The Story Steward Show

In this episode, I’m asking a question I’ve been asking myself: when I walk into church, Story Stewards, Instagram, or any Christian community, am I looking at what I can get... or who I can serve? Today I will be talking about carrying each other’s burdens, using what God has given us to build others up, and being willing to let Him use us right where we are.

Most writers wait until their book is finished to start marketing it.I think that's a mistake.In this episode, I challenge you to start building your audience today... not for fame or followers, but to faithfully steward the story God has entrusted to you. If you've been waiting for the "perfect time" to share your writing, this episode is your sign to begin.

In this special guest episode, Héloïse van Gemerden shares how to trust God in the midst of fear, uncertainty, and self-doubt as a writer. Together, we explore what it looks like to surrender our creativity to Christ and move forward in faith, even when the next step feels intimidating.

What does a normal day look like when your writing belongs to Christ?In this episode, I take you behind the scenes of a daily rhythm and share what it means to approach writing as an act of surrender rather than self-achievement. We'll talk about inviting Jesus into every writing session, pursuing faithfulness over productivity, and learning to write with God instead of simply writing for Him.

What does it actually mean to be a Story Steward?In this episode, I unpack the heart behind Story Stewards, what it means to faithfully steward the gifts God has entrusted to us, and why our writing was never meant to be about us. If you've ever wondered what this community is really about, this is the episode for you.

In a culture obsessed with hustle, productivity, and always doing more, what does biblical rest actually look like? Today, Moriyah Cordova joins us for a conversation about Sabbath, burnout, trusting God with unfinished work, and why true rest is an act of faith.

What if one of the most common sins in our lives isn't obvious rebellion, but wasted opportunity? Today, we discuss perfectionism, procrastination, "unproductive productivity," and Paul's call to make the most of every opportunity because the days are evil.

Have you ever felt too far gone for God to love you? Today, we explore the overwhelming love of the Trinity, why Christ willingly went to the cross, and why your failures can never separate you from the love of God.

Why are we so drawn to stories about flawed characters who discover truth and find redemption? Today, we explore how story structure reflects the human condition, and why our love for stories may point to something much deeper...

We live in a world obsessed with comparison. Today, we discuss why God isn't judging you by human standards, why He doesn't play favorites, and how the Parable of the Talents can free us from envy, self-hatred, and chasing someone else's calling.

Join me as we talk about something so many writers and creatives quietly struggle with:Negative self-talk.So many of us constantly live under the weight of shame, insecurity, perfectionism, and feeling “not good enough.” But what if those thoughts are actually robbing us of intimacy with Jesus?In this episode, we talk about self-worth, condemnation, spiritual discouragement, and the freedom Christ actually offers us.

This might be my most controversial opinion as a Christian writer…But I genuinely don’t think Christians are required to write explicitly Christian books.Join me as we dive into questions like:Is writing still worship if nobody ever reads it?Can stories glorify God without Christian characters?And what does it actually mean to create for God’s glory?This episode completely changed the way I think about creativity, storytelling, and artistic calling.

Join me as we talk about one of the biggest lies many Christian creatives secretly believe:“If I could just achieve more… then I’d finally be enough.”Whether you’re a writer, parent, employee, student, or creator, it’s so easy to tie your worth to productivity and success. But Jesus tells us a completely different story.In this episode, we dive into identity, burnout, pressure, and why your value was never meant to come from your performance.

Join me and fantasy author B.W. Luby (The Foxling Series) as we dive into one of the biggest questions Christian writers wrestle with:How do you write biblical themes into your stories naturally… without sounding preachy?In this episode, we talk about storytelling, faith in fiction, and how Christian writers can glorify God through fantasy and creativity. Whether you write fantasy, sci-fi, or any kind of fiction, I think this conversation will really encourage you!

We don’t often talk about this sin... but we should.In this episode, I share some of the real spiritual struggles that show up in the writing life, and the pressure to make writing about ourselves instead of God. If you’ve ever felt stuck between your calling and your weaknesses, you’re not alone.Following Christ as a writer doesn’t mean being perfect. It means learning how to keep bringing your work... and your heart, back to Him again and again.

David is described in Scripture as a man after God’s own heart. But what would it look like for a writer to live that way?

Marketing can feel overwhelming for Christian writers, but it doesn’t have to pull you away from your purpose.In this conversation with author and entrepreneur Victoria Lynn, we talk about practical ways to share your book while staying grounded in your calling. If marketing has ever felt intimidating or confusing, this episode will help you take your next step forward.

How do you know if writing is part of God’s plan for your life?Many Christian writers spend years trying to discover God’s hidden will, while overlooking what He’s already revealed in Scripture. In this episode, we talk about what the Bible actually says about calling, obedience, and decision-making, and how that changes the way we think about writing.If you’ve ever asked, “Am I supposed to be doing this?” this conversation will help you move forward with clarity and peace.

Creative culture tells writers to figure everything out alone. But Christian writers weren’t meant to create that way.In this episode, I talk about why we shouldn’t write our books by ourselves, and what it looks like to involve God in the creative process with humility, trust, and freedom.

Let me ask you something…What does your writing life actually say about God?Not what you say you believe.But what your habits, reactions, and mindset reveal.My pastor always says that your life shows what you truly believe about God’s power, authority, and love.And if that’s true…Then your writing does too.In this episode, I walk through how your response to success, failure, burnout, and creativity all point to what you actually believe about God.Do you trust Him when things are going well?Do you run to Him when things fall apart?Or do you try to do it all on your own?This one’s a bit uncomfortable…But it might just change the way you write moving forward.

This one… did not go as planned.In this episode, I sit down with pro-life advocate and author Abigail Thompson (Behind the Clouds) for an open mic conversation on writing, faith, and storytelling with purpose.We talk about her journey as an author, what it means to write stories that matter, and the heart behind her work.And somewhere along the way…The infamous fountain pen incident happens.You’re just going to have to hear it for yourself.

In this episode, I dive into the story of Abraham and how he tried to fulfill God’s promise his own way… instead of trusting God to do what He said He would do.And if we’re honest?We do the same thing all the time.Especially in our writing.We say we trust God with our calling…But then we rush, force outcomes, chase results, and try to make things happen on our timeline.In this episode, I challenge you to look at where you might be striving instead of trusting.Where are you trying to “help” God?And what would it look like to actually rest in Him… and let Him fulfill what He started?This one might step on your toes a bit.But it’s something I’m learning right alongside you.

Let me be honest with you…Most writers are making the same backstory mistake, and it’s quietly killing their story.In this episode, I break down the one cliché I see everywhere that makes readers want to DNF the book… We’ll talk about why it doesn’t work, what it’s actually doing to your story, and how to fix it.I’ll also walk through Project Hail Mary as an example of backstory done right, and why it works so well.If you’ve ever struggled with when to reveal backstory, how much to include, or why your opening feels slow… this one’s for you.

How do you write biblical characters without flattening them into Sunday school versions of themselves?In this replay from our first ever Story Steward live event, I sit down with Kate Campbell and we talk about writing characters that carry biblical themes in a way that feels God-honoring and grounded in truth!I hope you enjoy!

What part of you is standing in the way of God’s plan?A habit? An ambition? A comfort? A version of yourself you refuse to let die?In this episode, we walk through four biblical characters who had to kill something in themselves to step into God’s calling. Because resurrection only comes after something is laid down.

I’m serious. If God told you your book would never reach a single soul… would you still write it?Would you obey if it meant obscurity? Would you create if it meant discomfort? Would you keep going if it didn’t go your way?Too often we chase the dream in our hearts... but somewhere along the way, we start forcing our will over His. Today we’re talking about surrender, obedience, and whether you’re willing to eat honey and locusts if that’s what faithfulness requires.

From the beginning of Scripture, God has been writing a love story that moves through waters, wilderness, and the cross, all to bring His bride home.Wherever you are today, my hope is to remind you who it is that loves you… and what kind of love it is.

Join guest speaker Héloïse Van Gemerdan as she shares one of the most powerful testimonies of coming to Christ I’ve ever heard. Through deep loss and tragedy, God met her in the midst of her pain and carried her love of writing when she couldn’t carry it herself. This conversation is about grief, faith, creativity, and the quiet ways Christ restores what feels broken. If you’ve ever wondered whether God still cares about your story when life falls apart, this episode is for you.

I grew up in a Christian home. I knew about Jesus. I knew the stories. I knew the language. But in 2025, my life flipped. For the first time, I didn’t just know of Him... I fell in love with Him. In this episode, I share what I’ve been learning about prayer, not as a routine or a checkbox, but as a constant conversation. Praying while working. Praying while creating. Praying in the quiet and in the chaos. If you’ve ever felt like prayer was distant, awkward, or reserved for “holy moments,” I want to invite you into something deeper and more real.

When you’re in the thick of writing a book, marketing is the first thing we all pretend we’ll “figure out later.” Then launch day hits… and suddenly we’re like, oh. Right. That part matters.In this episode I walk through three really simple ways to start thinking about marketing now, not at the last second. I also talk about why I think Christian writers can’t just throw their words into the void and hope for the best. If God trusted you with a message, it’s worth stewarding all the way through... including getting it into the hands of the people who actually need it.

I’ve been working in 14-day sprints, and honestly, it’s changed my life. Why? Because life isn’t lived year to year... It’s lived in tiny, daily choices. In this episode, I share how rebuilding my habits in short, focused windows helped me get back on track, and how you can actually win this month instead of getting crushed by the whole year.

I’ll be brutally honest. I used to not get worship. The hand waving, the singing, the full surrender. I didn’t understand it. And if I’m being real, I was embarrassed by it. Ashamed, even.How many times do we withhold our praise because we’re worried about how it looks? How often do we offer half-hearted, open-eyed prayers before a meal because we don’t want to stand out?If that’s you, I want to encourage you today.

Today, I’m interviewed by M.B. Springer to share the raw story behind how Jesus Writing Month began, what it eventually became with Story Stewards, and how I came to Christ through it.I hope you enjoy!

I don’t care about New Year’s resolutions. They sound nice and die fast. What actually matters is how you structure the first stretch of the year. In this episode, I break down how I’m thinking about the gap between where you are and where you want to be, and how short-term structure creates real momentum. If you want 2026 to be different, it doesn’t start in December… it starts with how you move right now.

My dear friends, we have officially changed the name of the "Rewind Storytelling Show"... and I am so excited to share the reason why with you all!

The new David movie promised epic storytelling, but did it deliver? I dive into what went right, what went horribly wrong, and why, despite its flaws, it still matters. 

In this episode I talk about George Bailey and the trap he fell into, spending his whole life living in the gap between where he was and where he thought he should’ve been. He had blessings, purpose, and people who loved him, but he couldn’t see any of it because he was always staring at the life he never got to live. And it nearly destroyed him. We dig into how easy it is to slip into that same mindset, how it steals joy, and how God can pull us out of that darkness and show us the truth. If you’ve ever felt like you missed your chance or your life hasn’t gone “the way it was supposed to,” this episode is for you.

This episode might sting a little, but in the best way. God doesn’t need you. He doesn’t need your talent, your plans, your writing, your “I’ll try harder next time.” He is God with or without us. But here’s the beautiful part… He chooses you. He invites you into His work anyway.Today I talk about the freedom that comes from realizing you don’t have to carry the weight of saving the world, fixing everything, or being “enough.” God is already enough... and He simply asks you to walk with Him. If you’ve been burnt-out, striving, or feeling like you’re failing Him… this episode is for you.

There’s nothing like that awful storytelling moment when a character finally starts to change… and then the truth comes out. The lie. The mistake. The thing they didn’t mean that way. Suddenly everything they’ve built shatters. And they’re left saying, “Wait—no… that’s not who I am anymore. You don’t understand.”In this episode I break down how Klaus nails the accidental betrayal beat and why it hits us so deeply. We talk about the moment where old choices catch up with a character who’s trying to do better, how to write that emotional collapse, and how this beat sets up a powerful redemption and defining choice.

Scrooge’s story hits different when you realize he wasn’t always a cold, bitter old man. He was a boy once. A dreamer. Someone who loved and lost and slowly shut himself off from the world. And that’s why his redemption matters so much... because underneath it all, he’s human. Just like us.In this episode I break down why his transformation is so powerful, what it shows us about grace, and why second chances should never be taken for granted.

In this episode, I break down how Elphaba and Glinda’s opposing desires and fears drive their choices, create conflict, and lead to real consequences. If you want to learn how to write characters who challenge each other, push the story forward, and reveal deeper truths through their clashes, this episode will show you how to do it.

Spiritual battles are real and they are fierce. You were never meant to fight alone. In this episode we explore the power of standing with other believers, surrendering yourself alongside them, and how unity becomes your strongest defense against the enemy. Alone we are vulnerable, but together we are unshakable. If you want to resist temptation, overcome attacks on your faith, and stand firm in God’s truth, this episode will show you why community isn’t optional... it’s essential to survival.

Today we’re talking about what it actually looks like to hand your writing over to Jesus. Not just saying we trust Him but actually letting go of the reins and giving Him the entire work in progress. The dreams. The drafts. The pressure we put on ourselves. When we stop gripping our stories so tightly, we finally make space for Him to move. 

Peter only started sinking when he looked away. That’s the whole point of this story. When our focus is on Jesus, the waves don’t always disappear, but they stop ruling our lives. In this episode, I talk about what happens when you take your eyes off Christ, why the storm suddenly feels so loud, and how keeping your focus on Him changes everything.

I’ll be honest — I’m a loner. I’m basically a 21-year-old hermit who loves writing, keeping my thoughts to myself, and pretending I don’t need anyone. But lately, God’s been convicting me: we weren’t made to worship alone.In this episode, I talk about how easy it is — especially for writers — to go through faith and creativity in isolation. I’ll share how avoiding community can rob you of accountability, encouragement, and that powerful experience of worshiping in a room full of believers.We’ll look at what the Bible says about community — “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20) — and why being part of a church body changes everything.If you’ve been trying to do faith, writing, or life all on your own… maybe it’s time to ask: what are you carrying alone that God meant for community?

Walt Disney didn’t wait for permission, for a perfect plan, or for fear to pass. He knew what he wanted and pursued it relentlessly, building worlds that inspired millions. In this episode, I break down three traits we can borrow from Walt to pursue our own creative dreams with faith, focus, and boldness.

I know what it’s like to wake up early and give in to laziness, doom scrolling instead of starting my day. In this episode, I share what I’ve learned about calling on God the moment temptation whispers, because trying to do it alone never works.1 Corinthians 10:13 — “He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”

Charlie Kirk’s assassination ignited in me a desire to truly honor the Sabbath. For so long, like many Christians, I had reduced it to a routine, just the day we go to church. But the Sabbath was never meant to be a checkbox or a schedule. It is a gift, a pause in the rhythm of life, a sacred space to rest, reflect, and reconnect with God. In this episode, I explore what it really means to honor the Sabbath, why it matters deeply for our spiritual and emotional health, and how embracing it can transform the way we live...turning a day of rest into a powerful act of faith and devotion.

In light of the recent assassination on Charlie Kirk, many are feeling shaken, fearful, and uncertain about the future. But as believers, we are reminded that God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7).In this episode, I reflect on what it means to walk in courage when the world feels unstable. Fear is real, but it does not have to define us. The enemy wants us paralyzed; Jesus calls us to live free.Join me for a conversation on how to anchor your heart in Christ, stand strong in your calling, and choose faith over fear, no matter what chaos swirls around us.

It’s one thing when a character first believes a lie — it’s another when they start living like it’s true. This is the scene where your character makes their first conscious choice rooted in that false belief, and the world rewards them for it. In this episode, I break down how to write this pivotal moment so it doesn’t just show what they think, but proves how the lie begins shaping their actions, their relationships, and their story moving forward.