Episodes

  • The Discipline of Disconnecting

    The Discipline of Disconnecting
    Dec 30 2025
    As 2025 comes to a close, Josh Thomas and Pastor Chris Kouba reflect on a big year personally and at United City—and then pivot into a highly practical conversation about fasting as they head into 2026. They unpack why “the discipline of disconnecting” is often the missing piece for men who feel spiritually dry, distracted, or overloaded.

    Pastor Chris explains how fasting creates the kind of intentional emptiness that makes room to hear from God again—because, as he puts it, “most men are too full to hear from God.” From full schedules and nonstop entertainment to constant phone-checking and comfort habits, the problem often isn’t a lack of information—it’s a lack of space.

    This episode is also a step-by-step guide: what fasting is, why Jesus assumes we’ll do it, how to choose a fast, what to do during a fast, and what to expect (including the famous “don’t quit on Tuesday or Wednesday” moment). If you want 2026 to be marked by clarity, hunger for God, and a deeper walk—this one’s for you.

    To find out more about Pastor Chris, follow him on all the social platforms (@ckouba) and to connect with the ministry of United City visit https://unitedcity.church.


    Show Notes
    Follow on Instagram: @stepup.podcast
    Follow United City: @untdcitychurch
    Connect with Pastor Chris: http://chriskouba.com
    More About United City: https://unitedcity.church/
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    32 mins
  • Ready or Not: Trusting God in the Transition

    Ready or Not: Trusting God in the Transition
    Dec 16 2025
    What do you do when the moment arrives—and you don’t feel ready?

    In this episode of the Step Up Podcast, Pastor Chris Kouba and host Josh Thomas unpack one of the most defining leadership moments in Scripture: “Moses, my servant, is dead. Now therefore arise…” (Joshua 1). It’s a sobering, powerful reminder that while mentors, seasons, and circumstances may change, God does not.

    Through honest stories of leadership transitions, parenting teenagers, ministry decisions, and personal calling, this conversation challenges men to stop waiting for perfect preparation and start stepping forward in faith. Whether you’re facing a promotion, loss, unexpected responsibility, or a moment that feels bigger than you, this episode reminds you that stepping up isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about trusting the presence of God.

    To find out more about Pastor Chris, follow him on all the social platforms (@ckouba) and to connect with the ministry of United City visit https://unitedcity.church.

    Show Notes:

    Follow on Instagram: @stepup.podcast
    Follow United City: @untdcitychurch
    Connect with Pastor Chris: http://chriskouba.com
    More About United City: https://unitedcity.church/
    Show More Show Less
    34 mins
  • Fear of Man: When Approval Becomes Your God

    Fear of Man: When Approval Becomes Your God
    Dec 2 2025
    In this episode of the Step Up Podcast, Pastor Chris Kouba and host Josh Thomas tackle the tension every man feels between the fear of God and the fear of man. Starting with Halloween, haunted houses, spiders, and flying cockroaches, they move into a deeper conversation about why not all fear is bad—and how a healthy fear can actually lead to courage, wisdom, and confidence, while unhealthy fear keeps you paralyzed.

    Looking at the story of Joshua and Caleb and the ten spies in Numbers 13, Pastor Chris contrasts people-pleasing, image-management, and comfort-seeking with a life anchored in conviction and the fear of the Lord. From work integrity, to pornography, to dads holding the line on phones, budgets, and boundaries at home, this episode invites men to step out of people-pleasing and into the freedom of living before an audience of One.

    If you’ve ever felt muted, stuck, or scared of what others will think, this conversation will help you name your fears, take one obedient next step, and model courageous conviction for your kids and the people you lead.

    To find out more about Pastor Chris, follow him on all the social platforms (@ckouba) and to connect with the ministry of United City visit https://unitedcity.church.


    Show Notes

    Follow on Instagram: @stepup.podcast
    Follow United City: @untdcitychurch
    Connect with Pastor Chris: http://chriskouba.com
    More About United City: https://unitedcity.church/
    Show More Show Less
    34 mins
  • Integrity in the Dark: Decisions that Define a Man

    Integrity in the Dark: Decisions that Define a Man
    Nov 18 2025
    In this powerful episode of the Step Up podcast, Pastor Chris Kouba and host Josh Thomas dive into the everyday decisions that shape a man’s character. Using a real-life car repair dilemma and the biblical story of Joseph in Genesis 39, they unpack what integrity truly looks like when no one is watching—and when doing the right thing actually costs you something.

    This episode outlines three critical questions every man must ask to evaluate his character, influence, and spiritual resilience. From handling temptation, to stewarding influence, to standing firm when obedience feels expensive, this conversation is a timely challenge for men who want to honor God in both the big moments and the quiet Tuesdays of life.

    If you're ready to grow, lead well, and pursue holiness in a culture that celebrates shortcuts, this episode will equip and encourage you.

    To find out more about Pastor Chris, follow him on all the social platforms (@ckouba) and to connect with the ministry of United City visit https://unitedcity.church.


    Show Notes
    Follow on Instagram: @stepup.podcast
    Follow United City: @untdcitychurch
    Connect with Pastor Chris: http://chriskouba.com
    More About United City: https://unitedcity.church/
    Show More Show Less
    34 mins
  • Be the Man Your Family Needs: Stepping Up in the Home

    Be the Man Your Family Needs: Stepping Up in the Home
    Nov 4 2025
    In this episode of Step Up, Pastor Chris Kouba and host Josh Thomas tackle a challenge that hits home for men everywhere — how to truly engage and lead well when you walk through the front door. From cultural confusion about masculinity to the biblical call to love your wife and lead your family, this conversation is honest, convicting, and practical. Learn what it looks like to be a provider, protector, student, and cherisher, and why spiritual leadership at home shapes everything about your relationship with God.

    To find out more about Pastor Chris, follow him on all the social platforms (@ckouba) and to connect with the ministry of United City visit https://unitedcity.church.


    Challenges for the Week
    1. Have an intentional conversation with your wife.
    2. Choose one area (provider, student, protector, cherisher) to grow in this week.
    3. Share this episode with another man who’s ready to step up.


    Show Notes

    Follow on Instagram: @stepup.podcast
    Follow United City: @untdcitychurch
    Connect with Pastor Chris: http://chriskouba.com
    More About United City: https://unitedcity.church/
    Show More Show Less
    35 mins
  • Glory, Toil, and Holy Ambition: The Temptations that Take down Men

    Glory, Toil, and Holy Ambition: The Temptations that Take down Men
    Oct 21 2025
    Your job isn’t just about a paycheck—it’s part of God’s bigger plan. In this conversation, Pastor Chris Kouba and host Josh Thomas unpack what Scripture says about work, ambition, and calling. From Genesis to the modern workplace, they reveal how we can pursue excellence without losing sight of what truly matters. If you’ve ever wondered whether your work really matters to God, this episode is for you.

    To find out more about Pastor Chris, follow him on all the social platforms (@ckouba) and to connect with the ministry of United City visit https://unitedcity.church


    Show Notes
    Follow on Instagram: @stepup.podcast
    Follow United City: @untdcitychurch
    Connect with Pastor Chris: http://chriskouba.com
    More About United City: https://unitedcity.church/
    Show More Show Less
    34 mins
  • When Your Little Girl Leaves Home: Lessons from a Girl Dad

    When Your Little Girl Leaves Home: Lessons from a Girl Dad
    Oct 7 2025
    What happens when a dad drops his daughter off at college for the first time? In this episode, Pastor Chris Kouba joins Host Josh Thomas to share the raw emotions, hard lessons, and spiritual insights from navigating this life-changing milestone. From the four stages of parenting to the power of early investment and tough conversations, Pastor Chris offers wisdom that every parent—especially dads of daughters—needs to hear.

    If you’re raising kids, preparing for an empty nest, or just needing encouragement in the messy, beautiful journey of fatherhood, this episode will challenge you to step up and savor every season.

    To find out more about Pastor Chris, follow him on all the social platforms (@ckouba) and to connect with the ministry of United City visit https://unitedcity.church.


    Show Notes
    Follow on Instagram: @stepup.podcast
    Follow United City: @untdcitychurch
    Connect with Pastor Chris: http://chriskouba.com
    More About United City: https://unitedcity.church/
    Show More Show Less
    36 mins
  • The Chase of Glory: The Temptations That Take Down Men

    The Chase of Glory: The Temptations That Take Down Men
    Sep 23 2025
    Success can be a gift, but pride can turn it into a curse. In this episode, Pastor Chris Kouba and host Josh Thomas unpack the “glory trap”—how pride creeps into our identity, blinds us to wisdom, and sets us up for a fall. Through Scripture, stories from real life, and practical steps, they explore how men can recognize the dangers of self-reliance and instead walk in humility, receiving God’s favor instead of His opposition.

    To find out more about Pastor Chris, follow him on all the social platforms (@ckouba) and to connect with the ministry of United City visit https://unitedcity.church.



    Show Notes
    Follow on Instagram: @stepup.podcast
    Follow United City: @untdcitychurch
    Connect with Pastor Chris: http://chriskouba.com
    More About United City: https://unitedcity.church/
    Show More Show Less
    35 mins