The Pastor’s Studio with Paul Basden

Paul Basden
  • 5.0 (13)
  • CHRISTIANITY
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The Pastor’s Studio is a space for honest conversations, meaningful questions, and stories that reveal how faith meets real life. Hosted by pastor and author Paul Basden, this podcast brings together authentic dialogue, spiritual reflection, and real-life experiences to help listeners navigate what it means to follow Jesus in a complex world. Across every season, the aim is the same: to help listeners see God more clearly, understand themselves more deeply, and live out their faith with wisdom, humility, and grace. Thoughtful, grounded, and full of heart, Pastor Paul invites you to slow down, listen well, and pay attention to the story God is writing in and around you. Season 1: Uncomfortable Conversations with Christians Season 2: Why Do I Do What I Do - Exploring the Enneagram Season 3: This is My Story Paul Basden is an author and serves as co-senior pastor of Preston Trail Community Church in Texas. A native of Dallas, Texas, Paul earned his BA from Baylor University and his Master of Divinity and PhD from Southwestern Theological Seminary. Paul also served as university minister and a professor of theology at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. He and his wife, Denise, have two grown daughters and four grandsons.

  1. MAY 14

    S3E18: From Legalism to Grace: Aubreigh's Story

    What happens when the version of Jesus you learned growing up doesn’t match the Jesus you encounter in Scripture? In this episode of This Is My Story, Paul sits down with Aubreigh Cox to explore a journey from fear-based faith to a deep understanding of God’s grace, love, and peace. Raised in a highly rule-focused and performance-driven religious environment, Aubreigh spent much of her life believing that God was distant, angry, and waiting for her to fail. But everything began to change when she encountered the real Jesus. Through seasons of anxiety, depression, questions, and spiritual rebuilding, Aubreigh shares how worship, community, baptism, and Scripture reshaped her understanding of who God truly is. Her story is one of healing, surrender, and discovering that grace—not fear—is at the center of the Gospel. This conversation is for anyone who has wrestled with legalism, church hurt, anxiety surrounding faith, or the fear of never being “good enough” for God.   In this episode you'll hear:  Growing up in a fear-based religious environment The impact of legalism and performance-driven faith Wrestling with anxiety, shame, and questions about God How worship and church community became part of healing Why baptism became a powerful act of surrender and freedom Learning to raise children rooted in love instead of fear Key Takeaway:  The real Jesus is not waiting to reject you—He is inviting you into grace, peace, and belonging.

    29 min

  2. MAY 7

    S3E17: From Raising Kids to Rebuilding Connection with Rick & Clancy Denton

    What happens when the house gets quiet, and you’re left rediscovering who you are without the rhythms of raising children? In this episode of This Is My Story, Paul sits down with Rick and Clancy Denton to talk about marriage, parenting, faith, and learning to embrace the empty nest season with intentionality and hope. After spending decades raising two children in a Christ-centered home, Rick and Clancy found themselves facing a new reality: life as just the two of them again. Rather than viewing the empty nest as something to fear, they chose to lean in. Through honest conversation, they share how church community, transparency at home, intentional connection in marriage, and a strong foundation of faith helped prepare both their children—and themselves—for this next chapter. They also discuss the grief, identity shifts, and unexpected joys that come with parenting adult children and learning to let go with grace. Whether you’re years away from an empty nest or already living in one, this episode offers wisdom, encouragement, and practical insight for navigating one of life’s biggest transitions. In This Episode, You’ll Hear: How intentional parenting shapes children long after they leave home Why honesty and transparency mattered in their family culture The importance of prioritizing marriage while raising kids What the “Year of Yes” taught them about the empty nest season The grief and freedom that coexist when children leave home How faith, prayer, and community sustain parents through transition Key Takeaway: The empty nest is not the end of purpose—it’s an invitation into a new season of connection, growth, and joy. Resources & Links: The Loud Quiet Podcast The Loud Quiet Book

    36 min

  3. APR 30

    S3E16: Unshakable Faith: Trusting God Through Parkinson’s, Cancer, and the Unknown with Jamie Bryson

    What do you do when life doesn’t go the way you planned—and the questions feel bigger than the answers? In this episode, Paul sits down with Jamie Bryson to explore a story marked by faith, doubt, resilience, and an unshakable trust in God. From a late introduction to faith in high school to pursuing a PhD in Hebrew Bible, Jamie’s journey was rooted in a deep desire to understand God and help others do the same. But along the way, things shifted. A season of intellectual questioning led to years of wrestling with belief, identity, and calling. And just as clarity began to return, life took an unexpected turn. In 2021, Jamie was diagnosed with young-onset Parkinson’s and kidney cancer—within the same year. What follows is not a story of easy answers, but of steady faith. In this conversation, Jamie shares what it looks like to keep showing up, to let go of needing certainty, and to trust that God is present—even in suffering. His story is a powerful reminder that faith is not about having everything figured out, but about knowing where to turn when you don’t. In This Episode, You’ll Hear: What it looks like to wrestle honestly with doubt How perspective on suffering reshapes faith The role of community, love, and consistency in hard seasons Why faith can grow stronger, not weaker, in uncertainty You don’t have to have all the answers to have real faith. Sometimes the most powerful faith is simply choosing to stay.

    35 min

  4. APR 23

    S3E15: When Faith Is Tested: Trusting God Through Grief with Matt & Mary Beth Bridges Pt. 2

    What happens when God doesn’t answer your prayer the way you hoped? After fighting to save their marriage, Matt and Mary Beth believed the hardest chapter was behind them. But then came a diagnosis no parent is prepared for. Their unborn daughter had a fatal condition. No cure. No chance of survival. And they were faced with an unthinkable decision. In Part 2 of their story, Matt and Mary Beth share: Walking through a devastating prenatal diagnosis Choosing to trust God in the face of loss Experiencing grief and joy at the same time Witnessing God’s presence in their darkest season What it looks like to lead, love, and serve from a place of surrender This isn’t just a story about loss. It’s a story about faith in the unknown. Hope in the middle of grief. And a God who is still present — even when the outcome breaks your heart.   References Song: Held by Natalie Grant

    37 min

  5. APR 16

    S3E14: How Distance, Work & Resentment Slowly Break a Marriage with Matt & Mary Beth Bridges

    What happens when a marriage slowly drifts… and no one realizes how far it’s gone? Matt and Mary Beth Bridges both grew up in church. They knew about God. They believed the right things. They started their marriage with love and good intentions. But underneath the surface, cracks were forming. Distance. Unmet expectations. Lack of communication. And a growing loneliness neither of them knew how to fix. Until everything broke. In Part 1 of this story, Matt and Mary Beth share: Growing up around faith but missing true relationship How ambition, work, and identity pulled them apart The quiet build of resentment in early marriage How loneliness opened the door to betrayal The moment everything began to unravel This isn’t just a story about failure. It’s a story about how marriages don’t collapse overnight — they drift slowly… until something forces them to face the truth. If you’ve ever: Felt distant in your marriage Struggled to communicate what you actually need Watched small frustrations turn into deep hurt Wondered how things got so far off track This conversation is a reminder: What feels small now… can become everything later.

    41 min

  6. APR 2

    S3E13: Blended Family, Broken Relationship: Andy & Summer Butler on Finding Healing, Faith & Purpose Together

    What if the marriage that started with love… still started falling apart? Andy and Summer Butler didn’t come into marriage empty-handed. They brought past pain. Different faith journeys. Blended family complexities. And expectations no relationship could carry. What began as connection quickly revealed deeper issues — control, unmet expectations, communication breakdown, and wounds that hadn’t fully healed. Until everything hit a breaking point. In this episode, Andy and Summer share: Walking through divorce, loss, and personal collapse The challenges of building a blended family When marriage struggles expose deeper personal wounds Learning to put Christ at the center of their marriage How God used their pain to create purpose This isn’t a story about a perfect marriage. It’s a story about learning that love rooted in Christ looks very different than love built on control or expectation. If you’ve ever: Felt the weight of a struggling marriage Navigated the complexity of a blended family Tried to control outcomes instead of surrendering Wondered if your relationship could actually heal This conversation is a reminder: God doesn’t waste brokenness. He rebuilds it into something stronger. References Blended Book Co (Resources & Coaching): https://www.blendedbookco.com/

    43 min

  7. MAR 26

    S3E12: When Your Child Leads You to Jesus: The Wagner's Story of Grace

    What if the person who led you to Jesus… was your child? The Wagner family didn’t all come to faith the same way. Catherine’s journey began with curiosity — a friend whose joy didn’t make sense, mission trips that changed her perspective, and a growing desire to truly know Jesus for herself. At the same time, her parents, Robyn and Justin, were living what they call a “check-the-box” faith — showing up occasionally, but never fully engaged. Until one moment changed everything. When they realized their daughter was pursuing Jesus on her own… and they weren’t. This isn’t just a story about finding Jesus. It’s a story about grace showing up in unexpected ways — through a daughter’s faith, a family’s humility, and a God who was pursuing them all along. If you’ve ever: Felt like you were “close” to faith but not fully living it Wondered if it’s too late to start again Been impacted by someone else’s faith journey This conversation is a reminder: God meets us in different ways. But His grace reaches every one of us. References Baptism at Preston Trail: https://prestontrail.org/baptism Luke 1:45 Proverbs 3:5 Ecclesiastes 3:1

    24 min

  8. MAR 19

    S3E11: From Shame to Surrender: Ron Daniels on Addiction, Recovery & God’s Steady Grace

    What happens when the life you’ve built starts to quietly fall apart? Ron Daniels’ story is one of success on the outside — and struggle beneath the surface. For years, he carried pressure, expectations, and hidden pain. What began as coping slowly turned into dependence… and eventually, addiction. But even in the lowest moments, God had not stepped away. In this episode, Ron shares: The subtle path from pressure to addiction Living with shame while trying to hold everything together Walking through recovery, sobriety, and rebuilding trust Learning to receive grace instead of performing for it This isn’t a story about hitting rock bottom and instantly fixing everything. It’s a story about honesty. Surrender. And the slow, steady work of healing. If you’ve ever: Felt stuck in a cycle you couldn’t break Carried shame you didn’t know how to name Wondered where God was in your struggle Ron’s story is a reminder: God is not absent in your pain. And it’s never too late to begin again. Read Ron's Reflection here

    29 min
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About

The Pastor’s Studio is a space for honest conversations, meaningful questions, and stories that reveal how faith meets real life. Hosted by pastor and author Paul Basden, this podcast brings together authentic dialogue, spiritual reflection, and real-life experiences to help listeners navigate what it means to follow Jesus in a complex world. Across every season, the aim is the same: to help listeners see God more clearly, understand themselves more deeply, and live out their faith with wisdom, humility, and grace. Thoughtful, grounded, and full of heart, Pastor Paul invites you to slow down, listen well, and pay attention to the story God is writing in and around you. Season 1: Uncomfortable Conversations with Christians Season 2: Why Do I Do What I Do - Exploring the Enneagram Season 3: This is My Story Paul Basden is an author and serves as co-senior pastor of Preston Trail Community Church in Texas. A native of Dallas, Texas, Paul earned his BA from Baylor University and his Master of Divinity and PhD from Southwestern Theological Seminary. Paul also served as university minister and a professor of theology at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. He and his wife, Denise, have two grown daughters and four grandsons.

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