Rachael Pontious

Hi, I’m Rachael Pontious—state-employed problem solver by day, youth ministry chaos wrangler by night, podcast host by pure calling (or maybe caffeine). I’ve spent the last nine years volunteering with high school students at Bayside Church, which means I’ve seen it all: tears, TikToks, theological crises, and a truly disturbing number of Crocs.

I became a Christian at 27, after a full-speed sprint through life’s messier chapters—so I don’t come to faith conversations wearing a halo. I come with receipts, sarcasm, and a heart that’s been radically reworked by grace.

I’m a wife, a mom to two wildly creative humans (ages 9 & 12), and a proud Enneagram 7, which means I’m basically allergic to boredom and have a tendency to turn every conversation into a stand-up routine or a deep existential monologue. I love public speaking, honest storytelling, and yes—words of affirmation. So feel free to tell me I’m doing great. I’ll wait.

Whether I’m behind a mic, leading teens, or deep in a spreadsheet for my day job, I’m here for the real stuff: faith that limps, laughter that heals, and grace that covers all the in-between.