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.
28episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Ep 239: Tasha Calvert: Stop trying harder, start surrendering
1w 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
2w ago00:59:40Tap 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
3w ago00:59:31Tap 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
4w ago01:06:14Tap 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
Transcribe →Ep 233: Triumph and Sadness: Levi + Jennie Lusko
Mar 1100:44:15Tap to summarizeThis 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 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
Transcribe →Ep 232: Preston Sprinkle: The Verses Everyone Argues About
Mar 401:08:01Tap to summarizePreston 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 Get the Lusketeer Sticker: https://bit.ly/sdl4sHY Subscribe for more exclusive content: https://levilusko.com/hitl-subscribe 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)
Transcribe →Ep 231: Tim Tebow: If The Tree Could Speak
Feb 2500:54:19Tap to summarizeTim Tebow is back—and this time he’s bringing full-on dad energy. Tim shares the surreal (and hilarious) realities of becoming a father to Daphne Raine, from driving home like a hyper-cautious grandpa to realizing how instantly responsibility rewires your whole brain. Along the way, Levi and Jennie soak up Tim’s reflections on what fatherhood has already taught him about God’s voice in chaos, and how love turns into action. Then the conversation turns tender and powerful as Tim opens up about his new book If the Tree Could Speak—a poetic, perspective-shifting retelling of the gospel through the life of the tree that became the cross. From Easter tenderness to the brutal honesty of Calvary, this episode is a reminder that the cross changes everything—and that our calling is to live like we actually believe it. Connect with us on social! Tim: @timtebow Levi: @levilusko Jennie: @jennielusko Fresh Life Church: @freshlife [Links] If the Tree Could Speak Book: https://bit.ly/4rqk0fE Look Again Book: https://bit.ly/4aYrDEh 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 0:00:18 – Ketones, cold plunges, and dad-life banter 0:01:23 – Bringing Daphne home: joy, fear, and responsibility 0:06:05 – “Splash radius” and worship in the delivery room 0:20:45 – If the Tree Could Speak: the cross through the tree’s eyes 0:40:13 – Grief with hope: “he’s not lost—he’s found” 0:43:12 – “Look Again”: seeing people as infinitely valuable MVPs
Transcribe →Ep 230: Ed Newton: Why Not You?
Feb 1800:59:24Tap to summarizePastor Ed Newton joins Levi and Jennie for a conversation that’s equal parts hilarious, holy, and deeply healing. From mutual half-Filipino spouses (and the great “Tagalog” debate) to the way Ed grew up as the primary interpreter for his deaf parents, this episode is packed with stories that will make you laugh—and then suddenly swallow a lump in your throat. Ed opens up about the hidden “not enough” loop that can follow even the most fruitful ministry, the moment (December 26, 2023) he didn’t want to live anymore, and how God met him in the rebuild through counseling and recovery. Along the way, you’ll hear the powerful origin story behind his book Why Not You? Believing What God Believes About You—and why your worst “kryptonite” might just become the very place God writes your greatest strength. Connect with us on social! Ed: @pastorednewton Levi: @levilusko Jennie: @jennielusko Fresh Life Church: @freshlife [Links] Read Why Not You?: https://bit.ly/49UZBI8 Connect with Pastor Ed: https://bit.ly/4t49zQf 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 0:03:10 – College hoops, ministry dreams, and meeting Stephanie 0:05:32 – The interpreter who changed everything: Ed’s salvation story 0:08:04 – Growing up in a deaf home: the miracle backstory 0:17:44 – “God gave you to us”: the moment that reframed his life 0:33:42 – “We found you on YouTube”: the CBC call and the pivot 0:39:18 – December 26, 2023
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