Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Zach Rippey. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Zach, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What sort of legacy are you hoping to build. What do you think people will say about you after you are gone, what do you hope to be remembered for?

I’ve always been fascinated with the words shared on a tombstone. Some choose Bible verses, others opt for family titles like “Father, Son, Husband, Brother,” but I find myself enamored with the words “Man of God.”

Either that or “God’s Man.”

Whichever of the two ends up on your tombstone, I’d like to think that’s the greatest legacy a man can have. To have everyone who lays your body in the ground know you were a man of faith puts a certain peace in my heart I can’t quite explain.

If you walk the walk, those other family titles we discussed were carried with excellence along the way. Every Bible verse you could have written on the stone was already etched on your heart. You carried it daily as you followed Christ until your last breath.

I want my kids to flip through my Bible and see the words I wrote to them about their mother. I want them to see the words I shared with God when I discovered something new about Him. I want them to tune into my “I Like Birds” podcast and hear the man who was after God’s own heart on every episode.

A legacy means nothing if you don’t pass it on to those who come after you. It would light up my world to know my kids would take on the mantle of being a voice for Jesus and “God’s Man.”

That’s success. That’s a true victory. That’s the legacy I strive for. And that’s enough for a wretch like me.

Zach, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I was once a professional stand-up comedian, seeking validation from crowds, bookers, and paychecks. In 2020, when the world stopped spinning, I took a nosedive into the Word of God and discovered Jesus in a way I never had before. He became real to me—His Spirit was alive, and His voice was clear.

He called me to be a pastor and to tell the world about Him and His Word! Stuck in the house, I decided to obey the call and launch a podcast called I Like Birds, where I encouraged people to grow in their faith as I grew in mine.

I thought only four people would listen. But 23 episodes later, we hit 1,000 plays, and close friends and old friends were accepting Christ into their hearts week after week.

I stayed on the path of podcasting, writing, and pursuing ministry, and before I knew it, I had a #1 New Release book on Amazon called 21 Days in Africa. My podcast reached over 25 million people in 2024 alone.

God’s hand has been on us through it all. We’ve hosted highly influential guests on our show, and two of our episodes went viral—both featuring people I met simply by living my life in town.

We record two to four episodes a month and live with the mindset of “Do it for the One.” The views mean nothing if no one is being impacted in a way that glorifies God. We do it for Him and the One He left the 99 for!

What I’m most proud of is the belief I had that this would all work out. I believed in God’s call on my life, and I pray you believe in yours too.

How did you build your audience on social media?

I built an audience by consistently showing up. I provide people with content that elevates their faith, inspires them to pursue God more deeply, or teaches them something about Him they haven’t discovered yet.

I take my personal encounters with God and make them public, and people connect with that kind of vulnerability. Authenticity has been the greatest strength of our show and social media platforms.

I’ve cried, I’ve repented, I’ve admitted when I’ve fallen short, I’ve gotten angry, I’ve spoken truth, and I’ve said the hard things. Because of that, people recognize the gift of real in what I share.

Audiences don’t want to be sold to—they want to be spoken to. I do my best to meet them where they are and encourage them. Whatever business you have, I’m confident you can do the same with your content.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I lost my best friend Armani to a tragic white-water accident, just a month before he was supposed to get married and only six months after I started reading my Bible.

I could have crumbled. If I didn’t know the Word of God, I would have been in the fetal position, broken over losing the man I’d spent so much of my young adult life with.

But because I knew who God was, and I trusted His promises about eternal life, my response was one of faith.

I jumped on the podcast and encouraged everyone back home to seek God and learn more about life, death, and heaven.

In the midst of loss, people discovered faith and hope — I’ll forever be in awe of that season.

Even with a broken heart, I was resilient in preaching the Gospel.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://ilikebirdsministry.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ilikebirdsministry
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zachrippey23/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zach-rippey-b4727b244/
• Twitter: https://x.com/zachrippey23
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ilikebirdspodcast
• Other: https://www.rippeywrites.com/

Image Credits

Joni Lynn Photography
Jayda Lopez
Kenneth Clary