From Cliffe getting pies thrown at him on a college quad while three-year-old Stuart clung to his leg, to preaching in Boston's red-light district as a seminary student, this episode is equal parts hilarious, theologically sharp, and genuinely moving. Father-son duo Cliffe and Stuart Knechtle — open-air apologists, church planters, and co-authors of Demolishing Doubt — join Levi and Jennie for one of the most wide-ranging conversations the podcast has ever had. Plus: the hardest question Cliffe still gets a flutter about, why miracles aren't actually defying nature, and the reason Stuart's eight-year-old already has Romans 8 memorized.

Connect with us on social!

Cliffe + Stuart: @Stuart_Knechtle

Levi: @levilusko

Jennie: @jennielusko

Fresh Life Church: @freshlife

[Links]

Order Demolishing Doubt: https://bit.ly/4x4R8Nc

Watch Cliffe's Passion Sermon: https://bit.ly/3PJcbnX

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Time Stamps 

00:00:00 – Meet Cliffe + Stuart Knechtle 

00:05:12 – How a 14-person Bible study above a bar became a church 

00:10:06 – Why memorizing scripture isn't obsolete — it's a lifeline 

00:15:58 – Miracles don't defy nature — they restore it

00:29:47 – Preaching in Boston's red-light district (the seminary years) 

00:43:49 – The hardest questions: suffering, doubt, and where God came from

Pastor Shawn and Jill Johnson from Red Rocks Church are back for their fourth appearance, and things get real fast — from the legendary canoe trip where Shawn sat on a dead mouse for four hours, to the honest, hard-won wisdom they've collected after nearly three decades of marriage. Levi and Jennie swap notes with the Johnsons on keeping it flirty, surviving hard seasons, knowing when comfort tips into neglect, and the "final draft" language that changed how Shawn and Jill communicate. Plus: Red Rocks Church's sold-out 20th anniversary service at Red Rocks Amphitheater, a son DJing his second-ever gig on that same stage, and Jill's surprisingly sweet trick for reconnecting with why she fell in love in the first place.

Connect with us on social!

Shawn: @shawnjohnsonrrc

Jill: @Jilljohnson03

Levi: @levilusko

Jennie: @jennielusko

Fresh Life Church: @freshlife

[Links]

Order Kiss The Fire: https://bit.ly/49C6bUF

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Time Stamps:

00:00:00– The canoe trip that tested their friendship (and Sean's packing skills) 

00:09:21 – Kiss the Fire update: what happens when a vulnerable book meets the world 

00:14:11 – Austin the DJ opens Red Rocks Amphitheater (his second gig ever) 

00:22:39 – The marriage conversation: humility, longevity & what 27 years teaches you 

00:38:24 – The "I feel most loved when..." exercise from their counselor 

00:50:15 – "Is this your final draft?" — the language that changed how they communicate

Jennie Lusko is the guest — on her own podcast — to celebrate the release of her new devotional Fresh Mercies Every Day, a 40-day book drawn from decades of her personal journals (yes, she has over 100 of them, all laid out chronologically on the floor). Levi, Jennie, and their firstborn daughter Alivia dig into the writing process, Jennie's lifelong journaling habit that started at age eight, and what it actually looks like to receive God's mercy instead of just trying to earn it. Plus: Jennie's most-prayed prayers, her quiet time hacks, and the Jurassic Park speech Levi somehow turns into a tribute to his wife.

Connect with us on social!

Levi: @levilusko

Jennie: @jennielusko

Fresh Life Church: @freshlife

[Links]

Fresh Mercies Everyday: https://bit.ly/4dPREWB

Passion + TAYA + Luskos on Tour: https://bit.ly/4fS5Lxa

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Time Stamps:

00:02:27 – Levi confesses he secretly read the book before Jennie gave it to him 

00:07:38 – Alivia's Japan mission trip

00:10:56 – The story behind Fresh Mercies Every Day 

00:17:06 – Over 100 journals laid out across the floor 

00:30:16 – How do you stop trying to earn mercy and just receive it? 

00:36:33 – Jennie's quiet time ingredients (and the timer trick)

Women's minister, author, and Texas-born-and-proud Tasha Calvert joins Jennie for one of those conversations that just makes you exhale. Tasha gets honest about going through the motions for years — church attendance, all the programs, filling in every blank — while still missing the real thing, and how God used a crisis in her marriage to finally get through to her. They also talk about her new book Set Apart for More, why holiness has basically disappeared from our vocabulary, and why surrendering control is actually the most freeing thing you can do.

Connect with us on social!

Tasha: @tistashcalvert

Levi: @levilusko

Jennie: @jennielusko

Fresh Life Church: @freshlife

[Links]

Get Tasha's book Set Apart for More: https://bit.ly/4tXFtgw

Visit Tasha's website: https://bit.ly/42UsW2v

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Timestamps

00:02:00 – Santa Fe, New Mexico, and why every American city is starting to look the same 

00:05:18 – Meeting her Houston husband at church — and the Baylor vs. A&M rivalry that almost doomed them 

00:08:26 – The hard season: lawsuits, depression, and a sister's wake-up call about marriage 

00:12:28 – When God said "shut up" — and how silence saved her marriage 

00:34:58 – Why holiness has vanished from our vocabulary (and Tasha's mission to bring it back)

00:46:04 – Tasha closes in prayer for the listener who's exhausted and ready to let go

Licensed counselor and author Debra Fileta is back for her third appearance, and this one hits different — she's here to talk about the skill we're all convinced we already have. Levi and Jennie dig into Debra's new book People Skills, unpacking why our tech-saturated world is quietly eroding our ability to connect, why most of us privately think this book is for someone else (spoiler: it isn't), and how communication styles — passive, aggressive, passive-aggressive, and assertive — show up in something as simple as a wrong order at a restaurant. Plus: Debra shares the moment God changed her perspective on public speaking anxiety, Jennie confesses she's a chameleon in social situations, and Levi admits cocktail parties are somehow scarier than 10,000-person crowds.

Connect with us on social!

Debra: @debrafileta

Levi: @levilusko

Jennie: @jennielusko

Fresh Life Church: @freshlife

[Links]

Get Debra's book People Skills: https://bit.ly/4fco6Vl

Get the 5 Gallon Bucket: https://bit.ly/sdl4sHY

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Time Stamps:

00:07:46 – Introducing People Skills — and Jennie's very tabbed-up copy 

00:08:26 – Why we're losing the art of real human interaction 

00:18:44 – The room full of strangers exercise: how do YOU show up? 

00:25:45 – Stop focusing on what they give you, focus on what you can give 

00:49:10 – Passive, aggressive, passive-aggressive, assertive

Zach Windahl — author of The Bible Simplified — joins Levi and Jennie for a conversation about why so many believers still feel lost in scripture, what finally clicks when you see the whole Bible as one connected story, and the wild COVID wedding that required a cross-state drive with two hours to spare just to get a marriage license. They dig into making the Old Testament less intimidating, how 66 books become one story that changes everything, Bible memorization, and raising kids who love God's word. Plus: the chocolate chip cookie recipe Zach promised to share.

Connect with us on social!

Zach: @zachwindahl

Levi: @levilusko

Jennie: @jennielusko

Fresh Life Church: @freshlife

[Links]

Check out Zach's book The Bible Simplified: https://bit.ly/3PX79Um

Check out the Bible Simplified Study Guide: https://bit.ly/3NZs2O3

Zach's famous chocolate chip cookie recipe: https://bit.ly/4cii8k2

Spend "a Year In the Gospels" with us: 

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Time Stamps:

00:13:57 – Introducing The Bible Simplified

00:20:19 – Why you can't really understand the New Testament without the Old

00:25:07 – Theology for normal people

00:35:42 – If you could condense the entire Bible to a tweet...

00:38:57 – Zach's favorite book of the Bible and the Jewishness of Jesus

00:45:48 – Bible memorization, handwriting the whole NT, and honey on slates

Courtney Pray Duke joins Levi and Jennie for a deeply moving conversation about grief, healing, and the unexpected ways God meets us in our hardest moments. From the physical toll of writing her story to the vulnerability of releasing it into the world, Courtney shares what it’s really like to carry hope after unimaginable loss.

After losing her husband Andrew in a tragic accident, Courtney found herself navigating life as a young widow with three kids—learning to survive, to trust God in the unknown, and eventually, to live again. This episode holds space for the tension of heartbreak and joy coexisting, while offering a powerful reminder: even in the darkest valleys, God is present, faithful, and still writing a beautiful story.

Connect with us on social!

Courtney: @courtneyprayduke

Levi: @levilusko

Jennie: @jennielusko

Fresh Life Church: @freshlife

[Links]

Get And She Got Up by Courtney Pray Duke: https://bit.ly/41JAjJb

Get the 5 Gallon Bucket: https://bit.ly/sdl4sHY

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Subscribe for more exclusive content:  

Time Stamps:

0:03:36 – "The most unglamorous thing I've ever done"

0:11:35 – When God speaks in a dream

0:16:13 – The blue-sky day that shattered everything

0:35:29 – The long road back to Thanksgiving

0:39:16 – The battle cry that became a muscle

0:43:21 – community, casseroles, and learning to do the bills

1:00:04 – Why this book is for everyone — even people who haven't lost anyone yet

1:02:00 – "And she got up": the Scripture, the title, the whole testimony

Abbie and Gabriel Gamboa join Levi and Jennie for a hilariously honest, deeply encouraging conversation about marriage, calling, and the messy middle between “God said” and “okay… now what?” From conspiracy-theory dabbling to the sacred art of naming what’s real (in dating, in ministry, in life), this episode is full of both belly laughs and quiet conviction.

You’ll hear how their friendship turned into a seven-year marriage, the wild backstory of getting pulled into music as kids, and the gritty season where they were juggling jobs, babies, and payday loans—until they finally took the leap into full-time ministry and music. Plus: a movie-level travel nightmare involving visas, a Colombian passport, and the terrifying possibility of being homeless and stinky in Paris.

Connect with us on social!

Abbie: @songbirdabbie

Gabriel: @gabrielgamboa

Levi: @levilusko

Jennie: @jennielusko

Fresh Life Church: @freshlife

[Links]

Check out Abbie's Music: https://bit.ly/3OM0ko5

Get the 5 Gallon Bucket: https://bit.ly/sdl4sHY

Get the Lusketeer Sticker: https://bit.ly/sdl4sHY

Subscribe for more exclusive content: https://levilusko.com/hitl-subscribe

Time Stamps:

00:05:05 – “So drama”: defining the relationship and finally dating

00:06:28 – The car accident text… and the cold shoulder

00:17:34 – The late-night prayer encounter (3–4 a.m.) and music calling

00:23:59 – Songs that mattered

00:29:46 – Payday loans, diapers, and the leap toward calling

00:37:18 – Paris coffee “Substance,” UK visa chaos, and the 20-minute scramble

Jimmy Darts joins Levi + Jennie for a wild, hope-filled conversation about the behind-the-scenes heart of the viral kindness videos that have moved millions. From asking strangers for tiny favors to watching generosity “snowball” into life-changing provision, Jimmy shares how God gave him the strategy—and why he’s obsessed with keeping the spotlight on everyday people who say yes.

Along the way, this episode goes deeper than you might expect: healing miracles, a Billy Graham YouTube moment that changed everything, a simple way to sort suffering and God’s goodness, and why compassion (not polish) is often the catalyst for God’s power. If you’ve ever wanted to live a more “activated” faith—this one will put gasoline on the fire.

Connect with us on social!

Jimmy: @Jimmydarts

Levi: @levilusko

Jennie: @jennielusko

Fresh Life Church: @freshlife

[Links]

Undercover Kindness book: https://bit.ly/4rZM615

Get the 5 Gallon Bucket: https://bit.ly/sdl4sHY

Get the Lusketeer Sticker: https://bit.ly/sdl4sHY

Subscribe for more exclusive content: https://levilusko.com/hitl-subscribe

Time Stamps

0:01:19 – When kindness content went contagious (and why it matters)

0:03:32 – From party videos to “ask for help, then change lives”

0:08:08 – The GoFundMe plaque moment and crowdsourced generosity

0:14:19 – Super Bowl surprises + sorting suffering into two buckets

0:26:35 – Healing in Kona + why compassion is the real catalyst

0:41:15 – Billy Graham on YouTube, the sock miracle, and loving conviction

This week, we’re so excited to share something really special: a message Levi gave at one of our Fresh Life pop-up worship nights in Kalispell.

It’s a word that’s meant a lot to us, and we wanted to bring it here because it speaks so honestly to the tension so many of us feel—how to walk with God through both triumph and sadness.

In this episode, Levi talks about what it looks like to worship God in every season, whether you’re holding joy, grief, gratitude, disappointment, or some mix of all of it. It’s a meaningful, Scripture-filled reminder that we don’t have to be crushed by hard seasons or defined by great ones—we can bring it all to God and find Him faithful in every part of the journey.

Connect with us on social!

Levi: @levilusko

Jennie: @jennielusko

Fresh Life Church: @freshlife

[Links]

Check Out More Sermons: https://bit.ly/4b1PDqh

Fresh Life Internship: https://bit.ly/3P1eJwS

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Preston Sprinkle joins Levi and Jennie for a candid, hilarious, and deeply thoughtful conversation around his newest book, From Genesis to Junia: An Honest Search for What the Bible Really Says About Women in Leadership. Preston shares what sent him on a years-long, thousand-hour deep dive through Scripture, scholarship, and church history without rushing to “pick a side.”

Along the way, the crew gets real about how these conversations actually land in local churches: the tension, the backlash, the nuance, and the very human emotions involved. From Jesus’ surprising elevation of women, to the “problem passages” like 1 Timothy 2 and Romans 16, this episode is an invitation to slow down, stay humble, and let the Bible speak louder than the algorithms.

Connect with us on social!

Preston: @preston.sprinkle

Levi: @levilusko

Jennie: @jennielusko

Fresh Life Church: @freshlife

[Links]

From Genesis to Junia book – https://bit.ly/4tG5dz2

Theology in the Raw Podcast – https://bit.ly/4s1GILd

Get the 5 Gallon Bucket: https://bit.ly/sdl4sHY

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Time Stamps

0:00:19 – Hats, Boise memories, and the “pollen snow” bike ride

0:05:44 – Immigration, algorithms, and thinking Christianly first

0:29:49 – Why Preston spent 1,000+ hours on women in leadership

0:45:13 – Fresh Life’s journey, backlash, and Jennie’s honest emotions

0:52:26 – Jesus, the early church, and why women are essential to mission

1:00:54 – The “hard verses”: 1 Timothy 2 vs. Romans 16 (Phoebe, Priscilla, Junia)