MercyCast

“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...

Is our dependence on artificial intelligence a good thing? In this episode of MercyCast, I sit down with Abdu Murray, the author of “Fake ID,” for an honest conversation about faith, technology, and what really makes us who we are. We dig deep into the intersection of artificial intelligence, identity, and Christianity—topics that are shaping how we see ourselves and each other in a rapidly changi...

How do you come to terms with the fact that what you thought your life was gonna look like is not what it looks like? Elizabeth Cole, VP of Solo Parent, a leading nonprofit supporting single parents, stops by to discuss the real-life challenges and journeys of solo parenting. We discuss how single parents navigate life after divorce, the importance of building a strong support network for solo par...

Sanctification is returning to your true self as God’s Beloved. Hey friends, Raleigh here. We all know that we want to change things about ourselves. Maybe we want to shed a few pounds, or learn a new language. You are probably making your resolutions right now. For this New Year’s Eve, I had the honor of sitting down with Will Acuff, author of the new book, No Elevator to Everest: Shift from Surv...

Is it possible to be impartial when caring for people on both sides of a conflict? In this episode of the MercyCast, I sit down with Ken Isaacs, Vice President of Samaritan’s Purse and author of “Running to the Fire: Helping in Jesus’ Name.” Together, we dive deep into how Christian compassion, faith, and practical love can make a real difference in some of the world’s most challenging conflict zo...

In this episode of MercyCast , I talk with Brian Smith and Ed Uszynski , authors of Away Game: A Christian Parent’s Guide to Navigating Youth Sports, about parenting , sports pressure , and how Christian faith shapes our engagement with youth sports. Brian and Ed help us confront the challenges families face in today’s sports culture, especially how pressures and expectations in youth sports can r...

In this fourth MoreMercy episode, we explore a truth that every one of us needs to hear: we can’t go back and erase our mistakes — but we can bring them to God, who freely redeems us . We aren’t time travelers, and we can’t rewrite the past. But we can choose what we do with our story now. This week, we look at the hopeful and freeing reality that redemption is always better than perfection . Inst...

In this week’s MercyCast, we continue our series on the themes that continually surface in conversations about healing, mercy, and spiritual growth. After spending the last two weeks exploring the tension of joy and pain and the experience of powerlessness, we now turn to a foundational practice of transformation: accepting reality rather than denying it . So many of us try to push away what’s pai...