Have you ever wondered why your walk feels longer, harder, or lonelier than you expected?

In this episode, we explore a freeing truth: nothing in your walk is wasted. Not the delays. Not the detours. Not the seasons that felt confusing or painfully quiet. What feels like a delay is often development—and what looks like a setback is still part of God’s plan.

Through Scripture and honest reflection, this episode reminds us that your walk is personal, your process is purposeful, and comparison can quietly derail faith.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why everyone’s walk looks different (John 21:22)

• How God uses the process to prepare us before the promise (Deuteronomy 8:2)

• Why detours and closed doors are still divine direction (Romans 8:28)

• The call to keep walking when you’re tired (Galatians 6:9)

• How walking with God builds intimacy, not perfection (Micah 6:8)

If you’re in a season of trusting God without clarity, walking without applause, or wondering if you’re behind—this episode is for you.

🎧 It’s a walk for a reason.

VIDEO EPISODE:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIDMeoB-DXI

This episode is a raw, honest testimony of how God met me in the darkest season of my life during COVID—when anxiety, depression, rejection, isolation, and spiritual confusion nearly broke me.

KEN THE MESSENGER stops by the studio, along with Aysha & I, to share how losing community, church, self-worth, and clarity shaped us personally & spiritually. I had to 'rediscover His light', change how I saw the Father, and allow Jesus to be all I have when He was all I had left. Through Scripture, prayer, and deep truthful fellowship, we begin to unpack that God’s love was never withdrawn from me—I had just forgotten His light & my purpose in the pursuit of religion & perfectionism.

This episode reflects on what it truly means to walk as children of light and be the salt of the earth, not through condemnation, but through fruit, love, and surrender. My prayer is that this testimony reminds you that God is not finished with you, that His grace is still sufficient, and that healing is possible when we seek Him first.

If you’ve ever questioned your worth, your faith, or God’s nearness—this is for you. We love you and can't wait to give you all the episodes for SZN2 & so on!

Ephesians 5:8–10 — We don’t just believe in the light; we learn to walk in it daily.
Matthew 5:13–14 — Our lives are meant to preserve, illuminate, and reflect Christ to the world.
Matthew 6:33 — Restoration begins when we seek God above everything else.

Here's a compilation of songs that me and one of my great friends, Arie, from class put together! 

She's graduating this year, so thought to have her on! Add us on social media! Hope you liked this! Like, comment, rate and subscribe! 

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Music Credits: 

"Hold On" by The Walls Group 

"Eazy" by G-Eazy 

"I'm Going Down" by Candice Boyd 

"Fallin" by Alicia Keys 

"And You Don't Stop" by The Walls Group 

"Oh Child" by The Lion 

Arie's IG: @_underscore_94 

Arie's Snap: ari1394

To see the video edition of this special, click to watch on YouTube or open this episode up in Spotify for the FULL visual effect!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQQScOdMjQk

This was from 2017-2020, when I traveled to Hawaii with my "auntie" and her Wheaton College Gospel Choir to sing about the love and the joy of the Father.

Being there, sightseeing, exploring and meeting the gracious people there puts you in a vibe type mood of ultimate relaxation and peace.

It's the overview of that vacation as well as the many projects that I have done on the side, before I became a podcaster so you can see my skills in more than one medium.

Media just brings me so much joy because it truly gives people a door into my mind and see what I see for a change, and it allows me to help people keep their most precious memories alive for years and even centuries to come.

My friend, Brian, graced me with his presence today and even put me onto some new music that I will be listening to more. We talked about a lot of things such as faith, worship, struggles but had a great time in the Lord's presence! Listen, like, & share!

If you'd like to support my brother, you can follow him on social media @theebrian.

My beautiful friend & former Starbucks co-worker, Manar, stopped in for this bonus episode from when the podcast was still listed as, "The Realest Ryan" (I rebranded, lol). We came STRAIGHT from work in Northfield all the way downtown, where I reserved the podcast studio at Columbia College in the Loop, parked & set up the episode! We got to chop it up about religion, she informed me more about the food regiments Muslims transition and prepare for the holiday of Ramadan and what it truly means to celebrate the holiday. We touched some relevant news of the day, & added some EXTRA SPECIAL music selections for you to listen to at the end of the episode! We thought of everything, JUST FOR YOU!

I am so excited about what this season has to offer, my blessed brothers & sisters!  Add Manar on social media @manar_evolving! Look out for more content on social media and on my website for more amazing content and look for video content on my YouTube channel. Thank you and I love you all so much!

We are back with another episode, but this time, I decided to bring my cousin Timolin Taylor (@pinkkafro on IG) & Malik Covington (@Pluto Profaci on FB). We got together and had some insightful discussions on things such as the Met Gala 2019, Beyoncé's Netflix special, "Homecoming", as well as social injustice issues and other plaguing topics in the Black community such as the new abortion ban laws and the effects of the media on the black community in regards to violence, crime, and hatred. Lots of humor, love, and laughter throughout & it's a LONG one but a GOOD one so listen all the way through and make sure to tell me what you guys thought of the conversation and what we should cover on the next episode! Please like and share this and go watch the visual version on YouTube/Facebook!  

Facebook LIVE: https://www.facebook.com/Rstaine101498/videos/2193648884065318/ YouTube: http://youtu.be/wJu3Bii8HPI