Episode 92: '86 Rejections: Next Step Obedience and The Meaning of Christmas' with Charles Martin

In this episode, Chad “Rev Rx” Potts sits down with bestselling author Charles Martin to talk about the story behind the storyteller: a Huck Finn-style childhood, learning to process life through writing, getting rejected 86 times before a “yes,” and why Charles believes the most important question isn’t “What’s God’s will for my life?”—it’s “Where do You want me to put my foot next?”

They also go behind the scenes on The Mountain Between Us film experience, why book-to-movie adaptations change so much, and why Charles now fights to protect the heart of the story. The conversation closes with a powerful Advent encouragement on the cross, grace, and knowing God as Father (Abba).

Quick links

• Charles Martin’s website: CharlesMartinBooks.com
• Charles on Instagram: @storiedcareer Instagram
• Charles’ sermon (Church of Eleven22): “Be A Godly Dad” (Nov 30, 2025) The Church of Eleven22

Chapter markers (approx.)

• 00:00 Welcome + cold weather banter
• 01:51 Charles’ childhood: outdoors, sisters, dad’s influence, faith at home
• 06:15 The “pressure valve” moment: writing as a teenager
• 10:48 First outside affirmation (college professor moment)
• 11:45 First novel + “86 rejections” + breakthrough
• 14:38 Why he added “Kingdom books” (What If It’s True / Turn the World Upside Down)
• 19:14 “What’s next?” vs “What’s the whole plan?” + parenting and the “desert”
• 27:19 The Mountain Between Us: the dream moment… and the hard part
• 35:23 Why he’s doing film differently now (Reserve Entertainment / protecting the story)
• 46:10 Advent encouragement: the cross, the thief, and knowing Abba
• 56:02 Wrap + where to find Charles + sermon plug

Quotes from the show

1. “The right question isn’t ‘Where are You calling me?’ It’s ‘Where do You want me to put my foot next?’”
2. “God doesn’t call the equipped—He equips the called.”
3. “Even if you guess wrong… God is bigger than your mistakes.”
4. “We rob our kids of the desert experience when we helicopter over them.”
5. “The reason Jesus came is so we can know the love of the Father.”