In this special episode of the Be Unbound podcast, you get to hear a fun, behind-the-scenes conversation about the Ascend program with several Unbound students. We're joined by current and former Ascend students Emma, Ian, Chloe, Olivia, Jess, Kian, and Iona as they share hilarious and heartwarming stories from their experiences together. From quirky pranks involving rubber snakes and surprise rocks in luggage to deep lessons on resilience, failure, and the importance of community, this conversation showcases the unique and impactful nature of the Ascend program. You'll also get to hear about favorite unplanned gatherings, the power of Christian fellowship, and how this close-knit community fosters growth and lifelong friendships. If you're curious about Ascend, this episode offers an authentic and entertaining inside scoop.

01:43 Meet the Students: Fun Stories and Experiences

02:19 Favorite Unbound Memories

12:07 Surprising Aspects of the Ascend Program

18:21 Funny Moments and Pranks

25:36 Favorite Unbound Events

25:52 Struggling with Favorites

26:13 Memorable Events and Experiences

27:40 David's Favorite Event

29:11 Olivia's First Impressions

34:52 Unofficial Unbound Adventures

44:27 Lessons Learned from Unbound

Learn more about Unbound: https://beunbound.us/

Hosts: Jonathan Brush, David Rethemeyer

Producer: Kyle Hill

We're so excited to share this heartfelt fireside chat with Riley, an Unbound alum who's known for her multi-faceted talents and meaningful life experiences. Riley shares her journey, from the nerve-wracking audition for a children's choir that became a defining moment, to becoming a versatile professional balancing roles in accounting and theater. Her cheerfulness and positivity will definitely win you over as she shares about the value of community, risks, and finding joy in unique combinations of skills. The episode offers an inspiring look at how ordinary steps and leaps of faith can compound into an extraordinary and fulfilling life.

04:26 Riley's Journey: From Choir to Career

07:20 The Power of Community and Opportunities

11:48 Overcoming Fear and Embracing Challenges

16:33 Early Steps and Building Confidence

22:36 Taking the Leap: Summer in Northern Michigan

23:36 A New Opportunity: From Chick-fil-A to CPA

24:23 The Frisky Connection: Unbound Alumni and Opportunities

24:52 Navigating Adulthood: Career Myths and Realities

26:25 Balancing Life: Professional and Personal Success

28:20 Community and Relationships: The True Measure of Success

Learn more about Unbound: https://beunbound.us/

Hosts: Jonathan Brush, David Rethemeyer

Producer: Kyle Hill

In this episode of the Be Unbound podcast, we dive deep into the concept of resilience, highlighting its importance as the opposite of naivety and as an understanding of living with hope in a broken world. We share some personal stories from recent events and discuss the power of 'not yet' in God's timing. David reflects on his recent marriage and their life-changing honeymoon in Rome. Jonathan also touches on the importance of long-term preparation, faith, and endurance. Join us as we explore these profound themes and share exciting updates from the Unbound community.

00:43 Basecamp and Recent Events

02:47 Themes of Resilience and Hope

03:50 Endurance and Living Deliberately

05:39 Long-Term Perspective and Faith

10:27 Jonathan's Story of Patience and Timing

25:27 David's Career Path and God's Timing

28:35 Final Thoughts and Announcements

Learn more about Unbound: https://beunbound.us/

Hosts: Jonathan Brush, David Rethemeyer

Producer: Kyle Hill

Veteran podcaster Paul Hastings, creator of the Compelled podcast, joins us for this episode of the Be Unbound podcast for an intriguing conversation about storytelling and faith. We chat with Paul about his inspiring journey from a career in politics to creating a platform that shares incredible stories of redemption and transformation in people's lives. He shares how an intense series of personal realizations led Paul to pivot from his role as a political lobbyist to immerse himself in producing a podcast that brings Christian testimonies to the forefront.

Paul discusses the genesis of the Compelled podcast, inspired by the profound testimonies he and his wife realized they were uniquely connected to. His method involves blending immersive sound design with narrative, transporting listeners deep into the stories' emotions and events. Throughout the conversation, Paul shares standout lessons from his interviews, including a powerful tale of a KKK bomber whose life took a 180-degree turn through faith. Stories like this are a testament to the radical transformation that can occur through belief and grace, no matter how boring you think your testimony may be.

Paul also shares about the newly launched Proclaim Podcast Network, a collective effort to spotlight high-quality, theologically sound Christian stories in an ever-growing digital media landscape.

Whether you're a long-time fan of Paul's work or just discovering the magic of his storytelling, this episode of the Be Unbound podcast offers inspiration and encouragement in the pursuit of compelling Christian artistry.

01:59 Paul Hastings' Background and Podcast Journey

04:59 Paul's Early Career and Transition to Podcasting

08:27 The Birth of Compelled Podcast

08:46 Finding Stories and Building the Podcast

14:05 Challenges and Surprising Moments

19:38 Intense Money Conversations

20:37 A Miraculous Provision

22:18 Faith and Uncertainty

24:12 The Power of Testimonies

31:26 Immersive Storytelling

34:47 Launching the Proclaim Podcast Network

Learn more about Unbound: https://beunbound.us/

Hosts: Jonathan Brush, David Rethemeyer

Producer: Kyle Hill

In this episode, we welcome Kari Elliott, who shares her extraordinary journey of Christian service. Starting as photographers, Kari and her husband Dan transitioned into unexpected missionaries in Haiti, founding Bibles for Haiti. Kari recounts how God opened doors and led them on a path they never imagined.

The episode kicks off with a deep dive into Kari’s story, from managing a successful photography business to feeling a divine call for overseas missions. We talk with Kari about how her family initially went to Haiti for a photography assignment but soon felt compelled to stay and serve the local community by distributing Bibles. Despite their lack of formal theological training, they made a significant impact.

Kari shares the struggles and joys of transitioning from a stable corporate life to a mission-driven existence in Haiti. She speaks about the importance of community and how everyday activities can create opportunities to share the gospel. The conversation also delves into their return to the U.S. and how they continued their mission-based mindset in their newest mission field: their hometown of Brandon, South Dakota.

Kari's story is an inspiring example of unwavering faith and the importance of continually giving control over to God.

03:57 The Call to Haiti: An Unexpected Mission

07:33 Life in Haiti: Challenges and Triumphs

18:31 Returning Home: New Beginnings in South Dakota

29:06 Reflections and Lessons Learned

34:45 Closing Thoughts and Opportunities with Unbound

Learn more about Unbound: https://beunbound.us/

Hosts: Jonathan Brush, David Rethemeyer

Producer: Kyle Hill

Welcome back to the Be Unbound podcast! We're delighted to be joined in this episode by Abe Chen, former cohost of this podcast turned Senior Videographer for a marketing agency. Abe shares insights from his journey in videography, including a unique concept he calls 'undistracting excellence.' We talk about the nuances of storytelling through video, the importance of excellence in art, and how Christians can integrate their faith into their craft. Whether you're a budding videographer or just curious about storytelling and art, this episode is packed with wisdom and reflections you won't want to miss.

02:54 Abe's Current Ventures

04:16 Launching Resilient Art Productions

04:57 The New Video Production Track from Unbound

05:20 The Importance of Mentorship

07:43 Learning by Doing

14:12 Undistracting Excellence in Videography

17:53 The Power of Storytelling in Video

Learn more about Unbound: https://beunbound.us/

Hosts: Jonathan Brush, David Rethemeyer

Producer: Kyle Hill

In this episode of the Be Unbound Podcast, we sit down with the extraordinary Julia Gottfried, one of our own Unbound alumni, who has chosen an unconventional path of faith, education, and mentorship. From her roots in a farming community, to a real estate career at 18, to a transformative mission year traveling across the U.S. and Jamaica, and now to coaching students, Julia shares her unique perspective on youth, identity, and hope. If you're looking for somebody who has a unique viewpoint and perspective on the country and it's people right now, you'd be hard pressed to find somebody more qualified to talk about that than Julia.

01:46 Julia's Journey with Unbound

04:03 Julia's Background and Homeschooling

07:15 Choosing Real Estate at 18

15:10 Mission Work and Traveling

21:24 Insights on Youth and Mentorship

28:47 Reflections on the State of the Country

Learn more about Unbound: beunbound.us

Hosts: Jonathan Brush, David Rethemeyer

Producer: Kyle Hill

In this episode of the Be Unbound podcast, we welcome Nadine Lauffer, a recent homeschool graduate and college-bound student, to discuss her transformative homeschooling journey. Nadine shares her initial struggles comparing her home school experience to those in public school. An experience she had at a homeschool convention shifted her perspective, and she discovered a drive to help other homeschoolers realize their full potential. We dive into the unique benefits and challenges of homeschooling through high school, the importance of community, and Nadine’s passion for encouraging students to explore diverse educational alternatives.

02:40 Nadine's Homeschooling Insights and Podcast Journey

06:33 The Power of Homeschooling Community

16:14 Challenges of Homeschooling in High School

19:49 Overcoming Academic and Social Hurdles

25:56 Nadine’s College Transition and Reflections

28:37 Encouragement for Homeschoolers

Check out Nadine's podcast here: https://hshighschoolpodcast.buzzsprout.com/

Find Nadine on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/howto_homeschool_inhighschool/

Learn more about the programs we have for high school students: https://beunbound.us/

Hosts: Jonathan Brush, David Rethemeyer

Producer: Kyle Hill

Trent Schrock joins us on the Be Unbound podcast for a practical conversation on how to set young people up for financial success. Trent shares his background and journey, detailing his shift from social work to landscape design and his creation of the Freedom Program. We talk about the complex relationship between Christians and money, and the temptation we all have of letting it dominate our lives instead of using money as a tool. Trent shares about the Freedom Program, a program he started that focuses on financial, intellectual, vocational, emotional, and spiritual freedoms. His program teaches young people the importance of saving early, playing great defense, and setting themselves up for a successful financial future. Trent has some really profound insights on the vital role of hard work, vision, and discipline in achieving impactful success that you'll definitely learn a lot from.

01:06 Trent's Journey from Landscape Design to Financial Mentorship

05:35 The Freedom Program

07:56 Financial Freedom for Young People: The FIVES Framework

10:41 The Power of Early Financial Planning

12:25 Real-Life Success Stories from the Freedom Program

23:27 The Work Path to a Meaningful Career

Check out the Freedom Program: https://www.thefreepro.com/

Learn more about Unbound: https://beunbound.us/

Hosts: Jonathan Brush, David Rethemeyer

Producer: Kyle Hill

What makes Christian art cringy vs. compelling? Briley Crisafi joins us on this episode for a conversation on making art from a Christian worldview. No matter what kind of art she's making, Briley centers herself on storytelling - from songwriting, to choreography, to acting, to production. Briley is an Unbound alum, and has gone onto use her talents in a professional capacity in musical theater and creative writing. We unpack some compelling ideas about how Christians should portray sin and darkness in their arts, how wordless art forms like choreography can communicate the gospel, and storytelling's effect on us beyond our emotions.

01:57 The Role of Christians in Arts and Entertainment

05:10 The Power of Storytelling in Culture Change

06:24 Christian Art vs. Art Inspired by Christian Belief

13:01 Choreographing with a Christian Worldview

20:19 Creating Impactful Art: The Sherlock Holmes Project

28:52 Future Aspirations

34:19 The Power of Community and Storytelling

Learn more about Unbound: https://beunbound.us/

Hosts: Jonathan Brush, David Rethemeyer

Producer: Kyle Hill