Charting Life

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 should prioritize "career first, credentials second." Whether you are a high school student, a young professional, or an adult investing in the next generation, this conversation provides a grounded framework for making intentional, long-term life decisions.

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" is essential for navigating our psychological limitations and finding true purpose.

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 emotionally attached to our screens. From diminishing attention spans to the temptation of political rage bait, we take an honest inventory of the gritty realities of our daily digital rituals.

But should we just delete our apps and walk away? We explore the tension between Immanuel Kant's ethics and the reality that social media is the primary place where people actually gather. We discuss the Holy Spirit's role in sanctification, the importance of intentionally cultivating virtue over vice, and practical ways to curate a digital life that actually encourages human flourishing.

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 the specific apologetics that dismantled his worldview, leading us to examine the "three miracles of atheism" and the logical necessity of a Creator.

Topics Discussed: Christian Testimony, Atheism vs. Christianity, Evidence-Based Faith, Apologetics, The Three Miracles of Atheism, Writing Christian Fantasy, The Discipline of Reading, Biblical Context, The Gospel Explained.

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."

Lee shares how his conversion to Christianity completely altered his interactions with inmates and shifted approach. We discuss the extreme tension between strict justice and unmerited grace.

Check out Lee's Book:

https://a.co/d/095PvRRS

Follow Charting Life:

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https://www.youtube.com/@ChartingLife

Topics Discussed: Prison System Realities, Corrections Officers vs. Guards, Prison Contraband, The Imago Dei (Image of God), Christian Vocation, Balancing Justice and Grace, Evangelism in Hostile Environments, Overcoming Anger.

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 stories from past guests—from the heartbreaking realities of neglecting physical health for the sake of providing, to the objective beauty of a life well-lived to the very end. Along with my past guests, I attempt to answer the following questions (and invite you to do the same):

• If you could spend the next year improving one area of your life, what would that be?
• What does it mean to be "good"?
• What is your final life advice to family and loved ones?

Topics Discussed: Leaving a legacy, overcoming analysis paralysis, 1% better every day, incremental growth, physical health and family, the objective beauty of a well-lived life, Christian living, life advice, podcast milestone.

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 a course toward finding the divine spark in the ordinary, everyday moments of life.

Follow Charting Life:

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093839421655

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1euu9YnHPwKoD2r3eLAOJA?si=37e8ecef729a48ad

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@ChartingLife

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 challenge of forgiving "boneheaded" mistakes, we chart a course toward a life lived for more than just yourself.

Connect with R. L. Akers:

https://rlakers.com/

Connect with Charting Life:

https://www.facebook.com/people/Charting-Life-Podcast/100093839421655/

https://www.youtube.com/@ChartingLife

Topics Covered: R.L. Akers, OverTwixt, Christian Fiction vs. General Market, The Creative Process, Faith and Art, Writing Advice for Beginners, Parenting & Fatherhood, Forgiveness, Living for More Than Yourself, Gray Gaynes Series.

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.com/jojo.tabares

https://www.youtube.com/@Heaven-and-Health

Resources:

Https://www.heavenandhealth.net/wlmyths

www.FaithOverFibro.com

Follow Charting Life:

https://www.youtube.com/@ChartingLife

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093839421655

Topics Covered: Metabolic Health, Food Addiction Recovery, Christian Weight Loss, The "Stop Challenge Choose" Method, Biblical Stewardship of the Body, Sick Care vs. Healthcare, The Food Pyramid Myth, Emotional Eating, JoJo Tabares.

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 course away from the isolation of the "lone wolf" and toward the example of Jesus, finding that true strength often looks less like a movie hero and more like a father fully present with his family.

Follow Charting Life:

https://www.youtube.com/@ChartingLife

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Follow Dustin:

https://www.youtube.com/@TheHomesteadTheologians

https://open.spotify.com/show/4nAkqeH8wUkcDfPzCokTll?si=a7ebbad21ab74f4d

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564600215684