Bigger Than Belief
Bigger Than Belief is a weekly podcast that explores faith, belief, and religion through the personal stories of believers. The show aims to create a fair, honest, and accessible conversation about faith, regardless of the listener's own beliefs. It takes a journalistic approach to difficult concepts and questions, helping to make sense of current events that affect religious communities. The podcast is produced by WCCO, a Minneapolis-based radio station.
Episodes
Somali Gang Violence in Minnesota: An Imam on Guns, Social Media and the Community Response
The Twin Cities are grappling with a troubling wave of gun violence involving young people — and few conversations are more complicated than the one surrounding Somali youth and alleged gang activity. In the days surrounding this interview, shootings in Eden Prairie and Bloomington brought the issue back into the spotlight, as law enforcement leaders called for a more coordinated regional response
A Twin Cities Church's Formula to Stopping Homelessness Before it Starts
What can a church do about homelessness in its own backyard? On this episode of Bigger Than Belief, Pastor Kyle Robinson of Wooddale Church joins to discuss Wooddale’s Brighter Futures initiative. It started with one simple question: What if we could help families before they became homeless? It also started with a realization - hundreds of students in Eden Prairie were homeless. In
From horror films to Rabbinical school, Rabbi Nolan's journey to finding purpose
Rabbi Nolan Lebovitz thought he knew what his life was supposed to look like. After film school at USC, he pursued a career in Hollywood, made a movie, sold television projects and was living the dream he had imagined for himself. But after becoming a father, one question wouldn't go away: “Was I put on earth to pitch horror films for the rest of my life?”
That question sent him on an unexpected
What You Think You Know About Muslim Women Might Be Wrong
What happens when we stop seeing people through labels? How would things change if we saw them as individuals, each with their own story and reason for being?
On this week’s Bigger Than Belief, Adam sits down with Malika Dahir, executive director of Reviving Sisterhood (RISE), an organization dedicated to empowering and amplifying the voices of Muslim women through the Twin Cities and beyond.
Ul
How faith has carried the Minnesota State Fair's longest-running food vendor
Hamline Church Dining Hall has been serving up at the Minnesota State Fair for more than 120 years. Host Adam Duxter spoke with Senior Pastor Mariah Tollgaard live at the Great Minnesota Get-Together to hear what it takes to be so successful. Is it having the best breakfast pancakes? Maybe it's the handmade fresh daily pies?
Pastor Tollgaard says while faith drives them, it's certainly no r
Candace Cameron Bure on Finding Your Identity Beyond the Spotlight
Candace Cameron Bure has spent most of her life in the spotlight—from Full House to movies, television, podcasting and now a live tour. But in this candid conversation, she opens up about something much deeper than her career: who she is when the cameras aren't rolling.
Candace shares how becoming a wife and mother helped her discover an identity rooted not in her work, but in her relationship wi
Remembering the Victims of the Annunciation Church Attack One Year Later
August 27, 2026, marks one year since a gunman shot into an early morning all-school mass at Annunciation Catholic Church - injuring dozens of students, teachers and parishioners - and killing 10-year-old Harper Moyski and 8-year-old Fletcher Merkel. On today's episode of Bigger Than Belief, Adam shares extended interview segments from WCCO-TV's on-air Annunciation special - along with person
From Comfort to Calling: Paul Hurckman on What Happens When You say “Yes”
“What happens when faith moves beyond something we believe and becomes something we actually live?
This week on Bigger Than Belief, Paul Hurckman, executive director of Venture, joins us for a wide-ranging conversation about faith, courage, service, family, and the uncomfortable places where belief becomes action.
Paul shares the story of the decision that changed his life: saying no to a cross-
The Day I Gave Up—and Got My Life Back – Nick Hanson’s Story of Finding Sobriety
For years, alcohol was simply part of life for Nick Hanson. What started as normal social drinking in college slowly became something much darker—an addiction that consumed his thoughts, relationships, and sense of self.
On this week’s Episode of Bigger Than Belief, Nick shares his journey through more than two decades of alcohol use, the devastating impact addiction had on his life, and the mome
Feed My Starving Children CEO JJ Slag on Keeping Faith in a Hungry World
Every 10 seconds, a child dies from hunger-related causes.
JJ Slag, CEO of Feed My Starving Children, has spent the last two years traveling the world, meeting children whose lives are being transformed by something as simple as a nutritious meal.
But this conversation goes far beyond global hunger - it's about faith that costs something, leading one of the world's largest Christian humanitarian
Sig Muller on Dying, Coming Back to Life and Being The World's Best
One moment, Sig Muller was laughing with lifelong friends at a backyard barbecue. The next, his heart stopped. After suffering a sudden cardiac arrest, Sig was clinically dead for nearly 10 minutes.
Thanks to quick-thinking friends, CPR, and an AED, he survived with less than a one percent chance of making a full recovery.
But surviving wasn't the greatest miracle.
In this episode of Bigger Th
Finding family through service, and learning more about the Karen population in Minnesota
Jesse Phenow thought he was volunteering to help a refugee family. Instead, he became part of their family.
In this episode, Jesse shares how one college volunteer opportunity grew into lifelong friendships, living with a refugee family in St. Paul, humanitarian work in war-torn Myanmar, and ultimately founding The Urban Village to serve Karenni youth in St. Paul.
Along the way, he reflects on v
How DeVentri Jordan helps top athletes train their body – and their spirit
From carrying frozen kettlebells into church basements to training future NBA and NFL stars, DeVentri Jordan's journey is anything but ordinary.
As the founder of Game Face Training, one of the nation's premier sports performance programs, DeVentri has helped countless athletes reach the highest levels of competition. But behind the success is a story marked by loss, hardship, fatherlessness, bus
How the Reel Hope Project is Finding Forever Families for Foster Kids Across America
For Kaycee Stanley, adoption isn’t just a cause—it’s a calling.
What started as a dream to change the narrative around foster care grew into a nonprofit with a national reach - that has created hundreds of videos connecting waiting children with adoptive families across the country.
On this episode, Kaycee opens up about the challenges of launching a faith-based organization, the resistance she
Evangelist Nick Hall: “Gen Z is Driving America’s Spiritual Revival”
It started as a college assignment and a simple dream - "put Jesus at the pulse of a generation". It has since grown into a global movement reaching millions of people across the planet. On this week’s Bigger Than Belief Nick Hall shares the remarkable story behind Pulse Evangelism, why he believes Gen Z is leading a spiritual awakening, and what it looks like to bring hope into a culture marked
Waiting on a Diagnosis, Finding Faith: Najeeba Syeed on Peace, Prayer & Common Humanity
Najeeba Syeed—peacebuilder, professor, author, and Executive Director of Interfaith at Augsburg University—has spent her life as a bridge-builder across religious, cultural, and political divides.
Born in Kashmir and raised in Southern Indiana after immigrating to America at age three, Najeeba grew up learning that faith wasn't just about what you believe—it was about how you care for others. Fro
Addiction to Transformation: Tom Truszinski's Journey of Faith and Recovery
A successful career in finance, a marriage, and a growing family. On the outside, Tom Truszinksi had it all together. On the inside, he was quietly falling apart.
After years of addiction, arrests, and despair, he reached a breaking point. Convinced his family would be better off without him, Tom prepared to walk away from everything. Instead, a devastating motorcycle crash became the turning poi
Sheletta Brundidge on Faith, Autism, Purpose, and Finding Home in Minnesota
When Sheletta Brundidge arrived in Minnesota from Houston, Texas, she didn't know a single person. She wasn't planning to stay, and she certainly wasn't planning to build one of the Twin Cities' most recognizable media brands. On this episode of Bigger than Belief, she shares the remarkable story of how a weekend visit turned into a career, a family, and a calling. From walking into a television
From Chapel to Brewery - a Minneapolis Church's Plan to Reach the Lonely
For more than a century, Mt. Olivet Lutheran Church has worked to serve its community – South Minneapolis and beyond. ‘It’s kind of an ecosystem’, says Senior Pastor David Lose. The church has a number of affiliated ministries – but its latest venture could break boundaries. Lose and his team want to turn a shuttered church property, which once served as the original chapel, into a coffee shop and
How Lino Rulli Turned his Catholic Faith into a 20 Year XM Radio Career
Lino Rulli’s Wikipedia page reads as almost if he’s trying to pull a prank on you. It’s fitting, given Rulli’s love and natural inclination towards comedy. A childhood spent in the circus? A chance encounter coaching a Caribbean soccer team? It’s all true – and then some. Rulli credit’s his life, and success, to his faith and belief in God’s plan. It’s what brought him to WCCO in the early 2000s,
Billboard #1 Gospel Artist Jovonta Patton on Worship and Success
Jovonta Patton has done what many thought would be improbable - if not impossible. He's topped the Billboard gospel charts more than a half dozen times - and done it without the help of a record label. Born and raised in the Twin Cities, he's taken a lifelong passion for music and turned it into a career - singing with legends like Beyonce and Stevie Wonder. In 2016, he was even honored with his
School Prayer Rooms, Foot Washing Stations, Draw National Outrage
A Twin Cities’ School District’s Plans to include spaces for prayer and washing of feet in new construction and building upgrades has drawn national attention and outrage. The district insists these updates come at the urging of “user groups” – and that prayer space comes as a multipurpose room – that can be used for any number of activities. The news, however, has drawn the attention of America
Business Leaders Using their Faith to Create a New Generation of Nonprofits
Layoffs, pinching pennies and the demand to do more with less – it’s what the business world can feel like in 2026. But one group is spurring business leaders to increase their generosity in the Twin Cities – by using faith as a common bond. Amplify Mission Network gathers hundreds of business leaders monthly to listen to the needs of non-profits – and brainstorm ways they can provide what’s missi
Minnesota Wild Alum Nate Prosser
Elk River native Nate Prosser spent more than a decade in the NHL playing for the Flyers, Blues and his hometown team, the Minnesota Wild. As his career progressed, one thing remained constant – his faith. On this week’s episode of Bigger Than Belief, Nate sits down with Adam to share how his faith came to be, his work to share with teammates, and the room hockey has to grow when it comes to putti
What's Happening to Baha'i's In Iran?
As the war in Iran continues, members of the Baha’i faith say they’re living on high alert. Founded in 1844 in modern-day Iran, there are now more than 7 million Bahai’s globally – making it one of the newest and fastest growing religions. As the war intensifies, so does the situation for the 300,000+ Bahai’s still living in Iran. Faith leaders say they face persecution, imprisonment and unfair tr
Astrophysicist/Theologian Dr. AJ Poelarands on Artemis, Space, and the Creation of the Universe
As the Artemis II mission continues to inspire millions, fueling a sense of awe and wonder of outer space, few understand the significance like Dr. AJ Poelarands. For years, Poelarands spent years researching space in the Netherlands – after pursuing and completing a doctorate degree in Astrophysics. After work brought him to the United States, he began to ask “why” when it came to the universe –
How Former Gopher QB Tanner Morgan’s Faith is Shaping his Next Chapter
While it was football that brought Tanner Morgan to Minnesota, it’s faith that’s keeping him here. The former Gopher QB holds the school record for wins – but says his real dream for what’s next is strengthening his faith. On this week’s episode, Tanner shares how that’s shaping his life now, how he found faith to begin with, and how his belief has carried him through some of his life’s most diffi
WCCO Radio Host Jordana Green Shares How Jewish Faith Has Guided Her Through Loss, Cancer
Millions of Jews are celebrating the weeklong observance of Passover. This week Adam Duxter sits down with WCCO Radio Host Jordana Green, or as she calls herself, "Minnesota's Jewish Friend". Green is open about her faith, how it's helped her through loss and multiple cancer diagnosis. As well as what it's been like to experience the rise in antisemitism. Green shares what she wants people to know
How Disability Advocate Jacob Thompson's Rare Condition is Making His Faith Stronger
Jacob Thompson’s life centered around sports. At Mounds View High School, he was a stellar, multisport athlete. But as he got older, something felt off. At age 24, his fears were cemented – he had Friedrich’s Ataxia – a rare, neuromuscular disease. It’s fatal and has no cure. Now, at age 32, his mobility is hampered – but his faith has only grown stronger. On this episode, Thompson shares how his
Super Bowl Champion Ryan Harris on Islam Conversion, Ramadan, and Islam in NFL
Ryan Harris is a Super Bowl Champion, retired NFL Offensive Lineman, bestselling author and award-winning broadcaster – he’s also a first-generation Muslim. Born and raised in St. Paul, Harris played as a Muslim for a Catholic High School (Cretin-Derham Hall) and Catholic University (Notre Dame) before embarking on the NFL. On this week’s episode of Bigger Than Belief, Ryan shares how he converted
The First Breath of Freedom: Armin Assadi's Escape from Iran (Part 2)
When it comes to the current situation happening in Iran – few Minnesotans have a perspective like Armin Assadi. Born in Iran in 1981, Assadi’s family was on the run by the time he was a toddler, due to their Baha’I faith and ties to the previous regime. On part two of this week’s two part episode, Armin joins Adam to discuss his personal faith fallout after coming to America – and how after tryin
The First Breath of Freedom: Armin Assadi's Escape from Iran (Part 1)
When it comes to the current situation happening in Iran – few Minnesotans have a perspective like Armin Assadi. Born in Iran in 1981, Assadi’s family was on the run by the time he was a toddler, due to their Baha’I faith and ties to the previous regime. On part one of this week’s two-part episode, Armin joins Adam to discuss the violence he saw in the early days of the Islamic regime, his family’
'Lox and Loaded': How Minnesota Jews are Combatting Antisemitism through Gun Clubs
A new report shows nearly 55 percent of Jews in America have changed their behavior out of fear of Antisemitism this past year. In Minnesota, one woman has responded by launching a Jewish gun club called ‘Lox and Loaded’. On this week’s episode, Leslie Chudnoff tells Adam how she got the idea, how their first meetings have attracted dozens of first time gun owners, and why see says it doesn’t conf
How a Youth Pastor Became the “go to” guy for Celebrities
Tennessee-based youth pastor Dylan Novak has built an online following in tens of thousands, simply doing one thing – telling celebrities about Jesus. This year, he’s met with Paul Rudd, Neil Patrick Harris, James Corden and dozens of others. His ministry has grown exponentially in the past year – and online followers now sponsor his celebrity encounters. On this week’s episode of Bigger Than Beli
Imam Mowlid Ali on ICE, Ramadan, Community Support
On this week’s episode of Bigger Than Belief, Imam Mowlid Ali of Abubakar As-Sadique Islamic Center joins the podcast to talk about the start of Ramadan – and what Ramadan means to American Muslims. He also shares the impacts of operation Metro Surge on Minneapolis Muslims, his thoughts on Jake Lang’s Anti-Muslim protests, his letter to the President, and his reaction to staggering community suppo
Clergy Members Arrested Protesting ICE: Part Two
On Friday, Jan 23rd, 99 clergy members were arrested, charged and released during an anti-ICE protest at Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport. Reverend Katherine Lewis of St. David’s Episcopal Church in Minnetonka, Reverend Daniel Ruth, Executive Director of Lutheran Partners and Reverend Amanda Lunemann of Grace United Methodist Church in Burnsville were among the 99. On part two of this two-part episode
Clergy Members Arrested Protesting ICE: Part One
On Friday, Jan 23rd, 99 clergy members were arrested, charged and released during an anti-ICE protest at Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport. Reverend Katherine Lewis of St. David’s Episcopal Church in Minnetonka, Reverend Daniel Ruth, Executive Director of Lutheran Partners and Reverend Amanda Lunemann of Grace United Methodist Church in Burnsville were among the 99. They join Adam to discuss the moment
60+ Faith Leaders Pen Open Letter to ICE, Elected Officials, Asking for Peace
This week, federal agents staged in Minneapolis as part of Operation Metro Surge shot and killed another person. 37-year-old Alex Pretti was shot and killed Saturday morning in South Minneapolis. His death sparked immediate protest, and reamplified calls for a change in strategy for Operation Metro Surge. One day prior to Pretti’s death, more than 60 faith leaders in Minnesota signed off on an ope
How Faith Leaders are Driving Minnesota’s General Strike on Friday, Jan 23.
Businesses, unions, schools and elected officials are joining together Friday, January 23 – calling for a one day “economic blackout” that’s being described as a day of “truth and freedom”. They’re urging people not to shop, work, or go to school. It’s the latest coordinated protest against Operation Metro Surge, the federal immigration crackdown that’s brought thousands of federal agents to the T
How an Immigrant Church in MN is Serving Food, Families as Federal Crackdown Continues
Federal Agents continue to pour into Minnesota. Department of Homeland Security says thousands have been arrested in the seven weeks of “Operation Metro Surge”. As the federal crackdown continues – immigrant churches are on high alert. Sergio Amezcua is pastor of Dios Habla Hoy (DDH Church) in South Minneapolis, an evangelical, Spanish speaking church of 500 members. Last month – his church put o
How Matt Moeller Went from Prisoner to Pastor
Before he was even 18, Matt Moeller found himself behind bars. Facing nearly 20 years in prison, he was grappling with what felt like a life ruined. Then, just one week after arriving in prison he was invited to a church service. That service would send him on a completely new journey. After doing his time he found work as a restorative justice pastor for
Westwood Community Church. Matt Moeller j
Kingswood Security Consulting Founder Simon Osamoh
Simon Osamoh’s journey reads almost like a novel. Born in the UK, he spent years working as a detective for the British police as he launched a career in public safety. While serving as a detective, he came face to face with organized criminals and terrorism plots. Eventually, his journey took him to Minnesota, where he served as head of counterterrorism at the Mall of America. In 2013, an unexpec
How Relevant is Christmas in 2025?
Today is Christmas Day, when Millions of Americans will celebrate the birth of Jesus in churches across the country. In Minnesota, perhaps no service will be busier than Eagle Brook Church. Across 14 campuses in the Twin Cities, Eagle Brook expects to have more than 100,000 people experience their Christmas message this year. So how do you craft the message? And how relevant is the Christmas story
KTIS Station Manager Matt Deane
Founded in 1949 by Northwestern College President Billy Graham, KTIS has been a Twin Cities radio staple for the past 76 years. With an FM and AM station, it has also grown into something no other faith-based radio station in the country has – a mega-station that competes with and beats out secular stations for market share. By 2019, KTIS had grown its operation to 23 stations in 10 states – with
They're Rabbis, They're Married: Rachel and Marcus Rubenstein
This week, Rabbis Rachel and Marcus Rubenstein join Bigger Than Belief. In 2021,the couple became a rarity nationally – when they joined Temple of Aaron in St.Paul as married co-rabbis. On this weeks episode, Rabbis Rachel and Marcusdiscuss everything from their love story, their move to Minnesota, difference intheological beliefs in the Midwest/the coast, and how they leaned on their ownpodcast t
MN Wild Chaplain Bill Butters
On this week's episode of Bigger Than Belief, we meet Bill Butters. A White Bear Lake Native, Bill played collegiate hockey for Coach Herb Brooks at the University of Minnesota - before embarking on a professional career that took him across the country, eventually finishing with a stint as a Minnesota North Star. An enforcer through and through, Bill's life on the ice was rough - and his off the
Bigger Than Belief Trailer
Bigger Than Belief is a weekly podcast exploring faith, belief, and religion – all through the stories of believers. With an emphasis on understanding belief through personal experience, we aim to create a conversation about faith that is fair, honest, and easy to understand - regardless of what you do (or don't) believe. We'll also take a journalistic approach to concepts and questions that are d
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