エピソード

  • Naming the Darkness: A Biblical Conversation on Depression

    Naming the Darkness: A Biblical Conversation on Depression
    2026/04/21
    In this honest and deeply personal conversation, Josh Thomas and Pastor Chris Kouba talk about depression, emotional health, and why so many men struggle to admit when they are not okay. Pastor Chris shares his own story of trauma, burnout, fear, and the dark season that followed a life-altering injury, while also pointing listeners to the story of Elijah in 1 Kings 19.

    Together, they explore how depression can show up through anxiety, irritability, overwork, isolation, and emotional numbness, and why men often hide it behind phrases like “I’m just tired,” “I’m just stressed,” or “I just need a vacation.” This episode offers biblical encouragement, practical insight, and a reminder that getting help is not weakness. It is wisdom.

    To find out more about Pastor Chris, follow him on all the social platforms (@ckouba) and to connect with the ministry of United City visit https://unitedcity.church.


    Show Notes
    Follow on Instagram: @stepup.podcast
    Follow United City: @untdcitychurch
    Connect with Pastor Chris: http://chriskouba.com
    More About United City: https://unitedcity.church/


    Chapter Markers
    00:00 Why men say “I’m good” when they’re not
    03:07 Why guys struggle to name what they’re feeling
    04:52 Pastor Chris shares his 2016 burn injury and dark season
    12:28 Why men resist calling it depression
    17:36 Elijah’s collapse after victory in 1 Kings 19
    22:12 Physical, emotional, relational, and spiritual causes
    36:22 Get help, say it out loud, and move toward healing
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    39 分
  • Four Words That Define a Man

    Four Words That Define a Man
    2026/04/07
    In this episode of the Step Up Podcast, Pastor Chris Kouba and Josh Thomas reflect on the lives of two faithful men whose funerals left a deep impact on them. That conversation leads into a powerful discussion from Job 1:1 and the four qualities used to describe Job: blameless, upright, fears God, and turns away from evil. Together, Chris and Josh challenge men to think honestly about their reputation, their integrity at home, and the kind of legacy they are building right now.

    To find out more about Pastor Chris, follow him on all the social platforms (@ckouba) and to connect with the ministry of United City visit https://unitedcity.church.


    Show Notes

    Follow on Instagram: @stepup.podcast
    Follow United City: @untdcitychurch
    Connect with Pastor Chris: http://chriskouba.com
    More About United City: https://unitedcity.church/
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    33 分
  • Delivering Hope: Faith in the Marketplace (Pt. 2) | Todd Stewart

    Delivering Hope: Faith in the Marketplace (Pt. 2) | Todd Stewart
    2026/03/24
    In part two of this conversation, Pastor Chris Kouba and host Josh Thomas continue their sit-down with Todd Stewart, CEO of Gulf Winds and author of Delivering Hope: Leading a Business That Builds the Kingdom of God.

    Todd opens up about the hidden weight of leadership, walking through pressure, anxiety, hardship, and the difficult seasons that shaped his faith. He shares how prayer sustained him, how God proved faithful in the middle of business and personal trials, and why generosity, mentorship, and legacy-minded leadership matter so deeply.

    This episode is a powerful encouragement for any man trying to lead well while trusting God through the hard places.

    To find out more about Pastor Chris, follow him on all the social platforms (@ckouba) and to connect with the ministry of United City visit https://unitedcity.church.


    Show Notes

    Get Todd’s Book Here: https://a.co/d/0gBNeSGf
    Follow on Instagram: @stepup.podcast
    Follow United City: @untdcitychurch
    Connect with Pastor Chris: http://chriskouba.com
    More About United City: https://unitedcity.church/
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    38 分
  • Delivering Hope: Faith in the Marketplace (Pt. 1) | Todd Stewart

    Delivering Hope: Faith in the Marketplace (Pt. 1) | Todd Stewart
    2026/03/10
    In this episode of the Step Up Podcast, Pastor Chris Kouba and Josh Thomas sit down with Todd Stewart, CEO of Gulf Winds and author of Delivering Hope: Leading a Business That Builds the Kingdom of God.

    Todd shares his story of coming to faith, joining his family’s business in its earliest days, and eventually helping lead Gulf Winds into remarkable growth. But more than a business success story, this conversation is about what it looks like to see your workplace as a mission field.

    Together, they talk about leading with excellence, living out your faith on the job, building a healthy company culture, navigating the tension between profit and purpose, and trusting God with both opportunity and people. Todd offers practical encouragement for men who want to honor Christ in the marketplace without overcomplicating what faithfulness looks like.

    If you’ve ever wondered how to integrate your faith and your work in a real, grounded, everyday way, this episode is for you.

    To find out more about Pastor Chris, follow him on all the social platforms (@ckouba) and to connect with the ministry of United City visit https://unitedcity.church.


    Show Notes

    Get Todd’s Book Here: https://a.co/d/0gBNeSGf
    Follow on Instagram: @stepup.podcast
    Follow United City: @untdcitychurch
    Connect with Pastor Chris: http://chriskouba.com
    More About United City: https://unitedcity.church/
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    32 分
  • Decision Paralysis | Step Up Podcast

    Decision Paralysis | Step Up Podcast
    2026/02/24
    Ever spend so much time scrolling for the perfect show that you end up watching nothing?

    Josh and Pastor Chris dive in on the topic of “decision paralysis” and how at the end of the day, it’s a leadership problem. In this episode, they unpack Joshua 24:14–15 (“As for me and my house…”) and challenge men to become decisive about the things that actually matter.

    They talk about the difference between conviction and courage, why “I’m all in… unless You touch this” is really surrender with fine print, and how even good blessings can become weights that hold you back. From “proxy faith” to practical next steps, the call is simple: stop drifting, draw the line, plant the flag, and watch what God does on the other side of full surrender.
    To find out more about Pastor Chris, follow him on all the social platforms (@ckouba) and to connect with the ministry of United City visit https://unitedcity.church.


    Show Notes

    Follow on Instagram: @stepup.podcast
    Follow United City: @untdcitychurch
    Connect with Pastor Chris: http://chriskouba.com
    More About United City: https://unitedcity.church/
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    30 分
  • Trust the Process

    Trust the Process
    2026/02/10
    What do you do when you know where God is calling you… but there’s a wall in the way?

    In this episode, Pastor Chris Kouba and host Josh Thomas unpack Joshua 6 and the battle of Jericho. God gives Joshua a strategy that feels completely counterintuitive: march, stay silent, and trust Him. From the “stall” of smoking brisket to the grind of daily faithfulness, they talk about what it looks like to wait well, keep showing up, guard your mouth, and remember the outcome because you’re not fighting for victory, you’re fighting from it.

    If you’re in a season where nothing seems to be changing, this one’s for you. Keep marching. Day seven is coming.

    To find out more about Pastor Chris, follow him on all the social platforms (@ckouba) and to connect with the ministry of United City visit https://unitedcity.church.


    Show Notes

    Follow on Instagram: @stepup.podcast
    Follow United City: @untdcitychurch
    Connect with Pastor Chris: http://chriskouba.com
    More About United City: https://unitedcity.church/
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    31 分
  • Stones in the River: Remembering God's Faithfulness

    Stones in the River: Remembering God's Faithfulness
    2026/01/27
    What do you do when you’re in “flood season”, when life feels fast, heavy, and uncertain?

    In this conversation, Pastor Chris Kouba and Josh Thomas dig into Joshua 4 and the powerful moment when God tells Israel to build memorials after crossing the Jordan River—one on the riverbank and one set in the river. Why two? Because we forget. And when we forget where we’ve been, we lose confidence about where we’re going.

    They talk about practical ways to remember and recount God’s faithfulness like journaling, physical reminders, and intentionally telling the “God stories” to your kids, your wife, your friends, and the people you lead. If you’re in the middle of something right now, this one is for you: God is faithful at the finish line and He’s faithful in the middle too!

    To find out more about Pastor Chris, follow him on all the social platforms (@ckouba) and to connect with the ministry of United City visit https://unitedcity.church.

    Show Notes

    Follow on Instagram: @stepup.podcast
    Follow United City: @untdcitychurch
    Connect with Pastor Chris: http://chriskouba.com
    More About United City: https://unitedcity.church/
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    33 分
  • Strong and Courageous: The Call to Step Up

    Strong and Courageous: The Call to Step Up
    2026/01/13
    What do you do when life demands more from you than you feel ready to give?

    In this episode of the Step Up Podcast, Pastor Chris Kouba and host Josh Thomas continue their conversation through Joshua 1, unpacking what it truly means to step up—not because you feel qualified, but because God has called you.

    From leadership and marriage to parenting, friendships, and everyday decisions, this conversation challenges men to move from passivity to responsibility. You’ll hear why courage isn’t something you wait for—it’s something you build—and how grounding your life in God’s Word shapes the way you lead, decide, and act.

    If you’ve ever thought, “I’m not ready for this,” this episode is for you. Ready or not, the call is clear: step up.

    To find out more about Pastor Chris, follow him on all the social platforms (@ckouba) and to connect with the ministry of United City visit https://unitedcity.church.
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    32 分