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In No Hurry with Cole Douglas Claybourn

In No Hurry with Cole Douglas Claybourn

By Cole Douglas Claybourn

Conversations about life. Hear from authors, creators, musicians, artists, athletes, coaches, and more about how faith intersects with their work and their life.
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Episode 58: Navigating the Emotions of 2020

In No Hurry with Cole Douglas ClaybournDec 28, 2020

00:00
26:39
Episode 107: Ashley Abercrombie on Authenticity, Vulnerability & Slowing Down

Episode 107: Ashley Abercrombie on Authenticity, Vulnerability & Slowing Down

Do you ever follow someone on social media and just know you would vibe with them in real life? That's how I feel about this week's guest, Ashley Abercrombie.

We've been following each other on the internet for a year or so, and I love her content and personality so much. And after my conversation with her this week, I love her story even more, and I know you will too.

You may already be familiar with Ashley and her work as an author and speaker. She wrote Rise of the Truth Teller: Own Your Story, Tell it Like It Is, and Live with Holy Gumption in 2019, and Love Is the Resistance: Learn to Disagree, Resolve the Conflicts You've Been Avoiding, and Create Real Change in 2021. She's contributed to a variety of outlets, like RELEVANT and Virtue, she's the creator of After Hours on Substack and a co-host on the Why Tho Podcast.

This week we talk about the right perspective on goal setting, the need for slowing down, being vulnerable, living authentically, and having tough conversations with grace. You can follow her on Instagram and Threads @ashabercrombie and online at ashabercrombie.org.

I'd also love for you to connect with me on Substack on "The Road Ahead": ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠coledouglasclaybourn.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. You can also find more of my articles and content at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠coleclaybourn.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and on social media: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@coleclaybourn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ColeClaybourn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Also find me on Facebook at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠facebook.com/ColeDouglasClaybourn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Jan 08, 202401:01:28
Episode 106: Celebrating Six Years of Marriage with My Wife Emily

Episode 106: Celebrating Six Years of Marriage with My Wife Emily

One of my favorite parts of doing this podcast is getting to sit down with my wife every year around our anniversary and reflect on the past year of our lives. After a few years of chaos, highlighted by a December 2021 tornado that displaced us for almost nine months, this past year has been marked by a lot of blessings and far less turmoil.

We traveled to Europe, bought a house, started leading a small group at church and saw several of our friends get married and have children. We experienced professional and creative growth and made memories that will last a lifetime. I'm excited for 2024.

If you're an avid reader, I encourage you to check out my wife's bookstagram, @emsalwaysreading, where she rates and reviews the books she reads. We also recorded an episode earlier this year (Episode 96) where Emily talked about the joy of reading and gave some of her favorite recommendations.

I'd love for you to connect with me by signing up for my newsletter, "The Road Ahead": ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠coledouglasclaybourn.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. You can also find more of my articles and content at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠coleclaybourn.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and on social media: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@coleclaybourn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ColeClaybourn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Also find me on Facebook at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠facebook.com/ColeDouglasClaybourn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Dec 26, 202354:37
Episode 105: Celebrating Four Years of "In No Hurry" with Ryan Ahlwardt
Dec 11, 202358:32
Episode 104: Sarah Maddack Bell on Not Taking Yourself Too Seriously

Episode 104: Sarah Maddack Bell on Not Taking Yourself Too Seriously

Do you ever just make up silly songs just for fun when you're at home alone? I feel like a lot of us do, but rarely do we ever share them with the world. Well, right out when the pandemic hit, that's what Sarah Maddack Bell started doing. Now, several of her silly songs have gone viral and she's created a social media platform where she can spread positivity and joy.
Her songs are goofy and a bit annoying — her words, not mine! And that's on purpose. It's all about not taking yourself too seriously and being willing to have and just be yourself. I so appreciate Sarah's perspective on life and how she followed a feeling to pursue what felt right and fun for her. Her story is one of faithfulness in God and using the talents — as silly as they may be — for the purpose God gave her.
Also, as you may imagine, with such a public social media presence and one centered around what many may perceive as "dumb" and annoying songs, she's gotten a fair share of nasty messages. We get into that and how she's dealt with rude comments from strangers as well as staying grounded despite her platform growing.
Check her on Instagram and TikTok @sarahmadbell. You can also find her music on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Music.
I'd love for you to connect with me by signing up for my newsletter, "The Road Ahead": ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠coledouglasclaybourn.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. You can also find more of my articles and content at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠coleclaybourn.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and on social media:

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@coleclaybourn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ColeClaybourn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Also find me on Facebook at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠facebook.com/ColeDouglasClaybourn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Oct 23, 202350:47
Episode 103: Dai Hankey on Burnout and Finding Rest

Episode 103: Dai Hankey on Burnout and Finding Rest

A lot of us are burnt out. If you aren't feeling it now, you surely have at some point and probably will in the future. The COVID-19 pandemic and 2020 left all of us feeling all sorts of ways, and I'm willing to guess burnout and weariness were just a couple of the emotions you dealt with.

That was certainly the case for this week's guest, author Dai Hankey, who was asked by his publisher to write a book encouraging Christians not to quit. But this came during the pandemic, when he himself was in a bad season and just felt like quitting a lot of things. He was exhausted in every way and everything seemed bleak around him.

In October 2020, there was a moment when he found himself flat on his back in his bedroom thinking he was just done and didn't have much left in the tank. He wasn't suicidal, he said, but just kind of feeling like he was done with life.

The perspective he eventually gained by journaling and spending time with the Lord is what's in his new book, "Hopeward: Gospel Grace for Weary Souls." Dai is a church-planting pastor in Cardiff, Wales, and is also the founder of Red Community, a Christian charity that fights human trafficking. He's devoted his whole life to teaching the Word of God, which I think is what makes this book and this conversation so special.

I think sometimes as Christians we might feel shame for feeling some of the emotions he speaks about, but all Dai was trying to do was be his authentic self, both before the Lord and in this book to his readers. I think that comes out through this conversation. It's a perfect follow-up to last week's conversation with Adam Ramsey, which I recommend downloading if you haven't yet.

If you want to connect with Dai, you can do so on Twitter @daihankey or by email at daihankey@gmail.com. You can purchase "Hopeward" anywhere books are sold, but I'm also giving away a free copy of Dai's it to someone who is a part of my Instagram and Substack communities. If you're interested in winning this giveaway, make sure you're following me on both. Links are below.

Substack Newsletter: "The Road Ahead": ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠coledouglasclaybourn.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Website: www.coleclaybourn.com

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@coleclaybourn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ColeClaybourn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Also find me on Facebook at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠facebook.com/ColeDouglasClaybourn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Oct 02, 202346:47
Episode 102: Adam Ramsey on Being Present in a Hurried World

Episode 102: Adam Ramsey on Being Present in a Hurried World

We live in a world that tells us that doing more and staying busy are hallmarks of success. Having down time or relaxing is sometimes perceived as possessing a poor work ethic or being lazy. Most of us feel like we have to fill our schedules with work — sometimes multiple jobs — to keep up with the rat race of "moving up" in the world.

For many Millennials and Gen Zers, it's a palpable feeling of not being able to break through the glass ceiling of the current economic and financial state to achieve some of life's milestones: getting married, having children and buying a house. We are weary. We need rest. Yet we are always looking forward, ready to do the next thing to keep up on the hamster wheel.

So how do we stay present? Adam Ramsey's book, "Faithfully Present: Embracing the Limits of Where and When God Has You," is the perfect guide for how to do that. Adam joins the show this week to talk about his book and drops so much wisdom on contentment, fighting hustle culture and being present. You can connect with Adam on Instagram @adamramsey_.

I'm giving away a free copy of Adam's book for those who are part of my Instagram and Substack community. If you're interested in winning this giveaway, make sure you're following me on both. Links are below.

Substack Newsletter: "The Road Ahead": ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠coledouglasclaybourn.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Website: www.coleclaybourn.com

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@coleclaybourn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ColeClaybourn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Also find me on Facebook at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠facebook.com/ColeDouglasClaybourn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Sep 18, 202301:02:42
Episode 101: Author Dan Wilt on the Mystery of the Holy Spirit

Episode 101: Author Dan Wilt on the Mystery of the Holy Spirit

“Receive the Holy Spirit,” Jesus said to his disciples in John 20:22. Yet, for many Christians, the Holy Spirit can feel like a mystery. How do we hear it? How do we receive it? How do we discern what it's telling us and what our spiritual gifts are? How do we know that what we hear is from God and not our own internal desires?

This week on "In No Hurry," author Dan Wilt unpacks all of that as he shares about his 70-day devotional, "Receive the Holy Spirit." The devotional is a journey through the Scriptures, exploring the person and work of the Holy Spirit. Through stories, encouragement, prayers, and questions for group discussion, this book is great for Christians who want to experience God’s Spirit at work in their lives.

Dan is an author of several books, a worship leader, a teacher, and an encourager of pastors and creative leaders. He has impacted thousands over his three decades in ministry, across diverse streams of the Church in the US, UK, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, and Brazil. He recently completed a doctoral studies program at Asbury Theological Seminary and works with Seedbed, a resourcing network that has the mission to “gather, connect, and resource the people of God to sow for a great awakening.”

He lives with his wife Anita outside of Nashville, Tennessee, and they have three grown children. You can connect with Dan's weekly spiritual formation email at at danwilt.com.

I'd love for you to connect with me by signing up for my newsletter, "The Road Ahead": ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠coledouglasclaybourn.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. You can also find more of my articles and content at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠coleclaybourn.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and on social media: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@coleclaybourn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ColeClaybourn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Also find me on Facebook at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠facebook.com/ColeDouglasClaybourn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Aug 28, 202301:01:48
Episode 100: Author & Theologian Steve Seamands on Revival and Healing Ministry

Episode 100: Author & Theologian Steve Seamands on Revival and Healing Ministry

For the last four decades, Dr. Steve Seamands has been a staple at Asbury University. As a student in the 1970s, he was part of what became a well-known and still-talked-about student-led revival. Now, as a retired professor at the seminary, he got to experience another revival on campus when, in February, a student chapel service just kept going on for weeks.

In total, the revival, or "outpouring" as some called it, lasted 16 days and drew thousands of people from across the United States and overseas. He joins me this week to share about both experiences and the fruit he's already seeing from the latest one in February.

He's also the author of a forthcoming book, "Follow the Healer: Biblical and Theological Foundations for Healing Ministry," which addresses some misconceptions on and further explains healing ministry. He spokes so eloquently about the character of God and provides some theological perspective on how we can understand pain and suffering or why some healing we pray for doesn't happen.

"I have become convinced of the goodness of Jesus and the character of God," he says. "Even when I can't trace His hand, I still trust His heart."

The book will be released on Sept. 5 and can be purchased anywhere books are sold. If you'd like to connect with Dr. Seamands, you can email him at steve.seamands@asburyseminary.edu.

I'd love for you to connect with me by signing up for my newsletter, "The Road Ahead": ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠coledouglasclaybourn.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. You can also find more of my articles and content at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠coleclaybourn.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and on social media: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@coleclaybourn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ColeClaybourn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Also find me on Facebook at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠facebook.com/ColeDouglasClaybourn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Aug 14, 202356:09
Episode 99: Author Benecia Ponder on Taking Risks to Pursue Creative Pursuits

Episode 99: Author Benecia Ponder on Taking Risks to Pursue Creative Pursuits

No matter how hard the tug might be to pursue a creative passion, jumping all in to do it can be scary. It's especially challenging when it requires leaving a steady career with good income for what might feel like an unknown future.
But that's what Benecia Ponder did when, in 2006, she closed down her private law practice to write books and coach other aspiring authors to unlock their stories and see their book dreams become a reality. She's now the brains behind Inspirational Authors, which helps guide authors through writing, self-publishing and marketing their book.
You can learn more about Benecia and the services she provides at
www.inspirationalauthors.org.
I'd love for you to connect with me by signing up for my newsletter, "The Road Ahead": ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠coledouglasclaybourn.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. You can also find more of my articles and content at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠coleclaybourn.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and on social media:

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@coleclaybourn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ColeClaybourn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Also find me on Facebook at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠facebook.com/ColeDouglasClaybourn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Jul 31, 202347:48
Episode 98: Paul Putz on Faith, Sports & History

Episode 98: Paul Putz on Faith, Sports & History

Paul Putz serves as the assistant director of the Faith & Sports Institute, part of the Truett Seminary at Baylor University. Though Paul and I connected previously through social media, we met in person at a conference in June in Minneapolis and found out we have quite a bit in common, mainly our passion for Jesus and sports.

If you're a Christian who likes sports, you'll especially enjoy this conversation. Earlier in 2023, Paul gave a chapel talk called "Jesus and James Naismith," where he explored the Christian roots of basketball. In our conversation this week, he shares a little bit about that history and the Christian origin of one of the world's most popular games.

Even if you don't like sports, stick around for Paul discuss how he followed his passions to end up where he is now professionally as well as how he goes about his research and writing.

Speaking of his writing, he's writing a book about the history of sports and Christianity in modern American culture, which should be published in late 2024 or early 2025. Paul is pretty active on Twitter, so give him a follow @p_emory, or on Threads @paulemoryputz. You can also email him at Paul_Putz@baylor.edu.

I'd love for you to connect with me by signing up for my newsletter, "The Road Ahead": ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠coledouglasclaybourn.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. You can also find more of my articles and content at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠coleclaybourn.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and on social media:

Jul 17, 202354:16
Episode 97: Former MLB Player Scott Linebrink on Patience & Serving Others

Episode 97: Former MLB Player Scott Linebrink on Patience & Serving Others

Scott Linebrink played 12 seasons in the major leagues — a long career in professional sports by any measure. After a successful college baseball career at Texas State University, Linebrink was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in 1997, and after three years in the minor leagues, he made his major league debut with the team in 2000. He was then traded later during his rookie season to the Houston Astros, where he bounced between the major and minor leagues for several years — a true test of faith and patience for any baseball player.

In this week's episode, Scott shares what he learned about patience, both during the early parts of his career and toward the end. I love the perspective he holds, because it also involves a mindset of celebrating others, even when those on his team were the same people he was competing against in some way to make it to or stay in the major leagues.

It all came from a heart of serving others, and that's what he's continued to do in his post-baseball life with Water Mission, a nonprofit organization aimed at providing clean water to underprivileged countries. Scott has some amazing stories from his many trips abroad with Water Mission, and he's shared many of those on his podcast, "Get in the Game," which is part of the Sports Spectrum Podcast Network. He often has fellow athletes on the show who have traveled with him on trips and they talk about the incredible work being done to provide the basic need of clean water to people who don't have access to it.

I admired Scott as a baseball player, but I admire him even more with how he's used his platform to help serve people and share his faith in God. Be sure to check out his show and support Water Mission's work if you can. If you want to connect with Scott, you can follow him on both Twitter and Instagram @scottlinebrink.

I'd love for you to connect with me by signing up for my newsletter, "The Road Ahead": ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠coledouglasclaybourn.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. You can also find more of my articles and content at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠coleclaybourn.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and on social media:

Jul 03, 202356:28
Episode 96: Emily Claybourn on the Joy of Reading

Episode 96: Emily Claybourn on the Joy of Reading

I don't know anyone who reads more books than my wife, Emily. Seriously. In 2022 she read over 130 books! It's truly a joy for her to escape into a story and let her imagination run wild as she imagines these characters. A couple years ago, she started an Instagram account where she rates and reviews books and it's become a huge creative outlet for her, as well as a place to find community with other like-minded readers. She's gotten to meet some people who she considers friends and it's allowed her to have a ton of runway to talk about these books that she really loves.

As we enter the heart of summer, we thought it would be fun for Emily to talk about some of her favorite books for 2023 and give some recommendations for summer reading. She's been on the podcast before, but this is probably the most excited she's ever been to be on. If you're a voracious reader, this episode is for you. If you have people in your life who love books, be sure to share this with them.

Also, please give Emily's bookstagram a follow — @emsalwaysreading. She does such a great job on there and it's been really fun to see that outlet grow.

I'd love for you to connect with me by signing up for my newsletter, "The Road Ahead": ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠coledouglasclaybourn.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. You can also find more of my articles and content at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠coleclaybourn.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and on social media:


Jun 19, 202301:15:58
Episode 95: Sports Spectrum's Jason Romano on Keeping Sports Fandom in Perspective as Believers

Episode 95: Sports Spectrum's Jason Romano on Keeping Sports Fandom in Perspective as Believers

Sports fans are passionate people. Sometimes, we take it a little too far and let our emotions get the best of us. Our team loses a big game or doesn't play well and we can let it affect our mood for days, weeks or even much longer.

But as believers, how we conduct ourselves matters, even when it comes to seemingly trivial things like sports. If we're someone who likes to engage in public discourse on social media, what we say matters. That's especially true for believers and those who strike to be ambassadors for Christ.

This week I'm joined by Jason Romano, the director of media at Christian sports outlet Sports Spectrum and the host of the Sports Spectrum Podcast. Jason shares some stories of where his sports fandom affected his behavior and how he had to put that in check. But this goes a little deeper, too, because as sports fans we are prone to letting our fandom become our identity. It's easy to over indulge and devote more time to sports than to our relationship with our spouse, friends or Jesus.

Sports are a great hobby, but keeping them in their proper place and maintaining perspective when our team loses is paramount. That's the topic of our conversation this week.

Be sure to connect with Jason on Twitter @JasonRomano and check out sportsspectrum.com for stories on the intersection of sports and faith. Use the code SPORTSSPECTRUM15 to get 15% off of a subscription to Sports Spectrum Magazine.

Jason also mentions the Christians Working in Sports Conference coming up June 23-24 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He and I will both be there, and you can DM him on social media to receive 50% off of the conference fee.

I'd love for you to connect with me by signing up for my newsletter, "The Road Ahead": ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠coledouglasclaybourn.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. You can also find more of my articles and content at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠coleclaybourn.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and on social media:

If you enjoyed this conversation, you might like these as well:

May 22, 202348:43
Episode 94: Leah Montgomery on Working In Christian Sports Media

Episode 94: Leah Montgomery on Working In Christian Sports Media

If you read or follow Sports Spectrum, much of the branding and social media presence you see is the creation of Leah Montgomery. She is in charge of all of our social media and marketing efforts, and she also serves as our de facto staff photographer. So much of our visual presentation has her stamp all over it, and she's incredibly talented in so many ways.

Leah joins the show this week to talk about how she got into sports media, where her passion for photography came from, and she also shares about a really cool charity event she does back home in Ohio to help families in need be able to have free professional photos done around the holidays. You can learn more about that at christmasstudio.org.

I love her story and her heart for people and the Lord, and I'm excited for you to hear from her this week!

Be sure to check out sportsspectrum.com for all the work we do there, a lot of which is done by Leah, but also check out www.leah-rachel.com for some of her personal work as well as links to all her social media.

Thanks for listening!

I'd love for you to connect with me by signing up for my newsletter, "The Road Ahead": ⁠⁠⁠⁠coledouglasclaybourn.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠. You can also find more of my articles and content at ⁠⁠⁠⁠coleclaybourn.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ and on social media:

If you enjoyed this conversation, you might like these as well:

May 08, 202334:42
Episode 93: Christianity Today Editor Kate Shellnutt on the Importance of Christian Journalism

Episode 93: Christianity Today Editor Kate Shellnutt on the Importance of Christian Journalism

The role that journalists play in our society is so vital. Not only do they inform the public, but they hold those in power accountable.

As stories of church abuse and unethical behavior from Christian leaders continue to sprout up, we see just how important journalists are in brining these stories to light and so that these leaders are held accountable for the pain they've inflicted upon people.

One of the leaders in Christian journalism is Christianity Today, which you may know either from visiting their website for news or by listening to the popular podcast "The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill," which chronicles the Seattle-based church that crumbled almost as quickly as it grew, largely due to abuse of power from pastor Mark Driscoll.

My guest this week is Kate Shellnutt, the news and online director for Christianity Today and an influential voice in the world of Christian journalism. Kate has covered stories on sex trafficking raids in Cambodia, the aftermath of the Emanuel AME church shooting in Charleston, South Carolina, the funeral of famed evangelist Billy Graham, stories of Christian leaders gone bad and analyzing the intricacies of evangelical politics

It was fun to talk with a fellow journalist, but I has just as much fun talking with her about baseball, as she's a huge Atlanta Braves fan.

Be sure follow Kate on Twitter @KateShellnutt and check out her work her work online at kateshellnutt.com and christianitytoday.com.

Thanks for listening!

I'd love for you to connect with me by signing up for my newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠coledouglasclaybourn.substack.com⁠⁠⁠. You can also find more of my articles and content at ⁠⁠⁠coleclaybourn.com⁠⁠⁠ and on social media:

If you enjoyed this conversation, you might like these as well:

Apr 24, 202301:03:56
Episode 92: Author Matt Tommey on Harnessing Your Natural Creative Gifts

Episode 92: Author Matt Tommey on Harnessing Your Natural Creative Gifts

The whole premise of the In No Hurry Podcast is to engage in conversations that intersect faith and creativity. This week not only do I get to speak with an author and artist, but the focus of our conversation is about creativity and tapping into the natural artistic gifts God has given us and wants us to share with the world.

The word "artist" is often an enigma, the definition of which might change for different people. Some people might actually be an artist but not consider themselves one based on their interpretation of the word. My guest this week is Matt Tommey, someone who, in my opinion, embodies the word "artist" perfectly. He's written several books, including the recently released "God's Plan for Living: A Simple Roadmap to Your IDEAL Kingdom Life." But he also creates art through sculpting and basket weaving, and he even owned an art studio when he lived in Asheville, North Carolina.

Now, his focus has shifted some to mentoring, where his goal is to help artists and creatives thrive with the gifts God has given them. Creativity can be a frustrating and lonely endeavor. It can be a beautiful thing when done correctly, or it can be a source of torment when not stewarded well. There are tons of road blocks that inevitably appear in any creative endeavor, but being equipped with skills, strategies and truth about God and creativity can help us overcome that resistance.

That's the focus of my conversation with Matt today. That's also the focus of his podcast, The Thriving Christian Artist Podcast, which I recommend you check out. Also be sure to connect with Matt on Instagram @matttommey , Facebook at Matt Tommey Mentoring and at matttommeymentoring.com.

Thanks for listening!

I'd love for you to connect with me by signing up for my newsletter: ⁠⁠coledouglasclaybourn.substack.com⁠⁠. You can also find more of my articles and content at ⁠⁠coleclaybourn.com⁠⁠ and on social media:

If you enjoyed this conversation, you might like these as well:

Apr 10, 202354:10
Episode 91: Author Blake Long on When God Says "No" to Prayers

Episode 91: Author Blake Long on When God Says "No" to Prayers

While trusting in God's will for our lives is an essential part of the Christian walk, it's also one of the most difficult things we attempt to do as humans. When God tells us "no" to our prayers, we often struggle with how to respond. For many of us, it can serve as a catalyst to pull further away from God. But what if reframed how we internalize a "no" from God?

Author Blake Long explores this topic in his new s book, "Taking No For an Answer: How to Respond When God Says No to Our Prayers." I love this topic, and I think it's one that will always be timely for both Christians and non-believers. For some, this is the very reason they either don't follow God or believe God doesn't exist. After all, how can a gracious and loving God allow for heartache, devastation and tragedy? If these are questions you've wrestled with (trust me, I have — plenty of times) I hope this conversation with Blake is helpful. We dive deep into some heavy stuff and I hope you'll be encouraged and learn some truth about the character and heart of God.

Definitely connect with Blake and let him know you enjoyed hearing him this show! You can follow him on Twitter @blakelong94 and on Instagram @blake_long94. He also blogs regularly at www.theology-and-life.com, so be sure to check out his work there.

Thanks for listening!

I'd love for you to connect with me by signing up for my newsletter: ⁠coledouglasclaybourn.substack.com⁠. You can also find more of my articles and content at ⁠coleclaybourn.com⁠ and on social media:

If you enjoyed this conversation, you might like these as well:

Mar 20, 202301:10:03
Episode 90: Author William Daniel on the Value of Humor

Episode 90: Author William Daniel on the Value of Humor

The last few years have been really hard for everyone. I don't know about you, but I've very much appreciated the times I've been able to laugh. Humor and laughter have some serious healing powers, and this week, my guest knows all about how to make people laugh.

William Daniel joins me to talk about his new book, "You're Joking Me: Jokes For Kids By a Kid." The book contains over 100 pages of clean, clever and punny jokes that William spent nearly two years writing. He's just a seventh grader, which makes him the youngest guest to ever appear on the show! We talked all about being an author, balancing writing with school work and other hobbies, and why humor and laughter are so important.

I'm so impressed by William! When I was his age, I did well just to construct a coherent AIM Away Message, but here he is writing a whole book with a second one in the works. Be sure to check out his book and give him a follow on Instagram @thewilliamdanielauthor and on Facebook at Thewilliamdaniel

Thanks for listening!

I'd love for you to connect with me by signing up for my newsletter: coledouglasclaybourn.substack.com. You can also find more of my articles and content at coleclaybourn.com and on social media:

If you enjoyed this conversation, you might like these as well:

Mar 06, 202329:48
Episode 89: Author Jen Oshman on How to Welcome Well

Episode 89: Author Jen Oshman on How to Welcome Well

Walking into church can be intimidating, whether for the first time or after a period of absence, whether you are a non-believer or a believer. And as much as we'd like it to be, the church is not always a place where everyone feels welcome. Sometimes, it's not a space where everyone feels like they belong. 

Jen Oshman joins me this week to talk about her new book, "Welcome: Loving Your Church by Making Space for Everyone," which is part of the Love Your Church book series. This conversation pairs well with the previous one with author and pastor Barnabas Piper, who wrote the book, "Belong," which is also part of this book series, commissioned by the Acts 29 church planting organization. This book explores what the Bible says to help readers discover how to make space for others, however different they are to them, in their church and in their lives. 

We also talked about getting out of comfort zones or cliquey mindsets to practice radical hospitality to make sure people feel like they are welcome at church. 

Jen is an author, missionary, pastor’s wife, blogger, and the host on the All Things Podcast. You can check out more of her work at jenoshman.com.

Thanks for listening!

I'd love for you to connect with me by signing up for my newsletter: coledouglasclaybourn.substack.com. You can also find more of my articles and content at coleclaybourn.com and on social media:

Feb 20, 202343:00
Episode 88: Author Barnabas Piper on What it Means to Belong

Episode 88: Author Barnabas Piper on What it Means to Belong

Being in community with people is one of the strongest desires we feel as humans. As adults, finding that community can be a challenge, but the church can be a great place to look. 

A new book by Barnabas Piper, "Belong," seeks to equip churches and churchgoers about how to best cultivate a sense of belonging within the context of a church family. Barnabas joins me this week to talk about his new book and the ideas inside of it. This is one of the first books in the new Love Your Church series, which is being written by a collection of Bible teachers from Acts29, a church planting network.

“We are looking for something personal, something deeply meaningful, something with which we can identify," Barnabas writes in the first chapter of the book. "And this book is an invitation to find that in the church, because God wants us to …Part of God’s perfect strategy is offering hurting, tired, worn out, needy sinners like you and me a place to belong in … A place in which to encounter the profound, transformative, healing, restoring grace of Jesus Christ.”

This is the third time Barnabas has been a guest on the show, and I always appreciate his perspective on a number of topics. If you're interested in hearing more, you can check out The Happy Rant Podcast, where Barnabas is a co-host, as well as the Happy Rant Podcast book, which he and his co-hosts wrote. In both the podcast and the book, Piper and the others touch on a wide variety of topics that fall under the purview of Christian and church culture, and they bring a good mixture of wit and humor to the table. Barnabas and I talk about that book as well and the heart behind it.

You can connect with Barnabas and learn more about his other books at barnabaspiper.com.

Thanks for listening!

I'd love for you to connect with me by signing up for my newsletter: coledouglasclaybourn.substack.com. You can also find more of my articles and content at coleclaybourn.com and on social media:

You can check out my previous conversations with Barnabas below:

Feb 06, 202358:38
Episode 87: Celebrating Five Years of Marriage

Episode 87: Celebrating Five Years of Marriage

As we've done the past few years on our wedding anniversary, this week my wife Emily and I share a conversation reflecting on the past year of our marriage. This was probably the most challenging year of our marriage, but in many ways it became the most refining. I've talked about it briefly in the few episodes I've done this year, but our lives were in a constant state of chaos this past year. A tornado hit our home on December 11, 2021, and we were displaced for almost nine months. That was just the beginning of what was pretty much just a long series of unfortunate events that significantly interrupted our lives. I wrote about most of it earlier this year. You can read that article on my website at coleclaybourn.com.

We had a lot of people help us navigate this past year — financially, physically, emotionally, and certainly spiritually. We lived most of this year without a lot of stuff, in an unnatural environment, and with a lot of inconveniences. But at the risk of being cheesy, we really did learn what truly matters. There's much to be grateful for and lots to be excited about as we look ahead to 2023.

Thanks for listening!

I'd love for you to connect with me by signing up for my newsletter: coledouglasclaybourn.substack.com. You can also find more of my articles and content at coleclaybourn.com and on social media:

You can check out our previous anniversary conversations below:

Dec 23, 202201:00:07
Episode 86: Comedy, Social Media & Christian Culture with TikTok Creator Josh Benson

Episode 86: Comedy, Social Media & Christian Culture with TikTok Creator Josh Benson

Laughter has been some of the best medicine for me over the past couple of years. One of the best sources, at times, has been TikTok, and one of the best accounts I've come across is that of Josh Benson — better known as @joshbensontherapper. While the rapping has taken a back seat for him in recent years, his comedy skits have taken off. He now has over 411,000 followers on the app.

Comedy can be a disarming way of entering into conversations about difficult topics, and that's what Josh does well, bringing awareness to some very real issues surrounding Christian culture and the Church. While I knew we would talk about comedy, his creative process and where his ideas come from, this conversation actually got pretty deep. We talk about what advice we would give to Christian creators who might deal with comparison and how to make sure your platform and message are always pointing toward God. We also waded into the waters of faith deconstruction and he shares how he handles sensitive topics and dealing with criticism.

Josh and another creator also sell some merch under the brand "Church Chad," which is a character you'll hear about in this conversation. You can check out their merch at churchchad.com.

I'd love for you to connect with me by signing up for my newsletter: coledouglasclaybourn.substack.com. Substack just unveiled a new chat feature that allows creators to have more direct dialogue with subscribers, and I'm really excited about this! If you haven't yet, download the free Substack app on your phone to check out all the features.

You can also find more of my articles and content at coleclaybourn.com and on social media:

If you enjoyed this conversation, you'll probably enjoy these as well:

Nov 21, 202201:04:36
Episode 85: When Women Lead with Author & Pastor Carolyn Moore

Episode 85: When Women Lead with Author & Pastor Carolyn Moore

While society has come a long way in embracing women as leaders, we still have a ways to go. That's especially true in the Church, where female pastors are few and far between and the path to leadership positions is often rockier and more treacherous for women than it is for men. And when women do make it to the top and are in leadership positions, the support structure, respect from subordinates and perceptions of their personality are often far different than they are for their male counterparts.

Carolyn Moore is hoping to change that narrative, or at least spark a conversation that moves the needle in that direction. The founding pastor of Mosaic Church in Evans, Georgia, Moore is also the author of a newly released book, "When Women Lead: Embrace Your Authority, Move Beyond Barriers, and Find Joy in Leading Others." 

This week on the podcast, she shares her heart behind the book and her heart for seeing everyone — both male and female — get to enter into situations where they are able to respond to the calling God has put on their heart to lead, free of any barriers. In both her book and this conversation, she shares what some of those barriers are, what some potential causes are and how to break them down. This is a conversation both men and women need to hear.

Moore has an MDiv and Doctor of Ministry from Asbury Theological Seminary with a focus on church planting. She co-hosts a podcast and writes on topics of
holiness, healing, supernatural ministry, and Wesleyan theology at artofholiness.com.

I'd love for you to connect with me by signing up for my newsletter: coledouglasclaybourn.substack.com. Substack just unveiled a new chat feature that allows creators to have more direct dialogue with subscribers, and I'm really excited about this! If you haven't yet, download the free Substack app on your phone to check out all the features.

You can also find more of my articles and content at coleclaybourn.com and on social media:

Nov 14, 202253:00
Episode 84: Dealing With Conflict in the Workplace with Dr. Jennifer Thomas

Episode 84: Dealing With Conflict in the Workplace with Dr. Jennifer Thomas

Relationships are hard, and sometimes they can be especially challenging to navigate in the workplace. Chances are you've worked with a person or two that, for whatever reason, were just hard to jive with. Maybe you've been passed over for a promotion or to be the lead on a project and that's made it hard to work with others. Whatever the reason is, it can be an awkward thing.

But that's the topic this week as Dr. Jennifer Thomas joins the show to discuss her book, "Making Things Right at Work: Increase Teamwork, Resolve Conflict, and Build Trust," which she co-authored with Gary Chapman — author of The Five Love Languages — and Dr. Paul White. Thomas is an author, a TEDx speaker, and a clinical and community psychologist. She's also an expert on apology, having co-authored "The 5 Apology Languages" with Chapman.

There are so many practical takeaways from this conversation, from dealing with bitterness, envy, and comparison to simply being able to apologize and communicate effectively. What's your biggest takeaway from this conversation? Let us know in a review on Apple Podcasts!

You can find more on Dr. Thomas, including her other works and social media channels, at her website drjenniferthomas.com.

I'd love for you to connect with me by signing up for my newsletter: coledouglasclaybourn.substack.com. Substack just unveiled a new chat feature that allows creators to have more direct dialogue with subscribers, and I'm really excited about this! If you haven't yet, download the free Substack app on your phone to check out all the features.

You can also find more of my articles and content at coleclaybourn.com and on social media:

Nov 07, 202230:06
Episode 83: Your Marriage God's Way with Pastor & Author Scott LaPierre

Episode 83: Your Marriage God's Way with Pastor & Author Scott LaPierre

Scott LaPierre is a pastor, writer, Army veteran, husband and the author of Your Marriage God's Way: A Biblical Guide to a Christ-Centered Relationship. He's also the father of nine kids! 

After college, Scott served as an officer in the Army. Once he left the military, he started teaching elementary school and that's where he became a Christian. He thought he would be a school teacher and coach the rest of his life, but then he found his passion for teaching decreasing and his passion for ministry increasing.

"I kind of wanted to tell people to open their Bibles versus telling kids to open their math books," he says in this episode.

He transitioned into a part-time ministry position while teaching before the church hired him full-time. In 2010, he and his wife founded Woodland Christian Church in southwest Washington where he's been the teaching pastor since.

He's also the author of six other books, and his wife Katie has a couple to her name as well. You can check their books, and accompanying workbooks, at www.scottlapierre.org/books/. There you can also find links to Scott's podcast, Living God's Way, and his social media accounts. 

I'd love for you to connect with me by signing up for my newsletter: coledouglasclaybourn.substack.com. Substack just unveiled a new chat feature that allows creators to have more direct dialogue with subscribers, and I'm really excited about this! If you haven't yet, download the free Substack app on your phone to check out all the features. 

You can also find more of my articles and content at coleclaybourn.com and on social media:

Oct 24, 202256:09
Episode 82: Dr. Myron Rolle + The 2% Way

Episode 82: Dr. Myron Rolle + The 2% Way

I love Myron Rolle's story, and I'm so excited for you to hear it this week. Sports fans will remember him as a college football star at Florida State and for his time playing in the NFL. But while he was excelling on the football field, he was also cultivating an eventual career as a neurosurgeon.

After being recruited out of high school by just about ever major college football program in the country, Rolle attended Florida State where he became a First Team Freshman All-American, the Atlantic Coast Conference Defensive Rookie of the Year, and eventually a Third Team All-American. He ultimate chose Florida State because it was the place that best fit his plan to not only play football, but also become a Rhodes Scholar and study neuroscience. 

He was projected to be a first round draft pick after his college career was over, but that same year he was awarded the Rhodes Scholarship and the chance to study at Oxford for a year. He faced a decision — take about $9 million in a signing bonus as a first round pick and start his NFL career, or take a year away from football to follow his heart and study at Oxford on the Rhodes Scholarship.

In this conversation, he discusses how he navigated that season of life and how he ultimately decided what to do. This decision, like everything else in his life, was guided by his faith in Jesus. He also details this story in his new book, The 2% Way: How a Philosophy of Small Improvements Took Me to Oxford, the NFL, and Neurosurgery. "The 2% Way" was a mantra he learned from a college coach, and he talks about how these small improvements can lead to big things. 

If you've ever struggled with comparison, imposter syndrome, or just a general feeling that you're moving too slow toward your goals, this conversation is for you.

You can connect with Dr. Rolle on Twitter @MyronRolle and on Instagram @myronrolle.

I'd love for you to connect with me by signing up for my newsletter: https://tinyurl.com/4ee3cy73. Be sure to check out more articles and content at coleclaybourn.com and on social media.

Aug 14, 202240:06
Episode 81: Reading, Writing, & Thinking Well with Author Karen Swallow Prior

Episode 81: Reading, Writing, & Thinking Well with Author Karen Swallow Prior

Karen Swallow Prior, Ph. D., is a Research Professor of English and Christianity and Culture at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and the author of a number of books. Some of her work includes: Booked: Literature in the Soul of Me (T. S. Poetry Press, 2012), Fierce Convictions: The Extraordinary Life of Hannah More—Poet, Reformer, Abolitionist (Thomas Nelson, 2014), and On Reading Well: Finding the Good Life through Great Books (Brazos, 2018).

She is an avid reader, a fierce proponent of critical thinking, and an advocate for good writing. On this episode, we dive deep into what it means to truly read and write well, how to deal with distraction and resistance in writing, and how to communicate most effectively.

If you love words and a nerdy conversation, you're going to really enjoy hearing from KSP! 

Be sure to give her a follow and let her know you enjoyed hearing her on this podcast: @KSPrior on Twitter and @karenswallowprior on Instagram. Also make sure you check out her website karenswallowprior.com for more info on her books and other work.

I'd love for you to connect with me by visiting my website, coleclaybourn.com, and signing up for my newsletter. You can also find me on social media:

If you enjoyed this episode, you might enjoy these as well:

Jun 17, 202240:12
Episode 80: How to 'Stay Ready' with NFL Player Matt Overton

Episode 80: How to 'Stay Ready' with NFL Player Matt Overton

It's hard enough to play in the NFL. Imagine having a whole other career on the side while doing it.

That's what Matt Overton does as both the long snapper for the Los Angeles Chargers and as a real estate agent with clients in both Indianapolis and Nashville. A nine-year NFL veteran, Overton has bounced around with a few teams, spending most of his career with the Indianapolis Colts, where he was a Pro Bowl selection in 2013.

During his career, he's spent a lot of seasons as a free agent, not sure if he'd get the chance to keep playing. He took the entire 2019 season off when no calls came in, and he used that time to finish his schooling become a real estate agent. But all the while, he kept working out and preparing as if a call would come. You don't have to get ready if you stay ready, he said.

Out of that motto birthed his brand, "Stay Ready," which serves as both a motivation to him and others but also a chance for him to reflect on and share his faith in Jesus. He's got a great story and a great perspective on how he lets God use him and his platform. You can check his merchandise out at mattovertonbrand.com and give him a follow on Twitter @MattOverton_LS, where he's a super encouraging person to follow.

If you want to know more about Matt's story, you can check out a couple of stories I wrote on him for Sports Spectrum last year.

It's Super Bowl week, though, so we couldn't let him get out of here without giving up some analysis on the game. Be sure to stick around for his prediction!

I'd love for you to connect with me by visiting my website, coleclaybourn.com, and signing up for my newsletter. You can also find me on social media:

If you enjoyed this episode, you might enjoy these as well:

Episode 44: Finding True Happiness with Derwin Gray

Episode 20: ESPN Football Analyst Dan Orlovsky

Episode 4: WKU Football Coach Tyson Helton

Feb 09, 202240:02
Episode 79: Lessons From Our Fourth Year of Marriage

Episode 79: Lessons From Our Fourth Year of Marriage

As we've done the past few years on our anniversary, this week my wife Emily and I share a conversation reflecting on the past year of our marriage. Much of this conversation focuses on the past couple of weeks, which have been marked by us navigating life after being displaced from a tornado that hit our home in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Our region and our state is still grieving and recovering from the devastating tornadoes that ravaged the western part of Kentucky on December 10 and 11. I was honored to be asked by the Washington Post to share my story of that night, and you can read that here: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/12/16/surviving-terror-tragedy-kentucky-thanks-spirit-our-neighbors/

We talked about quite a bit in this conversation, but we did spend quite a bit of time talking about trauma and how spouses can help each other navigate it. Emily is a mental health therapist with a Master's degree in Marriage and Family Therapy, so she is legitimately a perfect person to speak to his. We also shared some of our biggest joys of the past year and spent quite a bit of time talking about budgeting and what has worked for us and how we've been been able to pay down a significant portion of our debt this year.

I'd love for you to connect with me by visiting my website, coleclaybourn.com, and signing up for my newsletter. You can also find me on social media:

If you enjoyed this episode, you might enjoy these as well:

Episode 66: Seeking God First In the Highs & Lows of Marriage with Doug & Christi Claybourn

Episode 57: Love, Marriage, & Surviving 2020 — Emily & Cole Claybourn

Episode 6: Lessons From Two Years of Marriage with My Wife Emily Claybourn

Dec 23, 202101:03:48
Episode 78: Finding Rest with Author & Writer Jon Seidl
Nov 29, 202140:33
Episode 77: Celebrating Two Years of In No Hurry with Singer/Songwriter Ryan Ahlwardt

Episode 77: Celebrating Two Years of In No Hurry with Singer/Songwriter Ryan Ahlwardt

What an honor it is this week to celebrate two years since the In No Hurry Podcast launched! This has been such a fun creative outlet for me, and I am grateful for everyone who has listened along the way. If you've been around since the beginning, I want to give an extra special shout out to you! You're a real one.

This week I get to welcome back my good friend Ryan Ahlwardt, who not only is the artist behind the show's theme music, but he was also my very first guest way back in November 2019. He also joined me last year as we celebrated the podcast's first year of existence. Every time we talk, it's such a life-giving conversation, and I'm so grateful for his friendship support of the show. When we talk, we really get to the heart of what this show is all about — the intersection of faith and creativity. 

Ryan has been making music for most of his life, and most notably was a member of the popular a capella group Straight No Chaser. He has since left to pursue other ventures, as we've covered in previous conversation, and has added even more to his plate since we last talked. He and his former SNC band mate and high school friend Mike Luginbill started their own side music project called Small Town City, he released his own 90s cover album this year, and he recently became a co-host for IndyNow, a morning lifestyle show on Fox 59 in Indianapolis. He has also gotten some really cool opportunities in the world of voiceover work, as you'll hear him talk about in this conversation.

You can connect with Ryan and find all his music and other work at ryansongs.com. Thanks so much for checking out this episode, and thanks for your support of this show over the last two years!

I'd love for you to connect with me by visiting my website, coleclaybourn.com, and signing up for my newsletter. You can also find me on social media:

If you enjoyed this episode, you might enjoy these as well:

Episode 70: Breaking Free from the Chains of Comparison

Episode 58: Navigating the Emotions of 2020

Episode 52: Podcast Birthday Party with Ryan Ahlwardt!

Episode 1: Singer/Songwriter Ryan Ahlwardt


Nov 15, 202101:54:35
Episode 76: Coping With The Pandemic Through Sports & Faith with Sports Spectrum's Jason Romano

Episode 76: Coping With The Pandemic Through Sports & Faith with Sports Spectrum's Jason Romano

Navigating the pandemic has been hard for all of us. When sports came back, they provided a nice reprieve from the heartache all around us. But it was still strange to watch games with no fans in the stands and the electric atmospheres we're used to be absent from the stadiums. It's been a lot to process.

This week, I'm excited to welcome back Jason Romano to the podcast. Jason was on Episode 10 of the show in early 2020, and quite a bit has happened since that time. Jason's here to help process it, as well as share some thoughts on forgiveness that he included in his book "Live to Forgive." 

Jason is my boss at Sports Spectrum and he hosts our flagship podcast, "Sports Spectrum," which I highly recommend checking out and subscribing to. Jason also published a book last summer called "The Uniform of Leadership," which consists of stories from his days working as a producer at ESPN.

Connect with Jason:

I'd also love for you to connect with me by visiting my website, coleclaybourn.com, and signing up for my newsletter. You can also find me on social media:

If you enjoyed this episode, you might enjoy these as well:

Nov 01, 202152:53
Episode 75: Biblical Approaches to Managing Your Money with Callie & Rosario Picardo

Episode 75: Biblical Approaches to Managing Your Money with Callie & Rosario Picardo

Having a conversation about money is hard. Author, pastor, and coach Rosario Picardo and his wife, Callie — a financial coach and seasoned fundraising professional — are here to help. Their book, Money Talks: A Biblical Take on Earning, Saving, Spending, and Giving, is a roadmap for readers on what God has to say about all things finances in a world where we often let money talk louder than every other voice in our life.

It's all about the ways money "talks" to us contrasted with what God has to say about things like earning, saving, spending, and giving. This conversational is full of practical tips to breakdown the barrier of talking about and coming up with a plan for being intentional with our money. As we head into the holiday season where it's easy to spend a lot of money, this conversation comes at a good time.

Roz and Callie have a podcast together — The Better Together Podcast — which I recommend checking out along with their book. 

Give Roz and Callie a follow on Instagram:

I'd also love for you to connect with me by visiting my website, coleclaybourn.com, and signing up for my newsletter. You can also find me on social media:

If you enjoyed this episode, you might enjoy these as well:

Oct 18, 202144:44
Episode 74: Building a Confident & Consistent Prayer Life with Author Val Woerner

Episode 74: Building a Confident & Consistent Prayer Life with Author Val Woerner

I'm so excited to welcome back Val Woerner to the show this week! Val was the guest on Episode 50, where we talked a lot about building better prayer habits and specifically her book Springboard Prayers. We're back this week talking all about prayer again, which is good because I consider Val one of my go-to people when it comes to prayer.

She creates the super practical and functional prayer journals my wife and I use (she has some for men as well), and all of her writing is centered around prayer and how to help make prayer the priority it needs to be in our life. She has a new book coming out on October 12 called Pray Confidently & Consistently, and I'm so excited for you to hear our conversation about prayer and her new book.

Make sure you give Val a follow @valmariepaper on Instagram and Twitter and let her know you enjoyed hearing her on this episode!

I'd also love for you to connect with me by visiting my website, coleclaybourn.com, and signing up for my newsletter. You can also find me on social media:

If you enjoyed this episode, you might enjoy these as well:

Oct 04, 202145:36
Episode 73: Prioritizing Mental Health with Author & Counselor Debra Fileta

Episode 73: Prioritizing Mental Health with Author & Counselor Debra Fileta

My guess is this past year or so has been a struggle for you just like it has for me. Between the pandemic, job changes, and everything else going on in the world, I know my mental health has seen its share of ebbs and flows. I'm not always the best at prioritizing the need to tend to my mental health. That's why I was fortunate to speak with Debra Fileta, an author, speaker, and licensed professional counselor.

Debra is the author of "Are You Really OK?: Getting Real About Who You Are, How You’re Doing, and Why It Matters," which was released in May, and she shares some insights and practical steps she wrote about in the book for how we can be intentional about our mental health. She also shares how to identify and address the roots of stress and what might be causing other issues. I really appreciated how she talked about how healing is holistic, and how our mental health is connected to our physical, spiritual, and emotional health as well.

I hope you're encouraged and inspired by this conversation with Debra. You can connect with her and find her work by visiting her website, truelovedates.com, as well as on social media:

I'd also love for you to connect with me by visiting my website, coleclaybourn.com, and signing up for my newsletter. You can also find me on social media:

If you enjoyed this episode, you might enjoy these as well:

Sep 20, 202145:46
Episode 72: "The Voice" Winner Todd Tilghman & Wife Brooke on Finding Joy Through Authentic Living

Episode 72: "The Voice" Winner Todd Tilghman & Wife Brooke on Finding Joy Through Authentic Living

We are back!

It is so great to be launching a new season of In No Hurry after a few months off to focus on some writing projects. I'm excited to kick this new season off with an awesome couple, Todd and Brooke Tilghman. Todd was the winner of Season 18 of The Voice, and he and Brooke have since written a book, "Every Little Win: How Celebrating Small Victories Can Lead to Big Joy."

These two are super fun people and you'll enjoy hearing them share their memories of being on The Voice — where Todd got a four-chair turn from all of the coaches and eventually picked Blake Shelton — as well as the lessons they've learned in marriage and from raising eight children. They're just two genuine people who have stayed true to who they are no matter what life has brought them.

You can find all the info on their new book as well as how to connect with them here: https://www.thomasnelson.com/p/every-little-win/

I'd also love to connect with you! Sign up here to be a part of my mailing list and stay up to date on future guests and giveaways. You can also follow me on social media:

*NOTE: This podcast will be moving from a weekly show to an every-other-week show, at least for the foreseeable future. I talk a little bit more about that toward the end of the show, but that's just what makes the most sense for me right now. Thanks for tuning in to the show!

Sep 06, 202101:08:10
Episode 71: The Challenge of Self-Control with Author Drew Dyck

Episode 71: The Challenge of Self-Control with Author Drew Dyck

Why do we struggle so much with controlling our urges? What does it mean to have self-control? What do the Bible and those who study brain science have to say about it?

Drew Dyck wrote a book exploring all of that. It's called "Your Future Self Will Thank You," and it was the In No Hurry Podcast Book of the Month. As we close out Lent season, it felt like the perfect book to read. 

This conversation is a recording of my Instagram Live chat with Drew. For all Book of the Month interviews with the author, be sure to join us live on Instagram when we do them toward the end of each month. You can find out about them by following me on Instagram @coleclaybourn.

I really enjoyed talking with Drew about this book, and I think you'll enjoy his wisdom and humor in this conversation. Be sure to give him a follow on Twitter @drewdyck and on Instagram @drewndyck. Also check out his website — drewdyck.com.

PROGRAMMING NOTE:

As mentioned on the show, this will be the last episode for Season 2. I'm going to take a pause until later on in the summer as I take some time to focus on my writing. With that, I'm so thrilled to announce that I was accepted to participate in Lysa TerKeurst's Book Proposal Bootcamp — an exciting and rare opportunity for me in my journey of writing a book! 

You'll hear me talk plenty about the program in the intro, and a major part of that is the cost. I have set up a GoFundMe to help fund my spot in this program, and I am prayerfully asking that you will consider supporting me — both financially and through prayer! You can visit the page here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/coles-book-proposal-bootcamp-fund

Mar 29, 202155:29
Episode 70: Breaking Free from the Chains of Comparison

Episode 70: Breaking Free from the Chains of Comparison

I don't know if it's because we've spent most of the past year on our phones and away from our normal communities, but it seems like I'm seeing more people than usual open up about their struggles with comparison. As you know, I'm no stranger to that struggle and many conversations on this show have focused on it.

This week I wanted to share some thoughts I've had on my heart lately about my own struggles with comparison, but more specifically how I've begun to find rest from the exhausting race of comparison.

Why spend any of that precious time chasing after what others have instead of enjoying what God has already given you?

When we begin to rewire our brain and our hearts to be in line with this, it actually becomes the most freeing thing in the world. We no longer have to worry. We don’t have to run. We no longer have to be caught up in the rat race of comparison. We don’t have to exhaust ourselves. 

Instead, we can rest in the fact that God created us out of love to be great in the way He designed us to be great and use that greatness to bless others.

--

We've been going through a devotional series on my newsletter focused on comparison. If you haven't already subscribed, I'd love for you to be a part of that so you don't miss any future newsletters. You can sign up here.

I'd love for you to connect with me on social media as well. I'm @coleclaybourn on both Instagram and Twitter and those are probably the best places to catch me.

In this episode, I referenced two articles from Psychology Today. You can read those below:

-The Perils of Comparing Ourselves to Others: https://bit.ly/3slQZTK

-Social Media and the Rising Trend of Cosmetic Surgery: https://bit.ly/3lDknm1


Mar 22, 202117:59
Episode 69: Navigating the Pandemic Through Comedy with Kerri Pomarolli

Episode 69: Navigating the Pandemic Through Comedy with Kerri Pomarolli

It just feels good to laugh sometimes, doesn't it? Especially after the year we've all gone through.

Making people laugh is what Kerri Pomarolli does best, and I'm excited to welcome her on my show this week. Kerri is a Los Angeles-based comedian who performs clean comedy and shares the gospel during her shows. In this conversation we discussed what it's like to be a Christian entertainer in a city like Hollywood, how she is able to differentiate herself in a tough industry, how she fights the battle of comparison, and why we need to laugh often.

We recorded this conversation back in December, which allowed us to have a post-mortem perspective on 2020 as the year came to an end, and I appreciated her thoughts on how she was able to navigate a tough year and the pandemic season.

Kerri is the author of Confessions of a Proverbs 32 Woman: How I Went From Messed Up to Blessed Up Without Changing a Single Thing, which looks at how entertainers, especially Christian entertainers, struggle with the pressures to keep up with the seemingly impossible standards of Hollywood. She also penned a 60-day devotional called She Rises Late and Her Kids Make Her Breakfast geared toward time-crunched women longing for God.

She is one of the most sought-after clean comedians in Los Angeles and has worked with everyone from Jay Leno, Jim Carrey, Sherri Shepherd, Carol Channing, and Jerry Lewis. She's been featured on The Tonight Show 29 times, Comedy Central, ABC and more. She is a popular TV host, actor, celebrity correspondent (Showbiz Tonight), and currently writing films for the Hallmark Channel.

You can find out more about her and check out her work at her website kerripom.com.

Mar 15, 202151:37
Episode 68: Finding Your Calling with Author Marsha DuCille

Episode 68: Finding Your Calling with Author Marsha DuCille

We all want to know what our calling is in life. Many people search for years to try and decipher what their calling is.

Our calling can indeed change in different seasons of our life, but whatever it is we're being called to do, discerning God's will is often the toughest part.

That's the topic of my conversation this week with Marsha DuCille, founder and editorial director of CALLED Magazine, the largest North American-based publication for Christian women. She is also the author of two 52-week devotionals focused on finding our calling — "CALLED to Inspire" and "CALLED to Pray," which just came out in February.

I hope this conversation will inspire you to pursue what God has planned for your future. We also talked about how fear and comparison can completely jack up our pursuit of God's calling for our lives and how the enemy will use those to make us feel unqualified and unworthy of what God has called us to do.

Definitely make sure you check out CALLED Magazine and Marsha's two devotionals for more content on finding your calling. You can also follow CALLED Worldwide on Instagram @calledworldwide.

You can connect with me and subscribe to my weekly devotional newsletter on my website coleclaybourn.com.

Mar 08, 202157:05
BONUS EPISODE: February Book of the Month author Jackie Bledsoe
Mar 06, 202149:44
Episode 67: Married Life With a Blended Family with Tommy & Allison Fuller

Episode 67: Married Life With a Blended Family with Tommy & Allison Fuller

We close out the series on marriage with one final couple, and this is such a special episode for us! This week Emily and I talked to her aunt Allison Fuller and her husband Tommy. I'm so blessed to be able to share their story and welcome their perspective on marriage to the show.

One thing I've really enjoyed about this series is how it's shown that marriage looks different for every couple. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to marriage, and each story is beautiful. Tommy and Allison were previously married with children before they met — on an online dating site, by the way! — and we loved hearing their perspective on what a blended family looks like and how they've approached just their marriage alone while also navigating that aspect of parenting.

They've also helped lead some divorce groups at their church, so they brought plenty of wisdom to the conversation from those experiences as well.

Tommy is the Associate Dean at the Beeson Divinity School at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama, so I was particularly interested in hearing his thoughts on marriage from more of a theological and exegetical approach.

Hope you enjoy this conversation!

Mar 01, 202159:31
Episode 66: Seeking God First In the Highs & Lows of Marriage with Doug & Christi Claybourn

Episode 66: Seeking God First In the Highs & Lows of Marriage with Doug & Christi Claybourn

This week Emily and I got to sit down (over Zoom) with my parents Doug and Christi Claybourn and talk about marriage. I've had many conversations with my parents individually and together over the years when dating about relationships and marriage, but this is the first time I've gotten to do that alongside my spouse.

I hit on this in last week's email newsletter, but so much of what I know and believe to be true about love and marriage I learned either from what my parents taught me or how they modeled it.

Their marriage is far from perfect, just like all of ours, and I so appreciate the vulnerability we all went to in this conversation — talking about some of the early years of their marriage that were particularly difficult due to my dad's divorce with my biological mother and the events that followed that.

We talk about that and so much more in the conversation, but we also talked about how they've sustained their marriage through the highs and lows they've faced over their 20+ years of marriage, starting first by seeking God first in their own lives and in their marriage.

This is truly one of the highlights for me on this show, and I hope you enjoy hearing from them on their perspective on marriage.

If you'd like to connect with me or the show further, you can follow me on Instagram @coleclaybourn and on Twitter @ColeClaybourn. I'd also love for you to subscribe to my weekly newsletter here — Email Sign-Up

I'd also love for you to subscribe to the podcast on your preferred podcast platform so you can stay up-to-date when new shows are released. If you listen and enjoy the show, please consider leaving a five-star rating on Apple Podcasts! That really helps people discover the show and it tells them this is a show they should be listening to.

Can't wait to hear your thoughts on this conversation after you listen!

Feb 22, 202158:32
Episode 65: Sustaining a Marriage Through Various Seasons with Matt & Leslee Holliday

Episode 65: Sustaining a Marriage Through Various Seasons with Matt & Leslee Holliday

After hearing from two younger couples, I'm excited this week to bring on a couple that's been married for 20 years. Matt and Leslee Holliday have both been on my show individually — Matt was on Episode 39 talking about his Major League Baseball career (go Cardinals!) and Leslee was on Episode 55 talking about faithfulness and following her passions — but I was excited to talk to them together about their marriage.

The life of a professional athlete has its perks, and as fans we often only see and think about the glamorous parts of it. But athletes are at risk of being traded at any point, which means they and their families are uprooted with little time to prepare and have to adjust. That happened to Matt in his career a couple times, so it was great to hear them share their story and what their marriage looked like during those seasons.

They're such a fun couple and it's easy to see why they've worked together so well for 20 years. They have three sons — Jackson, Ethan, and Reed — and one daughter, Gracyn. Leslee is back in school working toward a seminary degree.

They host the Table Forty Podcast, and this month they are also talking about marriage. Be sure to check out their show!

Feb 15, 202101:07:18
Episode 64: Realistic vs. Unrealistic Expectations in Marriage with Tyler & Dena Lindsey

Episode 64: Realistic vs. Unrealistic Expectations in Marriage with Tyler & Dena Lindsey

We are back this week talking about marriage with a couple of friends from our life group at church, Tyler and Dena Lindsey! Tyler is the worship pastor at our church and Dena also helps lead worship. They've been married for a little over two years.

My wife Emily is back on the show with me as well, and one of the cool aspects of this conversation is that Tyler and Emily had interesting perspectives on helping couples as they prepare for marriage or navigate their marriage. Tyler does premarital counseling for couples and Emily and a license therapist who also works with couples. Their clientele is usually a little different, as is their perspective, and I really enjoyed hearing the range of ideas they had.

Tyler, who was on Episode 11 with some other friends from church, mentioned some questions he always asks the couples he counsels, and it's a list of questions he and Dena asked each other as well. They all center around expectations over things like household chores, budget, how time should be spent, sex, and how often to go on dates. We talked about what realistic expectations look like vs. unrealistic expectations.

-Book of the Month:

  • Let's Read Together! We started this last week, but I'm inviting you to join along as we read through a book each month through my podcast and social channels. Each month I'll go through a book with listeners and followers and talk with the author on Instagram Live at the end of the month.
  • This month, to keep with our theme on marriage, we are reading "The 7 Rings of Marriage" by Jackie Bledsoe. I would love for you to read along and send in some questions to ask Jackie when we talk to him at the end of the month! 
  • This podcast is all about celebrating and exploring the intersection of faith and creativity, and with that, I love talking to authors and writers. Now, I get to do that together with you! You can read more about it here: https://coleclaybourn.com/blog/lets-read-together/
Feb 08, 202101:19:29
Episode 63: Starting a Marriage Off Strong with Nick & Cristen Lawson

Episode 63: Starting a Marriage Off Strong with Nick & Cristen Lawson

We are kicking off a new series this month all about marriage and relationships, and I could not be more excited to have our friends Nick and Cristen Lawson on the show! 

They are in our life group at church and just two people Emily and I do life with. They are newlyweds — they got married in October — so I loved hearing the perspective of such a young married couple. Don't be fooled by that, though, because they brought some serious wisdom that I think we all can use.

I love how intentional they are with their time together. They only have a TV in the guest room and rarely watch it and never really spend time on their phones when they're together. They've got several other little things they do to make sure they stay intentional with their time while still allowing for spontaneity.

They're also an interracial couple, and that's such a needed perspective for all of us to hear right now. 

This was such a fun conversation and I can't wait for you all to hear it!

-Book of the Month:

Feb 01, 202101:24:56
Episode 62: Liturgy for the Home with Author Winfield Bevins

Episode 62: Liturgy for the Home with Author Winfield Bevins

Jan 25, 202147:50
Episode 61: Learning to Dream Again Through the Pain with Author Kayla Stoecklein

Episode 61: Learning to Dream Again Through the Pain with Author Kayla Stoecklein

We all have dreams for our life. What happens when the one you planned to share them all with is no longer here? In August 2018, that became the reality for Kayla Stoecklein.

In her first book, Fear Gone Wild, Kayla bravely and vulnerably shares the story of her husband Andrew's battle with depression and subsequent suicide and all the emotions that surround it. She lives in southern California with her three boys and has found herself in a new life that she didn't ask for. As she says in this conversation, she went from being in the passenger seat to having to take the steering wheel and drive, all the while her sons are asking, "Mom, where are we going?"

The life she envisioned for herself and her family was gone. 

"As I'm in that hospital room with him and he takes his last breath and I walk out down the hallway by myself, all of those dreams were in that room with him," she said.

Her book is one of the most raw and vulnerable pieces of writing I have read in quite some time and I am honored that Kayla shared her story on my show.

This conversation is one that tells the story of pain and grief and the pull depression has on us, but it's also one of hope and one that shares the strength and faithfulness of God in the midst of our pain. I'm so encouraged by Kayla's outlook on life and how she's choosing to spend her days and allowing herself to dream again.

You can purchase her book and connect with at her website https://www.kaylastoecklein.com/ and you can follow her on Instagram @kaylasteck

Jan 18, 202140:55
Episode 60: Missionary Filmmakers Peter Craig & Kristin Schroder of Moving Works

Episode 60: Missionary Filmmakers Peter Craig & Kristin Schroder of Moving Works

Jan 11, 202101:04:18
Episode 59: Loving, Living & Leading Like Jesus with Elijah Bowling
Jan 04, 202101:20:18