What do you do when the thing you once loved starts to feel ordinary? In this episode of the Rise Up Podcast, Nate and Jason talk about what it means to relight the flame—in your calling, your marriage, your ministry, your work, and your everyday life. Because most people know how to start with passion, but far fewer know how to stay faithful when the novelty wears off and consistency becomes the real test. Together, they unpack four key shifts that move us out of drift and back into intentionality: from apathy to enthusiasm, from “I have to” to “I get to,” from focusing on what’s wrong to what’s right, and from living in maintenance mode to doing something great. Through stories about fire pits, preaching to a camera during COVID, parenting little kids, and learning to stop chasing every shiny new thing, this conversation gets honest about how quickly purpose can cool when it goes untended—and how often what needs to change is not our whole life, but our posture. This episode is a reminder that the good old days are often happening right now, and that calling doesn’t stay alive by accident. It is fed by gratitude, vision, attentiveness, and a willingness to dream again. If you’ve felt spiritually flat, emotionally dulled, or just stuck in the motions of life, this conversation will help you recognize where the fire has gone low—and how to start feeding it again.

The Fight for Gen Z and Gen Alpha What if the next generation isn’t lazy, fragile, or lost—but uniquely positioned for a move of God if someone will help them see who they are? In this episode of the Rise Up Podcast, Nate sits down with Youth Pastor Jordan Fallman to talk about Gen Z, Gen Alpha, and what it means to disciple a generation being shaped by technology, social anxiety, activism, and a deep hunger for purpose. Jordan shares his own story of growing up as both an outdoors kid and a digital native, while Nate reflects on being raised in youth ministry and watching the cultural shift happen in real time. Together, they explore how the pandemic reshaped students, how social media now competes to raise them, and why so many young people are aching for identity, connection, and a reason to give their lives to something bigger than themselves. Here's the challenge for parents, pastors, leaders, and mentors: if we don’t raise this generation, something else will. From phones and isolation to purpose, passion, and the need for consistent voices that speak louder than the noise, this episode is a call to see the next generation with spiritual clarity. If you’ve ever wondered how to lead young people in this cultural moment—or how to help them move from anxiety and confusion into calling and conviction—this conversation will give you language, urgency, and hope. Challenge: Who is God asking you to intentionally invest in right now? Don’t just criticize the next generation—contend for them. Speak identity over them, model faith in front of them, and help them discover the purpose they were created for.

EP 08 | When a Coffee Shop Becomes a Kingdom Space What if God wants to use every area of your life—work, calling, even a cup of coffee—for His Kingdom purpose? In this episode of the Rise Up Podcast, Jason and Nate sit down with Will Ray, owner-operator of Pause Coffee, to talk about calling, entrepreneurship, hospitality, and what it looks like to be on fire for Jesus in the marketplace. Will shares the story behind his journey from Northern California to Portland, from restaurant life and film school to a Spirit-marked moment outside a taco truck that changed everything. He opens up about giving his life to Jesus, learning how to belong in church as a new believer, and the slow unfolding of a dream that became Pause—a space born through prayer, shaped by obedience, and built to feel different the moment you walk through the doors. A story about trust, sacrifice, and the hidden faithfulness behind what most people only experience as a finished product. Then the conversation widens into the why behind it all: why details matter, why hospitality is spiritual, and how a coffee shop can become a gateway to discipleship, community, and even the church itself. From awkward first dates to Bible studies, mentorships, sermons being written, and people first discovering Rise through a latte. This episode is a powerful reminder that God loves to use ordinary spaces for holy work. If you’ve ever wondered whether your work matters, whether business can be ministry, or whether the small things you do really count, this conversation will help you see your calling with fresh eyes.