Advertise on podcast: Talkin' LIFE with Jonathan Hunter

Jonathan has a candid and heartfelt conversation with longtime friend, Peter Lau, who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2023. Peter delves into the uncertainties, fears and challenges involved in its treatment and the meaningful life-lessons encountered in the process.    Peter Lau has been a Christian since his early twenties and has worked in IT for most of his adult life. Since his stage 4 pancreatic cancer diagnosis in 2023, Peter has been undergoing almost constant chemotherapy. He has recently joined a clinical trial utilizing the breakthrough drug,Daraxonrasib, which is miraculously helping extend the lives of many patients. Peter’s medical journey has brought about many opportunities to sit with people, listen deeply, and have meaningful conversations about hopes, fears, and life’s purpose.  He is always bold to share of his reliance on God for strength and the grace to overcome

Jonathan has a lively conversation with goddaughter  Katie Comiskey, now Director at Large at Desert Stream Ministries (DSM)– the ministry founded by her father, Andrew Comiskey, over 45 years ago.  Katie shares what it was like growing up in and, after working as a teacher in Kansas City for several years, deciding to become involved in DSM fulltime. She also describes with candid transparency the arc of her personal healing journey in the process of becoming a leader at Desert Stream.   Katie has a long-standing connection to Desert Stream’s Living Waters ministry, having served for years in leadership facilitating groups in her local community. She currently serves as Director at Large at Desert Stream Ministries helping support and expand the work nationally. Her work is rooted in the power of the Cross to transform lives – beginning with her own – and in the commitment to living and promoting chastity.

Jonathan has an engaging conversation with longtime friend and recent author, Chris Myers. The two recall their initial meeting some 35+ years ago and Chris’ participation in the early days of Embracing Life, then known as AIDS Resource Ministry(ARM).  Chris discusses how his extensive background in design and love of travel, together with a lifelong passion for journaling, all came together in the recent publication his book, The Power of Journaling and the ARISE workshops.  Chris Myers is an inspirational author, engaging facilitator and lifelong creator of immersive experiences, having notably worked with Disney, Mattel and Universal. He has a Bachelor’s degree from Rhode Island School of Design, and a Masters of Practical Theology and Honorary Doctorate from New Covenant University. Chris recently published The Power of Journaling and offers ARISE workshops for novices and experienced alike to engage in journaling as a means for deepening the relationship between God and self.   Website: Home - Chris Myers Author

Jonathan has a conversation with friend, ministry leader and author, Denise Shick. Denise discusses the painful struggles she endured being raised by a trans-identified parent and the support that’s now available for concerned family and loved ones of LGBTQ+ children and adults.   Denise Shick is the founder and executive director of Help 4 Families Ministry and executive director of Living Stones Ministries. She is the author of seven children’s books and several nonfiction books, including My Daddy’s Secret, Understanding Gender Confusion—A Faith-Based Perspective, When Hope Seems Lost, and several other books. She has a BA in psychology and is a biblical counselor and certified life coach.    Website: Freedom From Homosexuality - Living Stones Ministries

Jonathan sits down for a clear, frank discussion with friend Rev. Brian Barlow, the pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Banning, CA.   Brian shares his heartfelt testimony of sexual brokenness and subsequent transformation by the Lord which eventually led to a ministry to the sexually and relationally broken and church pastorate.  Rev. Barlow, in addition to pastoring, serves with many local and national ministries including Lutheran’s for Life, Y4Life, LINC-LA and Help4Families. He also served as Regional Director for Desert Stream Ministries, SoCal from 2016-2020.  Brian and his wife Nicole have four boys ages 11,9,5 and 1.

Jonathan sits down with longtime friend, Glenys Brookbanks, a renowned artist and exhibiting painter in New Zealand. She has also been a pioneer leader in relational healing groups in New Zealand.   Glenys and her husband Warren live in close community with their adult family in Auckland, New Zealand. She has led many Embracing Life groups as well as those of Desert Stream Ministries over several decades. Her passion for Jesus, the Cross and the Church is abundant in her teaching. She is a co-author, along with Jonathan and Andrea Hunter, on the upcoming book, More Power! Understanding and Experiencing the Cross.

Jonathan visits with friends Eric and Marta Darby. Eric is a former, longtime Board member of Embracing Life Ministries and has participated in ELM’s Zoom seminars on depression and anxiety.  Marta, along with her husband Eric, has taught Desert Stream Ministries’ Living Waters program for several years. Marta also has a considerable, online following within the Cuban-American community with her blog, “My Big Fat Cuban Family”. The pair have been associated with the Vineyard Christian Church in Orange County, CA for over 30 years.  The friends look back on how they met and came to be involved in healing ministry together…both with Desert Stream and Embracing Life Ministries.  A good portion of the podcast focusses on the profound impact Marta’s near-death Covid hospitalization had on their family, and the daily battle they were forced to wage against the spirit of death and all its various manifestations.

Jonathan sits down to talk with friends Russell and Marion Pyle, who share their riveting story of their God-directed experience in overcoming a deadly, cancer diagnosis.   Russell and Marion Pyle each have extensive resumes of their vast experience in film, television, stage and media. However, when Russ was diagnosed with a deadly, bladder cancer back in 2012, they entered into foreign territory. A Holy Spirit -led strategy emerged for battling the cancer and amazingly, 10 months later, Russell was completely healed! This podcast is about their incredible story of overcoming cancer that resulted in Marion’s book, Healed, Healthy and Whole, How We Beat Cancer with Integrated Therapies and Healing Strategies. You can buy the book here:  Healed, Healthy and Whole: Pyle, Marion M: 9781629520988: Amazon.com: Books

Jonathan gets together with Neil and Debra Driscoll, the Associate Directors of Embracing Life Ministries, to talk about their history with the ministry.  2023 is the 25th anniversary of Embracing Life’s first publication, Embracing Life Series (ELS).  To commemorate the occasion, Jonathan has Debra and Neil Driscoll share about their first encounter with ELS two decades ago and how it radically changed their lives and involvement in ministry life!

Jonathan sits down with dear friends and co-authors of Embracing Life’s publication More Hope! Emerging from the Shadow of Breast Cancer…Beth Webb and Andrea Hunter.  October is “Breast Cancer Awareness” month and coincidentally, “AIDS Awareness” month.  Jonathan, Beth and Andrea share memories of the early years of Embracing Life Ministries– formerly AIDS Resource Ministry (ARM) – recollecting their heartfelt experiences while ministering to the HIV-affected. Beth (a cancer survivor) and Andrea also share how More Hope! came together and has since become a valuable, healing resource for women struggling with a cancer diagnosis. Link to More Hope!  publication: More Hope! — Embracing Life Ministries

In this podcast Jonathan sits down with Annette Comiskey, wife of Andrew Comiskey, the founder and director of Desert Stream Ministries.  Annette has served alongside Andrew for over 4 decades ministering to wives and family members and those seeking healing for their own areas of personal wounding and sin. Having received much healing for the sexual abuse she experienced in childhood, Annette understands the process, hope and restoration that can be found in and through Jesus Christ.  She adores her family and is most “in her element” with their 4 kids (all grown, 3 married) and their multiple grandkids. Web site:    Desert Stream

Jonathan visits with Kent and Cathy Larson, associate pastors at Vineyard Community Church (VCC) in Laguna Niguel, California where they oversee prayer and pastoral care.  During their time at VCC they established HOPE (House of Prayer for Everyone), Vineyard healing Rooms, Mercy Arts Community and Mercy Transformation Center. Their passion is to provide resources to bring people into full transformation in Christ through a lifestyle of face-to-face encounters with the living presence of Jesus and joyful, relational and intergenerational community.  Website: Immanuel Prayer Ministry – Inner Healing Ministry

Jonathan sits down with friend Karen Covell, founding Director of The Hollywood Prayer Network (HPN) as well as producer of TV specials, documentaries and children’s programming.   Karen has a broad and extensive resume of work in the Hollywood TV, film and music industry. Her unwavering, prayerful intercession for the entertainment industry through her HPN leadership, has given Karen a seasoned perspective and special insight into how the Lord is moving in that community. Karen is married to film and TV composer, Jim Covell; they have two sons, both professional filmmakers in their own right. Website:  Hollywood Prayer Network - Praying for the Entertainment Industry

Jonathan has a conversation with guests Shannon Brooks and Cassie Erickson. Both women serve as directors of discipleship programs at The Dream Center, in Los Angeles, California which provides support to those affected by homelessness, addiction, hunger and lack of education through residential and community outreach programs.  Cassie and Shannon share what brought them to The Dream Center and go on describe its ever-expanding outreach as more Dream Centers are established throughout the U.S. and around the world. Co-founded by Pastor Matthew Barnett in the mid-1990’s, The Dream Center currently helps tens of thousands, each week, through various ministries and outreach programs.  Web Site:  Transforming Lives (dreamcenter.org)

Jonathan sits down with Benjamin (Benji) Cruz, the National Director of Living Waters Philippines – a Christian relational and sexual healing ministry.  Benji describes how his personal pursuit of healing and wholeness eventually led him to give up his public relations consultancy firm to become involved with Living Waters. Under his directorship, Living Waters/ Philippines has grown exponentially, having the largest network of groups outside the U.S. Website: Home - Living Waters Philippines