FRLS271 Podcast

Have you ever felt homesick for a place you’ve never been? ❤️‍🔥

In this episode of the FRLS271 Podcast, Ashley sits down with JD and Hope for an honest conversation about what it means to be homesick for Heaven — longing for the day we’ll see Jesus face to face while still living faithfully in the here and now.

From personal loss and seasons of struggle to the hope we find in Scripture, we talk about how an eternal perspective can change the way we live today. We share how worship can give us a glimpse of Heaven, why knowing Jesus is worth more than anything this world offers, and how even the smallest everyday moments can become opportunities to share His love.

When life feels heavy, we're reminded that our pain is temporary, our hope is secure, and we still have a purpose here: to keep running the race, love people well, and point others to Jesus.

✨ In this episode:

• What it really means to be homesick for Heaven

• How grief and hardship can deepen our faith

• Finding hope when you're tired, discouraged, or struggling

• Recognizing God's presence in everyday moments

• Living with eternity in mind and making Heaven crowded

Until we see Him face to face, let's keep showing up, worshiping boldly, and living fearlessly.

Worship Boldly. Live Fearlessly.

Learn more about FRLS271 events, community, and apparel at frls271.org.

What can a 25-cent Aldi quarter teach us about generosity, gratitude, and trusting God?

Ashley and Leslie are back—and this time, they’re talking about the infamous Aldi quarter. What starts as a hilarious story about forgetting a quarter, not having a bag, and trying to figure out the Aldi shopping-cart system turns into a much deeper conversation about what it means to live open-handed.

From 2 Corinthians 9:7 and being a cheerful giver to Acts 20:35 and “it is more blessed to give than to receive,” they unpack how generosity isn't just about money. It can look like giving your time, serving someone, offering encouragement, sharing a smile, or simply passing along the kindness someone showed you.

Sometimes generosity starts with something as small as a quarter—but the impact can be so much bigger.

Come for the Aldi stories. Stay for the reminder that God cares about the heart behind what we give.

Learn more about our upcoming events mentioned in the episode!

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What if the soundtrack of your life is telling you something about your story—and about God?

In this conversation, Leslie Pair sits down with Dr. Eva Bleeker to explore the fascinating connection between music, story, silence, and faith.

Eva unpacks how our brains process music and narrative, why we’re drawn to rhythm, repetition, tension, and surprise, and how these same ideas can help us understand the stories we’re living. Together, they dive into the book of Revelation—not simply through the lens of end-times questions, but through its soundtrack: the worship, voices, trumpets, prayers, and ultimately the dramatic silence in heaven in Revelation 8.

What does that silence reveal about God? What happens when the story of our lives feels broken or impossible to understand? And what if the God who receives endless worship is also the God who quiets heaven to listen to the prayers of His hurting people?

It’s a conversation about narrative wreckage, worship, healing, prayer, and the unfathomable love of a God who listens.

And yes… there’s some classic rock, a little More Than a Feeling, plenty of laughter, and a whole lot of Jesus along the way.

⁠Learn more about Dr. Eva Bleeker⁠

⁠Learn more about FRLS271⁠

Show Notes & Reference:

Bibliography for Song Story and Silence:

Alberhasky, M., & Durkee, P. K. (2024). Songs tell a story: The arc of narrative for music. PLOS ONE, 19(5), e0303188. ⁠https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0303188⁠

Caldas, T. (2020, April 18). How music crafts a narrative. Everything Is Noise. ⁠https://everythingisnoise.net/features/how-music-crafts-a-narrative/⁠

Eyre, L. (2007). The marriage of music and narrative: Explorations in art, therapy, and research.

Voices: A World Forum for Music Therapy, 7(3), Article 3. ⁠https://doi.org/10.15845/voices.v7i3.549⁠

Griffith, F. J., Wong, S., Dietrich, K. M., Exline, J. J., & Pargament, K. I. (2022). ‘The music was speaking to me’: Using narrative inquiry to describe sacred moments with music. The Arts in Psychotherapy, 79, 101911. ⁠https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aip.2022.101911⁠

Intelliminds. (2024, August 2). What Is narrative momentum? Understanding its power. Greenlight Coverage. ⁠https://glcoverage.com/2024/08/02/narrative-momentum/⁠

Levitin, D. J. (2024). I heard there was a secret chord: Music as medicine. Canada: Penguin Canada.

Levitin, D. J. (2010). Why music moves us. Nature, 464(7290), 834–835. ⁠https://doi.org/10.1038/464834a⁠

Mathewson, D. L. (2020). A companion to the book of Revelation. Wipf and Stock Publishers.

McAuley, J. D., Wong, P. C. M., Bellaiche, L., & Margulis, E. H. (2021). What drives narrative engagement with music? Music Perception, 38(5), 509–521. ⁠https://doi.org/10.1525/mp.2021.38.5.509⁠

Nguyen, M., Vanderwal, T., & Hasson, U. (2019). Shared understanding of narratives is correlated with shared neural responses. NeuroImage, 184, 161–170. ⁠https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2018.09.010⁠

Songs of the seer: The purpose of Revelation’s hymns. (n.d.). The Gospel Coalition. Retrieved April 26, 2025, from ⁠https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/themelios/article/songs-of-the-seer-the-purpose-of-revelations-hymns/⁠

The narrative function of music in a contemporary society: Designing an empirical approach through dialogical and representational practices of the social self. (n.d.). ResearchGate. Retrieved April 26, 2025, from

⁠https://www.researchgate.net/publication/343135825_THE_NARRATIVE_FUNCTION_OF_MUSIC_IN_A_CONTEMPORARY_SOCIETY_DESIGNING_AN_EMPIRICAL_APPROACH_THROUGH_DIALOGICAL_AND_REPRESENTATIONAL_PRACTICES_OF_THE_SOCIAL_SELF

What if you’re not doing faith wrong… you’re just doing it differently?

In Part 2, Hosanna Wong breaks down the powerful concept of “praise personalities” and how God meets each of us uniquely. From navigating busyness and guilt to learning how to hear God’s voice, this episode is packed with freedom.

We talk about:

• The 7 “praise personalities” and how you’re wired to connect with God
• Why comparison is killing your confidence in your faith
• How to hear God’s voice in a noisy world
• Letting go of guilt, especially in different seasons of life

Plus—some fun, off-the-wall moments to wrap it all up.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re not “doing faith right,” this episode will set you free.

Learn more about FRLS271.org

Learn more about Hosanna Wong

What if your relationship with God was never meant to be complicated?

In Part 1, we sit down with Hosanna Wong to unpack the heart behind her book Uncomplicate It. From her powerful upbringing on the streets of San Francisco to discovering her voice through spoken word, Hosanna shares how the Gospel was always meant to be simple, real, and accessible.

We dive into:

• How her story shaped her faith and calling
• Why we’ve overcomplicated our relationship with God
• The difference between being busy and being called
• What it really means to live out your faith in everyday life

This episode will challenge you to strip away the noise and rediscover a faith that fits your real, right-now life.

Learn more about HosannaLearn more about FRLS271

After a short break, Ashley and Leslie are back sharing what God has been teaching them in a season of slowing down.

In this episode, they unpack the tension between busyness and peace, learning to wait on the Lord, and trusting Him when plans don’t go as expected. Through personal stories and behind-the-scenes moments from recent events, they reflect on how God works in the waiting—and often exceeds what we could have planned.

This conversation is a reminder to step back, clear your mind, and trust that He is in control.

Learn more about us at FRLS271.org

In Part 2, the conversation shifts from telling our story to how others receive it.

Eva reveals:

• The quality of listening directly affects the storyteller’s healing and identity.

• People instinctively test whether someone is safe enough to hear their real story.

• True healing begins when someone says, “You don’t have to hold that alone — I’m here.”

She also introduces the concept of an “ascetic listener” — someone who lays down the urge to fix, advise, or compare and simply becomes a safe witness.

This episode will change the way you listen, respond, and show up for others — and maybe even yourself.

Learn more about ⁠Dr. Eva Bleeker⁠

Learn more about ⁠FRLS271.org⁠

Learn more about ⁠Kerygma Summit

Part 1: What Story Are You Living In?

In Part 1, Ashley and Leslie sit down with Dr. Eva Bleeker, a professional chaplain and narrative identity expert, to explore a life-changing concept:

👉 We are all living inside a story — whether we realize it or not.

Eva introduces Narrative Identity Theory, the idea that:

• Each of us carries a reconstructed past + an imagined future → which shapes how we interpret our present.

• Our hardest experiences often have more influence on our identity than our positive ones.

• Healing begins when we recognize the story we’ve been telling ourselves — and invite God to rewrite it.

This episode will leave you asking: What story have I been living from? And is it the one God intended for me?

Learn more about Dr. Eva Bleeker

Learn more about FRLS271.org

Learn more about Kerygma Summit

In this episode, Nicole, Ashley, JD, and Leslie dive deep into what it really means to believe that God has a specific purpose for each of us. From wrestling with fear of failure and letting go of comfort, to stories of radical faith, surrender, and God’s perfect timing, the conversation is raw, real, and full of encouragement. Together, they reflect on how God weaves every part of our story—both the struggles and the victories—into His greater plan, and how trusting Him can shift everything.

The FRLS271 Podcast is your go-to space for real talk, bold faith, and a little bit of fun along the way. Hosted by Ashley Bodi and Leslie Pair, this podcast is all about encouraging you to be fearless in your walk with God. With over 100 episodes, you’ll hear honest conversations with authors, speakers, and community partners who share what it really looks like to live out your calling—even when the journey gets tough. Come for the inspiration, stay for the laughter, and don’t be surprised if a few shenanigans break out.