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AI is changing everything—how we learn, how we work, and yes, even how we worship. In this insightful conversation, Elliot sits down with pastor, theologian, and author Todd Korpi (AI Goes to Church, IVP) to talk about how the Church can lead wisely in the age of artificial intelligence. From ChatGPT sermons to robot relationships, from discipleship to digital ethics, Todd brings wisdom and humility to one of the most urgent conversations of our time.

What does it mean to be made in the image of God in an age of intelligent machines? Can AI ever be wise? Should pastors be using ChatGPT? What are the biggest ethical and relational risks for Christians? Todd and Elliot tackle it all—with humor, honesty, and hope.

Todd Korpi is a pastor, theologian, leadership consultant, and author of AI Goes to Church: A Faithful Guide to Navigating Artificial Intelligence. With over 20 years of ministry experience, Todd co-leads Anchor Forward, a consulting organization supporting churches, denominations, and seminaries in developing healthy cultures and thoughtful innovation. He’s passionate about discipleship, spiritual formation, and helping Christians respond wisely to cultural change. Todd and his wife live in Chicago with their three daughters.

Elliot Sands is the host of the Live Faith First podcast—a dynamic space where faith meets real-world challenges. With a rich background as a pastor, school principal, health-tech co-founder, and now Executive Director of Faith First, Elliot brings deep wisdom and practical insight to every conversation. As a husband, father, and grandfather, he weaves personal experience with thoughtful discussion, tackling tough topics with clarity and compassion. Live Faith First is all about bridging divides—whether in society or the church—encouraging listeners to step beyond echo chambers and build real, meaningful relationships across the aisle, the street, or the table.

Connect with Todd Korpi

Website: www.toddkorpi.com

Consulting: www.anchorforward.com

Instagram: @ToddKorpi

Facebook: Todd Korpi

X: @ToddKorpi

Book: https://www.ivpress.com/ai-goes-to-church

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Website: LiveFaithFirst.com

Instagram: @LiveFaithFirst

TikTok: @livefaithfirst

Facebook: facebook.com/LiveFaithFirst

YouTube: youtube.com/@livefaithfirst

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Most Christians believe we are saved by grace—but many quietly live as though grace stops there. In this thought-provoking conversation, Elliot sits down with Dr. Kyle DiRoberts, professor, author, and theologian, to unpack his book Grace Beyond Salvation. Together, they explore how God’s grace shapes our daily lives, relationships, and even our theology after conversion.

Kyle unpacks how striving, rule-following, and theological overthinking can quietly replace genuine dependence on God’s grace—even in the most devout lives. With clarity and pastoral insight, he challenges performance-driven Christianity and invites us to experience grace not just as a doctrine, but as a sustaining power for everyday life. Together, they confront the traps of legalism, explore the nature of spiritual maturity, and reframe disciplines like prayer and Scripture as responses to love—not attempts to earn it.

If you’ve ever felt burned out from trying to be good enough, this episode will speak to your soul.

Dr. Kyle DiRoberts is the Department Chair and Associate Professor of Biblical and Theological Studies at Arizona Christian University. He also teaches at Phoenix Seminary and serves as a pastor at Scottsdale Bible Church. Kyle regularly writes and speaks on spiritual formation, humility, and the grace of God.

Elliot Sands is the host of the Live Faith First podcast—a dynamic space where faith meets real-world challenges. With a rich background as a pastor, school principal, health-tech co-founder, and now Executive Director of Faith First, Elliot brings deep wisdom and practical insight to every conversation. As a husband, father, and grandfather, he weaves personal experience with thoughtful discussion, tackling tough topics with clarity and compassion. Live Faith First is all about bridging divides—whether in society or the church—encouraging listeners to step beyond echo chambers and build real, meaningful relationships across the aisle, the street, or the table.

Connect with Kyle DiRoberts

Website: https://kylediroberts.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kylediroberts/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kyle.diroberts

Book: https://www.moodypublishers.com/grace-beyond-salvation/

Connect with Live Faith First

Website: LiveFaithFirst.com

Instagram: @LiveFaithFirst

TikTok: @livefaithfirst

Facebook: facebook.com/LiveFaithFirst

YouTube: youtube.com/@livefaithfirst

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In this heartfelt and deeply reflective conversation, Elliot Sands sits down with Jenn Suen Chen, spiritual director, leadership coach, and author of Dim Sum and Faith. They explore the power of tables to create belonging, what it’s like to grow up between cultures, how long-term suffering shapes faith, and the lifelong challenge of asking for help. Jenn shares her family’s story of faith, resilience, and hospitality—and how her husband’s ongoing cancer journey revealed God’s presence in silence and need. They also talk parenting, adult children, people-pleasing vs. servant-heartedness, and what it really means to listen well.

This is a rich, vulnerable, and hope-filled episode with laughter, wisdom, and stories that will linger.

Jenn Suen Chen is a spiritual director, leadership coach, and the author of Dim Sum and Faith: How Our Stories Form Our Souls. A first-generation daughter of Chinese immigrants, Jenn served overseas for more than 20 years and is now companioning leaders, families, and individuals as they navigate the intersection of faith, identity, and resilience. She is passionate about hospitality, silence, the ministry of listening, and reclaiming wholeness in an emotionally scattered world.

Elliot Sands is the host of the Live Faith First podcast—a dynamic space where faith meets real-world challenges. With a rich background as a pastor, school principal, health-tech co-founder, and now Executive Director of Faith First, Elliot brings deep wisdom and practical insight to every conversation. As a husband, father, and grandfather, he weaves personal experience with thoughtful discussion, tackling tough topics with clarity and compassion. Live Faith First is all about bridging divides—whether in society or the church—encouraging listeners to step beyond echo chambers and build real, meaningful relationships across the aisle, the street, or the table.

Connect with Jenn Suen Chen

Website: https://www.jennsuenchen.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennsuenchen/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennsuenchen

Book: https://www.ivpress.com/dim-sum-and-faith

Connect with Faith First

Website:LiveFaithFirst.com

Instagram: @LiveFaithFirst

TikTok: @livefaithfirst

Facebook: facebook.com/LiveFaithFirst

YouTube: youtube.com/@livefaithfirst

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We live in an age of unlimited information—but do we have wisdom? In this powerful and personal conversation, author and pastor Mark Moore joins Elliot to talk about his new book Wisdom 52, a year-long journey into biblical wisdom that’s meant to be lived, not just learned.

Mark shares why he left academia to join the local church, how he wrestled with gossip in his younger years, and why mentoring is his deepest joy. From truth in an AI age to dealing with enemies, from economic disparity to contentment in a culture of comparison, this conversation is filled with truth, humor, and spiritual insight.

“Wisdom is skill in living. It’s not just knowing—it’s knowing what to do with what you know.” — Mark Moore

They also dive into some of the most pressing issues facing the Church today: tribalism, economic injustice, and the epidemic of loneliness. Don’t miss this episode—it’s a practical, gospel-centered roadmap for those who want to live wisely and love well.

Dr. Mark Moore is a teaching pastor at Christ’s Church of the Valley in Peoria, Arizona, where he helps lead one of the fastest-growing churches in the country. He served for over 20 years as a professor of New Testament at Ozark Christian College before transitioning to full-time pastoral ministry.

Mark is the author of multiple books including Core 52, a bestselling Bible guide that empowers everyday people to understand and apply Scripture. His latest book, Wisdom 52, takes readers on a year-long journey through biblical wisdom, integrating themes from Proverbs with the whole counsel of Scripture and practical life application. Mark speaks widely on discipleship, mentoring, and biblical truth in the modern age. He’s passionate about the local church, spiritual formation, and helping people live out their faith with purpose and integrity.

Elliot Sands is the host of the Live Faith First podcast—a dynamic space where faith meets real-world challenges. With a rich background as a pastor, school principal, health-tech co-founder, and now Executive Director of Faith First, Elliot brings deep wisdom and practical insight to every conversation. As a husband, father, and grandfather, he weaves personal experience with thoughtful discussion, tackling tough topics with clarity and compassion. Live Faith First is all about bridging divides—whether in society or the church—encouraging listeners to step beyond echo chambers and build real, meaningful relationships across the aisle, the street, or the table.

Connect with Mark Moore

Website: https://www.markmoore.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markmoore330/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mark.e.moore.31

Book: https://www.markmoore.org/wisdom52

Connect with Live Faith First

Website: LiveFaithFirst.com

Instagram: @LiveFaithFirst

TikTok: @livefaithfirst

Facebook: facebook.com/LiveFaithFirst

YouTube: youtube.com/@livefaithfirst

Stay Connected-signup for our newsletter-https://www.livefaithfirst.org/contact

We all carry invisible burdens—pain, shame, anxiety, fear—but what if the first step toward healing is simply naming what hurts? Licensed therapist and author Monica DiCristina joins Elliot to explore the transformative power of naming our pain. They discuss gaslighting, anxiety, shame, spiritual bypassing, boundaries, and practical ways to regulate your nervous system when life gets overwhelming.

This episode is a grounded and hopeful conversation about what happens when we stop minimizing, start naming, and take back the story pain tried to write for us.

Topics Covered

• Gaslighting and emotional manipulation

• Minimizing pain vs. honoring pain

• How to set (and receive) boundaries

• Why childhood wounds still show up in adulthood

• Naming pain and regaining agency

• Anxiety as a signal—not the whole problem

• Soothing practices: breathing, walking, music, gratitude

• Shame resilience and identity

• Grace, faith, and the emotional life of believers

Monica DiCristina is a licensed professional counselor, podcast host, and author of Your Pain Has a Name. Through her therapy practice, writing, and speaking, she helps people identify and name emotional pain so they can heal and thrive. Known for her compassionate, clear voice, Monica equips others with the language and tools to navigate anxiety, shame, grief, and relationships with grace. She's a trusted guide for those longing to feel seen and whole.

Elliot Sands is the host of the Live Faith First podcast—a dynamic space where faith meets real-world challenges. With a rich background as a pastor, school principal, health-tech co-founder, and now Executive Director of Faith First, Elliot brings deep wisdom and practical insight to every conversation. As a husband, father, and grandfather, he weaves personal experience with thoughtful discussion, tackling tough topics with clarity and compassion. Live Faith First is all about bridging divides—whether in society or the church—encouraging listeners to step beyond echo chambers and build real, meaningful relationships across the aisle, the street, or the table.

Connect with Monica DiCristina

Website: monicadicristina.com

Instagram: @monicadicristina

Substack: monicadicristina.substack.com

Book: Your Pain Has a Name

Connect with Live Faith First

LiveFaithFirst.com

Instagram: @LiveFaithFirst

TikTok: @livefaithfirst

facebook.com/LiveFaithFirst

youtube.com/@livefaithfirst

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We live in a time when violence, polarization, and dehumanization dominate our cultural moment. From character assassination on social media to literal assassination attempts, our nation feels fractured and fragile. In this conversation, Elliot sits down with pastor, author, and peacemaker Mike Chong Perkinson to explore how followers of Jesus can respond differently.

Together, Elliot and Mike wrestle with what it means to see others as image bearers of God, how to resist turning people into ideologies, and how prayer for our enemies reshapes our own hearts. This timely and challenging episode calls us to reclaim the ministry of reconciliation, to clean out the “fear and apathy” that pollute our inner lives, and to step forward as peacemakers in a fractured world.

Mike Chong Perkinson is a church planter, pastor, and leader passionate about renewing Christian leaders and churches through relational, faithful ministry. He is co-founder and Senior Developer of The Praxis Center for Church Development, President of The Trivium Institute, and currently serves as Network Lead & Superintendent of the Pacific Coast Japanese Conference in the Free Methodist Church.

Elliot Sands is the host of the Live Faith First podcast—a dynamic space where faith meets real-world challenges. With a rich background as a pastor, school principal, health-tech co-founder, and now Executive Director of Faith First, Elliot brings deep wisdom and practical insight to every conversation. As a husband, father, and grandfather, he weaves personal experience with thoughtful discussion, tackling tough topics with clarity and compassion. Live Faith First is all about bridging divides—whether in society or the church—encouraging listeners to step beyond echo chambers and build real, meaningful relationships across the aisle, the street, or the table.

Connect with Mike Chong Perkinson:

Website: The Praxis Center

Website: PCJC Free Methodist

Instagram: @mikechongperkinson

Facebook: Mike C. Perkinson

LinkedIn: Mike Chong Perkinson

Connect with Live Faith First

LiveFaithFirst.com

Instagram: @LiveFaithFirst

TikTok: @livefaithfirst

Facebook: facebook.com/LiveFaithFirst

YouTube: youtube.com/@livefaithfirst

Stay Connected-signup for our newsletter- https://www.livefaithfirst.org/contact

What if your greatest weakness was actually your greatest strength? Kevan Chandler lives with spinal muscular atrophy and has spent his life inviting others into his place of need—not just to survive, but to build rich, reciprocal relationships. In this deeply personal and profound conversation, Kevan shares how asking for help has created community, revealed God's design for mutual care, and sparked global adventures fueled by trust, humility, and joy.

We talk about how our limitations can invite connection, what the Bible says about mutual need, why Jesus chose to rely on others, and how Kevan’s book The Hospitality of Need offers a radically countercultural invitation to both give and receive help in a lonely world. From band tours to China, couch-surfers to communal living, this episode will challenge how you view strength, independence, and God’s plan for friendship.

Kevan Chandler is a storyteller, speaker, and the author of several books including The Hospitality of Need and We Carry Kevan. Born with spinal muscular atrophy, Kevan’s life has been shaped by radical dependence and the joy of community. He is the founder of We Carry Kevan, a nonprofit that challenges cultural perceptions of disability and mobilizes people to carry one another—sometimes literally.

Elliot Sands is the host of the Live Faith First podcast—a dynamic space where faith meets real-world challenges. With a rich background as a pastor, school principal, health-tech co-founder, and now Executive Director of Faith First, Elliot brings deep wisdom and practical insight to every conversation. As a husband, father, and grandfather, he weaves personal experience with thoughtful discussion, tackling tough topics with clarity and compassion. Live Faith First is all about bridging divides—whether in society or the church—encouraging listeners to step beyond echo chambers and build real, meaningful relationships across the aisle, the street, or the table.

Connect with Kevan:

https://wecarrykevan.com

Instagram: @wecarrykevan

Facebook: facebook.com/wecarrykevan

Connect with Live Faith First:

LiveFaithFirst.com

Instagram: @LiveFaithFirst

TikTok: @livefaithfirst

Facebook: facebook.com/LiveFaithFirst

YouTube: youtube.com/@livefaithfirst

Stay Connected-signup for our newsletter-https://www.livefaithfirst.org/contact

We live in a world that celebrates hustle, busyness, and burnout—but what if rest wasn’t a weakness, but a form of wisdom? In this episode of Live Faith First, Elliot sits down with nurse, holistic wellness educator, and author Tracie Braylock to explore Radical Relaxation—a framework for physical, emotional, and spiritual restoration. From nutrition and sleep to movement, meditation, and self-compassion, Tracie invites listeners to slow down and discover a better way to live, grounded in grace and the rhythms God designed for our healing.

You’ll hear about:

• How stress underlies so many chronic health conditions

• Sleep as divine restoration

• Practical ways to relax every day

• Redefining Christian meditation

• Raising children with grace and presence

• What happened during her unexpected home birth (!)

Tracie Braylock, MSN, BSN, RN is a nurse, writer, educator, and holistic wellness expert. She’s passionate about helping people break free from burnout, stress, and cultural overextension by embracing sacred rest and healing rhythms. With over two decades of experience in nursing and wellness education, Tracie guides people toward healthier, more peaceful lives through her writing, courses, and now her book, Radical Relaxation. She’s also a mom of four and a strong advocate for grace-filled parenting and self-care rooted in faith.

Elliot Sands is the host of the Live Faith First podcast—a dynamic space where faith meets real-world challenges. With a rich background as a pastor, school principal, health-tech co-founder, and now Executive Director of Faith First, Elliot brings deep wisdom and practical insight to every conversation. As a husband, father, and grandfather, he weaves personal experience with thoughtful discussion, tackling tough topics with clarity and compassion. Live Faith First is all about bridging divides—whether in society or the church—encouraging listeners to step beyond echo chambers and build real, meaningful relationships across the aisle, the street, or the table.

Connect with Tracie Braylock

🔗 Website: traciebraylock.com

📘 Book: Radical Relaxation

📸 Instagram: @traciebraylock

Connect with Live Faith First

🌐 LiveFaithFirst.com

📷 Instagram: @LiveFaithFirst

🎵 TikTok: @livefaithfirst

📘 Facebook: facebook.com/LiveFaithFirst

👉 youtube.com/@livefaithfirst