14.4K
Downloads
298
Episodes
Maybe you’ve grown up as a Christian going to church or maybe you’re not interested in religion at all. But when you’re scrolling, hanging out with friends, trying to sleep, or overwhelmed with your day-to-day, do big existential questions ever pop in- you know- things like, “Why am I here? How did all this get here? What happens after I die?” “Is there a God and is there really meaning to all this?” ”What’s so special about Jesus Christ?” We’ve all experienced deep longing for something this world can’t seem to satisfy. Even someone as wildly successful as Taylor Swift knows that to be true. “I had won album of the year at the Grammys for a second time...” She said, “and I remember thinking afterwards, ’Oh my god, that was all you wanted!... That was all you focused on. You get to the mountaintop and look around and you’re like... what now?” If you’re tired and feeling overwhelmed with all the different voices yelling for your affections- telling you what to go after- whether it be success, beauty, the perfect partner, social media followers, money, or power… only to leave you let down and unsatisfied, searching for more… Maybe like my friends and me, you’re after finding something REAL. Every week, join me (Janell Wood), special co-hosts and guests as we ask questions, look for answers, and search for the source of something REAL: Restoration, Eternity, Authenticity, and Love. I believe those things can ultimately be found in relationship with Jesus Christ, but don’t take my word for it. Listen to our conversations for yourself and go on a journey with us: Is Jesus the REAL thing?
Episodes
Wednesday Aug 16, 2023
Wednesday Aug 16, 2023
Hello Friends!
Today on the podcast, we welcome back Abdu Murray. Abdu shares about the credibility of the gospel message. He Janell and Signe chat about Christianity as the only true way to God and what to do if you’re afraid of believing a lie Abdu shares about his ministry and his journey from Islam to Christianity and how that changed his life. He chats about his evidential reasons for following Christ and more. The group also dives into questions such as — Why are we here? How did we get here? What should we think about heaven and hell?
We hope you enjoy!
About Abdu
Abdu Murray offers the credibility of the gospel message as a speaker and writer with Embrace the Truth. He has authored several books including Saving Truth, Grand Central Question, Apocalypse Later, and the forthcoming More than a White Man’s Religion. For most of his life, Abdu was a proud Muslim until a nine-year historical, philosophical, theological, and scientific investigation pointed him to the Christian faith.
Abdu has spoken to diverse international audiences and has participated in debates and dialogues across the globe.
Abdu holds a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Michigan – Ann Arbor and earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Michigan Law School.
Abdu lives in the Detroit, Michigan area with his wife and their three children.
___________________
We would love to thank our Patrons for all their amazing support! To learn more about supporting Finding Something REAL via Patreon, click here!
To learn more about Faithful Counseling and if it is a good fit for you, you can click here!
FSR August 2021 - Signe’s Intro
FSR June 2022 with Abdu
Embrace The Truth
Grand Central Question - Abdu Murray
Saving Truth - Abdu Murray
More Than a White Man’s Religion - Abdu Murray
Hidden In Plain View - Lydia McGrew
Luke 8:1-3
”Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod's household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means.”
Luke 24:1-12
“But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” And they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles, but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened.”
Wednesday Aug 09, 2023
Wednesday Aug 09, 2023
Happy Wednesday!
Today, we are excited to bring you an episode with Signe, Janell’s Danish exchange daughter! Signe shares about her decision to do an exchange year in the U. S., differences between Danish and American cultures, her previous religious experiences and more.
Signe shares her experiences encountering the Christian faith and being uncomfortable at a youth group discussion of abortion. She expresses her uncertainty about the Christian beliefs about sex as well. Janell and Signe talk about Max Lucado’s book He Chose The Nails and Signe shares some of her thoughts on it. We hope you enjoy this episode!
___________________
We would love to thank our Patrons for all their amazing support! To learn more about supporting Finding Something REAL via Patreon, click here!
To learn more about Faithful Counseling and if it is a good fit for you, you can click here!
John 10:10 (ESV)
”The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”
John 17:3 (ESV)
“And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”
Wednesday Aug 02, 2023
Wednesday Aug 02, 2023
Happy Wednesday! (And sorry this is published SO late!)
This is a special podcast episode that recaps the mission of Finding Something REAL. Janell talks about themes of rejection, shame, guilt, beauty, truth, goodness, and the importance of truly seeing people.
We hope you enjoy!
___________________
We would love to thank our Patrons for all their amazing support! To learn more about supporting Finding Something REAL via Patreon, click here!
To learn more about Faithful Counseling and if it is a good fit for you, you can click here!
FSR: Josh White (August 2020)
FSR: Josh White (April 2021)
FSR: Josh White (December 2022)
FSR: Allen Crostic (Nov 22)
FSR: Allen Crostic (March 2021)
FSR :Allen Crostic (Feb 2021)
FSR April 2020 with Allen Crostic (April 2020)
Lucrezia’s Episodes (March 2021)
Intro
with Terrian
with Drew
with Stephanie
with Brenna
FSR: Justin Brierley (April 2021)
FSR: Stephanie Rousselle (March 2021)
FSR: Gernot Zeillinger (June 2022)
FSR: Lindsey Medenwaldt (March 2022)
FSR: Kristin Desgrosselier (Dec 2019)
Cross Examined Instructor's Academy
EF High School Exchange Year
MAVEN
Calvary Chapel Osuna Campus
Wednesday Jul 26, 2023
Wednesday Jul 26, 2023
Hello all! I hope you’re having a great summer so far!
Today on the podcast, we welcome Katie Westenberg. As well as sharing about her faith journey, Katie chats about distractions as well—how they affect us and what we can do to combat them. She talks about the weight of comparison and the fear of missing out, the power of Biblical remembrance, and spiritual disciplines. They also talk about the anxiety about the choice to live a less distracted life and what we can learn from Jesus’ example
We hope you enjoy the episode!
About Katie
Katie is the author of But Then She Remembered and I Choose Brave, and contributes to Club 31 Women, the Huffington Post, The Gospel Coalition, and Mothers of Daughters. Katie is passionate about speaking truth and encouraging women to keep their eyes fixed on Jesus. Katie and her husband live with their four children in Washington State.
___________________
We would love to thank our Patrons for all their amazing support! To learn more about supporting Finding Something REAL via Patreon, click here!
To learn more about Faithful Counseling and if it is a good fit for you, you can click here!
Katie’s Website
I Choose Brave book
And Then She Remembered
Atomic Habits - James Clear
The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry - John Mark Comer
Wednesday Jul 19, 2023
Wednesday Jul 19, 2023
Warning: Discussion of sensitive topics related to mental health
Happy Wednesday! Today on the Finding Something REAL podcast, we’re sharing a conversation between Janell and today’s guest Amber Cullum!
Amber shares about growing up in a culturally Christian home in Kentucky, her rebellious phase, and how her faith was impacted by a missions trip to India. She also shares about her podcast ministry, how it’s impacted her faith, and how she doesn’t shy away from difficult topics. Amber shares about her experience with depression and the practical things that have helped her cope (including medication, exercise, and the Bible).
We hope you enjoy this episode!
About Amber
Amber Cullum is the host behind the Grace Enough podcast. She is a wife to Sam, a mother of 3, a physical therapist, a Kentucky native living in Raleigh, and a lover of connecting with people and learning the stories of God’s grace in their lives.
___________________
We would love to thank our Patrons for all their amazing support! To learn more about supporting Finding Something REAL via Patreon, click here!
To learn more about Faithful Counseling and if it is a good fit for you, you can click here!
Dagmar’s previous FSR episodes
Jillian’s website
The Gift of the Unexpected - Jillian Benfield
Mere Christianity - C. S. Lewis
Romans 8:28 (NIV)
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Wednesday Jul 12, 2023
Wednesday Jul 12, 2023
Happy Wednesday, friends! We hope you are having a wonderful Summer!
Today on the podcast, Dagmar joins Janell as we welcome Jillian Benfield. Jillian shares her faith journey and about how the events of her life encouraged her to write a book about embracing the unexpected. She shares about the grief and emotions she experienced when she found out that she was expecting a son with disabilities and how she experienced peace and God’s presence at the time of his birth.
The group also talks about how the Psalms relate to our relationship with God, how God brings life in our circumstances, and why resurrection is a theme of this life, not just the life to come. We hope you enjoy!
About Jillian
Jillian is a former journalist and news anchor. She holds a broadcast journalism degree from the University of Georgia. As a freelance writer, her essays about living an unexpected life have appeared on sites such asTODAY,Good Morning America,Yahoo! News, andABC News. Jillian regularly advocates for the full inclusion of people with disabilities in her writings, in her community, and as a part of the National Down Syndrome Congress’s NationalDown Syndrome Advocacy Coalition. Jillian and her husband, Andy, and their three children make their home on Florida’s Space Coast.
___________________
We would love to thank our Patrons for all their amazing support! To learn more about supporting Finding Something REAL via Patreon, click here!
To learn more about Faithful Counseling and if it is a good fit for you, you can click here!
Dagmar’s previous FSR episodes
Jillian’s website
The Gift of the Unexpected - Jillian Benfield
Mere Christianity - C. S. Lewis
Romans 8:28 (NIV)
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Wednesday Jul 05, 2023
Wednesday Jul 05, 2023
Finding Something REAL Podcast!
Today, Janell and Sevanna have a conversation with Tricia Goyer! Tricia shares some of her story of being a teen mom, her experience praying for her future husband, and how God has played a part in that. They also talk about the proper place of physical intimacy in relationships, what to do if you feel like God is leading you out of a relationship, and more!
We hope you enjoy this podcast!
About Tricia
Tricia Goyer writes out of her passion for God and her love for family and others. The author of more than 70 books, she writes both historical fiction and nonfiction related to family and parenting.
This USA-Today Best-selling Author has also won a two Carol Awards and a Retailer’s Best Award. She was also an ECPA Gold-Medallion Nominee and a Christy Award Nominee and won Writer of the Year from the Mt. Hermon Christian Writers Conference.
Tricia’s contemporary and historical novels feature strong women overcoming great challenges. She recreates historic wartime eras with precise detail through comprehensive research and is a beloved author of Amish fiction, as well, having written the Big Sky and Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors series.
___________________
We would love to thank our Patrons for all their amazing support! To learn more about supporting Finding Something REAL via Patreon, click here!
To learn more about Faithful Counseling and if it is a good fit for you, you can click here!
FSR Nov 2021 with Sevanna
FSR Nov 2021 with Sevanna and Jason
FSR Nov 2021 with Sevanna and Janel
FSR Nov 2021 with Sevanna (bonus episode)
FSR Dec 2020 with Tricia Goyer
Tricia Goyer
Robin Jones Gunn
Before You Meet Your Future Husband - Goyer
Praying For Your Future Husband - Goyer
Wednesday Jun 28, 2023
Wednesday Jun 28, 2023
Happy Wednesday! Thanks for joining us on the Finding Something REAL Podcast!
Today, Janell and Leonie have a conversation with Francine Rivers the author of Redeeming Love. Francine shares about her faith journey and how it is reflected in her writing. She talks not only about the story of Redeeming Love, but also about the Redeeming Love Foundation and the recently released Redeeming Love movie. They also discuss topics such as how Christians can still be imperfect, pushback Francine has received from the Redeeming Love movie, the Christian publishing market, and more. We hope you enjoy!
** Please note that today’s episode does cover topics such as sex and sex trafficking. **
About Francine
New York Times bestselling author Francine Rivers had a successful writing career in the general market for several years becoming a born-again Christian; she then wrote Redeeming Love as her statement of faith. A retelling of the biblical story of Gomer and Hosea set during the time of the California Gold Rush, Redeeming Love is now considered by many to be a classic work of Christian fiction and it continues to be one of the industry’s top-selling titles year after year. Since Redeeming Love, Francine has published numerous bestselling novels with Christian themes—including The Masterpiece, Bridge to Haven, and A Voice in the Wind —and she has continued to win both industry acclaim and reader loyalty around the world. Her Christian novels have been awarded or nominated for numerous honors and in 1997, after winning her third RITA Award for Inspirational Fiction, Francine was inducted into the Romance Writers of America’s Hall of Fame. In 2015, she received the Lifetime Achievement Award from American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW). Francine’s novels have been translated into over 30 different languages, and she enjoys bestseller status in many foreign countries. Francine and her husband live in Northern California and enjoy time spent with their grown children and grandchildren. She uses her writing to draw closer to the Lord, and she desires that through her work she might worship and praise Jesus for all He has done and is doing in her life.
___________________
We would love to thank our Patrons for all their amazing support! To learn more about supporting Finding Something REAL via Patreon, click here!
To learn more about Faithful Counseling and if it is a good fit for you, you can click here!
FSR: Gaia’s Intro
FSR: Gaia & Dr. Erik Thoennes
FSR Gaia & Robby
FSR: Gaia and Zach
FSR s5e26 with Leonie
FSR August 2022 with Leonie and Frank Turek
Francine's website
Redeeming Love Foundation
Redeeming Love (Book)
Redeeming Love Movie
The Scarlett Thread (book)
The Atonement Child