What Hope Sounds Like

Have you ever felt like God was asking you to do something, but fear was holding you back? Or wondered if He could use the difficult season you're walking through right now? On this episode of What Hope Sounds Like, Tom from The Light FM sits down with Sam Wesley, son of MercyMe's Bart Millard, and Mary Claire, daughter of MercyMe manager Scott Brickell, to talk about stepping out in faith, findin...

Before Warren Peay ever stepped onto the American Idol stage, God was already shaping his story in a small South Carolina church. Warren joins Carol from The Light FM to talk about growing up around church, spending several years away, and eventually feeling the pull to come back. There wasn’t a dramatic falling out - he says he simply got used to not going. But an invitation from friends le...

“The beautiful thing is God’s going to meet us right where we are.” - Brewer Hicklen Brewer Hicklen has been chasing the dream of professional baseball since he was four years old, and along the way, God has given that dream an even bigger purpose. In this episode of What Hope Sounds Like , Ryan sits down with Atlanta Braves outfielder Brewer Hicklen to talk baseball, faith and w...

What happens when people from different churches stop focusing on what makes them different and simply worship Jesus together? This week on What Hope Sounds Like, Jonathan sits down with Jason and Vince from Worship Nights Knoxville, a movement that started in a living room and has grown into a gathering of believers from churches all across East Tennessee. From teenagers leading worship to season...

The FIFA World Cup has the world's attention, but the best stories aren't happening on the field. This week on What Hope Sounds Like , Ryan talks with Jason Romano from Sports Spectrum about the incredible ways God is working through athletes on the world's biggest stage. Jason talks about why he walked away from his dream job at ESPN to follow God's call, and how doing that changed everything. Fr...

What if one phone call changed everything? On this episode of What Hope Sounds Like , Beth Bacall sits down with Carly Ann Taylor to hear how God rescued her from a childhood marked by abuse and instability. Growing up on the Big Island of Hawaii, Carly Ann went through years of abuse while living in a shack before finding her family who showed her that love can truly be unconditional. At 15 years...

"I want my daughters to see me and see a reflection of the Father's heart." Being a good dad can feel like a lot of pressure. You want to get it right, protect your kids, be their friend, have their respect and lead them to Jesus… and that is a lot. In this episode, Brian from The Light FM talks to Jeremy Camp for a conversation about fatherhood, raising daughters, and learning to trust God...

Over the last two episodes, we've heard how Garrett and Jacq from CLINE followed God through unexpected twists, uncertainty, and seasons that stretched their faith. But what was God building through all of it? In this final part of their story, Garrett and Jacq share about family, legacy, songwriting, grief, and the moments that shaped who they are today. From the story of Garrett's dad surrenderi...

What do you do when life suddenly changes and the future feels really uncertain? In this episode of What Hope Sounds Like , Garrett and Jacq from CLINE share how God met them in one of the hardest and most uncertain seasons of their lives. From the shutdown of the music industry during COVID, to stepping away from the life they had built in country music, they found themselves learning what it rea...

What do you do when you feel called to ministry… but God leads you somewhere completely unexpected? In this episode of What Hope Sounds Like , Brian sits down with Garrett and Jacq from CLINE to talk about how their journey didn’t follow the plan they thought it would. From leading worship in their local church to stepping into the country music world, their story is a reminder that G...

“It wasn’t just a shoebox. It was a reminder that God sees this child — and He hasn’t forgotten them.” What happens after you pack a shoebox? On this episode of What Hope Sounds Like , Christian Artist Austin French joins Jeff and Ryan from The Light FM as they talk about witnessing firsthand what God does through Operation Christmas Child. It’s one thing to dro...

“This generation isn’t running from God — they’re hungry for truth and authenticity.” This week, Ryan sits down backstage at Winter Jam with the Three Heath Brothers — Clayton, Nicholas, and Christian — three real-life brothers from North Carolina who are on a mission to reach Gen Z with the truth of Jesus. From growing up as preacher’s kids to singi...

  “Seeing thousands of young people worship Jesus gives me so much hope for this generation.” Ryan sits down with Brady Pettee, the creative mind behind much of what you see from Josiah Queen online. From viral social content to powerful music videos, Brady shares what it looks like to turn songs like  “Dusty Bibles” and “Demons” into visuals that conn...

“God isn’t scared of your big feelings — He created you.” We sat down with  Ivey Asher , a singer, songwriter, streamer, and all-around honest voice for this generation. From growing up in music and acting, to walking through grief, bullying, and church hurt, Ivey shares how God met her right in the middle of her mess — not after she had it all together. Her hear...

“I don’t just love music — I love ministry. I want to help people love on Jesus.” – Lindy Bryson We loved getting to sit down with Lindy Bryson and hear how God has been shaping her heart from a little girl singing in church to a young worship leader with a clear calling. Lindy shares how a moment at summer camp helped her realize faith isn’t about religion &mda...

In this episode, Brian sits down with  Cody Ward , a singer-songwriter whose story shows just how far the grace of Jesus can reach. Cody shares how he went from chasing applause in bar rooms to chasing relief in alcohol, all while trying to hold his marriage and his sense of purpose together. When COVID shut down his music career and a painful family situation hit hard, everything spiraled &m...

On this episode of  What Hope Sounds Like , Carol sits down with  Christina Eagle , whose life story has been anything but simple — yet Jesus has been faithful every step of the way. Christina shares how losing both of her biological parents early in life shaped her, and how her grandparents poured faith into her from the beginning. She talks about discovering her love for singing,...

Even when it’s a hard story, it can still be a happy song because God has a plan. On this episode of What Hope Sounds Like , Kelly Brandon sits down with someone very special — and very close to her heart — 12-year-old Airely Hart , Western North Carolina native. Airely may be young, but God is already stirring something big in her: a deep love for singing, songwriting, and shari...

“There’s no government or darkness that can stop the Gospel. The light always shines through.” On this episode of  What Hope Sounds Like , Jeff talks with Izabella McMillon from Operation Christmas Child . Izabella grew up under communism in Romania, where faith was forbidden and even owning a Bible could cost your life. But God broke through that darkness in the most unexpe...

Leanna Crawford joins Jonathan Unthank to share how honesty with God has shaped her life, her music, and her marriage. From writing her song  Honest  during a season of anxiety and depression, to discovering God’s kindness in unexpected ways, Leanna reminds us that Jesus meets us right where we are. She opens up about how marriage has taught her more about grace, why rest is so vit...

“What I thought was a setback was really a setup for what God was preparing.”   – Drew Baldridge  On this episode of What Hope Sounds Like, Brian from The Light FM sits down with Matt from I AM THEY and country artist Drew Baldridge to talk about their re-release of Scars. They open up about the pain and healing behind their stories—how scars are more than reminde...

Ben Kessler—known online as The Lord’s Giant —has a story you won’t forget. From battling mental health struggles to finding his purpose in Christ, Ben shares how God turned his pain into a platform for hope. With hundreds of thousands following his content online, Ben reminds us it’s never about the numbers—it’s about reaching the one. Listen in as Ryan f...

“I stopped putting confidence in my own story and put it all in Jesus—the man who died and rose again for me.” Jeff from Mornings on The Light FM sat down with Jimmy Clifton, a local, independent Christian artist whose music has been reaching people all over the world. Jimmy shares about growing up in a big family, wrestling with faith and temptation, and how God has used even hi...

“He doesn’t compare us to other people. He meets us exactly where we’re at.” - Madison Watkins What Hope Sounds Like  is BACK—and kicking it off with us is none other than rising Christian artist and former  American Idol  finalist, Madison Watkins! You might know her from Idol or  America’s Got Talent , but today you’ll get to know her...

In the aftermath of Hurricane Helen's devastation, Operation Christmas Child continues to bring hope to children and families worldwide. Denise Gravely of OCC shares the resilience of volunteers and churches in East Tennessee and Western North Carolina as they prepare for National Collection Week. Discover how simple shoebox gifts, filled with toys, essentials, and love, are transforming lives and...