Explore every episode of the podcast UPD Podcast

Former professional MMA fighter Garrett Gross spent years fighting both inside and outside the cage.Before founding Operation 17:2 and dedicating his life to protecting vulnerable children, Garrett's own life was marked by fighting, alcohol, drugs, arrests, incarceration and a relentless pursuit of becoming a professional fighter.In Part 2 of Garrett's conversation with UPD Podcast, Garrett sits down with Andy Lamb and Jonny Hanson to tell the story behind the man.Garrett explains how a childhood love of fighting eventually led him into MMA, where he went 20-2 as an amateur with 17 knockouts before turning professional. But while his fighting career was growing, his personal life was unraveling.Garrett opens up about substance abuse, alcohol, selling drugs, repeated arrests, DUIs and eventually serving time in the Illinois Department of Corrections. It was inside prison, with little else to do, that Garrett first began seriously reading the Bible.But his transformation didn't happen overnight.After prison, Garrett moved to Florida and began trying to rebuild his life. Eventually, he found himself heading to South Florida with a motorcycle, a backpack and $300 to pursue his dream of training at American Top Team.Then his motorcycle broke down.What happened next became one of the defining moments of Garrett's life.After praying that God would put someone in his path who could keep him moving in the right direction, a stranger named Ryan showed up to help Garrett with his motorcycle. Garrett would soon discover that Ryan wasn't just another fighter. He became Garrett's pastor, boss, jiu-jitsu coach and Christian mentor.This conversation isn't just about addiction recovery or MMA.It's about Christian brotherhood, vulnerability, discipleship, shame, isolation, masculinity, addiction, prison, fighting and the slow process of becoming more like Jesus.Following Jesus didn't instantly make Garrett's life easy.It gave him a new reason to fight.If you're battling addiction, shame, isolation or the feeling that your past disqualifies you from being used by God, this conversation is for you.

Garrett Gross hunts child predators.As the founder of Operation 17:2 Garrett and his team use adult decoys posing as minors online to identify adults who demonstrate sexual intent toward children, document the evidence, arrange confrontations, and work toward getting offenders into the hands of law enforcement.In this episode of UPD Podcast, Garrett Gross sits down with Andy Lamb and Jonny Hanson for an intense conversation about the reality of online child predators, protecting children, confronting evil, biblical masculinity, fatherhood, pornography and sexual addiction, and the Christian response to people who have committed horrific acts.Garrett also shares a disturbing story he says he has never told on another podcast about the experience that first opened his eyes to the reality of child sexual abuse and ultimately helped lead him toward this work.But one of the hardest questions in this conversation goes beyond catching predators:What does following Jesus require when you're standing face-to-face with someone you desperately want to hate?Garrett explains why he refuses to assault the men he confronts, why his goal is to see them arrested and removed from access to children, and why he still shares the Gospel with them after they're caught.The conversation also explores the isolation Garrett sees among many offenders, the effects of pornography and sexual brokenness, why men need genuine Christian community, raising children to know Jesus, protecting your family online, discipleship, mentorship, and the difference between biblical manhood and simply appearing tough.This is a difficult conversation, but an important one.Viewer discretion is strongly advised. This episode contains discussion of child sexual abuse, sexual predators, pornography, trafficking, and other disturbing subjects. It is not appropriate for children.Learn more about Operation 17:2:https://www.op17two.com/

Former professional model and Crohn’s & Colitis Lifestyle founder Dane Johnson returns for Part 2 to break down the practical habits he believes helped transform his health.Dane joins UPD Podcast hosts Andy Lamb and Jonny Hansen to discuss gut health, sleep, caffeine, nutrition, hydration, stress, the microbiome, discipline, and the small lifestyle changes that can compound over time. More importantly, the conversation explores why taking care of your physical health can become a deeply spiritual journey.You don’t have to change everything tomorrow. Start somewhere. Build the lifestyle one decision at a time.This episode discusses personal experiences and health opinions and is for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing medications, supplements, diet, or treatment.

Former model and Crohn’s & Colitis Lifestyle founder Dane Johnson joins UPD Podcast to tell the incredible story of going from international modeling jobs to nearly dying from severe Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis.Dane opens up about losing his health, career and identity, facing the possibility of colon removal, wrestling with God through suffering, and ultimately discovering a new purpose through the disease that nearly took his life.In Part 1 of our conversation, we talk chronic illness, faith, identity, adversity, gut health and what happens when the life you thought you wanted begins falling apart.

https://crohnscolitislifestyle.com/

What happens inside your brain as you grow closer to God?Dr. Chuck Coker joins Andy and Jonny to explore the connection between neuroscience and spiritual formation, why following Jesus is a process rather than an instant transformation, how we learn to recognize God's voice, and why failure may actually play a role in spiritual maturity.They also discuss fear and anxiety, prayer, humility, discipleship, community, legalism, forgiveness, and what it looks like to develop a genuinely deeper relationship with Jesus.

What happens when you finally get the success, attention and recognition you thought you wanted… and it still feels empty?After hearing Shawn Ryan talk about stepping away from the noise, metrics and praise to hear God, Jonny and Andy wrestle with success, identity, distraction, smartphones, spiritual discipline and what it actually takes to become still before God.Can you hear God if you never get quiet enough to listen? And are the things you’re chasing actually producing joy, or just keeping you busy?

Jose Lopez spent years living a double life — building an alter ego named "Jeremith Raince" that pulled him deeper into occult rituals, necromancy, pornography addiction, and a satanic subculture he says nearly consumed him. In this raw conversation, Jose sits down with Jonny Hanson and Andy Lamb to unpack what a satanist actually is, how childhood trauma and an absent, angry father set him on this path, and the moment everything changed — a message from a stranger online that led to a dramatic encounter with Jesus in his own bedroom. This episode dives into identity, trauma, addiction, spiritual warfare, and radical redemption. If you or someone you love is caught up in a similar dark identity, this testimony is proof that transformation is possible.

We sit down with Jeremiah Cordovano (Fresh Start Ministries) to find out what it was like growing up alongside recovering addicts and alcoholics, his own path through the Army and into nonprofit board leadership, and how Fresh Start's year-long, faith-based program walks men through four phases: recovery, redemption, restoration, and reintegration. The conversation covers identity, purpose, military transition, family involvement in recovery, and the practical realities of long-term treatment, halfway housing, and life after addiction.Learn more or get involved at https://freshstartministries.com/This episode is part of UPD Podcast's Finding Freedom series, exploring addiction recovery through the lens of faith, community, and lived experience.#AddictionRecovery #FindingFreedom #FreshStartMinistries #ChristianRecovery #UPDPodcast #SoberLiving #FaithAndRecovery #MinistryLife #PurposeAfterAddiction #VeteranTransition

Neuroscientist Dr. Trish Leigh joins Jonny Hanson and Andy Lamb to break down the brain science behind pornography and sex addiction. Dr. Leigh explains how early exposure rewires the brain's reward pathways, why the average age of first exposure has dropped to 8 years old, and how a "supernormal stimulus" leads to dopamine desensitization, erectile dysfunction, and compulsive behavior. She introduces her concepts of strain brain and drain brain, walks through the brain's rewiring timeline, and shares practical strategies — including dopamine stacking, accountability, and emotional intelligence — for anyone seeking freedom from porn addiction. Dr. Leigh is the author of Mind Over Explicit Matter and founder of the Desire Rewire program.Learn more about Dr. Leigh's work at http://drtrishleigh.com/This episode is part of UPD Podcast's Finding Freedom series, exploring addiction recovery through the lens of neuroscience and Christian faith.

In this episode of the UPD Podcast, Jonny Hanson and Andy Lamb sit down with Mitch Benner and Cash Case from the Shattered Darkness Podcast ( @ShatteredDarknessPodcast ) to talk about their personal journeys through addiction, mental health struggles, and finding recovery through faith.Mitch and Cash open up about hitting rock bottom, going through rehab, and the long road to rebuilding their lives, marriages, and families. They talk honestly about anger, shame, and the mental health challenges that came with recovery — and how their faith became the foundation for lasting change.

Most people don't know the 12 steps of AA came straight out of a Bible study group in the 1930s. Two guys who lived through addiction break down the real, faith-rooted history of AA — and why "just stop drinking" never works.

Why are so many Christian men struggling to lead their families, churches, and lives? In this episode of UPD Podcast, Dr. Joe Rigney joins Jonny Hanson and Andy Lamb to discuss biblical manhood, soberminded-ness, leadership, emotional sabotage, spiritual warfare, responsibility, and the controversial ideas behind The Sin of Empathy. Together they unpack Adam and Eve, David and Bathsheba, biblical leadership, discipleship, Bible reading, and how men can stop reacting emotionally and begin leading with courage, conviction, and wisdom. Whether you're a Christian, skeptic, husband, father, pastor, or young man searching for purpose, this conversation offers practical and biblical insight into becoming the man God calls you to be.

What happens after someone gives their life to Christ? Why do so many people walk away from faith shortly after salvation? In this episode of UPD Podcast, Jonny Hanson and Andy Lamb discuss spiritual warfare, addiction recovery, shame, mentorship, discipleship, church community, and the reality of following Jesus. From personal stories of sobriety and brokenness to conversations about demons, spiritual attack, accountability, and the power of Christian mentorship, this episode offers practical wisdom for new believers, skeptics, and anyone searching for purpose, healing, and truth.

The desire never fully goes away. David knew it. Samson knew it. Solomon knew it — and they all fell anyway.So what do you do with it?

In a world of spin, manipulation, and headline outrage, trust is collapsing, and it’s fracturing community. In this episode of Untrained Philosophical Discussionists, Jonny Hanson and Andy Lamb sit down with Pastor Matt Sanders to unpack the ninth commandment: “Do not bear false witness.”This is not just “don’t lie.” It’s about how truth can be weaponized, how gossip and slander destroy people, and why a “small” exaggeration can poison your integrity. They break down the original courtroom context (no cameras, no forensics, no receipts) and why your reputation and words were literally life-or-death in ancient communities, then bring it straight into modern life: comment sections, social media, politics, and the temptation to stay silent when someone is misrepresented.

Most people think "thou shalt not steal" is about taking someone else's stuff. The Bible goes much deeper. In this conversation with Father Daniel Hickman, we explore the Eighth Commandment, trust in God, generosity, discipleship, greed, gossip, stewardship, and the hidden ways we take from others without realizing it. Whether you're a committed Christian, skeptical of faith, or simply searching for truth, this episode will challenge how you think about money, purpose, relationships, and what it means to follow Jesus.

“You shall not commit adultery.”

Seems obvious. Until it isn’t.In this episode of our Ten Commandments series, Jonny Hanson and Andy Lamb sit down with Pastor David Loveless, who went viral after publicly confessing to cheating on his wife while leading a thriving church.This is not a theoretical conversation. It is raw. It is honest. And it is deeply redemptive.To see more of David's story, head to https://davidloveless.com/

With special guest Pastor Jake Sweetman (Cathedral in Los Angeles)The sixth commandment seems simple: “You shall not murder.”You probably think you pass the test.Jesus disagrees.

What does it really mean to honor your father and mother? In this episode, we unpack the fifth commandment and confront one of the most misunderstood teachings in the Ten Commandments. Does honoring your parents mean blind obedience? What if they failed you, hurt you, or were never spiritually healthy? We explore biblical honor vs obedience, boundaries, generational impact, and the promise attached to this commandment. Whether you’re a committed Christian, deconstructing your faith, or skeptical about authority altogether, this conversation will challenge how you think about family, responsibility, and spiritual maturity.

Are Christians misunderstanding Sabbath, rest, and burnout?

Pastor Luke Lezon from Quay Church helps us unpack what the Bible actually says about work, rest, masculinity, purpose, and why so many men today feel exhausted, distracted, anxious, and disconnected.

From burnout culture and productivity obsession to pornography, social media addiction, and the rise of Gen Z returning to church, this conversation explores how biblical rhythm, discipline, and delight in God might be the missing piece modern culture is searching for.

Is the third commandment about more than using God's name as a swear word?In this episode of our Ten Commandments series, Jonny Hanson, Andy Lamb, and Pastor Mike Price from Grace Church Orlando unpack what “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God” actually means.

What are modern graven images, and how do you know if something has quietly taken God’s place in your life?

The Ten Commandments can feel ancient, even outdated. But in this first episode of our Ten Commandments series, Andy Lamb, Jonny Hanson, and Pastor Mike Adkins (Grace Church Orlando) unpack why the first commandment is not just a rule, it’s a rescue.Exodus 20 starts with relationship, not a threat: “I am the Lord your God who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.” We talk about why God starts there, how slavery shapes identity, and why “no other gods before me” is the foundation for every other command.We also connect the ancient world’s transactional gods to modern idols like money, success, security, relationships, and control. If an idol is anything that competes with your affection for God, then it also demands sacrifice. The question is: what is your life sacrificing to right now?

What is the church actually supposed to be and why do so many men feel stuck, disconnected, or uninvolved? In this episode, we answer real questions about faith, purpose, serving, and community. From the biblical definition of the church to why most people never take the next step, this conversation challenges passive belief and calls you into something deeper. Whether you're a Christian, skeptic, or just exploring faith, this will push you to rethink what it really means to follow Jesus and live it out.

Why does everything feel chaotic, divided, and unstable right now, and why isn’t anything fixing it? This episode exposes the hidden “religions” we build around politics, identity, and control and why only Jesus offers real peace, clarity, and purpose.

Gabe Poirot shares his near-death experience after a traumatic skateboarding accident, where he says he left his body, visited heaven, and met Jesus face to face.

Why do so many men feel stuck, lost, or without purpose? In this powerful fireside conversation, a group of men open up about addiction, masculinity, faith, brotherhood, and what it really takes to follow Jesus. This episode challenges the idea that there’s an easy path in life and explores the truth that both paths are hard, but only one leads to purpose. If you’re wrestling with discipline, identity, faith, or what it means to be a man in today’s culture, this conversation will push you to think deeper and live differently.

Is the justice system really broken, or is it doing exactly what it was designed to do?

We sit down with attorney Josh Horton, a former addict and repeat offender turned lawyer, exposes how addiction, incarceration, mental health, and profit collide inside America’s legal system.

We talk about why so many recovery programs fail, why the church needs to step into the addiction crisis, and why this battle is deeper than politics or policy.

If you care about justice, recovery, faith, or the future of men in this culture, this conversation will challenge the way you see the system.

Josh Horton’s story is one of the most powerful addiction and redemption testimonies you’ll hear. After losing his father in a tragic accident at only eight weeks old, Josh grew up surrounded by alcohol, trauma, and broken family dynamics. By age 13 he was drinking, by 15 he was being arrested, and eventually he accumulated nearly 30 arrests, jail time, and a life spiraling toward death.But this story doesn’t end there. Through recovery, faith, and a slow return to God, Josh rebuilt his life — eventually earning a law degree and becoming an attorney dedicated to helping others escape addiction and broken systems.

Ever feel like your past mistakes disqualify you from being the spiritual leader of your family? Like you can’t lead your wife well because porn, distractions, and pressure keep pulling you back? In this episode of Untrained Philosophical Discussionists, Jonny Hanson and Andy Lamb unpack five core struggles men face after coming to Jesus: identity, integrity, vulnerability, temptation, and the fear that it’s “too late.”

In this episode, Jonny Hanson and Andy Lamb talk about readiness and restraint: how to become battle ready as a Christian without becoming the wrong kind of man. We unpack why social media trains us to be reactionary, how “meekness” is actually bridled strength, and how to discern which hills are worth dying on.

We are surrounded by outrage, addiction, and constant distraction, and a lot of us feel like life is out of balance. In this episode, Jonny Hanson and Andy Lamb unpack the difference between what culture calls “peace” and what the Bible calls a sound mind.

Revival has broken out at Southeastern University (SEU) in Lakeland, Florida, where multi-day worship and repentance services have led the school to pause classes. Here's our reaction.

We’re doing something different today: reacting to your comments, emails, and a few spicy quotes. We talk about reverence for God (Father vs “dad”), why people question celebrity faith, and the debate around Christian artists monetizing merch and VIP experiences. We also break down a viral clip about weed and following Jesus, plus how to think biblically about being sober-minded without sliding into legalism.

This is not a highlight reel. It’s a real conversation about what addiction does to your body, your relationships, your identity, and your hope. Jonny shares how people along the way helped him see the truth, how relapse pulled him back under, and how one late-night phone call to a pastor became the turning point that led to rehab, surrender, and a brand new life.

UPD Podcast's own Andy Lamb shares his unfiltered story: growing up in church but feeling abandoned, chasing the party life, addiction, arrests, cocaine, church hurt, marriage chaos, and the moment he finally said, “I’m an addict. I don’t know what to do.” This isn’t a highlight reel. It’s a real testimony about relapse, rock bottom, and what changed when Jesus met him in the mess.

What does it actually mean to “fear the Lord”?

Feeling stuck in a loop you can’t explain? This episode breaks down generational trauma and “generational curses” as learnable patterns you can actually change, with practical steps to start today.

Why does sin rarely show up looking dangerous?In this Proverbs episode of the Untrained Philosophical Discussionists (UPD Podcast), Andy and Jonny unpack Proverbs 1:10 and explore how temptation works in real life. From cutting corners in business to justifying shady tax decisions, this conversation dives into how sin often entices us through logic, community, and normalization.

Jesus faced the same three temptations that trapped Adam and Eve: hunger, power, and pride. In Matthew 4, we unpack how he resisted, why it mattered, and what it teaches us about fighting temptation with trust, Scripture, prayer, and community.

What happens when hope is delayed and the answers never seem to come?

The Old Testament is not just ancient history. It is a roadmap pointing directly to Jesus.In this episode of the UPD Podcast, Jonny and Andy continue their Fall of Man series by unpacking how the Old Testament prophets foretold the coming of the Messiah hundreds and even thousands of years before Jesus was born. From Genesis 3:15 to Isaiah 53, Micah, Psalms, and Exodus, this conversation traces God’s redemptive plan from the garden to the cross.

In this UPD Podcast Proverb breakdown, Andy and Jonny unpack Proverbs 1:31 and what it really teaches about consequences, sin, and the fruit of our choices. Using real life stories, Galatians 6, and the wisdom literature theme of the wise versus the fool, they explain why God is not blocking your fun but protecting your future. A powerful look at sowing, reaping, and the hidden cost of sin.

Former Mormon Dave Swensen shares his powerful story of leaving the LDS church, discovering who Jesus really is, and why Mormon doctrine differs from biblical Christianity.

What really happened in the Garden of Eden?Why did one decision change human history forever?And why does the fall of Adam and Eve still affect us today?In this episode of Untrained Philosophical Discussionists (UPD), Jonny Hanson and Andy Lamb kick off a new series by diving deep into Genesis 1–3, unpacking the creation of humanity, the image of God, free will, original sin, and the devastating consequences of the fall.

Former Mormon Dave Swensen shares his powerful story of leaving the LDS church, discovering who Jesus really is, and why Mormon doctrine differs from biblical Christianity.

Dave Swensen grew up in the heart of Utah’s Mormon culture, fully committed to the LDS church, its prophets, and its doctrines. He served a mission in Tokyo, attended the temple weekly, and lived by every rule.

But after a series of personal crises, deep questions, and an encounter with the audible voice of God, Dave began a journey out of Mormonism and into a real relationship with Jesus.

Demon possession. Oppression. Mental health. Spiritual warfare.In today’s UPD Podcast episode, Jonny and Andy sit down with longtime friend and missionary Paul Madison, who spent years serving in Central America, Indonesia, and Islamic regions where encounters with the demonic were not rare but part of everyday ministry.

Proverbs 26:11 says, “As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.”Today we break down what Solomon really meant, why this warning is still true today, and how the New Testament deepens this idea through the words of Jesus in Luke 11.

What should Christians actually believe about spiritual warfare?

Today on the UPD Podcast, Andy and Jonny dig deep into the Bible, church history, deliverance ministry, the rise of demon obsession online, and what really gives the enemy a foothold in a person’s life.

In this Proverbs study, Jonny and Andy break down what biblical wisdom really is, why it is more than knowledge, and how it becomes a shield that protects us in every season of life. This conversation digs into the Hebrew meanings behind words like forsake, protect, love, and watch over. You will see wisdom in a new light and understand why God calls us to cherish it, guard it, and pursue it for a lifetime.