054 - Paddling Against the Tide: Faith, Content Creation & Criticism with Liam Cornish

In this week's episode, Liam Cornish, a junior studying biomedical engineering at Grand Canyon University. Liam shares his journey from growing up in Michigan to becoming a whitewater raft guide in Glacier National Park and a social media creator. He discusses his passion for the outdoors, the evolution of his content creation, and the challenges he faced in growing his social media presence. The conversation emphasizes the importance of pursuing one's passions and the role of faith in personal growth. Liam shares his journey of facing adversity while working at Glacier National Park, emphasizing the significance of resilience and spiritual warfare. The discussion culminates in encouragement for those struggling with similar challenges, highlighting the need for strength and discernment in the face of opposition.

Follow Liam on Instagram: @liamcorn.ish
on Youtube: @liams_guide

The Balance of Gray
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The Signpost Inn Podcast
Find peace, clarity, and companionship for your spiritual journey.

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Chapters

• 18:25 [Ad] The Balance of Gray
• 19:15 (Cont.) 054 - Paddling Against the Tide: Faith, Content Creation & Criticism with Liam Cornish
• 28:33 [Ad] The Signpost Inn Podcast
• 29:19 (Cont.) 054 - Paddling Against the Tide: Faith, Content Creation & Criticism with Liam Cornish

Transcript

McKenzie Smith (00:01)
On today's episode of My Valley, His Victory, we have Liam Cornish. He is a junior at Grand Canyon University studying biomedical engineering. He's been a whitewater raft guide in Glacier National Park for the last two years while also pursuing a career in social media to help spread God's creation and help others and to help other people to become inspired to explore it as well. Thanks so much for being with us today, Liam. Yeah, absolutely.

Liam Cornish (00:25)
Thanks for having me, Kenzie.

McKenzie Smith (00:28)
So go ahead and tell the listeners just a little bit more about yourself and who you are.

Liam Cornish (00:33)
Okay, well I am a 20 year old student like you said. I'm a social media creator. I've done some white water rafting the last two years since I came to college. I'm originally from Michigan, so not a huge mountain and outdoorsy hiking state, kind of just like a little depression state of cold and snow. But yeah, I've been just kind of, know, different by toe in every walk of life the last two years.

trying to be an academic weapon while also trying to grow in my faith, while also trying to pursue more outdoor sports and more of an outdoors lifestyle. I think it's been cool kind of being in Allwalk's life so far because people from each of those sections of my life are all interested in the other sections and it's like you kind of have this really good outward projection of life. So it's an exciting but very confusing time.

to be 20 and have no idea what you're doing. But doing everything seems like the answer, but also not the answer at the same time. You you'll have to pick a way life eventually. But yeah, that's kind of me and what I'm interested in and what I do.

McKenzie Smith (01:40)
Yeah.

Yeah, so growing up in Michigan, I've kind of seen on Instagram, you've done a little bit of everything in the outdoors. How did you get involved in the outdoors being from Michigan?

Liam Cornish (01:52)
Yeah.

I went on a, like a family trip every summer, kind of growing up. We, had a little RV and, it actually started with like a pop-up camper and we'd all just pile into, this Ford Expedition, you know, two of my brothers and my parents crammed together. And, but we would, we would drive out to national parks and we'd do like a 14 day trip or whatever every summer.

I don't know, just always had so much fun going on any hike, climbing on all the rocks and all that stuff. I kept getting this little taste every summer of what the mountains are like, what being outside was like, all the outdoor stuff that I really enjoy doing now. But my family was always kind of like vacationers, not like outdoor lifestyle people. So I kept getting this little taste and I'd always be so excited to go back and do more, but it was...

It wasn't until I really got let loose going to college where I was like, oh my gosh, I just want to do this all the time every day. And I want other people to see that they can also do this all the time every day. Just because you're from Michigan doesn't mean you can't go enjoy all this stuff. So that's kind of how I got my little glimpses into it. Now I'm just going crazy.

McKenzie Smith (03:16)
Yeah. Well, and now you're in, you know, Grand Canyon University, which is in Arizona, right? And so you have access to a lot of different things and you're not too far from many places. And, you know, also being based out of Phoenix, I feel like you could probably fly anywhere pretty easily. You know, a pretty big airport. So that's really cool. You had the experience as a kid, but, know, just in little, little short form. then now you're now that you're on your own, you're diving right into it.

Liam Cornish (03:21)
Mm-hmm.

Right.

McKenzie Smith (03:46)
So I kind of know you through social media. You do a lot of storytelling, a lot of cinematography is what I'll call it. I don't know what you would call it, but kind of talk to us about that and how you got started in that and kind of that journey.

Liam Cornish (03:56)
Yeah.

yeah, you know, I feel like, I feel like my story is kind of funny with, with how I started. Cause like, I don't even know how to classify myself either. You know, like I, I do feel like I have a story to share with like cinematography, you know, like, okay. Yeah.

McKenzie Smith (04:17)
Well you make really cool videos and high class, so whatever you want to call that.

Liam Cornish (04:19)
Yeah. Right. Well, and

the really funny thing about that is I use a toxic tripod in my iPhone to record all of it. Yeah, that's what I'm saying. I'm like, when mom says we have cinematography at home, that's like what I do.

McKenzie Smith (04:31)
No way.

Will you somehow make it look...

Liam Cornish (04:45)
Right, that's what I'm saying.

I just figured out the cheapest, easiest way to make these videos look cool. But it's crazy because I started out, I got to college and I felt this need to share stuff. And it's like, I don't know anything. I don't know anything at all, but I know that I enjoy sharing motivation or sharing positive.

affirmations or thoughts or like whatever. I was like, okay, well, so like, how can I do this? Like, what, what is my method for like sharing the same? Like, what do I want to share? And I started off doing like fitness, it's like, I really enjoyed running and stuff like that. So was like, how can I make these running videos? So, so I started making like running gym motivation, like you just put a fun or not a fun sound like a, got to work harder, you know, like thing in the background. Like it was, it was fun, but I just, didn't feel like I was sharing like what

what I needed to be sharing, right? And so, so then I kind of moved into more of like, you're still using the trending audios of like motivational sounds or whatever. And I was like, my gosh, I can take these little BTS things on hikes. And I was following guys like, you know, Alexander James Travels, Caleb Weillhauer, Tanner Price, all these guys. And like, I thought what they did was insane, like all these videos that they make, which is like crazy that I make now and I'm friends with all these guys, but

I was watching all their stuff and I was kind of like using up my basis but I was kind of doing like the Walmart version because like I didn't know how to edit videos like I was editing on the Instagram app and all that stuff and no like seriously like I leave I leave those videos up like you can scroll way back on my Instagram and it's it's funny because like it's just cool to see like where I started with my video journey and like how bad they were at the beginning to like where they're at now and like how I make them now my process for making them now is just like

McKenzie Smith (06:22)
Walmart version.

Liam Cornish (06:41)
It's like linear growth, honestly. You can see it and it's pretty cool. once I started doing that, I started realizing that that's what I was meant to share. Even though I didn't know how it was going to grow or what it could grow into or how authentic I could make it to myself and what I felt the need to share.

Let me see. And so I kept pursuing the nature content and stuff like that. And so my first summer of college, I went up to Glacier National Park in northern Montana and I wanted to be a raft guide. was like, I don't know anybody here.

I don't know what I'm doing here. Like, I don't know what I want to do with my engineering degree. And it's like, I don't want an internship. I don't want to just like sell out these summers where, you know, I won't have this opportunity the rest of my life where like, it doesn't matter what job I have. It doesn't matter how much money I make. doesn't, you know, so it's like, where can I go? That's going to help me. Like I was really interested. I was like, I want to get to 10,000 bars. Like how do I do that? And so I was like, I I'll go be raft guide in the mountains and like, I'll just go hiking after work and like, I'll go film stuff after work and

so, so I kind of, so I went out there and, you know, it's, it's obviously tough, like, especially with social media. I'm sure you can definitely understand this as well as like, you have like your like main life and then you have like your social media life. And like, when you're kind of tracking them at the same time, it's like, it's very difficult. So like, I've learned, I've learned a lot from having them be like both separate lives together. and like, I'm honestly, I'm still pursuing it in that fashion, but like, I'm really confident in both of them now, which is, which is great.

But when you're kind of like, like social media, but like I'm not that, I don't feel that good at it, but like, so I have to keep doing this stuff. So this is like very side jobby. So that whole summer, my goal was like, I just want to get 10,000 followers and I want to get a million views on one video, like hit one of these goals, like crazy, you know? And so I kind of went the whole summer, didn't really get anything, got like a thousand views on every single video.

videos weren't that good still, know, I guess like whatever, but I was posting like four or five times a week just cause you know, I knew it. I knew that's what it took. Like I needed to speak in system. Cause I was, like I said, I was following those guys. Those were like my, you know, like my little inspiration window. Like if you were to make like a Pinterest board of, know, what you want to be, I was like those, like I had like, you know, three or five guys that I was like, that's, that's what I'm trying to do. And then yeah, that summer, like nothing happened all summer and then.

McKenzie Smith (09:15)
You want to be like those people.

Liam Cornish (09:26)
Like two weeks before I left for the summer, I hit like my first 10 million view video. Like I woke up in the morning after I posted it. It was at like a couple million views. I'm like, holy crap. Like that's insane. Um, and what I realized is I had been stacking those videos that whole time that I was posting every day, getting no views. You know, I was just sharing what I enjoyed. I was just doing all this stuff. But then when people saw my video that actually took off, they went back and they saw all of the

like days that I had been posting and that's what gets someone to follow you and that's how you grow your platform. So I went from like a thousand to like 25,000 followers in like a couple of weeks. And so like after like this whole year of posting like all the time and not like not thinking any of my videos were good and not thinking like this could ever really work out, but you know, just like a crazy dream of hitting 10K followers, you know.

Suddenly I had tripled that, and I'm at 30,000 followers. And then I kept posting more videos, and those videos kept doing well. So that was a huge growth thing. Then I came back to school, and engineering is super time consuming. my gosh. So that semester I would try to make videos. The back of my mind is always thinking about

what can I do? And I always feel lazy because even though I'm working my butt off at engineering, it's like, I'm always wishing I was like sharing, you know, or like creating something or like, you know, cause that's how I feel most productive is like how, you know, how much can I share? How much am I helping others? Like with what I'm saying and what I'm So it was super tough semester because I had to figure that out. Like I was faced with this, you know, huge stress of, you know, how do I pursue this crazy dream? Which like,

People are still going to say like, you're just like a one hit wonder, know, but I also like have to take engineering seriously, get good grades, not drop out, like keep my parents proud of me. Like, so like basically that, that whole year, I kind of just like fell off and like, I was trying to post like my stuff wasn't that good. I was just kind of scraping together old videos. It just wasn't. So I came into this summer and knowing like, you've got these three months and you know, like what it takes and you know, like

You've got the gear for it, you just gotta go do it. So I was like, you know what, I'm not gonna go home after school gets out, I'm gonna hop in my car and I'm gonna drive to, I'm gonna drive up the California coast from Phoenix, I'm gonna drive through Yosemite, the Redwoods, up the Oregon coast, I'm just gonna do it all. And I brought one of my buddies with me and it was supposed to be a group trip, we had a bunch of creators that were like, oh my gosh, yeah, let's do this.

everybody built. So I'm like, all right, you know what? His name is Craig. My buddy's name is Craig. So I'm like, all right, Craig, hop in the car. We're gonna go film for a month and I'm gonna treat social media like a full time job for a month. Like I was still like my views had dropped back down to like 1000 views per video, like zero engagement, you know. I was like, I'm just I'm gonna have to work and like start from zero again, like just get back up. And so went and lived on my car for a month made all these videos took thousands of hours of

footage and you know, like was posting every single day of the trip. But still like nothing again, you know, like I was just, I could tell like I was back at zero cause like, you know, the last time everybody followed me, was like, you know, a year ago at that point. So anyways, I came into summer with like vengeance. So like, I don't care. Like I know what I want to make. I want to learn how to make it better. And my car broke down in Yosemite and

Yeah, I had $3,000 budgeted for this trip. It was supposed to cost us $1,500 for each of us to do this whole trip, gas and all that. But I ended up spending the last $3,000 of my bank account on a new clutch and flywheel for my Jeep. But crazy, crazy god moment, you're going the right direction moment. After I broke down, this guy flies into his...

San Francisco. He's like, yo dude, like pick me up. Let's go on this like let me hop in this Jeep and I had all my college stuff in there No, no extra room for people or whatever. I pick him up and he's like, let's go back to Yosemite I'm like dude, we were just stuck there for a week. I just spent all my money I have no money left to like live I have like a hundred dollars to get back from California to home like you want me to go back to Yosemite like you know what fine like let's I like let's just so Yosemite who's boss

But that night we showed up to a like one of those, like the dirt camp spots or whatever. It's just a little like parking and none other than Tanner Price, like Al Sharkey Travel, Caleb Lauer, like all show up at this campsite. And I'm just like.

Like, why is it on? Seriously? we ended up hanging out with them for the next, I don't know, couple of days. And we had been stuck there for so long. We had made a bunch of friends that lived in the area and stuff like that. And so we knew all these secret little lake spots and rope swings. So we were their tour guides. But it was so cool to see people that do it full time.

McKenzie Smith (14:46)
you

Liam Cornish (15:10)
It's like, dude, I'm going to work. I gotta go out to Montana in like two weeks, you know, but you guys are just gonna keep doing this all summer. Like you're just gonna go wherever you want. But like I made good enough friends with them that, you know, after I finished my road trip and like even though my content wasn't good, they came and visited me in Montana, cause I'm the only one that's like stationary living in Montana. So like, that was just awesome connections. Like it's super sweet. I'm going to Peru with Tanner Price in May, which I'm super excited for, but.

That was like, that was a huge bump forward in my content journey. And yeah, then the whole summer, like I just kept, you know, posting, posting every single day using that motivation, all those, all that footage I got from there filming every day out in Montana. And it was just, it's awesome. Cause this summer was like a huge, you know, growth in the community and growth in like what I'm sharing as a creator. And, you know, I feel like I've finally figured out what the purpose was for all this and like,

And like I'm finally starting to share messages that are genuinely helpful to people genuinely spreading the word of God, genuinely showcasing God's creation. which it's just so cool to see even like looking back on it and telling this whole story, you know, like it's not often you get to sit down and like really like look back and, you know, see the whole road, but yeah, I guess that's, that's, that leads me to today where, you know, I'm still, I'm creating as a student, like I still struggle with it. So a huge struggle, but

You know, like I've seen, I've seen my battles and I've seen me, you know, lose them and I've seen me win some of them. And, um, yeah, it's, it's a good, it's a good place to be moving forward. And, know, this summer I'm not going back to the Whitewater raft guide and I'm going to try and pursue it full-time for two months and, um, go in it, go in just like I did last summer and, you know, be like, here's what I got left. Here's what's left in the bank. And we're just going to, you know, see if this crazy dream works out. um,

McKenzie Smith (17:07)
Yeah.

Liam Cornish (17:08)
know, miraculously every single time somehow I survive it, which I might be testing my luck, but you know, can't lose with God on your sides.

McKenzie Smith (17:16)
Yeah, if

he wants you to do it, he'll figure out a way and provide what you need. you know, I think it's it's cool because you, you know, living kind of that, I'm going to call it dirt bag lifestyle. You know, you can get you can get by pretty cheaply. so you don't need a lot for sure. And so, yeah, it's very clear that you have have a gift and, know, it's obviously you've been been fairly successful in it. And I think that it's awesome that you are using your platform to share.

you know, the message of God, I think that's really powerful and bringing something together that is, you know, not always noticed in the outdoors, which is this is his creation. And there's so much to be to be learned from being out in it and from, you know, just getting out and being quiet and, you know, being in the wilderness. And I know I'm really inspired by by the things that you make. And I think they're helping a lot of people. So I just kudos to you for for that. And it's very clear, like I said, that you have a gift for it. And so.

Liam Cornish (17:56)
Yeah.

McKenzie Smith (18:15)
I say keep going and keep pushing. I know it can be hard, but maybe it's not your full-time thing. Maybe you do go into engineering, but if you can still figure out a way to do this and do both, and I think so often we think our jobs have to fulfill every...

every box in our life and it's like, no, you may have a job and then you may have this or, you know, whatever. And so you never know. And if it can be your full-time job, then that's cool too. But, you know, I think it's, I think it's beautiful what you're doing. And I know a lot of people are, being blessed by it. So keep it up. So talk to us a little bit about how all of these travels and being in the outdoors plays a role with your relationship with God.

Liam Cornish (18:37)
Yeah.

Okay.

Thank you.

this one's, this one's good too, because I mean, growing, growing up, like I had those, like little summer trips, little, little glimpses of what I enjoyed and like where I felt connected. And, like I remember, I remember the first time I ever. Like there's this, there, it's just, it's hard to describe. It's the most peaceful, like quiet, like brain relaxing. It's almost like your brain, like it's like a reset button. It's like this like flush of everything that like you were worried about everything that.

You know, and you're like, it's like this grounding. It's so hard to describe, but it's almost like the world goes quiet and still. it's like, it's an indescribable piece. But the first time I ever felt it was like, I think it was like fifth or sixth grade. And I was like, we were out at some, you know, beach in Mexico or whatever, like of all places. And I just, remember I was, I like walked away by myself.

for little bit and I just like laid in the sand and I felt this like just the sun and I listened to the waves and like all I felt was just like warm and like the white noise of the waves and like somehow there was the way I remember it like there was nobody around me like I was just like there like in its presence and like I just remember like everything like the way I said everything just like shut off and I felt this like total flush and like I know how to describe it at the time like I was I was born and raised Catholic like super

strict Catholic, my mom was Catholic school. So I never, up was all, oh my gosh, it's God. So I felt it there and I never forgot. I put this little mental note my brain and I was like, holy crap, I can never forget the way that that felt. Then a couple years later, we went out to some national park or something like that and I found another quote like,

quiet time or quiet time or stuff like I don't even know how I escaped my family, know, but like I had another like one of those moments I was like, holy crap, like this has happened to me twice now. Like it's this is crazy, you know, and but like it's so cool and like I want to seek this out. Like this is something awesome. Like I just feel this, you know, it's awesome. I'm always looking for it now. But then as I got a little bit older, like going through high school,

towards the end of high school. I kind of just went through the motions of life on that feeling or figuring out what I believe in or whatever. I was kind of Catholic, but was like, these guys are all super stingy and it's not, there's no meaning to this, there's no relatability to this. You guys are just a bunch of old people and I don't really take up well with this. So I really started to question my faith and

I was like, I feel like I just go to church because like I'm told to you know, like I don't feel like I go to church because I want to and like I remember there being a couple times in high school where I was I was like I Want to like I want to go to church just to be a better person like I feel like I need to go to church because like It feels like the grown-up thing to do, you know, so it's like I'd be like, guys like why don't we go to church on this Sunday instead of just like Christmas and Easter, know, and Even though I was like trying and like being drawn to it, you know is

it just still wasn't really hitting for me.

But my junior year, junior summer, we did a trip out to Glacier National Park, which was the first time we had went there. And my gosh, like I fell in love with Glacier National Park. Like that's why I went and lived there last summer and all that. Like it'll still forever be the best place on planet Earth. But that summer we went out there and there's...

It happened like four times. Like I hadn't felt that feeling since like middle school. And I just had, I never forgot it. And like, I always remember like, this is just the most. Piece I'll ever feel in my entire life. And like, it happened like four times on different hikes. Like I would just like kind of stand there, sit there and just like, we just washed over you. Just like the waves on those beat, like on that beach and just like, like, holy crap. And there's like, it was something about like the.

the quiet too. When you really get up in the mountains of glacier and stuff like that, everything just kind of stops. I was just so drawn to it. It wasn't until my freshman year of college, I came to school and I really didn't believe in anything. really didn't believe. I was like, there's... Because I've had this feeling and I've had this experience. I know God's in the mountains. I know God's in the creation all around me. I believe in God.

I don't believe I'm a Christian. I have this experience and I have this one-on-one relationship with what I felt, I don't. But Christianity seems like a joke because everyone's cutting each other down. It seems like such a human thing. I feel so judged for not fully being in on this or feeling uncomfortable. That's also been something I've grown in the last two years is like,

Being Christian is a relationship with God and like the undeniable truths of like Jesus in the Bible and like everything is so real and all that stuff. But it's like what I've found is that something for you to find and it's something for it's something to be hinted at. It's not something to be like pushed on people. It's it's something like you have that experience and and and I hope that everyone gets that type of peace that I felt that first time like through every single time that I feel when I really get that quiet. So like

have that prayer, like a prayer with no words, prayer with nothing, like it's those little like seeds and droplets that have like built my faith and.

you know, it's not this big overarching, you know, like come to Christ, for me at least. But I know for a lot of other people as well, it's like really uncomfortable to just take a huge leap and just like dive right in. And, you know, there's a lot of people that like have these little hints in their life that they just, they don't know how to describe or they don't, you know. So like, so that's, mean, even like in my content, you can kind of see it. It's just like, it's these little hints, it's these little drops, it's these little like the same way that I

you know, kind of feel that fulfillment or like those little steps that I take to get myself into like that zone of peace and that zone of prayer and that zone of like relationship with God and yeah, I guess that's that kind of leads me to like where I'm at today. Like I'm always just kind of chasing chasing that that feeling and chasing that relationship, which is I feel like how I'm supposed to be, you know, and like, knowing that you're not perfect as a Christian, knowing that no one's perfect as a Christian, like, I've so far to go, you know, to

be the leader I want to be, you know, it's also especially like in social media and like sharing and being like a storyteller and stuff like that. Like, and it plays perfectly into Christianity because like to be like a Christian does not mean that perfection. It's not mean you're an expert. It does not mean you have read the entire Bible. It does not mean like you go to church every single week. Like it does not like you like you're you're involved as, as your relationship is and you know,

It's just like, and you don't have to be an expert to start sharing and start teaching and start helping other people, which is cool. And so it all kind of comes full circle with, you know, my walk in faith and my growth in social media. Yeah, which I guess I'm happy with where it's at, but also like envious of, all the things I can see, like where God can take me and you know, what he has in store if I keep, you know, locking in.

McKenzie Smith (27:04)
Yeah,

yeah, yeah. I totally agree with you about the peace that exists out there and, you know, being able to get into those quiet moments and being able to quiet the noise enough to, you know, have those moments with God because, you know, it's not to say that those things aren't possible in our everyday life. It's just how often do you get out there and get in the quiet and be undistracted and

Liam Cornish (27:05)
So, yeah.

Mm-hmm.

McKenzie Smith (27:29)
all the things. And I think it's beautiful that you said, you know, like it's not something before some people, everyone has their own walk. There's so many things, you know, in life that, you know, in my personal story, I wasn't a Christian my whole life. And, you know, I can look back now and I can see all of the ways where God was, you know, like nudging me.

Liam Cornish (27:31)
.

Okay.

McKenzie Smith (27:48)
But I couldn't have been told that, you know, at certain points of my life. you know, now, you know, I'm blessed that I can look back and I can see those things through a different lens. But, you know, there is there is all these little nudges and then, you know, maybe one day you actually decide to step foot onto the right path. And, you know, and then I feel like God meets you there and he meets you where you're at.

Liam Cornish (27:51)
Right. Right.

McKenzie Smith (28:10)
Yeah, it's definitely, definitely not something to be forced, but you know, I think there's a lot of value in just like sharing your story and seeing, you know, like, hey, this is how God was working in my life and it's going to be different for everybody. But this was how I noticed him working long before I even knew who he was, you know? And I think sometimes even just sharing that, like I think unbelievers can look back on their lives and say, you know, there was something that can't really be explained there. And there was something that didn't line up with, you know, whatever there.

Liam Cornish (28:11)
you

Yeah.

McKenzie Smith (28:40)
and they can maybe see how God has been a part of their life. And so I think that's really helpful. So I know that you live in Phoenix and you got to go work at Glacier, which I would consider to be two outdoorsy places, definitely Glacier more than Phoenix. Phoenix is a little bit bigger of a city, but kind of talk to us about how you, or talk to us about.

Liam Cornish (28:44)
Yeah.

Mm-hmm. Yeah.

McKenzie Smith (29:06)
a way in which someone can connect with God through creation on an everyday basis, even if they live somewhere in a big city like Phoenix without having to be out in Glacier National Park.

Liam Cornish (29:17)
That's actually cool that you said that because I was just working on that this morning because it's different every day but different things work to help me connect. This year I got a Bible in a year thing so it's like read your Bible in the entire year and some of stories are just cool and it just puts stuff in perspective. like there's no way this could have been made up. So many people would have had to lie about this for this.

be true. And so that's been kind cool. And I've never read the Bible like front to back before. I'm like, this is a great attempt for me to try it, even if I miss a couple of days, even whenever. If I can read most of it this year or learn something just from reading on my own and read it a storybook, sweet. So that's kind of my attempt at that. My other things are just like my hobbies. I need

stuff to do, especially in the city, because I can't get out of the city all the time to go find that quiet space. I need hobbies that I can go do either by myself or with a couple of friends. I get that quiet space in almost a way that you're working towards something where it's the flow state where everything else just disappears. One of them is of silly, but frisbee golf, there's little parks and stuff like that. Frisbee golf, I'll call it my brother and just be like,

go play frisbee golf and we both forget about work and stuff like that for a bit and we just go throw some frisbees in the park and it's like that's awesome you know or like rock climbing or basketball or you know like whatever and those like little things just kind of take me away from like the things that stress me out and I think those are you know crucial for keeping my mind like in the right place and like to find that peace because like as long as I'm seeking that peace I'm like still seeking that relationship and I'm

And so that's always been a good thing for me is just kind of like the hobbies, the flow state work. Like some people could be, know, crochet or, you know, drawing or stuff like that. And I'd say probably the last thing that helps me the most, like stay connected, on track or just reflect on my life or how I'm connected with God or like whatever is I keep a journal and I've had it up just before I was...

I was on call with you, but like it's, awesome because even, even if I don't write in it every single day, like I can look back on those times that I wrote in it, like whether it was a horrible day, like I was alone, you know, or whether I was, you know, fantastic, like church was awesome today. Like I learned so much and I did this, I went to med school for, it's like looking back on all that stuff is, it is like really helpful to keep me motivated going forward because

all those times when I was having a good day before or having a bad day, I was in the same mindset that I am now that you're not doing enough or you're not connected enough or you need to get out of the mountains. It's good to see that you're the same worrisome person, but that life wasn't that bad and life kept moving forward, just like your faith would. It just keeps moving forward. those are my little life hacks while I'm in the city, but always trying to escape is the real answer.

McKenzie Smith (32:41)
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

Always trying to get out. Yeah. No, those are helpful. Which Bible plan are you doing for the Bible in a year? Like, is it like a New Testament, Old Testament, or Psalm every day?

Liam Cornish (32:46)
Yeah.

It's just.

No, it's just, it's

literally, it's, yeah, it just, does like little, it kind of breaks it up. does like, this one's like Genesis and Psalms and like it throws, it just throws in like a couple of different verses every single day. But like, it's, it's kind of cool cause it just, I've like tried just like sitting down and reading the Bible before and like, some of this stuff is like tough, tough to like just really read through or like lock in on and like understand what they're, what they're going at, especially like Old Testament stuff is really, you know.

McKenzie Smith (33:06)
Okay.

Liam Cornish (33:28)
I'm supposed to believe that, know? But yeah, I don't know. Just kind of trying out the NIV Bible or whatever. think that one's based on...

McKenzie Smith (33:29)
You

Yeah, that's cool. Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah.

I've done the Bible project, which is why I ask because there's there's a whole bunch of different ones and some of them are like a New Testament, Old Testament, some are in chronological order, some are, you know, have a psalm every day, so on and so forth. And so I think it's cool just to see you see the different ways to do it. I love that you said that you play disc golf because I find that disc golf courses are like usually they're so pretty and they're like hidden gems in the middle of cities. So often my husband plays a lot of disc golf and so I'd never played before I met him, but we've played a good bit.

Liam Cornish (33:50)
Mm-hmm.

Right.

McKenzie Smith (34:10)
And it's crazy because I'm like, wow, I didn't know there was this like, you know, little forest or, this river that runs through a city that there's a disc golf course on. And, know, it's pretty cheap. Like you just need a disc. mean, I know there's like, I know there's a thousand different discs that you can buy, but you just need, but you just need one and just go walk the course and it's free usually. And, that's fine. And then your last thing about the journal, I think that's really, really cool because it can definitely

Liam Cornish (34:14)
Yeah, right.

Yeah, you can get a pretty big bag going. Yeah, right.

McKenzie Smith (34:39)
even just remind you of some of those experiences in the mountains that you might have forgotten about and you can, while you're not in the mountains, you can think back on those things and just think about, you know, the goodness of God and that peace and you have something to focus on other than your, maybe whatever you're going through in that moment. And so I think those are all really helpful. Thank you so much for sharing.

Liam Cornish (34:53)
Hmm.

McKenzie Smith (34:58)
So switching gears into the title of this podcast, My Valley, His Victory, would love for you to share a valley or a season of wilderness that you experienced and just what God maybe taught you or prepared you for in that season.

Liam Cornish (35:10)
Definitely that first summer that I moved out to Glacier National Park, especially being there by myself, not knowing anybody. we kind of talked about this in our pre-interview or whatever, but living with raft guides out in Montana, Christians are few and far between.

Ambition is few and far between so like being both of those like posting on social media and you know Trying to like even if it's even if it's like a little bit cringy like motivational videos or like whatever you're posting like it just it did not take up well with the people that I was meeting and like Even even though I had zero bad intentions even though I'm not like a cocky guy like I don't even like I Don't talk about social media. I talk about videos like whenever I meet people like I just you know

I-

Like it just, I didn't think of myself as this like bad guy and going out there and like trying to be who I was like trying to be and wanting to be. like, I met so much backlash, like more than I ever expected from like the people that I was surrounded by. My bosses and like managers were making fun of my Instagram at work. Like they're like, wow, real tearjerker video Liam. And then like just everyone would like laugh and walk away while I'm like.

at work and like I loved this job. Like this job is so much fun because I'm like hanging out with families. Like I get to tell stories all day on a boat. Like I like get to talk to people and I was having so much fun at work, but I hated the people that I worked with. Like, and I wanted to be friends with everybody so badly and like I wanted to fit in with them so badly, but not at the cost of like what I was trying to do on my free time. And like it was so hard for me to understand that like

that's okay and like that suffering and that pain like is okay. But at the time like it was so like my mom talks about this too because there was a point like where I posted it like one of the first videos where I was ever like talking to my camera and like one of her friends showed it to my mom or whatever she's like my gosh you see Liam's like he's just like on a lunch work break right now and like he's sitting in the mountains or whatever and my mom said she could like tell in my voice.

Like I'd only been there for month or something. So she could tell by the way I was talking, even though what I was saying wasn't like sad or bad, like she could tell something was just like terribly wrong. like she, she said like, she just couldn't stop crying watching the video. Cause she just like, she had this like instinct that she knew that like it was not okay. Like I was alone, like I was lonely and I was by myself and like stranded out there. But what, like I still was like kind of fresh that first summer into like

believing in God and finding... I found the connection I was looking for through being a fully involved Christian, I was figuring out ways to practice it and stuff like that. I wasn't fully invested in how is God using this to grow me, but I did start praying that summer. A prayer that I would say almost every single day is just use this to make me stronger.

Use this to grow me like use this use this to you know Like like build me up. Don't don't let this you know Don't let this like kill my little spark I'm going like and and it was so hard because like I every single day I felt so defeated. sorry. I mean dude Got a big ding in my ear from a Texas toy computer, but okay, okay But

McKenzie Smith (38:56)
I didn't hear it, so you're okay.

Liam Cornish (39:03)
Like I just I kept falling and kept falling and kept getting pushed down and like I was doing everything by myself and and it was in that loneliness and in that prayer of like like meet me where I'm at God like like help me like make this like this like a workout you know like make it harder and make it harder so that way like I get built up more and more like to like and

And it was crazy. It was crazy. Like, because I kept pushing through. Like, I kept moving forward and I kept posting and I kept, like, I kept just, you know, working towards something. And like, my gosh, like, I hate thinking back on it. Like, was so lonely. Like, I've never been so alone and isolated in my life. Like, I've always been able to, like, make friends wherever I go. Like, I've never had a problem, like, being friends with people. Like, I've never even had, you know,

a whole group or society of people hate me. like, it was like this whole company had just become like, you Liam, you know, like, you know, nobody wants to say like, what a what a cocky frat boy from Grand Canyon University, like, dude, is a Christian? Okay, like, and people like didn't think I was gonna come back. Like that, like everyone at the company was like, hoping I don't come back that I just would like get bullied out and

Luckily I like the job and I like National Park so much that I was like, I'm coming back and I know everybody that works here. I know who my bad people are. know all this. That summer was one of my biggest guys my whole life, but also one of the biggest growths my entire life because I realized that no matter where God puts me, even if it is a place that is that

isolated and that, you know, full of, you know, hate and stuff like that is like, there's something for me to have learned there. And there's some some way for me to have grown. And, you know, now it's kind of like, wherever I go in the world, whatever, you know, next adventure I choose, wherever, whatever situation I'm like put in is, is, is for a huge lesson is for growth. And, like, it grew my confidence so much that summer knowing that like,

I'll survive that, you know? yeah, that was just, my gosh, that sucked, huge, huge value. like those prayers for like, give me strength to like, and it was even like, God give me strength to like, continue to be kind to these people. Like God, like God don't let me, you know, feed into, you know, whatever they're throwing at me. Like God, you know, help them see what I see, like help them, you know, and.

It was so hard and it was so hard to keep asking for that over and over again. It feels like you're asking so much. It's like, God, give me strength. It's like, God, I know I said give me strength yesterday, I know it's been a week, but I still so badly need that extra hand to keep me moving forward. Yeah, that was crazy value.

McKenzie Smith (42:13)
Thank

Yeah, well before I before I share my thoughts or my questions, I want to know how the second year went

Liam Cornish (42:25)
So I came back for the second summer.

McKenzie Smith (42:27)
Because that

that blows my mind that you went back

Liam Cornish (42:30)
I was met with lot of shocked reactions when I came back. There was one or two managers that were still really nice to me that I connected with and stuff like that. There was a couple people that definitely wouldn't hang out with me because everybody else hated me. But when they saw me come back the second year, was like...

I knew everybody that had like something to say about me. So I just avoided it and I didn't confront it and kind of just went about my business like I did the year before. I, like, I didn't have it. Like some people, a lot of people had roommates, but I had this like little shack like kind of by myself. And like, lived, there was like a couple of people that lived in this little like kind of outdoor like boat barn. Like I literally lived in like a bar. But I kind of like, I kind of just set up shop in my own room this year and

I knew what it took last summer to get through and I knew that I was good to get through that and I was fully prepared for that and I knew that I loved this job so much. I loved connecting with people and I loved leading people. going out to work and having that experience with God every single day. It was an hour drive from... Because I lived at the gates of the park. I lived right in West Glacier.

it's still like an hour drive up to the mountains, but I would do it by myself like every single day. Just because like that connection like, because even though I felt that I had nobody like that last summer, this summer, I knew that there was one person for me there. And it's like, God was up, up like at the top of that mountain pass. And like, all I had to do is just drive there and I'd be okay. And it's like, I would just I would drive there every single day after I spent so much money on gas. my gosh. But

McKenzie Smith (44:25)
Ha

Liam Cornish (44:28)
But it was so worth it. I would take my journal up there with me and the beginning of the summer, I was praying those same things. Show me why you have me back here. Use all the things that I've learned and help me just make this the summer. the same thing happened. A lot of the same people were still like, you, Liam, you, Liam.

And people would have these conversations. People actually would come up to me and be like, does everybody hate you so much? And it's like, dude, I don't know. I don't talk to these people. They don't know anything about me. I understand that social media makes people uncomfortable. to see me posting every single day and also see me at work, yes, I'm sure that makes people uncomfortable. Because I don't know. And everybody would ask me all the time, why does everybody hate you, dude? I don't think you're that bad.

Well, like last summer, last summer you just like, believed everybody, you know, like you didn't even, you didn't even talk to me, you know, like you just kind of went with the flock. So it was this summer, like there was not everybody, but you know, there was like little groups, not groups of people, but like people from the groups that hated me would like have a conversation with me or like talk to me or, know, go out of the way a little bit and like realize that it was all, you know, kind of this, you know, social wall that was built up, which is, which is weird, you know, like how society works, like people just group.

McKenzie Smith (45:27)
.

Liam Cornish (45:56)
themselves together and like they'll alienate one person like unless that person like really did something that's like we don't mess with that but like even even then like most people are just you know trying to get along or it's nice especially in my case like I knew it wasn't my fault it's like I didn't care you know this summer like I was like screw you guys I don't care like I'm gonna do my thing and like if you're my friend I'm here like I want to you know I'm gonna get along with all of you but

It still was really hard this summer and still had a couple of really hard days at work because there were some people in my rotation that just like couldn't like me, you know, like no matter what. like, I, yeah, even like trying to be overly nice or anything just like wasn't working. They, but this summer was awesome because there was a guy from GCU who texted me on Instagram last year and he was like kind of a friend of a friend or whatever.

McKenzie Smith (46:34)
Yeah.

Liam Cornish (46:53)
He's like, Oh, like, let me come up to Montana with you. So I'm like, love like fishing and doing all this stuff. So he came up there, super Christian guy, like awesome, awesome guy. He got along well with, with a lot of people there and, um, like we would do Bible studies out in the mountains. Like his name is Matt. He's, he's awesome. I love this kid, um, like having, having another like Christian there and like, was, he was really strong in his faith and like, he was a good leader. He's, he's like 20, 23, 24 now. So he's, he's got a little bit more life experience to me.

Um, but like having, like one person that you kind of know from Phoenix that like, it was a little bit more about you, like, and all that was, it was nice to have like, you know, one more person there that was kind of, kind of with you. Um, yeah, I was, I don't know, this summer was, it was honestly just me keeping up with the, the, the lone, lone soldier mindset. Um, which like it's, it's paid off for me both summers and like,

McKenzie Smith (47:46)
Yeah.

Liam Cornish (47:53)
taught me so much about being an independent man and like being strong in your faith and being a leader in the face of opposition. it's just, was, this summer was really interesting because like, I know I'm not going back now, but I do still know that like, I still know like why I went there. I went there because like, I love that job and I love working with people and I love sharing my stories in the mountains. love.

going out in the mountains. love connecting with God. You can't let people define a place for you. That was a huge thing for me this summer. I survived yet another one. If you work at Glacier National Park or Glacier RAAF Company, maybe be a little bit nicer to people if you're watching this.

McKenzie Smith (48:30)
sure.

Yeah, wow, that's, it's, that just blows my mind. Like that, I mean, you said these were your managers that were, you know, doing some of this and just, just how immature, you know, and I know that may sound bad, but you guys are adults, grow up, be nice to people. It's just so sad, but it, but it makes sense.

Liam Cornish (48:56)
No, seriously.

Yeah.

McKenzie Smith (49:11)
It makes sense for one of two reasons for me and I'll tell you why. I think that, you you said that you had kind of just really stepped into your faith going into that summer. And I think the best time that the enemy likes to, you know, hurt or break down anything is at the very beginning of something. And so he was trying his hardest to get you to turn around and to go the opposite direction, you know. And so I think that.

It makes total sense that you were you were met with that. know, I just am so thankful that God gave you the strength to to push forward and continue and to, you know, hold back the enemy. You know, I know I know that he let him have a little bit, but, know, held him back enough to not get you to turn around. And and so. But I think that the key part of that was, you know, you you asking, you know, every day or every week.

Liam Cornish (49:47)
Thank you.

Mm.

you

McKenzie Smith (50:03)
like, Lord, I need strength to get through this. Like, I, you know, I need you to be a part of this. And, you know, as you were saying that, that you're praying that daily, it made me think about, you know, the prayer that everybody knows, you know, about give us a stay our daily bread. And recently I heard some, talk about that, you know, being, it could be anything. It doesn't have to be, you know, like food or money or, you know, provisions. It could be, Hey, I need strength today.

Liam Cornish (50:06)
Mm-hmm.

Mm-hmm.

McKenzie Smith (50:33)
And maybe that's what you need to get through the day. And so I think that, you know, he gave you enough to get through day by day and you kept showing up and kept, you know, asking for the same thing. so I just think that's really cool that, that God moved through that summer and, know, to think if you wouldn't have been there and you would have left and gone home, you know, you may not have had the videos and the things that are propelling you forward now at this point, if you would have given up. so,

Liam Cornish (50:57)
Yeah.

McKenzie Smith (51:02)
you know, really hard season also, you know, blossoms something else that, everybody was hating on. And, yeah. And I think just, you know, you being such a young age and, you know, asking God, like, don't let me stoop to their level. Like, allow me to continue to be kind to these people. Cause I think, you most, you know, young, young men might be like, you know what?

I'm gonna show you, know, or, you know, like, you know, they just have a little bit more of a, of a temper or, you just a little bit less self-control maybe. And so, I think that's, that's, that's really cool. the, the other thing I was thinking about as you were sharing, sharing your story was, the verse in second Timothy that talks about, anyone wants to live a godly life in Christ, like we will be persecuted. And I think, you know, so often we think like,

Liam Cornish (51:31)
Right.

McKenzie Smith (52:00)
Once we start following Jesus, things will go well, but a lot of times especially in the outdoor community, feel like we're met with a lot of butting heads, I'll say. so, yeah, kudos to you for going to God daily.

Liam Cornish (52:14)
Mm-hmm.

McKenzie Smith (52:23)
and pushing through that season and then, you know, going, going back the second year, I feel like that's crazy. Like to me, I'm just like, man, you really just like, you didn't give them what they wanted and you, you persevered. And I think that there's, there's a lot of beauty in that. Um, but I'm really sorry that you went through that because that's obviously terrible. And the fact that bullies. Yeah.

Liam Cornish (52:28)
Yeah.

Looking back on I wouldn't have it any other way.

McKenzie Smith (52:46)
The fact that bullies still exist in our adulthood is crazy. I thought those were left in elementary school, but man. So kind of for someone who maybe is going through a similar season of being in a place where they love what they're doing and they're so thankful they're in a place that seems like it is dreamy in all these ways, but they're being met with a really challenging.

Liam Cornish (53:04)
Thank

McKenzie Smith (53:14)
I don't know what that is, but in your situation, it was your coworkers. What advice would you give to that person who's listening who maybe can relate to your story?

Liam Cornish (53:26)
I mean, whether you're a Christian or not, the more you read the Bible, the more you learn spiritual warfare becomes so, so real. And, you know, even looking back on stuff like that, like you get attacked, like you get hit in your weaknesses by like

things that appeal to you, things that will take you the wrong direction that like seem right right now or like seem like a release of anger or release of, you know, frustration or like whatever it is. And like it's meant to take you off track. Like it's not, it's not meant to be like an easy, you know, thing to see that it's like absolutely not the right move for you to do or like absolutely the wrong choice. Like what I've realized from, you know, seeing that is like you start to recognize it a lot, like throughout your daily life, like things that are just

really pulling you the wrong way. And I don't just for people going through a time like that, recognize where the devil is really, you know, putting something in front of you. Like, you know, the devil probably wants you to, you know, sacrifice what you believe in to like make some, make some friends with people that hate you or, you know, kiss, up to people that hate you instead of like, you know, ask, ask for God to forgive them and ask for, you know,

them to feel what you feel or connect with you or connect with God the way that you connect with God or, know, and.

You and in my men's group, talked about this quite a bit, like the devil is dressed up as like a candy apple, you know, like it's not, you know, he like, he is like the forbidden fruit, like, and you know, my gosh, like God just told me not to eat the forbidden fruit, you know, but like, looks good, you know, like it looks like the most appealing thing to you. And it's just, yeah, I don't know. Like you have to trust, you have to trust your gut and you have to like,

You have to ask for discernment and you have to, you know, you have to look for where those battles are at in your life because like, you'll know. Like when people start talking about like spiritual warfare, you'll know like the bad things that you do that you know you shouldn't be doing, like everybody still has it, even the best Christians. Like you know where that battle is in your life. it's like recognizing those things is like, that's where when you get hit with these really tough times, that's like, that's what's gonna fall first, you know? It's not gonna feel like a fall. It's gonna feel like a quick, you know.

McKenzie Smith (55:48)
trip.

Liam Cornish (55:48)
a quick trip or a quick

hit of dopamine or you know.

So yeah, I don't know, like, I still haven't completely figured out how to, you know, win every single one of those battles in my life yet, but, you know, at least recognizing them, I think is like a huge step into that battle. you're, you're stepping, you're stepping into that battle, even if you're losing, you know, like you're still putting yourself on the battlefield instead of just like joining their team, you know, which I mean, I feel like Christians don't give ourselves enough credit for even just like stepping into the battle, you know, like that's, that's the whole walk of faith, I think is just, you know, signing up, you know, and.

McKenzie Smith (56:01)
Yeah.

Liam Cornish (56:24)
just showing up. You don't have to be the best at work or the best on the team, but you showed up. I hope that helps somebody out there that feels no direction through their suffering right now.

McKenzie Smith (56:39)
Yeah, absolutely. I think being aware of the enemy and his schemes and attacks is huge. think being...

Liam Cornish (56:44)
the

McKenzie Smith (56:47)
equipped with the Word and being in the Word and knowing the Word and knowing what God says so that you cannot be deceived because I think so often it's just little deceits here and there of, God isn't good or God doesn't want this for me or oh, that's not true. I think we have to be equipped.

Liam Cornish (56:56)
Mm-hmm.

Mm-hmm.

McKenzie Smith (57:11)
Yeah, I think that's really, really helpful. Thank you so much for sharing that. We need to know where the enemy is and we need to step on the battlefield and we may not have all of the right answers, but God does and he will help us get through those seasons. We may not win the battle, but we have won the war. So, Liam, for someone who maybe wants to follow along with you and your journey on Instagram and YouTube. Yeah.

Liam Cornish (57:24)
Hmm.

Yep. Yep.

Yeah, I do a little bit of YouTube. I'm kind of kicking

McKenzie Smith (57:41)
And yeah,

Liam Cornish (57:41)
that off still too. That's like a little journey I'm on right now.

McKenzie Smith (57:43)
yeah, and on YouTube and just all the things, where can they find you to follow along?

Liam Cornish (57:49)
So on Instagram just look up Liam Cornish or Liam Corn dot ish and then Tiktok hates me but go ahead and follow me on Tiktok too if you want before it gets banned Same same username all that and then YouTube it's under Liam's guide so But Liam Cornish should still you know pop up and all that stuff but definitely keep up with the YouTube videos if anybody's watching this because Because I'm hoping to transfer to YouTube because that's definitely a much better way to share long form

especially long messages like this that take a long time to get out and that I can't tell you in 15 seconds on Instagram. that's the little journey on is like how to expand to more stuff like this. So I'm honestly really thankful for you having me on to do this podcast now too, because I had to work on this little long form speaking stuff like that without, know, spit it out in 15 seconds and here's what you should do with your life and here's how to awesome.

McKenzie Smith (58:26)
Yeah.

Liam Cornish (58:47)
So yeah, this has been great. Yeah.

McKenzie Smith (58:49)
Yeah.

Yeah, absolutely.

I just want to say thank you so much for being on and for sharing your story. think that, you know, this is something that I think is so prevalent and, you know, just being your age and being in college and, you know, having to be a Christian in college, I think is a hard place because there's a lot of things happening around you and, you know, being in a secular world and going and working at Glacier. And, you know, I just think that there's so many people who can relate to being up again.

people like you and especially just at this age I know that this is going to be encouraging for someone who's maybe walking through a similar season and you know maybe it's at school maybe they're being bullied at school or college because they're they're trying to honor the Lord and yeah I just thank you so much I think that this story is is so needed and is going to be so helpful so just thank you so much

Liam Cornish (59:25)
you

Yeah.

I'm glad I was of service and helped by you. I hope I can keep sharing.

McKenzie Smith (59:50)
Yeah, well you keep doing what you're doing and people are people are being helped by it

Liam Cornish (59:57)
good. What a blessing,