In this episode of Caller ID, B. Davis Wells talks with his friend and former bandmate Mike Parker about identity, calling, and the career shifts that followed a difficult season. Mike traces his path from studying business to nearly 20 years in youth and pastoral ministry, describing how being labeled “pastor” changed relationships and intensified imposter feelings. He shares how pressure to appear calm left him carrying unprocessed emotions until repeated personal and professional brokenness led to anxiety, panic, and his body shutting down, and how learning to process grief and lament became essential. Mike explains his transition into real estate—drawn by business interest and relational “ministry of presence”—and the stress of commission work, his resistance to “salesy” tactics, a grounding personal mantra, and his focus on family, balance, rest, and helping his kids know they’re loved.

00:00 Emotional Weight in Ministry

01:46 Show Intro and Guest Setup

03:53 Meeting Through Music

05:01 Career Arc in 90 Seconds

06:24 Pastor Life and Imposter Syndrome

10:31 Rethinking Calling Beyond Ministry

14:04 Personal Mantra for Anxiety

19:01 Mindfulness and Grounding Rituals

20:31 Pressure to Appear Calm

24:24 Why Real Estate

25:18 House Flips and Crash

25:58 Why Real Estate Fit

26:52 Commission Rollercoaster

29:06 Building Consistent Business

30:24 Selling Without Sleaze

33:10 Ministry Skills in Realty

34:12 Marriage Through Uncertainty

35:24 Ted Lasso vs Larry David

40:28 Presence and Success

43:54 Fatherhood and Love

45:26 Advice to Younger Self

47:18 Closing Reflections

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New episodes drop weekly, featuring conversations with people across disciplines who are thoughtful about their work and honest about the cost of doing it well.

I’m Brandon Davis Wells and thanks for answering the call.