Jesus Calling: Stories of Faith

*This episode mentions suicide and may be triggering for some listeners. This week, we’ll hear from Erin Leigh Nelson , founding executive director of Jessica’s House , a grief support center for children, teens, young adults, and their families coping with the loss of a parent or sibling. Erin’s story is marked by deep personal loss—waves of tragedy that shaped her life an...

On this episode of Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer , we’ll hear from special needs mom and caregiver Jessica Ronne, who shares about life with her son Lucas. After finding out her yet-to-be born son had a stroke in utero, Jessica faced the reality of caring for a child with profound disabilities. On top of this, her husband would be diagnosed with brain cancer, and ultimately would pass awa...

*This episode mentions suicide and may be triggering for some listeners.* This week, we hear from Niki Hardy —a writer, speaker, and coach who brings honesty and hope to life’s most difficult moments. Niki has weathered seasons of cancer, grief, burnout, and questions of faith. After transitioning from a corporate career into nonprofit and ministry work, she came to believe that life d...

This week, we’ll hear from author, certified health coach, and former QVC host Kerstin Lindquist . With a background in journalism and more than a decade in broadcast sales, Kerstin has reached millions through her work in health, wellness, and personal growth. Her journey—marked by infertility, loss, caregiving, and career pivots—inspired her to study the roots of stress and its...

*This episode mentions suicide and depression and may not be suitable for all listeners. This week, we sit down with podcaster  Lola Sheen , daughter of actors Charlie Sheen and Denise Richards . Lola bravely shares her story, detailing the unique challenges of growing up under public scrutiny and its impact on her mental health. She opens up about a pivotal turning point in her life—di...

This week, as we celebrate the spirit of independence, we’re spotlighting a uniquely American story. Jared Orton , president of the Savannah Bananas baseball team , joins us to reflect on a journey that started with just a few season tickets, no logo, and a wild idea. From humble beginnings in a historic Savannah stadium to becoming a national sensation, it’s a story about bringing peo...

*This episode contains mature content. This week, we’ll hear from war correspondent Benjamin Hall , who has spent much of his career reporting from some of the world’s most dangerous conflict zones. In 2022, while covering the war in Ukraine , he was gravely injured in an attack that killed two of his colleagues. Today, he shares how that harrowing experience challenged his limits and...

On this episode of Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer , we’re joined by author, editor, and spoken word artist Quina Aragon. Quina shares her passion for helping others see themselves and their story within the pages of the Bible—being willing to engage even with our dark, painful, embarrassing, or shameful chapters toward healing and redemption in Jesus.    Guest’s Links...

This week, we’ll hear from pastor, speaker, and author DawnCheré Wilkerson . After walking through an eight-year journey of infertility, DawnCheré began to have a new understanding of what it means to trust God even when the answer is “not yet.” Now a mother of four, she encourages others to look for God’s presence not just in fulfilled promises, but in the sl...

* This episode contains mature content. This week, we get to hear from  Becky Murray , the founder and CEO of One By One , an organization committed to ending exploitation and bringing freedom to vulnerable children around the world. Becky’s journey began with a simple desire to fight injustice—a passion that eventually led her from her dreams of a law career to the front lines of...

This week, we’re joined by Mike Nawrocki , best known for his work in co-creating the beloved children’s series VeggieTales , and voice of Larry the Cucumber. Mike shares the leap of faith he took with college friend and VeggieTales co-creator Phil Vischer , the setbacks and devastating losses they faced along the way to create what would become an iconic staple for families all over,...

For this special bonus episode, we’re joined by Pastor of Home of Jesus the King Church in Nazareth, Saleem Shalash. Since Biblical times, there’s been animosity between Arabs and Jews in the Middle East, and as an Israeli Arab Christian, Pastor Saleem often felt stuck in the middle. He was raised with hatred for Israel buried deep in his heart, but after God opened his eyes to the rec...

This week, we’re joined by Jennifer Tucker , an author and illustrator. When her youngest daughter began experiencing severe panic attacks as a teenager, Jennifer found herself seeking help for her daughter, only to discover that she herself needed help for her long-ignored struggles with anxiety. Through research and the practice of using breath as prayers, Jennifer discovered powerful ways...

On this episode of Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer , we’re joined by rancher and rodeo wife Paige Murray. Paige shares how she met her 9x world champion rodeo husband Ty Murray, the life values they’ve learned by working on their ranch, and about her children’s book, Rosie’s Wild Ride —inspired by her daughter Oakley’s brave ride on their family Clydesdale hors...

This week, we’ll hear from Tauren Wells , acclaimed recording artist and lead pastor of Church of Whitestone in Austin, Texas . Raised in Battle Creek, Michigan, Tauren’s early life was steeped in music and shaped by his experiences at a small church and the guidance of a caring youth pastor. In this conversation, Tauren reflects on the things that can steal our focus, the quiet danger...

Welcome to a special bonus episode of the Jesus Calling Podcast . Today, we’ll hear from a number of guests who have previously appeared on the show, giving us their insights and guidance about what helps them when they experience fear and uncertainty in their lives—including Curtis Chang, Jennie Finch, Dr. Michelle Bengston, Dr. Henry Cloud, and Jesse Hutch.    Links, Produc...

This week, we’re joined by Emily Compagno , an attorney, television host, and advocate for those who serve. From her time as an NFL cheerleader on a USO tour in Iraq, to her work honoring the faith and sacrifice of service members, Emily shares powerful stories of courage, loss, and the unshakable presence of God in the midst of battle. Later in the episode, we’ll hear from author, spe...

*This episode mentions suicide and may be triggering for some listeners. This week, we’re diving into something truly transformative—the power of love to change everything. First, we hear from Father Richard Rohr , who shares his lifetime of wisdom about how experiencing deep, unconditional love—not rules or fear—is what really brings about meaningful change.  Then, Pa...

This week we’ll hear from singer, songwriter, and producer Mark Miller . For over four decades, Mark has been a driving force in music as the lead singer of the legendary country band Sawyer Brown . Beyond the stage, he’s been the guiding hand behind Casting Crowns , producing their music for over twenty years. Now, as Sawyer Brown celebrates its fortieth anniversary with a brand new a...

On this episode of Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer, we’ll hear from executive strategist, author, and speaker Bethny Ricks. Bethny had an incredible rise to the top of corporate America and two plus decades of experience with Fortune 500 companies. At times, Bethny faced misogyny and racism, which caused her to doubt herself. When a health scare threatened her livelihood, she realized she n...

This week we honor Organ Donation Awareness month with music industry veteran Lisa Boullt . Lisa decided to start her own business helping artists and songwriters, and ended up working with legendary country artists. Through this process, Lisa reconnected with her sister Andrea's story, who had passed away in a car accident years earlier and was an organ donor. Lisa was touched by Andrea’s l...

This week we’ll hear from Kurt Avery , the leader of Sawyer Products , who shares his mission to bring clean water to underserved communities around the world. Kurt discusses how God equipped him with the means and the determination to create life-changing products that improve global access to safe, clean drinking water.  Then, we meet Britney Higgs , the founder of HER Campaign , an o...

This week, we welcome Nashville singer/songwriter Dave Barnes . Growing up in a small Mississippi town before moving to Music City, Dave discovered his love for music through a series of seemingly small but pivotal moments. His breakout hit, “ God Gave Me You ,” became a life-changing milestone, coming to life after Dave had prayed a simple prayer for encouragement, and ultimately catc...

This week we take a heartfelt look at the “dash”—that time between our birth date and our death date—and how our faith can guide us to make every moment count. Entrepreneur and cofounder of Market America , Loren Ridinger , and gospel singer Lynda Randle join us to share their powerful stories of how trusting in God’s plan has shaped their journeys. With resilience an...

This week, we’re joined by Nikki Walton , host of GoOD fMornings with CurlyNikki and an influential voice in personal transformation, who shares her struggles with self-esteem and identity as a young woman to achieving massive success through her groundbreaking platform, CurlyNikki.com. Nikki's life was filled with accomplishments—but also a profound sense of emptiness. Later in the ep...