Real Talk

Family worship is one of the most neglected practices in the Christian home today. What is family worship, and how is it different from simply reading the Bible or praying before/after a meal? In this episode, pastor and author Dr. Brian Najapfour joins us to discuss the biblical foundation for family worship, why it matters, and why worshipping together as a family is a grateful response to all C...

Most men would say they would die for their wives and children. But will they live for them? In this episode, we're joined by author and theologian Dr. Joel Beeke to discuss what biblical headship actually looks like. In a culture where leadership is often misunderstood, avoided, or distorted, we explore God's calling for men to lead their families with humility, conviction, and Christ-like love....

What does true generosity actually look like? Have we reduced giving to percentages and leftovers, while missing the heart behind it all? In this episode, we’re joined by Rev. Henk Van der Woerd to discuss the biblical role of deacons, the ministry of mercy, and how generosity reflects the very character of God. From church leadership to stewardship and practical care, this conversation challenges...

What do we do with guilt? Is conviction something to fear—or could it actually be one of the ways God lovingly draws us back to Himself? In part two of this conversation with Pastor Matt King, we talk honestly about sin, confession, repentance, and the difference between shame and guilt. We unpack why guilt, when understood rightly, isn’t meant to crush us, but can be a gift of God’s kindness that...

Shame can be one of the most powerful forces shaping our lives and most of the time, we don’t even realize it. In this episode, we go back to Genesis 3 to see where shame begins, then unpack how it still works today, distorting our thoughts, and changing how we see God, ourselves  and others. But shame doesn’t get the final word. Joined again by fan favorite, Pastor Matt King We talk about how Jes...

Mission drift is real and whether we realize it or not, it can happen to even the best of organizations and people. In this episode, we’re joined by Peter Greer, author of the book Mission Drift, to talk about how drift happens and how to avoid it. Even with the best intentions, it’s easy to lose focus over time—and often, you don’t realize it until you’re already off course. Through real examples...

We are all called to minister to others and the most meaningful ministry often happens quietly, in the small acts we often overlook. Joining us for this conversation is CRTS Professor and the author of The Ministry of Small Things, Dr. Reuben Bredenhof. We discuss the temptation to do big things, how we can cultivate a ministry of small things and the effects this kind of work has both on the one...

Everyone’s busy. Packed schedules, constant pressure, always something next. But the real question is—are you actually doing what matters? In this episode, we talk about what it means to redeem your productivity—not by cramming more into your day, but by stewarding your time with purpose. If you’re someone who prides yourself on being busy, this might challenge you. Joined by blogger and author of...

Backsliding: Are We Presuming on God’s Grace? Are we drifting in our faith without even realizing it? In this episode, Dr. Mark Jones joins us to tackle the quiet danger of backsliding—what it is, why it happens even in churchgoers, and how complacency can creep into our spiritual lives. From the subtle signs like pride, prayerlessness, and neglect of Scripture, to modern distractions and the love...

Can the reality of Hell actually be comforting and how should it inform the way we live and share the Gospel? In this part two in our series on eternity, Tyler and Dr. Will den Hollander discuss what hell is and how it displays the character of God. They also get into some quite emotional questions such as can God send a child to hell? How bad is it? And why doesn’t God just create the elect? This...

Is conflict always bad? And do Christians always have to forgive? In this episode of Real Talk, we take an honest look at conflict and forgiveness—two realities every Christian faces because every Christian is in relationships. We’re joined by Dr. Tim Lane, biblical counselor and author of Relationships, to explore what distinguishes godly conflict from ungodly conflict, what real forgiveness actu...

It is with both heavy and grateful hearts that we release this episode in loving memory of Rev. William den Hollander—a faithful pastor, preacher, and dear friend of Real Talk. Our guest for today, Dr. Will den Hollander, is Rev. den Hollander’s son. With his blessing, we chose to release this episode as originally scheduled. In God’s kind providence, this conversation on heaven arrives at a momen...

What does it mean to have godly ambition and to work hard with what God has given you? Joining us to answer these questions is the Director of Eagle Builders, Craig Haan. Joined by his brother-in-law Gerrit Sterk, the two share the story of their family business and how God has blessed them as they’ve sought to work for His glory and the good of the Kingdom. Listen in, not only to hear a fantastic...

As Christians can we really say we don’t like to read?! Joining us for this conversation all about reading, how to actually do it and how to do it well is our friend and Reformed Perspective’s editor, Jon Dykstra. We chat about why as Christians we have to be readers, best practices for choosing books, and how as parents we can cultivate a love for reading in our kids. If your New Year’s resolutio...

2025 was a big year for us. On top of building a new studio, we have worked hard to refine our purpose and identity to ensure that we are actually cultivating real talk that serves our community. In this episode we are joined by Mark and Jon, our friends from Reformed Perspective, to discuss the influence of someone who created no shortage of discussion: Charlie Kirk. We discuss his desire to know...

Joining us for this fun episode is Amy Gannett, the founder of the ministry and podcast, Tiny Theologians! This is a podcast that is playing on repeat in Tyler’s home and he wanted to bring Amy on to chat about the importance of teaching our children big truths about God and his Word. Tiny Theologians does just that by providing children ages 2-14 with resources that help them grow in their knowle...

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR NEW STUDIO SETUP ON YOUTUBE!   Joining us for this conversation on addiction is our friends from Agape Recovery, a new Christ-centered recovery program launching January 2026 here in Southern Ontario. Jake and Carling share bit about the organization and the Agape framework. We address the spiritual foundations of addiction and what it means to be in recovery and experienc...

Last week we celebrated 508 years of the Reformation but how much thought did we actually give it? Joining us for a discussion on the history of the Reformation is prolific author and historian Douglas Bond. We speak about the context that bred the need for Reformation, the impact it made and what it actually means to “always be reforming.” We hope this episodes encourages you in knowing all histo...

You may have heard of Classical Education but do you know what it actually is? To answer this question, we are joined by Doug Sikkema and Jesse Newton, our new friends from Oakhill Christian Academy. We discuss the model and goal of Classical Christian Education and whether this is something that the Reformed schools are missing. We also chat about Oakhill, its  s and why you should view Classical...

Dr. Van Dam is back for the third time to finish off our series on the offices of the Church! We discuss his book, The Elder and deal with some hot topics such as, should elders be elected for terms or a lifetime? Are home visits really all that effective and what about woman voting? To learn more, pick up a copy of The Elder here. Be sure to let us know what you think of this episode and if you f...

We are talking headship, submission and all things gender roles today. Joining us for this conversation is biblical counsellor, Andrea Kampen. We discuss what the Bible actually says about understanding the differences between men and women, how society can distort these differences, and why the Bible, rather than tradition, must be our foundation for this issue. Listen to find out who actually do...

Do you find yourself left with more questions than answers when you read the Old Testament? To help answer some of these tough Old Testament questions is CRTS Professor, Dr. Jannes Smith. Dr. Smith guides us through topics such as giants, justification, and challenging texts that can even seem offensive to modern readers. We even discuss whether the Church should be pro-Israel. This is an episode...

On August 1st, Veya Hope VanderBrugghen was taken home to her Heavenly Father. Joining us to tell Veya’s story is her mom, Krystal VanderBrugghen. Although recorded in July, Krystal and her husband, Jeremy, supported us in still releasing this episode as they seek to honour their daughter’s life by bringing to light the injustices they faced in her care. Their hope is to help other families in sim...

Do we prioritize the Psalms in worship, or do we prefer hymns? Does this mean anything when it comes to theological drift? Joining Lucas for this father-son conversation is Pastor Peter Holtvlüwer, the editor of the Christ Psalms, Our Psalms resources. We address some common objections to the primacy of Psalm singing and even delve into some of the decisions made at the last CanRef synod regarding...

Why is marriage so hard? If you're single, does marriage scare you? We are grateful to have our friend, Pastor Matt King, join us to discuss the real struggles in marriage, but also the real hope we find in God’s beautiful design, which points us to the glory and grace found in Christ. We hope this episode encourages you to see the goodness and beauty of marriage in whatever season you’re in.  Che...