The Don’t Knock It Podcast

Joshua 10 records one of the Bible’s most debated miracles: Joshua prays, “Sun, stand still,” and Scripture says the sun remained in place until Israel’s victory was complete. For skeptics, it’s often dismissed as scientifically impossible. For many Christians, it raises difficult questions about how to faithfully interpret the text. In this episode, I examine one of the Old Testament’s most fasci...

In this episode, I sit down with Jayden Faulkner — a recent graduate at Hillcrest Christian School to hear one of the most remarkable testimonies of redemption I've ever witnessed up close. Jayden shares openly about a childhood marked by instability, absent parents, and an environment where love felt conditional and safety was never guaranteed. Placed with an aunt and uncle after years of upheava...

In this powerful episode of The Don’t Knock It Podcast, I sit down with 74-year-old Craig Goff to trace a testimony decades in the making — a story that moves from spiritual curiosity to spiritual bondage, and ultimately to dramatic deliverance. Craig recounts his early life, constant relocations, professional ambition, and eventual exposure to meditation circles and paranormal practices in late-1...

In this episode, I sit down with my good friend and fellow church servant John Yepremian to hear a powerful testimony of God’s grace, patience, and transforming work over a lifetime. John shares honestly about his life before Christ—marked by insecurity, misplaced identity, destructive pursuits, and a traumatic night of violence that nearly took everything from him. From chasing validation and con...

In this episode of The Don’t Knock It Podcast, I am joined by my sister in Christ, Marleya Shai, for a wonderful conversation about worship. Before Marleya drew her first breath, her story was already confronting one of Christianity’s boldest claims: God intervenes, God heals, God saves. Her mother—unsaved, fearful, facing a Down Syndrome diagnosis for her unborn daughter—turned to Jesus as a last...

In this solo sermon episode, I walk through one of the most foundational, and most misunderstood, doctrines in the Christian faith: the Image of God. Not as an abstract theological concept, but as a truth spoken into real people, real suffering, and real identity confusion. Before Israel ever heard the Ten Commandments, built the tabernacle, or stepped foot into the Promised Land, they heard God s...

In this conversation, I welcome my former student and longtime podcast supporter Nico Ridino, whose story moves from atheism, isolation, and self-destruction into a hard-earned, faithful walk with Jesus. Nico’s testimony isn’t a dramatic moment of supernatural intervention — it’s the slow, painful breaking of pride, a near-suicidal night at 14, and God’s quiet persistence in the middle of depressi...

In this powerful and deeply personal conversation, I sit down with my brother and co-laborer in Christ, Joshua Camper, to hear the story behind the name that’s been mentioned in several previous episodes. Both Dario and Jonathan shared how God used Joshua to shape their faith—and now it’s time to hear the story of the man behind those testimonies. Joshua opens up about his early years—being raised...

This episode contains discussion about a suicide attempt and the impact it had on a family. Listener discretion is advised. If this topic feels too heavy, we encourage you to pause or listen later with a parent or trusted adult. Remember, if you or someone you know is struggling, you can always reach out to a trusted adult or dial 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Today’s episode is ultimat...

In this solo episode, I open up about what it truly means to be a present father—and how one moment in the hospital recovery room changed everything for me. From the first day of my daughter’s life, God gave me a deep sense of calling and freedom: the freedom to be there, to show up, and to love consistently in a world that often celebrates absence. This episode is personal, raw, and reflective—pa...

In this encouraging conversation, I sit down with my friend Dario Gomez to talk about his journey of following Jesus as a young believer. From his high school days—where he faithfully and boldly invited his peers to youth group—to navigating the responsibilities of marriage at just 20 years old, Dario’s story is one marked by humility, courage, and God’s grace. We discuss the challenges he’s faced...

In this heartfelt conversation, I sit down with my wife Karalyn Ramirez to explore her unique journey growing up homeschooled, how that shaped her social world, and the unexpected ways it intersected with her passion for competitive ice skating. We talk about the challenges and blessings of navigating friendships in that season, the discipline and pressure of life on the rink, and how both worlds...

In this episode, I sit down with my friend Dillon Pisciotti who shares how God’s love reached him in the middle of addiction, rebellion, and a six-month stay in juvenile hall. From early exposure to drugs in middle school to a spiral of teenage rebellion, Dillon’s story is raw—but redemptive. Now a tattoo artist who shares the hope of Christ with every client, Dillon opens up about the freedom he’...

In this episode, Sarah Terrazas shares how her journey from atheism to new age spirituality—and eventually to Christ—was shaped by mountains, a bear encounter, and now horses. What started as spiritual curiosity turned into a story of surrender, as God used both beauty and brokenness to draw her in. If you’ve ever felt disillusioned with religion or unsure what to believe, Sarah’s honest, unexpect...

This isn’t just a trailer, it’s a turning point. In this episode, I share the new heartbeat behind The Don’t Knock It Podcast. While still addressing the misconceptions surrounding Jesus, His Church, and His Word, the podcast is now stepping deeper into real stories—trials that shape us, triumphs that inspire us, and testimonies that point us to the Savior. If you’ve ever wrestled with hard questi...

Can the Gospel Transform…Middle Schoolers? Middle school can feel like a war zone—awkward transitions, unspoken pressures, and a deep longing to belong. In this episode, I sit down with three honest, funny, and wise-beyond-their-years middle school guests (Berlyn Santiago, Sawyer Rawls, and Christian Espinoza) to explore a raw and rarely asked question: Can the gospel really transform this part of...

Can the Gospel Transform Therapy? In this episode of Don’t Knock It, I sit down to explore the intersection of faith and family dynamics. Can biblical wisdom and modern psychology work together to bring healing to relationships? Or are they, as many assume, in conflict with one another? Our guest this week, Steven Hobbs, brings both professional expertise and a deep commitment to the Gospel into t...

Can the Gospel Transform Science? In this episode of Don’t Knock It, host Chris Ramirez sits down to explore the intersection of faith and science. Can a love for scientific discovery and a deep faith in God coexist? Or are they, as many assume, fundamentally opposed? Our guest this week, Denise Hobbs, shares their journey of pursuing science while holding firm to their Christian faith, tackling q...

Can the gospel transform High School students? In this episode, I sit down with 3 young men who I am so ABSOLUTELY proud of! Trey Tuyo, Anthony Navarro, and Matthew Mercado have personally been such a blessing to me as I have had the privilege of watching them grow in their respective faith-walks with Jesus for the past couple of years. 1 Timothy 4:12 says: Let no one look down on your youthfulnes...

Can the Gospel Transform Widows? In this episode, I sit down with my sister-in-Christ, Blanca, to discuss how the wonderful good news of Jesus has given her hope in the midst of crushing loss. Although grief is a very complicated facet of human hardship, the light of the hope of heaven is always able to penetrate the deepest, darkest pain--by God's grace, Blanca is evidence of that reality. Tu...

Can the Gospel Transform Veterans? In this candid conversation, Adam poignantly expresses his experience with having served in the U.S. military as a recon marine, and how his service has opened the door for him to minister to a community that is often overlooked and under-appreciated. Tune in to find out how serving in the military has given Adam insight on how to contextualize the gospel to fell...

SEASON 6! This season, for every episode, my guests and I will be answering one question: CAN THE GOSPEL TRANSFORM? We will be exploring topics, groups of people, or particular institutions that seem irreparable. Too far gone. Too difficult and painful to be redeemed and salvaged. Groups that have come to the point where God seems too small to heal their past, their present, and/or their pain. Tho...

The grand finale! We continue (AND CONCLUDE) our study through 1 Corinthians with chapter 16! This episode is SPECIAL and if you’ve ever wondered what the Bible has to say about manhood, give this one a listen! I invited two of my best friends, both previous guests on the show, Adam and Jonathan, to talk about what it means to be a God-honoring MAN. Tune in to Episode 51 to see how we are embracin...

We continue our study through 1 Corinthians with the grand Resurrection chapter: chapter 15! This season I am walking through the Apostle Paul’s 1st letter to the church in Corinth (1 Corinthians), and I invited one of my best friends, Jonathan Maccarone, to help me unpack the glorious truths of the Resurrection. The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is only really talked about around Easter time, but...

In this episode, we close out our conversation about spiritual gifts with covering chapter 14 of 1 Corinthians! This season I am walking through the Apostle Paul’s 1st letter to the church in Corinth (1 Corinthians), and I invited Renz Ignacio (a previous guest who covered chapter 12), to help me conclude Paul’s conversation on the use of spiritual gifts. In this episode, we discuss the significan...