Bigger Than Belief

For Kaycee Stanley, adoption isn’t just a cause—it’s a calling. What started as a dream to change the narrative around foster care grew into a nonprofit with a national reach - that has created hundreds of videos connecting waiting children with adoptive families across the country. On this episode, Kaycee opens up about the challenges of launching a faith-based organization, the resistance she fa...

It started as a college assignment and a simple dream - "put Jesus at the pulse of a generation". It has since grown into a global movement reaching millions of people across the planet.   On this week’s Bigger Than Belief Nick Hall shares the remarkable story behind Pulse Evangelism, why he believes Gen Z is leading a spiritual awakening, and what it looks like to bring hope into a culture marked...

Najeeba Syeed—peacebuilder, professor, author, and Executive Director of Interfaith at Augsburg University—has spent her life as a bridge-builder across religious, cultural, and political divides. Born in Kashmir and raised in Southern Indiana after immigrating to America at age three, Najeeba grew up learning that faith wasn't just about what you believe—it was about how you care for others. From...

A successful career in finance, a marriage, and a growing family. On the outside, Tom Truszinksi had it all together. On the inside, he was quietly falling apart. After years of addiction, arrests, and despair, he reached a breaking point. Convinced his family would be better off without him, Tom prepared to walk away from everything. Instead, a devastating motorcycle crash became the turning poin...

When Sheletta Brundidge arrived in Minnesota from Houston, Texas, she didn't know a single person. She wasn't planning to stay, and she certainly wasn't planning to build one of the Twin Cities' most recognizable media brands. On this episode of Bigger than Belief,  she shares the remarkable story of how a weekend visit turned into a career, a family, and a calling. From walking into a television...

For more than a century, Mt. Olivet Lutheran Church has worked to serve its community – South Minneapolis and beyond. ‘It’s kind of an ecosystem’, says Senior Pastor David Lose. The church has a number of affiliated ministries – but its latest venture could break boundaries. Lose and his team want to turn a shuttered church property, which once served as the original chapel, into a coffee shop and...

Lino Rulli’s Wikipedia page reads as almost if he’s trying to pull a prank on you. It’s fitting, given Rulli’s love and natural inclination towards comedy. A childhood spent in the circus? A chance encounter coaching a Caribbean soccer team? It’s all true – and then some. Rulli credit’s his life, and success, to his faith and belief in God’s plan. It’s what brought him to WCCO in the early 2000s,...

Jovonta Patton has done what many thought would be improbable - if not impossible. He's topped the Billboard gospel charts more than a half dozen times - and done it without the help of a record label. Born and raised in the Twin Cities, he's taken a lifelong passion for music and turned it into a career -  singing with legends like Beyonce and Stevie Wonder. In 2016, he was even honored with his...

A Twin Cities’ School District’s Plans to include spaces for prayer and washing of feet in new construction and building upgrades has drawn national attention and outrage. The district insists these updates come at the urging of “user groups” – and that prayer space comes as a multipurpose room – that can be used for any number of activities.   The news, however, has drawn the attention of America...

Layoffs, pinching pennies and the demand to do more with less – it’s what the business world can feel like in 2026. But one group is spurring business leaders to increase their generosity in the Twin Cities – by using faith as a common bond. Amplify Mission Network gathers hundreds of business leaders monthly to listen to the needs of non-profits – and brainstorm ways they can provide what’s missi...

Elk River native Nate Prosser spent more than a decade in the NHL playing for the Flyers, Blues and his hometown team, the Minnesota Wild. As his career progressed, one thing remained constant – his faith. On this week’s episode of Bigger Than Belief, Nate sits down with Adam to share how his faith came to be, his work to share with teammates, and the room hockey has to grow when it comes to putti...

As the war in Iran continues, members of the Baha’i faith say they’re living on high alert. Founded in 1844 in modern-day Iran, there are now more than 7 million Bahai’s globally – making it one of the newest and fastest growing religions. As the war intensifies, so does the situation for the 300,000+ Bahai’s still living in Iran. Faith leaders say they face persecution, imprisonment and unfair tr...

As the Artemis II mission continues to inspire millions, fueling a sense of awe and wonder of outer space, few understand the significance like Dr. AJ Poelarands.  For years, Poelarands spent years researching space in the Netherlands – after pursuing and completing a doctorate degree in Astrophysics. After work brought him to the United States, he began to ask “why” when it came to the universe –...

While it was football that brought Tanner Morgan to Minnesota, it’s faith that’s keeping him here. The former Gopher QB holds the school record for wins – but says his real dream for what’s next is strengthening his faith. On this week’s episode, Tanner shares how that’s shaping his life now, how he found faith to begin with, and how his belief has carried him through some of his life’s most diffi...

Millions of Jews are celebrating the weeklong observance of Passover. This week Adam Duxter sits down with WCCO Radio Host Jordana Green, or as she calls herself, "Minnesota's Jewish Friend". Green is open about her faith, how it's helped her through loss and multiple cancer diagnosis. As well as what it's been like to experience the rise in antisemitism. Green shares what she wants people to know...

Jacob Thompson’s life centered around sports. At Mounds View High School, he was a stellar, multisport athlete. But as he got older, something felt off. At age 24, his fears were cemented – he had Friedrich’s Ataxia – a rare, neuromuscular disease. It’s fatal and has no cure. Now, at age 32, his mobility is hampered – but his faith has only grown stronger. On this episode, Thompson shares how his...

Ryan Harris is a Super Bowl Champion, retired NFL Offensive Lineman, bestselling author and award-winning broadcaster – he’s also a first-generation Muslim. Born and raised in St. Paul, Harris played as a Muslim for a Catholic High School (Cretin-Derham Hall) and Catholic University (Notre Dame) before embarking on the NFL. On this week’s episode of Bigger Than Belief, Ryan shares how he converted...

When it comes to the current situation happening in Iran – few Minnesotans have a perspective like Armin Assadi. Born in Iran in 1981, Assadi’s family was on the run by the time he was a toddler, due to their Baha’I faith and ties to the previous regime. On part two of this week’s two part episode, Armin joins Adam to discuss his personal faith fallout after coming to America – and how after tryin...

When it comes to the current situation happening in Iran – few Minnesotans have a perspective like Armin Assadi. Born in Iran in 1981, Assadi’s family was on the run by the time he was a toddler, due to their Baha’I faith and ties to the previous regime. On part one of this week’s two-part episode, Armin joins Adam to discuss the violence he saw in the early days of the Islamic regime, his family’...

A new report shows nearly 55 percent of Jews in America have changed their behavior out of fear of Antisemitism this past year. In Minnesota, one woman has responded by launching a Jewish gun club called ‘Lox and Loaded’. On this week’s episode, Leslie Chudnoff tells Adam how she got the idea, how their first meetings have attracted dozens of first time gun owners, and why see says it doesn’t conf...

Tennessee-based youth pastor Dylan Novak has built an online following in tens of thousands, simply doing one thing – telling celebrities about Jesus. This year, he’s met with Paul Rudd, Neil Patrick Harris, James Corden and dozens of others. His ministry has grown exponentially in the past year – and online followers now sponsor his celebrity encounters. On this week’s episode of Bigger Than Beli...

On this week’s episode of Bigger Than Belief, Imam Mowlid Ali of Abubakar As-Sadique Islamic Center joins the podcast to talk about the start of Ramadan – and what Ramadan means to American Muslims. He also shares the impacts of operation Metro Surge on Minneapolis Muslims, his thoughts on Jake Lang’s Anti-Muslim protests, his letter to the President, and his reaction to staggering community suppo...

On Friday, Jan 23rd, 99 clergy members were arrested, charged and released during an anti-ICE protest at Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport. Reverend Katherine Lewis of St. David’s Episcopal Church in Minnetonka, Reverend Daniel Ruth, Executive Director of Lutheran Partners and Reverend Amanda Lunemann of Grace United Methodist Church in Burnsville were among the 99. On part two of this two-part episode...

On Friday, Jan 23rd, 99 clergy members were arrested, charged and released during an anti-ICE protest at Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport. Reverend Katherine Lewis of St. David’s Episcopal Church in Minnetonka, Reverend Daniel Ruth, Executive Director of Lutheran Partners and Reverend Amanda Lunemann of Grace United Methodist Church in Burnsville were among the 99. They join Adam to discuss the moment...

This week, federal agents staged in Minneapolis as part of Operation Metro Surge shot and killed another person. 37-year-old Alex Pretti was shot and killed Saturday morning in South Minneapolis. His death sparked immediate protest, and reamplified calls for a change in strategy for Operation Metro Surge. One day prior to Pretti’s death, more than 60 faith leaders in Minnesota signed off on an ope...