What happens when you say "yes" to God's calling? Is divine peace supposed to wash over you, confirming your decision? Or might God's most authentic invitations be the ones that cost you something significant?

In this raw, unfiltered conversation between Ashley and her friend Mehki Key, they dismantle the myth of the painless "yes" that pervades much of contemporary Christian culture. Drawing from their personal experiences—including Makai's military service and Ashley's decision to turn down lucrative job offers for ministry work—they expose how true discipleship often feels like death to our desires and preferences.

"Your yes to God will cost you something, but it's worth it because it establishes the kingdom in you," Ashley reflects, challenging listeners to consider what they've surrendered for their faith. The conversation examines how biblical figures like Jesus himself experienced no peace in Gethsemane, sweating drops of blood as he faced the ultimate sacrifice.

The pair wrestle with how American individualism has infected Christian thinking, creating a "me-first" spirituality that bears little resemblance to the community-focused early church described in Acts. They share stories of church unity creating transformative change, including how Savannah was desegregated before the rest of the country when churches united to support Black citizens during economic boycotts.

This episode invites you to reconsider your spiritual journey not as a solo expedition but as a communal pilgrimage where "we're just trying to get home" together. It challenges you to stop focusing solely on your salvation and start championing others along the way. As Mehki powerfully states, "Stand in awe of what people have to carry rather than in judgment of how they carry it."

Join this conversation that will shake your understanding of discipleship and leave you examining whether your commitment to Christ is truly costing you anything meaningful.

Ever wondered how someone goes from addiction to ministry leadership? In this deeply personal episode, I share my raw, unfiltered testimony for the first time publicly. After introducing listeners to my family background in previous episodes featuring my mom, I now pull back the curtain on my own journey—from being raised in a multi-generational pastor's family to my struggles with identity, addiction, and finding my own faith.

My story doesn't follow a neat, predictable path. I share candidly about battling same-sex attraction from childhood, experiencing sexual assault in college, an unplanned pregnancy, and years of marijuana addiction. Through tears, I reveal how God spoke to me during my pregnancy, promising that my daughter would be "the ram in my bush"—the very thing that would save me from self-destruction.

The turning point came when my body began rejecting marijuana after years of heavy use. In that moment of forced sobriety, I heard the Holy Spirit whisper, "It's something that you did, it's not who you are." This profound revelation exposed one of the enemy's most effective tactics—connecting sin to identity. The journey from there wasn't easy, but through Christian community and small groups, I found healing, accountability, and a path toward serving in ministry.

This testimony speaks to anyone caught between kingdom values and cultural pressures. If you're struggling to break free from addiction, identity confusion, or past trauma, know that God hasn't given up on you. Your darkest moments can become the backdrop for His most powerful redemption story. What He has for you isn't necessarily easier, but I promise it's better than anything culture offers.

We often talk about being "in the world but not of it," but what does that actually look like in our daily lives? In this soul-stirring conversation, Ashley Potter welcomes her mother Shana back to continue their exploration of what it truly means to choose Kingdom over culture in regards to suffering.

Starting with Romans 12:1-2, they unpack the radical idea that true worship isn't just what happens during a Sunday service—it's offering your everyday, ordinary life as a living sacrifice to God. "Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit in without even thinking," they quote from The Message translation, highlighting how easily believers can unconsciously adopt worldly values and mindsets.

The mother-daughter duo tackles the often-neglected topic of sanctification—the ongoing process of becoming more like Christ after salvation. While many contemporary teachings focus heavily on grace and blessing, they boldly address the necessary work of putting off the old self and putting on the new. "There is work for us to do in Christ," Ashley emphasizes. "Jesus did a work. Now it's time for us to work."

What makes this episode particularly powerful is the raw vulnerability shared between them. Shana opens up about her journey with kidney failure and how that suffering deepened her relationship with God in ways that comfort never could. "If He always took the pain away, I wouldn't have cried out to Him as much as I did," she reflects. Meanwhile, Ashley transparently discusses her recent struggle with God's direction to close her business, admitting her initial resistance but eventual surrender.

Their conversation flows into practical discussions about modern idols—from social media and entertainment to careers—and how easily these good things can replace our devotion to God. They challenge listeners to examine their daily choices, priorities, and even small interactions with strangers as opportunities to reflect Kingdom values rather than cultural norms.

Whether you're new to faith or have been walking with Christ for decades, this conversation will inspire you to reassess what truly guides your life decisions. Are you living according to the kingdom of this world or the Kingdom of God? Take a step toward intentional, Kingdom-focused living by diving into this thought-provoking episode today.

Have you ever felt caught between two worlds—trying to follow Jesus while being bombarded by cultural messages that pull you in the opposite direction? That tension sits at the heart of this inaugural episode of Kingdom Over Culture, where host Ashley Potter and her mother Shana Ruff dive deep into what it truly means to live as kingdom citizens in today's world.

Starting with the challenging words of 1 John 2:15-17—"Do not love the world or the things in the world"—this mother-daughter conversation unpacks the profound differences between God's kingdom values and the world's systems. They tackle head-on the three worldly temptations that constantly vie for our allegiance: desires of the flesh, desires of the eyes, and the pride of life. With refreshing honesty, Ashley shares her own struggles with self-control and trusting God's provision when it contradicts cultural definitions of success.

What sets this discussion apart is how practical it becomes. From parenting decisions to career choices, from community building to Scripture reading habits, Ashley and Shana explore what "exercising righteousness" looks like in everyday moments. They challenge listeners to consider whether they're merely adding God to their schedule or truly building their lives around His kingdom priorities. As Shana poignantly observes, "What we think is valuable, God thinks we should walk on"—a perspective-shifting statement that makes us reconsider everything we chase after.

Whether you're new to faith or have been walking with Christ for decades, this conversation offers both challenge and encouragement for the journey. You'll walk away with a fresh understanding of what it means to be "in the world but not of it" and practical wisdom for choosing God's kingdom over culture every single day. And don't miss the promise of part two, where they'll tackle the difficult but transformative topic of suffering in the Christian life.