We made it—100 episodes! In this special milestone episode, we look back at where we started, what we’ve learned, and the conversations that have shaped us. From awkward beginnings and favorite interviews to creative breakthroughs and unexpected lessons, we reflect on how this podcast has helped keep neighboring on our minds. We also share why we’re pressing pause for the summer, how we’re refueling for what’s next, and what you can expect this fall in our upcoming series, Neighboring Through th...
Jul 08, 2025•15 min
What if the biggest barrier to loving our neighbors isn’t them, it’s us? In this episode, we dive into Brant Hansen’s book Unoffendable and explore how choosing humility over outrage can transform the way we live and love in our neighborhoods. From the temptation of “righteous anger” to the gift of meekness, we unpack four powerful themes from the book that challenge our assumptions and invite us into deeper grace, compassion, and Christlike love. With honest reflection, biblical insight, and pr...
Jul 01, 2025•42 min•Ep. 98
In a culture where Christianity is often dismissed as harmful or outdated, how can we respond with confidence, humility, and truth? In this thought-provoking episode, we’re joined by Dr. Sharon James—author, historian, and social policy analyst—to explore the incredible legacy of Christianity’s impact on the world. From human dignity to women’s rights, from education to healthcare, Sharon helps us trace how Christianity shaped society for good. We also unpack how we can live out that same “livin...
Jun 24, 2025•40 min•Ep. 97
How can we love our LGBTQ+ neighbors well—especially in a culture where conversations about sexuality and identity can feel so personal, emotional, and polarizing? In this powerful and thoughtful episode, we’re joined by Greg Koukl, founder of Stand to Reason and author of Tactics , to help us navigate this sensitive topic with clarity, grace, and humility. Greg unpacks how to move from confrontation to conversation, why asking good questions matters, and what it means to love without compromisi...
Jun 17, 2025•28 min•Ep. 96
In today’s episode, we have an honest and practical conversation about how to love our neighbors who are walking through seasons of pain, suffering, or difficulty. Whether it's strained marriages, financial struggles, anxiety, grief, or even something as simple as exhaustion, we explore how God invites us to enter into the hard places with compassion and presence. Drawing from personal experiences, Scripture, and the teachings of Jesus, we talk about what to do (and what not to do), how to avoid...
Jun 10, 2025•32 min•Ep. 95
In this episode, we’re joined by Wayne Rice — veteran youth pastor, author, and co-founder of Youth Specialties — as he shares wisdom on how we can love and serve the elderly neighbors around us. Wayne currently serves with the Legacy Coalition, a ministry dedicated to equipping grandparents for spiritual influence in their families, and brings decades of ministry experience to this meaningful conversation. We talk about what Scripture says about honoring the elderly, how culture often sidelines...
Jun 03, 2025•39 min•Ep. 94
Today we’re joined by Mark and Molly Parsons from Truth in Love Ministry to talk about how we can better love and understand our Mormon neighbors. With years of experience in outreach and personal relationships in LDS communities, Mark and Molly offer insight into the beliefs and culture of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and how Christians can engage with kindness, clarity, and the hope of the gospel. We explore what makes Mormonism unique, how to talk about Jesus and grace in ...
May 27, 2025•48 min•Ep. 93
Today we’re joined by Jon Noyes, a former atheist turned Christian apologist with Stand to Reason, who shares his powerful story of moving from skepticism to belief. Jon reflects on what it was like to be a self-proclaimed "evangelical atheist," how Christians in his life made space for hard questions without defensiveness, and the key role that honest, consistent relationships played in his journey to faith. We explore what atheists often believe (and don’t believe), how to ask better questions...
May 20, 2025•53 min•Ep. 92
In this episode, we dive into what it looks like to love our neighbors who are immigrants, internationals, and refugees. Donna Kushner joins us to share insights from her decades of cross-cultural ministry, including time serving overseas and her current work walking alongside refugee families in the U.S. We explore what makes the refugee experience uniquely difficult—from language and housing barriers to navigating complex systems and overcoming loneliness—and why proximity, hospitality, and re...
May 13, 2025•39 min•Ep. 91
In this episode, we dive into what it looks like to love our littlest neighbors—kids! Whether they live under your roof, next door, or pop by for snacks and sidewalk chalk, we explore how our view of children shapes the way we engage them. Kristin Jeffries, mom of four and the creative arts co-director for Crossing Kids, joins us in-studio to help us push back against some of the negative cultural narratives surrounding kids—that they’re inconvenient, messy, or burdensome—and instead adopt Jesus...
May 06, 2025•47 min•Ep. 90
In this episode of our Loving Your [Fill-in-the-Blank] Neighbor series, we’re diving into something many of us face daily but rarely talk about—how to love your neighbor with a different parenting style. From sleep training battles to snack-time politics, from screen-time boundaries to trampoline supervision, this episode is for anyone trying to raise kids in community while navigating differing values, opinions, and convictions. We reflect on our early parenting years and the pressure they felt...
Apr 29, 2025•40 min•Ep. 89
In this continuation of our Loving Your [Fill-in-the-Blank] Neighbor series, we sit down with pastor and author Caleb Campbell to talk about what it means to love our Christian nationalist neighbors. Caleb’s book, Disarming Leviathan: Loving Your Christian Nationalist Neighbor , invites us to move beyond fear and frustration and instead adopt the posture rooted in empathy, curiosity, and the way of Jesus. We unpack the meaning of Christian nationalism, explore how it functions as political ideol...
Apr 22, 2025•47 min•Ep. 88
In this kickoff episode of our Loving Your [Fill-in-the-Blank] Neighbor series, we’re joined by Christina Martin to explore what it looks like to love our Muslim neighbors with grace, curiosity, and genuine friendship. With over 20 years of ministry experience—including time spent living and serving in the Middle East and Singapore—Christina shares what she’s learned about building gospel-centered relationships with Muslims. From practical hospitality tips to navigating cultural differences and ...
Apr 15, 2025•27 min•Ep. 87
Ever found yourself stumbling in a conversation about your faith? Or unsure how to respond when a neighbor asks a tough question about Christianity? In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Mark Farnham, author of Every Believer Confident: Apologetics for the Ordinary Christian , to help lay a solid foundation for engaging neighbors of all backgrounds—whether they’re atheist, Muslim, Mormon, or simply hold different perspectives. With over two decades of experience teaching apologetics, theology, an...
Apr 08, 2025•40 min•Ep. 86
In this episode, we explore the deep ache of loneliness—what it is, how it affects our brains and bodies, and why it's become such a defining struggle in modern life. Using the film Castaway as a launching point, we dive into the biology and psychology behind our need for connection and how God designed us for meaningful relationships. We unpack the loneliness loop—how chronic isolation impacts our thinking, our health, and our ability to connect—even when we try. But there’s hope. Drawing from ...
Apr 01, 2025•36 min•Ep. 85
In this episode, we explore the surprising power of social networks and how our influence extends far beyond what we can see. Inspired by the book Connected by Nicholas Christakis, we discuss the ripple effect that spreads through relationships—how our moods, generosity, and even small acts of kindness can impact not just our neighbors, but their neighbors and their neighbors’ neighbors. We also dive into the fascinating science behind social contagion, from how emotions spread to why our action...
Mar 25, 2025•30 min•Ep. 84
In this episode, we’re embracing the awkward! Awkwardness is something we all experience, whether it's forgetting a neighbor's name, misreading a social cue, or simply feeling out of place in a new interaction. Instead of avoiding it, what if we saw awkwardness as a superpower in building relationships? Drawing from Good Awkward by Dr. Hannah Pryor, we explore how these cringe-worthy moments can actually make us more relatable, endearing us to those around us. We unpack the psychology behind awk...
Mar 18, 2025•28 min•Ep. 83
What does it mean to go beyond regular hospitality and show unreasonable hospitality ? Inspired by Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara, this episode explores how simple, thoughtful acts can transform neighborhood connections. From the story of how 11 Madison Park became the number one restaurant in the world to practical ideas like snow day donuts and welcoming gifts, we discuss how to make neighbors feel truly seen, valued, and cared for. Discover how showing up with intentionality and gen...
Mar 11, 2025•32 min•Ep. 82
In the final episode of our Emotionally Healthy Neighboring series, we explore how to navigate trauma with compassion and care, featuring special guest Eliza Huie, a licensed professional counselor and author of Trauma Aware: A Christian's Guide to Providing Help and Care . Eliza explains the difference between trauma and suffering, offering practical guidance on how to respond when neighbors share difficult experiences. She emphasizes the importance of being present over offering quick fixes an...
Mar 04, 2025•38 min•Ep. 81
What does it really mean to be an adult? Owning a house, working a job, or paying bills? In this episode of our Emotionally Healthy Neighboring series, we explore the deeper side of adulthood—taking responsibility for our lives, exercising God-given power, and learning to show up in relationships with confidence and humility. Drawing from Changes That Heal by Dr. Henry Cloud, we discuss the importance of moving from one-up, one-down dynamics to true peer-to-peer relationships with our neighbors....
Feb 25, 2025•30 min•Ep. 80
In this episode of our Emotionally Healthy Neighboring series, we explore the challenge of sorting out the good and bad in ourselves, our neighbors, and our communities. It’s easy to fall into black-and-white thinking—seeing our neighbors as either all good or all bad—but true growth happens when we learn to embrace the tension of both. We discuss insights from Changes That Heal by Dr. Henry Cloud that helps us navigate disappointment, frustration, and expectations while maintaining meaningful r...
Feb 18, 2025•32 min•Ep. 79
In week two of our Emotionally Healthy Neighboring series, we’re tackling one of the biggest challenges of building relationships with neighbors—boundaries. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, anxious, or even resentful because you don’t know how to say no, this episode is for you. We explore what healthy boundaries look like, how they help us love our neighbors well, and why setting limits doesn’t make you selfish—it makes you wise . Drawing insights from Dr. Henry Cloud’s Boundaries , we discuss ...
Feb 11, 2025•27 min•Ep. 78
In this kickoff to our new series, "Emotionally Healthy Neighboring," we dive into the foundational concept of bonding . Drawing from Dr. Henry Cloud's book Changes That Heal , we explore what it means to connect with others on a deeper level and how bonding—or the lack thereof—shapes our relationships with neighbors, family, and even God. Join us as we discuss the challenges of disconnection, the neuroscience of loneliness, and practical steps for initiating meaningful connections in our neighb...
Feb 04, 2025•30 min•Ep. 77
In this episode, we’re joined by Kendra Broekhuis, author of Here Goes Nothing: An Introvert's Reckless Attempt to Love Her Neighbor, to explore the unique strengths and challenges introverts bring to neighboring. Kendra shares her journey of embracing her God-given personality while building connections—from awkward beginnings to thriving behind the scenes. We discuss practical tips for leaning into your strengths, stepping out of your comfort zone, and balancing connection with quiet acts of l...
Jan 28, 2025•39 min•Ep. 76
In this episode, we dive into the power of habits, inspired by the book Atomic Habits by James Clear, and explore how small, consistent changes can transform the way we neighbor. As we step into 2025, we reflect on our bad habits (like pantry crumbs and "the chair") and explore how to build better habits for fostering community. We discuss Clear's Four Laws of Behavioral Change—make it obvious, make it attractive, make it easy, and make it satisfying—and apply them to neighboring, with practical...
Jan 21, 2025•26 min•Ep. 75
In this episode, we talk with Lance Ford, author of Next Door as It Is in Heaven , about living out God’s kingdom in our neighborhoods. Lance shares practical insights on what it means to have an incarnational presence—to see ourselves as sent by God into our communities—and to prioritize hospitality and inclusion. Drawing on inspiring stories, like building relationships with neighbors labeled as “difficult,” Lance highlights the transformative power of small acts of kindness, shared meals, and...
Jan 14, 2025•45 min•Ep. 74
What do neighboring and playing catch have in common? Ethan Bryan’s simple daily commitment to playing catch for an entire year transformed not only his life but also his understanding of connection and community. From freezing winter tosses to spontaneous backyard games, Bryan discovered how something as ordinary as a game of catch fosters vulnerability, rewires our brains, and deepens relationships. Listen and learn how this simple yet intentional act opened doors to meaningful connections, en...
Jan 07, 2025•31 min•Ep. 73
This year-end episode is a highlight reel of the most inspiring and transformative moments of 2024 on the podcast—just like your Spotify Wrapped! We're diving into listener favorites, from the surprising power of small talk and reimagining gospel conversations to the earthy beauty of neighboring through trees, bees, and community gardens. Plus, we revisit raw and meaningful discussions on grief, humility, and loving neighbors in tough circumstances. Packed with standout clips and reflections, th...
Dec 31, 2024•49 min•Ep. 72
During Christmas, the longing for peace feels especially acute, reflected in the songs we sing, the decorations we hang, and the verses we read during Advent. Both believers and non-believers desire peace—in the world, in our country, in our families, and in our neighborhoods. This guided prayer walk invites us to pray for peace in our lives, our neighbors' lives, and our communities. Scripture for this guided neighborhood prayer walk: Isaiah 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; ...
Dec 24, 2024•17 min•Ep. 71
Take this in: You don’t have to be the perfect neighbor; you just have to “good enough.” Today we share a concept we’re calling “Good Enough Neighboring,” inspired by the parenting philosophy, “Good Enough Parenting.” This is not a passive or apathetic approach. On the contrary; it’s transformational. Good Enough Neighboring tells us that when we reject perfectionism and embrace our limits, we’ll become neighbors who model vulnerability and repair. Get excited, because you are about to discover ...
Dec 17, 2024•34 min•Ep. 70
