The Handlebar Podcast cover art
Active

The Handlebar Podcast

Hosted by Co-hosts Elyssa

A conversational Christian podcast where a team of hosts answers listener questions on faith, burnout, and ministry, often with guest pastors.

The brief

This is a workshop-style Christian podcast where the hosts and their guests troubleshoot real-life faith questions from their audience. Rather than a sermon, it's a peer-to-peer discussion about navigating spiritual exhaustion, relational hurt from church leaders, and theological questions about pain and God's love. The show operates as a hub for a larger ecosystem, including the hosts' own books, music, and live events which are frequently promoted.

Its primary format of using listener-submitted questions as the direct prompt for entire episodes makes it highly responsive to its audience's immediate struggles. The show is also unusually transparent about its commercial ecosystem, with hosts frequently cross-promoting their own creative projects.
— What makes it distinctive
§1 · The host

Who hosts this show

The Handlebar Podcast is hosted by Aaron and Sarahbeth Smith, Elyssa Figueroa, and Raffi Greco, all of whom are involved with UPPERROOM Dallas. It's presented as a series of "honest conversations" about the practical and often difficult aspects of following Jesus. Episodes, released weekly on Mondays, are driven by listener-submitted questions and tackle topics like ministry burnout, suffering, and spiritual doubt, either in a co-hosted discussion or through interviews with pastors and authors.

AI-extracted bio · help us verify· Source: gemini-video-grounded

Credentials & credits

  • Aaron Smith: Author of 'Big Jesus', founder of the podcast, and oversees the UPPERROOM School of Ministry.
  • Sarahbeth Smith: Worship leader and songwriter with the UPPERROOM collective.
  • Elyssa Figueroa: Grammy-nominated songwriter, best known for "Surrounded (Fight My Battles)", and worship leader at UPPERROOM Dallas.
  • Raffi Greco: Ministry leader who oversees second-year students at UPPERROOM School of Ministry.

Other ventures

  • Aaron Smith's book 'Big Jesus'
  • Sarahbeth Smith's album 'Foolish Offering'
  • Elyssa Figueroa's album 'Wearing a Blindfold and Running'
  • UPPERROOM Dallas (church & ministry school)
  • The Handlebar Podcast Merch Store
  • Handlebar Night (Live Events)
§3 · Cadence & catalog

When new episodes drop

Publishing rate
~3/week
Not shown by Apple / Spotify
Total episodes
289
Last episode
1 month ago
May 26, 2026
Status
Active
§3b · Editor's picks

Notable episodes

AI-extracted picks + commentary · help us verify
  1. 01
    An Honest Conversation on Pain + Suffering (FT. Tyler Staton)

    A clear example of their interview style, using a guest's personal story (cancer) to explore a deep theological question from a listener about suffering.

  2. 02
    Women that Follow Jesus (FT. Lorisa Miller)

    Demonstrates how the show tackles controversial topics like women in ministry by grounding the conversation in scripture and personal testimony.

  3. 03
    Emotions, Fresh Fire, and the Bride (FT. Chase Durkin)

    Showcases their "rapid fire" Q&A format, where multiple hosts collaboratively answer a series of listener questions on diverse topics like burnout and spiritual intimacy.

§4 · Signature

What you'll be asked on this show

AI-extracted from recent episodes · help us verify
How Co-hosts Elyssa interviews

The interview format is driven by listener questions, which a host reads to the guest to frame the conversation. The hosts act as conversational partners rather than formal interviewers, sharing their own related experiences and vulnerabilities to build rapport. They often open by asking the guest to introduce themselves and their story, probe deeper with questions about process ("What rhythms tethered you?"), and frequently close by asking the guest to pray for the audience.

The show alternates between multi-host Q&A episodes and long-form interviews with guests. Both formats are highly conversational, with hosts sharing personal stories and vulnerabilities. Episodes often begin with a lengthy segment promoting the podcast's merchandise, sponsorships, and the hosts' own books and albums, and frequently conclude with a guest or host leading a prayer for the listeners.

Questions Co-hosts Elyssa keeps coming back to

12 catalogued

If you're going on this show as a guest, expect some version of each of these. Each note explains when Co-hosts Elyssa reaches for it.

process

2
  1. Q.01

    How do you stay faithful and avoid burnout when your heart feels tired?

    This question often frames episodes about ministry fatigue and the importance of soul care.

  2. Q.02

    What practical rhythms or practices tethered you to God during a hard season?

    This question seeks to move from theological discussion to actionable advice for listeners.

advice

4
  1. Q.01

    How do you glorify God in suffering and grief while still enduring the pain?

    Used to explore the theology of suffering with guests who have experienced significant hardship.

  2. Q.02

    How should I process being betrayed or hurt by a close friend or leader?

    This is a recurring listener question the hosts address in their Q&A episodes, focusing on forgiveness and boundaries.

  3. Q.03

    How does suffering pair with the Father's love, since they feel like opposites?

    A theological question posed to guests to help listeners reconcile two seemingly contradictory concepts.

  4. Q.04

    Would you be willing to pray for the people listening?

    A signature closing move, turning the conversation into a moment of ministry for the audience.

controversy

1
  1. Q.01

    What do you think about [a controversial topic like women in ministry]?

    The hosts use listener questions to broach sensitive or divisive topics within the church.

origin

1
  1. Q.01

    How did you first come to know the Lord?

    A common opening question to establish a guest's faith backstory and personal testimony.

personal

3
  1. Q.01

    How can I enjoy using my gifts for the church again after they've become a burden?

    Addresses the common problem of burnout among volunteers and ministry professionals.

  2. Q.02

    Would you be open to introducing yourself to our listeners?

    A gentle opening that allows the guest to frame their own story and ministry in their own words.

  3. Q.03

    Has anyone ever told you to your face that you shouldn't be in your role?

    A direct question used to surface stories of opposition, particularly on topics like women in leadership.

craft

1
  1. Q.01

    Can you talk about the meaning behind the title of your new book?

    Asked to give authors a platform to explain the core thesis of their work.

Signature segments

  • · Answering listener-submitted questions
  • · "Handlebars" (practical takeaways)
  • · Promoting hosts' books and albums
  • · Closing episodes with a prayer
  • · Lengthy intro promoting the podcast ecosystem

Topics covered repeatedly

Ministry BurnoutTheology of SufferingPrayerBiblical InterpretationSpiritual LeadershipFaith and DoubtForgivenessChristian CommunityGrief and MourningWomen in Ministry
§5 · Guests

Who gets booked here

AI-extracted guest list + profile · help us verify
Typical guest

Guests are typically pastors, authors, and ministry leaders, often connected to the hosts' network at UPPERROOM Dallas. They are chosen to speak from personal and professional experience on the episode's central theme, which is almost always prompted by a listener's question.

Recent guests
  • Michael Miller
    on Weariness, Soul Care and Self Medicating (Feat. Michael Miller )
  • Lorisa Miller
    on Women that Follow Jesus (FT. Lorisa Miller)
  • Tyler Staton
    on An Honest Conversation on Pain + Suffering (FT. Tyler Staton)
  • Chase Durkin
    on Emotions, Fresh Fire, and the Bride (FT. Chase Durkin)
§6 · Channels & links

Where to find this show

§7 · Stats

Audience & reach

YouTube · first-party
Subscribers
27.7K
27,700
Avg views / video
3.3K
Trailing window
Total views
1.9M
1,922,625
Videos published
289
Sponsor readEstimated

The podcast is sponsored by faith-based organizations and software like Care Net, Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry, Logos, and Audiolink. A significant portion of airtime is also dedicated to promoting the hosts' own books and music albums, merchandise, and ticketed live events.

AI-extracted sponsor read · help us verify

Subscriber and view counts are pulled live from YouTube and re-verified on a 30-day cycle. Listener estimates for the RSS feed aren't published here unless they're host-verified.

§8 · Contact

Pitch Co-hosts Elyssa

Sign-in required
Verified contact
Host / booking email
A•••@•••.org

Free: limited reveals · Pro: unlimited reveals + CSV export
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§9b · FAQ

People also ask

AI-extracted researched answers · help us verify
Who are the hosts of The Handlebar Podcast?
The main hosts are Aaron Smith, Sarahbeth Smith, Elyssa Figueroa, and Raffi Greco.
What is the podcast's format?
It alternates between interviews with guests (pastors, authors) and co-hosted episodes where the team answers listener-submitted questions.
Is the podcast still running?
Yes, new episodes are released weekly on Mondays.
How can I submit a question to the podcast?
The hosts direct listeners to submit questions through their official website, thehandlebarpodcast.com.
What does the name "Handlebar" mean?
It refers to the practical, actionable advice from each conversation that listeners can "get a grip on" to help them in their faith.
Where are the hosts from?
The hosts are all based in Dallas, Texas and are involved in the ministry of UPPERROOM Dallas.
Last updatedJun 29, 2026Not yet host-verified
Research depthDeep dossierHigh confidence · Jun 29, 2026 · gemini-2.5-pro

Built from the show's public RSS feed, YouTube, the host's own websites, and the cited sources below. Computed and AI-extracted fields are labelled. Facts only — no private info, no fabrication, no transcripts republished.

§9c · Methodology

Sources & how this page was built

This page is AI-assisted, grounded in the public sources cited below, and host-verifiable. We publish facts only; we do not republish transcripts. If anything here is wrong, the host can claim and correct the page above.Model: gemini-2.5-pro · high confidence

  1. [01]About | The Handlebar Podcastthehandlebarpodcast.com
  2. [02]The Handlebar Podcast - YouTubeyoutube.com
  3. [03]BIG JESUS - by Aaron W Smith (Paperback)target.com
  4. [04]Sarahbeth Smith | Worship Togetherworshiptogether.com
  5. [05]Elyssa Figueroa Artist Profile | NewReleaseTodaynewreleasetoday.com
  6. [06]Sponsor/Donate | The Handlebar Podcastthehandlebarpodcast.com
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