The Pulpit and Porch

Higher Ministries
  • 4.8 (4)
  • Christianity
  • Updated Weekly

The Pulpit & Porch is a podcast about real conversations at the intersection of faith, life, and leadership. Hosted by Tony Marr and Robert Kell, we invite you to pull up a chair, grab some sweet tea, and join us on the front porch, where stories are told, wisdom is shared, and no topic is off-limits. Each episode features honest dialogue with guests from all walks of life: entrepreneurs, pastors, artists, coaches, and everyday people making an impact. It’s about purpose. It’s about truth. It’s about learning to lead and live well. Always grounded in the Christian faith. Never stuck in a box.

  1. 1d ago

    He Survived War… But Almost Lost Himself w/ Jason Castleberry

    In this episode of The Pulpit & Porch, Tony sits down with pastor and military veteran Jason Castleberry for a powerful conversation about war, trauma, PTSD, identity, faith, and redemption. Jason shares his journey from growing up in Texas to serving in the airborne infantry, completing 25 operational jumps, surviving a parachute malfunction that changed the trajectory of his life, and later serving as a UAV drone operator during the Iraq War after 9/11. But this episode isn’t just about military service. It’s about what happens after survival. Jason opens up honestly about PTSD, smoking, drinking, emotional numbness, near-death experiences, and the difficult transition back into civilian life. He shares how his daughter eventually helped lead him toward faith in Christ, and how that journey ultimately led him into vocational ministry at a small rural church in Montana. This conversation explores: PTSD and mental healthmilitary trauma and identitymasculinity and emotional strugglefaith, healing, and redemptionpurpose after painwhat real strength actually looks likeThis is one of the most honest and moving conversations we’ve had on The Pulpit & Porch. Real conversations about life, faith, leadership, purpose, and the stories that shape us. Connect with Jason: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567179489505https://www.instagram.com/fbcplevna/https://www.tiktok.com/@fbc.plevna

    1h 24m

  2. May 26

    Serving People Over Profits with Luc Johnson

    In this episode of The Pulpit & Porch, we sit down with mortgage lender Luc Johnson for a conversation about integrity, generosity, leadership, and what it means to genuinely put people before profit. Before this episode, we asked several people about Luc, and the response was remarkably consistent:“He’s one of the most trustworthy and selfless people I know.” In an industry often driven by numbers and transactions, Luc has built a reputation for doing something rare: serving people with honesty, even when it costs him personally or professionally. He shares about operating a business with integrity, why trust matters more than short-term success, and how faith, family, and generosity shape the way he lives and leads. We also talk about: Building trust in business and lifeWhy integrity is so rare todayUsing your career to serve othersLeadership, generosity, and reputationFamily, purpose, and staying groundedThis episode is less about mortgages… and more about the kind of person you become while building a life. The Pulpit & Porch — real conversations about life, faith, and purpose. Connect with Luc: website: www.johnsonlendingteam.com email: lucas@johnsonlending team.com

    1h 20m

  3. May 19

    What If Your Hardest Seasons Didn’t Harden You? with Amanda Marr

    In this episode of The Pulpit & Porch, we sit down with Amanda Marr for one of the most honest and personal conversations we’ve had on the show. Amanda is a top-producing Realtor with Keller Williams, a member of the Agent Leadership Council (ALC), the newly elected Southeast Regional Director for KW Cares, and this year’s recipient of the prestigious Eagle Award, an honor given to just one agent each year. But this conversation isn’t really about awards. It’s about resilience. Amanda opens up about growing up with trauma, navigating hardship and constant turmoil, and what it looks like to keep showing up with compassion, generosity, faith, and empathy after life continually throws difficult seasons your way. We talk about: Traumatic events throughout childhoodHow pain can shape you without hardening youLeadership, success, and serving people wellFaith in difficult seasonsChoosing generosity instead of bitternessWhat resilience actually looks like in everyday lifeThis episode is less about achievement… and more about who you become through adversity. The Pulpit & Porch — real conversations about life, faith, and purpose.

    1h 15m

  4. May 12

    Why Would Anyone Run for Senate? - The Thomas Dismukes Story

    Why would someone step into one of the most challenging and scrutinized arenas in our country? In this episode of The Pulpit & Porch, we sit down with speaker, storyteller, and U.S. Senate candidate Thomas Dismukes for a real, thoughtful conversation about leadership, calling, and what it means to step into something bigger than yourself. Thomas shares his journey, where he came from, the experiences that shaped him, and the moment he felt called to pursue something he never originally planned: running for U.S. Senate. This isn’t a political debate. It’s a conversation about:• Leadership and responsibility• Faith in the public square• The cost of stepping forward• Navigating pressure, criticism, and expectations• What drives someone to say “yes” to something this big Whether you follow politics closely or not, this episode is about something deeper: what it looks like to respond when your calling stretches you beyond your comfort zone. The Pulpit & Porch — real conversations about life, faith, and purpose.

    1h 5m

  5. May 5

    I Had to Leave Church Ministry to Tell The Truth - The Trevor Wentt Story

    What does it cost to be honest? In this episode of The Pulpit & Porch, we sit down with artist and storyteller Trevor Wentt for one of our most powerful and personal conversations to date. Trevor opens up about his childhood growing up in Virginia Beach in a broken home, being raised by a hardworking single mom, and navigating the realities of poverty, all while holding onto a deep and genuine faith in Jesus. That journey eventually brought him to East Tennessee and North Carolina, where he pursued education and stepped into ministry. But what he encountered there challenged him in ways he didn’t expect. Trevor shares his experiences with racism, including within the church, and the growing realization that while he felt called to ministry, he didn’t feel the support or freedom to say what he believed needed to be said. At some point, he had to make a decision:Stay in a system where he felt limited…or step away and speak the truth freely.  He chose truth. We talk about:• Growing up in poverty and how it shaped his faith• Racism and real-life experiences in the church• Feeling misunderstood in spaces you thought you belonged• Leaving ministry in the church to pursue another calling• Why honesty was non-negotiable This isn’t just a conversation about ministry. It’s about identity.It’s about truth.And it’s about what it costs to live in both. If you’ve ever felt out of place… misunderstood… or torn between calling and environment, this episode will resonate. The Pulpit & Porch — real conversations about life, faith, and purpose. Connect with Trevor: @T_wentt on all social media channels

    1h 32m

  6. Apr 28

    How Do We Respond When the World Feels Out of Control? (Part 2)

    The world feels uncertain right now… so how are you supposed to respond? In Part 2 of this two-part conversation, we move from confusion to clarity. After breaking down what’s happening and why it feels so heavy in Part 1, this episode is all about what actually matters next. How you live, think, and respond in the middle of uncertainty. Because while you can’t control global events…you can control how you show up. In this episode, we talk about: What you should (and shouldn’t) do when things feel unstableHow to prepare without panickingWhy fear distorts your thinking, and how to push back against itPractical ways to stay grounded in your daily lifeHow faith shapes your response when you don’t have answersThis isn’t about ignoring reality.It’s about responding to it wisely. If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or unsure what to do next, this conversation will help you reset, refocus, and move forward with clarity. The Pulpit & Porch PodcastReal conversations. Front porch honesty. Faith, life, and purpose, without the noise. Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThePulpitandPorch

    1h 10m

  7. Apr 21

    What’s Actually Happening… and How Should We Respond?

    What’s actually happening in the world right now… and why does it feel so heavy? In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, we step into the tension so many people are feeling, but few know how to process. From rising oil prices and economic pressure to global conflict, uncertainty, and nonstop headlines, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, anxious, and unsure of what to believe. But instead of reacting… we slow down. In this episode, we talk about: What people are really afraid of right now Why global events feel more personal than ever Simple explanations behind complex headlines (like oil supply and rising costs) And the honest truth about what we don’t actually know This isn’t a political breakdown. It’s a conversation about clarity, fear, and learning how to think wisely in a noisy world. Because you don’t need to know everything… to live wisely in something. The Pulpit & Porch Podcast Real conversations. Front porch honesty. Faith, life, and purpose, without the noise. Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThePulpitandPorch

    1h 17m

  8. Apr 14

    You’re Not Stuck… You’re Avoiding (And You Know It) — Part 2: The Hard Truth

    If you haven’t listened to Part 1 yet… go back. Seriously. Because in this episode, we’re not easing in, we’re going straight to the heart of it. We all say we feel “stuck.” Stuck in life. Stuck in our calling. Stuck in our habits. But what if that’s not actually true? What if the thing we’ve been calling “stuck”… is actually avoidance? In Part 2 of this conversation, we go deeper. This is where it gets honest. This is where it gets uncomfortable. And this is where real change actually begins. We talk about: Why avoidance feels safer than action The subtle ways we lie to ourselves How fear disguises itself as confusion And what it actually looks like to take your next step This isn’t about shame. It’s about clarity. Because once you can name it… you can change it. You’re not stuck. You’re avoiding. And deep down, you already know it. 🎙️ The Pulpit & Porch Podcast Real conversations. Front porch honesty. Faith, life, and purpose, without the fluff. 📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThePulpitandPorch

    52 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.8
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

The Pulpit & Porch is a podcast about real conversations at the intersection of faith, life, and leadership. Hosted by Tony Marr and Robert Kell, we invite you to pull up a chair, grab some sweet tea, and join us on the front porch, where stories are told, wisdom is shared, and no topic is off-limits. Each episode features honest dialogue with guests from all walks of life: entrepreneurs, pastors, artists, coaches, and everyday people making an impact. It’s about purpose. It’s about truth. It’s about learning to lead and live well. Always grounded in the Christian faith. Never stuck in a box.

Information

  • Creator
    Higher Ministries
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    161
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Higher Ministries
  • Show Website
    The Pulpit and Porch

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