Forge Podcast: Conversations for the Journey

In this episode, Joe and Steve unpack the heart of spiritual freedom: understanding who you are in Christ and learning how to fight with truth. They talk about shame, pride, passivity, and the subtle ways the enemy steals identity from believers who should be walking in authority.
We talk about obedience as a lifestyle, not an event. Steve shares the story of leaving a successful career to step into full-time ministry, the fear that came with it, and the night he sensed God clearly calling him back to Scottsdale for a greater purpose. The conversation moves from theology to practice—bold prayer, spiritual gifts, fighting from victory, and what it looks like to actually “set captives free.”
Freedom isn’t a weekend experience. It’s a Spirit-led sanctification process. If you’ve been living anonymously, passively, or quietly bound, this conversation is an invitation to step into your authority in Christ.

In this episode, Joe and Steve unpack the heart of spiritual freedom: understanding who you are in Christ and learning how to fight with truth. They talk about shame, pride, passivity, and the subtle ways the enemy steals identity from believers who should be walking in authority.
We talk about obedience as a lifestyle, not an event. Steve shares the story of leaving a successful career to step into full-time ministry, the fear that came with it, and the night he sensed God clearly calling him back to Scottsdale for a greater purpose. The conversation moves from theology to practice—bold prayer, spiritual gifts, fighting from victory, and what it looks like to actually “set captives free.”
Freedom isn’t a weekend experience. It’s a Spirit-led sanctification process. If you’ve been living anonymously, passively, or quietly bound, this conversation is an invitation to step into your authority in Christ.

What if the breakthrough you’re praying for requires patience—and maybe even suffering?
In Part 2 of this conversation, Joe and Ben dive into the power of planting seeds and playing the long game in faith. Ben reflects on how a simple, unintentional comment about Bible study became a seed in his own life—and how that awareness now shapes the way he talks about Christ with others.
We talk about patience, God’s timing, and the difference between forcing faith and faithfully loving people. Ben also shares the transformational experience of training for and completing the New York City Marathon—using physical suffering as a way to test perseverance, deepen trust in God, and prove to himself that he no longer quits when things get hard.
Faith isn’t just belief—it’s endurance. If you’ve been tempted to give up, remember: growth takes time, seeds take patience, and sometimes the fire is what shapes you most.

What if the breakthrough you’re praying for requires patience—and maybe even suffering?
In Part 2 of this conversation, Joe and Ben dive into the power of planting seeds and playing the long game in faith. Ben reflects on how a simple, unintentional comment about Bible study became a seed in his own life—and how that awareness now shapes the way he talks about Christ with others.
We talk about patience, God’s timing, and the difference between forcing faith and faithfully loving people. Ben also shares the transformational experience of training for and completing the New York City Marathon—using physical suffering as a way to test perseverance, deepen trust in God, and prove to himself that he no longer quits when things get hard.
Faith isn’t just belief—it’s endurance. If you’ve been tempted to give up, remember: growth takes time, seeds take patience, and sometimes the fire is what shapes you most.

What happens when the life you’re chasing keeps collapsing underneath you?
In this episode, Joe sits down with Ben to talk about loss, running, and the slow realization that success, travel, and reinvention can’t fill the ache of a drifting soul. After the sudden death of his father, Ben found himself searching for purpose—through college life, Europe, San Diego, and constant motion—only to discover he was still empty.
We talk about grief, the “treadmill” analogy of life without Christ, spiritual curiosity, and the night Ben drove to Walmart at 9 p.m. to buy his first Bible. We explore how a simple invitation to Forge became the turning point where curiosity became commitment and faith became personal.
You can run for a long time. But eventually, you have to decide what your life is built on. If you’ve been searching, drifting, or starting over again and again, there is a Rock that doesn’t move.

What happens when the life you’re chasing keeps collapsing underneath you?
In this episode, Joe sits down with Ben to talk about loss, running, and the slow realization that success, travel, and reinvention can’t fill the ache of a drifting soul. After the sudden death of his father, Ben found himself searching for purpose—through college life, Europe, San Diego, and constant motion—only to discover he was still empty.
We talk about grief, the “treadmill” analogy of life without Christ, spiritual curiosity, and the night Ben drove to Walmart at 9 p.m. to buy his first Bible. We explore how a simple invitation to Forge became the turning point where curiosity became commitment and faith became personal.
You can run for a long time. But eventually, you have to decide what your life is built on. If you’ve been searching, drifting, or starting over again and again, there is a Rock that doesn’t move.

Is something stirring in this generation that we haven’t seen in a long time?
In Part 2 of this conversation, Joe and Hudson turn their attention outward—to what’s happening among students across the Valley and beyond. From packed campus gatherings to students inviting friends to church, Hudson shares what he believes is a genuine movement of the Holy Spirit among teenagers who don’t come from Christian homes but are hungry for truth.
We talk about the tension of following Christ in a secular public school, the daily pressures of speech and influence, and the quiet courage it takes to live differently. Joe challenges Hudson to explore spiritual gifts, listen deeply to others, and consider how God uniquely designed him for kingdom impact.
Revival starts with surrender. If you’re young and wondering whether faith is real, lean in. If you’re older and watching this generation, pray boldly. God is still moving—and He’s not done writing stories.

Is something stirring in this generation that we haven’t seen in a long time?
In Part 2 of this conversation, Joe and Hudson turn their attention outward—to what’s happening among students across the Valley and beyond. From packed campus gatherings to students inviting friends to church, Hudson shares what he believes is a genuine movement of the Holy Spirit among teenagers who don’t come from Christian homes but are hungry for truth.
We talk about the tension of following Christ in a secular public school, the daily pressures of speech and influence, and the quiet courage it takes to live differently. Joe challenges Hudson to explore spiritual gifts, listen deeply to others, and consider how God uniquely designed him for kingdom impact.
Revival starts with surrender. If you’re young and wondering whether faith is real, lean in. If you’re older and watching this generation, pray boldly. God is still moving—and He’s not done writing stories.

Have you ever wondered what your story could unlock in someone else’s life—if you actually shared it?
In this conversation, Joe sits down with Hudson after a providential meeting and invites him to tell the honest version of his faith journey: growing up Catholic, drifting after his parents split, and wrestling with what it means to say you believe something—but not feel settled in your heart.
We talk about conviction, the difference between “head knowledge” and heart surrender, and the reality of a “camp high” that fades unless it’s carried home. Hudson reflects on the impact of siblings, a cousin, youth group, and a gym Bible study—and how community and accountability helped move his faith from momentary emotion to genuine assurance.
God doesn’t waste seeds. If you’ve been drifting, doubting, or trying to carry faith alone, there’s grace for you. Plant the seed, trust the Lord with the growth, and step back into the Word and into community.

Have you ever wondered what your story could unlock in someone else’s life—if you actually shared it?
In this conversation, Joe sits down with Hudson after a providential meeting and invites him to tell the honest version of his faith journey: growing up Catholic, drifting after his parents split, and wrestling with what it means to say you believe something—but not feel settled in your heart.
We talk about conviction, the difference between “head knowledge” and heart surrender, and the reality of a “camp high” that fades unless it’s carried home. Hudson reflects on the impact of siblings, a cousin, youth group, and a gym Bible study—and how community and accountability helped move his faith from momentary emotion to genuine assurance.
God doesn’t waste seeds. If you’ve been drifting, doubting, or trying to carry faith alone, there’s grace for you. Plant the seed, trust the Lord with the growth, and step back into the Word and into community.