Jesus Calling: Stories of Faith

What starts as a single “yes” can influence a lifetime. In this episode, we speak with Tennessee’s First Lady Maria Lee, who shares how a short summer of ministry in Nashville turned the trajectory of her life—from teaching in a classroom to serving alongside her husband in public life—and taught her that true impact often comes from simply showing up and seeing others. 

Speaker and radio personal...

Author and artist Ruth Chou Simons joins Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer to share her journey of faith, from immigrating to the U.S. as a young girl to raising six boys while writing and creating art that points others to Christ. Ruth opens up about the struggles of striving for approval and how she discovered freedom in God’s grace.  

Guest’s Links
YouTube: @RuthChouSimons
Facebook: @ruthchousimons

In...

This week, we’ll hear from Rebecca St. James, a Grammy and Dove award-winning contemporary Christian music artist. When Rebecca’s family moved from Australia to the U.S. when Rebecca was a teen, they faced serious financial struggles—the kind that forced them to rely completely on each other and outside support for basic survival like food, transportation, and medical bills. This intense period of “making it...

This week, we’ll hear from Jon Acuff, a bestselling author and speaker who turns personal challenges into practical lessons for living with intention and resilience. From mastering goals to overcoming negative thinking, Jon shares insights that help listeners navigate life’s “hard middle” and keep moving forward, even when it feels impossible.

Later in the episode, we’ll hear from journalist and anchor...

Welcome to a special scripture-focused bonus episode of the Jesus Calling Podcast, where we take a look at the book of Romans with pastor and author J.D. Walt. J.D. walks us through Romans and how it illuminates a “darkness to light movement, chaos to love, and chaos to new creation.”

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Romans: ...

This week, we’ll hear from Michael Leach, who went from the high-pressure, competitive world of the NFL to navigating the intense landscape of national politics, ultimately becoming the first-ever Chief Diversity Officer in the White House. Leach reveals the defining moments—from simple childhood boundaries on the south side of Chicago to faith-led decisions that cost him his seemingly secure career—that prepared ...

Welcome to this special bonus episode of the Jesus Calling Podcast, inspired by the topical themes from Sarah Young’s seasonal prayer devotional, Jesus Listens: Prayers for Every Season. Today we are featuring guests who share stories of renewal, restoration, and the vibrant hope that comes with starting anew. Just as spring wakes the world from winter, you’ll hear from previous Jesus Calling podcast guests about how th...

This week, we welcome writer Jonathon M. Seidl, who transparently shares his struggle with alcoholism. Jonathon opens up about how he turned to alcohol as a solution to his problems, the breaking point moment when he realized something needed to change, and the real, raw, honest circumstances that led him to healing. 

Later in the episode, we’ll hear from author Yana Jenay Conner. She shares her personal experience of le...

What if conflict in your marriage could become a doorway to deeper connection? In this episode of “Jesus Listens,” Dr. Dan Allender and Dr. Steve Call return to explore how fear, self-protection, and past wounds often show up in the way we relate today, through the lens of their book “The Deep-Rooted Marriage.” 

Guest’s Links
YouTube: @AllenderCenter
Facebook: @allendercenter

Instagr...

Welcome to a special Easter bonus episode of the Jesus Calling Podcast. In this episode, we welcome actress and mental health advocate Courtney Hope as she shares about her personal experiences with OCD and anxiety. She also gives us an inside look at her latest project—a four-part Easter audio podcast called The Christ—in which she explores the stories of the Easter season, particularly of Jesus’ Mother, Mary, an...

*This episode contains content that may be triggering for some listeners.*

This week, we welcome RobertAnthony Cruz, known to many as Coach RAC. RobertAnthony is a professional baseball player with the Savannah Bananas, a former minor league athlete, and a mentor to thousands of young people through sports camps and social media. But beyond the flips on the field and the packed stadiums, Coach RAC has wrestled with anxiety, fear of...

This week, we speak with Nathan Davis Jr., an actor, singer, and songwriter whose career has taken him from church choirs to television screens and viral music platforms. But behind the success is a deeply personal story of loss and faith. After losing his little brother to suicide and enduring a season of overwhelming grief, Nathan found himself at a breaking point, until a quiet, honest cry to God changed everything. 

After ...

This week, we’re joined by beloved television host, actress, songwriter, and author Kathie Lee Gifford. Kathie Lee shares her deeply personal faith journey, emphasizing that she is not a “churchy person” but a “relationship person.” She advocates for understanding the Scriptures deeply, going beyond surface-level readings, and ultimately seeking to bring Jews and Christians together in the love story o...

Welcome to a special scripture-focused bonus episode of the Jesus Calling Podcast, where we do a deep dive on misunderstood women in the Bible with author, podcaster, and speaker Mary DeMuth. Many of us grew up hearing the stories of women like Bathsheba, Tamar, and the Woman at the Well, often presented in a simplified—and sometimes judgmental—light. But what if the Sunday School lessons we learned missed the mark by o...

*This episode mentions suicide and may be triggering for some listeners.

This week, we’ll hear from Ed Newton, pastor of Community Bible Church in San Antonio, Texas. Growing up as a CODA (Child of Deaf Adults), Ed bridged the hearing and deaf worlds for his parents, fostering immense empathy but also hardship. Later, following his parents’ deaths, he faced a tidal wave of despair and suicidal thoughts. He sought profes...

This week, we’re joined by author and speaker John O’Leary. John shares the story of a joyful Midwestern childhood that was forever changed at age nine by a devastating house fire that doctors said he would not survive. Through the unwavering love of his parents, the kindness of unexpected heroes, and a hard-fought choice to live, John’s life became a testimony to hope rising from unimaginable pain. 

Later in...

What if the struggles in your marriage aren’t just about today, but about untold stories from long ago? In this episode of “Jesus Listens,” Dr. Dan Allender and Dr. Steve Call explore how past wounds, unspoken patterns, and even everyday tones of contempt shape our relationships more than we realize. The themes discussed are found in their new book “The Deep-Rooted Marriage.” 

Guest’s Links ...

This week, we’re thrilled to be celebrating our 500th podcast episode with actor Sarah Drew, known for her roles in Grey’s Anatomy and Everwood. Sarah shares how her faith shaped her career from a pastor’s kid who found joy in acting to eventually navigating the pressures of Hollywood. She discusses the rewarding challenge of developing her Grey’s Anatomy character, April Kepner, into an honest portrayal of ...

*This episode contains content that may be triggering for some listeners.*

This week, we hear from Stephen McWhirter, a songwriter and worship leader whose early life was marked by deep trauma, addiction, and a shattered view of God shaped by his father’s hypocrisy and abuse. After years of rebellion and anger toward faith, Steven encountered Jesus in an unexpected moment that transformed everything. Today, he shares a powerf...