In this Thanksgiving episode, John and his brother Matt return to the studio to talk about family memories, hilarious holiday traditions, and all the things people probably should and should not say at the Thanksgiving table. From childhood oyster stories to smoked turkeys, family dynamics, awkward comments, and the stress some people feel going into the holidays, this episode is an honest, warm, and funny look at what Thanksgiving is really like for many families.

John and Matt share their favorite childhood Thanksgiving memories, stories from their grandparents’ house, and the unforgettable oyster moment that has followed Matt for decades. They talk about the topics families often try to avoid like politics, religion in certain situations, past grievances, food and body comments, and the pressure around kids and grandkids. Their conversation blends real pastoral insight with humor, honesty, and relatable family moments.

They also explore how to keep the peace at the table, how to create a healthier holiday atmosphere, how to handle tense family dynamics, and why kindness, patience, and gratitude matter more than anything else during the holidays. Between Paul Hollywood look-alike jokes, Texas vs Georgia barbecue debates, and stories about hunting, cooking, and family traditions, this episode captures the spirit of Thanksgiving in all its messy and meaningful reality.

If you need a break from your own family gathering, or you're preparing for the upcoming holiday weekend, this episode is the perfect escape.

Happy Thanksgiving from Pod Have Mercy.

In this special episode, John sits down with someone who knows him better than anyone - his brother, Pastor Matt Stephens, a Baptist preacher from their hometown of Columbus, Georgia. Together, they peel back the curtain on a question they get all the time:

“How did two brothers end up as pastors in two different denominations?”

Their warm, candid conversation explores:

• Growing up Methodist, shifting into Baptist life, and how each found their unique calling

• What ministry really looks like behind the scenes (hint: it’s not endless theological debates)

• How holiday gatherings actually go in the Stephens family

• Stories about their mother (who makes a guest appearance off-camera with hand signals)

• The daily realities, frustrations, surprises, and joys of leading churches

• How Matt is revitalizing multiple congregations across Columbus, GA

• Why church revitalization matters now more than ever

It’s a funny, heartfelt, down-to-earth episode about faith, family, calling, and what ministry looks like when the cameras are off and the holidays roll around.

Make sure to like, subscribe, and share, especially if you’re listening from Columbus, Georgia!

In this wide-ranging and deeply honest conversation, Matt Russell sits down with The Rt. Rev. C. Andrew Doyle, the ninth Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas, to explore what it means to live faithfully in an age marked by polarization, digital noise, and spiritual disconnection.

Drawing from his background as an artist, pastor, author, and public theologian, Bishop Doyle reflects on:

• How technology forms—and often malforms—our imaginations

• Why embodied community, nature, and real relationships matter more than ever

• The difference between charity and justice

• The church’s calling to offer a different imagination than the culture around us

• Why leaning into community, mercy, and service changes us

• How discipleship must evolve in a world facing inequality, climate pressures, and isolation

He also shares stories from his newest book Unabashed Faith, reflects on reconciliation, creativity, and public theology, and even talks Jeeps, camping, and the spirituality of being outdoors.

This episode is a hopeful, challenging, and grounding invitation to imagine a new way forward—one rooted in mercy, dignity, justice, and the presence of Christ in the everyday.

Learn more about Bishop Doyle:
https://www.epicenter.org/about/the-diocese/bishops/the-rt-rev-c-andrew-doyle-ix-bishop-of-texas/

In this episode of Pod Have Mercy, John Stephens and Joseph Patty dive into a surprising new Barna study revealing that parents and church leaders don’t agree on who should take the lead in discipling children.

Should faith formation primarily happen at home or in the church? John and Joseph unpack the data, explore why many parents feel unequipped to talk about faith, and discuss what a true partnership between families and the church could look like.

From “dry cleaner youth ministry” to the importance of everyday discipleship, they reflect on how parents can model authentic faith and how the church can better support them along the way.

Is Halloween harmless fun, a spiritual battleground, or something in between?

In this episode of Pod Have Mercy, John Stephens sits down with Joseph Patty, Director of Student Ministries at Chapelwood, for a thoughtful (and often funny) conversation about how people of faith can approach Halloween with nuance and grace.

From animism and All Saints’ Day to trick-or-treating and Dia de los Muertos, they explore how Christians can honor the past, engage the present, and teach the next generation to see light in the midst of shadows. Along the way, they unpack the thin veil between life and death, share stories of family traditions, and ask what it really means to be “faithfully present” in our culture.

Whether you’re turning off the porch light or heading out for Trunk or Treat, this episode will help you see the holiday and the holy days that surround it with new eyes.

In this episode of Pod Have Mercy, we unpack a powerful reflection inspired by Russell Moore’s article on “gravity” - the lost virtue of being sober-minded and serious in a culture obsessed with noise, reaction, and silliness.

We explore what it means to lead with gravity - a blend of clarity, maturity, and responsibility that holds steady when the world demands instant opinions and outrage. From George Washington to TikTok culture, from pastoral leadership to personal growth, they ask: how do we reclaim the weightiness of character in an age of distraction?

Join the conversation as they reflect on Scripture, personal stories, and what it means to be grown-ups in the room again.

https://www.christianitytoday.com/newsletter/archive/moore-to-the-point-10-08-2025/

What does it mean to be dangerously tired - emotionally, spiritually, and physically? In this episode of Pod Have Mercy, John Stephens, Matt Russell, and Geoff Wood unpack the ancient wisdom of Sabbath as more than a rule - it's a divine invitation to rest, resist compulsion, and reclaim our humanity.

Drawing from the Desert Fathers, Barbara Brown Taylor, and Henry Nouwen, they explore what happens when we ignore our limits and how practicing Sabbath can help us recover joy, trust, and freedom from the tyranny of “always doing.”

If you’ve ever found yourself weary, restless, or unable to slow down, this conversation might be the reminder your soul has been waiting for.

In this episode, we sit down with Russell J. Levenson, Jr. to dig into his latest work, Witness to Belief: Conversations on Faith and Meaning. Together, we explore the heart behind the book, how it came to be, what compelled him to write it, and how his pastoral journey shaped each conversation within.

We discuss:

• The origin of Witness to Belief and what sparked Russ’s decision to interview twelve public figures on faith. Over the Mountain Journal+2PublishersWeekly.com+2

• His approach to these conversations: as a pastor, not merely an interviewer. Over the Mountain Journal

• How he selected subjects (from Denzel Washington to Nikki Haley, Jim Nantz to Jane Goodall) and the diversity of spiritual paths represented. 

• Memorable stories from the book:
   • Denzel Washington asking to begin and end the interview with prayer.
   • Amy Grant sharing how, after a brain injury, she now sings scripture instead of reciting it.
   • Brit Hume’s reflections on loss and faith, Jim Nantz’s journey with his father’s Alzheimer’s PublishersWeekly.com
   • Admiral McRaven wrestling with the tension between military duty and Christian moral imperatives.

• Behind-the-scenes of writing: how Russ prepared, how he built trust, and how he balanced theological depth with accessibility.

• What it meant to him personally, how these conversations shaped his own faith and pastoral perspective.

• How readers can approach the book: what to look for, how to engage with the stories, and what impact he hopes it might have.

If you’ve ever wondered how faith lives out in public life, or how deeply personal belief intersects with leadership, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

Book Links & References

• Witness to Belief: Conversations on Faith and Meaning — Morehouse Publishing page ChurchPublishing.org+1

• Witness to Belief on Amazon Amazon+1

• Witness to Belief on Target Target

• Announcements / profile of the book from Over the Mountain Journal Over the Mountain Journal

• Publisher’s Weekly review of Witness to Belief PublishersWeekly.com

In this episode of Pod Have Mercy, we sit down with Rev. Kathleen (Kathi) McShane. lawyer, pastor, innovator, and changemaker. After an early career as a civil litigator in San Francisco, Kathi followed her call to ministry, serving four congregations and later as vice president for Institutional Advancement at the Pacific School of Religion. She most recently retired as an Elder in the California-Nevada Conference of the United Methodist Church, but her work is far from over.

As the Director of Learning and Innovation for the Texas Methodist Foundation, Kathi continues to re-imagine what leadership in the church can look like. She is also the co-founder of The Changemaker Initiative, a movement equipping lay people to embody compassion-driven change in their communities, and co-author of Picking Up the Pieces: Leadership After Empire, written with Rabbi Elan Babchuck.

In our conversation, Kathi shares insights on innovation, what it means to lead with courage in a changing church, and how Christians can become changemakers like Jesus in today’s world. From her vineyard home on the Central Coast of California, Kathi is shaping a vision for the church as a force of transformation and hope.

https://thechangemakerinitiative.org

In this episode, John Stephens and Matt Russell dive into one of the most pressing conversations facing the church today: the rise of Christian nationalism. Together they explore what the term really means, why definitions matter, and how patriotism and faith can be confused or faithfully held in balance.

Drawing from voices like David French, Russell Moore, and others, they unpack the dangers of fusing Christianity with political power, trace historical examples from Constantine to the Civil Rights movement, and wrestle with key biblical passages including Israel’s demand for a king, Jesus before Pilate, and the temptations in the wilderness.

At the heart of the conversation is this question: what does it mean to love your country without compromising your ultimate allegiance to Christ and the kingdom of God?

Listen in for a thoughtful, pastoral, and challenging discussion that seeks to help Christians navigate faith and politics without falling into the trap of idolatry or fear.