What Is Up⬆️

For episode 79 we got another female guest who also is an accomplished author, speaker and podcaster. Hallie Dye of Monroe, LA is the founder of The Saltworks Ministries, author of "You're Still a Good Mom" and can speak pretty fluent French for a second language! Growing up with a dad in the oil business in the south, Hallie was drawn to the business side of things instead of sports...

To wrap up "Women's Month" here at the podcast, we got future NY Times Best-Selling Author Phyllis Robertson-Thomas as she promotes her new book "I Never Knew." You may remember Phyllis from episode 52, the daughter of legendary duck hunter and man of God, Phil Robertson. If you missed that episode, go back and watch/listen to our most viewed episode where she and her husband Tony shared their inc...

Welcome back for part 2 with Chynna Cochran, the founder of the nation's best pro-life jewelry company "Natan." https://natan.gives/ We have all kinds of laughs during the "Gen-Z Slang" segment...she does about as good as you think she would. Then we talk about her desire to understand what it must have been like hanging around Jesus after His resurrection! As things get mo...

It's the start of "Women's Month" here at What Is Up! Our first guest is Chynna Cochran of the amazing pro-life Jewelry Company Natan Gives. Chynna has quite the story and shares almost all of it on part 1 of her episode. Starting out as an unplanned, unwanted pregnancy followed by a very confusing childhood filled with ups and downs created by divorce, brokenness and bad choices...

Everywhere we look, its confusion and chaos. No one knows what to believe anymore. It seems like most people don't know what or who to trust. We gotta look UP! In my first time back preaching again after a two year break, I cover all those issues and more! If you are going through a storm in life right now and need some real hope, I will share with you the only true source of lasting hope that...

For part 2 with Ben Schmidt, we get into all kinds of discussion: -what it's like being a team chaplain when an athlete dies -the thrill of 18,000 fans screaming inside the UNI-Dome -how he would prep for the apocalypse -old school super nintendo video games To wrap up the episode with the "what is up" segment, Ben talks about the recent revivals on college campuses across the countr...

Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) is really catching on around here so we got the Northeast Iowa Director of FCA, Ben Schmidt on for episode 75! Ben grew up in good home with supportive parents who always encouraged him in everything he did. So when they got divorced while Ben was in JH, it was life-changing for him. After excelling in sports and football in particular, Ben left the small tow...

In part 2 of Braden's episode we find out he ain't just hungry for whatever the Lord has to offer...he is also literally hungry! This dude aims for 200g of protein daily and works out 2x per day. But also makes sure to read the Bible daily and fast once per week! That is one heck of physical and spiritual "diet." Going deeper with Braden we find that he is not a fan of laziness,...

Episode 74 features Braden Knight! A hard working up and comer in the HVAC industry who loves fitness, pickleball, snowboarding and the outdoors. But something was missing in his life... Thanks to Kai Alpha college campus ministry, Sent Church in Cedar Falls and some good family & friends...Braden found exactly what was missing, a personal relationship with Jesus! Listen to Braden as he shares...

On part 2 of episode 73 with founder of Wapsie River Rat Fishing, Mason Schares, we get into some tough topics like gun violence, mass/school shootings and abortion! Lots of difficult conversations that need to be had! We also put Mason's movie knowledge to the test with "Guess that movie" Segment and he passes with flying colors! Don't miss the conclusion to this interesting, en...

For episode 73 we got the founder of Wapsie River Rat Fishing and co-founder of Wapsie River Rat Adventures & Podcast. Mason Schares has a passion for fishing, hunting, conservation and pretty much anything outdoors. He has made it his goal to abide by Phil Robertson's favorite Biblical advice...to live a quiet life, work with your hands and take care of your family. But Mason has a story...

Now that my life story was put out there in part 1 of this episode, it's time to go deeper. In part 2 we talk about the following: -a moment in life I regret and would like to do-over -my most hated Christmas song -hot donuts and bowling being the good ol days -getting hit by a truck while riding a moped...and surviving ...and of course the BIG ones: POLITICS and IMMIGRATION This episode is fu...

We got a guest host who is putting the founder of the "What Is Up" podcast in the hotseat today! Paul Rundquist sits in the host chair and tries to get Bubba to share his life story. Everything from growing up in Louisiana and a lack of parental supervision to moving to Iowa, marrying his HS sweetheart and doing a 180 in life. So if you grew up in a broken home and never really knew much...

It's time to have some fun with Founder/Director of Pure Point Basketball, Casey Gardner! In part 2 of his episode we put him through all the fun segments and he even turns the table on me, the host, and asks how I changed my opinion on legendary Indiana Pacer shooting guard (and bigmouth) Reggie Miller. To wrap things up, we put Casey on the hotseat and ask his opinion about the impact travel...

This episode is gonna be a "slam dunk" as we got the youngest, brightest AAU league director and coach, Casey Gardner. Casey has always had a tremendous passion for the sport of basketball but it actually "crossed over" from playing to coaching. As the creator of Pure Point Basketball, Casey is trying to push kids beyond the limits of their current skills and turn them into the...

We hope you enjoyed Paul's life story in part 1 of his episode. To finish up our 70th episode, Paul is back to have some fun and discuss some serious stuff that has him asking "what is up?" Paul absolutely crushed the "Gen Z Slang" segment! In a move never done before...Paul really turns the tables on me and puts me on the spot for the final segment. Please be sure to follo...

Our first interview episode of 2026 features a compelling story from a young man who by 25 years old has already seen, gone through and learned a lot! Paul Rundquist was an aspiring small town basketball star but quickly went down the road filled with drugs and self destructive behavior while dealing with his parent's divorce. After travelling down the wrong road trying to fill his desires wit...

Instead of doing another Christmas episode, we wanted to do something different this year. If you really want a nice Holiday episode filled with memories, traditions and a Christmas Trivia gameshow...please go back to episodes 9, 38 & 39. To finish 2025 and ring in 2026, we look back at all the monumental growth we experienced this past year and some of our favorite moments. We also look ahead...

If the executives in Contemporary Christian Music think Isaiah is just too real for their industry...then he will fit in real well around here! In part 2 of his episode, we really have some fun getting to know the ins and outs of the personality of one of the most talented Worship Music leaders in the country! After all the segments are over, we try to figure out "what is up" with the wh...

We got one of the best independent christian folk music artists that might just be to authentic to go viral and hit it big! Isaiah William has an amazing voice and some real musical ability...but it's his testimony and heart that comes through in his music. And that could be why the head honchos in the Contemporary Christian Music industry keep rejecting him. Isaiah first caught my eye by post...

Before I can move on past this epic season of Wapsie Valley Football, we gotta go back to where it all began. In this episode, I re-cap the season... the highs and lows, the battles and the blowouts, and most importantly what it meant to me. Some people get some shout-outs while others get called out! (all in good fun) To put a bow on the season and end this episode, we go back to the night before...

After hearing all about how David grew up Amish, left the community, pursued bull riding and a life of his own in part 1...we can get to all the fun segments in part 2 of his episode. I never knew you could have so much with an "Amish guy!" But we get serious in the "What Is Up" segment when David highlights how so many things that are wrong or evil, are becoming common, accept...

Everyone is intrigued by the lifestyle and beliefs of those inside the Amish community so we got a guest who grew up Amish but chose to leave the community in adulthood. David Raber's story is pretty darn interesting! Everything from growing up Amish and being a major player in the hog industry of NE Iowa, to Professional Bull Riding and starting his adult life completely on his own with a couple...

Why do we believe what we believe??? It all comes down to our worldview. On this episode we look at all things that can shape a person's worldview and what is the best foundation for an optimal life. You know where I'm going...UP...but I'm also going to look at where the opposing worldviews came from and how they want to influence our way of thinking. If you are new to the podcast: Lik...

It's time to discuss how the assassination of Charlie Kirk and how it impacted me. I found myself really shook up since Charlie and I share many of the same values and both want to show people a Biblical worldview through conversation. Then the simultaneous displays of mourning, revival and callous celebration and mocking of his death...I was deeply conflicted. So I pose the question, how can...