Happy Father's Day from That Sounds Fun Network & Hope Still Wins! Today we have a special bonus episode to share with you celebrating dads & all we love about them. In this episode, hosts from all different That Sounds Fun Network shows -- including me -- share what we love about our dads/and advice about being a dad. ALSO! Our friends over at Storyworth are giving away TWO free subscriptions for our TSF Network listeners! To enter: visit thatsoundsfunnetwork.com & enter your email ...
Jun 19, 2022•24 min
Happy 1 year anniversary Hope Still Wins fam!! In this episode Ben and producer Jenny Barber ask YOU, the listener, “the question”-- Does hope still win? If so why and if not, why not? They reflect on where the show is one year after launch and what listeners can expect next. From the HSW team: If you’ve been alongside us over the past year, we want to thank you from the bottom of our hearts. It’s truly been an honor getting to explore different viewpoints, ask the hard questions, and hear and l...
May 31, 2022•37 min•Ep. 50
Writer, TED Speaker, and mental health advocate Hannah Brencher challenges us to ask how we can serve others in times when we may need love, hope and healing the most. She shares her personal struggles with mental health, how it led her to creating a “battle plan” and how she ultimately found balance and hope by leaning into her faith, seeking out medical help and writing notes to strangers all over New York City. Connect with Hannah: - Instagram - Website - Books by Hannah - More Love Letters C...
May 24, 2022•51 min•Ep. 49
Why does leadership matter and what does it look like in a post pandemic, 2022 world? Pastor of Zoe Church, Chad Veach joins Ben to discuss why Jesus is the ultimate example of how to lead, what it means to be a servant leader, how to establish your voice as a leader and what we can learn from other generations about how and why we choose to lead. Connect with Chad: - Instagram - Twitter -Check out Zoe Church - Zoe Leadership College - Books written by Chad Connect with Ben: - Instagram - Twitte...
May 17, 2022•36 min•Ep. 48
Michael D. Tubbs is the author of the memoir The Deeper the Roots, Special Advisor to California Governor Gavin Newsom for Economic Mobility, founder of End Poverty in California (E.P.I.C) and was the previous mayor of Stockton, California at the age of 26 which made him the youngest mayor of any major American city! In this episode, Ben and Michael dig into the importance of changing the poverty narrative, the ways Michael’s faith impacts how he shows up as a leader in politics, how to approach...
May 10, 2022•38 min•Ep. 47
We’re kicking off mental health awareness month with former professional baseball player, Drew Robinson. Drew's advocacy for mental health is deeply personal. In 2020, he attempted to commit suicide. It came as a surprise to everyone on the outside because Drew looked like he had it all— playing in the major leagues, surrounded by people who loved and supported him. Drew's suicide attempt was not successful and he is no longer is playing for the MLB. He retired in 2021 after an unexpected comeba...
May 03, 2022•44 min•Ep. 46
Kent Dobson is a spiritual leader whose work centers on deepening the conversation between the Soul, who we are in the world, the mystery of Nature, and the Divine Source. He leads Pilgrimage Tours to Israel and was the leader for Ben’s recent trip with his parents and his wife Jessica. In this conversation, Ben and Kent explore the complexities of faith, the benefits of disruption and what it means to surrender to the unknown. If you consider yourself spiritually curious, this one’s for you! Co...
Apr 26, 2022•57 min•Ep. 45
Ben and his wife Jessica reflect on their recent trip to Israel, part 2! They’re answering listener’s questions about how the trip deepened their understanding of the gospels, the ways their view on hope evolved throughout the experience and of course, their favorite foods!! If you enjoy this conversation, make sure to go back and listen to Ben and Jessica's reflections on their trip to Israel part 1 here ! Connect with Ben: - Instagram - Twitter -Purchase Ben's book Alone in Plain Sight - Gener...
Apr 19, 2022•32 min•Ep. 44
Ben and his wife Jessica reflect on a recent trip they took to Israel with Ben’s parents. They’re answering listener’s questions about which landmarks they visited, how experiencing the sites in person impacted them and the surprising ways the trip brought the Bible to life. Connect with Ben: - Instagram - Twitter -Purchase Ben's book Alone in Plain Sight - Generous Coffee Connect with Jess: - Instagram...
Apr 12, 2022•31 min•Ep. 43
"I think there are a lot of us who have to make peace with the idea of several different possibilities and tracks throughout our lives. And it’s not necessarily a failure, it might actually be a gift." Bestselling author Shuana Niequist and Ben walk us through what it looks like to navigate endings we didn’t choose (relationships, jobs, church affiliations etc.) and make peace with expectations for how we thought our lives would look. They open up about seasons where they’ve found themselves bei...
Apr 05, 2022•33 min•Ep. 42
Ben sits down with author and pastor of Transformation Church, Dr. Derwin L. Gray to navigate what the Bible says about healing our racial divide and what action we can take to stand for reconciliation in our communities as well as our local church. Like what you hear and want to dig in deeper? Grab a copy of Dr. Derwin L. Gray’s new book, How to Heal Our Racial Divide: What the Bible Says, and the First Christians Knew About Racial Reconciliation. Connect with Dr. Derwin: - Instagram - Twitter ...
Mar 29, 2022•39 min•Ep. 41
Daniel Grothe is the Associate Senior Pastor at New Life Church in Colorado Springs, CO and the author of Chasing Wisdom and most recently, The Power of Place: Choosing Stability in a Rootless Age. In this episode, Daniel challenges our generation-- enthralled with wanderlust and chasing the next best thing-- to do the opposite and stay put. He makes an argument for why we may be rich when it comes to financial capital but how many of us seem to have empty accounts when it comes to social capita...
Mar 22, 2022•39 min•Ep. 40
Emily P. Freeman is a bestselling author, podcast host and has a masters degree in Spiritual Formation and Leadership from Friends University where she serves as a Residency Lecturer. She creates soul space and offer spiritual companionship and discernment for anyone struggling with decision fatigue. In this conversation, Ben and Emily discuss what it looks like to navigate decisions when it comes to deconstructing our faith, and Emily paints a beautiful and eye-opening picture of how Jesus appr...
Mar 15, 2022•38 min•Ep. 39
“Mental health should never be a solo battle.” Shawn Johnson, Senior Pastor at Red Rocks Church and author of the new book, Attacking Anxiety: From Panicked and Depressed to Alive and Free, takes us through his personal journey battling with panic attacks, suicidal thoughts, anxiety and depression. He wants any who battles with mental illness to know that they are not alone, what you are going through is real, and it can be beat. Tune in and share with a loved one who you believe would be blesse...
Mar 08, 2022•39 min•Ep. 38
"Indy is this beacon of hope for people." Terah and Brian Jones share their journey through childhood cancer and the miraculous moments they experienced with their daughter, Indy Llew. Their story is scattered with the the spirit of childhood hope, the warmth of miracles, and a breathtaking example of how the faith of 1000s has the power to heal. In loving memory of Indy Llew Jones. You are a light for us all, little one. 🤞🏼 Connect with Terah & Brian: - Instagram - Indy Llew and You -Tera...
Mar 01, 2022•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 37
How do we heal from sexual trauma? And what is "sex positivity"? In this episode, Ben sits down with Licensed Psychologist, Certified Sex Therapist, and founder of Modern Intimacy Dr. Kate Balestrieri to explore what it means to fully embrace our sexuality, how to accept others who have differing sexual values, and why considering our relationship with God can be a step toward healing our relationship with sex. Connect with Dr. Kate: - Instagram - Modern Intimacy -Modern Intimacy Podcast Connect...
Feb 22, 2022•42 min•Ep. 36
How can we utilize the enneagram to heal? In this episode, Ben sits down for an insightful conversation with Ian Cron— an enneagram master teacher, speaker, author of the bestselling book, A Road Back to You, and most recently his new book, The Story of You. They dig into the false stories each type tells themselves and how we can use the enneagram to work in our favor to expose and rewrite our broken stories. Connect with Ian: - Instagram - Twitter - Website -Purchase Ian’s new book, The Story ...
Feb 15, 2022•38 min•Ep. 35
For Brandon and Sam Conley, receiving news that Brandon was diagnosed with Bulbar Onset ALS was a "line in the sand moment." Brandon, age 36, was originally diagnosed with Lyme Disease and had been struggling with symptoms for 16 months that "seemed" to be Lyme before specialist confirmed that in was in fact, ALS. In this episode, Ben sits down with two of his best friends to talk about what it's like to receive a life-altering diagnosis, one without a cure, how it has shifted their perspective ...
Feb 08, 2022•53 min•Ep. 34
Does hope win when someone you care about takes their own life? How do you begin to process and how do you move forward? In this episode of Hope Still Wins in the Unexpected, Ben sits down with writer and editor Laurie Woolever best known for her time as an assistant to the late TV host, author, and producer Anthony Bourdain. They discuss the complexities of Anthony’s life, how to help loved ones with an addictive personality, and what they believe is the best thing we can begin to do if someone...
Feb 01, 2022•43 min•Ep. 33
Artist, illustrator, author, and performing artist, Scott Erickson joins Ben to discuss the power our curiosity has in the journey to transforming our lives. They dig into the concept of living within the paradox of life and how identity can be a powerful force once we shift our perspective from working FOR identity to working FROM it. It’s an honest conversation that will leave you both empowered to connect to your curiosity and hopeful for what you may find. Connect with Scott: - Instagram - W...
Jan 25, 2022•51 min•Ep. 32
“To separate your identity from your ability is a really important thing to do.” Join Ben as he sits down with pastor, speaker and author Levi Lusko as they explore what it takes to begin the journey of examining your inner space and how Levi believe it connects us to something greater— outer space, the moon and ultimately, Jesus. It's a fascinating conversation for anyone who has ever questioned their purpose, struggled with comparison, or found it hard to look inside because you’re afraid of w...
Jan 18, 2022•36 min•Ep. 31
"You have a choice to heal. You can start healing at any moment." Suzy Batiz, the Founder of Poo~Pourri and supernatural walks us through how to take our power back when life throws an unexpected curveball (or curveballs). Suzy has experienced some of life’s lowest lows — poverty, sexual and domestic abuse, depression, two bankruptcies and a suicide attempt — which led to what she calls the luxury of losing everything and the "ah ha" moment she had before dusting herself off to begin building th...
Jan 11, 2022•41 min•Ep. 30
An avid outdoorsman with an unmatched zest for life, chef Eduardo Garcia is a testament to the power of the human spirit in the face of adversity. Eduardo is a trained chef, entrepreneur and speaker whose path took a drastic turn in 2011 when he suffered a catastrophic accident in the Montana backcountry. A chance encounter with a hidden power line sent 2400-volts of electricity coursing through his body, knocking him unconscious and changing his life forever. In this conversation, he sits down ...
Jan 04, 2022•41 min•Ep. 29
Today is an extra special episode. Today we’re handing the mic over to YOU, our HSW listeners, to share your hopes for 2022! We asked you to submit your audio responses and it brings us so much JOY to share your voices and heartfelt answers on the show. Your responses blew us away-- from hoping for love, unity, getting back to traveling and new jobs to healing for our world-- this community is something special. Tune in to hear Ben's reactions to your future hopes and hear what he is hoping for ...
Dec 21, 2021•29 min•Ep. 28
"Ask God to show you somebody around you who needs some hope this Christmas season." Singer-songwriter Matthew West wants us to reframe the end of the year from “phew, we made it,” to, “wow, we’ve arrived.” In this timely episode, Ben and Matthew talk about the power and potency of Christmas, the vastness of God’s plan for us (spoiler alert, it may differ from the original dream you have for your life), why surrounding ourselves with the right people can shape the trajectory of our lives, and ho...
Dec 14, 2021•43 min•Ep. 27
“God will use anyone that says yes.” This conversation with Hosanna Wong is a gentle ride through themes of spoken word poetry, spreading the hope of Jesus, pushing through doubt to share our stories (we believe it's imperative), and the fullness of humanity. Hosanna has a warm, bold presence and an extraordinary way with words. Expect to leave this conversation uplifted and connected to something bigger than yourself - if you're into that sort of thing. Hosanna Wong is an expert in poetry and s...
Dec 07, 2021•48 min•Ep. 26
GIVING TUESDAY is here and we're celebrating with CEO & President of Project HOPE , Rabih Torbay. Project HOPE is a nonprofit organization empowering health care workers facing the world’s greatest health crises to build resilient communities and a healthier, more equitable world. Ben was fortunate to have been asked to join the board of Project HOPE earlier this year and looks forward to helping further their mission in the years to come! Project HOPE's CEO & President, Rabih Torbay is ...
Nov 30, 2021•36 min•Ep. 25
Welcome to the FINAL episode of Hope Still Wins in Relationships AND even more exciting, Ben and Jess’ wedding week!! In this episode, the future Mr. & Mrs. Higgins share with listeners the origin story of their relationship (hot tip: sliding into someone’s DMs can work!), what to focus on and avoid in long-distance relationships, how maintaining autonomy and individuality can be a healthy decision, and their nerves and excitement surrounding the big day! If you enjoy this episode, make sure...
Nov 09, 2021•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 24
The much-anticipated episode is finally here!! Jess and Ben sit down with their parents to pick their brains on all things marriage. The two seasoned couples share their secrets to unlock a long, healthy partnership where you not only stay in love but continue to fall as the years go by (yes please!) They talk about spousal friendship, the importance of maintaining romance, and what keeping faith at the center of a relationship can really do. This is a truly special conversation that ends with t...
Nov 02, 2021•47 min•Ep. 23
Do you find talking about money uncomfortable? Especially when it comes when it comes to navigating the topic with your significant other? In today’s Hope Still Wins in Relationships episode, Ben and Jess sit down with entrepreneur, investor, speaker and the host of the “Trading Secrets" podcast, Jason Tartick to dig into why is it imperative for couples to be financially fluent. They touch on what to you do if you’re entering into a relationship and one partner has debt. How you can best suppor...
Oct 26, 2021•40 min•Ep. 22
