“hashtag sharkfacts.” - an interview with Dave Luetkenhoelter

“hashtag sharkfacts.” - an interview with Dave Luetkenhoelter

Author: Rock in a Hard Place April 26, 2023 Duration: 1:41:59

James and Jon Micah welcome Dave Luetkenhoelter, former bass player of Kutless, to the show! On this episode of Rock In a Hard Place, we catch up with our good friend, and hear about his life with his family down in Texas! Dave tells us about his work in student ministry, and encouraging students to have healthy spiritual disciplines in their life. We talk about some of our favorite touring and recording memories from his time in the band, epic prank wars, recording at Abbey Road Studios, and we even get his point of view on some “fan-favorite” prank stories. Be warned, we also discuss one of the most bizarre and traumatic experiences of our career. How God used a young fan named Gabby to galvanize within our group a deep passion for preaching the Gospel and helping people find faith in the Lord Jesus Christ - a story that impacted us deeply, and how it all got wrapped up in lies and deception. An almost book. Healing after manipulation based trauma. What God showed us even amidst all the confusion. Join us, and our friend’s very squeaky chair for a very inspiring conversation. Thanks Lucky!


For two decades, the members of Kutless have been a fixture in music, navigating the unique pressures of life on stage and the personal faith that grounds them. Rock in a Hard Place (A Kutless Podcast) is where founding members James and Jon Micah pull back the curtain on that entire journey. This isn't a polished retrospective; it's an ongoing conversation filled with the unvarnished realities of touring, creating, and growing up within a public ministry. You'll hear the kind of stories that only happen after twenty shared years in a van-absurd, laugh-out-loud moments from forgotten towns and cramped venues that perfectly balance more vulnerable reflections. The podcast delves into personal struggles and the complex challenges of existing at the intersection of art, commerce, and Christian culture, topics they approach with a hard-won perspective. Each episode feels like a candid talk between old friends who have seen it all, offering listeners a genuine connection that is as thought-provoking as it is entertaining. Tune in for a rare, behind-the-scenes listen that goes far beyond the music.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 17

Rock in a Hard Place (A Kutless Podcast)
Podcast Episodes
Our first Dove Awards - “the waddle of shame” [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:40
Hard questions. Wendy’s. Arby’s. McDonald’s. Geico. “Tongue distance.” Pooping your pants story. First Dove Awards. More dog interruptions. Meeting Peter Furler. Meeting Katy Perry. Festival Con Agua. Fighting the urge t…
James’ Childhood Story - “no Batman Eyes on stage” [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:26:15
Road games and pranks. Batman Eyes. Suitcase wars. Four-story escalators. On this episode of ‘Rock in a Hard Place,’ James shares his childhood story of growing up in Ridgefield Connecticut and the pain of being abused a…
First Tour - "hashtag turkey facts" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:20:56
In this episode, we reflect on our first Kutless tour (with OC Supertones/Pax217/Slick Shoes). We get real about the early years of our marriages and share stories of stolen laundry, inflatable furniture, and terrible te…
The Beginning - "rub a banana on it" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:11:14
Ironman races, almost dying, what happened in 2002, how the tragedy of 9-11 impacted our journey, and the beginning of Kutless.
Welcome Episode [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:16
Welcome to the first episode of Rock in a Hard Place with James and Jon Micah of Kutless. This is a behind-the-scenes look at their lives, challenges, struggles, and stories from over 20 years of touring together in a ba…