What's up, my EFF? I’m Ender Bowen: artist, writer, podcaster, husband, dad, cat herder (of both the feline and toddler variety), and an Aspiring Compassionist, which is basically someone who’s trying really hard to make Compassion cool again... preferably before the morning coffee kicks in and I remember how grumpy I actually am.
If you’re wondering what this is all about or why you’re here, well, welcome to the chaos. I mean that in the best way. Life is messy, loud, beautiful, painful, inspiring, confusing, hilarious, and just a little weird. And I'm here for all of it. I think we all are, whether we realize it or not. So I figured, hey, why not share the journey in a way that brings a little light, a little healing, and hopefully a laugh or two?
I started playing music in a tiny snow-covered speck of a town called Russell, NY. It was there, among the cows and snowbanks, that I first heard the whisper of something bigger. Maybe it was a U2 song. Maybe it was God. Maybe it was my future self yelling, “You’re gonna need to move to Nashville.” Either way, music grabbed hold of me and never let go.
Over the years, I’ve released several albums and EPs—some ethereal, some gritty, all deeply personal. If U2, Depeche Mode, The Smashing Pumpkins, and Garbage threw a backyard barbecue, I’d like to think I’d be the guy in the corner playing guitar and philosophizing about the meaning of life while someone grills burgers and brats.
Music has always been more than sound to me. It’s a conduit. A channel. A spiritual language that connects what I feel with what you feel, and maybe, just maybe, with what God’s been trying to whisper into our ears when we’re too busy scrolling Twitter.
Writing has always been how I wrestle with God, with people, and with why my hash browns never quite come out right. Back in 2015, after a series of nudges, whispers, and eventually a holy bellow I couldn’t ignore, God Jots came to life. What started as me trying to make sense of my spiritual journey turned into a place to invite others into His Love and Joy, and to spread the message of Compassion. Over time it’s grown from a blog into books, a podcast, and more than a few surprises still to come.
From there, the spark spilled outward into The Joy Commission. What began as little daily “missions” on social media and has since become its own home of articles, books, and a podcast. Where God Jots zooms in on God Himself, Joy Commission is about putting that Love into motion, restoring Joy where life’s knocked the wind out of you, and exploring Compassion in ways that feel both honest and practical.
Somewhere along the way, I stumbled into another adventure: Creating Dad. It started by accident but quickly became a mission close to my own heart: to help creative fathers like me navigate the push and pull between art and parenthood. My hope is to show that those two worlds don’t have to fight each other. They can be a team. And a pretty fun one at that.
Finally, I wanted one space to bring all of this together; the music, the writing, the dad jokes, the Joy, the Compassion. That’s how Kind of You came to be: a podcast where I sit down with guests for honest conversations and stories that connect all the threads of what I do. Think of it as the big campfire where all my projects meet.
When I’m not writing, singing, or staring blankly at the ceiling trying to think of the right metaphor for grief, I’m a husband and dad. I married an amazing woman who inspires me every day, challenges me in all the right ways, and somehow still finds my jokes funny... most of the time.
We’ve got a daughter who is the living embodiment of Joy, chaos, and every Pixar character rolled into one tiny human. She’s taught me more about wonder, patience, and emotional honesty than a thousand theology books ever could. (Also, she’s way better at dancing than I am, but I’ve made my peace with it.)
And we've got a son who is the absolute complete opposite of that, but just as stubborn, and definitely a professional wrestler (in his own head).
I say it a lot, but it’s worth repeating: Be The Light. Not because the world is so dark (though sometimes it definitely feels that way), but because light isn’t just what you shine; it’s who you are. Joy is a choice. Compassion is a discipline. And Love is the art of seeing another person as sacred, even when they cut you off in traffic.
So that’s me. I’m just a guy with a guitar, a microphone, a blog (or several), and an unreasonable amount of coffee (and maybe some whiskey or a good pint depending on the time of day), doing my best to figure out what it means to be fully human and fully Loved. And I’m glad you’re here.
Seriously.
If anything here resonates with you—or if you just want to trade dad jokes or song recommendations—reach out. Check out the blog. Give the podcast a listen. Or just yell into the void and trust that someone (me) is probably doing the same.
And definitely sign up for the Monday newsletter. It's full of everything that brings me Joy, and I hope that it does the same for you!
Stay weird. Stay kind. Stay caffeinated.
With Joy and a wink,
Ender Bowen
Musician. Writer. Podcaster. Aspiring Compassionist. Human.
P.S. If you like what you see, tell your friends. If you don't like what you see, tell your enemies. Either way, I win. 
