Mike Horn works in Atlanta, GA, handling air freight exports for a freight forwarding company. We first met Mike in 2011 at the Hinton Rural Life Center in Hayesville, NC, where he was working/serving as a summer staffer. Our friendship was fast and easy in a kindred spirit way. Since those early days, our lives have taken many twists and turns, yet we have managed to keep up with one another and maintain a solid friendship. Mike was raised in the Christian faith and still “identifies as Christian,” but much beyond that, it is murky. In this episode, we unpack some of Mike’s thoughts on faith in general and the church in particular. In our opinion, conversations like these need to be happening more and more. We invite you to kick back, relax, and listen in on a conversation between friends!

Matt Simpson is a Project Manager for a major construction company in Atlanta, GA. A graduate of Georgia Tech with an engineering degree, Matt chose to pursue a profession that put him out in the field, working with people and problem-solving as issues arise to keep projects on time and moving forward. Always an introspective soul, Matt shares in this episode about his deep abiding faith in God and how it intersects with his disenchantment with the North American church. In our opinion, conversations like these need to be happening more and more. We invite you to kick back, relax, and listen in on a conversation between friends!

Steven Landreth is a Surface Warfare Officer in the United States Navy. In his own words, Steven "drives ships and fights ships." But before all that, he was our penguin hat-wearin',' Lil' Steve! Always down for some good, clean fun, Steven is one of the most relational people we've ever met, with a truly sweet heart. It won't take you long into this episode to realize Steven is the real deal. What you see is what you get, and this man is a sincere practitioner of the Christian faith. It was so good to catch up with Steven and hear about where he's been, what he's been up to, and how he is now. We invite you to kick back, relax, and listen in on a conversation between friends!

Caroline Davis is a force for good in this world. You know the saying, “Be the change you want to see?” Well, CB embodies that to a T! Truth is, she has since the day we met her. In addition, she’s the queen of cool. Always down for an adventure, Caroline has traveled all over the world, loving and serving people, while building authentic community along the way. Caroline is a speech therapist in Rome, GA, where she lives with her husband, Alex. We invite you to kick back, relax, and listen in on a conversation between friends!

Bryan Landreth has been a pivotal piece of the Simplify movement since before its inception. An ever-present force in our authentic community of faith, Bryan made our work together in Middle Georgia the centerpiece of his adolescent years. After high school graduation, Bryan joined the United States Coast Guard and quickly found himself in the Honor Guard. We tell people Bryan is our very own real-life Forrest Gump! He was assigned to serve at the White House, as well as Washington must-visits such as the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Oftentimes, you could see Bryan on major news outlets, standing on the White House lawn as the President moved from Air Force One into the Oval Office. Bryan is a faithful husband, a devoted father of two, and an incredible son, brother, and friend, to so many. This episode is straight soul food. We invite you to kick back, relax, and listen in on a conversation between friends!

Matt Praiswater is a high-school agriculture educator. From visiting Supervised Agriculture Experience Programs at family farms to conducting greenhouse lessons or overseeing parliamentary procedures during FFA chapter meetings, Matt prioritizes authentic relationships. He is also a trained Financial Peace University facilitator who is passionate about helping families and individuals experience financial freedom. Matt and his wife, Alyssa, have three children and live in Middle Missouri. We invite you to kick back, relax, and listen in on a conversation between friends!

Amber Vroman is the Director of the BSN Program at the University of Missouri’s Sinclair School of Nursing. In addition, she and her husband, Chris, own and operate Foxtail Farms, Inc., in Higbee, Missouri. Amber is an incredible momma to four precious blonde-headed girls: Avery, Adalyn, Etta Jane, and Annie. If you haven’t figured it out by now, Amber is a superwoman; her superpower is taking great care of people and creation! In this episode, Amber shares her story and speaks about the important roles faith, family, and friends have played in her life. We invite you to kick back, relax, and listen in on a conversation between friends!

Alex Aken is such a gift to the world. Born and raised in South Florida, Alex first experienced God at 12 years old while watching a movie in public school, of all places. From that early age, Alex felt a call to ministry on his life. In this episode, Alex shares stories of the significant moments and influential people the Lord has placed in his life to encourage him along the path. Now living in Nashville, TN, with his wife, Dani, Alex is in residency as a hospital chaplain, a position that is stretching and equipping him in new and profound ways. We invite you to kick back, relax, and listen in on a conversation between friends!

Ken Morgan is the epitome of a Christian leader. If ever there was a person who loves God and loves people, it is Ken! He has spent his entire adult life in the trenches of vocational ministry, establishing deep, long-lasting, authentic relationships in every local church and community along the way. Ken’s favorite mission field is the Walmart of any given town, and he has never met a Chick-fil-A he didn’t like. Ken currently serves as the Lead Pastor of Springfield Oaks Church in Springfield, GA. He is blessed to be married to Amy, blessed to be Dad to Christopher, Jeremy, and Abby, and blessed to be loved by Jesus. This is a conversation you don’t want to miss. We invite you to kick back, relax, and listen in on a conversation between friends!

Charles DiRico leads a movement of Fresh Expressions of Church that is known as Word on the Street. The four expressions that have emerged so far are dinner churches or open table meals. Three of those open tables are shared with persons who are experiencing homelessness in the Charlotte, NC, area, and the fourth is a bilingual open table that is shared in a local mobile home community. 

Charles is a graduate of Virginia Tech (BS) and Emory University’s Candler School of Theology (MDiv). He is currently a doctoral candidate at United Theological Seminary, where he is focusing on Fresh Expressions and the Future Church. We invite you to kick back, relax, and listen in on a conversation between friends!

Alexandra Simonton is one big ol’ bundle of joy! Alex earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in early childhood education from Georgia Southern University before making a switch and answering a call to ministry. She is the Digital Media Coordinator and Photographer at Compassion Christian Church in Savannah, Georgia, and the Creative Director at Georgia Southern University's Wesley Foundation in Statesboro, Georgia. Our conversation is chock full of hope and expectation. We invite you to kick back, relax, and listen in on a conversation between friends!

Josiah Kee is a gifted creator and the owner of Launch AV, a video, audio, and drone production company based in Boonville, MO. Born and raised in a very close-knit family, Josiah and his siblings spent much of their formative years learning, growing, and exploring in the river bottoms of Middle Missouri. Josiah’s deep love for the Lord, his family, the outdoors is evident in his work. It is a real pleasure to catch up with him, to hear about all he’s been up to, and to listen to his hopes and dreams for the future. We invite you to kick back, relax, and listen in on a conversation between friends!

When it comes to loving God and loving people, Johnny Bridges is quite the journeyman! Having come to a life of faith in Jesus as a sophomore in high-school, Johnny has spent the years since pursuing Jesus and serving the church. With a heart for music and student ministry, he has exercised his gifts in congregations across South Georgia. In addition, Johnny works alongside our very dear friend, Charity Lucas (ep. 5), at the Brookdale Resource Center in Macon, GA. We invite you to kick back, relax, and listen in on a conversation between friends!

Mindy Henderson has the biggest heart of any person we know! She loves Jesus, her husband, her baby girl, extended family and friends, and teaching middle-school. Easily the most organized person we’ve ever met, Mindy has a plan for everything and makes lists about her lists. When she is involved in anything, you never have to worry about even the smallest detail, and she pours all of these gifts and graces into each and every relationship in her life. There are so many timeless stories in this episode. We invite you to kick back, relax, and listen in on a conversation between friends!

Michael Meeks is a believer, husband, father to two boys, 1st grade teacher, and small business owner of MacArthur Woodworks. He is passionate about glorifying God through creativity, relationships, and discipleship. You can find his woodworking on Instagram, YouTube, or at www.macarthurwoodworks.com. We invite you to kick back, relax, and listen in on a conversation between friends! #livesimplylovemuch

Will Cooper is a dedicated middle school world studies educator with a profound passion for being a voice for the voiceless. Combining his love for teaching with a deep commitment to social justice, Will strives to instill empathy and global awareness in his students. Beyond the classroom, he indulges his wanderlust, exploring diverse cultures and communities around the globe. Will believes that by fostering understanding and compassion, both in the classroom and through his travels, he can inspire the next generation to become compassionate global citizens. We invite you to kick back, relax, and listen in on a conversation between friends!

Travis Smith, a grief counselor and pastor, founded Blue Ridge Hope with a mission to connect individuals with resources that will help them be successful in attaining their emotional goals and reconciling personal loss. Travis is passionate about building community and works hard to help bring hope and healing to individuals who have dealt with hurt in the traditional church. In 2014, he founded “Sacred Ale,” which is Fresh Expression that meets in a local pub. Travis earned his bachelor's degree in religious studies as well as his Master's of Divinity in Pastoral Counseling from Gardner-Webb University in Boiling Springs, NC. He is married to Allyson, and together they have 4 children. We invite you to kick back, relax, and listen in on a conversation between friends!

Jared Middleton is one of the most authentic people we’ve ever met. He is also one of the few people who can embarrass nearly anyone in any environment. It’s like his superpower! Jared is a man of many talents: an avid outdoorsman, a coffee connoisseur, a stunt driver of church vans, and gives the best Captain Morgan poses in the world. On a more serious note, Jared has been a wildly successful youth pastor and lead pastor in local churches. He recently took a sabbatical from pulpit ministry and planted a 24/7 prayer movement in Dublin, GA, where he lives with his wife, Robin, and their teenage sons, Caleb and Jesse. Shenanigans abound anytime we get together, so we assure you this is not an episode you want to miss. We invite you to kick back, relax, and listen in on a conversation between friends!

Trevor Ward, or as we call him “Rev,” is one of the most fun people we know. Always down for an adventure and truly a kid at heart, Rev lights up any room he walks into. He is a man of many talents. From playing multiple instruments to teaching and preaching, from riding his Onewheel through cities to finding the best local joints to eat in every town, life with Rev is a gift. He has served in multiple ministry areas since he was in his mid-twenties, but none top his list of priorities more than his role as a husband and father. It has been a while since we’ve caught up with Rev, so you all are in for a treat! We invite you to kick back, relax, and listen in on a conversation between friends!

Cathy Atkins has consulted with and trained individuals and businesses of all sizes, local and nationally. She is a featured speaker and writer for numerous corporations, trade associations, blogs, and business journals, and manages Inbound Marketing with a local ad agency, fuze32 Marketing - a division of Zimmer Communications. Cathy served as a lay speaker for the United Methodist Church for over 20 years when she felt the call of God on her life to take a more specific role in ministry. In a leap of faith, she now serves bi-vocationally as an ordained pastor for a non-denominational church in Ashland, MO, where she leads with her husband Aaron, an ordained elder. Cathy and Aaron have been married for over 30 years and have two amazing young adult daughters, plus an Australian Shepherd and an Aussie-doodle who are smarter than they are. We invite you to kick back, relax, and listen in on a conversation between friends!