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

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 health * military trauma and identity * masculinity and emotional struggle * faith, healing, and redemption * purpose after pain * what real strength actually looks like This 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=61567179489505 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567179489505] https://www.instagram.com/fbcplevna/ [https://www.instagram.com/fbcplevna/] https://www.tiktok.com/@fbc.plevna [https://www.tiktok.com/@fbc.plevna]

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 life * Why integrity is so rare today * Using your career to serve others * Leadership, generosity, and reputation * Family, purpose, and staying grounded This 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

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 childhood * How pain can shape you without hardening you * Leadership, success, and serving people well * Faith in difficult seasons * Choosing generosity instead of bitterness * What resilience actually looks like in everyday life This episode is less about achievement… and more about who you become through adversity. The Pulpit & Porch — real conversations about life, faith, and purpose.

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.

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