Podcast Summary: Christ With Coffee On Ice

Host: Ally Yost
Episode: "stop believing in Jesus. (start following Him)"
Date: December 5, 2025

Episode Overview

In this heartfelt and vulnerable episode, Ally Yost challenges listeners to move beyond simply believing in Jesus to actively following Him. With her signature warmth, humor, and contagious enthusiasm, Ally intertwines personal testimony, scripture, and encouragement for anyone questioning their faith, feeling stuck, or seeking genuine hope. The episode centers on the transformative power of a real relationship with Christ, the difference it made in Ally’s own life, and practical encouragement for those curious, seeking, or returning to faith.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Personal Connection and Setting the Tone

• Ally opens with her classic “Christ, Coffee on Ice” essentials—her Bible and iced coffee (01:31).
• She shares her relatable quirks, ADHD tendencies, and how they shape her podcasting style (“I can barely keep up with myself... I actually think it’s a miracle that I have a podcast.”) (08:20).
• She expresses her desire for authenticity: “Expect vulnerability, rawness, hope, and encouragement.”

2. On Christmas & Religious Traditions (03:51–05:04)

• Discusses the debate around the date of Jesus’s birth:

  “If we're gonna say it's December 25th, it's not that serious. Let's just celebrate his birth. Amen. Our Savior was born into the world. Let's celebrate it...” (04:17)

• Emphasizes celebrating Jesus every day, not just at Christmas.

3. Spontaneous Worship and Overflowing Joy

• Shares how filled she feels by the Holy Spirit and breaks out into song:

  singing “He saved me. He saved me. Now we will never leave his love.” (06:14)

• Ally highlights the transformative impact of God’s love and the joy she experiences from it.

4. On Testimonies—The Shift from Belief to Following (11:42–13:49)

• Ally discusses her past, where she “believed” in Jesus but wasn’t following Him:

  “It’s not that I never believed in Jesus... but I was not following Him. Like, I was not listening to what he had to say for my life. Because, honestly, I wasn’t asking.” (12:47)

• She explains the freedom of now yielding her plans to God and experiencing life as a “dance with God,” choosing His will freely.

5. The Importance of Remembering Life Before Christ (15:49–17:44)

• Encourages listeners to recall their life before encountering Jesus as a source of compassion and renewed zeal:

  “If it wasn’t for that, we could never testify. And also have compassion for people who do not know Jesus.” (16:33)

• Suggests honest prayers for God to remind us of “what He delivered us from,” to stir gratitude and a testimony.

6. The Difference Between Knowing About and Knowing Jesus (20:07–23:08)

• Ally addresses skepticism toward Christianity and underscores the necessity of encountering the Holy Spirit personally:

  “Again, I believed in Jesus, but I wasn’t following Him. I didn’t know him personally... I didn’t know the Holy Spirit intimately.” (20:42)

• Encourages giving Jesus “a real fair shot”—reading the Gospels, praying honestly, and being open-hearted.

7. Experiencing Christ's Love—An Invitation (25:43–26:15)

• Ally attempts to articulate the inexpressible depth of God’s love:

  “His love is something I can’t put words to. Like, I wish I could tell you guys words that would actually help you understand if it’s something you haven’t felt before... There are no words. You have to just experience it yourself, and I know you can.” (25:43)

8. Apology on Behalf of the Church & Affirmation of Value (26:15–29:35)

• She boldly offers love, affirmation, and a heartfelt apology on behalf of those wronged by others in or out of the church:

  “If other people have treated you otherwise, I am so sorry. Actually, I am sorry on their behalf. Like, if you’ve never received an I'm sorry from those people... I am so sorry. And you. You deserve that. I'm sorry. And you didn't deserve to be treated that way.” (26:33)

• Reiterates the unshakeable worth and love each person has in Christ:

  “I would bet my life on it that you are loved so deeply by Jesus.” (27:10)

9. Scriptural Anchors & Prayer for Listeners (31:04–35:27)

• Anchors her encouragement in 1 John 4:19 (“We love because He first loved us”) and Jeremiah 29:11.
• Prays over listeners for supernatural encounter, restoration, and confidence:

  “Jesus, I pray for my friend on the other end of this podcast...I actually pray for a supernatural encounter with your Holy Spirit right now.” (31:20)

• Emphasizes forgiveness, identity, and hope in Christ.

10. Practical Encouragement for New Believers (35:27–39:54)

• Advises seeking Jesus with childlike curiosity and without pressure of instant transformation:

  “Go into this like a child and just be curious... Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all else will follow.” (36:41)

• Encourages finding community, plugging into a local church, and seeking godly friendships as essential to growth:

  “There is something so powerful of watching people demonstrate what it actually means to walk with Jesus...Iron sharpening iron.” (39:54)

11. Final Challenge and Benediction (43:00–43:04)

• Ally offers a final challenge:

  “Can we show somebody how cool Jesus is? Can we walk more like Jesus, talk more like Him? Be more like Christ today?” (43:00)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Following vs. Believing:
  “The difference is that I follow Him, and I say, God, what do you want from my life? And then I say, yes... because you love that plan.” (13:49)

• On Sharing the Gospel:
  “There's actually nothing more rewarding than sharing the truth. And the truth has a capital T, but it also starts with a J. And it's Jesus.” (11:42)

• On Encountering God:
  “If you open your heart to Him fully, fully, you will encounter His love. You will encounter His spirit. You will.” (24:30)

• On Grace:
  “Thank you that we are not too damaged for you. Thank you Lord that you love us even in the messes we’ve created for ourselves.” (34:59)

Important Timestamps

• [01:31] Episode begins—Ally welcomes listeners and sets the tone.
• [03:51] Christmas, tradition, and keeping focus on Jesus.
• [06:14] Spontaneous worship—“He saved me.”
• [11:42] On sharing the gospel—joy of testimony.
• [13:49] Distinction between believing in and following Jesus.
• [16:33] The purpose of our past pain in testifying and compassion.
• [20:07] On encountering the Holy Spirit; difference between head-knowledge and relationship.
• [25:43] The indescribable, experiential love of God.
• [26:33] Apology for past hurts inflicted by the church/people.
• [31:04] Citing scripture, 1 John 4:19; prayer for the audience.
• [35:27] Advice for spiritual curiosity; seeking with childlike openness.
• [39:54] Importance of Christian community.
• [43:00] Charge to model Jesus; closing blessings.

Tone and Style

• Deeply personal, honest, and conversational
• Self-aware humor and gentle self-deprecation
• Encouraging, compassionate, and faith-filled
• Free-flowing with relatable tangents, worship, and practical advice

Final Thoughts

This episode is a warm, honest invitation to move beyond intellectual assent and into transformative relationship with Jesus. Ally’s approach is both challenging and deeply comforting, offering hope through personal testimony, grounded scriptural insight, and specific encouragements for next steps. For anyone wrestling with their faith, doubting their worth, or simply curious about Christ, this episode offers both a safe space and a galvanizing charge.