What does it mean to make a home before you feel like you have everything figured out?

In this episode of At the Table with Kobie, Kobie sits down with Lauren Sarter to talk about the unexpected journey that led her to buy a house that had been sitting vacant for more than a decade—and turn it into a home filled with color, character, hospitality, and life.

After losing her first home purchase and watching the housing market change around her, Lauren took a risk on a property that needed almost everything. What followed was a crash course in renovation, a whole lot of DIY, friends showing up with tools, plenty of prayer, and a deeper understanding of what it actually means to build a home.

But this conversation isn't really about a house.

It's about what happens when we stop waiting for the perfect season to create the life we want to live. It's about making room for people, choosing beauty even when things are unfinished, and learning to hold the things we build with open hands.

Lauren and Kobie talk about decorating without rules, creating a sense of home wherever you are, the difference between hosting and performing, and why hospitality has so little to do with having a perfect space.

They also talk about faith, stewardship, and the reminder that the things we build are temporary—but the way we make people feel can leave a lasting mark.

If you've ever wondered whether you have to wait for the right house, the right season, or the right circumstances before you can really begin, this conversation is for you.

Pull up a chair. Let's talk about home.

Welcome to the very first episode of At the Table with Kobie.

After nearly nine years of carrying the idea of this podcast, Kobie is finally pulling up a chair and starting the conversation.

In this deeply personal introduction, Kobie shares the story behind the podcast, the experiences that have shaped his faith and identity, and the moments that have challenged his understanding of belonging, suffering, and purpose. From childhood dreams and creative work to being misunderstood, navigating hurt and assumptions, and wrestling honestly with same-sex attraction within his Christian faith, this episode invites you into the story behind the person sitting at the microphone.

There aren’t easy answers here—and that’s intentional.

At the heart of At the Table with Kobie is the belief that God is not afraid of our questions, our grief, or our wrestling. This is a space for honest stories, hard conversations, faith, doubt, hope, and the beautiful messiness of being human.

Whether you’ve known Kobie for years or you’re meeting him for the first time, consider this your invitation to pull up a chair.

There’s room for your questions.
There’s room for your story.
And there’s always room for you at the table.

Most faith content feels polished, distant, and safe. This one is built for the messy middle—where people are asking God for answers, building homes that feel like refuge, and learning what obedience looks like when it feels a little crazy.

Kobie opens the door to a season of honest, hope-filled conversations with believers who are living it for real. From innkeepers and chefs to DIYers, moms, dads, and people quietly saying yes to God in unexpected ways, these are stories about faith that show up in everyday life—not just on stage or in a curated feed.

You'll hear why real connection matters more than performance, and why the best conversations often happen over coffee, around a table, in the places where people finally stop pretending. Kobie also shares pieces of his own life, including what he's learning, wrestling with, and discovering as he walks through this season himself.

You'll discover:

• What it looks like to follow God when the answers don't come quickly
• How ordinary homes can become places of peace, hospitality, and openness
• Why saying yes to God can feel uncomfortable before it feels clear
• The tension between laughter, tears, hard truths, and deep encouragement
• How to spot God's faithful hand in the middle of everyday life

Kobie brings a uniquely personal perspective shaped by years of running an inn in Virginia, coordinating large-scale retreats, and working as a professional photographer. He knows the power of stories, spaces, and the kind of honesty that can't be staged.

If you're hungry for encouragement that feels grounded, human, and spiritually real, this season is for you. Perfect for listeners who want more than surface-level inspiration and are ready for conversations that make room for faith, doubt, laughter, and growth.

There's always room for you at the table.