Sean Azzaro welcomes Melanie Shankle and her daughter, author Caroline Shankle, to discuss Caroline’s book, "The Lion and the Bear: A 100-Day Devotional for Teen Girls." Caroline shares how she discovered a love for writing in college, how a difficult breakup coincided with a pivotal publisher Zoom call, and how she felt God leading her to accept a book contract at age 20. She describes the devotional as an honest, big-sister voice for girls facing issues like mean girls, sports injuries, and heartbreak, and talks about the challenge of writing 100 entries and adapting to public speaking despite a fear of it. Melanie reflects on seeing God’s multi-generational plans and encourages mining life experiences for ministry. Caroline’s speaking requests can be made at carolineshankle.com.

00:00 Show Intro Banter

00:36 Book Gift Talk

01:15 Meet The Guests

03:17 Caroline Writing Origin

05:44 Melanie Sees The Calling

07:09 First Contract Breakup

12:15 Writing Is Hard

13:30 Mentoring And Mining Stories

15:34 Devotional Overview

16:41 Public Speaking Nerves

19:04 Generational Ministry Joy

20:47 Wrap Up And How To Book

22:05 Final Blessing Outro

Devoted: Spirit-Filled Rhythms, Sabbath, and a Rule of Life | River City Community Church

Sean Azzaro and Baron invite listeners to River City Community Church and describe a current Acts 2 series, “Devoted,” emphasizing that the early believers’ priorities changed because they were filled with the Holy Spirit, not merely disciplined, and calling out a lethargic, over-busy approach to faith.

Sean then introduces Clay Burkholder, who has moved from youth pastor to minister of adult discipleship, with Jaden Wall stepping into youth and young adults. Clay shares how Bible knowledge without transformation led him toward spiritual formation. He explains a flexible “rule of life” as a trellis for growth, highlighting practices like prayer, Scripture, Sabbath, and fasting, and urges people to examine existing habits.

00:00 Welcome and Intro

00:51 Acts 2 Devoted Series

02:23 Spirit Filled Real Life

03:39 Church Times and Invitation

04:26 Staff Updates and New Role

05:48 Meet Clay Burkholder

06:40 Passion for Formation

09:11 Monastery Retreat Lessons

13:15 Rule of Life Trellis

17:21 Practices Sabbath and Fasting

23:10 Quiet the Flesh Tune Spirit

25:14 Wrap Up and Next Steps

29:10 Final Invitation and Goodbye

Pastor Sean and Pastor Ryan Azzaro of Landmark Church in San Marcos discuss how Christians can discern truth amid the abundance of popular teachers and resources.

They address the pastoral challenge of steering people away from errant or false teaching, citing examples such as prosperity doctrine, movements claiming the church has misread the Bible for centuries, and skepticism toward Paul’s writings. Ryan offers a framework for discernment: study Scripture by the Spirit, take responsibility for formation, learn in community and church tradition with humility, test resources by their view of Scripture and Christ-centeredness, and watch for red flags like revisionism, confusion on core doctrines, lack of accountability, and worldliness aligned with culture.

00:00 Podcast Intro and Support

01:07 Meet Ryan and Landmark Update

01:49 Landmark Growth and Two Services

03:34 The Discernment Problem

05:52 Examples of False Teaching

08:06 How to Respond Wisely

09:48 Grow in Discernment

15:52 Test Teachers and Resources

18:08 Red Flags to Watch For

20:48 Wrap Up and Where to Listen

21:09 Closing Announcements and Song

With school starting soon, Sean shares that Jennifer Conant has been promoted from assistant principal to head of schools at River City Believers Academy after 13 years on staff, and interviews her about her journey from stay-at-home mom to teacher and administrator, her love for students and families, and the school’s mission to disciple students as passionate followers of Jesus while maintaining strong academics.

Conant highlights benefits like a family culture, small class sizes, and a safe environment, shares how to learn more at rcbaonline.com or 210-656-2999, requests prayer for building expansion, staff refreshment, and wisdom.

00:00 Fathers Day Catch Up

01:14 Jerky Stick Tradition

02:04 School Leadership Update

03:24 Meet Jennifer Conant

03:57 Her RCBA Journey

05:55 Called to Lead

08:43 Strengths and Relationships

11:20 School and Church Mission

13:02 Faith Over Achievement

13:32 Leading Through Highs Lows

14:07 God Provides Stewardship

15:18 Humility Builds Trust

16:40 Why Private School Matters

17:03 Family Culture Love

18:46 Small Classes Safe Growth

20:45 How to Learn More

21:56 Prayer Needs Expansion

24:01 Closing Reflections Signoff

Pastor Sean Azzaro and Baron Wiley discuss Sean’s upcoming sabbatical, the difficulty of truly unplugging from work and leadership, and urge church boards and elders to understand the unique demands of pastoral ministry.

The conversation shifts to hope for America as the nation approaches its 250th anniversary, encouraging gratitude, travel and history study, and distinguishing patriotism from “Christian nationalism.” Sean recommends Tom Holland’s book “Dominion” and closes with a prayer for America, repentance, generosity, and revival.

00:00 Sabbatical Banter

01:16 Unplugging From Work

03:14 Why Pastors Need Rest

04:45 Boards Elders And Support

06:58 Sharing The Pulpit

07:28 God Is Series Preview

08:45 Hope For America

10:24 Travel And Gratitude

12:30 Media Myths And Visitors

15:13 Land Acknowledgements Debate

18:54 Christian Nationalism Clarified

20:33 Christian Roots Of The West

24:40 Give Thanks This July

25:11 Closing Prayer For America

The Texas primaries are complete and now we look to November where the big race is with Ken Paxton vs. James Talarico.

Sean speaks to Talarico’s public statements about Christianity, “Christian nationalism,” gender (including a clip where Talarico claims God is non-binary), and abortion (including his argument about Mary’s consent). Sean argues these are distortions of scripture and warns believers about deception and a “different gospel,” while emphasizing love for people, compassion for women facing unwanted pregnancies, and participation in elections without bitterness.

00:00 Welcome and Camp Plans

01:10 Spurs Game and City Culture

03:57 Election Matchup Preview

04:51 Talarico Claims and Straw Men

09:44 Trans Ideology and Kids

11:20 God Is Nonbinary Clip

15:07 Abortion Consent Argument

19:43 Pastors Politics and False Teachers

22:19 How Believers Should Respond

23:08 God Is Series and Closing

Love as Holiness: Dr. Les Holland on Reconciliation, Pastoral Leadership, and COVID-Era Ministry

Pastor Sean Azzaro talks with Dr. Les Hollan, longtime pastor of Trinity Baptist Church and author of Love as Holiness: Dare to Live It, joined by his wife, Vicky. Holland reflects on following Buckner Fanning, building “love bridges” after a difficult church transition, and his emphasis on reconciliation, listening, and early-morning meditation.

He explains the book’s origin in his PhD work and frames love as the way of experiencing God’s holiness, offering leadership lessons such as loving God first, casting clear vision while building consensus, and being willing to say “I don’t know.”

Holland discusses leading through COVID, boundaries after retirement, and Vicky highlights the story-driven nature of the book.

00:00 Show Kickoff Banter

01:03 Introducing Dr Les Hollan

01:50 Call to Trinity Baptist

03:33 Leading After a Predecessor

04:34 Reconciliation Artist Story

06:31 Love as Holiness Book

07:32 Pastoral Pressure and Practices

11:36 Leadership Lessons for Pastors

13:53 Revelation And Humility

15:12 Leading Through COVID

16:27 Crisis Ministry Breakthrough

17:40 Advice To Younger Self

19:46 Retirement And Community

22:46 Boundaries With Successor

24:08 Vicky On The Book

25:10 Wrap Up And Next Series

Sean Azzaro speaks to the value of Vacation Bible School and River City Community Church’s summer camps (2nd–12th grade), emphasizing discipleship through concentrated relationships, worship, and community.

Sean urges parents to organize family life around the things of God, not treating church as negotiable or replaced by sports, activities, or Christian school, and to help kids sustain “camp high” by connecting to youth group.

He shares scholarship opportunities via youth pastor Clay Burkholder ([email protected]) and announces camp June 8–12 at Camp Buckner and VBS July 13–17, with details at reallife.org.

00:00 Welcome and YaYa Week

00:43 Outnumbered Parenting

01:14 Why Camp Memories Matter

01:57 Daily Devotions and Activities

04:29 Church Camps and VBS Options

05:34 Why Youth Camp Works

06:34 Choosing Faith First

09:30 Parents Lead the Way

16:27 Camp High to Lifelong Habits

18:56 Scholarships Dates and Wrap Up

On Reaching for Real Life, Sean and Baron discuss grandparenting plans before turning to recent faith-centered patriotic events in Washington, DC around the upcoming 250th anniversary of the Declaration, including prayers led by Speaker Mike Johnson.

Sean expresses caution about labeling such gatherings “revival,” emphasizing that true revival is “just Jesus,” marked by repentance, transformed lives, and changed communities, and warning against conflating Christian faith with Americanism or political bandwagons.

00:00 Granddaughter Intro

00:33 Pops Camp Plans

01:26 Last Week's Feedback

02:21 Faith Events In May

04:22 Revival Or Patriotism

06:52 What Revival Looks Like

08:29 Politics And Christian Witness

12:35 Discernment and Follow-Up

14:14 Gen Z Returns To Church

15:30 Young Men Push Back

17:33 Science And Secularism

19:48 Jubilee And 250 Years

20:28 Kingdom Of God First

21:51 Revival Under Persecution

24:31 Pastors Focus On Discipleship

26:11 Church Invite And Wrap Up

Sean Azzaro and Baron Wiley recap River City Community Church’s Mother’s Day service honoring moms, and the golf tournament fundraiser for Real Life Community Outreach.

The conversation turns to the importance of fathers and grandfathers investing in boys, Sean’s memories of his grandfathers, and the intentional “YaYa Pops Camp” week of activities, devotions, and scripture memorization for all six grandkids.

Sean cites Deuteronomy 4:9 on teaching future generations, emphasizing grandparents as storytellers and prayer warriors who respect parents’ authority while modeling a God-honoring family legacy.

00:00 Show Kickoff Banter

00:42 Mother's Day Reflections

01:27 Honoring Mom Stories

02:44 Golf Tourney Recap

03:32 Moses Steals The Show

05:32 Why Boys Need Men

07:19 Knowing The Grandparents

08:22 Lessons From Grandpa Pope

09:22 Generational Role Shifts

11:09 Great Grandparents Memories

11:46 Grandparent Joy

12:15 Yaya Pops Camp

13:26 Camp Traditions

15:51 Legacy and Stories

19:55 Grandparent Boundaries

22:53 Blessing with Resources

24:27 Better Grandparents

26:04 Church Invitation

26:33 Podcast Farewell