Rephonic
Artwork for The Defender Podcast

The Defender Podcast

Lifeline Children's Services
Lifeline Children's Services
Adoption
Foster Care
Vulnerable Children
International Adoption
China
Orphan Care
Christmas
Jesus
Advent
Pro-Life Movement
Child Welfare
Gospel
Christianity
Camp Empower
Orphans
Sanctity Of Human Life
Southern Baptist Convention
Orphan Sunday
Church Partnerships

The Defender Podcast collection is a ministry of Lifeline Children's Services where we seek to equip the body of Christ to manifest the gospel to vulnerable children and families. We hope this collection will provide encouragement, inspiration, and ways to connect with others who have a heart for the orphan.

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes597Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ChristianityReligion & Spirituality

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Defender Podcast

Latest Episodes

Rick Morton and Chelsea Sobolik welcome Rachel Medefind, who leads the Institute for Family Centered Healing and Health at the Christian Alliance for Orphans and is the author of When There Is Crisis. Rachel shares her story, from growing up as a mis... more

Rick Morton, Herbie Newell, and Chelsea Sobolik welcome attorney and advocate Palmer Williams, a partner at Holtzman Vogel and former general counsel of the ERLC. Palmer traces her heart for vulnerable children from her own childhood experience of ne... more

Over 3,400 children are in foster care in South Carolina, and some are staying in government offices because no homes are available. Rob, Herbie, and Ford discuss the need for families for teens and sibling groups, how to discern a call to foster, an... more

YouTube

Rick Morton, Emily Richards, and Herbie Newell sit down with Greyson Holt, a Lifeline family therapist in North Carolina, who is also a foster and adoptive mom and grew up as a sibling in an adoptive family. Greyson shares how a third-grade calling g... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Recent Guests

Palmer Williams
Attorney, advocate, partner at Holtzman Vogel and former general counsel of the ERLC
Holtzman Vogel
Episode: From Rural South Africa to the Supreme Court: Palmer Williams at The Table
Greyson Holt
Family therapist, Lifeline team member, trained in TBRI and trauma therapies
Lifeline Children's Services
Episode: Saying Yes to Hard: Foster Care, Community, and the 30 Percent Rule
Lauren McAfee
Founder and CEO of Life Collective
Life Collective
Episode: Does Adoption Have a PR Problem?
Simon Benn
UK-based adoptee speaker and podcaster, founder of Thriving Adoptees
Thriving Adoptees
Episode: An Adoptee's Teddy Bear Epiphany | Simon Benn, Thriving Adoptees
Tommy DeRamos
Executive Director of Heritage Builders, Shades Mountain Baptist Church
Shades Mountain Baptist Church / Lifeline Children's Services
Episode: Opening the Doors: How One Church Is Rewriting the Story for Kids Aging Out of Foster Care
Ava Bamberg
Student at Auburn University, power soccer player leading teammate in adaptive sports
Auburn University
Episode: Unstoppable: The Bamberg Sisters' Journey from China to Auburn
Lily Bamberg
Student at Auburn University, power soccer player and national champion in power soccer
Auburn University
Episode: Unstoppable: The Bamberg Sisters' Journey from China to Auburn
Rafael Kajjubi
Pastor, King Jesus Church in Bussega, Uganda
King Jesus Church, Bussega; Lifeline partner
Episode: Real Church, Real Gospel: A Ugandan Pastor's Journey from Prosperity to Truth
Christy McSegers
Vice President of Domestic Services at Lifeline
Lifeline Children's Services
Episode: The Heart Behind Domestic Adoption

Hosts

Rick Morton
Host with multiple episodes tied to Lifeline ministries and storytelling around adoption and church-based care.
Rob Ingram
Co-host associated with The Defender Podcast and Lifeline network, contributing to program discussions on orphan care.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 120 ratings
  • So encouraging! We're so grateful for the ministry of Lifeline Children's Services!

    Podcast Addict
    5
    khanje
    2 years ago
  • Multifaceted Approach to Living Out God’s Care for Vulnerable People

    I love that this podcast continually comes back to God’s care for widows and orphans. Unlike other organizations, Lifeline emphasizes the many many ways church members can be a part of care for kids… even if they themselves don’t adopt or foster. I’m so encouraged to think of the many ways in which my family (and even my little kids!) can be a part of ministry in this way!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    The Nearly Free Homeschool
    United States5 years ago
  • Great podcast, please add more family testimonials!

    I really value this podcast, as we pray and discern about adoption...The podcast is focused on God, His calling, and is biblically sound. Great info, super helpful. I love hearing about each program and from the program points. But one request: I’d really love to hear more from families. We are in the trenches of trying to hear Gods voice, and would love to hear encouragement and experience from those who have gone before us in this process. How they heard and were led, their fears and how God ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    mja852016
    United States6 years ago
  • An incredible resource

    I discovered The Defender Podcast when praying about adoption. I was able to listen to helpful podcast episodes that educated me about the adoption process and about the China program. They were such a blessing! Two years later as we near travel, I continue to appreciate the podcasts. Thank you Herbie Newel and the Lifeline family!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    AlliLou
    United States6 years ago
  • ❤️

    Must listen if you have a heart for adoption.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    adc4f
    United States7 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Depth of ministry and gospel-centric caregiving comes through clearly.
Highlighting Lifeline's work across borders resonates with sponsors and partners.
Hopeful, encouraging stories alongside actionable programs for real-world impact.
Listeners appreciate practical resources for families and church involvement.

Top Christianity Podcasts

The Bible Recap
The Bible RecapTara-Leigh Cobble
2819 Church
2819 Church2819 Church
Built 4 More
Built 4 MoreDenny Thompson and Joby Martin
The Briefing with Albert Mohler
The Briefing with Albert MohlerR. Albert Mohler, Jr.
followHIM
followHIMHank Smith & John Bytheway

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

From Rural South Africa to the Supreme Court: Palmer Williams at The Table
Q: What do you do? Like, what's the... What are the practical steps you can begin to take, and what are the practical steps people around you can take when that becomes a reality?
Williams recommends telling the story directly to a local representative or agency staffer, explaining the policy's effects and offering a practical fix. She sees direct conversation as a constructive first step, with media advocacy available if needed.
From Rural South Africa to the Supreme Court: Palmer Williams at The Table
Q: Counsel the church and others about how to best approach both adopted families and also people that are living in different places with dignity, respect, and being willing to help without demeaning or without coming across as, well, you're just different.
Williams advises people facing awkward or offensive remarks to assume good motives where possible, respond with grace, and use the moment to educate or redirect the conversation. She describes how her mother affirms that her adopted son is a gift to their family.
An Adoptee's Teddy Bear Epiphany | Simon Benn, Thriving Adoptees
Q: Could you unpack the concept of the primal wound and how it surfaced for you?
Simon explains the idea of the primal wound as a subconscious trauma that becomes conscious, using The Primal Wound and his own teddy bear as catalysts for deeper insight and healing.
An Adoptee's Teddy Bear Epiphany | Simon Benn, Thriving Adoptees
Q: We could start at the beginning about your family and upbringing; tell us where it all began.
Simon describes being adopted from Burnley, raised by his mom and dad, and the early, relatively stable upbringing before trauma began to surface later in life.
Opening the Doors: How One Church Is Rewriting the Story for Kids Aging Out of Foster Care
Q: Tell us a little more about yourself and how you got involved with Heritage Builders.
Tommy explains his role at Shades Mountain Baptist Church, how Heritage Builders started as a church-based space for Lifeline's program, and the progression into ongoing support and sustainable pathways for youth aging out of foster care.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Defender Podcast

What is The Defender Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A faith-centered show focused on orphan care, adoption, and foster care, often pairing practical program insights with gospel-driven perspectives. Episodes frequently cover international and domestic adoption, church involvement in caregiving, trauma-informed parenting, and ways individuals and churches can engage through hosting, volunteering, fundraising, or advocacy. Notable touches include personal adoption journeys, ministry models that empower local communities, and large-scale initiatives like holistic care networks and fundraising runs. The show tends to highlight how faith, family, and community can collaborate to care for vulnerable children, with a strong emphasis on practical steps for listeners who want to get involved or spons... more

Where can I find podcast stats for The Defender Podcast?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Defender Podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The Defender Podcast and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Defender Podcast get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for four million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The Defender Podcast, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for The Defender Podcast?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The Defender Podcast, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does The Defender Podcast have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Defender Podcast has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The Defender Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Defender Podcast:

1. Pray the Word with David Platt
2. Life with Sally
3. The Heidi St. John Podcast
4. Raising Boys & Girls
5. The World and Everything In It

How many episodes of The Defender Podcast are there?

The Defender Podcast launched 9 years ago and published 597 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Defender Podcast?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Defender Podcast?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Defender Podcast from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The Defender Podcast?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The Defender Podcast. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on The Defender Podcast?

Recent guests on The Defender Podcast include:

1. Palmer Williams
2. Greyson Holt
3. Lauren McAfee
4. Simon Benn
5. Tommy DeRamos
6. Ava Bamberg
7. Lily Bamberg
8. Rafael Kajjubi

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days