Step Up with Chris Kouba

Fatherhood can feel overwhelming. Whether you’re a brand-new dad, raising teenagers, watching your kids leave the house, or trying to reconnect after a difficult season, most dads carry the quiet fear that they’re not doing enough. In this Father’s Day episode of the Step Up Podcast, Josh and Pastor Chris have an honest conversation about what fatherhood really requires. They talk about the pressu...

Marriage is one of the most important relationships in a man’s life, but it does not stay healthy by accident. In this episode of the Step Up Podcast, Pastor Chris Kouba and Josh Thomas talk honestly about what causes couples to drift emotionally, how to pursue your spouse through exhausting seasons, and why communication, forgiveness, and intentionality matter so much. From intimacy struggles and...

In this episode of the Step Up Podcast, Pastor Chris Kouba and Josh Thomas have a conversation around relationships, dating, and biblical manhood through the lens of the Song of Solomon. They talk honestly about singleness, fear of commitment, dating with clarity, and why men should approach relationships with intention instead of ambiguity. Pastor Chris challenges men to stop treating dating casu...

In this continuation of their conversation on depression, Pastor Chris Kouba and Josh Thomas talk about what it looks like to begin coming back from a dark season. Looking at Elijah’s story in 1 Kings 19, they unpack how God meets His people with tenderness, rest, food, presence, community, and eventually renewed purpose. Pastor Chris shares more from his own experience recovering from a traumatic...

In this honest and deeply personal conversation, Josh Thomas and Pastor Chris Kouba talk about depression, emotional health, and why so many men struggle to admit when they are not okay. Pastor Chris shares his own story of trauma, burnout, fear, and the dark season that followed a life-altering injury, while also pointing listeners to the story of Elijah in 1 Kings 19. Together, they explore how...

In this episode of the Step Up Podcast, Pastor Chris Kouba and Josh Thomas reflect on the lives of two faithful men whose funerals left a deep impact on them. That conversation leads into a powerful discussion from Job 1:1 and the four qualities used to describe Job: blameless, upright, fears God, and turns away from evil. Together, Chris and Josh challenge men to think honestly about their reputa...

In part two of this conversation, Pastor Chris Kouba and host Josh Thomas continue their sit-down with Todd Stewart, CEO of Gulf Winds and author of Delivering Hope: Leading a Business That Builds the Kingdom of God. Todd opens up about the hidden weight of leadership, walking through pressure, anxiety, hardship, and the difficult seasons that shaped his faith. He shares how prayer sustained him,...

In this episode of the Step Up Podcast, Pastor Chris Kouba and Josh Thomas sit down with Todd Stewart, CEO of Gulf Winds and author of Delivering Hope: Leading a Business That Builds the Kingdom of God. Todd shares his story of coming to faith, joining his family’s business in its earliest days, and eventually helping lead Gulf Winds into remarkable growth. But more than a business success story,...

Ever spend so much time scrolling for the perfect show that you end up watching nothing? Josh and Pastor Chris dive in on the topic of “ decision paralysis ” and how at the end of the day, it’s a leadership problem. In this episode, they unpack Joshua 24:14–15 (“As for me and my house…”) and challenge men to become decisive about the things that actually matter. They talk about the difference betw...

What do you do when you know where God is calling you… but there’s a wall in the way? In this episode, Pastor Chris Kouba and host Josh Thomas unpack Joshua 6 and the battle of Jericho. God gives Joshua a strategy that feels completely counterintuitive: march, stay silent, and trust Him. From the “stall” of smoking brisket to the grind of daily faithfulness, they talk about what it looks like to w...

What do you do when you’re in “flood season”, when life feels fast, heavy, and uncertain? In this conversation, Pastor Chris Kouba and Josh Thomas dig into Joshua 4 and the powerful moment when God tells Israel to build memorials after crossing the Jordan River—one on the riverbank and one set in the river. Why two? Because we forget. And when we forget where we’ve been, we lose confidence about w...

What do you do when life demands more from you than you feel ready to give? In this episode of the Step Up Podcast, Pastor Chris Kouba and host Josh Thomas continue their conversation through Joshua 1, unpacking what it truly means to step up—not because you feel qualified, but because God has called you. From leadership and marriage to parenting, friendships, and everyday decisions, this conversa...

As 2025 comes to a close, Josh Thomas and Pastor Chris Kouba reflect on a big year personally and at United City—and then pivot into a highly practical conversation about fasting as they head into 2026. They unpack why “the discipline of disconnecting” is often the missing piece for men who feel spiritually dry, distracted, or overloaded. Pastor Chris explains how fasting creates the kind of inten...

What do you do when the moment arrives—and you don’t feel ready? In this episode of the Step Up Podcast, Pastor Chris Kouba and host Josh Thomas unpack one of the most defining leadership moments in Scripture: “Moses, my servant, is dead. Now therefore arise…” (Joshua 1). It’s a sobering, powerful reminder that while mentors, seasons, and circumstances may change, God does not. Through honest stor...

In this episode of the Step Up Podcast, Pastor Chris Kouba and host Josh Thomas tackle the tension every man feels between the fear of God and the fear of man. Starting with Halloween, haunted houses, spiders, and flying cockroaches, they move into a deeper conversation about why not all fear is bad—and how a healthy fear can actually lead to courage, wisdom, and confidence, while unhealthy fear k...

In this powerful episode of the Step Up podcast, Pastor Chris Kouba and host Josh Thomas dive into the everyday decisions that shape a man’s character. Using a real-life car repair dilemma and the biblical story of Joseph in Genesis 39, they unpack what integrity truly looks like when no one is watching—and when doing the right thing actually costs you something. This episode outlines three critic...

In this episode of Step Up, Pastor Chris Kouba and host Josh Thomas tackle a challenge that hits home for men everywhere — how to truly engage and lead well when you walk through the front door. From cultural confusion about masculinity to the biblical call to love your wife and lead your family, this conversation is honest, convicting, and practical. Learn what it looks like to be a provider, pro...

Your job isn’t just about a paycheck—it’s part of God’s bigger plan. In this conversation, Pastor Chris Kouba and host Josh Thomas unpack what Scripture says about work, ambition, and calling. From Genesis to the modern workplace, they reveal how we can pursue excellence without losing sight of what truly matters. If you’ve ever wondered whether your work really matters to God, this episode is for...

What happens when a dad drops his daughter off at college for the first time? In this episode, Pastor Chris Kouba joins Host Josh Thomas to share the raw emotions, hard lessons, and spiritual insights from navigating this life-changing milestone. From the four stages of parenting to the power of early investment and tough conversations, Pastor Chris offers wisdom that every parent—especially dads...

Success can be a gift, but pride can turn it into a curse. In this episode, Pastor Chris Kouba and host Josh Thomas unpack the “glory trap”—how pride creeps into our identity, blinds us to wisdom, and sets us up for a fall. Through Scripture, stories from real life, and practical steps, they explore how men can recognize the dangers of self-reliance and instead walk in humility, receiving God’s fa...

In this episode of Step Up, Pastor Chris and Host Josh Thomas tackle one of the most overlooked yet destructive areas of a man’s life—sexual sin. From pornography to infidelity, they uncover the myths men believe: “It’s not that big of a deal,” “I can stop anytime,” and “I’ll never change.” Through scripture, raw honesty, and practical wisdom, they show how sexual compromise doesn’t just stay hidd...

Pornography isn’t just a private struggle—it’s a cultural epidemic that is destroying marriages, distorting relationships, and stealing purpose from men at every age. In this raw and practical conversation, Pastor Chris and Host Josh Thomas tackle one of the hardest but most necessary topics in the series: porn. They reveal why porn is more than a “bad habit,” how it hijacks God’s design for sexua...

In this week’s powerful episode of Step Up, Pastor Chris and Host Josh Thomas continue to talk about one of the biggest temptations that take down men: gold. From Disney vacations to Starbucks habits, they explore how easily money can shift from being a tool we use to a master that uses us. With practical advice, biblical wisdom, and honest personal stories, they’ll help you identify warning signs...

In this powerful and practical episode, Pastor Chris and Host Josh Thomas dive deep into one of the biggest stressors for men today—money. But this isn’t just a budgeting seminar, it’s a spiritual challenge. From biblical foundations of tithing to the modern-day lies men believe about provision and worth, this conversation calls men to live in God’s economy, not the world’s. Whether you're struggl...

In this powerful episode, Pastor Chris and Host Josh Thomas unpack a time-tested warning that has echoed across generations of men—and particularly those in leadership and ministry: beware of gold, girls, and glory. Through honest dialogue, biblical insight, and personal stories, they explore how money, relationships, and pride continue to derail even the most well-intentioned men. Drawing from De...