Son of the Law

In this special father-daughter conversation, I sit down with my 22-year-old daughter, Maryanna, to talk about college, faith, friendships, career ambitions, and life after graduation.

We explore the value of education, developing personal convictions, small-town versus college-town living, and her desire to become a more well-rounded, well-read person. Along the way, we discuss books, coffee, Jesus, discipleship, and what excites her about the future.

An honest conversation about growing up, finding your own way, and becoming who you want to be.

Where did I come from? Where am I? Where am I going?

In Part 3 of my conversation with Ben St. Pierre, we tackle three big questions we all wrestle with at some point in life. Through stories of faith, family, career transitions, and unexpected hardships, Ben shares how his journey has shaped his perspective on purpose, relationships, and his calling to ministry.

We talk about the people who show up when life gets hard, the difference between success and fulfillment, and how to find direction when life doesn’t go according to plan.

Three questions. One honest conversation. And a reminder that sometimes the unexpected turns in life lead us exactly where we need to be.

In this episode we sit down with Lawson City Administrator Stan Dobbins to talk about the projects, challenges, growth and decisions shaping Lawson, Missouri.

Stan gives an update on the Raum Bridge project and explains the challenges behind getting a major infrastructure project across the finish line. We also talk about the Salem Road extension, the upcoming west-side roundabout, new construction and home renovations, street repairs, nuisance properties and the challenges of balancing today's needs with Lawson's future growth.

The conversation also covers the new e-bike ordinance, improvements at City Lake, and the Lawson Park Board's recent recognition for its playground project.

But beyond the projects, Chris and Stan talk about what it's really like to serve as a City Administrator in a small town—juggling competing priorities, managing limited resources, responding to residents and trying to plan for what Lawson will look like years from now.

It's a conversation about infrastructure, growth, government, community and the future of a town that many of us call home.

In this episode, I sit down with my son for a funny and honest conversation about high school, friends, growing up, and figuring out who you are. We also get into the lingo kids his age are using—and Dad quickly realizes he has some catching up to do.

We may see our kids around town, at church, school, or the ball field, but sometimes it takes a different conversation to really hear them.

This was a fun way for me to get to know my son a little differently—and hopefully give you a few laughs along the way.

What’s it really like to be the mayor of a small town?

In this episode, I sit down with former Lawson Mayor Greg Taylor to talk about life in the mayor’s seat—from the challenges and expectations that come with leading a small community to the people and places that make Lawson home.

But this conversation quickly became about much more than being mayor. I learned about Greg’s career, his commitment to an early-morning workout routine, and the story behind his new marriage.

At 61 years young, Greg Taylor isn’t slowing down—he may just be getting started.

It’s a conversation about leadership, work, health, marriage, and what it looks like to keep chasing the next chapter of life right here in a small town.

What does it take to build a marriage that lasts?

In this episode, Brandon and Jeri Mammen share an honest, funny, and sometimes uncomfortable conversation about marriage, family, faith, parenting, health, intimacy, and the lessons they've learned along the way.

With three adult children and more than 33 years of life together, they talk about fighting fair, accepting each other's differences, raising kids without losing your marriage, navigating in-laws, becoming grandparents, surviving hard seasons, and what it really means to keep choosing each other.

Plus, we put them through the SOTL Rapid Fire to find out who really knows whom best!

What does it really take to lead a young family?

This week, Lee Cureton, Derek Gunther, and Matt Wright sit down for an honest, completely unscripted conversation about marriage, fatherhood, discipline, providing, technology, raising boys and girls, and the challenge of leading a family while you're still figuring it out yourself.

After hearing from Jessica Cureton and Preslee Gunther in our Unfiltered Motherhood episode, we're flipping the perspective and hearing from the dads. Expect strong opinions, a few uncomfortable questions, and plenty of laughs.

What would it take for you to leave everything?

In this episode, Bryan and Delia Smith share the story behind one of the biggest decisions of their lives: selling their home, leaving the comfort of small-town Missouri, and moving their family to Costa Rica to plant a church and serve in full-time ministry.

We talk about calling, obedience, parenting, uncertainty, sacrifice, and what it looks like to trust God when the future is anything but certain. Whether you share their faith or simply wrestle with life's big decisions, this honest conversation will challenge you to consider what it means to live with conviction when the cost is high.

Brandon Mammen shares his journey from growing up on a farm near Chillicothe, Missouri, to navigating life after a Multiple Sclerosis diagnosis. We talk about faith, family, parenting, a career in IT, owning a street sweeper (yes, really), and the resilience required to keep moving forward when life doesn't go as planned.

It's an honest conversation full of wisdom, perspective, and practical encouragement for anyone facing challenges they didn't choose.

Part two of our conversation with Ben St. Pierre goes deeper into the highs and hardships of life. Ben shares stories from rising through the ranks of the Walmart organization, managing stores across the country, and the pressure and chaos that came with leadership at a massive scale.

But the heart of this episode is far more personal.

Ben opens up about the sudden leukemia diagnosis that rocked his family’s world, and the faith, fear, perspective, and resilience that followed. It’s an honest and candid conversation about leadership, fatherhood, hardship, and what matters most when life changes overnight.