MercyCast

Fear is one of the most common human experiences, yet it's often the one we work hardest to hide. We disguise it as stress, overthinking, perfectionism, or simply "being responsible." For many Christians, fear carries an added burden: the belief that being afraid somehow means we're failing at faith. In this episode of The Mercycast, Raleigh Sadler sits down with pastor and author...

There are cities built on illusion. Places where people chase escape, reinvention, and distraction while quietly carrying wounds they hope no one sees. Las Vegas is one of them. This week, Raleigh Sadler sits down with Lex Lutheran—vicar, teacher, and co-host of the Study Boys podcast through Extra Nos Academy— to discuss authenticity, grace, suffering, and why the gospel speaks most clearly in a...

What if generosity is about more than money? In this episode of MercyCast, Raleigh Sadler sits down with Julie Wilson, President and CEO of Women Doing Well, to discuss purpose, stewardship, and the growing role women are playing in shaping generosity. Julie shares how a season of burnout led her to discover her God-given calling and how that journey ultimately brought her into a movement equippin...

What happens when the prayers keep coming but the circumstances never seem to change? In this episode of MercyCast, Raleigh Sadler sits down with authors Kristen Weatherall and Sarah Walton to discuss their new book, Jesus Will Meet You There . Together, they explore chronic illness, parenting through crisis, unanswered prayers, grief, fear, and the long seasons of suffering that can leave us wond...

There are moments in life that expose what we really believe. A cancer diagnosis. A fractured relationship. A loss we never saw coming. In this conversation with Wayne Jacobsen, we talk about what happens when faith moves beyond performance and becomes a lived experience of God's love. Wayne shares deeply personal stories—from surviving a cancer diagnosis to navigating one of the most painful...

Every child needs a place to belong. A home where they are known. A place where they are safe. A family that sees them for who they are—not simply for the circumstances that brought them into foster care. In this episode of MercyCast, I sat down with Callie Priest, Director of Strategic Partnerships at WinShape Homes. What made this conversation especially meaningful was discovering that Callie an...

Some conversations stay with you long after the microphones are off. This was one of them. In this episode of the MercyCast, I sit down with my longtime friend Rachelle Starr — founder of Scarlet Hope, author of Outrageous Obedience , and one of the clearest voices I know on mercy, trauma, exploitation, and the love of God. We talk about her new documentary, He Calls Me Daughter , a powerful film...

“The lead dishwasher.” A simple title that not only sets the tone of this episode, but serves as this week’s guest’s true north for his restaurant. In this episode of the Mercycast, I sit down with Daniel Penovich, owner, chef, and self-described “lead dishwasher” of Koko Japanese Pub in Cocoa Beach. What started behind a sink full of dishes became a conversation about vocation, creativity, ego, h...

Something is shifting. Not loudly. Not dramatically. But underneath the surface, people are searching for something solid again. In this episode of the MercyCast, I sit down with American Bible Society Chief Innovation Officer and Editor-In-Chief of the State of the Bible research series, John Plake to talk about what the latest research is revealing about faith, Scripture engagement, church cultu...

Two people can sit at the same table, raise the same kids, and still slowly drift apart. Schedules replace conversations. Logistics replace intimacy. And somewhere along the way, two people stop feeling seen. In this episode of the Mercycast, I talk with Genee Francis , Assistant Director for Content and Programming at WinShape Marriage . We discuss marriage, emotional connection, faith, and how c...

What happens when the life you planned slips through your hands? In this episode of the MercyCast, I sit down with author, speaker, and autism advocate Brigitte Shipman, host of The Mother’s Guide Through Autism podcast and author of A Mother's Guide Through Autism. Together, we talk about grief, letting go, self-compassion, and the long road of learning how to love without conditions or expec...

What do you do with pain that you can’t fix? In this episode of the MercyCast, I sit down with Rebecca Taguma from the American Bible Society to explore how God meets us in the middle of trauma, grief, and suffering. From refugee camps to local churches, we talk about how Scripture doesn’t avoid pain—it steps directly into it, offering real healing through truth, grace, and community. Rebecca shar...

The work seems small: hands in the dirt, neighbors gathered, scraps transformed into new life. But this care needs more than good intentions—it needs presence and staying power. In this episode of The MercyCast, Brendan McClanahan, Church Engagement Manager at Plant With Purpose, discusses creation care as living discipleship—not just environmentalism. His words challenged how I view mentoring, co...

We say children belong in families—but our actions tell a different story. Nearly 90% of Christians believe kids thrive in a home, yet billions are still poured into orphanages. There’s a gap… between what we believe and what we build. That gap matters—and it’s shaping the lives of vulnerable children around the world. In this episode, I sit down with Elli Oswald, Executive Director of Faith to Ac...

Sometimes it feels like your past mistakes have already determined your future. But what if the place you thought was the end is actually where God starts something new? In this episode, I talk with Jermaine Wilson, whose journey moves from prison to purpose, rejection to leadership, and ultimately to impact. Early on, he reframes his story: “I lost my freedom, but God helped me discover my purpos...

When the world goes quiet at night, most of us feel safe. But for many women and children, that’s when the hardest questions begin: Where will I sleep? Who will protect me? Will tomorrow be any different? In this episode, I sit down with Telicia Maxwell, director of My Sister’s House at Atlanta Mission—and her perspective will challenge the way you think about service, faith, and people. This conv...

In this episode, I sit down with Cally Logan to talk about something I think we all wrestle with—how God actually works in our lives. Not just in the big, obvious moments, but in the quiet, unseen ones beneath the surface. We get into calling, identity, and what it looks like to trust God when you don’t have clear answers. Because if I’m honest, most of my life hasn’t been marked by burning bush m...

Ambition isn’t the enemy. But we can reframe it. This week on MercyCast, I sit down with Ryan Tinetti, author of The Quiet Ambition . We talk about the quiet line from First Epistle to the Thessalonians that has haunted him for years: make it your ambition to live quietly. That verse doesn’t trend. It won’t grow your platform. It won’t help you build a brand. But it might change your life. Ryan sh...

What if obedience to Jesus actually costs us something? What if faith wasn’t safe, tidy, or convenient—but relational, risky, and deeply transformative? In this episode of the Mercy Cast, I sit down with author Mark Buchanan to talk about his powerful novel, What Is Left of the Night , inspired by the true story of Le Chambon-sur-Lignon. During World War II, this small French village quietly resis...

Secrecy is quiet at first. Then it gets heavy. Then it owns the room. In this powerful episode of MercyCast , I sit down with Alicia Barr , author of More Than a Secret , for a raw and redemptive conversation about confession, compromise, accountability, and the transforming power of grace. Alicia shares her story of a four-year extramarital affair, hitting rock bottom two years in, and quietly se...

What if the thing you can’t say no to is shaping your spiritual life? On this episode of the Mercycast , I talk with JT Tapias—former pro soccer player, once-homeless teen, and founder of a Christ-centered nutrition and wellness movement. His story moves from cartel violence and addiction to faith, redemption, and holistic health. It began with a question I didn’t want to answer: “What is your rel...

This week on the MercyCast podcast , I sat down with my friend Tanner Olson, author of the new book, Getting Through What You’re Going Through , to talk about something we don’t slow down enough to admit: It’s just hard to be a human being. Not the polished, Instagram version. Not the “better than I deserve” church answer. The real version. The version where you’re grieving. The version where life...

What happens if the shoe doesn’t drop? What happens if you find the thing that you were looking for? In this episode of MercyCast , I sit down with Nathan Clarkson —actor, filmmaker, and author of the new book I Am the Worst: How Freedom Is Found in Admitting Our Faults —for one of the most honest conversations we’ve ever had about identity, acceptance, and healing. We talk about why Jesus tells u...

Sometimes life doesn’t fall apart all at once. Sometimes it cracks. In this episode of MercyCast , I sit down with Rachel Krentzman, author of As Is: A Memoir on Healing the Past through Yoga , to talk about what happens when the world you thought you understood suddenly looks different—and you can’t unsee it. Rachel shares the story behind her memoir, including the cost of vulnerability, the cour...

What works better: connection or correction? We answer this question and others in this week’s episode.  Today I had the privilege of speaking with James McLamb, a National Youth Empowerment Strategist and founder and CEO of Generation Youth. Our conversation centered on the powerful role mentorship plays in young people's lives. As someone who believes deeply in the transformative power of me...