oday in the BE Rooted Podcast, Nick talks with long-time friend and mentor Sam Tawney about how he came to own his faith. We get a sneak peek behind the curtain of discipleship in action. Enjoy Part One of a three-part series. Stay curious, my friends!

In this episode of the BE Rooted Podcast, Nick explores the powerful and often misunderstood idea of authenticity—what it truly means to be real in your faith and everyday life. In a culture that often confuses authenticity with self-discovery, Nick challenges listeners to see it instead as honestly accepting where you are right now, without pretending. Through personal stories, biblical insight, and practical reflection, he unpacks how authenticity and humility work together to shape a healthy identity in Christ. This episode also challenges you to create space for others to be real, just as God gives you grace in your own growth. If you’re ready to stop performing and start living honestly in your discipleship journey, this conversation will meet you right where you are. Stay curious, my friends.

In this session of the Be Rooted Podcast, Nick shifts the focus from what’s happening within us to what’s happening around us — what he calls the secondary root system.

If the primary roots define who you are…
the secondary roots are the people, relationships, and environments that influence how you grow.

Because no matter how strong your foundation is, the connections in your life have the power to either:

• reinforce your roots
• or slowly erode them

Nick unpacks how our relationships impact our spiritual formation and why intentional discipleship cannot happen in isolation.

In this session, you’ll discover:

• Why you were never meant to grow alone
• How the people around you are actively shaping your life
• The difference between life-giving and life-draining relationships
• How to cultivate connections that actually drive your roots deeper

This is a call to examine who’s in your life… and what they’re producing in you.