Bridging the Gap Podcast

Episode 69: a recording of a BTG Leadership Conference live panel with Carol Lund (pastor and the former BTG Director), Pastor Kristie Kerr (co-lead pastor of Homestead Community Church), and Dolores Smith (a BTG Advisor and corporate leader), facilitated by Mykelti Blum (the BTG Podcast host). In this episode, panelists discuss the topic of giving feedback and having difficult conversations with...

Episode 68: a conversation with Candace Hurckman–a biblical justice advocate, mom of five, and the wife of Venture’s Executive Director, Paul Hurckman–and our podcast host, Mykelti Blum. In this episode, Candace shares personal experiences about foster care, adoption, and challenges in motherhood, as well as a story of her breaking point when she felt like God might have given he...

Episode 67: a conversation with married-and-in-love parents, church leaders, and business professionals Delmas and Sarah Gibson and our podcast host, Mykelti Blum. In this episode, this couple shares a story of God’s restoration-power, as He transformed their broken and toxic relationship into one that is God-honoring and Christ-focused. You will hear personal testimonies of surrender, forgiveness...

Episode 66: a conversation with pastor’s wife, mom, grandma, and lover of Truth Sarah Simerson and our podcast host, Mykelti Blum. In this episode, these ladies have an authentic and honest conversation about biblical femininity and what the Word of God says about this topic. Sarah shares insight into the Proverbs 31 woman and what it looks like to reflect her character in today’s cult...

Episode 65: a conversation with 22-year-old, Minnesota born and raised evangelist, Bible teacher, wife, and mom Gabrielle McCullough and our podcast host, Mykelti Blum. In this episode, Gabrielle shares about how she started following Jesus and how God can radically transform your life. The two have an empowering conversation on how we cannot disqualify the young from doing Kingdom work and how Go...

Episode 64: a conversation with Bible teacher, church planter, author, and podcaster Bianca Juarez Olthoff and our podcast host, Mykelti Blum. In this episode, you will hear Bianca share where the concept of her book Grit Don’t Quit came from. You will also hear about endurance, perseverance, and the three P’s of resilience, while also joining discussions on rest, misconceptions about Sabbath, and...

Episode 63: a conversation with pastor, author, and founder of the non-profit organization Fight to Forgive, Kevin Ramsby, and our podcast host, Mykelti Blum. In this episode, you will hear Kevin’s powerful testimony of God saving his life from a tragedy. He talks about why God lets bad things happen to good people, how to wrestle with God when we feel offended, and about his ministry, Fight...

Episode 62: a conversation with co-lead pastor, leadership coach, and founder of VIVID Academy, Caroline Durocher-Bergeron, and our podcast host, Mykelti Blum. In this episode, you will hear about why Sabbath is so important and how to practically honor it in our busy world. You will also hear about the Terrible Triple O’s and Caroline’s profound quotes, including “Radical owners...

Episode 61: a conversation with Susie Larson, Amber Gerstmann, and our podcast host, Mykelti Blum. Susie Larson is a radio talk show host, national speaker, and best-selling author, and her Thrive Conference co-emcee, Amber Gerstmann, is a wife, mom, minister, and BTG Advisor who has her Masters in Theological Studies! In this episode, you will hear about pursuing God and His Word. Spending time i...

Episode 60: a conversation with international speaker, best-selling author, and spoken word artist Hosanna Wong and our BTG Podcast host, Mykelti Blum. In this episode, you will hear about how Hosanna has used spoken word poetry to share the Gospel. She also shares her heart behind her new book, You are More Than You’ve Been Told , and how she wrote down the book she needed seven years ago when sh...

Episode 59: a conversation with author, mother, and nurse Sarah Nyandoro and our BTG Podcast host, Mykelti Blum. In this episode, you will hear Sarah share about the trials that brought her to studying the Lord’s Prayer and why it became a vital part in her everyday prayer life. She also explains why Jesus taught his disciples to pray this way and what believers need to know about each point...

Episode 58: a conversation with lawyer and CEO Melissa Coleman and the BTG Podcast host, Mykelti Blum. In this episode, they talk about Melissa’s experiences with offense in a highly offendable field and how you can grow toward becoming an unoffendable leader. Through this discussion, Melissa graciously and powerfully shares about the peace and freedom that can be found through a relationshi...

Episode 57: a conversation with BTG Director, Angie Goetz, our Podcast host, Mykelti Blum, and Angie’s assistant, Kristen Ostrem. In this episode, they talk about the Thrive conference, including what you can expect at this year’s event, the heart behind the theme, PURSUIT, testimonials from the past, a change with this year’s devotional book, and more. BTG Events & Resources...

Episode 56: a conversation with Dr. Allen Tennison–the recently-appointed Theological Counsel for the U.S. Assemblies of God and outgoing professor and Dean of the College of Church Leadership at North Central University–and our podcast host, Mykelti Blum. In this episode, they discuss our sometimes-cultural assumptions of the Old Testament, why we need to know the Old Testament to bet...

Episode 55: a conversation with Professor and Dean of the College of Business and Technology at North Central University, Bill Tibbetts ABD, and our podcast host, Mykelti Blum. In this episode, you will them discuss what it means to lead and be led as an introvert or extrovert. Bill explains how he has seen introverts and extroverts perform differently in their leadership roles. He also gives pers...

Episode 54: a conversation with pastor, realtor, wife, and mom, Heidi Rausch, and our podcast host, Mykelti Blum. In this episode, you will hear about the seasons of crisis and grief she has walked through and how she found herself learning to believe truths she had preached–but now in a whole new way. Heidi shares about walking through times of feeling “It’s not fair” and...

Episode 53: a conversation with author, speaker, wife, mom, and CEO of The Life of a Single Mom, Jennifer Maggio, and our podcast host, Mykelti Blum. In this episode, you will hear about the start of Jennifer’s ministry, her devotional about peace, as well as her experience when she finally understood the authority Jesus gave us against spiritual warfare, such as fear, worry, anger, and depr...

Episode 52: a conversation from September 2022 with mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother Marlys Kingsriter. Marlys and her husband, Del, were well-respected, influential Minnesota missionaries in Africa. In this episode, you will hear about some of her missionary journey, wisdom for relationships, as well as her reason for having a positive mindset, despite life’s challenges. Since the...

Episode 51: a conversation with wife, mom, ministry & marketplace leader, and the first-ever Lund Leadership Award recipient, Brandi Petruzzelli, along with mom, doctoral student, and Brandi’s nominator, Morgan Sundberg, and our podcast host, Mykelti Blum. In this episode, you will hear about Brandi’s reaction to being honored with the Lund Leadership Award, what servant leadership is, why wom...

Episode 50: a conversation with mom, speaker, podcaster, and author Mykelti Blum and our podcast guest host, Kristen Ostrem. In this episode, you will hear about the importance of conversations in relationships, perspectives to help overcome social anxiety, how to host a podcast, as well as the difference between a podcast, live conversation, and panel. Learn more about Mykelti @mykelti_blum on so...

Episode 49: a recorded message from the 2022 Single Moms Retreat by lead pastor, husband, and father Nick Grey. In this episode, you will hear about Pastor Nick’s story of being raised by a single mom, the great influence his mom had on his faith journey, as well as priorities that parents can implement to help children love God. If you are in the Alexandria, MN, area and are looking for a c...

Episode 48: a conversation with bestselling author, speaker, and coach Lisa Jones and our podcast host, Mykelti Blum. In this episode, Lisa shares about her journey in finding financial freedom, common struggles in marriage and finances, as well as how to prepare your finances when you are single. Check out Lisa’s book, Financial Seasons, and other resources at lisayjones.com , or follow her...

Episode 47: a conversation with bestselling author, speaker, podcaster, & business coach Alli Worthington and our podcast guest-host, Lindsay May. In this episode, you will hear about Alli’s journey with her calling, as well as insight into caring for yourself as a leader and overcoming obstacles as you pursue the dreams God has placed in your heart. Check out Alli’s books, podcast, and...

Episode 46: a conversation with mom, mentor, author, and Bridging the Gap Advisor Sandy McKeown and our podcast host, Mykelti Blum. In this episode, you will hear about Sandy’s new book, Some Miracles Need a Mom , the Bible story that inspired the book, as well as her journey with raising kids with special needs (challenges and joys) and why she wanted to encourage other moms. Learn more abo...

Episode 45: a conversation with Mykelti Blum and North Central University President, author, pastor, and former church planter, Dr. Scott Hagan, and his beautiful wife, Karen–an ordained pastor, speaker, writer, and mentor. In this episode, you will hear the Hagans–parents of four and grandparents of 10–share about leading through crisis, where you find support as a leader, and w...