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Episode 22 - Letting Go Isn’t Giving Up: A Prodigal Son’s Father Tells His Side | The Conviction Exchange

Most people know Chandler’s story: the addiction, the lost years, the jail cell, and the restoration that followed. Very few have heard what it was like on the other side of the phone. This week, Chandler sits down with his dad, Kevin, along with co-host Shawn, for an honest and often funny conversation about what it takes to love a prodigal child without rescuing them.

Kevin talks about the nights he lay awake wondering if his son was alive, and the moment Chandler’s mom cut off the last lifeline. He also describes a jail video call where Chandler said, “Don’t let anyone get me out,” and why he knew right then that change was coming. Thirty-some days after Chandler got out, he was standing on a beach in Florida leading his parents’ 30-year vow renewal.

Shawn adds his perspective as a father in a blended family. He shares how hard it was to cut off his own son, and how the Army and God’s timing turned that relationship around.

In this episode:

• Why parents have to be on the same page, and what happens when they aren’t
• The “lifeline” principle: why rescuing them Saturday morning sends them back out Friday night
• The marriage triangle: as each spouse draws closer to God, they draw closer to each other
• “Get to God, get together”: hope for blended families
• When parents stop trying to be God, kids have to look up
• What to say to yourself on the worst night
• Letting your kids go isn’t giving up on them. Sometimes it’s the most loving thing you can do.

Scriptures from this episode:

• Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you…”
• 1 John 4:4: “Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world”
• Proverbs 22:15: Foolishness and the rod of discipline
• 2 Corinthians 5:17: The old is gone, the new has come
• John 5:24: The one who hears and believes has passed from death to life

If your child feels too far gone: don’t give up. Seek the Lord, memorize scripture, and let Him lead you through it. If you haven’t accepted Christ yet, Kevin ends the episode by sharing how you can start today.

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Episode 21 - A Conversation with My Dad, Kevin Guion

What do you do when the child you love is running full speed in the wrong direction?

This week on The Conviction Exchange, Chandler sits down with his dad, Kevin Guion, for an honest, funny, and emotional conversation about raising a prodigal son. Along with co-host Shawn, they look back on Kevin’s own story: living life “in fifth gear,” partying through his twenties, meeting his wife and proposing 30 days later, and the October 1994 spiritual retreat where God got hold of him at age 29. Months later he walked away from real estate to serve at a homeless shelter.

From there, the conversation turns to fatherhood. They talk about the difference between raising sons and daughters, the hopes a dad carries but never says out loud, and what it was like to watch Chandler go from a jail cell to leading worship in front of thousands. Kevin also shares his concerns about growth that comes too fast, and why spiritual maturity and wisdom take time.

Shawn adds his own perspective on a difficult first marriage and on learning to be a dad. There are also plenty of laughs along the way: Kevin’s days running cable for broadcasts at the Wigwam, the night 12-year-old Chandler was drafted on the spot to sing the national anthem, and the Anderson hotel bar where both men met their wives.

If you’re praying for a child who feels too far gone, this episode is for you. God isn’t finished with them yet.

Know a parent walking through this right now? Share this episode with them

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Episode 20 - What happens when you ask God to change your life—and He actually does?

In this episode of The Conviction Exchange, Chandler and Shawn welcome special guest Travis Ball, a colleague and friend from Blades Audio Video Security, who shares his powerful testimony of addiction, radical transformation, and the life-changing power of surrender.

On Mother's Day in 2022, Travis found himself sitting in the back of a church, hungover from the night before, when a message about conviction challenged him to pray a bold prayer: "God, if You're really there, give me this heart of conviction. Rock my world." Little did he know that just hours later, he would find himself pulled over on the side of a road, overwhelmed by an encounter with God that would forever change the direction of his life.

Together, they explore what it means to be radically transformed by Jesus, the struggle between flesh and spirit, and the importance of pursuing a relationship with Christ rather than placing our faith in people or institutions. Travis also opens up about navigating church hurt, finding the strength to forgive, and witnessing God's faithfulness through some of life's most difficult moments.

From breaking free of addiction to discovering healing through forgiveness, this conversation is a powerful reminder that our past does not have to define our future, and that even our deepest hurts can lead us back to the foot of the cross.

What if the prayer you've been afraid to pray is the very one that could change everything?

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Episode 19 - What happens when you’ve followed Matthew 18 to the letter, talked to your pastor one-on-one, brought in two or three witnesses, and nothing changes? In part two of our conversation on denominations, Pastor Dan Cole, a Church of the Nazarene pastor and former district superintendent, joins us to talk about church accountability, when it’s time to “shake the dust off your feet,” and why a church with no real leadership structure can leave people with nowhere to turn.

From there, the conversation moves to one of the biggest questions in the modern church: why do we let the name over the door divide us? Pastor Dan shares how he went from “bleeding Nazarene” as a 21-year-old pastor to living by his mentor’s words: I’m a Nazarene, but I’m a Christian first. We talk about church competition, cute church names that hide their denominations, and the “restaurant with no food” problem, where churches gather every week but no one is getting saved, baptized, or discipled. We also get into why discipleship falls to the back burner as churches grow, and why good leaders have to set down their ego and delegate.

And yes, there’s plenty of laughter along the way, including “the OG still has it,” the dancing DS, and a grazing table that almost became a trough.

With roughly 45,000 to 49,000 Christian denominations worldwide, our conclusion is simple: Jesus comes first. Love God, love your neighbor.

Resources & References Mentioned

• Matthew 18:15–17 — Jesus’ steps for confronting sin and bringing it to the church
• Matthew 25:31–46 — Caring for “the least of these,” the heart behind our mercy mandate
• Matthew 28:19–20 — The Great Commission: go and make disciples
• Matthew 22:37–39 — The Great Commandment: love God, love your neighbor
• John 17:20–23 — Jesus’ prayer for unity among believers
• John 21:15–17 — “Feed my sheep”
• James 1:27 — Caring for orphans and widows
• Center for the Study of Global Christianity (Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary) — source of the 45,000–49,000 global denominations estimate

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Episode 18 - Part 1 of The Conviction Exchange, Chandler Guion and Shawn Blades welcome special guest Pastor Dan Cole, who brings nearly five decades of ministry experience to a candid conversation about denominations, church leadership, and spiritual authority.

Drawing from his years as a pastor and district superintendent, Pastor Dan shares firsthand experiences that reveal both the importance of accountability and the challenges of leading within the church. Together, they explore the differences between denominational and non-denominational churches, the dangers of unchecked authority, and what happens when leadership loses sight of the people it's called to serve.

From difficult conversations behind closed doors to the biblical principles of conflict resolution, this episode challenges both pastors and congregations to consider what healthy, Christ-centered leadership should actually look like.

Because spiritual authority should never come without accountability.

Join us for Part 1 of this thought-provoking conversation on The Conviction Exchange.

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Episode 17 - What if Noah’s Ark isn’t just a story about something that happened thousands of years ago—but a picture of how we’re supposed to live today?

In this episode of The Conviction Exchange, we go deep on Noah, obedience, the possibility of physical evidence for the Ark, and what it means when the world seems to be drowning in pride, confusion, sin, and self-interest.

But the conversation goes much further.

We talk about what it really means to love God and love your neighbor, whether we’re actually willing to step into someone else’s world and help them, and how easy it is to give ourselves an excuse instead of following our convictions.

We also take a hard look at modern Christianity—church hurt, spiritual immaturity, relying on pastors to do our studying for us, competition between churches, and the danger of living a surface-level faith instead of actually knowing God for ourselves.

And maybe the biggest question of the episode is this:

If the world around us is flooding with confusion, is your life built in a way that can actually help someone else survive it?

Noah was given very specific instructions to build the Ark. What if God is asking us to be just as intentional about building our lives?

Love God. Love people. Get in the Word. Stop living on the surface. And when the world is looking for somewhere safe to go, make sure your life points them back to Jesus.

Because everybody has an opinion—but not everybody has a conviction.

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Episode 16 - AI is changing the way we work, communicate, learn—and even how we deal with our mental health. But what happens when we start turning to AI for things that require wisdom, discernment, accountability, and genuine relationship?

In this episode of The Conviction Exchange, we dive into the growing world of AI therapy and ask some uncomfortable questions. Can a chatbot really understand what we're going through? What happens when we're constantly affirmed instead of challenged? And could something designed to help us eventually become a substitute for real relationships, wise counsel, or even God Himself?

We talk about the importance of being willing to hear correction, the danger of allowing a diagnosis or struggle to become our identity, and why God designed us to grow through relationships with imperfect people. We also explore the healthy ways AI can be used while making it clear that AI should be a tool—not our foundation or final authority.

Most importantly, we come back to the truth that our ultimate source of wisdom, identity, healing, and hope isn't a chatbot. It's Jesus.

If you're struggling and wondering where to turn, don't assume AI is your only option. We talk about several real resources at the end of the episode, including:

• Psychology Today — Find counselors and filter by specialties, Christian counselors, online/in-person options, and more.
• Your insurance provider — Check your mental-health benefits and telehealth options.
• Your workplace/EAP — Many employers offer free counseling sessions.
• Local churches — Ask about pastoral counseling or referrals.
• Local therapists — Ask about sliding-scale or pro bono options.
• Phyllis Robertson Thomas' book, I Never Knew — A resource discussed in the episode for understanding trauma, mental health, healing, and moving forward.

You don't have to walk through what you're facing alone. And you don't have to let what you've been through become who you are.

Love God. Love people. Seek truth. Stay connected. And whatever you do—don't trade real relationship for artificial affirmation.

This is The Conviction Exchange—where everybody has an opinion, but not everybody has a conviction.

What are you willing to stand on when everybody else sits down?

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Episode 15 - How much of our lives are being controlled by the glowing rectangle in our hands?

In this episode of The Conviction Exchange, we dive into the growing battle for our attention—from screen time and social media to parenting, relationships, mental toughness, and our ability to simply be still. We talk about how our phones can shape the way we listen, how we love, how we parent, and even how we see ourselves.

But underneath it all is a deeper question: Are we so distracted by the world that we've stopped listening for the voice of God?

Rooted in Scripture and filled with real-life stories, we talk about learning to listen instead of always responding, finding our identity in Christ instead of the world, setting boundaries with technology, and intentionally creating space to hear what the Lord is calling us to do.

Because whatever continually captures your attention will eventually capture your heart.

Be still and know that I am God. — Psalm 46:10

This is The Conviction Exchange—where everybody has an opinion, but not everybody has a conviction. What are you willing to stand on when everybody else sits down?

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Episode 14 - What happens when our desire to protect our kids actually keeps them from becoming resilient?

In this episode of The Conviction Exchange, we dive into the reality of raising kids in a culture where discomfort is often avoided, failure is softened, and parents can feel pressured to protect their children from every possible struggle. We talk about mental toughness, perseverance, parenting, sports, coaching, and the incredible influence that adults can have in a child’s life.

We also wrestle with the balance between correction and grace, learning from our own childhood experiences, and recognizing when our anxiety is shaping the way we parent. From family dynamics and holiday expectations to coaches who push kids beyond what they think they can handle, this conversation gets real about what it takes to develop character and resilience.

Most importantly, we bring it back to Scripture and the reminder that perseverance doesn't happen overnight. James 1 tells us that the testing of our faith produces perseverance, and perseverance produces maturity. Sometimes the valleys, challenges, failures, and uncomfortable moments we want to remove are the very things God uses to grow us.

So how do we give our kids room to struggle without abandoning them? How do we teach toughness without losing grace? And how do we become the kind of parents, coaches, and leaders who help the next generation become who God created them to be?

It's a conversation about parenting, perseverance, grace, mental toughness, and trusting God through the process.

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Episode 13 - What happens when empathy goes too far—and accountability disappears?

In this episode of The Conviction Exchange, we dive into the difficult conversation surrounding the Clancy trial, mental health, postpartum depression, psychiatric care, justice, and the growing confusion over truth and responsibility.

But this conversation goes much deeper than one trial.

We talk about the danger of “toxic empathy,” the importance of recognizing our wounds without allowing them to become excuses, and what it means to let God redeem the broken places in our lives. We also wrestle with the spiritual battle happening beneath the surface of our culture—and why Scripture reminds us that our fight is ultimately not against flesh and blood.

Can we have compassion without abandoning truth? Can we acknowledge mental illness while still believing in accountability? And what if the very things that broke us are the things God wants to use to help someone else?

This is a heavy conversation—but an important one.

Everyone has an opinion. Not everyone has a conviction.

What are you willing to stand on when everybody else sits down?

📖 I Never Knew: Find Healing and Renewal After Trauma by Phyllis Robertson Thomas releases October 6. Signed copies are available for pre-order at INeverKnewBook.com.

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