Close to Home Podcast

A simple reminder: when someone challenges you, encourages you, or blesses you — don’t assume they know it mattered. Send the text. Say thank you. Gratitude grows your character and strengthens others.

What keeps you from bringing the small, everyday anxieties to God? In this episode, Chris reflects on 1 Peter 5:7 and the simple but powerful phrase, “because He cares for you.” Exploring how our own experiences can shape the way we see God’s love, this conversation invites you to stop holding back and start handing over even the smallest stresses to a God who truly cares.

What if the biggest threats to your life and marriage aren’t urgent—yet? In this episode, I talk about why the most important investments are the ones that don’t feel pressing… until it’s too late.

Growth doesn’t always come from where we expect. In this episode, I share how a simple workout routine unexpectedly became a doorway to deeper prayer and spiritual formation.

What if “changing the world” isn’t the goal—and never was? A reflection on faithfulness, discouragement, and learning to be kind to yourself.

We all get triggered. This short reflection explores how disproportionate reactions can point to deeper places God wants to heal—if we’re willing to slow down and listen.

What if the voice of God isn’t loud—but persistent?

In this episode, Chris reflects on a reverberating whisper that’s been surfacing again and again: be kind to yourself. He explores how our inner voice shapes the way we treat others and invites listeners to replace self-condemnation with curiosity.

No conclusions—just an invitation to listen to what keeps echoing.

A reflection on exercise as more than fitness. Real growth comes from strengthening the part of us that chooses discipline over comfort—the part that decides to show up even when motivation is gone. That decision shapes every area of life that matters.

A short reflection inspired by Make Sense of Your Story by Adam Young, exploring six core needs that shape our emotional lives, relationships, and faith—especially the power of rupture and repair.

Chris Russo here and I’m excited to consistently and prayerfully offer content to spur you on in your faith journey!