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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
Thursday Nov 27, 2025
Thursday Nov 27, 2025
Happy Thanksgiving! We hope you're enjoying this time with loved ones.
This week on Finding Something Real, we are joined with Jesse Childress and one of our co-host, Sarah. Jesse and Sarah talk about the tension of not having the all the answers while also being called to release what we do know and let others know how God has worked in our lives.
Jesse Childress has an MA in Cultural Apologetics from Houston Christian University and is currently a student at Denver Seminary studying counseling, focusing particularly on the relationship between trauma and faith. He spent a term studying at Francis Schaeffer's L'Abri Fellowship in Switzerland and has a deep appreciation for good food, philosophy, theology, and literature. He has written for Summit Ministries, the Anselm Society, Conciliar Post, and An Unexpected Journal.
We hope you enjoy this week's episode!
How to Love People in Truth and Love with Drew Berryessa
Listen on:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2MuVWFbZzue3ZLgCtIJGzB
Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/finding-something-real-podcast/id1481017856
Follow us on:
Instagram: finding_something_real
Facebook: Finding Something REAL with Janell Wood
Tiktok: @findingsomethingreal
Wednesday Nov 19, 2025
Wednesday Nov 19, 2025
On this episode of Finding Something Real, we are joined with homicide detective, J. Warner Wallace. He has become a dear friend to the podcast and has great insight on making the case for Christ. We are also joined with our co-host, Sarah.
Sarah shares her genuine questions about faith. Even though she is Christian, she still deals with doubt. Questions that she feel we will never fully know the answers to. J. Warner Wallace asks compelling questions to reframe our perspective on addressing doubt and hard theological questions.
J. Warner Wallace is a Dateline featured cold-case homicide detective, popular national speaker and best-selling author. He continues to consult on cold-case investigations while serving as a Senior Fellow at the Colson Center for Christian Worldview. He is also an adjunct professor of apologetics at Talbot School of Theology (Biola University), Gateway Seminary, and Southern Evangelical Seminary, and a faculty member at Summit Ministries. J. Warner became a Christ-follower at the age of thirty-five after investigating the claims of the New Testament gospels using his skill set as a detective. He eventually earned a Master’s Degree in Theological Studies from Gateway Seminary.
We hope you enjoy this week's episode!
How to Love People in Truth and Love with Drew Berryessa
Listen on:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2MuVWFbZzue3ZLgCtIJGzB
Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/finding-something-real-podcast/id1481017856
Follow us on:
Instagram: finding_something_real
Facebook: Finding Something REAL with Janell Wood
Tiktok: @findingsomethingreal
Wednesday Nov 12, 2025
Wednesday Nov 12, 2025
On this episode of Finding Something Real, we are joined with a returning guest, Jason Schmidt. Jason's parents were Janell's Youth Pastor's. They had a tremendous impact on her life and now has the privilege of sharing that with their son, Jason. We are also joined with one of our co-host, Ana.
Jason is a High School and Young Adult Pastor in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He is currently in seminary, coaches boys soccer, and loves investing in this next generation.
In this conversation we unravel grief. Both and Ana and Jason lost their dad at an early age. Ana asks questions about how Jason handle his grief, if he felt any pressure to step into ministry because of his dad, and some disappointments they experience in the church.
We hope you enjoy this week's conversation!
How to Love People in Truth and Love with Drew Berryessa
Listen on:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2MuVWFbZzue3ZLgCtIJGzB
Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/finding-something-real-podcast/id1481017856
Follow us on:
Instagram: finding_something_real
Facebook: Finding Something REAL with Janell Wood
Tiktok: @findingsomethingreal
Wednesday Nov 05, 2025
Wednesday Nov 05, 2025
On this episode of Finding Something Real we introduce our first guest, Drew Berryessa! Drew is no stranger to the Podcast. He's been a guest before and we are thrilled to have him back! Drew has a tender heart and shares his story with such vulnerability in hopes it will impact others. We are also joined with two of our co-host, Ana and Sarah.
In this episode, Drew talks about his story of living a homosexual life style and how Jesus met him right where he was at. He gets real about the questions, pain and heartbreak choosing to follow Jesus brought. He left that lifestyle and is now a fully devoted Jesus follower. Helping people all over the world, equipping them to love others in truth and love. He has a beautiful family with an amazing wife and three beautiful girls.
Ana and Sarah ask questions on - how to practically love others in their pain and sin. And how to share truth with grace, while standing firm to what the word of God says.
We hope you enjoy this week's conversation!
Listen on:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2MuVWFbZzue3ZLgCtIJGzB
Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/finding-something-real-podcast/id1481017856
Follow us on:
Instagram: finding_something_real
Facebook: Finding Something REAL with Janell Wood
Tiktok: @findingsomethingreal
Wednesday Oct 29, 2025
Wednesday Oct 29, 2025
In this episode, we introduce our first co-host, Frankie!
Frankie shows a level of maturity way beyond her years. She is steady, level headed and has a genuine heart. Frankie is Janell's niece. In this episode she shares her story of being adopted, the tension of getting pushback for her faith, believing in Jesus but still having questions, and trying to find where her gifting fit in the Kingdom of God. She shares her vulnerability about her experiences and some of the hesitations she has being a Christian.
This is such a rich conversation, we hope you enjoy this week's episode!
Listen on:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2MuVWFbZzue3ZLgCtIJGzB
Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/finding-something-real-podcast/id1481017856
Follow us on:
Instagram: finding_something_real
Facebook: Finding Something REAL with Janell Wood
Tiktok: @findingsomethingreal
Wednesday Oct 22, 2025
Wednesday Oct 22, 2025
And we're back! After taking a few months on break, we are back with Season 8!
For this first episode, I'm joined with my good friend, Katie Dommel, who has been a major help and a huge cheerleader throughout this whole journey. We talk about all the things God has been doing in and through this ministry, and we introduce the young ladies that will be part of this season. We have 8 special young women from all different faith backgrounds that are going be sharing their stories this season!
We hope you enjoy this episode!
Listen on:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2MuVWFbZzue3ZLgCtIJGzB
Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/finding-something-real-podcast/id1481017856
Follow us on:
Instagram: finding_something_real
Facebook: Finding Something REAL with Janell Wood
Tiktok: @findingsomethingreal
Friday Dec 27, 2024
Friday Dec 27, 2024
Thursday Dec 19, 2024
Thursday Dec 19, 2024