Pastors Unfiltered

This week on Pastors Unfiltered, Pastors Brandon and Tony are back with a fun and honest conversation that moves from Mariners baseball and Taylor Swift to unpacking the heart of the book of Ephesians. They share why this letter from Paul still matters today, what it teaches us about identity in Christ, and how the church can live with unity and strength in a divided world. It’s real talk about faith, culture, calling, and what it looks like to live it out every day.

This week on Pastors Unfiltered, Pastor Brandon sits down with Matt and Lynn Clayton, lead pastors of Real Life Church in California. Together, they share what it’s like to co-lead a church as a married couple, balancing calling, leadership, and family. Lynn opens up about her powerful testimony of salvation during the Heaven’s Gates, Hell’s Flames revival, and the couple talks candidly about women in ministry, church culture, and what it means to lead with unity and humility.

In this week’s episode of Pastors Unfiltered, Pastor Brandon sits down with Claire Rasor and Rachel Winfield for a candid conversation about what it’s really like being women in ministry. They talk openly about navigating expectations, balancing marriage and ministry life, and breaking through stereotypes in a historically male-dominated field.

This week on Pastors Unfiltered, Pastor Brandon and Pastor Tony are back together in the studio with a timely and raw conversation about faith, culture, and what it means to follow Jesus in a polarized world.

This week on Pastors Unfiltered, Pastor Tony is joined by Pastor Morgan and special guest Judah Beals the faithful producer who has been behind the board since the very beginning of the podcast. With Pastor Brandon away tending to his wife after an accident, the crew shares laughs, cultural commentary (including the infamous “Phillies Karen”), and some heartfelt moments as Judah reflects on his journey. From growing up as a pastor’s kid, to serving at Venture, to preparing for his next career step at Boeing, Judah talks about what he’s learned, his work ethic, his faith, and some of his favorite podcast memories.

In this solo episode of the Pastors Unfiltered podcast, Pastor Brandon shares about his wife Di’s recent hiking injury. While it was a tough experience, he reflects with honesty and humor on the resilience and faith that have carried them through. Without Pastor Tony in the chair this week, Pastor Brandon opens up in a more personal way, giving a glimpse into the real challenges of life and ministry—and the hope that keeps him moving forward.

Watch this episode for an unfiltered look at faith, family, and everyday life behind the scenes.

This week, Tony is joined by co-host and guest Pastor Ethan Wall. From growing up in a small town to nearly pursuing film scoring, to teaching high school before stepping into full-time ministry, Ethan shares his journey of following God’s call in unexpected ways. We talk about what it’s like to wrestle with career paths, the challenges of teaching, the tug of church planting, and the joy (and cost) of building something from the ground up. Plus, plenty of laughs, side stories, and a little Seahawks football at the end. Whether you’re a pastor, volunteer, or just figuring out what God’s calling looks like in your own life, Ethan’s story will encourage you to step out in faith.

0:00 – Welcome & intros: Tony + Ethan
1:06 – Does anyone on staff actually listen to the podcast?
1:24 – Shoutout to Anderson Lawn Care & building noise
2:18 – Ethan’s background: small town kid, NU, almost Hans Zimmer
4:08 – First real encounter with the Holy Spirit
5:05 – Marriage, family, and call to ministry
6:43 – When did you first feel called?
8:13 – Affirmation from mentors and first sermon at NU
9:22 – Wrestling with career choices & pursuing ministry
10:06 – Working at Northwest & teaching piano lessons
12:19 – Door opens to teaching at Cedar Park
14:49 – Teaching PE, Bible, and English—what it was like
16:33 – The weight of teaching and ministering to students
18:03 – Marriage + the church plant announcement
20:33 – Why choose a church plant over a big church?
22:00 – How Ethan and Erica knew God was calling them to Seattle
24:04 – Building something new together
25:27 – The growth of Venture Seattle & needing staff
26:17 – Hungry, humble, teachable: why Ethan was hired
27:18 – Skipping youth ministry and pastoring adults
28:30 – Transitioning from teaching to full-time ministry
29:50 – Energy difference when you’re operating in your calling
31:22 – The “fun phase” of being associate pastor
32:16 – Rapid-fire: what are you reading, listening to, doing for fun?
34:06 – Movie buff confessions & Back to the Future love
35:19 – Seahawks record predictions
36:02 – How to pray for Ethan + needs at Venture Seattle
36:45 – Shoutouts & outro

In this candid and humorous episode, Pastors Brandon Beals (PB) and Tony Mattar share travel stories, personal updates, and dive into a hot-button issue in ministry: the use of AI in sermon writing. Along the way, they sprinkle in family anecdotes, church news, food debates, and behind-the-scenes stories from decades in ministry.

00:00 – Intro & Springfield trip (Convoy of Hope, Hal Donaldson interview, AG headquarters)
05:40 – Frozen custard discoveries & food humor
10:20 – Shoulder replacement update & building campaign donation
14:10 – Sponsor shoutout & Tony’s “DINK life” weekend story
19:00 – Family updates, lawyer sister, doctor brother, Morgan’s bunion
23:30 – Main discussion: AI in sermon writing (uses, limits, ethical concerns)
30:50 – Live AI sermon test & debate on originality vs. commentary use
36:40 – Sermon illustrations, story integrity, and past experiences with plagiarism
42:00 – Social media food debates, Ezell’s vs. Roscoe’s, Waffle House jokes
44:30 – Closing church updates (Seattle campus, Mill Creek remodel, shoulder surgery, football talk)
45:20 – Outro

This episode of Pastors Unfiltered takes a lighthearted break from recent serious conversations, with Pastors Tony Mattar and Brandon Beals joking about life, quirky sponsorships, and the contents of a “Pastor Box” subscription before diving into a debate over the top 100 movies of the past 25 years. They share favorites like Moneyball, The Dark Knight, and The Social Network, spar over Brandon’s top pick (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood), and dismiss several obscure indie and international films with humor. The episode wraps with Venture Church updates, including Vision Sunday, building expansion tours, and serving “100 cakes,” while promising a more spiritual episode next week.


00:00 – Intro, banter, and Brandon’s new professor title
05:10 – Sponsor talk: dream sponsors, Athletic Greens, and tea shop nostalgia
12:45 – Quirky water bottles, church swag, and the “Pastor Box” giveaway
20:30 – Assigning books and gifts to staff with playful commentary
27:15 – Introduction to the Top 100 Movies list
33:00 – Pixar favorites, indie film complaints, and Brandon’s top pick
44:20 – Debating *Moneyball*, *Once Upon a Time in Hollywood*, and other highlights
53:10 – Top 10 rankings: *The Dark Knight*, *The Social Network*, *Get Out*, *Parasite*
59:30 – Wrap-up: Vision Sunday, building tours, “100 cakes,” and final thoughts
01:03:00 – Closing remarks, listener challenge, and Starbucks gift card offer

In this Pastors Unfiltered episode, Pastor Brandon Beals interviews Brett Allen, superintendent of the Northern California-Nevada Assemblies of God District. They discuss Brett’s journey from youth pastor to district leader, his personal hobbies like woodworking and beekeeping, and practical leadership advice for young pastors. Brett emphasizes staying grounded, honoring past leadership, following your leader well, and maintaining a strong private life with God. The conversation is filled with humor, wisdom, and insight into healthy ministry longevity.

00:00 – Intro: Brandon’s famous shorts & Tony’s croc conversation
02:15 – Cal Raleigh Home Run Derby recap
05:20 – Coffee order anxiety & honesty at Starbucks
08:30 – Amazon Returns vs. Target: where trust lives
11:15 – Raising boys, winning & losing, and sportsmanship
14:40 – Brandon’s son's first fight story
18:10 – Exploring school safety & traumatic events
21:25 – Pastors as spiritual first responders
23:30 – Social media noise vs. listening to the Spirit
26:40 – The danger of emotional momentum
28:55 – Jesus' model: responding with clarity and timing
31:40 – Why youth ministry is harder than ever
34:10 – What's the future of student ministry?
36:15 – Youth groups as incubators for faith
38:30 – The difference between vulnerability & oversharing
42:10 – Adult leaders who become spiritual family
45:05 – Praying over students: permission vs. empowerment
47:30 – Brandon gets prophetic about Gen Z’s purpose
51:05 – Final thoughts: stop criticizing, start parenting
54:30 – Outro