The Downline Podcast: Gospel Driven Discipleship

Dr. Cole Huffman joins the Downline podcast to discuss King David's life as "a man after God's own heart." Learn how David's repentance, and faith in God's promises reveal what genuine spiritual transformation looks like. This conversation explores David's journey from shepherd to king, examining how his greatest failures and moments of redemption offer wisdom for every...

Celebrate Mother's Day with a special episode of the Downline podcast! Join Ariel, our Digital media & Marketing strategist, as she gleans invaluable wisdom from Kathryn, a seasoned mother of 17 years, wife to president & founder Kennon Vaughan, disciple-maker, one of the first Downline staffers, and a woman of the Word. Kathryn shares powerful truths and encouragement the Lord has lai...

We're joined by Bible teacher, and pastor Mitch Maher to discuss the chronological context of Paul's 13 epistles. From his Damascus Road conversion to his final words in a Roman prison, trace Paul's 16-year ministry across the Mediterranean. Understand which letters came first, how his theology developed, and why 2nd Timothy carries such powerful significance as his final testament. Mi...

In this episode, host Jamie interviews author and podcaster Tara Sun about the transformative power of surrender in the Christian faith. Tara shares her personal journey with chronic illness and how it redirected her life path in unexpected ways. Discover how surrender involves daily trust, waiting on God's timing, and experiencing His presence even in suffering. Tara discusses insights from h...

What does it mean to be "in Christ?" What does it mean to have Christ "in you?" Jamie and pastor and author, Kyle Worley explore these questions, particularly in relation to Kyle's recent book,  Home With God . They discuss how the concept of being "in Christ" reframes our understanding of identity, obedience, and mission, and how it serves as a foundation for active, d...

In a culture where "goodness" often trumps "truth," how do we effectively share the Gospel? Join Dr. Greg Ganssle as he discuss' why modern apologetics must move beyond proving Christianity is true to showing it's good. Drawing from 20 years at Yale, Dr. Ganssle shares his expertise on shifting apologetics, emphasizing the power of goodness and the importance of addressing...

From China missionary to Alabama food truck mogul! Hear how Whitley Dykes faith led him from eight years in China to launching "Irritable Bao", a booming dumpling restaurant with a second location called "Drome" in Seaside. Discover how he prioritizes family, and builds genuine connections through his business, proving entrepreneurship can be a powerful platform for faith when buil...

We've brought in theologian Sam Storms to talk about spiritual gifts in the modern church. Storms discusses his theological shift from cessationism to continuationism, and addresses misconceptions about miraculous gifts. Drawing from his extensive pastoral experience, Storms offers wisdom for navigating these often misunderstood aspects of Christian faith and practice. Read Sam Storms article...

In this episode Jamie is joined by returning guest, Downline founder and president, Dr. Kennon Vaughan to discuss "The Killer D's" - five strategies the enemy uses to undermine believers in their spiritual journey. Drawing from wisdom passed down during their training years ago, Jamie and Kennon unpack these potential pitfalls. Tune in to The Downline Podcast now to hear more! Subscrib...

In this episode, we're bringing Downline's founder and president Dr. Kennon Vaughan to speak about the ministry's 19-year journey. Kennon recounts how his personal discipleship experience with mentor Soup Campbell inspired Downline's creation. They discuss the Institute's distinctive cross-denominational teaching approach, the intentional "Spartan" nature of the program...

Join us as we turn the tables and put Jamie Trussell in the hot seat! Weston Downing, our Emerging Leader Director, interviews Jamie about his experience growing up, insights on Christian ministry, and his hopes for the future of the church. This episode offers a fresh perspective on our beloved host. Tune in to The Downline Podcast now to hear more! Subscribe to never miss an episode, leave a rev...

We are joined by Autumn Higashi, a former seven-year staff member with Students for Life who now advocates for pro-life values while raising her adopted son and infant daughter. Autumn shares her journey that began at age 16, discusses scientific and biblical responses to common pro-choice arguments, addresses pro-abortion messaging targeting youth, and offers parents guidance on creating safe con...

Jani Ortlund joins us to discuss her book "The 10th Generation" and the biblical vision for multi-generational discipleship. She shares practical wisdom from Scripture and personal experience on building lasting spiritual legacy, creating positive church experiences for children, and maintaining family values with both grace and truth. Check out Jani's book here Follow Jani on instagra...

In this episode, Seth Jewell shares his journey from the streets of West Memphis to becoming an executive pastor at Harvest Church. Growing up in poverty and family instability, Seth's life took a dramatic turn when he met his future wife Chelsea and her family, whose Christ-like love helped lead him to faith. Seth opens up about his transformation from a troubled teen to a successful attorney...

Jason Cook returns to discuss navigating major life transitions. Both he and Jamie share candidly about their relocations from Memphis - Cook to Atlanta and Trussell to Dripping Springs - exploring the emotional and spiritual challenges of major moves. They discuss the importance of vulnerability during transitions, frameworks for godly decision-making, and processing loss while remaining hopeful....

Jamie welcomes back The Gospel Coalition's Sarah Zylstra to examine how video games impact young men, revealing the industry's deliberate addiction strategies and their effect on relationships, behavior, and spiritual development. They offer practical guidance for parents navigating gaming boundaries while fostering genuine community over digital connections. Listen to Sarah's podcast...

Shad Berry joins us again to explore the theology of work and vocation. Drawing from his experience, Shad unpacks the false divide between "sacred" and "secular" work, discussing how all legitimate work has dignity and eternal significance. Check out Shad on instagram  here Tune in to The Downline Podcast now to hear more! Subscribe to never miss an episode, leave a review, and vis...

Memphis native Shad Berry, a seasoned business leader and community mentor, opens up about his winding journey through family business, nonprofit leadership, and personal transformation. Through his own stories—Shad reflects on embracing weakness, navigating change, and the deep work of character formation. Check out Shad on instagram here Tune in to The Downline Podcast now to hear more! Subscrib...

Returning guest Mike Gunn brings fresh perspective on the viral Mars Hill podcast and its aftermath, examining why stories of church leadership failures resonate so deeply with modern audiences. Through the lens of his personal experience, Mike and Jamie tackle misconceptions about complementarian theology and explore the Christian community's complicated relationship with failure and injustic...

From the early rumblings of a Seattle church plant to its meteoric rise and eventual dissolution, this exclusive conversation with Mike Gunn, one of the three founding pastors of Mars Hill Church, takes us behind the scenes of one of modern Christianity's most fascinating stories. In this episode, Gunn reflects on the formative years of Mars Hill, discussing the philosophical shifts that shape...

We're taking a brief pause from releasing new content over the holidays. In the meantime, we invite you to revisit some of our most popular Downline Podcast episodes. We'll return in the new year with some exciting content you won't want to miss. Trevin Wax, a former missionary to Romania and columnist at The Gospel Coalition, has written for prominent publications like The Washington...

We're taking a brief pause from releasing new content over the holidays. In the meantime, we invite you to revisit some of our most popular Downline Podcast episodes. We'll return in the new year with some exciting content you won't want to miss. Join Jamie in this insightful episode as he speaks with Dr. Chuck Hannaford, a licensed clinical psychologist and Founder of HeartLife Profes...

A simple action could create broader support for the show.

Jamie sits down with Dr. Sam Shaw, a seasoned ministry veteran with over 50 years of experience, to explore the timeless leadership lessons from the Book of Nehemiah. Drawing from both biblical wisdom and a lifetime of ministry and missionary work, Dr. Shaw unpacks the themes of leadership, resilience, community, and spiritual calling. They deep dive into Nehemiah's journey, examining how pray...

Dr. Sandy Willson, a seasoned biblical scholar with decades of ministerial experience, brings his signature depth and insight to this episode exploring the life of Joseph. Known for illuminating scriptural narratives with pastoral wisdom, Willson draws from one of his recent teachings in the Downline institute to unpack the transformative journey of Joseph, revealing lessons of redemption, forgive...