The Nook Podcast

Send us Fan Mail In this episode I get to introduce you to author, Peyton Garland . Her book, Not So By Myself ; a safe space where God doesn't fix the loneliness, but sits with you instead. She shares so much of what happened in a very dark season of her life and how God met her at such a low point and helped her to navigate to a healthier place. Peyton's Instagram *** Questions or comm...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I'd like to introduce a different way of approaching the new year. Scriptures discussed: Matt. 6:33 Psalm 42:1-3 Psalm 63:1 Luke 5:17-20 Mark 10:46-52 Matt. 9: 27-30 Nehemiah 8:10 Philippians 4:7 Philippians 4:13 Check out Martin Chalk's Music HERE God, we are desperate for you Jesus, we are desperate for you Holy Spirit, we are desperate for you *** Que...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we take a look back at a portion of a discussion with Andrea Robinson , former morning anchor at FOX10 in Phoenix, Arizona. Her decision to leave TV news was not an easy one, but she knew that God was changing the desires of her heart. (Check the full episode HERE ) Check out Andrea's Instagram feed . *** Questions or comments about this or any episode: My em...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we will take a look back at a conversation with Katie Peslis from March of 2021. (Full episode Here ) Imagine seeing a life-long dream come to life... maybe it has happened for you. But just as it was really picking up momentum, it comes to an abrupt halt. Katie's WEBSITE and her INSTAGRAM *** Questions or comments about this or any episode: My email: steven@...

Send us Fan Mail As this podcast has come together over the past year, I have met some incredible people and had some amazing conversations that I hope have added value to my growing audience. The full conversation was originally released on March 22, 2021. My friend Trey spoke so candidly about a season of hurt and loss in his family that I hope will encourage you. Trey Van Camp is a church plant...

Send us Fan Mail As this podcast has come together over the past year, I have met some incredible people and had some amazing conversations that I hope have added value to my growing audience. In this episode, we will take a look back at a very unexpected moment with Dan Arthur from Air1 Radio . He took time to be so open and vulnerable and I will never forget how good this discussion was. *** Que...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we will check in with Neil Greathouse. He was on the show back in March of this year talking about the hard steps of planting a new church in the middle of a global pandemic. (Click HERE for that episode) Try as he might, the church was simply unsustainable and they had to shut it down. Neil shares some amazing insights on what it means to follow God, even when it...

Send us Fan Mail Thanksgiving is so much more than just another holiday on the calendar. In this episode, we will look at why gratitude is so important on a daily basis. Scriptures: 1 Timothy 2:1-5 Colossians 2:6-7 1 Thessalonians 5:18 Hebrews 13:15 Habakkuk 3:17-18 *** Questions or comments about this or any episode: My email: steven@nookpodcast.com Join The Nook Facebook page Steven's Socia...

Send us Fan Mail The world has been in upheaval for the better part of two years and that leaves many of us who consider ourselves as followers of Christ wondering what our faith looks like in the current climate. This episode features Pastor Josh Earls from Faith Community Church in House Springs, MO and Kyle Tilley, a marketing specialist in St. Louis, MO. Heading into the Christmas season, we a...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Nook podcast, host Steven Murphy interviews Ron Hildreth, a retired high school teacher who taught photography and yearbook classes for 32 years. They discuss Ron's teaching career, his approach to teaching, and the role of faith in his life. Ron shares how he started teaching photography and the transition to digital photography. He also talks about th...

Send us Fan Mail November officially marks the start of the holiday season and that means the inevitable gatherings; Thanksgiving, office parties, Christmas, New Years Eve... it can be a lot, and it can be stressful. I've asked Seth and Melanie Studley to come back and talk about the concepts of Family of Origin and how having a better understanding of how each of us is wired can help us navi...

Send us Fan Mail This episode takes you behind the police crime scene tape into situations where people are in need of someone who can show great compassion and care. My guest, Jared Altic, is a chaplain with the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department. He's also a pastor at Wyandotte County Christian Church. Anyone in this kind of work has to rely on a calling to be present for people who migh...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, you will meet Josh Roberie . He started life as a kid who loved God so much that he was, quite literally, in church every time the doors opened. That continued into high school and college. After taking a position at his church as the youth pastor, he started to feel the affects of that constant pull to be involved and be present at everything that was happening a...

Send us Fan Mail Continuing with Pastor Appreciation Month:  In this episode, you’ll hear about some of the toils of what it means to even consider planting a new church and the big changes that come for families. And even in the midst of following God, all new challenges will arise. I'm honored to introduce you to my friend, Ernest Smith. Check out Front Range Church *** Questions or comment...

Send us Fan Mail October is Pastor Appreciation Month and I will be having discussions with people that I have an immense amount of respect for. Starting things off with my friend, Brad Klassen. He's the pastor of Copper Hills Church in Peoria, Arizona. Brad was actually born and raised in Canada and had a successful career in construction and building materials before making a big shift into...

Send us Fan Mail Note: If you haven't listened to parts 1 and 2 of this series, it is highly advised that you do so; there is just so much context that sets up this episode. While marriage and family life brought Travis some peace and normalcy, he could only bury parts of his past for so long. Check out America's Mighty Warriors This is chapter 3 of a 3-part series here in The Nook. Nati...

Send us Fan Mail Note: If you haven't listened to part 1 of this series, it is highly advised that you do so; there is just so much context that sets up this episode. The injuries Travis received in combat forced an early exit from service and he did his best to meld back into some kind of normal life in returning to the United States. Attempts at pain management and PTSD would make that a di...

Send us Fan Mail Heads-up: Sensitive topics and sounds are featured in this episode. In this powerful episode, we kick off a 3-part series on The Nook Podcast by following Travis’s transformative journey from a young man inspired by war films, the guidance of a mentor, and the tragic events of September 11, 2001, to his decision to enlist in the United States Marine Corps in 2002. With unwavering...

Send us Fan Mail Just a short episode to tell you about what's coming up this month on The Nook Podcast. Starting September 13, I will have a 3 part series for you that I think you will really enjoy. Give this preview a listen and commit to being here for the next three weeks; this is an amazing story. *** Questions or comments about this or any episode: My email: steven@nookpodcast.com Join...

Send us Fan Mail We will call this the beginning of a semi-regular feature here in The Nook; "Pastors Are People Too" . Kicking it off is my friend, Josh Earls. He's the Lead Pastor of Faith Family Church in House Springs, MO, a church with long roots in the community, having been founded in 1965. Josh took the reins just 7 years ago and in some ways is still just getting started. I...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I’m excited to introduce you to Naeem Fazal, a man whose incredible journey from a Muslim upbringing in Pakistan to a transformative encounter with Christ in the United States is nothing short of inspiring. Naeem moved to the U.S. in 1992 after the Gulf War, and that same year, he had a powerful, supernatural experience with Jesus that forever changed his life. In...

Send us Fan Mail If you have never seen any of the I Am Second short films, you are missing out! I Am Second is about story; real stories of life transformation that happens by putting God first and living second. Joining me for this episode is the Executive Director, Mike Jorgensen. He has such great insights into the short films that have had such a wide appeal, but the accompanying resources as...

Send us Fan Mail You wake up one morning and while you're catching up on your news feed and you see that a terrible storm hit in another part of the country; maybe you read a little further only to find that hundreds of people lost homes and priceless possessions. This is one of the times when Convoy of Hope quickly mobilizes and gets people, supplies, and equipment on the ground in that deva...

Send us Fan Mail One family death can send you reeling for a long time... imagine dealing with the passing of your father only to be followed by your younger brother just a few weeks later. Stephen Melniszyn dealt with this very thing earlier this year (2021). This discussion will give you some insights into what walking through that process did for his faith. Be still, and know that I am God Psal...

Send us Fan Mail In this powerful episode, we take you to Hildale, Utah—home of the Short Creek Dream Center, a ministry of healing and restoration located in the former residence of convicted FLDS cult leader Warren Jeffs. Though Jeffs has been imprisoned for years, the trauma and abuse he inflicted on the community still echo throughout the region. My guests, Luke and Konstance Merideth, now co-...