Charting Life

Can a mind committed to rigorous logic and historical evidence genuinely embrace faith in Jesus Christ? On this episode of the Charting Life Podcast, I talk with author and Christian apologist Dr. David Shapiro to explore the intersection of science, faith, and history. Raised in an insulated Orthodox Jewish community, Dr. Shapiro spent over a decade as an atheist before an intense intellectual in...

Did you know that most couples wait six years too long to get counseling? When conflict arises, our brains actually react to emotional threats the exact same way they react to a deer jumping in front of our car. If you are operating out of fear in your relationship, your critical thinking shuts down, and connection becomes impossible. In This Episode: I sit down with Keith Dorscht, a marriage and...

In the 1800s, there was a prominent movement of Christians who believed that if you took medicine, you were actively showing a lack of faith in God. Today, we have tech companies trying to figure out how to implant computer chips into our brains so we can merge with AI and escape death entirely. How do we navigate the space between rejecting science completely and using technology to play God? In...

In this episode, I am exploring what it actually takes to be transformed. Christianity’s central claim is that God doesn't just want to form our behavior or make us "nice people." He wants to completely transform us into new creations. To break down how this works, I am using the brilliant mind of C.S. Lewis to guide the conversation. We will look at why doing the right thing even when your heart'...

How does a Christian reconcile the need for medication with the biblical promise of divine healing? In this episode, I sit down with pastor and author Joshua Kohl to discuss the intersection of faith and mental health. We explore the daily choice to take medication, the destructive lies we believe about our own value, and how to find God's grace when the miraculous healing doesn't come. Connect wi...

Are you living your life, or are you just managing it? In this episode of the Charting Life Podcast, I sit down with Michael Sirmon to discuss the hidden pressures of leadership and the danger of losing your identity under the weight of expectations. We explore the difference between burning out and shutting down, the power of "open hand management," and why you are ultimately always in the people...

How does the culture we live in shape our pursuit of the good, and what does it take to build a lasting family legacy? In this cross-cultural conversation on the Charting Life Podcast, I sit down with Tony, the creator behind the popular YouTube channel British Dad Reacts . We navigate the distinct cultural differences between the UK and the US, examining how nations can mutually inspire one anoth...

What is the biggest, most unexpected detour your life has ever taken? From navigating life as an Army brat and witnessing the realities of the Vietnam War to facing a decade in prison for dealing drugs, Jack Hager's trajectory was anything but conventional. We dive into his unexpected, radical encounter with a Bible in a Texas jail cell. This was an encounter that abruptly shifted his course and l...

What is the hardest part about forgiving someone who hurt you deeply? Share your thoughts in the comments below! Is it possible to truly forgive someone who hasn't apologized and still broke your heart? In this episode, I sit down with speaker and coach Rebekah Storey to tackle the heavy, often misunderstood reality of forgiveness. After experiencing a painful family estrangement right before her...

Is a four-year college degree still the best default path for young adults? Tell us your experience or thoughts in the comments below! In this episode, author Tory Haas challenges the cultural defaults handed to today’s youth and young adults. We examine the practical necessity of seeking wise mentors, the long-term impact of building sustainable physical habits early in life, and why young people...

How do you build a life of purpose when you mind is constantly fighting the urge to escape the boredom of the daily grind? In this episode, Aaron Benfield joins the conversation to discuss the realities of living and working with ADHD and Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria. Together, we explore the theology of work, the human rebellion against boredom, and why Socrates' call to live an "examined life"...

Are your daily digital habits shaping you into the person you actually want to be? In this special solo episode, I am turning my seminary paper into a practical conversation about how social media actively forms our character. We explore the philosophy of Aristotle and René Girard to understand how the algorithms underlying our favorite apps are designed to make us highly predictable and emotional...

How do you go from a childhood in foster care believing God is imaginary, to a Christian author defending the absolute authority of Scripture? In Part 2 of my conversation with fantasy author Lee Monroe, we shift from the physical prison system to the intellectual journey of faith. Lee opens up about his difficult upbringing in foster care and his early, staunch commitment to atheism . We explore...

How does an encounter with God change the way you treat people in some of the darkest places on earth? In this episode, I talk with author Lee Monroe to explore his near-decade of experience as a corrections officer. We navigate the gritty realities of the prison system , uncovering wild contraband like homemade swords and D&D dice , and dispelling myths about what it means to be a "guard." Le...

For Episode 30, I am stepping out of the interview chair for a special solo reflection on the journey of Charting Life. I share my personal struggle with "analysis paralysis" and why the greatest lesson I’ve learned so far is the profound necessity of simply taking the first step. I have discovered that a 1% improvement is infinitely more valuable than 0%. I look back at some of the most impactful...

Does true creativity require absolute freedom, or do restrictions actually breed imagination? In this episode, I sit down with my friend and fellow "bearded bishop," Jonathan Baker, to redefine what it means to be an artist. Jonathan and I explore how the daily grind—from crunching numbers to driving a school bus—can become a canvas for the creative life we are meant to live. Ultimately, we chart...

Are we just as boneheaded as the characters we critique? Can a made-up story reveal the truth about who we are? R.L. Akers ( Overtwixt , Gray Gaynes series) shares his journey from computer programmer to storyteller, revealing why he believes creativity is not just for "artists" but is a calling for everyone made in the image of God. From the discipline of treating creativity like a job to the cha...

Are you fueling your body, or just feeding an emotion? In this episode, I welcome back health coach JoJo Tabares to discuss why 90% of us are metabolically unhealthy and how our modern food environment fuels addiction. We explore the vital shift from viewing food as a friend to viewing it as fuel, offering a grace-filled approach to breaking bad habits. Follow Jojo Tabares: https://www.facebook.co...

Where do you go to reclaim true manliness? In this episode, I sit down with Dustin Wright (The Homestead Theologian) to move past the cultural caricatures of grit and black coffee and explore a deeper vision of biblical manhood. We discuss why the "real man" is often a myth, and how the "good man" is defined not by stoicism, but by presence, vulnerability, and sacrifice. Together, we chart a cours...

How do you keep your faith honest and alive when identity, culture, and ministry expectations all pull at you at once? In this conversation, I sit down with Carrie Burge, a college student preparing for youth ministry, to talk about faith formation in the middle of busyness, doubt, and cultural pressure. Together, we explore spiritual balance, identity in Christ, and why the Gospel loses its power...

This conversation is what happens when two theology nerds, a Pentecostal and a Reformed Baptist, get together and share life stories. Charting Life Podcast: https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=charting%20life%20podcast For a free book on Audible, follow this link: https://amzn.to/46XVQC2 Follow George and his podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/059o65rKKbWtOzqhiFJGT1 https://www.facebook.com/...

What if the answers you’ve been chasing your whole life were waiting in the one place you never thought to look? In this conversation, Jason takes us on a journey from skepticism to belief, from chasing knowledge to encountering grace. Through years of questioning and intellectual pursuit Jason finally discovers that the truth he was seeking had a name and a presence that changed everything. This...

What if your calling isn’t a straight line but a series of unexpected turns guided by grace? In this episode, I talk with Robert Prasch about faith, vocation, and what happens when life doesn’t go the way you planned. Robert shares how his experiences reshaped his understanding of purpose and trust in God’s timing. Through stories of doubt, direction, and discovering faith, this conversation invit...

What if your greatest struggle with food, health, and identity was really a battle for your soul? In this conversation with George Sisson, co-host of 600 Pounds Down , we explore the intersections of health, faith, and transformation. George opens up about growing up overweight, wrestling with sin and shame, and the radical lifestyle changes that helped him lose over 90 pounds while discovering ne...

Can God’s light really outshine the deepest darkness in a person’s life? In this episode, Nichole Henson shares her journey of surviving abuse, encountering real spiritual darkness, and finding freedom through faith. Her story is raw and honest, offering hope to anyone who has faced deep pain or wrestled with unseen battles. What does it look like to rebuild your life after surviving abuse and enc...