The Pulpit and Porch

Most of us think the story is the event. The trip. The moment. The experience. But what if the real story isn’t what happened … It’s what it revealed ? In Part One of this conversation, Robert puts Tony in the hot seat to talk about why some stories stick with us, and others fade fast. They unpack the difference between an account and a story, explore what Tony calls the “colonel of truth,” and wr...

As the new year begins and the noise quiets, we do something that feels both rare and necessary: we pause. In this episode of The Pulpit & Porch, we take a look back with gratitude. Not a highlight reel. Not a victory lap. Just an honest reflection on what this year gave us, what it took from us, and what it taught us along the way. We talk about the moments worth celebrating, the lessons we d...

Christmas is technically over… but the feelings aren’t. The decorations are still up. The house is quieter. And we’re left in that strange space between what was and what’s next. In this porch conversation, we go back to the Christmas TV specials many of us grew up with, not for nostalgia, but for meaning. Charlie Brown. The Grinch. Rudolph. Why do these stories still resonate after the gifts are...

This week, it’s just Tony on the porch. No co-host, no script, just a heart-to-heart about the season we all feel differently each year. With Christmas just two days away, the pressure, the exhaustion, the “shoulds,” and even the grief can feel heavier than the holiday cards promise. In this solo episode, we pull back the curtain on the myth of the “perfect Christmas” and explore what the first Ch...

This week on The Pulpit & Porch , Tony and Robert do something a little different… and a whole lot of fun. We’re talking Christmas movies, the ones we grew up on, the ones we quote all year long, and the ones that somehow manage to preach a better sermon than half the stuff we’ve heard on Sunday mornings. The guys reveal their official Top 10 Christmas Movies of All Time (and yes, we’re sure y...

Christmas isn’t a mood. It’s not a memory. And it’s definitely not just a moment. It’s a miracle. In this final episode of our Advent mini-series, we light the Love candle and gather around the Christ candle, the center of the wreath and the center of our faith. We talk about what it really means to live a life shaped by God’s love, and why the birth of Jesus wasn’t sentimental… it was sacrificial...

Advent is more than a countdown to Christmas; it’s an invitation to slow down, look up, and lean into what really matters. In Part Two of our Advent mini-series, we’re talking about two words we all crave this time of year… peace and joy. But if we’re honest, December often delivers stress, exhaustion, and noise instead. So what does it look like to experience  real  peace in a chaotic season? And...

Christmas can feel chaotic, rushed, and full of pressure, but Advent offers a different way. In Part One of our Advent series on The Pulpit & Porch Podcast, Tony and Robert explore what Advent really is, why it matters, and how it can anchor your family in the middle of the holiday whirlwind. We talk about the history and theology of Advent, the two horizons of waiting for Christ, and how this...

Grab a seat on the porch and pour a glass of sweet tea. In this episode, Tony and Robert sit down for a front-porch conversation about the things we wish we had learned earlier in life, leadership, faith, and family. From the lessons that came the hard way, to the truths that finally clicked years later, to the wisdom we’re still learning in real time, this is an open, reflective, and surprisingly...

Baseball isn’t just a game, it’s life in nine innings. In this episode, Tony (the proud Dodgers fanatic) and Robert (the loyal Braves man) step up to the mic to talk about the 2025 World Series, the greatest Game 7 in recent memory, and how baseball mirrors the beauty and struggle of life itself. From perseverance and momentum swings to heartbreak and jubilation, this conversation is about more th...

We’ve been called “grumpy old men”… and honestly, they’re not wrong. This week, Tony and Robert swap reading glasses for microphones and dive into the hilarious (and slightly painful) signs that we might be getting old, from groaning when we stand up to getting way too excited about new appliances. But it’s not all jokes, we also talk about what aging has taught us about purpose, peace, and learni...

We all carry stories inside our heads, beliefs about who we are, what we can do, and what God can do through us. Some of these stories empower us… others hold us back. In this episode, Tony and Robert explore the internal narratives that shape our lives, how to spot the ones that are holding us back, and practical ways to rewrite them in light of God’s truth. If you’ve ever thought,  “I’m not enou...

They say, “It’s the hope that kills you.” But Ted Lasso, and maybe the Gospel, would disagree. This week on The Pulpit & Porch, Robert finally gets his wish: Tony watched Ted Lasso. And not only did he love it, he found a sermon hiding inside a soccer (or football) match. From the locker room to the living room, we’re unpacking what hope really means, why it’s so hard to hold onto, how it shap...

This week on The Pulpit & Porch , we pick up right where we left off with Jodi Ramey , and this time, her sister Bethany Wilson pulls up a chair to join the conversation. If Part One was the story, Part Two is the soul. At the heart of their story is a simple family phrase, “Not quit.” More than a motto, “not quit” has become their family’s reminder that the story isn’t over yet. Whether you’r...

Some stories break your heart. Some inspire you. Some do both at the same time. In this first part of our conversation with Jodi Ramey, you’ll hear a story of faith that’s been tested in ways most of us can’t imagine. A mother, wife, daughter, and grandmother, Jodi has walked through more loss than most will face in a lifetime, yet her faith in Jesus hasn’t just survived…it’s deepened. From family...

This week on The Pulpit & Porch , we’re sitting down with Pastor Jeremy Burden from First Christian Church in Bristol, VA. Jeremy’s journey hasn’t been easy, he was kicked out of three churches as a young man, nearly lost his way in another ministry, and faced countless setbacks. Yet through it all, God and faithful mentors stayed with him, believing in a calling bigger than his mistakes. In t...

The past month has been full of stories. Some inspiring, some heartbreaking, and some that caught us completely off guard. From powerful conversations with Kyle Goff, Robert Bess, Hayley Wherry, and Kim Weitkamp… to headlines of tragedy and division… to even the shared hope of a no-hitter at a Dodgers game, every story points us somewhere. This week, Tony and Robert pull it all together. What do t...

Some people tell stories to pass the time… but Kim Weitkamp tells stories that stop time. She’s one of the most sought-after storytellers in the world, a keynote speaker and consultant for Fortune 500 companies, and a festival headliner who knows how to make audiences laugh, cry, and see their own story in a new light. In this episode, Kim joins us on the porch to talk about the power of story, no...

In today’s episode of The Pulpit & Porch, Tony and Robert pull up a couple of chairs to talk about a tension that’s all too real in our culture: Are we chasing our calling, or are we chasing clout? From social media platforms to the pulpit, the temptation to seek influence, recognition, and applause is everywhere. But what happens when clout overshadows calling? How do we discern the differenc...

In this episode of The Pulpit & Porch Podcast , Tony and Robert sit down with former Navy SEAL and pastor Robert Bess for a conversation that blends grit, faith, and leadership. From his years as a radioman on Navy ships to a covert mission during the Cold War, Robert shares powerful lessons learned from military service and BUD/S training that continue to shape his life today. But his story d...

This week on The Pulpit & Porch , Tony and Robert welcome Haley Wherry, Regional Director of First Priority, a ministry working inside Tri-Cities middle and high schools to connect students to Christ. From navigating the complexities of public school systems to equipping student leaders, Haley shares how God is opening doors in places many believe are closed to faith. We talk about building pa...

We’re back on the porch with Kyle Goff, CEO of the YMCA in Sparta, TN and White County Commissioner, to wrap up our conversation on what it really means to lead with faith, serve with heart, and keep your head (and soul) above water in leadership. In this second half, we talk community leadership in real life, the wins and wounds that come with it, navigating criticism in a small town, and staying...

Grab a glass of sweet tea and pull up a rocking chair — because today we’re diving deep into what  real leadership  looks like when the spotlight’s off and the pressure’s on. In Part 1 of this powerful conversation, Kyle Goff, CEO of the YMCA of Sparta, TN, County Commissioner, and lifelong community leader, joins us to talk about how leadership is more than a title. We cover everything from leadi...

Can you stream your favorite shows without letting them stream into your soul? This week on The Pulpit & Porch Podcast , Tony and Robert talk about the tension between faith and entertainment, and how to navigate Netflix, Hulu, TikTok, and all the rest without losing your spiritual footing. We’ll unpack: Why discernment beats legalism every time The difference between “harmless fun” and “heart...

In Part 2 of our conversation with Andrew Carrier, we shift from the story to the strength. We talk about what it means to grow through pain, lead with consistency, and live out your values — even on the hardest days. Andrew shares why a simple weed growing through a pole became a symbol of hope, how he kept showing up with joy (even on chemo days), and what it really means to lead well in ordinar...