
25K
Downloads
334
Episodes
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?
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 Oct 02, 2024
What Does Christianity Have to Say About...? with Jesse Childress
Wednesday Oct 02, 2024
Wednesday Oct 02, 2024
This is the third in a series of episodes dedicated to a young woman named Olivea. This episode is with special guest, Jesse Childress. In this episode Jesse shares with Janell and Olivea about his own faith journey, how childhood attachment impacts our view of God, how mental health is impacted by Christian faith, the problem of suffering, the power of experience, and much more.
ABOUT JESSE CHILDRESS
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.
-- -- -- -- --
LINKS:
How Do You Know You’re Going to Heaven?

Wednesday Sep 25, 2024
How Do You Know You're Going to Heaven with Erik Thoennes
Wednesday Sep 25, 2024
Wednesday Sep 25, 2024
This is the second episode in a series of episodes dedicated to a young woman named Olivea. Today we are talking with special guest, Erik Thoennes. Erik answers Olivea's questions about eternal security, God's character, and His love. Olivea shared in the first episode of this series that she is someone who loves singing, spending time with loved ones, and cooking. She talked about her relationship with her family and the difficult loss of her mother a few years ago. She has shared about some questions she's wrestling with in her faith journey, including doubts and disappointments with God. She hopes her story and honest questions will encourage others.
Erik Thoennes is committed to teaching biblical and systematic theology so that he and his students love God and people more fully. He strives to make the necessary connections between the study of theology, obedience to Jesus and fulfilling the Great Commission. He has taught theology and evangelism at the college and seminary levels for several years and is a frequent guest speaker at churches, conferences and retreats, in addition to co-pastoring a local church. Thoennes has received the University award for faculty excellence and professor of the year. His research interests include godly jealousy, the atonement, the exclusivity of Christ and theology of culture.

Wednesday Sep 18, 2024
What If Following Jesus Isn't Worth It?
Wednesday Sep 18, 2024
Wednesday Sep 18, 2024
This is the first in a series of episodes dedicated to a young woman named Olivea. Olivea is someone who loves singing, spending time with loved ones, and cooking. She shares about her relationship with her family and talks about the difficult loss of her mother a few years ago. Olivea talks about her faith and her history with church. She opens up about several questions she's wrestling with in her faith journey, including doubts and disappointments with God. She explains what anchors her faith. She hopes her story and honest questions will encourage others.

Wednesday Sep 11, 2024
What If The Questions Never Stop?
Wednesday Sep 11, 2024
Wednesday Sep 11, 2024
DESCRIPTION: This is the twelfth and final episode in a series dedicated to special co-host Lizzy. Instead of the usual interview format, Janell shares about an important milestone for the podcast, talks about some of the highlights from recording multiple episodes with Lizzy, and shares an open letter to Lizzy, talking about faith questions, love, and ultimately trusting God's character. Stay tuned for next week's episode when the next co-host for FSR will be officially introduced.

Wednesday Sep 04, 2024
What's Sin? & What's the Big Deal? with Clare Williams
Wednesday Sep 04, 2024
Wednesday Sep 04, 2024
This is is the eleventh episode in a series of episodes dedicated to a young woman named Lizzy. Today we're talking with special guest, Clare Williams, the founder of Real Questions. Clare shares her desire to address real questions and answers some lingering ones that Lizzy has about sin and the holiness of God. Lizzy is a college student from Chelan, Washington. Lizzy grew up in a loving Christian home but has a lot of questions about God, identity, and purpose. She is a very curious person and is someone who often takes things literally. She admits she struggles with anxiety and wonders why God pursues her when it's hard for her to trust Him. She says she's sensed Him trying to get her attention but is unsure about having experienced His love. Lizzy and Janell have known each other for seven years.
-- -- -- -- --

Wednesday Aug 28, 2024
Finding Jesus When All Else Fails with Robin Gerblick
Wednesday Aug 28, 2024
Wednesday Aug 28, 2024
This is the tenth episode in a series dedicated to a young woman named Lizzy. Today we're talking with special guest, Robin Gerblick. Robin talks about her own story of struggling with insecurity, looking for love in all the wrong places, brokenness, and relationships, and how she has found grace and hope in her relationship with Jesus Christ. Lizzy is a college student from Chelan, Washington. Lizzy has grown up in a loving Christian home but has a lot of questions about God, identity, and purpose. She is a very curious person. She admits she struggles with anxiety and wonders why God pursues her when it's hard for her to trust Him. She says she's sensed Him trying to get her attention but is unsure about having experienced His love. Lizzy and Janell have known each other for seven years.
-- -- -- -- --

Wednesday Aug 21, 2024
Acknowledging Anxiety & Finding Joy in Christ with Josie Pettit
Wednesday Aug 21, 2024
Wednesday Aug 21, 2024
-- -- -- -- --

Friday Aug 16, 2024
On the Autism Spectrum, Skeptical and Secure in Jesus with Brant Hansen
Friday Aug 16, 2024
Friday Aug 16, 2024
This is the eighth episode in a series dedicated to a young woman named Lizzy. Today we're talking with special guest, Brant Hansen, a bestselling author and podcast host. Lizzy specifically requested having the chance to ask him questions and sometimes dreams come true! In this rich conversation, we discussed many topics including identity, emotions, following Jesus, and insecurity. Lizzy is a college student from Chelan, Washington. Lizzy grew up in a loving Christian home but has a lot of questions about God, identity, and purpose. She is a very curious person and is someone who often takes things literally. She admits she struggles with anxiety and wonders why God pursues her when it's hard for her to trust Him. She says she's sensed Him trying to get her attention but is not sure about having experienced His love. Lizzy and Janell have known each other for seven years.
Brant Hansen is an author, nationally syndicated radio host, and advocate for healing children through CURE International.
He’s been featured on ABC’s “Good Morning America” in addition to regular appearances on Focus on the Family and Family Life Today, among many others. He’s written for CNN.com, The Washington Post, and U.S. News and World Report on a wide range of topics, and his work has been highlighted in The Irish Times.
Brant has won national “Personality of the Year” awards for his work on his offbeat and quirky radio show, which airs on more than 200 stations. His podcast with his friend and radio producer, Sherri Lynn (“The Brant and Sherri Oddcast”) has been downloaded more than 17 million times.
He leverages his radio platform to advance the healing work of CURE, which provides life-changing surgeries for children with treatable conditions.
His first book, Unoffendable, has prompted a national discussion on forgiveness and our culture’s embrace of self-righteous anger.
He’s been a game inventor, fronted a modern rock band, and still dabbles in singing and songwriting. He has been married for 34 years to Carolyn, and they have two grown children and two grandchildren.
-- -- -- -- --
LINKS:
