NOAH GLENN BENNETT
Producer, Director, Editor
At the age of only 13, Noah Glenn Bennett founded his own production company, Against the Tide Media. What began as a school project for his Adobe Premiere Pro editing course, Noah teamed up with screenwriter Darren Scott Jacobs to host a Youtube interview with The Chosen actor, Giavani Cairo. Wildly popular, one became two, two became four, and four became a series with four hosts and counting.
Noah serves ATTM as Producer/Director as well as Editor. He is affectionately known to his crew as "Maestro" for his ability to orchestrate the production of the interviews on the grand scale down to the minute details.
Noah's purpose, simply put, is to share the brilliant light
and love of Jesus Christ through providing a place for God-given talents to shine.
DARREN SCOTT JACOBS
Interview Host, Screenwriter, Bibliophile
“What started as a school project for Noah has become so much more for me.”
Darren Scott Jacobs has had the privilege of hosting multiple interviews since the very beginning of ATTM. Together, with Noah, they started Against the Tide Media and the series of warm, approachable interviews was born to Youtube.
A member of the writing team for the original series The Encounter by Pure Flix, he is currently collaborating with a multitude of talented filmmakers.
Similar to Noah’s purpose, Darren desires to display the majesty of God in every creative aspiration before him. At the heart of Against the Tide Media, he has found his niche with bringing like-minded fans together.
JENNA SUE BENNETT
Creative Consultant, Writer, Future Director
Jenna has been instrumental in the development of Against the Tide Media (as well as coming up with its title). Against the Tide Media would not be the same without her influence and passion.
Finding her niche at a young age in both media & film, Jenna created a vibrant fan-based page for Pure Flix's The Encounter. Jenna then extended her talent to her younger brother, Noah… giving him a connection to Darren, one of the writers of The Encounter.
That collaboration has been imbued with lasting meaning & purpose due to her heartfelt desire to change
the world through film.
Currently a student at Liberty University, Jenna’s heart has always been turned towards telling the story of how Jesus truly changes lives… which in her eyes, is the Greatest Story ever told. In our eyes here at ATTM, we’re so glad she played that key role of envisioning what we’re now experiencing.
RACHEL RODRIGUEZ
Blogger, Researcher
Rachel Rodriguez is not only ATTM's blogger, she's a mother and a woman who is deeply in love with Jesus.
She was raised in the church but is honest enough to say that she’s stepped away from God a few times throughout her life. What always brought her back was a praying mom who never stopped!
In Rachel's darkest of times, she would hear words of rejection, failure and unworthiness claiming that she was unlovable. Isolation is a straitjacket for the soul. Yet with time, she would also hear God in-that-still-small-voice, reminding her, that He has not forgotten her nor forsaken her… she is worthy in His eyes, so much that Jesus Himself paid the ultimate price for her soul on the Cross.
She vowed to make it her mission to let others know what she had endured, what she suffered through, and how God radically changed her Life. Rachel’s blogs will help us understand that we’re all loved beyond human comprehension... and that we’re never really alone. God created us to be known by Him because Christianity is a Romance... and He will find us, no matter what is happening in our lives.
TIMOTHY RATAJCZAK
Interview Host, Screenwriter, Editor
When Timothy isn't hosting an Against the Tide Interview,
you can find him writing his latest screenplay to
the sound of a vintage record.
Timothy Ratajczak was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland (for which he sincerely apologizes). He is an American screenwriter of family and faith-based entertainment and a member
of the Writers Guild of America.
He has worked almost exclusively with Pure Flix since its formation in 2005 and is best known for films like The Apostle Peter and the Last Supper, Book of Esther, and Samson. He is also the co-creator of the hit Pure Flix streaming series The Encounter.
STEVE SHERMETT
Interview Host, Actor, Producer
In addition to hosting Against the Tide interviews, Steve is an American film actor and television host.
He began his acting career in High School in an amazing drama department lead by director Terrance Gunkel. He quickly moved to local community theatre and shortly landed his first role in Civic Light Opera (while still in High School). Steve took a hiatus from theatre as he raised his family. He returned to his first love-acting... but this time to the screen.
Steve has formal film, theatre, and improv training. In addition to acing a screen acting course at Pima Community College Steve graduated from both the improv 101 course at Tucson's Unscrewed Theatre and veteran film maker Chuck Williams' Master Acting Course. He has hosted over 100 television episodes for Prime Time Christian Broadcasting.
He's a world traveler and public speaker having visited such places as Turkey, India, Israel, England, and Mexico. Though not fluent Steve has familiarity with both the Spanish and Hebrew languages. He has been a minister for many years and is well known for his expertise in Biblical and Jewish studies.
JANIRA ROMERO REYES
Interview Host, Educator, Journalist
Southern California born, Guatemala City raised, & globe trotter before settling in the Washington DC area, Janira works as a project manager & gender advisor at a DC-based
non-profit organization.
Janira came across ATTM shortly after starting to watch The Chosen, which came in a timely manner as her father (not knowing) was in his last stages of life. "I pray that anyone who encounters faith-based tv series and movies such as The Chosen may come to know God's love & grace upon them."
Janira is passionate about girls' and women's empowerment through accessible quality education, exploring cultures,
and coffee... GOOD coffee.
ANTHONY PERRELLI
Interview Host, Educator, Editor
Anthony Perrelli is a NYC resident and is a Husband for 34 years, father of four, and grandfather of three.
Having worked in the film industry for over 30 years and also being a Coordinator of Religious Education, The Chosen presented a fresh new look at Jesus and the gospel stories, which spiked his interest in collaborating with Against the Tide Media and join his brothers and sisters in evangelizing
for today’s generation.
Anthony is known as one of the funny guys at ATTM and readily admits, “I know I’m funny, but looks aren’t everything!”
KENT GLAZIER
Interview Host, Minister, Missionary
Kent resides in the beautiful Willamette Valley of Oregon where he was born and raised, and where he graduated from New Hope Christian College with a Bachelor’s degree in Bible and
Ministry Leadership.
He is passionate about ministry and loves to see the transforming power of Jesus at work in the lives of individuals,
families, and communities.
His hope is to further that cause by being a part of ATTM and its mission to promote quality Christian entertainment.
JUSTEN OVERLANDER
Host of JustENtime
Justen Overlander loves Jesus, his wife, and his kids. He also loves working as Associate Producer of The Chosen, the first-ever multi-season show about Jesus and His followers.
The global success of The Chosen has allowed Justen to reach and remind people that Jesus meets you where you’re at.
As a former teacher and coach, Justen is passionate about bringing the best out of everyone and reminding them that nothing can separate them from the love of God.
His mentorship has also left a lasting positive impression and artistic celebration for members of the ever-expanding
family here at ATTM... for which we're very grateful.
TERA RODOCKER SMITH & BARB ELIAS MALBURG
Hosts of Talking Back with Tera & Barb
Host team Tera and Barb live in Columbus IN and have been friends for over 20 years, attending church together at The Ridge.
They separately discovered The Chosen Global Livestreams in April 2020, near the beginning of the Covid-19 Pandemic. On a Zoom call with friends, they realized that the other was hooked on the show. Against the Tide Media's interviews became a great way to get to know cast and crew of The Chosen. When ATTM had a casting call new interview hosts, they immediately thought the other should apply. That’s when the idea of co-hosting was born!
Talking Back with Tera and Barb began their interviewing foray at the Christian Worldview Film Festival in Nashville, where some of the biggest names in faith-based films were concentrated. Even prior to being hired as hosts, they had planned to attend the festival. So once they were connected with ATTM, they had reached out to several speakers for interviews!
"It has been a pleasure and honor to be part of what Noah is doing as he brings his loaves and fishes to be multiplied for God’s glory. Getting to know Noah, his family, other ATTM hosts, fellow fans of The Chosen, and the guests we’ve interviewed virtually and in-person from around the world has been a blessing and a blast! We can’t wait to see where God will lead us next!"
GISELLE MAKHLOUF
Interview Host, Researcher
Giselle Makhlouf is a lifelong resident of the great "Down Under" and has the coolest accent of anyone here at ATTM.
"I found out about The Chosen through social media and thought I have to watch this series (I actually watched it twice!) A friend then told me that ATTM is looking for hosts, so applied, and here I am! It's wonderful to be part of the ATTM team and help spread The Chosen to the world. ATTM is a
fantasticand kind team."
Giselle's hope is for the future to be brighter and bigger for The Chosen and Against the Tide Media... "This will continue
to grow with faith and hope."
CANAAN COFFMAN
Interview Host, Vocalist
Canaan currently lives in Danville KY with her parents... they have been touring all over as as family music group,
“The Coffmans” for ten years now.
"I’m passionate about sharing Jesus with people through music and drama. There are so many people that don’t know about Him, so there’s no time to waste! I hope that as people get to know me through ATTM, my music, and whatever else God has in store, that they see someone who is very imperfect and believe in how God can use absolutely anyone. I want people to know how much they are loved by Jesus through everything I take part in."
Canaan found ATTM from The Chosen, which she could go on forever about how God has used the series in her life tremendously, but as she said herself, that would take a long time! Needless to say, when she loves a project, she has to know everything and everyone that had a hand. The first interview she saw was Giavani Cairo’s and then binge-watched all the rest. She loves learning about an actor’s process
and experiences working on set.
"I’m so happy to be part of ATTM, and I can’t wait for others to see what we have going on! I see so much that God is doing in our ministry and what’s to comein my personal ministry
that makes me very excited!"