Off Mic With Ivory

In this episode, I sit down with Worship Pastor Sarah Benibo, from Embassy City Church in Dallas, TX to talk about lament—what it really is, why we avoid it, and why it actually matters in our walk with God. We break down how lament isn’t a lack of faith, but a form of honesty with God. It’s the space where grief, confusion, and questions are brought into His presence—and somehow, that honesty bec...

In this episode of Off Mic with Ivory, I sit down with content creator EllieUnbound for a raw and honest conversation about faith, worship culture, identity, and deconstruction. Ellie shares her journey from being a practicing Christian and worship leader to stepping back and questioning many of the things she experienced within mega church culture. Together, we talk about the tension between genu...

What happens when worship starts looking more like an industry than ministry? In this episode of Off Mic with Ivory, I sit down with worship director and creative Dwyane Bennett for an honest conversation about the tension between worship, platform, performance, and profit. From concerts and production costs to branding and influence, we wrestle with a difficult but necessary question: Have we mad...

Worship was never meant to revolve around us… so how did we get here? In this episode, we take an honest look at what biblical worship really is—and whether our current culture reflects it. Have we traded reverence for relatability? Presence for performance? Participation for observation? Some of these shifts are subtle… but they matter. If worship is truly about God, then we have to be willing to...

In this episode of Off Mic with Ivory, I sit down with Calvin Nowell for a conversation that goes deeper than what we see on stage. This conversation is a call back to what worship teams were always meant to be: community. We talk about what it looks like to truly see people—beyond their gift, beyond their role—and how that kind of culture changes everything. From building trust, to creating space...

In this episode of Off Mic with Ivory, I sit down with Worship Pastor Roosevelt Stewart from Transformation Worship at Transformation Church for an honest and powerful conversation about purpose, pain, and calling. Roosevelt opens up about his journey growing up in Fort Myers, where he was exposed to trauma at a young age—things no child should have to experience. Yet, even in the middle of that,...

What happens when everything you’ve built your identity on is stripped away? In this episode, I open up about a deeply personal season where God brought me back to the foundation. The roles, the titles, the productivity, the things I thought defined me—He began to peel it all back. And what I was left with was a hard but necessary question: If all of that is gone… who am I? I realized my identity...

In this episode, I sit down with my good friend DWayne Bennett ( @SaintOrbin81 ) to unpack a powerful conversation from Aria Gaston’s ( @ariagaston1812 ) episode, “Worship Leaders Speak Out.” We dive into the real and often unspoken tension between worship leaders, musicians, and pastors—especially when communication breaks down. Why does this disconnect happen? And more importantly… what does it...

In this episode, I sit down with Destiny Joy from Transformation Worship to talk about her powerful journey of faith through some incredibly difficult seasons. Destiny shares her experience battling breast cancer, walking through anxiety and grieving the loss of her father, and discovering the deep kindness and love of God in the middle of it all. If you’ve ever wondered where God is in the middle...

What if true worship doesn’t start with a song… but with honesty? In this episode, I’m joined by my sister, Jenna McDonald, as we talk about the importance of being real with God. Not polished. Not performative. Honest. We discuss how pretending, hiding, or trying to “clean ourselves up” before coming to God actually keeps us from experiencing Him fully. True worship begins when we drop the mask —...

The wilderness isn't glamorous. It's refining, confusing, and lonely. In this episode, I share what my wilderness season taught me - and what no one prepares you for. Executively Produced by Ivory McDonald Audio Engineered by Ivory McDonald Video Filmed by Ivory Mcdonald Video Edited by Humphrey Caswell Jr. Music by Isaiah Garcia https://linktr.ee/ivorymcdonald ©Off Mic with Ivory

In this episode, I open up about my recent experience with church hurt — what happened, how it affected me, and what God began showing me through it. This is a conversation about healing, perspective, and holding on to Him when it would be easier to walk away. Executively Produced by Ivory McDonald Audio Engineered by Ivory McDonald Music by Isaiah Garcia https://linktr.ee/ivorymcdonald ©Off Mic w...

Season 4 is finally here, and I’m back. In this first episode, I share what life has looked like since my last episode and the journey God has been taking me on behind the scenes. We talk honestly about sanctification—what it really looks like, how uncomfortable it can be, and how God has been refining my heart, my faith, and my obedience. This episode is a reflection, a testimony, and an invitati...

In this episode, I have the privilege of honoring one that came before me. Elder Victoria Griffin is a powerful and anointed worship leader, elder, preacher of the Gospel from New York City. This woman of God helped to shape my life, my ministry and my voice. We got a change to talk about her journey to Christ, how she became a worship leader, the challenges and lessons she learned along the way....

On this episode, I had the pleasure of sitting down with the powerhouse, Michelle Marie.  We are talking about her journey to Christ, to becoming a worship leader and to becoming a mom for the first time. Michelle is an anointed worship leader, artist, singer and songwriter based out of New York City. If you would like to get her music, check out below: Latest Single - Shot Gun: https://tr.ee/lV_L...

In this episode, I sit down with Michael Bethany to explore his incredible journey of faith and worship. Michael shares how he navigated leading worship in unfamiliar spaces, tackled racial tensions during 2020, and prioritized intimacy with God. We also laughed a lot and had a good time talking about church! Let's Get Into It! Want to financially support Off Mic with Ivory?: https://www.payp...

We are continuing the conversation about the "divide" between the worship and production teams in church. Why is it? How is it? How can we fix it? Let's get into it! Want to financially support Off Mic with Ivory?: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/Offmicwithivory Executively Produced by Ivory McDonald Audio Engineered by Isaiah Garcia Video Filmed and Edited by Humphrey Caswell Jr. M...

In this episode Miqueas Lopez, @miqueaslopezofficial talks openly about his journey to the "mic" and his journey to getting to know God in the most intimate way. It's the real conversation. Let's get into it! Want to financially support Off Mic with Ivory?: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/Offmicwithivory Executively Produced by Ivory McDonald Audio Engineered by Isaiah Garcia V...

Y'all in this episode, we are going to The Basement with Tim Ross! We're talking about the beautiful power of vulnerability, the challenges women face in being ministry, and even church hurt. Let's get into it! Want to financially support Off Mic with Ivory?: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/Offmicwithivory Executively Produced by Ivory McDonald Audio Engineered by Isaiah Garcia Vide...

In this episode, I am answering questions from the audience, talking about insecurities, worship fails, mentorship, the simplicity of worship and more. Want to financially support Off Mic with Ivory?: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/Offmicwithivory Executively Produced by Ivory McDonald Audio Engineered by Isaiah Garcia Video Filmed and Edited by Humphrey Caswell Jr. Music by Isaiah Garcia ©Off Mi...

Should Christians be listening to secular music? Let's have this conversation and we goin' keep it all the way real! Special thanks to guests, Collin Jackson and Dwyane Bennett. Want to financially support Off Mic with Ivory?: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/Offmicwithivory Executively Produced by Ivory McDonald Audio Engineered by Isaiah Garcia Video Filmed and Edited by Humphrey Caswel...

Please welcome Grammy Award Winning, gospel artist, Naomi Raine to the couch! In this episode we talk about the importance of women in ministry, cultural and racial diversity in worship, and what is potentially missing in the Church of Jesus Christ today. Special thanks to my guest  @TheNaomiRaine . Born and raised in New York, Naomi carried the torch passed down by her parents to spread the gospe...

AND WE ARE BACK FOR SEASON 3!  For our Season 3 premiere, I'm trying something new and exciting—my very first solo episode of the season. In this solo episode, I’m sharing the story of how this podcast started and the journey we’ve been on to bring you this new season. Tune in to hear about the inspiration behind the show, the challenges faced, and what’s coming up in Season 3. Whether you&ap...

In this episode of Off Mic with Ivory, we sit down with Gary, a distinguished music producer and worship director, alongside his talented wife, Antia, an awe-inspiring worship leader and artist. Together, they're making waves in New York City, infusing the city with soul-stirring melodies and the power of worship. Join us as we peel back the layers of their journey, from their humble beginnin...

Diane Marie and Collin Jackson, both seasoned individuals in ministry as worship leaders, share their personal insights and experiences on what it truly means to Serve God. They talk about the sacrifices, challenges, and inner struggles that come with dedicating one's life to ministry. Whether you're deeply entrenched in ministry yourself or simply curious about the realities behind the...