What’s actually happening in the world right now… and why does it feel so heavy?

In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, we step into the tension so many people are feeling, but few know how to process.

From rising oil prices and economic pressure to global conflict, uncertainty, and nonstop headlines, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, anxious, and unsure of what to believe.

But instead of reacting… we slow down.

In this episode, we talk about:

• What people are really afraid of right now

• Why global events feel more personal than ever

• Simple explanations behind complex headlines (like oil supply and rising costs)

• And the honest truth about what we don’t actually know

This isn’t a political breakdown.

It’s a conversation about clarity, fear, and learning how to think wisely in a noisy world.

Because you don’t need to know everything…

to live wisely in something.

The Pulpit & Porch Podcast

Real conversations. Front porch honesty. Faith, life, and purpose, without the noise.

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThePulpitandPorch

If you haven’t listened to Part 1 yet… go back. Seriously.

Because in this episode, we’re not easing in, we’re going straight to the heart of it.

We all say we feel “stuck.” Stuck in life. Stuck in our calling. Stuck in our habits. But what if that’s not actually true?

What if the thing we’ve been calling “stuck”… is actually avoidance?

In Part 2 of this conversation, we go deeper. This is where it gets honest. This is where it gets uncomfortable. And this is where real change actually begins.

We talk about:

• Why avoidance feels safer than action

• The subtle ways we lie to ourselves

• How fear disguises itself as confusion

• And what it actually looks like to take your next step

This isn’t about shame. It’s about clarity. Because once you can name it… you can change it.

You’re not stuck.

You’re avoiding.

And deep down, you already know it.

🎙️ The Pulpit & Porch Podcast

Real conversations. Front porch honesty. Faith, life, and purpose, without the fluff.

📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThePulpitandPorch

Most people don’t have a clarity problem.

They have a courage problem.

In this episode of The Pulpit & Porch, we tackle a hard truth:

You’re probably not stuck…

you’re avoiding something.

The conversation you don’t want to have.

The decision you’ve been delaying.

The step you know you need to take.

Instead, we scroll.

We overthink.

We “prepare.”

We stay busy just enough to feel productive… but never actually move.

In this episode, we unpack:

• Why we stay in jobs we’ve outgrown

• Why hard conversations feel so intimidating

• How distraction and entertainment quietly fuel avoidance

• The connection between avoidance, anxiety, and confidence

• The spiritual cost of delayed obedience

• How to actually take your next step (even if you don’t feel ready)

If you’ve ever felt stuck, this episode might challenge that idea… in the best way.

Because the life you want might not be on the other side of more information, it might be on the other side of one hard decision.

Listen now, and share this with someone who’s been saying “I’m stuck.”

Some people are impressive because of what they’ve done.

Others are compelling because of who they are.

Robert Jones is both.

He’s a PhD archaeologist.

A professor.

A business owner who runs veterinary clinics.

A black belt in Hapkido.

An author.

And now… a candidate for the United States Senate.

But this episode isn’t about politics.

It’s about something deeper.

It’s about curiosity, and what happens when you refuse to live in just one lane.

It’s about discipline, and the quiet systems that shape a meaningful life.

It’s about leadership, and the weight of caring for people well.

And most of all, it’s about character, the kind that doesn’t need a label to be real.

This is a conversation about what it actually looks like to live a life of purpose, integrity, and impact, across seasons, careers, and callings.

If you’ve ever felt stuck…

If you’ve ever wondered what else you’re capable of…

If you’ve ever asked what really makes a life meaningful…

Pull up a chair.

You’re going to enjoy this one.

Most people don’t build their lives.

They drift into them.

Career.

Relationships.

Money.

Reputation.

From the outside, it can all look solid.

But what happens when pressure hits?

In this episode, we break down the architecture of a meaningful life, not as separate pieces, but as connected, load-bearing walls:

• Career — a tool, not an identity

• Relationships — the support system that stabilizes everything

• Faith & character — the hidden infrastructure

• Health — the overlooked pillar that carries it all

Because if one collapses… the others feel it.

We talk about:

• Why most people build their lives in the wrong order

• The difference between success and stability

• How high-capacity people quietly drift into imbalance

• The rhythms that actually sustain a life long-term

• The hard question most people avoid

This isn’t about building something impressive.

It’s about building something that lasts.

In Part Two of our conversation on phones and distraction, we move from awareness to action.

If your phone is shaping you, how do you take your attention back?

In this episode, we talk about:

• Practical ways to reduce digital distraction

• Why discipline beats motivation

• How to rebuild depth in a distracted world

• Creating rhythms that protect focus

• The role of silence and boredom

• How to live intentionally instead of reactively

This isn’t about deleting everything and moving off-grid.

It’s about formation.

Your attention is your life.

And if you don’t decide where it goes, something else will.

Most of us don’t have a time problem.

We have an attention problem.

In Part One of this conversation, we begin unpacking the unseen formation happening every time we reach for our phones.

We scroll when we’re bored.

We scroll when we’re stressed.

We scroll when we don’t want to think.

But what is that doing to us?

In this episode, we talk about:

• Why attention is your most valuable resource

• How algorithms quietly shape your worldview

• The spiritual cost of constant distraction

• Why comparison erodes confidence

• What happens when we eliminate silence

Your phone isn’t evil.

But it is powerful.

And whether you realize it or not, it’s shaping you.

Part Two drops next week.

If people depend on you… This episode is for you.

In this conversation with Jamin Rathbun, we talk about the hidden weight carried by high-capacity people, leaders, parents, business owners, coaches, pastors, and the “steady ones” everyone else relies on.

Why do the most responsible people often have no one responsible for them?

We unpack:

• The pressure of being the reliable one

• Why strong people quietly burn out

• What pastoral care actually means

• Why busyness can be avoidance

• The difference between having friends and being truly known

• How to build a life that can hold the weight you’re carrying

This isn’t about weakness.

It’s about wisdom.

You can be competent and still need care.

You can be strong and still need support.

And if no one is checking on your soul… it might be time to ask why.

There are moments in life that change everything.

In this episode of The Pulpit & Porch, we sit down with Jennifer Schoondyk from Karis Heart Foundation to talk about loss, faith, and what it looks like to move forward when your world has been shaken.

Jennifer shares the story behind Karis Heart Foundation and how tragedy became a calling. This is not just a conversation about grief, it’s about purpose, community, and how God can redeem even the most painful chapters of our story.

If you’ve ever wondered:

• How do you keep your faith when life doesn’t make sense?

• What does healing actually look like?

• Can something beautiful come from something devastating?

Pull up a chair. Grab a glass of sweet tea. This is a front-porch conversation you won’t forget.

About Karis Heart Foundation

Karis Heart Foundation exists to honor Karis’ life by supporting families and spreading hope through tangible acts of love and service.

Learn more or connect:

https://karisheartfoundation.org

[email protected]

The Pulpit & Porch Podcast

Honest conversations about life, faith, leadership, and purpose — all from a Christian worldview.

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This week, we’re back with our annual Super Bowl follow-up, the one episode everyone seems to want to talk about the next day, whether they watched the game or not.

We’ll unpack:

The game itself - not just the score, but what it reveals about how connected we get to sports and story.

The commercials - the mini cultural sermons that tell us a lot about what brands think will move us, shape us, and define shared moments. 

The halftime show - including the conversation around Bad Bunny’s performance that drew massive viewership and equally massive debate about culture, identity, and artistry. 

A look at the alternative halftime event (Turning Point USA’s show) and what it says about cultural fragmentation and audiences self-sorting. 

We’re not just reacting, we’re unpacking what these moments say about us, what we celebrate, what we defend, and what we consume. Whether you loved it, hated it, or couldn’t care less, there’s something here for you.

Pull up a chair… this one’s fun, thoughtful, and maybe a little controversial.

Subscribe, drop a review, and share it with someone who needs to have this conversation too.

#SuperBowl #HalftimeShow #BadBunny #SuperBowlCommercials #CultureChat #Podcast