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Today I welcome to the husband and wife team of Steve & Annie Chapman. Christian music enthusiasts will recognize Steve and Annie as a vocal recording duo from the early eighties, but before that, they were both in the pioneering CCM group Dogwood. What many may not realize is that they have continued to record and have released around 20 albums and are seasoned authors, releasing more than 30 books between them, covering topics from marriage and parenting to hunting and character development.

Today I’m privileged to chat with Lenny LeBlanc. Lenny got his start in music back in the 70s and had a couple of Top 40 mainstream hits. He went on to write a number of worship songs like "There Is None Like You" and "Above All," for which he won a Dove Award in 2003. In addition to more than a dozen solo albums, he has been a bass player and studio musician working with the likes of Amy Grant, Ricky Skaggs, Don Moen, and Twila Paris.

Jaime Jamgochian is my guest today on the podcast. Jaime is a Berklee College of Music graduate, which means she has some mad music skills. But what is most evident about her life is her reliance on God. She is passionate about sharing her faith and telling how God is a healing, caring God. Now, Jaime has just released All Things an album about how God is working to make things beautiful. Like she states during our chat, "If it's not good yet, God is not done yet."

On today’s podcast, we have a special treat to talk to not one, but two really talented people. First, we’ve got Renee Garcia-Bliss. Renee released a couple of albums back in the late 1980s and has done background vocals both in the studio and on the road. I remember seeing Renee as one of Amy Grant's back up vocalists on several of her tours. Then we have Lang Bliss, who has a pretty impressive resume of his own. Lang has been a drummer, producer, songwriter, and live event promoter for some artists you might know... Michael W. Smith, Michael McDonald, Big Daddy Weave...

Of all the singers I’ve heard, there are a small handful of people that every time I hear their voice, I stop and just soak in the music… close my eyes and just basque in excellence. Singers like Matthew Ward, Russ Taff, and Ashley Cleveland who could sing the dictionary, and I would buy it. My shortlist of favorite vocalists also includes a pair of siblings, one of whom is my guest today. Lynda Randle is a singer who can SING! And obviously, I’m not alone in that assessment. Billy Graham, Andrae Crouch, and Bill Gaither have all asked to work with Lynda.

One of the things I love about doing this podcast is the opportunity to meet new artists. Today I get to talk with Joel Vaughn. Joel is signed to Dream Records and has just released a new EP call Louder Than the Lies. In addition to his recording career, Joel is a Worship Pastor in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee. I’m looking forward to getting better acquainted with Joel Vaughn.

On today’s podcast, I get to chat with Ayiesha Woods. Ayiesha wrote her first song when she was just 12 years old. And after releasing an independent project and touring regionally, she came to the attention of TobyMac who signed her to Gotee Records. Before long, she was nominated for Grammy and Dove awards and even had a top 10 radio hit. Then in 2009 she gave it all up to focus on her new family. While that may seem like a bad career choice, she said she wouldn’t change it for the world! Now a wife and mother of four boys, her new ministry is as a worship leader in her home church.

Today I get to chat with John Michael Talbot. John Michael and his brother Terry had a Southern Rock band in the early seventies called Mason Proffit. They were a pretty big deal! Bands like The Doobie Brothers, Steely Dan, and John Denver were opening acts for Mason Profit! Eventually, though, John Michael and his brother left the band and rededicated their lives to Christ. John Michael went on to become a Roman Catholic monk and has released 56 solo albums in the past 4 decades!

Today’s conversation is a bit surreal for me. You see, when I was considering starting this podcast I did a lot of research by listening to a TON of podcasts. I didn’t want to do something that was already being done. And I wanted to see what a quality podcast should sound like. As you might imagine, I listened to a lot of… shall we say… unimpressive productions. But then I found The Pivot hosted by Andrew Osenga. Now here was a podcast that not only had high production values but also had a host with a tender, caring heart.

My conversation today is with Dennis Agajanian. I first met Dennis when I was in college and he performed at a youth camp where I was on staff. I remember him as a larger than life, charismatic performer who played a mean guitar. In the years since then, I’ve seen Dennis on stage with Billy Graham, at Harvest Crusades, and even saw him on the popular 80’s ABC television show That’s Incredible! But talking with Dennis you are quick to learn that he has a passion for sharing the Gospel.

In today’s podcast, I talk with Richard Souther. Richard was an in-demand studio and touring musician who played with Barry McGuire, 2nd Chapter of Acts, and Phil Keaggy, just to name a few But early in his career, Richard experienced a significant medical event that for all intents should have spelled the end of his illustrious career. But thanks to some friends around him, and a new technology called the synthesizer, Richard was able to resume his career and go on to be a prolific creator of contemplative music.

I’m excited to welcome Tammy Trent to the podcast. Tammy has released a half dozen albums, her first one back in 1995. She is an author and popular speaker and has quite a story to tell about how her community of friends and her relationship with Jesus helped her through the loss of her husband and best friend. You won’t want to miss this conversation!

In this episode, I’m talking with Alisa Childers. Alisa was part of the pop trio ZOEgirl in the early 2000s. Fans of early Jesus music will appreciate that Alisa is the daughter of Chuck Girard, who was part of the group Love Song as well as having a substantial solo ministry. Alisa experienced a period of profound doubt about her faith and spent a lot of time searching for answers to her questions.

During my conversation with Russ Lee, there were two phrases that kept popping up. First is that God has a perfect plan that He invites us to participate in. He lines up people and situations and invites us to travel life with Him. Unfortunately for me, at least, I find that sometimes I have to look back at my history to see how God’s plan brought me to where I am today. But just like the footprints in the sand, God is always there.

Back in the early eighties, I played a song called "I’m Born Again" when I was a DJ at a station in Boise, Idaho. That song was off an album from Glenn Garrett. Over the years, Glenn has continued to make music celebrating his relationship with Jesus and how being born again changes our lives and makes a difference in our world. Chatting with Glenn reveals a gentle soul who is madly in love with his Savior and wants everyone to know it! Glenn talks about how he can hear his Good God in Heaven speak.

Today you get to hear my conversation with Jason Fowler. Jason is an incredibly talented guitar player and singer. In addition to his solo career, he is a member of the supergroup The Union of Sinners and Saints with John Schlitt of Petra and Billy Smiley of White Heart. Jason was an award-winning athlete and even attended the Olympic Training Camp for speed skating. But when you talk with Jason you quickly hear that his story is about God’s redemption, healing, and forgiveness.

I’m glad to share with you my conversation with Randy Thomas. Randy is currently the worship leader at a church in Ft. Meyers Florida. But before his tenure as a pastor, he was a member of the Sweet Comfort Band for nearly a decade before moving on to start the band the Allies. Oh yea, and he also wrote a little song called Butterfly Kisses with his songwriting partner Bob Carlisle.

Today I’m talking with Sarah Hart. We did a lot of laughing together. And we talked about her experience as a songwriter and how she got started in music. But our chat quickly turned to the crazy pandemic and political times we are experiencing in 2020. Now I’ll be one of the first to admit, I don’t usually like talking about these topics because they can come across as divisive and I’m not someone who generally enjoys confrontation. But Sarah spoke with such love and compassion about the tools she is using to address these issues in her own life.

One of the things that has fascinated me is the number of artists who have moved to full-time ministry as a follow-up to their professional music career. One such musician is Michael James Murphy. Michael recorded five albums in the early eighties and transition to more of a country sound in the nineties where he released another three albums as Michael James. But an early call God placed on his life was to be involved in worship ministry.

Every once in awhile I get the opportunity to meet someone whose faith walk impacts me in ways that I wasn’t expecting. My guest today is one of those people.