The Bless Up Podcast

Confrontation in life is inevitable and while it can be something we dread, there’s a way to do it well. In today’s episode, hosts Rachel Hunka, James Talbert and Corey Hunka discuss confrontations they’ve experienced that have gone well and made them better people, leaders, and friends. Listen in and find encouragement today that your friendships can withstand hard moments and that you can bring challenges without burning bridges.Connect with our hosts on Instagram:Bless Up @the.bless.up.podcastJames @james_thomas_talbertCorey @coreyhunkaRachel @rachelhunkaFollow @the.bless.up.podcast on Instagram to stay connected.Bless Up ✌️

What's a moment you thought you could never bounce back from... embarrassing or otherwise? In today's episode of The Bless Up Podcast, Rachel, James, and Corey remember some epic EPIC moments then dive into scripture for encouragement in restoring credibility when you think all hope is lost.Connect with our hosts on Instagram:Bless Up @the.bless.up.podcastJames @jamesthomastalbertRachel @rachelelysehFollow @the.bless.up.podcast on Instagram to stay connected.Bless Up ✌️

This episode dives in really deep really quick as Rachel and James interview Amelia Banks on the connectedness of our mind, body, and soul. Amelia is a board certified behavior analyst (BCBA), a licensed professional counselor (LPC), and a church planter alongside her husband, Kendrick, who we met on the podcast in Season 2. Amelia is devoted to seeking justice and holistic health for individuals and her community, which is extremely evident as we listen and learn from Amelia in this episode.To connect with Amelia further, you can email her at Amelia@pennysparrowtherapy.com or visit https://pennysparrowtherapy.com/#counselingYou can also find more about her church and sign up for monthly newsletters at HisKingdomCollective.com.comConnect with our hosts on Instagram:Bless Up @the.bless.up.podcastJames @jamesthomastalbertRachel @rachelelysehFollow @the.bless.up.podcast on Instagram to stay connected.Bless Up ✌️Follow @the.bless.up.podcast on Instagram to stay connected.

It's usually James and Corey having the sports debates on the podcast, but this week Rachel is weighing in a bit -- is this a football house divided... by Taylor Swift? It wouldn't be the Bless Up Podcast without some random debates, a few laughs, and a discussion on faith. Listen in as our house moves from football to manna and discuss how to have your faith mature with you and what to do when following Jesus doesn't feel as exciting as it used to be.Follow @the.bless.up.podcast on Instagram to stay connected.

From Edy's *interesting* habits to why one pastor quit his job and how his parting words impacted us all, the next season of Bless Up is starting off at full speed! Join Rachel & James with special guest Edy Herrera as they reflect on the article that's swept the ministry corners of the internet and discuss how to make an impact on your church community.Read the article here: https://www.restorativefaith.org/post/departure-why-i-left-the-churchConnect with our hosts on Instagram:Bless Up @the.bless.up.podcastJames @jamesthomastalbertRachel @rachelelysehEdy @thewildherrerasFollow @the.bless.up.podcast on Instagram to stay connected.

Leading When You’re Not in Charge… And We’ve Been Fired QuickWe’re taking a deep dive into the world of women in leadership with special guests Tara Beth Leach and Bethany Hammer. Tara Beth joins us as the Lead Pastor at Good Shepherd Church and co-founder of Propel Ecclesia, cohorts for women in ministry. Bethany is the Propel Ecclesia Coordinator and has over a decade of experience in church leadership. Listen in as our hosts, Rachel, James and Corey, have a discussion on difficult moments in leadership and invite our guests to share best practices for empowering women in their leadership.For more on Propel Women and Propel Ecclesia, follow @PropelWomen on Instagram and visit PropelWomen.org/Ecclesia. Use discount code FreeApply to waive your application fee and apply for the next round of Propel Ecclesia Cohorts.Find our guests on Instagram: @TaraBeth82@BethanyHHammer@PropelWomenFollow @the.bless.up.podcast on Instagram to stay connected.Bless Up ✌️

It’s easy to disqualify ourselves and come up with a thousand reasons why we aren’t leading anyone… but no matter where you find yourself positioned on the org chart of work, home, or life, you are leading someone. So how do you lead when you feel like you don’t have control of anything happening around you? Listen in as our hosts, Rachel, James and Corey discuss what they’ve learned about leading when you’re not in charge and the comical reasons they’ve been fired from previous jobs.

This begins a series of our hosts, Rachel, James, and Corey responding to your questions. A few weeks ago, we asked on Instagram what you wanted to know — everything from episode topics to host intro questions.Today we’re discussing character, spiritual, and leadership development and the worst way anyone has ever ruined a pair of shoes. Listen in as our hosts laugh ‘til they cry and share their best insights on personal development.And don’t forget to follow @the.bless.up.podcast on Instagram to get your questions in for this series!

There are some things that worked and were great as a kid, but they just don’t hold up into adulthood. It’s the same with our faith. There comes a time in all our lives when we have to move from milk to steak, metaphorically speaking. Listen in as Rachel, James, and Corey discuss maturing in their faith and the practices that helped them along the way.

The debate over the best chicken in the world continues, but -- despite James & Corey's passion -- that's not the actual point of this episode. Today, our hosts hit the hard topic of "the pit of despair" and the ladder to getting out. Listen in as Rachel, James, & Corey discuss difficult issues happening in our communities today and how Jesus responds in similar situations.

The question many people wonder and few are bold enough to ask: does the church just want my money? Well — here are 3 church planters ready and willing to respond. Listen in as Rachel, James, and Corey discuss their decade-plus of wrestling with the idea of fundraising and the Church.In this episode, our hosts kicked off something new: Fake Ad Content. For this week’s fake ad, check out the people we love at Lighthouse Ministries  @lhmcanton // cantonlighthouse.org

Competition is what we make it — we can make each other better or we can take each other out. Listen in as Rachel, James, and Corey discuss unearned awards, healthy competition, and what happens when we play an infinite game.

Things get a little chaotic today as our hosts — Rachel, James, and Corey — seek to answer the question, “Can faith and doubt coexist?” Grab some popcorn and get ready to laugh a little at the guys’ ridiculously held theories, but then we promise to deep dive into Scripture so you can draw your own conclusions on the connections between faith and doubt.

The stuck place — that in-between waiting place where you don’t wanna quit (but you kinda do) and something’s gotta give but you aren’t sure what and you know you’re where God wants you but you’re sure He didn’t mean like this… The stuck place. Today, we’re talking about engaging in that place. It’s not that we gotta quit or gotta leave, it’s that we need to reframe our engagement — engage in the way that brings us joy. Listen in as Rachel, James, and Corey discuss the ways they’ve learned to find joy, remove the pressure, and engage when seasons change.

Exhaustion, overwhelm, and a desire to abdicate all responsibilities are all very real feelings. But — most of the time — giving in to quitting isn’t an option we can or should choose. So what do we do? Listen in as Rachel, James, and Corey discuss times they’ve quit and how they’re learning to combat a quitting mindset.For more on GiANT’s 5 Gears and connecting well, reach out to Corey at coreyhunka.giantos.com/store

In the busiest season of the year, it’s easy to just plow through your social calendar like you do the snow in your driveway — with no real intention and just the goal of getting through. But, what if we showed up for gatherings ready to connect instead of just counting down the minutes? In today’s episode, Rachel, James, and Corey dive into the 5 ways we approach our time and the best ways to be prepared to connect. For more on GiANT’s 5 Gears and connecting well, reach out to Corey at coreyhunka.giantos.com/store

We’ve all been in that conversation where someone all the sudden flips everything to be about them — “the me monster” — but did you know there’s more than one way to be a Me Monster? Listen in as Rachel, James, and Corey discuss the times it’s necessary to focus on yourself, and when it’s time to make space for others.

Sometimes what we KNOW is true and what we FEEL is true don’t align — so what do we do when the two don’t align? Join Rachel, James, and Corey for an honest conversation on our feelings and the truth.

Sometimes we over-complicate what’s actually needed to welcome people into our lives and relationship with Jesus. Join Rachel and James with special guest Rob Browning for a discussion on making space for God to move in our homes and relationships.

In the rise-and-grind culture we live in, we rarely take time to pause, reflect, celebrate, and remember all God has done. Stopping to remember isn’t a waste of time — it’s a spiritual discipline. Listen in today as Rachel, James, and Corey discuss Ebenezers in their ministry journeys and encourage us to do the same.