Randy Draughon is the senior pastor at Midtown Fellowship in Nashville. Emily and Fallon chat with him about the global church and what he has learned from African pastors on his various trips on the continent. We also hear incredible stories about local leaders in Uganda and what they experience in pursuit of sharing the Word. It’s a rich conversation.

On today’s episode, Fallon sits down to chat with Katie Rose who is on staff at the Well Coffeehouse here in Nashville. Similar to our last episode, Katie and Fallon talk about how a coffee shop can make an impact beyond its customers coming in for coffee. We also take a tangent to talk about seasons where God prunes us in gentleness and Katie encourages us by sharing her personal experience with where He has guided her - at the Well, in her radio jobs, and in her travels around the world.

On today’s episode, Fallon spends time with April Kirby and Bailey Plante who run Crest Coffee House in Nashville! (You'll hear us refer to the shop as Crest Café but since the recording they have launched the rebrand to Crest Coffee House.) This coffee shop is not your average place. It’s Nashville’s first and only donation-based coffee shop! And this is just one of the many ways Crest Coffee House serves its surrounding community. We talk about the power of community and inclusivity and how we are called to participate in both. Locals and visitors, welcome to your new favorite coffee shop.

We’re killing two birds with one stone today as we hang out and chat with Matt Wertz and Dave Barnes - two of the biggest reasons people know about Mocha Club and African Leadership. Matt and Dave have used their platforms as musicians to share about Mocha Club and our work across the continent. Today’s conversation is a real life example of how we encourage our community to leverage who they are and what they have to impact someone else. We celebrate the impact Matt and Dave have made in Africa by looking back at their travels, reminiscing on stories, and sharing the impact numbers these guys have made with YOU, Mocha Club friends! Come hang out with us!

Technology is amazing! Today our podcast guest is chatting with us all the way from Nairobi, Kenya! Irene Tongoi is the founder of New Dawn Educational Centre, a project that African Leadership and Mocha Club have supported since the beginning. Irene shares the story of turning her desire to provide education for her community into building a two-story high school that now enrolls 160 students each year. This desire started when she took the time to notice her neighbors and learn about their lives. What incredible things could happen in our community if we did the same thing? You only have to be willing; the Lord does the rest.

On today’s episode, Emily and Fallon sit down with author, speaker, and podcaster, Annie F Downs. She’s been a LONG time friend of the organization and even was on staff with Mocha Club for a few years. We talk about God’s part in the work Annie does and how He got her there. We talk about her journey and the way the Lord moved details to do HIS work and also helping Annie define who she is and what she is called to do. We also focus on the aspect of time and how we can experience a more full life when we honor rest and sabbath. It’s a sitting-on-a-couch-with-a-group-of-friends kind of conversation. Enjoy!

That’s right, friends! On today’s podcast episode, we sit down with the founder of Mocha Club, Barrett Ward. He shares the seemingly radical moments that changed the course of his life to be in a career caring for the greater world. At the time, coffee was just getting popular, community social platforms were building, and faxes were still in existence — and this helped create the Mocha Club. Barrett shares about how the organization birthed the business he currently works for called ABLE - a lifestyle brand that focuses on economic opportunity for women.

On this week’s episode, Fallon sits down to chat (and reunite) with Kathryn and Allison - two of the members of the Mocha Club Journey team who traveled to Kenya last summer! We bet that if you’ve never traveled to Africa, you have some questions about what it’s like. This conversation is a great way to learn more about how African Leadership and Mocha Club approaches international travel. Kathryn and Allison share why they decided to join the trip, how they spent their time in Kenya, and how it was meaningful and impactful for themselves and our partners. Can’t make it to Africa with us? You feel like you’re right there with the team as you listen to this conversation. Off we go!

Emily and I were so glad to grab some time with Jeremy Cowart on this week’s podcast. Jeremy is a well-known photographer, writer, and visionary and he was a big part of the beginning of Mocha Club supporting African Leadership. We are honored to be part of the start of his journey into philanthropic photography and loved hearing his story! We talk about how Jeremy has pushed past fear to create beauty, impact change, and grow personally. It’s an encouraging word for all of us who face fear in one way or another - fear can actually be a tool to leverage you into your dreams. Jeremy confidently shares stories of failure and how he uses it to move forward.

As we prepare for Easter next week, Emily and Fallon sit down with a dear friend, Kara Gause, a writer and editor for She Reads Truth. Kara has a gift of teaching & knowledge of the Word. She shares how her early introduction to theatre and story-telling inspires her understanding & teaching of scripture. Kara and Emily share about their recent trip to Ethiopia where they spent time with women teaching them scripture through story-telling and how they experienced the power of story and scripture when they are aligned together. Kara is one of those women who leaves you feeling heard & known & accepted. We know you’ll feel the same way after you listen. Learn more about She Reads Truth by following them on Instagram and visiting shereadstruth.com.