The Gospel & Everything Else... with Mallory Smyth

The Gospel & Is Trump the New Hitler?

And/or Our Very Own Picture of Dorian Gray? He is the most polarizing figure of my lifetime. Some people love Him. Some people would rather hear nails on a chalkboard than his name spoken in public. And for years, we have heard Him being compared to Hitler, evil dictator and murderer of millions.  Obviously it’s Donald Trump.  Last week, while I was on spring break with my family, Trump decided that if he hadn’t already pissed you off, he was going to make sure he did so. In a powerful few minutes, Trump managed to get much of his base to turn on him by disrespecting the Pope, depicting himself and Jesus, and then claiming he thought it was a picture of him as a doctor (lol).  So. Let’s talk about it because I have something to say and I believe it’s different from what you have already heard. There is something to the Hitler comparison, but it isn’t what you think.  There is Trump the man with is own massive flaws. But then, there is the collective response to Trump. And that is where I believe there is room for conversation and for the Gospel to break in and challenge us. Trump is who He is. We can’t control Him. But we can’t control ourselves and we can decide what kind of society we want to live it. So let’s do that together.  No matter where you stand on this matter, I hope you will listen thoughtfully and respond accordingly because honestly, I’m not a fighter but this is an important conversation.  Also in this episode…Good news. People are coming into the Catholic Church at the highest rate in my life time! Miley Cyrus is sober, clothed, and in her right mind! And Perez Hilton met God.  If you want to dive into my other work you can purchase my book Rekindled [https://www.amazon.com/Rekindled-Jesus-Called-Catholic-Church-ebook/dp/B08G89MBR3/ref=sr_1_1?crid=5AT0A771CAR9&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.EZibekayZ-rsW15Pz7akEFF-n7RDCnAe4fXZRekgKZzGjHj071QN20LucGBJIEps.qUDQXD8TbtH2LvGcOVzF63Qlugqp3qFNI_18DQk01y4&dib_tag=se&keywords=rekindled+mallory&qid=1744304605&sprefix=rekindled+ma%2Caps%2C161&sr=8-1], or one of my Bible Studies [https://shop.walkingwithpurpose.com/collections/study-guides]. Also, if you need a refresher on the Gospel message, check out the first episode [https://malloryasmyth.substack.com/p/the-gospel-and-the-kickoff?r=n7hr1] of this podcast. Did this episode speak to you? Please share it with a friend so we can grow the show! Also, if you would like me to speak at one of your events, email me at mallorybueche@gmail.com Happy Easter, Mallory Smyth

The Gospel & What to do with Women, James Talarico, and the Good News in Galatians

Have you ever noticed that we tend to have these cultural conversations that never get resolved?  For time immemorial, honestly, going back to the Garden of Eden, we have been fighting about what to do with woman, and how they should live in society. We have also been fighting about what it means to live a life that is pleasing to God, and eventually, when Christianity came around, what it means to live Christianity well.  While we are not going to officially end either of these debates today, we are going to wade into the waters because here is the truth: There IS a right and a wrong way to live.  AND. There is some wiggle room, some freedom if you will, within the righteous path.  So today on the pod, we are going to talk about the ongoing conversation in the Church and in the Culture about WOMEN!!! Those pesky women. What do we do with them? How should they act? Who has the right opinion? This is in response to some inner Catholic conversations that have been bubbling up lately.  But we won’t stop there! James Talrico has been a big topic of conversation for podcasters because, he is well spoken, good looking, and has alot to say about politics and scripture.  We are not going to get into all his clips too much, but we are going to do our very best to answer the question, what is required of the Christian?!?!?!  And finally, we are going to end with the best news ever by diving in to the book of Galatians…For freedom, Christ has set you free my friend, so DO NOT submit again to the yoke of slavery!!  If you would like to financially support the show, that is now and option to you, and I would be so grateful if you did! For $8 dollars a month, you can help free up some of my time to write bible studies, podcast episode reflections, and start audience conversations. Interested? Become a paid subscriber here on my Substack page. If you want to dive into my other work you can purchase my book Rekindled [https://www.amazon.com/Rekindled-Jesus-Called-Catholic-Church-ebook/dp/B08G89MBR3/ref=sr_1_1?crid=5AT0A771CAR9&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.EZibekayZ-rsW15Pz7akEFF-n7RDCnAe4fXZRekgKZzGjHj071QN20LucGBJIEps.qUDQXD8TbtH2LvGcOVzF63Qlugqp3qFNI_18DQk01y4&dib_tag=se&keywords=rekindled+mallory&qid=1744304605&sprefix=rekindled+ma%2Caps%2C161&sr=8-1], or one of my Bible Studies [https://shop.walkingwithpurpose.com/collections/study-guides]. Also, if you need a refresher on the Gospel message, check out the first episode [https://malloryasmyth.substack.com/p/the-gospel-and-the-kickoff?r=n7hr1] of this podcast. Did this episode speak to you? Please share it with a friend so we can grow the show! Also, if you would like me to speak at one of your events, email me at mallorybueche@gmail.com Enjoying the freedom Christ gave me, Mallory Smyth

The Gospel & Encountering Christ in the Mission Field with Jeff Runyan

How do you see the world? What is your understanding of what it means to live out the fullness of the Christian faith? Is it living a life solely devoted to prayer and fasting? Is it ignoring God’s moral laws but going out of your way to care of the poor and the sick?  Saint James tells us clearly it is both, “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. (James 1:27)” If you devote yourself to God but ignore finding Him by serving others, you are missing a big chunk of Christianity.  If you care for your fellow man but do nothing to worship God and follow His ways, you still are missing the mark.  On today’s podcast, Jeff Runyan, founder of Encounter Travel, sits down with me to talk about how to live out the fullness of Christianity by encountering Christ personally, in our hearts, and also encountering Him by serving those who need it most in the global mission field.  Jeff served in FOCUS for seventeen years. For ten of those year, he ran FOCUS’s massive global missions department. There is most likely, no one else in the Catholic world who has experienced more missions trips and led more people on mission than Jeff.  Today, he runs Encounter Travel, setting up custom mission trips for churches, youth groups, and any other group that would like to put a pilgrimage or mission trip together.  In this conversation, Jeff shares what made him fall in love with the mission field, how he has personally encountered Christ over and over again through the years, the difference between a Catholic society and a Protestant one (spoiler, the both have their pluses and minuses), some of the miracles has has witnessed, and why YOU should recalibrate your worldview by going on a pilgrimage, or mission trip.  And if you can’t go far away, you can always step out in service in your local community, the needs are great there, and Christ can always be encountered in the other.  Follow Encounter Travel on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/encounter.travel/] Their website [http://xhttps//www.encountertravel.com]’ or email them at info@encountertravel.com And last but certainly not least. If you would like to financially support the show, that is now and option to you, and I would be so grateful if you did! For $8 dollars a month, you can help free up some of my time to write bible studies, podcast episode reflections, and start audience conversations. Interested? Become a paid subscriber here on my Substack page. If you want to dive into my other work you can purchase my book Rekindled [https://www.amazon.com/Rekindled-Jesus-Called-Catholic-Church-ebook/dp/B08G89MBR3/ref=sr_1_1?crid=5AT0A771CAR9&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.EZibekayZ-rsW15Pz7akEFF-n7RDCnAe4fXZRekgKZzGjHj071QN20LucGBJIEps.qUDQXD8TbtH2LvGcOVzF63Qlugqp3qFNI_18DQk01y4&dib_tag=se&keywords=rekindled+mallory&qid=1744304605&sprefix=rekindled+ma%2Caps%2C161&sr=8-1], or one of my Bible Studies [https://shop.walkingwithpurpose.com/collections/study-guides]. Also, if you need a refresher on the Gospel message, check out the first episode [https://malloryasmyth.substack.com/p/the-gospel-and-the-kickoff?r=n7hr1] of this podcast. Did this episode speak to you? Please share it with a friend so we can grow the show! Also, if you would like me to speak at one of your events, email me at mallorybueche@gmail.com Booking my next mission trip (jk, but I’m taking my kids when they get older), Mallory Smyth

The Gospel & What We Can Learn from the Half Time Show Debacle

Plus: What we can learn from Taylor Swifts leaked text messages, revisiting Michael Jackson's music, and Archbishop Fulton Sheen finally gets his due. Every year there is a Super Bowl.  Every year there is a half time show.  For the past ten years, they have basically all sucked except for Justin Timberlake, and The Weekend. But, as time goes on, everyone becomes more and more divided, and culture continues to spiral, everything begins to feel like a giant magnet for outrage, fighting, and yelling.  Enter the Half Time Debacle of 2026. If you didn’t like Bad Bunny’s show, you’re a racist. If you weren’t into Turning Point USA’s half time show, you’re not a good Christian.  So, here is my question. Is it possible to get to some truth? Is it possible to plant our feet on the ground, quit yelling, and try to figure out what God cares about when it comes to our culture.  Is this important? YES!!! The culture is the water we swim in. If it’s poison, we will be poisoned.  So let’s dive in.  I asked you, my audience what you thought about the half time shows, and your answers were all over the place.  While I am not a middle of the road person, and I don’t always think “both sides have a point.” There were some things that were positive about Bad Bunny’s half time show, basically ALMOST everything but him. And it was a very good thing that TP USA pushed back against the NFL and Apple Music even if I’m not Kid Rock fan.  God has something to say here! So let’s dive in. Also in this episode: Can Taylor Swift’s leaked texts messages challenge you to be a better person? You better believe it.  One of my favorite Catholics is finally getting beatified!!! Archbishop Fulton Sheen, thank you for how you lived for your savior and made the world a much better place because of it.  And last but certainly not least. If you would like to financially support the show, that is now and option to you, and I would be so grateful if you did! For $8 dollars a month, you can help free up some of my time to write bible studies, podcast episode reflections, and start audience conversations. Interested? Become a paid subscriber on my Substack page.  If you want to dive into my other work you can purchase my book Rekindled [https://www.amazon.com/Rekindled-Jesus-Called-Catholic-Church-ebook/dp/B08G89MBR3/ref=sr_1_1?crid=5AT0A771CAR9&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.EZibekayZ-rsW15Pz7akEFF-n7RDCnAe4fXZRekgKZzGjHj071QN20LucGBJIEps.qUDQXD8TbtH2LvGcOVzF63Qlugqp3qFNI_18DQk01y4&dib_tag=se&keywords=rekindled+mallory&qid=1744304605&sprefix=rekindled+ma%2Caps%2C161&sr=8-1], or one of my Bible Studies [https://shop.walkingwithpurpose.com/collections/study-guides]. Also, if you need a refresher on the Gospel message, check out the first episode [https://malloryasmyth.substack.com/p/the-gospel-and-the-kickoff?r=n7hr1] of this podcast. Did this episode speak to you? Please share it with a friend so we can grow the show! Also, if you would like me to speak at one of your events, email me at mallorybueche@gmail.com I’m starting with the woman in the mirror today, thanks Michael Jackson for hte reminder, Mallory Smyth

The Gospel & Transcendental Types with Kristy Malik

Personality Types based on Scripture, plus a glance back at 2016 and a connection between Mark's Gospel and Psalm 23. Since we’ve all decided that 2026 is the new 2016, what personality test was most popular back then? Was it the Myers-Briggs? The Enneagram? My personal favorite, the DISC?  Regardless of what it was, most of us know our Myers-Briggs letters and our Enneagram numbers. For better or worse, we want to know who we are and why we act the way we do.  But, what are those personality tests based on? Because the best way to understand how we were made is to consult the One who made us.  Enter Kristy Malik. She and her business partner, Thomas Kavanaugh, are the founders of Jonah Company. They want you to know specifically what it means for YOU that you were made in God’s Image. And so, they launched a website, a book, and a personality test based on the scriptures and Christianity’s eternal truths.  During this podcast, Kristy and I discuss her journey back to Jesus, why she and Thomas started Transcendental Types, and how their content can help you to understand who God made you to be.  Make sure you connect with them at their:  * Website for the free ebook and free t-type quiz: transcendentaltypes.com [http://transcendentaltypes.com/] * Instagram: transcendentaltypes * Facebook: transcendentaltypes * Kristy’s personal website: kristymalik.com [https://kristymalik.com/] AND if you want to take there full assessment use code: gospelandfans for 50% off of $25.  Also in this episode: * What I learned from reading the Bible on my own this week * How 2016 served as a second conversion for me when I visited Italy. If you want to dive into my other work you can purchase my book Rekindled [https://www.amazon.com/Rekindled-Jesus-Called-Catholic-Church-ebook/dp/B08G89MBR3/ref=sr_1_1?crid=5AT0A771CAR9&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.EZibekayZ-rsW15Pz7akEFF-n7RDCnAe4fXZRekgKZzGjHj071QN20LucGBJIEps.qUDQXD8TbtH2LvGcOVzF63Qlugqp3qFNI_18DQk01y4&dib_tag=se&keywords=rekindled+mallory&qid=1744304605&sprefix=rekindled+ma%2Caps%2C161&sr=8-1], or one of my Bible Studies [https://shop.walkingwithpurpose.com/collections/study-guides]. Also, if you need a refresher on the Gospel message, check out the first episode [https://malloryasmyth.substack.com/p/the-gospel-and-the-kickoff?r=n7hr1] of this podcast. Did this episode speak to you? Please share it with a friend so we can grow the show! Also, if you would like me to speak at one of your events, email me at mallorybueche@gmail.com Headed to find out if I am Truth, Beauty, Goodness, or Unity, Mallory Smyth