Pick Up the Mike

Mike, Will, and a special guest from Iran sit down for a conversation that’ll open your eyes, starting with Netflix’s Narnia remake and what it says about the culture, then diving into the story of Farshid Rezaee, an Iranian refugee turned apologist. Raised Shiite, a Quran-reciting champion as a boy, and a secret Christian who celebrated Christmas alone, Farshid’s winding road to Pittsburgh proves God is still writing some wild stories.

Items Mentioned in Episode:

Tactics by Greg Koukl

The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel

Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus by Nabeel Qureshi

----------------------------------------------------------

Want your question featured on a future episode? Leave a comment or submit it here

Check out Harvest's other podcast, @tinatalkspodcast

----------------------------------------------------------

Video Chapters:

0:00 Intro & Narnia Remake

11:52 Sunni vs. Shia Islam Explained

22:32 Growing Up Shiite in Iran

25:07 The Deception Argument and the Quran

34:52 Is the Quran Really Preserved?

40:22 Can God Do Anything?

51:33 Farshid's Conversion Story

1:32:50 How to Evangelize Muslims

1:52:59 Iran Today

Nick Greiner grew up as Pastor Mike's son, a shy kid who traded New Jersey sweater vests for Western Pennsylvania after a move he did not want. He shares how childhood anxiety shaped his early years, why he fought to quit football, and how obsessive push-ups and a guitar got him through cyber school. He talks about sneaking a blank audition CD into a stack of papers to land a full ride at North Greenville, meeting his wife Brooke on a singing bus tour, and working his way up from a $9-an-hour barista to district manager.

Episode Cards:

"Brooke Greiner: Depression, Instagram Fame, & A Miracle Baby - Pick Up the Mike Episode #94"

"What Jesus Really Meant with Money and Heaven - Pick Up the Mike Episode #66"

----------------------------------------------------------

Want your question featured on a future episode? Leave a comment or submit it here

Check out Harvest's other podcast, @tinatalkspodcast

----------------------------------------------------------

Video Chapters:

0:00 Intro

1:27 Rock Hill, SC & Growing Up as Pastor Mike's Son

4:33 Trailers, Seminary & Moving to New Jersey

7:01 City Life, Bullying & Private School in NJ

15:24 Childhood Anxiety, Insomnia & Health Fears

25:05 What "Checking" Really Means (Anxiety Loops)

36:06 Dad, Moving to Western PA & Quitting Football

45:14 Working Out, Cyber School & Evangel Heights

1:05:03 North Greenville, Joyful Sound & Meeting Brooke

1:21:26 Starbucks Career, Corporate Life & Anxiety Today

In this week's episode, Mike and Will pick up in Romans 8:18-22, where Paul says our present suffering isn't worth comparing to the glory to come. They dig into why all creation is groaning like a woman in labor, then tackle listener questions on dealing with a controlling spouse and why some churches affirm same-sex marriage. They wrap up with a few Big Fred stories you won't want to miss.

How to Read a Book by Mortimer Adler

That Hideous Strength by C.S. Lewis

----------------------------------------------------------

Want your question featured on a future episode? Leave a comment or submit it here

Check out Harvest's other podcast, @tinatalkspodcast

----------------------------------------------------------

Video Chapters:

0:00 Intro

12:28 Reading Romans in Big Chunks

17:02 Romans 8:18-22– Suffering vs. Coming Glory

59:00 Ask the Pastors: What to Do When Your Spouse Is Controlling

1:26:08 Ask the Pastors: Same-Sex Marriage, Identity & What Makes a Church a Church

1:50:39 Big Fred Stories & Wrapping Up

In this special 9/11 anniversary episode, Mike and Will open with some practical wisdom on withholding judgment and assuming the best of others' motives before diving into the main event: a hard look at Islam's history and its ongoing persecution of Christians, from Nigeria to lower Manhattan. They react to a string of videos — some graphic, with a warning given beforehand — covering everything from Sharia law to eyewitness footage from the towers, then close things out on a hopeful note with a C.S. Lewis reading on facing fear, war, and mortality with faith.

----------------------------------------------------------

Want your question featured on a future episode? Leave a comment or submit it here

Check out Harvest's other podcast, @tinatalkspodcast

In this week's episode, Mike and Will continue their walk through Romans, picking up in chapter 8 as Paul unpacks what it means to be adopted as sons of God rather than slaves living in fear. Along the way, they wrestle with why Paul uses the word "sons" instead of "children," dig into the promise that our suffering now is nothing compared to the glory being revealed in us, and debate whether "empathy" is even a biblical concept worth keeping — sparked by a reaction to Gad Saad and Andrew Klavan's conversation on "suicidal empathy." They close out contrasting empathy with compassion, and get into a broader conversation on postmodernism, cultural relativism, and where they see truth getting quietly traded for feelings.

Andrew Klavan & Gad Saad Full Video

Tina Talks Q&A Round 2

----------------------------------------------------------

Want your question featured on a future episode? Leave a comment or submit it here

Check out Harvest's other podcast, @tinatalkspodcast

----------------------------------------------------------

Video Chapters:

0:00 Intro

2:37 Romans 8:10-19

37:35 Reaction: Klavan interviews Gad Saad

43:03 Empathy vs. sympathy debate

1:00:07 Islam, assimilation, 9/11

1:13:16 Postmodernism & atheism debate

1:34:13 Lindsay Clancy case & justice

1:43:12 Next episode teaser & sign-off

In this week's episode, Mike and Will move into Romans 8, unpacking why Paul calls it the pinnacle of the whole book — starting with "no condemnation" and working through what it really means to set your mind on the Spirit instead of the flesh. Along the way, they get into a wild AI story about Claude and ChatGPT breaking out of their test environments to hack a company, debate the data center controversy and what it means for the future of AI, and dig into the cultural firestorm around the Lindsay Clancy case — including a viral Spencer Pratt video on "suicidal empathy" that's got the internet talking. They close things out on a hopeful note with a young commentator using economics to push back on socialism.

Don Bowers Episode

Prayer Episode

Helen Andrews Episode

C.S. Lewis Book Perelandra

----------------------------------------------------------

Want your question featured on a future episode? Leave a comment or submit it here

Check out Harvest's other podcast, @tinatalkspodcast

----------------------------------------------------------

Video Chapters:

0:00 Intro

9:12 Bible study: Romans 8

41:37 AI, data centers & the "sandbox escape" news

55:39 Spencer Pratt & the Lindsay Clancy case

1:02:52 Reacting to Spencer Pratt's viral video

1:23:32 Society, free speech & Elon Musk

1:29:06 Emma Camp: economics common sense

1:36:14 Closing thoughts

Mike and Mandy are joined by three guests from across the world for a conversation that'll open your eyes — diving into the story of Kuza, a Kenyan gospel ministry reaching people across six African countries. Then they dig into the personal stories behind it: Marvin, Matt, and Edgar — three very different men whose winding paths to faith and ministry prove God's still writing some wild stories on the other side of the world.

Check out the @KuzaApp Podcast!

----------------------------------------------------------

Want your question featured on a future episode? Leave a comment or submit it here

Check out Harvest's other podcast, @tinatalkspodcast

----------------------------------------------------------

Video Chapters:

0:00 Intro

5:29 What is Kuza?

20:16 "A mile wide, an inch deep" — Christianity in Africa

35:07 Marvin's testimony & becoming a podcast host

58:07 Matt's testimony, calling to missions & his wife's journey

1:30:38 Edgar's testimony & love for scripture

1:47:26 Final words, generosity story & closing prayer

In this week's episode, Mike and Will dig into Romans 7, tackling the tension every believer feels: why does the law seem to stir up sin instead of stopping it? Along the way, they wrestle with who Paul is actually describing in the chapter's hardest verses, unpack the difference between the "old nature" and the "new man," and get into a real debate over whether addiction is a disease or a choice — sparked by backlash to a sermon clip on porn and substance addiction. They close out with a look at Massachusetts' new late-term abortion law and a broader conversation on feminism, socialism, and where they see spiritual roots underneath it all.

CrossTalking (Addiction Recovery Group)

The Mortification Of Sin by John Owen

The Space Trilogy by C.S. Lewis

----------------------------------------------------------

Want your question featured on a future episode? Leave a comment or submit it here

Check out Harvest's other podcast, @tinatalkspodcast

----------------------------------------------------------

Video Chapters:

0:00 Intro

4:58 Diving into Romans 7

9:31 The "old nature" and C.S. Lewis's Perelandra

22:08 The big picture: Romans 8:3 and what the law couldn't do

35:04 Was Paul describing Saul the Pharisee?

55:05 "No temptation has overtaken you" – 1 Corinthians 10:13

1:08:01 Is addiction a disease or a sin?

1:30:14 Massachusetts abortion law & closing thoughts on Nigeria

Jay Decker grew up as a missionary kid but dreamed of nothing more than a house with a white picket fence back in America. Then his best friend died in front of him at 16, and everything changed. Hear how Jay wanted nothing to do with missions ended up inventing a business cover to reach a people group with no written language, no Bible, and no church - and the photo that arrived years later that changed how he saw his own story.

The Weight of Glory by C.S Lewis

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S Lewis

----------------------------------------------------------

Want your question featured on a future episode? Leave a comment or submit it here

Check out Harvest's other podcast, @tinatalkspodcast

----------------------------------------------------------

Video Chapters:

0:00 Intro

8:00 Growing up as a missionary kid in Bolivia

14:17 The friend's sudden death that changed his life

24:08 College, choosing a strategic degree, meeting his wife

29:04 What missionary training actually involves

43:03 Choosing a people group in Central Asia

58:03 The humbling reality of raising financial support

1:19:46 Moving to the unreached people group & early hardship

1:35:38 The breakthrough: chronological Bible storytelling and first converts

In this week's episode, Mike and Will dig into Romans 6, wrestling with the question every Christian eventually faces: if grace covers all sin, why not just keep sinning? They break down what it means to be dead to the law but alive in Christ, and preview the "two natures" debate coming in Romans 7. Mike also recaps his mission trip to Kenya, before closing out with a hot take on the Sophie Cunningham/WNBA controversy over trans athletes in women's sports.

Episode with Mandy

----------------------------------------------------------

Want your question featured on a future episode? Leave a comment or submit it here

Check out Harvest's other podcast, @tinatalkspodcast

----------------------------------------------------------