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Tune in every week for a lively conversation with Chapelwood's Senior Pastor, John Stephens and Executive Pastor, Matt Russell as they "go deep" on how today's church has changed and what the church will look like in the future!

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes240Founded6 years ago
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Religion & SpiritualityChristianity

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Artwork for Pod Have Mercy

Latest Episodes

What happens when the Church weighs in on artificial intelligence?

In this episode, we discuss Pope Leo XIV's recent reflections on AI, technology, and human dignity. Drawing parallels between today's AI revolution and the Industrial Revolution, the... more

Fresh off a pilgrimage to Italy, John Stephens and Josef Klam reflect on the spiritual, historical, and personal impact of traveling through some of Christianity’s most significant sites.

From Rome, Assisi, Siena, Florence, and Venice, they explore ... more

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Laura Husband joins the podcast for a deeply honest conversation about grief, faith, healing, and the stories that shape us. Laura shares her experience growing up as the daughter of astronaut Rick Husband, commander of the Space Shuttle Columbia, an... more

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What does it actually take to send humans back to the moon? This week on Pod Have Mercy, John sits down with NASA engineer Jimmy Warner to talk about the future of space exploration, moon bases, Mars missions, and the real science behind the Artemis ... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Laura Husband
Guest, actress and storyteller sharing her life story
Actor; Producer; Podcaster
Episode: Episode 235: Faith After Tragedy (with Laura Husband)
Jimmy Wanner
NASA Engineer, Safety and Reliability Engineer
NASA
Episode: Episode 234: Inside NASA (with Jimmy Wanner, NASA Engineer)
Jerry Webber
Former staff at Chapelwood; founder/leader in contemplative spirituality initiatives
Center for Christian Spirituality; Chapelwood Church
Episode: Episode 233: Soul Work with Jerry Webber
Shariq Ghani
Executive Director of Bridges (multifaith organization)
Bridges
Episode: Episode 232: Islam, Faith, and Neighbors (with Shariq Ghani)
Ericka Graham
Speaker introduced as a pivotal collaborator and guest on the show
Episode: Episode 231: Curiosity, Connection & the Future of Faith (with Ericka Graham)
Michael Sciretti
Pastor at the Center for Christian Spirituality
Center for Christian Spirituality, Chapelwood
Episode: Episode 229: No Resurrection Without the Cross
Bill Moran
Education director / head teacher at Iconoclast Artists
Iconoclast Artists
Episode: Episode 225: ICONOCLAST ARTISTS
Claudia Crane
Executive Director of Iconoclast Artists
Iconoclast Artists
Episode: Episode 225: ICONOCLAST ARTISTS
Bishop Ande Emanuel
Bishop of the United Methodist Church in Nigeria, overseeing multiple annual conferences and regional districts
United Methodist Church in Nigeria
Episode: Episode 224: Unity, Growth & Perseverance (Bishop Ande Emmanuel)

Hosts

Matt Russell
Host of Pod Have Mercy; Executive Pastor at Chapelwood; co-host
John Stephens
Senior Pastor / Host; leads discussions on church life, leadership, and faith

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 53 ratings
  • New Find

    I have just discovered Pod Have Mercy while attending Mercy Street (which I also love). I find Matt and John to be very real and down to earth, love their humor and humanness….kept it up.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JonS1984
    United States3 years ago
  • Excellence.

    This is a podcast that thoroughly engages the heart and the mind. Its hosts are not squeamish about tackling tough subjects going on in the Church and its point of intersection with the world in which we live.

    It is true excellence. Everytime.

    Thank you Rev Dr Matt Russell and Rev Dr John Stephens for you wit, humour, and serious focus in what is truly important.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Kipsand
    United States4 years ago
  • Important information as UMC struggles with division

    I have found this podcast extremely helpful as I try and learn all I can about the current struggles in the UMW. I have found their guest to be most informative. Thank you for clearing up so many issues of misinformation.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LEdenfield
    United States4 years ago
  • POD Have Mercy

    I’m really enjoying this podcast, the timing couldn’t be better. What a great tool to use during this season of Lent and wondering in the wilderness. I really appreciate the vulnerability that is being given in this space. Vulnerability we don’t often get in worship.

    Of course the due of John Stephens and Matt Russell is entertaining for me. 😊

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Kidneyash
    United States6 years ago
  • So good

    What a great conversation.

    I’m lucky to know both of you and this podcast is so real and fun.

    I enjoyed and was enriched by what y’all shared with us.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Leo Lozano
    United States6 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Shows are helpful for understanding current church dynamics and leadership.
Vulnerability and personal stories from guests resonate with audiences.
Listeners appreciate real, down-to-earth hosts with humor and humility.
Guests provide thoughtful, practical takes on tough church issues.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Episode 235: Faith After Tragedy (with Laura Husband)
Q: What role did counseling and forgiveness play in your healing?
Counseling helped her address anger and protect herself emotionally, while forgiveness—especially toward NASA—allowed her to move forward without bitterness, trusting that abandonment would not define her future.
Episode 235: Faith After Tragedy (with Laura Husband)
Q: How did your faith change after your father's death when you were twelve?
Laura explains that faith gave her a sense of purpose and a framework to interpret the tragedy as part of a larger, hopeful design, and that she leaned on God to endure the loss while seeking to understand what happened.
Episode 232: Islam, Faith, and Neighbors (with Shariq Ghani)
Q: If you were king for the day in Houston, what changes would you implement to foster neighborly culture?
Shariq outlines practical steps focused on encouraging dialogue, reducing fear, and creating spaces for organic neighborly interactions, along with rooted community-building ideas and values.
Episode 224: Unity, Growth & Perseverance (Bishop Ande Emmanuel)
Q: What can United Methodist churches in the United States do to support the Nigerian church today?
They can partner with Nigerian conferences and local churches to support peacebuilding, migration and gender-based ministry, evangelism, and agricultural initiatives, providing hands-on involvement without dictating local decisions, and they can help sustain long‑term projects like rice farming, cattle farming, and youth training.
Episode 212: ARE YOU SERIOUS?!
Q: If this is a virtue, if gravity is a virtue, how might... What would be a step?
Listeners should take steps in their own lives to embody gravity and seriousness in their actions and thoughts.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
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Frequently Asked Questions About Pod Have Mercy

What is Pod Have Mercy about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thoughtful, faith-forward show focused on how contemporary Christianity evolves amid cultural change. Episodes frequently explore contemplative spirituality, interfaith dialogue, grief and recovery, church leadership, and how religion intersects with technology, social justice, and culture. Guests range from pastors and nonprofit leaders to educators and space-technology professionals, often centering lived faith, belonging, and practical spirituality in daily life. A notable strength is pairing pastoral insight with intellectual curiosity, creating conversations that are at once intimate and wide-ranging. This mix makes it helpful for listeners seeking spiritual formation, community-building ideas, or thoughtful perspectives on current c... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Pod Have Mercy?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Pod Have Mercy:

1. The Crossing
2. Chapelwood Sanctuary Podcast
3. Become New with John Ortberg
4. Revisionist History
5. The Holy Post

How many episodes of Pod Have Mercy are there?

Pod Have Mercy launched 6 years ago and published 240 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Pod Have Mercy?

Recent guests on Pod Have Mercy include:

1. Laura Husband
2. Jimmy Wanner
3. Jerry Webber
4. Shariq Ghani
5. Ericka Graham
6. Michael Sciretti
7. Bill Moran
8. Claudia Crane

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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