Step Up with Chris Kouba

By Dunham+Company Podcast NetworkReligion & Spirituality Christianity

Step Up with Chris Kouba episodes

October 20 The Power of Slowing Down: Learning to Rest and Trust God
We live in a world that celebrates busyness, productivity, and always being available. But what happens when we slow down long enough to hear from God?
In the Season 3 premiere of the Step Up Podcast, Pastor Chris Kouba and Josh Thomas discuss the life-changing lessons Chris learned during his recent sabbatical. From disconnecting from technology and creating healthier boundaries to rediscovering the biblical practice of Sabbath, Chris shares how stepping away from the constant noise of life transformed his understanding of rest, productivity, and trusting God.
Together, they explore why rest is more than simply taking a day off, how our desire to stay busy can reveal a deeper struggle with control, and why creating space for God's presence is essential to spiritual health. This conversation challenges men to stop measuring their worth by what they accomplish and begin living with a greater dependence on the Lord.
Whether you're feeling overwhelmed by responsibilities, struggling to disconnect, or simply looking for a healthier rhythm of life, this episode is a reminder that sometimes the most productive thing you can do is stop, rest, and trust God.
To find out more about Pastor Chris, follow him on all social platforms (@ckouba) and to connect with the ministry of United City visit https://unitedcity.church.

Connect with Us
Follow on Instagram: @stepup.podcast
Follow United City: @untdcitychurch
Connect with Pastor Chris: http://chriskouba.com
More About United City: https://unitedcity.church/

Chapter Markers
00:00 – Intro
01:05 – Why Pastor Chris Took a Sabbatical
02:21 – Disconnecting from Technology and Discovering Digital Freedom
06:03 – Creating Healthier Boundaries with Technology
09:27 – Slowing Down to Hear God's Voice
13:20 – Rediscovering the Biblical Practice of Sabbath
16:15 – Trusting God to Work When You're Not Working
19:20 – It's Not a Productivity Problem. It's a Trust Problem.
21:20 – Finding Your Identity Beyond What You Accomplish
26:57 – Learning to Follow God's Timing Instead of Your Own
28:04 – Becoming More Spirit-Led Than Plan-Led
32:24 – Practical Ways to Start Practicing Sabbath
36 min
June 16 Presence Over Perfection: What Kids Really Need From Their Dad
Fatherhood can feel overwhelming. Whether you’re a brand-new dad, raising teenagers, watching your kids leave the house, or trying to reconnect after a difficult season, most dads carry the quiet fear that they’re not doing enough.

In this Father’s Day episode of the Step Up Podcast, Josh and Pastor Chris have an honest conversation about what fatherhood really requires. They talk about the pressure to provide, the danger of being present physically but passive emotionally, what kids most need to hear from their dads, and how spiritual leadership starts with simply following Jesus in front of your family.

This episode is a reminder that dads don’t have to be perfect. But they do need to be present, humble, prayerful, and intentional. Your greatest ministry may not be the work you do outside your home, but the life you live inside it.

To find out more about Pastor Chris, follow him on all the social platforms (@ckouba) and to connect with the ministry of United City visit https://unitedcity.church.

Show Notes
Follow on Instagram: @stepup.podcast
Follow United City: @untdcitychurch
Connect with Pastor Chris: http://chriskouba.com
More About United City: https://unitedcity.church/

Chapter Markers
00:00 – Welcome to the Step Up Podcast
00:45 – Father’s Day, Coaching, and Family Stories
05:59 – What Fatherhood Really Feels Like
13:09 – Provision, Presence, and the Pressure Dads Carry
17:56 – Fighting Passivity at Home
20:03 – What Kids Need From Their Dad
22:59 – Leading Your Family Spiritually Without Being Perfect
27:50 – Encouragement for Overwhelmed and Disconnected Dads
36:19 – Final Father’s Day Encouragement
38 min
June 02 Fight for a Healthy Marriage: Building a Godly Relationship That Lasts
Marriage is one of the most important relationships in a man’s life, but it does not stay healthy by accident. In this episode of the Step Up Podcast, Pastor Chris Kouba and Josh Thomas talk honestly about what causes couples to drift emotionally, how to pursue your spouse through exhausting seasons, and why communication, forgiveness, and intentionality matter so much.

From intimacy struggles and unmet expectations to conflict, betrayal, and rebuilding trust, this conversation gives men practical handles for loving, leading, and serving their wives with humility and faithfulness. Whether your marriage is thriving or barely hanging on, this episode is a reminder that God sees you, your church is with you, and your marriage is worth fighting for.

To find out more about Pastor Chris, follow him on all the social platforms (@ckouba) and to connect with the ministry of United City visit https://unitedcity.church.

Show Notes
Follow on Instagram: @stepup.podcast
Follow United City: @untdcitychurch
Connect with Pastor Chris: http://chriskouba.com
More About United City: https://unitedcity.church/

Chapter Markers
00:00 — Golf, Marriage, and Ridiculous Arguments
05:16 — Why Couples Drift Emotionally
09:59 — Pursuing Your Wife Again
11:27 — Protecting Marriage in Exhausting Seasons
15:48 — Intimacy, Affection, and Feeling Wanted
21:25 — Unspoken Expectations and Communication
25:33 — Forgiveness, Trust, and Rebuilding After Hurt
31:04 — Quick Tips: Boundaries, Date Nights, Books, and Marriage Advice
37 min
May 19 Dating with Intention: A Biblical Conversation for Men
In this episode of the Step Up Podcast, Pastor Chris Kouba and Josh Thomas have a conversation around relationships, dating, and biblical manhood through the lens of the Song of Solomon.

They talk honestly about singleness, fear of commitment, dating with clarity, and why men should approach relationships with intention instead of ambiguity. Pastor Chris challenges men to stop treating dating casually, to lead with honesty, to pursue holiness before boundaries are tested, and to trust God with their relationship status.

Whether you are single, dating, engaged, married, or raising sons and daughters, this conversation offers practical and biblical wisdom for honoring God and others in every season.

To find out more about Pastor Chris, follow him on all the social platforms (@ckouba) and to connect with the ministry of United City visit https://unitedcity.church.

Show Notes
Follow on Instagram: @stepup.podcast
Follow United City: @untdcitychurch
Connect with Pastor Chris: http://chriskouba.com
More About United City: https://unitedcity.church/

Chapter Markers
00:00 – Why Talk About Dating?
05:30 – Singleness Is Not a Disease
11:00 – What Is Dating For?
17:30 – Fear, Ambiguity, and Commitment
24:30 – Boundaries, Purity, and Honoring God’s Daughter
34:00 – Know God, Walk with the Church, and Date In Community
37 min
May 05 You’re Not Too Far Gone: Coming Back from Depression
In this continuation of their conversation on depression, Pastor Chris Kouba and Josh Thomas talk about what it looks like to begin coming back from a dark season. Looking at Elijah’s story in 1 Kings 19, they unpack how God meets His people with tenderness, rest, food, presence, community, and eventually renewed purpose.

Pastor Chris shares more from his own experience recovering from a traumatic burn accident and the depression that followed, reflecting on the friends, mentors, and church community who helped carry him through. This episode is a reminder that sometimes the most spiritual next step is to rest, ask for help, let others sit with you, and slowly step back into the work God has given you.

For any man who feels too far gone, this conversation offers a deeply personal word of encouragement: God is not done with you.To find out more about Pastor Chris, follow him on all the social platforms (@ckouba) and to connect with the ministry of United City visit https://unitedcity.church.

Show Notes
Follow on Instagram: @stepup.podcast
Follow United City: @untdcitychurch
Connect with Pastor Chris: http://chriskouba.com
More About United City: https://unitedcity.church/

Chapter Markers
00:00 – Welcome Back: Continuing the Conversation on Depression
04:15 – Sometimes the Most Spiritual Thing You Can Do Is Rest
07:15 – The Ministry of Presence
12:30 – Asking for Help When You Can’t Muscle Through
17:20 – Getting Out of the Cave and Changing the Routine
22:20 – From Avoidance to Purposeful Action
27:30 – You’re Not Too Far Gone
32 min
April 21 Naming the Darkness: A Biblical Conversation on Depression
In this honest and deeply personal conversation, Josh Thomas and Pastor Chris Kouba talk about depression, emotional health, and why so many men struggle to admit when they are not okay. Pastor Chris shares his own story of trauma, burnout, fear, and the dark season that followed a life-altering injury, while also pointing listeners to the story of Elijah in 1 Kings 19.

Together, they explore how depression can show up through anxiety, irritability, overwork, isolation, and emotional numbness, and why men often hide it behind phrases like “I’m just tired,” “I’m just stressed,” or “I just need a vacation.” This episode offers biblical encouragement, practical insight, and a reminder that getting help is not weakness. It is wisdom.

To find out more about Pastor Chris, follow him on all the social platforms (@ckouba) and to connect with the ministry of United City visit https://unitedcity.church.

Show Notes
Follow on Instagram: @stepup.podcast
Follow United City: @untdcitychurch
Connect with Pastor Chris: http://chriskouba.com
More About United City: https://unitedcity.church/

Chapter Markers
00:00 Why men say “I’m good” when they’re not
03:07 Why guys struggle to name what they’re feeling
04:52 Pastor Chris shares his 2016 burn injury and dark season
12:28 Why men resist calling it depression
17:36 Elijah’s collapse after victory in 1 Kings 19
22:12 Physical, emotional, relational, and spiritual causes
36:22 Get help, say it out loud, and move toward healing
40 min
April 07 Four Words That Define a Man
In this episode of the Step Up Podcast, Pastor Chris Kouba and Josh Thomas reflect on the lives of two faithful men whose funerals left a deep impact on them. That conversation leads into a powerful discussion from Job 1:1 and the four qualities used to describe Job: blameless, upright, fears God, and turns away from evil. Together, Chris and Josh challenge men to think honestly about their reputation, their integrity at home, and the kind of legacy they are building right now.

To find out more about Pastor Chris, follow him on all the social platforms (@ckouba) and to connect with the ministry of United City visit https://unitedcity.church.

Show Notes

Follow on Instagram: @stepup.podcast
Follow United City: @untdcitychurch
Connect with Pastor Chris: http://chriskouba.com
More About United City: https://unitedcity.church/
34 min
March 24 Delivering Hope: Faith in the Marketplace (Pt. 2) | Todd Stewart
In part two of this conversation, Pastor Chris Kouba and host Josh Thomas continue their sit-down with Todd Stewart, CEO of Gulf Winds and author of Delivering Hope: Leading a Business That Builds the Kingdom of God.

Todd opens up about the hidden weight of leadership, walking through pressure, anxiety, hardship, and the difficult seasons that shaped his faith. He shares how prayer sustained him, how God proved faithful in the middle of business and personal trials, and why generosity, mentorship, and legacy-minded leadership matter so deeply.

This episode is a powerful encouragement for any man trying to lead well while trusting God through the hard places.

To find out more about Pastor Chris, follow him on all the social platforms (@ckouba) and to connect with the ministry of United City visit https://unitedcity.church.

Show Notes

Get Todd’s Book Here: https://a.co/d/0gBNeSGf
Follow on Instagram: @stepup.podcast
Follow United City: @untdcitychurch
Connect with Pastor Chris: http://chriskouba.com
More About United City: https://unitedcity.church/
38 min
March 10 Delivering Hope: Faith in the Marketplace (Pt. 1) | Todd Stewart
In this episode of the Step Up Podcast, Pastor Chris Kouba and Josh Thomas sit down with Todd Stewart, CEO of Gulf Winds and author of Delivering Hope: Leading a Business That Builds the Kingdom of God.

Todd shares his story of coming to faith, joining his family’s business in its earliest days, and eventually helping lead Gulf Winds into remarkable growth. But more than a business success story, this conversation is about what it looks like to see your workplace as a mission field.

Together, they talk about leading with excellence, living out your faith on the job, building a healthy company culture, navigating the tension between profit and purpose, and trusting God with both opportunity and people. Todd offers practical encouragement for men who want to honor Christ in the marketplace without overcomplicating what faithfulness looks like.

If you’ve ever wondered how to integrate your faith and your work in a real, grounded, everyday way, this episode is for you.

To find out more about Pastor Chris, follow him on all the social platforms (@ckouba) and to connect with the ministry of United City visit https://unitedcity.church.

Show Notes

Get Todd’s Book Here: https://a.co/d/0gBNeSGf
Follow on Instagram: @stepup.podcast
Follow United City: @untdcitychurch
Connect with Pastor Chris: http://chriskouba.com
More About United City: https://unitedcity.church/
33 min
February 24 Decision Paralysis | Step Up Podcast
Ever spend so much time scrolling for the perfect show that you end up watching nothing?

Josh and Pastor Chris dive in on the topic of “decision paralysis” and how at the end of the day, it’s a leadership problem. In this episode, they unpack Joshua 24:14–15 (“As for me and my house…”) and challenge men to become decisive about the things that actually matter.

They talk about the difference between conviction and courage, why “I’m all in… unless You touch this” is really surrender with fine print, and how even good blessings can become weights that hold you back. From “proxy faith” to practical next steps, the call is simple: stop drifting, draw the line, plant the flag, and watch what God does on the other side of full surrender.
To find out more about Pastor Chris, follow him on all the social platforms (@ckouba) and to connect with the ministry of United City visit https://unitedcity.church.

Show Notes

Follow on Instagram: @stepup.podcast
Follow United City: @untdcitychurch
Connect with Pastor Chris: http://chriskouba.com
More About United City: https://unitedcity.church/
30 min

About Step Up with Chris Kouba

From the publisher's feed

The biggest issue in our culture is the passivity of men or men who are stepping up in the wrong things. This has led to confusion, frustration, and brokenness that gets repeated generation after…