PODCAST · education
Finding Something Real Podcast
by Janell Wood
Maybe you’ve grown up as a Christian going to church or maybe you’re not interested in religion at all. But when you’re scrolling, hanging out with friends, trying to sleep, or overwhelmed with your day-to-day, do big existential questions ever pop in- you know- things like, “Why am I here? How did all this get here? What happens after I die?” “Is there a God and is there really meaning to all this?” ”What’s so special about Jesus Christ?” We’ve all experienced deep longing for something this world can’t seem to satisfy. Even someone as wildly successful as Taylor Swift knows that to be true. “I had won album of the year at the Grammys for a second time...” She said, “and I remember thinking afterwards, ’Oh my god, that was all you wanted!... That was all you focused on. You get to the mountaintop and look around and you’re like... what now?” If you’re tired and feeling overwhelmed with all the different voices yelling for your affections- telling you
Episodes
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Are Christianity and Catholicism the Same? - Lu's Story
Happy Wednesday! In this episode, Janell sits down for an incredible conversation with Lu, an archaeologist from Italy. Growing up attending a Catholic church with her family, Lu was surrounded by cultural religion. But as she got older, she began to wrestle with some of the beliefs she had been...
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I Did Not Want to Be a Woman - Hailey's Story
Happy Wednesday! We are excited to be introducing our next co-host, Hailey! In this vulnerable episode, Hailey opens up about her journey of faith and the experiences that ultimately led her to a passionate, personal relationship with Jesus. She shares about growing up surrounded by legalism,...
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I Believe in a Higher Power - Ava's Story
Happy Wednesday! 🤍 We’re so excited to officially introduce one of our Season 9 co-hosts, Ava! Two weeks ago, we shared the first part of Ava’s story when she joined Frankie for an episode where they opened up about their friendship and the conversations they’ve had around faith. In this…
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Intro to Season 9
Happy Wednesday! 🤍 We’re so excited to officially begin Season 9 of Finding Something Real! In this episode, we’re joined by Janell and Ana, our Season 8 co-host and media manager, for a look back at our live recording and retreat. We’re sharing a little behind the scenes of how it all came...
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When Friends Makes Room for Questions - Ava's Story
Happy Wednesday! 🤍 We’re so excited to introduce you to one of our new Season 9 co-hosts, Ava! Ava and Frankie have been close friends since they were six years old, and their friendship has continued to grow through the years. While Frankie is a Christian and Ava is agnostic, their friendship…
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Constant Surrender with Ana & Reina
Happy Wednesday! 🤍 We’re back with our recap series, and today we’re joined by the person who makes all the videos happen—Reina! Reina is our amazing video editor and was also a co-host alongside Ana for Season 8. These two girls are a huge part of what makes Finding Something Real happen. From...
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FSR Season 8 - Group Session
Happy Wednesday! 🤍 We have a fun treat for you today! We’re sharing the full live recording with our Season 8 co-hosts. If you’ve been following along this season, you’ve probably seen a few clips from this conversation—but today, you get to hear the whole thing! The co-hosts recorded this...
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Does "The One" Exist? with Tripp and Megan Almon
Happy Wednesday! We’re back with our summer series, and we’re so excited about this one! One of our most popular episodes this past season was with Tripp and Megan Almon, where they shared their wisdom on godly relationships and unpacked some common myths—like the idea of “finding the one.” In…
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Can You Explain What You Believe? with Ana & Hailee
Happy Wednesday! We’re back with our summer series, and today we’re joined by someone very special to us, Hailee Huddleston. If you know Ana and Hailee, you probably know them as a bit of a dynamic duo. They’ve served together in several ministries, including Valley Collective, which they started...
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Our Favorite Episodes with Cailee & Frankie
Happy Wednesday! 🎙️ We’re back with another recap episode, this time with two of our co-hosts, Cailee and Frankie! Cailee shares some of her favorite episodes from the season, including a interesting conversation about AI with Abdu Murray and an encouraging discussion with Shelli Strickland…
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Ana & Frankie Takeover pt. 2
If you enjoyed our last conversation with Ana and Frankie, you’re going to love this one! Welcome to Part Two of our Season 8 Recap Mini-Series! Ana and Frankie are back to revisit more of their favorite moments, memorable conversations, and highlights from the season. Whether you’ve been with us...
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Ana & Frankie Take Over: Season Recap & Favorite Moments
Happy Wednesday! This week, two of our co-hosts are taking over the mic! Ana and Frankie look back on some of their favorite episodes, share memorable highlights from the season, and revisit the moments that made them laugh, think, and keep coming back for more. We hope you enjoy this fun,...
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Live Recording at the Ruby Theatre with Xandra Grieme & Adam Coleman
Our first LIVE podcast recording was one for the books! We had an incredible conversation with apologists Xandra Grieme and Adam Coleman, joined by five of our amazing co-hosts for a thoughtful and engaging discussion. From exploring the question, "What is apologetics?" to wrestling with one of...
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Flipping the Script: Final Episode of Season 8
What a ride! 🎉 We’ve officially reached the final episode of Season 8. What a gift this season has been. We hope you've loved our incredible co-hosts as much as we have and that these conversations have encouraged you in your own faith journey. For our season finale, we're turning the tables!...
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God, Do You Even See Me? with Lydia Dicas
Happy Wednesday! We have a special episode for you today as we're joined by worship leader Lydia Dicas, along with four of our amazing co-hosts: Jeanine, Christie, Katelyn, and Sarah. In this honest and heartfelt conversation, Lydia shares her journey of living with chronic illness and the…
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Freedom Through Christ: Deliverance, Spiritual Gifts, & Generational Sin with Joshua Lewis (part 2)
Happy Wednesday! We’re back with Part 2 of our conversation with Joshua Lewis! If you joined us last week, you heard us dive into deliverance, spiritual warfare, and generational curses. If you haven't listened to Part 1 yet, we highly recommend starting there before jumping into this episode. In...
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Can Christians Have Generational Curses? with Joshua Lewis (part 1)
Happy Wednesday! We are so excited for this episode! We are joined by special guest Joshua Lewis and our co-host Ana. Ana is one of our co-hosts this season, and one of the topics she has been eagerly waiting to discuss is deliverance. It's a subject that sparks a lot of questions, strong…
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God Wants You Whole (Body, Soul and Spirit) with Dr. Tanya Paynter
Happy Wednesday! Today we are joined by special guest Dr. Tanya Paynter, along with our host and co-host, Ana and Janell. As a naturopathic physician, Dr. Tanya has the unique opportunity to integrate her faith into her practice every day. Through her work, she has seen firsthand how God's design...
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When the Suffering Won't End - Jeanine's Story
Happy Wednesday! We are thrilled to introduce another one of our co-hosts this season, Jeanine. If you've spent any time around Jeanine, you've likely experienced her joy, kindness, and unwavering love for Jesus. She radiates God's light wherever she goes, but behind her bright smile is a journey...
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The Problem Isn't Always Evidence with Rick Allen
Happy Wednesday! Today we're joined by returning guest Rick Allan, along with our co-hosts Sarah and Katelyn. Rick was once an atheist whose skepticism drove him to take a deep dive into the evidence for Christianity. What began as an investigation eventually led him to discover what he believes...
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New Age vs New Thought? with Melissa Dougherty
Happy Wednesday! Today we are joined by guest Melissa Dougherty alongside our host and co-host, Janell and Sarah. In this episode, we dive into the growing influence of New Age beliefs and New Thought theology — ideas that have subtly made their way into the church and Christian culture. We…
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Are Jesus and God the Same? with Erin Baumgaertel
Happy Wednesday! This week we are joined by guest Erin Baumgaertel for a conversation on one of the most foundational — and most misunderstood — topics in Christianity: the Trinity. Together we dive into questions like: Are Jesus and God the same? How does the Trinity actually work? And what…
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Delighting in the Love of God with Stephanie Rousselle
Happy Wednesday! In this episode, we sit down with Stephanie Rousselle to talk about her new book "Awaken Delight" and her journey toward Delighting in God. Stephanie once identified as an atheist, and she shares the story of how her perspective shifted in a deeply personal way—moving from...
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Taking Back Your Thoughts with Mary Rooney Armand
Happy Wednesday! This week we are excited to welcome special guest Mary Rooney Armand to the podcast, joined by our co-host Jeanine and host Janell. In this episode, we dive deep into the reality of toxic thoughts and the lies that can quietly take hold in our minds. Throughout this season, we’ve...
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The Gift of Desperation with Shelli Strickland
Happy Wednesday! This week we’re joined by special guest Shelli Strickland, along with four of our co-hosts—Ana, Cailee, Sarah, and Frankie. Shelli shares her powerful testimony of coming to faith and how what she calls “the gift of desperation” ultimately led her to Jesus. Through reaching a...
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How Do I Know God's Will For My Life? - Cailee's Story
Happy Wednesday! We are so excited to introduce one of our co-hosts, Cailee, on today’s episode! Cailee is truly a light—she loves deeply, cares genuinely, and reflects the heart of Christ in the way she lives. Though she’s been a Christian her whole life, she opens up about the real and honest...
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I Was Trying to Prove Atheism with Mary Jo Sharp
Happy Wednesday! We’re back with another episode, and this week we’re joined by special guest Mary Jo Sharp, along with our co-host Sarah. Mary Jo shares her powerful testimony of once trying to disprove Christianity—setting out to prove atheism was true—but instead encountering the truth of…
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The Kingdom of God Starts Right Now with Brant Hansen
Happy Wednesday! We’re back with another episode, and we’re so excited to welcome one of our favorite guests—Brant Hansen! We’re also joined by our co-hosts, Cailee and Sarah, for a powerful and honest conversation. Brant is the author of Unoffendable, a book we absolutely love here on the…
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The Gospel is Offensive with Adam and Candice Coleman
Happy Wednesday! 🎙️ This week on the podcast, we’re joined by Adam and Candice Coltman—and we’re so excited to have them with us! Not only do they bring incredible wisdom and authenticity to this conversation, but they’ll also be joining us in person for a special event this June (stay tuned for...
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Taking Back Your Power Through Forgiveness with Amy Orr-Ewing
Happy Wednesday! This week, we’re excited to welcome back Dr. Amy Orr-Ewing, joined by co-hosts Ana and Sarah, for a powerful and thought-provoking conversation on forgiveness. Drawing from her latest book, Forgiveness: Reclaiming Its Power in a Culture of Outrage and Fear, Amy challenges the way...
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Can I Be Questioning as a Christian? - Sarah's Story
Happy Wednesday! We are thrilled to be sharing Sarah’s story this week. Sarah reached out to Janell around this time last year. She was wrestling with questions and had doubts about Christianity. She shared her story and let Janell know she would love to be part of the podcast. Fast forward to…
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Does My Suffering Have Any Meaning? with Allen Crostic
Happy Wednesday! This week we are joined by Allen Crostic. Allen has been on the podcast before and we are thrilled to have him back on the podcast. Three of our co-host are joining us as well - Ana, Sarah, and Jeanine. Suffering has been a topic our co-hosts this season are really interested in...
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How Can I Defend Being a Christian? with Ryan Pauly
Happy Wednesday! We are excited for our conversation this week. We are joined with guest, Ryan Pauly. And our returning co-host, Sarah. Ryan has been a believer his whole life but grew a love for apologetics when he realize the people around him couldn't give a defense for their faith. He…
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I Was Running Away From God with Travis Monen
Happy Wednesday! We are back with another episode! This week we are joined with guest, Travis Monen. We are also joined with our co-host, Ana. Travis is a friend of Janell's and shares the same love for apologetics as she does. He shares his testimony in this episode. He gave his life to Christ...
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How to Navigate Relationships in a Godly Way with Tripp and Megan Almon
Happy Wednesday! This week, are joined with our friends from Stand to Reason, Tripp and Megan Almon. As well as our returning co-host, Sarah. Fitting after Valentine's Day, we are talking about relationships. Tripp and Megan are married and have a huge heart for apologetics. They share their...
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Can Christian's Struggle with Mental Health? - Christie's Story
Happy Wednesday! We are thrilled to introduce our next co-host, Christie! Janell and Christie met earlier last year, and have become good friends since then. We are excited to dive into her story. Christie attended Wheaton College in Chicago and has traveled abroad to Italy and Ireland. She's…
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I Need Jesus to Show Me More with Alycia Wood
Happy Wednesday! We are back with our guest, Alycia Wood! We had a great conversation with her last week and thrilled to have her back with our returning co-hosts, Sarah and Katelyn. We discuss the evidence of Christianity. There's not necessarily a lack of evidence - there is plenty of reliable...
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Do the Things in the Bible Still Happen? with Alycia Wood
Happy Wednesday! Today, we are joined with our guest, Alycia Wood. We are also joined with co-hosts, Sarah and Katelyn. Alycia shares how she came to faith. She has always been a curious person and her questions ultimately led her to start looking at the most inevitable question - Does God exist?...
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Did the Resurrection Actually Happen? with Andy Bannister
Happy Wednesday! We have a treat for you this week. We are joined with our guest, Andy Bannister. We are also joined with one of our co-host, Sarah. We had a great conversation about the legitimacy of Christianity and why it matters whether or not the resurrection actually happened. Dr. Andy...
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AI Proves God's Existence with Abdu Murray
Happy Wednesday! We are so glad you're joining us today. We back with one of our favorite guest, Abdu Murray. We are also joined with two of our co-host, Sarah and Cailee. In this episode, we tackle the topic of AI. Does AI go against the nature of God? Does using AI stop our God-given…
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Are Generational Curses Real? - Ana's Story
Happy Wednesday! We are so excited for this week's episode! Today, we are sharing one of our co-host story, Ana! Ana has been part of Finding Something Real since the very beginning. Janell and Ana met at a small group when she was a senior in High School in 2019. They've formed a beautiful...
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Naturalism Doesn't Make Sense with Jon Noyes
Happy Wednesday! We hope you’re enjoying the last day of 2025. We have a great conversation for you this week. Our guest this week is no stranger to the podcast, Jon Noyes. We are also joined with our co-host, Sarah. Jon shares his coming to faith story. One of the topics they discuss is...
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You Don't Have to Have All the Answers with Lindsey Medenwaldt
It's Christmas Eve! We hope you're enjoying this time with all your loved ones! We have a special treat for you this week. On this episode, we are joined with a returning guest, Lindsey Medenwaldt. We are also joined with three of our co-hosts - Cailee, Ana and Sarah. Lindsey breaks down how to...
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Can You Trust the Bible? with Greg Koukl
Happy Wednesday! This week on Finding Something Real, we are joined with a very special guest, Greg Koukl. We are also joined with our co-hosts, Sarah and Cailee! Sarah and Cailee ask Greg really good questions about whether or not we can trust the Bible through translations, interpretations and...
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Why People Really Don't Believe in Jesus with Xandra Grieme
Happy Wednesday! This week on Finding Something Real, we are joined with one of our favorite guest, Xandra Grieme. We are also joined with three of our co-host, Ana, Christie and Sarah. In this episode, we talk about the tension of faith and science, and how they go more hand in hand than you...
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Is This Even Real? - Katelyn's Story
Happy Wednesday! This week on Finding Something Real, we are sharing one of our co-host's story, Katelyn! She doesn't come from a faith background and is still wrestling with the idea of Christianity. She opens up about her experience, questions about faith and some of her hesitations about...
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Release What God Has Already Given Us with Jesse Childress
Happy Thanksgiving! We hope you're enjoying this time with loved ones. This week on Finding Something Real, we are joined with Jesse Childress and one of our co-host, Sarah. Jesse and Sarah talk about the tension of not having the all the answers while also being called to release what we do know...
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Making the Case for Christ with J. Warner Wallace
On this episode of Finding Something Real, we are joined with homicide detective, J. Warner Wallace. He has become a dear friend to the podcast and has great insight on making the case for Christ. We are also joined with our co-host, Sarah. Sarah shares her genuine questions about faith. Even...
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Dealing with Grief and Church Hurt with Jason Schmidt
On this episode of Finding Something Real, we are joined with a returning guest, Jason Schmidt. Jason's parents were Janell's Youth Pastor's. They had a tremendous impact on her life and now has the privilege of sharing that with their son, Jason. We are also joined with one of our co-host, Ana....
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How to Love People in Truth and Love with Drew Berryessa
On this episode of Finding Something Real we introduce our first guest, Drew Berryessa! Drew is no stranger to the Podcast. He's been a guest before and we are thrilled to have him back! Drew has a tender heart and shares his story with such vulnerability in hopes it will impact others. We are…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Maybe you’ve grown up as a Christian going to church or maybe you’re not interested in religion at all. But when you’re scrolling, hanging out with friends, trying to sleep, or overwhelmed with your day-to-day, do big existential questions ever pop in- you know- things like, “Why am I here? How did all this get here? What happens after I die?” “Is there a God and is there really meaning to all this?” ”What’s so special about Jesus Christ?”
We’ve all experienced deep longing for something this world can’t seem to satisfy.
Even someone as wildly successful as Taylor Swift knows that to be true. “I had won album of the year at the Grammys for a second time...” She said, “and I remember thinking afterwards, ’Oh my god, that was all you wanted!... That was all you focused on. You get to the mountaintop and look around and you’re like... what now?”
If you’re tired and feeling overwhelmed with all the different voices yelling for your affections- telling you
HOSTED BY
Janell Wood
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Finding Something Real Podcast have?
Finding Something Real Podcast currently has 349 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Finding Something Real Podcast about?
Maybe you’ve grown up as a Christian going to church or maybe you’re not interested in religion at all. But when you’re scrolling, hanging out with friends, trying to sleep, or overwhelmed with your day-to-day, do big existential questions ever pop in- you know- things like, “Why am I here? How did...
How often does Finding Something Real Podcast release new episodes?
Finding Something Real Podcast publishes regularly with 349 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Finding Something Real Podcast?
You can listen to Finding Something Real Podcast on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Finding Something Real Podcast?
Finding Something Real Podcast is created and hosted by Janell Wood.
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