Beyond Existing - Beyond the Small Talk

We trace the Declaration of Independence as a real-life gamble where the signers expect prison, ruin, or the gallows if the Revolution fails. We tell the stories behind the famous names and the forgotten ones, and we ask what conviction looks like when you actually have something to lose.  • the silence and dread inside Independence Hall as delegates sign  • dark humor and steady nerves in the fac...

I sit down with my longtime friend Billy Thompson to trace how a single family moment turned into *Granny Bee’s ABCs* and why it took 19 years to bring it to print. Along the way, we talk about grief, health setbacks, sharecropping roots, and the mindset Billy uses to keep moving with joy and purpose.  • the origin story behind the name Granny Bee and the decision to honor Billy’s mom through a ch...

Glory extends far beyond the halos we see in medieval paintings of saints. After being repeatedly drawn to John 17, where "glory" appears eight times in Jesus's prayer for his disciples and future believers, I discovered deeper meanings that transform our understanding of God's presence. • Exploration of what "glory" truly means beyond simple visual representations •...

We talk with Shamirah about becoming Messianic, surviving PTSD, and how that journey led her into mission work connected to trafficking survivors in Turkey and later, the Middle East. We share what she saw, what changed in her trust and faith, and what ordinary people can watch for when something feels off.  • human trafficking statistics that frame the scale of the crisis  • what it means to be a...

We talk with Crystal about infertility, a miscarriage that changed her marriage, and the medical choices that followed. She shares how fertility meds led to a rare blood clot in her eye, how faith carried her through losing vision, and why she still believes she is worthy without biological children.  • meeting, marrying, and waiting a few years to start a family  • getting pregnant quickly then l...

Trading a Charlotte business for a quiet patch of land wasn’t about escaping the city; it was about building health from the ground up. We sit down with Melissa of True Cut Ranch to trace a clear path from raised beds on a two‑thirds acre lot to a regenerative farm where soil leads, animals thrive, and medicine gets gentler. The surprises are practical: chickens as fertilizer, daily moves to lower...

A daughter revisits the ten days that reshaped her family, from surgical hope and ICU turns to the quiet strength of community and faith. Small signs—a snowfall, a vision, a hawk—become anchors that steady grief through holidays and years. • kidney crisis, surgical plan, and early complications • ICU vigil, Christmas awakening, and rapid decline • dialysis strain, December 28 loss, and burial of h...

We trace Chucky’s fight with the COVID Delta variant—from a beach trip to the ICU, 22 days on a ventilator, and a hard reset in rehab—through fear, faith, and the everyday work of recovery. Sandra shares the caregiver’s view: tracking O2, pushing for transfer, and holding the line when things got dark; all while dealing with her own COVID illness. • early symptoms, falling oxygen, urgent ER decisi...

In the words of Sandy, God gets the glory, we share the story.  Listen as  Sandy shares her unfiltered journey from a 26-hour ER wait and a lymphoma diagnosis to months of failed chemo, hospice care, a second baptism, and a scan with no evidence of disease. The through line is time—how faith reshapes minutes, choices, and what we hold onto when nothing else stands still. • background in rural nurs...

Steve's journey from the depths of addiction to becoming a beacon of hope for others defies all expectations. After a decade-long battle with cocaine addiction that culminated in a near-fatal overdose in 2003, he found himself wrapped in a blanket on his floor for three days before being discovered by family members. Doctors grimly informed his loved ones that any longer would have meant plan...

What if you found yourself pregnant at 17 amidst a circle where alcohol blurred the lines of support and denial? This week, our guest shares her compelling story of teenage pregnancy, navigating complex family dynamics, and the emotional journey that unfolded with her partner at her side. It’s a heartfelt narrative of resilience, as she challenges societal stereotypes, manages the demands of early...

What happens when you're one of twelve siblings growing up in a rural community without modern conveniences? Christine, our guest, paints a vivid tapestry of her childhood, filled with challenges, heartache, and the warmth of a close-knit community, the Statesville Brickyard community. As she recounts her experiences, from the tragic losses of several siblings to the small joys of getting ele...

What if life's unexpected challenges were the stepping stones to a greater destiny? Meet Karen, a multi-business owner and devout Christian, who shares her remarkable journey of faith, resilience, and transformation. Growing up in a devout Christian environment, Karen learned to differentiate between her own thoughts and divine guidance, using scripture as her compass. She opens up about her...

I've heard Angela use this phrase so often that I had to include it in the title.  She is truly a woman after God's own heart.  I'm so fortunate to know her. In this episode, Angela describes for us starting over and what it was like to make the decision to move she and her daughter to a new community where they hardly knew anyone and the peace and joy she felt when she followed God...

What happens when the unimaginable becomes reality? Staci joins us to share her deeply personal journey of love, loss, and hope after the passing of her beloved daughter, Karlee. In recounting her story, Staci reveals the strength and faith that carried her and her husband, Tom, through the trials of a heartbreaking diagnosis. From a loving marriage to the challenging road of pregnancy, Staci open...

Brittany is an amazing woman of faith.  She shares her love and passion of Jesus and how it was only through Christ and with the help of her family that she was not only able to survive her late husband's suicide but also be there for her children. Send us Fan Mail

Chris, Cole's father shares the experiences that he and his wife, Connie have gone through over the years of raising a child with disabilities, who is now about to graduate high school.  I asked Cole recently if he was excited about graduating soon and he gave an emphatic yes, followed by how much he was going to miss football.  For years Cole has been the football team's manager from mi...

How do you cope with losing someone who loved you more than life itself? Kevin is my first guest and we discuss losing our mothers and using faith to help us deal with their loss.  Our mothers were first cousins but they were more like sisters.  Who better to be my first guest, than Kevin.      Send us Fan Mail

Mr. Ray shares his message on the goodness of Jesus and what He has done for Mr. Ray and what Jesus can do for you.  Mr. Ray has lived most of his adult life sharing the love and good news of Christ to others.  Sadly, Mr. Ray passed away April 20, 2024.  I can't imagine the joy he felt the moment he joined his Savior.  This was something he looked forward to for so long.  I am grateful to hav...

A wise neighbor once told me that you will find that you become close friends with the parents of some of your children's friends.  In this case, that is so true.  Karin shares her experiences of how she handled the chaos of her mother's cancer and death, raising small babies, all while moving across the country.  Her faith and determination and humbleness are truly inspiring. Send us Fa...

I'm so glad you have found this podcast.  In this episode I explain what this podcast is about and the experiences that led me to creating this podcast. I pray that you will find this podcast useful.  Thank you for listening. Send us Fan Mail