Pastor Ed Newton joins Levi and Jennie for a conversation that’s equal parts hilarious, holy, and deeply healing. From mutual half-Filipino spouses (and the great “Tagalog” debate) to the way Ed grew up as the primary interpreter for his deaf parents, this episode is packed with stories that will make you laugh—and then suddenly swallow a lump in your throat.

Ed opens up about the hidden “not enough” loop that can follow even the most fruitful ministry, the moment (December 26, 2023) he didn’t want to live anymore, and how God met him in the rebuild through counseling and recovery. Along the way, you’ll hear the powerful origin story behind his book Why Not You? Believing What God Believes About You—and why your worst “kryptonite” might just become the very place God writes your greatest strength.

Connect with us on social!

Ed: @pastorednewton

Levi: @levilusko

Jennie: @jennielusko

Fresh Life Church: @freshlife

[Links]

Read Why Not You?: https://bit.ly/49UZBI8

Connect with Pastor Ed: https://bit.ly/4t49zQf

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Get the Lusketeer Sticker: https://bit.ly/sdl4sHY

Subscribe for more exclusive content: https://levilusko.com/hitl-subscribe

0:03:10 – College hoops, ministry dreams, and meeting Stephanie

0:05:32 – The interpreter who changed everything: Ed’s salvation story

0:08:04 – Growing up in a deaf home: the miracle backstory

0:17:44 – “God gave you to us”: the moment that reframed his life

0:33:42 – “We found you on YouTube”: the CBC call and the pivot

0:39:18 – December 26, 2023

Levi and Jennie are back with a LIVE hot-takes edition—reacting to spicy “unpopular opinions” from the Lusketeers and letting the conversation do what it does best: swerve into laughter, rabbit trails, and the occasional “wait… is this actually deep?” moment.

From fish (unless it’s sushi) to airplane toe etiquette, from bowling germs to Disney adults, the banter stays playful—but it also turns thoughtful when the topic shifts to parenting, phones, and the tension between conviction and Christian liberty. Expect strong opinions, zero chill, and at least one memorable chemistry lesson: iron oxide.

Connect with us on social!

Levi: @levilusko

Jennie: @jennielusko

Fresh Life Church: @freshlife

[Links]

Episode 207 with Gracie Binion: https://bit.ly/45rdlZU

Get the 5 Gallon Bucket: https://bit.ly/sdl4sHY

Get the Lusketeer Sticker: https://bit.ly/sdl4sHY

Subscribe for more exclusive content: https://levilusko.com/hitl-subscribe

Time Stamps

0:01:26 – “Fish is disgusting”… unless it’s sushi

0:09:50 – McDonald’s coffee vs Starbucks

0:16:04 – Plane etiquette: socks, sandals, and keeping your toes to yourself

0:22:12 – Bowling is gross… and so is thinking about those finger holes

0:30:53 – Kids, phones, and why “Christian should/shouldn’t” gets complicated

0:40:34 – “Christian music doesn’t exist” + Disney adults + left/right hacks

Jacob Coyne—founder of Stay Here—joins Levi and Jennie for an honest, hope-filled conversation about suicide prevention, mental health, and what it looks like to love people like Jesus when they’re hurting. This episode goes deep, but it’s also packed with practical help and real stories of lives being saved.

You’ll hear how Stay Here equips churches, schools, and students to recognize warning signs, start the conversation, and take action—plus why purpose, community, and courage matter more than we think. And if you’re listening and you’ve been battling dark thoughts, please know this: you’re seen, you’re loved, and help is available. Don’t carry it alone—stay here.

Connect with us on social!

Jacob: @jacobcoyne

Stay Here: @stayhereorg

Levi: @levilusko

Jennie: @jennielusko

Fresh Life Church: @freshlife

[Links]

Stay Here (resources + live chat): https://bit.ly/4r0zmH7

ACT Suicide Prevention Training: https://bit.ly/3LmD5zS

Stay Here Student Ambassador Program: https://bit.ly/3LTmB2g

Stay Here Lifeline Bands: https://bit.ly/3YQGPwx

Get the 5 Gallon Bucket: https://bit.ly/sdl4sHY

Get the Lusketeer Sticker: https://bit.ly/sdl4sHY

Subscribe for more exclusive content: https://levilusko.com/hitl-subscribe

Time Stamps

0:00:03 – A heads-up: this conversation goes heavy (and hopeful)

0:01:46 – Why Jacob started Stay Here after devastating losses

0:07:25 – Lifeline bands, 988 access, and taking hope into schools

0:31:15 – Rocket ship vs. home: choosing to build what lasts

0:50:37 – The ACT training in real life: a bridge, a friend, and a saved life

1:01:35 – If you’re hurting: speak up, get help, and stay here

Alex and Henry Seeley (The Belonging Co) are back for a wide-open catch-up that somehow hits everything—from family life and church growth in Tennessee to new music, new campuses, and what it’s like building a multi-location church with video preaching.

Then the conversation turns holy (and hilarious) as Alex shares about her upcoming book The Divine Counselor—a fresh, needed look at Holy Spirit as a Person, not just a symbol. And Henry tells the unforgettable story of a midnight drive that became a defining encounter… complete with “walking” Holy Spirit into their home.

Connect with us on social!

Alex: @alexseeley

Henry: @henryseeley

Levi: @levilusko

Jennie: @jennielusko

Fresh Life Church: @freshlife

[Links]

Pre-Order The Divine Counselor: https://bit.ly/49aFab5

The Belonging Co (Music): https://bit.ly/45u9BXq

Belonging Co Conference: https://bit.ly/4svdo0p

Get the 5 Gallon Bucket: https://bit.ly/sdl4sHY

Get the Lusketeer Sticker: https://bit.ly/sdl4sHY

Subscribe for more exclusive content: https://levilusko.com/hitl-subscribe

00:42 – What’s new with the Seeleys (kids, college, life)

02:06 – Foreclosure hit + new land for Franklin

05:34 – Monster trucks, green rooms, and “is it haunted?”

13:35 – The Divine Counselor: Why We Need Holy Spirit as Counselor

20:11 – A revival season and a long day of testimonies

41:18 – New music: The Chorus + the single “Myths”

Kait and JJ Tomlin (the couple behind Heart of Dating) join Levi and Jennie for a hilarious, super-helpful conversation about what dating looks like right now—and why so many women feel frustrated while so many men feel shut down. From “80% isn’t enough” expectations to the weird ways dating apps have turned people into filters and checkboxes, they get real about what’s happening in the church and what actually helps.

Along the way, they unpack what to look for beneath the surface (hello, teachability + humility), why “trajectory” matters more than perfection, and how to think about attraction with more wisdom than a swipe. Plus, you’ll hear their own unexpected meet-cute—from a Zoom “blind date bachelor” moment to long-distance FaceTimes and a relationship built on character (wolf sweater and all).

Connect with us on social!

Kait: @kaitness

JJ: @jjtomlin

Levi: @levilusko

Jennie: @jennielusko

Fresh Life Church: @freshlife

[Links]

Heart of Dating:

Heart of Dating Podcast:

School of Dating (16-week mentorship):

Get the 5 Gallon Bucket: https://bit.ly/sdl4sHY

Get the Lusketeer Sticker: https://bit.ly/sdl4sHY

Subscribe for more exclusive content: https://levilusko.com/hitl-subscribe

Time Stamps

01:50 – The dating convo everyone needs (not just singles)

03:10 – Why women feel stuck and men feel discouraged

11:17 – The real “bar” for maturity: responsibility + discipleship

19:55 – Drop the filters: height, attraction, and dating apps

27:14 – Their Zoom meet-cute (and “Emily” makes an appearance)

40:02 – Heart of Dating: podcast, mentorship, coaching, and community

Grayson and Jezlyn Bearden join Levi and Jennie for a conversation that starts with real-life parenting hilarity (minivan life, sleep training, and surviving “three under three”) and quickly turns into something deeply powerful: what it looks like to walk through addiction, betrayal, and restoration—together.

With honesty and hope, the Beardens share their redemption story, the difference between rushing back to a platform vs. getting truly healthy, and the practical road of recovery (community, accountability, and walking in the light). If you’ve ever felt like your story is too messy to be meaningful, this episode is a reminder that God does some of His best work right in the middle of it.

Connect with us on social!

Grayson: @graysonbearden

Jezlyn: @jezlynbearden

Levi: @levilusko

Jennie: @jennielusko

Fresh Life Church: @freshlife

[Links]

Between Us Podcast: https://bit.ly/49nml3d

Get the 5 Gallon Bucket: https://bit.ly/sdl4sHY

Get the Lusketeer Sticker: https://bit.ly/sdl4sHY

Subscribe for more exclusive content: https://levilusko.com/hitl-subscribe

Time Stamps

0:00:32 – Full hearts, full vans, and boy-mom bathroom hacks

0:04:11 – Sleep training, sound machines, and travel sleep setups

0:12:55 – Stop calling it chaos: choosing “full” language

0:17:56 – Teen pregnancy, blended family, and church support done right

0:29:53 – When hidden sin surfaced, and healing got real

0:45:14 – Divorce papers, wise voices, and fighting for the home

Jonathan Pokluda sits down with Levi and Jennie for a conversation that’s equal parts laugh-out-loud and deeply grounding. JP unpacks his 16-day hospital saga—how it started with a leg not working right, turned into a diagnosis of transverse myelitis, and somehow included an unforgettable “marriage moment” that belongs in the Hall of Fame.

From spiritual warfare to being aware without being afraid, and what JP learned while researching Your Story Has a Villain—including the country club moment in Aspen that made everything feel painfully real. Plus: Halloween, discernment, and even the surprisingly practical question of how to use AI as a tool without letting it use you—followed by a closing story about a cold plunge that… never actually happened.

Connect with us on social!

JP: @jpokluda

Levi: @levilusko

Jennie: @jennielusko

Fresh Life Church: @freshlife

[Links]

Your Story Has a Villain: https://bit.ly/4ai2rsH

Becoming Something Podcast: https://bit.ly/4rZROB6

Get the 5 Gallon Bucket: https://bit.ly/sdl4sHY

Get the Lusketeer Sticker: https://bit.ly/sdl4sHY

Subscribe for more exclusive content: https://levilusko.com/hitl-subscribe

Time Stamps

0:01:43 – Six-toed cats and the weird grace of being “different”

0:03:24 – JP’s 16-day hospital scare and the symptoms that changed everything

0:16:54 – Real marriage: praying fire for a bowel movement

0:23:20 – Why JP wrote Your Story Has a Villain

0:28:49 – The Aspen Country Club story that made spiritual warfare unmistakable

0:44:06 – Loving God “on purpose,” AI guardrails, and using tools wisely

The Lusko kids join Levi and Jennie for a cozy, hilarious, end-of-2025 family episode—full of memories, real talk, and the kind of side comments only siblings can pull off. Together they look back on the year’s big moments: college life, tennis wins, learner’s permits, a meaningful baptism, and the wild joy of serving together.

You’ll hear the behind-the-scenes of the Bolivia mission trip (including travel chaos and a few very memorable mishaps), plus a rapid-fire stroll through favorite podcast episodes, sermon series that hit home, and the books/music that shaped the year. They wrap it all by looking ahead to 2026 with practical goals and spiritual rhythms.

Connect with us on social!

Levi: @levilusko

Jennie: @jennielusko

Fresh Life Church: @freshlife

[Links]

Gospels in a year (Print Ed.): https://bit.ly/4pQG2HN

Gospels in a year (Digital Ed.): https://bit.ly/3L4HSWm

Movement 2026: https://www.mvmnt26.com

Get the 5 Gallon Bucket: https://bit.ly/sdl4sHY

Get the Lusketeer Sticker: https://bit.ly/sdl4sHY

Subscribe for more exclusive content: https://levilusko.com/hitl-subscribe

Time Stamps

0:01:07 – New Year’s as a “holy day” and old-school traditions

0:03:38 – 2025 family updates: college, baptism, tennis, and big milestones

0:08:34 – Bolivia mission trip stories: Compassion kids + travel mayhem

0:13:07 – Favorite podcast moments from the year (and the unforgettable ones)

0:15:07 – Blessed Are the Spiraling launch: 7 cities, 7 days, 7 runs

0:26:35 – What God taught them in 2025 + 2026 goals and a Gospels plan