Episodes
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This week, the podcast welcomes John Busacker for our season finale episode, where we discuss what it means to finish things well in all aspects of life. John shares wisdom to be considered as we look at what it means to move through life with intention. Itâs a perfect conversation to close out this podcast season.
John Busacker is a writer, speaker and the Founder of Life-Worth, LLC, a personal leadership development firm. He has delivered keynotes, facilitated workshops, coached leaders, and orchestrated conferences on six continents with clients ranging from Medtronic, Duke Corporate Education, Thrivent Financial, PwC, CommonSpirit Health, National Football League, NGL, Ameriprise Financial and Kingdom Advisors.John is the author of four books including his latest, Gasping for Breath: Inviting God's Spirit Into Your Overwhelmed Life.
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To support Make It Simple, head to mpm.simple donation.com
Check out What Matters Most, daily teachings from Matt Popovits, available wherever you get your podcasts.
For more information on MPM, head to mattpopovits.comSupport the show
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Dr. Jordan Cooper joins the podcast to help us break down and understand Christian nationalism and share wisdom about living as a believer and a citizen. Itâs a meaningful conversation with a new perspective on political responsibility.
Jordan Cooper is an ordained Lutheran pastor, a Professor of Systematic Theology, the Executive Director of Just and Sinner, and the President of the American Lutheran Theological Seminary. Check out the Just and Sinner Podcast from Dr. Cooper, who also hosts a popular YouTube channel.Support the Show.
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To support Make It Simple, head to mpm.simple donation.com
Check out What Matters Most, daily teachings from Matt Popovits, available wherever you get your podcasts.
For more information on MPM, head to mattpopovits.comSupport the show
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Missing episodes?
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This week, Matt and Rachel welcome screenwriter and filmmaker Joshua Salzberg, who shares about the power found in storytelling. He shares how stories help change and shape us, and often, leads us to great empathy. Itâs a very fun episode, filled with a lot of wisdom (and a little bit of movie talk). To learn more and stay updated about Joshua's newest project, follow @ThePerformance on Instagram, and check out
Joshua Salzberg is a screenwriter and filmmaker living in Los Angeles, CA. Most recently, he adapted Arthur Miller's The Performance with director Shira Piven, due out in 2024. Salzberg has also worked on the editing crews of studio comedies such as Step Brothers, The Other Guys, and Funny People and as the lead editor of indie favorites that include Welcome to Me (National Board of Review Nominee), Dean (Tribeca Jury Prize), Netflix's Ibiza, and the Fox series Welcome to Flatch.Support the Show.
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To support Make It Simple, head to mpm.simple donation.com
Check out What Matters Most, daily teachings from Matt Popovits, available wherever you get your podcasts.
For more information on MPM, head to mattpopovits.comSupport the show
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Terra McDaniel joins the podcast this week and brings a new perspective on grief. She shares how many people donât know how to process mourning and instead struggle to honor their tears, vulnerability, and the full weight of these disillusioning times. She offers several practical ways to express lament and leaves us with hope for moving forward.
Terra McDaniel is a spiritual director for adults and children. She spent two decades as a pastor and ministry leader and earned her MDiv at Portland Seminary. McDaniel wrote More Than Ordinary with Doug Sherman and is a regular contributor to the Companioning Center blog. You can check out her most recdent book, Hopeful Lament, and learn more at TerraMcDaniel.comSupport the Show.
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To support Make It Simple, head to mpm.simple donation.com
Check out What Matters Most, daily teachings from Matt Popovits, available wherever you get your podcasts.
For more information on MPM, head to mattpopovits.comSupport the show
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Elrena Evans joins the podcast this week to share her experience as part of a family with special needs. She beautifully shares her story and what inspired her to write a book of prayers for when you don't have the words, and she gives us practical and loving ways to truly be welcoming to everyone, especially people navigating a world not designed for them. It's an empathetic conversation you won't want to miss.
Elrena is executive editor of Paper&String, a digital care package celebrating faith, creativity, and beauty in its many forms. She is the author of a short story collection, This Crowded Night, and coauthor of the essay collection Mama, PhD: Women Write About Motherhood and Academic Life. Her books, When I Go To Church, I Belong , and Special Grace are available now.Support the Show.
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To support Make It Simple, head to mpm.simple donation.com
Check out What Matters Most, daily teachings from Matt Popovits, available wherever you get your podcasts.
For more information on MPM, head to mattpopovits.comSupport the show
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This week, Michelle Thompson is back with Matt & Rachel to discuss perfectionism and shame and shows us grief and acceptance are the pathways to growth. As always, Michelle brings wisdom, warmth, and lighthearted grace to the conversation. You donât want to miss it.
Michelle is the Senior Director of External Relations and Executive Coaching and Consulting, Townsend Institute, Concordia Irvine.As a Leadership and Growth Coach, credentialed as a Professional Certified Coach by the International Coaching Federation, she brings a breadth of executive leadership experience in the non-profit and for-profit sector combined with almost two decades of involvement with the Townsend Growth Model.
Support the Show.
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To support Make It Simple, head to mpm.simple donation.com
Check out What Matters Most, daily teachings from Matt Popovits, available wherever you get your podcasts.
For more information on MPM, head to mattpopovits.comSupport the show
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This week, Steve Theiss joins Matt and Rachel to share about the art and craft of comedy. Steve shares insights into the importance of comedy, making people laugh, and the creative process behind humor. Listeners can gain a deeper understanding of the comedic world and pick up a few tips on injecting humor into their own lives.
Steve Theiss writes, improvises, acts, directs, teaches improv, and occasionally sleeps. He used to do these things in New York, but now does them in California, where he lives with his wife and three daughters. Steve has directed music videos, comedy videos, and recently completed a short film. Heâs appeared in commercials for USA Today, Peeps, Disney Vacation Club, and more. See some of his work at stevetheiss.com.Support the Show.
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To support Make It Simple, head to mpm.simple donation.com
Check out What Matters Most, daily teachings from Matt Popovits, available wherever you get your podcasts.
For more information on MPM, head to mattpopovits.comSupport the show
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Bob Hiller joins Rachel & Matt to share about some commonly misunderstood and misused Scripture. Itâs a fun and grace-filled episode as they dive deep into three commonly misunderstood Bible verses. Bob shares how to better approach Scripture, and they all land on the other side with a deeper insight into the character of God (Warning⊠You may come away with a new perspective on some favorite verses). You wonât want to miss this episode!
Bob Hiller is the senior pastor of Community Lutheran Church in Escondido, CA. He is the content editor for The Craft of Preaching, a preacher on You Are Forgiven Radio, and a contributor to 1517. He is also a co-host on White Horse InnSupport the Show.
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To support Make It Simple, head to mpm.simple donation.com
Check out What Matters Most, daily teachings from Matt Popovits, available wherever you get your podcasts.
For more information on MPM, head to mattpopovits.comSupport the show
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This week, Matt and Rachel are back, and talk with author and artist Ned Bustard about the true story of Saint Valentine and his new book Saint Valentine the Kindhearted. They discuss how our understanding of love changes, making stories accessible for children, and art of loving through our kindness.
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You can learn more about Ned and check out his beautiful artwork on IG @NedBustard, and find his books on Amazon and wherever books are sold.
Ned Bustard is a graphic designer, childrenâs book illustrator, author, and printmaker. He is an elder at Wheatland Presbyterian Church, creative director Square Halo Books, Inc., curator of the Square Halo Gallery, and serves on the boards of the Association of Scholars of Christianity in the History of Art (ASCHA) and The Row House, Inc. His book "Saint Valentine the Kindhearted" is available now and retells the story of St. Valentine, a man whose kindness and love inspires us each year.Support the Show.
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To support Make It Simple, head to mpm.simple donation.com
Check out What Matters Most, daily teachings from Matt Popovits, available wherever you get your podcasts.
For more information on MPM, head to mattpopovits.comSupport the show
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In this special episode, Rachel and Matt speak with their new friend, Matt Randerson. Matt brings a wealth of knowledge and compassion as he shares recent trends presented by the Barna Group regarding intergenerational relationships. He shares insights to help us navigate the generational divides, explains what the cultural labels really mean, and ways we can move forward in community together.
Matt Randerson serves as Vice President at Barna Group, working with churches and faith-based organizations to identify their most important opportunities using research. Matt sees research as a way to create confidence and clarity for leaders around their greatest opportunities in the Christian landscape. He lives with his wife and newborn son in Atlanta, Georgia.Support the Show.
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To support Make It Simple, head to mpm.simple donation.com
Check out What Matters Most, daily teachings from Matt Popovits, available wherever you get your podcasts.
For more information on MPM, head to mattpopovits.comSupport the show
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Re-release of this special episode with VoxCon speaker, Tanner Olson! Enjoy this encore presentation, and catch Tanner this September live at VoxCon 2023. Tickets available at www.GoToVox.com
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This week, weâre talking with our friend Tanner Olson all about Creativity, and spreading the message of hope through Poetry.Tanner joins Rachel and Matt to talk about how poetry and speaking beautiful words can make an impact in our world. Weâre so excited for you to meet our talented friend, Tanner!
Tanner Olson is an author, speaker, poet and the founder of Written to Speak which aims to spread hope and announce love through spoken word and poetry. Tanner's writing is a delightful blend of faith, humor, and curiosity that points readers and listeners toward the ultimate source of hope and love, Jesus. He's written three books of poetry: Walk A Little Slower, As You Go: Words for the Unknown, and Iâm All Over the Place.Support the Show.
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To support Make It Simple, head to mpm.simple donation.com
Check out What Matters Most, daily teachings from Matt Popovits, available wherever you get your podcasts.
For more information on MPM, head to mattpopovits.comSupport the show
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Re-release of this special episode with VoxCon speaker, Chad Bird! Enjoy this encore presentation, and catch Chad this September live at VoxCon 2023. Tickets available at www.GoToVox.com
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Chad Bird joins Matt and Rachel this week as we aim to make sense of hell on the podcast. Chad answers all our burning questions (get it?!) about hell, and helps us understand the often misunderstood theology around this topic.
Chad is an author and a Scholar in Residence at 1517. He has served as a pastor, professor, and guest lecturer in Old Testament and Hebrew. He holds masterâs degrees from Concordia Theological Seminary and Hebrew Union College. He is also the author of several books, including Night Driving: Notes from a Prodigal Soul. He cohosts two popular podcasts: â40 Minutes in the OTâ and âHidden Streams.âSupport the Show.
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To support Make It Simple, head to mpm.simple donation.com
Check out What Matters Most, daily teachings from Matt Popovits, available wherever you get your podcasts.
For more information on MPM, head to mattpopovits.comSupport the show
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Re-release of this special episode with VoxCon speaker, Katelyn Beaty! Enjoy this encore presentation, and catch Katelyn this September live at VoxCon 2023. Tickets available at www.GoToVox.com
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Katelyn Beaty (author of Celebrities For Jesus) joins Rachel and Matt to discuss our culture's fascination with famous Christians, and the roll fame and celebrity play in today's popular evangelical figures. We discuss her book and the insights gained from it, as well as how to guard our hearts and find purpose in ordinary faithfulness.Support the Show.
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To support Make It Simple, head to mpm.simple donation.com
Check out What Matters Most, daily teachings from Matt Popovits, available wherever you get your podcasts.
For more information on MPM, head to mattpopovits.comSupport the show
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Re-release of this special episode with VoxCon speaker, Mike Pacchione! Enjoy this encore presentation, and catch Mike this September live at VoxCon 2023. Tickets available at www.GoToVox.com
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Mike Pacchione shares with us all the best tips for public speaking!This week, Rachel and Matt talk with their friend, Mike Pacchione. Mike brings his public speaking expertise to the conversation and takes away the stigma of speaking in front of people, whether the crowd is six people over zoom or two hundred people in an auditorium. He also shares why public speaking is a gift for the speaker. Itâs a fun conversation between friends, and youâre sure to learn some new tips.
Support the Show.
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To support Make It Simple, head to mpm.simple donation.com
Check out What Matters Most, daily teachings from Matt Popovits, available wherever you get your podcasts.
For more information on MPM, head to mattpopovits.comSupport the show
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This week, we talk to Dr. John Townsend about navigating tricky relationships with difficult peopleâ what we mean when we say someone is âtoxicâ or find interactions with them continually causing us hurt. Itâs a gracious and truth-filled conversation that will help you love the difficult people in your life while also caring for yourself.
Dr. John Townsend is a business consultant, leadership coach and clinical psychologist. He has written or co-written 27 books, selling 8 million copies, including the 8 million New York Times best-seller Boundaries, Leadership Beyond Reason, and Handling Difficult People.Support the Show.
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To support Make It Simple, head to mpm.simple donation.com
Check out What Matters Most, daily teachings from Matt Popovits, available wherever you get your podcasts.
For more information on MPM, head to mattpopovits.comSupport the show
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This week, our summer series continues with a fascinating conversation about the history of the Bible (specifically, how ancient texts have been passed down and what makes the Bible different from other documents). Itâs interesting and informative, and youâll surely learn something new!
Jeffrey Kloha, the Chief Curatorial Officer for the Museum of the Bible, manages the Museum of the Bible Education, Scholars Initiative, Exhibits, and Curatorial and Collections departments.Support the Show.
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To support Make It Simple, head to mpm.simple donation.com
Check out What Matters Most, daily teachings from Matt Popovits, available wherever you get your podcasts.
For more information on MPM, head to mattpopovits.comSupport the show
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Welcome to season 6! This week, Rachel and Matt talk with Chad Lakies and break down Apologetics. It's a conversation about faith and our current culture and what it means to ask and answer, "What does it mean to be "Christian" today?" Join us!
Rev. Dr. Chad Lakies is the regional director for North America at Lutheran Hour Ministries, and is a scholar on the intersection of church and culture.Support the Show.
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To support Make It Simple, head to mpm.simple donation.com
Check out What Matters Most, daily teachings from Matt Popovits, available wherever you get your podcasts.
For more information on MPM, head to mattpopovits.comSupport the show
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This week, Alan Fadling joins the podcast to discuss what it looks like to slow down. He shares the how being unhurried is a rhythm of rest, and more about your soul than your calendar. Itâs a conversation that will make you want to take a deep breath in and lean into the good things around you.
Alan Fadling is president and founder of Unhurried Living, Inc., inspiring people to rest deeper, live fuller, and lead better. He speaks and consults internationally with organizations such as Saddleback Church, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, Cru, Halftime Institute, Apprentice Institute, and Open Doors International.
He is the award-winning author of An Unhurried Leader and An Unhurried Life, which was honored with a Christianity Today Award of Merit in spirituality. He has a new book, "A Year of Slowing Down: Daily Devotions for Unhurried Living."Support the Show.
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To support Make It Simple, head to mpm.simple donation.com
Check out What Matters Most, daily teachings from Matt Popovits, available wherever you get your podcasts.
For more information on MPM, head to mattpopovits.comSupport the show
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This week, Jared Wilson joins the podcast to talk about Pastors, and shares some inside baseball about what it's like to be a pastor these days. He brings empathy and compassion to the conversation, and reminds us all that sometimes the key to success... is time and experience. It's a surprising conversation that you won't want to miss.
Jared Wilson is Assistant Professor of Pastoral Ministry and Author in Residence at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and a pastor and Director of The Pastoral Training Center at Liberty Baptist Church in Kansas City, MO. Jared hosts the For The Church Podcast and co-hosts The Art of Pastoring Podcast.Support the Show.
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To support Make It Simple, head to mpm.simple donation.com
Check out What Matters Most, daily teachings from Matt Popovits, available wherever you get your podcasts.
For more information on MPM, head to mattpopovits.comSupport the show
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This week, Alan Noble joins the podcast to talk about his new book, On Getting Out of Bed, and considers about the unique burden of everyday life in the modern world. Alan shares how the choice to carry on amid great sufferingâto simply get out of bedâis itself a powerful witness to the goodness of life, and of God.
Alan Noble (PhD, Baylor University) is associate professor of English at Oklahoma Baptist University, cofounder and editor in chief of Christ and Pop Culture, and an advisor for the AND Campaign. He has written for many publications such as the Atlantic, BuzzFeed, and Christianity Today, and many others. He has also written several books including his latest book, "On Getting Out of Bed."Support the Show.
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To support Make It Simple, head to mpm.simple donation.com
Check out What Matters Most, daily teachings from Matt Popovits, available wherever you get your podcasts.
For more information on MPM, head to mattpopovits.comSupport the show
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