The Nook Podcast

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I sit down with Chase Wagner—worship leader, songwriter, and one of the original voices behind SEU Worship. From his roots in Seattle to his current role as Worship Pastor at Grace City Church in Lakeland, Florida, Chase shares his inspiring journey in ministry and music. With a heart for discipleship and creativity, Chase has helped shape the sound of modern wors...

Send us Fan Mail In this powerful episode, I sit down with Karissa Rund, a woman whose life has been shaped by unimaginable pain, and unshakable faith. Karissa is a survivor of the Columbine High School shooting, a Gold Star widow after losing her Marine husband in the Iraq War, and now a fighter battling stage 4 colon cancer. Despite wave after wave of loss and adversity, Karissa’s faith in Jesus...

Send us Fan Mail Today's story is one of incredible transformation, resilience, and unwavering faith. We're joined by a remarkable woman who, despite a life filled with success, found herself grappling with crippling panic attacks and despair. But it was in her darkest moment that she discovered a newfound purpose and a profound connection with Jesus Christ. Join us as we explore her jou...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we sit down with Ben Calhoun, lead singer of Citizen Way, seasoned music producer, and mentor, to explore his impactful journey in the Christian music industry. With collaborations including Newsboys, Big Daddy Weave, and Jason Gray, Ben has experienced the heights of a successful music career. But for Ben, the spotlight has always been secondary to the mission: p...

Send us Fan Mail In this deeply moving episode, we hear the raw and redemptive testimony of Brenna Naufel; a woman who spent five years entangled in an extramarital affair that nearly destroyed her marriage and her sense of self. But through the relentless grace of God, Brenna found healing, restoration, and a renewed relationship with Jesus. Brenna courageously shares how she walked through shame...

Send us Fan Mail In this powerful episode, we sit down with Officer Thomas Leerer, a seasoned law enforcement officer in the Kansas City Metro area and a committed follower of Jesus. Officer Leerer shares how his faith in Christ is not only his foundation but also the compass that guides him through the high-stress, high-stakes world of policing. From confronting human brokenness to making life-or...

Send us Fan Mail As we wrap up Season 4, we're turning our attention to a vital yet often overlooked part of the Christian life: rest and renewal. In a world that constantly demands more; more hustle, more productivity, more striving... it’s easy to forget that God created us with limits. He built into us a need for rest, both physically and spiritually. And in His kindness, He not only permi...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I get to share some insights about my recent work trip in Europe where I visited Greece, Bulgaria, and Germany. As a videographer, I was documenting work going on that serves women and girls being rescued from human trafficking, Ukrainian refugees, and people far from God in Germany and France. Faith-based charities you can pray for and support financially: Crisis...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode: Why was there no podcast last week? Who needs a summer break? What's my new favorite podcast? Make sure to follow This Awesome Life with Brandon Hair! May God, who gives you patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus.  –Romans 5:15 If you enjoyed this conversation with Brandon, pl...

Send us Fan Mail One of the central goals of this podcast is to help you not just believe in God, but actually know Him. And one of the most powerful ways to do that is through consistent time in His Word. If regular Bible study has ever felt intimidating, confusing, or like just another task on your list, this episode is for you. It doesn’t have to be complicated. It doesn’t have to be dry. Study...

Send us Fan Mail A simple breakfast with a few close friends took an unexpected turn when the server brought the check and casually applied a senior discount to my meal. What followed was not embarrassment, but a surprising moment of clarity. That small, unexpected gesture became the spark for deeper reflection about the passing of time, the gift of age, and the reality that not everyone is given...

Send us Fan Mail This episode marks the beginning of what will be a recurring type of installment wherein I talk to composers, producers, musicians and everything in between; showcasing great music you might not have heard of yet. For this inaugural run , I have the honor of introducing you to Spencer Boliou . He's a producer/performer of some of my favorite music. We discuss his creative evo...

Send us Fan Mail In this powerful conclusion to our 4-part series on pornography addiction, I sit down with Mike and Erin to discuss where they are in their healing journey. They share how they are working together daily to rebuild trust, restore their fractured marriage, and navigate the long road of recovery with faith and perseverance. Pornography may seem harmless to some, but its impact on me...

Send us Fan Mail In the third installment of this honest and necessary series, we take a deeper look beneath the surface of pornography addiction, not just the behavior, but the brokenness that fuels it. I’m honored to be joined by Nick Stumbo, Executive Director of Pure Desire Ministries, an organization committed to helping men, women, and couples find lasting freedom from sexual addiction throu...

Send us Fan Mail ***If you haven't listened to part 1 of this series, it is highly advised that you do so. Certain portions of this episode would lack contest without hearing the first show. There are always two sides to every story, each carrying weight, each carrying wounds. In this powerful second installment of the series, we shift the focus to Erin, the wife of Mike, whose secret struggl...

Send us Fan Mail Pornography addiction is a silent struggle affecting millions, nearly 70% of men and 25% of women wrestle with it, and the numbers don’t change much within the church. In this powerful series, we introduce you to Mike, a man whose addiction to porn started in high school, and his wife, Erin, who once believed this was never an issue in their marriage. In this first episode, Mike b...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, it is such an honor to have Amie Patrick join me to conclude the series of shows titled, Personal Jesus; No Cookie Cutter Faith. In the past seven years, Amie has dealt with so much adversity, most of which was very publicized . In this discussion, she chronicles so much of what went on in three major losses. I believe you will be encouraged to lean heavily into J...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode in a round-about-way, I get to pay homage to a group of women that often go unnoticed; our pastor's wife. I have the honor of introducing you to Annie D'Amico . She is a Nursing Director, mother of 2, and for the purposes of this episode, a pastor's wife. I reached out to her because she has built a following just north of 122,000 people on TikTok wh...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to The Nook Podcast, where we explore stories of faith, hope, and redemption. In this episode, we are joined by Michael Ray Lewis . Michael grew up as an Atheist and his disbelief in God continued until the age of 26 when his wife told him she felt like Jesus was calling her back. Michael began asking questions about science and evolution that were difficult for many Chris...

Send us Fan Mail ***WARNING*** This episode does contain some explicit language. In other words, make sure the kiddos aren't around or you have a good pair of earbuds. In this episode, I get to introduce you to Joey Papa . His story is one of pain, loss, and amazing redemption. Check out Joey's podcast, The Failed Christian . *** This link allows you to support The Nook financially:  ***...

Send us Fan Mail Another quick bonus episode following up on the Spirit and Truth series of shows from January, all about making worship a priority in 2023. In this one, I get to introduce you to Ryan Loche ; he's on staff at The Belonging Co , a fast-growing church in Nashville, TN, a teacher at Southeastern University , and one of the founders of The Church Collective . And so, dear brother...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I get to share a conversation I had with Mack Brock while we were working at a conference together recently. Brock’s greatest passion is to lead people into a heightened awareness of the presence of God and to see individuals experience the breakthrough God has for them through worship. Having spent the past 15 years paving the landscape of modern worship, Brock h...

Send us Fan Mail Our series on worshipping in spirit and in truth continues with a special conversation featuring Dan and Michelle from Air1 Radio . As the voices behind Air1’s nationally syndicated morning show, Dan and Michelle play a key role in sharing worship music and encouragement across 300+ cities in the U.S. and around the world online. But their story started in a much smaller market, O...

Send us Fan Mail We all carry places of anxiety, shame, and fear. But what if, instead of trying to control or squash what feels broken in us, we invited God to meet us there? This is holy vulnerability: offering our wounds to our Father so he can love us there. With pastoral tenderness, Kellye Fabian shines a light on the path into holy vulnerability: six unexpected spiritual practices that open...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I have the privilege of introducing you to Steve Davis and Jordan Colle , also known as Sons, The Band .  These guys met at a song writing event in 2020 and hit it off, and despite living in two different states, they decided to take a chance on becoming a music duo that strives to write amazing music that will inspire the Church to worship Jesus deeply. In this c...