Podcast
Hey! It's The Luskos
Hosted by AccessMore · EN
Sit down with pastors and authors Levi and Jennie Lusko for an unfiltered look at the madness of the Lusko’s life, marriage, ministry, faith, grief, and growth that goes on behind the scenes. (It may or may not include: product reviews, coffee recommendations, Disney hacks and all the things that make life wonderful)
Hosted by Pastors of Fresh Life Church, and authors of best selling book Through The Eyes of a Lion, I Declare War, Swipe Right and The Fight to Flourish.
32episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Ep 243: Graham Furtick: How Do You Know When to Let Go?
Yesterday00:50:49Tap to summarizeHe's the son of pastor Stephen Furtick, but Graham built something all his own — a Sunday-night Bible study with four friends that grew into "the living room," a movement so big the cops got called on it. Fresh off graduation, Graham joins Levi and Jennie to talk about walking away from a wrestling scholarship, the "pocket praiser" principle that changed how he worships, and bombing his very first sermon. Connect with us on social! Graham: @graham.furtick Levi: @levilusko Jennie: @jennielusko Fresh Life Church: @freshlife [Links] Apply to Fresh Life Leadership College Today: https://Freshlife.church/leadership-college 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: 00:00 - Welcome Graham Furtick 00:48 – Why the Glacier hike nearly broke him (and what kept him climbing) 05:19 – How a fizzling middle school Bible study became "the living room" 11:06 – The night 110 teenagers nearly broke through Graham's ceiling 17:35 – Walking away from a wrestling scholarship for an answered prayer 32:05 – The "pocket praiser" lesson that changed how he leads worship 41:28 – His first sermon was a disaster — here's how he found his voice
Transcribe →Ep 242: Cliffe + Stuart Knechtle: What to Say When Faith Gets Hard Questions
1w ago01:09:36Tap to summarizeFrom 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 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: 00:00:00 – 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
Transcribe →Ep 241: Shawn + Jill Johnson: How Do You Keep Marriage Fresh?
2w ago00:55:29Tap to summarizePastor 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 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: 00:00:00– 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
Transcribe →Ep 240: Jennie Lusko: Fresh Mercies Every Day
3w ago00:53:53Tap to summarizeJennie 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 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: 00:02:27 – 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)
Transcribe →Ep 239: Tasha Calvert: Stop trying harder, start surrendering
4w ago00:50:32Tap to summarizeWomen'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 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 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
Transcribe →Ep 238: Debra Fileta: The Skill Many Christians Are Missing
May 2000:59:40Tap to summarizeLicensed 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 Get the Lusketeer Sticker: https://bit.ly/sdl4sHY Subscribe for more exclusive content: https://levilusko.com/hitl-subscribe 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
Transcribe →Ep 237: Zach Windahl: For the Believer Who Still Feels Lost
May 1300:59:31Tap to summarizeZach 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: 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: 00:13:57 – 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
Transcribe →Ep 236: Courtney Pray Duke: when grief is real but so is God
May 601:06:14Tap to summarizeCourtney 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 Get the Lusketeer Sticker: https://levilusko.com/hitl-subscribe 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
Transcribe →Ep 235: Abbie + Gabriel Gamboa: when God says "go"
Mar 2501:11:32Tap to summarizeAbbie 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
Transcribe →Ep 234: Jimmy Darts: Undercover Kindness & Viral Generosity
Mar 1801:07:22Tap to summarizeJimmy 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
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