Writing Toward Common Ground with Jennie Allen

This week, Bob and Kim sit down with longtime friend Wm. Paul Young, author of The Shack, to talk about his new book, Return to the Shack, and the stories we’re all telling with our lives.Paul shares how real friendships and experiences helped shape his return to these beloved characters, why he writes without a target audience or rigid outline, and how he lets characters and stories develop along the way.Whether you’re working on a book or simply figuring out what your own life is saying, this conversation is a reminder that you don’t just have a story. You are one.Pre-order Return to the Shack wherever you buy books, and visit EnterTheShack.com to learn more.

What do you do when life doesn't go the way you hoped and the outcome is completely outside your control?This week, Bob sits down with his dear friend Lysa TerKeurst to talk about her new book, Making Peace with What I Can't Control, and what she's learned about loosening our grip on the people, circumstances, and outcomes we were never meant to control in the first place.Lysa shares how some of life's hardest interruptions taught her the difference between being responsible for what she can do and trying to control what happens next. Together, she and Bob talk about the fear that often hides underneath our need for control, the importance of boundaries and self-control, and how getting curious can help us respond with wisdom instead of reacting out of fear.If you've been carrying the weight of an outcome that isn't yours to carry, this conversation is an invitation to loosen your grip, trust God with what you can't control, and put your energy toward what you can.

This week, Bob sits down with Jonathan Yackley, Executive Director of Rise Up Industries, and Ernie Garcia, a Rise Up graduate who now manages the organization's machine shop.Ernie shares his remarkable journey after spending 28 years in prison, including nearly two decades in solitary confinement, and how a community that believed in him changed the course of his life. Jonathan explains how Rise Up combines advanced manufacturing with mentorship, counseling, and discipleship to help formerly incarcerated people build sustainable careers and lasting hope.Together, they explore second chances, leadership, faith in action, and the everyday decisions that help people rise into the lives they were created to live.Learn more about Rise Up Industries at ⁠https://riseupindustries.org/⁠.

In this episode, Bob sits down with Steven Curtis and Mary Beth Chapman to talk about the people who shape us, the seasons that change us, and the quiet ways God continues to work long after we think we've learned the lesson.It's a conversation full of laughter, honesty, and hope, and one that reminds us we're all still becoming.Steven and Mary Beth also share insights from their new book, Still Here, a thoughtful reflection on the journey they've walked together.

This week, Bob sits down with his longtime friend Taylor Hughes for an honest conversation about navigating life's transitions with curiosity instead of fear. Together, they explore everything from parenting adult children and embracing uncertainty to letting go of old identities, healing from the past, and having the courage to become the next version of yourself.Taylor also shares insights from his new book, Tell It Well: The Definitive Guide To Public Speaking For People Who Would Rather Be Anywhere Else, and offers a preview of the upcoming Speaker's Workshop at The Oaks, where he and Bob help writers, speakers, leaders, podcasters, and communicators of every kind develop the confidence and clarity to share the ideas that matter most.In this episode, you'll hear about:Navigating changeParenting through every season of lifeLetting go of past hurts and old expectationsFinding purpose in uncertaintyWhy curiosity leads to deeper relationshipsThe power of storytelling to help people remember what mattersBecoming a more authentic communicatorWe hope this episode encourages you to step forward with curiosity and tell your story well.

Who are you when your title, your accomplishments, or even your failures don't get the final say?This week, Bob sits down with Lynsi Snyder, owner and president of In-N-Out Burger, for a conversation about knowing who you are. As Lynsi reflects on leadership, loss, healing, and hope, she shares how finding her identity in God has given her the courage to lead with humility, love with compassion, and keep moving forward through every season.We hope this conversation encourages you to loosen your grip on the labels you've carried and hold a little tighter to the One who knows you best.Connect with Lynsi: @lynsi_snyderLearn more about In-N-Out Burger Foundation, Slave 2 Nothing Foundation, HIS EYES Foundation, and the Army of Love.Connect with Bob: @bobgoff

This week, Bob welcomes Priscilla Shirer for a conversation about gratitude, perspective, and the power of remembering. They remind us that remembering isn't just looking back. It's what gives us the courage to move forward.Together, they explore how gratitude recalibrates our hearts, why it's worth being intentional about what we're feeding our minds, and how small acts of faithfulness can have a lasting impact. We hope this conversation will encourage you to remember the good, embrace the present, and take one faithful step at a time.Connect with Priscilla: @priscillashirerConnect with Bob: @bobgoff

This week, Bob sits down with singer-songwriter, author, and longtime friend Ginny Owens for a conversation about hope, identity, and learning to see beyond what's right in front of us. As Ginny reflects on losing her sight as a child, moving to New York, and following wherever God leads next, she shares how circumstances may change, but our identity never has to.Whether you're walking through a season of uncertainty or simply looking for a fresh perspective, this conversation will remind you that hope isn't found in perfect circumstances but in knowing who you are.Connect with Ginny: @ginnyowensofficialConnect with Bob: @bobgoff

This week, Bob is joined by Jesse Cole, the founder of the Savannah Bananas, whose dream of making baseball fun grew from selling just two tickets to selling out some of the largest stadiums in the country . Together, they explore what it looks like to take chances, embrace being misunderstood, and build a life centered on bringing joy to other people. Whether you're launching a business, raising a family, leading a team, or simply trying to figure out your next step, this conversation will encourage you to stop waiting, swing hard, make a move, and bring a little more joy wherever you go.Connect with Jesse: @yellowtuxjesseConnect with Bob: @bobgoff

What if common ground begins with a question instead of an answer? Jennie Allen joins Bob and Kimberly to talk about finding clarity in life's chaos, navigating disagreement with kindness, and creating space for meaningful connection. Whether you're a writer or simply a curious human, this conversation will encourage you to lean in.--Join Bob and Kim at the Oaks for their next Writer's Workshop. Visit bobgoff.com/events to learn more.