The Storydram

The guys talk youth sports and Kory finds out that Chris is entering his prime, his t-ball, coach pitch, coaching prime. Chris reflects on the power and call of making sacrifices for others for the sake of their joy and this being a catalyst to a deeper union with God, “If we love somebody we should love them enough to make sure that their relationship with God is more important than their relatio...

Kory and Chris unpack the hugely controversial topic of carbonated water. Kory recalls a painful memory of saving his daughter from an oyster bed which is more scary, and bloody, than it sounds. The guys discuss obedience, love, sacrifice, and what it looks like practically to avoid those near occasions of sin.

Kory lists some the things that Chris has introduced him to over the years like oysters and Thai food. Chris responds by talking about all the North Dakota things Kory has shared. Did someone say redeye? Chris tells a story about getting a speeding ticket in a dubious section of road just outside a retreat house while he has an eight foot tall cross in the bed of his pickup truck. It’s not a count...

The guys commiserate about having uncommon and difficult to pronounce last names and Kory publicly confesses to competing in academic triathlons.   Then Chris and Kory jump into a game of Story Roulette. Kory pulls two topics for Chris to choose from: cows and being pregnant. Chris tells us all about the time his wife Liz was pregnant with their son and thought she was having contractions at 32 we...

Fr John Utecht joins the guys to talk baseball growing up and family life before he shares a scary story about encountering a grizzly bear in the Colorado Rocky Mountains.  Kory, Chris and Fr.  John discuss a simple key to spiritual success - staying where God can see you. Stay close to God and do things that help you stay close to God and you will probably be alright. 

Elliut Fonseca snd Eve Anders join Chris and Kory to confess the lack of cleanliness in their cars. Elliut shares a story of a time on a mission trip he tried to be cool and needed to make a visit to the emergency room. The group discusses the tension between stretching to share the gospel and being true to the gifts God has given us. 

The guys discuss Friday night cleaning aka happy wife = happy life or maybe it is just growing up and adulting better.  Chris tells us about a time he accidentally pulled the hair of a total stranger in the middle of Mass. If you like cringe, this story is for you. The guys discuss how even the strangest moments can be an opportunity to share the good news of Jesus. 

Eve Anders and Elliut Fonseca join the guys to discuss New Orleans Eve’s homeland. Eve tells an epic story of seeking to feed a team member, sub-par customer service, and laughing so hard, well, I think you know. What message can the group discover in this adventurous tale? The necessity of accepting help. 

Chris airs his personal grievance against seemingly everyone’s obsession with a blooming corpse flower and the guys contemplate why churches burn incense.   Kory tells the story of watching a group of teens contemplate cutting in line in front of his kids while waiting in line for a ride at Mall of America. We contemplate whether it is okay to correct other people’s kids. 

The guys talk things that were amazing as kids that as adults kinda stink. Chuck-e-cheese was the example #1.  Guest Tim Lyndal shared about a time in the midst of a college philosophy class he was challenged to examine his own life for any hidden resentments. After a short examination Tim discovered the need for healing in one area his life.

Kory and Chris play everyone’s favorite Storydram game: Story Roulette. Chris pulls two bar napkin topics: “what the sesame street characters did in retirement?” and “grocery shopping.” Kory must choose which to tell a story about.  Kory responded to grocery shopping telling a story about his favorite game as a youth minister - Blender Wars. It is exactly as gross as you imagine. The guys then thi...

The guys get deep taking about one of the most important topics to all of humanity - sandwiches. Kory craps on Subway hard (sorry for cussing). Chris tells a story about a time he forgot his drivers license in Minneapolis on a 9 hour road trip. He missed out on more than driving. The guys talk about the joy of not getting what we want.

Special guest Tim Lyngdal joins the guys to tell the story of the bravest barista in the world. After a brief chat about worship fails, Tim goes on to share about his visit to India and time spent with St. Mother Teresa’s sisters serving the destitute. A conversation over a latte reveals Tim’s barista had been beaten up for the Christian faith because he proclaimed the gospel in a very unexpected...

Guest Mike Mohs is back to tell the story of his dad meeting St. Padre Pio during World War II. The guys are blown away by the story of Mike’s father Robert Mohs meeting the great Italian 20th century saint and then later returning to join him for Mass. St. Pio of Pietrelcina, better known as Padre Pio, was an Italian Capuchin friar, priest, stigmatist, and mystic.

Story Roulette: the guys are back at it playing Story Roullette. In this story telling game, Chris or Kory picks two random topics from a stack of suggested story topics and the other guy has to tell a story and reflect on a deeper meaning of that story.  In this episode, Chris has to tell a story either about theology of female body or a story about shrimp dip. Yup. Chris tells us about a long ti...

The guys talk concerts, bands, and musical genres with guest Joe Masek before Joe goes on to explain that he used to be a professional DJ in college. That was until he met Jesus in a more profound way. He gave it all up until God surprised him with a big time show. The guys discuss what it means to trust God in the midst of our brokenness and how God can turn bad news into God news.

Jesus Christ is Risen! On this Easter episode the guys welcome special guest Mike Mohs who tells Chris and Kory about his mother's courageous decision to carry him to full term against the advice of her doctors. They also chat about student art that sells for thousands of dollars at those private school galas. #itsforthekids

Welcome to the 2nd game of Story Roulette on Storydram. This time Kory picks between two random story topics and has to come up with a story and a message on the spot.  Kory goes on to tell us all about accidentally spoiling a cooler full of milk and how he learned an important lesson about the good of humility. 

Special guest Joe Masek joins Chris and Kory on this week’s episode.  Chris explains his theory as to why there are awkward silences in conversations. Kory and Joe think it is just a stupid as Chris’s classmates did in 1993.  Joe shares with the guys about how Colorado ants build larger ant hills than Minnesota ants. The guys reflect on how often we let our environments or the world dictate who bi...

The guys play a crazy Storydram game first played at the most recent Storydram Workshop Live Event (Yes, you too can have the Storydram team at your event.).  Story roulette.  At the last live event we had about 50 people write story topics on bar napkins. Kory randomly picked 2 napkins and gave Chris the option of which one to tell a story about. Chris chose “purgatory” and shares a time when his...

Chris interrogates Kory about a recent photo that's been circling online. Kory shares a powerful encounter he had with a man panhandling on the street corner. The guys talk about the connect between what we pray during the mass and how we live as members of the Mystical Body of Christ.

Chris tries unsuccessfully unsucxedulkyto get Alexa to play the album Nevermind by Nirvana, proving some technology sucks. The guys talk Lent and Chris shares a story about the time in college he bought a pack of cigarettes and got pranked in the process. The guys reflect on the true purpose of Lenten sacrifices. 

The guys talk about weird Lenten sacrifices and watermelon in February. Kory shares about going to church with his grandparents and praying a rosary with them in their small town, North Dakota church. Chris and Kory chat about the most effective behaviors of parents who pass faith along to their kids.

We know you’ve never even once asked yourselves, “I wonder what Chris wears to bed.” But who cares, we’re talking about it anyway because Chris is leveling up his bedtime clothing game.  The guys reflect on the hurried pace of life and the ever present temptation to consume. Our lives and decisions can so easily be caught up in thoughtless speed and ferocious consumption that we don’t have time to...

The guys talk about the important match up in this year’s big game - Brock Purdy vs Taylor Swift. Kory tells us about his youngest daughter’s disappointment when one of her many balloon animals bursts before bed. Kory and Chris reflect on experiencing God in the ups and downs of downs of family life and how God’s love only makes sense if we can think like a child.