The Nothing Is Wasted Podcast

What happens when the life you've built around pain, addiction, and survival comes crashing down and God meets you in the middle of the brokenness? And how can confronting the pain we've tried to avoid become the beginning of discovering who God created us to be?
Jermaine Wilson's story is one of remarkable redemption. After growing up surrounded by poverty and becoming involved in gangs, addiction, and crime, Jermaine served multiple prison sentences before having a life-changing encounter with Christ while incarcerated. In the midst of losing nearly everything he thought he wanted, God began to reveal what he truly needed. That brokenness became the beginning of a new identity and purpose, eventually leading Jermaine to become the mayor of Leavenworth, Kansas, and a nationally recognized advocate for restoration and second chances. Today, as an ordained minister, community leader, and Regional Director for Prison Fellowship, Jermaine helps incarcerated men and women discover hope and pursue lives of transformation.
In this episode, Davey sits down with Jermaine to talk about how poverty and hopelessness can shape the way we see our future, what it looks like to confront our pain and allow God to transform us through brokenness, and how experiencing God's restoration can lead us to reconcile what has been broken and help others find hope.
If you've ever felt trapped by your past, struggled to believe that God could restore what has been broken, or needed hope in the middle of your own brokenness, this episode is for you.

Website: https://www.prisonfellowship.org/
Instagram: instagram.com/jermaine_wilson87
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jermaine.wilson.94402

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do we keep going when we find ourselves exhausted, spiritually weary, or in a season that feels like a desert? And what can the wisdom of ancient Christian traditions teach us about developing resilience in the midst of modern life?
Tish Harrison Warren is an Anglican priest and author who writes about the ordinary practices that shape our life with God. In her book, "What Grows in Weary Lands: On Christian Resilience", she explores the ancient wisdom of the desert fathers and the spiritual practices that can sustain us when we feel burned out, disconnected, or weary. Rather than offering a quick escape from difficult seasons, Tish invites us to discover how stability, prayer, and community can help us remain rooted in God when life feels dry.
In this episode, Davey and Tish talk about what Christian resilience looks like in seasons of weariness and exhaustion, how ancient Christian practices can speak into modern burnout and disconnection, and why choosing to remain present and rooted in community can shape us spiritually through difficult seasons.
If you’ve ever felt spiritually exhausted, struggled to keep going through a desert season, or wondered how to stay connected to God when you’re weary, this episode is for you.

Website: https://tishharrisonwarren.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tishharrisonwarren
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TishHarrisonWarrenAuthor
Book: What Grows in Weary Lands: On Christian Resilience
https://amzn.to/4dZC9g7
Not living the story you expected? Pain changes us but doesn't have to define us. Discover where you are on your healing journey and get a personalized pathway for your next steps: nothingiswasted.com/starthere
Looking for help in navigating the valley of pain and trauma? Our Nothing is Wasted coaches can help: nothingiswasted.com/coaching

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do you find rest when grief comes in waves and the child loss you’ve experienced changes everything? And how can faith prepare us to endure child loss while still believing that God is good?
Matthew Efird knows the profound pain of child loss and the questions that come with walking through grief. In the midst of his own journey, he discovered that God’s character remains steady even when our circumstances do not. Through his book, "Even Though, We Will: Finding Rest in the Waves of Child Loss and the Practical Arks that Carry Us Through", Matthew shares how faith, preparation, and the presence of others can help carry us through seasons of unimaginable suffering—and how our stories can ultimately become a source of hope for others.
In this episode, Davey sits down with Matthew to talk about navigating the waves of grief after child loss, how we can come alongside others with presence and empathy rather than trying to find the perfect words, and how God can use adversity to deepen our faith and lay a foundation for future purpose.
If you’ve ever walked through child loss, wondered how to support someone who is grieving a child, or struggled to trust God when child loss happens, this episode is for you.

Website: https://matthewefird.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/efird72
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mwefird
Book: Even Though, We Will: Finding Rest in the Waves of Child Loss and the Practical Arks that Carry Us Through
https://amzn.to/4v0W1Wf
Not living the story you expected? Pain changes us but doesn't have to define us. Discover where you are on your healing journey and get a personalized pathway for your next steps: nothingiswasted.com/starthere
Looking for help in navigating the valley of pain and trauma? Our Nothing is Wasted coaches can help: nothingiswasted.com/coaching

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do you move forward when the marriage you once hoped would last forever comes to an end? And what does it look like to rebuild your life with faith, courage, and hope after divorce?
For Alisha Roth, walking through divorce meant facing not only the loss of her marriage, but also the questions, judgment, and uncertainty that can come with rebuilding life as a Christian woman. Through her own journey of healing, she discovered the importance of honest conversations, supportive community, and spiritual practices that helped her encounter God in the midst of the pain. Now, through her book, "Courageous Divorce: A Christian Woman's Guide to Healing, Rebuilding, and Embracing an Abundant Life", Alisha offers hope and practical guidance to women navigating the difficult road of divorce and finding their way forward.
In this episode, Davey sits down with Alisha to talk about navigating biblical perspectives on divorce and marriage, how community and vulnerability play an essential role in healing, and the spiritual practices that can help us rebuild a life of purpose and abundance after divorce.
If you've ever wondered how to find healing after the end of a marriage, struggled with judgment or shame surrounding divorce, or needed the courage to believe that God still has a purpose for your story, this episode is for you.

Website: https://www.alisharoth.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/littlewomenfarmhouse/
Book: Courageous Divorce: A Christian Woman’s Guide to Healing, Rebuilding, And Embracing An Abundant Life
https://amzn.to/4vtBBFc
Episode Resources:
Marriage, Divorce, and Remarriage in the Bible by Jay E. Adams - https://amzn.to/4wk1Eit
Divorce and Remarriage in the Church by David Instone-Brewer - https://amzn.to/4fflIgf
Bible Project Episode - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bibleproject/id1050832450?i=1000650332811
Davey's Sermon on Divorce - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4t6mgRKQcw
Divorce Curated Pathway - nothingiswasted.com/pathways
Not living the story you expected? Pain changes us but doesn't have to define us. Discover where you are on your healing journey and get a personalized pathway for your next steps: nothingiswasted.com/starthere
Looking for help in navigating the valley of pain and trauma? Our Nothing is Wasted coaches can help: nothingiswasted.com/coaching

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do you continue to choose love when marriage brings disappointment, failure, and unmet expectations? And how can God's grace sustain a family through the valleys of loss, grief, and the refining seasons of life?
For Mary Beth and Steven Curtis Chapman, more than 40 years of marriage have brought both extraordinary joy and unimaginable pain. As Steven's music has impacted generations of listeners, the Chapmans have also walked through deeply personal struggles—including the tragic loss of their adopted daughter, Maria. Together, they have discovered that a resilient marriage and family are not built on getting everything right, but on returning again and again to the grace and faithfulness of Jesus. In their book, "Still Here: Life Together on the Long Way Home", Mary Beth and Steven offer an honest look at the beauty, heartbreak, and refinement of a life spent walking together with Christ.
In this episode, Davey sits down with Mary Beth and Steven to talk about the refinement and sanctification that comes through marriage, how they have navigated profound grief and loss as a family, and why God's grace and faithfulness are enough to sustain us through every season of life.
If you've ever wondered how to keep choosing love through disappointment, walked through a season of loss, or needed God's grace to carry you through the hardest chapters of your story, this episode is for you.

Website: https://stevencurtischapman.com/
https://www.marybethchapman.com/ https://showhope.org/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevencurtischapman/
https://www.instagram.com/mbchap232
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stevencurtischapman
https://www.facebook.com/OfficialMaryBethChapman/
Book: Still Here: Life Together on the Long Way Home
https://amzn.to/49ZRivJ
Not living the story you expected? Pain changes us but doesn't have to define us. Discover where you are on your healing journey and get a personalized pathway for your next steps: nothingiswasted.com/starthere
Looking for help in navigating the valley of pain and trauma? Our Nothing is Wasted coaches can help: nothingiswasted.com/coaching

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do you find hope after the unimaginable loss of a child? And what does it look like to walk through grief with people who truly understand your pain?
After losing their 17-year-old daughter, Hannah, to brain cancer, Brad and Jill Sullivan discovered the life-changing power of being surrounded by others who had experienced a similar loss. That journey led them to found While We're Waiting, a ministry that provides retreats, support groups, and Christ-centered community for bereaved parents. Today, they help grieving families find hope by meeting them where they are and reminding them they don't have to walk through loss alone.
In this episode, Davey sits down with Brad and Jill to talk about how While We're Waiting was born from their own grief journey, why faith, lament, and authentic community are essential parts of healing, and how God restores hope and purpose even after the deepest loss.
If you've ever wondered whether healing is possible after profound loss or longed for a community that understands your grief, this episode is for you.

Website: https://whilewerewaiting.org/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/while.were.waiting/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whilewearewaiting
Not living the story you expected? Pain changes us but doesn't have to define us. Discover where you are on your healing journey and get a personalized pathway for your next steps: nothingiswasted.com/starthere
Looking for help in navigating the valley of pain and trauma? Our Nothing is Wasted coaches can help: nothingiswasted.com/coaching
SEEDS: Download the free SEEDS app (https://tinyurl.com/RONSeedsApp) and take one small step today: plant your first seed and see what God can grow.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How can churches become places of healing for people navigating trauma and mental health challenges? And how can those who care for others avoid compassion fatigue and burnout?
Laura Howe is a mental health clinician and community development strategist who equips churches to care well for their communities without burning out. Through her work with Hope Made Strong, she helps ministry leaders build sustainable care ministries, prevent burnout, and cultivate churches that become beacons of hope for people who are hurting.
In this episode, Davey sits down with Laura to talk about how churches can become healing spaces for those navigating trauma and mental health challenges, how to recognize and prevent compassion fatigue in ministry, and what it looks like to create a sustainable culture of care that brings hope to both caregivers and those they serve.
If you've ever felt the weight of caring for others, wrestled with ministry burnout, or wondered how your church can better support people in pain, this episode is for you.

Website: https://www.hopemadestrong.org/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hope_made_strong/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063596195711#
Davey's Affiliate link for Church Mental Health Summit: https://www.hopemadestrong.org/a/2148266118/74PVvopL
Not living the story you expected? Pain changes us but doesn't have to define us. Discover where you are on your healing journey and get a personalized pathway for your next steps: nothingiswasted.com/starthere
Looking for help in navigating the valley of pain and trauma? Our Nothing is Wasted coaches can help: nothingiswasted.com/coaching
SEEDS: Download the free SEEDS app (https://tinyurl.com/RONSeedsApp) and take one small step today: plant your first seed and see what God can grow.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do we bring hope to communities facing generations of poverty and hardship? And what role does the local church play in renewing neighborhoods and transforming lives?
Pastor David Washington knows firsthand the power of hope in the midst of impossible circumstances. Growing up in an environment marked by violence and instability, David encountered the life-changing love of Christ through a church that didn't wait for people to come through its doors—it went into the community, built relationships, and faithfully lived out the gospel. Today, through his work in urban youth ministry and his book, Don't Despise Our Youth: Renewing Hope for Urban Youth Ministry, he equips churches to engage their communities with compassion, wisdom, and lasting impact.
In this episode, Davey sits down with David to talk about the realities of systemic poverty and community rebuilding, how the local church can faithfully engage and invest in urban neighborhoods, and why hope in Christ has the power to transform both individuals and entire communities.
If you've ever wondered how your faith can make a tangible difference in the places that need hope most, this episode is for you.

Website: https://www.kingdomchicago.org/
Book: Don't Despise Our Youth: Renewing Hope for Urban Youth Ministry
https://amzn.to/3Ry1gOp
Not living the story you expected? Pain changes us but doesn't have to define us. Discover where you are on your healing journey and get a personalized pathway for your next steps: nothingiswasted.com/starthere
Looking for help in navigating the valley of pain and trauma? Our Nothing is Wasted coaches can help: nothingiswasted.com/coaching
SEEDS: Download the free SEEDS app (https://tinyurl.com/RONSeedsApp) and take one small step today: plant your first seed and see what God can grow.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How can speaking to God in a new way invite us into a deeper way of seeing and hearing from Him? What role can poetry play in helping us communicate with our Creator?
For pastor and author Tyler Staton, the words penned on a page during his cancer journey were never intended for anyone but himself and the Lord. Yet he discovered that the way he communed with God through scribbles in a tattered notebook offered a powerful invitation for all of us—to notice God's presence in both the ordinary moments and the difficult circumstances of our lives. Paired with Scripture, Tyler's book, After Amen: 50 Days of Poetry and Prayer, explores the beautiful intersection of poetry and prayer, offering a meaningful way to examine our lives while paying closer attention to God's presence within them.
In this episode, Davey and Tyler discuss how we can better recognize God in the everyday, why it is so important to grieve our losses, and the role spiritual practices play in carrying us into the presence of God amid our pain.
If you've ever struggled to find the words to speak to God, this conversation offers an invitation into the creative and poetic language that can help you feel seen, understood, and accompanied in your suffering.

Website: https://www.tylerstaton.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tylercstaton/
Episode 362: Spiritual Practices in Wilderness Seasons with Tyler Staton https://www.nothingiswasted.com/podcast1/episode-362
Book: After Amen: 50 Days of Poetry and Prayer
https://amzn.to/42WUl3P
Not living the story you expected? Pain changes us but doesn't have to define us. Discover where you are on your healing journey and get a personalized pathway for your next steps: nothingiswasted.com/starthere
Looking for help in navigating the valley of pain and trauma? Our Nothing is Wasted coaches can help: nothingiswasted.com/coaching
SEEDS: Download the free SEEDS app (https://tinyurl.com/RONSeedsApp) and take one small step today: plant your first seed and see what God can grow.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do we find the true rest our souls need in the most pressing seasons of life? What does it look like to stay grounded in who we are when the needs around us feel constant and consuming?
Author Jess Ronne knows this reality deeply. As a mother caring for her special needs son into adulthood, she has experienced the kind of depletion that can come with long-term caregiving. Like many caregivers, Jess discovered that traditional ideas of self-care often aren’t enough when life is this demanding. What she needed was something deeper—what she calls rest care: intentional renewal for the soul, mind, and body.
She explores this kind of rest in her book, Caregiving with Grit and Grace: 100 Days of Hope and Encouragement, offering honest reflection and hope for those walking similar paths.
In this episode, Davey and Jess talk about the unique challenges caregiving families face, especially as care extends into adulthood, the vital role community plays in sustaining caregivers, and how to rediscover your identity in the midst of caring for others.
If you are responsible for the ongoing care of someone in your life, this conversation will remind you that it is not only okay—but necessary—to receive the rest your soul needs in order to keep showing up with love, strength, grit and grace.

Website: www.jessronne.com
thelucasproject.org
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessplusthemess
Books: Caregiving with Grit and Grace: 100 Days of Hope and Encouragement – Wisdom and Refreshment for Every Season of Life
https://amzn.to/4uAlWmv
Blended with Grit and Grace: Just Keep Livin’ When Life Is Unexpected
https://amzn.to/3Mnjr72

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices