Just Talkin' About Jesus

Send me a text and let me know your thoughts! What if you could use NASA eclipse data and ancient Babylonian star charts to verify that God has been orchestrating human history for thousands of years? That’s exactly what this week’s guest, John Zachary, has spent half a century doing. A former aerospace engineer who worked on fighter pilot ejection systems, John discovered that the Bible contains...

Send me a text and let me know your thoughts! David Ebel was born dying — subject to a medical experiment at one day old, carrying 21 birth defects, and living in chronic pain from age 6. By 20, he had made five suicide attempts. Then he walked into a church because a girl was cute, found Jesus, and nothing was ever the same.  In this episode, David walks us through an extraordinary life shaped by...

Send me a text and let me know your thoughts! Jan, Marti, and Kyle celebrate the International Day of Laughter by exploring something you might not expect — humor in the Bible.  From Balaam arguing with his donkey (Numbers 22) to Jonah stomping around like a toddler (Jonah 4),  to the prayer group that wouldn't open the door for the very person they were praying for (Acts 12),  the Bible is f...

Send me a text and let me know your thoughts! Wendy and Derek's Website Derek Hatdnger has lived a lot of life — and God has used all of it.  From a difficult childhood marked by family upheaval and financial stress, to years of spiritual rebellion, to nursing a first wife through cancer and experiencing a life-altering encounter with God, Derek's testimony is raw, real, and full of grac...

Send me a text and let me know your thoughts! Shame wants to keep you silent. But God wants to use your story.  In this episode, Jan sits down with Jessica Deyoung, founder of the Made Whole Movement, to talk about one of the hardest topics we carry — shame. Jessica opens up about her own journey: cancer at age five, growing up in a difficult home, walking away from God in college, and the abortio...

Send me a text and let me know your thoughts! The Trouble with Jesus Easter isn't just a holiday — it's a story about getting up when grief has pinned you down.  In this episode, Jan and guest Constance Hastings walk through the resurrection accounts in John 20 and Matthew 28, exploring the raw human emotions of that first Sunday morning.  Why did Mary Magdalene not recognize Jesus at fi...

Send me a text and let me know your thoughts! To celebrate Episode 100, host Jan revisits one of her most meaningful conversations — a deep dive into Passover and its profound connection to Easter and the Christian faith. Joining her are Dr. Lon Wiksell and his son Ryan Wiksell, a father-son duo of ordained Christian ministers from very different faith traditions — Messianic Judaism and the Episco...

Send me a text and let me know your thoughts! In this rich and honest conversation on Just Talkin' About Jesus, host Jan sits down with friends Lynn Shortman and Luba Shalya to talk about something every believer wrestles with — courage. Together, these three women unpack what courage really looks like in the life of a Christian: not the absence of fear, but the willingness to act in faith an...

Send me a text and let me know your thoughts! Helping Hands International In this powerful episode of Just Talkin' About Jesus, host Jan Johnson sits down with Ashley Davis — a woman whose childhood was marked by domestic violence, abandonment, addiction, and trauma.  Ashley takes us on a raw and redemptive journey from growing up in chaos in Washington State, to finding faith through a godly...

Send me a text and let me know your thoughts! What does it feel like to truly encounter God's joy?  In this episode of Just Talking About Jesus, Jan Johnson, Marti Darcangelo, and Brenda Savanhu gather around a powerful quote from Methodist missionary E. Stanley Jones —  "When I met Christ, I felt that I had swallowed sunshine" —  and let it spark a rich, honest conversation about c...

Send me a text and let me know your thoughts! What happens when a child raised in severe abuse — physical, sexual, and spiritual manipulation — somehow hears a quiet voice saying you are meant for more?  Nekesha's story is one of the most remarkable testimonies of redemption you'll ever hear. Growing up with a father who twisted scripture to justify abuse, Nekesha found herself homeless,...

Send me a text and let me know your thoughts! "What if the hardest thing you're walking through isn't happening TO you—but FOR you? What if you were actually chosen for this season?" This isn't your typical "chosen" conversation—it's a paradigm shift about surrender, submission, and the sacred journey of trusting a faithful God even when nothing makes sense....

Send me a text and let me know your thoughts! What happens when the Christian life you imagined doesn't match the reality you're living?  When the prayers aren't answered the way you hoped?  When suffering becomes your daily companion? Paula Romang thought that if she just did all the things and checked all the boxes, God would deliver her version of the wonderful Christian life on...

Send me a text and let me know your thoughts! Amy Miles thought she knew her story: adopted as a premature baby with cerebral palsy by loving Christian parents. But when she decided to search for her birth mother after having her first child, she discovered a truth that would change everything—she had survived a failed abortion at 27-30 weeks gestation. In this powerful episode, Amy shares her jou...

Send me a text and let me know your thoughts! Michelle Fewell shares her remarkable testimony on Just Talkin' About Jesus, Episode 91.  From a childhood marked by kidnapping and displacement, through years of anger and rebellion against God, to a life-changing encounter in a small Bronx church—Michelle's story demonstrates God's faithful pursuit.  This conversation offers hope for p...

Send me a text and let me know your thoughts! Jan Johnson has started Let’s Talk About It! once a month where we have a few of us dissecting a topic. Today’s episode is one of those.  Do you ever get stuck in stinkin’ thinkin’? You know what I’m talking about.  Someone says something to you that sticks in your head… and not the good kind of something.  The next thing you know, you start to believe...

Send me a text and let me know your thoughts! Join us for an enlightening conversation with Dr. Angela Deulen, professor of psychology at California Baptist University, and Mary Nauha, certified neuro coach, as they explore the fascinating intersection of neuroscience and Christian faith.  Discover how your brain is designed to connect with God, the neurobiology of forgiveness, and why spiritual p...

Send me a text and let me know your thoughts! What happens when you come to the end of yourself and cry out to God one last time? In this powerful episode, Luba Shalya shares her remarkable journey from underground churches in Soviet Ukraine to a life-changing encounter with God in Portland, Oregon. Raised under religious control and later battling deep depression after divorce, Luba reached a bre...

Send me a text and let me know your thoughts! If you are new here, welcome! I’m Jan Johnson, your host. I’m glad you’re joining us and I hope that by the end of this show you feel encouraged and strengthened.   Today is December 30, 2025, and as it’s the end of the year and a beginning of a new year, I wanted to start doing one episode a month that is more of a round table discussion on a topic. S...

Send me a text and let me know your thoughts! In this episode of Just Talking About Jesus, host Jan Johnson meets with Kim Oswalt to hear her heartfelt testimony about discovering faith during her teenage years in Utah.  Despite her family's irregular church attendance, Kim's journey took off when a move prompted a deeper connection to God through a local church community.  Her story hig...

Send me a text and let me know your thoughts! In this episode of Just Talking About Jesus , author Teresa Abell Haynes shares her lifelong walk with the Lord—from childhood prayers on the school bus to the deep faith that carried her through life’s hardest seasons. Theresa reveals the fascinating research journey behind her novel The Queen’s Priest , a powerful story of integrity and courage inspi...

Send me a text and let me know your thoughts! In this podcast episode, Virginia Heslinga recounts a life-altering event from her childhood: a devastating house fire that led to loss and trauma.  Despite this, Virginia's journey is a testament to faith and resilience.  She reflects on an experience where an angelic presence aided her during the fire and explores how this shaped her belief in G...

Send me a text and let me know your thoughts! Terry Whalen about his transformative faith journey.  Growing up in the church, Terry initially believed he understood Christianity, but it was during his college years at Indiana University that his perspective shifted significantly.  After a profound encounter with a fellow student, a visit to a small bookstore, and a commitment to read the Bible, Te...

Send me a text and let me know your thoughts! In this podcast episode, David Scott joins host Jan to discuss his remarkable life journey, from his turbulent past in the restaurant industry to finding solace and redemption through faith.  David reflects on being raised by a nurturing family of strong women who instilled valuable perspectives.  Despite his past struggles with alcoholism and drug dea...

Send me a text and let me know your thoughts! Born in Harare, Zimbabwe, Brenda Savanhu’s journey has spanned continents and cultures.  She spent her early years between England and Zimbabwe, before moving to the United States at the age of 18.  From a young age, Brenda was an avid reader, finding comfort and inspiration in the pages of Nancy Drew mysteries and Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot.  Br...