MercyCast

Has God ever felt distant? In this episode of  The Mercy Cast , I sit down with my friend Jen Thompson, author of Return to Jesus , for a heartfelt conversation that cuts right to the core of what it means to feel distant from God—and how His invitation to return never goes away. We talk honestly about those times when life feels overwhelming, when prayer feels empty, and when functional saviors (...

Have you ever felt disillusioned? In this episode of  MercyCast , I had the privilege of sitting down with  Nick McDonald , the author of  The Light in Our Eyes: Rediscovering the Love, Beauty, and Freedom of Jesus in an Age of Disillusionment . Our conversation was a raw and honest exploration of  vulnerability ,  adversity , disillusionment, and rebuilding  faith . Nick opened up about his journ...

What happens when you begin to lose your voice? How do you regain it? In this powerful episode of the mercyCast, Vanessa Abraham, author of the new book, Speechless: How a Speech Therapist Lost Her Ability to Speak and Her Silent Struggle to Reclaim Her Voice and Life , shares her inspiring journey of healing and recovery, diving deep into themes of compassion, trauma, and reclaiming one's voi...

Surrender and connection often go together. In this episode of Mercycast, host Raleigh Sadler engages in a profound conversation with Brittany Higgs, founder of the Her Campaign, an organization dedicated to helping survivors of human trafficking. They explore the journey into anti-trafficking advocacy, the personal experiences that shaped their commitment, and the importance of connecting with vu...

How do we move forward when we are waiting? In this episode of Mercycast, host Raleigh Sadler and guest Rebecca George, author of You’re Not Too Late: Trusting God’s Timing in a Hurry Up World , delve into the theme of longing, exploring how unmet needs and desires shape our lives. They discuss the importance of waiting well, living fully in the present, and recognizing God's orchestration in...

How vital is empowerment? In this episode of Mercycast, host Raleigh Sadler speaks with Andrea and Haril Kazindra, co-founders of Musana, about their journey of taking legal guardianship of 80 children in Uganda. They discuss the importance of origin stories, the challenges faced in rescuing vulnerable children, and the need for empowerment over dependency in charitable efforts. The conversation h...

Have you ever experienced an answer to prayer? In this episode of Mercycast, host Raleigh Sadler engages with Richard Gamble, founder of the Eternal Wall of Answered Prayer UK. They explore the significance of prayer, personal testimonies of faith, and the importance of sharing stories of answered prayers. Richard shares his journey of faith, including his own experiences with chronic illness and...

How do we finally achieve boss-level authenticity and deep connection? In this episode of Mercycast, host Raleigh Sadler and guest Tom Bennardo explore the significance of authenticity and vulnerability in building meaningful relationships. They discuss the challenges of navigating these concepts in a world that often promotes curated versions of self. The conversation delves into the role of suff...

How do we break the relational patterns that have gotten us stuck? In this episode of Mercycast, host Raleigh Sadler engages with Justin and Trisha Davis, authors of One Choice Away from Change . They discuss the patterns we carry from our past into relationships, the importance of self-awareness in breaking cycles, and the journey of healing and forgiveness. The conversation emphasizes that recog...

What if you could enter any room or situation with complete confidence, knowing exactly what to say and how to act while still being fully true to yourself? In this episode of Mercycast, host Raleigh Sadler and guest Dr. Mike Bechtle, author of the new book How to Read a Room: Navigate Any Situation, Lead with Confidence, and Create an Impact at Work, explore the themes of compassion, individual t...

What does faith and leadership look like in a season of transition? In this episode of Mercycast, host Raleigh Sadler discusses the theme of transitions in life with Greg Elzinga, the president of Calvin University. They explore the challenges and opportunities that come with change, the importance of empowerment in education, and the role of faith in leadership. Greg shares his journey from the c...

Did you know that one in five adults in the U.S. never learned to read? In this episode of Mercycast, host Raleigh Sadler and guest Tony Kriz, co-founder of The Children's Literacy Project  and co-author of READ: How God's People Can Bring Justice Through Literacy, discuss the intersection of literacy and justice, highlighting how personal vulnerabilities can motivate individuals to make a...

In this episode of Mercycast, Raleigh engages in a profound conversation with Sean Nowotnik, exploring themes of compassion, grief, and the search for meaning in life. Shawn Nowotnik, an artist and author of the new book F Happiness: The Search for Meaning in the World Gone Mad Chasing Happiness, is a filmmaker and therapist living outside Chicago. He shares his journey through the devastating los...

What happens when your story overwhelms you? This is what happened to Richard. In this conversation, Raleigh Sadler and Richard Hsung, author of Spring Flower, explore the profound challenges of writing a memoir, particularly the emotional toll of reliving painful memories. Richard shares his journey of completing his mother's memoir, discussing the mental paralysis he faced, the role of thera...

Are leaders allowed to fail? In this episode of Mercycast, I talk with leadership consultant Bob Kaplan to explore the intersection of compassion, leadership, and personal growth. Bob Kaplan  is the author of the new book GRAPPLING: Leaders Striving To Improve , a series of short stories that bring executive coaching to life. The book is based on his decades of experience consulting CEOs, founders...

How do we stop and experience the peace we were meant to possess? In this episode of Mercycast, Terry A Smith, pastor of The Life Christian church for the last 33 years and author of "The Lord Give You Peace: A 28-day Journey to Thrive in God's Shalom," explores the profound concept of peace, mainly through the lens of 'shalom.' We discuss the importance of understanding shalom...

Without an atmosphere, we suffocate. Full stop. So, how can we create the right atmosphere around us to help us grow? In today’s conversation, we discuss the theme of transformation—how adversity can propel us toward personal growth and how embracing revelation is the first step toward unlocking our potential. Rick Dubose, the Assemblies of God Assistant Superintendent and author of the new book,...

Can pain and purpose co-exist? In this episode of Mercycast , I sit down with my friend, Hannah Hughes, to discuss the complexities of life, faith, and purpose—especially when life feels anything but perfect. We get real about the challenges of finding meaning amid pain and struggle and how, as followers of Christ, we need to embrace the messiness of life rather than run from it. We explore how vu...

What if you didn’t have to save the world? What if you could focus on what was in front of you? In this episode of Mercycast, I’m joined by Becky Murray, founder and CEO of One by One, as we dive into her incredible journey in the world of compassion and justice. Becky shares a pivotal moment from her time in Sierra Leone, where an encounter with a young girl ignited her passion for helping vulner...

What were you made for? Is selfishness anti-human? How can we understand our pain? In this milestone 100th episode of MercyCast, I’m joined by Chad Bird, my first guest, to answer these questions and for a deep dive into the central theme of the MercyCast: how adversity is not just something to endure, but a classroom in which we learn the invaluable lesson of compassion. Chad and I discuss how sh...

Sometimes, hip isn’t always healthy. In this episode of  Mercycast , I sit down with Pastor Danny Torres of Swerve Church in Bushwick, Brooklyn. Together, we dive into the complex reality of gentrification in this vibrant neighborhood, exploring its impacts on longtime residents and the ongoing shifts in the community's dynamics. Danny, a lifelong resident of Bushwick, shares his journey of gr...

Perfect is pretend. Take a moment and re-read that slowly. Welcome to another episode of MercyCast. This week, I’m sitting down with Dr. Mikayla Albertson to discuss the often-overlooked complexities of midlife. This conversation explores the challenges of aging, the journey of healing, and the importance of embracing vulnerability. Mikayla, who’s walked this road herself, shares invaluable insigh...

Happy New Year! Listen to this week's episode before you nail down your resolutions or buy that gym Membership . In this episode of Mercycast, my friend Matt Popovits, author of the new book Junk Drawer Jesus, and I discuss the challenges of New Year's resolutions, the clutter in our spiritual lives, and the dangers of viewing work and personal happiness as central to our identity. We expl...

It’s Christmas time! In this very short episode of MercyCast, I want to discuss holiday traditions. I explore a few Christmas traditions from around the world (some you have heard of and some you haven't). Every tradition exists in some way to bring people together and refocus them on what truly matters. With this in mind, what would happen if we decided to create new traditions that foster he...

Can't find community? Create it. This week's guest reminds us that the Apostle Paul belonged to the communities he created. We are taking a break from Christmas episodes this week. In this critical episode of Mercycast , my good friend Lewie Clark joins me as we dive into an often-overlooked topic: singles' unique and vital role in ministry and church leadership. In the church, there&#...