Welcome back to Pastors Unfiltered! This week, Pastor Brandon and Pastor Tony sit down for a special Thanksgiving weekend episode filled with laughter, honesty, gratitude, and some of their most unfiltered conversations yet. They share the five serious things they’re most thankful for in 2025—faith, family, health, ministry, unity among pastors, and the incredible generosity of Venture Church. And of course… they also share five not-so-serious things they’re thankful for, including construction nightmares, Bigfoot merch, maple syrup handles, and a gas station clerk who really wants Tony to buy a car wash. Along the way they talk about:
• Pastoral unity across the Northwest
• Raising families that love Jesus
• The wild world of tipping culture
• Youth ministry tattoos they regret
• Why everyone thinks Tony is a “boomer”
• Joshua Single: Week 2 of the Bachelor Bio
• Black Friday deals, Legos, Seattle weather, and more It’s heartfelt, hilarious, and packed with the real conversations pastors have when the cameras are rolling and when they’re not. Thanks to the faithful 253 who listen every week — this episode is for you. ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome to Pastors Unfiltered
00:26 – Opening prayer + Thanksgiving greeting
01:08 – Gratitude for listeners during the holidays
01:48 – Brandon’s Lego Death Star project
03:01 – The largest Lego sets they’ve ever built
04:03 – Lego therapy & aging trends
05:04 – “Per Harvard” becomes the new disclaimer
05:53 – Joshua Single: Week 2 bio update
08:11 – Eligible bachelors at Venture
09:01 – Campus staff shoutouts
10:25 – Black Friday purchases
10:54 – Hanging TVs at the Dome
11:12 – Gen-X childhood & car repair
11:36 – Gratitude segment begins
12:38 – #1 Thankful for what God is doing in the Northwest
13:00 – Young adults bouncing between churches
14:01 – Why unity among churches matters
15:10 – Pastors across denominations working together
16:26 – Addiction, calling, and pastoral influence
17:46 – Shoutouts to Northwest pastors
18:20 – Elijah’s calling & future decisions
19:25 – #2 Thankful for health
20:20 – #3 Thankful for families that love Jesus
21:31 – Youth ministry memories and transitions
22:36 – #4 Tony’s surprising “gratitude”: Donald Trump
23:34 – Politics, war, and peace negotiations
24:23 – The evolution of Tony’s viewpoints
25:55 – Taylor Swift and accidental fandom
26:19 – #5 Thankful for generous, patient churches
27:04 – Massive giving year for Venture
27:27 – Seattle weather appreciation
28:07 – New staff adjusting to Washington weather
29:16 – Christian education & thankful for Kings Schools
30:10 – Bonus: Thankful for the “Faithful 253” listeners
31:19 – Funny Gratitudes Begin
31:19 – #1 Tony: Roosevelt gas station car-wash guy
32:20 – #1 Brandon: Cal Raleigh and Mariners grief
33:01 – #2 Tony: The tiny maple syrup handle
34:04 – #2 Brandon: All the Bigfoot gifts
35:12 – #3 Tony: Restaurant QR code rage & phone flashlights
36:08 – Tipping culture meltdown
37:06 – Youth ministry tips & tattoos
37:29 – #3 Brandon: 30-year Raiders seat contract
38:49 – Seahawks becoming the new Raiders
39:11 – #4 Tony: Donut people who say “I really shouldn’t…”
40:19 – #4 Brandon: Thankful for construction projects (but not really)
42:00 – Mukilteo bridge saga + mailbox incidents
42:38 – Parking enforcement & Miller the ticket man
43:45 – Speed cameras & expensive fines
44:16 – How Judah hacks parking permits
45:01 – Disabled parking confessions
45:58 – TikTok obsessions & the “Fate of Ophelia” dance
47:18 – Youth pastors and tattoos
48:02 – Ending banter
48:20 – Airplane jeans debate
49:18 – Holiday encouragement
50:09 – Looking ahead to 2026 predictions
50:51 – Closing