Called To Music Podcast

Phil King has written songs that have been sung in churches around the world, stood in rooms with some of the most influential voices in worship music, and built community that has outlasted trends and seasons.  In this conversation we get into what it actually looks like to stay faithful to a calling over decades, why community is not optional for the creative life, and the story behind his upcom...

On my music journey, nothing has ever come fast. Any time I’ve tried anything, it’s taken much longer than I would have hoped or expected. And if you can relate, this one’s for you. In this episode I’m talking about what it actually looks like to stay faithful to your calling over the long haul. Not the highlight moments. The regular Tuesday mornings. The seasons where you changed lanes and wonder...

Keith Elgin is a worship pastor, songwriter, and the host of the Worship Online Podcast, a platform that has trained over 150,000 worship leaders worldwide. But his story does not start where you might expect. It starts with a quiet moment in his bedroom where he heard God say come home. That one moment sent him back to church, into a band, and eventually onto a stage opening for Chris Tomlin just...

Alex Enfiedjian is the founder of Worship Ministry Training, one of the most listened to worship leadership podcasts in the world with over a million downloads. He is also a worship pastor, teacher, and the creator of an online school that has trained over 25,000 worship leaders globally. And he started it partly because he did not want to be a nobody. That is the ugly origin story he shared with...

Tai Anderson is the bassist of the iconic Grammy Award winning Christian rock band Third Day. He is also an entrepreneur, a speaker, and the author of a brand new book called Market Like a Rockstar. This conversation was one of my favorites we have done on this show. Tai's music journey began with a youth pastor who could have pushed him away from rock and roll but instead said come play in t...

Robbie Seay started a band called Zion in high school near Houston Texas, went to Baylor where he met David Crowder and helped plant a church, fronted the Robbie Seay Band on Sparrow Records with a Billboard charting song, and then made a decision that a lot of people would not have made. He stepped back from the spotlight to pour into other worship leaders through his work at The Worship Initiati...

What if the season you are in right now is not the waiting room for your calling but your actual calling? I have been sitting on this one for a while because it is personal. It is about the lie that if you do not have a publishing deal, a record deal, a charting song, or a full time income from music then you are not really doing it. That you are just a hobbyist. That you are an imposter waiting t...

Natalie Runion is a USA Today bestselling author, speaker, worship leader, songwriter and pastor who founded the Raised to Stay movement. She has been in ministry for over twenty years and built a community of over 200,000 people who are choosing to stay with Jesus even when the church has been hard. In this conversation Natalie talks about: How she went from pastor's kid to worship leader to...

Terence Fisher has been playing music since he was a kid beatboxing on street corners in Shreveport Louisiana. He went to Grambling State for music performance, started producing in 2005, built a YouTube channel and social media following that reaches hundreds of thousands of musicians across Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and Facebook, and he did it all by just showing up consistently and giving away...

Teel Merrick found his way into worship leading because his youth pastor left him no choice. Fast forward to today — he’s the guy helping worship leaders and volunteers stop drowning in Planning Center so they can actually get to Thursday with margin left. In this conversation Teel and I talk about: How God opened a door through a failed theme park purchase (yes, really) Why practical content beat...

This week three songs showed up in the same day. Three very different experiences with AI music. And together they told a story I wasn't expecting. One made me wish I hadn't heard it because it was so good and so fast. One made me ask what we're even doing this for. And one reminded me exactly what this calling is all about. In this episode I process honestly what I think AI music t...

What if the pressure to sound like the biggest worship churches in the world is actually working against your congregation? In this episode I sit down with Kelsey McGinnis, writer for Christianity Today, professor at Grand View University, and musicologist who studies worship culture from a genuinely unique outside perspective. We talk about the history of worship music, why we're all a littl...

Have you ever felt called to more than one thing in music and had no idea what to do with it? Me too. Let's talk about it. This is the first episode of Called to Music and honestly it might be the most vulnerable thing I've ever recorded. I talk about a season of pulling back, what God showed me in the quiet, and why I believe the pruning seasons in our lives aren't meant to stop us...

In this episode of the CIAS Podcast, I sit down with worship leader and songwriter Charlie Hall. Charlie has been writing worship songs for over 35 years, starting at age 17 when he first found God. He shares how his music has always reflected the rawness of his journey, through depression, aggression, and sin, and how he’s stayed connected to his local church community throughout. We dive into hi...

In this video, I’m breaking down some of my favorite chord shapes for worship—G, C, D, and a few others that really help fill out your sound.  These shapes make it super easy to transition between chords and keep things smooth during worship. Whether you’re leading in a small group or on a bigger stage, these will definitely help you out! Make sure to hit like, subscribe, and join my Facebook grou...

In this episode, I’ll show you the 3 best chord shapes for leading worship on acoustic guitar—G, C, and D.  These simple shapes will help you make smooth transitions between songs, free you from technical distractions, and allow you to focus on worshiping.  I’ll also share tips on using a capo to compliment different keys and how growing as a musician can enhance your worship leading.  Whether you...

In this episode, I share 5 actionable ways to break through creative blocks and find fresh inspiration in your worship songwriting. From changing your environment, to drawing from Scripture, and collaborating with others, these some of the things I talk about that will help you write songs that glorify God and resonate with your congregation. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share your thought...

Do you ever feel short on time but still want your worship songs to resonate deeply with your congregation? In this episode, I’m sharing 5 quick yet powerful tips to make every writing session count.  By the end of this episode, you’ll have key essentials to create impactful, spirit-filled worship song s that truly connect with your audience. 🔗 Free Resource: Want to take your songwriting to the...

In this episode, I sit down with Jake Gosselin, founder of Churchfront, to hear about his incredible journey from playing bass in a high school band, to leading worship, and eventually becoming a successful entrepreneur.  Jake shares how he navigated the world of worship leading, pursued music as a career, and even went to seminary with dreams of pastoral ministry. But his story didn’t stop there,...

On this episode of the CIAS Podcast, we’re diving into 10 FREE and effective strategies to help you market your worship music, without breaking the bank. Whether you’re an indie artist, worship leader, or songwriter, these tips will help you get your music heard by the right audience and make a real impact. 🚀 What You’ll Learn: 1.Leverage Social Media - Discover how to use platforms like Instagra...

🎙️ CIAS Podcast Episode #104 In this episode, we’re chatting with the amazing folks from Natural State Music. Haley, Del and Matt share their wild ride in the Christian music world. They all started out in church, passionate about using their talents to worship God. Haley had a tough break after a big label showcase didn’t go as planned and thought she was done with music. But God had other plans....

On this episode, I hang out with producer, brand strategist, professional YouTuber, award winning creative marketing specialist, and the founder of SellMusic.com Adam Ivy, who talks about some REAL truths for indie artists and songwriters. Adam has grown his YouTube channel to over 300K subscribers by helping independent musicians, artists and brands make impact with their music. He shares a wealt...

🎙️ CIAS Podcast Episode #102: Folk Worship Goes Viral with Brice Davis 🎙️ Join us for a laid-back chat with Brice Davis from Jacksonville, Florida. Brice has been on an incredible journey, balancing a full-time job, fatherhood (with two kids and another on the way!), and skyrocketing his music career on social media. Since August of last year, Brice has organically grown his Instagram from 600 fol...

On episode #101 of the CIAS Podcast I sat down with my friend Chase Wagner. Chase is a prominent artist, songwriter, and the Worship Pastor of Grace City Church in Lakeland, FL.  From beginning to know The Lord through music as a teen in Seattle, to moving across the country to found SEU Worship, as well as Grace City Music/Church, he has found encouragement to keep going through His strong faith...

On this celebration episode #100 of the CIAS Podcast I sat down with my friend Chris Lawson Jones from the Wings Distribution Group. Chris has been working professionally in the Christian music industry for over 20 years and shares so much insight and wisdom. We talk through the state of the independent artist and how using a boutique distribution platform like Wings can help set any artist up for...