So many people carry the quiet dream of writing something meaningful. A book. A devotional. A story that has been sitting inside them for years.

But the question lingers Where do I even begin?

In this episode of Space for Life, Tommy sits down with Terry Whalin, acquisitions editor at Morgan James Publishing and author of more than 60 books, to talk about what it really takes to move from dream to discipline.

Terry pulls back the curtain on the publishing world and explains why most aspiring authors start in the wrong place, what publishers are actually looking for, and why writing success is often 80 percent about the author and 20 percent about the book. They explore the catch 22 of publishing, the power of critique groups and apprenticeship, and why becoming a better reader is foundational to becoming a better writer.

If you have ever considered writing, or simply want to understand how books truly shape lives, this conversation offers practical clarity and grounded encouragement for taking your next step.

(0:00) Why So Many People Dream of Writing

(6:41) How One Book Can Change a Life

(14:16) What Publishers Really Look For

(18:07) Where Aspiring Writers Should Start

(32:32) The Catch 22 of Getting Published

(40:19) The Power of Critique Groups

(48:34) Why Reading Shapes Better Writing

(58:53) Building Consistency as a Writer

Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! http://tommythompson.org

Your 30s can feel like a decade full of tension. The tension between freedom and responsibility, living fully now and preparing wisely for the future, wanting clarity without becoming rigid. In this episode of Space for Life, Joe joins Tommy for an honest conversation about what it really means to live well in your 30s with freedom and intention.

Rather than offering formulas or life hacks, this conversation explores the deeper internal work of defining what truly matters. Joe and Tommy talk through why so many decisions feel exhausting, how guiding principles and guardrails can simplify life’s gray areas, and why postponing life often trains us to keep postponing it. They close by reflecting on how habits, more than any single decision, quietly shape the direction of our lives. This episode is for anyone navigating the weight of this decade and looking for a calmer, more grounded way to move forward.

0:00 Intro

7:41 Avoiding Comparison

13:04 Guiding Principles

26:23 Making Decisions Easier

34:13 Now Versus Later

53:56 Auditing Your Habits

Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! http://tommythompson.org

In this episode of Space for Life, Tommy sits down with Mia Sundstrom, CEO of the National Institute for Play and granddaughter of renowned play researcher Dr. Stuart Brown, for a powerful conversation about why play is not childish, frivolous, or optional, but essential to human health, creativity, resilience, and fulfillment.

They explore the science of play, the cultural myths that have stripped play from adult life, and why so many people feel burned out, disconnected, and exhausted in a world that treats play as a waste of time. Mia shares her personal journey growing up in a play-based learning environment, how her grandfather’s research shaped her life, and why play is now being reframed as a public health necessity.

This conversation challenges the idea that productivity and play are opposites, and instead shows how play fuels better work, deeper relationships, creativity, and emotional health. They unpack the difference between real play and modern forms of escapism, why social media often masquerades as play, and how adults can reconnect with the playful part of themselves they’ve forgotten.

Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! http://tommythompson.org

This is one of the most difficult and meaningful conversations Space for Life has ever held.

In this episode, host Tommy Thompson is joined by David Dwight, Senior Pastor at Hope Church Richmond, and Ray Paul, National Board Chair of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Together, they share deeply personal stories of losing close family members to suicide and reflect on what it means to grieve, to care for one another, and to hold hope in the midst of profound loss.

Listener discretion is advised. This is a heavy and sensitive topic, and we encourage you to listen at your own pace and with support if needed.

This conversation is rooted in lived experience, not theory. With honesty, compassion, and care, they explore:

• What makes suicide-related grief uniquely complex
• How to recognize warning signs and risk factors
• How to talk about suicide without shame, fear, or judgment
• The role of community, presence, and faith in healing
• How we can better support both those who are grieving and those who may be at risk

This episode is for anyone who has lost someone they love, is walking alongside someone who is struggling, or wants to learn how to respond with greater care and understanding in these moments.

Important Support Note

If you or someone you love is struggling or in crisis, help is available. In the United States, you can call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, to connect with trained counselors 24/7.

You are not alone.

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction to a Difficult Conversation

03:49 Personal Experiences with Suicide

11:27 Understanding Grief and Loss

24:08 The Complexity of Suicide

32:17 Statistics and Prevention Strategies

42:56 Navigating Conversations about Suicide

54:34 The Role of Community and Support

01:06:17 Faith and Understanding in Grief

01:14:35 Final Thoughts and Resources

Key Themes & Takeaways

• Suicide loss carries layers of grief that are often misunderstood
• Prevention and compassion must exist together
• Warning signs often show up as subtle changes in behavior or mood
• Asking direct questions and listening carefully can save lives
• Presence matters more than having the “right” words
• The way someone dies does not define the value or meaning of their life
• Healing often happens in community, not isolation

Resources Mentioned

• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP)
• https://afsp.org
• What to Do When Someone Is at Risk
• https://afsp.org/what-to-do-when-someone-is-at-risk/
• Risk Factors, Protective Factors, and Warning Signs
• https://afsp.org/risk-factors-protective-factors-and-warning-signs/
• Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (U.S.)
• Call or text 988

Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! http://tommythompson.org

In this episode of Space for Life, host Tommy Thompson is joined by Dan Allan, Executive Director at Campus Crusade for Christ (Cru), for a wide-ranging conversation about faith, renewal, and what’s unfolding across college campuses today.

Dan shares his personal journey in ministry, how The Chosen has become a powerful catalyst for gospel conversations, and why collaboration across ministries is essential in this moment. Together, they explore the surprising signs of spiritual hunger among Gen Z, the tension between retreat and revival, and why this season feels bigger than any single strategy or organization.

This episode offers clarity, encouragement, and real hope for anyone wondering what God may be doing in the next generation.

• God appears to be moving in a unique way among Gen Z
• The Chosen is reintroducing Jesus in a relational, accessible format
• Collaboration strengthens impact more than competition
• College campuses show both spiritual retreat and renewal
• Watch parties create natural entry points for faith conversations
• Prayer and presence matter more than polished strategies
• Rising spiritual hunger is supported by both stories and data

00:00 Introduction and global perspective

02:08 The impact of The Chosen

07:18 Dan Allan’s journey into ministry

16:52 Collaboration across Christian ministries

30:05 Gen Z, retreat, and revival on campus

54:10 Stories of faith and transformation

• The Chosen Watch Party Discussion Guides (free and publicly available)
• Contact Dan Allan: dan.alan@cru.org

Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! http://tommythompson.org

In this episode of Space for Life, host Tommy Thompson is joined by Dr. Wendi Lord, Vice President of Localization for the Come and See Foundation, the organization responsible for taking The Chosen to the world.

Wendi shares her journey from the corporate and publishing worlds into a calling that sits at the intersection of faith, technology, and human flourishing. The conversation explores the ambitious mission to translate The Chosen into 600 languages, the importance of delivering content in heart languages, and how emerging technologies like AI are being thoughtfully used to serve people who would otherwise never hear the story of Jesus.

Together, Tommy and Wendi wrestle with both the promise and the risks of new technologies, discussing how AI can support spiritual formation, creativity, and global connection without replacing human discernment, community, or God’s sovereignty. This episode offers a hopeful and grounded vision for engaging technology faithfully while staying rooted in what matters most.

• The mission of The Chosen and the Come and See Foundation
• Dr. Wendi Lord’s journey from corporate leadership to faith based work
• Why localization is more than translation
• The concept of heart languages and cultural relevance
• Reaching a billion people through technology and storytelling
• Using AI to support translation and lower resourced languages
• Opportunities and threats presented by emerging technologies
• Faith, discernment, and God’s sovereignty in a digital age
• Human flourishing in a technology driven world

(0:00) Introduction and Wendi’s Story

(4:34) From Corporate Leadership to Calling

(12:07) The Chosen and the Mission of Come and See

(18:15) Reaching a Billion People Through Story

(26:09) The Role of AI in Localization and Translation

(31:48) Speech to Speech Technology and Heart Languages

(39:31) Risks and Threats of Emerging Technologies

(49:14) Opportunities for Faith, Creativity, and Human Flourishing

(56:30) Balancing Technology With Human Connection

(1:05:49) Final Encouragement and Hope

Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! http://tommythompson.org

In this episode of Space for Life, Tommy Thompson sits down with Stan Jantz, Global Ambassador for the Come and See Foundation, the nonprofit behind the global production, translation, and distribution of The Chosen.

Stan shares firsthand stories from around the world showing how The Chosen is reaching people across cultures, denominations, and generations. They discuss the mission to translate the series into hundreds of languages, the intentional theological care behind the storytelling, and why the show has become a powerful entry point back to Scripture for many viewers.

The conversation also explores the current spiritual climate, signs of renewed hunger for faith especially among younger generations, and why “come and see” remains one of the most compelling invitations Jesus ever gave.

• The Chosen and the Come and See Foundation
• Global discipleship and Christian storytelling
• Translating faith-based media into hundreds of languages
• Why authenticity matters in portraying Jesus
• Signs of spiritual renewal around the world
• Reaching new generations through invitational faith

00:00 Introduction to The Chosen and Come and See

03:52 Global reach and international impact

10:47 Stan Jantz’s background and journey

21:32 The vision behind Come and See Foundation

32:57 Storytelling, theology, and production challenges

42:01 Signs of spiritual renewal and revival

51:28 How listeners can get involved

Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! http://tommythompson.org

In this episode of Space for Life, Tommy Thompson is joined by pastor and longtime ministry leader Tuck Knupp for a thoughtful conversation on kindness. Drawing from a men’s Bible study on the fruit of the Spirit, they explore how kindness is often misunderstood as niceness or weakness, when in reality it is rooted in strength, humility, and generosity of spirit. Together, they discuss kindness in relationships, leadership, work, self-reflection, and even cultural and political discourse. The conversation challenges listeners, especially men, to grow in kindness by embracing humility, receiving God’s kindness personally, and allowing that transformation to shape how they live, lead, and relate to others, particularly during the Christmas season.

Key Takeaways

- Kindness is not the same as niceness, it is rooted in strength and truth

- True kindness requires humility and an honest view of our own brokenness

- Kindness reflects a generosity of spirit that believes the best about others

- Protecting someone’s reputation is a powerful expression of kindness

- Kindness should extend to work, home, relationships, and public discourse

- Receiving God’s kindness fuels compassion toward others

- Self-kindness is essential for growth and freedom from performance

- Kindness may lose short-term battles but can win long-term wars

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction to Kindness

05:09 Reframing Kindness Beyond Niceness

11:22 The Strength and Truth Within Kindness

18:23 Growing in Kindness Through Humility

25:36 Kindness in Relationships and Self-Compassion

32:09 Reflecting on Kindness During Christmas

36:20 Kindness in Society, Culture, and Politics

45:42 A Challenge to Men

47:11 Final Reflections and Closing

Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! http://tommythompson.org