The Rest is Just Geography – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode, Chesed sits down with Sean, a 22-year-old graduate student, to hear the story of how God used short term missions to impact him. Sean shares how serving in Romania, combined with what he was learning in the classroom, opened his eyes to the beauty of culture, the realities of global need, and God’s heart for the nations.

After Sean tells his story, the conversation turns practical and thoughtful. Chesed and Sean talk about why short-term missions should be approached differently than long-term missions, what can go wrong when trips aren’t done well, and what it actually takes for short-term missions to be healthy, humble, and genuinely helpful. This episode invites listeners to rethink why we go, how we go, and what God might be doing - both around the world and in us - along the way.

This episode was produced by Chesed Anne Dent Fitzsimons.

Podcast editing: Chesed Anne Dent Fitzsimons, Peyton Rice

Podcast music: Endless Bliss — written by Sander Kalmeijer, performed and produced by Sounds Like Sander.

Podcast cover image: Photography and design by Jonathan Brown.

Please note that guests of this podcast may use pseudonyms.

If you are interested in learning more about the organization Sean served with overseas, GEM, you can check them out here: https://gemission.org/

In this episode of The Rest Is Just Geography, a podcast out of Liberty University, Chesed sits down with Tanya who serves as the Director of Mobilization for Converge. She shares her story of how God first called her overseas - and how that call continues to shape her work today. Tanya reflects on her journey to Ukraine, where she lived and served for over a decade, and the ways God taught her how to plant herself in that place and people.

Now back in the United States, Tanya helps guide and mobilize others who are discerning a call to cross-cultural service. Together, she and Chesed talk through practical and often-overlooked things to be aware of when beginning conversations with missions organizations—from asking good questions and understanding expectations, to recognizing personal readiness and organizational fit. Whether you’re just starting to sense God stirring your heart for the nations or walking alongside someone who is, this conversation offers wisdom, clarity, and encouragement for the road ahead.

This episode was produced by Chesed Anne Dent Fitzsimons.

Podcast editing: Chesed Anne Dent Fitzsimons, Andrea Alvaredo.

Podcast music: Endless Bliss — written by Sander Kalmeijer, performed and produced by Sounds Like Sander.

Podcast cover image: Photography and design by Jonathan Brown.

Please note that guests of this podcast may use pseudonyms.

If you are interested in learning more about the organization Tanya works for, Converge, you may find more information at https://converge.org/

In the first episode of Season 2 of The Rest is Just Geography, a podcast from Liberty University, Chesed sits down with Marie, an adult Third Culture Kid (TCK), for the first of three conversations. Together, they reflect on the ways their lives have been interwoven across seasons and how God used the process of discipleship to shape their faith, their friendship, and deepen their understanding of Scripture. As they share their journeys, they return to shared Scripture and reflect on the ways God was with them and worked in them.

This episode invites listeners into the beginning of Marie’s story and sets the foundation for the conversations that will continue throughout the season.

This episode was produced by Chesed Anne DentFitzsimons.Podcast editing: Peyton Rice & Chesed Anne Dent Fitzsimons.Podcast music: Endless Bliss — written by Sander Kalmeijer,performed and produced by Sounds Like Sander.Podcast cover image: Original photograph by Jonathan Brown, Graphic design and layout by Rob Dent

In this season finale of The Rest is Just Geography, a podcast from Liberty University, Chesed sits down with her mom, Anne Dent, to share her story of stepping into marriage and adulthood while living overseas for the first time. Through her story, we uncover a powerful lesson God taught her in that season: the importance of being temporarily permanent—choosing to dig deep and invest fully, even when the time in a place is short.

“There’s a big difference between being temporarily permanent and permanently temporary,” she often says, and in this episode, we unpack how that mindset shaped their family’s rhythms, especially around holidays. From Thanksgiving and Christmas to celebrations in unexpected places, Chesed and her mom share how they created meaningful traditions for familiar holidays wherever they were—while also embracing new cultural celebrations along the way.

As we wrap up Season 1 and head into the holiday season, this conversation invites you to embrace presence, purpose, and joy—no matter where in the world you find yourself. Season 2 launches in January!

Produced by: Chesed Anne Dent Fitzsimons
Podcast editing: Peyton Rice, Cohen Kern, & Chesed Anne Dent Fitzsimons
Podcast music: Endless Bliss — written by Sander Kalmeijer, performed and produced by Sounds Like Sander
Podcast cover image: Created by Chesed Anne Dent Fitzsimons using AI-generated artwork

In this part 2 episode of The Rest is Just Geography, Chesed continues the conversation with Caleb, a fellow third culture kid (TCK), diving deeper into what it means to navigate the emerging adult years while carrying a globally-shaped story. Building on Part 1, where they explored identity, transition, and the role of biblical literacy, this episode focuses on the invitation to process difficult experiences in order to grow in to a maturity that is both emotional and spiritual.

Together, they reflect on how God meets us in these spaces as “the God of all comfort” (2 Corinthians 1:3–4), offering hope and healing even when our stories feel fragmented. Through honest dialogue and practical insights, Chesed and Caleb invite listeners to consider how grace and growth intersect in the midst of cross-cultural complexity.

Produced by: Chesed Anne Dent FitzsimonsPodcast editing: Peyton Rice, Cohen Kern, & Chesed Anne Dent FitzsimonsPodcast music: Endless Bliss — written by Sander Kalmeijer, performed and produced by Sounds Like SanderPodcast cover image: Created by Chesed Anne Dent Fitzsimons using AI-generated artwork

In this part 1 episode of The Rest is Just Geography, a podcast from Liberty University, Chesed sits down with Caleb, a fellow TCK, to reflect on their journeys and what it was like to move to the United States for college.

The conversation begins by defining key terms that shape the third culture kid (TCK) experience, offering a framework to better understand the unique challenges and strengths of growing up between worlds. Caleb and Chesed share personal stories of transitioning to life in the United States for college, highlighting cultural adjustments, identity questions, and moments of growth. Throughout their journey, biblical literacy played a vital role, offering comfort and clarity as they connected with God’s story and the cross-cultural lives of biblical characters they could deeply resonate with.

This episode was produced by Chesed Anne Dent Fitzsimons.
Podcast editing: Peyton Rice & Chesed Anne Dent Fitzsimons.
Podcast music: Endless Bliss — written by Sander Kalmeijer, performed and produced by Sounds Like Sander.
Podcast cover image: Created by Chesed Anne Dent Fitzsimons using AI-generated artwork.

In Part 2 of this two-part conversation on The Rest is Just Geography, a podcast from Liberty University, Chesed continues her discussion with Janelle, a graduate student studying counseling, to explore how we can respond well to culture shock and transition. Building on the foundation from Part 1, this episode focuses on practical strategies for navigating the emotional and spiritual challenges that often come with cross-cultural movement.

Together, Chesed and Janelle share helpful tips for managing transition in healthy ways, offering insights from both personal experience and professional perspective. The episode concludes with Chesed sharing her favorite Scripture passage for seasons of transition— Exodus 6:1-8.

This episode was produced by Chesed Anne Dent Fitzsimons.Podcast editing: Cohen Kern, Peyton Rice, & Chesed Anne Dent Fitzsimons.Podcast music: Endless Bliss — written by Sander Kalmeijer, performed and produced by Sounds Like Sander.Podcast cover image created by Chesed Anne Dent Fitzsimons using AI-generated artwork.

In this episode of The Rest is Just Geography, a podcast from Liberty University, Chesed sits down with Janelle, a graduate student studying counseling, to explore the emotional and psychological journey of transition and culture shock. Together, they unpack the general pattern of how culture shock unfolds, common responses people experience, and the internal shifts that often accompany cross-cultural movement.

This is the first of a two-part conversation. In this episode, the focus is on understanding the process—what it tends to look like and why it matters. In the next episode, Chesed and Janelle will dive deeper into healthy ways to respond to culture shock and transition.

At the end of this episode, Janelle shares how Galatians 5:25 encouraged her during her own cross-cultural experiences, offering a meaningful reflection on how faith can anchor us in seasons of change.

This episode was produced by Chesed Anne Dent Fitzsimons.
Podcast editing: Cohen Kern, Peyton Rice, & Chesed Anne Dent Fitzsimons.
Podcast music: Endless Bliss — written by Sander Kalmeijer, performed and produced by Sounds Like Sander.
Podcast cover image created by Chesed Anne Dent Fitzsimons using AI-generated artwork.

Fisher's Transition Curve: https://www.scribd.com/document/768106536/fisher-transition-curve-2012-1

In this episode of The Rest is Just Geography, a podcast from Liberty University, Chesed sits down with Maggie, an adult Third Culture Kid (TCK) who, after graduating college, moved to a country she had never lived in before. Now five months into her new life abroad, Maggie shares what it was like to walk through the in-between season—between graduation and settling into a new place of investment.

Through thoughtful reflection on her own journey and the story of the Israelites in their 40-year wilderness, Maggie shares how God revealed the beauty and purpose of transitional seasons. She speaks candidly about learning to be faithful in the waiting and how Scripture reminded her that the wilderness is purposeful when it’s part of God’s plan.

This episode was produced by Chesed Anne Dent Fitzsimons. Podcast editing: Cohen Kern & Chesed Anne Dent Fitzsimons. Podcast music: Endless Bliss — written by Sander Kalmeijer, performed and produced by Sounds Like Sander. Podcast cover image created by Chesed Anne Dent Fitzsimons using AI-generated artwork.

In this episode of The Rest is Just Geography, a podcast from Liberty University, Chesed sits down with Michael—who’s back—to talk about reentry (returning to your passport country after spending time overseas) and how to process it.

They share personal stories, some lighthearted and some reflective, exploring how reentry is its own kind of cross-cultural adjustment. Together, they discuss how to engage this often-overlooked transition in a way that honors the Lord, offering insight into how faith shapes the journey back.

This episode was produced by Chesed Anne Dent Fitzsimons. Podcast editing: Cohen Kern & Chesed Anne Dent Fitzsimons. Podcast music: Endless Bliss — written by Sander Kalmeijer, performed and produced by Sounds Like Sander. Podcast cover image created by Chesed Anne Dent Fitzsimons using AI-generated artwork.