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Episode 237: AI, Human Dignity, and the Future of Being Human
Jun 12, 2026
Unknown duration
Episode 236: Pilgrimage, Pickpockets, and Paul
Jun 5, 2026
Unknown duration
Episode 235: Faith After Tragedy (with Laura Husband)
May 22, 2026
Unknown duration
Episode 234: Inside NASA (with Jimmy Wanner, NASA Engineer)
May 15, 2026
Unknown duration
Episode 233: Soul Work with Jerry Webber
May 8, 2026
Unknown duration
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| Date | Episode | Topics | Guests | Brands | Places | Keywords | Sponsor | Length | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6/12/26 | ![]() 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, influences our relationships, and challenges our understanding of what it means to be human.The conversation touches on social media algorithms, political polarization, Christian formation, human identity, and why the most important question may not be whether technology is good or bad, but who we are becoming while we build it.Plus, the hosts discuss the dangers of reducing people to labels, the importance of seeing others as image-bearers of God, and whether AI might someday replace the voices on the other end of customer service calls. | — | ||||||
| 6/5/26 | ![]() 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. The conversation dives into sacred spaces, Christian history, the power of community, and how stepping away from everyday routines can open us to transformation.Along the way, they share memorable moments from the trip, discuss the importance of experiencing biblical history firsthand, and even recount a few encounters with Roman pickpockets and unforgettable Italian meals.Whether you've been on a pilgrimage before or have always wondered what makes these journeys meaningful, this episode offers a glimpse into how travel, faith, and shared experiences can deepen our understanding of God and one another. | — | ||||||
| 5/22/26 | ![]() 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 at just 12 years old.Together, Matt and Laura explore what it means to navigate public grief, wrestle with abandonment and loss, and discover the presence of God in suffering. They discuss counseling, healing, storytelling, forgiveness, and the ways our deepest wounds can become places of connection and hope for others.Laura also shares about her new podcast, Stories That Serve, where she invites guests into meaningful conversations about how pain, healing, and faith can shape lives that serve others.This episode is honest, vulnerable, hopeful, and full of wisdom for anyone walking through grief, loss, or the process of healing.Links & ResourcesFollow Laura Husband:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelaurahusbandStories That Serve Podcast:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/storiesthatservepodcastYouTube: https://m.youtube.com/@StoriesThatServeAll Platforms & Links:https://linktr.ee/storiesthatserve | — | ||||||
| 5/15/26 | ![]() 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 at NASA working on projects including Orion, the Space Shuttle, Gateway, and future lunar habitat systems.The conversation explores everything from lunar dust and ion propulsion to space station living, flat earth conspiracies, sci-fi movies, and the spiritual awe that comes from seeing Earth from space. Jimmy also shares how NASA is preparing for permanent human presence on the moon and why the moon is only the first step toward Mars.It’s a fascinating conversation about science, engineering, wonder, and what humanity’s future in space could look like. | — | ||||||
| 5/8/26 | ![]() 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, dormancy, weakness, and even loss can become sacred teachers in our spiritual lives.Together, they explore the imagery of vineyards, old vines, mystics, and spiritual practices that help us slow down long enough to notice where God is already at work within us. From Thomas Merton and Richard Rohr to the “dark night of the soul,” this episode is an invitation to move beyond performance-driven faith and toward deeper awareness, attentiveness, and connection.Whether you’re navigating a difficult season, searching for spiritual grounding, or simply curious about contemplative spirituality, this conversation offers practical wisdom and hopeful perspective. | — | ||||||
| 5/1/26 | ![]() 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 his faith after 9/11, Shariq shares how his journey led him to build bridges across faiths and cultures. Together, they unpack misconceptions about Islam, the meaning of Sharia, and the role of culture vs. religion.But more than anything, this episode is about connection—how simple conversations, curiosity, and proximity can dismantle fear and reshape the future of our communities.If we don’t talk to our neighbors… what are we really building? | — | ||||||
| 4/24/26 | ![]() 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, how curiosity can become a path toward healing, and why authenticity matters more than polished answers in an AI-driven world.Ericka shares her background in theological studies, including graduate work at Rice University focused on sexuality in the Bible and seminary research on soul-body integration and embodiment. Through her podcast, Curiously with Ericka Graham, she creates space for conversations at the intersections of faith, religion, science, mental health, and more.Website: https://curiouslywitherickagraham.simplecast.comThis episode is honest, hopeful, intellectually rich, and full of moments that will stay with you long after it ends. | — | ||||||
| 4/17/26 | ![]() Episode 230: From ChatGPT to Chianti✨ | artificial intelligencecreativity+7 | — | ChatGPTChianti+1 | ChiantiItaly | ChatGPTChianti+4 | — | 29m 01s | |
| 4/3/26 | ![]() Episode 229: No Resurrection Without the Cross✨ | Holy Weeksuffering+5 | Michael Sciretti | the Center for Christian SpiritualityNo Resurrection Without the Cross | — | Good Fridaysilence+2 | — | 43m 59s | |
| 3/27/26 | ![]() Episode 228: Urgency Isn’t Faithfulness✨ | faithfulnessurgency+3 | — | — | — | silencecomplicity+3 | — | 51m 52s | |
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| 3/20/26 | ![]() Episode 227: Your Brain After Midnight✨ | brain scienceanxiety+2 | — | Your Brain After Midnight. | — | midnight thoughtsnight narrator+3 | — | 51m 32s | |
| 3/13/26 | ![]() Episode 226: Revisiting Richard Rohr✨ | Richard RohrGood Friday+4 | — | Pod Have Mercy | — | crucifixionviolence+5 | — | 18m 07s | |
| 3/6/26 | ![]() Episode 225: ICONOCLAST ARTISTS✨ | artpoetry+3 | Bill MoranClaudia Crane | ICONOCLAST ARTISTS | HoustonGalveston | Iconoclast Artistsyoung writers+3 | — | 37m 17s | |
| 2/27/26 | ![]() Episode 224: Unity, Growth & Perseverance (Bishop Ande Emmanuel)✨ | UnityGrowth+7 | Bishop Ande Emmanuel | the United Methodist ChurchUnited Methodist Church+1 | NigeriaSenegal+2 | United Methodist ChurchNigeria+4 | — | 52m 16s | |
| 2/20/26 | ![]() Episode 223: When We Lose Someone We Love✨ | griefloss+2 | Dr Michelle Forrester | ChapelwoodPod Have Mercy | — | Bobby WooleyChapelwood+2 | — | 15m 01s | |
| 2/13/26 | ![]() Episode 222: WHAT IS RAGE BAIT?✨ | rage baitdigital age+6 | Rev Dr William Barber IiiSpeaker Mike Johnson | the Oxford Dictionary’sthe Ten Commandments | Kingdom | Super Bowl halftime controversyTen Commandments legislation+4 | — | 43m 41s | |
| 2/6/26 | ![]() Episode 221: Bobby Wooley✨ | addictionrecovery+4 | Bobby Wooley | — | — | Jesus with skin onfaith tools+3 | — | 54m 19s | |
| 1/30/26 | ![]() 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, baptismal vows, and real stories from the life of the church, they ask a deeper question: What if the statement isn’t something we release but something we live?This conversation covers:Why cause and effect are rarely immediate or simpleThe difference between declarative statements and communal discernmentBaptismal vows as the church’s enduring public witnessThe biblical language of lament and why we’ve lost itHow outrage and doomscrolling shape our soulsWhat it looks like to resist evil, injustice, and oppression in real, tangible waysRather than forming communities of loathing, we’re invited back to the radical, costly love of Jesus - a love that resists cheap answers, refuses performative faith, and chooses faithful presence over instant reactions. | — | ||||||
| 12/12/25 | ![]() 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 Christmas is both magical and mildly chaotic for pastors and why it still matters so deeply.John and Joseph swap stories about Christmases past, what happens when a printer accidentally mails last year’s Christmas Eve service times (yes, including the nonexistent 9 PM service), and how sacred rhythms get disrupted and sometimes healed over time. They explore the grief that can accompany change, the beauty of new seasons in the church, and the hilarious realities of ministry life, including late-night toy assembly, drum sets for toddlers, and why Santa is absolutely still real. | — | ||||||
| 12/5/25 | ![]() 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 mental, spiritual, and emotional life.Joel opens up about building businesses, walking through recovery, and the surprising moment he realized that productivity alone couldn’t create contentment. What followed was the creation of his Gratitude Framework, a blend of morning and evening practices designed to increase awareness, purpose, intentionality, and resilience in everyday life.From neuroscience to spiritual disciplines, from surrender to joy, Joel explains how gratitude has rewired his mindset and transformed his relationships, especially within his family. He also shares how he’s expanding the practice online through his daily gratitude posts and upcoming video series.Connect with Joel:• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realjoelmoore• Weekly Substack Newsletter: https://gratefuljoel.substack.com/ | — | ||||||
| 11/26/25 | ![]() 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, awkward comments, and the stress some people feel going into the holidays, this episode is an honest, warm, and funny look at what Thanksgiving is really like for many families.John and Matt share their favorite childhood Thanksgiving memories, stories from their grandparents’ house, and the unforgettable oyster moment that has followed Matt for decades. They talk about the topics families often try to avoid like politics, religion in certain situations, past grievances, food and body comments, and the pressure around kids and grandkids. Their conversation blends real pastoral insight with humor, honesty, and relatable family moments.They also explore how to keep the peace at the table, how to create a healthier holiday atmosphere, how to handle tense family dynamics, and why kindness, patience, and gratitude matter more than anything else during the holidays. Between Paul Hollywood look-alike jokes, Texas vs Georgia barbecue debates, and stories about hunting, cooking, and family traditions, this episode captures the spirit of Thanksgiving in all its messy and meaningful reality.If you need a break from your own family gathering, or you're preparing for the upcoming holiday weekend, this episode is the perfect escape.Happy Thanksgiving from Pod Have Mercy. | — | ||||||
| 11/21/25 | ![]() 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 in two different denominations?”Their warm, candid conversation explores:Growing up Methodist, shifting into Baptist life, and how each found their unique callingWhat ministry really looks like behind the scenes (hint: it’s not endless theological debates)How holiday gatherings actually go in the Stephens familyStories about their mother (who makes a guest appearance off-camera with hand signals)The daily realities, frustrations, surprises, and joys of leading churchesHow Matt is revitalizing multiple congregations across Columbus, GAWhy church revitalization matters now more than everIt’s a funny, heartfelt, down-to-earth episode about faith, family, calling, and what ministry looks like when the cameras are off and the holidays roll around.Make sure to like, subscribe, and share, especially if you’re listening from Columbus, Georgia! | — | ||||||
| 11/14/25 | ![]() 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 his background as an artist, pastor, author, and public theologian, Bishop Doyle reflects on:How technology forms—and often malforms—our imaginationsWhy embodied community, nature, and real relationships matter more than everThe difference between charity and justiceThe church’s calling to offer a different imagination than the culture around usWhy leaning into community, mercy, and service changes usHow discipleship must evolve in a world facing inequality, climate pressures, and isolationHe also shares stories from his newest book Unabashed Faith, reflects on reconciliation, creativity, and public theology, and even talks Jeeps, camping, and the spirituality of being outdoors.This episode is a hopeful, challenging, and grounding invitation to imagine a new way forward—one rooted in mercy, dignity, justice, and the presence of Christ in the everyday.Learn more about Bishop Doyle:https://www.epicenter.org/about/the-diocese/bishops/the-rt-rev-c-andrew-doyle-ix-bishop-of-texas/ | — | ||||||
| 11/7/25 | ![]() 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 unpack the data, explore why many parents feel unequipped to talk about faith, and discuss what a true partnership between families and the church could look like.From “dry cleaner youth ministry” to the importance of everyday discipleship, they reflect on how parents can model authentic faith and how the church can better support them along the way. | — | ||||||
| 10/31/25 | ![]() 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 Halloween with nuance and grace.From animism and All Saints’ Day to trick-or-treating and Dia de los Muertos, they explore how Christians can honor the past, engage the present, and teach the next generation to see light in the midst of shadows. Along the way, they unpack the thin veil between life and death, share stories of family traditions, and ask what it really means to be “faithfully present” in our culture.Whether you’re turning off the porch light or heading out for Trunk or Treat, this episode will help you see the holiday and the holy days that surround it with new eyes. | — | ||||||
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