Pod Have Mercy
by John Stephens/Matt Russell
Tune in every week for a lively conversation with Chapelwood's Senior Pastor, John Stephens and Executive Pastor, Matt Russell as they "go deep" on how today's church has changed and what the church will look like in the future!
Episodes
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Episode 248: The Halloween Special (with Rev. Michael Jarboe)
Should Christians celebrate Halloween? And what does this spooky holiday have to do with All Saints Day? Rev. John Stephens welcomes back Rev. Michael Jarboe, senior pastor of Wildwood United Methodist Church, for a Halloween special filled with humor, nostalgia, and reflections on faith. From...
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Episode 247: Grief, Faith, and the Courage to Bear Witness
What does it mean to show up for someone who is grieving, and what can other cultures teach us about loss, remembrance, and community? In this episode of Pod Have Mercy, Rev. John Stephens and Rev. Matt Russell discuss the importance of grief work and the ways faith communities can help people...
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Episode 246: Faith, Politics, and Purpose
What can a vineyard teach us about faith, patience, and spiritual growth? And how can the church remain faithful to its mission in an increasingly divided world? In Episode 246 of Pod Have Mercy, John Stephens and Matt Russell are back together for a conversation about life, ministry, and the...
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Episode 245: Matt Rawle | Rethinking Church, Innovation, and the Courage to Fail
What does it take for the church to embrace change, take meaningful risks, and imagine a different future? In this episode of Pod Have Mercy, John Stephens and Matt Russell welcome Rev. Matt Rawle, pastor, author, speaker, and co-founder of the Hub for Innovation, for a conversation about faith,...
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Episode 244: A Conversation with Zach W. Lambert
What happens when the Bible - a book meant to point us toward God - becomes a source of harm? And is there a better way to read Scripture after experiencing religious trauma, deconstruction, or exclusion? In Episode 244 of Pod Have Mercy, John and Matt sit down with pastor and author Zach W....
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Episode 243: A Conversation with Rev. Magrey deVega
In Episode 243 of Pod Have Mercy, John and Matt sit down with Rev. Magrey deVega, Senior Pastor of Hyde Park United Methodist Church in Tampa, Florida, for a conversation about pastoral ministry, writing, uncertainty, wisdom, preaching, and what it means to pursue holiness in the Wesleyan...
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Episode 242: A Conversation with Dr. Lovett H. Weems
What does hope look like for the United Methodist Church after years of disruption, decline, and change?In this episode of Pod Have Mercy, John and Matt sit down with Dr. Lovett H. Weems, one of the leading voices in church leadership and United Methodist life, for a wide-ranging conversation…
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Episode 241: Bishop Tom Berlin & Rachel Billups
What does it look like to have a faith that holds when life feels exhausting? In this episode of Pod Have Mercy, John and Matt sit down with Bishop Tom Berlin and Rev. Rachel Billups for a wide-ranging conversation about resilience, discipleship, courage, innovation, and what gives them hope for...
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Episode 240: Wine, Faith, and the Sacred Table (Justin Martindale)
Why has wine held such a powerful place in religion for thousands of years? In this episode of Pod Have Mercy, John shares a conversation originally hosted by the Wine Scholar Guild with Justin Martindale exploring the fascinating intersection of wine, culture, history, and faith. From the…
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Episode 239: A Conversation with Dr. Ilia Delio
What does it mean to live faithfully in an unfinished universe - one in which creation is still evolving and Christ is still drawing all things toward communion? In today's episode, Matt sits down with Dr. Ilia Delio, Franciscan sister, theologian, Josephine C. Connelly Endowed Chair in Theology…
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Episode 238: A Conversation with Dr. Ashley Boggan
What can the history of Methodism teach us about the future of the church? In Episode 238 of Pod Have Mercy, Matt and John sit down with Dr. Ashley Boggan, General Secretary of the United Methodist General Commission on Archives and History, to talk about what she calls the “ministry of memory”…
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Episode 237: AI, Human Dignity, and the Future of Being Human
What happens when the Church weighs in on artificial intelligence? In this episode, we discuss Pope Leo XIV's recent reflections on AI, technology, and human dignity. Drawing parallels between today's AI revolution and the Industrial Revolution, they explore how technology shapes our lives,...
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Episode 236: Pilgrimage, Pickpockets, and Paul
Fresh off a pilgrimage to Italy, John Stephens and Josef Klam reflect on the spiritual, historical, and personal impact of traveling through some of Christianity’s most significant sites. From Rome, Assisi, Siena, Florence, and Venice, they explore why pilgrimages continue to shape faith today.…
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Episode 235: Faith After Tragedy (with Laura Husband)
Laura Husband joins the podcast for a deeply honest conversation about grief, faith, healing, and the stories that shape us. Laura shares her experience growing up as the daughter of astronaut Rick Husband, commander of the Space Shuttle Columbia, and reflects on the tragedy that changed her life...
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Episode 234: Inside NASA (with Jimmy Wanner, NASA Engineer)
What does it actually take to send humans back to the moon? This week on Pod Have Mercy, John sits down with NASA engineer Jimmy Warner to talk about the future of space exploration, moon bases, Mars missions, and the real science behind the Artemis program. Jimmy shares stories from his 18 years...
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Episode 233: Soul Work with Jerry Webber
This week on Pod Have Mercy, Jerry Webber joins John Stephens for a thoughtful conversation on contemplative spirituality, the interior life, and the wisdom hidden within the rhythms of a vineyard. Drawing from years of ministry, spiritual direction, and soul work, Jerry reflects on why silence,...
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Episode 232: Islam, Faith, and Neighbors (with Shariq Ghani)
In this powerful and deeply human conversation, Matt sits down with Shariq Abdul Ghani — Executive Director of Bridges and a Muslim leader passionate about peace-building. We explore what it really means to be neighbors in a divided world. From growing up Pakistani-American in Texas to reclaiming...
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Episode 231: Curiosity, Connection & the Future of Faith (with Ericka Graham)
In this special crossover episode, Ericka Graham joins Dr. Matt Russell for a wide-ranging conversation on faith, belonging, trauma, addiction recovery, justice, vulnerability, and the future of the church. Together, they explore why people are often longing for connection more than certainty…
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Episode 230: From ChatGPT to Chianti
This week on Pod Have Mercy, Matt is out, so John and Geoff take the mic for a wide-ranging conversation on artificial intelligence, the future of creativity, and whether AI will make life easier or eventually take over everything. They also dive into a surprising spiritual metaphor: vineyards....
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Episode 229: No Resurrection Without the Cross
Holy Week invites us into something deeper than celebration—it calls us to slow down, face suffering, and wrestle with the reality of death before we ever reach resurrection. In this episode, we’re joined by Michael Sciretti, pastor of the Center for Christian Spirituality, to explore why so many...
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Episode 228: Urgency Isn’t Faithfulness
In a world where every headline demands a response, what does faithfulness actually look like? This week, we unpack the growing pressure on pastors and churches to make public statements after every cultural moment—and the assumption that silence equals complicity. But is that true? We wrestle…
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Episode 227: Your Brain After Midnight
Ever notice how everything feels heavier at 2:30 in the morning? In this episode, we unpack the science behind what’s happening in your brain after midnight—and why your thoughts tend to spiral into anxiety, fear, and worst-case scenarios. Turns out, there’s a real neurological reason your “night...
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Episode 226: Revisiting Richard Rohr
In this episode of Pod Have Mercy, we revisit a conversation centered on the writings of Richard Rohr and the meaning of Good Friday. As the church moves through the season of Lent, Matt and John reflect on Rohr’s insights about scapegoating, the human tendency to blame and condemn others, and…
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Episode 225: ICONOCLAST ARTISTS
What happens when students who have been overlooked finally get a stage? In this episode, Matt sits down with Bill Moran and Claudia Crane of Iconoclast Artists, a Houston nonprofit using poetry and creative writing to help students process trauma, discover their voice, and build community. Over...
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Episode 224: Unity, Growth & Perseverance (Bishop Ande Emmanuel)
In this powerful global conversation, we sit down with Bishop Ande Emanuel, bishop of the United Methodist Church in Nigeria, Senegal, and Cameroon. From persecution in Northern Nigeria to reconciliation after years of division, Bishop Emanuel shares how the church in Nigeria has not only…
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Episode 223: When We Lose Someone We Love
In this special episode of Pod Have Mercy, we honor the life and legacy of our dear friend, Bobby Wooley. Just weeks before his passing, we had the gift of sitting down with Bobby to record a conversation filled with honesty, warmth, and the unmistakable heart he carried for Chapelwood. In this...
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Episode 222: WHAT IS RAGE BAIT?
From the Oxford Dictionary’s Word of the Year (“rage bait”) to Super Bowl halftime controversy, from Ten Commandments legislation to immigration theology, from Christian influencers to monetized faith — this episode wrestles with what it means to follow Jesus in a world driven by outrage, clicks,...
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Episode 221: Bobby Wooley
In this powerful and deeply human conversation, Bobby Wooley shares his journey from addiction and recovery to faithful service, and now, to receiving a stage four cancer diagnosis. With honesty, humor, and hope, Bobby reflects on the people who became “Jesus with skin on,” the tools faith and...
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Episode 220: News, Doomscrolling, and Faithful Formation
In this episode, John and Matt explore why public statements often soothe anxiety more than they create transformation, and why the Christian response to a broken world may be less about declarations and more about formation, lament, and embodied faith. Drawing from Scripture, systems theory,...
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Episode 219: PASTORS ON CHRISTMAS EVE
In this festive and hilarious year-end episode, John welcomes Executive Pastor Josef Klam to close out 2025 with a conversation full of humor, honesty, and heart. From family traditions to church logistics to the emotional weight of changing long-held rituals, this episode dives into why…
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Episode 218: A CONVERSATION WITH JOEL MOORE
This week on Pod Have Mercy, John sits down with friend and community favorite Joel Moore, also known to many as the “Gratitude Guru.” Joel shares his journey through addiction recovery, personal transformation, and the development of a powerful daily gratitude practice that has reshaped his...
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Episode 217: THANKSGIVING CONVERSATION GUIDE(what not to say at dinner)
In this Thanksgiving episode, John and his brother Matt return to the studio to talk about family memories, hilarious holiday traditions, and all the things people probably should and should not say at the Thanksgiving table. From childhood oyster stories to smoked turkeys, family dynamics…
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Episode 216: BROTHERS, PASTORS AND MINISTRY
In this special episode, John sits down with someone who knows him better than anyone - his brother, Pastor Matt Stephens, a Baptist preacher from their hometown of Columbus, Georgia. Together, they peel back the curtain on a question they get all the time: “How did two brothers end up as pastors...
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Episode 215: A CONVERSATION WITH BISHOP ANDREW DOYLE
In this wide-ranging and deeply honest conversation, Matt Russell sits down with The Rt. Rev. C. Andrew Doyle, the ninth Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas, to explore what it means to live faithfully in an age marked by polarization, digital noise, and spiritual disconnection. Drawing from...
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Episode 214: WHO'S DISCIPLING OUR KIDS?!
In this episode of Pod Have Mercy, John Stephens and Joseph Patty dive into a surprising new Barna study revealing that parents and church leaders don’t agree on who should take the lead in discipling children. Should faith formation primarily happen at home or in the church? John and Joseph…
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Episode 213: FAITH AND HALLOWEEN
Is Halloween harmless fun, a spiritual battleground, or something in between? In this episode of Pod Have Mercy, John Stephens sits down with Joseph Patty, Director of Student Ministries at Chapelwood, for a thoughtful (and often funny) conversation about how people of faith can approach…
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Episode 212: ARE YOU SERIOUS?!
In this episode of Pod Have Mercy, we unpack a powerful reflection inspired by Russell Moore’s article on “gravity” - the lost virtue of being sober-minded and serious in a culture obsessed with noise, reaction, and silliness. We explore what it means to lead with gravity - a blend of clarity,...
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Episode 211: DANGEROUSLY TIRED?
What does it mean to be dangerously tired - emotionally, spiritually, and physically? In this episode of Pod Have Mercy, John Stephens, Matt Russell, and Geoff Wood unpack the ancient wisdom of Sabbath as more than a rule - it's a divine invitation to rest, resist compulsion, and reclaim our...
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Episode 211: DANGEROUSLY TIRED?
What does it mean to be dangerously tired - emotionally, spiritually, and physically? In this episode of Pod Have Mercy, John Stephens, Matt Russell, and Geoff Wood unpack the ancient wisdom of Sabbath as more than a rule - it's a divine invitation to rest, resist compulsion, and reclaim our...
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Episode 210: REV. RUSS LEVENSON
In this episode, we sit down with Russell J. Levenson, Jr. to dig into his latest work, Witness to Belief: Conversations on Faith and Meaning. Together, we explore the heart behind the book, how it came to be, what compelled him to write it, and how his pastoral journey shaped each conversation...
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Episode 209: REV. KATHLEEN MCSHANE
In this episode of Pod Have Mercy, we sit down with Rev. Kathleen (Kathi) McShane. lawyer, pastor, innovator, and changemaker. After an early career as a civil litigator in San Francisco, Kathi followed her call to ministry, serving four congregations and later as vice president for Institutional...
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Episode 208: Faith, Politics, and the Challenge of Christian Nationalism
In this episode, John Stephens and Matt Russell dive into one of the most pressing conversations facing the church today: the rise of Christian nationalism. Together they explore what the term really means, why definitions matter, and how patriotism and faith can be confused or faithfully held in...
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Episode 207: V IS FOR VINO
This week on Pod Have Mercy, we sit down with Vince and Lisa of V is for Vino, the number one wine show on the internet. What began as Vince’s transition from musician and bartender to certified sommelier, and Lisa’s background in TV production, has grown into a worldwide platform bringing...
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A Pastoral Response to Tragedy
Today, John and Matt pause to reflect on a week filled with heartbreaking tragedies. Together they wrestle with the question: How should Christians respond when the weight of evil and suffering feels overwhelming? Drawing on Scripture, pastoral wisdom, and their own experiences, they discuss the...
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Episode 206: SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE CHURCH
This week on Pod Have Mercy, we dive into some fascinating cultural and spiritual trends shaping younger generations. From the viral “Jesus Glow Up” trend on TikTok to new research from Barna showing Gen Z as the most churchgoing generation today, the conversation explores how faith, community…
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Episode 205: GISELA KREGLINGER (The Spirituality of Wine)
In this episode of Pod Have Mercy, we welcome theologian and author Gisela H. Kreglinger, whose work invites us to rediscover wine as a gift from God, encouraging hospitality, joy, and spiritual attentiveness. Growing up on her family’s winery in Franconia, Germany, Gisela blends the sensory...
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Episode 204: CHRISTIANS, CONFLICT AND COMPASSION
As Christians, we are called to be people of compassion and justice but in a world full of polarization, it’s easy to get swept into extremes or let politics shape our ideology. Together, we explore how to meet people where they are in their grief, how to care for the hurting without rushing to...
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Episode 203: CHATGPT AND FALL KICKOFF
John and Matt are back from summer break, and Pod Have Mercy is kicking off a brand-new season! In this episode, they catch up on everything that’s happened over the summer and share a preview of the exciting things coming this fall at Chapelwood. From new guests to meaningful conversations and…
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Episode 202: HOW TO PROCESS GRIEF
Grief touches every life, but knowing how to navigate it—especially alongside friends and family—can feel overwhelming. In this episode, we’re joined by grief expert and therapist Sasha Coles for an honest, compassionate conversation about loss. Together, we explore healthy ways to process grief,...
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Episode 201: Talking to Your Children About Loss – What to Say and Not to Say
Revs. John Stephens and Matt Russell sit down with renowned child psychologist Dr. Michelle Forrester in a timely and practical podcast episode. Dr. Forrester will share guidance to help your children (and you) process their feelings, answer difficult questions, and nurture resilience and comfort...
About this show
Tune in every week for a lively conversation with Chapelwood's Senior Pastor, John Stephens and Executive Pastor, Matt Russell as they "go deep" on how today's church has changed and what the church will look like in the future!
Hosted by
John Stephens/Matt Russell
Categories