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Substance Of Faith - Navigating Healing from a Christ Centered PerspectiveS2E10 When We Feel Rudderless: Finding God’s Direction AgainIn this episode, Pastor Rudy Swigart shares openly about what it feels like to be spiritually directionless—adrift without clear vision or purpose—and how that affects our faith, habits, and health.We’ll explore:The causes of spiritual drift and seasons of lethargyThe unhealthy patterns and self-soothing behaviors that can creep inThe toll this takes on mental, physical, and spiritual healthGod’s invitation to rest, listen, and realign with His willPractical ways to regain spiritual bearings and take the next faithful stepThi...
2025-08-2136 minSubstance Of Faith - Navigating Healing from a Christ Centered PerspectiveS2E9 Breaking the Cycle of Offense: Building a Church Where Grace Flows FreelyWhy do so many Christians leave their church feeling hurt, misunderstood, or even offended? In this candid episode of Substance of Faith, we confront the reality that offense, whether justified or not, can poison our spiritual walk and fracture the Body of Christ.Join us as we unpack:Why offense happens in church life for both members and leadersHealthy rhythms that protect against burnout, bitterness, and isolationHow churches can respond with wisdom and grace to those struggling with addiction, depression, and other hidden battlesPractical ways for...
2025-08-1438 minSubstance Of Faith - Navigating Healing from a Christ Centered PerspectiveS2E8 When Stress Becomes Sin: A Candid Conversation About Burnout, Self-Soothing, and the Invitation of GodIn this powerful and personal episode of Substance of Faith, we’re diving deep into a reality many Christians silently face: turning to alcohol, drugs, or other self-soothing behaviors when stress and burnout become unbearable.If you've ever felt overwhelmed, exhausted, or unsure of how to cope, and have found yourself drifting from God in the process, this episode is for you. We'll look at real workplace stress and burnout statistics, explore the toll these stressors take on our physical and spiritual lives, and confront the sin cycle that often follows.But we won't stop th...
2025-08-0736 minSubstance Of Faith - Navigating Healing from a Christ Centered PerspectiveS2E7 How Pastoral Transitions Impact Church and FaithToday on The Substance of Faith Podcast, Rudy Swigart tackles a critical yet often overlooked moment in church life: the departure of a beloved pastor. Whether it's a peaceful retirement, an unexpected firing, or a scandal, pastoral transitions impact far more than Sunday attendance—they affect the faith of the people in the pews.In this episode, Rudy unpacks:Why 10–30% of church members leave after a pastoral transition—sometimes permanently.How sudden leadership changes can trigger a crisis of faith, especially in younger generations.The difference between a healthy transition and a dama...
2025-07-3139 minSubstance Of Faith - Navigating Healing from a Christ Centered PerspectiveS2E6 Pastors Under Pressure: Why Pastoral Care Saves the ChurchIn this sobering episode of The Substance of Faith Podcast, Rudy Swigart explores the hidden pressures crushing pastors across the United States—and why pastoral care isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity.From endless hours and constant crisis management to burnout, depression, infidelity, and addiction—today’s pastors are struggling. Some in silence. Some until collapse.Drawing from credible research, Rudy lays out the alarming statistics that too many churches ignore:75% of pastors report severe stress-related crises40% face high burnout risk35% battle depressionMany face addiction...
2025-07-2443 minSubstance Of Faith - Navigating Healing from a Christ Centered PerspectiveS2E5 Making Space for Grace: A Safe Church for the StrugglingIn this week’s episode of The Substance of Faith Podcast, Rudy Swigart speaks straight to the heart of the church—and the hurting.We’re diving into what it really means to be a safe church for those who are silently battling addiction, mental health challenges, grief, trauma, or spiritual burnout. For too long, the church has unintentionally fostered environments where people feel pressure to appear whole instead of being honest about their brokenness.This episode is a call for something better.What makes a church unsafe for the strugglingThe qu...
2025-07-1740 minSubstance Of Faith - Navigating Healing from a Christ Centered PerspectiveS2E4 - This is the Right Way: When a Pastor Comes ForwardIn this heartfelt episode of The Substance of Faith Podcast, Rudy Swigart shares a story that stopped him in his tracks—a story of relapse, redemption, and what it looks like when the church truly becomes a safe place for its leaders.While attending an AA meeting, a friend witnessed a powerful moment: a pastor receiving his 12-month sobriety chip. But even more powerful was the backstory—this pastor had once relapsed after years of sobriety. Instead of hiding it or being disqualified in shame, he came forward, and his church leadership did the unthinkable in today’s canc...
2025-07-1039 minSubstance Of Faith - Navigating Healing from a Christ Centered PerspectiveSoF S2E3 The Hidden Battle: Lust, Leadership, and the Call to HolinessIn this soul-searching episode of The Substance of Faith Podcast, host Rudy Swigart dives into a topic that too often remains buried in the shadows of church life: lust and sexual temptation, especially among those in ministry and spiritual leadership.The conversation begins with the reality of pastoral burnout, serving in high-stress, low-control environments with little visible reward. When volunteers are inconsistent, when crises are constant, and when the emotional needs of a congregation feel unending, it can create an atmosphere where temptation gains a foothold, especially for leaders who feel isolated or unseen.But...
2025-07-0334 minSubstance Of Faith - Navigating Healing from a Christ Centered PerspectiveFind Your Own Gethsemane with Pastor Randy DavisIn this powerful and introspective episode of The Substance of Faith Podcast, host Rudy Swigart is joined by Randy Davis, a ministry leader and voice of experience in the world of addiction recovery and spiritual care. Together, they explore the deep intersection between discipleship, mental health, and the church’s response to addiction—particularly among leaders.Randy shares insights from his work with A Better Life – Brianna’s Hope, a faith-based recovery movement created for and by individuals battling substance use disorder. Through their discussion, Rudy and Randy challenge the idea that recovery is a ministry “over there” and...
2025-06-2641 minSubstance Of Faith - Navigating Healing from a Christ Centered PerspectiveRhythms for the Long Haul: Restoring the Soul of Church LeadershipIn this episode of The Substance of Faith Podcast, Pastor Rudy Swigart returns with a timely and vulnerable conversation about what’s often hidden behind the pulpit, burnout, exhaustion, and spiritual depletion in ministry. With a deep heart for both church leaders and individuals navigating addiction or mental health battles, Rudy opens the episode with a profound reminder: We bring the shadows where grace can, it’s built upon the substance of faith.This episode is an honest look at the emotional and spiritual toll ministry can take when leadership is unsupported, overworked, and out of rhythm. Rudy...
2025-06-2335 minSubstance Of Faith - Navigating Healing from a Christ Centered PerspectiveOvercoming Chaos and Supporting PastorsIn this episode of the Substance of Faith Podcast, host Rudy Swigart delivers a heartfelt exploration of overcoming life’s chaos and the unseen burdens of pastoral leadership. Reflecting on a past guest’s transformative journey from addiction to redemption, Rudy underscores how trauma, abuse, and sin impact us all, urging listeners to process pain through the Holy Spirit’s power for true freedom. He also addresses the critical challenges pastors face, citing Barna Research: 90% feel unequipped, 60% battle depression, and 50% would leave if they could. With compassion, Rudy calls for better support for pastors, emphasizing the need for rest, counse...
2025-06-1241 minSubstance Of Faith - Navigating Healing from a Christ Centered PerspectiveWhen Leadership Is Running on Empty: Filling the Gaps in the ChurchMany churches today are stretched thin, financially, relationally, and spiritually, and the effects are showing up in both congregations and leadership teams. In this Memorial Day reflection, host Rudy Swigart honors the sacrifice of service members while calling believers to a life of service within the body of Christ. He takes listeners deep into the reality of what pastors and church leaders face behind the scenes, from burnout and financial strain to leadership misalignment and generational gaps. Rudy offers a challenge and a roadmap to move from a passive Sunday experience to active engagement in ministry.This...
2025-06-0537 minSubstance Of Faith - Navigating Healing from a Christ Centered PerspectiveWhen Church Transitions Hurt: Navigating Change Without Losing FaithIn this episode of Substance of Faith, host Rudy Swigart shares a reflection on church transitions, spiritual trauma, and the emotional toll of unpredictable changes in leadership and culture within the local church. Drawing from his own military background and ministry experience, Rudy brings wisdom and compassion to the realities of navigating pastoral shifts, church mergers, and the cultural fallout that often leaves congregations in a wilderness season.Rudy unpacks the difference between reacting and responding when the routine is disrupted; whether that’s someone sitting in your usual seat on a Sunday morning or your trusted pa...
2025-05-2926 minSubstance Of Faith - Navigating Healing from a Christ Centered PerspectiveA Veteran’s Journey of DeliveranceMany veterans carry invisible wounds: PTSD, addiction, depression, and spiritual oppression, that linger long after their service ends. In this episode, host Rudy Swigart welcomes retired Navy Senior Chief John Loretta for a conversation on trauma, transformation, and the healing power of Christ.Listeners will hear John’s story of military service, suicidal despair, and supernatural deliverance, along with real talk on how identity, purpose, and community are restored, not through performance, but through surrender to Jesus. Together, Rudy and John explore how the church can become a place of true spiritual warfare awareness, healing, and prophetic re...
2025-05-2241 minSubstance Of Faith - Navigating Healing from a Christ Centered PerspectiveWhen the Church Hurts: Staying Grounded in FaithMany Christians experience church hurt, whether through leadership failures, betrayal, or spiritual wounding, and it can shake even the strongest believers. In this episode, host Rudy Swigart unpacks how to process church hurt in a way that strengthens, not weakens, your faith.Listeners will hear real talk on why faith in Christ, not people, must always be our foundation, and how to stay spiritually healthy through prayer, Scripture, and community, even when leadership fails. Rudy also shares practical guidance for pastors and church leaders to better support hurting congregants.Key Takeaways:
2025-05-1534 minSubstance Of Faith - Navigating Healing from a Christ Centered PerspectiveHealing the Father Wound: A Conversation on RestorationIn this milestone Episode 10 of the Substance of Faith Podcast, Rudy Swigart sits down with Tim Holloway, a mentor, friend, and brother in Christ, for an unfiltered conversation about trauma, redemption, and the long road to true healing. Tim opens up about his childhood in extreme dysfunction, early exposure to addiction, and the devastating losses that shaped his life. Together, Rudy and Tim explore how deep pain can either trap us or transform us, and how Christ offers a path to restoration.Key Takeaways:The hidden cost of trauma and how early...
2025-05-0846 minSubstance Of Faith - Navigating Healing from a Christ Centered PerspectiveTruckloads of Grace: Healing Dysfunctional Family SystemsIn this episode of The Substance of Faith Podcast, host Rudy Swigart takes a heartfelt and honest look at the role of dysfunctional family systems within the context of addiction and Christian recovery. Drawing from personal experience and biblical interperitation, Rudy explores how codependency, trauma, and enabling behaviors shape not just the individual caught in addiction, but the entire household. He speaks directly to parents, spouses, church leaders, and anyone walking alongside a loved one struggling with substance use or mental health challenges. In this episode, you'll hear about:The spiritual and p...
2025-05-0134 minSubstance Of Faith - Navigating Healing from a Christ Centered PerspectiveFaith That Intervenes: Loving Your Loved One Through AddictionIn this episode of The Substance of Faith Podcast, host Rudy Swigart delivers a crucial message for Christian families navigating the difficult waters of addiction and mental health. This episode is a lifeline for anyone loving someone through substance use or emotional struggle, and for pastors seeking to shepherd more effectively in these hidden battlegrounds. Rudy breaks down a practical, spiritually grounded care model—centered on team-based intervention, Christ-centered treatment, and long-term discipleship—reminding us that God often answers our prayers through people, process, and persistent hope. If your family is in crisis, this episode is both a blueprint and...
2025-04-2429 minSubstance Of Faith - Navigating Healing from a Christ Centered PerspectiveThe Chair, the Tears, and the Turning Point SoF S1E7In this episode of the Substance of Faith Podcast, host Rudy Swigart welcomes his longtime friend and spiritual brother, Mike Worley, to share a testimony that has deeply shaped his own faith journey. What unfolds is not just a story about recovery; it's a deep dive into what it means to wrestle with the darkness, to cry out in desperation, and to meet a living God who responds with transformational power.Mike opens up about his traumatic childhood, early encounters with mental health struggles, and how addiction offered him what seemed like the only way to feel “ok...
2025-04-1750 minSubstance Of Faith - Navigating Healing from a Christ Centered PerspectiveFaith in the Shadows: Healing Beyond the Hurt SoF S1E6In this episode of Substance of Faith, host Rudy Swigart speaks directly to those feeling buried under the weight of guilt, shame, addiction, trauma, depression, or spiritual exhaustion. With vulnerability, biblical truth, and a pastor’s heart, Rudy reminds listeners of the transforming power of Jesus Christ, even when hope feels like a distant memory.Whether you’re silently struggling with substance use, mental health issues, or the wounds of church hurt, this episode brings light to the darkness. Rudy names the battle between guilt and shame, between faith and flesh, and offers real encouragement for those caug...
2025-04-1027 minSubstance Of Faith - Navigating Healing from a Christ Centered PerspectiveFaith and Mental Health: Breaking the Silence in the Church SoF S1E5In Episode 5 of the Substance of Faith podcast, host Rudy Swigart gets real about a question many of us wrestle with silently: When do you finally admit it’s time to get help? Whether you’re battling anxiety, addiction, unresolved childhood trauma, or spiritual burnout, this episode offers signs that you may be at a breaking point—and why that can actually be your breakthrough.Rudy shares a heartfelt story of a Christian leader facing debilitating panic attacks and how the journey toward healing began with a single, courageous decision to stop isolating and start talking. He unpack...
2025-04-0325 min
Substance Of Faith - Navigating Healing from a Christ Centered PerspectiveHow to Trust God When Life Falls Apart: Faith Through Hardships SoF S1E4In this episode of The Substance of Faith Podcast, host Rudy Swigart dives into the journey of faith, recovery, and transformation. Exploring the intersection of substance use disorders, mental health struggles, and the Christian walk, Rudy sheds light on the often-overlooked reality of addiction and emotional struggles within the church.With candid storytelling and biblical wisdom, he unpacks the stages of change, the sanctification process, and how life’s unexpected derailments—whether through personal crises, addiction, or societal shifts like COVID-19—can lead to spiritual stagnation. However, these disruptions don’t have to define us. Instead, Rudy challeng...
2025-03-2722 minSubstance Of Faith - Navigating Healing from a Christ Centered PerspectiveHealing Trauma Through Faith: The Path to Emotional and Spiritual Freedom SoF S1E2In this episode of The Substance of Faith Podcast, host Rudy Swigart shares a powerful testimony of transformation through faith and recovery. He tells the story of Mike, a man whose battle with addiction began at the heartbreaking age of nine and continued into adulthood, straining his marriage and pushing his family to the brink. When faced with the devastating reality of losing everything, Mike cried out to God in desperation—what happened next was nothing short of a miracle.Through divine intervention, the power of the Holy Spirit, and the support of a recovery-focused church community, Mi...
2025-03-2011 minSubstance Of Faith - Navigating Healing from a Christ Centered PerspectiveBreaking Free – Healing from Addiction, Trauma, and Sin in the Church SoF S1E3In this episode of The Substance of Faith Podcast, host Rudy Swigart dives deep into the struggles that many Christians face in silence—addiction, trauma, and hidden sin. With a focus on breaking free from shame and stepping into God’s healing light, Rudy shares powerful stories, personal insights, and practical guidance for those battling substance use disorders, emotional wounds, and sinful behaviors they feel they can’t confess to anyone.Many believers struggle with pornography, alcohol, drugs, or other addictive behaviors, yet fear judgment from the church. Others wrestle with emotional pain from past abuse or trauma...
2025-03-2022 minSubstance Of Faith - Navigating Healing from a Christ Centered PerspectiveTrailer: Welcome To The ShowThe church has long been a place of healing, yet many Christians struggling with recovery, PTSD, and mental health challenges feel isolated in their pain.We’re opening up honest conversations about the stigma of mental health and addiction within the church, because healing starts when we bring these struggles into the light.Designed for pastors, church leaders, and believers who want to see the body of Christ better serve those in recovery or mental health, this show equips churches with the tools, resources, and understanding to build care ministries that truly support those in ne...
2025-03-1002 min
The Intentional Entrepreneur with Attorney Dan X. Nguyen18 How To Pick A Franchise System To Buy with Rudy Swigart, AmerispecWelcome to Episode 18 of the The Intentional Entrepreneur with Dan X. Nguyen
In this episode, Rudy Swigart and I discuss how to pick a franchise system to buy.
So if you want to know things to look for in a franchise system, how to make a name for yourself as new business owner, and how to duplicate yourself in a service business so you can build a team and focus on marketing, tune in now!
In this episode, you'll discover:
2020-09-0332 min
From the Battlefield to the BoardroomEpisode 121 : Become Your Own Boss Through Franchise OwnershipAccording to the Small Business Administration, about a quarter of veterans are interested in starting their own business, and roughly 15% of franchises are owned by veterans. With many different franchises to choose from, finding a good match can take time and research.
Rudy Swigart, a Navy Veteran, joins the show to discuss his military background and decision to pursue franchise ownership. Before deciding which franchise was a good fit for him, Rudy did a lot of research about the pros and cons of many franchises, and he was kind enough to share that knowledge in this episode. Topics include:
• Some of...
2020-06-0838 min
Men Nation PodcastAnswer the calling | Feat. Rudy Swigart | Ep. 14 | Men Nation PodcastIn this episode of Men Nation Podcast we have my friend Rudy Swigart with us talking about answering the call from GOD in our lives as Men. As Leaders we have a responsibility to respond to the calling from GOD. Our Families are looking to us to see how we respond. “His Response”
Look up “The Response Podcast” with Rudy Swigart
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2020-04-0835 min