that flips the script? Subscribe, share with a football friend, and drop your score pick in the comments.Support the show-----------https://www.MTPshow.comOur Social Mediahttps://linktr.ee/MTPSHOW-----------Hosts: Mike Marcangelo, Dave Clarke, Rayshawn Buchanan, Bob KellyProducer: Craig D'AlessandroInquiries: Craig@mtpshow.com
FANTASY POINTS 2026 EARLY-BIRD SUBSCRIPTIONS ARE LIVE. GET OUR BEST RATE WE'LL OFFER THE ENTIRE SEASON, 20% OFF! NOW THROUGH SUPER BOWL SUNDAY: https://www.fantasypoints.com/plans#/ On this episode of the Fantasy Points Podcast, Brian Drake and John “The Guru” Hansen break down Super Bowl LX prop markets and angles for the matchup between the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks. The show opens with broader Super Bowl discussion before moving into Seattle-specific props, followed by New England-focused prop talk and alternative market ideas from Guru later in the episode. The analysis stays centered on actionable prop perspectives and matchup context as Super Bowl Sunday approaches, keeping the lens on game flow and what matters most in the biggest NFL game of the season. Where to find us: http//twitter.com/Fantasy_Guru http://twitter.com/DrakeFantasy Podcast Transcription Here: https://podsqueeze.com/embedded/transcript/K8boW4EzazxvzxHkMnHPYa Join our Discord here: https://www.fantasypoints.com/media/discord#/ Subscribe to Fantasy Points for FREE - https://www.fantasypoints.com/plans#/ Listen to the podcast here: https://www.fantasypoints.com/media/podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
It all comes down to this as the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots meet in Super Bowl 60, and we kick things off with the full game setup and stakes. We break down the latest injuries, news, and notes that could impact the matchup (8:30), then outline the paths to victory for both teams — how the Seahawks can win it all (13:25) and what the Patriots need to do to claim the Lombardi. From there, we examine where Seattle holds an edge (16:040) and where New England can strike back, before identifying the key X-factor that could swing the game (21:00). We wrap things up with our official picks and Super Bowl MVP predictions (30:28), followed by DFS targets (36:35) and the player props we're betting heading into kickoff (47:20). Fantasy Football Today is available for free on the Audacy app as well as Apple Podcasts, Spotify and wherever else you listen to podcasts Watch FFT on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/fantasyfootballtoday Shop our store: shop.cbssports.com/fantasy SUBSCRIBE to FFT Dynasty on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fantasy-football-today-dynasty/id1696679179 FOLLOW FFT Dynasty on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2aHlmMJw1m8FareKybdNfG?si=8487e2f9611b4438&nd=1 SUBSCRIBE to FFT DFS on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fantasy-football-today-dfs/id1579415837 To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Daniel Jeremiah and Bucky Brooks open the show by breaking down Bucky’s first mock draft of the offseason (1:10), spotlighting positions primed to rise and prospects gaining momentum as April approaches. The conversation then shifts to two potential 2026 dark horse teams (22:08) — the Giants and Titans — and why their first-year head coaches and second-year quarterbacks could fuel a Patriots-style leap similar to New England’s 2025 jump after Drake Maye’s rookie season. Move the Sticks is a part of the NFL Podcasts Network. NOTE: Timecodes approximateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Footballguys The Audible - Fantasy Football Info for Serious Fans
In This Episode: On this Super Bowl 61 edition of The Audible, Cecil Lammey and Sigmund Bloom deliver the definitive preview of Seahawks vs. Patriots — a matchup loaded with storylines, pressure, and two completely different paths to the big game. Seattle brings a world‑class, suffocating defense that has bullied elite quarterbacks all season, but can they actually shut down Drake Maye, the rookie phenom who has carried New England to the brink of a championship. Then the guys flip to the other sideline: Sam Darnold, the former first‑rounder turned journeyman, now one win away from rewriting his entire NFL legacy. Can he go from "what could've been" to Super Bowl champion. And how does Seattle structure an offense around him that can survive Bill Belichick's successor and a Patriots defense built to confuse. Cecil and Bloom also break down how the Patriots offense can move the ball with Maye — quick game, tempo, Rhamondre Stevenson, and the matchup advantages New England must lean on to keep the rookie upright.
The guys break down the Seahawks heading into the Super Bowl, from Sam Darnold's redemption arc and Seattle's relentless defense to why this feels like the franchise's year on the biggest stage. They also unpack how New England's unlikely run sets up one of the most intriguing championship games in years. (00:00) Intro (02:05) Where Does Sam Darnold Rank? (19:23) Will the Patriots Become Villains Again? (26:16) Drake Maye's All-Time Ascent (35:48) Mike Vrabel's Coaching Masterclass (41:30) Is This Seahawks Team One of the Best Ever? (01:12:33) Ringer 107 Picks (01:21:46) Emails Discord link: https://discord.gg/Ge8bbYHrau Check out the 2025 Ringer Fantasy Football Rankings: https://fantasyfootball.theringer.com/ Email us! ringerfantasyfootball@gmail.com The Ringer is committed to responsible gaming. Please visit www.rg-help.com to learn more about the resources and helplines available. Hosts: Danny Heifetz, Danny Kelly, and Craig Horlbeck Producers: Kai Grady, Carlos Chiriboga, and Cameron Dinwiddie Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Live from San Francisco where NFL Network Analyst Steve Smith Sr. tells Rich what it's like to score a touchdown in the Super Bowl, breaks down how he sees the Seahawks vs Patriots playing out including the potential impact of Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Rashid Shaheed, and Stefon Diggs, and more. Comedian and die-hard Seahawks fan Adam Ray tells Rich and Patriots fan Brockman why he's predicting a Seattle rout of New England in the Super Bowl. In ‘Higher Register' Rich, Brockman and TJ reveal their less-than-confident Super Bowl predictions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Live from Super Bowl LX in San Francisco where Rich explains why this year's NFL title game will NOT be a blowout based on the Seahawks and Patriots long history of thrilling, one-score showdowns. Pro Football Hall of Famer/NFL Network Analyst Kurt Warner and Rich discuss the keys to who wins Super Bowl LX including the expectations for QBs Sam Darnold and Drake Maye, how New England's offense will fare against Seattle' defense, and more. WWE Superstar Seth Rollins and Rich discuss the success of his beloved Chicago Bears this season, Bill Belichick's Pro Football Hall of Fame snub, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Hour 3 kicks off with the NBA deadline chaos and the biggest headline hanging over everything: Giannis. The show then pivots to the Tom Brady controversy after he says he has “no dog in the fight” for the Super Bowl. Patriots fans are annoyed, former teammates are chirping, and an active player goes as far as saying he's “disgusted,” turning Brady into a weird New England villain story. The guys debate whether Brady is detached, protecting broadcast credibility, or just wired to compete at whatever he's doing next. Then the real breaking news hits. Shams reports the Bucks have told teams they are keeping Giannis through the deadline. Evan frames it as the best possible outcome for Knicks fans because it keeps a rival from getting stronger now, while leaving the door open for summer chaos. They also talk through the strange ripple effects: Milwaukee possibly shutting him down, Shams' careful wording, and how Giannis could still weaponize his leverage later by scaring off teams with the “I'm not re-signing there” card. The segment ends with the bigger theme: the East feels wide open, the Celtics are compromised without a fully healthy Tatum, and this is exactly the kind of season where the Knicks get a real shot to “finish the story” before the summer superstar carousel starts again.
iki and Evan dive into the controversy surrounding Tom Brady's recent comments about the Patriots in the Super Bowl. Despite his former teammate Mike Vrabel coaching New England, Brady claims he has "no dog in the fight," sparking outrage among Boston fans and former players. The guys debate whether Brady is being corporate, disconnected, or just trying to protect his new ownership interests. Later, the show shifts to Major League Baseball as the Detroit Tigers make a splash by signing Framber Valdez, leading to a debate on whether the Tigers are now legitimate threats to the New York Yankees in the American League.
Contract structure takes center stage Detroit Lions fans got clarity on a headline decision. On today's Daily Detroit Lions Podcast, Jeff Risdon unpacked why Carlton Davis chose New England and how Detroit pivoted. Dave Burkett, reporting from the Super Bowl, relayed Davis' words: he would have signed in Detroit, and it wasn't about money. It was the structure. Davis, the former Lions starter now with the Patriots, signed a three-year, $54 million deal with $34.5 million guaranteed and a $16.5 million signing bonus. No void years. He started slowly but improved as the season went on, then played very well in the playoffs, especially when CJ Stroud threw him the ball a lot. Davis reiterated he liked Detroit's process. DJ Reed's deal shows Detroit's approach After Davis moved on, the Detroit Lions signed DJ Reed to a three-year, $48 million contract with $32 million guaranteed and a $15.2 million signing bonus. Detroit's wrinkle under Mike Disner stands out: three void years. The contract technically runs through 2031, which makes Reed easier to cut after the second year or to renegotiate. Reed was off to a very good start in Detroit before an injury. When he returned, he wasn't the same player yet. Expectations remain that he will be a very good starter in 2026. Reed projects as part of a fine starting cornerback duo. Are there better ones in the NFL? Yes. Can you win with these guys in the style of defense the Lions play? Yes. Why void years matter for veterans Davis cited structure as the hang-up, and the void years are the obvious difference. For an older player seeking to cash in, void years can mean less immediate cash in year one. They can also reduce player leverage when a team wants to renegotiate or move on, since the organization carries obligations whether the player is there or not. Workout bonuses can factor in too, but the void years are the clear separator here. Davis emphasized there was no drama with Detroit or its leadership. “I love Detroit… I was rooting for those guys… It was a straight up process… Good communication… I got nothing bad to say about them.” The takeaway for the Detroit Lions and the NFL at large is simple: the Lions' preferred tools work for the team, but certain veterans and their agents may push back. As Detroit keeps using void years on contracts and future extensions, this will be worth watching. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQXrzlQgZrM #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #carltondavis #djreed #voidyears #mikedisner #signingbonus #guaranteedmoney #basesalary #workoutbonuses #newenglandpatriots #detroitlionsdefense #freeagency #superbowl #cjstroud #three-yearcontract Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Today's Sports Daily covers how Seattle and New England built their teams, more ATS breakdown, NBA All Star game teams and format, the Luka trade return, and Monday Night RAW's Punk/Reigns showdown. Music written by Bill Conti & Allee Willis (Casablanca Records/Universal Music Group) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
CBS Sports NFL writer John Breech
Malcom Butler reveals who he is rooting for in the big game // Patriots insider Tom E. Curran on why Pats-Seahawks will be high-scoring // Has Tom Brady responded to criticism from ex-teammate Asante Samuel? //
On today's episode of NFL Live the trenches are heating up. Seattle and New England are both gearing up to get after the quarterback, so who wins this pass rush showdown? We break it all down. We also dive into a major loss in Philly that has fans asking big questions in the city of Brotherly Love. What does this move mean for Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley? Marcus shares his thoughts. Plus, Drake Maye faces a tough test against Seattle's relentless defensive line. How does he plan to stay clean in the pocket? Sal Pal joins us with the latest. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Patriots' writer for The Boston Globe Chris Price joins the show to talk about the relaxed attitude from the team this week, what kind of game Super Bowl 60 could look like, and how much support New England is getting in the San Francisco area.
Christian and Andy take turns drafting the best players from the Patriots and Seahawks and come to the conclusion that it will be tough for New England to win if Sam Darnold plays well for Seattle.
On this epsiode of the JT Sports Podcast, JT breaks down a Super Bowl 60 rematch between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots, spotlighting how Mike McDonald and Mike Vrabel keep proving defense and situational football still win in today's NFL. JT dives into the biggest matchups—Drake Maye vs Seattle's exotic looks, Sam Darnold vs New England's underrated secondary, and how field position, special teams, and the line of scrimmage could swing the game. He also lays out the blueprint for a Patriots upset and what Seattle must do to avoid getting dragged into an ugly, low-scoring fight. Finally, JT previews the Super Bowl MVP race and the stars most likely to decide how Super Bowl 60 ends.
(00:00) Zolak & Bertrand begin the hour - LIVE from Radio Row - from Saints LB Demario Davis as they preview Super Bowl LX and analyze New England as a destination for potential free agents.(12:31) The guys go to a loaded phone lines.(21:47) Former NFL QB, Rich Gannon joins Zo and Beetle on Radio Row to talk about the big game and Drake Maye's plate.(32:52) The crew plug the Felger & Mazz Super Bowl Party on Saturday before going to the callers to round out the hour.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
The coaching carousel is officially spun. We break down all the major head coaching hires across the league and debate which moves will actually matter. Rashad explains why Jim Harbaugh to the Giants is his favorite hire and why it sets New York up for long-term relevance. Kev counters with why Robert Saleh to the Titans could be the move that quietly transforms an entire franchise culture. We also ask the uncomfortable question: is there a coach here who might be one-and-done? Which hire feels rushed, forced, or doomed from the jump? Then we turn our attention to the Super Bowl. What does it mean for the league if New England wins? What does it say if Seattle takes it? Legacy talk, franchise direction, and the ripple effects either outcome would have across the NFL. Finally, we make our picks: who wins Super Bowl MVP, what swings the game, and what storyline we'll be talking about all offseason.
No JB or Hauser and the Simons for Vucevic trade isn't official yet so neither of them played either and the Celtics still blew the Rockets out 114-93!!! The Celtics rolled out a starting lineup of White, Queta, Garza (yes, double big) alongside Baylor and Ron Harper Jr. which I'm sure was on everyone's BINGO card lol. This was arguably the best team win that we have had all season long so you have to tune into the full podcast to hear the full breakdown!This podcast is brought to you by me, Guy DePlacido. I have been a Loan Officer servicing MA, NH and ME for the last 5 years so if you are looking to buy or refinance, reach out to me today at (978) 804-7756 or email me at guy.deplacido@ccm.com! Like the Boston Celtics, I know that you need a great team behind you to win so this year I am partnering with some of my favorites including Deb Burke, and Collin Tucker.If you're looking to buy or sell a home in the near future meet Deb Burke, your trusted realtor at Compass Real Estate, serving MA and NH. With a passion for finding dream homes, Deb is committed to making your real estate journey a breeze. Whether you're buying or selling, Deb's got your back. Reach out today at 978-930-4621 or email deb.burke@compass.com to start your next chapter. Let's turn your real estate dreams into reality!After getting preapproved with me and finding your home with Deb Burke, you'll want to make sure your home is protected and for that, there is nobody better than Collin Tucker at Berlin Insurance Group. Collin is a local agent but he is licensed in all of New England with over 20+ carriers for auto and home insurance guaranteeing the lowest quote possible. I have worked with Collin so many times not only for my clients insurance needs but mine as well. Reach out to Collin Tucker at Berlin Insurance Group at 508-459-1226 or Collin@berlininsurancegroup.comOne of my favorite things about the Celtics is how much they care and give back to the community and INspire Cafe is following that model too. Inspire Cafe is a Community Cafe in Wakefield on a mission to inspire change and creating a more inclusive world where individuals with diverse abilities are not just included but valued. If you're looking for, not only amazing food, but an opportunity to support a cafe that is inspiring change check out INspire Cafe in Wakefield today!
Welcome back to another episode of the unSeminary podcast. Today we're talking with Jeremy Baker, Lead Pastor of Elevate Life Church in Connecticut. In just over three years, Elevate Life has grown from 70 people to more than 2,000 weekly attendees, becoming one of the fastest-growing churches in the country—especially remarkable in a region widely known as spiritually resistant and unchurched. Jeremy shares the honest, behind-the-scenes story of how God has moved, and what his team has learned about loving people well, building invite culture, and helping people take meaningful steps in their spiritual journey. Is explosive growth possible in spiritually dry regions? How do churches keep the focus on people instead of preferences as momentum builds? Jeremy offers a refreshing reminder that growth is less about formulas and more about faithfulness. Humble beginnings and a clear calling. // Jeremy and his wife left a comfortable ministry role at a large church in Dallas after sensing God's call to the Northeast—one of the least churched regions in North America. With no church-planting playbook and their personal savings on the line, they launched Elevate Life with high expectations and a large marketing push. When only 70 people showed up on launch day, disappointment could have ended the story. Instead, it became the starting point. Jeremy describes the journey as a “God deal” from the beginning—marked by prayer, obedience, and a willingness to go after people rather than polish programs. Loving people from the street to the seat. // One of Elevate Life's defining values is making people feel seen, heard, and celebrated. Jeremy believes every person walks in carrying an invisible sign that says, “See me.” That belief shapes their entire guest experience. From banner-waving parking lot teams to outdoor tents for first-time guests (even in winter), the church treats arrival as sacred ground. Volunteers walk guests through the building, help with kids check-in, offer tours, and even escort people to their seats. The intentional warmth sends a clear message: you matter here. Taking people where they are. // With nearly 4,000 first-time guests in a single year, Elevate Life assumes nothing about biblical knowledge or spiritual maturity. Rather than pushing people toward instant maturity, the church focuses on meeting people where they are. Grow Track, life groups, and clear next steps help people move forward at a sustainable pace. Jeremy warns that churches often forget how far they've traveled spiritually—and unintentionally expect newcomers to keep up. Invite culture that never lets up. // Elevate Life's growth hasn't come from direct mail or massive ad budgets. Jeremy says he'll never do mailbox ads again. Instead, growth flows from a relentless invite culture. Every service, hallway conversation, life group, and ministry environment reinforces the same message: Who are you bringing? Invite cards, QR codes, social media ads, and consistent language keep invitation top of mind. Jeremy believes repetition—not creativity—is the secret. Reaching people over protecting preferences. // As the church has doubled in size, Jeremy is vigilant about guarding its mission. Growth brings new pressures—parking shortages, crowded services, limited space—but he resists shifting focus inward. If churches aren’t careful, they’ll trade purpose for preferences,. Elevate Life's mission—making heaven more crowded—keeps the team outwardly focused. Jeremy regularly reminds leaders that people are not problems to solve; they are people to pastor. A challenge for church leaders. // Jeremy closes with a simple encouragement to pastors: love people deeply, steward what God has given you, and don't lose sight of why you started. Churches don't grow because they chase growth—they grow when leaders refuse to give up on people. In regions others have written off spiritually, God is still moving—and often through ordinary leaders who simply refuse to stop caring. To learn more about Elevate Life Church, visit elevatelifect.com or follow them on Instagram @elevatelifect. Thank You for Tuning In! There are a lot of podcasts you could be tuning into today, but you chose unSeminary, and I'm grateful for that. If you enjoyed today's show, please share it by using the social media buttons you see at the left hand side of this page. Also, kindly consider taking the 60-seconds it takes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, they're extremely helpful when it comes to the ranking of the show and you can bet that I read every single one of them personally! Lastly, don't forget to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, to get automatic updates every time a new episode goes live! Thank You to This Episode’s Sponsor: Portable Church Your church is doing really well right now, and your leadership team is looking for solutions to keep momentum going! It could be time to start a new location. Maybe you have hesitated in the past few years, but you know it's time to step out in faith again and launch that next location. Portable Church has assembled a bundle of resources to help you leverage your growing momentum into a new location by sending a part of your congregation back to their neighborhood on Mission. This bundle of resources will give you a step-by-step plan to launch that new or next location, and a 5 minute readiness tool that will help you know your church is ready to do it! Click here to watch the free webinar “Launch a New Location in 150 Days or Less” and grab the bundle of resources for your church! Episode Transcript Rich Birch — Hey friends, welcome to the unSeminary podcast. Pumped that you have decided to tune in today. We’ve got a very good conversation. I’m really looking forward to leaning in and learning from this leader and the story that God’s been writing at his church in the last two and a half years.Rich Birch — Elevate Church in Connecticut has grown from 70 people to over 2,000 on a weekly basis. It’s been named one of the fastest growing churches in the country. I love their mission and purpose is really simple: making heaven more crowded. Today we’ve got Jeremy Baker with us. He is the lead pastor. Jeremy, welcome to the show. So glad you’re here.Jeremy Baker — Thank you so much for having me. So excited. And what a great privilege and honor to be on on live with you today. So thank you.Rich Birch — Yeah, I’m excited that to unpack this story a little bit. It is not normal for a church to grow from 70 to 2000 in any part of the country, but even more so in Connecticut. I can say as a guy who served in New Jersey, I’m Canadian, you know – don’t hold that against against me. Jeremy Baker — Let’s go.Rich Birch — So I understand the spiritual context that you’re in a little bit. But why don’t you unpack the story? Kind of tell us a little bit what’s gone on over these last couple of years. For folks that don’t know, tell us about the kind of spiritual, you know, climate in Connecticut. Talk us through those issues.Jeremy Baker — Yeah, I first of all, it’s a God deal all the way. And I know a lot of people are asking me, hey, give me some handles, what’s some formulas, what’s some how-tos.Rich Birch — Right.Jeremy Baker — I’m just blown away by what God’s done. And I think it’s really just the heartbeat of God is going after his people and serving the community really well. So we’re in an area, I’m 30 minutes away from Yale University.Rich Birch — Okay.Jeremy Baker — I’m not too far away from New Haven, Connecticut. I’m in in a town about 100,000 people. Rich Birch — Wow.Jeremy Baker — Matter of fact, the building is actually in between two cities. Rich Birch — Okay. Jeremy Baker — The building is divided right down in half. One half being, yeah, it’s crazy. One half being Meriden, one half being a town called Wallingford. And so in those two cities is about 100,000 people. Rich Birch — Okay. Jeremy Baker — So three and a half years ago, I’m working at a big church in Dallas, Texas, mega-world, mega-church, on staff, XP, and the Lord just pressed on our heart, me and my wife that we’re comfortable. We’re we’re living the good life, we’re living the Dallas life, the big Texas life, and there’s more, you know. And nothing wrong with that, nothing wrong with the Dallas life, the big life, the Texas life, nothing wrong with big churches – God loves this, the capital “C” church, you know. And so long story short, prayed for about a year, and we said, we’re going to the Northeast. Rich Birch — Wow. Jeremy Baker — This is where my wife is originally from, the Connecticut region, this area, actually called a little town called North Haven. And we’re going to go back up here because there’s a group of people that need the Lord. And, you know, the Northeast, New Jersey, you know, New York, Maine, Vermont, Pennsylvania, these kind of, this region up here in this New England region is ah is an unchurched region. Rich Birch — Yes.Jeremy Baker — There’s great people that are God-fearing people, great good Bible-believing churches, but there’s it’s not known as a Southern, you know, Christianity. Rich Birch — Yep.Jeremy Baker — Like everybody goes to church in the South, but up here, it’s a little different region. So we came up here. We didn’t know how to plant a church, honestly.Rich Birch — Love it.Jeremy Baker — I’m just giving you all the honest, the the real, real.Rich Birch — Yes.Jeremy Baker — I wish I could tell you that I wrote the book on it and I know how to do everything perfectly. Rich Birch — Love itJeremy Baker — But i could I could tell you every horror story what not to do, you know? So we we pulled out our life savings and we started a church and we had 70 people on our launch date. Rich Birch — Wow. And we put about $100,000 into our launch date thinking we would have… Rich Birch — Wow. Jeremy Baker — …you know, 800 people, a thousand people are going to show up. We put mailers in everybody’s mailbox. So long story short, we had 70 people. Rich Birch — Wow, wow.Jeremy Baker — And then out of that, we have just been going after our city. Out of that, we have just been reaching people, inviting people to God’s house, serving our community, clean days, outreaches, food ministry, backpack giveaways, Christmas, Thanksgiving. I mean, just every major holiday, we have just attacked our community. And this last week, we had over 2,400 people in attendance.Rich Birch — Wow. Wow. Praise God. Jeremy Baker — And and so in three and a half years, it’s just been wild. And there’s so much in that story I could tell you.Rich Birch — Right.Jeremy Baker — But that’s kind of been from where we were, planning humble beginnings. God, what do you want to do? And it’s not about the size of a church, as you know, because I know there’s great churches out there that are ministering very well to the size that is in their community, and they’re doing a really good job shepherding people, caring for people.Jeremy Baker — But it’s just, you know, I always believe, God, let me not mess this up. Lord, if I can steward this well, you’ll keep bringing them to me. And so we have a brand new team, new staff. I like to call us the the misfits of Toy Island, if I could use the if i could if i could use the Christmas kind of you know… Rich Birch — Yes. Jeremy Baker — …thought process, you know. We don’t know what we’re doing, but we’re loving people well. We’re serving. We’re discipling to the best of our ability. We’re preaching the full gospel now. I don’t want people to think that we’re not preaching the gospel.Rich Birch — Yeah.Jeremy Baker — We’re preaching from Genesis to Revelations, and we’re preaching the whole Bible, the whole council. And but that’s kind of that’s a little bit of kind of like how the beginning happened, but it’s been wild.Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s cool.Jeremy Baker — It’s been wild, man.Rich Birch — Yeah. And I know, you know, we know that, well, all of our churches, you know, they they have the impact they do because God chooses to use what we’re doing at the end of the day. It’s got nothing to with us. It’s got everything to do with him. Jeremy Baker — Right. Rich Birch — But he is choosing to use something that you’re you’re doing. He’s clearly blessing something. He’s working through something. When you step back and think about the last couple of years, two or three years, What would be some of the things that you’ve seen him use that are like, hmm, this seems to be a part of the equation of what he’s pulling together.Rich Birch — And that’s not from a like, hey, we want to replicate all this, but it’s like, hey, here’s here’s your story. This is what God seems to be using in your context to reach your people. What would be some of those things that bubble up to your mind?Jeremy Baker — Yeah, great question. I would think the first thing for us is people want to be seen. People in the world that we live in today want to know that someone cares about them, that someone loves them.Jeremy Baker — We like to say it around here. We have little cultural sayings. We see you. We hear you. We celebrate you. We see you, we hear you, we celebrate you. I love what Mary Kay said, the the makeup organization. She had a quote, and if I can quote her right, she said, everybody has an invisible sign around their neck that says, see me. Jeremy Baker — And and I think it’s important. I think it’s real important that we see people the way God sees them. You know, for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever would believe in him. So the whole thing is about seeing people the way God sees them, not seeing them through their lens of brokenness or through the lens of maybe a divorce or the pain or the regret or the shame. No, we got to see them through the grace and the mercy of God, through through what Jesus wants to do in their life. So we’re just loving people really well from the street, if I could say it like this, because I know it’s been said in church conferences, but from the street to the seat, we’re just loving people really well, you know, how to how to make people feel like they’re the big deal. Rich Birch — Right, right.Jeremy Baker — You know, that God does love them. So that would be probably one thing that I would say would kind of be our bread and butter of just loving people well… Rich Birch — Yes. Jeremy Baker — …helping people find hope, especially in a season like this, you know, holiday season. It’s like, a you know, a lot of people are hopeless and we need to give hope to people. And so that would be a big thing. Jeremy Baker — I say think the second thing I would say is taking people on the spiritual journey where they’re at. You know, I’ve been a ministry for 30 years. My dad’s a pastor. So I’ve been in church for a long time. And I think sometimes, you know, we can as as as church kids, or if I could say it that way, or church people, we are called the shepherd. We’re called to minister. We’re called the guide. But sometimes we want people to be on the road that we’re on. And and they don’t realize… Rich Birch — That’s so true. Jeremy Baker — …we have we have we have been on this journey for a long time. There’s been a lot of going to the mat, dealing with us, God doing a work in us. Like David said in Psalms 51, Lord, create me a clean heart. Help me help me grow, Lord, as a leader, as a mature, you know. Put away childish things. I, you know, I want to grow. So so we’re taking people on their journey. Okay, you’re new to faith, so we need to start you on this road or this path, if I could say, you know. Oh, you’ve been walking with God for three years. Okay, we’ve got to make sure that you know some of the foundations, some of the basics. Rich Birch — Right.Jeremy Baker — You know I think that’s been some of our greatness of helping people stick, find community, be a part. So those are, I think those are two things. Understanding people need to be seen. And the second one is taking them on a journey of where they’re at, you know?Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s good. I love that. The let’s let’s unpack that a little bit. I’d love to start with the loving people well thing – a little bit more detail. Jeremy Baker — Yeah.Rich Birch — When you say that, so what does that mean from the street to the seat? How are you how do you feel like, oh, this is something that Elevate Life’s doing well to love people as they’re coming, as they’re arriving, as they’re a part of what’s going on at the church?Jeremy Baker — Yeah, so great. So for me, it’s going to be guest experience. Rich Birch — Yep.Jeremy Baker — What does it look like when people pull on your parking lot? You know, do we have parking lot – we don’t call them attendants. We call them parking lot banner wavers. Rich Birch — Yeah. Yeah. Love it.Jeremy Baker — They’re waving a banner, a blessing over your car. Now, it’s going to be a little charismatic a little bit. There’s going to be a little bit of a, you know, my background is, you know, is I’m I’m very very energetic, very enthusiastic…Rich Birch — Sure.Jeremy Baker — …passionate as a leader. So I want people to know it’s a big deal that you’re on property today. Rich Birch — Right.Jeremy Baker — It’s a really big deal that you brought your family, that you showed up. You didn’t have to show up. You didn’t have to be here. You could have stayed home. You could have did what you wanted to do, but you gave God some time today. And so what we do is we we we we really pray that as the tires hit the parking lot, that miracles take place in people’s lives.Jeremy Baker — Whatever that miracle might be, miracle of salvation. A miracle of of of a mindset change, a miracle of restoration. So banner wavers in the parking lot, loving on people. Jeremy Baker — We have a team called the Impact Team that’s in the parking lot. They’re what we call our first time guest experience connection moments. So when they when there’s tents outside, of course, even in the winter, we got tents outside with heaters outside. You know, we just got four inches of snow the other day, but they’re still outside.Jeremy Baker — So the commitment from our servant leaders is there. The commitment from our staff is there, just to make people seen and feel loved. So as they’re walking into the property, if they’re a first time guest, our team has been trained how to identify a first time people, even with the amount of people that are coming. And they’ll walk up to them and just say, so glad you’re here.Jeremy Baker — Is this your first time? No, I’ve been here for about a month. OK, do you need anything? How can I serve you? How can we help you? Do you know how to check your kids in? Or, hey, can i can I walk you to your seat? I mean, we literally have a team over 100 plus people that are helping people walk into a building… Rich Birch — Wow.Jeremy Baker — …get a free get a get a cup of coffee, find them to their seat, make them feel loved. If they’re new, hey, let me take you on an experience tour is what we call it, an experience tour. You’re walking into a brand new building. You’ve never been into the building before. You know, lot of churches, it’s all love, but might not have the right signage of communication of where restrooms are, kids check-in nurseries, nursing mother’s room, you know, special needs, whatever. So we have these people that go and walk these people through this building. And, you know, we don’t have a large building. We’re we’re adding on to our building, but we’re about 28,000 square feet.Rich Birch — Okay.Jeremy Baker — And so even in that size, you know, you can get lost in a building that size… Rich Birch — Right, right. Jeremy Baker — …you you know, especially where there’s hallways and doorways you don’t know. And so we’re having people walk through. And then people walk up all the way to their seat.Rich Birch — Wow.Jeremy Baker — And then when they’re in their seat, we got people that are on the host team, which we’d call modern day ushers. We call them host team members. They just walking up to them. Hey, good to see you. How you doing? Good morning before service starts.Rich Birch — I love that. Yes.Jeremy Baker — So we’re creating this we’re creating this interaction culture. Now, if you’re introverted, I’ll be honest with you, it’s going to be hard. It’s going to be hard, man.Rich Birch — Yes.Jeremy Baker — It’s going to be hard. If you’re more introverted in your personality and your style, you’re going to feel overloaded at a level, you know what I’m saying?Rich Birch — Yes.Jeremy Baker — So so that that’s some of the feedback we get.Jeremy Baker — Like, hey, I love the church… Rich Birch — It’s a little much. Jeremy Baker — …but I got 18 people talking to me, man, before I even find a seat. And it’s like, I get it, I get it, I get it. But, you know, we just want you to feel seen and feel loved. So that’s part of what we do.Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s very cool. I love that.Jeremy Baker — Yeah.Rich Birch — Super practical. That’s cool. And then I like this idea of talking to people where they’re at. I think that can be a concern we run into or a it’s like we’re not even aware that in our our churches we’re we’re we’re using language or or we’re assuming everyone’s at a certain place. What does that look like for you at Elevate Life? How are you helping? Because that’s a lot of people in a short period of time to both get to know and then also try to communicate in a way that actually connects with where they’re at. Talk us through what do you mean by that when you say we’re trying to talk to people where they’re at in their spiritual journey?Jeremy Baker — Yeah, so if it so if you’re new, let me just give you context. This year alone, in 2025, we’ve had 3,919 first-time guests walk through our doors. Rich Birch — That’s great.Jeremy Baker — This year alone. Rich Birch — Yep. Jeremy Baker — So for us, we know as a new plant, as a new church, we’re going to have to really walk people through this spiritual journey. Some of these people maybe have some form of God, maybe they have been walking with God. Maybe they’ve been out of church since, you know, let’s just talk about pre, know, after or during COVID. Maybe they haven’t been back to God’s house because that’s really real in the Northeast. Rich Birch — Yeah.Jeremy Baker — I mean, some people are just now coming back to church in the Northeast that have not been in church for the last four years. You know, it’s like, oh yeah, I’ve been out of church for about three and a half years and I’m just now getting back into the rhythm of getting back in my faith.Jeremy Baker — So there’s so much I can talk about that. Like how how do we make our services flow? Like I always introduce introduce myself, hey, my name is Jeremy, and I have the privilege to pastor this church, and I just want to say welcome. If if this is your, you know, 52nd welcome this year or if this is your first welcome, I just want to say welcome. Rich Birch — Yes.Jeremy Baker — Because i want I want them to know that we’re real, that we’re authentic, and we want to help them on their spiritual journey. Rich Birch — It’s good.Jeremy Baker — So we offer stuff like, you know, first-time, you know, decision, if you made a first time decision, let’s go, let’s go into, you know, who is Jesus? You know, what does Jesus, you know, want to do in your life? So there’s, there’s, there’s classes, there’s paths that we offer there. Jeremy Baker — Grow track, you know, we have grow track that we offer every month. Hey, hey, won’t we want to teach you a little bit more about faith, who Elevate Life is, what, what our mission is, what our vision is, what, what the values of our church is. And so we walk them through that.Jeremy Baker — And then, and then what we have is we have life groups. And these life groups are from all different walks. Deep dive of Revelation, deep studies of the Old Testament. Or, hey, we’re just going to go through the book of John. We’re just going to start in John 1 and learn what Jesus, you know, who Jesus is. And we’re to start there. Or if you’re more intellectual, we’re going to go a little bit deeper. You know, so we we we we we have these these life groups, we call them, because we’re Elevate Life. So we call them life groups. We want we want these groups to bring life to people.Jeremy Baker — And and so ah so we just we we have people, we encourage them to sign up, to get involved. That’s our conversations always in the hallways. Hey, are you are you serving on a team? Are you in a life group? Here’s here’s why. The goal for me is not just gathering large crowds. The goal for me as as a shepherd, I would just say as ah as as the lead pastor now in this season of my life, is is to help people develop spiritually… Rich Birch — Yeah, so good. Yeah, definitely. Jeremy Baker — …to help people find their personal walk with God, not just come and hear a good word. You know, motivating, it’s inspiring, it’s it’s helpful. Yes, it’s practical. I’ve got handles I can live my life by throughout the week. But my my heart is, don’t just take a Sunday and give it to God, but give God every day of your life. Rich Birch — So good.Jeremy Baker — You know, sometimes we just turn the surrender switch on on Sunday, not realizing the surrender switch needs to be on every day of the week.Rich Birch — Amen. So true.Jeremy Baker — So I’ve got to turn that surrender switch on every day. And just like you a natural thought when you turn the light switch on when you’re in the room, you turn it off when you leave the room. Well, a lot of people look at church that way. I’m going to turn my surrender switch on today. It’s Sunday. I’m going to go to God’s house. And then on when they leave Sunday, they leave away the property. They pull away. The surrender switch turns off. And I think that’s where the consumer mindset, especially in the Western part of the country… Rich Birch — Sure. Jeremy Baker — …you know, we have gotten, you know, we’re, we’re inundated with consumerism. Rich Birch — Yes.Jeremy Baker — And so, and so how, do how do we help people really become disciples of of Christ? So the second part of our mission statement is making disciples that follow Jesus. So the goal is making heaven more crowded, but making disciples that follow Jesus.Rich Birch — So good. That’s great. Let’s talk about a bit like up the funnel a little bit, like at the top end, where, how are people learning about Elevate Life? You talked about when you launched, you did a bunch of marketing stuff. Has that continued to happen? Is this just like, you’re really good at Facebook ads? Help me understand. What does that look like? How, why is the church growing?Jeremy Baker — Yeah, great question. I personally, I will never do an ad in a mailbox again. That was $25,000 that I think one person showed up, and then we had a bunch of them ripped up and mailed back to us and told us to never mail them and again. It’s the funniest story.Rich Birch — Wow. Yes.Jeremy Baker — Yeah, so it’s it’s all good. It’s it’s it’s this is not the South. I’m a Texas guy, and I’m living in the New England region, and it’s it’s night and day, you know.Rich Birch — Yes. Yes.Jeremy Baker — So what we have done really well at, I believe, causes some of the growth to happen is two things, is every week we’re encouraging people to invite somebody. That is a part of our culture. Invite culture. Who you bringing? Who do you know that’s far from God that needs the Lord right now? Who do you know that’s far from Him that you know that that you could bring?Jeremy Baker — So then the second thing is we’re doing really good social media ads. We’re spending about $1,500 a month on social media ads. And our team has done a phenomenal job. And all my team is 19, 20, 21, and 22-year-old young men and women that are running all of my social media.Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s great.Jeremy Baker — I’m 50. I want to act like I’m current. But I’m not. You know, there’s things I don’t, I’m not adverse in. There’s things that are constantly changing with technology.Rich Birch — Sure. Yeah, sure.Jeremy Baker — And and and I just got to trust this younger generation.Rich Birch — Yep.Jeremy Baker — And they have done a phenomenal job.Rich Birch — Yeah.Jeremy Baker — That’s been one of our huge success for us to put us on the map in this region, to put us, make us aware.Rich Birch — Let’s pull it, but pull apart both of those. When you say you’re encouraging people every week, so you’re like ringing the bell that I want to hear churches to hear more of. You’re inviting people every week to invite their friends. Give us a sense. What does that look like? How are you doing that every single week? What’s that look like?Jeremy Baker — Yeah, so part of that is in our services. It’s in language. Rich Birch — Yep. Jeremy Baker — You know, we always say, you know thank you for being here this morning. We pray that you have brought somebody with you. And then at the end of our service, we’re saying, hey, don’t forget to invite somebody back next week. So we’re always saying that in our language. So it’s become part of our our culture. It’s become part of of who we are as a church. We are a bringer church. We are an inviting church. We are a reach the lost church. We are the great commission. Because the goal for us is not just giving information, but we’re hoping that the people will receive the information that causes some type of revelation in their own spirit that leads them to the Great Commission. Rich Birch — That’s good.Jeremy Baker — Because we want them to be a part of what Jesus said. He you know he said in in Matthew 10, he goes, the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. You know. Pray to the Lord of the harvest that he would send more laborers. So we are we are Ephesians 4, equipping the church to do the work of the ministry. We are we have to encourage people to build the local community of the church, the local house of God. And so that’s part of our language in our hallways. We have really practical things. We have invite card stands everywhere. Invite card stands everywhere. So simple. We have QR codes. You can scan. You can download all kinds of invite information. Rich Birch — Yeah.Jeremy Baker — You can invite our service times. So really practical steps like that have really helped us. And then in our life groups, it’s in it’s being said. In our midweek services, it’s being said. We do eight services a week. So that’s what we’re doing right now, eight services a week. And and and so in every service, it’s just been indoctrinated. Rich Birch — Yes.Jeremy Baker — It’s been just repetition, you know, over and over and over. Rich Birch — Yep. Jeremy Baker — And then And I think that’s a big part of why God’s allowed us to… Honestly, I don’t know church any other way. Rich Birch — Right. Sure.Jeremy Baker — I personally don’t know church any other way. I’m not the sharpest knife in the drawer.Rich Birch — I don’t know about that.Jeremy Baker — I’m just I know I’m just appreciate the love. I mean I I’m a guy who barely graduated from seminary. I barely graduated, you know. I was like everybody looked at me, all the professors, like, oh, man. I hope you make it. You know, it’s like, it’s like one of those guys, it’s like, I just, I just love people well. And I want people to know Jesus. I mean, Jesus changed my life. I mean, he changed my life. He, he did something in me that no one ever has ever done or no one could ever do. And my life is I’m indebted to him.Jeremy Baker — I’m I’m living my whole life for him. That’s why 30 years of working through whatever I’ve got to work through in ministry and working through stuff as a as a young man, now as an older man. I’ve just stayed the course, stayed faithful. Not perfect, but stayed faithful, step moving forward every season of my life. And so I just love people well, and I think people hear the heart of that through our pastoral team, through our elders. Rich Birch — Sure. Jeremy Baker — They hear the heart of loving people well, that we want people to find Christ. So that’s the language I think helped us in this last season, you know, really in this last season, really grow. A year ago, a year ago, this time, we only ran, not not only, it’s great, but we were around about 900 people a year ago.Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s crazy.Jeremy Baker — And then it’s last year, we’ve exploded.Rich Birch — Yep.Jeremy Baker — We’ve doubled our church.Rich Birch — Yeah.Jeremy Baker — I mean, we’ve doubled. I mean, we we we have no more parking. I mean, we we we have 345 parking spots. And then two out of the five weekend experiences, because we do other services throughout the week, two out of the five weekend experiences, we have to turn people away, which just breaks my heart as a pastor because it’s like…Rich Birch — Right. Yeah. Yes.Jeremy Baker — …we can’t build fast enough. We’re looking for bigger venues. Again, I could go on that, but we want to make more room. We want people to find hope. It was never about being big. I told a pastor locally, I said, and he was he was coming here to, you know, just to encourage us to keep going, which was very kind of him. But I said, pastor, it was never about being big. It’s always been about reaching the lost.Rich Birch — Yeah, it’s great.Jeremy Baker — It’s always been about reaching the lost.Rich Birch — Yeah.Jeremy Baker — So I don’t know if that makes any sense.Rich Birch — It does. It does. There’s a lot there that you, that I, you know, I, I, I didn’t want to interrupt because there’s so much packed in there that I think was so helpful for people. And, you know, that singular focus on, Hey, we’re trying to reach people. I want to come back to that in um in a minute. I want you to kind of speak to, leaders on that. Rich Birch — But I want to underline one of the, it’s a simple thing that um we miss in too many churches. And I’ve done a bunch of study on invite culture and you’re doing classically, you’re doing the best behavior classically. You’ve got to keep invite in front of people. We can’t, you can’t let up the gas pedal on that one. You’ve got to keep that in front of people, make it super practical, give them tools, all that like invite card stuff, all of that super important.Rich Birch — Years ago, I was talking to a lead pastor of a church that was growing very rapidly. And this wasn’t on a podcast. We were talking sidebar and I was like, Hey, asked a very similar question. What’s God using? And he’s like, Oh, it’s a little embarrassing. I don’t want to say it. And I’m like, no, no, tell me, what do you think he’s using? And he said, well, every weekend for this last year, We put invite cards on every single chair in every auditorium for the entire year. And we told people, take those and invite people. And he’s like, I really think that that is like just the intensity…Jeremy Baker — That’s it.Rich Birch — …of we’re keeping it in front of people. We can’t let up. So I want to I want to encourage you and that and listeners. Jeremy Baker — Thank you. Rich Birch — Hey, friends, that is that is a key part of this. Talk to us about the the focus on reaching the lost or reaching people who are far from God or unchurched people. Talk talk us through that. Rich Birch — Because what what’s happening at your church, I know we’ve kind of we’ve referenced this a few times, is super unique in in, you know, New England. What would be some of the challenges that you’re facing to keeping that singular focus of reaching unchurched people, people far from God? What’s been the challenge there and how are you having to adjust and kind of keep your culture focused on that as you continue to grow?Jeremy Baker — Such a great question. I mean, such a great question. I would, man, you’re such a great question asker, if I could say it that way.Rich Birch — Oh, that’s nice. Thank you.Jeremy Baker — Yeah I mean, a great question.Rich Birch — Sure.Jeremy Baker — I would think for me, for me, I got into ministry so that people’s lives could be changed by the good news. There’s no other way there’s no other reason why I’m in ministry. I’m here because I want people’s lives to be changed the way my life has been changed. So the the thing I’m always projecting from the the the the platform that I get to walk in, the the place that I get to stand, is it’s got to be about people. That’s why Christ came. He came and he and he died on a cross so that people would find eternal life, so that people would find hope.Jeremy Baker — And so we’re always pushing that agenda from the front. And, you know, whatever said from the platform stage, whatever you want to, however you want to articulate it, is is is is being pushed for a reason, I believe. So we’re constantly pushing this from the stage. We’ve got to reach people. People are dying and going to hell every day. And this is where I think the church sometimes trips. We got enough people now. So now let’s get let’s let’s stop making it about people and let’s start making it about preferences. Rich Birch — Come on.Jeremy Baker — And I think that’s the danger that’s the danger where guys like me can, you know, I was just having an elder meeting a few days ago, and I andI was telling our elders, because now we’ve got to implement some other pathways of discipleship, some other handles to help people grow and mature faster. And I said, you can’t push maturity. Maturity takes time.Jeremy Baker — If we’re not careful, we’ll we’ll lose the vision of what got us here. And then what happens is we’ll become inward focus rather than outward focus. said, I’ve seen it, guys. And I was talking to my elders. and I was just opening up my heart to them. I said, I’ve seen us do this. I’ve been a part of big churches where now it’s about the building. It’s about the butts.Rich Birch — So true.Jeremy Baker — It’s about the budgets. It’s about, you know, I’ve seen that. And I’m like, let us never lose the very thing that God’s allowed us to be a part of in in this season. Rich Birch — Yep, so true.Jeremy Baker — I never woke up one day and said, hey, let’s go and have one the fastest growing churches in America in the New England region. I woke up one day said, God, I’m comfortable. And I don’t want to be comfortable anymore. Rich Birch — So good. Jeremy Baker — I want you to use my life for the rest of my life until I see you to bring an impact in this region, whatever region that you send me. He sent us to the Northeast. Rich Birch — Yep.Jeremy Baker — He sent us back home to where my wife was from. And so that’s our prayer. And I want to keep the main thing the main thing. I don’t want to drift because there is a difference between, there is a difference between preferences and then and then purpose, you know. The purpose of Elevate is to make heaven more crowded. The purpose of Elevate is to make disciples that follow Jesus. The purpose is to reach our community, to make an impact. But but if you’re not careful, you’ll you’ll get you’ll get satisfied with the people. You’ll settle. You’ll get complacent. We got enough people now.Jeremy Baker — But what if but what if God really wants to change? What if God, this is my question I’ve been wrestling with, and maybe maybe you have answers for me, but I’ve been wrestling with this question in my own spirit. Like, is it possible that one church could really change a community? Is it possible that one church could, God could use a church, a group of people. Not not I’m not talking I’m not talking about domination. I’m talking about just a group of people that are passionate about making heaven more crowded, that God could use a group of people that would change the facet of a community. Rich Birch — So good.Jeremy Baker — You know? That would that that that’s the that’s the thing I’ve been wrestling with. Can God use Elevate Life in this region? What if God wants to use us to help Yale? What if God wants us to use us to, you know, to to to get on college campuses and see a revival, you know, at Yale University?Rich Birch — So good.Jeremy Baker — You know, and I mean, that’s an Ivy League school. Rich Birch — Yes.Jeremy Baker — I mean, people from all over the world go to that school. And we haven’t even, I feel like, scratched the surface. So that’s part of my my always, I got to keep the main thing the main thing. It’s got to be about people. So one of our values is, people is our pursuit. That’s what we’re, we’re pursuing people.Rich Birch — That’s so good.Jeremy Baker — And not programs, not not preferences. I got preferences. I mean, I’m sure we all got preferences. Rich Birch — Yes.Jeremy Baker — But I’m putting down my preference so that I can carry the purpose of the good news. I hope that makes sense.Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s so good. Makes total sense. And yeah, super encouraging. And yeah, I think I think God’s placed your church in a, you know, every community across the country is an important place. There’s people all over the world that need Jesus, obviously, but I i don’t think you’re, I think it doesn’t, it’s not surprising to me that the Northeast is a place that is, some call it a spiritually dead or spiritually dry part of the country, while at the same time, it is of global significance in a lot of different ways. Like the the communities that you’re serving are are different than other parts of the kind country from an influence point of view. You place like Yale, it’s not just another university.Jeremy Baker — Yeah.Rich Birch — You know. And so I think God’s placed you there for a real specific reason, which I think is you know, super encouraging. Well, this has been a a great conversation, Jeremy. I just want to encourage you, thankful that you would come on today and help us kind of peek behind the curtain a little bit. As we land today’s episode, any kind of final words you give to church leaders that are listening in to today’s conversation?Jeremy Baker — You know, the only thing I would encourage church leaders is my my my thing I always tell pastors and and people that I am connected with always is just make it about people. Make it about people. And I’ll say it this way. It’s not problems to be solved. It’s people to be pastored. It’s not problems to be solved. It’s people to be pastored. Sometimes pastors, and I get it because I’m talking to myself, sometimes we make people the problem, and the people are not the problem. The people are the purpose of why we do the pastoring. That’s why we do what we do. That’s why we do shepherding. Jeremy Baker — So, you know, when you’re dealing with when you’re dealing with people, it’s messy. It can be hurtful. There’s there’s different things that come with that, and we could list a thousand things in that. But I would just say, just love people well to the best of your ability. Give them grace. Give them mercy. Jeremy Baker — If they leave your church and they go somewhere else, just let them know the key under the mat. We’re on the same team. We’re part of the same family. We’re all going to go to heaven to we know one day. It’s not about who’s got the bigger church or who’s better? Who’s got the better kids program or who’s got ah the more youth? It’s not about any of that. It’s about just trusting God with what he’s given us stewardship over and in stewarding that really well and just loving the people that God brings.Rich Birch — Yeah, so good. Pastor Jeremy, appreciate you being on today.Jeremy Baker — Thank you.Rich Birch — If people want to track with you or with the church, where do we want to send them online to connect with you guys and kind of follow your story a little bit? I would encourage people to follow your Instagram. So where can we find that and your website and all that? Jeremy Baker — Yeah, so our website is elevatelifect.com, elevatelifect.com, and that would be the same for our Instagram. And so thank you so much for having me. ‘m very grateful, and thank you for your time.Rich Birch — Thanks so much. Take care.
The guys are back with Part 2 of their Super Bowl preview as the Patriots get set for their showdown with the Seahawks. They break down the keys to the game, the most important on-field matchups, and what New England needs to do to come out on top. Then, the guys give out their annual Super Bowl prop bets, final score predictions, and bold takes. The crew also reacts to Robert Kraft getting snubbed by the NFL Hall of Fame, dives into the latest Celtics trade and and all-time embarrassing night at MSG for a boxer who got hit so hard his toupee fell off mid-fight.
[@ 6 min] Alright, this week…we handicap the Big Game between New England and Seattle, the best way we know how: OPERA COMPANY cage match! Benjamin Sokol, a member of the Ryan Opera Center, joins us to fill in the considerable gaps in Weston's and Oliver's football knowledge... [@ 18 min] Then, Denyce Graves takes a Free Throw on portraying opera's strongest and most powerful women while being a vulnerable human being with a tender heart... [@ 31 min] Plus, in the ‘Two Minute Drill'…Roberto Alagna seems to have lost more than his wives, and the Kennedy Center is just…losing. GET YOUR VOICE HEARD Stream new episodes every Saturday at 10 AM CT on amplisoundsradio.com operaboxscore.com facebook.com/obschi1 operaboxscore.bsky.social
Malcom Butler reveals who he is rooting for in the big game // Patriots insider Tom E. Curran on why Pats-Seahawks will be high-scoring // Has Tom Brady responded to criticism from ex-teammate Asante Samuel? //
JJ and Kitchen are live from Radio Row in San Francisco, talking NFL news, previewing Super Bowl LX from New England’s point of view, and chatting with a very special guest. Make sure to check out LateRound.com to subscribe to the free newsletter. Want to get dynasty rankings while accessing the amazing Late-Round community on Discord? Become a Late-Round member today.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Tune in to the second edition of Patriots Unfiltered direct from Radio Row as the Patriots prepare for Super Bowl LX. We preview the matchup, and discuss ways New England could expose the Seahawks on both sides of the ball. We talk team news and updates on mentality, injuries and more from Head Coach and player press conferences. Plus, special guests Mina Kimes from ESPN, veteran reporter Howard Balzer and Dr. Chao - the Pro Football Doc joins the show!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
(0:00) Felger, Mazz, and Murray are on Radio Row and open the second hour discussing Drake Maye and what he had to say about his injured shoulder. Plus, more callers. (12:03) More callers on all that has been discussed on today's show. (19:21) Former Patriots QB Joe Milton joins the show on Radio Row and talks about his time in New England last season. (32:53) Will the Patriots ability to create big plays be important on Sunday against the Seahawks? Plus, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network joins the show. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
On today' Daily Puck Drop, Jason “Puck” Puckett and the Go-2-Guy Jim Moore are joined by PGA golfer Joel Dahmen, by phone to talk about his love for the Seahawks and he thinks they'll hammer the Patriots. They also chat about Joel's play at the Famers Insurance Open, his exemption to the Waste Management, straddle putting on the tour, why he wants to replace Jim on the DPD, and his Super Bowl party plans. “In the Bloody Trenches” with Rob Staton from SeahawksDraftBlog.com break down the Seahawks and Patriots and continue to come to the same conclusion, the Seahawks are going to win this game because they are simply just better than New England. Rob expects Seattle's defense to create problems for Drake Maye and Puck thinks the Patriots run defense is a tad overrated. Rob will be in attendance for the game, his first ever Super Bowl! “On this Day….” Pete Rose banned and one of the great NFL defenders celebrates a birthday! Puck wraps up with, “Hey, What the Puck!?” The Colfax community bands together for a special coach (1:00) Puck and Jim are joined by PGA golfer Joel Dahmen (36:57) Rob Staton, SeahawksDraftBlog.com (1:06:50) “On This Day…” (1:09:09) “Hey, What the Puck!
Bump and Stacy are joined by former Seahawks and Patriots tight end Christian Fauria live at Radio Row to give us his insight and memories from playing in New England and Seattle, they preview Super Bowl LX with ESPN Radio’s Clinton Yates, they break down when they realized this Seahawks team was special, and they give you their thoughts on the NFLPA’s disinterest for 18th regular season game and Michael Penix’s future in Headlines Rewrites.
Tom Brady says he doesn't have a dog in the fight between the Patriots and Seahawks and there may be resentment from the GOAT for how New England turned things around so fast without him.
A Newton woman was arrested for impersonating a plastic surgeon and Quentin the Quahog in Nantucket contradicts Punxsutawney Phil in tonight's New England Nightly News.
Former Patriots wide receivers Kendrick Bourne and Tyquan Thornton join the show from Radio Row, with Bourne sharing his favorite stories about Drake Maye and Mike Vrabel, insights into the Seahawks' defense and a game pick. Later, Tyquan Thornton discusses his struggles in New England, playing with Patrick Mahomes and how he sees the Super Bowl unfolding. 0:00 - Welcome on Kendrick Bourne 0:33 - True or False with Kendrick Bourne 1:30 - Conversations with your former teammates 2:07 - Kendrick Bourne on Mike Vrabel 3:40 - Kendrick Bourne on Drake Maye 5:10 - Bills OT Dion Dawkins crashes interview 5:51 - Kendrick Bourne shares trash talk story against the Seahawks this season 6:51 - How can Patriots offense get going against Seahawks 7:43 - Why Stefon Diggs & Kayshon Boutte could have big games 8:42 - What will Josh McDaniels do with this Patriots offense? 9:08 - Kendrick Bourne Super Bowl pick 9:37 - Prizepicks 10:45 - Welcome on Tyquan Thornton 11:10 - Guys you still stay in touch with on Patriots team 12:21 - On this past season with Chiefs 12:53 - Something you learned about Patrick Mahomes 14:10 - Looking back on his time with Patriots 17:00 - Looking back on Patriots Season last year with Jerrod Mayo 19:05 - Teammates thinking he's funniest player on team 20:01 - What WR is having big game on Sunday for Patriots? 20:55 - Tyquan Thornton Super Bowl pick 22:10 - Thanks for watching! Pats Interference on CLNS Media is Powered by: Prize Picks
Brad Stevens traded Anfernee Simons and brings in Nikola Vucevic in a trade that shores up the big man rotation in Boston while providing more cap flexibility! The Celtics beat the Mavs 110-100 in a game that showcases the 3 headed monster of JB, Pritchard and Garza lol. All 3 carried this team in stretches. There's a lot to cover here so make sure to tune into the full podcast!This podcast is brought to you by me, Guy DePlacido. I have been a Loan Officer servicing MA, NH and ME for the last 5 years so if you are looking to buy or refinance, reach out to me today at (978) 804-7756 or email me at guy.deplacido@ccm.com! Like the Boston Celtics, I know that you need a great team behind you to win so this year I am partnering with some of my favorites including Deb Burke, and Collin Tucker.If you're looking to buy or sell a home in the near future meet Deb Burke, your trusted realtor at Compass Real Estate, serving MA and NH. With a passion for finding dream homes, Deb is committed to making your real estate journey a breeze. Whether you're buying or selling, Deb's got your back. Reach out today at 978-930-4621 or email deb.burke@compass.com to start your next chapter. Let's turn your real estate dreams into reality!After getting preapproved with me and finding your home with Deb Burke, you'll want to make sure your home is protected and for that, there is nobody better than Collin Tucker at Berlin Insurance Group. Collin is a local agent but he is licensed in all of New England with over 20+ carriers for auto and home insurance guaranteeing the lowest quote possible. I have worked with Collin so many times not only for my clients insurance needs but mine as well. Reach out to Collin Tucker at Berlin Insurance Group at 508-459-1226 or Collin@berlininsurancegroup.comOne of my favorite things about the Celtics is how much they care and give back to the community and INspire Cafe is following that model too. Inspire Cafe is a Community Cafe in Wakefield on a mission to inspire change and creating a more inclusive world where individuals with diverse abilities are not just included but valued. If you're looking for, not only amazing food, but an opportunity to support a cafe that is inspiring change check out INspire Cafe in Wakefield today!
00:00 - 13:29 - Tony East from Forbes Sports joins the show! Tony gives a rundown on all the trade rumors surrounding the Pacers and Bennedict Mathurin, what guys they could be targeting before the deadline hits, and more! 13:30 - 26:33 - NBA reporter Evan Sidery joins the show! Evan and JMV debate what might happen with Bennedict Mathurin as the NBA trade deadline approaches, and what other moves we might see. 26:34 - 48:20 - Kevin Bowen from The Fan Morning Show joins! Kevin and JMV talk IU hoops after the Hoosiers fell to USC last night, the Pacers and the trade deadline, as well as the Super Bowl matchup between Seattle and New England.Support the show: https://1075thefan.com/the-ride-with-jmv/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
00:00 – 23:53 – JMV discusses some of the moves we’ve seen as the NBA trade deadline approaches. What did he think of IU’s loss to USC? 23:54 – 38:54 – Tony East from Forbes Sports joins the show! Tony gives a rundown on all the trade rumors surrounding the Pacers and Bennedict Mathurin, what guys they could be targeting before the deadline hits, and more! 38:55 – 42:15 - JMV wraps up the 1st hour of the show! 42:16 – 1:07:39 – Kevin Bowen from The Fan Morning Show joins! Kevin and JMV talk IU hoops after the Hoosiers fell to USC last night, the Pacers and the trade deadline, as well as the Super Bowl matchup between Seattle and New England. 1:07:40 – 1:20:44 – JMV reads some comments from listeners on the text line! 1:20:45 - 1:25:21 – The 2nd hour of the show ends with JMV discussing the 90’s and frosted tips! 1:25:22 – 1:51:10 – NBA reporter Evan Sidery joins the show! Evan and JMV debate what might happen with Bennedict Mathurin as the NBA trade deadline approaches, and what other moves we might see. JMV takes a call from a listener who wants to talk up a special event for those dealing with ALS. 1:51:11 – 2:00:07 – JMV reads some more comments from listeners of the show! 2:00:08 – 2:07:38 – JMV wraps up the 3rd hour! 2:07:39 – 2:16:28 – The show ends with some Anything Goes! Support the show: https://1075thefan.com/the-ride-with-jmv/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Hello, media consumers! It's Super Bowl media week, and Bryan is joined by Danny Heifetz and Danny Kelly of The Ringer Fantasy Football Show to discuss the biggest story lines heading into this Seahawks-Patriots Super Bowl. They start by talking about the Seattle-related story lines (14:24) and follow that up with the story lines from New England's side (32:42). They wrap up by discussing Mike Tirico and Cris Collinsworth's first Super Bowl together (40:27), Bad Bunny's halftime show (46:42), and advice for journalists in Santa Clara this week (51:40). Host: Bryan CurtisGuests: Danny Heifetz and Danny KellyProducers: Isaiah Blakely, Bruce Baldwin, and Sarah Reddy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Dak, CJ or Maye? Joe Burrow or Tom Brady glow up CJ Stroud ready for extension More time and patience for NFL QBs
People wanting spring are going to have to wait thanks to Punxsutawney Phil and skiers in New Hampshire have to be rescued after a ski lift gets stuck in the New England Nightly News.
Christian is joined by Andy Hart as Super Bowl week kicks off with Roger Goodell giving his State of the NFL press conference. What stands out with what the commissioner had to say? Also, first thoughts about the Seahawks and the early years of Sam Darnold no the Jets lingers for Patriots' fans even though he's had two great seasons. And, Drake Maye's shoulder will be fine for the Super Bowl, but his effectiveness might be hindered.