The Better Wherever Podcast

Natalie, Blane, Alexis, and Daniel discuss what it takes to keep and foster friendships after graduation. This episode will be our last before The Better Wherever Podcast takes a hiatus. Thanks to all our faithful listeners!

Calls or texts? Facebook or Instagram? Music or Podcasts? Jolene and German answer some of life's biggest questions with a game of This or That.

There are a lot of Christian books out there and it can be overwhelming to figure out which ones are worth picking up. So each of the staff bring their top recommendation for Christian books and share why they found it so impactful.

It's that time of year in your Read-the-Bible-in-a-Year plan. Getting through the books in the Old Testament can feel like a drag and you might be tempted to give up on your plan or skip them. On this episode, Alexis and Daniel give some great advice on how to understand these books and appreciate them more.

On this festive episode, the whole staff get together to dye Easter eggs and compare their Easter traditions growing up. We recommend you watch the video podcast of this because, well, it'll make a lot more sense. Watch at youtube.com/dcchialpha or on our IG: @dcchialpha.

The whole staff comes together once again to use our trusty Bob-The-Tomato-meter. This time, we're reviewing some beloved Disney Channel Original Movies. Are they really as good as we remember them?

Daniel and German share what it was like when their Give-A-Year with DC Chi Alpha ended up being very different than they planned. 

Sometimes when we learn a lesson it feels like we've done this before. And it's usually because we have. This week, Natalie, Alexis, and Daniel share some lessons they've had to learn over and over and over again.

For We Live Missions Week, Daniel and Jolene interview the National XAi Director, Severin Lwali. Sevo shares his own story of being an international student in Chi Alpha and reminds us of the importance of welcoming and discipling international students on our campuses.

In honor of Black History Month, Jolene and Alexis share some lesser-known Black men and women from history. If you'd like to research more about these hidden figures, their names are below in the order they were mentioned:

Alvin Ailey

Claudette Colvin

Irene Morgan

Fannie Lou Hamer

Henrietta Lacks

Jarena Lee

With Lent starting this week, Natalie, Daniel, German, Alexis, and Blane discuss their experiences with Lent and their current view on how we should acknowledge this time.

Let's face it. A lot of Christian media is pretty bad. So this week, Jolene, German, Toby, and Alexis share some of their favorite Christian artists and content creators who are making quality faith-based media. You can find the Instagram handles and info for these youtubers, podcasters, and artists in the order mentioned below:

@kevonstage

@tobenwigwe

@audreyassad

@ohhappydani

@jackiehillperry

@preston_n_perry

@natalielaurensims

@whatisjoedoing

@jude3project

@truthstable

Ask NT Wright Anything (available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts)

The Naked Bible (available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts)

Get to know our staff with our Staff-on-Staff series! For the last episode of the series, Toby and Natalie interview each other about how they grew up, how they started working for Chi Alpha, and some of their interests.

Get to know our staff with our Staff-on-Staff series! This week, Blane, Daniel, and Jolene all interview each other about how they ended up working for Chi Alpha and talk about their gifts and passions.

Get to know our staff team with our Staff-on-Staff series! Each week we'll interview each other so you can learn more about all of our stories and how we got where we are now. This week, German and Alexis interview each other!

On this last episode of our minisode series, Blanes shares how we in DC Chi Alpha view the gospel.

Over the next couple of weeks, we'll be releasing a series of minisodes where each of our staff members share briefly about a piece of our mission here in DC Chi Alpha. On this episode, Jolene talks about the last aspect of our five-fold approach to ministry: mission.

Over the next couple of weeks, we'll be releasing a series of minisodes where each of our staff members share briefly about a piece of our mission here in DC Chi Alpha. On this episode, Daniel talks about the fourth, and one of the most defining aspects of our five-fold approach to ministry: discipleship.

Over the next couple of weeks, we'll be releasing a series of minisodes where each of our staff members share briefly about a piece of our mission here in DC Chi Alpha. On this episode, German shares about the importance of the third aspect of our five-fold approach to ministry: fellowship.

Over the next couple of weeks, we'll be releasing a series of minisodes where each of our staff members share briefly about a piece of our mission here in DC Chi Alpha. On this episode, Natalie digs deeper into the second aspect of our five-fold approach to ministry: worship.

Over the next couple of weeks, we'll be releasing a series of minisodes where each of our staff members share briefly about a piece of our mission here in DC Chi Alpha. On this episode, Blane delves into the first aspect of our five-fold approach to ministry: prayer.

Over the next couple of weeks, we'll be releasing a series of minisodes where each of our staff members share briefly about a piece of our mission here in DC Chi Alpha. On this episode, Alexis explains our mission statement, or the "how" behind the ministry that we do.

Over the next couple of weeks, we'll be releasing a series of minisodes where each of our staff members share briefly about a piece of our mission here in DC Chi Alpha. On this episode, Blane explains how Chi Alpha isn't just about those currently in the community, but also for those who will come later.

Over the next couple of weeks, we'll be releasing a series of minisodes where each of our staff members share briefly about a piece of our mission here in DC Chi Alpha. On this episode, Toby explains why we always use the catchphrase "What God does in you He wants to do through you."

Over the next couple of weeks, we'll be releasing a series of minisodes where each of our staff members share briefly about a piece of our mission here in DC Chi Alpha. On this first episode, Blane explains our vision statement.

For the last episode of the year, the whole staff comes together to review Christmas movies they've watched this month using their Bob the Tomato-meter. Watch the uncut version of this episode (complete with Christmas backgrounds and sweaters) as a video podcast on our Instagram (@dcchialpha) and Youtube channel (youtube.com/user/dcchialpha).

Blane, Toby, and Daniel revisit their conversation on how to fight for joy amidst discouragement (from episode 24). They share practical ways they deal with discouragement and talk about what to say and not say when encouraging others who are struggling.

Jolene, Natalie, Toby, and Alexis dissect the lyrics of some of their favorite Christmas songs and also the ones that don't hold up so well theologically.

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, Natalie, Jolene, Toby, and Daniel all share what thankfulness looks like in their everyday lives.

This week, Jolene interviews Rigo Herrera, a staff member from Chi Alpha at the University of Virginia. Rigo shares about his testimony and how coming from a Latino immigrant family impacts his faith and ministry.

We never really stop growing up, so we should never really stop making new goals and dreaming new dreams. In this episode, Alexis, Jolene, and Daniel talk about the things they want to do and be years down the line.

The Old Testament can seem scary, hard to understand, and just plain weird. In this episode, Blane and Toby show us how to understand it by putting it in context. They unpack the story of Judges 6 where Gideon tests God by asking Him for a sign. Can we ask God for signs too? Listen to hear what they think!

On our Halle-boo-jah Spooktacular the staff talk all things Halloween!  Did we celebrate it as kids? Do we celebrate now? How should Christians engage with it? Does it really matter at all? Check out this episode for our take on spooky season!

In this episode, Blane chats with Nancy Hedayat to hear her testimony of how Jesus transformed her life. Nancy grew up in Iran in a Muslim family and tells the story of how she came to know Jesus when she was 18 years old and how he healed her pain and brokenness.

Content Warning: Suicide

The whole staff team gets together to talk about the hobbies they've developed over the past few months and the things they like to do just for fun.

In our first Heart to Heart episode, Natalie, Toby, and Jolene check in with one another to share about how they've seen Jesus working in their lives through the events of the last several months.

Natalie and Jolene recount major cultural moments that impacted their life experiences.

Alexis, Jolene, and German talk about how they spiritually and practically relate to finances as Christians and missionaries.

Daniel, Blane, and our newest host, Toby, share how they each personally hold onto joy even when facing discouragement.

Alexis, Jolene, and Daniel share some of the things they want to do in their lifetime, and even some they've already done.

Blane and Jolene share their critiques on the ideologies of Christians on both the right and left side of the political aisle.

Daniel, German, and Jolene talk about the importance of the local church and why students should be involved in one even if they're in a campus ministry.

This week, the staff share all about the sibling dynamics they each have in their family. Featuring our new host, Daniel!

The whole staff look back at their college experience and think of the advice they'd give themselves as incoming freshmen. 

In Chi Alpha, our mission is to make disciples who make disciples. This week, the whole staff look back on how discipleship has impacted them and trace some of their own discipleship trees.

Natalie, Alexis, German, and Jolene each share a niche interest or knowledge that they could write a whole book about.

Things get controversial when Alexis, Jolene, Blane, and German share some of their personal hot takes on everything from food to movies to theology. 

Natalie, Jolene, and German tackle singleness in the church and dating while Christian.

Blane and Jolene bring up some common Christian phrases that are often used, but aren't as true as we think.