Sacred & Strange
Welcome to Sacred & Strange — the official podcast of The Porch Missional Community & Coffee Roasters.
Hosted by Jason Urena, Sacred & Strange is a space where theology meets mystery, story meets spirit, and nothing is too weird to talk about. Each episode features honest conversations with guests from all walks of life—exploring the sacred moments that shaped them, the strange encounters that stretched them, and the passions that make them who they are. From deep theology to cryptids, church wounds to comic books, revival to the mundane, this is where the wild and the holy collide.
Brew a cup, open your mind, and join the journey.
Sacred & Strange
Briskets, Bigfoot, and Belonging w/ Tristan Bredeman
In this powerful and refreshingly honest episode of Sacred & Strange, Jay sits down with his longtime friend and brother-in-arms, Tristan, a pitmaster from Northern California with a gift for creating safe spaces through food, faith, and fierce loyalty.
Together, they unpack nearly a decade of friendship forged through church, campfires, conflict—and even a shared Bigfoot encounter in the Shasta-Lassen wilderness. With humor and humility, Tristan recounts the moment he went from skeptic to believer… in more ways than one.
But this episode goes deeper than cryptids and campfire stories.
Tristan opens up about his complicated family dynamics, growing up in a divided home, navigating estrangement from his father, and eventually discovering healing through spiritual family and intentional mentorship. From youth ministry to weddings, from barista to “Master of Meat,” he reflects on how food and hospitality became his way of pastoring people—one plate at a time.
Jay and Tristan also dive into:
- The spiritual weirdness of Mount Shasta and why some believe it's a supernatural portal
- The difference between transparency and intimacy in mentoring relationships
- How to love without an agenda, especially when family doesn’t share your faith
- Why softball leagues and DJ booths matter more than you think
- The simple, sacred power of being present—whether through pulled pork or prayer
Whether you’re here for the laughs, the real talk, or the Bigfoot theories, this episode is a reminder that belonging often shows up in the strangest places.
00:00 Welcome to Sacred and Strange
01:37 Meet Tristan: The Master of Meat
03:12 Bigfoot Encounter: A Tale of Two Friends
10:32 The Mystery of Mount Shasta
13:10 Church League Softball and Friendships
14:27 Tristan's Family Dynamics
22:00 Finding Family in the Church
24:36 Battling the Heat: Personal Stories
25:17 Faith and Family: A Personal Journey
26:47 Connecting Through Love and Understanding
36:46 Mentorship and Its Impact
43:20 The Power of Food and Hospitality
49:22 Final Reflections and Encouragement