Conversations About Life

Jason is retired from law enforcement.  We talk about rock climbing, retirement, interests, identity, and identity in reference to Jesus. Jason

Duane is in his late 80’s and lives a full, active and meaningful life.  He experiences loss and pain in life but has responded gracefully and moves forward. Duane

John has a background in fitness and training.  He currently is a real estate agent.  We talk about mental health, depression, fitness, the Christian faith, and dogs. John

Craig recently retired from a career with the St. Louis police department. Craig

We talk a lot about climbing and sky diving … mainly just chatting.  Shaggy works for a local sky diving business.  He also climbs traditional and sport. Shaggy

Johnny is a veteran, rock climber, and sets up for shows and events.  He also is striving to break free from the past. Johnny

Chase works in tech, but he also leads a group of young men who are looking for reasons for the Christian faith and what they should believe and why. Chase

Mike enjoys rock climbing, running, hosting a podcast called, “The Speech Guys”, and a group of friends.  His Christian faith is also important to him and he teaches in the Roman Catholic church. Mike

Jack Ortego works with Man in the Mirror.  He helps churches help their men connect for the purpose of spiritual growth.  We talk about the “Known Journal”, the need for honesty, spiritual conversion and risk, and continuing to walk in it after conversion rather than leaving it behind for self-righteousness instead. Man In The Mirror website Jack Ortego

Anne is a therapist who helps people struggling with self harm.  She finds peace in the outdoors, enjoys friends, and enjoys a Christian congregation called, “The Gathering”. Anne

Walt Stumper has an interest in historic books, especially science fiction and those related to the evolution/creation debate.  Walt has worked with Answers in Genesis and is recently retired. Walt’s LinkedIn profile Walt Stumper

Dan grew up as an evangelical Christian but is now a skeptic.  We talk about the meaning of life and metaphysical groundings. Dan

Andy grew up in Bolivia, came to the US after high school and then became a career solider in the US Army and National Guard.  We talk about the matter of killing as a sniper and real conversion in Christianity rather than just religion. Andy

I meant Dominic at Rockwoods Reservation, a local rock climbing crag.  Dominic works at Upper Limits in St Louis, is finishing up an accounting degree, appreciates stoicism, especially Marcus Aurelius, and takes in short form content.  We talk about all that stuff 🙂 Dominic

Mariano is from Costa Rica.  He plays guitar for church and has a full and satisfying spiritual heritage in the Roman Catholic Church. Marian

Ray has been through the wringer when it comes to health problems.  But he’s stable now and wanting to travel and experience new things. Ray

Brad grew up nominally Catholic but in high school made efforts to get more serious about his Christian faith.  He was doing well but then came across a verse in the Bible that made all the difference.  Since then, it’s been important to Brad that other people make sure they understand what he didn’t understand until that point. Brad

Don is a pastor in Missouri.  Dr David is the author of “Why America Is Sick – But You Don’t Have To Be”.  We talk about health, biblical principles, and faith in the resurrection of Jesus. Dr David and Don

Emmanuel and Joann volunteer on the Rio Grande Bible College, working together.  They were doing house repair when I ran into them.  We talked about their lives, their relationship, and joys.  We also talk about cancer.  Emmanuel flies a single seat ultralight airplane. Joann and Emmanuel

Jim has taught evangelism at the Rio Grande Bible College and is now mentoring young students.  We talk about evangelism and also Jim’s perspective on a couple of biblical topics. Jim

Irian was born in Mexico but grew up in Texas.  Christianity changed his life when he was in his teens.  From there connecting with and learning from people helped him.  He now serves on staff at the Rio Grande Bible College. Irian

I met Pam at the Rio Grande Bible College.  She was visiting and agreed to a conversation with me for the podcast.  We talked about her experience rock climbing in the 70’s and 80’s, her Christian faith and how that got started for her, and her thoughts on aging and friendship. Pam

Troy is a US Navy veteran, has service in the service industry and also in the IT world.  He’s now enjoying recreation therapy through the Veteran’s Administration. Troy

Morgan hiked the first half of the Appalachian Trail in 2023 and the second half in 2025.  The Appalachian Trail is 2,200 miles between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine.  We talk about her experience of hiking the AT and also her Roman Catholic faith. Morgan

Tony grew up the Midwest, joined the Navy and saw the world.  We talk about that and work life afterwards. Tony

Terry and I talked about the phases and changes in his life, having fun, apologetics, his mustache … and much more. Terry

Jason pastors a church in Jefferson County, Missouri.  We talk about his journey in Christianity and making disciples of Jesus. Jason

Schottgun Corey lives in the Missouri Ozarks seeking a graceful lifestyle of agriculture and art. Corey

Lincoln’s father was a pastor and he grew up in church.  He was a faithful church goer all his life, and then he realized that he has missed the main think all along.  Now Lincoln is involved in helping others gain traction in the Christian life. Lincoln

Tasha opened The Drip community coffee house in South Saint Louis.  It’s a special and welcoming place.  There’s a lot of art work on the walls and the place itself seems like a work of art.  We talk about Tasha’s passion and beliefs. Tasha  

Yue is from Beijing, China, but she’s been all over.  We talk about that, atheism, rock climbing, caving, growing old, meaning in life, and other things as well 🙂 Yue

Nandini and I enjoyed a conversation about her background, the things she enjoys, and her approach to life. Nandini

Rylan had experienced a desire for God but was seemingly trapped in a bad lifestyle that kept him from God.  Cancer helped break that cycle and helped Rylan leave the past way of life behind him and draw near to God.  Now he has a desire to help others who are where he was. Rylan

Jim Thurmond is well known in the rock climbing community and has helped with the development of rock climbing crags in the Midwest.  In recent years he has purchased Fountain Bluff in Southern Ill and made that available to rock climbers. Jim Thurmond

CiCi is from Indonesia.  She enjoys rock climbing, and she enjoys her religion of Islam.  We talk about Islam and some of the ways it contrasts or is similar to my religion, Christianity.  And we also talk a bit about Indonesia and rock climbing. CiCi

After my conversation with Sydney, we trade places.  She was a very good guest host! Will  

Sydney talks about her history with abortion, conversion, and how she values truth. Sydney

Dan and Alex grew up in American Evangelicalism.  Dan is a skeptic.  Alex is still a Christian.  We talk about the Christian story … is it good?  How Evangelical Christians regard the Christian scriptures, especially in America.  And we touch just a bit on politics. Dan and Alex’s coffee cups. I forgot to take a picture when they were here.

Sedric has a rare skin disease called scleromyxedema that effects his body and caused him to have both legs amputated.  Sedric has grown through this experience and has a positive view of life at this point.  He’s 63, climbs rock, cycles, and is active. Sedric

Rob is a Christian with a particular viewpoint of the return of Jesus, the kingdom of God, and things pertaining to the “end times”.  The study of this type of thing is called eschatology.  Rob’s viewpoint is called premillennialism and dispensationalism. Rob

Francesc is a young woman who enjoys climbing, is studying computer science in Germany, and enjoys talking about Jesus. Francesca

Jana is an apologist and the host of ex-skeptic podcast, where former atheists and ex-skeptics tell their stories. Jana’s website exskeptic.org Jana

Mac just turned 80.  He enjoys contra dancing, pickle ball, and volunteering at the zoo, and being around happy people. Mac  

Ed is director of Men’s Ministry at Healing Hearts International.  We talk about gaining freedom from sin. healinghearts.org Will and Ed

Stuart lets me ask him a bunch of questions about St. Louis. Stuart

Jay has a post millennieal view of escatology.  Jay gives a very good overview of his viewpoint and then I ask him some questions about it. Jay

My Aunt was a guest in 2019, but a lot has happened since then.  My Aunt had a fall that changed her way of life and the things she is able to do.  We talk about that and about still experiencing the joy of the Lord. Elsie’s previous conversation from 2019 – https://willjackson.com/aunt-elsie-a-life-impacted-by-god/

John works as a welder and enjoys riding motorcycles.  John values peace and we talk about it. John

John is a husband, dad, and in the middle of transitioning with his family into a fix-it-upper with some land around it.  We talk about overcoming secrect sin, transparency, and resting in God.  We also talk about mold and some health issues John’s family has struggled with. John

Norm has been rock climbing since the 70’s.  He has experienced the tragic fall and death of a rock climbing partner.  Norm talks about recovering from that and seeing God’s providence. Norm