In this episode, Grant Gustafson shares a deeply personal and honest story of faith, family, ministry, suffering, and redemption. He opens up about growing up in a broken home marked by divorce, addiction, church hurt, and generational pain, and how those early experiences shaped his view of God, himself, and relationships. He also shares the unexpected moment in high school when faith became personal, leading to baptism, a growing hunger for Jesus, and eventually a long season of vocational ministry.

Grant walks through the realities of life in ministry, the tension of fundraising and leadership, and the internal pressure that can come with trying to hold everything together. He then takes listeners into one of the hardest seasons of his life: marriage struggles, a major health crisis, his wife’s cancer diagnosis, financial instability, and the emotional weight of feeling like he had hit rock bottom. In the middle of it all, he describes how Scripture, prayer, community, and a renewed understanding of suffering helped reframe his story.

This conversation is especially powerful for anyone navigating trauma, burnout, marriage difficulty, chronic health issues, spiritual wrestling, or a season that feels unanswered and overwhelming. Grant’s story is a reminder that healing is often slow, faith is often forged in suffering, and Jesus is present even when life feels like it is falling apart.

Listeners will come away encouraged by Grant’s vulnerability, challenged by his perspective on suffering and humility, and strengthened by the hope that God can redeem even the most painful seasons of life.

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In this episode, Micah sits down with Mark Stephens and Ed Hanson of Go Big Business Group to talk about how a golf and promotional products company grew from a small consulting idea into a multi-division business built on service, relationships, and faith. They share stories from the course, lessons from military and corporate careers, and the importance of saying no to the wrong work so you can say yes to doing the right thing well.

The conversation also dives into how Christian values shape their leadership, customer service, hiring, and decision-making. From charity tournaments and memorable golf experiences to servant leadership and a new benevolent fund, this episode is packed with practical business wisdom, authentic faith, and a few fun golf stories along the way.

https://gobigbg.com/

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In this episode of The Story Field, rodeo legend Ted Nuce shares his journey from an adopted child in California to one of the most respected bull riders in rodeo history. Ted opens up about the fear, discipline, and mental toughness it took to ride bulls at the highest level, as well as the faith that carried him through the danger, injuries, and pressure of competition. He also reflects on the friendships, mentors, and moments that shaped his career, including the rise of the PBR and the lessons he learned about identity, purpose, and trusting God through every season of life.

Ted’s story is a powerful reminder that passion, perseverance, and faith can carry you farther than you ever imagined.

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In this episode of The StoryField, Dr. Allen Williams — 6th-generation farmer, former tenured professor, and founder of Libertas Land — explains regenerative (or “redemptive”) agriculture and why restoring life in the soil matters.

Allen explains six core principles which can change everything for both agriculture producers and the environment

• Context
• Armor/cover
• minimize disturbance
• living roots
• Diversity,
• integrated livestock

We cover practical first steps, common barriers (peer pressure, debt, lack of education), and simple on-farm tests to track progress. 

Tune in today to hear real-world wins: lower input costs, higher net profits (often within year one), faster restoration timelines (major gains in ~3 years), improved carrying capacity, re-greened desertland, and much higher nutrient density in food.

If you want hope, actionable steps, and a faith-informed view of stewarding the land, this episode is for you.

Resources: 

Email - Dr. Allen Williams: [email protected]

Libertas Land (libertas-land.com)

Roots So Deep docu-series. https://rootssodeep.org/

Carbon Cowboys https://carboncowboys.org/

The ECDYSIS Thousand Farms research. https://www.ecdysis.bio/1000-farms

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In this 100th episode, Josh and Micah look back on the story behind The StoryField—how it began during COVID, how they chose the name, and why the podcast has always been about sharing meaningful stories rather than chasing numbers or money.

They reflect on favorite guests, including Dr. Ben Edwards, Sue Becker, Bob Goff, Jamie and Donna Winship, Matt Chandler, and others whose stories have encouraged, challenged, and inspired listeners.

The conversation also highlights the deeper purpose behind the show: helping people find hope, grow in faith, and see the value of obedience, authenticity, and real-life testimony.

They also share about The Unstuck Project, a new video series and coaching resource designed to help people get unstuck in life, family, and business - you can see what its about at Unstuck Coaches. It’s a warm, honest, and celebratory look at 100 episodes of stories that matter.

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Craig Scoville shared his life story, recounting a difficult childhood marked by his father’s alcoholism, early substance abuse, and eventual deep addiction through his twenties. 

After a decisive spiritual encounter where he repented and found peace, Craig was delivered from addiction and began discipleship in small Texas churches, which led to marriage and a calling to missions. He and his wife served over seven years in East Asia with Kids Across Cultures, focusing on education, medical care, clean water, and community transformation through local churches. 

Craig described practical insights for helping addicts, emphasizing godly sorrow, confronting enabling behaviors, and long-term discipleship and highlighted the Father’s restorative love and purpose for each life. He encouraged others to pursue God’s purpose, get involved with mission work like Kids Across Cultures, and support initiatives that provide education, clean water, and medical care for impoverished children.

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“The answer to suffering is always more love”. 

– Jonathan Tepper

In this deeply moving conversation, Jonathan Tepper joins Storyfield to discuss his memoir “Shooting Up: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Addiction.” 

Jonathan recounts growing up as a missionary kid in 1980s Madrid, where his parents founded a drug-rehab center amidst a heroin and AIDS epidemic. He shares vivid memories of the people who became like family — especially Raul — the painful losses his community endured, and how compassion and service shaped his life.

We explore the realities of addiction and recovery, the emotional toll of grief (including the tragic death of his brother), and how his upbringing inspired a life of learning and resilience that led him from Madrid to Chapel Hill and eventually to Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar. Jonathan reflects on the lessons of dignity, presence, and “more love” as the response to suffering, and how ordinary acts of compassion had extraordinary impact.

Listen for honest storytelling, tough questions about loss and mental health, and practical hope for anyone walking through grief. 

Grab Jonathan’s book Shooting Up: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Addiction and visit his website to connect and learn more.

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Dr. Karl Payne joined us for an incredible interview with this long-time pastor who served 20+ years as a chaplain for the Seattle Seahawks.

Dr. Payne tells the story of who how spiritual warfare walked into his front room and changed his ministry forever, which all led to him writing this MUST HAVE book for all Christians: 

Spiritual Warfare: Christian, Demonization, and Deliverance

We did a deep dive with Dr. Payne about:  

• Demonization
• Oppression v. Demonization
• Practical ways to discern if you are hearing from God vs the demonic.

Finally, we learn a simple, transferable framework to engage in spiritual warfare and help set people free: the three C’s — Confess, Cancel, Command.

This is a practical, Bible-centered conversation for pastors, counselors and any believer wanting clear, usable tools for spiritual battles.

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W. Paul Young, author of “The Shack” joined us on The StoryField.

We had a deeply honest conversation with Paul touching some major parts of his story:

• growing up as a missionary kid.
• surviving abuse and generational wounds.
• the first time he told the truth after getting caught in an affair.
• the long journey into healing, trust and presence. 

Join us for this amazing interview with Paul Young where we explored some other ideas that could change your life -

Expectations: why releasing expectations frees relationships.

Trusting God: how living in the moment is the heart of real trust and how to move from control to healthy trust.

Grace: for the moment.

Responsibility: is not what has been taught; it’s really the “ability to respond”.

And, of course we learned the surprising origin of The Shack.

Why listen: This episode is for anyone wrestling with shame, control, or the fear-driven future-trip. Paul’s hard-won wisdom invites a life of present-tense trust, radical honesty, and deeper, safer relationships.

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The One With Matt Chandler — From a troubled, performance-driven childhood to a life shaped by grace.

Pastor Matt Chandler tells his slow, unhurried story: how an unlikely friendship and a youth camp encounter led to a life in Christ, the winding path into vocational ministry, and the rhythms that sustain him. 

Matt reflects on the effectual call that changed him at 17, early ministry in small Texas churches, the formation of the Waiting Room  Ministries with Shane & Shane, and the surprising journey that lead him to an almost extinct church which has now become a highly influential, life-changing church now known as “The Village Church” with regular attendance of thousands weekly. 

Matt is executive chairman of Acts 29, a global church-planting network; a clear, gospel-centered preacher; an author, speaker, and podcast host. 

Listen today and hear wisdom from Matt who has helped believers follow Jesus for decades. Matt would encourage you to exchange performance for affection and presence with Jesus.  

For more information about Matt and The Village Church visit www.thevillagechurch.net

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