2 Pastors and a Mic

Hill City

Unfiltered, unedited, and uncommon thoughts from 2 pastors figuring it out as they go.

  1. 2D AGO

    263. Why Some People Get Stuck After Deconstructing

    What do you do when you feel stuck? You’ve awakened to union. You’ve deconstructed beliefs that used to shape your life. You have clarity of thought… but not clarity of direction. And the weird part is: you don’t want to go back — you just don’t know how to move forward. In this episode, we unpack 5 common reasons people get stuck after deconstruction (and why it’s not failure), plus real-life examples of what “stuckness” can look like when your beliefs have changed faster than your life knows how to hold it. We also talk about: Why being stuck isn’t laziness — it might be wisdom The difference between deconstruction and formation How losing a framework can feel like losing belonging Why Sundays can feel “empty” (and how to reframe what Sundays are for) Hypervigilance, certainty addiction, and scanning for what’s wrong How stuckness often ends… when striving ends And we close with a reframe that might change everything: Maybe the question isn’t “How do I get unstuck?” Maybe it’s “What is this season teaching me to release?” 00:00 - Welcome + Like/Subscribe 00:38 - IU Football Wins the National Championship 01:31 - Leadership Lessons From IU’s Turnaround 02:22 - 2026 Life + Union After Deconstruction 02:57 - Today’s Topic: What to Do When You Feel Stuck 03:45 - Stuckness Isn’t More Learning—It’s Living Differently 05:12 - Common “Stuck” Thoughts People Carry 06:15 - Reason #1: Awareness Grew Faster Than Wisdom 10:26 - Reason #2: Lost the Old Framework Before Building a New One 13:56 - Reason #3: Deconstruction Isn’t the Same as Formation 15:41 - Reason #4: Lost External Permission Before Internal Trust 17:14 - Reason #5: Afraid to Rebuild Anything That Resembles the Old Life 20:46 - Reassurance: Feeling Stuck Isn’t Failure 21:51 - “The Meantime Is a Time” + Unlearning the Rush 22:34 - Example #1: Not Arguing Anymore—Just Quieter 23:50 - Example #2: Less Reactive… But Feeling Less Passionate 24:46 - Example #3: Stopped Fixing People—Now What’s My Role? 25:47 - Example #4: Want Community Without the Old Rules 27:16 - Example #5: Waiting Isn’t Laziness—It’s Wisdom 28:48 - Better Question: What Is This Season Teaching Me? 30:16 - When Striving Ends, Stuckness Often Ends 30:43 - Map vs. Compass: Learning to Walk Without Certainty 31:12 - Grace, Patience, and Staying Open to the Spirit 32:02 - Next Episode: Staying Tender Without Becoming Cynical 32:50 - Closing: You’re Loved (Nothing You Can Do About It)

    33 min

  2. JAN 21

    262. What Changes And What Doesn't - After Deconstruction?

    Deconstruction can feel like freedom… until the relief wears off. In this episode of Two Pastors and a Mic, Cory and Channock talk honestly about what really changes after deconstruction — and what often doesn’t. Because many of us have shifted our beliefs about God, the Bible, hell, the devil, and faith… but still find ourselves stuck in the same emotional patterns we learned in the system we left. You might think differently now… but still feel anxious, responsible, pressured, or lonely. In this conversation, you’ll hear: 🧩 Why deconstruction is healthy — and why it’s often necessary ❤️ The real question: do you love better after deconstruction? 🔄 What does change: your opinions, language, and questions 🧠 What often doesn’t change: nervous system patterns, attachment styles, shame responses 😰 The four common “stuck” places after deconstruction: If you’ve ever wondered, “Why do I still feel the same even though I believe something different now?” — this episode will help you name what’s happening and remind you: you’re not broken, you’re not behind, and you didn’t do deconstruction wrong. 👉 Like / Subscribe / Share 💬 Comment below: What changed for you after deconstruction — and what still feels hard? 00:00 - Welcome + Like/Share/Subscribe 00:34 - Why Sharing Creates Better Conversations 01:44 - Today’s Topic: Deconstruction—What Changed and What Didn’t 02:04 - IU vs Miami National Championship Predictions 03:41 - Revisiting the “2:6 Life” + Galatians 5:6 04:53 - Why Deconstruction Matters: Does It Make You More Loving? 06:35 - After the Relief: Why Deconstruction Can Still Feel “Off” 07:44 - New Beliefs, Same Patterns: Emotional Systems & Survival Habits 08:42 - The Goal: Living With What You Know Now 09:20 - What Changed (1): Opinions Shift (Curiosity, Nuance, Less Certainty) 10:50 - What Changed (2): Language Shifts (“The Bible clearly says…,” “God told me…”) 12:37 - What Changed (3): Better Questions (Truth, Identity, Love) 13:30 - What Didn’t Change: Nervous System Patterns & Attachment Responses 14:28 - Didn’t Change (1): Feeling Responsible for Others’ Feelings 16:06 - Didn’t Change (2): Pressure to Get It Right (Certainty as Safety) 18:15 - Didn’t Change (3): Worth Tied to Usefulness (Overfunctioning, Guilt in Rest) 20:37 - Didn’t Change (4): Loneliness Even With Better Beliefs 24:50 - The Hard Part: Being Isolated After Belief Shifts 25:04 - You’re Not Broken: This Is the Next Layer (Notice, Don’t Fix) 26:56 - Next Episode Tease: Why We Feel Stuck After Waking Up 27:53 - Closing: You’re Loved

    28 min

  3. JAN 14

    261. The 2:6 Life

    Welcome back to Two Pastors and a Mic — and welcome to 2026. In this first episode of the new year, Cory and Channock kick off what we’re calling “The 2:6 Life” (1 John 2:6): “If anyone claims to live in Him, they must live as Jesus lived.” But instead of turning that verse into pressure, performance, or behavior modification… we talk about what it looks like to live from union — and to actually integrate what you already know. Because a lot of us don’t need more information… we need transformation that shows up in our relationships, our pace, our nervous system, and the way we carry ourselves in the world. In this episode, we unpack Jesus’ inner posture through the “Four UNs”: UNOFFENDED (not reactive, not self-protective) UNHUSTLED (moving at the speed of trust) UNAFRAID OF SCARCITY (no striving, no lack mindset) UNMANAGED BY PEOPLE’S REACTIONS (not controlled by praise or criticism) And we set up where we’re headed next: learning how to live with what you already know, and unlearning versions of “godliness” that were really just survival. If you’ve ever felt exhausted by spiritual pressure… or you’re hungry to follow Jesus in a way that feels grounded, free, and real — this one’s for you. Like, share, and subscribe — and if you know someone who needs a fresh start to the year, send this episode to them. 00:08 - Welcome + Where You’re Watching From 00:25 - Like/Share/Subscribe + Help Spread the Podcast 00:56 - Why We Started: A Resource Off the Stage 01:13 - Cory’s Sick + First Episode of 2026 01:33 - The “2:6 Life” as the 2026 Theme 01:46 - Shift for 2026: Integration, Not Just More Theology 02:08 - “Apply What You Already Know” (Bible + Union) 02:51 - Knowledge Puffs Up, Love Builds Up 03:37 - 1 John 2:6: “Live as Jesus Did” 04:10 - Inspired vs. Exhausted: Two Ways People Hear It 04:48 - Why It Feels Exhausting: Behavior Modification & Performance 05:13 - WWJD Bracelets + Honesty About Shame-Based Religion 05:55 - Union Changes Everything: Obedience From Intimacy 07:10 - Love First: 1 John 4:16–17 + “We Is Risen” Callback 08:10 - Not Copying Jesus—Sharing His Life 08:22 - Why Jesus Was So Attractive: Inner Posture 09:31 - Trust in the Father + Nervous System Question 10:02 - Does Trust Feel Like Peace or Pressure? 11:06 - The Body Keeps the Score + Religious Trauma 11:47 - The Four “UNs” of Jesus’ Inner Posture 12:21 - UNOFFENDED: Not Driven by Insults or Self-Protection 14:30 - UNHUSTLED: The Speed of Trust (No Hurry) 16:33 - Hustle Isn’t Faithfulness: Demand Doesn’t Direct Jesus 17:02 - UNAFRAID OF SCARCITY: No Striving, No Lack Mentality 19:00 - UNMANAGED by People’s Reactions: Praise & Criticism 20:24 - Recap: The Four UNs + Living the 2:6 Life 20:51 - Walking Like Jesus = Trusting His Source 21:47 - What’s Next: Living With What You Know + Unlearning Survival “Godliness” 22:18 - Upcoming Topics: Trauma Responses, Mourning Loss, Unforced Rhythms of Grace 22:35 - Closing: You’re Loved + Music Outro

    23 min

  4. JAN 7

    260. Laugh With Us, Cry With Us, And Celebrate 2025

    Happy New Year! In this special recap episode, Cory and Channock kick off 2026 by looking back on a wild, emotional, growth-filled 2025. We celebrate wins, share honest behind-the-scenes moments, talk about what we’re carrying into the new year, and name what we’re wrestling with as leaders, husbands, dads, and pastors. From podcast milestones (downloads, top episodes, consistency) to personal wins (books, ministry moments, RELife homes, and the launch of Zoay Intensive), this episode is a reminder that showing up matters — and that hope is still on the table. ✅ Like / Subscribe / Share (especially to start the year) ⭐ Leave a review if the podcast has helped you 💬 Comment below: What’s one win from your 2025 — and what are you hoping for in 2026? 00:08 - Welcome Back + Happy New Year (2026) 00:32 - Matching Sweatshirts + Shoutout to Lakata 00:59 - Why This Yearly Recap Is Happening Now 01:32 - Thank You to Listeners + Start of Year Six 01:54 - Share the Episode to Kick Off the Year 02:19 - Cory’s “Verse for the Year” + The 26 Life (1 John 2:6) 04:19 - Laugh/Cry/Celebrate: The Heart of the Recap Episode 05:01 - Biggest Win: Consistency (Showing Up Every Week) 06:18 - The “Sustaining” Season of Life 06:49 - Podcast Wins: Downloads, Growth, and 100K Milestone 08:07 - Most-Listened Series: “Let’s Talk About Hell” + Shane Willard 08:52 - Cory’s 2025 Personal Wins (Books, eBooks, Sacred Undoing, Zoay Intensive) 10:55 - Channock’s 2025 Wins (20 Years, Book Release, RELife Progress) 14:01 - Family & Life Wins (Kids, Relationships, Soccer Success) 15:41 - Supporting RELife: Housing Initiative for Single Moms 16:36 - Favorite Podcast Episode of 2025 (Channock) 17:13 - Cory’s Favorite Episode: “The Avocado Miracle” 18:25 - Favorite Hill City Sermon/Series of 2025 20:48 - Big Question: What Are You Wrestling With Entering 2026? 21:09 - Channock: Leadership Growth, Uncertainty, and Rest 23:24 - Cory: Taking Time Before Goals + Releasing “Quit” Language 24:00 - Cory Opens Up: The Hardest Three Months + Choosing Joy 26:50 - Closing: Share, Review, and You’re Loved (Outro Music)

    27 min

  5. 12/31/2025

    259. How To Sheath Your Sword In A Violent-Loving Culture

    What if real strength isn’t found in winning arguments—but in knowing when to lay down your rights? In this New Year’s Eve episode of Two Pastors and a Mic, Cory and Channock close out 2025 by unpacking one of Jesus’ most misunderstood teachings: meekness. Drawing from Cory’s final eBook, How to Sheath Your Sword in a Violent Loving Culture, they explore why meekness is not weakness, but strength under control—and why it may be the posture Christians need most in a polarized world. You’ll hear: ⚔️ Why “Blessed are the meek” was a radical, counter-cultural statement 🗡️ What Jesus was really teaching when He told His disciples to bring swords ❤️ How defending Jesus often does more harm than good 🌍 The difference between seizing power and inheriting it 🤝 Why love—not force—is the way of Christ in a culture addicted to domination This conversation invites you to reflect on how you show up in relationships, online spaces, and cultural tension—and what it might look like to enter 2026 with humility, restraint, and courage shaped by love. 📘 Download Cory’s FREE eBooks (all 12) → saintsnotsinners.com 🎧 Explore past episodes & resources → hillcity.tv 💬 Join the conversation: Like, share, subscribe, and leave a review 00:00 - Welcome + New Year’s Eve intro 00:41 - Five years in: favorite parts of the podcast 01:15 - Why archived episodes/resources matter 02:03 - Most-listened series: “Who Is the Devil?” + “Let’s Talk About Hell” 03:18 - Final eBook episode: How to Sheathe Your Sword in a Violent Loving Culture 03:58 - Meekness: a misunderstood Beatitude (and Cory’s tattoo) 04:42 - The cost of modern war: drones, missiles, and “the tension” 06:11 - “Our Christian identity must trump our American identity” 07:29 - Why meekness challenged Cory’s American-Christian framework 08:15 - “A Christmas Sheath” series + definition: strength under control 09:52 - Meekness ≠ weakness: power submitted to love 10:35 - “Sell your cloak and buy a sword”: what Jesus meant 11:08 - Two swords, eleven disciples, Roman soldiers… and “That’s enough” 12:06 - Peter cuts the ear: Jesus heals (the last miracle before the cross) 13:29 - Defending Jesus online: social media as modern sword-swinging 14:08 - Why Jesus rebukes Peter: learning strength under control 14:27 - “Jesus taught them how not to use swords” 14:29 - Tertullian quote: “Christ disarmed all Christians for all time” 14:55 - “Swinging the sword is easy; sheathing it takes strength” 15:12 - Inherit vs seize: Caesar’s way vs Christ’s way 15:51 - Donkey vs warhorse: Palm Sunday symbolism + “Hosanna” 16:43 - Once you see meekness, you can’t unsee it 17:00 - Go download the eBook (meekness in real life) 17:49 - Reflection questions: where you’re tempted to “draw the sword” 18:24 - Closing encouragement for 2026: strength that shows love 19:16 - Resources for listeners + Zoay Intensive mention 19:52 - Sign-off: “You’re loved—and there’s nothing you can do about it”

    20 min

  6. 12/24/2025

    258. How To Pray And Prophesy In The New Covenant

    What if prayer was never meant to be a religious performance—and prophecy was never meant to be scary? In this Christmas Eve episode of Two Pastors and a Mic, Cory and Channock reflect on five years of podcasting and dive into Cory’s eBook How to Pray and Prophesy in the New Covenant. Together, they reframe prayer and prophecy through the lens of union, showing how both flow naturally from awareness, relationship, and love—not fear, formulas, or pressure. This conversation is an invitation to slow down during the holidays and rediscover prayer as something you live, not something you try to get right. You’ll hear: 🎄 Reflections on Christmas, gratitude, and memorable gifts ☕ Why a temperature-controlled mug became a parable for awareness 🔥 How “union” radically changed Cory’s prayer life 🙏 Why prayer is less about asking and more about awareness, rest, and participation 🎨 The 5 expressions of prayer: awareness, rest, pondering, play, and participation 👨‍👦 A powerful picture of prayer through a father-and-son story 🕊️ What prophecy really is (and isn’t): revealing Jesus through encouragement 📖 Paul’s simple test for prophecy: strengthen, encourage, comfort (1 Cor. 14:3) 🤝 Why prophetic words invite partnership—not passive waiting 💬 How anyone can be prophetic by offering love, hope, and presence This episode will help you release fear-based spirituality and step into a prayer life marked by peace, trust, and joy—right in the middle of the Christmas season. Resources from this episode: 👉 Check out Cory's website → saintsnotsinners.com 📚 Explore all free eBooks & resources → https://coryrice.gumroad.com 🌐 Connect with us → hillcity.tv 00:00 - Christmas Eve Welcome + Gratitude 00:18 - Celebrating 5 Years of the Podcast 01:08 - Like/Share/Subscribe + “Most Memorable Gift?” 01:26 - Cory’s Favorite Gift: The Ember Mug (Coffee at 138°) 03:11 - Channock’s Gift Story + “Experiences are better than Things” 05:46 - Intro to Week 11 eBook: Pray & Prophesy in the New Covenant 06:40 - Union Wrecked My Prayer Life (From Checklist to Conversation) 08:53 - Five Reframes: Prayer as Awareness, Rest, Pondering, Play, Participation 10:27 - The Power of Silence, Solitude, and Realignment 12:28 - Why the Disciples Asked Jesus How to Pray 14:00 - “Hey Dad, Can You Help?” A Simple Prayer Picture 15:24 - Prayer as Awareness, Prophecy as Expression 16:05 - Redefining Prophecy: Revealing Jesus 16:55 - The Test of Prophecy: Strengthen, Encourage, Comfort (1 Cor. 14:3) 18:03 - Prophetic Words Require Participation, Not Passive Waiting 19:52 - “Let’s Do It Together”: God Works Through Us 21:05 - Stop Chasing Prophecy—Become Encouragement to Others 22:19 - Prophecy Flows From Union + Get the eBook 22:38 - Reflection Questions + Practical Challenge for Christmas 23:42 - Merry Christmas + Next Week’s Final Episode of 2025 24:01 - Closing: “You Are Loved (Nothing You Can Do About It)”

    24 min

  7. 12/17/2025

    257. How To Hear From God

    What if hearing from God was never about chasing a voice—but awakening to the One already speaking within you? In this episode of Two Pastors and a Mic, Cory and Channock unpack Cory’s eBook How to Hear From God, addressing one of the most common—and most anxiety-producing—questions in the Christian life. Together they dismantle fear-based spirituality, unspook the Holy Spirit, and offer a deeply relational, peace-filled framework for recognizing God’s voice in everyday life. This conversation is especially for anyone who’s ever wondered, “Am I doing this right?” or felt insecure comparing how God “speaks” to others. You’ll hear: 🕊️ Why hearing God isn’t mystical or mechanical—it’s relational 🌊 How peace and the fruit of the Spirit are the clearest indicators of God’s voice 🧠 The difference between the Spirit’s voice and the inner critic (and how spiritual trauma confuses the two) 🔑 Why union means God’s voice often sounds like your voice 📖 A fresh lens on “the deceitful heart” and trusting yourself in Christ 🌱 The 10 “W” ways God speaks—and why they look different for everyone 🔥 How to unlearn fear-based religion and relearn divine intimacy 💬 Reflection questions to help you practice listening with confidence, not pressure This episode invites you to stop striving, start trusting, and remember: you’re never guessing alone—Christ is in you. Resources from this episode: 👉 Check out Cory's website → saintsnotsinners.com 📚 Explore all free eBooks & resources → https://coryrice.gumroad.com 🌐 Connect with us → hillcity.tv 00:00 - Welcome + Like/Share/Subscribe 00:39 - Reviews + How to Reach Us (Email/Questions) 00:47 - GAN Network Update + Episode 257 + Christmas Banter 01:19 - Intro to Cory’s eBooks + Why This Topic Matters 02:03 - Today’s Topic: How to Hear From God 02:38 - Shoutout Don Keathley + Why This Question Is So Common 03:31 - Key Line: “Hearing God isn’t mystical or mechanical—it’s relational” 05:05 - Why It’s Confusing: No One-Size-Fits-All + Peace as a Sign 06:41 - A New Framework: Sermon on the Mount + Fruit of the Spirit 07:28 - Spiritual Trauma + Misusing “God told me” 08:17 - Inner Critic vs. God’s Voice (Hillary McBride Insight) 08:54 - The 10 “W” Ways God Speaks (Overview) 09:39 - Two Big Ones: Witness of Peace + Waves of Thought 10:54 - Wisdom + Multitude of Counselors (Avoiding Confirmation Bias) 11:54 - “You Should Trust Yourself” Sermon + Union With the Spirit 12:52 - “Deceitful” Heart vs. “Mysterious” Heart (Jeremiah Reframe) 13:30 - Unspooking the Holy Spirit: The Five C’s 14:38 - Reading the Closing: “There’s No Separation” (Union + Rhythm) 16:17 - Union Changes Prayer + Unlearning Spiritual Trauma 17:40 - Encouragement to Download the eBook 18:26 - Reflection Questions + Final Charge 19:36 - Sign Off: “You are loved—and there’s nothing you can do about it.”

    20 min

  8. 12/10/2025

    256. How To Understand The Gospel And Share It Effectively

    What if real evangelism was never meant to feel like selling… but like loving?  In this episode of Two Pastors and a Mic, Cory and Channock unpack Cory’s free eBook “How to Understand the Gospel and Share It Effectively.” They challenge the old pressure-driven models of church outreach and invite listeners into a relational, grace-based vision of evangelism rooted in identity, belonging, and reconciliation. This episode is all about clearing the fog around the gospel and rediscovering the heart behind sharing it — not urgency, not assignments, not agenda… but presence, peace, and people. You’ll hear: 🔥 Why the gospel doesn’t demand your faith — it supplies it ⚖️ The difference between retribution-based judgment and restoration-based justice 🌱 Why success starts in identity, not hustle or hurry 👥 How evangelism becomes toxic when people turn into assignments ❤️ The scandalous truth: Jesus accepted you — before you ever accepted Him 📜 Why we were created in Christ, not Adam 💧 The 5 keys to sharing the gospel without pressure: 🧠 Reflection questions that help you rethink how you see people and share good news If you’ve ever felt crushed by performance Christianity or confused by the point of sharing the gospel in a union-based faith, this episode will help you breathe deeper and believe better. 👉 Check out Cory's website → saintsnotsinners.com 📚 Explore all free eBooks & resources → https://coryrice.gumroad.com 🌐 Connect with us → hillcity.tv 00:00 - Intro & Welcome 00:08 - Same Clothes Joke 00:19 - Pre-Recording Explanation 00:25 - Shoutout: Harrison in Hawaii 00:38 - Like, Share, Subscribe 00:46 - Podcast Review Celebration 01:01 - Thank You to Listeners 01:07 - Review Requests & Contacting Us 01:32 - eBook Series Overview 02:26 - When Success Felt Worthless 03:00 - Control What You Can Create 03:26 - Children’s Book Promo Tension 03:43 - Christmas Stocking Stuffers Fun 04:10 - Introducing Today’s Topic 04:44 - What Is Evangelism? 05:02 - Early Union Conversations 05:22 - Evangelism as Reconciliation 06:19 - Fear-Based Gospel vs. Pressure 07:11 - Purpose of Writing This eBook 08:34 - Belief Doesn’t Make It True 09:31 - God Accepted You First 10:13 - The Masterpiece Origin 10:39 - Created in Christ, Not Adam 11:00 - What Is Salvation, Really? 12:09 - Saved For Something 12:30 - Gospel Isn’t Sales, It’s Living 13:05 - The Beautiful Gospel Lens 14:01 - Reconciliation Is Your Ministry 15:18 - Calling the Sun Out in People 16:25 - 5 Keys to Sharing the Gospel 16:28 - #1 Lead with Relationship 16:39 - #2 Let Curiosity Lead 17:02 - #3 Share Stories, Not Just Scriptures 17:13 - #4 Let the Spirit Set the Pace 17:32 - #5 Model the Kingdom First 17:41 - Understanding Gospel Takes the Pressure Off 19:30 - Listener Reflection Questions 20:01 - Final Encouragement & Love Reminder 21:22 - Sword-Sheathing eBook Mention 21:32 - Outro Sign-Off 21:43 - You Are Loved Closing

    22 min
See All (264)

4.8
out of 5
137 Ratings

About

Unfiltered, unedited, and uncommon thoughts from 2 pastors figuring it out as they go.

Information

  • Creator
    Hill City
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    264
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 2 Pastors and a Mic
  • Show Website
    2 Pastors and a Mic

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