Beyond the Letter

In this episode, Adam and Sammy unpack what it actually looks like for Christians to navigate politics and social issues without turning faith into a team sport. They reflect on Adam’s recent conversation on the Carey Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast, then zoom in on why so many political takes feel like shallow soundbites instead of thoughtful, researched convictions. The goal isn’t to tell you what to think—it’s to help you learn how to think with wisdom, clarity, and Christlike maturity.They get real about why these conversations feel so complicated: lived experience, cultural blind spots, generational pain points, and the way social media rewards outrage instead of understanding. From immigration and assimilation, to racial bias, to “limited comments” hypocrisy, Adam and Sammy challenge believers to build a diverse circle, ask better questions, do honest research, and choose unity without pretending every issue is simple. If you’ve ever felt stuck between extremes, this episode is an invitation to trade hot takes for discernment—and protect your witness while engaging the real world.--Full Leadership Podcast with Carey NieuwhofApple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/emergency-episode-pastoring-angry-people-when-to-speak/id912753163?i=1000751173095YouTube: https://youtu.be/Hle3Wg9sAcc?si=fef8kK-PrM4mXSeB--Connect with:Adam Mesa https://www.instagram.com/amesa/Sammy Rodriguez https://www.instagram.com/samuelmrod/--Don't forget to stay connected with us:Youtube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4OvpFp9OB9_DgVdVVbXhFgInstagram https://www.instagram.com/beyond.theletter/Tik Tok https://www.tiktok.com/discover/beyond-the-letter--Have a question? Submit it TODAY, by clicking the link below! ***SUBMIT YOUR QUESTION HERE: https://patria.church.ai/form/BeyondtheLetterQA--Get to know the team:@amesa https://www.instagram.com/amesa/@verlonbakerofficial https://www.instagram.com/verlonbakerofficial/@nancysnavas https://www.instagram.com/nancysnavas/@alizee.kayy https://www.instagram.com/alizee.kayy/@andytakesl https://www.instagram.com/andytakesl/

This episode is pure chaos in the best way. Adam and Ashlee bounce from marriage money talk to “Mrs. Adam Mesa” identity jokes, to why taking your spouse to their “dream place” might actually make things worse. Ashlee opens up about her shopping habits (hello, TikTok dopamine), what it felt like realizing it was getting out of hand, and why letting Adam take the wheel financially has actually brought peace—not punishment.Then the conversation takes a HARD left into the dream farm era: Highland cows, goats, chickens, barns from Lowe’s, and why Adam is now publicly refusing responsibility for “the cow fund.” Oh—and somewhere in the middle, a homeless man in Nashville confirms Adam is a black man (his words, not ours), and the episode ends with… both Adam and Ashlee casually admitting they’ve been arrested before. Yeah. It’s one of those episodes.--Contribute to Ashlee's Cow Farm:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aq5WXmQQooo--Have a question about relationships? Ask us by clicking the link below!https://patria.church.ai/form/BeyondIdo_BEYOND I DO: MARRIAGE COURSEhttps://beyondido.thinkific.com/courses/beyond-I-do--Connect with Adam & Ashlee Mesahttps://www.instagram.com/amesa/https://www.instagram.com/ashleemesa/--Don't forget to stay connected with us: Instagram @beyond.idoTik Tok @beyond.ido--We've entered into an exciting new partnership with renowned jeweler Erin Barnett in Los Angeles. This partnership perfectly aligns with our love for relationships and jewelry. Whether you're looking for a special gift, an engagement ring, or a wedding band, Erin has you covered. And as part of the Beyond I Do community, you get exclusive discounts and the opportunity for a private showroom experience. It's time to celebrate your love with exquisite jewelry from our partner, Erin Barnett.How to get the exclusive discount?SEND HIM A DM and tell him you are part of the BEYOND I DO family or mention Adam Mesa. https://www.instagram.com/by.barnett/?hl=enhttps://bybarnett.com

In this episode of Beyond the Letter, Sammy sits down with Ray Clark, young adult pastor at Grace Church Houston, for a powerful conversation about what’s really happening in young adult ministry right now. Ray shares the story of how God has grown their young adult community, what changed when they simplified their services, and why today’s young adults are more hungry for prayer, worship, and the Word than many people realize.They also dive into a deeper conversation about holiness, consecration, and what it means to cut out what’s merely common so we can grow closer to God. From practical ministry insights to personal conviction, this episode is full of encouragement for young adults, pastors, leaders, and anyone wanting to fall in love with Jesus again and live a life that is truly set apart.--Connect with:Sammy Rodriguez https://www.instagram.com/samuelmrod/Ray Clark https://www.instagram.com/rayanthonyclark/--Don't forget to stay connected with us:Youtube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4OvpFp9OB9_DgVdVVbXhFgInstagram https://www.instagram.com/beyond.theletter/Tik Tok https://www.tiktok.com/discover/beyond-the-letter--Have a question? Submit it TODAY, by clicking the link below! ***SUBMIT YOUR QUESTION HERE: https://patria.church.ai/form/BeyondtheLetterQA--Get to know the team:@amesa https://www.instagram.com/amesa/@verlonbakerofficial https://www.instagram.com/verlonbakerofficial/@nancysnavas https://www.instagram.com/nancysnavas/@alizee.kayy https://www.instagram.com/alizee.kayy/@andytakesl https://www.instagram.com/andytakesl/

In this episode, Adam and Ashlee unpack manipulation in marriage and relationships—from subtle “shame tactics” to using outside voices to force a spouse to agree, forgive, or comply. They react to a viral moment where an Olympic athlete publicly admits cheating and frames it as a dramatic apology, and they explain why “public gestures” can sometimes be more about pressure and image than true repentance and repair.They also talk about what healthy transparency looks like versus emotional abuse, why couples often try to “prove they’re right” by pulling in friends, family, or even pastors, and how isolation (“decisions in a vacuum”) leads to even worse choices. Plus: a real-life example of how small misunderstandings can spiral, why strong marriages recover quickly, and how to pursue accountability without humiliating the person you love.--Join our AFTER I DO community for Exclusive Content & community!www.afterido.app--Have a question about relationships? Ask us by clicking the link below!https://patria.church.ai/form/BeyondIdo_BEYOND I DO: MARRIAGE COURSEhttps://beyondido.thinkific.com/courses/beyond-I-do--Connect with Adam & Ashlee Mesahttps://www.instagram.com/amesa/https://www.instagram.com/ashleemesa/--Don't forget to stay connected with us: Instagram @beyond.idoTik Tok @beyond.ido--We've entered into an exciting new partnership with renowned jeweler Erin Barnett in Los Angeles. This partnership perfectly aligns with our love for relationships and jewelry. Whether you're looking for a special gift, an engagement ring, or a wedding band, Erin has you covered. And as part of the Beyond I Do community, you get exclusive discounts and the opportunity for a private showroom experience. It's time to celebrate your love with exquisite jewelry from our partner, Erin Barnett.How to get the exclusive discount?SEND HIM A DM and tell him you are part of the BEYOND I DO family or mention Adam Mesa. https://www.instagram.com/by.barnett/?hl=enhttps://bybarnett.com

Conflict is unavoidable—but division doesn’t have to be. In this episode, Sammy hosts a table talk with Gabe Joseph and Sanaz on what healthy conflict resolution actually looks like in real life. They swap hilarious “after the sermon” moments, then get honest about times they handled tension the wrong way—like trying to speed-run unity, speaking truth with the wrong tone, or committing a spouse to plans without checking first (we’ve all been there).From there, the conversation turns practical: how to recognize fight/flight/freeze/fawn responses, why it’s often more important to know someone’s trauma response than their love language, and how to approach conflict without assumptions so the other person doesn’t immediately go defensive. They also hit tools that actually work—Matthew 18, asking “What are you hearing me say?”, learning to listen without filling in gaps, and choosing reconciliation over being “right.”The big takeaway: conflict can either create distance or strengthen trust—and the difference is humility, timing, and learning how this specific person receives correction and care.--Connect with:Sammy Rodriguez https://www.instagram.com/samuelmrod/Gabriel Guzman https://www.instagram.com/salinascyy/Sanaz Mesa https://www.instagram.com/sanazmesa/Joseph Valcarcel https://www.instagram.com/joseph_aaron_valcarcel/--Don't forget to stay connected with us:Youtube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4OvpFp9OB9_DgVdVVbXhFgInstagram https://www.instagram.com/beyond.theletter/Tik Tok https://www.tiktok.com/discover/beyond-the-letter--Have a question? Submit it TODAY, by clicking the link below! ***SUBMIT YOUR QUESTION HERE: https://patria.church.ai/form/BeyondtheLetterQA--Get to know the team:@amesa https://www.instagram.com/amesa/@verlonbakerofficial https://www.instagram.com/verlonbakerofficial/@nancysnavas https://www.instagram.com/nancysnavas/@alizee.kayy https://www.instagram.com/alizee.kayy/@andytakesl https://www.instagram.com/andytakesl/