The Pulpit and Porch

Every person has a story. Some chapters are filled with joy. Others are marked by pain, addiction, loss, failure, and the difficult road back. In this episode of  The Pulpit & Porch , Tony sits down with author and screenwriter Peter Colter for an honest conversation about storytelling, addiction, recovery, faith, and redemption. Peter shares how some of the darkest moments of his life ultimat...

Sometimes the best conversations are the ones you never planned. After both of our scheduled guests unexpectedly had to cancel, Robert and Tony decided to do something we’ve never done before: sit down without an outline, without a script, and simply have a conversation. From hilarious stories and unexpected questions to reflections on friendship, life, faith, and everything in between, this episo...

What does real leadership look like? In a culture obsessed with influence, titles, and recognition, Jake Holmes offers a different perspective: leadership is less about power and more about responsibility. In this episode of The Pulpit & Porch, Tony Marr and Robert Kell sit down with Jake Holmes, Mayor of Bristol, Virginia and External Affairs Manager for Appalachian Power, to explore leadersh...

What happens when you sit down with six incredible people and realize the conversations are connected in ways you never expected? In this special episode of The Pulpit & Porch, Tony and Robert return to the porch together to reflect on their recent conversations with Jody Powell, Jason Castleberry, Luc Johnson, Amanda Marr, Thomas Dismukes, and Trevor Wentt. Instead of simply looking back, the...

In this episode of  The Pulpit & Porch , Tony sits down with Jody Powell, host of  Falls Count Anywhere and  Men Like Us  on Abundant TV Network, for an honest conversation about masculinity, mental health, ministry, authenticity, and the struggles many men quietly carry. Jody shares his unique journey through professional wrestling, why unconventional ministry often reaches people traditional...

In this episode of  The Pulpit & Porch , Tony sits down with pastor and military veteran Jason Castleberry for a powerful conversation about war, trauma, PTSD, identity, faith, and redemption. Jason shares his journey from growing up in Texas to serving in the airborne infantry, completing 25 operational jumps, surviving a parachute malfunction that changed the trajectory of his life, and late...

In this episode of  The Pulpit & Porch , we sit down with mortgage lender Luc Johnson for a conversation about integrity, generosity, leadership, and what it means to genuinely put people before profit. Before this episode, we asked several people about Luc, and the response was remarkably consistent: “He’s one of the most trustworthy and selfless people I know.” In an industry often driven by...

In this episode of  The Pulpit & Porch , we sit down with Amanda Marr for one of the most honest and personal conversations we’ve had on the show. Amanda is a top-producing Realtor with Keller Williams, a member of the Agent Leadership Council (ALC), the newly elected Southeast Regional Director for KW Cares, and this year’s recipient of the prestigious Eagle Award, an honor given to just one...

Why would someone step into one of the most challenging and scrutinized arenas in our country? In this episode of  The Pulpit & Porch , we sit down with speaker, storyteller, and U.S. Senate candidate Thomas Dismukes for a real, thoughtful conversation about leadership, calling, and what it means to step into something bigger than yourself. Thomas shares his journey, where he came from, the ex...

What does it cost to be honest? In this episode of  The Pulpit & Porch , we sit down with artist and storyteller Trevor Wentt for one of our most powerful and personal conversations to date. Trevor opens up about his childhood growing up in Virginia Beach in a broken home, being raised by a hardworking single mom, and navigating the realities of poverty, all while holding onto a deep and genui...

The world feels uncertain right now… so how are you supposed to respond? In Part 2 of this two-part conversation, we move from confusion to clarity. After breaking down what’s happening and why it feels so heavy in Part 1, this episode is all about what actually matters next. How you live, think, and respond in the middle of uncertainty. Because while you can’t control global events… you can contr...

What’s actually happening in the world right now… and why does it feel so heavy? In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, we step into the tension so many people are feeling, but few know how to process. From rising oil prices and economic pressure to global conflict, uncertainty, and nonstop headlines, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, anxious, and unsure of what to believe. But instead of reacting…...

If you haven’t listened to Part 1 yet… go back. Seriously. Because in this episode, we’re not easing in, we’re going straight to the heart of it. We all say we feel “stuck.” Stuck in life. Stuck in our calling. Stuck in our habits. But what if that’s not actually true? What if the thing we’ve been calling “stuck”… is actually avoidance? In Part 2 of this conversation, we go deeper. This is where i...

Most people don’t have a clarity problem. They have a courage problem. In this episode of The Pulpit & Porch , we tackle a hard truth: You’re probably not stuck… you’re avoiding something. The conversation you don’t want to have. The decision you’ve been delaying. The step you know you need to take. Instead, we scroll. We overthink. We “prepare.” We stay busy just enough to feel productive… bu...

Some people are impressive because of what they’ve done. Others are compelling because of who they are. Robert Jones is both. He’s a PhD archaeologist. A professor. A business owner who runs veterinary clinics. A black belt in Hapkido. An author. And now… a candidate for the United States Senate. But this episode isn’t about politics. It’s about something deeper. It’s about curiosity, and what hap...

Most people don’t build their lives. They drift into them. Career. Relationships. Money. Reputation. From the outside, it can all look solid. But what happens when pressure hits? In this episode, we break down the architecture of a meaningful life, not as separate pieces, but as connected, load-bearing walls: • Career — a tool, not an identity • Relationships — the support system that stabilizes e...

In Part Two of our conversation on phones and distraction, we move from awareness to action. If your phone is shaping you, how do you take your attention back? In this episode, we talk about: • Practical ways to reduce digital distraction • Why discipline beats motivation • How to rebuild depth in a distracted world • Creating rhythms that protect focus • The role of silence and boredom • How to l...

Most of us don’t have a time problem. We have an attention problem. In Part One of this conversation, we begin unpacking the unseen formation happening every time we reach for our phones. We scroll when we’re bored. We scroll when we’re stressed. We scroll when we don’t want to think. But what is that doing to us? In this episode, we talk about: • Why attention is your most valuable resource • How...

If people depend on you… This episode is for you. In this conversation with Jamin Rathbun, we talk about the hidden weight carried by high-capacity people, leaders, parents, business owners, coaches, pastors, and the “steady ones” everyone else relies on. Why do the most responsible people often have no one responsible for them? We unpack: The pressure of being the reliable one Why strong people q...

There are moments in life that change everything. In this episode of The Pulpit & Porch, we sit down with Jennifer Schoondyk from Karis Heart Foundation to talk about loss, faith, and what it looks like to move forward when your world has been shaken. Jennifer shares the story behind Karis Heart Foundation and how tragedy became a calling. This is not just a conversation about grief, it’s abou...

This week, we’re back with our annual Super Bowl follow-up, the one episode everyone seems to want to talk about the next day, whether they watched the game or not. We’ll unpack: The game itself - not just the score, but what it reveals about how connected we get to sports and story. The commercials - the mini cultural sermons that tell us a lot about what brands think will move us, shape us, and...

This week didn’t go according to plan. A foot of snow. Roads shut down. Driveway blocked. Guest canceled. Momentum paused. And it got us thinking… What happens when life slams on the brakes and you don’t get a vote? In this episode, we talk about forced pauses, the ones we didn’t schedule and wouldn’t have chosen. The moments when plans stall, control slips, and we’re left sitting still whether we...

Most people don’t fail because they’re unqualified. They fail because they never start. In this episode of  The Pulpit & Porch Podcast , we sit down with Dylan Shelton to talk about the courage it takes to take the first step, especially when you don’t feel ready, equipped, or certain about the outcome. We talk about: Why waiting for “perfect timing” is usually just fear in disguise What actua...

This week on  The Pulpit & Porch , we sit down with Brett Catrett, a business owner, husband, and dad who lives his life on mission, even when the road takes unexpected turns. What started as an RV adventure and homeschooling journey turned into a surprising calling to East Tennessee. Then came business struggles, a difficult move back to Florida, and eventually… a return to the very place God...

In Part 1, we talked about how not every moment becomes a story, but in Part 2, we go deeper. This episode is all about the truth beneath the event. The part we usually skip. The part that makes us uncomfortable. The part that actually changes us. Tony unpacks how real stories aren’t built on what happened, but on what was revealed about ourselves, our faith, and the way God shapes us through ever...