MercyCast

Busyness and productivity are sometimes different. In this episode, Matt Perman, the author of What's Best Next and the founder of an organization by the same name , joins Raleigh to discuss how to find your purpose, navigate productivity paralysis, and why that is important. Episode Highlights: How to find your purpose. The relationship between flourishing and productivity. The theological an...

You are not perfect, and it’s okay. In this episode, Elyse Fitzpatrick joins Raleigh to talk about perfectionism and reminds us that it’s okay not to be okay. Elyse is a nationally sought-after speaker and author. Elyse and her husband, Phil, attend Grace Bible Church, a reformed congregation in Escondido, California. She has written many books, including the recently rereleased, Overcoming Fear,...

Whether you have been married or not, divorce has impacted you. In this episode, Jessica Thompson, the author of the new book, He Loved Them: Discovering Jesus' Heart for Seekers, Sinners, Doubters, and the Discouraged (and Other People Like Us) , joins Raleigh to talk about her journey in learning how to survive and thrive as she lives through a difficult time of transition. Episode Highlight...

Football is life until it's not. If you have been near a TV, phone, or computer recently, you have seen soccer (or, let's be honest, Football) in the headlines from Ted Lasso to Lionel Messi. In today's episode, Raleigh has a heartfelt conversation with retired soccer (Football) player and the Cool Down Conversations podcast host Paxton Ballard, who experienced the highs and lows of pu...

Before we start, let me deal with the elephant in the room. You probably noticed that we had featured the bonus podcast, More Mercy, for the past two episodes. I love stories and figure that if you like MercyCast, you do too. On More Mercy , we dive deeper into mercy, compassion, and kindness as we explore various topics that inspire, empower, and challenge our understanding of ourselves and each...

What does it mean to be light in dark places? In today's bonus episode, Rachelle Starr, founder of Scarlet Hope and author of Outrageous Obedience, returns and shares her story of how Scarlet Hope began. Rachelle shares her work with those often exploited in the commercial sex industry. In this episode, we discuss the following: The Origin of Scarlet Hope. The reality of sexual brokenness. Bei...

Community transformation begins with you. It's easy to see the need for change in our workplaces or communities, but we rarely know the part we play in it. There is a distinct possibility that we could be part of the problem. In 1987, Darryl had a conversation that disrupted how he saw the world. After the discussion, Darryl knew he would have to change how he approached life and ministry. Tod...

It’s hard to have perspective in the face of sudden change. You may get a problematic diagnosis from your doctor, lose your job, or your significant other may tell you that they don’t love you anymore. Regardless of the situation, you are reminded that it’s impossible to know what is waiting just around the corner. How do we go from living in fear to embracing the inevitable shifts in our lives? M...

What happens when you lose your desire to create? Jason was burned out. As a creative helping others to find their creativity, he could feel himself hitting a wall. He questioned whether he could keep doing the work. Have you ever lost your love for what you do? How do you regain your creative drive? In today's episode, I talk to Jason DeMeo, an entrepreneur and artist. Jason co-founded We Are...

We live in a world obsessed with its own conception of beauty. We see this reality depicted in movies, television, and our social media newsfeeds. Many of us strive to experience beauty without truly understanding its nature. Merriam-Webster defines beauty as “the quality or aggregate of qualities in a person or thing that pleasure the senses or pleasurably exalts the mind or Spirit.” Though this...

No matter your story, you have something to contribute. Joe Thorn is back for a bonus episode of More Mercy to talk about how he learned how to give back to the local church through his writing and podcasting. Look for more information next week on subscribing for weekly to bi-weekly bonus content. In 2011, I bought a copy of “Note to Self” by Joe Thorn. Little did I know that Joe would encourage...

Distraction offers us freedom from reality. But this ‘freedom’ is not always what it seems. Reeling from losing her first daughter during a complicated pregnancy, Katie shares the story in her book, I Choose Brave . Shortly after its release, she was tested in many of the same principles as her father’s heart failed. A brand new author, she had her first marketing call with her publishing team fro...

Your inner monologue is not always true, nor does it have your best interests in mind. How we speak to ourselves and what we believe about ourselves matters. Negative self-talk can have a profound impact on self-esteem and can create endless self-fulfilling prophecies. Joe spent his entire life believing that he was not good at anything. In his own eyes, he was a “bad” kid. The adults in his neigh...

Believe it or not, not everyone shares your political, social, or theological views. If you don’t believe me, check your social media accounts. Political and social divides seem commonplace these days. How do we navigate these divides in our churches? Jacob moved to New York to become the assistant rector of Cavalry St. George’s Episcopal church—a historic parish in the Union Square area of Manhat...

Sometimes a disruption can be an unlikely benefit. After leaving NYC, Blaire Brown had to live with her parents for an unforeseen amount of time while also building a business simultaneously. It was challenging because, being in her 30s, this was not the life she expected. She had no friends or social safety net in Maryland as she had previously in NYC, and life was uncertain. Today, Blaire joins...

When it comes to reality, you can accept or deny it, but you can't undo it.  I was on cloud 9. The release party of my book Vulnerable was over, and I felt that I had finally reached my goals. Life was going great. The following day,  I flew to promote my book. However, my life would change in a matter of moments. In this episode, Jessica Minhas joins me as we discuss how I found reality in a...

We are not bigger than our bodies.  Physical limitations can affect anyone at any age and can be caused by a wide range of factors, including injury, illness, genetics, and aging. Living with physical limitations can be physically and emotionally challenging, but it's essential to understand that you're not alone. Today,  Jessica Minhas, founder, CEO, and host of the I'll Go first podc...

Life is full of unexpected twists and turns that can challenge us in ways we never thought possible. Whether it's a global pandemic, a natural disaster, a personal loss, or any other difficult situation, tough times can leave us feeling overwhelmed, helpless, and unsure of how to move forward. But as difficult as these times may be, they also present an opportunity for growth, resilience, and...

Uncertainty is uncomfortable. Often, when our futures are in question, chaos and anxiety are the only sure things. Today I'm joined by Chef Brian Duffy. He's with the Duffified Experience Group and has been featured on the Food Network, Spike TV, and Paramount's hit show, "Bar Rescue." In this episode, we discuss the following: Finding peace (and Zack Efron) Caring for your com...

It's no secret that life is not always easy. How do we navigate the times when the darkness doesn't lift? Today, Chris Lim, author of The Heart of the Healer , drops by to talk about how to have faith when life falls apart. In this episode, We discuss the following: The next right thing Vocation as a way forward A humble faith Connect with Chris on LinkedIn and Twitter and find his book, T...

Are you exhausted? Do you need a break, but you see no end in sight? The art of slowing down can feel impossible when you feel like you must always be available and accessible. Sometimes compassion for others begins the moment you show mercy to yourself. Today, Rachelle Starr joins me for a conversation on stopping. Rachelle entered a strip club at age 23 to share Christ's love. Now, fifteen y...

Self-Worth can be defined as the sense of one's value. In other words, diminished self-worth can impact every aspect of our lives.  Today I'm joined by Dan van Voorhis, the host of the Christian History Almanac podcast. In this episode, we discuss the following: The impact of Self-worth on productivity Self-sabotage and the possibility of change Shouting for help Learning how to talk to yo...

Compassion fatigue has been called “the negative cost of caring.” In this episode, Allison Hale, the executive director of MERCY Workshop, joins me to talk about how we can recognize and respond to compassion fatigue. In our conversation, we cover: Accepting your compassion fatigue Recognizing your own care community Finding rhythms of resiliency. Join us for this conversation. You won't want...

In Today’s episode, my guest and I are talking about something that every one of us deals with daily to some extent: Anxiety. Krista McDunn, a licensed professional counselor, joins me to provide her thoughts and expertise. In our conversation, we cover: Anxiety is not always the villain, but sometimes anxiety is a gift The problem with “should.” The weight of expectation in anxiety Listening to t...

What happens when grief ambushes you? What does it mean to become ’stewards of our scars?’ What is the greatest enemy of mercy? How do we learn the art of compassion? No matter how hard you try, you can’t avoid grief and suffering. It’s inevitable. But there is hope. Today for the inaugural episode of the MercyCast, Raleigh Sadler is joined by Chad Bird. Chad is a speaker and author of several boo...