2 Pastors and a Mic

Hill City

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

  1. 7h ago

    280. Bill Vanderbush "The Sound Of Your Blood Part 1"

    What if some of the things we've believed about ourselves were never true to begin with? In Part 1 of this special message from the CIM Conference, Bill Vanderbush explores identity, belonging, grace, and the Father's heart through the lens of Scripture and personal story. From the challenges of stigma and church culture to the beauty of God's original design for humanity, Bill reminds us that our deepest questions have never been about earning God's love—they've always been about discovering who we've been all along. This conversation dives into themes of identity, the voice we listen to, the power of our words, and the invitation to live from the reality of God's presence rather than from fear, shame, or lack. Along the way, Bill unpacks Genesis, the story of Cain and Abel, the nature of grace, and the radical truth that God has always known and loved you. Whether you're wrestling with questions about faith, deconstruction, identity, or simply wanting a deeper understanding of the Father's heart, this message offers encouragement, challenge, and hope. In this episode: • Walking through stigma and seasons of uncertainty • Why God's presence often feels strongest when idols fall • The Father's heart and the beauty of grace • Recovering forgotten truths from church history • Discovering your true identity • The power of words and human creativity • The lie of lack and the birth of religion • What Cain and Abel reveal about human nature • Living from God's presence instead of fear 00:00 - Introduction & Bill Vanderbush Series 02:22 - A Historically Significant Moment 03:38 - Finding God Beyond the Brand 06:31 - When Idols Come Down 08:02 - Grace, Heresy, and a Better Gospel 09:15 - AI, Church History, and Recovering Ancient Truth 12:03 - Becoming a Grandfather & Seeing the Father's Heart 13:29 - The Sound of Your Blood 15:06 - Transformation Through Renewed Thinking 17:13 - Carrying Divine Wholeness 18:26 - Following the Sound of His Voice 19:14 - Discovering Your True Identity 20:20 - Genesis and Humanity's Original Design 23:06 - How Others Shape Our Identity 25:03 - God's Creative Power Through Words 26:46 - Created in the Image of God 29:00 - Divine Breath and New Creation 30:30 - The Face of a Loving Father 32:39 - The Power to Assign Identity 34:29 - The Lie of Lack and the Birth of Religion 37:01 - Cain, Abel, and the Voice of Blood 38:18 - Rethinking Sin Nature 40:03 - Freedom, Responsibility, and Redemption 42:25 - Attention, Affection, and God's Presence 44:15 - A God Who Wants Friendship 45:08 - Cain, Abel, and the First Church Conflict 45:40 - The Voice of Your Brother's Blood

    47 min

  2. Jun 3

    279. Bill Vanderbush

    In this episode of Two Pastors and a Mic, we sit down with our friend Bill Vanderbush for one of the most honest, thought-provoking, and hope-filled conversations we’ve had on the podcast. We talk about union with Christ, the finished work of Jesus, the roots of ancient Christianity, and why so many people are rediscovering the goodness of God in a fresh way. Bill shares powerful insights from his newest books, opens up about the current state of the Church, and challenges fear-based theology with a Gospel centered on love, identity, and belonging. This conversation explores: • The ancient roots of union theology • Why the Gospel became more about what we do than what Jesus has done • The Council of Nicaea, church history, and modern Christianity • Fear, punishment, and the goodness of God • Why people are deconstructing unhealthy theology • Identity, sonship, and knowing God as Father • The difference between religion and authentic relationship with Jesus • Why “God is better than you think” changes everything Whether you’re deconstructing old beliefs, rediscovering your faith, or simply hungry for deeper conversations about Jesus, this episode is packed with wisdom, grace, and hope. 00:42 - Bill’s Influence on the Podcast 02:44 - Writing for Future Generations 03:41 - The Sound of Your Blood Explained 05:13 - Reaching Deconstructed & New Age Audiences 06:00 - Union Begins in Genesis 07:42 - Identity, Union & Knowing Who You Are 09:25 - Ancient Christianity & Church History 11:23 - How Christianity Became Complicated 13:25 - Salvation, Belief & the Finished Work 15:33 - Ancient Creeds vs Modern Theology 17:23 - Living From Union With Christ 18:29 - Simplifying the Gospel Like Jesus 19:46 - Are We Headed Toward Another Church Council? 21:06 - Returning to a Christ-Centered Gospel 22:30 - Fear-Based Theology & Punishment 24:11 - Honoring Past Generations While Growing 26:16 - The Problem With “Heresy Hunting” 27:22 - God Is Better Than You Think 28:12 - Asking Jesus Directly 29:54 - Rediscovering Wonder & Childlike Faith 32:40 - Healing Orphan Thinking & Family Wounds 33:41 - Where to Find Bill Vanderbush 34:35 - Final Thoughts on God’s Goodness 35:42 - “You’re Loved & There’s Nothing You Can Do About It”

    36 min

  3. May 27

    278. Dr. Shawn Smith

    In this episode of Two Pastors and a Mic, we sit down with Bishop Shawn from Cameroon, Africa for one of the most powerful and eye-opening conversations we’ve had on the podcast. We talk about: • Deconstructing fear-based theology • How colonialism distorted the image of God in Africa • Inclusion, identity, and the finished work of Christ • Recognizing royalty in every person • What it means to truly “see Jesus in others” • Entrepreneurship, ministry, and funding Kingdom work without manipulation • Writing the Gospel in a language the world can understand Bishop Shawn shares incredible wisdom about union with God, healing cultural wounds, and the Gospel as a message of restoration for individuals, families, and entire nations. 00:00 - Welcome & Introducing Bishop Shawn 01:16 - First Guest from Africa 02:44 - Bishop Shawn’s Journey Into Ministry 04:49 - Seeing Jesus Beyond Religion 06:02 - Deconstruction & Colonial Christianity in Africa 08:01 - Teaching Christ Through Culture 09:27 - Christianity & African Identity 11:20 - Recognizing Royalty in People 12:40 - The Guatemala Orphanage Story 13:58 - Identity, Royalty & the Family of God 15:31 - Affirmation Before Performance 16:12 - Ministry & Entrepreneurship 18:18 - Writing Books & Teaching the Gospel 20:00 - “I Think Myself Happy” Explained 21:50 - Why Historical Context Matters 22:27 - Where to Find Bishop Shawn’s Content 23:10 - “I See Jesus In You” Culture 24:06 - Freedom From Intimidation 25:24 - Seeing Jesus in Everyone 26:02 - Final Thoughts & Closing Blessing

    27 min

  4. May 20

    277. 4 Signs You're Moving In The Right Direction

    In this episode of Two Pastors and a Mic, we unpack 4 signs that you’re actually moving in the right direction spiritually, emotionally, and mentally. After weeks of conversations around “Godly Thought or Trauma Response,” we wanted to answer one of the biggest questions we’ve been getting: “How do I know I’m healing?” “How do I know I’m growing?” “How do I know I’m actually becoming free?” This conversation is deeply personal as we continue navigating grief, leadership, deconstruction, healing, and learning how to live from love instead of fear. In this episode, we discuss: • Why fear is no longer our motivation • Spiritual disciplines through love instead of pressure • Vulnerability vs transparency • Healing through safe connection • How to hold tension without panic • Deconstruction, curiosity, and learning to rethink theology • Letting go of the need for approval • Finding identity rooted in love instead of performance We also share some updates about upcoming podcast episodes, interviews with Bill Vanderbush and Dr. Shawn Smith, and what’s ahead this summer for the podcast. 00:00 - Intro & Processing Grief 02:15 - Four Signs You’re Moving in the Right Direction 03:34 - Sign #1: Less Motivated by Fear 04:22 - Spiritual Disciplines Without Fear 05:01 - Fear, Hell, and Financial Freedom 06:26 - Generosity Flowing From Love 07:21 - Love Removes Fear 09:00 - Fear May Whisper, But It Doesn’t Lead 09:47 - Sign #2: Honest About Your Humanity 10:16 - Transparency vs Vulnerability 10:49 - Healing Happens When You’re Heard 11:16 - “I’m Okay, But I’m Not Okay” 12:00 - Why “How Are You?” Matters Differently in Ukrainian Culture 13:53 - Sign #3: Holding Tension Without Panic 14:16 - Deconstruction, Uncertainty & Emotional Processing 15:28 - Letting People Process at Their Own Pace 16:14 - Curiosity, Teachability & Seeing God Better 17:02 - Ted Lasso, Curiosity & Less Judgment 17:24 - Sign #4: Rooted in Love, Not Approval 17:39 - Letting Go of Needing Everyone’s Approval 18:21 - Identity as Sons & Daughters of God 19:02 - Recap: Four Signs You’re Healing & Growing 19:19 - Upcoming Podcast Guests & Summer Series 21:26 - Final Encouragement & Closing Thoughts

    22 min

  5. May 13

    276. Grief Comes In Waves

    This episode is different. After five years of never missing a week, we suddenly disappeared for two weeks… Two weeks ago, we lost one of our best friends — Chris Crawford — unexpectedly at just 46 years old. In this episode, we sit down not with polished answers or a sermon outline, but simply as two grieving friends trying to process heartbreak in real time. We talk honestly about: What grief actually feels like How loss comes in waves The emotional weight of showing up when you don’t want to Why presence matters more than words The tension of holding hope and heartbreak at the same time Some of the unhelpful things people say to grieving people (even with good intentions) Why we felt it was important not to just “move on” too quickly This is a conversation about friendship, loss, pain, love, and learning how to sit with grief instead of trying to fix it. If you’re grieving right now… If someone you love is grieving… Or if you simply need permission to not be okay for a while… we hope this episode reminds you that you’re not alone. More than anything, this conversation reminded us: Sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is simply show up. 00:00 - We’re Back After Tragedy 00:36 - Missing Our First Podcast Weeks in 5 Years 01:07 - Losing One of Our Best Friends 03:03 - How Grief Comes in Waves 04:36 - The Closest Loss We’ve Ever Experienced 05:19 - The Shock of Losing Chris at 46 07:11 - Writing Through Grief & Journaling 08:26 - Why Christians Struggle With Grief 08:58 - Preaching While Grieving 10:24 - Holding Hope and Heartbreak Together 11:54 - Grieving Without Easy Answers 13:14 - The Tension of Comforting People 15:13 - Presence Matters More Than Words 15:45 - A Message That Encouraged Us 18:33 - Grief, Vulnerability & Being Real 20:15 - Show Up for Someone This Week 20:50 - Never Underestimate Presence 21:43 - What’s Next for the Podcast 22:08 - Final Thoughts & Encouragement

    23 min

  6. Apr 22

    275. Godly Thought Or Trauma Response - Meekness vs Self-Abandonment

    What if what you’ve been calling “meekness”... isn’t actually meekness at all? In this episode of Two Pastors and a Mic, we unpack the difference between true biblical meekness and something many of us have unknowingly lived in—self-abandonment. For years, we’ve been taught that being quiet, agreeable, and selfless is spiritual. But what if constantly apologizing, shrinking your voice, and avoiding conflict isn’t humility… it’s a trauma response? We get honest about: Why so many people struggle to speak up or set boundaries The subtle ways self-abandonment shows up (you probably do these without realizing it) The fear underneath it all—rejection, conflict, and being “too much” Why “no” is a complete sentence (and why that’s so hard for us) What meekness actually looks like through the life of Jesus This one gets personal. We share our own struggles with over-apologizing, people-pleasing, and learning to stop shrinking ourselves in relationships. If you’ve ever felt like: “I don’t want to bother anyone…” “Sorry, this might be a dumb question…” “I’ll just stay quiet to keep the peace…” …this episode is for you. Because the truth is: Meekness isn’t weakness. It’s strength under control. And you were never meant to disappear to be accepted. 00:00 - Welcome Back and Podcast Consistency 01:58 - Learning to Celebrate Yourself 02:50 - This Week’s Topic: Meekness vs. Self-Abandonment 03:43 - What Self-Abandonment Looks Like 05:11 - Channock on Feeling Meek but Being Seen as Bold 06:47 - Over-Apologizing and Shrinking Yourself 08:01 - “I Know You’re Busy” and Other Subtle Self-Abandonment Patterns 09:19 - Why “No” Should Be a Complete Sentence 10:05 - Boundaries, Family Pressure, and Over-Explaining 11:06 - Why We Struggle to Say No 12:31 - The Fear Beneath Self-Abandonment 14:23 - What Meekness Actually Is 15:12 - Strength Under Control in the Life of Jesus 16:20 - Why Self-Abandonment Feels So Hard 17:57 - A Simple Shift: Stop Starting with “Sorry” 18:43 - Meekness Does Not Mean Disappearing 19:15 - Final Encouragement to Stop Shrinking Yourself 20:34 - Reflecting on Self-Abandonment in Real Life 21:16 - You’re Loved and There’s Nothing You Can Do About It

    22 min

  7. Apr 15

    274. Godly Thought Or Trauma Response - Productivity vs Rest

    In this episode of Two Pastors and a Mic, we talk about something that gets praised all the time in church culture—but often hides a much deeper issue: productivity without rest. A lot of us were taught that being busy means being faithful. That doing more means you care more. That slowing down feels lazy. That resting means you are falling behind. But what if that constant need to produce is not obedience at all? What if it is actually a trauma response? This week, Cory and Channock unpack the difference between healthy discipline and unhealthy productivity, and why so many of us have tied our worth to our output. They talk honestly about the pressure to always be doing more, the fear of being seen as lazy, the struggle to stop striving, and how rest can feel uncomfortable when your identity has been built around performance. They also share personal stories about ministry, family, work ethic, and the inner voices that make rest feel irresponsible—even when rest is exactly what is needed. In this episode: Why productivity is often praised as spirituality How performance can become tied to identity The fear of being perceived as lazy Why rest can feel uncomfortable and even unsafe How childhood and church culture shape our work habits The difference between inactivity and true rest What Jesus modeled instead of constant striving Simple practical ways to begin choosing rest without guilt This episode is for the person who feels guilty slowing down… For the one who always feels like they should be doing more… For the one who has confused exhaustion with faithfulness. Sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is stop striving. 00:00 - Welcome Back  02:17 - Why Short-Form Theology Feels Frustrating 02:50 - Godly Thought or Trauma Response Series Recap 03:41 - Processing Last Week’s Hypervigilance Episode 05:45 - This Week’s Topic: Productivity vs. Rest 06:30 - When Busyness Gets Praised as Spirituality 07:45 - Can the Performance Bug Ever Go Away? 08:59 - What If Productivity Is a Trauma Response? 09:20 - Channock on the Fear of Being Seen as Lazy 11:27 - The Garage Door Story and Hidden Pressure 14:01 - Cory on Childhood Roots of Overworking 16:30 - When Productivity Becomes Identity 19:06 - What Rest Actually Looks Like 19:51 - Three Things Jesus Never Did 20:28 - Finding Life Outside of Productivity 21:30 - Ministry, Relife, and Protecting Family 23:50 - Rest Is Peace in the Middle of Activity 24:11 - Simple Practices to Start Resting 25:52 - Phone Boundaries and Learning Presence 26:40 - You Are Valuable Without Proving It 27:04 - Final Encouragement and Closing

    28 min

  8. Apr 8

    273. Godly Thought Or Trauma Response - Hyper-Vigilance vs Discernment

    In this episode of Two Pastors and a Mic, we take on a topic that hits closer than most—and often gets misunderstood in church culture: hypervigilance. A lot of us have been taught to call it discernment. “I just feel like something’s off…” “The Holy Spirit is showing me something…” And sometimes that’s true. But other times? It’s not discernment—it’s your nervous system trying to stay safe based on past experiences. In this conversation, Cory and Channock unpack how hypervigilance develops, why it feels so spiritual, and how it can quietly sabotage your relationships, your peace, and your ability to actually be present. They also get honest about their own experiences—from leadership dynamics to marriage and insecurity—and how easy it is to mistake fear for wisdom. The goal isn’t to shame this behavior—it’s to bring awareness so you can begin to move from fear → peace, and from reaction → presence. In this episode: Why hypervigilance often gets mislabeled as discernment What hypervigilance actually looks like (overanalyzing, expecting conflict, reading into everything) The root causes: trauma, broken trust, and unsafe environments How this pattern keeps you stuck in a cycle of fear (and even victim thinking) A personal story of how past relationships can affect present ones The difference between discernment (peace) and hypervigilance (fear) A simple but powerful question: Is there actual evidence something is wrong? A grounding practice: “I’m safe right now” 00:00 - Welcome + Podcast Intro 03:33 - Series Recap: Godly Thought or Trauma Response 04:11 - Today’s Topic: Hypervigilance vs Discernment 05:10 - What Hypervigilance Really Is 05:37 - Personal Example: Church Leadership + Caution 06:42 - Hypervigilance vs Healthy Boundaries 08:34 - What Hypervigilance Looks Like Practically 09:20 - “Something Feels Off” Mentality 10:04 - The Cycle: Staying in Victim Mode 11:02 - Root Causes: Trauma, Broken Trust, Unsafe Environments 12:03 - Why It Doesn’t Just Turn Off 12:44 - When Hypervigilance Becomes Your Identity 14:17 - Calling It What It Is (Not Discernment) 15:18 - Leadership Struggles + Calling Out Insecurity 16:29 - What True Discernment Looks Like 17:37 - Peace vs Fear (Key Difference) 18:30 - The Cost of Living Hypervigilant 19:07 - The Key Question: Evidence or Assumption? 19:22 - Practical Step: “I’m Safe Right Now” 20:03 - Hypervigilance vs Presence 20:14 - Final Encouragement + Why This Matters 21:30 - Closing: You’re Loved

    22 min
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4.8
out of 5
139 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
    281
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 2 Pastors and a Mic
  • Show Website
    2 Pastors and a Mic

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