CIA: Contagious Influencers of America

Chonda Pierce has made a career out of turning heartache into laughter, but this time she's telling the parts of the story that were never funny. Nine-time Emmy winner David Sams sits down with the award-winning comedian, TV host, and actress for a candid conversation about the pain behind the punchlines. Chonda opens up about growing up with a bipolar father, losing two sisters and her husband, h...

What does it look like to have every excuse to give up — and refuse every single one? Nick Vujicic was born without arms or legs, and has spent his life proving that the limits everyone expects don't have to be the ones you live by. Nine-time Emmy winner David Sams sits down with Nick for a wide-ranging conversation on faith, resilience, raising a family, and why he believes this generation is bei...

Producer Mark Joseph joins host David Sams to talk about the theatrical re-release of Reagan , arriving in theaters September 25 as part of America's 250th anniversary celebrations. Joseph shares the story behind the director's cut — ten additional minutes restored, including an opening line about making America great again that traces back further than most viewers would guess with bipartisan his...

The life of Ronald Reagan proves that setbacks are just the setup for what comes next. Now, the film " Reagan " is returning for a limited run on September 25 as a Director's Cut with 10 minutes of never-before-seen footage, timed to America's 250th anniversary. Dennis Quaid stars as the 40th President in this movie that traces Reagan's path from a small Illinois town, through a Hollywood career t...

What happens when the church you built your whole identity around cancels you overnight — and you come out the other side more honest, more grounded, and more free than you've ever been? In this episode, host David Sams sits down with pastor, author, and grandson of Billy Graham, Tullian Tchividjian , for a wide-ranging, unfiltered conversation about cancel culture inside Christianity, the pressur...

American Idol Top 3 finalist and three-time Grammy nominee Danny Gokey joins nine-time Emmy winner David Sams back at the Contagious Influencers of America studio for a heart-to-heart that goes far beyond the music. Recorded just ahead of the release of his album "Sound of Heaven," Danny dives into the Latin culture that shaped his sound, the power of choice in overcoming hard seasons, and the gro...

David Sams sits down with Army veteran and Engage Your Destiny founder  Ben Peterson for a conversation that moves from the battlefields of Iraq to the front lines of the AI revolution. Ben opens up about the darkest chapter of his life serving as a Chaplain's Assistant — losing seven brothers-in-arms in his first week of deployment, and the years of guilt, addiction, and near-suicidal despair tha...

Long before she became known as "America's Money Maven," Patrice Washington was a 25-year-old real estate broker with a seven-figure business, matching Range Rovers, and an 800 credit score — and then the 2008 recession took it all. She went from that seven-figure business to sleeping on a family member's couch, and it was in that collapse that she found the framework that would define her life's...

What if the Bible isn't a rulebook, but a love story? Bestselling author, Bible teacher, and self-described "hot mess" Lisa Harper joins host David Sams on this episode of Contagious Influencers of America — and she comes bearing her battered, sticky-note-covered "ADD Bible," full of margin notes from her late father. From there, the conversation opens into some of the most tender and unguarded st...

Feeling like your window of opportunity has passed? Let Hope Darst 's story be your encouragement to never give up. Hope signed her first record deal at 39, after two decades as a wife, mom, and worship leader at her church in Nashville. In this candid conversation with host David Sams, Hope traces the whole arc: a desperate move to Nashville at 19 that led to a life-altering encounter with God, y...

The "Queen of Christian Pop" AMY GRANT is so transparent you'll want to kick back, lean in and listen as she talks about life, love, overcoming obstacles and her blended family with Vince Gill like never before. She even gets choked up so bring tissues! Plus, we went back a decade into our archives for a moment KeepTheFaith made happen and nobody else got to capture: the first time Amy ever met a...

When disaster strikes without warning, hope has to show up fast — and for millions around the world, it arrives on a Convoy of Hope truck. Convoy of Hope is a global, faith-based, nonprofit organization that delivers emergency relief to communities devastated by disaster. Right now, their teams are on the ground in Venezuela, where on June 24 two catastrophic earthquakes of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5,...

She went looking for love on national television — and found it in the last place she expected. Best-selling author Madison Prewett Troutt first captured hearts as a finalist on Season 24 of ABC's The Bachelor, but her real love story started with a blind date she almost turned down. In this encore presentation, Madi sits down with nine-time Emmy winner David Sams just as she's stepping into life...

Is there anything more synonymous with patriotic pride than "God Bless The U.S.A."? As we celebrate Independence Day and the 250th birthday of our nation, we're bringing back this fan favorite — originally released on Veterans Day 2022 — because Lee Greenwood and this song belong on every American holiday playlist. Nine-time Emmy winner David Sams sits down with the Grammy award-winning artist to...

As America celebrates her 250th birthday, there is no more fitting time to revisit this powerful conversation with one of the most courageous women connected to our nation's legacy of service and sacrifice. Taya Kyle was thrust into the national spotlight when her husband, Chris Kyle, became one of America's greatest war heroes — his story immortalized in the book and blockbuster film American Sni...

There's no story quite like a redemption story—and the truth is, no father is ever too far gone for a second chance. In honor of Father's Day, we are opening the archives for a special Encore presentation celebrating the legacy of a true family patriarch, Phil Robertson, who passed away last year. Long before the Robertsons encouraged millions on their hit TV show Duck Dynasty , there was a day wh...

What do you do when the worst thing imaginable happens — and you're left questioning everything you thought you believed? This week we're bringing back one of our most powerful conversations ever, and it hits even harder now. Nine-time Emmy winner David Sams sat down with Granger Smith — award-winning, platinum-selling country music artist turned New York Times bestselling author and minister — fi...

Before the engagement and the sold-out shows, there was the struggle. In this Encore! episode of Contagious Influencers of America podcast, Ben Fuller gets incredibly raw with host David Sams about a season many of us know all too well: being single, staying sober, and searching for "the one." Recorded just before his recent engagement, this conversation is a time capsule of the faith it takes to...

What if the detour isn't the end of the road—but the very path God uses to get you where you're meant to go? In this uplifting episode of Contagious Influencers of America, nine-time Emmy winner David Sams sits down with renowned author, speaker, and "Life Coach to the Stars," Tim Storey , for a powerful conversation about hope, hardship, purpose, and the beauty of becoming. From being raised in h...

What do you do when doctors give you five years to live… and you're still here more than twenty years later? In this moving episode of Contagious Influencers of America, nine-time Emmy winner David Sams interviews singer-songwriter and worship leader Tim Timmons . Diagnosed with incurable cancer in 2001 and given just five years, Tim's story deepened into one of profound faith, surrender, and hope...

What happens when a hitmaker hits a breaking point? In this revealing episode of  Contagious Influencers of America , nine-time Emmy winner David Sams sits down with Gold-certified, award-winning singer-songwriter Colton Dixon —an artist who has spent his career using music to connect hearts, lift spirits, and offer hope. With nearly 1 billion streams, multiple #1 Billboard debuts, and songs that...

What if the rising cost of health insurance isn't your only option and you could save hundreds every month with an alternative? In this powerful and timely episode, nine-time Emmy winner David Sams sits down with longtime friend of KeepTheFaith , Marq James , Chief Marketing Officer of Medi-Share—the Christian healthcare-sharing community that's been helping families cover their medical costs for...

What if the darkest valley of your life became the very place God met you face-to-face? In this powerful and deeply personal episode of Contagious Influencers of America , chart-topping Christian artist Tasha Layton pulls back the curtain on the pain, healing, faith, and redemption that shaped her journey—from a suicide attempt and seasons of doubt to becoming one of today's most influential voice...

Every holiday season, Trans-Siberian Orchestra electrifies audiences with a symphony of rock, lights, and storytelling unlike anything else on earth. Nine-time Emmy winner David Sams sits down with Al Pitrelli—TSO's lead guitarist, musical director, and founding member—to reveal the heart, history, and humanity behind one of America's most cherished Christmas traditions. From the early days of ana...

From a small-town Vermont dairy farm to the stage of the Grand Ole Opry, Christian artist Ben Fuller has walked through fire—and come out transformed. In this powerful episode nine-time Emmy winner David Sams sits down with Ben to talk about addiction, redemption, and the relentless grace of God. Ben opens up about his past struggles with cocaine, alcohol, and shame, and how one encounter with Jes...