LAB the Podcast

“Better than any argument is to rise at dawn and pick dew-wet red berries in a cup.” Wisdom like this from Wendell Berry seems to flow naturally from people who stay close to the dirt. Along the way, I’ve learned to pay attention for opportunities to share time with people like this. Recently, I had the honor of sitting down with Becky Savitz, a friend and acclaimed gardener, to hear how seeing ti...

Francis Howard is a member of the small, prestigious, global Q Grader community. Trained and certified after passing a rigorous battery of over 20 tests, Q Graders set the standard for coffee excellence around the world. Recently, we sent Francis a bag of Freedom Roast and I sat down with him for a special LAB episode to talk coffee and hear his expert review of our LAB Freedom Roast. Don’t miss t...

Dotti Groover-Skipper may be one of the bravest and most loving people I know. Her team at HeartDance Foundation is sharing the life and beauty of the gospel in some of the darkest places in our city. Dotti joins me on this episode to share from her experience knowing and loving people in Tampa’s strip club industry. We talk honestly about pornography, human dignity and the realities of the $75 bi...

It takes tremendous courage and vulnerability to share the deep and real things within us. Maybe that is why it is so powerful and transformational when someone does. Well, with beauty and grace, Author and Poet, Ainsley Box, leads in that way with her new book, Inside Her Heart. I sat down with Ainsley to talk about her book, the power of poetry and nourishing the creative gift. Join us for the c...

I can’t wait to introduce you to Calyan Wax Co.! Calyan is literally lighting up the world as they lean into the fight against human trafficking. I sat down with founder, Jacob Johnson, to learn more about Calyan and how their candles give everyday Americans a simple way to join the fight.  Join me for the conversation and let’s celebrate and support Calyan! https://www.calyanwaxco.com/ Support th...

Late in 2020, I found myself growing weary in the face of ongoing uncertainty and fear. It was in that moment I was introduced to artist Delwin Eiland and his song, “This Uncertain Year.” As we get a little distance from 2020, Delwin and I sat down to talk about the song and hear how he gave voice to something so many of us were feeling. Delwin is one of those wise and humble voices that are good...

We are alive in an exciting moment with fresh opportunities for faith and science to reveal the wonder of our world. I had the honor of sharing some time with author, professor and founder of the C.S. Lewis Society, Dr. Tom Woodward. The conversation opens with Dr. Woodward's story of faith coming alive at Princeton and then expands as he shares how his love for science led him to explore DNA...

In October of 2020, V3 was able to help support the efforts to rescue a young girl in Brazil from human trafficking. I sat down with Alley Kelley, Hear the Cry-Brazil, for a first hand account of God’s miraculous intervention to set a young captive free. Don’t miss this important conversation about human trafficking, the 2021 LAB Initiative and light saying to the darkness, “We beg to differ.”  Su...

I couldn’t think of a better way to close the year than by turning our vision up. Join me for a "must listen” conversation with artist and worshiper, Jonathan Ogden. Jonathan leads the Set Sail community in Manchester UK. His humility, creativity and insight on worship are a true gift. Listen and share. Let’s close 2020 and begin the new year with our vision up. The Vision is Jesus. To Him. L...

Humbled and grateful to share some time on LAB Sessions with a true hero. Bren Harris is the founder of Walking with Warriors.  As both a military child and spouse, she has served on the home front through more than 10 deployments, including Operation Desert Storm, Afghanistan and Iraq.  Bren has actively served the community for more than 20 years.  She was recognized for outstanding leadership i...

Several months ago, I stumbled across the beautiful Common Hymnal community, by chance. The sounds and stories flowing from Common Hymnal contain a beauty and potency desperately needed in the world today. I sat down with Common Hymnal founder Malcolm Du Plessis to learn more about community, the music, and the movement rising up from the spiritual underground.  Don’t miss the chance to hear some...

It was so good to share some time with Tom and JoAnn Doyle, Founders of Uncharted Ministries! The Doyles’ love for the people of the Middle East and tireless work to share the gospel around the world is an inspiration. Don’t miss the chance to join us for a conversation on Tom’s Book, Dreams and Visions, JoAnn’s powerful work with women in the Middle East and how God is literally awakening people...

“Fight like Ana.” Those words will echo in your heart when you hear Ana Wakefield’s incredible story. After miraculously surviving a head on collision in the early hours of an October morning, Ana faced extensive brain injuries and doctors were not sure if she would ever recover. Ana is still healing today and she sat down with me to share her story and the moment she appeared in court to face the...

“Do it afraid.” These words help Sharon Irving step into and onto every stage life brings her way. Sharon is an artist, bridge builder, worshiper, voice for the voiceless and a person whose honesty fills the world with exceptional life and beauty. I sat down with Sharon to hear how a young girl singing in her grandfather’s church in Chicago’s South Side found her way to a “Golden Buzzer” moment on...

This week the Senate will hold a final confirmation vote for Judge Amy Coney Barrett. The controversial vote to seat our next Supreme Court Justice will be followed by Election Day on November 3rd. I sat down with one of Florida’s brightest legal minds to talk about the Supreme Court, the upcoming vote and living by faith in our divided time.  What an honor to share time with a wise and faithful f...

Living by faith is a long, slow and deep walk that carries us through every landscape and season we can imagine. Along the way, questions, doubt and fear arrive and travel with our faith, hope and love. In my experience, learning to acknowledge and even embrace this commingled company within takes time, wisdom and sacred friendship. C.S. Lewis found this type of friendship in his relationship with...

Together, Author K.A. Leigh and Illustrator Derek Roberts have given life to Brudders, a character who will capture your heart and awaken your imagination. Brudders Learns How to Make Friends is the first book in their forestry fun, growing-up series for children. Derek and K.A. joined me to introduce Brudders and talk about the launch of their new series which I believe will become a timeless cla...

Former Senator Thirman Milner marched with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., learned from Ambassador Andrew Young, and was encouraged to enter public service and work for civil rights by his friend, Reverend Jesse Jackson. At 86 years old, former Senator Milner has a unique perspective on some of the challenges we face as a culture. I was honored to share some time with this incredible public servant an...

"What happens when thousands around the world focus their prayer on bringing an end to human trafficking?” I sat down with Up Movement founder Lecia Retter to find out and talk prayer, confidence in God and the Up Movement’s global call to unite in prayer.  Join us for the conversation and visit Upmovement.org to join the global prayer movement to end human trafficking.  Support the show

Artists see elements of our cultural landscape we may ignore or rush past. In this way their gift is prophetic. At their best, they call us to truth and love. I believe it will be artists and the arts, functioning in this prophetic way, that will help to lead us forward from this dark and divided cultural moment. If this is to be true, we need a deeper understanding and appreciation for artists an...

Author Paul J. Pastor joins me to talk about kids, grown-ups and conversations about God. His new book, A Kids Book About God is an amazing resource for parents hoping to engage in meaningful conversations about big ideas. A Kids Book About God is set to release this month. You can learn more about A Kids Book About God and pre-order your book by visiting www.akidsbookabout.com .  Join us for our...

2020 will go down in history with a unique list of stats and facts for sure. Some of that data and analysis will be helpful, some will not. There is one statistic that has been weighing particularly heavy on my mind. 34 percent. 34% represents a surge in divorces that took place from March to June in 2020. 34% higher than that same period in 2019. And sadly, numbers don’t tell the whole story. The...

Inspired by three precious lives, Dr. Andrew DeCort founded The Neighbor-Love Movement in Addis, Ethiopia in 2019. The movement is founded on the simple but revolutionary idea that seeing and treating others as neighbors is our best response to hatred, injustice, and poverty. Since 2019, the movement has reached almost ten million people on social media and been recognized by the U.S. Embassy in E...

Seth Elliott joins me for a LAB Session to celebrate his new book, The Merlin Advantage and talk about cultivating life and beauty within the organizations, systems and communities we inhabit each day. Seth is a writer, coach and consultant helping leaders rediscover their greatest ally and reduce the cumulative effect of unresolved interpersonal tensions, misunderstanding, and emotional injuries...

Makoto Fujimura is a leading contemporary artist whose process driven, refractive “slow art” has been described by David Brooks of New York Times  as “a small rebellion against the quickening of time .” His books Culture Care and Silence and Beauty: Hidden Faith Born of Suffering are essential reads for our time. Makoto joins me for a conversation on slowing down, beauty from tragedy and culture,...