Co-hosts Josiah Kennealy and Micah Kennealy interview thought leaders and experts on reaching young adults in our world, today!
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youngadults.today
Episodes
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Lonely in a Crowded World: Young Adults, Mental Health, and the Loss of Third Spaces (feat. Christian Counselor Mike Kerstetter)
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Lonely in a Crowded World: Young Adults, Mental Health, and the Loss of Third Spaces (feat. Christian Counselor Mike Kerstetter)
Intimacy vs. Isolation: Young Adults, Loneliness, and Real Community (with Christian Counselor Mike Kerstetter) Why are so many young adults feeling lonely, anxious, and burned out in the most “connected” generation ever? In this episode of the Young Adults Today Podcast, Josiah sits down with Christian counselor Mike Kerstetter to talk about the friendship crisis, the loss of third spaces, and the mental health warning lights that leaders and young adults can’t afford to ignore. They unpack …
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Side Hustles for Pastors: Closing the Financial Gap in 2026 with Tory Farina of RevFresh
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Side Hustles for Pastors: Closing the Financial Gap in 2026 with Tory Farina of RevFresh
In this episode of youngadults.today, Josiah and Micah sit down with Pastor Tori Farina, founder of Rev Fresh and creator of the new RevStream cohort, to talk about the real financial pressure pastors are facing in 2026—and how ethical, well-designed side hustles can help close the gap without compromising the call. Tori shares the powerful story behind Rev Fresh (think: Make-A-Wish for pastors), how a three–week stay in a $4M beachfront home changed his family’s life, and why he now spends …
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Appetite + Aptitude: The Secret Power of Young Adult Ministry with Kylen Perry from The Porch
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Appetite + Aptitude: The Secret Power of Young Adult Ministry with Kylen Perry from The Porch
Is your young adult ministry built on personality—or on the person of Jesus? In this masterclass conversation, Kylan Perry from The Porch at Watermark Church (Dallas, TX) joins Josiah & Micah to unpack what makes young adult ministry uniquely powerful, how The Porch has stayed resilient beyond any one leader, and why the next generation is spiritually “appetite + aptitude” on fire. If you’re launching, relaunching, or leading young adults, this episode is packed with language, frameworks, …
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10/10 Lead Magnets, Hooks & Texts: A Marketing Masterclass for Churches with Dillon Smith
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10/10 Lead Magnets, Hooks & Texts: A Marketing Masterclass for Churches with Dillon Smith
Does marketing really matter for churches and young adult ministries? In 2026, the answer is a loud yes—if you want to actually reach Gen Z and young adults. In this episode, Josiah Kennealy sits down with Dillon Smith (CMO.Church, former marketing lead for the Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast & Life.Church Open Network, and former content manager for Carey Nieuwhof) for a masterclass in church communications, digital outreach, and AI. Connect with Dillon Smith: Website: CMO.Church Join …
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15 Creative Ways to Engage Young Adults This Summer
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15 Creative Ways to Engage Young Adults This Summer
What if this summer became the most spiritually significant season for the young adults you lead? In this episode of youngadults.today, Josiah and Micah unpack 15 practical, creative, and low-pressure ideas to help you reach, disciple, and mobilize young adults in your church and community. From lake days and rooftop hangs to city impact projects, financial literacy nights, and leadership development, this conversation will give you vision, language, and plug-and-play ideas for the next 100 …
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From Christian Rock Star to Rock Bottom: Jason Dunn of Hawk Nelson's Comeback Story
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From Christian Rock Star to Rock Bottom: Jason Dunn of Hawk Nelson's Comeback Story
From Hawk Nelson to Rock Bottom & Back: Jason Dunn on Prodigals, Deconstruction, and Starting Over Former Hawk Nelson frontman Jason Dunn joins Josiah and Micah Kennealy to share his powerful prodigal story—from Christian rock fame, burnout, and blowing all his money in New York… to moving back in with his parents at 30, meeting his wife Neve, and rediscovering Jesus. Jason opens up about deconstruction, doubt, and calling, and why he believes young adult years are so critical. He also shares …
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Young Adults Are Hungry for God (Backyard Nights Story) with Josh Wagoner and Blake Deprato
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Young Adults Are Hungry for God (Backyard Nights Story) with Josh Wagoner and Blake Deprato
Backyard Nights: How a Once-a-Month Gathering Is Reaching Young Adults in Oklahoma In this episode of Young Adults Today, Josiah and Micah sit down with Josh and Blake, the leaders of Backyard Nights—a once-a-month worship gathering for young adults in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. They unpack why young adult ministry is so vital in 2026, how Backyard Nights started as a side project and grew into a city-wide movement, and what they’re learning about community, accountability, and empowering …
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How to Disciple Gen Z & Young Adults in a Digital Age (with Dr. Darnell Williams)
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How to Disciple Gen Z & Young Adults in a Digital Age (with Dr. Darnell Williams)
From Status Quo to Curated Experiences: Forming Gritty Young Leaders with North Central University President Darnell Williams In this episode of Young Adults Today, Josiah and Micah sit down with President Darnell Williams of North Central University to talk about why the status quo isn’t working in higher education or the church, and what it means to move from being a repository of knowledge to a curator of experiences. They dive into Gen Z and Gen Alpha, the drop-off after youth group and …
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Young Adults Aren’t a Silo: Integrating Next Gen in a Multi-Site Church with Derek Wile
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Young Adults Aren’t a Silo: Integrating Next Gen in a Multi-Site Church with Derek Wile
In this episode of the Young Adults Today Podcast, Josiah and Micah sit down with Pastor Derek Wile, Next Gen Associate Pastor at Faith Church in South Carolina. Derek shares his journey from Minnesota to South Carolina, how God led him into young adult ministry, and how his church is reaching young adults across nine locations with a sustainable, scalable model. You’ll hear the story behind Together Nights and Table Nights, how Derek is building a lead team of young adult leaders, and why he …
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How One Church Reaches 700 Young Adults Every Week with Brennen Schmitt
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How One Church Reaches 700 Young Adults Every Week with Brennen Schmitt
In this episode of the Young Adults Today podcast, Josiah and Micah sit down with Brennan Schmidt, Young Adults Pastor at GracePoint Church in Brookings, South Dakota, and leader of Oasis, a weekly ministry gathering 700+ young adults across two Sunday night services. Brennan unpacks the “secret sauce” behind sustaining and scaling young adult ministry in the local church over decades—not as a side program, but as a fully integrated expression of the church’s mission. From teaching calendars …
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From Youth Group to Lifelong Faith: Building Resilient Young Adults with Daniel LaCella
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From Youth Group to Lifelong Faith: Building Resilient Young Adults with Daniel LaCella
In this episode of Young Adults Today, Josiah and Micah sit down with Pastor Dan LaCella from Ohio to talk about why young adult ministry is not optional for the local church anymore. Dan shares: * Why the young adult decade (roughly 18–30) is so spiritually strategic * How a local young adult ministry helped him “own” his faith at a secular university * What God is doing among young adults across Ohio—and how it parallels the movement in Minnesota * Why this generation is hungry for …
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Level Up Your Reading, Level Up Your Leading (with Danny Rangel)
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Level Up Your Reading, Level Up Your Leading (with Danny Rangel)
In this episode of the Young Adults Today podcast, Josiah and Micah sit down once again with Pastor Danny Rangel from BT Young Adults in McAllen, Texas. Danny shares a powerful three–year recap of BT Young Adults—from humble beginnings after the pandemic to campus worship nights, spontaneous baptisms, and record-breaking Tuesday gatherings. They dive deep into: Why weekly young adult services increased local church commitment How to shift a generation from consumers to contributors Practical …
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5 Ways to Spark Courageous Creativity in Leadership with Al Gordon
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5 Ways to Spark Courageous Creativity in Leadership with Al Gordon
Spark: Awakening Courageous Creativity & Preparing for Revival with Al Gordon In this episode of the Young Adults Today Podcast, Josiah and Micah sit down (via Zoom to London) with Al Gordon—pastor of SAINT Church in East London and author of Spark. Al shares how planting a church on “Murder Mile,” preaching the funeral of a murdered teenager, and then encountering a Netflix documentary became a turning point in his understanding of creativity as a spiritual act. You’ll hear about: Why every …
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7 Ways to Strengthen Your Young Adult Ministry
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7 Ways to Strengthen Your Young Adult Ministry
You did it—you started a young adult ministry. Now comes the real challenge: how do you sustain it and make it stronger? In this episode, Josiah and Micah Kennealy unpack seven practical, Spirit‑led ways to move beyond just filling a room to actually forming lives for decades. Whether you’re a pastor, young adult leader, or volunteer, this conversation will help you build a ministry that’s not dependent on a few talented people, but on the mobilized body of Christ. In This Episode, We Talk …
