Forward Podcast

Summer is meant to refresh us, but for many people it becomes the busiest and most exhausting season of the year. In this episode, we talk about recognizing the signs of burnout, setting healthy boundaries, protecting your spiritual life, and finding true rest in Christ so you can finish the summer stronger than you started.

As America celebrates 250 years of independence, how should Christians think about patriotism in an increasingly divided culture? In this episode, Thomas and Kari discuss the balance between loving our country and maintaining ultimate allegiance to Christ. Join us as we explore how believers can guard against idolatry, live as citizens of heaven, and faithfully steward the freedoms God has given u...

In this episode of the Forward Podcast, Kari discusses the unrealistic expectations many women carry every day. From feeling like you have to do it all, to the pressure of comparison, appearance, motherhood, and keeping everyone happy, women often live under burdens God never intended them to bear.   Join us as we talk about finding freedom from unrealistic expectations, embracing God’s grace, and...

Every family faces pressure to be perfect. Perfect memories. Perfect kids. Perfect schedules. Perfect social media posts. In this episode, we discuss four unrealistic expectations that can rob families of joy: believing every moment should be magical, thinking good parents never struggle, comparing ourselves online, and equating busyness with success. The truth is that healthy families aren’t perf...

Join us for this re-run episode as we explore gender roles in families and marriage. We'll dive into what biblical gender roles are and how we can support one another in understanding and embracing these roles in a healthy and meaningful way.

(Rerun) In this episode of our podcast, Thomas and Kari Shepherd, a husband-and-wife team, dive deep into the topic of overcoming toxic negativity. They explore how a negative mindset can infiltrate our lives, relationships, and workspaces, leading to a spiral of discouragement and despair. Together, we share practical steps and biblical wisdom to combat negativity, reclaim joy, and foster a posit...

This week on the Forward Podcast, Pastor Thomas tackles a subject many men silently wrestle with every day, unrealistic expectations. Modern men are carrying enormous pressure. Be successful. Be strong. Be spiritual. Be emotionally stable. Lead your family perfectly. Never struggle. Never slow down. Never fail. But what happens when the expectations we place on ourselves... or the ones culture pla...

Graduation is exciting—but it can also feel overwhelming. In this episode of the Forward Podcast, Thomas and Kari talk about the “next steps” every graduating senior should think about as they enter a new season of life. From faith and friendships to purpose, pressure, and staying grounded in a changing world, this conversation is full of practical encouragement for graduates and those investing i...

Thomas and Kari sit down for one of their deepest conversations yet as they discuss the phrase, “Mother Knows Best.” In a culture that constantly redefines motherhood, they explore what Scripture says about the spiritual influence, wisdom, burden, and responsibility of a godly mother. This episode dives into the unseen emotional weight moms carry, the spiritual atmosphere they create in the home,...

This week we’re talking about a painful but important topic: how to move forward when a leader you respected falls morally or ethically. We’ll walk through practical ways to process the hurt, grieve well, and keep moving ahead.  

What happens when you step away from the noise? In this episode, we share what we learned from taking a full week off social media—and the results were deeper than we expected. What started as a simple break quickly revealed how much of a hold it can have on our time, attention, and even our hearts. Without the constant scroll, we found more clarity, more presence, and more time with the Lord. Pra...

Have you made decisions that pulled you away from Christ? You’re not alone. Welcome to The Forward Podcast. Today we’re talking about Walking Back to Christ After Bad Decisions. No matter how far you’ve gone, Jesus is ready to welcome you home. In this episode, we’ll walk through practical steps to return to Him with grace and hope. Let’s dive in.

What do you do when life feels off? In this episode, Thomas and Kari tackle real, honest questions that many people are quietly asking: • “I’ve lost my job—where do I even begin to see what God is doing?” • “I feel distant in my marriage… what if I don’t even feel motivated to fix it?” • “I want to serve in church, but it seems like there’s no place for me.” • “My schedule keeps me from church—how...

Marriage doesn’t usually fall apart overnight, it drifts over time. In this episode, we talk about what it looks like to fight for your marriage in the middle—when life is busy, routines are set, and it’s easy to coast. We open up about two areas that have made a real difference in our own marriage: intentionality and focus.

Marriage is under attack today, and many young couples are feeling the pressure. In this episode of the Forward Podcast, Thomas and Kari have an honest, off-the-cuff conversation about struggles they faced early in their own marriage. They open up about two key areas that caused tension—teamwork and communication—and how God helped them grow through it. If your marriage isn’t where you want it to...

Judging has quietly become part of church culture, and many don’t even realize it. In this episode, Thomas and Kari discuss why Christians can sometimes be more critical than compassionate, how that affects those who are struggling, and why Jesus modeled something very different. If we’re not careful, we can be right about truth but wrong in spirit. This episode is a call back to grace, humility,...

Everyone says, “Don’t judge,” but the truth is—we all do it. In this episode, Thomas and Kari talk about the culture of judging inside Christian circles. Why are believers sometimes the quickest to criticize? Where does this mindset come from? And how is it quietly damaging our churches, relationships, and witness? This honest conversation explores why judging has become so common—and why grace mu...

Fear has a quiet way of stealing opportunities, relationships, and the future God may have planned for us. In this episode, Thomas and Kari talk about the real ways fear shows up in life—big decisions, career changes, stepping out in faith, and even everyday choices. Kari shares her experience of overcoming fear when purchasing her agency, and how support, faith, and courage helped move their fami...

100 episodes. What a journey. In this special milestone episode of Forward, Thomas and Kari record live from Israel as we reflect on the incredible support that has carried us to this moment. From week one to episode 100, your encouragement, messages, shares, and prayers have meant more than we can express. We take time to say thank you to every listener who tunes in each week, every supporter who...

Love doesn’t stay strong by accident, it stays strong on purpose. In this Valentine’s episode of Forward, Thomas and Kari talk honestly about how to keep your spouse attracted to you—emotionally, spiritually, and physically. We share practical tips on dating after marriage, staying intentional instead of drifting, and why attraction is something you nurture, not assume. From effort and communicati...

Change is rarely comfortable—but it’s often necessary. In this episode of Forward, Kari shares the story behind buying an insurance agency and the fears she had to face along the way. We talk honestly about what it looks like to step forward when you don’t feel ready, how fear can either paralyze or propel you, and why making change requires both courage and conviction. We also discuss the role fa...

Self-control isn’t suppression- it’s direction. In this segment, Thomas and Kari talk about why feelings are real but unreliable leaders, how discipline actually protects freedom. In a culture driven by impulse, this conversation reframes self-control as a tool for clarity, growth, and lasting freedom. Because real freedom needs direction.

In Part 2 of this conversation, Thomas and Kari focus on one of the most overlooked skills in adulthood: a real apology. We talk about why true apologies take ownership without explanation or defense, why “I’m sorry” isn’t about being right but about being restored, and how sincere apologies rebuild trust faster than time ever will. We also unpack why adults often struggle to apologize more than c...

Listen in as Kari sits down with the younger generation to gain a fresh perspective and discover how we can meaningfully influence their lives for the Lord.

In a culture that often blames circumstances and avoids accountability, we unpack why real growth begins when we own our choices, take responsibility for our actions, and learn to manage our emotions, habits, and time. We also discuss why apologizing isn’t a weakness, how self-control protects your future, and why unmanaged life eventually leads to unnecessary chaos.