MercyCast

In this episode, Matt Perman, the author of What's Best Next and the founder of an organization by the same name, joins Raleigh to discuss how to find your purpose, navigate productivity paralysis, and why that is important.

Episode Highlights:

• How to find your purpose.
• The relationship between flourishing and productivity.
• The theological anchors of productivity.
• And how Raleigh’s distant relative almost killed George Washington in the Revolutionary War.

You can learn more about Matt, his organization, What’s Best Next, buy Matt’s book, What's Best Next here, and follow him on Twitter.

You can also follow Raleigh on Twitter and Instagram.

We want to hear from you! Email us at [email protected]. You can follow MercyCast on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

In this episode, Elyse Fitzpatrick joins Raleigh to talk about perfectionism and reminds us that it’s okay not to be okay. Elyse is a nationally sought-after speaker and author. Elyse and her husband, Phil, attend Grace Bible Church, a reformed congregation in Escondido, California. She has written many books, including the recently rereleased, Overcoming Fear, Worry, and Anxiety: Becoming a Woman of Faith and Confidence.

Episode Highlights:

• The Art of Being Vs. Being Better.
• How Weakness Can Make Us Grateful for Christ.
• Living By Grace.
• The Gift of Justification.
• Boat Shoes and Perfection.

Take advantage of this honest conversation about the reality of perfectionism. Join Raleigh and Elyse as they work toward a different approach.

You can learn more about Elyse, buy Elyse’s new book here, buy her book, Because He Loves Me, and listen to her podcast, Front Porch with the Fitzes.

Thanks for listening. We want to hear from you!

Email us at [email protected]. You can follow MercyCast on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

You can follow Raleigh Sadler on Twitter and Instagram.

In this episode, Jessica Thompson, the author of the new book, He Loved Them: Discovering Jesus' Heart for Seekers, Sinners, Doubters, and the Discouraged (and Other People Like Us), joins Raleigh to talk about her journey in learning how to survive and thrive as she lives through a difficult time of transition.

Episode Highlights:

• The art of surviving and thriving.
• Rejecting life through a filter and embracing reality.
• A riveting conversation on where we find our worth.
• Jesus' heart for those who are discouraged.
• Insights and advice for those experiencing the impact of divorce.

Take advantage of this candid conversation about the complexities of divorce, the experience of pain, and the hope of something more. Join Raleigh and Jessica in this poignant episode.

You can buy Jessica's book here, follow her on Instagram and listen to her podcast, Front Porch with the Fitzes.

Thanks for listening. We want to hear from you!

Email us at [email protected]. You can follow MercyCast on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

You can follow Raleigh Sadler on Twitter and Instagram.

Football is life until it's not.

If you have been near a TV, phone, or computer recently, you have seen soccer (or, let's be honest, Football) in the headlines from Ted Lasso to Lionel Messi. In today's episode, Raleigh has a heartfelt conversation with retired soccer (Football) player and the Cool Down Conversations podcast host Paxton Ballard, who experienced the highs and lows of pursuing his dream. From the rise of his football career to the devastating loss that led to retirement, Paxton shares his journey of resilience and rediscovering purpose beyond the game. Tune in to gain insights into navigating life's unexpected twists and finding hope in the face of shattered dreams.

Episode Highlights:

• The early beginnings of Paxton's dream and his unwavering passion for Football.
• Exploring the impact of retirement and the emotional struggle of losing a lifelong dream.
• Paxton's journey towards healing, finding a new purpose, and making a positive impact.
• Insights and advice for those facing the loss of their dreams. 

Don't miss this candid conversation about the complexities of dreams, identity, and the human spirit. Join Raleigh and Paxton as they discuss powerful lessons on living and losing the dream.

You can learn more about Paxton here, follow him on Instagram and listen to his podcast, Cool Down Conversations.

Thanks for listening. We want to hear from you!

Email us at [email protected].

You probably noticed that we had featured the bonus podcast, More Mercy, for the past two episodes. I love stories and figure that if you like MercyCast, you do too. On More Mercy, we dive deeper into mercy, compassion, and kindness as we explore various topics that inspire, empower, and challenge our understanding of ourselves and each other.

Access More Mercy by unlocking exclusive content on RedCircle. There's more mercy waiting for you.

Now on to the show. In this episode of More Mercy, Allison Hale, the Executive Director of MERCY Workshop (who you may remember from Episode 3), joins me again to talk about how we can recognize and respond to the vulnerabilities around us.

In our conversation, we discuss the following:

The Work of the Mercy Workshop

The Illusion of Choice

Her Biggest Pushback

Privilege and How to Steward It

Vulnerability and the Long-Messy Process of Transformation

Partnering with Churches

You can follow Mercy Workshop on Instagram and Facebook or follow Allison on Instagram.

Thanks for listening. We want to hear from you!

Email us at [email protected].

For more conversations like this one, check out my book, Vulnerable: Rethinking Human Trafficking.

In today's bonus episode, Rachelle Starr, founder of Scarlet Hope and author of Outrageous Obedience, returns and shares her story of how Scarlet Hope began. Rachelle shares her work with those often exploited in the commercial sex industry.

In this episode, we discuss the following:

The Origin of Scarlet Hope.

The reality of sexual brokenness.

Being light in dark places.

The call to go.

Follow Rachelle and Scarlet Hope here:

• instagram.com/rachellestarr.co
• instagram.com/thescarlethope
• facebook.com/thescarlethope
• twitter.com/thescarlethope
• rachellestarr.co
• scarlethope.org

You can get a copy of her new book—Outrageous Obedience: Answering God's Call to Shine in the Darkest Places—at Amazon.

Thanks for listening. We want to hear from you!

Email us at [email protected].

For more conversations like this one, check out my book, Vulnerable: Rethinking Human Trafficking.

It's easy to see the need for change in our workplaces or communities, but we rarely know the part we play in it. There is a distinct possibility that we could be part of the problem.

In 1987, Darryl had a conversation that disrupted how he saw the world. After the discussion, Darryl knew he would have to change how he approached life and ministry.

Today, Darryl Williamson, the Living Faith Bible Fellowship pastor in Tampa, Fl, joins MercyCast. He has contributed to 12 Faithful Men: Portraits of Faithful Endurance in Pastoral Ministry and All Are Welcome: Toward a Multi-Everything Church and featured in my book, Vulnerable: Rethinking Human Trafficking. Darryl is passionate about spiritual formation, racial reconciliation, restorative justice, faith-work-economics, ethics and theology, and church history. He currently sits on the board of The Gospel Coalition.

You can follow Darryl on Twitter and read his articles on The Gospel Coalition website.

Thanks for listening. We want to hear from you!

Email us at [email protected].

You may get a problematic diagnosis from your doctor, lose your job, or your significant other may tell you that they don’t love you anymore. Regardless of the situation, you are reminded that it’s impossible to know what is waiting just around the corner. How do we go from living in fear to embracing the inevitable shifts in our lives?

Michael was 20 years old and raised in South Florida, and he moved to NYC to pursue a career in acting. Within three months, he was given the chance of a lifetime, a lead role in daytime tv’s One Life to Live. His life seemingly changed overnight. Now as he walked the streets of NYC, people noticed. However, a year later, he was fired.

Today, I am talking with Michael Tipps. Michael is a serial entrepreneur, restauranteur, filmmaker, and the co-founder of Invictus Hospitality.

In this episode, we discuss the following:

• The danger of resting on our laurels
• How work is our reward
• The gift of adaption
• The price of certainty

Jason was burned out. As a creative helping others to find their creativity, he could feel himself hitting a wall. He questioned whether he could keep doing the work. Have you ever lost your love for what you do? How do you regain your creative drive?

In today's episode, I talk to Jason DeMeo, an entrepreneur and artist. Jason co-founded We Are Curio, a creative studio assisting people and organizations in staying innovative. He is also the co-founder of Irox Living, focusing on luxury stays based on human-centered design, and he is pioneering the artistic movement known as Synthesism.

We talk about how to regain that creative spark through adversity. You don’t want to miss this conversation.

You can follow Jason on Instagram.

Thanks for listening. We want to hear from you!

Email us at [email protected].

For more conversations like this one, check out my book, Vulnerable: Rethinking Human Trafficking.

We see this reality depicted in movies, television, and our social media newsfeeds. Many of us strive to experience beauty without truly understanding its nature. Merriam-Webster defines beauty as “the quality or aggregate of qualities in a person or thing that pleasure the senses or pleasurably exalts the mind or Spirit.” Though this definition is helpful, I wonder, What is beauty? How do we discern it from its counterfeits?

Melissa was a marriage and family therapist in therapy. Her therapist encouraged her to take some time to work around a sensitive topic, her eating disorder. Pausing her therapeutic practice, she focused on addressing her needs at this moment. During the day, she was in treatment, while the evenings were reserved for her master’s level studies in Spiritual formation. Doing both simultaneously, she noticed that beauty is not as advertised. Ultimately, we are being played.

Today Im joined by Melissa Johnson, author of Soul Deep Beauty: Fighting for our True Worth in a World Demanding Flawless, and the host of the Impossible Beauty Podcast.

Learn more about Melissa on her website, and follow her on Instagram. You can follow the Impossible Beauty podcast and blog on Instagram and Facebook.

Thanks for listening. We want to hear from you!

Email us at [email protected].