Rooted and Real : Raw Discussions

In this special bonus episode of Rooted and Real: Raw Discussions, AJ Riley sits down with Bret Martin — Involvement and First Impressions Pastor at Shelby Christian Church in Shelbyville, KY, father of three, Muay Thai professional, and founder/instructor of Crucible Muay Thai.

Together they dive into what it really looks like to balance faith, family, leadership, discipline, and purpose in everyday life.

From ministry and marriage to fatherhood and fighting, Bret shares honest insight into the lessons learned both inside and outside the ring. This conversation explores perseverance, identity, mental toughness, staying grounded in faith, and the responsibility of leading well in every area of life.

Raw, real, and full of practical wisdom, this episode is a powerful reminder that strength isn’t just built in the spotlight — it’s built in consistency, character, and showing up for the people God has placed in front of you.

🎙️ Episode: “Fatherhood, Ministry & Muay Thai”
🎧 Available on Spotify & Apple Podcasts

Stay Rooted. Stay Real.

Show Themes “Backroad Revival Revived” & “Rooted in the Dark” created and copyrighted by AJ Riley.

Strength alone doesn’t make someone unbreakable.

In Episode 4 of our Built Different series, join host AJ Riley as we take a real and honest look at the life of Samson—a man gifted with incredible strength, yet constantly battling temptation, pride, anger, and self-destruction.

Because Samson’s greatest battle was never just against enemies…
it was against himself.

This episode dives into:

• unchecked impulses

• emotional reactions

• compromise

• pride

• hidden struggles

• and what happens when somebody looks powerful on the outside while quietly falling apart inside

But even in failure, Samson’s story reminds us that God is still able to meet broken people in broken moments.

🎙️ Built Different Series
Episode 4: Samson — Strong Enough to Break Everything

Stay Rooted. Stay Real.

Show Themes “Backroads Revival Revived” & “Rooted in the Dark” created and copyrighted by AJ Riley.

Everybody wants purpose… until purpose comes with pressure.

In Episode 3 of our Built Different series, join host AJ Riley as he takes a real look at the life of Moses—not just the miracles and the Red Sea, but the pressure, exhaustion, insecurity, and responsibility that came with leading people through impossible situations.

Because leadership isn’t always about being strong.
Sometimes it’s about feeling overwhelmed and still choosing to keep going.

This episode dives into:

• insecurity and calling

• carrying responsibility

• leadership fatigue

• emotional burnout

• and learning that not everything rests on your shoulders

Moses was chosen by God… but he was still human.

🎙️ Built Different Series
Episode 3: Moses — Leadership Isn’t About You

Stay Rooted. Stay Real.

Show Themes “Backroads Revival Revived” & “Rooted in the Dark” created and copyrighted by AJ Riley.

We all know Elijah as the bold prophet who called fire down from heaven…
but what happens when the strong man hits a wall?

Join host AJ Riley as he takes a real and honest look at burnout, exhaustion, fear, and what it means to keep going when you feel completely drained.

Because even Elijah—after one of the greatest victories of his life—found himself alone, overwhelmed, and ready to give up.

This episode isn’t just about Elijah.
It’s about us.

The pressure we carry.
The battles nobody sees.
And how sometimes God meets us not in the noise… but in the silence.

Stay Rooted. Stay Real.

Show Themes “Backroads Revival Revived” & “Rooted in the Dark” created and copyrighted by AJ Riley.

We all know the moment David faced the giant…
but nobody really talks about what came after.

The pressure.
The expectations.
The weight of becoming something more.

In Episode 1 of our Built Different series, we take a real look at the life of David—not just the victory over Goliath, but the journey that followed. From being overlooked in the fields… to stepping into the spotlight… to carrying the responsibility of leadership, failure, and faith.

This isn’t just a Bible story.
This is about real life.

Because sometimes the hardest battles don’t come before the win…
they come after it.

🎙️ Built Different Series
Episode 1: David — The Pressure to Be More Than You Are
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Stay Rooted. Stay Real.

Show themes "Backroad Revival Revived" & "Rooted in the Dark" created and copyrighted by AJ Riley

Life doesn’t slow down so you can focus on your faith.

Between work, family, responsibilities, and everything in between… it’s easy to feel like your relationship with God becomes just another thing you’re trying to keep up with.

In this episode, we get real about what it actually looks like to live out your faith in the middle of everyday life—not when things are perfect, but when they’re busy, messy, and sometimes overwhelming.

We talk about shifting your mindset, letting go of the pressure to “do more,” and learning how to bring God into what you’re already doing. Because faith isn’t something you add to your life…

It’s something you live through it.

If you’ve been feeling stretched thin, disconnected, or like you’re not doing enough—this conversation is for you.

Find us on Facebook, Instagram and Tik Tok.

The show themes “Rooted Revival Revived” and “Rooted in the Dark” are created and copyrighted by AJ Riley.

Let’s be honest…
There are seasons where God just feels quiet.

You pray… and it feels like nothing.
You read… and it doesn’t hit the same.
You show up… but something feels missing.

And you start asking the question a lot of people don’t say out loud:

“Where is God right now?”

In this episode, we talk about those silent seasons—the moments where faith feels distant, emotions feel numb, and you’re not sure what’s going on.

We break down what Scripture actually shows about these moments, why you’re not alone in feeling this way, and how faith isn’t built just in the highs… but in the quiet.

If you’ve ever felt disconnected, unsure, or like something’s off in your walk—

This conversation is for you.

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Email the show at [email protected]

Show Themes "Rooted Revival Revived" & "Rooted in the Dark" Created and Trademarked by AJ Riley

Let’s be honest…Following Jesus doesn’t mean you suddenly get everything right.

Sometimes it looks like trying your best…and still falling back into the same struggles.

In this episode, we’re getting real about that tension—the frustration, the guilt, and the question so many of us ask:

“Why do I keep messing up?”

We break down what Scripture actually says about the battle between who we are and who we’re becoming, and why struggling doesn’t mean your faith is failing—it might mean it’s alive.

If you’ve ever felt like a hypocrite…like you’re not measuring up…or like you’re stuck in the same cycle—

This conversation is for you.

This is real faith. Not perfect. Not polished. Just honest.

Show Themes "Rooted Revival Revived" & "Rooted in the Dark". Created and Trademarked by AJ Riley

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The Weight of the Cross – Part 5

The journey doesn’t end at the cross.

In the final episode of our series “The Weight of the Cross,” we step into the moment that changes everything—the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

After the suffering, the sacrifice, and the silence of the tomb… comes victory.

This episode walks through the final stations of the journey:
Jesus is taken down from the cross, laid in the tomb, and on the third day—He rises.

Through Scripture and reflection, we explore what the resurrection truly means—not just as an event, but as the foundation of our faith.

Because without the resurrection, the cross is unfinished.

But with it—
sin is defeated,
death is overcome,
and new life is made possible.

📖 “He is not here; He has risen, just as He said.” — Matthew 28:6

This is where hope is restored.
This is where everything changes.

And this is the victory that still speaks today.

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Email the Show at [email protected]

Sign Up for the 4th Annual Uncommon Mens Conference at Shelby Christian Church at the link below.

https://shelbychristian.org/events/uncommon-mens-conference

Show Themes "Rooted Revival Revived" & "Rooted in the Dark" Created and Copyrighted by AJ Riley

Most men don’t plan to live ordinary lives…
they just slowly drift into them.

In this episode of Rooted & Real: Raw Discussions, we sit down with Pastor Dave Hamlin of Shelby Christian Church to have an honest, challenging conversation:

👉 What does it really mean to be UNCOMMON?

We talk about the struggles men face today—feeling stuck, disconnected, and unsure of how to lead in their homes and in their faith—and why “just getting by” isn’t what God called us to.

This isn’t just a conversation.
It’s a wake-up call.

🔥 And it all leads to the 4th Annual UnCommon Men’s Conference
📅 April 17–18 at Shelby Christian Church

Sign Up @ https://shelbychristian.org/events/uncommon-mens-conference

If you’ve been feeling like something’s missing… this episode is for you.

A Special Thank You to Pastor Dave Hamlin.

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Show Themes "Rooted Revival Revived" & "Rooted in the Dark" Created and Copyrighted by AJ Riley