In this third episode of The Bright Side Roundup podcast, join Editor-in-Chief Jason Brudereck and Managing Editor Cy White as they talk about their favorite pieces and features on the website right now and preview upcoming special projects.
The Bright Side is an online publication of the nonprofit Faith First organization. The Bright Side shares stories of hope, faith, resilience, and encouragement. Through news, interviews, personal reflections, and community storytelling, we shine a light on the good happening in the world and highlight people whose experiences point toward perseverance, purpose, positive impact, and spiritual growth.

Join us at The Bright Side for your daily dose of positive news and inspiration: https://livethebrightside.com/

Everyone wants to belong.

We all know what it feels like to be seen, understood, and accepted—but we also know what it feels like to be the outsider.

In this episode of the Live Faith First Podcast, Elliot Sands sits down with Parfait Bassalé, author of The Way of Befriending, to explore how ordinary people can become extraordinary bridge-builders in an increasingly divided world.

Growing up across multiple countries in West Africa before immigrating to the United States, Parfait experienced firsthand what it meant to search for home and belonging. Those experiences eventually shaped both his ministry and his calling: helping people create spaces where others feel seen, heard, and valued.

Together they discuss:

• Why belonging is a fundamental human need

• The difference between being friendly and truly befriending someone

• How curiosity breaks down barriers

• Asking better questions that lead to deeper conversations

• Why forgiveness is essential for building relationships

• The power of becoming "the unexpected friend"

• How churches can create cultures where everyone feels welcome

Whether you're navigating political division, cultural differences, or simply wanting to become a better friend, this conversation offers practical wisdom for building genuine relationships.

Parfait Bassalé is an author, speaker, musician, and consultant. He is dedicated to helping individuals and organizations cultivate cultures of belonging, curiosity, and meaningful connection.

Born in the Republic of Benin, Parfait spent much of his childhood moving throughout West Africa before immigrating to the United States. His own experiences of displacement, identity, and searching for home profoundly shaped his passion for helping others move beyond polarization and into authentic relationships.

Through workshops, consulting, speaking, music, and writing, Parfait equips churches, nonprofits, schools, and organizations to create environments where people feel genuinely seen, heard, supported, and valued.

His book, The Way of Befriending, offers a practical roadmap for overcoming division through courageous curiosity, empathy, forgiveness, and intentional friendship.

He lives in Olympia, Washington, with his wife and three children.

Elliot Sands is the host of the Live Faith First podcast—a dynamic space where faith meets real-world challenges. With a rich background as a pastor, school principal, health-tech co-founder, and now Executive Director of Faith First, Elliot brings deep wisdom and practical insight to every conversation.  As a husband, father, and grandfather, he weaves personal experience with thoughtful discussion, tackling tough topics with clarity and compassion. Live Faith First is all about bridging divides—whether in society or the church—encouraging listeners to step beyond echo chambers and build real, meaningful relationships across the aisle, the street, or the table.

Connect with Parfait Bassalé

Website: https://www.parfaitbassale.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Parfaitonline

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/parfaitonline/

Connect with Live Faith First

Website: livethebrightside.com

Instagram: @LiveFaithFirst

TikTok: @livefaithfirst

Facebook: facebook.com/LiveFaithFirst 

YouTube: youtube.com/@livefaithfirst

Join us at The Bright Side for your daily dose of positive news and inspiration: https://livethebrightside.com/

Do you have a junk drawer?

You know the one—filled with old receipts, random keys, ketchup packets, and things you just can't bring yourself to throw away.

Many of us have an emotional version of that drawer.

In this episode of the Live Faith First Podcast, Elliot Sands sits down with author Laurie Davies to discuss her book, Emotional Hoarding, and why so many of us hold on to shame, regret, fear, anger, bitterness, secrets, and worry long after they stop serving us.

Laurie explains that emotional healing isn't about pretending difficult emotions don't exist—it's about understanding why we've held onto them and allowing God's grace to transform them rather than letting them control us.

Together they discuss:

• What emotional hoarding is—and how to recognize it

• Why shame thrives in isolation

• The surprising connection between regret and God's grace

• How anger often hides deeper wounds

• Why secrets carry such a heavy emotional cost

• Building a healthier emotional foundation through truth and community

• The role of counseling, trusted friends, and God's grace in emotional healing

If you've ever felt weighed down by emotional baggage, this conversation offers practical wisdom and biblical hope for living lighter and freer.

Laurie Davies s an author, Bible teacher, speaker, and podcast host passionate about helping people discover the freedom found in God's grace. Based in the Phoenix, Arizona area, Laurie has spent decades teaching Scripture and encouraging Christians to move beyond fear, shame, and emotional burdens into deeper intimacy with Christ.

Her newest book,Emotional Hoarding: Letting Go of the Stuff That Keeps You Stuck, explores how unresolved emotions—including worry, anger, regret, guilt, shame, bitterness, and secrets—can quietly accumulate over time, preventing us from loving God and others as we were created to do.

Through biblical teaching, practical insights, and personal stories, Laurie equips readers to identify emotional clutter, uncover its roots, and experience lasting freedom through God's grace.

Elliot Sands is the host of the Live Faith First podcast—a dynamic space where faith meets real-world challenges. With a rich background as a pastor, school principal, health-tech co-founder, and now Executive Director of Faith First, Elliot brings deep wisdom and practical insight to every conversation.  As a husband, father, and grandfather, he weaves personal experience with thoughtful discussion, tackling tough topics with clarity and compassion. Live Faith First is all about bridging divides—whether in society or the church—encouraging listeners to step beyond echo chambers and build real, meaningful relationships across the aisle, the street, or the table.

Connect with Laurie Davies

Website: https://lauriedavies.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LaurieDaviesAuthor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauriedaviesauthor/

Connect with Live Faith First

Website: livethebrightside.com

Instagram: @LiveFaithFirst

TikTok: @livefaithfirst

Facebook: facebook.com/LiveFaithFirst 

YouTube: youtube.com/@livefaithfirst

Episode 2 of The Bright Side podcast.

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Join us at The Bright Side for your daily dose of positive news and inspiration: https://livethebrightside.com/

Is play a luxury… or is it part of God's design for humanity?

For many of us, hobbies feel like a guilty pleasure—something we squeeze in only after the work is done. But what if recreation, creativity, and delight aren't distractions from the Christian life? What if they're part of it?

In this episode of the Live Faith First Podcast, Elliot Sands sits down with Brianna Lambert, author of Created to Play, to explore a biblical theology of play and why enjoying God's creation can actually deepen our spiritual formation.

Together they discuss:

• Why God created a world of abundance—not merely utility

• How hobbies shape our character and spiritual growth

• The surprising connection between play, humility, and worship

• Why creativity reflects the heart of our Creator

• How gardening, cooking, puzzles, scuba diving, woodworking, and other hobbies can become acts of worship

• The hidden temptations every hobby carries—and how to enjoy God's gifts wisely

If you've ever felt guilty for taking time to enjoy life, this conversation offers a refreshing reminder that God delights in our delight.

Brianna Lambert is an author, speaker, and freelance writer who helps Christians rediscover the goodness of God's creation in everyday life. A longtime homeschool mom and storyteller, Brianna has spent more than a decade writing about faith, family, beauty, and spiritual formation.

Her first book, Created to Play: How Taking Hobbies Seriously Grows Us Spiritually, invites readers to rethink hobbies and recreation through a biblical lens. Rather than viewing play as wasted time, Brianna argues that creativity, delight, and enjoyment are gifts from God that cultivate humility, gratitude, worship, and joy. Living in Indiana with her husband and three children, Brianna enjoys reading, gardening, raising ducks, exploring the outdoors, and discovering new ways God's creation points us back to its Creator.

Elliot Sands is the host of the Live Faith First podcast—a dynamic space where faith meets real-world challenges. With a rich background as a pastor, school principal, health-tech co-founder, and now Executive Director of Faith First, Elliot brings deep wisdom and practical insight to every conversation.  As a husband, father, and grandfather, he weaves personal experience with thoughtful discussion, tackling tough topics with clarity and compassion. Live Faith First is all about bridging divides—whether in society or the church—encouraging listeners to step beyond echo chambers and build real, meaningful relationships across the aisle, the street, or the table.

Connect with Brianna Lambert

Website: https://briannalambert.com/

Book: https://briannalambert.com/books/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/briannalambert.author/

Connect with Live Faith First

Website: livethebrightside.com

Instagram: @LiveFaithFirst

TikTok: @livefaithfirst

Facebook: facebook.com/LiveFaithFirst 

YouTube: youtube.com/@livefaithfirst

Join us at The Bright Side for your daily dose of positive news and inspiration: https://livethebrightside.com/

Did the English Bible translators get it wrong?

What if one of the most important words in the New Testament has been shaping our faith differently than Jesus intended?

In this thought-provoking episode of the Live Faith First Podcast, Elliot Sands sits down with Wayne Jacobsen, co-author of The Shack and co-author of Just Love, to discuss a provocative claim: the Greek word often translated as "righteousness" may be better understood as "justice."

Together, they explore how this translation choice may have influenced centuries of Christian thought, discipleship, and spiritual formation. More importantly, they discuss how God's love transforms us from the inside out, leading not to religious performance but to lives marked by justice, compassion, and genuine care for others. Whether you agree with Wayne's conclusions or simply want to wrestle with an important biblical idea, this conversation will challenge you to think more deeply about what it means to follow Jesus.

Wayne Jacobsen is an author, speaker, and teacher known for helping people discover a deeper, more relational walk with God. After spending two decades in pastoral ministry, Wayne experienced a profound shift in his understanding of God's love and grace that changed the trajectory of his life and writing. He is the author of numerous books including He Loves Me!, Finding Church, A Language of Healing for a Polarized Nation, and Just Love. Wayne is also widely known as one of the co-authors of the bestselling novel The Shack, which has impacted millions of readers worldwide. Through his writing, podcasts, and speaking ministry, Wayne encourages people to move beyond religious performance and into a vibrant relationship with God rooted in love, freedom, and transformation.

Elliot Sands is the host of the Live Faith First podcast—a dynamic space where faith meets real-world challenges. With a rich background as a pastor, school principal, health-tech co-founder, and now Executive Director of Faith First, Elliot brings deep wisdom and practical insight to every conversation.  As a husband, father, and grandfather, he weaves personal experience with thoughtful discussion, tackling tough topics with clarity and compassion. Live Faith First is all about bridging divides—whether in society or the church—encouraging listeners to step beyond echo chambers and build real, meaningful relationships across the aisle, the street, or the table.

Connect with Wayne Jacobsen

Website: https://www.lifestream.org/

Book: Just Love — https://www.lifestream.org/just-love/

Podcast:  https://www.thegodjourney.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wayne.jacobsen.370211

Connect with Live Faith First

Website: livethebrightside.com

Instagram: @LiveFaithFirst

TikTok: @livefaithfirst

Facebook: facebook.com/LiveFaithFirst 

YouTube: youtube.com/@livefaithfirst

Join us at The Bright Side for your daily dose of positive news and inspiration: https://livethebrightside.com/

What if God is less interested in giving us the one perfect answer and more interested in forming us into people who can choose wisely?

In this episode, Elliot Sands talks with Alan Noble, author of To Live Well: Practical Wisdom for Moving Through Chaotic Times, about decision-making, virtue, contentment, justice, faith, doubt, and what it means to live faithfully in a chaotic world.

Alan helps reframe big life decisions—not as paralyzing “one right answer” moments, but as opportunities to practice prudence, pursue what is good, and walk resolutely with God. The conversation also explores why social media fuels inadequacy, how contentment frees us from regret, why justice requires grace, and how Christians can live with faith even when every question is not fully resolved.

Dr. O. Alan Noble is Associate Professor of English at Oklahoma Baptist University, a fellow at the Keller Center for Cultural Apologetics, and the author of On Getting Out of Bed, You Are Not Your Own, Disruptive Witness, and To Live Well. He holds a PhD from Baylor University and writes on faith, culture, literature, technology, mental health, and Christian cultural engagement. His work has appeared in The Atlantic, First Things, Christianity Today, The Gospel Coalition, and other outlets.

Elliot Sands is the host of the Live Faith First podcast—a dynamic space where faith meets real-world challenges. With a rich background as a pastor, school principal, health-tech co-founder, and now Executive Director of Faith First, Elliot brings deep wisdom and practical insight to every conversation.  As a husband, father, and grandfather, he weaves personal experience with thoughtful discussion, tackling tough topics with clarity and compassion. Live Faith First is all about bridging divides—whether in society or the church—encouraging listeners to step beyond echo chambers and build real, meaningful relationships across the aisle, the street, or the table.

Connect with Alan Noble

Alan Noble website: https://www.oalannoble.com/ 

Book: To Live Well https://www.ivpress.com/to-live-well 

Substack: https://newsletter.oalannoble.com/

Oklahoma Baptist University profile: https://www.okbu.edu/directory/alan-noble

Connect with Live Faith First

Website: livethebrightside.com

Instagram: @LiveFaithFirst

TikTok: @livefaithfirst

Facebook: facebook.com/LiveFaithFirst 

YouTube: youtube.com/@livefaithfirst

Stay Connected-signup for our newsletter-https://www.livefaithfirst.org/contact

“I’ll sleep when I’m dead.”

Our culture wears exhaustion like a badge of honor. But what if our constant striving, stress, scrolling, and overwork are actually disconnecting us from the way God designed us to live?

In this thoughtful and deeply practical episode of the Live Faith First Podcast, Elliot Sands sits down with author, speaker, and justice advocate Ken Wytsma to discuss his book, The Sleep You’re Longing For.

This isn’t just a conversation about getting better rest. It’s a conversation about being human.

Ken explores the “elemental” nature of sleep — why it’s as fundamental as air, water, and food — and how our modern culture has drifted far from healthy rhythms of work, rest, peace, and trust in God.

Together they discuss:

• Why sleep is essential for emotional and spiritual health

• The hidden effects of stress and overstimulation

• Anxiety, social media, and the “Anxious Generation”

• Trauma, nervous systems, and what happens while we sleep

• Why “trying harder” often makes sleep worse

• Practical ways to improve sleep with grace instead of pressure

If you’ve struggled with insomnia, stress, burnout, or simply feeling emotionally exhausted, this conversation offers both wisdom and hope.

Ken Wytsma is an author, speaker, entrepreneur, and justice advocate passionate about helping people live integrated, thoughtful, and spiritually grounded lives. Born in Maine to a Dutch immigrant father who grew up in Nazi-occupied Holland, Ken spent portions of his childhood in both the United States and the Netherlands, developing a lifelong love of history, culture, and theology.

Ken is the author of several books including:

• The Sleep You're Longing For

• Pursuing Justice

• The Myth of Equality

• Create vs. Copy

He is the founder of the justice conference movement and has spent years working at the intersection of faith, culture, leadership, and human flourishing. Ken lives in Oregon with his wife and family.

Elliot Sands is the host of the Live Faith First podcast—a dynamic space where faith meets real-world challenges. With a rich background as a pastor, school principal, health-tech co-founder, and now Executive Director of Faith First, Elliot brings deep wisdom and practical insight to every conversation.  As a husband, father, and grandfather, he weaves personal experience with thoughtful discussion, tackling tough topics with clarity and compassion. Live Faith First is all about bridging divides—whether in society or the church—encouraging listeners to step beyond echo chambers and build real, meaningful relationships across the aisle, the street, or the table.

Connect with Ken Wytsma

Website: ⁠Ken Wystma⁠

Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/kjwytsma/⁠

Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/kenwytsma/⁠

Connect with Live Faith First

Website: LiveFaithFirst.com

Instagram: @LiveFaithFirst

TikTok: @livefaithfirst

Facebook: facebook.com/LiveFaithFirst 

YouTube: youtube.com/@livefaithfirst

Stay Connected-signup for our newsletter-https://www.livefaithfirst.org/contact

We say “variety is the spice of life”… until someone disagrees with us.

In this thoughtful and deeply practical episode of the Live Faith First Podcast, Elliot Sands sits down with author, speaker, and leadership coach Dr. James Borishade to talk about why human differences frustrate us so much—and how we can learn to navigate those differences in healthier ways.

From marriage and ministry to leadership and workplace dynamics, James explores how our backgrounds, personalities, wounds, and wiring shape the way we communicate and respond to conflict.

Drawing from his own painful divorce experience and years of studying relationships, James shares why our “misery” often becomes the birthplace of our ministry, how humility changes communication, and why curiosity is one of the most important tools for building bridges in a divided world.

This conversation covers:

• Why differences are intentional—not accidental

• Marriage, communication, and “early warning systems”

• Leadership, humility, and empowering others

• How childhood experiences shape adult behavior

• Building bridges through curiosity and better questions

• The importance of understanding before judging

If you’ve ever struggled with difficult conversations, frustrating people, or relationships that feel strained by differences, this episode offers practical wisdom rooted in faith, leadership, and emotional intelligence.

Dr. James Borishade is an author, leadership strategist, speaker, and organizational consultant passionate about helping people connect across differences in healthier and more productive ways.Raised on the South Side of Chicago, James studied sociology, Christian counseling, and organizational leadership, eventually earning a doctorate focused on Christian leadership and human behavior.

After walking through a painful divorce, James began deeply studying relationships, communication styles, leadership dynamics, personality differences, and the ways personal history shapes human interaction. That journey ultimately led to his book, "Connecting Across Differences", which equips individuals, couples, churches, and organizations to better understand themselves and others. James currently serves as CEO of Circle Urban Ministries, where he focuses on leadership development, community transformation, and helping people operate in their God-given purpose.

Elliot Sands is the host of the Live Faith First podcast—a dynamic space where faith meets real-world challenges. With a rich background as a pastor, school principal, health-tech co-founder, and now Executive Director of Faith First, Elliot brings deep wisdom and practical insight to every conversation.  As a husband, father, and grandfather, he weaves personal experience with thoughtful discussion, tackling tough topics with clarity and compassion. Live Faith First is all about bridging divides—whether in society or the church—encouraging listeners to step beyond echo chambers and build real, meaningful relationships across the aisle, the street, or the table.

Connect with James Borishade

Website: ⁠James Borishade⁠

Website: ⁠Circle Urban Ministries⁠

Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/drjamesborishade/⁠

Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/jborishade

Connect with Live Faith First

Website: LiveFaithFirst.com

Instagram: @LiveFaithFirst

TikTok: @livefaithfirst

Facebook: facebook.com/LiveFaithFirst 

YouTube: youtube.com/@livefaithfirst

Stay Connected-signup for our newsletter-https://www.livefaithfirst.org/contact

Have you ever wondered what God actually wants you to do with your life?

Many of us wish we could see the full roadmap ahead—career, relationships, calling, and purpose all clearly mapped out. But life rarely works that way. Instead, we move forward step-by-step, learning to trust God in the uncertainty.

In this episode of the Live Faith First Podcast, Elliot Sands sits down with Eric Bryant, pastor, leader, and author of Fruitful: Becoming Who God Created You to Be. Eric shares insights from his own journey of discerning God’s direction through unexpected twists—including a season where pursuing a doctoral degree ended with back surgery and a life-altering shift in perspective.

Together they explore how we discover our calling, how God develops us through adversity, and what it means to live a truly fruitful life. Eric introduces a practical framework for discerning how God has uniquely wired each of us—so we can align our passions, gifts, and opportunities with His purposes.

If you’ve ever asked the question “What does God want me to do with my life?”, this conversation offers wisdom, encouragement, and practical steps for moving forward in faith.

In This Episode

• Why God rarely gives us the full blueprint for our lives

• Eric’s surprising story of a doctoral program that ended in surgery

• The difference between success and spiritual fruitfulness

• How to discern God’s direction in uncertain seasons

• Discovering the intersection of your gifts, passions, and opportunities

• Why adversity often clarifies our calling

• The practical pathway toward becoming who God created you to be

Eric Bryant is a pastor, author, and leadership coach passionate about helping people discover and live out their God-given purpose. He currently serves at Gateway Church in Austin, Texas, and previously helped lead ministries at Mosaic in Los Angeles, one of the most influential missional churches in the U.S.

Eric is the author of several books including Fruitful: Becoming Who God Created You to Be, where he explores how people can discover their unique calling by aligning their spiritual gifts, passions, and life experiences with God’s purposes. Through his teaching, writing, and leadership coaching, Eric equips individuals and churches to pursue lives marked not just by activity or achievement—but by genuine spiritual fruitfulness.

Eric and his family live in Austin, Texas.

Elliot Sands is the host of the Live Faith First podcast—a dynamic space where faith meets real-world challenges. With a rich background as a pastor, school principal, health-tech co-founder, and now Executive Director of Faith First, Elliot brings deep wisdom and practical insight to every conversation.  As a husband, father, and grandfather, he weaves personal experience with thoughtful discussion, tackling tough topics with clarity and compassion. Live Faith First is all about bridging divides—whether in society or the church—encouraging listeners to step beyond echo chambers and build real, meaningful relationships across the aisle, the street, or the table.

Connect with Eric Bryant

Website: Eric Bryant

Gateway Church Austin: Gateway Church

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ericbryant

Twitter/X: ericbryant (@ericbryant) / Posts / X

Connect with Live Faith First

Website: ⁠LiveFaithFirst.com

⁠Instagram:⁠ @LiveFaithFirst⁠

TikTok:⁠ @livefaithfirst⁠

Facebook:⁠ facebook.com/LiveFaithFirst

YouTube: youtube.com/@livefaithfirst