The Living Grounded Podcast

Why does a culture that increasingly says it doesn't need God keep telling stories about gods, destiny, supernatural powers, temptation, judgment, salvation—and the longing to get home? Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey gives us a fascinating window into the human heart, because Odysseus' journey is about far more than getting back to a place; it is about belonging, identity, love, and home. In this episode of God in Culture, we explore why human beings keep looking for something—or Someone—to save us, why we keep manufacturing gods, and why we struggle so deeply with surrendering control. The Bible tells us that we were made in God's image, that God has placed eternity in our hearts, and that our restless hearts ultimately find their home in Him. And while Odysseus spends years trying to find his way home, the gospel gives us an astonishingly different story: Jesus doesn't simply show us the way home—Jesus is the way home.

What happens when a culture that says it doesn't need God can't stop singing about longing, emptiness, morality, identity, sacrifice, and the search for something more?   In this episode of Living Grounded, Ron Moore, Jill Kowalski, and Tom Rojahn explore what secular music may reveal about the spiritual hunger that exists beneath the surface of our culture. From Taylor Swift and Noah Kahan, they listen for the deeper questions hiding inside songs that were never necessarily written as Christian statements.   Could our culture's persistent searching actually point to something—or Someone—it cannot find on its own? Maybe the songs we sing reveal that, beneath all our searching, we were made for God and are still looking for our way home.

Our culture may be increasingly secular, but it keeps talking about God—in our music, movies, stories, and conversations about meaning, love, justice, sacrifice, redemption, and salvation. Why does a culture that wants little to do with God keep bringing Him back into the conversation? In this episode, Ron Moore explores three biblical reasons: We are made in God’s image. Eternity is set in our hearts. We are looking for a Savior. As we listen carefully to our culture, we may discover that beneath its attempts to live without God is a deep longing for the One in whose image we were made. You can push God to the margins, but you can’t push him out of the picture.

What shapes the things we love most? In this thoughtful episode of the Living Grounded Podcast, Ann Marie Pirnat reflects on the enduring gift of Christian friendship, the wisdom of Augustine's ordo amoris—the right ordering of our loves—and the transforming power of Scripture. Together, we explore how God's Word reshapes our hearts so that we learn to love Him above all else and love others through His love. Ann Marie also shares her passion for welcoming seekers and new believers into the Bible, offering practical encouragement for anyone who longs to help others grow in faith. If you've ever wondered how to cultivate a life centered on Christ in a world full of competing priorities, this conversation will inspire you to live with your heart grounded in God's truth.

Have you ever wondered where God is in the middle of grief, uncertainty, or spiritual dryness? In this episode of the Living Grounded Podcast, Allison Byxbe shares how journaling through Scripture became a lifeline that carried her from deep sorrow into a renewed awareness of God's presence. Drawing from her book, Journaling as a Spiritual Practice: Tracing the Lines of Grace to God's Presence, Allison explains how writing through the rich metaphors of Scripture can transform the way we pray, process pain, and experience God's love. Together, we explore why journaling isn't about creating perfect words but about making space to meet God with honesty and hope. Whether you're a lifelong journaler or have never written a single page, this conversation will encourage you to slow down, listen for God's gentle voice, and trace His grace in your everyday life.