THE ROOTED TCK

THE ROOTED TCK

4.8 (13)
CHRISTIANITY

THE ROOTED TCK Podcast is a community where we unpack the pressures of TCK life to grow deeper in faith, friendships, and confidence that God cares about every part of our stories. THE ROOTED TCK is a ministry of LAC; but whoever you are, wherever you are, you are welcome to join us! Tune in for a new episode the first of every month! www.therootedtck.com

MAR 1

5.2. Gratitude & Purpose (with Michael Southerland)

On this episode, we talk with Michael Southerland, a TCK to The Netherlands and Wales. You’ll hear him share thoughts to TCKs and parents alike on shifting your perspective to gratitude, managing anxiety, and finding purpose in your life’s season. Michael is wise beyond his years so you’ll definitely want to soak up as much as you can from this episode. What questions do you have about this episode? How can we help support you or your TCK? We’d love to hear from you! Connect with us HERE. HOSTS: Michelle Ellis, John Michael Caldwell, Nicole Caldwell SONG: Sunscreen by Vic Davi CONNECT WITH US: Instagram | Facebook | Email Us CHAPTERS:0:00 - 1:07 | Introduction1:07 - 7:24| Getting to Know Michael7:24 - 14:42 | Introducing MK Debate14:42 - 22:58 | Navigating Through Transition & Change22:58 - 32:00 | Suffering & Gratitude32:00 - 45:28 | Thoughts for Parents of MKs45:28 - 52:23 | Discipleship, Formation & Purpose52:23 - 58:15 | Closing Thoughts & Final Encouragement SHOW NOTES:6:05 | Dutch Orange Wave30:16 | Acts 5:40-42 - “…The apostles left the high council rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus…”35:46 | Philippians 4:6-7 - “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”53:07 | Galatians 6:9 - “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” KEY QUOTES:22:19 | “The season of life you're in isn't forever and it's got an expiration date and eventually you will move on to something new.”23:30 | “Most of the time the most forming things that happen in me are happening through suffering.” 25:52 | “Everything that's within discipleship to Jesus can't just be thoughts, it has to be put into action.”27:41 | “There's something within us that struggles to believe God. ‘Can my life really be given to You in a way where You're going to take care of me?’”30:45 | “The peace that transcends understanding has to come from a place of saying, ‘God, I'm going to trust you even though I don't really know what's going on.’”31:01 | “Prayer is not performance, it's just honesty.”33:53 | “Your kids are your compass, not your cargo.” (Tim Southerland)Interested in partnering with John Michael & Nicole in prayer, one-time giving, or monthly giving? Do that HERE. COMMON TERMS:TCK - third culture kidMK - missionary kidLAC - Latin America Caribbean

58 min
FEB 1

5.1. Thoughts on Perseverance & Anxiety

On this episode, you’ll hear some exciting announcements you won’t want to miss. The team then shares some encouragement for TCKs about success, perseverance, and anxiety. You’ll hear reminders about God’s all-sufficient grace and sovereignty over every aspect of our lives. What questions do you have about this episode? How can we help support you or your TCK? We’d love to hear from you! Connect with us HERE. HOSTS: THE ROOTED TCK SONG: Sunscreen by Vic Davi CONNECT WITH US: Instagram | Facebook | Email Us CHAPTERS: 0:00 - 0:49 | Welcome to Season Five 0:49 - 2:41 | Exciting Announcements 2:41 - 7:03 | Reflections on Past Retreats 703 - 10:45 | New Years Goals & Resolutions 10:45 - 15:38 | Encouragement for TCKs 15:38 - 24:29 | Dealing with Pressure & Anxiety 24:29 - 29:43 | God’s Sovereignty & Grace 29:43 - 34:53 | Closing Thoughts & Final Encouragement SHOW NOTES: 20:16 | 2 Corinthians 12:9 - “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” 26:47 | Romans 8:28 - “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” 29:42 | Ephesians 3:16-21 - “…And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is…” KEY QUOTES: 13:13 | “It's not about being perfect the first time. It’s about persevering even through failure.” 13:33 | “You are built for more. You are made for more.” 14:14 | “You just have to give yourself grace and give people around you grace.” 20:49 | “You have limitations and that is not a sign of weakness.” 25:39 | “Anxiety is not your identity.” 27:29 | “Don’t have an iron grip on what you think has to happen.” Interested in partnering with John Michael & Nicole in prayer, one-time giving, or monthly giving? Do that HERE. COMMON TERMS: TCK - third culture kid MK - missionary kid LAC - Latin America Caribbean

33 min
12/01/2025

4.11. Hope of the World (with the Caldwells, Re-Release with Colton Shrader)

On this episode, John Michael and Nicole Caldwell share some of their Christmas traditions and memories growing up in Uruguay and the United States. They also share some encouraging thoughts for us as we head into the Christmas season. This episode also includes excerpts from Season 1 Episode 5 (“Christmas Traditions and Expectations” with Colton Shrader). This episode also includes excerpts from season 1 episode 5 (“Christmas Traditions and Expectations” with Colton Shrader). Who doesn’t love the Christmas season? Well, sometimes the reality of the season doesn’t live up to the expectations we place on it. Whether that’s from trying to mix winter-based, northern hemisphere traditions into South American summer contexts, or sacrificing your traditions to make time for family and friends while in the States. This season, whatever it looks like for you, still reminds us that we can live in expectation and joy, despite trouble, because of the very good news of Jesus. What are your family’s Christmas traditions where you grew up? Send them in! We’d love to hear about it! Connect with us HERE. HOSTS: Michelle Ellis, John Michael Caldwell, Nicole Caldwell, Colton Shrader SONG: Sunscreen by Vic Davi CONNECT WITH US: Instagram | Facebook SHOW NOTES:14:32 | Isaiah 9:6 - “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”15:28 | Ephesians 3:16-21 - “…And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ…” KEY QUOTES:9:08 | “ It's all about Jesus in the end.”10:50 | “No matter what you're going through in this season of life, the Lord sees you. He knows exactly what you need.”11:09 | “There is hope and there's definitely hope in Jesus.”12:29 | “ You're here on this earth at this time for a reason.”12:58 | “Jesus does relate to you.”14:07 | “Let His presence enter your heart and your life and let His word consume you so that you can have the joy of Jesus every single day.”29:44 | “He has made a way for us to have an abundant life now. There are ways for us to enjoy, even in the hardships, even in the stressful times, there are ways for us to enjoy being followers of Christ now in our day-to-day life.”30:09 | “We can also live with joy and expectation for what is going to come.”30:35 | “If you want to be someone that has the ability to give to others spiritually, right? To pour into others and to give out of the abundance of your intimacy with Jesus, then it has to be more than just a Sunday morning experience.”34:08 | “Your pain and the challenges in this season that you're feeling have not gone unnoticed.” Interested in partnering with John Michael & Nicole in prayer, one-time giving, or monthly giving? Do that HERE. COMMON TERMS:TCK - third culture kidMK - missionary kidLAC - Latin America Caribbean

36 min
11/01/2025

4.10. Growing in Wisdom and Faith

On this episode, we talk with TCK to Honduras, Malachi Smith. Join our conversation as we talk about the unique perspective gained growing up as a TCK, the importance of the types of friendships you pursue, and growing in personal faith and Godly wisdom. You’ll hear Malachi share from his own experiences of what the Lord taught him through his years growing up on the mission field. Make sure to listen to the end as Malachi shares what God has been teaching him this year. It’s practical and it’s foundational to growing in your faith. What questions do you have about this episode? How can we help support you or your TCK? We’d love to hear from you! Connect with us HERE. HOST: John Michael Caldwell SONG: Sunscreen by Vic Davi CONNECT WITH US: Instagram | Facebook SHOW NOTES:34:16 | John 16:33 - “‘I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.’”34:45 | Job 28:28 - “And he said to the human race, ‘The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding’.” KEY QUOTES:5:35 | “I just made the determination in my head that I'm not [going to] have another shot at this necessarily. And it's not an experience that everybody gets and so I'm going to just try to make the most of it.” 10:29 | “…if you let it, I think it really expands your perspective on the global church as well.”11:03 | “It's something that when working with different people groups from around the world, it just gives you a step into their life that maybe not everybody else would have.”17:40 | “You're not alone. You're genuinely not. The Lord is with you every second and everywhere you go. And if you let Him, He will place people in your lives that you can rely on and that you can go to and that you can confide in.”18:26 | “If you're not surrounding yourself with the right kind of people, you can't possibly expect to grow closer to the Lord if your friends are growing farther.”22:11 | “If I were to go back and do things differently, I would not have wasted those first few events or opportunities to connect with kids my age and kids that were going through similar things that I was.”23:04 | “Do your best to connect, and everybody else around you is doing the same thing.”30:15 | “I have to make my own walk with the Lord, and my walk with the Lord can't be based on my parents' ministry or what my parents are doing. My walk with the Lord is my personal walk.”30:55 | “My serving the kingdom is no longer being on the field. It's, ‘how can I serve the church here? How can I serve the U.S. church?’”Interested in partnering with John Michael & Nicole in prayer, one-time giving, or monthly giving? Do that HERE. COMMON TERMS:TCK - third culture kidMK - missionary kidLAC - Latin America Caribbean

38 min
10/01/2025

4.9. Friendships and Leaving Your “Home” Country (with Leah Musacchio)

On this episode, we talk with TCK to Indonesia, Leah Musacchio. Join our conversation as we talk about friendships, finding purpose and belonging in temporary seasons, and making your home in Jesus regardless of where you are living. You’ll hear Leah share her own stories and experiences of navigating her way through life away from her home country and how God met her in her culture shock and sadness. This is a great episode with practical advice for TCKs navigating big changes in their lives. What questions do you have about this episode? How can we help support you or your TCK? We’d love to hear from you! Connect with us HERE. HOST: Michelle Ellis SONG: Sunscreen by Vic Davi CONNECT WITH US: Instagram | Facebook SHOW NOTES:4:48 | The Mind & Body Clinic - Connect with Leah17:03 | A Reason, Season or Lifetime Poem - by Brian Andrew Chalker25:55 | Philippians 3:20 - “But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior.” KEY QUOTES:25:01 | “I just felt the Lord speak to my heart and [he] said, ‘your home isn't anywhere here on earth. Your home is wherever I am.’”28:28 | “God still makes a way for all of our struggles and all of our pain and everything that we go through. There's always a purpose behind it.”29:36 | “Don't be afraid to ask for help because you're important and it's so important to process those needs.” 38:57 | “It's a hard thing to move from what you know to so much unknown.” Interested in partnering with John Michael & Nicole in prayer, one-time giving, or monthly giving? Do that HERE. COMMON TERMS:TCK - third culture kidMK - missionary kidLAC - Latin America Caribbean

43 min
09/01/2025

4.8. Gentle Whispers, Purpose, and Future Glory (with Abigail Marsiglio)

On this episode, we talk with TCK to Guatemala, Abigail Marsiglio. Join our conversation as we talk about God’s faithfulness even in difficult seasons and times where He feels silent or like we’re being stretched. You’ll hear Abigail share transparently about what she’s learned about God through anxiety, parenthood, and the guilt of not being able to juggle everything as she’d like. This episode is chock full of wisdom, hope and encouragement. What questions do you have about this episode? How can we help support you or your TCK? We’d love to hear from you! Connect with us HERE. HOST: Michelle Ellis SONG: Sunscreen by Vic Davi CONNECT WITH US: Instagram | Facebook SHOW NOTES:8:53 | 1 Kings 19:1-9 - Elijah and Jezebel12:31 | Philippians 4:6-7 - “Do not be anxious about anything…”12:24, 19:08 | 2 Timothy 1:7 - “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”20:15 | 2 Corinthians 5:7 - “For we walk by faith, not by sight.”20:40 | 2 Corinthians 10:5 - “…and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”30:04, 32:01 | Esther 4:14 - “… And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”39:54 | Romans 8:18 - “Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later.”40:46 | Fruit Takes Time by SEU Worship KEY QUOTES:5:55 | “There are days where I really have to lean on the Lord and just ask him to give me strength for today. And […] it's simple like that, ‘Lord, I just need strength for today.' And God has been faithful to do that for me.” 6:18 | “I've just been feeling like a lot of stress and anxiety and worries, and the Lord has been so good to just be that soft still whisper and just gently remind me He's still there. He's still ever present. He hasn't left.” 6:44 | “He said, ‘in order to […] to feel the power of God, we have to be in the presence of God. And […] in order to be in the presence of God, you have to be in close proximity.’”15:46 | “That's the hard part because sometimes it's in the waiting that we feel like God's quiet, but He's not. He's still moving. He's still on the move. He's still working.”19:26 | “[God] gave us a mind that can be sound and can reason, but we have to lean on the biblical truth to then fight what the enemy's telling us.” 25:48 | “When God created us, He already knew every failure we were gonna make and yet He still created us. Isn't that wild to think that the Lord loved us enough and wanted us in this world that despite [every future mistake and failure] I still am going to create [him/her] because[he/she] is worth it. And I'm gonna use [him/her] for My power, My glory, and My kingdom.” 31:03 | “We serve a God who is a redeeming God… though we make mistakes and though we sometimes do go down the wrong path, God is such a gracious God to us back and still use that.” Interested in partnering with John Michael & Nicole in prayer, one-time giving, or monthly giving? Do that HERE. COMMON TERMS:TCK - third culture kidMK - missionary kidLAC - Latin America Caribbean

48 min
08/01/2025

4.7. Entering the "Soul Room" (with Hudson Speer)

On this episode, we talk with Hudson Speer, TCK to Mexico. Join our conversation as we talk about identity, attachments, relationships and belonging, and how the goodness and kindness of God binds it all together. You’ll hear Hudson’s honestly and transparently share the highs and lows of his experience growing up as a TCK. Hudson has a unique ability to eloquently express the human and TCK experience. This is an episode you’ll definitely want to take notes on and listen to on repeat because Hudson has a lot of insight and wisdom, and a heart that will encourage you to cling tighter to Jesus. What questions do you have about this episode? How can we help support you or your TCK? We’d love to hear from you! Connect with us HERE. HOSTS: John Michael & Nicole Caldwell, Michelle Ellis SONG: Sunscreen by Vic Davi SHOW NOTES:24:04 | 2 Corinthians 12:9 - “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”KEY QUOTES:12:37 | “The Lord began to […] help me see the ways that I had really traded out who I really was for somebody that I thought people wanted me to be and it felt very liberating.” 14:03 | “ I think that is a season of my life that I can look back and really see how the Lord loved me even though I wanted nothing to do with him.”14:53 | “ It's only in hindsight that we start to see just how awesome God's love and grace is for us.“16:25 | “As an MK it often felt like for me that eyes were on me all the time.“17:04 | “I just felt different really anywhere I went.“17:18 | “[My] experiences, […] they were shaping things quietly in my heart and in my mind, soul, without me knowing it - as it does happen with any kid.”18:34 | “Identity […] belongs in this soul room inside of us and it belongs in that space with Jesus. It belongs with God the Father and the Holy Spirit. And really it should stay there.” 19:28 | “When the Lord finally helped me realize that I never needed to seek the validation from another person again, that was life changing for me.”23:00 | “His eye on you and His love on you and His favor on you is unchanging. It's unshakeable and […] Hold on tight to that.”23:24 | “Who does God say I am? And ultimately, that's the most important thing about you.”25:11 | “The Lord is good and He just graciously, gently walks in front of us and leads us through life.” CONNECT WITH US: Instagram | FacebookInterested in partnering with John Michael & Nicole in prayer, one-time giving, or monthly giving? Do that HERE.COMMON TERMS:TCK - third culture kidMK - missionary kidLAC - Latin America Caribbean

33 min
07/01/2025

4.6. For the Love of TCKs (with Micah Wells)

On this episode, we talk with Micah Wells, LAC Missionary Associate and TCK teacher in Costa Rica. Join our conversation as we talk about what it looks like to serve new TCKs as they begin their first major transition to “life on the field.” You’ll hear Micah share her story of getting started in missions and the need for TCKs and their families to feel supported throughout their missions journey. Micah is a friend who is full of wisdom, compassion, and joy and we believe you will be encouraged and challenged listening to her story and work. What questions do you have about this episode? How can we help support you or your TCK? We’d love to hear from you! Connect with us HERE. HOST: Michelle Ellis SONG: Sunscreen by Vic Davi SHOW NOTES:6:00 | Wide Open Missions30:04 | 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 - “Love is patient, love is kind…” Connect with Micah: wellsmicah00@gmail.com Interested in partnering with Micah in prayer, one-time giving, or monthly giving? Do that ⁠HERE⁠. CONNECT WITH US: Instagram | Facebook COMMON TERMS:TCK - third culture kidMK - missionary kidLAC - Latin America Caribbean

41 min

4.8

out of 5

13 Ratings

THE ROOTED TCK Podcast is a community where we unpack the pressures of TCK life to grow deeper in faith, friendships, and confidence that God cares about every part of our stories. THE ROOTED TCK is a ministry of LAC; but whoever you are, wherever you are, you are welcome to join us! Tune in for a new episode the first of every month! www.therootedtck.com

Creator

THE ROOTED TCK
Years Active

2021 - 2026
Episodes

50
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© THE ROOTED TCK
Show Website

THE ROOTED TCK