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Win Today: Your Roadmap to Wholeness

Win Today: Your Roadmap to Wholeness

Christopher Cook

Mental Health, Christianity, Religion & Spirituality, Health & Fitness

4.9 • 528 Ratings

Overview

Life is complicated, and quick fixes won't address the deeper challenges you face in your mental, emotional, and spiritual health. "Win Today" provides practical guidance for lasting growth. Each week, you'll hear from trusted leaders and experts who offer wisdom, insights, and a durable plan to help you overcome obstacles and create real, sustainable change. This isn't about temporary solutions—it's about building a foundation for transformation and maturity from the inside out.

316 Episodes

You're Trading Your Soul for Approval. Tyler Staton on Why Your Hurry, Your Limits, and Your Need to Be Loved Are All Connected

You've been filling your days to the brim and calling it faithfulness. Every hour accounted for. Every margin eliminated. You pull it all off, too, and you reach the end of the day unable to say why it felt empty. The people you love most were technically present, but you couldn't really see them. You measured the day by what got done, not by who got loved. And underneath the productivity, if you're honest, there was a quieter engine running — the fear that if you slowed down, you'd have to sit with something you're not ready to face. Tyler Staton, lead pastor of Bridgetown Church in Portland, author of Praying Like Monks Living Like Fools, The Familiar Stranger, and his newest book After Amen, joins me for what I believe is one of the most theologically precise and personally confronting conversations this show has produced. Tyler has walked through a stage-four cancer diagnosis and come through it with a startling clarity about what the soul actually needs. In this conversation we cover the holiness of unfinished things, how to distinguish Spirit-led submission from fear-driven people-pleasing, what it means to absorb the wrongs of another without becoming a doormat, why approval addiction and genuine love cannot coexist in the same moment, and what Jesus's own relationship to human limits reveals about how we were designed to live. What Tyler says about the Kingdom of God is worth stopping on. The Kingdom only comes in the present, he argues, and when you're living in your head, toward the next thing, you cannot participate in it. This isn't a productivity hack. It's a diagnosis of a spiritual condition most of us have normalized. The hurry we've made peace with is the very thing severing us from the people we love, the voice of the Spirit we say we want, and the joy we keep expecting to find somewhere ahead. What you'll find in this conversation is not comfort. You'll find a mirror. Tyler names the lie that high-achievers and approval-seekers share in common: that more urgency and more effort will eventually produce the love and belonging we're chasing, and he tells you exactly why that trade will cost you your soul. This conversation will ask something of you. The question is whether you're ready to slow down enough to hear it. Guest Bio Tyler Staton is the lead pastor of Bridgetown Church in Portland, Oregon, and the national director of 24-7 Prayer USA. He is the author of Praying Like Monks, Living Like Fools, The Familiar Stranger — a book about encountering the Holy Spirit as a living Person — and his newest release, After Amen: 50 Days of Poetry and Prayer, written in the aftermath of a stage-four cancer diagnosis and the particular clarity that kind of wilderness produces. Tyler lives in Portland with his wife Kirsten, and their three sons. His work sits at the intersection of contemplative prayer, Spirit-led formation, and the kind of pastoral honesty that refuses to separate theological depth from ordinary daily life. Show Partner SafeSleeve designs a phone case that blocks up to 99% of harmful EMF radiation—so I'm not carrying that kind of exposure next to my body all day. It's sleek, durable, and most importantly, lab-tested by third parties. The results aren't hidden—they're published right on their site. And that matters because many so-called EMF blockers on the market either don't work or can't prove they do. We protect our hearts and minds—why wouldn't we protect our bodies too? Head to safesleevecases.com and use the code WINTODAY10 for 10% off your order. Episode Links Show Notes Buy my book "Healing What You Can't Erase" here! Invite me to speak at your church or event. Connect with me @WINTODAYChris on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Transcribed - Published: 3 June 2026

You've Put God on Trial for Something He Didn't Do. Ryan Maher Unpacks Blame, Sovereignty, and What Trust Actually Costs.

There is something underneath the anger you can't quite name. It sounds like disappointment. It feels like betrayal. And it has God's name on it. You prayed. You believed. You held on as long as you could. And then the thing you were afraid of happened anyway. So somewhere in the quiet, you decided — without maybe ever saying it out loud — that He let you down. That He was responsible. That if He were really good, really powerful, really in charge, this would have gone differently. Ryan Maher joins me for a conversation that goes straight to the root of that wound. Ryan is the founder of The Prayer Channel and Trust God Bro, the most-followed Christian channels on Instagram, and the author of The God Worth Trusting — a book born out of losing his mother to addiction, losing his friend Brett, and losing his faith in the version of God he'd been handed. What he discovered in that wreckage was not a tidy theology but something far more durable: a distinction between a God who controls and a God who is sovereign, and why confusing those two things has done more damage to the church's trust than almost anything else. We cover the difference between sovereignty and control, what it actually means that God is good at the level of nature and not just activity, and why the phrase "everything happens for a reason" is not only unhelpful; it's a theological lie. If you have walked through something that feels impossible to reconcile with a good God, this conversation will not give you easy answers. What it will give you is a more honest starting place — and the invitation to build a history with the Lord that holds when the circumstances don't. The question is not whether you can trust Him. The question is whether you are willing to let scripture define who He is rather than letting your worst moment do it. Guest Bio Ryan Maher is a pastor and evangelist who uses every digital tool available to share the Gospel, reaching hundreds of millions of people each month through the ministries he has founded and leads, including The Prayer Channel — the number one most popular broadcast channel on Instagram. He is the author of The God Worth Trusting: Restoring Faith in a Good God, a book he describes as the resource he wished someone had handed him in his own darkest seasons. Ryan and his wife, Brittany, are based in Michigan. Show Partner SafeSleeve designs a phone case that blocks up to 99% of harmful EMF radiation—so I'm not carrying that kind of exposure next to my body all day. It's sleek, durable, and most importantly, lab-tested by third parties. The results aren't hidden—they're published right on their site. And that matters because many so-called EMF blockers on the market either don't work or can't prove they do. We protect our hearts and minds—why wouldn't we protect our bodies too? Head to safesleevecases.com and use the code WINTODAY10 for 10% off your order. Episode Links Show Notes Buy my book "Healing What You Can't Erase" here! Invite me to speak at your church or event. Connect with me @WINTODAYChris on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Transcribed - Published: 29 May 2026

The More You Know, the More Cynical You Become. Carey Nieuwhof on Pattern Recognition, Grief, and Finishing Well.

You have more knowledge than you've ever had, and somehow you're more tired. More guarded. More prone to walk into a room and see everything wrong with it before you see anything right. You used to believe things would get better. Now you believe you've simply seen enough to know they probably won't. You call it wisdom. But it might be something else entirely.   Carey Nieuwhof joins me for a conversation I've been looking forward to for years, and he opens up in a way I did not expect. At 61, in the wake of 29 simultaneous external stressors, a rare blood disorder that nearly took his life, aging parents, the death of a father-in-law, and the loss of the physical sanctuary that had been his refuge, Carey is navigating what grief actually looks like for a leader who spent two decades not grieving anything. The phrase that has stayed with me since this conversation is one his mentor gave him 25 years ago: ministry is a series of ungrieved losses. We cover what that means in practice, why cynicism is not a character flaw but a predictable outcome of accumulated knowledge without adequate grief, how the shift from fluid to crystallized intelligence changes what leadership should ask of you in your 40s and beyond, and what Carey and his wife Toni are actually doing, not just saying, to finish well. There is something here that will not comfort you the way you're hoping to be comforted. Carey is too honest for that, and this episode is too important for that. If you have been running at a pace that leaves no room to feel your losses, this conversation is going to cost you something. Sit with it. Let it do its work. Guest Bio Carey Nieuwhof is a former attorney and pastor who leads one of the most listened-to leadership podcasts in the Christian space, with more than 800 episodes and over 36 million downloads. He is the author of several books, including the bestselling At Your Best, and the founder of the Art of Leadership Academy, a growing community of more than 20,000 leaders. He spent over a decade as a lead pastor north of Toronto before stepping away to focus on helping leaders at scale. He has studied burnout, cynicism, moral failure, and the patterns that separate leaders who finish well from those who don't. He brings to this conversation more than two decades of pattern recognition built at the intersection of personal suffering and serious study. Show Partner SafeSleeve designs a phone case that blocks up to 99% of harmful EMF radiation—so I'm not carrying that kind of exposure next to my body all day. It's sleek, durable, and most importantly, lab-tested by third parties. The results aren't hidden—they're published right on their site. And that matters because many so-called EMF blockers on the market either don't work or can't prove they do. We protect our hearts and minds—why wouldn't we protect our bodies too? Head to safesleevecases.com and use the code WINTODAY10 for 10% off your order. Episode Links Show Notes Buy my book "Healing What You Can't Erase" here! Invite me to speak at your church or event. Connect with me @WINTODAYChris on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Transcribed - Published: 27 May 2026

Christian Self-Help Is Lying to You. Dr. Henry Cloud on What Real Change Actually Requires.

You have tried harder. You have read the books, made the commitments, restarted the plan, and believed — genuinely believed — that this time would be different. And yet, five years later, you are looking at the same patterns, the same walls, the same version of yourself you were trying to leave behind. The failure is not a motivation problem. It is not a willpower problem. It is something deeper, something that the self-help industry cannot name because naming it would dismantle the entire enterprise. Dr. Henry Cloud joins me for his third conversation on Win Today, and what he brings to the table this time is a confrontation with one of the most quietly destructive lies inside Christian growth culture: that knowledge is enough, that effort is enough, that the right tips applied with sufficient sincerity will eventually produce the life you want. Cloud dismantles that lie at the root. He explains why strength always begins in weakness, why your limitations are not obstacles to your growth but the very doorway through it, and why the passage everyone quotes — "the truth shall set you free" — has been systematically separated from the condition that precedes it. We also go deep into the relational patterns that quietly destroy families, churches, and teams: the victim-rescuer-persecutor triangle and how triangulation turns ordinary conflict into a cycle of division no one can escape from the inside. And Cloud offers one of the sharpest cultural diagnoses I have heard in years — on what the word "triggered" has come to mean and why its inflation is itself a sign of something unhealed. If you have been doing the work but not getting anywhere, this conversation will name what is actually going on underneath the surface. But it will not let you stay comfortable in the naming. Something is required of you: not more effort, but a different kind of openness — the kind that begins with admitting you cannot do this alone. Guest Bio Dr. Henry Cloud is a clinical psychologist, leadership consultant, and New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestselling author whose books have sold nearly 20 million copies worldwide. His work integrates psychological science and biblical wisdom to address the deepest patterns that keep people and organizations from genuine growth. He consults with CEOs, Fortune 500 companies, and high-net-worth family offices, and he is the founder of drcloud.com, which hosts his personal growth platform. Show Partner SafeSleeve designs a phone case that blocks up to 99% of harmful EMF radiation—so I'm not carrying that kind of exposure next to my body all day. It's sleek, durable, and most importantly, lab-tested by third parties. The results aren't hidden—they're published right on their site. And that matters because many so-called EMF blockers on the market either don't work or can't prove they do. We protect our hearts and minds—why wouldn't we protect our bodies too? Head to safesleevecases.com and use the code WINTODAY10 for 10% off your order. Episode Links Show Notes Buy my book "Healing What You Can't Erase" here! Invite me to speak at your church or event. Connect with me @WINTODAYChris on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Transcribed - Published: 20 May 2026

Jamie Winship: "You Don't Know What Water You're Swimming In." The Separation Worldview and the Scarcity Lie Running Your Life.

You can feel it, even if you have never named it. The tightness around not having enough, not being enough, not doing enough. The reflex to protect what you have before someone takes it. The way your relationships quietly become negotiations, your faith quietly becomes performance, and your inner life quietly becomes a war zone — all while you are calling it prudence, discernment, stewardship, responsibility. You have been living from a worldview. And you probably have no idea which one it is. Jamie Winship returns to Win Today, and this conversation cuts deeper than most Jamie is the founder of Identity Exchange and author of the new book The War of Worldviews, and for decades, he has brought peaceful, identity-rooted solutions into some of the most dangerous conflict zones on earth. What he has learned in war-torn regions, maximum-security prisons, and international diplomacy is this: every conflict, without exception, is a worldview problem before it is a behavior problem. There are only two worldviews. The separation worldview, which is built on scarcity, runs on fear, and always ends in self-protection and self-promotion. And the connection worldview, which is grounded in abundance, operates from love and produces self-emptying, other-focused transformation. We also dig into why identity alone isn't enough if the worldview carrying it is toxic, the staggering difference between influence and production, what Moses was actually warning Israel about through the story of Joseph, and why Daniel's refusal to bow to the empire changed three dynasties while Joseph's compliance led to his own people's bondage. If you have been calling your fear something else — and there is a good chance you have — this conversation is going to name it. You will have to decide what to do with what you hear. That decision will shape everything else. Guest Bio Jamie Winship is the co-founder of Identity Exchange and Identity Impact, training and consulting agencies that have helped leaders across professional sports, government, law enforcement, business, and international diplomacy discover their true identity and operate from it under pressure. After a distinguished career in law enforcement in the Washington DC metro area, Jamie earned a master's in English and spent years working in some of the world's most dangerous conflict zones — Indonesia, Jordan, Iraq, Palestine, and Israel — developing his Identity Method, a process of identity transformation that resolves inner conflict and opens new levels of creativity and resilience. He is the author of Living Fearless and the new book The War of Worldviews. Show Partner SafeSleeve designs a phone case that blocks up to 99% of harmful EMF radiation—so I'm not carrying that kind of exposure next to my body all day. It's sleek, durable, and most importantly, lab-tested by third parties. The results aren't hidden—they're published right on their site. And that matters because many so-called EMF blockers on the market either don't work or can't prove they do. We protect our hearts and minds—why wouldn't we protect our bodies too? Head to safesleevecases.com and use the code WINTODAY10 for 10% off your order. Episode Links Show Notes Buy my book "Healing What You Can't Erase" here! Invite me to speak at your church or event. Connect with me @WINTODAYChris on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Transcribed - Published: 13 May 2026

Some People Like You Better Broken. Tim Ross on Dysregulation, Curated Narratives, and the Peace That Actually Holds.

You have been managing something for a long time. Maybe you don't call it that. Maybe it shows up as a low-grade restlessness, a reflexive reaching for the phone, a fullness in your chest that never quite resolves. You've done the spiritual things. You've prayed, you've worshipped, you've pressed through. And underneath all of it there is still something unresolved, something unnamed, something you have quietly agreed to just carry. And the most confronting possibility in the world is that the people closest to you have gotten comfortable with you carrying it, because a version of you that is fractured and functional and never-quite-well is a version of you they know how to manage. Tim Ross joins me for a conversation that is equal parts pastoral and surgical. Tim is the host of The Basement podcast and the author of The Missing Peace: How to Be Held Together When You're Falling Apart, and what he brings to this conversation is not theory. In 2019, Tim's life was simultaneously at its most visible and its most misaligned, and what cracked the surface was not a catastrophic failure but something quieter and stranger than that, a spray-paint can and six cans from Home Depot on a Saturday night, and elders kind enough to hold a mirror up. We trace that inflection point all the way to a theology of nervous system regulation grounded not in Polyvagal theory alone but in Mark 4, in John 14, in the peace that Jesus left as a Person and not a feeling. We talk about dysregulation as detachment from peace, about why a regulated person can discern between the agitator and the agitated when a dysregulated one can only rebuke everything, about the narratives we have fallen in love with because the work of changing them is simply too much to want to face. We talk about what it costs to get free, and why some of the people in your life are quietly counting on you not to. The free you will not tolerate what the bound you did. Tim said that near the end of our conversation, and it's the kind of sentence that doesn't settle quietly. This episode will not let you stay comfortable with a curated peace. It will ask whether what you're calling maturity is actually avoidance, whether what you're calling faith is cowardice dressed up, and whether you're ready to throw off the outer garment and run. Guest Bio Tim Ross is the host of The Basement podcast, one of the most widely followed voices at the intersection of faith, mental health, and honest human experience. Tim has spent more than 27 years in the work of formation, and his shift from the pews to podcasting has extended his reach to millions. His newest book, The Missing Peace: How to Be Held Together When You're Falling Apart (Thomas Nelson, 2025), is a theology of peace rooted in the person of the Holy Spirit and grounded in the lived reality of nervous system regulation. He lives in Dallas with his wife, Juliette, and their sons Nathan and Noah. Show Partner SafeSleeve designs a phone case that blocks up to 99% of harmful EMF radiation—so I'm not carrying that kind of exposure next to my body all day. It's sleek, durable, and most importantly, lab-tested by third parties. The results aren't hidden—they're published right on their site. And that matters because many so-called EMF blockers on the market either don't work or can't prove they do. We protect our hearts and minds—why wouldn't we protect our bodies too? Head to safesleevecases.com and use the code WINTODAY10 for 10% off your order. Review the Podcast Click here to read the ratings, or even better, please leave me a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Your rating will help the podcast get noticed and positioned on Apple Podcasts. Episode Links Show Notes Buy my book "Healing What You Can't Erase" here! Invite me to speak at your church or event. Connect with me @WINTODAYChris on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Transcribed - Published: 6 May 2026

This Is Why You Keep Having the Same Argument. Jason VanRuler on the Wound Behind Every Fight You Can't Escape.

You have already tried the conversations. You have tried slowing down, choosing better words, waiting for the right moment. And still something derails it — the same wall, the same disconnect, the same feeling that you are speaking into air. What you have probably not tried is understanding why you communicate the way you do, and more importantly, where that pattern came from. Jason VanRuler is a licensed psychotherapist, author, and nationally recognized speaker whose new book, Discovering Your Communication Type, names a truth that changes everything: your communication style was not chosen — it was formed, shaped by the environment you needed to survive as a child. In this conversation, Jason introduces the PATHS model (Peacemaker, Advocate, Thinker, Harbor, Spark), but the framework is only the surface. Beneath it is something more confronting: most heated arguments are not about words. They are about wounds. And the same survival instincts that protected you then are likely the ones sabotaging your closest relationships now. What does it cost a relationship when secrets corrode it slowly, the way carbon monoxide fills a room — undetectable until real damage is done? What happens when you lead with your explanation instead of your apology, and why does that single inversion invalidate everything that follows? If you have been in survival mode so long that dysregulation feels like Tuesday morning, this conversation names the path out — and the grief that comes with it. The question Jason puts to you, whether he says it directly or not, is this: do you actually want connection, or do you want validation for remaining exactly as you are? Only one of those is available here. Guest Bio Jason VanRuler is a licensed psychotherapist, author, and nationally recognized speaker based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, specializing in communication, attachment, and relationships. He is the author of Discovering Your Communication Type: The 5 Paths to Deeper Connections and Stronger Relationships and founder of a thriving private practice. Jason leads retreats, workshops, and intensives for couples and organizations, and hosts his own podcast, Ok, What's Next? He lives with his wife and three children. Show Partner SafeSleeve designs a phone case that blocks up to 99% of harmful EMF radiation—so I'm not carrying that kind of exposure next to my body all day. It's sleek, durable, and most importantly, lab-tested by third parties. The results aren't hidden—they're published right on their site. And that matters because many so-called EMF blockers on the market either don't work or can't prove they do. We protect our hearts and minds—why wouldn't we protect our bodies too? Head to safesleevecases.com and use the code WINTODAY10 for 10% off your order. Episode Links Show Notes Buy my book "Healing What You Can't Erase" here! Invite me to speak at your church or event. Connect with me @WINTODAYChris on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Transcribed - Published: 1 May 2026

Your Jesus Is Too Small. Kyle Idleman on the Domestication of Jesus, Weird Subculture Christianity, and Why a Comfortable Savior Can't Save You.

You have configured Jesus to fit your life. Not consciously, not maliciously, but you have done it nonetheless. The algorithm of your preferences, your comfort thresholds, your political loyalties, your financial anxieties — they all quietly shape the version of Jesus you bring to church, to prayer, and to your decisions. The result is a Jesus who agrees with you more than he challenges you, who blesses your plans more than he disrupts them, and who functions, if you are honest, more like a life coach than a Lord. Kyle Idleman, Senior Pastor at Southeast Christian Church in Louisville and author of the new book The Missing Messiah, joins me for a conversation that will do exactly what you are afraid this kind of conversation will do: poke the box. Kyle draws a precise and unflinching distinction between Christian culture and kingdom culture, between a transactional faith built around what Jesus can do for you and a transformational discipleship built around following him wherever he goes. We cover the algorithm Jesus keeps breaking, the compartmentalized faith that lets him rummage in your "religion drawer" but not your finances, your politics, or your relationships, and the specific consequence no one wants to name: that a domesticated, comfortable, cushy Jesus is not going to hold you when the hardest seasons of your life arrive. If your faith has never asked you to count the cost, that is not evidence of grace. It is evidence of a missing Messiah. This conversation will not make you feel better about where you are; it will make you want to go further. That is the invitation, and it requires something of you. Episode Links Show Notes Buy my book "Healing What You Can't Erase" here! Invite me to speak at your church or event. Connect with me @WINTODAYChris on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Transcribed - Published: 29 April 2026

Everyone Is Spiritual. Very Few Are Discerning. Dr. Joel Muddamalle on The Unseen Battle of Deception.

You have a vague, unsettled sense that something is off—in the culture, in the church, maybe even in your own spiritual life—but you cannot quite name it, and so you keep moving, hoping it will clarify on its own. It will not clarify on its own. What you are sensing is real, and there is a name for it: you are living in the middle of a war you have not been trained to see. Dr. Joel Muddamalle, theologian and Director of Theology and Research at Proverbs 31 Ministries, joins me for a conversation that is as theologically rigorous as it is pastorally urgent. Joel makes the case that the church in the West has been slowly desensitized to the spiritual climate it is swimming in—not through a dramatic assault, but through the gradual repositioning of our dependence, our loves, and our identity. We cover the three rebellions embedded in Genesis and what they reveal about the enemy's enduring strategy, why the surge of spirituality in our culture is not an opportunity but a crisis of discernment, and why the doctrine of Christ consciousness—is not an enlightened reading of Scripture but a doctrine of demons that hijacks the name of Jesus while quietly displacing him from his own story. We also walk through what deliverance actually looks like for believers, practically and biblically, without sensationalism and without the misplaced authority of any human administrator. The most important line in this conversation is not about cosmic powers or exorcisms. It is this: the enemy does not gain ground by overpowering you—he gains ground because you are withdrawing. Every time you step back, he steps forward. That truth will require something of you. Come ready to receive it. Episode Links Show Notes Buy my book "Healing What You Can't Erase" here! Invite me to speak at your church or event. Connect with me @WINTODAYChris on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Transcribed - Published: 22 April 2026

You're Betraying Your Future Self Every Time You Do THIS. Jon Acuff on Why Procrastination "Protects" You and the Permission to Finally Start.

  You know what you're supposed to do. You've known for a while. And yet here you are, on the other side of another day that didn't deliver what you intended, wondering why you keep choosing the version of yourself that never has to be tested. The uncomfortable truth is that you're not failing because you're lazy. You're failing because procrastination is solving a problem for you—the problem of having to find out who you actually are when the pressure is on. Jon Acuff joins me for a conversation that is equal parts diagnostic and liberating. Jon is one of the sharpest thinkers working in this space—a New York Times bestselling author whose new book, Procrastination Proof, makes the case that your delay is not a discipline problem. It's a fear problem. And until you understand what procrastination is actually protecting you from, no system, no strategy, and no surge of motivation will hold. We cover the lie that one breakthrough will change everything, why you keep giving advice to your past self while ignoring your future one, the pre-decision framework that removes the daily negotiation with yourself, and what it actually means to build a motivation portfolio instead of chasing a feeling. What Jon names in this conversation is something most productivity content never gets close to: the invisible cost. Every day you delay is not a neutral act. It is a vote for the version of you that never has to be exposed, refined, or tested. And that version of you has been winning long enough. This conversation will not let you stay comfortable. It will invite you to take an honest look at what you are actually protecting, who you are actually becoming, and what it would cost you to finally give yourself permission to start. Guest Bio Jon Acuff is a New York Times bestselling author of twelve books, including Soundtracks, Finish, and Procrastination Proof, which together have sold more than one million copies. Named one of Inc.'s Top 100 Leadership Speakers, he delivers keynotes to companies including Microsoft, Walmart, Comedy Central, and Chick-fil-A. He hosts the podcast All It Takes Is a Goal and lives outside Nashville with his wife and two daughters. In this conversation, Jon brings his signature combination of humor, forensic self-awareness, and hard-won practical frameworks to the question most productivity culture refuses to ask honestly: what is your procrastination actually protecting? Show Partner SafeSleeve designs a phone case that blocks up to 99% of harmful EMF radiation—so I'm not carrying that kind of exposure next to my body all day. It's sleek, durable, and most importantly, lab-tested by third parties. The results aren't hidden—they're published right on their site. And that matters because many so-called EMF blockers on the market either don't work or can't prove they do. We protect our hearts and minds—why wouldn't we protect our bodies too? Head to safesleevecases.com and use the code WINTODAY10 for 10% off your order. Episode Links Show Notes Buy my book "Healing What You Can't Erase" here! Invite me to speak at your church or event. Connect with me @WINTODAYChris on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Transcribed - Published: 15 April 2026

You Don't Want Freedom as Much as You Think You Do. Alex Seeley Confronts Why We Like to Stay Stuck in Error and Delusion.

Many people say they want freedom. They pray for it, talk about it, and surround themselves with language that sounds like transformation. But beneath the surface, there is often resistance. Patterns persist. Mindsets remain unchallenged. And responsibility is quietly avoided. This week on Win Today, Alex Seeley joins me for a direct and necessary conversation about the work of sanctification and what it actually requires. We examine why so many believers remain stuck in cycles they claim to want to leave, how unchallenged thinking reinforces spiritual stagnation, and why true freedom demands more than awareness. It requires participation. Guest Bio Alex Seeley is the co-lead pastor of The Belonging Co. in Nashville, Tennessee, a global church community known for its emphasis on worship, discipleship, and the presence of God. Originally from Australia, Alex has spent years leading, teaching, and equipping believers to grow in spiritual maturity and live lives marked by freedom and purpose. Through her leadership, speaking, and writing, she challenges individuals to confront limiting mindsets, embrace the process of sanctification, and walk in the fullness of what God has for them. Show Partner SafeSleeve designs a phone case that blocks up to 99% of harmful EMF radiation—so I'm not carrying that kind of exposure next to my body all day. It's sleek, durable, and most importantly, lab-tested by third parties. The results aren't hidden—they're published right on their site. And that matters because many so-called EMF blockers on the market either don't work or can't prove they do. We protect our hearts and minds—why wouldn't we protect our bodies too? Head to safesleevecases.com and use the code WINTODAY10 for 10% off your order. Episode Links Show Notes Buy my book "Healing What You Can't Erase" here! Invite me to speak at your church or event. Connect with me @WINTODAYChris on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Transcribed - Published: 8 April 2026

MercyMe's Bart Millard on Why Suffering Isn't Your Core Problem and What God Is Actually Doing in Your Pain

You may be walking through disappointment. You may feel tempted to withdraw. You may not know how to trust God again. This conversation with Bart Millard from MercyMe will help you understand what it means to stay present, stay honest, and allow God to form something deeper in you through what you are facing. You'll learn: Why suffering can deepen rather than destroy your faith How isolation quietly hinders the healing process Why vocalizing your struggles reduces their power The difference between giving up and true surrender How to trust God beyond specific outcomes Guest Bio Bart Millard is the lead singer of the multi-platinum, Grammy-nominated band MercyMe and a songwriter whose work has shaped modern worship music for decades. Known for the hit song "I Can Only Imagine," Bart has shared his story of pain, redemption, and faith through music, film, and writing. His journey—from a difficult childhood marked by abuse to becoming a voice of hope for millions—continues to inform his message about healing, resilience, and trusting God through adversity. Through his music, books, and storytelling, Bart invites people into an honest and grounded faith that holds both grief and gratitude. Show Partner SafeSleeve designs a phone case that blocks up to 99% of harmful EMF radiation—so I'm not carrying that kind of exposure next to my body all day. It's sleek, durable, and most importantly, lab-tested by third parties. The results aren't hidden—they're published right on their site. And that matters because many so-called EMF blockers on the market either don't work or can't prove they do. We protect our hearts and minds—why wouldn't we protect our bodies too? Head to safesleevecases.com and use the code WINTODAY10 for 10% off your order. Episode Links Show Notes Buy my book "Healing What You Can't Erase" here! Invite me to speak at your church or event. Connect with me @WINTODAYChris on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Transcribed - Published: 1 April 2026

Your Soul Is Fragmented. Now What? Heath Hardesty on Why You Can't Receive God's Love and the Lie of Self-Improvement Christianity

Many people today feel scattered. Attention is fractured, emotions are unsteady, and spiritual life feels more like survival than formation. We move from one demand to the next, one distraction to another, and somewhere along the way, the soul begins to splinter. This week on Win Today, Heath Hardesty joins me for a deeply clarifying conversation about what it means to live with an integrated soul in a fragmented world. We examine why so many believers struggle to actually receive the love of God, how discipleship has often been reduced to a subtle form of self-improvement, and why attempts to short-circuit suffering often delay the very formation God is trying to produce. Heath offers a compelling vision of apprenticeship to Jesus—not as a program to become your best self, but as a way of life where union with Him becomes the starting point, abiding and obeying Him becomes the essence, and reflecting Him becomes the aim. If you feel spiritually scattered, if your faith feels more performative than relational, or if you've realized you don't actually know how to receive the love of God, this conversation will help reorient what true discipleship is meant to form. Guest Bio Heath Hardesty serves as the lead pastor of Valley Community Church and is a founder of Inklings Coffee & Tea in downtown Pleasanton, California. Raised in a blue-collar home, Heath began his vocational journey as a plumber's apprentice in Colorado before transitioning into pastoral ministry on the edge of Silicon Valley, where he now lives with his family. He holds degrees in literature, leadership, biblical studies, and theology from the University of Colorado Boulder and Western Seminary in Portland. Through his teaching and writing, Heath invites people into a reimagined vision of apprenticeship to Jesus—one that cultivates wholeness, resilience, and a deeper experience of God's love. Show Partner SafeSleeve designs a phone case that blocks up to 99% of harmful EMF radiation—so I'm not carrying that kind of exposure next to my body all day. It's sleek, durable, and most importantly, lab-tested by third parties. The results aren't hidden—they're published right on their site. And that matters because many so-called EMF blockers on the market either don't work or can't prove they do. We protect our hearts and minds—why wouldn't we protect our bodies too? Head to safesleevecases.com and use the code WINTODAY10 for 10% off your order. Episode Links Show Notes Buy my book "Healing What You Can't Erase" here! Invite me to speak at your church or event. Connect with me @WINTODAYChris on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Transcribed - Published: 25 March 2026

You Can't Bubble Bath Your Way to Wellness. Jennifer Breheny Wallace on Absorbing the Lies of Useless and Worthless, Why Self-Esteem Has a Short Fuse, Mattering vs. Validation, Toxic Success, and Why Hyper-Visibility is Fake Connection

We are living in a moment where the language of self-care is everywhere. Protect your peace. Take a break. Treat yourself. But beneath the bubble baths and wellness rituals, something deeper is breaking down. People are absorbing quiet but powerful lies that they are useless, replaceable, or fundamentally unimportant. This week on Win Today, journalist and bestselling author Jennifer Breheny Wallace joins us to examine what she calls the modern crisis of "mattering." Drawing from extensive research and deeply human stories, Jennifer explains why the need to feel valued and to know that we add value is not optional—it is a core human need. When that need goes unmet, the consequences show up everywhere: fragile self-esteem, burnout, toxic achievement culture, and a constant search for validation that never quite satisfies. We explore why self-esteem alone cannot sustain a healthy identity, how success-driven cultures quietly erode a sense of worth, and why the hyper-visible world of social media often produces the opposite of real connection. Jennifer also introduces the concept of a "mattering core"—the conditions that help people know they are valued and capable of contributing value to others. When those elements are present, resilience grows. When they disappear, people begin to doubt their place in the world. If you've ever felt the pressure to prove your worth, if success has started to feel strangely empty, or if you've wondered why validation never seems to last, this conversation will help reframe what human flourishing actually requires. Guest Bio Jennifer Breheny Wallace is an acclaimed journalist and bestselling author whose work focuses on the intersection of mental health, achievement culture, and human flourishing. She is the author of Mattering: How to Create a Life of Meaning, Empathy, and Impact, a groundbreaking exploration of why the human need to feel valued and to add value is essential to well-being. Jennifer's writing has appeared in outlets including The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post, where she examines how modern pressures around success and validation shape the mental health of both adults and young people. Through her reporting and research, she helps readers understand how restoring a sense of mattering can strengthen resilience, deepen relationships, and restore purpose in an achievement-driven world. Show Partners SafeSleeve designs a phone case that blocks up to 99% of harmful EMF radiation—so I'm not carrying that kind of exposure next to my body all day. It's sleek, durable, and most importantly, lab-tested by third parties. The results aren't hidden—they're published right on their site. And that matters because many so-called EMF blockers on the market either don't work or can't prove they do. We protect our hearts and minds—why wouldn't we protect our bodies too? Head to safesleevecases.com and use the code WINTODAY10 for 10% off your order. Episode Links Show Notes Buy my book "Healing What You Can't Erase" here! Invite me to speak at your church or event. Connect with me @WINTODAYChris on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Transcribed - Published: 18 March 2026

Are You Prepared for Chaos? Paige Collins on the Necessary Posture in Shaking, The Cost of Surrender, and the Exploration of How God Speaks to People in Dreams

Every generation eventually faces moments when stability disappears, and the ground beneath our assumptions begins to shake. Cultural chaos, personal uncertainty, and unexpected upheaval have a way of revealing what our faith is actually built upon. In those moments, the question is no longer theoretical—it becomes deeply personal. This week on Win Today, my good friend Paige Collins joins me for a thoughtful conversation about preparing our lives for seasons of shaking and why surrendering to God is often far more costly than we expect. We explore the posture required to remain steady when circumstances become unpredictable, the spiritual maturity that grows through relinquishing control, and how God often forms resilience in environments that feel uncomfortable or uncertain. We also touch on the intriguing and often misunderstood topic of dreams and whether God can still speak through them today. Scripture includes moments where the Lord communicated through dreams—from Solomon's encounter in 1 Kings to Joel's prophetic declaration that in the last days people would dream dreams. At the same time, we make an important distinction: dreams are never equivalent to Scripture, never authoritative revelation, and never a replacement for the Word of God. Instead, if they occur at all, they must be tested, weighed, and submitted to the authority of Scripture and the wisdom of the Church. If the cultural moment feels unstable, if you sense the Lord inviting you into deeper surrender, or if you're wondering how to remain grounded when life becomes unpredictable, this conversation will help clarify the posture that prepares a believer to endure seasons of shaking. Guest Bio Paige Collins is a lifelong dreamer and visionary, and the founding partner of Icon Media Group, a premier PR firm specializing in faith and family entertainment. She has led high-impact publicity campaigns for major faith-based films and Kingdom-driven brands, helping shape the public conversation around faith in media and culture. Paige also serves as a producer, screenwriter, and founder of Honeybee Entertainment, a company dedicated to elevating stories of women of faith across film, television, and other creative platforms. Show Partner SafeSleeve designs a phone case that blocks up to 99% of harmful EMF radiation—so I'm not carrying that kind of exposure next to my body all day. It's sleek, durable, and most importantly, lab-tested by third parties. The results aren't hidden—they're published right on their site. And that matters because many so-called EMF blockers on the market either don't work or can't prove they do. We protect our hearts and minds—why wouldn't we protect our bodies too? Head to safesleevecases.com and use the code WINTODAY10 for 10% off your order. Episode Links Show Notes Buy my book "Healing What You Can't Erase" here! Invite me to speak at your church or event. Connect with me @WINTODAYChris on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Transcribed - Published: 13 March 2026

Selective Obedience is KILLING Your Faith. Hosanna Wong on Confusing the Practices of Jesus with Jesus Himself, Selective Obedience, How We Make Legalism Cool, The Role of Hiddenness and Crushing, and the 6 Roadblocks to Connecting with God

It is possible to practice the rhythms of faith and still miss the Person those rhythms were meant to lead us to. We can read Scripture, attend church, adopt the language of discipleship, and build entire spiritual lives around the habits of Jesus—while quietly drifting from intimacy with Jesus Himself. This week on Win Today, Hosanna Wong joins me for a clarifying and deeply confronting conversation about the difference between performing Christianity and actually knowing God. We examine how selective obedience slowly erodes intimacy with Him, why legalism has learned to rebrand itself as passion for holiness, and how seasons of hiddenness and crushing are often the environments where authentic discipleship is formed. Hosanna also unpacks six roadblocks that frequently prevent believers from experiencing genuine connection with God, revealing how easy it is to substitute religious activity for relational transformation. The invitation of Jesus has never been behavior management or spiritual performance—it is repentance, surrender, and relationship. If you've been doing the practices of faith but still feel distant from God… if you've sensed the quiet conviction that something deeper is being asked of you, or if you're realizing that obedience in some areas has been selective rather than surrendered, this episode will bring needed clarity. Guest Bio Hosanna Wong is an international speaker, best-selling author, and spoken word artist known for helping everyday people know Jesus in a real and personal way. Widely recognized for her viral spoken word piece "I Have A New Name," Hosanna shares her message in churches, conferences, prisons, and ministries around the world, reaching across denominations, cultures, and backgrounds. Raised in an urban ministry on the streets of San Francisco, she later spent years traveling throughout the United States speaking and sharing the gospel through spoken word poetry while living out of suitcases. Through her speaking, writing, and creative work, Hosanna equips believers to deepen their relationship with God and pursue authentic discipleship. Show Partner SafeSleeve designs a phone case that blocks up to 99% of harmful EMF radiation—so I'm not carrying that kind of exposure next to my body all day. It's sleek, durable, and most importantly, lab-tested by third parties. The results aren't hidden—they're published right on their site. And that matters because many so-called EMF blockers on the market either don't work or can't prove they do. We protect our hearts and minds—why wouldn't we protect our bodies too? Head to safesleevecases.com and use the code WINTODAY10 for 10% off your order. Episode Links Show Notes Buy my book "Healing What You Can't Erase" here! Invite me to speak at your church or event. Connect with me @WINTODAYChris on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Transcribed - Published: 11 March 2026

Let's Talk About Sex (Addiction). Jay Stringer Unpacks the Anatomy of Sexual Addiction, Predicting Destructive Lifestyle Choices, Why Healing Addiction Requires Curiosity, and Why Grief Has the Power to Change What You Desire

Sexual addiction is often treated as a behavior problem. Stop the behavior. Remove the temptation. Try harder next time. But what if the behavior is not the real issue? What if the patterns that bring shame, secrecy, and self-sabotage are actually revealing something deeper about the story you carry? This week on Win Today, therapist and researcher Jay Stringer joins me to unpack the anatomy of sexual addiction and unwanted sexual behavior. Drawing from research involving more than 3,800 men and women, Jay explains why these patterns are rarely random and how the unresolved parts of our past often shape them. We talk about why shame keeps people trapped in destructive cycles, why curiosity is often the first step toward healing, and why grief has the surprising power to reshape what we desire. Sexual struggles are not simply moral failures to suppress. They can become a roadmap that leads us toward the healing we have avoided. If you are stuck in patterns you cannot explain, if shame has kept you silent, or if you've tried to manage the behavior without understanding the story behind it, this episode will help you see why real freedom begins with honesty. Guest Bio Jay Stringer is a licensed therapist, minister, and researcher who helps men and women understand and outgrow unwanted sexual behaviors. He is the author of the award-winning book Unwanted: How Sexual Brokenness Reveals Our Way to Healing, based on a multiyear research study involving more than 3,800 men and women exploring the roots of sexual addiction and compulsive sexual behavior. Jay is also the creator of the Sexual Behavior Self-Assessment and The Journey Course, a five-month program designed to help individuals identify and transform the deeper drivers behind destructive patterns. He holds an MDiv and a master's degree in counseling psychology from The Seattle School of Theology and Psychology and completed post-graduate training under Dr. Dan Allender while serving as a Senior Fellow at The Allender Center. Show Partner SafeSleeve designs a phone case that blocks up to 99% of harmful EMF radiation—so I'm not carrying that kind of exposure next to my body all day. It's sleek, durable, and most importantly, lab-tested by third parties. The results aren't hidden—they're published right on their site. And that matters because many so-called EMF blockers on the market either don't work or can't prove they do. We protect our hearts and minds—why wouldn't we protect our bodies too? Head to safesleevecases.com and use the code WINTODAY10 for 10% off your order. Episode Links Show Notes Buy my book "Healing What You Can't Erase" here! Invite me to speak at your church or event. Connect with me @WINTODAYChris on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Transcribed - Published: 4 March 2026

God Won't Force You to Heal. Debra Fileta on The Reason Most People Aren't Emotionally Healthy, How "Trauma-Informed" Has Been Taken Too Far, and Why You Can't Be Spiritually Mature if Your Mental Health is in the Trash

We talk about healing as though it's inevitable. As though proximity to Scripture, therapy language, or Christian community automatically produces transformation. But God does not force anyone into wholeness. He invites. He confronts. He calls. And too many believers confuse awareness with growth. This week on Win Today, Debra Fileta joins me for a sober conversation about emotional health and spiritual maturity. We examine why so many Christians remain emotionally immature while sounding spiritually fluent, how "trauma-informed" has in some circles become trauma-defined identity, and why you cannot become spiritually mature if your mental and emotional life is neglected. Healing is not passive. It is participatory. If your faith is sincere but your reactions are volatile… if you know the right language but keep repeating the same patterns… or if you've mistaken self-protection for self-awareness, this episode will clarify what real growth actually requires. Guest Bio Debra Fileta is a Licensed Professional Counselor specializing in relationship, marital, mental, and emotional health. She is the author of five books, host of the Love + Relationships Podcast, and founder of TrueLoveDates.com, a widely read relationship advice platform reaching millions worldwide. Known for her candid yet compassionate voice, Debra integrates clinical insight with Christian faith to help individuals and couples pursue emotional health and stronger relationships. Her work has been featured in outlets including Christianity Today, Focus on the Family, Relevant Magazine, Crosswalk.com, Charisma Magazine, and more. Show Partner SafeSleeve designs a phone case that blocks up to 99% of harmful EMF radiation—so I'm not carrying that kind of exposure next to my body all day. It's sleek, durable, and most importantly, lab-tested by third parties. The results aren't hidden—they're published right on their site. And that matters because many so-called EMF blockers on the market either don't work or can't prove they do. We protect our hearts and minds—why wouldn't we protect our bodies too? Head to safesleevecases.com and use the code WINTODAY10 for 10% off your order. Episode Links Show Notes Buy my book "Healing What You Can't Erase" here! Invite me to speak at your church or event. Connect with me @WINTODAYChris on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Transcribed - Published: 25 February 2026

The Addiction No One Talks About. Stephen McWhirter on Numbing with Content and Life Hacks, The Bitterness We Carry in Our Bodies, and Becoming a Resting Place for Chaos

There are ways Christians escape that don't look like rebellion. They look like busyness. Performance. Endless content. Religious activity. We stay "engaged," but we are quietly numb. And over time, that numbness settles into the body as anxiety, irritability, and bitterness we don't know how to name. This week on Win Today, Stephen McWhirter joins me to discuss the socially acceptable ways believers avoid reality and why those patterns keep us stuck. Stephen's story is raw. He grew up in a violent home, ran hard from God through addiction and self-destruction, and encountered the presence of the Lord in a moment that changed everything. We explore how trauma and rebellion can coexist with spiritual language, how bitterness lodges itself in the body, and what it means to become a resting place for chaos rather than a reactor to it. This episode isn't about shame. It's about sobriety. If you've been medicating pain with distraction, ministry, content, or noise, this conversation will help you confront what you've been avoiding and rediscover what it means to be radically restored. Guest Bio Stephen McWhirter is a singer, songwriter, and worship leader known for his powerful testimony of transformation and his passion for helping others encounter the presence of God. After growing up in a tumultuous home and spending years in addiction and rebellion, Stephen experienced a radical encounter with Christ that reshaped his life and calling. He now leads worship and shares his story nationally, pointing people toward healing, identity, and freedom in Jesus. Show Partner SafeSleeve designs a phone case that blocks up to 99% of harmful EMF radiation—so I'm not carrying that kind of exposure next to my body all day. It's sleek, durable, and most importantly, lab-tested by third parties. The results aren't hidden—they're published right on their site. And that matters because many so-called EMF blockers on the market either don't work or can't prove they do. We protect our hearts and minds—why wouldn't we protect our bodies too? Head to safesleevecases.com and use the code WINTODAY10 for 10% off your order. Episode Links Show Notes Buy my book "Healing What You Can't Erase" here! Invite me to speak at your church or event. Connect with me @WINTODAYChris on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Transcribed - Published: 18 February 2026

Undoing the Deception of Self-Creation. Abdu Murray Exposes How We've Taken Empathy Too Far, The Syrupy "Sloganeering" of the Church, The Liabilities of Our Post-Truth Culture, and Why Identity is a Paper-Thin Idea

We are living through a crisis of clarity. In the name of empathy, we have untethered compassion from truth, traded moral courage for slogans, and reduced identity to something endlessly self-constructed. The result is not freedom, but confusion, where words lose meaning, conviction is treated as cruelty, and the church often responds with language that sounds kind but forms no one. This week on Win Today, apologist and author Abdu Murray joins me for a sober, unflinching conversation about self-creation, gender ideology, and the liabilities of a post-truth culture. We examine how empathy becomes destructive when it is severed from reality, why identity collapses when it is built on feelings alone, and how the church's reliance on syrupy slogans leaves believers ill-equipped to engage the moment with wisdom and courage. This isn't reactionary, it's diagnostic. If you sense the ground shifting beneath basic definitions of personhood, truth, and meaning, this episode offers clarity without cruelty and conviction without caricature. Guest Bio Abdu Murray is an author, speaker, and apologist who explores the intellectual credibility of the Christian faith in a post-truth world. With a background in law and years of experience engaging questions of identity, meaning, and worldview, Abdu is widely respected for his clarity, charity, and ability to address complex cultural issues with reasoned conviction. Show Partner SafeSleeve designs a phone case that blocks up to 99% of harmful EMF radiation—so I'm not carrying that kind of exposure next to my body all day. It's sleek, durable, and most importantly, lab-tested by third parties. The results aren't hidden—they're published right on their site. And that matters because many so-called EMF blockers on the market either don't work or can't prove they do. We protect our hearts and minds—why wouldn't we protect our bodies too? Head to safesleevecases.com and use the code WINTODAY10 for 10% off your order. Episode Links Show Notes Buy my book "Healing What You Can't Erase" here! Invite me to speak at your church or event. Connect with me @WINTODAYChris on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.    

Transcribed - Published: 13 February 2026

Not Everything Hard is Trauma. Dr. Lee Warren on What it Means to Take a Thought Captive, What to Do When You Can't Stop the Anxiety Spiral, Challenging Automatic Thinking, and What Scientists Botch on a Regular Basis

We live in a moment where difficulty is quickly labeled as damage and discomfort is often treated as pathology. While trauma is real and serious, not every hard moment is trauma—and confusing the two can quietly undermine resilience, clarity, and growth. When every struggle is interpreted as injury, we lose the ability to endure, discern, and respond wisely. This week on Win Today, Dr. Lee Warren returns to continue our Self-Brain Surgery conversation. We talk about what it actually means to take a thought captive, why anxiety spirals feel uncontrollable even when they're not, and how automatic thinking patterns quietly shape the brain. Dr. Warren also challenges common scientific blind spots that ignore meaning, responsibility, and agency in the healing process. This episode helps you separate pain from pathology, suffering from trauma, and awareness from action—so you can move from mental reactivity to intentional renewal. Guest Bio Dr. W. Lee Warren is a practicing neurosurgeon, author, and speaker known for integrating neuroscience, faith, and personal experience to help people heal from trauma and transform their lives. A survivor of profound personal loss, he has spent decades studying how thoughts shape the brain and how intentional mental practices can lead to lasting emotional and spiritual renewal. He is the author of multiple books, including The Life-Changing Art of Self-Brain Surgery. Show Partner SafeSleeve designs a phone case that blocks up to 99% of harmful EMF radiation—so I'm not carrying that kind of exposure next to my body all day. It's sleek, durable, and most importantly, lab-tested by third parties. The results aren't hidden—they're published right on their site. And that matters because many so-called EMF blockers on the market either don't work or can't prove they do. We protect our hearts and minds—why wouldn't we protect our bodies too? Head to safesleevecases.com and use the code WINTODAY10 for 10% off your order. Episode Links Show Notes Buy my book "Healing What You Can't Erase" here! Invite me to speak at your church or event. Connect with me @WINTODAYChris on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Transcribed - Published: 11 February 2026

Hustle Culture Creates Burnout. Brad Stulberg on The Biology of Excellence and the Art of Becoming, Rugged Flexibility, How to Curate Your Content Better, and the Two Kinds of Burnout

Excellence isn't a personality trait or a hustle tactic. It's a way of becoming. And in a culture driven by distraction, convenience, and external validation, genuine excellence is quietly eroding. What replaces it looks productive but feels hollow, leaving many people burned out, scattered, or chasing intensity instead of depth. This week on Win Today, Brad Stulberg joins me to recover a truer vision of excellence—one rooted in biology, values, focus, and formation. We explore why rugged flexibility matters more than rigid discipline, how to curate your inputs so your attention serves what matters most, and why there are actually two different kinds of burnout. This conversation reframes excellence not as achievement alone, but as a deeply human process of becoming aligned, durable, and alive. If you're tired of pseudo-excellence, dopamine-driven ambition, or burnout disguised as growth, this episode will help you reorient toward a better path—one that connects mastery with meaning and performance with purpose. Guest Bio Brad Stulberg is an author, coach, and researcher focused on excellence, sustainable performance, and human flourishing. He has written multiple best-selling books exploring the intersection of science, philosophy, and practice, and his work is widely recognized for helping individuals and organizations pursue growth without burnout. Brad's writing and teaching challenge hustle culture while offering a grounded, humane path toward mastery, resilience, and meaningful achievement. Show Partners SafeSleeve designs a phone case that blocks up to 99% of harmful EMF radiation—so I'm not carrying that kind of exposure next to my body all day. It's sleek, durable, and most importantly, lab-tested by third parties. The results aren't hidden—they're published right on their site. And that matters because many so-called EMF blockers on the market either don't work or can't prove they do. We protect our hearts and minds—why wouldn't we protect our bodies too? Head to safesleevecases.com and use the code WINTODAY10 for 10% off your order. Episode Links Show Notes Buy my book "Healing What You Can't Erase" here! Invite me to speak at your church or event. Connect with me @WINTODAYChris on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Transcribed - Published: 6 February 2026

Therapy Culture is BLOCKING Your Ability to Heal. Dr. Lee Warren on The "Problem" with Our Brains, Addressing the Resistance that Shows Up When We Try to Heal, Getting Out of Survival Mode, and Compulsive Rumination

We are more self-aware than ever, and yet many people feel more stuck, anxious, and exhausted than before. Therapy culture has helped us name pain, but it often leaves us circling it. Insight increases, language expands, but healing stalls. What if the very frameworks meant to help us are quietly blocking our ability to change? This week on Win Today, Dr. Lee Warren joins me for a conversation that bridges neuroscience, faith, and lived experience. As a practicing neurosurgeon and trauma survivor, Dr. Warren explains why the brain resists healing, how survival mode hijacks our thinking, and why compulsive rumination feels productive while actually reinforcing pain. We explore the science behind neuroplasticity and the spiritual responsibility we carry to participate in our own renewal. This episode doesn't dismiss therapy, but it challenges passivity. Healing requires more than awareness. It requires agency, discipline, and the courage to rewire patterns that no longer serve life. Guest Bio Dr. W. Lee Warren is a practicing neurosurgeon, author, and speaker known for integrating neuroscience, faith, and personal experience to help people heal from trauma and transform their lives. A survivor of profound personal loss, he has spent decades studying how thoughts shape the brain and how intentional mental practices can lead to lasting emotional and spiritual renewal. He is the author of multiple books, including The Life-Changing Art of Self-Brain Surgery. Show Partners SafeSleeve designs a phone case that blocks up to 99% of harmful EMF radiation—so I'm not carrying that kind of exposure next to my body all day. It's sleek, durable, and most importantly, lab-tested by third parties. The results aren't hidden—they're published right on their site. And that matters because many so-called EMF blockers on the market either don't work or can't prove they do. We protect our hearts and minds—why wouldn't we protect our bodies too? Head to safesleevecases.com and use the code WINTODAY10 for 10% off your order. Episode Links Show Notes Buy my book "Healing What You Can't Erase" here! Invite me to speak at your church or event. Connect with me @WINTODAYChris on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Transcribed - Published: 4 February 2026

476: [Formed.] Spiritual But Not Religious? Lisa Bevere on What an Exorcist Said About Tarot and Oracle Cards, How the Progressive Movement is Connected to Self-Deification, and Why The Church is Too Comfortable Preaching Catchy Phrases

We live in a moment where spiritual language is everywhere, but formation is rare. Many people claim to be spiritual while rejecting authority, truth, and discipline. Others consume sermons built on slogans rather than Scripture, leaving their faith thin, sentimental, and easily shaken. The result is a generation that feels awakened but remains unformed. This week on Win Today, Lisa Bevere joins me for the final installment of the [Formed.] discipleship series to confront the cost of being spiritual but not anchored in truth. We talk about the rise of tarot and oracle cards, what an exorcist revealed about their spiritual danger, how progressive theology often drifts toward self-deification, and why the church has grown far too comfortable preaching phrases instead of the Word. This conversation is not reactionary; it is corrective. If you're hungry for real formation, grounded truth, and a faith that can withstand deception, offense, and cultural pressure, this episode brings the series to its necessary conclusion. Guest Bio Lisa Bevere is a bestselling author, speaker, and co-founder of Messenger International. Known for her prophetic clarity and uncompromising commitment to Scripture, Lisa has spent decades calling believers to spiritual maturity, courage, and wholehearted devotion to Jesus. Her books and teaching reach a global audience, challenging cultural Christianity and inviting the church back to truth, holiness, and biblical authority. Show Partners We spend a third of our lives asleep, so stop treating your bed like an afterthought. Cozy Earth's Bamboo Sheets are a game-changer. They're silky smooth, breathable, and cool to the touch. And they're more than bedding; Cozy Earth also makes bath essentials, pajamas, and men's and women's loungewear designed to bring calm and comfort to everyday life. Try their sheets risk-free with a 100-Night Sleep Trial and a 10-Year Warranty. Start the New Year right. Head to cozyearth.com and use code WINTODAY for up to 20% off. And if you see a post-purchase survey, tell them you heard about Cozy Earth on Win Today. Episode Links Show Notes Buy my book "Healing What You Can't Erase" here! Invite me to speak at your church or event. Connect with me @WINTODAYChris on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Transcribed - Published: 28 January 2026

475: [Formed.] Are You Suffering? Dr. Craig Keener on The Necessary Theology of Suffering, How to Develop a New Mindset About Affliction, Hurdling Unresolved Disappointment, Why God is Not in a Hurry to Mature Us, and the Pressure That Shapes Us

Suffering exposes what we believe about God faster than success ever could. When affliction lingers, disappointment goes unresolved, and growth feels slower than we want, the question isn't whether God is present—it's whether our theology can carry the weight of real life. Too many believers inherit a framework that collapses under pressure, leaving them confused, bitter, or quietly disillusioned. This week on Win Today, Dr. Craig Keener joins me to rebuild a theology of suffering that can endure. We talk about why God is not in a hurry to mature us, how pressure actually forms spiritual resilience, and what it looks like to develop a mindset about affliction that produces endurance rather than erosion. This conversation doesn't minimize pain—it gives it meaning. If you're suffering, stalled, or carrying disappointment you haven't known how to name, this episode will help you reframe affliction as formation and discover the kind of maturity that only pressure can produce. Guest Bio Dr. Craig Keener is a leading New Testament scholar, historian, and theologian whose work has shaped global conversations on Scripture, the Holy Spirit, miracles, and suffering. He has authored dozens of academic and popular-level books and has taught and lectured internationally, bringing rigorous scholarship together with pastoral sensitivity and lived faith. Show Partners We spend a third of our lives asleep, so stop treating your bed like an afterthought. Cozy Earth's Bamboo Sheets are a game-changer. They're silky smooth, breathable, and cool to the touch. And they're more than bedding; Cozy Earth also makes bath essentials, pajamas, and men's and women's loungewear designed to bring calm and comfort to everyday life. Try their sheets risk-free with a 100-Night Sleep Trial and a 10-Year Warranty. Start the New Year right. Head to cozyearth.com and use code WINTODAY for up to 20% off. And if you see a post-purchase survey, tell them you heard about Cozy Earth on Win Today. SafeSleeve designs a phone case that blocks up to 99% of harmful EMF radiation—so I'm not carrying that kind of exposure next to my body all day. It's sleek, durable, and most importantly, lab-tested by third parties. The results aren't hidden—they're published right on their site. And that matters, because a lot of so-called EMF blockers on the market either don't work or can't prove they do. We protect our hearts and minds—why wouldn't we protect our bodies too? Head to safesleevecases.com and use the code WINTODAY10 for 10% off your order. Episode Links Show Notes Buy my book "Healing What You Can't Erase" here! Invite me to speak at your church or event. Connect with me @WINTODAYChris on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Transcribed - Published: 23 January 2026

474: [Formed.] It's Just LAZY Christianity. Ian Simkins on The Fingerprints of a Disordered Life, Developing Discernment as You Train for Godliness, Why the Crucible of Formation is in the Monotony of Everyday Life, and Restoring the Fire of Discipleshi

Spiritual drift rarely announces itself. It doesn't show up as rebellion or collapse. It shows up as subtle disorder, numbed discernment, and a slow loss of fire in the ordinary rhythms of life. Most people don't abandon discipleship; they simply stop training for it. This week on Win Today, Ian Simkins, lead pastor of The Bridge Church in Tennessee, joins me as part of our Formed discipleship series to expose the quiet ways formation breaks down and to recover the daily practices that restore spiritual clarity, hunger, and endurance. We talk about why the wilderness of everyday life—not the mountaintop—is where God does His deepest work, and how discernment must be trained intentionally if we're going to mature in godliness. If your faith feels cluttered, distracted, or quietly cooling, this conversation will help you recognize the fingerprints of disorder and reclaim the fire of discipleship to Jesus, right where you are. Guest Bio Ian Simkins is the lead pastor of The Bridge Church in Tennessee and a longtime pastor and teacher focused on spiritual formation, discernment, and everyday discipleship. Known for practical, Scripture-rooted teaching, he equips believers to develop resilient faith through disciplined rhythms, community, and faithful obedience to Jesus. Show Partner We spend a third of our lives asleep, so stop treating your bed like an afterthought. Cozy Earth's Bamboo Sheets are a game-changer. They're silky smooth, breathable, and cool to the touch. And they're more than bedding; Cozy Earth also makes bath essentials, pajamas, and men's and women's loungewear designed to bring calm and comfort to everyday life. Try their sheets risk-free with a 100-Night Sleep Trial and a 10-Year Warranty. Start the New Year right. Head to cozyearth.com and use code WINTODAY for up to 20% off. And if you see a post-purchase survey, tell them you heard about Cozy Earth on Win Today. Episode Links Show Notes Buy my book "Healing What You Can't Erase" here! Invite me to speak at your church or event. Connect with me @WINTODAYChris on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Transcribed - Published: 21 January 2026

473: [Formed.] Comfort Won't Mature You. Dr. Joel Tudman on How We Cheat Ourselves in the Wilderness, Why "Finding Yourself" is a Waste of Time, The Beauty of Being Pulled Apart by the Lord, and Fighting to Stay Agile in a Disruptive Life

Comfort feels kind, but it keeps you immature. The wilderness is where God trains you for weight, yet most of us cheat the process by numbing pain, curating outcomes, and calling it wisdom, while our souls atrophy. This week on Win Today, Dr. Joel Tudman joins me to expose why "finding yourself inside yourself" is a dead end, how the Lord sometimes pulls us apart to make us whole, and how to stay spiritually agile when life is disruptive. If your faith has been built around feelings, not formation. And if you're tired of circling the same mountain with better language, this conversation will call you back to training for godliness, where it actually happens: in the desert. Guest Bio Dr. Joel A. Tudman is a pastor, communicator, and leadership coach who equips people to trade comfort for formation and preference for obedience. Known for clear, high-energy preaching and practical frameworks for spiritual growth, he serves churches and leaders across the country, training teams in character, resilience, and Spirit-led discipline. His work centers on courage, identity, and purpose, calling believers to be formed, not performed. Show Partners We spend a third of our lives asleep, so stop treating your bed like an afterthought. Cozy Earth's Bamboo Sheets are a game-changer. They're silky smooth, breathable, and cool to the touch. And they're more than bedding; Cozy Earth also makes bath essentials, pajamas, and men's and women's loungewear designed to bring calm and comfort to everyday life. Try their sheets risk-free with a 100-Night Sleep Trial and a 10-Year Warranty. Start the New Year right. Head to cozyearth.com and use code WINTODAY for up to 20% off. And if you see a post-purchase survey, tell them you heard about Cozy Earth on Win Today. Episode Links Show Notes Buy my book "Healing What You Can't Erase" here! Invite me to speak at your church or event. Connect with me @WINTODAYChris on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Transcribed - Published: 14 January 2026

472: [Formed.] Will You Kill Entitlement and Self-Pity? Kristene DiMarco Unpacks Rekindling Spiritual Hunger, The Danger in Numbing Boredom, Training Your Soul for Godliness, and Laying Down Your "Right" to Be Offended by Life

There's a reason your hunger fades when life gets busy and your soul gets loud: boredom becomes a shortcut to numbing, entitlement masquerades as discernment, and self-pity convinces you that endurance is optional. This week on Win Today, Bethel Music's Kristene DiMarco joins me to confront the quiet habits that starve spiritual hunger and to show us how to train the soul when worship feels flat, prayer drags, and offense stands in the doorway of growth. We talk about the discipline of boredom, the anatomy of hunger, why entitlement and self-pity atrophy endurance, and how to lay down your "right" to be offended by everything in life so true formation can continue. If you feel dulled by distraction, easily offended, or tired of mistaking relief for transformation, this conversation will call you back to the long road of love. Guest Bio Kristene DiMarco is a songwriter and worship leader with Bethel Music, known for penning and recording modern hymns and congregational anthems and for leading worship at churches and conferences around the world. Her albums and collaborations with Bethel Music and Jesus Culture have introduced a wide range of songs to the global church, and she continues to write and lead with a focus on honest lyrics, theological clarity, and resilient faith. Show Partners We spend a third of our lives asleep, so stop treating your bed like an afterthought. Cozy Earth's Bamboo Sheets are a game-changer. They're silky smooth, breathable, and cool to the touch. And they're more than bedding; Cozy Earth also makes bath essentials, pajamas, and men's and women's loungewear designed to bring calm and comfort to everyday life. Try their sheets risk-free with a 100-Night Sleep Trial and a 10-Year Warranty. Start the New Year right. Head to cozyearth.com and use code WINTODAY for up to 20% off. And if you see a post-purchase survey, tell them you heard about Cozy Earth on Win Today. SafeSleeve designs a phone case that blocks up to 99% of harmful EMF radiation—so I'm not carrying that kind of exposure next to my body all day. It's sleek, durable, and most importantly, lab-tested by third parties. The results aren't hidden—they're published right on their site. And that matters, because a lot of so-called EMF blockers on the market either don't work or can't prove they do. We protect our hearts and minds—why wouldn't we protect our bodies too? Head to safesleevecases.com and use the code WINTODAY10 for 10% off your order. Episode Links Show Notes Buy my NEW BOOK "Healing What You Can't Erase" here! Invite me to speak at your church or event. Connect with me @WINTODAYChris on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Transcribed - Published: 9 January 2026

471: [Formed.] Take Responsibility for YOUR Spiritual Growth. Dr. Eric Mason on The Greatest Problem with Bad Teaching (That Few Recognize), Why You Can't Give God Ultimatums, and Why You Can't Make Your Assignment Your Purpose

You can admire spiritual maturity from a distance, or you can take your formation journey seriously. Many of us prefer the former. We outsource growth to personalities, call delayed obedience "wisdom," and bargain with God when surrender would cost too much. This week on Win Today, Dr. Eric Mason joins me to confront the quiet drift that hollows discipleship: the consumer posture that fuels bad teaching, the spiritual immaturity that bargains with God, and the confusion that happens when we make our assignment our purpose. If your faith has been built around sermons more than Scripture, preferences more than practices, or outcomes more than obedience, this conversation is your invitation to grow up on purpose, with the Spirit, for the long road of holiness. Guest Bio Dr. Eric Mason is the founder and lead pastor of Epiphany Fellowship in Philadelphia and the founder/president of Thriving, an urban ministry training leaders for city contexts. A pastor-theologian for nearly three decades, he has preached and trained nationally and internationally and authored several books. He holds a B.S. in Psychology (Bowie State), a Th.M. from Dallas Theological Seminary—where he was mentored by Dr. Tony Evans at Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship—and a D.Min. from Gordon-Conwell. Eric and his wife, Yvette, live in Philadelphia with their four children: Immanuel, Nehemiah, Ephraim, and Amalyah. Show Partner We spend a third of our lives asleep, so stop treating your bed like an afterthought. Cozy Earth's Bamboo Sheets are a game-changer. They're silky smooth, breathable, and cool to the touch. And they're more than bedding; Cozy Earth also makes bath essentials, pajamas, and men's and women's loungewear designed to bring calm and comfort to everyday life. Try their sheets risk-free with a 100-Night Sleep Trial and a 10-Year Warranty. Start the New Year right. Head to cozyearth.com and use code WINTODAY for up to 20% off. And if you see a post-purchase survey, tell them you heard about Cozy Earth on Win Today. Episode Links Show Notes Buy my NEW BOOK "Healing What You Can't Erase" here! Invite me to speak at your church or event. Connect with me @WINTODAYChris on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Transcribed - Published: 7 January 2026

470: I Didn't See THAT Coming: What Happens When We Hit the Wall, Why God's Silence Isn't His Absence, and the 4 CRITICAL Words You Must Embody in 2026

We're told to trust God when life falls apart and to cling to hope when we feel abandoned. To pray louder when heaven feels silent. But what if the silence isn't a punishment…but a pathway straight to His presence? What if the wall you've hit isn't the end, but the beginning of a deeper formation? This week on Win Today, I'm re-airing a raw and timely conversation with Dr. Lee Warren—one that took an unexpected turn moments before we hit record. What followed was one of the most personal and Spirit-led conversations I've ever had about wilderness seasons, grief, intrusive thoughts, and what to do when you feel like God has gone quiet. I opened up about the last two years of my life. And yet, what I've discovered in the silence is this: God's silence is not His absence. And when everything else shakes, His Word still stands. If you've ever felt stuck between the pain of what happened and the fear that nothing will change…if you've ever cried out for clarity and heard nothing in return…this episode is for you. Show Partner SafeSleeve designs a phone case that blocks up to 99% of harmful EMF radiation—so I'm not carrying that kind of exposure next to my body all day. It's sleek, durable, and most importantly, lab-tested by third parties. The results aren't hidden—they're published right on their site. And that matters, because a lot of so-called EMF blockers on the market either don't work or can't prove they do. We protect our hearts and minds—why wouldn't we protect our bodies too? Head to safesleevecases.com and use the code WINTODAY10 for 10% off your order. Episode Links Show Notes Buy my NEW BOOK "Healing What You Can't Erase" here! Invite me to speak at your church or event. Connect with me @WINTODAYChris on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Transcribed - Published: 30 December 2025

469: Your Body Is Telling the Truth. Jordan Rubin on The Food That Kills Your Sex Drive in Minutes, Whether EMFs are Dangerous, How to Get Sick Quickly, and Why Physical Health is Spiritual Health

This week on Win Today, Jordan Rubin reveals how the body doesn't lie—and why the ancient wisdom of Scripture contains the keys to healing not just physically, but mentally and emotionally as well. After nearly dying from severe Crohn's disease, Jordan discovered that health isn't compartmentalized. Everything is connected—gut to brain, body to soul. And that the Bible had already mapped out the blueprint for healing. If you've tried to fix your body but stayed anxious… if you've addressed trauma but still feel inflamed… or if you're wondering why prayer isn't reversing depression, this episode will rewire your entire framework for healing and longevity. Guest Bio Jordan Rubin is one of America's most respected natural health experts and bestselling authors. After nearly dying from severe Crohn's disease at 19, Jordan discovered a life-saving health plan rooted in ancient biblical nutrition and supported by modern science. He's the founder of Ancient Nutrition and the New York Times bestselling author of The Maker's Diet. His latest book, The Biblio Diet, explores how God's original design for eating, moving, and living is the roadmap to lasting health. Jordan's message bridges faith and science to help people heal from the inside out. Show Partner SafeSleeve designs a phone case that blocks up to 99% of harmful EMF radiation—so I'm not carrying that kind of exposure next to my body all day. It's sleek, durable, and most importantly, lab-tested by third-party laboratories. The results aren't hidden—they're published right on their site. And that matters, because a lot of so-called EMF blockers on the market either don't work or can't prove they do. We protect our hearts and minds—why wouldn't we protect our bodies too? Visit safesleevecases.com and use code WINTODAY10 for 10% off your order. Episode Links Show Notes Buy my NEW BOOK "Healing What You Can't Erase" here! Invite me to speak at your church or event. Connect with me @WINTODAYChris on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Transcribed - Published: 17 December 2025

468: LEVEL UP! Zach Windahl on the Unified Story of Scripture, Why "Belong Before You Believe" Fails, and How to Study Scripture When You're Bored or Confused

You love Jesus, and you want to love the Bible, but most days, life crowds it out. And when you do open the text, it can feel confusing, disjointed, even offensive; so you reach for personalities who make it feel easier. The problem is that celebrity clarity often replaces biblical clarity. This week on Win Today, Zach Windahl—creator of The Bible Study and founder of The Brand Sunday—joins me to recover the unified story of Scripture and to challenge a popular church slogan: "belong before you believe." Belonging matters, but the New Testament's pattern is belief that forms a people, not a people that replaces belief. We'll name the most common study mistakes, walk a simple observation–interpretation–application path, and give you a way to read when you're bored, confused, or offended—so you meet the Lord in the words he actually inspired. Guest Bio Zach Windahl is the author of The Bible Study. His work has introduced hundreds of thousands to practical, repeatable study rhythms that move from information to transformation. Today isn't about his résumé; it's about putting tools in your hands so you can read what's there and be formed by it. Show Partner SafeSleeve designs a phone case that blocks up to 99% of harmful EMF radiation—so I'm not carrying that kind of exposure next to my body all day. It's sleek, durable, and most importantly, lab-tested by third parties. The results aren't hidden—they're published right on their site. And that matters, because a lot of so-called EMF blockers on the market either don't work or can't prove they do. We protect our hearts and minds—why wouldn't we protect our bodies too? Head to safesleevecases.com and use the code WINTODAY10 for 10% off your order. Episode Links Show Notes Buy my NEW BOOK "Healing What You Can't Erase" here! Invite me to speak at your church or event. Connect with me @WINTODAYChris on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Transcribed - Published: 10 December 2025

467: Bored with Bible Study? Faith Womack on How to Wrestle with the Tension of Scripture, The Mistakes Pastors and Teachers Make When Teaching the Bible, and Building a Faithful Hermeneutic

There's a difference between loving the Bible and learning how to read it. For many, study has felt complicated, clinical, or—worst of all—boring. Some of us were discipled by personalities instead of passages; others learned to chase quick application while skipping context. This week on Win Today, Faith Womack, author of No More Boring Bible Study, joins me to rediscover a way of reading Scripture that is honest, thoughtful, and engaging. We wrestle with tension instead of flattening it; we name the mistakes that teachers and pastors often make, and we rebuild a faithful hermeneutic that carries you from observation to interpretation to application without distorting the text. If you've wanted easy methods, renewed energy for the grand story, and a path to encounter the Lord in the Word—not just opinions about the Word—this conversation is your on-ramp. Guest Bio Faith Womack is the author of No More Boring Bible Study: Why Taking Scripture Seriously Is Easier—and More Exciting—Than You Think and the creator behind Bible Nerd Ministries. Her work translates serious hermeneutics into clear, repeatable practices for everyday disciples. Today isn't about academic showmanship; it's about putting tools in your hands so you can read what's there and be formed by it. Show Partner SafeSleeve designs a phone case that blocks up to 99% of harmful EMF radiation—so I'm not carrying that kind of exposure next to my body all day. It's sleek, durable, and most importantly, lab-tested by third parties. The results aren't hidden—they're published right on their site. And that matters, because a lot of so-called EMF blockers on the market either don't work or can't prove they do. We protect our hearts and minds—why wouldn't we protect our bodies too? Head to safesleevecases.com and use the code WINTODAY10 for 10% off your order. Episode Links Show Notes Buy my NEW BOOK "Healing What You Can't Erase" here! Invite me to speak at your church or event. Connect with me @WINTODAYChris on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Transcribed - Published: 3 December 2025

466: When Pain Gets Wasted. Shawn Johnson on Stewarding the Middle Season of Life, How Bitterness Erodes Trust, and Why We Settle for Temporary Rest Instead of True Peace

There's a way to live that squanders pain while your heart hardens and your trust thins. Things like numbing, retelling the wound, and calling it wisdom. This week on Win Today, Shawn Johnson, lead pastor of Red Rocks Church and author of Attacking Anxiety, joins me to explore how people waste pain and how to steward the middle seasons when nothing seems to be moving, but everything inside you is being formed. We draw the line between rest and peace, why bitterness and distrust grow in the same soil, and how to turn waiting into worship without pretending the ache away. If you're stuck in the middle, angry at the delay, or exhausted from managing outcomes, this conversation will help you regain your presence and cultivate a hard-won hope that lasts. Guest Bio Shawn Johnson is the lead pastor and co-founder of Red Rocks Church (Denver, multi-site), and the author of Attacking Anxiety, where he chronicles his own fight with anxiety and depression and the practices that helped him rebuild. His ministry blends candor about suffering with a relentless call to faith and formation. Today isn't about his résumé; it's about your next faithful step in the middle. Show Partners SafeSleeve designs a phone case that blocks up to 99% of harmful EMF radiation—so I'm not carrying that kind of exposure next to my body all day. It's sleek, durable, and most importantly, lab-tested by third parties. The results aren't hidden—they're published right on their site. And that matters, because a lot of so-called EMF blockers on the market either don't work or can't prove they do. We protect our hearts and minds—why wouldn't we protect our bodies too? Head to safesleevecases.com and use the code WINTODAY10 for 10% off your order. Episode Links Show Notes Buy my NEW BOOK "Healing What You Can't Erase" here! Invite me to speak at your church or event. Connect with me @WINTODAYChris on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Transcribed - Published: 26 November 2025

465: Stop Ignoring Your Body! Justin Whitmel Earley on Embodied Discipleship, Resisting Body-Idolatry, and How Sleep Rebuilds Your Soul

There's a way to discuss spiritual growth that ignores the body, and a way to treat the body like a god. Both break you. This week on Win Today, Justin Whitmel Earley joins me to recover a practical theology of the body: why your habits, hormones, posture, screens, meals, and sleep are discipling your soul every day. We confront the twin errors of ignoring the body and idolizing it, and we name what happens when we undo created order—when we chronically outrun limits, trade rest for hurry, and expect spiritual vitality while violating how God made us to live. This isn't theory. It's a path back to integrated life with God, where your body becomes a teacher, not a tyrant. Guest Bio Justin Whitmel Earley is a lawyer, author, and speaker known for The Common Rule and Habits of the Household, where he helps people build life-giving habits that form them in the love of God and neighbor. His work sits at the intersection of everyday rhythms and spiritual formation, translating theology into practices that families and churches can actually live. Show Partners SafeSleeve designs a phone case that blocks up to 99% of harmful EMF radiation—so I'm not carrying that kind of exposure next to my body all day. It's sleek, durable, and most importantly, lab-tested by third parties. The results aren't hidden—they're published right on their site. And that matters, because a lot of so-called EMF blockers on the market either don't work or can't prove they do. We protect our hearts and minds—why wouldn't we protect our bodies too? Head to safesleevecases.com and use the code WINTODAY10 for 10% off your order. Episode Links Show Notes Buy my NEW BOOK "Healing What You Can't Erase" here! Invite me to speak at your church or event. Connect with me @WINTODAYChris on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Transcribed - Published: 19 November 2025

464: When the Marriage Is OVER. Lysa TerKeurst on Narcissistic Abuse 101, Ending Self-Betrayal, and Why Unhealthy People Never Meet a Boundary They Like

There's a moment when "endure it" becomes "end it," not because you stopped believing in God's power to heal, but because refusing to betray your God-given boundaries is how you stop betraying yourself. This week on Win Today, Lysa TerKeurst joins me to confront the realities so many live in silence: when it's biblically wise to end a marriage, how we talk ourselves out of our own boundaries, why loneliness is sometimes God's operating room, and what you must know about narcissistic abuse—gaslighting, trauma bonds, and DARVO—so you can name what's happening and get safe. If you've been praying for clarity while living in chaos, this conversation is a lifeline. Guest Bio Lysa TerKeurst is President and Chief Visionary Officer of Proverbs 31 Ministries and a #1 New York Times bestselling author. Having walked through public heartbreak and private rebuilding, she helps people leave destructive patterns with biblical clarity and practical courage. Today isn't about her résumé; it's about your safety, your sanity, and your future. Show Partner SafeSleeve designs a phone case that blocks up to 99% of harmful EMF radiation—so I'm not carrying that kind of exposure next to my body all day. It's sleek, durable, and most importantly, lab-tested by third-party laboratories. The results aren't hidden—they're published right on their site. And that matters, because a lot of so-called EMF blockers on the market either don't work or can't prove they do. We protect our hearts and minds—why wouldn't we protect our bodies too? Head to safesleevecases.com and use the code WINTODAY10 for 10% off your order. Episode Links Show Notes Buy my NEW BOOK "Healing What You Can't Erase" here! Invite me to speak at your church or event. Connect with me @WINTODAYChris on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Transcribed - Published: 12 November 2025

463: Why Life Really Begins at 40. Mark Batterson on The Danger of Half-Present Living, Delayed Obedience, and Why We Need to Fall in Love with Gradual Progress

There's a way to move through your forties that looks busy but stays small, a way to talk about calling while postponing obedience, and a way to live half-present in the present while telling yourself you're being "wise." This week on Win Today, Mark Batterson joins me to reclaim the middle decades as the beginning, not the end, and to confront why delayed obedience is still disobedience and why the slow, daily road of incremental growth produces what hurry never can. We'll name the subtle drift that fragments attention, why "later" sounds prudent but hollows character, and how gradual progress—received as a gift and practiced as a rhythm—forms a durable life. Guest Bio Mark Batterson is the lead pastor of National Community Church in Washington, D.C., and the New York Times–bestselling author of The Circle Maker and more than twenty books. He writes and teaches about courageous obedience, holy imagination, and the long game of spiritual formation. Today's conversation isn't about his résumé—it's about your next act: recovering presence, refusing delay, and embracing the slow, durable gains that shape a life. Show Partners SafeSleeve designs a phone case that blocks up to 99% of harmful EMF radiation—so I'm not carrying that kind of exposure next to my body all day. It's sleek, durable, and most importantly, lab-tested by third parties. The results aren't hidden—they're published right on their site. And that matters, because a lot of so-called EMF blockers on the market either don't work or can't prove they do. We protect our hearts and minds—why wouldn't we protect our bodies too? Head to safesleevecases.com and use the code WINTODAY10 for 10% off your order. Episode Links Show Notes Buy my NEW BOOK "Healing What You Can't Erase" here! Invite me to speak at your church or event. Connect with me @WINTODAYChris on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Transcribed - Published: 5 November 2025

462: Stop Lying to Yourself! Kevin Boehm on Why Life Happens For Us, Not To Us, Destroying the Self-Help Blueprint, When Fear Looks Like Wisdom, and Why Food Is a Peacemaker

  This week on Win Today, esteemed restaurateur Kevin Boehm joins me to name the subtle drift from hope to heaviness: how fear hides under the guise of practicality, how the self‑help blueprint promises control but delivers unease, and why your plate of food may be less incidental than you think—it could be a peacemaker for your soul. We dismantle the lie that you must always surge forward; sometimes the bravest step is backward. We expose what happens when you stop lying to yourself and start living honestly. If you've ever felt stuck in performance, disguised your fear as "logic," or missed the meaning beneath the menu, this conversation will unsettle and re‑anchor you. Guest Bio Kevin Boehm is a restaurateur, author, and speaker whose work encompasses hospitality, culture, and the gospel of presence. As co‑founder of BOKA Restaurant Group and author of The Bottomless Cup, he has navigated the collision of excellence, exhaustion, fear, and hope, discovering that what feeds the body often reveals what starves the soul. Kevin's voice challenges the self‑help aesthetic and invites you into the broader story where life is for you, not to you. Show Partner SafeSleeve designs a phone case that blocks up to 99% of harmful EMF radiation—so I'm not carrying that kind of exposure next to my body all day. It's sleek, durable, and most importantly, lab-tested by third parties. The results aren't hidden—they're published right on their site. And that matters, because a lot of so-called EMF blockers on the market either don't work or can't prove they do. We protect our hearts and minds—why wouldn't we protect our bodies too? Head to safesleevecases.com and use the code WINTODAY10 for 10% off your order. Episode Links Show Notes Buy my NEW BOOK "Healing What You Can't Erase" here! Invite me to speak at your church or event. Connect with me @WINTODAYChris on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Transcribed - Published: 29 October 2025

461: When Fake Faith and Cynicism Collide. Bethel Music's Paul and Hannah McClure on The Road from a Soft to a Cynical Heart, Healing the Orphan Spirit, Fake Faith, Why Faith Isn't Certainty, and Dumping Performative Worship

There's a kind of faith that performs instead of worships, and eventually, that kind of faith breaks down. This week on Win Today, Paul and Hannah McClure from Bethel Music join me to talk about the slow drift from softness to cynicism in the life of a believer. We talk about the orphan spirit, fake faith that looks right but can't hold weight, and how disappointment left untreated eventually hardens into disconnection. We also confront the myth that faith equals certainty, and why true worship isn't just a song; it's surrender in the absence of clarity. For anyone who's battled disillusionment in church, questioned the language of worship, or wondered whether they're singing words they don't believe anymore, this conversation offers both confrontation and comfort. Paul and Hannah don't sugarcoat the road. But they do point to healing. This isn't about emotional hype. It's about reclaiming your heart before it turns cold. You'll learn: Why disappointment often precedes cynicism What the orphan spirit really is—and how it forms How fake faith is often learned, not chosen Why worship without surrender is just noise How to walk with God when certainty disappears Guest Bio Paul and Hannah McClure are worship leaders, songwriters, and pastors with Bethel Music. Known for their vulnerability, depth, and refusal to perform, their ministry helps people reconnect with a God who isn't afraid of pain. They've led a generation to encounter God through honesty, not hype. Their story is one of surrender, resilience, and the long journey back from burnout, cynicism, and emotional numbness. Episode Links Show Notes Buy my NEW BOOK "Healing What You Can't Erase" here! Invite me to speak at your church or event. Connect with me @WINTODAYChris on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Transcribed - Published: 22 October 2025

460: MAKE IT STOP! Therapy Culture Isn't Working. Matt Chandler Unpacks Identity Confusion, The Cost of Complaining, and Killing the Safe Christianese Jargon

There's a way to sound spiritually mature while staying completely unformed, and therapy culture is helping people do just that. This week on Win Today, Matt Chandler joins us to confront the drift we're experiencing: where therapy culture replaces repentance, where identity confusion isn't grieved, and where safe Christian jargon sounds right but does nothing to transform the soul. We talk about why discipleship doesn't always feel safe. Why comfort doesn't heal—it sedates. And how complaining isn't just venting; it's forming your view of God. Matt names the thin theology that's left people chasing emotional relief instead of spiritual formation. This conversation doesn't throw stones at therapy. But it does confront what happens when comfort becomes your gospel and language becomes your liturgy. If you've traded formation for slogans, been discipled more by feelings than by truth, or confused Christian language with actual obedience, this conversation isn't just timely—it's necessary. Episode Links Show Notes Buy my NEW BOOK "Healing What You Can't Erase" here! Invite me to speak at your church or event. Connect with me @WINTODAYChris on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Transcribed - Published: 15 October 2025

459: Entitlement Isn't Faith. Gary Thomas Confronts the Lie of This Age, the Distraction of the Soul, and the Hidden Roots of Bitterness and Offense

We want God to come through, but on our terms. We demand ease, favor, instant breakthrough, and validation, and when those expectations aren't met, we call it a trial. But what if the real trial is our refusal to lay down our entitlement? This week on Win Today, bestselling author Gary Thomas pulls no punches. He exposes the modern lie that faith means personal fulfillment, that comfort means favor, and that hardship means failure. And he shows how distraction is more than a bad habit—it's a spiritual breakdown. Because when the soul loses its focus, bitterness, offense, and relational dysfunction are not far behind. If you've ever felt spiritually entitled, subtly bitter, or confused about why you're still offended by things you "moved past," this conversation is for you. Episode Links Show Notes Buy my NEW BOOK "Healing What You Can't Erase" here! Invite me to speak at your church or event. Connect with me @WINTODAYChris on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Transcribed - Published: 8 October 2025

458: You're Not Burned Out. You're Disconnected. Geoff & Cyd Holsclaw on Insecure Attachment, Emotional Integration, and Why Your Body Can't Heal What Your Soul Hasn't Felt

You think you're burned out, but what if you're actually just emotionally disconnected? What if your body is paying the price for unprocessed emotions you never gave yourself permission to feel? In today's episode of Win Today, married theologians and counselors Geoff and Cyd Holsclaw debunk the myths surrounding burnout, spiritual bypassing, and superficial healing. We're talking about what's really going on beneath the surface of emotional shutdown, how insecure attachment shows up in adult faith, and why your "soul senses" need to be reawakened if you want to actually experience wholeness. This isn't about self-help. This is about becoming whole—from the inside out. If you've ever been told to "just push through" or have spiritualized your pain away, this conversation is going to hit you like a defibrillator. Episode Links Show Notes Buy my NEW BOOK "Healing What You Can't Erase" here! Invite me to speak at your church or event. Connect with me @WINTODAYChris on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Transcribed - Published: 1 October 2025

457: When God Feels Silent. Evan Craft on The Hardest Questions We Rarely Ask (But Need To), Fighting Cynicism, Charlie Kirk's Death, The Necessity of Desperation in Faith, Serving the Lord in Anonymity, and What We Receive in the Dark Night of the Soul

What if the deepest work God does in us happens when no one sees? When we feel forgotten, disillusioned, or unsure if our faith is still intact? Most of us would rather skip the wilderness. But what if the desert isn't punishment—it's preparation? This week on Win Today, international recording artist Evan Craft joins us for a raw and honest conversation about faith in the silence, finding God in the dark night of the soul, and what it means to serve when no one applauds. Together, we confront the cynicism that creeps in when life feels unfair, the pressure to perform for spiritual approval, and the questions we rarely admit we're asking, especially when God doesn't move how we expected. If you've ever felt forgotten by God or frustrated with the silence, this episode is for you. Episode Links Show Notes Buy my NEW BOOK "Healing What You Can't Erase" here! Invite me to speak at your church or event. Connect with me @WINTODAYChris on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Transcribed - Published: 24 September 2025

456: When "Safe Spaces" Sabotage Growth. Katie Davis Majors on False Cliché Christianity, Preventing Bitterness in Your Heart, and When Empathy Hinders Transformation

We say we want transformation, but often we create environments that protect people from pain instead of preparing them for growth. In the process, we enable spiritual stagnation, emotional fragility, and shallow discipleship. This week on Win Today, Katie Davis Majors exposes the hidden dangers of well-meaning empathy, the false security of "safe spaces," and the clichés that erode authentic faith. In this conversation, we'll also tackle how to live faithfully in the tension between what God has promised and what we see right now. If you've ever found yourself numbing pain instead of processing it, or if you've settled for comfort instead of maturity, this conversation will challenge you to grow, even when it costs you. Episode Links Show Notes Buy my NEW BOOK "Healing What You Can't Erase" here! Invite me to speak at your church or event. Connect with me @WINTODAYChris on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Transcribed - Published: 17 September 2025

455: You Don't Get a Hall Pass from Pain. ESPN's Lauren Sisler Exposes "Rah-Rah" Christianity, Why Avoidance Costs Us More Than Facing Pain Head-On, and Curating Our Image as Armor

We all want to overcome, but too often, we curate our pain out of view—tidy it up, slap a spiritual platitude on top, and hope time heals what we never confronted. This week on Win Today, ESPN's Lauren Sisler reveals what happened when her life fell apart at 18. She buried both of her parents just hours apart. And in the wake of that trauma, she didn't get a "hall pass" from grief. She didn't get a spiritual fast-forward button. She had to live every moment of it, raw and real. In this powerful conversation, we take on the lies of "rah-rah Christianity," the armor of image management, and the emotional expense of avoidance. If you've ever wondered why God didn't spare you from the pain… or why it still lingers even though you "moved on," this episode will meet you where you really live. Episode Links Show Notes Buy my NEW BOOK "Healing What You Can't Erase" here! Invite me to speak at your church or event. Connect with me @WINTODAYChris on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Transcribed - Published: 10 September 2025

454: Comfort Is KILLING You. Tim Timberlake on The Crisis of Convenience, Why God Doesn't Live Up to Our Expectations, The Problem with Rushing Through Grief, Why God Doesn't Live Up to Our Expectations, and Manufacturing Breakthrough

There's a kind of rest that is still ravenous, and comfort alone is costing your soul more than you think. This week on Win Today, Tim Timberlake joins me to name the central lie of our era: that convenience equals progress. God rarely fits into the narrative designed by self‑help culture, and grief is rarely the speed bump we're told. When breakthrough is packaged and delivered, it disconnects you from the transformative power of pain. Tim unpacks why immediate comfort doesn't heal—it anesthetizes. Why rushing through grief doesn't preserve strength—it fractures your future. And why so many believers craft manufactured breakthroughs that collapse when real life tests them. If your fast-track faith feels flat…if comfort makes you morally weaker…or if you've chased progress more than presence, this episode confronts the real cost, and invites deeper formation. Episode Links Show Notes Buy my NEW BOOK "Healing What You Can't Erase" here! Invite me to speak at your church or event. Connect with me @WINTODAYChris on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Transcribed - Published: 3 September 2025

453: You're Not Humble, You're Hiding. Dr. Les Parrott and Judah Smith Unpack How Humility Becomes Self-Hatred, The Nuclear Power of Spiritual Bypassing, and Why Your Job is Not to Heal Publicly

There's a humility you carry like baggage, and it's slowly wearing you down. This week, Dr. Les Parrott and Judah Smith join me to dismantle the false humility that masquerades as godliness while laundering shame. Humility becomes self-hatred when vulnerability is avoided and spiritual high-mindedness is mistaken for healing. Layer on top the epidemic of spiritual bypassing—pretending everything is okay—and you get a reluctance to ever speak pain. We unpack why your job is not to heal publicly, how real accountability looks different than performance, and why refusing to stay in the box of pretense is the most subversive spiritual act you can commit. Whether you've preached from the platform or hidden behind faith walls, this episode cuts through your shame fortress and lights a path to emotional and spiritual freedom. Episode Links Show Notes Buy my NEW BOOK "Healing What You Can't Erase" here! Invite me to speak at your church or event. Connect with me @WINTODAYChris on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Transcribed - Published: 27 August 2025

452: STOP GASLIGHTING YOURSELF. Toni Collier on Emotional Infidelity, Spiritual Manipulation, and the Prison of Isolation

There's a lie you've turned into identity—that you must perform vulnerability to earn belonging. This week, Toni Collier joins me to pull the veil off emotional infidelity hidden in silence, the orphan wounds we carry in isolation, and the spiritual manipulation we excuse as authenticity. She's walked through heartbreaking betrayal, spiritual misuse, and the long deconstruction of self‑worth in ministry circles. And she has found that true vulnerability isn't performative—it's sacred, grounded, sacrificial, and healing. In this episode, we dismantle the theology of emotional scarcity, expose spiritual control disguised as care, and confront the cost of emotional isolation. Toni challenges common assumptions: that therapy alone solves trauma, that forgiveness equals denial, that age or faith automatically heals wounds. This conversation calls you home to integrity, community, and emotional wholeness. Episode Links Show Notes Buy my NEW BOOK "Healing What You Can't Erase" here! Invite me to speak at your church or event. Connect with me @WINTODAYChris on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Transcribed - Published: 20 August 2025

451: What's Breaking You Isn't the Pain, It's the Pattern. Ed Latimore on Emotions, Distorted Thinking, and Toughness That Won't Heal You

There's an architecture to dysfunction. It starts with broken beliefs about who you are, and it becomes lifestyle chaos. This week, Ed Latimore joins me to dismantle that architecture from the inside out. A former heavyweight boxer turned Stoic philosopher, physicist, and master of emotional discipline, Ed knows what happens when discipline outruns self-awareness and toughness becomes armor, not healing. We go deep on how distorted thinking drives destructive behavior; how emotional regulation isn't about feeling control—it's predictive science; and why optimism without realism becomes denial. This episode is a surgical blueprint for rethinking how you think, feel, and engage with life's stress. If you're tired of overthinking, overdoing, and still not seeing change, listen closely. Because transformation begins the moment you question what you're telling yourself about your own strength, your pain, and your beliefs. Episode Links Show Notes Buy my NEW BOOK "Healing What You Can't Erase" here! Invite me to speak at your church or event. Connect with me @WINTODAYChris on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Transcribed - Published: 13 August 2025

450: You're Talking Too Much. Jefferson Fisher on Ending Arguments, Spotting Manipulation, and Reclaiming Authority in Conversations

This week, Jefferson Fisher—a trial lawyer turned communication expert—walks us through why the art of slowing down a conversation is more powerful than shouting louder. He unpacks the truth about overexplaining, reveals why emotional manipulation often hides in plain sight, and shows how minor shifts can resolve arguments faster than any volume ever could. Jefferson also challenges the lie that talking proves knowledge. Instead, he shows why restraint builds trust, clarity, and real influence. If you've ever found yourself talking in circles, replaying conversations in your head, or trying to shout down someone else, this episode will give you the tools to stop reacting and start leading. Episode Links Show Notes Buy my NEW BOOK "Healing What You Can't Erase" here! Invite me to speak at your church or event. Connect with me @WINTODAYChris on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.  

Transcribed - Published: 6 August 2025

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