I Like Birds Podcast

Rod Parker spent years preaching freedom while privately battling addiction, shame, and a destructive double life.

At his lowest point, Rod sat with a loaded .357 in his mouth and a Bible on his lap before crying out, “Jesus, show Yourself.”

Rod shares how Hebrews 11:1 came alive, what happened during his near-death and out-of-body experience, and how an encounter with Jesus changed the direction of his life.

This is an honest testimony about hidden sin, deliverance, lasting freedom, and the grace of God meeting someone at rock bottom.

In this episode:
​ The secret addiction Rod hid while serving in ministry
​ The night he nearly ended his life
​ Opening the Bible and asking Jesus to reveal Himself
​ His near-death and out-of-body experience
​ Seeing Jesus and receiving a vision of hell
​ Why deliverance can happen instantly, but freedom is a lifestyle
​ Punching Vanilla Ice in the Face at a Party
​
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Get Rod Parker's book here: From Death to Deliverance
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📘 21 Days in Africa
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Kelsie Blevins was raised by addicts, moved out at 16, hit rock bottom after a DWI, and eventually told Jesus, “I’m done.”
What happened next transformed her faith, identity, and future. Today, Kelsie is a successful real estate agent who sold more than $50 million in real estate during her first two years.
But this conversation is not simply about business success. It is about surrendering to Jesus, breaking generational cycles, keeping promises to yourself, and becoming unrecognizable from the person your past said you would be
.You’ll also hear:
• What it was like growing up with two addicted parents
• Why returning to her dad’s basement reopened old wounds
• The night she received a DWI and believed her life was over
• How consistency created evidence that changed her identity
• Why Kelsie refuses to separate her faith from her business
• The surprising client who told her, “You made me want to open my Bible again”
• How she handled an unusual request from an OnlyFans couple

If this conversation encourages you, share it with someone who needs proof that their past does not get the final word. Subscribe to I Like Birds for more honest conversations about Jesus, purpose, healing, and transformation.

Follow Kelsie Blevins on Instagram

Work with Zach on a Speech: https://www.rippeywrites.com/contact

Book Zach Rippey to Speak or Perform Comedy here: https://ilikebirdsministry.com/comedybooking

🤝 Partner with I Like Birds Ministry 🕊️
🎁 Free 7-Day Trial on Patreon
https://www.patreon.com/ILikeBirds
🕊️ Donate on Our Website
https://ilikebirdsministry.com/support
📗 Me, Armani, & Jesus
Signed Copy + Free Gift:
https://ilikebirdsministry.com/me-armani-jesus
📘 21 Days in Africa
Amazon: https://a.co/d/3iFskiY
Signed Copy + Free Gift: https://ilikebirdsministry.com/shop/p/21-days-in-africa-signed-paperback
🧢 Bird Merch
https://ilikebirdsministry.com/shop
🩵 PayPal Donation
https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=C55JZNGUB97EE
✊🏽 Venmo Donation
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📚 I Like Books — Get 20% Off
https://www.faithandflame.com/pages/my-shop/zachrippey
Use code ILIKEBIRDS20 at checkout.
🧡 The Suubi Project — Sponsor a Child
https://suubiproject.org/

🎙️ EPISODE SPONSORS

Tops Roofing 
Free Inspection and Estimate? 
(817) 477-2744
https://www.topsroofingcompany.com/

🛠️ DFW Appliance Discount
Text Jamie Eldridge: 817-659-6587
Get your I Like Birds discount:
https://www.appliancestorenearmetx.com/ilikebirds

🐜 Alpha & Omega Pest Control — DFW
“One Call Kills Them All!”
Call Tim Davis: 817-426-4445
https://alphaomegapests.com/

Should Christians want to get rich or has bad theology made believers afraid of money?
In this value-packed episode, Zach sits down with entrepreneur and communicator Omar El-Takrori for an honest conversation about wealth, biblical stewardship, tithing, entrepreneurship, and why some God-given callings require serious capital.
After investing more than $135,000 in coaching and personal development with Myron Golden, Omar went from making a few hundred thousand dollars a year to building a multimillion-dollar business.
Omar unpacks how investing in himself changed his beliefs, why money should remain a tool instead of becoming an idol, and how Christians can pursue prosperity while keeping their hearts surrendered to God.
You’ll also hear:
Why some Christians are afraid to pursue wealth

How $135,000 in coaching helped Omar build a multimillion-dollar business

What losing $100,000 taught him about fear, faith, and money

How tithing prepared his heart to steward greater wealth

Why increasing your ability increases what you can carry

The hidden cost of entrepreneurship and financial freedom

This isn’t about getting rich for ego. It’s about getting paid for purpose, increasing your capacity, and using what God gives you to serve more people.
If this convo challenges the way you think about faith, money, and purpose, share it with someone who needs to hear it. Follow the I Like Birds Podcast so you don’t miss what’s coming next. Troy Brewer, Kelsie Blevins, and Rod Parker!

Get Zach's new book "Me, Armani, & Jesus" Signed Copy here:
Get on Amazon here:

Work with Zach on a Speech: https://www.rippeywrites.com/contact

Book Zach Rippey to Speak or Perform Comedy here: https://ilikebirdsministry.com/comedybooking

Connect with Omar on YouTube:

🤝 Partner with I Like Birds Ministry 🕊️
🎁 Free 7-Day Trial on Patreon
https://www.patreon.com/ILikeBirds
🕊️ Donate on Our Website
https://ilikebirdsministry.com/support
📘 21 Days in Africa
Amazon: https://a.co/d/3iFskiY
Signed Copy + Free Gift: https://ilikebirdsministry.com/shop/p/21-days-in-africa-signed-paperback
🧢 Bird Merch
https://ilikebirdsministry.com/shop
🩵 PayPal Donation
https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=C55JZNGUB97EE
✊🏽 Venmo Donation
https://account.venmo.com/u/zachrippey23
📚 I Like Books — Get 20% Off
https://www.faithandflame.com/pages/my-shop/zachrippey
Use code ILIKEBIRDS20 at checkout.
🧡 The Suubi Project — Sponsor a Child
https://suubiproject.org/

🎙️ EPISODE SPONSORS
Tops Roofing 
Free Inspection and Estimate? 
(817) 477-2744
https://www.topsroofingcompany.com/

🛠️ DFW Appliance Discount
Text Jamie Eldridge: 817-659-6587
Get your I Like Birds discount:
https://www.appliancestorenearmetx.com/ilikebirds

🐜 Alpha & Omega Pest Control — DFW
“One Call Kills Them All!”
Call Tim Davis: 817-426-4445
https://alphaomegapests.com/

Is Forrest Frank proof that a new Great Awakening has already started?
In this fascinating episode of the I Like Birds Podcast, Zach Rippey sits down with revival historian Larry Sparks to unpack what’s happening across America—from Forrest Frank’s Jesus Generation Tour and packed stadiums to college campus baptisms, young people turning to Jesus, and a renewed hunger for God.
Larry makes a bold declaration he says he hasn’t publicly made before: “We are actually in a Great Awakening.”
But how do we know the difference between genuine Christian revival and spiritual hype? Larry takes us through the history of America’s Great Awakenings, the charismatic movement, supernatural encounters, and why the Word of God and the Spirit of God must remain together. He also shares a fresh prophetic insight about “the oil of our time” and what it could mean for Christians who want to experience a genuine move of God in this generation.
YOU’LL ALSO HEAR:
• Why Larry believes what’s happening around Forrest Frank could be part of something much bigger in America
• The difference between renewal, revival, and a Great Awakening
• Why supernatural manifestations alone are NOT proof that God is moving
• Larry’s warning for the modern charismatic church and why biblical discernment matters more than ever
• Why the next great move of God may require Christians to embrace both the Word AND the Spirit
ME, ARMANI, & JESUS
Get a signed copy of Zach’s brand-new book, “Me, Armani, & Jesus: The Human Experience of Losing a Best Friend”:
https://ilikebirdsministry.com/me-armani-jesus
Amazon:
https://amzn.to/462H6A9
CONNECT WITH LARRY SPARKS
Larry’s books:
https://www.faithandflame.com/collections/larry-sparks-1
Use code ILIKEBIRDS20 at checkout.
Learn more about Larry:
https://larrysparksministries.com/about
PARTNER WITH I LIKE BIRDS MINISTRY 🕊️
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🕊️ Support I Like Birds Ministry:
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📘 21 Days in Africa:
Amazon: https://a.co/d/3iFskiY
Signed Copy + Free Gift: https://ilikebirdsministry.com/shop/p/21-days-in-africa-signed-paperback
🧢 Bird Merch:
https://ilikebirdsministry.com/shop
🩵 PayPal:
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✊🏽 Venmo:
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WORK WITH ZACH
✍️ Work with Zach on your speech:
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🎙️ How Zach reached 30 million people with his podcast—and how you can too:
https://youtu.be/ADMIvLFDyAc?si=NN4kw-NOfzU7c3qc
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EPISODE SPONSORS
🔧 Need a new appliance in DFW?Text Jamie Eldridge and let him know what you need:817-659-6587
Get your I Like Birds discount:
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🐜 Alpha and Omega Pest Control | DFWNeed your bugs GONE? One Call Kills Them All!Call Tim Davis: 817-426-4445
🏠 Tops RoofingFree inspection and estimate:817-477-2744
https://www.topsroofingcompany.com/
#ForrestFrank #ChristianRevival #GreatAwakening

How to Identify False Prophets in 2026 with Pastor Brian Gibson is a powerful conversation about discerning real prophecy from counterfeit ministry, testing spiritual gifts, and staying grounded in biblical truth.
Zach sits down with Pastor Brian Gibson to unpack one of the biggest questions facing the Church right now: How do you know what’s real and what’s counterfeit when it comes to prophecy, miracles, and spiritual gifts?
Brian shares why the existence of false prophets doesn’t erase the reality of true prophetic ministry, how believers can discern the difference between someone who is simply wrong and someone operating deceptively, and why character, accountability, and motive matter just as much as gifting.
In this episode, you’ll hear:
• How to identify the difference between a false prophet and a wrong prophet
• How Brian personally caught someone faking a supernatural manifestation
• Whether Christians should publicly call out false prophets and false teachers
• Why prophetic gifting can still operate when someone’s personal life is compromised
• How accountability inside the local church protects believers from deception
• Why prophetic words should be tested, judged, and handled with humility
If you’ve ever wondered how to discern prophetic ministry, what to do when Christian leaders fail, or how to pursue the gifts of the Spirit without falling into deception, this conversation will challenge you to stay rooted in Scripture while remaining open to what God is doing.
Subscribe to the I Like Birds Podcast for more conversations that help you grow deeper in your faith, walk boldly with Jesus, and navigate the real questions facing believers today.
CONNECT + RESOURCES
Get Brian Gibson’s book, Ignited by the Spirit:
https://www.faithandflame.com/products/ignited-by-the-spirit-a-journey-into-the-prophetic-the-power-of-the-holy-spirit-and-your-divine-calling-july-2026
Use code ILIKEBIRDS20 for a discount.
Get Zach’s new book, Me, Armani, & Jesus:
Amazon: https://a.co/d/07QqYlyw
Signed copy: https://ilikebirdsministry.com/me-armani-jesus
Come see the live event in Burleson, Texas:
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PARTNER WITH I LIKE BIRDS MINISTRY 🕊️
Patreon — Get a free 7-day trial:
https://www.patreon.com/ILikeBirds
Donate:
https://ilikebirdsministry.com/support
21 Days in Africa:
Amazon: https://a.co/d/3iFskiY
Signed copy + free gift: https://ilikebirdsministry.com/shop/p/21-days-in-africa-signed-paperback
Bird Merch:
https://ilikebirdsministry.com/shop
PayPal:
https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=C55JZNGUB97EE
Venmo:
https://account.venmo.com/u/zachrippey23
@ZachRippey23
I Like Books — Get 20% off select books:
https://www.faithandflame.com/pages/my-shop/zachrippey
Use code ILIKEBIRDS20 at checkout.

EPISODE SPONSORS
Alpha and Omega Pest Control | DFW
Need your bugs gone? One Call Kills Them All!
Call Tim Davis: 817-426-4445
Tops Roofing
Free inspection and estimate:
817-477-2744
https://www.topsroofingcompany.com/
DFW Appliance Store
Text Jamie Eldridge and tell him what you need:
817-659-6587
Get the I Like Birds discount:
https://www.appliancestorenearmetx.com/ilikebirds