The Pastor’s Studio with Paul Basden

At just 14 years old, CeCe has already faced a struggle that many students—and adults—know all too well: anxiety.

In this honest and encouraging conversation, CeCe shares how anxiety began affecting her life, faith, friendships, and school experience, and how God met her in what felt like a dark season. Alongside her mom, Ryan, she reflects on the role of community, counseling, prayer, and honest conversations in helping her find hope and healing.

Whether you're a student navigating anxiety, a parent walking alongside a child who is struggling, or someone wondering where God is in the middle of difficult seasons, this episode is a powerful reminder that you are not alone—and that God never leaves us, even when He feels far away.

Topics include:

READ: 2 Corinthians 1: 3-4, Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Download The Feelings Wheel

What happens when Scripture comes alive—not just on the page, but beneath your feet?

In this special episode of This Is My Story, Paul is joined by his wife, Denise, to reflect on their recent journey through Greece tracing the footsteps of the Apostle Paul. Together, they share stories, insights, and meaningful moments from walking through places like Philippi, Thessaloniki, Athens, Corinth, Ephesus, Patmos, and Crete—places where biblical history moved from imagination to reality.

From worshiping near Lydia’s baptism site and standing on Mars Hill where Paul preached in Athens, to experiencing communion among the ruins of Corinth and reflecting in the cave believed to be where John received the Revelation on Patmos, this episode offers both practical travel reflections and spiritual insight.

Along the way, Paul and Denise also share what surprised them most, how ancient places deepened their faith, and why sometimes the most meaningful spiritual experiences happen when history becomes personal.

Whether you’ve been to Greece, dream of going, or simply want to experience Scripture in a deeper way, this conversation offers a thoughtful look at faith, history, marriage, and the beauty of seeing the biblical world firsthand.

What happens when the version of Jesus you learned growing up doesn’t match the Jesus you encounter in Scripture?

In this episode of This Is My Story, Paul sits down with Aubreigh Cox to explore a journey from fear-based faith to a deep understanding of God’s grace, love, and peace. Raised in a highly rule-focused and performance-driven religious environment, Aubreigh spent much of her life believing that God was distant, angry, and waiting for her to fail.

But everything began to change when she encountered the real Jesus.

Through seasons of anxiety, depression, questions, and spiritual rebuilding, Aubreigh shares how worship, community, baptism, and Scripture reshaped her understanding of who God truly is. Her story is one of healing, surrender, and discovering that grace—not fear—is at the center of the Gospel.

This conversation is for anyone who has wrestled with legalism, church hurt, anxiety surrounding faith, or the fear of never being “good enough” for God.

In this episode you'll hear: 

Key Takeaway: 

The real Jesus is not waiting to reject you—He is inviting you into grace, peace, and belonging.

What happens when the house gets quiet, and you’re left rediscovering who you are without the rhythms of raising children?

In this episode of This Is My Story, Paul sits down with Rick and Clancy Denton to talk about marriage, parenting, faith, and learning to embrace the empty nest season with intentionality and hope. After spending decades raising two children in a Christ-centered home, Rick and Clancy found themselves facing a new reality: life as just the two of them again.

Rather than viewing the empty nest as something to fear, they chose to lean in.

Through honest conversation, they share how church community, transparency at home, intentional connection in marriage, and a strong foundation of faith helped prepare both their children—and themselves—for this next chapter. They also discuss the grief, identity shifts, and unexpected joys that come with parenting adult children and learning to let go with grace.

Whether you’re years away from an empty nest or already living in one, this episode offers wisdom, encouragement, and practical insight for navigating one of life’s biggest transitions.

The empty nest is not the end of purpose—it’s an invitation into a new season of connection, growth, and joy.

What do you do when life doesn’t go the way you planned—and the questions feel bigger than the answers?

In this episode, Paul sits down with Jamie Bryson to explore a story marked by faith, doubt, resilience, and an unshakable trust in God. From a late introduction to faith in high school to pursuing a PhD in Hebrew Bible, Jamie’s journey was rooted in a deep desire to understand God and help others do the same.

But along the way, things shifted.

A season of intellectual questioning led to years of wrestling with belief, identity, and calling. And just as clarity began to return, life took an unexpected turn. In 2021, Jamie was diagnosed with young-onset Parkinson’s and kidney cancer—within the same year.

What follows is not a story of easy answers, but of steady faith.

In this conversation, Jamie shares what it looks like to keep showing up, to let go of needing certainty, and to trust that God is present—even in suffering. His story is a powerful reminder that faith is not about having everything figured out, but about knowing where to turn when you don’t.

In This Episode, You’ll Hear:

You don’t have to have all the answers to have real faith. Sometimes the most powerful faith is simply choosing to stay.

What happens when God doesn’t answer your prayer the way you hoped?

After fighting to save their marriage, Matt and Mary Beth believed the hardest chapter was behind them.

But then came a diagnosis no parent is prepared for.

Their unborn daughter had a fatal condition.

And they were faced with an unthinkable decision.

In Part 2 of their story, Matt and Mary Beth share:

This isn’t just a story about loss.

It’s a story about faith in the unknown.

Song: Held by Natalie Grant

What happens when a marriage slowly drifts… and no one realizes how far it’s gone?

Matt and Mary Beth Bridges both grew up in church.

They knew about God.

But underneath the surface, cracks were forming.

Distance.

Until everything broke.

In Part 1 of this story, Matt and Mary Beth share:

This isn’t just a story about failure.

It’s a story about how marriages don’t collapse overnight —

If you’ve ever:

This conversation is a reminder:

What feels small now…

What if the marriage that started with love… still started falling apart?

Andy and Summer Butler didn’t come into marriage empty-handed.

They brought past pain.

What began as connection quickly revealed deeper issues — control, unmet expectations, communication breakdown, and wounds that hadn’t fully healed.

Until everything hit a breaking point.

In this episode, Andy and Summer share:

This isn’t a story about a perfect marriage.

It’s a story about learning that love rooted in Christ looks very different than love built on control or expectation.

If you’ve ever:

This conversation is a reminder:

God doesn’t waste brokenness.

Blended Book Co (Resources & Coaching):

What if the person who led you to Jesus… was your child?

The Wagner family didn’t all come to faith the same way.

Catherine’s journey began with curiosity — a friend whose joy didn’t make sense, mission trips that changed her perspective, and a growing desire to truly know Jesus for herself.

At the same time, her parents, Robyn and Justin, were living what they call a “check-the-box” faith — showing up occasionally, but never fully engaged.

Until one moment changed everything.

When they realized their daughter was pursuing Jesus on her own…

This isn’t just a story about finding Jesus.

It’s a story about grace showing up in unexpected ways —

If you’ve ever:

This conversation is a reminder:

God meets us in different ways.

Baptism at Preston Trail:

Luke 1:45

What happens when the life you’ve built starts to quietly fall apart?

Ron Daniels’ story is one of success on the outside — and struggle beneath the surface.

For years, he carried pressure, expectations, and hidden pain. What began as coping slowly turned into dependence… and eventually, addiction.

But even in the lowest moments, God had not stepped away.

In this episode, Ron shares:

The subtle path from pressure to addiction

Living with shame while trying to hold everything together

Walking through recovery, sobriety, and rebuilding trust

Learning to receive grace instead of performing for it

This isn’t a story about hitting rock bottom and instantly fixing everything.

It’s a story about honesty.

If you’ve ever:

Felt stuck in a cycle you couldn’t break

Carried shame you didn’t know how to name

Wondered where God was in your struggle

Ron’s story is a reminder:

God is not absent in your pain.