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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 Sep 14, 2022
Wednesday Sep 14, 2022
Hey Friends! We hope you’re having a good Wednesday!
Content warning: Lots of sex talk
Today we’re welcoming Sheila Wray Gregoire on the podcast! Sheila shares her faith journey and shares about her ministry that helps Christians view sex in a Biblical way and helps them heal from harmful teachings about sex.
Janell, Sheila, and Liz have a conversation about faith struggles, shame, the importance of intimacy and passion, hookup culture, and what happens when we reduce sex to just the physical aspect. They also talk about how God has created us for intimacy, why God cares about sexual sins, the wording surrounding sexual sings, and how God has created us for a deep connection with Him. We hope you enjoy this episode!
About Sheila Wray Gregoire
Sheila Wray Gregoire is the author of eleven books including The Great Sex Rescue, the host of the Bare Marriage podcast, and the founder of To Love Honor and Vacuum. An award-winning writer, Sheila calls the church to more than just pat answers by conducting original research to find out what advice works–and what really doesn’t.
Sheila and her husband Keith have been married for over 30 years. Together they have two adult daughters, one son in heaven, two sons-in-law, and two adorable grandchildren.
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We would love to thank our Patrons for all their amazing support! To learn more about supporting Finding Something REAL via Patreon, click here!
FSR s5e32 with Introducing Liz
Bare Marriage
Bare Marriage Podcast
The Great Sex Rescue - Sheila Wray Gregoire
The Good Girl’s Guide to Sex - Sheila Wray Gregoire
The Good Guy’s Guide to Sex - Sheila Wray Gregoire, Dr. Keith Gregoire
Wednesday Sep 07, 2022
Wednesday Sep 07, 2022
Hey Friends, happy September!
We are excited to introduce you to Liz! Liz shares with us a bit about her experience growing up with a single mom and seeing her dad only so often. She shares how she felt like she needed to make her dad proud of her and how those insecurities have impacted her life today. Liz shares about her love for music and her experience loving church when she was younger and what eventually caused her to stop going to church even though she still believes in God. Liz expresses her affection for crystals and tarot cards and why she believes that the words “God” and “Universe” are interchangeable.
This month, we will discuss a few of Elizabeth’s questions such as:
- How can we know if crystals and tarot cards are wrong?
- How can we believe in sin and still love people? Particularly when it comes to the LGBTQ+ community.
- Why is sex outside of marriage frowned upon?
- How can we view the desire for perfection under the lens of freedom and grace?
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We would love to thank our Patrons for all their amazing support! To learn more about supporting Finding Something REAL via Patreon, click here!
Wednesday Aug 31, 2022
Wednesday Aug 31, 2022
Happy Wednesday! Kasey Leander joins us on the podcast again today! Though Leonie could not attend the recording, Dagmar has joined Janell and Kasey for today’s podcast!
Kasey give a bit of an update on what’s been happening in his life and shares a bit about his ministry that revolves around writing about culture and the Christian response.
Today, the crew talks about how people are not our adversaries, the difference between helpful and harmful worldviews, and how to respond when someone is wrestling with God, but does not have a Christian community. They also talk about the idea of having a relationship with God and what “God does not have grandchildren” means. There is also talk about responding to the self-love movement, sexuality, and movements within the culture in general and the mental health sphere particularly, and so much more! We hope you enjoy this episode!
Mature Content: There is discussion of mental health and sex in this episode.
About Kasey Leander
Kasey Leander is a Breakpoint Contributor at the Colson Center for Christian Worldview. He holds a BA in History and PPE (Politics, Philosophy and Economics) from Taylor University, and a Certificate in Theological Studies from Oxford University. After completing his study at Oxford, Kasey lived in Boston, where he spoke on apologetics topics at leading universities in New England and across the country. He has also worked briefly in politics, interning in the US Senate in Washington, DC.Kasey’s passion is applying the answers of Jesus to modern life. Originally from Colorado Springs, Kasey loves action films, racket sports, strategy games and food trucks.
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We would love to thank our Patrons for all their amazing support! To learn more about supporting Finding Something REAL via Patreon, click here!
Kasey previous episodes
FSR s5e26 with Leonie
FSR s5e with Leonie and Frank
FSR s5e with Leonie and Stephanie
Far June 2022 with Abdu
FSR October 2020 with Kasey
FSR February 2021 with Kasey
FSR s4e8 with Drew- Same-Sex Attraction and the Church
FSR s4e24 with Drew- Holy Tension and Tough Topics
FSR April 2022 with Drew and Cynthia
Cinema Snorkel with Kasey and Karlyn Leander
Cross Examined Instructor's Academy
The Colson Center
Dominion - Tom Holland
The Rise & Triumph of the Modern Self - Carl. R. Trueman
Enlightenment Now - Steven Pinker
Top Gun: Maverick Trailer
Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark
Matt Damon Interview on Graham Norton Show
Matthew 11:28-30
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am [f]gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Wednesday Aug 24, 2022
Wednesday Aug 24, 2022
Hey Friends! Today, Gernot joins Janell for another podcast!
Janell talks a little about why Leonie chose not to record this episode and a little about the puddle ocean analogy when it comes to faith.
Gernot shares his faith journey, how he started living his Christian faith, and his personal story about loss. Janell and Gernot talk about the question “Do you want God?” and they discuss the idea that for some, spending eternity with a God they do not love will be hell.
Janell and Gernot also talk about how the goodness of God leads people to salvation, choosing to trust Jesus, and how Jesus changes everything. We hope you enjoy this episode!
About Gernot Zeilinger
Gernot has a B.A in International Business Administration as well as a Certificate in Theological Studies from Wycliffe Hall, University of Oxford and a Certificate in Christian Apologetics from the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics. He is currently pursuing a Masters in Systematic and Philosophic Theology at the University of Nottingham and has started the process to become ordained in the Lutheran Church in Austria. He is currently working for Campus für Christus (the Austrian subsidiary of CRU) to create an apologetics ministry there named PROFUNDUM, focused on building bridges and dialogue between Christianity and secular perspectives to show the truth and relevance of Christianity for the world.
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We would love to thank our Patrons for all their amazing support! To learn more about supporting Finding Something REAL via Patreon, click here!
FSR s5e26 with Leonie
FSR s5e with Leonie and Frank
FSR s5e with Leonie and Stephanie
Far June 2022 with Abdu
FSR May with Shannon Moore
FSR April 2021 with Julia Garschagen
The Great Divorce- C. S. Lewis
Lord of the Rings - J. R. R. Tolkien
Wednesday Aug 17, 2022
Wednesday Aug 17, 2022
Happy Wednesday!
We are happy to welcome Stephanie Rousselle back to the podcast! She is joined by two young women who are special to Janell— Leonie and Zoe!
Stephanie shares about her upbringing in France, her pursuit of academic excellence, how she went from an atheist to someone who surrendered to a God she wasn’t sure she could fully trust. She talks about how she wrestled with fully surrendering to God and how getting to know God’s character helped her with her decision to trust Him.
They also have a great discussion of prayer, what changes practically when she surrendered to God, and how she found such a peace and joy in surrendering to God. They also have a discussion about the place of rules or guidelines in the Christian faith. Lastly, Stephanie has one challenges Zoe and Leonie (and any young person who is questioning whether or not God exists). We hope you enjoy this episode!
About Stephanie Rousselle
Stephanie Rousselle is the founder of Gospel Spice Ministries. Her motto is, “God’s glory, our delight!” She thrives on Bible-centered inspirational writing and speaking, and dark chocolate. She knows herself too well to take herself seriously... Born and raised in France, she has lived for her One over the last two decades on three continents, four countries and five cities through six professional roles. She is a wife, mom, podcaster, public speaker, Bible teacher, former women’s ministry director and strategy consultant. And she is 100% French. She loves sharing nuances taken from the French and English languages and cultures to experience the New Testament from the inside out. She has quoted her favorite words more times than she can count, first to herself and her children, and then also in settings as diverse as Bible studies, conferences, podcasts and more: “There is nothing you can do for God to love you more; and there is nothing you can do for God to love you less.”
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We would love to thank our Patrons for all their amazing support! To learn more about supporting Finding Something REAL via Patreon, click here!
FSR s5e26 with Leonie
FSR s5e17 Totti’s Intro Episode
FSR March 2021 with Stephanie Rouselle
FSR March 2021 with Lu
Gospel Spice website
Gospel Spice episode with Dallas Jenkins
Gospel Spice episode with Jonathan Evans
Jonathan Evan's eulogy for his mom
The Weight of Glory and Other Addresses, C. S. Lewis
”It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”
Wednesday Aug 10, 2022
Wednesday Aug 10, 2022
Frank Turek joins the podcast today! Janell, Frank, and Leonie have a fascinating conversation about Frank’s New book, how Harry Potter parallels the Bible, what C. S. Lewis and Tolkein discussed about fantasies and myths, and more!
They also talk about how we can dedicate our lives to something we cannot prove exists, how we can know God by his effects. They talk about design and moral law point to a creator. They talk prayer, Bible reading, Frank’s testimony, the difference between trusting in God and intellectual knowledge of God, the challenges facing Christian young people today, and more! We hope you enjoy this episode!
About Frank Turek
Dr. Frank Turek is a dynamic speaker and award-winning author or coauthor of five books: Hollywood Heroes How Your Favorite Movies Reveal God, Stealing from God: Why Atheists Need God to make their Case, I Don’t Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist, Correct, Not Politically Correct and Legislating Morality. As the President of CrossExamined.org, Frank presents powerful and entertaining evidence for Christianity at churches, high schools and at secular college campuses that often begin hostile to his message. He has also debated several prominent atheists including Christopher Hitchens and David Silverman, president of American Atheists.
Frank hosts an hour-long TV program each week called I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist that is broadcast Wednesday nights on DirecTV Channel 378 (NRBTV). His radio program called CrossExamined with Frank Turek airs on 186 stations every Saturday morning at 10 a.m. eastern and is available continuously on the free CrossExamined App
Frank is a widely featured guest in the media as a leading apologetics expert and cultural commentator. He has appeared on hundreds of radio programs and many top TV programs including: The O’Reilly Factor, Hannity and Colmes, Faith Under Fire, and Politically Incorrect. He also writes a column for Townhall.com and several other sites.
A former aviator in the US Navy, Frank has a master’s degree from the George Washington University and a doctorate from Southern Evangelical Seminary. He and his wife, Stephanie, are blessed with three grown sons.
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We would love to thank our Patrons for all their amazing support! To learn more about supporting Finding Something REAL via Patreon, click here!
Cross Examined.Org
Cross Examined Instagram
Frank Turek debate with Christopher Hitchens
Frank Turek interview with Alisa Childers
Southern Evangelical Seminary
Hollywood Heroes - Frank Turek
Evidence that Demands a Verdict - Josh McDowell
More than a Carpenter -Josh McDowell
I Don't Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist - Norman Geisler
Reason for God - Tim Keller
Harry Potter
Lord of the Rings
The Chronicles of Narnia
Iron Man
Star Wars
Proverbs 4:23
”Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”
Wednesday Aug 03, 2022
Wednesday Aug 03, 2022
Happy August!
Today on Finding Something REAL, we are introducing Leonie! Leonie is one of the exchange daughters that Janell’s family has hosted. They talk about her experience going from being an only child to spending a year as the older sister of Janell’s four kids. They talk about Leonie’s plans for after graduation and why she was hesitant to come back on the podcast. Leonie expressed that this is her first time being around people who take their faith seriously. She never really went to church except for Christmas, but other than that never really experienced faith until she saw one of her friends in Germany praying and reading the bible.
Janell and Leonie chat about Leonie’s faith journey so far, the people who inspire her, her experience praying, and why love is the most compelling thing for her.
We hope you enjoy today’s episode!
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We would love to thank our Patrons for all their amazing support! To learn more about supporting Finding Something REAL via Patreon, click here!
Hansel & Gretel
MacGyver (1980s version)
Redeeming Love - Francine Rivers
Case for Christ - Lee Strobel
Hebrews 11:6
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Jeremiah 29:13
And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.
Wednesday Jul 27, 2022
Wednesday Jul 27, 2022
Today on the podcast, Dagmar and Leke join Janell for a conversation with Jahdiel Perez!
Jahdiel shares about how he came to Christ and his journey from being disqualified from the Marine Corps to studying at a few of the world’s top universities. He defines philosophy and shares how studying it impacted his faith. He also shares his love of C. S. Lewis! We get to hear a wonderful conversation about what to do when our faith feels dry, the place of feelings in our relationship with God, learning to wait on the Lord, and why dry seasons are important to our faith.
About Jahdiel
Jahdiel Perez teaches Christian Thought at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Boston. He is about to complete his D.Phil in Theology and Literature at the University of Oxford and become a Postdoctoral Scholar in the Humanities Department at Villanova University.
In his research and teaching, Perez integrates theology, philosophy, and literature to demonstrate how the Christian faith can respond to some of the most pressing questions of our time.
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We would love to thank our Patrons for all their amazing support! To learn more about supporting Finding Something REAL via Patreon, click here!
FSR s5e22 with Leke
FSR s5e23 with Mabel
FSR s5e24 with Mark
FSR s5e18 with Gernot
FSR s4e18 with Josh White
FSR s4e17 with Justin Brierley
FSR s4e16 with Lindsey Medenwaldt
FSR s4e15 with Julia Garschagen
St Augustine Confessions
Waiting for Godot - Samuel Beckett
Shakespeare & Co. Bookstore (Paris)
C. S. Lewis Official Website
The Screwtape Letters
The Great Divorce
Problem of Pain
Mere Christianity
The Chronicles of Narnia
Till We Have Faces