Podcast
Reaching For Real Life with Sean Azzaro
Hosted by Sean Azzaro · EN
Candid conversations about how faith impacts real life, beyond the church life, beyond the faith talk and into real authentic faith.
27episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
River City Believer's Academy's Jenn Conant
4d ago00:26:43Tap to summarizeWith school starting soon, Sean shares that Jennifer Conant has been promoted from assistant principal to head of schools at River City Believers Academy after 13 years on staff, and interviews her about her journey from stay-at-home mom to teacher and administrator, her love for students and families, and the school’s mission to disciple students as passionate followers of Jesus while maintaining strong academics.Conant highlights benefits like a family culture, small class sizes, and a safe environment, shares how to learn more at rcbaonline.com or 210-656-2999, requests prayer for building expansion, staff refreshment, and wisdom.00:00 Fathers Day Catch Up01:14 Jerky Stick Tradition02:04 School Leadership Update03:24 Meet Jennifer Conant03:57 Her RCBA Journey05:55 Called to Lead08:43 Strengths and Relationships11:20 School and Church Mission13:02 Faith Over Achievement13:32 Leading Through Highs Lows14:07 God Provides Stewardship15:18 Humility Builds Trust16:40 Why Private School Matters17:03 Family Culture Love18:46 Small Classes Safe Growth20:45 How to Learn More21:56 Prayer Needs Expansion24:01 Closing Reflections Signoff
Transcribe →Gratitude And Prayer For America's 250th Anniversary
2w ago00:26:58Tap to summarizePastor Sean Azzaro and Baron Wiley discuss Sean’s upcoming sabbatical, the difficulty of truly unplugging from work and leadership, and urge church boards and elders to understand the unique demands of pastoral ministry. The conversation shifts to hope for America as the nation approaches its 250th anniversary, encouraging gratitude, travel and history study, and distinguishing patriotism from “Christian nationalism.” Sean recommends Tom Holland’s book “Dominion” and closes with a prayer for America, repentance, generosity, and revival.00:00 Sabbatical Banter01:16 Unplugging From Work03:14 Why Pastors Need Rest04:45 Boards Elders And Support06:58 Sharing The Pulpit07:28 God Is Series Preview08:45 Hope For America10:24 Travel And Gratitude12:30 Media Myths And Visitors15:13 Land Acknowledgements Debate18:54 Christian Nationalism Clarified20:33 Christian Roots Of The West24:40 Give Thanks This July25:11 Closing Prayer For America
Transcribe →Faith, Politics, and Discernment: Responding To James Talarico
3w ago00:26:25Tap to summarizeThe Texas primaries are complete and now we look to November where the big race is with Ken Paxton vs. James Talarico. Sean speaks to Talarico’s public statements about Christianity, “Christian nationalism,” gender (including a clip where Talarico claims God is non-binary), and abortion (including his argument about Mary’s consent). Sean argues these are distortions of scripture and warns believers about deception and a “different gospel,” while emphasizing love for people, compassion for women facing unwanted pregnancies, and participation in elections without bitterness. 00:00 Welcome and Camp Plans01:10 Spurs Game and City Culture03:57 Election Matchup Preview04:51 Talarico Claims and Straw Men09:44 Trans Ideology and Kids11:20 God Is Nonbinary Clip15:07 Abortion Consent Argument19:43 Pastors Politics and False Teachers22:19 How Believers Should Respond23:08 God Is Series and Closing
Transcribe →Dr. Les Hollon - Love As Holiness
4w ago00:26:33Tap to summarizeLove as Holiness: Dr. Les Holland on Reconciliation, Pastoral Leadership, and COVID-Era MinistryPastor Sean Azzaro talks with Dr. Les Hollan, longtime pastor of Trinity Baptist Church and author of Love as Holiness: Dare to Live It, joined by his wife, Vicky. Holland reflects on following Buckner Fanning, building “love bridges” after a difficult church transition, and his emphasis on reconciliation, listening, and early-morning meditation. He explains the book’s origin in his PhD work and frames love as the way of experiencing God’s holiness, offering leadership lessons such as loving God first, casting clear vision while building consensus, and being willing to say “I don’t know.” Holland discusses leading through COVID, boundaries after retirement, and Vicky highlights the story-driven nature of the book. 00:00 Show Kickoff Banter01:03 Introducing Dr Les Hollan01:50 Call to Trinity Baptist03:33 Leading After a Predecessor04:34 Reconciliation Artist Story06:31 Love as Holiness Book07:32 Pastoral Pressure and Practices11:36 Leadership Lessons for Pastors13:53 Revelation And Humility15:12 Leading Through COVID16:27 Crisis Ministry Breakthrough17:40 Advice To Younger Self19:46 Retirement And Community22:46 Boundaries With Successor24:08 Vicky On The Book25:10 Wrap Up And Next Series
Transcribe →Youth Camp & VBS: Making Church a Non-Negotiable Priority
May 2700:21:06Tap to summarizeSean Azzaro speaks to the value of Vacation Bible School and River City Community Church’s summer camps (2nd–12th grade), emphasizing discipleship through concentrated relationships, worship, and community. Sean urges parents to organize family life around the things of God, not treating church as negotiable or replaced by sports, activities, or Christian school, and to help kids sustain “camp high” by connecting to youth group. He shares scholarship opportunities via youth pastor Clay Burkholder (cburkholder@reallife.org) and announces camp June 8–12 at Camp Buckner and VBS July 13–17, with details at reallife.org.00:00 Welcome and YaYa Week00:43 Outnumbered Parenting01:14 Why Camp Memories Matter01:57 Daily Devotions and Activities04:29 Church Camps and VBS Options05:34 Why Youth Camp Works06:34 Choosing Faith First09:30 Parents Lead the Way16:27 Camp High to Lifelong Habits18:56 Scholarships Dates and Wrap Up
Transcribe →True Revival vs. Patriotism: Keeping Jesus at the Center
May 1900:27:14Tap to summarizeOn Reaching for Real Life, Sean and Baron discuss grandparenting plans before turning to recent faith-centered patriotic events in Washington, DC around the upcoming 250th anniversary of the Declaration, including prayers led by Speaker Mike Johnson. Sean expresses caution about labeling such gatherings “revival,” emphasizing that true revival is “just Jesus,” marked by repentance, transformed lives, and changed communities, and warning against conflating Christian faith with Americanism or political bandwagons. 00:00 Granddaughter Intro00:33 Pops Camp Plans01:26 Last Week's Feedback02:21 Faith Events In May04:22 Revival Or Patriotism06:52 What Revival Looks Like08:29 Politics And Christian Witness12:35 Discernment and Follow-Up14:14 Gen Z Returns To Church15:30 Young Men Push Back17:33 Science And Secularism19:48 Jubilee And 250 Years20:28 Kingdom Of God First21:51 Revival Under Persecution24:31 Pastors Focus On Discipleship26:11 Church Invite And Wrap Up
Transcribe →Faith and Legacy: From Parent To Grandparent
May 1200:26:51Tap to summarizeSean Azzaro and Baron Wiley recap River City Community Church’s Mother’s Day service honoring moms, and the golf tournament fundraiser for Real Life Community Outreach.The conversation turns to the importance of fathers and grandfathers investing in boys, Sean’s memories of his grandfathers, and the intentional “YaYa Pops Camp” week of activities, devotions, and scripture memorization for all six grandkids.Sean cites Deuteronomy 4:9 on teaching future generations, emphasizing grandparents as storytellers and prayer warriors who respect parents’ authority while modeling a God-honoring family legacy.00:00 Show Kickoff Banter00:42 Mother's Day Reflections01:27 Honoring Mom Stories02:44 Golf Tourney Recap03:32 Moses Steals The Show05:32 Why Boys Need Men07:19 Knowing The Grandparents08:22 Lessons From Grandpa Pope09:22 Generational Role Shifts11:09 Great Grandparents Memories11:46 Grandparent Joy12:15 Yaya Pops Camp13:26 Camp Traditions15:51 Legacy and Stories19:55 Grandparent Boundaries22:53 Blessing with Resources24:27 Better Grandparents26:04 Church Invitation26:33 Podcast Farewell
Transcribe →Boldness Vs "Use Words If Necessary"
May 500:25:24Tap to summarizeSean Azzaro and Barron Wiley discuss how Christians can engage entertainment like Star Wars and Harry Potter with discernment, using it as an opportunity to help kids think biblically and critically rather than avoiding everything outright. They explore what it means to “share your faith, use words if necessary,” emphasizing that lifestyle matters but the New Testament also calls believers to speak about Jesus. The conversation compares different approaches to evangelism—from street-corner preaching to relational, everyday conversations—and highlights witnessing as simply telling what you’ve seen God do. Sean shares examples of praying for others, his son Ryan leading someone to Christ through casual invitations, and the need for churches and believers to rely on the Holy Spirit’s power (Acts 1:8) and not fear or shame. 00:00 Welcome and Banter00:45 Star Wars and The Force03:25 Harry Potter Discernment06:54 Talk Faith Naturally08:37 Street Preaching Debate11:23 Everyday Evangelism Stories13:19 Great Commission As You Go19:27 Church Culture Shift22:26 Spirit Empowered Witness24:08 Mothers Day and Church Info25:09 Closing Thanks
Transcribe →Going All In For Jesus
Apr 2900:22:52Tap to summarizeAfter the nod to moms for the coming Mother’s Day, and the dark tone of modern political rhetoric and the urging of prayer, the conversation turns to a growing spiritual hunger, noting public figures speaking about needing Jesus, and focuses on what it means to go “all in” as a disciple—an apprentice who follows Jesus in obedience, not merely through church attendance or good works. Sean shares how he left a promising polo career after a difficult internal struggle and found peace by obeying God. Say yes to Jesus and take steps of faith.00:00 Welcome and Banter00:40 Mother's Day Plans02:46 NFL Draft Talk03:48 Assassination Plot and Rhetoric06:48 Spiritual Hunger and Revival08:08 Going All In as a Disciple10:45 Following Jesus in Obedience14:23 Lukewarm Faith Warning16:44 Sean's Polo Testimony20:17 Church Updates and Service Times21:02 Say Yes and Closing Prayer
Transcribe →A Win For Christian Counselors From The Supreme Court
Apr 2100:24:54Tap to summarizeLiving the Dream, Free Speech & Counseling: Sean and Baron discuss River City Community Church’s sermon series “Living the Dream” on Joseph, redefining it as being on God’s path toward His vision despite hardship. The conversation shifts to a Supreme Court decision (8–1) sending a challenge to Colorado’s ban on “conversion therapy” back to lower courts, framing it as a First Amendment free-speech win for licensed talk therapy and biblical convictions. Sean contrasts clinical counseling with the church’s “biblical guidance,” explains Christian identity as rooted in God’s creation, and offers advice for discussing sexuality with compassion, emphasizing sin’s destructiveness and the gospel of Jesus as hope.00:00 Show Intro Banter00:31 Living the Dream Series01:31 Church Times and Events01:57 Spurs Talk and Wemby03:38 Trump at Press Dinner04:59 SCOTUS Conversion Therapy Case06:26 Free Speech vs Responsibility10:53 Biblical Guidance vs Counseling11:36 Discipleship Beats Addiction12:32 Identity Rooted in Christ12:57 Spiritual Battle Over Authority15:13 Truth in Love Conversations16:35 Supreme Court Therapy Ruling18:10 Counseling College Culture21:06 Sin, Freedom, and the Cross22:24 Late Night Banter and Rest24:07 Church Invite and Wrap Up
Transcribe →