MercyCast

Everyone has baggage. But what if your baggage wasn’t a bad thing? In this episode, pastor and author Ike Miller joins us to unpack his book, Good Baggage: How Your Difficult Childhood Prepared You for Healthy Relationships. From the start, we discuss the impact of baggage on our lives and relationships, where I tell the story of the best breakup gift I have ever received. Then, we explore the con...

You've heard it said, "You are what you eat." But what if you are "how" you eat? Today, we discuss two of my favorite things: food and people. In this episode, I talk to Kendall Vanderslice, the Founder and Executive director of the Edible Theology Project and the author of By Bread Alone: A Baker's Reflections on Hunger, Longing, and the Goodness of God. Kendall shares her...

What if you were not the lead character in your own story? What if your purpose today was to play a supporting role? In this episode, I catch up with my friend, Chris White, a screenwriter and director, about how life imitates art as we discuss his film, Electric Jesus. Chris unpacks the filmmaking process and the challenges of failure and perfectionism. Failure can be an entry point into being a...

Making friends isn’t as easy as it sounds. In some ways, it seemed easier when we were kids. Now, finding friends can feel impossible. In this episode, Phil Knox, the author of The Best Of Friends: Choose Wisely, Care Well , discusses the meaning and importance of friendship. Phil shares his personal experience of loss and how true friendship helped him through difficult times. Phil and I explore...

You’ve just become a new Christian. What are the next steps? In this episode, sit down with Aaron Armstrong, author of the book I’m a Christian Now What? A Guide to New Life in Christ. We discuss the shift when someone becomes a Christian and the challenges and turmoil that can follow. Aaron shares his journey to Christianity and the lessons he has learned along the way. He emphasizes the importan...

How do we keep moving forward when life feels impossible? My guest and I deal with this question head-on in today’s episode. In this conversation, Kerri Rawson, the author of the New York Times-selling book A Serial Killer's Daughter: My Story of Faith, love, and Overcoming , shares her journey of trauma, healing, and faith. She discusses the life-altering moment when she learned about her fat...

Happy New Year! We are back with More Mercy! This week, I sat down with Jordan Raynor to discuss the sacredness of our work. But during the talk, we addressed knowing God's will specifically in terms of our jobs. Take a moment and listen to this most recent episode. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-mercycast/exclusive-content

Is your work good, or is it God's work? You have probably wrestled with this question before. If so, you may need to sit down for this episode because Jordan Raynor, the author of The Sacredness of Secular Work , is on the MercyCast! Jordan sits down with me to discuss the sacredness of secular work and the importance of embracing one's vocation. He challenges the notion of a sacred-secula...

What if this isn't the most wonderful time of the year for you? In this episode, our second guest, Krista McDunn, returns to discuss the challenges and complexities of the holiday season, particularly Christmas and New Year's. You heard it here first, folks: we are putting the Krista back in Krista-mas this year.  Together, we explore the feelings of stress, unmet expectations, loneliness,...

What if your outlook is doing more to harm you than help you? The lens through which we see the world and ourselves matters. In this episode, David Zahl stops by to discuss a different way of viewing humanity and ourselves. Though this outlook may seem new, it’s not entirely unfamiliar to those in the Christian faith. David, the director of Mockingbird and the author of Seculosity and Low Anthropo...

You made it to the Cathedral. Now, what’s next? It's time to head home, Pilgrims, but Spoiler alert: your Camino is not over. You've only reached the halfway point. In this episode, Alexander John Shaia, the author of Return From Camino , joins me, and we reflect on the moments that followed after arriving at my "destination" in Santiago de Compostela. We discuss the importance of...

Your journey will come to an end. Hey Peregrinos! As you know, we’ve been vicariously walking the Camino de Santiago together. Last week, Kiko and I took you stage by stage and broke down the trials that we experienced. After I parted ways with Kiko towards the end, I finished walking with Pia and Simon. So, I’m happy to have them join this conversation on finishing the Camino. They share their ex...

The trick is learning to accept both the good and the bad on the Camino. Buen Camino, fellow pilgrims! Welcome back to MercyCast. Last week, we talked about the Call to the Camino. Today's episode discusses the trials you will face as you walk the Camino. Amidst the high altitudes and rugged terrain, I met Kiko, a fellow pilgrim. Together, we navigated everything from challenging mountain trai...

Sometimes, the Camino calls you. Greetings, fellow pilgrims, and welcome back to the MercyCast! Whether you have gone on the Camino De Santiago, are interested in going, or have no idea what it is, this series is for you! Today's episode is a beacon of guidance for those preparing to walk the sacred path of the Camino de Santiago. Join us as we discuss what it means to be called to the Camino....

Sometimes, an email can change your life. In this episode, Marisol Maldonado Rodriguez, founder and Executive Director of Renew Life Center and author of the new book, Beyond Her Yes: Reimagining Pro-Life Ministry to Empower Women and Support Families in Overcoming Poverty , shares her experience as the client services director of a pregnancy resource center and how a transformative email from a c...

Just because something is free does not mean there isn't a cost. In this episode, Helen Taylor drops by the MercyCast. She is the Vice President of Impact at Exodus Cry, a nonprofit organization committed to abolishing sex trafficking and breaking the cycle of commercial sexual exploitation. Helen shares her journey of passion, perseverance, and faith in the face of adversity. Due to visa rest...

Life can be complex. Enter Matt Popovits. Matt is a pastor, speaker, and podcaster whose approach to life is characterized by a desire for simplicity and relatability. He drops by to discuss navigating complex topics with grace and hope. Matt shares his origin story in a sense, where he discovered his calling through comforting a friend in a time of tragedy, highlighting the importance of being pr...

How do you hope again after experiencing a miscarriage? In this episode, Rachel Lohman joins the MercyCast to discuss her pregnancy and infant loss journey and her mission to bring healing and hope to others. Rachel is the author of Miscarried Hope and the founder of Hope Again Collective . This handmade jewelry line beautifully shares the stories of mothers who have experienced the pain of pregna...

Want more MercyCast? Here is a free episode of  MoreMERCY, a bonus episode of the MercyCast. I reflect on the previous week's episode and how it connects to Scripture and this cultural moment.  In this episode, my friend Neal Salzman and I explore the concept of self-care. Neal is a licensed therapist and the founder and executive director of the Rest Initiative. We discuss an essential aspect...

You can't do self-care by yourself. In this episode, my friend Neal Salzman and I explore resiliency and discover the beautiful essence of vulnerability in the face of adversity. Neal is a licensed therapist and the founder and executive director of the Rest Initiative. We discuss an essential aspect of life people often overlook: the ability to care for ourselves while tirelessly caring for o...

Not everyone will have the same experience at your church as you will this Sunday.  Today, Jamaal Williams drops by discussing how our churches can reflect both our communities and the Kingdom of God. He is the lead pastor of Sojourn Church Midtown in the heart of Louisville, Kentucky, and the president of the Harbor Network. He also co-authored the new book,  In Church as It Is in Heaven: Cultiva...

Sometimes, forgiveness is a journey. In this episode, I sit down with my friend, Dan Darling, who opens up about a life-altering experience – being fired from his job in a very public way. Dan is the author of several books, including his newest book, Agents of Grace, How to Bridge Divides, and Love as Jesus Loved . He is also the director of the Land Center for Cultural Engagement. He regularly c...

Sometimes, healing hurts. Jamie Cowhick joins me to help guide us on our healing journeys. Jamie is the president of Yana Recovery Center of Fort Lauderdale and, as you will learn in this episode, a survivor of Sex Trafficking. In this episode, Jamie shares her journey of being trafficked and explores the heart of some of the most pressing issues we face today – from social justice and human traff...

Do you ever surround yourself with people but still feel lonely? Do you ever wonder who your true friends are and why it's so hard to find them? We've all been there. In this podcast episode, we dive deep into a topic that affects each of us: Friendship. In this candid conversation between Boz Tchividjian and me, we dig into the difference between acquaintances and genuine friends, helping...

Is your faith community a safe place for everyone? In this week's episode, Boz Tchividjian and I dive deep into an issue from the headlines that often lurks in the shadows of our faith communities – abuse, particularly within the church. Have you ever wondered what grooming means in the context of spiritual abuse? Or how power dynamics within religious organizations can lead to victimization?...