The Main Thing Podcast
The People Who Shape Us The people who leave the deepest mark on our lives rarely do it with grand gestures. More often, they are parents, mentors, teachers, coaches and friends whose quiet encouragement shapes who we become. Dr. Bethany Meighen has spent her life learning from people like these—and becoming one herself. As President of Concord University, she now helps prepare a new generation of students while preserving the close-knit community that makes Concord distinctive. In this warm and thoughtful conversation, Bethany reflects on the mentors who invested in her, the lessons they...
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Welcome back to The Main Thing Podcast! The Teachers We Never Chose Sometimes our greatest teachers don’t stand at the front of a classroom. They arrive disguised as hardship, disappointment, illness, financial pressure, failure or seasons we never would have chosen. When fellow podcaster Rick Barron accepted my invitation to join me on The Main Thing, I expected to hear great stories from his remarkable 42-year career in Silicon Valley. What I didn’t expect was to come away thinking about failure, gratitude, resilience and the unexpected teachers that shape a life. Rick’s journey...
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Most of us spend our lives looking ahead—to the next goal, the next responsibility, or the next season. But what if wisdom begins by giving our full attention to the moment we're already living? In this thoughtful conversation, Skip sits down with longtime optometrist, respected leader, wife, mother, and lifelong student of wisdom, Dr. Jacquie Bowen. Through stories of family, leadership, adversity, and personal reinvention, Jacquie reminds us that presence, grace, and faithful attention aren't lofty ideals—they're daily decisions. She shares the deeply personal story of launching an...
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What Happens When We’re Forced to Slow Down? Wisdom Revisited with Wellness Entrepreneur Kate Reed Three years after first sharing her wisdom to “slow down” on The Main Thing Podcast, Kate Reed returns for a deeply personal conversation. Together, she and Skip explore entrepreneurship, burnout, recovery, mindfulness, and what changed after a traumatic brain injury forced her life into a different rhythm. Kate opens up about leaving a longtime career to build Wonder and Grow full time, learning healthier boundaries around work and family, protecting friendship inside business...
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Ep. 145 – Skip’s Quips: Who Do We Stop For? There’s a strange thing that happens to us when we drive. Over time, certain people begin to fade into the scenery—not because we are cruel, but because the human brain is constantly filtering what deserves our attention and what can safely blur into the background. In this short “Skip’s Quips” episode, Skip reflects on a cold spring morning in Appalachia, a man named Jim sitting near an interstate exit, and an unexpected encounter involving two stray dogs on a grassy hillside. Along the way, this essay explores attention, habituation,...
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My Wisdom Conversation with Marcus Daly What does a casket maker know about life? More than you might expect. In this deeply thoughtful conversation, Marcus Daly shares how a life spent building caskets has shaped the way he thinks about living, loving, and what ultimately matters. What begins as a conversation about craft and career unfolds into something far more meaningful—touching on loss, purpose, faith, and the quiet choices that shape a good life. A Bit More About Our Wise Guest Marcus is the founder of Marian Caskets, a husband and father of eleven. He’s a former commercial...
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What happens when the thing you built gets taken away? Jodi Scott founded Green Goo with a simple mission: create clean, all-natural first aid products that actually work. What started in her kitchen grew into a nationally recognized brand. And then—just like that—it was gone. A financing deal fell apart. Ownership slipped away. And Jodi found herself on the outside of the very company she created. Most people would walk away. Jodi didn’t. In this episode, Jodi shares the hard-earned wisdom from the fight to reclaim what was hers—and what that battle revealed about resilience,...
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Welcome back to The Main Thing Podcast — your wisdom podcast where we explore insights, stories, and ideas that help us get a little bit better at life. In this episode, host Skip Lineberg sits down with optometrist, author, and community leader Dr. Brad Lane for a thoughtful conversation about mindset, perception, and the power of intentional focus. Brad shares how a simple journaling practice reshaped his daily life, how gratitude and reflection can transform our outlook, and why the human brain often finds exactly what it is looking for. Drawing from both neuroscience and...
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When the Mic Turns Around What happens when interviewer becomes interviewee? In this special role-reversal episode of The Main Thing, longtime friend Chip VanAlsburg steps in as host to turn the microphone on Skip Lineberg. Together, they explore the origin story behind the podcast, the deeper spiritual motivation driving it, and what it really takes to distill knowledge into wisdom that helps people get better at life. Pulling Back the Curtain on The Main Thing From childhood conversations with elders to the “Holy Spirit moment” that birthed the show. And from the unseen,...
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Wisdom, Perspective and Hope on the Border: A Wisdom Conversation with Gil Gillenwater Welcome back to The Main Thing Podcast. We recently engaged in a meaningful and transformative conversation with Gil Gillenwater, a trailblazing humanitarian leader. Gil has devoted his life to serving people in the U.S.–Mexico borderlands. This conversation offers listeners a deeper, more grounded understanding of the southern border, beyond headlines, politics, and talking points. Let’s be clear from the outset: if you think this episode is about free handouts or opening up our borders to...
info_outlineJoin us on as we embark on a journey of transition and wisdom with our special guest, Tim Haring, founding pastor of Chestnut Ridge Church. With nearly 40 years of leadership and service, Tim recently shifted into retirement, turning over leadership of the organization to his successor.
From Northern Lights to Spiritual Insights - Wisdom for Navigating Life’s Transitions
Whether you're facing a new leadership role, considering a career change, or moving to a new city, Tim Haring’s reflections provide guidance and encouragement for personal growth and embracing change. Listening to this authentic, soulful and candid conversation, you will come away with—
- Guidance for navigating life’s major changes, twists and turns
- Deeper understanding of your emotional and spiritual health
- Insights on knowing when it’s the right time to retire
- Hope and encouragement for what’s next
As Tim shares his experiences from recent travels to Norway and Honduras, you will hear how witnessing the Northern Lights and speaking at a conference for church leaders in Honduras have enriched his life.
Our conversation delves into the transformative concept of emotionally healthy spirituality. This newfound understanding of emotions and empathy in ministry opens doors for Tim to support pastors through coaching and mentoring.
Reflecting on his journey, Tim emphasizes the importance of seeking help during major life changes and his ongoing passion for growth, even in retirement. His story inspires us to continually learn and adapt, offering hope and encouragement for anyone navigating transitions.
More About Special Guest Tim Haring
Tim Haring is the Founding Pastor of Chestnut Ridge Church in Morgantown, West Virginia. He recently retired from his position as Senior Pastor, although he will continue to work part-time at the church. In nearly 40 years of pastoral experience, Tim has been instrumental in helping to plant four additional churches in West Virginia. Together, those form the Ridge Network of Churches.
Tim has a pastoral studies degree with a minor in Greek language from Moody Bible Institute and a business degree from West Virginia University.
Tim and his wife, Karen, have been married for 36 years. They have five children, one granddaughter and another grandchild on the way.
Settle in for a whirlwind wisdom journey from Norway to Honduras and from Columbus to Morgantown, where Tim joins us today.
Resources
Tim Haring’s book “When God Walked Alone” on Amazon
Connect with Tim on LinkedIn
Grab a copy of the book “Emotionally Healthy Spirituality” from our BookShop
Connect with Tim on Facebook
Check out the church Tim founded - Chestnut Ridge Church
Credits
Editor + Technical Advisor Bob Hotchkiss
Brand + Strategy Advisor Andy Malinoski
PR + Partnerships Advisor Rachel Bell
Marketing, Social Media and Graphic Design Chloe Lineberg
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Episode Chapters
[0:03:35] - Tim’s recent travels to Norway and Honduras
[0:05:40] - How Tim and Skip are connected
[0:07:03] - Tim’s transition from founder / leader of Chestnut Ridge to retirement
[0:10:06] - Coping with feelings and emotions related to this major change
[0:12:08] - Tim reveals his Main Thing
[0:13:50] - Emotionally healthy spirituality; Tim candidly shares a weakness
[0:18:25] - Discussion of Tim’s work as an author
[0:20:03] - Tim leaves us with words of encouragement