Make It Simple

In this special season of Make It Simple, we're having conversations with friends all about Matt's new book, Junk Drawer Jesus . This week, we welcome Jared Wilson to talk about Chapter 2: "The Myth of the Cosmic Scale" and how the point was never to be perfect (spoiler alert: you won't achieve it anyway). You can grab your copy of Junk Drawer Jesus by Matt Popovits today...

In this special season of Make It Simple, we're having conversations with friends all about Matt's new book, Junk Drawer Jesus . This week, we welcome David Zahl to talk about Chapter 1: "The Spiritual Junk Drawer," and discuss what's in our spiritual junk drawers, and why it's good to declutter our religion. You can grab your copy of Junk Drawer Jesus by Matt Popovit...

This week, the podcast welcomes John Busacker for our season finale episode, where we discuss what it means to finish things well in all aspects of life. John shares wisdom to be considered as we look at what it means to move through life with intention. It’s a perfect conversation to close out this podcast season. John Busacker is a writer, speaker and the Founder of Life-Worth, LLC, a personal l...

Dr. Jordan Cooper joins the podcast to help us break down and understand Christian nationalism and share wisdom about living as a believer and a citizen. It’s a meaningful conversation with a new perspective on political responsibility.  Jordan Cooper is an ordained Lutheran pastor, a Professor of Systematic Theology, the Executive Director of Just and Sinner, and the President of the American Lut...

This week, Matt and Rachel welcome screenwriter and filmmaker Joshua Salzberg, who shares about the power found in storytelling. He shares how stories help change and shape us, and often, leads us to great empathy. It’s a very fun episode,  filled with a lot of wisdom (and a little bit of movie talk). To learn more and stay updated about Joshua's newest project, follow @ThePerformance on Inst...

Terra McDaniel joins the podcast this week and brings a new perspective on grief. She shares how many people don’t know how to process mourning and instead struggle to honor their tears, vulnerability, and the full weight of these disillusioning times. She offers several practical ways to express lament and leaves us with hope for moving forward. Terra McDaniel is a spiritual director for adults a...

Elrena Evans joins the podcast this week to share her experience as part of a family with special needs. She beautifully shares her story and what inspired her to write a book of prayers for when you don't have the words, and she gives us practical and loving ways to truly be welcoming to everyone, especially people navigating a world not designed for them. It's an empathetic conversatio...

This week, Michelle Thompson is back with Matt & Rachel to discuss perfectionism and shame and shows us grief and acceptance are the pathways to growth. As always, Michelle brings wisdom, warmth, and lighthearted grace to the conversation.  You don’t want to miss it. Michelle is the Senior Director of External Relations and Executive Coaching and Consulting, Townsend Institute, Concordia Irvin...

This week, Steve Theiss joins Matt and Rachel to share about the art and craft of comedy. Steve shares insights into the importance of comedy, making people laugh, and the creative process behind humor. Listeners can gain a deeper understanding of the comedic world and pick up a few tips on injecting humor into their own lives. Steve Theiss writes, improvises, acts, directs, teaches improv, and oc...

Bob Hiller joins Rachel & Matt to share about some commonly misunderstood and misused Scripture. It’s a fun and grace-filled episode as they dive deep into three commonly misunderstood Bible verses. Bob shares how to better approach Scripture, and they all land on the other side with a deeper insight into the character of God (Warning… You may come away with a new perspective on some favorite...

This week, Matt and Rachel are back, and talk with author and artist Ned Bustard about the true story of Saint Valentine and his new book Saint Valentine the Kindhearted. They discuss how our understanding of love changes, making stories accessible for children, and art of loving through our kindness. *** You can learn more about Ned and check out his beautiful artwork on IG @NedBustard, and find...

In this special episode, Rachel and Matt speak with their new friend, Matt Randerson. Matt brings a wealth of knowledge and compassion as he shares recent trends presented by the Barna Group regarding intergenerational relationships. He shares insights to help us navigate the generational divides, explains what the cultural labels really mean, and ways we can move forward in community together. Ma...

Re-release of this special episode with VoxCon speaker, Tanner Olson! Enjoy this encore presentation, and catch Tanner this September live at VoxCon 2023. Tickets available at www. GoToVox.com ***** This week, we’re talking with our friend Tanner Olson all about Creativity, and spreading the message of hope through Poetry. Tanner joins Rachel and Matt to talk about how poetry and speaking beautifu...

Re-release of this special episode with VoxCon speaker, Chad Bird! Enjoy this encore presentation, and catch Chad this September live at VoxCon 2023. Tickets available at www. GoToVox.com ******* Chad Bird joins Matt and Rachel this week as we aim to make sense of hell on the podcast. Chad answers all our burning questions ( get it?! ) about hell, and helps us understand the often misunderstood th...

Re-release of this special episode with VoxCon speaker, Katelyn Beaty! Enjoy this encore presentation, and catch Katelyn this September live at VoxCon 2023. Tickets available at www. GoToVox.com ****** Katelyn Beaty (author of Celebrities For Jesus) joins Rachel and Matt to discuss our culture's fascination with famous Christians, and the roll fame and celebrity play in today's popular e...

Re-release of this special episode with VoxCon speaker, Mike Pacchione! Enjoy this encore presentation, and catch Mike this September live at VoxCon 2023. Tickets available at www. GoToVox.com ***** Mike Pacchione shares with us all the best tips for public speaking! This week, Rachel and Matt talk with their friend, Mike Pacchione. Mike brings his public speaking expertise to the conversation and...

This week, we talk to Dr. John Townsend about navigating tricky relationships with difficult people— what we mean when we say someone is “toxic” or find interactions with them continually causing us hurt. It’s a gracious and truth-filled conversation that will help you love the difficult people in your life while also caring for yourself. Dr. John Townsend is a business consultant, leadership coac...

This week, our summer series continues with a fascinating conversation about the history of the Bible (specifically, how ancient texts have been passed down and what makes the Bible different from other documents). It’s interesting and informative, and you’ll surely learn something new! Jeffrey Kloha, the Chief Curatorial Officer for the Museum of the Bible, manages the Museum of the Bible Educati...

Welcome to season 6! This week, Rachel and Matt talk with Chad Lakies and break down Apologetics. It's a conversation about faith and our current culture and what it means to ask and answer, "What does it mean to be "Christian" today?" Join us! Rev. Dr. Chad Lakies is the regional director for North America at Lutheran Hour Ministries, and is a scholar on the intersection...

This week, Alan Fadling joins the podcast to discuss what it looks like to slow down. He shares the how being unhurried is a rhythm of rest, and more about your soul than your calendar. It’s a conversation that will make you want to take a deep breath in and lean into the good things around you. Alan Fadling is president and founder of Unhurried Living, Inc., inspiring people to rest deeper, live...

This week, Jared Wilson joins the podcast to talk about Pastors, and shares some inside baseball about what it's like to be a pastor these days. He brings empathy and compassion to the conversation, and reminds us all that sometimes the key to success... is time and experience.  It's a surprising conversation that you won't want to miss.  Jared Wilson is Assistant Professor of Pasto...

This week, Alan Noble joins the podcast to talk about his new book, On Getting Out of Bed, and considers about the unique burden of everyday life in the modern world. Alan shares how the choice to carry on amid great suffering—to simply get out of bed—is itself a powerful witness to the goodness of life, and of God.  Alan Noble (PhD, Baylor University) is associate professor of English at Oklahoma...

This week, the delightful Jessica Thompson joins the podcast to talk about her new book, He Loved Them , and offers a fresh examination on the love of Jesus. She shares why we all benefit from understanding not only that Jesus loves us, but how he loves us, and how that can change our daily lives. It’s an episode that will hit you in the feels, and leave you feeling loved. Jessica Thompson is co-a...

This week, David Zahl is back to talk with Matt and Rachel about Low Anthropology, and share why the sooner we realize that everyone struggles like we do, the sooner we can show grace to ourselves and others. It’s a really great conversation that will change the way you look at your neighbor (and yourself).  David Zahl is the director of Mockingbird Ministries, an organization he founded in 2007....

Season 5 kicks off with a great episode with Kelly Flanagan joining Matt and Rachel to talk about companionship. He shares what to look for in true friend, and how companionship is a deeper way of looking at relationships. Kelly is a licensed clinical psychologist and cofounder of Artisan Clinical Associates in Naperville, Illinois. In 2012, he began the now popular blog UnTangled, where he writes...