The Pivot

LISTEN TO THIS ONE. Dr. Jaco Hamman is a South African apartheid draft dodger turned American academic. Aside from running a PhD program for pastoral care and psychotherapy at Vanderbilt, he's written books about how we deal with technology, how we handle change and loss, how the Millennial experience lines up with the book of Joel, and a bunch of others. I learned so much from this conversation a...

Katy Hutson is cancer-free!! This was not something we were very sure would happen for quite a while this past year. Katy is one of my oldest friends in Nashville. She's a gifted songwriter and wordsmith, as well as a wonderful friend, wife and mother. Katy and I sat down this past weekend to talk about music, writing, making plans and what happens when those plans get derailed with a very aggress...

Ryan Stevenson was driving an ambulance when his hit song first came on the radio. Everything was about to take off... but then it crashed. Hard. Years later, he was driving an ambulance AGAIN when his hit song was on the radio. Ryan has got quite a story and I was honored that he came by to share it with me. You'll love this conversation and you should check out his music, too. http://www.ryanste...

Jenny Dyer pivoted early on in her career when she learned about the AIDS crisis in Africa in the early 90's. Though she is neither, her story involves working closely with politicians and rock stars, yet that is really the least interesting part of this conversation. Bono is cool, yes, but what is really truly amazing is HOW MUCH GOOD has come of the work that she and so many others have devoted...

Jason played in the NFL for 11 years, 4 for the Indianapolis Colts and 7 for the Tennessee Titans. Not bad for a Texas kid who hoped to make his college team. Now he teaches economics at a local high school. Talk about a Pivot! This is a fantastic story and Jason has a lot of wisdom and insight that reaches beyond the bounds of sports. It was great to talk to someone whose experience and interests...

Leigh Nash, lead singer for Sixpence None the Richer, comes by to chat about life before and after a worldwide hit, records we made that we don't like now, and being a conduit for other's words, as well as dealing with worry, and that rascal Dwayne who helps out with the police horses by my house. This was such a fun conversation and it was a treat to get to know more about the Leigh in her own wo...

Joseph is running for the Tennessee State House of Representatives, which was not the plan. A former teacher who, with his wife Palmer, became lawyers employed at the same firm. Then came a day when they knew they had to move on and they left the law firm with no plans and a newborn... and it was a good thing.  I've never met a politician before and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to have this real c...

Rapper/speaker/activist Sho Baraka joins Andrew for the first episode of Season Three. Hear about Sho's winding career path, from hip hop to insurance to musical theatre to Faith & Work conversations in Atlanta. This was a fun and fascinating conversaion, particularly when Sho shares about the years where speaking his mind became a liability. The Pivot is glad to be back! https://humblebeast.c...

Rob Wheeler is a FASCINATING and thoroughly genius individual. He's running a branch of Covenant seminary, started Friends of L’Abri Nashville, tells some pretty great jokes and is a deeply wise and thoughtful friend. In the intervening months between recording our interview and posting it Rob had another Pivot, so this is a brand-new interview with a little "interviewlet" from the first...

Carl Meier left his VP position at a national bank to start his own brewery, Nashville's Black Abbey Brewery. This was a fun conversation with a super smart dude. We learn about Carl's transition from finance, to diaper champ, to running the most successful new brewery in Music City. We also learn A LOT about Martin Luther, beer-making nuns, and why making Belgian beer was at the heart of the refo...

One of Nashville's finest songwriters Sandra McCracken joins Andrew to chat about her start in the music business, old record players, and shouting for the church to "Sing it!". While her roots are still firmly planted in alt-country folk music, she has built a large catalog of songs for the Church, and invests much of her time in hymns, sacred songs, children's music, and her position a...

Singer/Songwriter, friend and neighbor of Andrew's, Christopher Williams joins us on The Pivot today, to talk about how you can make a personal change of motive and direction while never changing your specific career. Christopher is a loyal and dear friend and this was a sweet conversation full of wisdom.  Stay tuned after the episode for a song from Christopher! www. Christopherw.com www. AndrewO...

That's right, Andrew interviewed his brother. Robbie Osenga may hold the podcast record for number of actual pivots in his career. While currently the CPO of web design company Cybernautics, Robbie is also the founder of the LeRoy Preparatory School, has been featured on TedX, and speaks regularly around Central Illinois about education, calling and communication. This was a fun conversation in th...

Steve Mason is probably the only Platinum-selling, Grammy-winning artist to ever cut my hair, but that's what he's doing a lot of these days. Hear what it was like to go from Jars of Clay to his barbershop, The Handsomzier.  TheHandsomizer.com EverybodyPivots.com AndrewOsenga.com

Author/Professor/Southern Gentleman Jonathan Rogers joins Andrew for a rousing conversation about Milton, ghost writing, higher education and the nature of calling itself. Jonathan is a brilliant and honest man and his transparency allows for a lot of wisdom. You'll love this interview. For more about Jonathan: Jonathan's website: www.jonathan-rogers.com Subscribe to The Habit: http://jonathan-rog...

Author Russ Ramsey joins Andrew in front of his Netflix fireplace to talk about his work as a pastor, a writer, and the chief content officer for HeReadsTruth.com. They also talk about Renaissance Art, Mark Knopfler, Jerry Seinfeld and Russ's heart surgery and subsequent book, "Struck". Stay tuned after The Pivot for another mini-podcast featuring a new song called "Mercy", ins...

Author, Speaker, Songwriter, Priest Ian Cron sits down with Andrew for a chat about the various points in Ian's career. They also discuss how the enneagram, and knowing more fully who you are, is a valuable asset in handling change in your life. For more with Ian visit IanCron.com Also, stay tuned after The Pivot for another bonus mini-podcast with a story and song from Andrew's new album "Th...

Todd Dickson, CEO and founder of Valor Collegiate schools in Nashville tells Andrew about his journey from electrical engineering to real estate to India to founding some of the most cutting-edge, and successful, schools in the country. A fascinating story with a really interesting look at how you actually build a diverse, respectful and engaged system of education. For more about Todd and Valor s...

Today's guest is Al Andrews, founder and executive director of Porter's Call, a ministry providing free counseling services to recording artists. He and Andrew talk about Al's eleven jobs, what leads someone to go into counseling, and why Al never uses the word "calling" anymore. It's fascinating and Andrew laughs a lot. For more about Al and Porters Call visit porterscall.com Stay tuned...

LISTEN TO THIS ONE. This was one of Andrew's absolute favorite interviews so far. The great Ashley Cleveland tells her story and it's just beautiful. Addiction, music, babies, Rich Mullins, Jesus. This one covers a lot of ground. A great start to the new year. EverybodyPivots.com

Kevin Twit, founder of Indelible Grace Music and Andrew's personal Yoda, sit down to chat about the nature of calling, discovering great old hymns, New Kids On The Block, and how seminary is not the greatest place to meet girls. Find out more about Kevin's work at igracemusic.com Come hear Kevin speak about hymns in Nashville on Jan 5-6, $48 tickets for only $15 with code "thepivot" at:...

Amanda Bible Williams, of She Reads Truth, joins Andrew at the dinner table. They discuss writing dialogue for anamatronic puppets, children who walk too early, and how offering to help with your little bit of free time can change the world for hundreds of thousands of people. You can find Amanda on social media @biblewilliams and her and her team's work at SheReadsTruth.com Please visit Everybody...

Randall Goodgame, of Slugs and Bugs, sits with Andrew to chat about lifeguarding vs background piano music, writing songs for other people, and what it's like when you have a vision and your friends think you're crazy. And please visit EverybodyPivots.com to say hello or support our Patreon. THANK YOU!!

FashionABLE and Mocha Club founder Barrett Ward drops by to tell his story. He and Andrew talk about selling books door to door, green-tinted whiskey glasses, and what it looks to use business to make a quantifiable change in the world. Listen for a 20% OFF code for your first purchase at livefashionable.com! Please visit everybodypivots.com to stay in touch or support our Patreon. You can find Ba...

Reed Arvin was Rich Mullins' producer, as well as a best-selling suspense novelist and a college professor. Andrew got to sit with him and hear stories about working with Rich and what led him to being an author. They also talk about cancer, South American night clubs and growing up describing the world for a mother who's lost her sight. It's a wide-ranging conversation, with some great stories an...