Our past does not define our character or determine our future.

While this sentiment is simply said, it is terribly difficult to believe and follow through with. Unfortunately, some of us can never seem to overcome our past.

Today's guest on the Strong By Design podcast is a living testament to the power of turning your life over to God. After years of struggling with drug and alcohol addiction, Rob believed his life was a complete failure and beyond repair. He even went as far as attempting suicide but miraculously he was saved.

Now he's an award-winning author, speaker, producer, actor and TV host.

In his book, Cruising Toward Heaven, Rob talks about redemption and devoting your life to God in service of others. This conversation will make you cry, give you goose bumps and get you Fired Up! Get ready for the one and only Rob Ekno.




"Lord, please give me the words to write in this book to glorify you." -Rob Ekno



Time Stamps
0:22 - Welcome to the 'Strong by Design' Podcast
0:45 - Get to know today's special guest, Rob Ekno, award-winning author, screenwriter, broadcaster and speaker
2:30 - Rob shares his story from drug addict and alcoholic to award-winning author
6:00 - Rob thanks the cop who changed everything
9:15 - Beneath the surface: Unseen ways we make a difference
14:05 - Answering God's call: Rob's journey from a D in English to Author
24:04 - Discover Rob's mission beyond book sales
30:11 - The importance of spiritual protection for teenagers
34:24 - The power of teaching people to be followers of the Spirit
38:58 - Host Jared shares powerful stories from his pastoral experiences
43:01 - 'Cruising Toward Heaven': Rob's testimony of God's glory
49:00 - Why you should prepare for the eternal rather than the temporary
52:26 - The power of trusting God's provision



Resources:

• RobEkno.com
• Get your copy of Cruising Toward Heaven

Connect with Rob:

• Facebook
• Instagram

Support the Show.

Connect w/ CriticalBench:

• Youtube
• Facebook
• Instagram
• CriticalBench.com
• StrongByDesignPodcast.com

Storytelling is an art form that has stood the test of time.

From sitting around a campfire listening to spooky stories and tales of legendary heroism, to a family gathered around a giant radio in the 1930s listening to the adventures of Sherlock Holmes or Abbott and Costello, the audio experience invites imagination and evokes excitement.

Live from Rise Up Con, hosts Jared Haley and Chris Wilson had the opportunity to speak with Darby Kern and Micah Touchet, audio producers for the Jake Muller Adventures, an action packed audio drama series and Callie Sioux, creator of the 1232 audio epic, which is a time-travel medieval fantasy audio adventure for all ages.

Get to know these amazing people, how passionate they are about their work and what it takes to produce a top notch audio drama.



"There's a lack of family-friendly content available in media." -Callie Sioux



Time Stamps
00:35 - Welcome to the 'Strong by Design' Podcast
00:58 - Get to know today's special guests, Darby Kern & Micah Touchet
02:20 - Darby and Micah introduce 'The Jake Muller Adventures' and how the audio drama came to life
05:21 - The art of casting: Journey to finding the perfect actors for audio drama
09:55 - Who 'The Jake Muller Adventures' is for?
11:30 - Connect with Us! Follow 'The Jake Muller Adventures' on Social Media
13:53 - Welcome our next guest, Callie Sioux of '1232: An Audio Epic'
15:28 - Callie shares what makes '1232' special
20:34 - Discover how spirituality is woven into the show
25:50 - The joy and nostalgia of listening to old-time radio shows
26:50 - 1232: Ongoing saga or completed story?
29:00 - Where you can go to connect with Callie Sioux and get FREE content


Resources:

• JakeMullerAdventures.com
• 1232 Audio Epic

Connect with Darby & Micah:

• Instagram
• Facebook

Connect with Callie Sioux:

• Instagram
• Facebook

Support the Show.

Connect w/ CriticalBench:

• Youtube
• Facebook
• Instagram
• CriticalBench.com
• StrongByDesignPodcast.com

Sitting down with humble, sincere and genuine people never gets old.

Today on the Strong By Design podcast hosts Jared Haley and Chris Wilson are blessed to speak with animator and story teller Davy Liu and award winning actor Ben Davies.

Live from Rise Up Con in Sevierville, TN., these two men are using their amazing talents to spread God's truth through storytelling.

Davy Liu, an outstanding animator who worked for Disney for several years on projects like Mulan, Aladdin, and Beauty and the Beast decided it was time to do things his way. Now he uses Jesus as the example in his storytelling on screen and in his children's books. As Philippians 4:13 says, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." His character 'Kendu' comes from this powerful scripture.

Ben Davies, an award-winning actor from films Courageous, Fearless Faith, I'm Not Ashamed, Vindication and many more might be one of the kindest, most humble people you ever meet. Interestingly Ben was also a top-level athlete, at one time he was ranked the No. 1 high school decathlete in the country and went on to collegiate track and field at the University of Florida. Ben has landed the lead role in twenty feature films while earning awards and nominations for 'Best Male Actor" in five film festivals.

Hope you enjoy our conversations with these extraordinary men!



"Our God is almighty. He creates everything with excellence." -Davy Liu



Time Stamps
00:47 - Welcome to the 'Strong by Design' Podcast
1:10 - Get to know today's special guests, Actor Ben Davies & Animator Davy Liu
1:35 - Actor Ben Davies shares his faith through film
03:36 - The hard work behind movie magic
11:14 - Ben's next big thing: Future roles and upcoming projects
16:31 - Ben on boosting your child's growth with sports
22:41 - Creating magic beyond Disney: How Davy Liu transitioned from Disney to Kendu Films
24:28 - Why Davy left Disney to serve a higher purpose
26:05 - Exciting internship opportunity at Kendu Films!
27:25 - Davy's children books: Classic stories of Faith, told from the animal's perspective



Resources:

• RiseUpCon.com

Connect with Davy:

• Instagram
• KenduFilms

Connect with Ben:

• Instagram
• Facebook

Support the Show.

Connect w/ CriticalBench:

• Youtube
• Facebook
• Instagram
• CriticalBench.com
• StrongByDesignPodcast.com