2 Pastors and a Mic

Hill City
  • 4.8 (137)
  • RELIGION & SPIRITUALITY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

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

  1. 1D AGO

    266. Living Faith Without Needing Certainty

    In this episode of Two Pastors And A Mic, we tackle one of the hardest (and most freeing) parts of the faith journey: what it looks like to follow Jesus without needing to be certain about everything. A lot of us were formed in environments where certainty = faith… where having the “right answer” felt like safety, belonging, and control. But when deconstruction (or just honest questions) starts pulling at those threads, it can feel like you’re losing your footing—even when you’re actually gaining clarity. So we talk about the sin of certainty, why black-and-white theology feels stabilizing, and why learning to live in the “gray” isn’t weakness—it might actually be the strongest version of faith. We unpack: Why uncertainty often feels like “stuckness” (Stuck 2.0) How seminary trained many of us to respond instead of think A real-time example of cognitive dissonance (who actually killed Goliath?) The difference between certainty and trust 3 practical ways to live a faith that stays present, relational, and curious Why questions don’t mean you’re losing faith—they might mean you’re growing If you’ve ever thought, “If I’m not sure… am I still a Christian?” — this one’s for you. 👇 Drop a comment: What’s one area where you’re learning to hold faith without needing certainty? 00:00 - Welcome Back + Like/Subscribe 01:19 - Quick Recap: The “26 Life” + Deconstruction Series 03:16 - Today’s Topic: Faith Without Certainty 03:48 - “The Sin of Certainty” + Learning/Unlearning/Relearning 04:55 - Uncertainty = Stuck 2.0 (Why It Feels So Hard) 05:48 - Seminary Training: Answers Over Nuance 07:18 - “How to Respond” vs “How to Think” 08:25 - Why Black-and-White Feels Safer Than Gray 09:35 - Who Killed Goliath? A Real-Time Certainty Test 11:20 - Apologetics Reframed: Defending Your Life, Not Arguments 12:56 - Why Dogmatism (Even About Grace) Is a Trap 13:15 - Losing Certainty Feels Like Losing Footing 14:30 - Certainty Impacts Emotional Security + Belonging 15:32 - Certainty as Control + Fear of Uncertainty 17:46 - Cognitive Dissonance: Why We Double Down 20:06 - Uncertainty: Losing Control, Gaining Freedom 20:55 - Certainty vs Trust (Answers vs Relationship) 22:07 - Faith Without Certainty: 3 Practices 22:12 - Stay Present Instead of Forcing Conclusions 23:01 - Let Relationship Lead Before Explanation 23:47 - Choose Curiosity Over Defensiveness 25:02 - Identity Attachment: Why Disagreement Feels Personal 26:06 - Signs You’re Growing: Calm, Curious, “I Don’t Know” 27:57 - Presence Over Proof + Belonging Over Being Right 28:30 - When Beliefs Shift, Relationships Strain 29:32 - You’re Not Losing Faith—You’re Carrying It Differently 30:12 - Next Week Tease: Navigating Relationships When You Change 30:35 - Closing: You’re Loved (Nothing You Can Do About It)

    31 min

  2. FEB 11

    265. Rebuilding Trust Through B.R.A.V.I.N.G.

    In today’s conversation, we’re talking about something almost everyone has to rebuild at some point—trust. If you’ve been dismissed, disappointed, shunned, or wounded by church culture, you know how quickly trust can fracture… not just with people, but with yourself and even with God. So we break it down like a three-legged stool: ✅ rebuilding trust with others ✅ rebuilding trust with yourself ✅ rebuilding trust with God And then we get super practical by unpacking Brené Brown’s “BRAVING” framework—a simple but powerful way to name exactly what was broken, so you can actually rebuild it with clarity (instead of vague “I just don’t trust you anymore” statements). Drop a comment: Which part of trust is hardest for you to rebuild—trusting others, trusting yourself, or trusting God? 00:00 - Welcome + quick housekeeping (reviews, sharing) 02:57 - The “2:6 Life” theme for 2026 (1 John 2:6) 03:35 - Recap: deconstruction, stuckness, and staying tender 04:18 - Today’s focus: rebuilding trust (self, others, God) 05:24 - The “three-legged stool” of trust (how each affects the others) 06:02 - Why trust matters: you weren’t meant to live isolated 07:01 - Trust in church spaces: “You don’t have to trust us” + earning trust 08:05 - Trust is rebuilt through experience, not explanation 09:28 - What betrayal/broken trust actually breaks (and why wording matters) 13:15 - Nuance: disagreement vs dishonor vs relationship removal 15:27 - Layer 1: rebuilding trust with leaders/communities 16:24 - Layer 2: rebuilding trust with yourself (discernment + red flags) 17:29 - Layer 3: rebuilding trust with God (prayer, numbness, expectations) 18:57 - What trust is (and what trust is NOT) 20:13 - Introducing Brené Brown’s “BRAVING” framework 21:34 - B — Boundaries (doors with hinges, not walls) 22:54 - R — Reliability (do what you say you’ll do) 23:50 - A — Accountability (own it, apologize, make amends) 24:44 - V — Vault (confidentiality + why it matters) 29:34 - I — Integrity (values in action, courage over comfort) 29:59 - N — Non-judgment (ask for what you need without shame) 30:29 - G — Generosity (most generous interpretation / benefit of the doubt) 31:39 - BRAVING recap + why specificity helps rebuild trust 32:02 - Next week teaser: living faith without certainty (“the sin of certainty”) 32:21 - Closing encouragement + “you’re loved” outro

    34 min

  3. FEB 4

    264. How To Stay Tender Without Becoming Cynical

    In this episode of Two Pastors and a Mic, we keep walking out what we’re calling the 2:6 Life - Anyone who claims to live in Him must live as Jesus did” (1 John 2:6). And today we go straight into a tension a lot of us feel after deconstruction, church hurt, or betrayal: How do you protect your heart…without closing it off completely? Because for many of us, cynicism starts to feel like wisdom. It promises we won’t be surprised again, disappointed again, or fooled again. But over time, cynicism doesn’t just guard the wound—it can quietly starve the heart: connection, wonder, curiosity, hope. So we talk about the difference between: Discernment vs. distancing Wise boundaries vs. emotional retreat Self-protection vs. staying tender And we get super practical with real-life examples—how cynicism shows up in relationships, leadership, church spaces, and even the way we interpret “good” stories. We also give a few ways to stay tender without being naive—because tenderness isn’t fragility… it’s availability (with boundaries). If you’ve ever felt yourself growing colder, pulling back, or assuming the worst just to stay safe… this one’s for you. 00:00 - Welcome to Two Pastors and a Mic (Episode 264) 00:46 - The 2:6 Life Theme: Living Like Jesus (1 John 2:6) 01:33 - Quick Recap: Deconstruction + Feeling Stuck 02:09 - Today’s Topic: Protect Your Heart Without Closing It 03:10 - Cynicism vs Tenderness: The Heart Posture Tension 04:37 - Why Cynicism Creeps In After Church Hurt 05:50 - Discernment or Cynicism? Processing the Difference 07:19 - What Cynicism Promises: No Surprise, No Disappointment, No Fooling 08:21 - Real-Life Example: “What’s the Catch?” When Good Things Happen 10:33 - Discernment vs Distancing: Staying Present vs Staying Safe 11:46 - How Hearts Harden: Disappointment Fatigue 13:50 - Polished Answers + Emotional Retreat (Not Strength) 14:13 - Why Tenderness Feels Dangerous After Betrayal 15:53 - Tenderness Isn’t Fragility: It’s Availability + Boundaries 16:31 - Real-Life Example: Naming Hurt Calmly Instead of Disappearing 17:42 - Tenderness Heals: Cynicism Shrinks, Tenderness Expands 19:35 - Practical Steps: Stay Curious Longer Than Certain 21:01 - Let Disappointment Teach You, Not Define You 21:37 - Speak Honestly Without Rehearsing Your Exit 22:28 - Counseling Story: One Foot In, One Foot Out 24:05 - The Invitation: Stay Reachable to Goodness Again 24:52 - Tenderness + Boundaries: Wise Without Being Cold 25:40 - Next Week Tease: Trusting God and Trusting Yourself Again 25:54 - Wrap-Up: Cynicism Robs Connection

    27 min

  4. JAN 28

    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

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. 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
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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
    267
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 2 Pastors and a Mic
  • Show Website
    2 Pastors and a Mic

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