The POP Podcast

"Some people are sleeping that still aren't resting."In Episode 5 of the POP Podcast, Mike and Charles get hot, humble, open, and transparent about the most counter-cultural thing they do, rest. In a culture that glorifies the grind, they make the case that rest isn't laziness. It's a gift, a rhythm, and a commandment.In this episode:- Why sleep is part of rest, but not the whole thing- The "engine of insecurity" that drives so many of us, and what it costs- Why you can be wildly successful and have completely the wrong motive- Why the Sabbath is the commandment nobody talks about- How God modeled rest in creation (we were made to work FROM rest, not FOR it)- The sabbatical that started Relationship Goals, and the POP friendship- What rest actually looks like, practically, week to week- "You do all the work for the people, but the people just want you"If you're exhausted, running on coffee and adrenaline, successful but unable to enjoy it, this one's for you.We believe in Progression Over Perfection. Through theology, therapy, and community, God can turn trauma into triumph.New episodes every Friday.Follow the show: Instagram: @TheOfficialPOPpodcast TikTok: @TheOfficialPOPpodcast YouTube: youtube.com/@poppodcastFollow the hosts: Mike: @iammiketodd Charles: @charlesmetcalf

"Everybody wants friends for the highlight. It's a different thing to have a friend for the fight."In Episode 4 of the POP Podcast, Mike and Charles continue their conversation on community, this time about the friends who show up when it's inconvenient, when you're losing, and when there's nothing to gain.In this episode:- Why most people go to the valley alone, and why that's dangerous- The caterpillar and the ant (why some friendships can't survive your transformation)- Why your marriage becomes your primary relationship- The difference between friends for the highlight and friends for the fight- The 1 AM story: when Charles was at his lowest and his friends showed up- Why a real friend doesn't try to fix it, they bring presence, truth, and prayer- Leading vulnerably when everyone depends on you- "We are firemen", why you don't run from the fire, you run into itThis episode is Part 2 of our conversation on community. If you haven't heard Episode 3 yet, start there.We believe in Progression Over Perfection. Through theology, therapy, and community, God can turn trauma into triumph.New episodes every Friday.Follow the show: Instagram: @TheOfficialPOPpodcast TikTok: @TheOfficialPOPpodcast YouTube: youtube.com/@poppodcastFollow the hosts: Mike: @iammiketodd Charles: @charlesmetcalf

The right voices don't shrink you. They sharpen you.In Episode 3 of the POP Podcast, Mike and Charles unpack the relationships that actually shape who you become, and the social media facades that are stealing your real ones.In this episode:Why most of the people you call "friends" don't actually know youHow social media trained you to be transactional, not relationalHow Mike and Charles really met (and the Golden State Warriors moment)The Tim Ross dining room table momentWhy Natalie is not Mike's soulmate (and the difference between a soulmate and a soul match)Honesty vs. transparency, and why one of them will heal youWhy "submission" isn't a scary wordThe James 5:16 healing that doesn't come from the pulpitWhy every person needs a Paul, a Barnabas, and a TimothyIf you've been carrying everything alone, leading lonely, building lonely, healing lonely, this episode is for you.We believe in Progression Over Perfection. Through theology, therapy, and community, God can turn trauma into triumph.New episodes every Friday.Follow the show: Instagram: @TheOfficialPOPpodcast TikTok: @TheOfficialPOPpodcast YouTube: youtube.com/@poppodcastFollow the hosts: Mike: @iammiketodd Charles: @charlesmetcalf

You prayed for clarity, but what you needed was courage.In Episode 2 of the POP Podcast, Mike and Charles sit down to talk about the showdown every leader eventually faces: when comfort and calling collide.In this episode:Why discomfort is the tool God uses to develop youThe "manufactured pressure" you create that isn't actually your callingMike's drum pillow storyThe Stephen Furtick call and the Marked merchandise disasterThe Land Rover confessionWhy Charles walked away from his own church plantCrying in the DSW shoe sectionWhat it actually means to be disciplined, and how it makes you a discipleThe difference between needing clarity and needing courageMentioned in this episode: Mike's sermon "Cuffed to Comfort."We believe in Progression Over Perfection. Through theology, therapy, and community, God can turn trauma into triumph.New episodes every Friday.Follow the show: Instagram: @TheOfficialPOPpodcast TikTok: @TheOfficialPOPpodcast YouTube: youtube.com/@poppodcastFollow the hosts: Mike: @iammiketodd Charles: @charlesmetcalf

The picture of perfect we had is because people never showed us their progress.Welcome to Episode 1 of the POP Podcast, the inaugural conversation between Mike and Charles, 3 years in the making. In this opener, they unpack why perfectionism is the silent killer of your purpose, and why the path forward is progression, not performance.In this episode:Why perfection is expensive but progression is freeThe labels you accept that become your limitsHow comparison silently kills your progressionThe Bella science test storyWhat your spouse would say you need to progress inThe Theology + Therapy + Community framework that anchors this whole seasonWhy your obedience to God matters more than anyone's opinionIf you've been carrying the weight of trying to be perfect, this is your permission to progress. We believe in Progression Over Perfection. Through theology, therapy, and community, God can turn trauma into triumph. New episodes every Friday.Follow the show:Instagram: @TheOfficialPOPpodcastTikTok: @TheOfficialPOPpodcastYouTube: youtube.com/@poppodcastFollow the hosts: Mike: @iammiketodd Charles: @charlesmetcalf