The Bryce Crawford Podcast

EP 143: The Togi Interview

Date: October 20, 2025
Host: Bryce Crawford
Guest: Togi

Episode Overview

This episode is a raw, honest, and wide-ranging conversation between Bryce Crawford and guest Togi. The two discuss struggles with addiction, the challenges of faith, and foundational Christian beliefs. Togi candidly shares his journey, questions about God, and skepticism, while Bryce answers with biblical perspectives and personal testimony. The tone is authentic, accessible, and welcoming, aiming to demystify Christianity and invite honest exploration of faith.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Togi’s Current Life and Faith Struggles

• Togi describes a chaotic lifestyle: periods of sobriety, benders with drugs (cocaine, Xanax, meth) and gambling, followed by attempts to regain control ([05:05]).

• Sense of guilt and distance from God: He feels blessed but unworthy, sees God as “a strict dad,” and finds Christianity intimidating ([03:25]).

• Desire for openness: Togi appreciates the podcast’s willingness to discuss Jesus honestly—something he doesn’t experience elsewhere ([02:45]).

• Spiritual experiences at rock bottom: Togi recounts overdose and hospital visits, visions of demons, and a persistent sense that God is distant ([08:39]).

  "Sometimes it feels like almost like I'm the devil's favorite." – Togi ([08:39])

2. Honesty, Sin, and Relationship with God

• Honesty as the first step toward God: Bryce points to Jesus' words about purity of heart and openness ([07:01]).

• Repentance and relationship: It's not just about believing in God, but about opening up and having a real relationship ([07:56]).

• Common misconception addressed: The journey to God is not about instant perfection, but persistence and honesty with ongoing struggles ([26:35]).

  "If you can't be honest with yourself about the things that you're doing, good or bad, then how could you be honest with God?" – Bryce ([07:01])

3. Hypocrisy in Christianity and Judgemental Christians

• Togi’s frustration with other Christians: He sees hypocrisy among self-proclaimed Christians, which drives him away from faith ([12:01]).

• Faith vs. works: Bryce emphasizes that Christian faith is not about performing good deeds to earn heaven, but placing faith in Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross ([14:47]).

  "That's one of the reasons I resented Christianity for so long... A lot of Christians, and it really irritates me, act like they got the answers... but it looks like you got none of the answers." – Togi ([12:01])

4. Why “Good People” Suffer, and the Nature of Blessings

• Suffering is not always a result of sin; often those who follow Jesus suffer more, and “blessings” can actually be distractions from the devil ([19:21]).

• Life’s unfairness and God’s justice: Bryce honestly says he doesn’t know why some people suffer more, but stresses the importance of the soul over earthly rewards ([19:21]).

  "What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his soul?" – Bryce, paraphrasing Scripture ([19:21])

5. How Do You Get Into Heaven? The Role of Faith and Repentance

• Salvation is through faith in Jesus, not perfection: Trusting Jesus’ sacrifice is enough ([23:19]).

• Shouldn’t that mean I can just sin freely then?: Togi wonders why he shouldn't just keep sinning if forgiveness is guaranteed. Bryce counters, citing Hebrews 10: deliberate, repeated sin after knowing the truth indicates lack of true repentance ([24:19]).

• Repentance defined: A 180-degree turn from previous life; striving toward Christ, not making excuses ([25:42]).

  "Repentance means to literally turn the opposite direction from the life you were living." – Bryce ([25:57])

6. Identity, Creativity, and Following Jesus

• Fear of losing unique identity: Togi worries becoming a Christian will strip away his individuality and creative spark ([38:34]).

• Bryce reassures: God uses everyone’s unique gifts differently; you don’t have to become a pastor, you can glorify God by serving and loving others wherever you are ([39:37]).

  "God's not trying to strip you away from your creativity or wanting to make art or wanting to make people laugh." – Bryce ([43:37])

7. Progress, Not Perfection: Becoming Like Christ Is a Process

• Faith is like building a physique: Small daily steps, incremental progress, not instant transformation ([47:26]).

  "It's a physique that you're building... every day we're working more and more towards that goal." – Togi ([47:26])

• Importance of brokenness over pride: God values humility and openness over trying to look perfect ([48:46]).

8. Scripture, Doubt, and the Reliability of the Bible

• Why trust the Bible?: Bryce references historical and experiential evidence, and the lives of those martyred for their faith ([37:11]).
• Peace and transformation come from Scripture and faith experience, not just emotion ([37:03]).
• Togi’s struggles with reading the Bible: Difficulty understanding; Bryce recommends starting with the Book of John and asking the Holy Spirit for help ([71:42]).

9. Salvation for the "Unreached" or Morally Good but Non-Christian

• What about those who never hear of Jesus?: Bryce admits he doesn’t have all the answers, but insists God is just and will judge righteously, citing that creation itself points toward a Creator ([74:17], [76:23]).

  “We have to trust that the way God judges the earth and handles things is perfect... That’s the faith I’m having in the unknown.” – Bryce ([76:55])

10. Addiction, Generosity, and Sober-Mindedness

• Togi’s question: Can’t God use the good I do under the influence of drugs? ([62:51])

• Bryce’s answer: God can use all things, but wisdom, generosity, and sustaining virtue are strongest when we act from a sober, transformed heart ([64:40], [66:57]).

  "You can't use wisdom necessarily when you're high... the scriptures say God works all things together for the good for those who are in Christ Jesus." – Bryce ([64:40], [66:57])

11. Action Steps for Seekers

• Start small: Read the Book of John; try for 30 days like a workout. Ask for help understanding what’s read ([71:42]).
• Faith journey is incremental: You don’t have to declare instantly—you can “work towards it” with honest questioning and small steps ([81:01]).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On God’s expectations:

  "My goal as a believer is to do my best to repent, turn away from my sin, and follow Jesus... Every day I wake up, I have the choice to do what Bryce wants to do or do what God wants me to do. And I have to choose faithfully every day." – Bryce ([27:03])

• On Christianity and identity:

  "I don't want to be stripped of my creativity... It almost seems like my unique identity is stripped, and now I'm just a follower of Christ." – Togi ([38:34])
  "God has given you unique talents and gifts that I don't have. The difference is: Are you going to use those talents and gifts to glorify yourself or glorify God?" – Bryce ([39:37])

• On progress:

  "The idea that it's a physique that you're building... every day we're working more and more towards that goal... that makes me feel a thousand times more comfortable in this whole process." – Togi ([47:26])

• On brokenness:

  "The thing that God wants from us the most is brokenness, because he can work with brokenness... You can't work with someone that already thinks they're perfect." – Bryce ([48:46])

• On the challenge of surrender and risk:

  "I'm giving all of this up for that. How do you find peace before you get the peace? To take the first step?" – Togi ([53:14])

• On stewardship:

  "I want to be a good steward of what God has given me... Because when we choose not to honor God in everything that we do, we're basically just slapping God in the face." – Bryce ([44:37])

Key Timestamps for Reference

• Togi opens up on faith struggles and honesty: [03:25] – [05:05]
• The cycle of addiction and moments of sobriety: [05:05] – [06:54]
• Being honest with God and forging relationship: [07:48] – [08:39]
• Does believing in God make you any different than demons? [11:10] – [12:01]
• Judgmental Christians & hypocrisy: [12:01] – [13:31]
• Faith saves, not works & the cost of sin: [14:47] – [17:25]
• Why do good people suffer more? The danger of “blessings” as distractions: [19:21] – [22:43]
• What is the line—how many sins is too many? Are all sins forgiven? [22:43] – [25:42]
• Repentance and daily, incremental change: [25:42] – [29:48]
• The purpose of creativity & serving God where you are: [38:34] – [44:37]
• Practical progress in faith—like training at the gym: [47:26] – [48:46]
• How to start: The Book of John & daily Bible reading: [71:19] – [71:42]
• What about the ‘unreached’? Can good people get to heaven? [73:38] – [76:55]
• Togi’s closing impressions and next steps: [79:01] – [81:01]
• Prayer for Togi: [81:35] – [82:18]

Natural Flow and Overall Impact

The conversation moves seamlessly from Togi’s firsthand experiences of addiction and faith confusion to Bryce’s empathetic, scriptural guidance. The dialogue maintains a conversational, non-judgmental tone, making complex theological concepts relatable through personal analogies (working out, relationships, artistry).

Togi often interrupts with honest questions or self-doubt, and Bryce consistently responds with empathy and clarity, without dodging the hard questions. The atmosphere is supportive and intellectually open, giving permission to both skepticism and searching.

Conclusion

The episode is a meaningful starting point for anyone wrestling with faith, addiction, or the desire for a different life. Listeners are encouraged to start small, be honest in their questions, and understand that following Jesus is a lifelong process, not a leap to perfection. The practical advice—read the Book of John, take faith step-by-step, seek community, and focus on relationship, not religion—provides actionable next steps for anyone at the beginning of their journey.

Not sure where to start? Start where you are. Read the Book of John, ask your honest questions, and remember: faith is built one day at a time.