The Pulpit and Porch

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

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

The world feels uncertain right now… so how are you supposed to respond? In Part 2 of this two-part conversation, we move from confusion to clarity. After breaking down what’s happening and why it feels so heavy in Part 1, this episode is all about what actually matters next. How you live, think, and respond in the middle of uncertainty. Because while you can’t control global events… you can control how you show up. In this episode, we talk about: * What you should (and shouldn’t) do when things feel unstable * How to prepare without panicking * Why fear distorts your thinking, and how to push back against it * Practical ways to stay grounded in your daily life * How faith shapes your response when you don’t have answers This isn’t about ignoring reality. It’s about responding to it wisely. If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or unsure what to do next, this conversation will help you reset, refocus, and move forward with clarity. The Pulpit & Porch Podcast Real conversations. Front porch honesty. Faith, life, and purpose, without the noise. Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThePulpitandPorch

What’s Actually Happening… and How Should We Respond?

What’s actually happening in the world right now… and why does it feel so heavy? In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, we step into the tension so many people are feeling, but few know how to process. From rising oil prices and economic pressure to global conflict, uncertainty, and nonstop headlines, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, anxious, and unsure of what to believe. But instead of reacting… we slow down. In this episode, we talk about: * What people are really afraid of right now * Why global events feel more personal than ever * Simple explanations behind complex headlines (like oil supply and rising costs) * And the honest truth about what we don’t actually know This isn’t a political breakdown. It’s a conversation about clarity, fear, and learning how to think wisely in a noisy world. Because you don’t need to know everything… to live wisely in something. The Pulpit & Porch Podcast Real conversations. Front porch honesty. Faith, life, and purpose, without the noise. Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThePulpitandPorch