Just Talkin' About Jesus

Jan Johnson
  • 4.9 (16)
  • Christianity
  • Updated Weekly

A place with real people sharing their real faith. What was the moment when you first realized how real Jesus is? Tell me about your But God moment. Have you had moments when you were so low you could only rely on your faith? What makes you joyful when the rest of the world isn't? These are a few of the questions that lead my interviews. Once a month we have a roundtable chat with a few people about a topic.

  1. Sep 19

    From Single Immigrant Mom to Bestselling Author: Stefania Leao's Story of Prayer

    Send me a text and let me know your thoughts! Stefania Leao came to the United States from Brazil for a one-week visit and stayed almost ten years. As a single mom who didn't speak English, she began each morning reading the Bible and writing a prayer.  Those simple notes became a devotional book now available in five languages, reaching a church in Malawi, the Brazilian national team, and people on the streets of San Francisco.  Stefania and host Jan Johnson talk about prayer, humility, obedience, and how God uses ordinary people. If you've ever wondered how to start praying, this episode will encourage you to begin with just five minutes. Links to Stefania's book and projects are below. Official links: Website: https://stefanialeao.com The Prayer: https://readtheprayer.com Mission & Impact: https://stefanialeao.com/impact Malawi / Chichewa mission: https://readtheprayer.com/malawi Press, media and official author photo: https://stefanialeao.com/media/press-coverage Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stefanialeaoofficial/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@stefanialeao Welcome to Just Talkin' About Jesus. I'm Jan Johnson, a seasoned believer who loves relationships and, you know, just talkin' about Jesus. Here you will find testimonies of those who God has changed through his grace. Stories of feeling unworthy because of being sex trafficked, or of radical redemption of a woman who grew up with abuse, neglect, abandonment and drugs. A story of an abortion survivor. This and more. Lean in now. Consider subscribing to this podcast, YouTube and Substack- all with the same name: Just Talkin' About Jesus! https://www.youtube.com/@JustTalkinAboutJesus https://jan-johnson.com/ https://justtalkingaboutjesus.com/ https://janjohnsonauthor.substack.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@JustTalkinAboutJesus Thanks for listening! If you have a story to tell, check out the form on my website- justtalkingaboutjesus.com. I'd love to connect with you! No, really.... hit me up!

    From Single Immigrant Mom to Bestselling Author: Stefania Leao's Story of Prayer

  2. Sep 19

    Church Hurt, Panic Attacks, and Learning to Be Angry at God with Dustin Kleinschmidt

    Send me a text and let me know your thoughts! Pastor and author Dustin Kleinschmidt joins host Jan Johnson to talk candidly about church hurt, ministry burnout, and the process of grieving and healing after stepping away from full-time pastoral leadership.  Dustin shares how he was called back to lead a church in crisis, the "trifecta" of events that nearly destroyed it, the breaking point that led him to resign, and the panic attacks and anger at God that followed.  Together they explore identity, boundaries, lament, and what it looks like to keep loving Jesus and the church even after being wounded by it. Psalm 34:18 — "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Lamentations 3:22–23 — "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." Revelation 21:4 — "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." Music from #Uppbeat https://uppbeat.io/t/braden-deal/a-movement License code: JF75OPN6HGFTNGNG   Chapter Markers  | 00:00 | Welcome & Introduction  | 00:49 | Dustin's Unexpected Path to Faith  | 02:00 | The Moment Faith Became Real  | 03:38 | Worship, College Ministry, and Discovering His Gifts  | 04:57 | Walking Away from a Music Career  | 06:55 | A New Chapter in Dallas  | 07:21 | Planting a Church, Then COVID Hit  | 08:01 | Called Back to Lead a Church in Crisis  | 09:05 | The "Trifecta" That Breaks Churches  | 10:19 | The Breaking Point: Stepping Out of Ministry  | 13:17 | Whose Voice Are You Listening To?  | 17:03 | Values, Identity, and What Really Broke  | 19:42 | Panic Attacks and Finding the Right Counselor  | 21:23 | Anger, Grief, and Getting Honest with God  | 26:14 | Living in the Wilderness: Already but Not Yet  | 29:00 | Learning to Name and Grieve Small Losses  | 33:19 | Rebuilding Friendships and Setting Boundaries  | 36:01 | Closing Thoughts and Where to Find Dustin DustinKleinschmidt.com Welcome to Just Talkin' About Jesus. I'm Jan Johnson, a seasoned believer who loves relationships and, you know, just talkin' about Jesus. Here you will find testimonies of those who God has changed through his grace. Stories of feeling unworthy because of being sex trafficked, or of radical redemption of a woman who grew up with abuse, neglect, abandonment and drugs. A story of an abortion survivor. This and more. Lean in now. Consider subscribing to this podcast, YouTube and Substack- all with the same name: Just Talkin' About Jesus! https://www.youtube.com/@JustTalkinAboutJesus https://jan-johnson.com/ https://justtalkingaboutjesus.com/ https://janjohnsonauthor.substack.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@JustTalkinAboutJesus Thanks for listening! If you have a story to tell, check out the form on my website- justtalkingaboutjesus.com. I'd love to connect with you! No, really.... hit me up!

    Church Hurt, Panic Attacks, and Learning to Be Angry at God with Dustin Kleinschmidt

  3. Sep 12

    From Gang Life to Gospel: Ariel Aguilar's Story of Faith | Just Talking About Jesus

    Send me a text and let me know your thoughts! Before he was a pastor, church planter, and missionary, Ariel Aguilar ran with gangs.  In this conversation with host Jan Johnson, Ariel shares how a medical crisis —  his wife's cancer diagnosis during pregnancy —  became the turning point that led him to give his life to Christ.  From there, his story takes us through freezing mission trips in Mongolia, a young man named Togi who came to faith weeks before he passed away, and Ariel's current ministry, Door Knocker Apologetics, where he trades ten minutes of listening to a sales pitch for fifteen minutes to talk about Jesus with whoever shows up at his front door.  Practical, funny, and deeply rooted in scripture, this episode will change how you think about the next conversation you have with a stranger. Music from #Uppbeat https://uppbeat.io/t/oliver-massa/brighter-days License code: KTTDO32WFSGDAR5H Chapter Markers 00:00   Welcome & Introduction 01:01   From Gang Life to Giving His Life to Christ 02:00   Pastor, Church Planter, and Missionary 02:50   The "But God" Moment: Jessica's Cancer Diagnosis 04:02   Making a Deal with God 06:04   The Birth of Micah and Marrying Jessica 06:46   The Miracle of Johnny Glenn's Word 09:38   Micah Today 10:48   What Drew Him to Missions 11:32   Mongolia and the Cold That Had to Be God 12:09   Hospitality Among the Mongolian and Chinese People 13:31   The Story of Togi 16:41   Togi's Passing and Eternal Hope 17:44   Getting a Mongolian Name: Dala 18:37   Door Knocker Apologetics Begins 20:03   The Ten-Minutes-for-Fifteen-Minutes Deal 23:40   Starting the Conversation: "Are You Spiritual?" 24:24   The Columbo Tactic 24:38   Role-Playing a Door Knocker Conversation 28:25   The Four Questions: Creation, Purpose, Morality, Eternity 30:24   "It's the Same God" — Addressing a Common Objection 33:08   Why Christianity Is Different from Other Religions 35:37   The Dentist Bill Illustration 36:28   Final Word: Go Love More Welcome to Just Talkin' About Jesus. I'm Jan Johnson, a seasoned believer who loves relationships and, you know, just talkin' about Jesus. Here you will find testimonies of those who God has changed through his grace. Stories of feeling unworthy because of being sex trafficked, or of radical redemption of a woman who grew up with abuse, neglect, abandonment and drugs. A story of an abortion survivor. This and more. Lean in now. Consider subscribing to this podcast, YouTube and Substack- all with the same name: Just Talkin' About Jesus! https://www.youtube.com/@JustTalkinAboutJesus https://jan-johnson.com/ https://justtalkingaboutjesus.com/ https://janjohnsonauthor.substack.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@JustTalkinAboutJesus Thanks for listening! If you have a story to tell, check out the form on my website- justtalkingaboutjesus.com. I'd love to connect with you! No, really.... hit me up!

    From Gang Life to Gospel: Ariel Aguilar's Story of Faith | Just Talking About Jesus

  4. Sep 5

    Faith and Sobriety: How Jesus Freed Erin Zandstra From Alcohol Addiction

    Send me a text and let me know your thoughts! Erin Zandstra grew up knowing of God but not knowing Him — and spent decades filling that gap with alcohol, broken relationships, and a desperate search for identity.  In this raw conversation, Erin shares her road from a DUI and jail time to radical surrender, and what it really means to find your worth in Christ instead of what you do or what you've survived.  A powerful testimony on faith, sobriety, and grace. Welcome to Just Talkin' About Jesus. I'm Jan Johnson, a seasoned believer who loves relationships and, you know, just talkin' about Jesus. Here you will find testimonies of those who God has changed through his grace. Stories of feeling unworthy because of being sex trafficked, or of radical redemption of a woman who grew up with abuse, neglect, abandonment and drugs. A story of an abortion survivor. This and more. Lean in now. Consider subscribing to this podcast, YouTube and Substack- all with the same name: Just Talkin' About Jesus! https://www.youtube.com/@JustTalkinAboutJesus https://jan-johnson.com/ https://justtalkingaboutjesus.com/ https://janjohnsonauthor.substack.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@JustTalkinAboutJesus Thanks for listening! If you have a story to tell, check out the form on my website- justtalkingaboutjesus.com. I'd love to connect with you! No, really.... hit me up!

    Faith and Sobriety: How Jesus Freed Erin Zandstra From Alcohol Addiction

  5. Aug 29

    Walking the Camino: A Pilgrim's Journey Toward Repentance and Joy

    Send me a text and let me know your thoughts! At 78, retired pastor Jerry Heslinga walked 160 miles of the Camino de Santiago with his son-in-law — and came home with more than sore feet. Jan Johnson talks with Jerry about faith conversations on the trail, a stranger's story of reconciliation, and the lifelong lesson of repentance that met him somewhere between Portugal and Spain.  A conversation about journeys — the ones in Scripture, and the ones we're still walking. Psalm 92. The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon, planted in the house of the Lord. They will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age  Hebrews 12 — let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us  📖 Scriptures referenced: Isaiah 40:31, Psalm 92:12–15, Hebrews 12:1–2, Psalms 121–134 https://uppbeat.io/t/kurtz-martin/divine-fate License code: BFHW6GEPXJNX866H | 00:00 | Introduction: Meet Jerry Heslinga | | 00:36 | Why Jerry decided to walk the Camino | | 02:14 | Training, blisters, and getting ready to walk | | 04:05 | Starting the walk in Porto, Portugal | | 04:39 | The pilgrim's passport and how the Camino works | | 05:22 | Walking 160 miles from Porto to Santiago de Compostela | | 05:43 | Conversations on the road and meeting fellow pilgrims | | 06:22 | Faith conversations with his son-in-law Matt | | 07:21 | Journeys throughout the Bible | | 09:21 | Connecting to Jan's Bible study, "Discovering Your Journey" | | 11:00 | A 50-year-old memory resurfaces on the trail | | 12:13 | Reflecting on mission trips to Mongolia, China, and beyond | | 12:48 | Teaching conversational English in Mongolia | | 13:25 | Singing Isaiah 40:31 on the walk | | 13:50 | Matt carries Jerry's pack up a difficult climb | | 14:21 | A stranger's story of reconciliation with his daughter | | 15:42 | What that story reveals about hidden pain | | 15:46 | Daily mileage and the route across two countries | | 16:12 | Where they stayed and what they packed | | 17:27 | The Spirit of the Camino and the Pilgrim's Prayer | | 19:12 | Decompressing after the walk | | 19:44 | Comparing the Camino to other Christian pilgrimages | | 20:20 | The 12th-century Pilgrim Prayer, in full | | 21:28 | The lifestyle of repentance Jerry rediscovered | | 22:33 | Jerry's guiding verse: Psalm 92 | | 23:31 | Hebrews 12 and running with perseverance | | 24:03 | Did Jerry ever imagine doing this when he was young? | | 24:26 | Closing thoughts and thank-you |   Welcome to Just Talkin' About Jesus. I'm Jan Johnson, a seasoned believer who loves relationships and, you know, just talkin' about Jesus. Here you will find testimonies of those who God has changed through his grace. Stories of feeling unworthy because of being sex trafficked, or of radical redemption of a woman who grew up with abuse, neglect, abandonment and drugs. A story of an abortion survivor. This and more. Lean in now. Consider subscribing to this podcast, YouTube and Substack- all with the same name: Just Talkin' About Jesus! https://www.youtube.com/@JustTalkinAboutJesus https://jan-johnson.com/ https://justtalkingaboutjesus.com/ https://janjohnsonauthor.substack.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@JustTalkinAboutJesus Thanks for listening! If you have a story to tell, check out the form on my website- justtalkingaboutjesus.com. I'd love to connect with you! No, really.... hit me up!

    Walking the Camino: A Pilgrim's Journey Toward Repentance and Joy

  6. Aug 22

    Faith-Based Addiction Recovery: Attorney Brett Knight's Story of Grace

    Send me a text and let me know your thoughts! Brett Knight is a criminal defense attorney, recovery pastor, and author of From Gavel to Grace.  In this episode, he shares his personal journey from a childhood of poverty in rural Illinois to prosecuting criminal cases, and ultimately to a calling in recovery ministry. Brett unpacks the real pattern he's seen behind addiction after walking hundreds of people through recovery — and why healing the pain matters more than punishing the behavior.  He also talks candidly about grace, boundaries, and what "tough love" should actually look like for the Christian family member of someone in active addiction. Learn more about Brett's book, From Gavel to Grace, at brettknight.com/book. Psalm 34:18 — "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."  https://brettknight.com/videos/ ●      00:00 — Welcome and introducing Brett Knight ●      00:45 — Brett's testimony: growing up poor in southern Illinois ●      04:19 — Mentors who spoke life into him, and a political science degree ●      05:56 — Chasing success at the cost of family ●      06:25 — His brother's death and his parents' divorce ●      07:01 — Head knowledge vs. heart knowledge of God ●      07:47 — "He never left me behind": the call back to ministry ●      10:01 — How God's grace shapes how Brett works with people ●      10:32 — Why accountability without grace becomes abusive ●      12:03 — The pattern behind addiction, seen across hundreds of cases ●      13:24 — Punishing pain vs. healing pain ●      14:12 — The story: abuse at nine, drugs at fourteen, recovery at forty ●      16:37 — Faith-based recovery vs. secular recovery ●      17:41 — Why authenticity can't be faked in recovery work ●      18:35 — Finishing what you start: launching jail and recovery ministries ●      19:20 — The wins: weddings, babies, and prayers before the hospital ●      20:21 — The tragedies: relapse and overdose ●      21:16 — "Addiction is not a sniper, it's a hand grenade" ●      21:56 — Sozo: healed, restored, made whole ●      22:20 — The God-shaped hole ●      24:13 — What helps families with a loved one in addiction ●      24:57 — Redefining tough love as boundaries, not abandonment ●      27:33 — Why Brett wrote From Gavel to Grace ●      29:02 — Where to find the book ●      30:19 — The book's unexpected reach: #1 new release and 16 county jail libraries ●      31:03 — Closing thoughts and where to connect with Brett Welcome to Just Talkin' About Jesus. I'm Jan Johnson, a seasoned believer who loves relationships and, you know, just talkin' about Jesus. Here you will find testimonies of those who God has changed through his grace. Stories of feeling unworthy because of being sex trafficked, or of radical redemption of a woman who grew up with abuse, neglect, abandonment and drugs. A story of an abortion survivor. This and more. Lean in now. Consider subscribing to this podcast, YouTube and Substack- all with the same name: Just Talkin' About Jesus! https://www.youtube.com/@JustTalkinAboutJesus https://jan-johnson.com/ https://justtalkingaboutjesus.com/ https://janjohnsonauthor.substack.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@JustTalkinAboutJesus Thanks for listening! If you have a story to tell, check out the form on my website- justtalkingaboutjesus.com. I'd love to connect with you! No, really.... hit me up!

    Faith-Based Addiction Recovery: Attorney Brett Knight's Story of Grace

  7. Aug 15

    Byron Easterling Interview: Christian Author Talks Worship & Ministry

    Send me a text and let me know your thoughts! Musician, composer, and author Byron Easterling joins Jan to talk about the presence of God in worship, a wild encounter in a London hotel lobby,  the blessing his father spoke over him before passing away,  and the one question that can unstick anyone who feels spiritually stuck.  A conversation about calling, mentorship, and never retiring from the gifts God has placed in you. Psalm 71:18 — “Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your mighty acts to all who are to come.” Jeremiah 33:3 — “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” Byron’s books — all proceeds go toward building homes for widows in Nicaragua — are available at BysBooks.com. Byron’s Substack to see his posts, podcasts, and prophetic teaching. 00:00 — Welcome & introducing Byron Easterling  00:49 — How Byron started writing (2008's Dream Big, Dream Often)  02:13 — Musical roots: piano at 7, brass instruments, and jazz composition  04:11 — Wedding gigs, worship ministry & Campus Crusade for Christ (Cru)  06:33 — When the song becomes secondary to the presence of God  08:05 — The "Flower Pelting" story — a divine encounter in a London hotel  15:07 — The moment that changed his life: his salvation story at age 8  19:13 — His father's final blessing before passing in 1984  22:27 — The call to mentor and bless the next generation  25:08 — Lessons from 3.25 million miles of ministry travel  28:57 — Why you never retire from a God-given calling  31:16 — What's next: new books, Substack, and staying obedient  32:19 — Byron's parting encouragement: ask God for a new question  33:36 — Where to find Byron's books (BysBooks.com — proceeds fund homes for widows in Nicaragua) https://uppbeat.io/t/monument-music/the-beyond License code: PLMOP0FDXHN2NOJG https://uppbeat.io/t/dan-phillipson/moments License code: AWMMVCHCGOXAXQX4 Welcome to Just Talkin' About Jesus. I'm Jan Johnson, a seasoned believer who loves relationships and, you know, just talkin' about Jesus. Here you will find testimonies of those who God has changed through his grace. Stories of feeling unworthy because of being sex trafficked, or of radical redemption of a woman who grew up with abuse, neglect, abandonment and drugs. A story of an abortion survivor. This and more. Lean in now. Consider subscribing to this podcast, YouTube and Substack- all with the same name: Just Talkin' About Jesus! https://www.youtube.com/@JustTalkinAboutJesus https://jan-johnson.com/ https://justtalkingaboutjesus.com/ https://janjohnsonauthor.substack.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@JustTalkinAboutJesus Thanks for listening! If you have a story to tell, check out the form on my website- justtalkingaboutjesus.com. I'd love to connect with you! No, really.... hit me up!

    Byron Easterling Interview: Christian Author Talks Worship & Ministry

  8. Aug 8

    Eric Stephens Testimony: From Rejection to Rooted in Christ

    Send me a text and let me know your thoughts! Ordained pastor, life coach, and founder of Redwood Christian Ministries Eric Stephens joins Jan and co-host Marti for a raw conversation about growing up caught between two rejections — one from an absent father, one from a world he tried to fit into by becoming its villain.  Eric shares the prayer that changed everything, the three train horns that answered it, and the years it took him to understand that his real struggle was never the addiction itself but the rejection underneath it.  He also talks candidly about discipleship, avoiding burnout in ministry, protecting his marriage, and the Christian hip-hop concert he's hosting this fall where dozens of people gave their hearts to Christ.  Honest, funny, and full of hope — this is a conversation for anyone still figuring out who they are underneath who they built themselves to be. 🔗 Podcast: Rooted in Christ, wherever you listen  🎤 Event: House of Blues, November 7th — Redwood Christian Ministries concert  📍 Ministry: Redwood Christian Ministries Follow Eric's ministry, Redwood Christian Ministries, and catch new episodes of the Rooted in Christ podcast wherever you listen. If you're in the Cleveland area, join Eric and this year's lineup — headlined by KB — at the House of Blues on November 7th for a night of Christian hip-hop, R&B, and an altar call built right into the show. Romans 8:28 (NIV) — '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.'  Ephesians 1:5-6 (NIV) — 'He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will — to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.'  Deuteronomy 31:6 (NIV) — 'Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified... for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.'  https://redwoodcm.org/ CHAPTER MARKERS 00:00 Welcome & Introducing Eric Stephens  00:33 Growing Up Between Catholic Mass and Baptist Church  01:00 The Basketball Game That Broke Something: Rejection by His Father  02:26 Becoming the Villain: Building a Character to Survive  03:15 Baptized at 11, Walking Away for the World  03:37 The Phone Call: Grandmother's Bladder Cancer Diagnosis  04:34 "God, If You're Real": The Prayer and the Train  04:57 Three Days Later: Losing His Grandmother  06:26 Backsliding After Salvation: The Real Root Was Rejection  07:28 The AZUSA Conference 2016: Full Surrender  09:02 Identity in Christ vs. Identity in the World  09:14 Marti's Graham Cook Quote: "Time to Have Another Thought"  11:03 Keeping the Main Thing the Main Thing: Avoiding Burnout  14:29 24 Episodes Stacked: Building a Podcast That Doesn't Stop  15:08 Marriage Rhythm: Two by Two by Two  16:40 What Discipleship Actually Looks Like  20:19 Practical Faith: Living Out the Great Commission Daily  22:19 Marti's Question: Why This Conversation Feels Different  25:23 Rooted in Christ: A Discipleship Tool Disguised as a Podcast  26:18 Marti's Scripture: 1 John  5:21 and Staying Free of Idols  28:02 What's Really Keeping You From Jesus?  28:56 The House of Blues Concert: Christian Hip Hop and R&B  31:15 Closing Words: "Try Jesus"  32:27 Closing Prayer for Eric and His Family Welcome to Just Talkin' About Jesus. I'm Jan Johnson, a seasoned believer who loves relationships and, you know, just talkin' about Jesus. Here you will find testimonies of those who God has changed through his grace. Stories of feeling unworthy because of being sex trafficked, or of radical redemption of a woman who grew up with abuse, neglect, abandonment and drugs. A story of an abortion survivor. This and more. Lean in now. Consider subscribing to this podcast, YouTube and Substack- all with the same name: Just Talkin' About Jesus! https://www.youtube.com/@JustTalkinAboutJesus https://jan-johnson.com/ https://justtalkingaboutjesus.com/ https://janjohnsonauthor.substack.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@JustTalkinAboutJesus Thanks for listening! If you have a story to tell, check out the form on my website- justtalkingaboutjesus.com. I'd love to connect with you! No, really.... hit me up!

    Eric Stephens Testimony: From Rejection to Rooted in Christ
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About

A place with real people sharing their real faith. What was the moment when you first realized how real Jesus is? Tell me about your But God moment. Have you had moments when you were so low you could only rely on your faith? What makes you joyful when the rest of the world isn't? These are a few of the questions that lead my interviews. Once a month we have a roundtable chat with a few people about a topic.

Information

  • Creator
    Jan Johnson
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    125
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Just Talkin' About Jesus
  • Show Website
    Just Talkin' About Jesus