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

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• Facebook
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• 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

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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

Welcome to the First Ever RISE UP CON, Where Fandom Becomes Faith.

Ever heard of ComicCon... where all of the Star Wars, Star Trek and comic book super fans pour into San Diego's convention center by the thousands for days on end every year?

Well, actor, director, and author Kevin Sorbo (Hercules '95-'99) thought having a similar atmosphere for Christian actors, writers, producers, musicians, creators, and entrepreneurs was needed.

After having Kevin on the Strong By Design podcast in 2023, our team decided it was a great opportunity to attend the first ever event and surround ourselves with men and women influencing American culture in a positive way while also standing firm in their Christian faith.

This special compilation episode highlights some of the many interactions, interviews, conversations and events that took place at the Strong By Design booth in Sevierville Convention Center, just outside of Knoxville, TN. Hosts Jared Haley and Chris Wilson were honored to participate and meet people from all over the country spreading the Gospel and the love of Christ.

If you would like to learn more about the recent event from May 30-June 1st, here is the link, RiseUpCon.com



"God is a Creator. We're created in His image. We are designed to create." -Jared Haley



Time Stamps
00:16 - Welcome to the 'Strong by Design' Podcast
01:18 - What is RiseUP Con?
2:55 - Former Disney animator Davy Liu on using our talents to glorify and serve the King of Kings
4:56 - The 'Jake Muller Adventures' with Darby and Micah: What to expect in this adrenaline fueled audio drama
5:58 - Faith on Film with actor Ben Davies
9:45 - PROVERBS 22:6 - Jared Moon speaks about breaking the cycle of generational incarceration
12:39 - Meet Lucas of 'WWE Bros' - future superstar ;)
14:25 - Inside the jungle life of the 'Wild Brothers'
16:41 - Choice42.com: Where women and babies matter with Laura Klassen
18:40 - Listen to 1232: an audio epic podcast by Callie Sioux
22:25 - Why MYFIRESIDE pits are real men essential with Adam Kovar

Resources:
RiseUpCon.com

Support the Show.

Connect w/ CriticalBench:

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

The journey of creating ‘The Lion Within Us’ has been fueled by Chris Grainger’s desire to help others and glorify God. He is blessed to be in several leadership positions in a professional and spiritual capacity. First and foremost, He is a devoted husband to a loving wife. Together, they lead a family of three beautiful girls and one amazing son.

There was a point in time where Chris's life was spiraling out of control and he felt helpless. By the Grace of God, he was able to take inventory of his life, analyze and improve habits, and become the man that God had called him to be. Though he has faced difficult storms involving love and loss, he has been blessed beyond measure and God has never left his side. He wants to use his testimony to encourage others and let them know that they too can find joy and fulfillment in the midst of the most difficult storm.

On this episode of the Strong by Design Podcast, Chris and host Jared Haley discuss the importance of father's being the spiritual leader in the home, as opposed to outsourcing it to the local schools or church. What does this look like practically? Listen and learn how you can be intentional in these areas, and allowing God to reveal his design for the family.



"Let's view our calendar through the lens of priorities, and put the big rocks in first." — Chris Grainger



Time Stamps

00:41 - Welcome to the 'Strong by Design' Podcast

02:24 - Get to know today's special guest, Chris Grainger, founder of 'The Lion Within Us'

07:37 - Leading with Faith: Chris on the father's role in a family

10:40 - What does spiritual leadership look like in the home?

15:27 - Chris on viewing your calendar through a Christian lens

19:50 - What is the number one thing holding dads back from jumping in and being intentional?

21:22 - Why we need to disconnect to reconnect

27:08 - Digital safety 101: How to protect kids from sexual immorality

32:00 - Preventing porn exposure: Why sex education matters

37:51 - Chosen to lead: Dads and their spiritual responsibility

49:15 - Why it's important to pray with (and for) your spouse

52:23 - Ready to UNLEASH the LION within? Connect with Chris Grainger



Resources:

· TheLionWithin.Us

Connect w/ Chris:

· YouTube

· Instagram

· Facebook

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Connect w/ CriticalBench:

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

Tyrannosaurus Rex, Brontosaurus, Velociraptor, Triceratops… all fake?!?

No way?! It can’t be?! What about all of the fossils they’ve found over the past 150+ years? Why would the Smithsonian and other institutions ever promote an extinct animal species that never really existed? What did they have to gain?

We all grew up learning about the amazing, wonderful and terrifying world of the dinosaur. Giant reptiles that roamed the earth 25-65 million years ago and have been extinct for as long.

Geez! How did their bones survive such a long period of time and stay fully intact? Why do we never find an entire dinosaur but instead just a few bones here and there… but we’ve filled in the gaps with such detail? Why do museums all over the world never show the actual bones but replicas of the ‘real thing’ and the real bones are tucked away somewhere else? Why is there nothing recorded about dinosaurs before 1842?

And what about ‘Giants’? Supersized people that may have existed in many different cultures all over the globe in various time periods that ranged from 7 to over 10 feet tall? Is everyone just telling fairy tales and stories or did extra-large people or human-like creatures once walk the planet?

These are all great questions that the Tin Foil Hat Club will investigate in the 2nd Conspiracy Theory episode here on the Strong By Design podcast show! And we just scratched the surface with our third topic of debate… to be continued!



"Once you accept the premise, your mind is then trying to create truth from that premise." — Stephen Ohocinski



Time Stamps

00:37 - Welcome to the 'Strong by Design' Podcast
01:01 - Get to know today's special guests, the Tin Foil Hat Club
04:07 - Last time with the Tin Foil Hat Club: Popular conspiracy recap!
06:30 - How stories change the world
08:15 - Conspiracy theory #1: Dinosaurs never existed?
12:01 - How what you believe shapes what you conspire
13:41 - Meet the man who invented the dinosaur
24:41 - Cui Bono? Exploring the motives behind dinosaur fakery
35:19 - 'Is Genesis History?': How science connects to the Bible
36:00 - The Tin Foil Hat Club's take on reimagining a dinosaur-free world
39:53 - Conspiracy theory #2: Were giant humans real?
48:44 - How the society benefits from hoaxing giant people
56:10 - Understanding the 'Slow Drip' theory
57:47 - Conspiracy theory #3: The unsolved mystery of JonBenét Ramsey… to be continued

Resources:

Got Questions or other good topics? Email us at strongbydesignpodcast@gmail.com

Support the Show.

Connect w/ CriticalBench:

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

Pastor Daryl Black delivered a message several months ago titled 'Biblical Sexuality - You Asked For It'

This message at Grace Family Church in Florida is based on feedback from the congregation... what did they want the church to talk about. His words are truthful, kind and powerful.

Our host Jared Haley attends GFC and found the message to be one of the best he's ever heard on the topic. Today he and host Chris Wilson dig deeper on what biblical sexuality is and what it means to us now in a time of confusion.

Pastor Daryl believes the only controversial subjects are the ones we aren't willing to talk about with both grace and truth. We are truly honored to have him on the show!

Side Note - Pastor Daryl was an X Factor contestant several years ago and we open the show discussing this amazing adventure. As you will discover in the video link below, his voice is phenomenal.

From the GFC Florida page on YouTube...
No matter who you are, you are an image bearer of God! He created you with glory, dignity, purpose, and diversity. You are fearfully and wonderfully made.


"We don't let them choose what food to eat. We don't let them choose whether or not they're going to go to school. But we're going to let them pick their gender for the rest of their life." — Pastor Daryl Black


Time Stamps
00:40 - Welcome to the 'Strong by Design' Podcast
01:45 - Get to know today's special guest, Pastor Daryl Black
06:38 - Pastor Daryl shares his 'X Factor' audition story
18:25 - The power of worship: Pastor Daryl on connecting with God through music
21:56 - From California to Florida: Pastor Daryl's calling to Grace Family Church
27:40 - The 'WHY' behind his unique service sign-offs
31:33 - The TV effect: How transgender representation shapes society
35:13 - Transgenderism's impact: Why it's stronger on the younger generation
40:50 - Pastor Daryl's challenge to believers: Standing firm in God's truth
47:44 - Understanding the push for transgenderism
55:05 - Will you follow God or follow yourself?
59:58 - Pastor Daryl on discerning God's truth vs. worldly truth
1:06:11 - Why listening is an act of Faith
1:13:23 - Why you shouldn't let your fear keep you from God's truth


Connect with Pastor Daryl:

• Facebook
• Instagram
• YouTube

Support the Show.

Connect w/ CriticalBench:

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

Today’s guest on the Strong By Design podcast can help you create space in your mind.

Scott Paglia is a licensed acupuncturist and practitioner of Chinese medicine in Bellingham, WA. Scott got into acupuncture and herbs after almost dying in South Korea while pursuing the practice of meditation.

Over the decades since his early pursuits, Scott has met many great teachers and applied their teaching to his practice. He has focused most of his studies on neuroplasticity and the effect meditation has on the nervous system. Find out in today’s episode how to simply begin the practice of meditation.

FUN FACT: Scott has actually been into meditation since he was in middle school until the present moment.



"As thoughts lessen, as that peace increases, part of that comes back with you."— Scott Paglia



Time Stamps

00:45 - Welcome to the 'Strong by Design' Podcast
03:24 - Get to know today's special guest, Scott Paglia
05:13 - Scott shares his early love for meditation and his journey into Chinese medicine
10:10 - How to hear your inner voice through meditation
13:01 - Discover how consistent meditation changed his mind and body over time
16:00 - Scott discusses common reasons for acupuncture visit, top conditions treated, and the treatment plans they offer
22:01 - Acupuncture 101: Here's what you can expect during a treatment
29:14 - The cons of Western medicine
36:09 - The difference between traditional Eastern and modern Western healthcare practices
42:18 - Healing from the root: Why choose Acupuncture Health Center?
44:04 - The healing power of meditation
51:30 - One minute to spare? Learn how to meditate with these tips!
1:04:51 - How are you managing your resources?
1:11:32 - Where you can go to connect with Scott Paglia

Resources:

· Acupuncture Health Center

Connect w/ Scott:

· Instagram

· Facebook

Support the Show.

Connect w/ CriticalBench:

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