Jesus People Podcast – Episode 29: Neeza Powers | 50 Days After Meeting Jesus: A Raw Conversation

Release Date: August 4, 2025
Host: Ryan Miller
Guest: Neeza Powers

Episode Overview

In this milestone episode, host Ryan Miller sits down with Neeza Powers to unpack the remarkable story of Neeza’s first 50 days as a Christian. Known for his viral social media presence documenting his faith journey after detransitioning, Neeza shares with raw honesty about encountering Jesus, wrestling with identity, experiencing spiritual transformation, and the powerful reality of starting fresh. The conversation touches on vulnerability, dreams and visions, grace, Christian community, and the ongoing process of learning what it means to follow Jesus.

Key Themes & Discussion Points

1. The Wonder of New Faith & Vulnerability

• Ryan’s Draw to Neeza’s Journey ([01:02]): Ryan expresses how watching Neeza online rekindled his own sense of spiritual wonder—"I’ve longed for wonder again...seeing it through the eyes of a new believer."
• Neeza’s Response: Shares how he didn’t realize the vulnerability in seeking out faith, especially as the first in his family to do so:

  "I didn’t realize how vulnerable it is to seek out faith because I’ve never done it before...I still don’t see it as something that should be shameful." (04:35)

• On Testimony and Identity: Neeza voices concern about always being "that one dude that used to pretend to be somebody else," wondering if our worst mistakes always follow us. Ryan reframes this, emphasizing that in Christ, our story is a part of us but not our definition (04:35).

2. The Spiritual Significance of 50 Days: Jubilee ([05:14]–[08:33])

• Jubilee Explained: Ryan highlights that Neeza’s 50th day as a believer is spiritually significant—the biblical year of Jubilee is a time when all debts are canceled and slates wiped clean.

  “All debts canceled. All slaves would be made free. Like, new slate, completely start over. This is prophetic for you right now...” (05:48)

• Neeza’s Emotional Response:

  “I woke up today feeling really confident that, hey, I am a Christian now and forever...maybe this 50th thing is real.” (07:05)

• Ryan Encourages Living in Spiritual Freedom:

  "If Christians believed that, man, we would live a lot differently." (08:28)

3. Neeza’s Story: From Identity Crisis to Christ ([10:11]–[15:38])

• Growing Up & Bullying: Neeza recounts a childhood centered around dance; bullied for not fitting gender norms, leading to identity confusion.
• Therapy and the Seeds of Transition: External voices began suggesting he was "trapped in the wrong body" due to his interests and behaviors.
• Isolation and Suicidal Ideation:

  "Being a kid with suicidal thoughts at 14 or 15 because everybody hates you just because you do the thing you love...it really sucks." (11:11)

• Entering the Wilderness: Moves to Vermont, seeks solace in nature, and begins experiencing visions and dreams of Jesus despite no Christian background.

  "Why am I getting images of Jesus Christ, like, in dreams and visions? What the heck is this?" (14:36)

4. Dreams, Encounters, and the Lost Sheep ([15:43]–[21:43])

• Ryan Explains Spiritual Encounters: Notes that dreams and visions are common throughout the world as ways Jesus reaches seekers.
• The Lost Sheep Parable: Ryan shares how God pursues the "one," emphasizing that Jesus seeks people in unexpected ways.
• Memorable Analogy:

  "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them...the Father's heart of [prostekomai]: he intimately welcomes sinners." (21:00)

• Breaking Down Religious Barriers: Ryan and Neeza discuss how the radical welcome of God differs from religious gatekeeping.

5. Evangelism, Authenticity, and Identity ([24:35]–[32:33])

• Called to Share:

  "I don’t think what I’m doing is evangelizing because I don’t know the gospel that well...I just am filled with a type of love that I’ve never been filled with." (26:14)

• Ryan’s Response:

  "He uses a man who detransitioned 50 days ago to be an evangelist to millions...what you are doing is evangelizing and discipling." (25:12)

• On Skepticism and How to Share with Others: Neeza explains how for those struggling with identity, the gospel must be practical and deeply personal.

  "I wouldn’t start with, 'You were made perfect in God’s image.' ...what's in it for me? ...Would you give up something for ultimate joy, ultimate happiness?" (28:14)

6. Handling Setbacks and the Power of Grace ([49:58]–[56:41])

• Confession and Healing: Ryan explains the difference between forgiveness from God and healing through confession to others.
• Neeza’s Relapse Moment ([51:10]): Neeza candidly describes a recent struggle, taking an estrogen pill and presenting as Nicole, tempted by messages from "wolves in sheep's clothing":

  "I took that estrogen pill. I was like, okay, I’m done. I’m laying it all down...I didn’t think about you at all [Lord]...He’s like, do you want to feel something or do you want to go and live numb?" (53:10)

• Ryan on Grace:

  "You can’t outrun his grace." (57:30)

• **Discussion: Failure isn’t the end, and God’s mercy always welcomes you back.

7. The Kingdom, Obedience, and Living “From” Victory ([59:40]–[72:19])

• Ryan Encourages Celebration and Worship:

  “The best way to fight your sin is to celebrate that Jesus conquered it.” (68:12)

• On Obedience:

  “Obedience is God's love language...It’s not about material things. It’s encountering his presence and doing the right things.” (71:27)

• The Joy of Following Jesus:

  “It becomes really fun to follow the voice of the Holy Spirit.” (72:19)

8. New Relationships, Healing, and Hope ([72:46]–[77:01])

• Neeza on Love and Vulnerability: Shares new relationship, feeling real love and emotional connection for the first time after shedding his former identity:

  “I, I felt the urge to be like, 'Hey, you want to go have dinner?' ...I was able to give the real thing and someone’s like, 'Oh, yeah, you’re actually kind of cool.' Like, I like him. It’s really neat.” (75:23)

• On Being Known:

  “Jesus says the same thing to you. I don’t know Nicole.” (76:41)

• On Family: Continuing to “plant seeds” with his dad and understanding that transformation is a journey, not an event.

Notable Quotes & Moments (With Timestamps)

• On Wonder: "I've longed for wonder again...when you first meet Jesus and you're exploring how to pray..." – Ryan ([01:02])
• On Testimony: "Is there a bridge you cross and eventually you're just looked at as another believer?" – Neeza ([02:40])
• On Being a New Creation: "Your identity is not your story. Those things inform your identity." – Ryan ([03:26])
• On the Year of Jubilee: "All debts canceled. All slaves would be made free...new slate, completely start over." – Ryan ([05:48])
• Encountering Jesus: "Why am I getting images of Jesus Christ, like, in dreams and visions? What the heck is this?" – Neeza ([14:36])
• Welcomed by God: "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." – Ryan ([21:00])
• On Social Media Evangelism: "I don’t really know what I’m doing. I just am filled with a type of love that I’ve never been filled with." – Neeza ([26:14])
• On Giving Up Nicole: "The one thing I held on to the most was that identity of Nicole...and I’ll tell you, I have some ultimate joy and ultimate happiness now." – Neeza ([28:14])
• On Repentance and Grace: "You can’t outrun his grace." – Ryan ([57:30])
• On Worship: "The best way to fight your sin is to celebrate that Jesus conquered it." – Ryan ([68:12])
• On New Love: "I was able to give the real thing and someone’s like, 'Oh, yeah, you’re actually kind of cool.' ...It’s really neat." – Neeza ([75:23])

Episode Flow & Key Segments

| Timestamp | Topic | |-------------|-------------------------------------------------------| | 00:17–01:02 | Welcoming Neeza, social media context | | 01:02–04:35 | The wonder of new faith and vulnerability | | 05:14–08:33 | The significance of 50 days, Year of Jubilee | | 10:11–15:38 | Neeza’s story: childhood, bullying, identity | | 15:43–21:43 | Spiritual encounters, dreams, lost sheep parable | | 24:35–32:33 | Evangelism, authenticity, and Neeza’s online calling | | 49:58–56:41 | Setbacks, relapse, and the power of confession & grace| | 59:40–72:19 | The Kingdom, obedience, worship, victory in Christ | | 72:46–77:01 | New relationship, being known, ongoing transformation | | 77:37–80:03 | Social media, family response, looking ahead |

Final Thoughts & Takeaways

• Radical Welcome: Neeza’s journey illustrates the radical, unconditional welcome at the heart of the gospel—a message desperately needed in a world fixated on past mistakes and labels.
• Raw Documentation: His transparency invites others to seek faith honestly, with their questions and uncertainties.
• Transformation and Process: The episode reiterates that spiritual transformation is ongoing, full of setbacks, restoration, and deeper revelations of grace.
• An Invitation: Both host and guest emphasize wonder, celebration, and obedience—not religious performance—as vital to the journey of following Jesus.

Follow Neeza Powers:

• TikTok: @DreamRoulette
• Instagram & YouTube: @NeezaPowers

For anyone seeking honest, inspiring stories of faith, this episode is a roadmap to hope, healing, and the joy of a life made new.