The Cost of Doing Everything Yourself
Have you ever gone days without needing to ask anyone for help? Groceries arrive at your door. Coffee is ordered ahead. Work, worship, and errands can all happen without a single face-to-face conversation. Life runs efficiently, but often at the…
How to Stay Human (And Hopeful) When Scrolling
Have you ever opened your phone “just for a minute” and ended up angry at strangers on the internet? So many of us pick up our phones to relax, but instead feel restless, stressed, and less present to the people…
How Small Acts of Curiosity Can Save the Friendship
Have you ever felt a friendship grow tense or distant and weren’t sure why? In a world marked by polarization and quick assumptions, even strong friendships can feel fragile. A single comment, a post, or a difference in perspective can…
What Hurry is Doing to Your Relationships
Have you noticed hurry shrinking your capacity to love the people right in front of you? The pace of life makes us reactive — rushing kids out the door, skimming conversations, and missing moments that matter. What if slowing down…
Stop Saving Everyone (Even if You’re Good At It)
Have you ever felt the pressure to fix everyone else’s problems? Maybe with your kids, your congregation, or coworkers, you step in, smooth things over, and carry weight that isn’t yours. It feels noble, but it can drain you and…
Why You Keep Getting Pulled in: Understanding Relational Triangles
Have you ever found yourself pulled into someone else’s conflict? It happens at work, at church, even in the grocery store. One moment you’re minding your own business, and the next you’re caught in the middle of a conversation that…
How Not to Lose Yourself in Conflict
Have you ever lost yourself in the middle of conflict? When tensions rise, many of us either rush to fix things or soften the edges to keep the peace. But what if you could stay grounded — anchored in your…
The Spiritual Practice of Leaving Your Comfort Zone with Telos
What if the key to peace is getting closer, not pulling away? In this episode of Practicing Hope, Tanner Smith sits down with Todd Deatherage and Emily Cullum of Telos, a peacemaking organization that leads immersive trips into places shaped…
Balancing the Call
Show Notes What does it look like to lead with integrity — in the pulpit and at the dinner table? In this vulnerable and hopeful episode, Rev. Dr. Tanner Smith and Pastor Chase Rashad Stancle reflect on the real tensions…
Competing Values in Fundraising
Show Notes What do you do when funding opportunities come with tension and tough choices? In this episode on The Practicing Hope Podcast, Jess and Jeff dive into the real-life tension between staying true to your mission and accepting the…