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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
Dec 31, 2025
Dec 31, 2025
1hr 9 min
Happy Wednesday! We hope you’re enjoying the last day of 2025.
We have a great conversation for you this week. Our guest this week is no stranger to the podcast, Jon Noyes. We are also joined with our co-host, Sarah.
Jon shares his coming to faith story. One of the topics they discuss is Naturalism. He shares why he believes Naturalism doesn't make sense and is an easy cop out to complex questions - suffering, death, moral issues etc.
We hope you enjoy this week's episode!
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LINKS
Eternity: Extreme and & Scary? with Jon Noyes
Suicide, God, and Knowing You're Not Alone with Jon Noyes
You Don't Have to Have All the Answers with Lindsey Medenwaldt
Can You Trust the Bible? with Greg Koukl
Why People Really Don't Believe in Jesus with Xandra Grieme
Is This Even Real? - Katelyn Deal's Story
Release What God Has Already Given Us with Jesse Childress
Making the Case for Christ with J. Warner Wallace
Dec 24, 2025
Dec 24, 2025
1hr 2 min
It's Christmas Eve! We hope you're enjoying this time with all your loved ones! We have a special treat for you this week.
On this episode, we are joined with a returning guest, Lindsey Medenwaldt. We are also joined with three of our co-hosts - Cailee, Ana and Sarah.
Lindsey breaks down how to share your faith with others. She gives practical ways we can share our faith, and takes the pressure off feeling you have to know everything. A lot of times, as believers, we may feel like we need to know everything for others to come to Christ. But, really it's Jesus that does the work in them, we just plant the seed.
Lindsey is the executive director and resident world religion expert of Mama Bear Apologetics. She holds a Masters in Apologetics & Ethics from Denver Seminary, a Masters in Public Health, and a degree in Law. Recently, Lindsey wrote a chapter about Jehovah’s Witnesses in the Popular Handbook of World Religions (Harvest House). Lindsey and her apologist husband have been married for 13 years and currently live with their three beautiful daughters in Texas. In her spare time, Lindsey loves watching British reality television and reading from her at-home library of over 2,000 books.
We hope you enjoy this week's episode! Merry Christmas!
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LINKS
Mama Bear Apologetics - The Book
Can You Trust the Bible? with Greg Koukl
Why People Really Don't Believe in Jesus with Xandra Grieme
Is This Even Real? - Katelyn Deal's Story
Release What God Has Already Given Us with Jesse Childress
Making the Case for Christ with J. Warner Wallace
Dealing with Grief and Church Hurt with Jason Schmidt
How to Love People in Truth and Love with Drew Berryessa
Dec 18, 2025
Dec 18, 2025
1hr 2 min
Happy Wednesday!
This week on Finding Something Real, we are joined with a very special guest, Greg Koukl. We are also joined with our co-hosts, Sarah and Cailee!
Sarah and Cailee ask Greg really good questions about whether or not we can trust the Bible through translations, interpretations and overall legitimacy. Greg does a great job of answering clearly and with solid evidence.
About Greg:
Greg founded Stand to Reason in 1993 and currently serves as President of Stand to Reason. He has spoken on more than 70 college and university campuses both in the U.S. and abroad and has hosted his own call-in radio show for 27 years, advocating for “Christianity worth thinking about.” He has debated atheist Michael Shermer on national radio and Deepak Chopra on national television. An award-winning writer and best-selling author, Greg has written seven books, including The Story of Reality—How the World Began, How It Ends, and Everything Important that Happens in Between; Tactics—A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions, and Relativism: Feet Firmly Planted in Mid-Air. Greg has been featured on Focus on the Family radio and has been interviewed for CBN and the BBC. He's been quoted in Christianity Today, the U.S. News & World Report, and the L.A. Times.
Greg received his Masters in Philosophy of Religion and Ethics at Talbot School of Theology, graduating with high honors, and his Masters in Christian Apologetics with honors from Simon Greenleaf University. He is an adjunct professor in Christian apologetics at Biola University.
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
Dec 10, 2025
Dec 10, 2025
1hr 6 min
Happy Wednesday!
This week on Finding Something Real, we are joined with one of our favorite guest, Xandra Grieme. We are also joined with three of our co-host, Ana, Christie and Sarah.
In this episode, we talk about the tension of faith and science, and how they go more hand in hand than you think. Xandra opens up about hard parts of her story and brings light to difficult topics - suffering and free will. And why that keeps a lot of people from fully believing in Jesus. How could a good God allow suffering, abuse, and evil? That's one of the hardest questions, and one we won't know the complete answer to on this side of eternity.
But you can trust this - He's a God of Compassion. His heart was never for any of these things to happen. He became flesh and came down to be in the suffering with you. That's how much He loves you.
Rest in that truth today.
About Xandra:
Xandra Grieme received a BS from Colorado State University and later studied at the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics. Xandra continued her studies at Victoria University of Wellington where she completed a master’s degree in Conservation Biology. Her scientific research includes work in parasitology, flow cytometry, and ecological restoration. Xandra is passionate about educating youth on our role as stewards of the natural world.
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
Dec 3, 2025
Dec 3, 2025
1hr 8 min
Happy Wednesday!
This week on Finding Something Real, we are sharing one of our co-host's story, Katelyn!
She doesn't come from a faith background and is still wrestling with the idea of Christianity. She opens up about her experience, questions about faith and some of her hesitations about religion in general.
We are so grateful for Katelyn's honesty and vulnerability. She is such a delight. We hope you love her as much as we do!
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
Nov 27, 2025
Nov 27, 2025
1hr 3 min
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
Nov 19, 2025
Nov 19, 2025
1hr 16 min
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
Nov 12, 2025
Nov 12, 2025
1hr 3 min
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