Pruned with Ryan Shieh

In the last couple of years, the world we live in has gotten more "spiritual." Religion is starting to creep back up the interest charts, and people now are accepting of conversations about faith. Here's the question: What exactly are we believing in? Are we surrendering to the Jesus of the Bible, or have we made up our own version of who we want Jesus to be? Who is Jesus, really? In this week's e...

Does God ever get disappointed in us? Is it possible to make him proud of us, and if so, is it equally as possible to let him down? Identity is one of the most challenging things for us to understand as Christians, but it doesn't have to stay that way. In this week's episode, Ryan encourages us to view ourselves the way God views ourselves and how that changes everything about who we are. There's...

Because of the fallen world we live in, our sinful nature, and our Spiritual Enemy, the world around us is designed to push us away from Jesus. Temptation and trouble are always around the corner, but is there something else we need to identify? What exactly is the greatest threat to our faith today? In this week's episode, Ryan talks through the greatest hinderance we face as believers and how we...

There's a silent sin amongst Christians today that is affecting us more than we think - holding grudges. Bitterness and resentment are often byproducts of being easily offended, and the Bible offers us help on how to avoid these deadly things in our lives. In the cancel culture we live in, being offended is inevitable, but that doesn't mean we have to live offended. In this week's episode, Ryan ta...

Surrender can be an interesting topic, especially as it relates to practical, everyday living. Everyone would agree that God is in control, but what does it look like to practically give him the reins of our lives? How do we trust him in all things, yet still put effort into the things we can control? In this week's episode, Ryan is joined by Josh Wells, a former NFL player and a Super Bowl Champi...

One of the greatest struggles of Christian men and women today is sexual sin. Lust has damaged and destroyed so many things in the lives of so many people, often leaving them broken and drowning in shame. How do we combat against this deadly sin, and why is it so harmful to us? What are some ways to fight and flee against sexual sin, lust, masturbation, and pornography? In this week's episode, Rya...

Dating can be difficult, especially when you are a young adult. Nobody ever likes to make the first move in a breakup, but how do you know when it's time to call it quits? How can you tell that someone is not for you and a relationship needs to end? In this week's episode, Ryan gives some practical red flags to look for in someone when it's time to move towards a breakup. To follow along the podca...

The world we live in today has slowly drifted farther and farther away from biblical truths. What once started as a nation under God is seemingly becoming more open to a society without religion or Scripture as the foundation. What should Christians do today to further stand in the faith that they have? Should Christians be involved in politics? How do we unite Christ and the culture around us? In...

Here's what we all can agree on: Nobody plans to waste their life. Oftentimes it isn't the big things that ruin our marriages, families, or careers, but the small compromises that seem insignificant. This week's episode is a powerful one, as Ryan details what a wasted life looks like and how to avoid it and live completely for Jesus. We weren't made to coast through life; we were created to reflec...

Human trafficking is one of the greatest evils in our world today. Millions and millions of people are victimized all over the globe for labor and sexual exploitation, and it's time to take a stand and join the fight. In this week's episode, Ryan shares a conversation with Ren, the Founder and President of Lantern Rescue about what human trafficking is and how we can further the mission and be a p...

Waiting seasons can be difficult. Regardless of what age or status you may have, we all find ourselves waiting from time to time for God to show up and move in and through our lives. What do we do when waiting seasons come? How do we faithfully steward these moments and what should we do while we're in them? In this week's episode, Ryan encourages us to win the wait and how to approach these seaso...

Grace is a commonly used word within the Christian circle, yet it's meaning is often misinterpreted and misused a lot. Many of us find ourselves thinking that grace is either a free pass to sin, or grace is simply proof that we will never be good enough for God. What do we make of this key element of the faith, and how can we live in the same grace today that once saved us before? In this week's e...

Sometimes life just feels like one breaking season after another - we lose our job, our marriage is falling a part, and we don't see a light at the end of the tunnel. But what if God's greatest blessings in our life only come after his greatest breakings? What if our valley seasons are the very things that produce the mountaintop experiences? In this week's episode, Ryan is joined once again by Ch...

If you ask Christians today about life after death, most would agree there's more in store beyond the grave. With this in mind, how should it affect the way we choose to live our lives today? Are heaven and hell real places? What are we going to do there? How should this change the way we live? In this week's episode, Ryan explains how to truly live with eternity in mind. To follow along the podca...

What is true biblical leadership? The culture and society we live in would tell us leadership is about power and authority, but is that what a Christian leader should look like? Are all Christians leaders, or is that only reserved for people "in ministry?" We answer all these questions and more in this week's episode, as Ryan is joined by special guest and pastor, Andrew Hopper! Andrew Hopper is t...

Have you ever gotten to a place where your faith is growing weak and is starting to feel repetitive? This is something called burnout, and it affects Christians all over the world today. How do we avoid falling into this trap, and what can we do to maintain our first love? In this week's episode, Ryan sits down with Dr. Troy Temple, who explains what burnout is and how we can avoid it in our own l...

Have you ever been in a place where you know God's Word tells you not to do something and wonder, "but why?" Why did he give us "rules" to follow and how come we "lose our freedom" when we decide to become Christians? While obedience may serve as a boundary, it actually is the pathway to the full life God has always wanted for us. In this week's episode, Ryan offers a new perspective on what it me...

Pain and hardship are no strangers to any of us. Life can get heavy, especially when it seems to be one closed door and storm after another. What do you do when you can't see a way forward? How do you find hope and trust God in the midst of the unknown? In this week's episode, Ryan is joined by Dustin Rivenbark, who equips us on how to trust and believe God is in our midst, even when we don't see...

Something common amongst Christians today is they love Jesus as "Savior," but they fail to submit to him as "Lord." Of course salvation is through grace alone and following Jesus doesn't require anything, but doing so should and will produce a heart of obedience and wholehearted commitment. How do we know we are sold out in our faith? Have we counted the cost to following Jesus, and if so, what wi...

You asked for it - and it's here! This week we asked you to send us some questions for Ryan to answer on the show. We cover a variety of different topics and perspectives this week, ranging from community, accountability, prayer, why we should read the Bible, and so forth. You don't want to miss this episode! To follow along the podcast on YouTube, visit https://www.youtube.com/@PrunedTruthNetwork...

One of the most common things we hear from young adults is that they want more exposure and a larger platform. While this may not always be a bad thing, it is important to ask ourselves how we are currently stewarding the platform we have and position we are in right now! In this week's episode, Ryan has a conversation with two NCAA Men's Basketball stars, Chase Johnston and Trae Benham, who detai...

Sharing our faith can be difficult for a lot of us, especially with the world we live in. Whether it be fear of the unknown or a lack of courage, we can always find reasons not to tell others about Jesus. Is sharing your faith necessary to be a Christian? Can you follow Jesus well without evangelizing? In this week's episode, Ryan gives practical tips and principles on why you should share your fa...

As you know, here on the podcast we have created a space for honesty and authenticity in sharing our stories and how God has shaped and pruned us into who we are today. There's a quote by Charles Spurgeon that reads, "I've learned to kiss the waves that throw me up against the Rock of Ages." Today's conversation is nothing short of this idea, as Ryan sits down with Ezra Robinson for a real and raw...

Let's be honest: young adult years can be challenging. With so many different possibilities and uncertainties, your 20s and 30s can seem like a whirlwind of emotions and questions. How do we navigate this season, and what is God calling young adults to do during this time of life? In this week's episode, Ryan is joined by Mary Spencer Veazey, who lays out a roadmap of how to faithfully steward you...

Joy seems like one of those traits that few people have, but everyone wants. Most would agree they want to be in a state of rest and contentment, but how do we find true, permanent joy? What are some ways to cultivate joy, and how do we look to Jesus for joy beyond our understanding? In this week's episode, Ryan has a conversation with Dr. Joy Greene, who encourages us to find lasting joy in the p...