Welcome back to Pastors Unfiltered! This week, Pastor Brandon and Pastor Tony sit down for a special Thanksgiving weekend episode filled with laughter, honesty, gratitude, and some of their most unfiltered conversations yet. They share the five serious things they’re most thankful for in 2025—faith, family, health, ministry, unity among pastors, and the incredible generosity of Venture Church. And of course… they also share five not-so-serious things they’re thankful for, including construction nightmares, Bigfoot merch, maple syrup handles, and a gas station clerk who really wants Tony to buy a car wash. Along the way they talk about:
• Pastoral unity across the Northwest
• Raising families that love Jesus
• The wild world of tipping culture
• Youth ministry tattoos they regret
• Why everyone thinks Tony is a “boomer”
• Joshua Single: Week 2 of the Bachelor Bio
• Black Friday deals, Legos, Seattle weather, and more It’s heartfelt, hilarious, and packed with the real conversations pastors have when the cameras are rolling and when they’re not. Thanks to the faithful 253 who listen every week — this episode is for you. ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome to Pastors Unfiltered
00:26 – Opening prayer + Thanksgiving greeting
01:08 – Gratitude for listeners during the holidays
01:48 – Brandon’s Lego Death Star project
03:01 – The largest Lego sets they’ve ever built
04:03 – Lego therapy & aging trends
05:04 – “Per Harvard” becomes the new disclaimer
05:53 – Joshua Single: Week 2 bio update
08:11 – Eligible bachelors at Venture
09:01 – Campus staff shoutouts
10:25 – Black Friday purchases
10:54 – Hanging TVs at the Dome
11:12 – Gen-X childhood & car repair
11:36 – Gratitude segment begins
12:38 – #1 Thankful for what God is doing in the Northwest
13:00 – Young adults bouncing between churches
14:01 – Why unity among churches matters
15:10 – Pastors across denominations working together
16:26 – Addiction, calling, and pastoral influence
17:46 – Shoutouts to Northwest pastors
18:20 – Elijah’s calling & future decisions
19:25 – #2 Thankful for health
20:20 – #3 Thankful for families that love Jesus
21:31 – Youth ministry memories and transitions
22:36 – #4 Tony’s surprising “gratitude”: Donald Trump
23:34 – Politics, war, and peace negotiations
24:23 – The evolution of Tony’s viewpoints
25:55 – Taylor Swift and accidental fandom
26:19 – #5 Thankful for generous, patient churches
27:04 – Massive giving year for Venture
27:27 – Seattle weather appreciation
28:07 – New staff adjusting to Washington weather
29:16 – Christian education & thankful for Kings Schools
30:10 – Bonus: Thankful for the “Faithful 253” listeners
31:19 – Funny Gratitudes Begin
31:19 – #1 Tony: Roosevelt gas station car-wash guy
32:20 – #1 Brandon: Cal Raleigh and Mariners grief
33:01 – #2 Tony: The tiny maple syrup handle
34:04 – #2 Brandon: All the Bigfoot gifts
35:12 – #3 Tony: Restaurant QR code rage & phone flashlights
36:08 – Tipping culture meltdown
37:06 – Youth ministry tips & tattoos
37:29 – #3 Brandon: 30-year Raiders seat contract
38:49 – Seahawks becoming the new Raiders
39:11 – #4 Tony: Donut people who say “I really shouldn’t…”
40:19 – #4 Brandon: Thankful for construction projects (but not really)
42:00 – Mukilteo bridge saga + mailbox incidents
42:38 – Parking enforcement & Miller the ticket man
43:45 – Speed cameras & expensive fines
44:16 – How Judah hacks parking permits
45:01 – Disabled parking confessions
45:58 – TikTok obsessions & the “Fate of Ophelia” dance
47:18 – Youth pastors and tattoos
48:02 – Ending banter
48:20 – Airplane jeans debate
49:18 – Holiday encouragement
50:09 – Looking ahead to 2026...

This week on Pastors Unfiltered, Pastor Tony is joined by special guest Christian Lembeck for one of the most real, hilarious, and heartfelt episodes yet — the Seattle Episode. From Magic: The Gathering decks and online Discord games… to life on Capitol Hill… to the challenges and beauty of doing ministry in one of the most complex cities in America, Tony and Christian talk about the highs, lows, tensions, joys, and calling of urban ministry. They open up about:

• What it’s really like raising families in Seattle
• The spiritual battle pastors face in the city
• Why God calls people into difficult places
• The growing movement of young, diverse churches in Seattle
• The importance of unity in the Church
• How everyday conversations become moments of ministry

This episode is honest, funny, and deeply encouraging — a reminder that God is working in cities and in people’s lives in powerful ways. ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome to Pastors Unfiltered
00:25 – Tony introduces Christian Lembeck
00:47 – Last episode recap and great feedback
01:05 – The “cool kid” podcast mic setup
01:25 – Meet Joshua: our single sound tech
01:45 – Josh reveals a fun fact
02:15 – The “Hallmark dog guy” moment
02:49 – A less serious episode ahead
03:00 – Tony’s new hobby: Magic the Gathering
03:40 – Christian reacts to Tony’s deck
04:19 – Tabletop Simulator & Discord gaming
05:25 – Magic otters, mana costs, and chaos
06:17 – “You’re a wizard, Harry”
06:50 – Harry Potter, spells, and old emails
07:14 – Discipleship or just board games?
07:30 – The Seattle Episode officially begins
08:12 – The reactions people give when they hear “I live in Seattle”
08:56 – Seattle’s beauty and brokenness
09:55 – Addiction, encampments, and real challenges
10:49 – The dignity of every human being
11:13 – Shifting into what we love about the city
12:00 – Living on Capitol Hill
12:19 – Seattle stereotypes & the reality
13:02 – Seattle media perception vs. reality
13:41 – Walkable community and neighborhood culture
14:19 – Restaurant stories and talking to strangers
15:13 – The “I’m a pastor” moment
16:21 – Conversations about cancer, grief, and prayer
17:29 – Meeting neighbors from all walks of life
18:04 – Loving the walkability and community
18:23 – Tony’s life in Roosevelt
19:04 – The joy (and chaos) of city life
19:24 – The harder side: hostility toward faith
20:06 – Why pastors choose the city anyway
20:26 – Loving people where they are
21:13 – The realities of danger and mental health crises
22:04 – Why choose Seattle?
23:08 – Tony’s “why we stay”
23:55 – The cost and calling of urban ministry
24:01 – Christian’s calling and conviction
24:27 – How the early church reached cities
25:41 – Why cities matter for the Gospel
26:18 – Cities as centers of influence
27:20 – Every human is looking for Jesus
27:47 – Calling to pray for the city
28:09 – Jeremiah 29 and living in exile
29:25 – Seeking the peace of the city
29:52 – Spiritual strongholds and prayer walks
30:11 – Fighting with spiritual weapons, not frustration
31:22 – The overlooked challenge of urban church planting
32:05 – The new wave of Seattle churches
32:26 – Shoutouts to pastors across the city
33:07 – Stories of grit and calling in Seattle
34:05 – Multiethnic, multigenerational church life
35:20 – The historic building on 65th
36:03 – A church merger story
36:50 – Heroes of the faith in the city
37:11 – Encouragement to believers outside Seattle
37:57 – The spiritual battle pastors face
38:19 – How other churches have supported the mission
38:38 – Top restaurant recommendations (the important stuff!)
40:36 – The best sandwiches and pasta in SeattleShow more...