The Third Place

What started as a routine day turned into an unexpected physical and emotional response that Lauren didn’t see coming. Lauren and Brian take a break from their usual topics to talk about Lauren’s recent hospital experience after her son’s surgery.  Watch this Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ZaGEpr9zejY This episode is brought to you by Edgewater Investment Group https://www.edgewaterig.com/ S...

What in the world is going on with Greenland… and why does Iran seem to always be one headline away from a global crisis? In this episode, Brian and Lauren sit down with Dr. Glen Duerr, Chair of History and Government and Professor of International Studies at Cedarville University, to break down two major geopolitical situations that most of us hear about — but don’t fully understand. Together the...

In this episode, Brian and Lauren dive into a relationship advice column that hits a little too close to home for a lot of marriages. A wife says she’s exhausted from carrying the mental load of the household — planning, remembering, organizing everything — but also admits she gets frustrated when her husband tries to help and doesn’t do things her way. So… which is it? Do you want help, or do you...

What does ADHD look like in the life of the Church? In this episode, Brian and Lauren talk with Dr. Steve Grcevich, founder and president of Key Ministry, an organization dedicated to helping churches welcome and include families of kids with disabilities and mental health challenges. Together, they explore how ADHD shapes the way people experience faith, church, and community. From sitting still...

Tune into this story of one family’s commitment to loving their neighbor. Not just in word but in deed. Each of us have a neighbor near us like this, what would it take for you to do the real work of supporting them not just liking Instagram posts? 👉 GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/hope-and-safety-for-our-immigrant-neighbors?attribution_id=sl:83ac158b-d871-4e7a-8163-0934e7cc220b&lang=en_...

It’s just Brian and Lauren in this episode, catching up on life and diving into our usual biblical debates. We tackle a bigger spiritual theme: the Bible is not a magic answer book for every life scenario. Instead, we discuss how Scripture forms our hearts, shapes our wisdom, and points us toward Christ—so we can faithfully navigate complex, modern situations that don’t come with neat, verse-by-ve...

What are people in Minnesota actually experiencing right now? In this episode, Brian sits down with four local Minnesotans — trusted friends and family — to move past headlines and political talking points and talk about what life really looks like on the ground. From ICE activity and immigration enforcement to the emotional toll on families and neighborhoods, this conversation centers on real sto...

Our guests are Aaron Golby and Lisa Wyss from Cru Cleveland. Support Aaron: https://give.cru.org/0638775 Support Lisa: http://give.cru.org/0500386 Support Cru Cleveland: https://give.cru.org/2272928 We talk about what’s really happening in college campus ministry across Cleveland-area schools and how you—or a student in your life—can get involved. It’s easy to fall into the narrative that “kids th...

Our guest is Dr. Mark Caleb Smith, political scientist and professor at Cedarville University. https://markcalebsmith.substack.com/p/wake-up-dead-man-and-frederick-douglass Dr. Smith joins us to talk about his new Substack article engaging the latest Knives Out film, Wake Up Dead Man. We explore what the movie gets right, what it gets wrong, and why stories like this resonate so strongly in our cu...

Our guest is Dave Szafranski, Founder and President of Edgewater Investment Group - https://www.edgewaterig.com/ Dave joins us to talk all things economics and what the financial world is doing today. We unpack current market trends, economic pressures, and what investors can realistically expect this year. Whether you feel confident or completely overwhelmed by investing, this conversation helps...

Our guest is Pastor Leonard Tanks, Jr. from Reach City Church https://www.reachchurchcle.com/ As always with Pastor Tanks, the conversation goes everywhere—in the best way possible. We talk about spiritual gifts, discipleship, and the growing academic bent of the modern church, along with how theology, practice, and everyday faith intersect in real life. This episode is thoughtful, wide-ranging, a...

A new year often comes with pressure to reinvent ourselves—but what if the real work isn’t becoming someone new, but returning to what actually guides us? In this episode, we unpack the difference between horizontal morality and vertical morality, and why that distinction matters for Christians. We talk about how cultural standards often shape what we call “good,” how easily faith can drift into p...

Our guest is Kyle Hoffsmith, Pastor of Family Ministry at Old North Church https://oldnorthchurch.org/ A recent statement from a popular Christian YouTuber sparked controversy by claiming that sending your kids to public school is a sin. Kyle joins us to respond to that claim and help unpack what Scripture actually says—and doesn’t say—about parenting, discipleship, and education. We talk about ho...

Our guest is Dave Szafranski, Founder and President of Edgewater Investment Group. Dave joins us to break down the current financial state of the country—what’s actually happening beneath the headlines, what trends people should be paying attention to, and how individuals and families can think wisely about money in uncertain times. We talk about inflation, market uncertainty, long-term planning,...

As 2025 comes to a close, we’re looking back on the year and talking through the things that stood out the most. From our top purchases to the shows, podcasts, and books that shaped our thinking, this episode is a full rundown of what we loved—and what we’re ready to leave behind. We also talk about what we’re taking with us into 2026, what habits and mindsets we’re letting go of, and how this pas...

Our guest is Lisa Anderson from Focus on the Family’s The Boundless Show. Lisa joins us to talk about her unexpected sunsetting season at Focus on the Family after more than 20 years of ministry. We have an honest conversation about what it looks like to start a new chapter after decades at one organization, how you even begin to write a resume after that long, and the emotional and spiritual toll...

Our guest is Eddie Cuevas, Jr. — Lauren’s husband. Eddie joins the show to answer all of Brian’s questions about why Lauren is the way she is. From personality quirks to marriage dynamics, nothing is off the table as we pull back the curtain on life behind the mic. We also talk about Lauren and Eddie’s podcast, Car Seat Questions, including their most popular episode on divorce, and why honest, th...

Our guest is Nancy Kane of the Caritas Center for Christian Formation https://www.thecaritascenter.com/about/ Spiritual growth doesn’t usually stall because of one big, obvious failure. More often, it’s the subtle, unexpected stumbling blocks that quietly take root in our lives. Nancy joins us to talk about the hidden habits, attitudes, and distractions that can slow or even stop our growth in Chr...

Our guest is Bettina Hermann, Executive Director of Love INC of Cuyahoga County https://www.loveinccuyahoga.org/ What does poverty actually look like in our communities—and how often do we misunderstand it? Bettina joins us to unpack the realities of poverty, the gaps that churches sometimes face when trying to meet complex needs, and how Love INC comes alongside local congregations to help bridge...

Our guest is Daria Swisher. Men across generations are struggling to form meaningful friendships—and many feel isolated, lonely, or unsure where to begin. Daria joins us to explore why male friendship is declining, what’s contributing to the problem, and whether wives should (or shouldn’t) play a role in helping their husbands build relationships. We talk about healthy support vs. unhealthy pressu...

Our guest is Nathan Zion, attorney at Mulhall Zion LLC (https://www.mz-llc.com/). The Supreme Court is preparing to hear a pivotal case centered on a major question: Can a licensed counselor legally engage in what the state defines as “conversion therapy”? Nathan joins us to break down what the case is actually about, why it matters for counselors, pastors, parents, and ministries, and what the im...

Our guests are Dr. Ron and Anita Morrison of Hope Alliance Bible Church. Every pastor eventually faces one of the most important transitions in ministry: passing the baton to the next generation. Dr. Ron and Anita Morrison join us to talk about how pastors can hand off leadership well—with intentionality, humility, and a long-term vision for the health of the church. We discuss what makes successi...

Our guests are Jaime Buxton, Anna Nagirnyak, and Jen Andrews from The City Mission (thecitymission.org). What does volunteering really look like? And what are the myths we need to leave behind? The team from The City Mission joins us to talk about meaningful, healthy, and impactful ways individuals, families, small groups, and entire churches can serve neighbors experiencing homelessness. We unpac...

Our guest is Dr. Steve Grcevich from Key Ministry (https://keyministry.org/). Anxiety is everywhere—and it seems to be hitting young people harder than ever before. But is the modern church equipped to help? Dr. Steve Grcevich joins us to unpack why anxiety has exploded in this generation, what’s driving it, and how the ancient practices of the Christian church may offer exactly the kind of ground...

Our guest is Kathy Nagel from Abigail Ministries. When someone you love may be experiencing abuse, knowing how to help can feel overwhelming. Kathy joins us to walk through what real, effective help actually looks like—and just as importantly, what not to do. We talk about the signs you should pay attention to, how to approach a friend in a way that is safe and supportive, and the common mistakes...