Episode 106: a conversation with author, speaker, radio host, and friend of Bridging the Gap, Susie Larson, and our podcast host, Mykelti Blum. This recording, sponsored by Steinle Law PLLC, took place in front of a live studio audience during the 2025 Thrive Conference.

Susie and Mykelti discuss living in the love of God versus the fear of man. You will hear them share about mindsets, times when they have looked too much to the opinion of others, and stories of how they gained freedom from fearing man. Susie will encourage you to embrace the discomfort as you live boldly and bravely in your faith. She explains how this will help you to grow in the Spirit as you start to remove fear and align with the Lord. This is such an impactful and exciting episode!

Thank You, Episode Sponsor!

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Episode 105: a conversation with wife and mother of three Dana Ross and our host, Mykelti Blum, as they discuss the nuclear family. What was God’s design for family, and how does the enemy attack the family relationally and systematically?

Dana offers loads of wisdom and practical tools ranging from teaching our children the truth of God’s Word to thinking critically for themselves to creating boundaries around schedules to protecting priorities like family time and church. They also discuss the importance of having healthy female and male perspectives in a child’s life and how the church can fill gaps where needed to help provide a strong nuclear core. This one will challenge and encourage parents to be intentional in all avenues.

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Episode 104: a conversation with husband, father, and businessman Derek Staaland and our podcast host, Mykelti Blum, around the topic of tithing, offering, and generosity. You will hear Derek share his financial testimony and how his seeing God’s provision in such big ways grew a desire to teach on the importance of tithing and giving back to God what is His.

Finances can be a touchy subject, and Derek and Mykelti break down why that is, as well as provide a helpful way of seeing our finances as a reflection of our faith journey. They also break down the difference between tithing and offering, with many biblical principles on the subject. If you’re someone who sometimes struggles with finances or the thought of “I can’t afford to tithe,” you will be so encouraged by this episode.

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Episode 103: a conversation with coach, author, mentor, and the founder of Perfectly Made Ministries, Brandi Ramirez, along with our podcast host, Mykelti Blum. In this episode, Brandi shares about the day her ministry launched when she went to a park in obedience, wondering if anyone would show up.

Her mission through Perfectly Made Ministries is to bring women into a closer relationship with Jesus. She is passionate about the Holy Spirit, connection, vulnerability, and encouraging others to walk in obedience to everything God asks. Some steps of obedience have felt like mountains, but Brandi has experienced God show up in big ways, and she encourages us to take the next step in front of us. Get ready for a big dose of inspiration in this episode, including the encouragement that “Your obedience is attached to someone else’s breakthrough!”

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Episode 102: a conversation with author, preacher, and teacher Kevin Senapatiratne, along with our podcast host, Mykelti Blum. Pastor Kevin travels the world talking about Jesus and prayer through his ministry, Christ Connections. He and Mykelti discuss spiritual warfare, which is the topic of Kevin’s new book, Spiritual Warfare for the Normal Christian.

They talk about common myths and discerning the difference between spiritual attacks and simply living in a fallen world where bad things happen. Kevin explains how spiritual warfare can show up in our lives on a big or small scale. Kevin also discusses the armor of God and offers encouragement and resources for us to keep learning.

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Episode 101: a conversation with wife, mom, therapist, and consultant Mallory Kurkosky, along with our podcast host, Mykelti Blum. Mallory shares how a BTG missions trip to a safe house launched her business that raises awareness of and supports mental health service providers.

This is a unique conversation surrounding the challenges of ministers and mental health professionals who do the hard work of pouring into people around them. Mallory gets candid about burnout, compassion fatigue, and secondhand trauma. She also offers encouragement and practical tips to recognize signs, take care of yourself, and address when you might need a break. She also shares ways in which experiencing compassion fatigue affects our faith. This is a helpful episode to better understand and be there for our friends who are daily supporting others.

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Episode 100: a conversation with the Director of Bridging the Gap, Angie Goetz, along with our podcast host, Mykelti Blum, as we are celebrating the Bridging the Gap Podcast! Angie and Mykelti cover the origin story, the desire to provide a resource for Minnesota, and some memorable moments along with the way–with lots of laughter, besides.

They share how the podcast has evolved in depth, vulnerability, and authenticity, as well as what it has meant to them personally. Mykelti shares about her experience in hosting over the last four years and how it has increased her faith. This episode is full of fun facts, behind the scenes takes, dreams for the future, and hopeful next guests. Celebrate the 100th Episode with us by sharing it with a friend, and enjoy!

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Episode 99: a conversation with BTG Podcast Host, Mykelti Blum, and Nonda Houston–National Director of AG Women, an ordained minister, author, wife, mother, and [grandma] “Nonnie” to ten. You will hear a discussion on audacious faith and what it means to walk in it, as well as experiencing God’s will for your life.

Nonda highlights the importance of obedience and how we are never done learning, growing, experiencing more of God, or deepening our faith. She shares how failure is part of success, as well as what negatively impacts our faith (also known as faith killers). Mykelti and Nonda also touch on comparison, acknowledging the seasons we are in, and more. You are in for a real treat with today’s episode; enjoy!

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Episode 98: a conversation with pastor and teacher Kristie Kerr, along with our podcast host, Mykelti Blum. Together they tackle the topic of hearing the voice of God. How do we hear His voice? The two discuss the ways God wants to speak to us and loves us uniquely. Determining how we hear best will help us grow in this practice, Kristie shares, as will protecting our view of Who God is. She shares vulnerably about growing in hearing Him–normalizing how sometimes we get it right and sometimes we don’t.

Mykelti and Kristie each describe the way God speaks to them and offer encouragement for those seasons of silence. This is such a good episode; you’re going to want to share it with a friend!

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Episode 97: a conversation with speaker, author, podcaster, and mom Jennie Senapatiratne along with our podcast host, Mykelti Blum. Joy is the topic of discussion, and you’ll hear Jennie and Mykelti talk about how to practically move toward finding joy in daily life, the difference between joy and happiness, and leaning on Jesus as our eternal joy when facing trials.

You will also hear about Jennie’s new book, The Unnamed Zookeeper. Hidden moments and unnamed people in the Bible have bigger impact than we realize. If you feel invaluable and unseen, this conversation will offer you fresh perspective to see how you are connected to a much larger story, and we pray it encourages you to be confident in yourself and the tools God has given you.

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