You Asked, Let's Talk | Special Release

InterVarsity Press
InterVarsity Press
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This is a special, one-season release of the You Asked, Let's Talk from IVP author, Paige Vanosky. To continue listening to the podcast after Episode 12, subscribe to the You Asked, Let's Talk podcast here: Apple PodcastsSpotifyYouTubeiHeartRadio You Asked, Let’s Talk is a podcast for people who still have questions about faith. Every episode starts with a real question someone is asking about God, the Bible, doubt, suffering, church, purpose, or real life. Host Bobby McGraw sits down with thoughtful guests to stay with the question long enough to make sense of it. No pressure. No spin. No easy answers. Just Honest to God conversations about the Bible and real life for people who are still asking, still thinking, and still open to where the conversation might lead.

Episodes

  1. 5d ago

    Episode 7 – What Makes Life Feel Like Enough? | Joshua Becker

    SPECIAL OFFER | As a listener of the show, you can get 25% off The 30-Minute Bible by using the code IVPOD25 at checkout at ivpress.com. We hope you enjoy this season! Episode Summary What happens when you get the thing you thought would finally be enough, and still want more? Bobby McGraw talks with Joshua Becker, author and founder of Becoming Minimalist, about possessions, achievement, and where we look for security. Joshua remembers a Saturday spent cleaning his garage while his five-year-old son waited outside for him to play. That moment changed what he wanted to own and how he wanted to spend his time. But owning less did not end every struggle. Joshua also shares how reaching the New York Times bestseller list left him wanting a higher spot or another week on the list. He explains how minimalism helped him see Jesus’ teachings about money and generosity differently, and why he looks to God for the contentment achievement cannot give him. If you keep moving the finish line, this conversation offers a chance to consider what you’re hoping the next thing will do for you. Key Takeaways ●     Possessions can cost more than money. Caring for them can take time and attention away from the people you love. ●     Owning less does not automatically end the need to prove yourself. Joshua still recognizes that pull in his accomplishments. ●     Minimalism, as Joshua describes it, means owning what you need so you can give more attention to what matters. ●     Giving away excess possessions helped Joshua understand Jesus’ teachings as a better way to live, rather than only a demand to sacrifice. ●     Joshua finds his foundation for contentment in God’s care. For those curious about Jesus, he suggests exploring a church with someone they trust or reading Mark or John. Chapter Markers 00:00 - Why More Never Seems Like Enough 05:35 - The Garage Moment That Changed Joshua’s Life 10:00 - Money, Possessions, and the Cost of Wanting More 16:12 - Finding Security in God and Rethinking Jesus’ Teachings 21:28 - Where to Start Exploring Jesus Resources ●     JoshuaBecker.com - Joshua’s recommended starting point for his books, projects, and other work. ●     Becoming Minimalist - Joshua’s website about intentionally owning less. Listen to the full episode of You Asked, Let’s Talk, and share this conversation with someone wondering why the next achievement never seems to feel like enough. Have a question of your own? Send it to Clear Faith for a possible future conversation.

  2. Oct 13

    Episode 6 – Who Am I When The Title Is Gone? | Brad Lominick

    SPECIAL OFFER | As a listener of the show, you can get 25% off The 30-Minute Bible by using the code IVPOD25 at checkout at ivpress.com. We hope you enjoy this season! Episode SummaryHow do you figure out what you’re supposed to do with your life without letting your job become your identity?  Leadership expert Brad Lominick joins Bobby McGraw to talk about the difference between calling and assignment, and how the “breadcrumbs” throughout our lives can reveal the gifts and patterns that have been there all along. Brad also opens up about his own leadership failures, learning to separate identity from influence, and walking away from a highly visible season at Catalyst.  Along the way, they explore curiosity, relational intelligence, and why doing your work well matters.  For anyone navigating purpose, career changes, leadership, or questions about faith, this conversation is an invitation to get curious about who you are and where you’re headed. Key TakeawaysLook for “breadcrumbs” from your past that reveal your natural gifts and wiring.Your current assignment is not the same thing as your calling or identity.Self-awareness only matters if you’re willing to act on what you learn.Ending one season well can free you to fully enter the next.Curiosity and relational intelligence can make a meaningful difference in other people’s lives.Chapter Markers00:00 - Meet Brad Lominick 01:13 - Finding His Path from Oklahoma to Leadership 02:46 - Following the Breadcrumbs in Your Life 05:10 - Calling vs. Assignment 07:11 - Finding Your Gifts, Passions, and Sweet Spot 10:02 - Leadership Lessons from the Ranch 13:16 - Learning to Lead Before You Feel Ready 17:01 - The Catalyst Years 18:02 - Meeting “Darb,” Brad’s Leadership Alter Ego 20:15 - Self-Awareness Isn’t Enough 22:01 - Doing the Hard Work of Leadership 25:39 - Knowing When a Season Is Ending 27:28 - How to Transition Well 30:05 - When Your Work Becomes Your Identity 32:19 - Finding What Is Truest About You 34:22 - Faithfulness in the Wrong Season 37:06 - Why We Need Relational Intelligence in the Age of AI 38:02 - Faith, Calling, and Vocation 41:06 - Can You Trust Faith After Leaders Fail? 43:21 - Moving Beyond Cynicism 46:34 - Why Brad Still Chooses to Follow Jesus 48:54 - Where to Connect with Brad

  3. Sep 29

    Episode 5 – Why Are Christians So Judgemental? | Greg Jao

    SPECIAL OFFER | As a listener of the show, you can get 25% off The 30-Minute Bible by using the code IVPOD25 at checkout at ivpress.com. We hope you enjoy this season! Episode SummaryWhy do Christians sometimes come across as so judgmental, especially toward people who believe, live, or think differently?  Bobby McGraw sits down with Greg Jao of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship to talk about disagreement, cultural blind spots, curiosity, and what it looks like to hold real convictions without reducing people to their worst ideas. Greg shares how his own Chinese American upbringing taught him that even sincere Christians can read the same Bible through very different cultural lenses.  He also explains why Christians need to acknowledge where the church has caused real harm and why humility can open conversations that defensiveness shuts down.  For anyone interested in Jesus but turned off by Christians, Greg offers a simple encouragement: keep looking, keep asking questions, and do not let someone else’s failures end your curiosity. Key TakeawaysChristians can read the same Bible differently because culture shapes what we notice and what we overlook.Curiosity helps us understand people without requiring us to abandon our convictions.Christians should be willing to acknowledge and apologize for real harm done by the church.Disagreement becomes judgmental when we stop seeing the other person as a whole human being.If judgmental Christians have made faith difficult to explore, keep looking at Jesus and keep asking questions.Chapter Markers00:00 - Welcome to Greg Jao 01:26 - Choosing a Different Path Than His Family Expected 04:05 - The Weight of Disappointing Your Parents 07:30 - What Does It Mean to Hear God? 09:03 - What Does Calling Actually Mean? 10:47 - When Christians Give Opposite Biblical Advice 13:02 - How Culture Shapes the Way We Read the Bible 14:52 - Feeling Judged by Both Sides 16:47 - Compassion as an Antidote to Judgment 19:11 - Why Curiosity Changes the Conversation 20:42 - How Jesus Treated People He Disagreed With 22:03 - Are Christians Really That Judgmental? 23:35 - Owning the Church’s Baggage 26:20 - Apologizing Without Abandoning Conviction 28:03 - What Moses and Daniel Teach About Responsibility 30:21 - How to Disagree Without Being Disagreeable 33:28 - When Christians Become a Barrier to Faith 35:53 - What Greg Would Tell His Younger Self 38:08 - Finding a Community Where You Can Explore Faith 40:04 - Conviction vs. Judgment 42:14 - What If Christians Wept Instead of Shouted? 43:44 - Follow Your Curiosity Links and MentionsInterVarsity Christian Fellowship - Greg’s ministry serving students on college and university campuses. Greg recommends it as a place where believers, doubters, and people exploring Christianity can ask questions together.The Navigators - Mentioned as another campus ministry students can explore.Cru - Mentioned as another campus ministry for students exploring or growing in faith.University of Chicago - Greg attended the University of Chicago, where his own questions about calling, family expectations, and faith began to take shape.Frederick Buechner - Referenced in Greg’s discussion of calling and the connection between deep joy and the needs of the world. Listen to the full episode of You Asked, Let’s Talk, follow the podcast, and share this conversation with someone who is interested in Jesus but has struggled with the way Christians treat people who disagree with them.

  4. Sep 22

    Episode 4 – Is God Punishing Me? | Suzanne Nadell

    SPECIAL OFFER | As a listener of the show, you can get 25% off The 30-Minute Bible by using the code IVPOD25 at checkout at ivpress.com. We hope you enjoy this season! Episode SummaryWhen something painful happens, it is easy to wonder: Did I do something wrong? Is God punishing me? Bobby McGraw sits down with Suzanne Nadell to talk about that question through the lens of her own story, including two separate cancer diagnoses, years of uncertainty, and a faith that changed along the way. Suzanne shares honestly about being angry with God, powering through pain, and learning to slow down enough to process what was actually happening. She also reflects on how suffering clarified her sense of purpose and taught her to receive help from others. For anyone facing a diagnosis, disappointment, or season that simply feels unfair, this conversation offers a reminder that hardship is not proof that God has abandoned you. Key Takeaways●     A painful season is not proof that God is punishing you. ●     You can be angry, frustrated, or confused with God and still keep turning toward Him. ●     God can bring good from painful circumstances without pretending the pain itself is good. ●     Sometimes healing includes slowing down instead of immediately trying to fix or outrun what hurts. ●     Other people matter in hard seasons. Let them show up, help, listen, and carry some of the weight. Chapter Markers00:00 - Welcome to Suzanne Nadell 03:43 - Growing Up With Faith That Felt Like Rules 06:51 - Finding a Faith of Her Own 08:03 - Suzanne’s First Cancer Diagnosis 10:25 - Facing Cancer as a Young Mom 12:34 - What Cancer Did to Her Faith 14:52 - A Second Cancer Diagnosis 16:20 - When Suzanne Got Angry With God 18:24 - What She Did With the Anger 21:02 - The Moment She Finally Stopped and Felt It 24:23 - Is God Punishing Me? 26:14 - What Romans 8:28 Really Meant to Suzanne 28:23 - How Suffering Changed Her Faith 30:14 - Following the Nudges She Had Ignored 32:04 - Why God’s Timing Can Feel So Slow 34:31 - What to Do in the Middle of a Diagnosis 37:22 - Letting Other People Show Up 40:09 - How Suzanne’s Calling Became Clearer 42:25 - She Leads Church and Finding Your People 44:12 - Remember That You Are Loved Links and Mentions●     Wired to Lead - Suzanne’s book about leadership lessons she learned in newsrooms and what those lessons taught her about leading in the church. ●     SuzanneNadell.com - Suzanne’s website with information about her book, speaking, and current work. ●     To All of It - Suzanne’s program for women navigating faith, family, and career. ●     She Leads Church - A community and conference for Christian women in leadership. Visit SheLeadsChurch.com. ●     CaringBridge - Suzanne used CaringBridge as an online journal during both cancer experiences. ●     Rooted - A church program Suzanne was participating in around the time of her second cancer diagnosis. ●     Romans 8:28 - A passage Suzanne says became central to how she understood God working through both the good and painful parts of her story. Listen to the full episode of You Asked, Let’s Talk, follow the podcast, and share this conversation with someone who is going through something hard and wondering where God is in the middle of it.

    Episode 4 – Is God Punishing Me? | Suzanne Nadell

  5. Sep 15

    Episode 3 – What Does God Want Me to Do With My Life? | Jennifer Keitt

    SPECIAL OFFER | As a listener of the show, you can get 25% off The 30-Minute Bible by using the code IVPOD25 at checkout at ivpress.com. We hope you enjoy this season! Episode SummaryWhat does God want me to do with my life, especially when the path I’m on no longer feels right? Bobby McGraw sits down with Dr. Jennifer Keitt to talk about success, purpose, waiting, emotions, and learning to recognize God’s direction when life stops making sense. Jennifer takes us back to age 27, when she had checked every box but still found herself deeply dissatisfied. What followed was what she calls her “summer of chaos,” a season that changed the direction of her life. She shares how God used waiting, trial and error, Scripture, relationships, and even disorientation to shape her next steps. For anyone wondering whether they are behind, missing God, or simply unsure what to do next, this conversation offers a different way to think about finding purpose. Key Takeaways●     Success does not automatically mean you are living the life you were made for. ●     Feeling disoriented can be an invitation to pay attention to what is happening beneath the surface. ●     Hearing God often looks like Scripture, wise questions, trial and error, peace, and taking the next step. ●     Purpose usually unfolds over time rather than arriving as a complete roadmap. ●     Your emotions can provide important clues as you discern what is happening in your life. Chapter Markers00:00 - Welcome to Dr. Jennifer Keitt 00:49 - When Success Still Feels Empty 03:06 - A New Faith in a Confusing Season 05:26 - The Summer of Chaos 07:17 - When Aloneness Becomes an Invitation 08:28 - Finding a Different Path 10:22 - What Does It Mean to Hear God? 12:11 - Abraham, Transition, and Learning to Go 15:21 - What Abraham Teaches Us About Waiting 16:08 - Why Time Is Not the Enemy 19:16 - How Jennifer’s Purpose Kept Expanding 23:18 - Why Bigger Audiences Did Not Grow Her Faith 24:33 - When Success Feels Empty Again 26:19 - When God’s Math Does Not Make Sense 28:39 - What Emerging Adults Are Asking 32:46 - Learning to Lead Yourself First 36:25 - What to Do When You Do Not Know Your Next Step 39:38 - God, Emotions, and Paying Attention 41:11 - What Jennifer Wishes She Knew at 27 42:31 - Learning to Wait for Something New 44:50 - Where to Connect With Jennifer 47:57 - A Final Word for the Journey Links and Mentions●     Keitt Institute - Jennifer’s work helping people grow in self-awareness, leadership, emotional health, and personal development. Visit KeittInstitute.org. ●     JenniferKeitt.com - Jennifer’s personal website and another place to connect with her work. ●     Jolt Academy - A program from the Keitt Institute focused on personal development and understanding how you think, respond, and lead. ●     The Codex - Described by Jennifer as a spiritual operating system designed to help people understand how they connect with God and grow spiritually. ●     Genesis 12 - Abraham’s story of leaving what was familiar and following God without knowing the full destination. ●     Isaiah - Jennifer references God doing a “new thing” as part of what she is learning in her current season of waiting. Listen to the full episode of You Asked, Let’s Talk, follow the podcast, and share this conversation with someone wondering what God wants them to do next.

    Episode 3 – What Does God Want Me to Do With My Life? | Jennifer Keitt

  6. Sep 8

    Episode 2 – Is the God of the Old Testament Really Good? | Heath Thomas

    SPECIAL OFFER | As a listener of the show, you can get 25% off The 30-Minute Bible by using the code IVPOD25 at checkout at ivpress.com. We hope you enjoy this season! Episode SummaryWhy does God seem angry, violent, or even mean in parts of the Old Testament while Jesus seems so loving? Bobby McGraw sits down with Old Testament scholar and Oklahoma Baptist University president Dr. Heath Thomas to wrestle honestly with that question. Heath argues that we often begin the biblical story in the wrong place. Before God is described as judge, He is revealed as the Creator and giver of life. From there, the Old Testament tells a much larger story of rescue, blessing, discipline, and restoration. Along the way, Heath explores difficult questions about war, judgment, poetry, doubt, and why following Jesus does not mean having every answer. Sometimes, he says, Jesus is less a simple answer and more the clue we keep following. Key Takeaways●     The Old Testament begins with God as Creator and giver of life, not as an angry judge. ●     God’s relationship with Israel is part of a larger rescue story meant to bring blessing to the world. ●     Difficult passages about war and judgment make more sense when read within the Bible’s larger story. ●     Faith does not require having an answer to every question. Sometimes “I don’t know” is an honest place to begin. ●     Much of the Old Testament is poetry, meant to shape how we see reality rather than simply give us information. Chapter Markers00:00 - Welcome to Heath Thomas 02:01 - All of Life, All for Jesus 04:03 - From Rules to Relationship 08:39 - Jesus Is the Clue 10:22 - What Does a Relationship With God Look Like? 14:13 - Personality and the Way We Experience God 16:36 - How Heath Became an Old Testament Scholar 19:20 - Why Does God Seem Angry in the Old Testament? 21:49 - Israel and God’s Rescue Mission 25:18 - A Kingdom of Priests and a Blessing to the World 27:36 - What About War in the Old Testament? 30:25 - Starting the Story With the God of Life 33:03 - Why Did God Allow Us to Sin? 36:10 - Faith When You Do Not Have the Answer 39:03 - Why, How Long, and the Presence of God 41:24 - Are We Reading the Old Testament Wrong? 42:52 - Why So Much of the Old Testament Is Poetry 47:42 - Where to Start Exploring the Old Testament 48:21 - Where to Connect With Heath Links and Mentions●     The 30-Minute Bible - Recommended as an accessible first step for understanding the larger story of Scripture. ●     Reading the Old Testament as Christian Scripture - Heath’s book exploring the Old Testament, the character of God, and its connection to the New Testament. ●     Oklahoma Baptist University - Heath serves as president. Visit okbu.edu. ●     Abraham Kuyper - Dutch theologian referenced in Heath’s discussion of Christ’s lordship over every area of life.

    Episode 2 – Is the God of the Old Testament Really Good? | Heath Thomas

  7. Sep 1

    Episode 1 – Can I Still Trust Jesus After Church Hurt? | Mark Matlock

    SPECIAL OFFER | As a listener of the show, you can get 25% off The 30-Minute Bible by using the code IVPOD25 at checkout at ivpress.com. We hope you enjoy this season! Episode SummaryIn this first episode of You Asked, Let’s Talk, Bobby McGraw sits down with author and speaker Mark Matlock to talk about spiritual curiosity, church hurt, hypocrisy, and why Jesus is still worth another look. Mark shares how his posture toward faith conversations shifted from quick, combative answers to relational honesty, and he reflects on the difference between believing Christian ideas and actually knowing Jesus. For anyone who has been wounded by church, disappointed by religious people, or unsure where to take their questions, this conversation offers a gentle reminder: keep your eyes on Jesus. Key TakeawaysSpiritual curiosity is not something to fear. It can be a doorway into deeper faith.Faith is more than knowing beliefs about Jesus. It is learning to trust and follow Him.Jesus spoke truth without humiliating, alienating, or punishing people with His words.Church hurt can go deep, affecting our ability to trust both people and God.You do not have to have every answer to take one honest next step toward faith.Chapter Markers00:00 - Welcome to Mark Matlock 02:39 - Magic, India, and Relational Faith 06:19 - From “God Said It” to Honest Curiosity 09:15 - Believing Ideas vs. Knowing Jesus 11:30 - Killing the Inner Pharisee 15:09 - Why We Cannot Grow Alone 17:31 - What It Means to Trust Jesus 23:17 - The Image of God and the Ache for More 27:15 - When Church People Let You Down 30:17 - Hypocrisy, Humility, and Community 33:00 - Will You Let Me Be Not Okay? 38:15 - Advice for the Spiritually Curious 40:42 - Alpha and Safe Places to Ask Questions 42:25 - The Longing for Something More 43:53 - What Mark Would Say to Someone Hurt by Church 45:32 - Where to Connect with Mark Links and MentionsAlpha - Mentioned as a helpful, no-pressure place to explore spiritual questions.WisdomHacker.com - Mark’s work on biblical wisdom and everyday life.The Wisdom Hacker on Instagram - Mentioned by Mark as a way to connect.Mark Matlock on Facebook - Mark engages in conversations with people from different backgrounds. Listen to the full episode of You Asked, Let’s Talk, follow the podcast, and send this episode to someone who may still be carrying questions about faith, church hurt, or whether Jesus is worth trusting again.

    Episode 1 – Can I Still Trust Jesus After Church Hurt? | Mark Matlock
  • 7 Episodes

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This is a special, one-season release of the You Asked, Let's Talk from IVP author, Paige Vanosky. To continue listening to the podcast after Episode 12, subscribe to the You Asked, Let's Talk podcast here: Apple PodcastsSpotifyYouTubeiHeartRadio You Asked, Let’s Talk is a podcast for people who still have questions about faith. Every episode starts with a real question someone is asking about God, the Bible, doubt, suffering, church, purpose, or real life. Host Bobby McGraw sits down with thoughtful guests to stay with the question long enough to make sense of it. No pressure. No spin. No easy answers. Just Honest to God conversations about the Bible and real life for people who are still asking, still thinking, and still open to where the conversation might lead.

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