The Pastor’s Studio with Paul Basden

Paul Basden
  • 5.0 (16)
  • Christianity
  • Updated Weekly

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. 1d ago

    S3E26: A New Marriage With the Same Person | Warren & Sonya Jacobs on Marriage, Grace & Starting Again

    Can you build a new marriage with the same person? Warren and Sonya Jacobs fell in love as teenagers, married at 20, and were determined to build a life together. But beneath the surface, years of conflict avoidance, codependency and unresolved hurt were slowly pulling them apart. In this episode of This Is My Story, Pastor Paul Basden sits down with Warren and Sonya for an honest conversation about the moment they realized, “We are not okay,” and the counseling, community and faith that helped them begin again. More than 20 years later, they share what they’ve learned about grace, forgiveness, intimacy, identity in Christ and doing the hard work of repairing a relationship. “Our marriage as it was was really over... We wanted a new marriage. We had to have a new marriage.” For anyone wondering if deeply rooted patterns can really change, Warren and Sonya’s story offers a powerful reminder: “Your relationship can change. We’re a testimony right now.” In This Episode Falling in love as teenagers and marrying at 20 How conflict avoidance and codependency affected their marriage Knowing when it was time to ask for help Counseling, community and rebuilding trust Creating a “new marriage with the same person” Finding identity in Christ instead of your spouse Grace, forgiveness and repairing after conflict Hope for couples who feel stuck References Enjoy Your Marriage Preston Trail Marriage Ministry  The 5 Love Languages Psalm 139:14  Isaiah 30:21 Matthew 19:26 John 15 Galatians 5:22–23 Psalm 139

  2. Aug 27

    S3E25: Don’t Give Up on God | Alex Logan on Doubt, Suffering & Finding Faith

    Can you think your way into faith? What happens when your questions about God seem bigger than the answers? For Alex Logan, those questions lasted nearly 50 years. In this episode of This Is My Story, Pastor Paul Basden sits down with Alex, a retired attorney, former constitutional law professor and Mensa member whose journey with faith has been anything but straightforward. After losing his father at 59 and struggling to reconcile that loss with the idea of a good God, Alex walked away from faith and spent the next four decades as an agnostic. Then one Sunday at Preston Trail, Alex looked over at his young grandson during worship and saw tears streaming down his face. Alex remembers thinking, “I want that in my life.” That moment led him to an EQUIP class, where he showed up with plenty of skepticism and even more questions. Slowly, those questions became the path that led him back to Jesus. This is a conversation for the skeptic, the question asker, and anyone who wonders if they’ve been away from God for too long. Alex’s story is proof that questions don’t have to keep you from faith, and it is never too late to find your way home. In This Episode: • How the death of Alex’s father caused him to walk away from faith • Spending nearly 50 years as an agnostic • The moment with his grandson that made him want something more • Bringing his hardest questions about God into an EQUIP class • Finding faith and being baptized at 73 • Why Easter suddenly meant something completely different • Trusting God while living with long haul COVID • The role friendship and community played in growing his faith • Alex’s encouragement for anyone still wrestling with questions about God References: • Preston Trail EQUIP • Rooted • The Chosen

  3. Aug 20

    S3E24: You Belong | Becca Baker on Faith, Leadership & Finding Your Voice

    What does it look like to follow Jesus in the places where faith isn’t always talked about out loud? In this episode of This Is My Story, Pastor Paul Basden sits down with Becca Baker to talk about faith, family, work, and what she has learned through years of developing and coaching leaders in some of the country’s largest companies. Becca shares how a faith that began when she was seven has continued to shape the way she leads today. From coaching C suite executives to navigating career changes, raising two boys, serving as an elder at Preston Trail, and learning when to say yes and when to say no, her story is a reminder that following Jesus shows up in the everyday choices we make. She and Paul also talk candidly about living out your faith in the workplace. For Becca, it isn’t about forcing a conversation. It’s about relationships, authenticity, humility, and trying to reflect Jesus in the way you treat and lead people. And for anyone who has ever wondered whether they really deserve a seat at the table, Becca offers this: “You belong. You deserve to be where you are.” This is a conversation about finding your voice, leading with humility, building relationships that matter, and trusting that a faithful life doesn’t have to be dramatic to be a story worth telling. References: • Matthew 5:13–16 • Matthew 7:12 • Dare to Lead by Brené Brown • The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown • WorkLife with Adam Grant • Harvard Business Review

  4. Aug 13

    S3E23: Following Jesus No Matter the Circumstances | Corey Jones on Faith, Work & Trust

    What do a Halloween “hell house,” the Texas Rangers and a lesson in trusting God have in common? Corey Jones. In this episode of This Is My Story, Pastor Paul Basden sits down with Corey to talk about a life that has taken some pretty unexpected turns. Corey shares how a decision to follow Jesus as a teenager grew into a faith that would later carry him and his wife, Jenny, through one of the most uncertain seasons of their lives. He also shares how that same willingness to trust God and say yes has shaped his career. Corey started as a customer service representative at 19 and, 27 years later, serves as a senior vice president at Globe Life. Somewhere along the way, an idea he was told was a little crazy helped lead to the Globe Life name appearing on not one, but two Texas Rangers ballparks. But through all of it, Corey keeps coming back to one thing: “The circumstances don’t dictate the faith.” This is a conversation about trusting God when you don’t know what comes next, saying yes when an opportunity feels bigger than you, and learning to look back and see God’s fingerprints all along the way. References: • Hebrews 11 • Philippians 4:12 • Romans 5:8 • Proverbs 22:29 • Freakonomics • The Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast

  5. Aug 6

    S3E22: Your Life Is Bigger Than Your Loss | Kelly Carter on Grief, Hope & Healing

    What does it look like to choose life when you've walked through so much death? In this episode of This Is My Story, Paul sits down with Kelly Carter to explore a life marked by profound loss, unwavering faith, and the sustaining presence of God. From losing loved ones at a young age to walking beside her husband through an aggressive cancer diagnosis, Kelly has experienced more grief than most. Yet through every season, she has discovered that while loss changes us, it doesn't have to define us. Along the way, Kelly shares how foster care and adoption expanded her family's story, how the Church became the hands and feet of Jesus during unimaginable hardship. She offers a moving perspective on grief, reminding us that sorrow and joy often exist together, and that our deepest hope is found not in avoiding suffering, but in knowing Christ. Whether you're walking through grief, caring for someone you love, or simply wondering how faith holds up in life's hardest moments, Kelly's story is a powerful reminder that your life is bigger than your loss. In This Episode: Growing up with an early awareness of loss and death How foster care and adoption transformed Kelly's family Walking alongside her husband through a terminal cancer diagnosis What it means to have an "even if" faith when healing doesn't come The role of community in carrying one another through grief Why grief and joy can coexist How choosing life became Kelly's greatest testimony References Philippians 3:7–10  Zephaniah 3:17 Daniel 3:16–18 John 16:33 GriefShare: https://prestontrail.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/3633850

  6. Jun 18

    S3E21: Finding the Messiah: Mandy Hinerman’s Story

    What happens when the faith you inherited leaves you searching for something more? In this episode of This Is My Story, Paul sits down with Mandy Hinerman to explore her journey from a Jewish upbringing to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Raised in a family that faithfully observed Jewish traditions and holidays, Mandy spent much of her life believing in God, but never truly knowing Him. When tragedy, loss, and unanswered questions began to shape her story, she found herself searching for a faith that offered more than ritual and obligation. As Mandy began reading Scripture for herself, she discovered something that changed everything: the promises and prophecies she had grown up hearing pointed directly to Jesus. What followed was a journey marked by healing, peace, unexpected friendships, and a growing confidence that Jesus truly is the Messiah promised throughout the Jewish Scriptures. Mandy’s story is a powerful reminder that God often meets us in our questions, our grief, and our searching and that His invitation is always rooted in grace rather than fear. In This Episode, You’ll Hear: What it was like growing up in a Jewish family in America The fear and uncertainty that followed the sudden loss of her father Why religious tradition alone left her searching for more How reading Scripture for herself changed her understanding of Jesus The Old Testament prophecies that pointed her toward faith in Christ How God brought people into her life at exactly the right moments A moving story of grace, salvation, and peace at the end of her sister’s life Why following Jesus brought freedom from fear and anxiety Key Takeaway: Faith is more than tradition or performance. When we encounter Jesus personally, we discover the peace, grace, and assurance we’ve been searching for all along. Resources & References: Romans 1:16 Isaiah 53 Jeremiah 29:11 Preston Trail Community Church Embrace Grace

  7. Jun 11

    S3E20: A 14-Year-Old's Story of Faith and Anxiety with CeCe & mom, Ryan

    At just 14 years old, CeCe has already faced a struggle that many students—and adults—know all too well: anxiety. In this honest and encouraging conversation, CeCe shares how anxiety began affecting her life, faith, friendships, and school experience, and how God met her in what felt like a dark season. Alongside her mom, Ryan, she reflects on the role of community, counseling, prayer, and honest conversations in helping her find hope and healing. Whether you're a student navigating anxiety, a parent walking alongside a child who is struggling, or someone wondering where God is in the middle of difficult seasons, this episode is a powerful reminder that you are not alone—and that God never leaves us, even when He feels far away. Topics include: • Anxiety and mental health in students • Parenting through difficult seasons • The importance of community and counseling • Faith during the "dark night of the soul" • Finding hope, purpose, and peace in God's presence WATCH: CeCe's story at High Def 2026 READ: 2 Corinthians 1: 3-4, Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 Download The Feelings Wheel

  8. Jun 5

    S3E19: Walking in the Footsteps of the Apostle Paul: Reflections from Greece

    What happens when Scripture comes alive—not just on the page, but beneath your feet? In this special episode of This Is My Story, Paul is joined by his wife, Denise, to reflect on their recent journey through Greece tracing the footsteps of the Apostle Paul. Together, they share stories, insights, and meaningful moments from walking through places like Philippi, Thessaloniki, Athens, Corinth, Ephesus, Patmos, and Crete—places where biblical history moved from imagination to reality. From worshiping near Lydia’s baptism site and standing on Mars Hill where Paul preached in Athens, to experiencing communion among the ruins of Corinth and reflecting in the cave believed to be where John received the Revelation on Patmos, this episode offers both practical travel reflections and spiritual insight. Along the way, Paul and Denise also share what surprised them most, how ancient places deepened their faith, and why sometimes the most meaningful spiritual experiences happen when history becomes personal. Whether you’ve been to Greece, dream of going, or simply want to experience Scripture in a deeper way, this conversation offers a thoughtful look at faith, history, marriage, and the beauty of seeing the biblical world firsthand. Resources & References: The Apostle Paul’s Second Missionary Journey (Acts 16–18) Philippians, Thessalonians, Corinthians & Titus Patmos and the Book of Revelation Footsteps Ministries (David & Elizabeth Sparks)

See All (83)

Trailer

5
out of 5
16 Ratings

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.

Information

You Might Also Like