
Welcome!
On the Live Like It’s True podcast my guests and I look at various stories (narratives) of the Bible, and ask, “What’s surprising here?” and “How does this correct the false narratives of the World?”
Each episode is conversational (not preachy) and will stir your appetite to drink in the stories of the Bible, and live like the overarching Story is true!
Do you want to live like it’s true?
If we haven’t met, I’m Shannon Popkin. Whether from the platform, the page, or the podcast microphone, my hope is that you’ll open your Bible with me, drink in the truth, then live like the story true.
We’re all telling a story with our lives; we’re not all telling the true story. This podcast is designed to help you know the story, share the story, and live the story.

Know the Story
Share the Story
God could have revealed himself in textbook fashion, with lists of his attributes and facts. Instead, he gave us a thick book with lots of stories. Each one is like a velvet pouch, which bundles up certain gems of God’s character for safekeeping. And the stories become more deeply ingrained in our hearts when we rehearse and share them with others.
On Live Like It’s True, we talk often about how to approach the stories of the Bible, and how to give them away!
Live the Story
It’s one thing to know the story; it’s another thing to live like the story is true. This podcast is meant to help shrink the gap between what you say you believe and how you live. As we rehearse the true stories individually, and the overarching story of the Bible, we’ll discover how the one True Story corrects the false narratives of the world.
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PODCAST FAQ:
How long are the episodes?
Between 30 and 45 minutes.
Who is this podcast for?
If you love the Bible, and want to live like it’s true, this podcast is for you! I imagine most listeners will be women, but guys are welcome, too!
When will episodes release?
Wednesday morning, the True Story episode (with guests) will release. Retelling episodes release on Saturday. (Not all episodes have a Retelling Episode.)
What are the aims of this podcast?
My hope is that that you’ll be inspired to better know the Story, share the Story, and live the Story.
How can I listen?
You can listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, and more. Find the full set of options here. (And please let us know if you see one missing!)
CONTENT FAQ:
Who are some of your guests?
I’ve been so honored to welcome Nancy Guthrie, Courtney Doctor, Mary Kassian, Erin Davis, Kelly Needham, and more. Each guest is a gifted Bible teacher, and loves the truth of God’s Word!
What makes this podcast unique?
Each episode focuses on an astonishing, true story of the Bible, and what makes it surprising (both then and now). The style is conversational; not preachy but not shallow, either. Our quest is to treasure up the stories, and live like they’re true.
What’s the theme for season four?
Fall of ’22, we’re looking at the True Story of The Beginning. We’ll take several months to explore parts of our Origin Story, found in Genesis 1-3. After that, I’ll be taking a break to work on my next two books.
Season 4: True Story of the Beginning
Welcome to Season 4: The True Story of the Beginning
Why do the weeds grow and the flowers die? Why is there cancer, and divorce, and death? And why, even when my life is so full, do I feel so empty? The answers to these questions are found, not in some lengthy discourse, but in a relatively short...
E29 The Story of Eden’s Fall {Nancy Guthrie – Genesis 1-3}
Welcome back to another series of Live Like It's True! Here in season 4 (and I can't believe we're already at season 4!) we're looking at the True Story of the Beginning. Our origin story. Knowing your origin story matters. Understanding Genesis...
E30 Male and Female {Kelly Needham – Genesis 1}
What does it mean to be male or female? What does it mean to image God? And how are these two things related? The answers to these questions are found on the earliest pages of our Bible, tucked into our origin story. I'm so thankful to have my...
E31 The God Who Fills {Stephanie Rousselle- Genesis 1}
Do you ever think of God as stingy? Do you focus on the things that He hasn't given you? The opening scene of Genesis shows us a different view of God. As we see the waters teaming with life and the birds filling the sky and plants popping up...
E32 Invited to Rest, Not Hustle {Lindsay Schott – Genesis 2}
Are you a perfectionist? Do you run yourself ragged with your work, or your ministry? And have you asked yourself why? I have to admit, this was the episode in this series I was secretly least excited about. Not because of my guest; Lindsay...
E33 Adam and Eve: Man and Wife {Mary Kassian – Genesis 2}
What if marriage isn't just about marriage? What if God designed marriage to help us understand something even more important? Mary Kassian joins us to talk through the story of the first man and his wife, found in Genesis 2, and what their...
E34 The Lying Serpent {Courtney Doctor – Genesis 3}
Have you ever had an intruder? Knowing that someone has entered your space immediately makes you feel violated and on guard, and that's exactly how we're supposed to feel when an intruding serpent shows up in the Garden of Eden. I feel so...
E35 Hiding in the Garden {Nicole Furno – Genesis 3}
Have you ever tried to hide your sin from God? Have you withdrawn from Him in shame—afraid of his anger over what you've done? Or maybe you've convinced yourself that your sin isn't all that bad. That there's nothing to be ashamed of. The story...
Season 3: The Summer Standout Series
E23 The True Story on the Road to Damascus {Ann Swindell – Acts 9}
Has God been putting up roadblocks in your path? Has he been making it impossible for you to "proceed with the route" you had in mind for your life? This can be really frustrating—especially when your plans revolved around pleasing God. Maybe...
E24 The True Story on Straight Street {Ann Swindell – Acts 9}
Do you know anyone who seems like the least likely person to ever turn and follow Jesus? You look at them and think, "There's just no way..." Maybe the person you think of as the least likely Jesus follower is you. Well, today we're looking at a...
E25 The True Story of Esther’s Secret {Amy Carroll & Lynn Cowell – Esther 4}
Have you had a sense of uncertainty lately? As you look at big, looming problems in the world, have you wondered how it's all going to turn out? And have you been tempted to just stay quiet and passively do nothing—because you're not sure what...
E26 The True Story of the Burning Bush {Sojo Academy – Exodus 3}
Do you have any signs of an identity crisis? When I did a quick search online (here, here and here) I found lists of symptoms including: Apathy, or searching for more purpose or passion in your life Questioning your goals and relationships...
Want to win this Summer Giveaway?
Have you been following along this summer, on the Live Like it's True podcast? Want to win this bundle of amazing gifts, from our guests? Included are: Pathway to Peace by Ann Swindell. Esther: Seeing Our Invisible God in an Uncertain World by...
E27 The True Story of the Widow’s Last Meal {Lisa Appelo – I Kings 17}
What would you do, if God asked you to give Him everything? What if you were already reeling with struggle and loss, and He asked you to sacrificially give what little you have, to Him? That's exactly what we're going to see in this story about...
Season 2: The True Story of Easter
Season 2: The True Story of Easter
Hey, hey! Welcome back to another season of Live Like It's True! This season, we're discussing the True Story of Easter. Have you ever wondered why Jesus didn't tie everything together for his disciples? Why did Jesus not simply say, "I'm God's...
E12 The True Story of Lazarus {Mary Kassian – John 11}
Are you going through something really painful right now? Are you wondering, "Why, Jesus? Why didn't you intervene?" There are two sisters named Mary and Martha, in our story today, who are asking that very question after the death of their...
E13 Retelling the Story of Lazarus
When my son, Cade, was a baby, I was putting him in his carseat one day and I accidentally bumped his head as I lowered him in. He looked at me with an expression of shock and said, "Mommy! We don't want to hurt your precious baby!" His...
E14 The True Story of the Lamb {Erin Davis – Luke 22}
If you were invited to a special dinner party, where the honored guests gathering around the table are all friends of Jesus who will be participating in a symbolic reenactment of the most important day in the history of the world, would you go?...
Ep 15 Retelling the Story of the Lamb
When my daughter was little she looked up at a lifeguard sitting on a tall chair and said, "That's the king, isn't it, Daddy?" She didn't quite have everything figured out yet, but even at two or three years old, she knew that great people were...
E 16 The True Story of Judas {Lee Nienhuis – John 13}
Have you ever watched someone betray Jesus? Have you felt the pain and shock of watching someone among you—someone who seemed to be a follower of God—turn against Him? This can be confusing and disorienting, but what if it's true that Jesus...
Season 1: The True Stories of Jesus
Welcome to Live Like It’s True!
Welcome to my brand new Bible podcast, devoted to helping you know the story, share the story, and live the story! Listen to the trailer for more: Click here for more ways to listen! (Including Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Google Podcasts...
E1 The True Story on the Roof {Kelly Needham – Mark 2}
Would you be willing to carry your friend up onto a roof, to get her to Jesus? What if praying for your friend is the equivalent of bringing her—on a stretcher—to Jesus? Where else can I listen to the podcast? Go HERE to find this episode on...
E2 The True Story at the Well {Mary DeMuth – John 4:1-29}
What are you thirsty for? What’s the habit or person or behavior you’ve returned to repeatedly—always dipping your bucket and yet coming up dry? And what difference should it make that Jesus has offered you his living water? Where else can I...
E3 The True Story of the 5,000 {Jennifer Hand}
What should you do when you don’t have enough? Maybe you’re stressed out, overwhelmed or burned out, and you just don’t have enough to do what Jesus has assigned to you today. If that’s you, I’m glad you’re joining us for this episode, because...
E4 The True Story at Simon’s Table {Erica Wiggenhorn – Luke 7:36-50}
Do you see the people around you like Jesus does? Or is a certain type of person you might look at with disdain? Who do you see as appalling, or as an annoyance? Today we're looking at the True Story at Simon's Table from Luke 7:36-50, where a...
E5 The True Story of Fear {Kristen Wetherell – Luke 12:4–7}
What fears do you struggle with? What anxieties hold you back? Do you worry about the things you can't control? Things that might hurt you, or the ones you love? We're talking about the True Story of Fear with Kristen Wetherell on Episode 5 of...