The Story Steward Show
I believe every writer is called to put Christ at the center of their work.
Too many creatives try to carry that calling alone. We push harder. We build routines. We try to stay disciplined enough to make something meaningful happen. And yet we still feel anxious, tired, and scattered.
We were never meant to do this by ourselves.
I’m Justice Tilsher, and I’m convinced the only lasting peace in a creative life comes through surrender to Jesus Christ. Not hustle. Not pressure. Surrender.
We were created for two things.
To love the Lord our God.
To love our neighbor and make disciples.
I believe our stories can be an act of worship that does both.
This show is for Christian writers who want to write with peace, freedom, and surrender. Writers who want their work to flow from their faith, not their fears.
Welcome to The Story Steward Show.
Episodes
57 episodes
Ep. 57 - Lock Into Your Habits This Month
I’ve been working in 14-day sprints, and honestly, it’s changed my life. Why? Because life isn’t lived year to year... It’s lived in tiny, daily choices. In this episode, I share how rebuilding my habits in short, focused windows helped me get ...
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12:58
Ep. 56 - Are You Ashamed of Jesus?
I’ll be brutally honest. I used to not get worship. The hand waving, the singing, the full surrender. I didn’t understand it. And if I’m being real, I was embarrassed by it. Ashamed, even.How many times do we withhold our praise because ...
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13:06
Ep. 55 - The Untold Story of Jesus Writing Month: feat. M.B. Springer
Today, I’m interviewed by M.B. Springer to share the raw story behind how Jesus Writing Month began, what it eventually became with Story Stewards, and how I came to Christ through it.I hope you enjoy!
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58:04
Ep. 54 - How to Actually Win the Beginning of 2026
I don’t care about New Year’s resolutions. They sound nice and die fast. What actually matters is how you structure the first stretch of the year. In this episode, I break down how I’m thinking about the gap between where you are and w...
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11:02
Ep. 53 - This Show is Changing
My dear friends, we have officially changed the name of the "Rewind Storytelling Show"... and I am so excited to share the reason why with you all!
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18:19
Ep. 52 - Why the David Movie is Important
The new David movie promised epic storytelling, but did it deliver? I dive into what went right, what went horribly wrong, and why, despite its flaws, it still matters.
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24:38
Ep. 51 - George Bailey and Living in the Gap
In this episode I talk about George Bailey and the trap he fell into, spending his whole life living in the gap between where he was and where he thought he should’ve been. He had blessings, purpose, and people who loved him, ...
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13:38
Ep. 50 - God Doesn’t Need You… He Chooses You
This episode might sting a little, but in the best way. God doesn’t need you. He doesn’t need your talent, your plans, your writing, your “I’ll try harder next time.” He is God with or without us. But here’s the beautiful part… He chooses ...
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7:37
Ep. 49 - Writing the Accidental Betrayal with Klaus
There’s nothing like that awful storytelling moment when a character finally starts to change… and then the truth comes out. The lie. The mistake. The thing they didn’t mean that way. Suddenly everything they’ve built shatters. And the...
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11:37
Ep. 48 - Scrooge, Sodom, and Second Chances:
Scrooge’s story hits different when you realize he wasn’t always a cold, bitter old man. He was a boy once. A dreamer. Someone who loved and lost and slowly shut himself off from the world. And that’s why his redemption matters so much... becau...
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12:57
Ep. 47- Wicked Wisdom: Christian Truths in the Land of Oz
In this episode, I break down how Elphaba and Glinda’s opposing desires and fears drive their choices, create conflict, and lead to real consequences. If you want to learn how to write characters who challenge each other, push the story forward...
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15:31
Ep. 46 - The Power of Community in Spiritual Battle
Spiritual battles are real and they are fierce. You were never meant to fight alone. In this episode we explore the power of standing with other believers, surrendering yourself alongside them, and how unity becomes your strongest defense again...
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9:02
Ep. 45 - Surrendering Your Story to Jesus
Today we’re talking about what it actually looks like to hand your writing over to Jesus. Not just saying we trust Him but actually letting go of the reins and giving Him the entire work in progress. The dreams. The drafts. The pressure we put ...
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9:08
Ep. 44 - Keep Your Eyes on Jesus
Peter only started sinking when he looked away. That’s the whole point of this story. When our focus is on Jesus, the waves don’t always disappear, but they stop ruling our lives. In this episode, I talk about what happens when you take your ey...
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9:26
Ep. 43 - Why Writers Shouldn’t Be Alone
I’ll be honest — I’m a loner. I’m basically a 21-year-old hermit who loves writing, keeping my thoughts to myself, and pretending I don’t need anyone. But lately, God’s been convicting me: we weren’t made to worship alone.In this episode...
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13:24
Ep. 42 - Chasing Dreams with Walt Disney
Walt Disney didn’t wait for permission, for a perfect plan, or for fear to pass. He knew what he wanted and pursued it relentlessly, building worlds that inspired millions. In this episode, I break down three traits we can borrow from Walt to p...
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19:26
Ep. 41 - You Can’t Fight Temptation Alone
I know what it’s like to wake up early and give in to laziness, doom scrolling instead of starting my day. In this episode, I share what I’ve learned about calling on God the moment temptation whispers, because trying to do it alone never works...
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9:17
Ep. 40 - I Started Honoring the Sabbath After Charlie Kirk Was Assassinated. Here’s Why You Should Too
Charlie Kirk’s assassination ignited in me a desire to truly honor the Sabbath. For so long, like many Christians, I had reduced it to a routine, just the day we go to church. But the Sabbath was never meant to be a checkbox or a schedule. It i...
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11:53
Ep. 39 - Faith Over Fear: Finding Courage in Uncertain Times
In light of the recent assassination on Charlie Kirk, many are feeling shaken, fearful, and uncertain about the future. But as believers, we are reminded that God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind (2 Timoth...
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12:09
Ep. 38 - Writing the Mirror Scene: When Your Character Lives the Lie
It’s one thing when a character first believes a lie — it’s another when they start living like it’s true. This is the scene where your character makes their first conscious choice rooted in that false belief, and the world rewards them for it....
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13:10
Ep. 37 - The Art of Weaving Hidden Depth Into Characters
The best characters don’t need long monologues to reveal their past, their quirks, traits, and little habits do it for them. In this episode, I break down how to create characters whose behavior hints at deeper layers, making them feel real and...
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14:54
Ep. 36 - Raising the Standard in Christian Storytelling
This is a controversial episode. I rip the band-aid off and say what no one else wants to: the bar in Christian entertainment isn’t simply low...it was never there to begin with. From cringe movies to shallow storytelling, we’ve settled for les...
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17:44
Ep. 35 - How to Write Chapter 2: Crafting the Impossible Choice (Hunchback of Notre Dame)
In this episode, I’m breaking down how to write Chapter 2 of your story — the moment where everything changes. We’re going to talk about crafting the impossible choice, the kind of decision that forces your character into motion and lo...
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20:05
Ep. 34 - How to Get Anything Done in the Next 4 Months
Most people set New Year’s resolutions with big dreams… and most people fall off by February. Then the months fly by, and when September hits, the excuse creeps in: ‘Well, it’s only a few more months until January. I’ll just restart then.’ No. ...
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14:30
Ep. 33 - Shalla-Bal and the Art of Moral Conflict: Writing Characters Torn Between Duty and Guilt
In this episode, I dive deep into one of Marvel’s most emotionally rich characters — Shalla-Bal, the herald of Galactus. She saved her planet by striking a bargain, only to spend the rest of her existence enabling the destruction of countless w...
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17:48