Terra McDaniel joins the podcast this week and brings a new perspective on grief. She shares how many people don’t know how to process mourning and instead struggle to honor their tears, vulnerability, and the full weight of these disillusioning times. She offers several practical ways to express lament and leaves us with hope for moving forward. Terra McDaniel is a spiritual director for adults and children. She spent two decades as a pastor and ministry leader and earned her MDiv at Portland Seminary. McDaniel wrote More Than Ordinary with Doug Sherman and is a regular contributor to the Companioning Center blog. You can check out her most recdent book, Hopeful Lament, and learn more at TerraMcDaniel.com Support the show ****** To support Make It Simple, head to mpm.simple donation.com Check out What Matters Most, daily teachings from Matt Popovits, available wherever you get your podcasts. For more information on MPM, head to mattpopovits.com Support the show

Elrena Evans joins the podcast this week to share her experience as part of a family with special needs. She beautifully shares her story and what inspired her to write a book of prayers for when you don't have the words, and she gives us practical and loving ways to truly be welcoming to everyone, especially people navigating a world not designed for them. It's an empathetic conversation you won't want to miss. Elrena is executive editor of Paper&String, a digital care package celebrating faith, creativity, and beauty in its many forms. She is the author of a short story collection, This Crowded Night, and coauthor of the essay collection Mama, PhD: Women Write About Motherhood and Academic Life. Her books, When I Go To Church, I Belong , and Special Grace are available now. Support the show ****** To support Make It Simple, head to mpm.simple donation.com Check out What Matters Most, daily teachings from Matt Popovits, available wherever you get your podcasts. For more information on MPM, head to mattpopovits.com Support the show

This week, Michelle Thompson is back with Matt & Rachel to discuss perfectionism and shame and shows us grief and acceptance are the pathways to growth. As always, Michelle brings wisdom, warmth, and lighthearted grace to the conversation. You don’t want to miss it. Michelle is the Senior Director of External Relations and Executive Coaching and Consulting, Townsend Institute, Concordia Irvine. As a Leadership and Growth Coach, credentialed as a Professional Certified Coach by the International Coaching Federation, she brings a breadth of executive leadership experience in the non-profit and for-profit sector combined with almost two decades of involvement with the Townsend Growth Model. Support the show ****** To support Make It Simple, head to mpm.simple donation.com Check out What Matters Most, daily teachings from Matt Popovits, available wherever you get your podcasts. For more information on MPM, head to mattpopovits.com Support the show

This week, Steve Theiss joins Matt and Rachel to share about the art and craft of comedy. Steve shares insights into the importance of comedy, making people laugh, and the creative process behind humor. Listeners can gain a deeper understanding of the comedic world and pick up a few tips on injecting humor into their own lives. Steve Theiss writes, improvises, acts, directs, teaches improv, and occasionally sleeps. He used to do these things in New York, but now does them in California, where he lives with his wife and three daughters. Steve has directed music videos, comedy videos, and recently completed a short film. He’s appeared in commercials for USA Today, Peeps, Disney Vacation Club, and more. See some of his work at stevetheiss.com. Support the show ****** To support Make It Simple, head to mpm.simple donation.com Check out What Matters Most, daily teachings from Matt Popovits, available wherever you get your podcasts. For more information on MPM, head to mattpopovits.com Support the show

Bob Hiller joins Rachel & Matt to share about some commonly misunderstood and misused Scripture. It’s a fun and grace-filled episode as they dive deep into three commonly misunderstood Bible verses. Bob shares how to better approach Scripture, and they all land on the other side with a deeper insight into the character of God (Warning… You may come away with a new perspective on some favorite verses). You won’t want to miss this episode! Bob Hiller is the senior pastor of Community Lutheran Church in Escondido, CA. He is the content editor for The Craft of Preaching, a preacher on You Are Forgiven Radio, and a contributor to 1517. He is also a co-host on White Horse Inn Support the show ****** To support Make It Simple, head to mpm.simple donation.com Check out What Matters Most, daily teachings from Matt Popovits, available wherever you get your podcasts. For more information on MPM, head to mattpopovits.com Support the show

This week, Matt and Rachel are back, and talk with author and artist Ned Bustard about the true story of Saint Valentine and his new book Saint Valentine the Kindhearted. They discuss how our understanding of love changes, making stories accessible for children, and art of loving through our kindness. *** You can learn more about Ned and check out his beautiful artwork on IG @NedBustard, and find his books on Amazon and wherever books are sold. Ned Bustard is a graphic designer, children’s book illustrator, author, and printmaker. He is an elder at Wheatland Presbyterian Church, creative director Square Halo Books, Inc., curator of the Square Halo Gallery, and serves on the boards of the Association of Scholars of Christianity in the History of Art (ASCHA) and The Row House, Inc. His book "Saint Valentine the Kindhearted" is available now and retells the story of St. Valentine, a man whose kindness and love inspires us each year. Support the show ****** To support Make It Simple, head to mpm.simple donation.com Check out What Matters Most, daily teachings from Matt Popovits, available wherever you get your podcasts. For more information on MPM, head to mattpopovits.com Support the show

In this special episode, Rachel and Matt speak with their new friend, Matt Randerson. Matt brings a wealth of knowledge and compassion as he shares recent trends presented by the Barna Group regarding intergenerational relationships. He shares insights to help us navigate the generational divides, explains what the cultural labels really mean, and ways we can move forward in community together. Matt Randerson serves as Vice President at Barna Group, working with churches and faith-based organizations to identify their most important opportunities using research. Matt sees research as a way to create confidence and clarity for leaders around their greatest opportunities in the Christian landscape. He lives with his wife and newborn son in Atlanta, Georgia. Support the show ****** To support Make It Simple, head to mpm.simple donation.com Check out What Matters Most, daily teachings from Matt Popovits, available wherever you get your podcasts. For more information on MPM, head to mattpopovits.com Support the show

Re-release of this special episode with VoxCon speaker, Tanner Olson! Enjoy this encore presentation, and catch Tanner this September live at VoxCon 2023. Tickets available at www.GoToVox.com ***** This week, we’re talking with our friend Tanner Olson all about Creativity, and spreading the message of hope through Poetry. Tanner joins Rachel and Matt to talk about how poetry and speaking beautiful words can make an impact in our world. We’re so excited for you to meet our talented friend, Tanner! Tanner Olson is an author, speaker, poet and the founder of Written to Speak which aims to spread hope and announce love through spoken word and poetry. Tanner's writing is a delightful blend of faith, humor, and curiosity that points readers and listeners toward the ultimate source of hope and love, Jesus. He's written three books of poetry: Walk A Little Slower, As You Go: Words for the Unknown, and I’m All Over the Place. Support the show ****** To support Make It Simple, head to mpm.simple donation.com Check out What Matters Most, daily teachings from Matt Popovits, available wherever you get your podcasts. For more information on MPM, head to mattpopovits.com Support the show

Re-release of this special episode with VoxCon speaker, Chad Bird! Enjoy this encore presentation, and catch Chad this September live at VoxCon 2023. Tickets available at www.GoToVox.com ******* Chad Bird joins Matt and Rachel this week as we aim to make sense of hell on the podcast. Chad answers all our burning questions (get it?!) about hell, and helps us understand the often misunderstood theology around this topic. Chad is an author and a Scholar in Residence at 1517. He has served as a pastor, professor, and guest lecturer in Old Testament and Hebrew. He holds master’s degrees from Concordia Theological Seminary and Hebrew Union College. He is also the author of several books, including Night Driving: Notes from a Prodigal Soul. He cohosts two popular podcasts: “40 Minutes in the OT” and “Hidden Streams.” Support the show ****** To support Make It Simple, head to mpm.simple donation.com Check out What Matters Most, daily teachings from Matt Popovits, available wherever you get your podcasts. For more information on MPM, head to mattpopovits.com Support the show

Re-release of this special episode with VoxCon speaker, Katelyn Beaty! Enjoy this encore presentation, and catch Katelyn this September live at VoxCon 2023. Tickets available at www.GoToVox.com ****** Katelyn Beaty (author of Celebrities For Jesus) joins Rachel and Matt to discuss our culture's fascination with famous Christians, and the roll fame and celebrity play in today's popular evangelical figures. We discuss her book and the insights gained from it, as well as how to guard our hearts and find purpose in ordinary faithfulness. Support the show ****** To support Make It Simple, head to mpm.simple donation.com Check out What Matters Most, daily teachings from Matt Popovits, available wherever you get your podcasts. For more information on MPM, head to mattpopovits.com Support the show

Re-release of this special episode with VoxCon speaker, Mike Pacchione! Enjoy this encore presentation, and catch Mike this September live at VoxCon 2023. Tickets available at www.GoToVox.com ***** Mike Pacchione shares with us all the best tips for public speaking! This week, Rachel and Matt talk with their friend, Mike Pacchione. Mike brings his public speaking expertise to the conversation and takes away the stigma of speaking in front of people, whether the crowd is six people over zoom or two hundred people in an auditorium. He also shares why public speaking is a gift for the speaker. It’s a fun conversation between friends, and you’re sure to learn some new tips. Support the show ****** To support Make It Simple, head to mpm.simple donation.com Check out What Matters Most, daily teachings from Matt Popovits, available wherever you get your podcasts. For more information on MPM, head to mattpopovits.com Support the show

This week, we talk to Dr. John Townsend about navigating tricky relationships with difficult people— what we mean when we say someone is “toxic” or find interactions with them continually causing us hurt. It’s a gracious and truth-filled conversation that will help you love the difficult people in your life while also caring for yourself. Dr. John Townsend is a business consultant, leadership coach and clinical psychologist. He has written or co-written 27 books, selling 8 million copies, including the 8 million New York Times best-seller Boundaries, Leadership Beyond Reason, and Handling Difficult People. Support the show ****** To support Make It Simple, head to mpm.simple donation.com Check out What Matters Most, daily teachings from Matt Popovits, available wherever you get your podcasts. For more information on MPM, head to mattpopovits.com Support the show

This week, our summer series continues with a fascinating conversation about the history of the Bible (specifically, how ancient texts have been passed down and what makes the Bible different from other documents). It’s interesting and informative, and you’ll surely learn something new! Jeffrey Kloha, the Chief Curatorial Officer for the Museum of the Bible, manages the Museum of the Bible Education, Scholars Initiative, Exhibits, and Curatorial and Collections departments. Support the show ****** To support Make It Simple, head to mpm.simple donation.com Check out What Matters Most, daily teachings from Matt Popovits, available wherever you get your podcasts. For more information on MPM, head to mattpopovits.com Support the show

Welcome to season 6! This week, Rachel and Matt talk with Chad Lakies and break down Apologetics. It's a conversation about faith and our current culture and what it means to ask and answer, "What does it mean to be "Christian" today?" Join us! Rev. Dr. Chad Lakies is the regional director for North America at Lutheran Hour Ministries, and is a scholar on the intersection of church and culture. Support the show ****** To support Make It Simple, head to mpm.simple donation.com Check out What Matters Most, daily teachings from Matt Popovits, available wherever you get your podcasts. For more information on MPM, head to mattpopovits.com Support the show

This week, Alan Fadling joins the podcast to discuss what it looks like to slow down. He shares the how being unhurried is a rhythm of rest, and more about your soul than your calendar. It’s a conversation that will make you want to take a deep breath in and lean into the good things around you. Alan Fadling is president and founder of Unhurried Living, Inc., inspiring people to rest deeper, live fuller, and lead better. He speaks and consults internationally with organizations such as Saddleback Church, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, Cru, Halftime Institute, Apprentice Institute, and Open Doors International. He is the award-winning author of An Unhurried Leader and An Unhurried Life, which was honored with a Christianity Today Award of Merit in spirituality. He has a new book, "A Year of Slowing Down: Daily Devotions for Unhurried Living." Support the show ****** To support Make It Simple, head to mpm.simple donation.com Check out What Matters Most, daily teachings from Matt Popovits, available wherever you get your podcasts. For more information on MPM, head to mattpopovits.com Support the show

This week, Jared Wilson joins the podcast to talk about Pastors, and shares some inside baseball about what it's like to be a pastor these days. He brings empathy and compassion to the conversation, and reminds us all that sometimes the key to success... is time and experience. It's a surprising conversation that you won't want to miss. Jared Wilson is Assistant Professor of Pastoral Ministry and Author in Residence at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and a pastor and Director of The Pastoral Training Center at Liberty Baptist Church in Kansas City, MO. Jared hosts the For The Church Podcast and co-hosts The Art of Pastoring Podcast. Support the show ****** To support Make It Simple, head to mpm.simple donation.com Check out What Matters Most, daily teachings from Matt Popovits, available wherever you get your podcasts. For more information on MPM, head to mattpopovits.com Support the show

This week, Alan Noble joins the podcast to talk about his new book, On Getting Out of Bed, and considers about the unique burden of everyday life in the modern world. Alan shares how the choice to carry on amid great suffering—to simply get out of bed—is itself a powerful witness to the goodness of life, and of God. Alan Noble (PhD, Baylor University) is associate professor of English at Oklahoma Baptist University, cofounder and editor in chief of Christ and Pop Culture, and an advisor for the AND Campaign. He has written for many publications such as the Atlantic, BuzzFeed, and Christianity Today, and many others. He has also written several books including his latest book, "On Getting Out of Bed." Support the show ****** To support Make It Simple, head to mpm.simple donation.com Check out What Matters Most, daily teachings from Matt Popovits, available wherever you get your podcasts. For more information on MPM, head to mattpopovits.com Support the show

This week, the delightful Jessica Thompson joins the podcast to talk about her new book, He Loved Them, and offers a fresh examination on the love of Jesus. She shares why we all benefit from understanding not only that Jesus loves us, but how he loves us, and how that can change our daily lives. It’s an episode that will hit you in the feels, and leave you feeling loved. Jessica Thompson is co-author of the popular parenting book Give Them Grace: Dazzling Your Kids with the Love of Jesus (with her mother Elyse Fitzpatrick). She is a wife, a mother of three, and the women's director at RISEN church in San Diego. She has a new book "He Loved Them" that looks at Jesus's interactions with real people in Scripture. Support the show ****** To support Make It Simple, head to mpm.simple donation.com Check out What Matters Most, daily teachings from Matt Popovits, available wherever you get your podcasts. For more information on MPM, head to mattpopovits.com Support the show

This week, David Zahl is back to talk with Matt and Rachel about Low Anthropology, and share why the sooner we realize that everyone struggles like we do, the sooner we can show grace to ourselves and others. It’s a really great conversation that will change the way you look at your neighbor (and yourself). David Zahl is the director of Mockingbird Ministries, an organization he founded in 2007. He is editor-in-chief of the Mockingbird blog and cohost of the Mockingcast podcast. David is also an author of multiple books and has written for Christianity Today and the Washington Post. Support the show ****** To support Make It Simple, head to mpm.simple donation.com Check out What Matters Most, daily teachings from Matt Popovits, available wherever you get your podcasts. For more information on MPM, head to mattpopovits.com Support the show

Season 5 kicks off with a great episode with Kelly Flanagan joining Matt and Rachel to talk about companionship. He shares what to look for in true friend, and how companionship is a deeper way of looking at relationships. Kelly is a licensed clinical psychologist and cofounder of Artisan Clinical Associates in Naperville, Illinois. In 2012, he began the now popular blog UnTangled, where he writes weekly about the redemption of our personal, relational, and global lives. He has authored several books, including "The Unhiding of Elijah Campbell" and "True Companions: A Book for Everyone About the Relationships That See Us Through." Support the show ****** To support Make It Simple, head to mpm.simple donation.com Check out What Matters Most, daily teachings from Matt Popovits, available wherever you get your podcasts. For more information on MPM, head to mattpopovits.com Support the show