Episodes

  • Despite Suffering, We’re Promised Hope And A Future: Victoria Arlen & Hillary Phillips

    Despite Suffering, We’re Promised Hope And A Future: Victoria Arlen & Hillary Phillips
    Jul 2 2026
    This week, we’ll hear from Victoria Arlen, a former Paralympic swimmer and ESPN personality, who shares her harrowing journey of surviving a rare autoimmune condition that left her in a “locked-in” vegetative state for four years beginning at age eleven. Beyond her physical recovery, she faced the intense emotional pressure of being labeled a “miracle,” while silently struggling with trauma and mental health. She eventually found peace by learning to embrace vulnerability, a transformation she details here. Later in the episode, we hear from author and actress Hillary Phillips as she bravely shares about transforming a broken view of God—seeing Him as angry and tallying mistakes—into an authentic relationship. After a complicated childhood turned into years of internalizing pain, Hillary recounts the raw moment she cried out to God in anger, only to be met with a supernatural love she never knew was possible. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Chris & Lindsey Wheeler Upcoming interview: Jameson and Mary Reeder Victoria Arlen Victoria’s Victory Foundation Dancing with The Stars Hillary Phillips My Brain While Reading the Bible - Book by Hillary Phillips The Big Blue Book - Show ft. Hillary Phillips The Greatest Thing Ever! - Movie ft. Hillary Phillips Interview Quotes: “What the doctors failed to realize was I could hear everything that they were saying, and I could see, but nobody knew that I could. So I was literally locked inside my own body.” - Victoria Arlen “..You really have a choice—you fight or you give in. I saw how my family refused to give up on me.. They set up a hospital room in our living room and basically brought the world to me, because in their eyes, if they had a month with me, or a couple years, or the rest of my life, they wanted to take care of me.” - Victoria Arlen “I had this peace that surpassed understanding, and this journey as my mom calls it—our tragic, beautiful journey—is where we found God. It’s where we found our family, on a whole different level, and it really set my life in a whole different direction.” - Victoria Arlen “When I broke down, that was the beginning of that breakthrough in which God orchestrated so many things, to essentially help me get to that path where, Oh, I get that peace that surpasses understanding.” - Victoria Arlen “It was the first time the Gospel really sunk in for me—You don’t just love me because of how I perform or because of all these outward things, You love me [through] all of that stuff that I’m seeing.” - Hillary Phillips “Learning to be still with God and realize, Oh wait, you don’t actually expect me to be anything other than who I am. You don’t call me to wear a mask. You call me just to be. And learning how to do that is such a liberating thing, but also it’s just ongoing.” - Hillary Phillips “I was angry and felt wronged, and God really started to challenge me on how I was showing up in love. One of the things I realized was that I was not accepting my parents as they were [or] where they were. I was holding them to this idea of who they needed to be and who they weren’t.. God really helped me realize that’s not actually walking in love. I am rejecting who they are and only holding them to this idea or their past.” - Hillary Phillips “God didn’t promise us an easy life, He didn’t promise us a life free of suffering, but He did promise us hope and a future. He promised us that whenever we are struggling, He’ll be there with us through it. He’ll never leave us or forsake us.” - Hillary Phillips “I think that God used that experience to really show me His love is because I had to learn to sit and see trauma up close, but also recognize it’s not my job to fix.” - Hillary Phillips ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel! Audio Episodes: https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7 Bonus Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer: https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C Peace for Everyday Life: https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj Peace in Uncertain Times: https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u What’s Good? https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj Enneagram: https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY ________________________ Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Website TikTok Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
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    24 mins
  • [JESUS LISTENS MONTHLY SERIES] God, Help Me to Know You More: John Eldredge

    [JESUS LISTENS MONTHLY SERIES] God, Help Me to Know You More: John Eldredge
    Jun 30 2026

    Author and counselor John Eldredge joins us to share why the Christian life was always meant to be more than information—it’s meant to be deeply experiential. In this conversation, learning to receive God’s love, and allowing His presence to heal our deepest wounds.

    Guest’s Links
    YouTube: @WildatHeartOfficial

    Facebook: @wildatheartministries

    Instagram: @wildatheart

    Watch this interview on our YouTube channel! https://bit.ly/4ojPthk

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    *Episode produced by Four Eyes Media*

    Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

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    12 mins
  • Disbelief and Anxiety - The Surprising Places We Find God: Dr. Michael Guillén and Chris Hodges

    Disbelief and Anxiety - The Surprising Places We Find God: Dr. Michael Guillén and Chris Hodges
    Jun 25 2026
    This week, we hear from Dr. Michael Guillén, a physicist who grew up in East LA, earned his PhD from Cornell, taught at Harvard, and spent fourteen years as the science editor for ABC News—including a dive to the wreck of the Titanic that nearly killed him. Dr. Guillén shares how decades of studying invisible forces in the universe—dark matter, hidden dimensions, the limits of what science can actually see—ultimately led the self-described atheist to faith and why he believes science makes the case for God stronger, not weaker. Later in the episode, we hear from Chris Hodges, founding pastor of Church of the Highlands, who opens up about the grief, burnout, and panic attacks that brought him to a breaking point after a decade of leading one of the country’s fastest-growing churches—and the five-step process he found in scripture that pulled him out. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Nathan Davis Jr. Upcoming interview: Victoria Arlen Dr. Michael Guillén The Invisible Everywhere: Believing Is Seeing - Documentary by Dr. Michael Guillén Church of the Highlands Highlands College Legacy Letters: Timeless Principles I Learned, Lived, and Leave Behind - Book by Chris Hodges Interview Quotes: “It’s not seeing is believing; it’s believing is seeing.” - Dr. Michael Guillén “Far from there being any contradictions, actually there were a lot of similarities between how the Bible describes heaven and how modern science describes this visible realm beyond the cosmic horizon.” - Dr. Michael Guillén “There is no fundamental contradiction between the Biblical worldview and the modern scientific worldview.” - Dr. Michael Guillén “Now that I’m grown up, I’m still a scientist, but now I’m a devout Christian. I don’t feel that lonely. I’m finding that more and more scientists are very receptive to the idea of God.” - Dr. Michael Guillén “Science has made it easier for me to believe in God, not harder. I’ve grown accustomed to dealing with invisible realities. It’s the bread and butter of modern science. The fact that God is invisible is no big deal for me, because I see His fingerprints everywhere.” - Dr. Michael Guillén “I liken the process or the feelings of depression and burnout as kind of being in the cave. Like, you know there’s a way out, but you don’t know where it is and it’s dark and it’s confusing.” - Chris Hodges “Many people only know God in the dynamic; they don’t know Him in the intimate.” - Chris Hodges “When I had a new assignment, and a fresh purpose for life.. Joy flooded my heart the moment I knew God had something He wanted me to do.” - Chris Hodges “I call it the bucket list principle—if you want to start living, start dreaming.” - Chris Hodges “I think people can come out of their burnout conditions by their closeness with the Lord, by renewing their sense of purpose and hope.” - Chris Hodges ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel! Audio Episodes: https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7 Bonus Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer: https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C Peace for Everyday Life: https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj Peace in Uncertain Times: https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u What’s Good? https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj Enneagram: https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY ________________________ Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Website TikTok Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
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    24 mins
  • Healing Your Past to Lead Your Family Well: Jeff Hamilton & Glen Henry

    Healing Your Past to Lead Your Family Well: Jeff Hamilton & Glen Henry
    Jun 18 2026
    This Father’s Day week, we hear from two men whose completely different experiences of childhood and fatherhood led them to the same mission: helping dads show up with intention. Jeff Hamilton, pastor and author of Dad Academy, grew up with the rare gift of an engaged, present father. Today, he’s helping dads build stronger relationships with their children through intentional parenting. Later in the episode, we hear from Glen Henry, known online as Beleaf in Fatherhood, whose story couldn’t be more different—a childhood marked by feeling unwanted and unloved, and a young adulthood spent shifting his identity just to feel accepted. It was becoming a father himself that finally forced the inner work he’d avoided and how he learned the importance of fathering yourself first. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Dr. Meg Meeker Upcoming interview: Dr. Michael Guillén Jeff Hamilton Dad Academy Dad Academy: Raising Courageous, Capable, Confident Kids - Book by Jeff Hamilton Glen Henry Beleaf in Fatherhood YouTube Channel Father Yourself First: Everything You Need to Become the Father Your Family Deserves - Book by Glen Henry Interview Quotes: “Kids are going to be kind of self-conscious as they start to compare themselves to the environment or to the relationships that are around them, but our job is not to let their self-worth and value be influenced by an image of what other people want them to be.” - Jeff Hamilton “There’s inherent greatness in our kids, and it’s our job as parents to nurture it within them.” - Jeff Hamilton “I think the greatest thing that we can pass on to our kids is the value of serving. We find a sense of significance by the value and benefit that we bring to others.” - Jeff Hamilton “A dad’s mission is to prepare their kids for life by passing on their values and their skills to their children.” - Jeff Hamilton “The rituals and traditions of your family are the things that give your children a sense of identity and understanding of who they are and the priorities that they need to establish in the course of their lives.” - Jeff Hamilton “[Traditions and rituals] create memorable moments that help our kids understand when they move from one stage to another, and it affirms who they are becoming and the future and the destiny that’s ahead for them.” - Jeff Hamilton “Once I started to grow as a man by having to apply the things that people were trying to teach me my whole life, I recognized the true gift that fatherhood was.” - Glen Henry “My thought is that you would father yourself out of that and start to change your inner voice so that you always speak to yourself as a father that loves you, just like you love your children.” - Glen Henry “The way I have been held as a father, I’ve never felt closer to God than I have being a part of a family. You’re collaborating with God on a masterpiece.” - Glen Henry “There are things hidden in the relationship [with your family] that if you allow it to teach you, you will grow closer to God.” - Glen Henry ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel! Audio Episodes: https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7 Bonus Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer: https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C Peace for Everyday Life: https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj Peace in Uncertain Times: https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u What’s Good? https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj Enneagram: https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY ________________________ Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Website TikTok Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
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    24 mins
  • [BONUS] A Father’s Influence and God’s Healing Love

    [BONUS] A Father’s Influence and God’s Healing Love
    Jun 16 2026

    Welcome to this special bonus episode of the Jesus Calling Podcast. We’re talking to men who look at their lives as fathers as one of the most important roles they’ll ever have. Our earthly fathers—or the significant father figures in our lives—cast a profound and lasting shadow on who we become. We carry their wisdom, their lessons, and their support as a foundation for our own lives. Yet, for many, that influence also includes painful memories—moments of absence, criticism, or misunderstanding that leave behind wounds and a deep yearning for unconditional acceptance. No human father is perfect, and the imperfections in our relationships can sometimes make it difficult to grasp the concept of a loving Father in heaven. Through prayer and faith, we can allow God’s perfect love to mend the broken places and provide the strength to honor and navigate our relationship with our human fathers.

    Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned:

    Jesus Calling Podcast

    Jesus Calling

    Jesus Always

    Jesus Listens

    Steven Curtis Chapman & Emily Chapman Richards

    Rob Kenney

    Kirk Cousins

    Jeremy Rosado

    Trey Tucker

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    *Episode produced by Four Eyes Media*

    Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

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    26 mins
  • Rebuilding Sanctuary in the Wake of Trauma: Tim Hawkins & Michael Charles Olson

    Rebuilding Sanctuary in the Wake of Trauma: Tim Hawkins & Michael Charles Olson
    Jun 11 2026
    This week, we hear from comedian Tim Hawkins, who shares what it took to build a career on clean, relatable comedy—and the surprising lesson he learned when nearly two decades of constant road life led to complete burnout. Later in the episode, we’ll hear from singer-songwriter and pastor Michael Charles Olson, who shares a life influenced by both worship and wounds. Raised in a church where music and faith were woven into everyday life, Michael reflects on how that early sense of sanctuary was later shaken to its core by a church fire that damaged more than just its walls. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Becky Thompson Upcoming interview: Jeff Hamilton Tim Hawkins Fist Bump - Comedy Special by Tim Hawkins Michael Charles Olson Rocketown Records Daddy Set the Church on Fire: A Journey Toward Restoration - Book by Michael Charles Olson Interview Quotes: “I grew up in a very fun family. We laughed a lot. We enjoyed comedy. I didn’t know what it was. I just know it made me feel good, and it was fun to create it and make people laugh.” - Tim Hawkins “My job is to be funny. People call me a Christian comedian, but I’m a Christian who is a comedian.” - Tim Hawkins “It’s all about connection. Connection is something that we need—and lack. It’s a need that fulfills something in us.” - Tim Hawkins “A thing that I needed to learn was to control my brain, to just shut it down.. And being able to just stop that and be quiet and present.” - Tim Hawkins “Just like that organ was a really, really intricate instrument of praise, my dad was a beautiful soul, deep soul, and through the power of unforgiveness, our home fell apart.” - Michael Charles Olson “When the heart of the father turns inward on itself through pain, the child is kind of left not knowing what to do because we’re hardwired in the way that we were created in our relationship with God for this openness and vulnerability.” - Michael Charles Olson “I really feel like my role as a worship leader is to create environments where the fire of God is experienced in the church.” - Michael Charles Olson “We all go through seasons of brokenness. We all go through seasons where we feel like we’ve let God down. We feel like we let ourselves down. I think I would just say that I’ve had those seasons, and it’s very, very important to hear the voice of the Good Shepherd speaking to you in the midst of your brokenness.” - Michael Charles Olson “When you’re wounded in the sanctuary, when the thing that you hold most dear burns to the ground, God meets you in a restorative place.” - Michael Charles Olson ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel! Audio Episodes: https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7 Bonus Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer: https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C Peace for Everyday Life: https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj Peace in Uncertain Times: https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u What’s Good? https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj Enneagram: https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY ________________________ Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Website TikTok Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
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    21 mins
  • [BONUS] Jesus Calling Scripture Study: Mornings in the Bible with Jennifer Dukes Lee

    [BONUS] Jesus Calling Scripture Study: Mornings in the Bible with Jennifer Dukes Lee
    Jun 9 2026

    Welcome to a special scripture-focused bonus episode of the Jesus Calling Podcast, where we contemplate the two hundred plus mornings mentioned in the Bible with author and Bible teacher Jennifer Dukes Lee. Jennifer walks us through notable mornings from Scripture, like God’s first creation on earth when He said “let there be light,” to Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection, and the tasks God gives people like Abraham, Moses, and Jacob to begin at daybreak. Jennifer reminds us how each sunrise reminds us that God’s mercies are new each and every day, giving us built-in do-overs and a chance to fall in love with life and the role God has for us all over again.

    Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned:

    Jesus Calling Podcast

    Jesus Calling

    Jesus Always

    Jesus Listens

    Jennifer Dukes Lee

    How to Love Your Morning by Jennifer Dukes Lee

    Interview Quotes:

    “Anytime we look east, we see the sun rising and it reminds me that God’s mercies are new every morning.” - Jennifer Dukes Lee

    “God built these do-overs every twenty-four hours into this cycle on earth, and every morning is a new opportunity to wake up and say, ‘Thank you for this day you have given me.’” - Jennifer Dukes Lee

    “You study all these mornings in Scripture, and you see it as a really special time for God to set His people out to be obedient to what He has called them to do.” - Jennifer Dukes Lee

    “If you chase a sunrise, you stand with your eyes facing east, and you see a little bit of light creeping up over the horizon. And it’s like God saying to you, ‘Welcome to a new day. This is your day to love and enjoy and to be present with Me.’” - Jennifer Dukes Lee

    “On the morning when Jesus was crucified… we don’t like to think about Jesus on a cross and how painful that is. But it reminds me that Jesus gets our hard mornings, and some of the most sacred mornings in Scripture don’t start with joy, they start in the dark.” - Jennifer Dukes Lee

    “We have this idea that everything will be better in the morning. That doesn’t mean our problems are going to disappear, but it does mean that God could change something in us even if our circumstances don’t change.” - Jennifer Dukes Lee

    “It doesn’t matter what time I get up, or how much I can accomplish before 8:00 AM. What matters is that I can bring the hopefulness that God promises at the start of a new day and bring that into my life, beginning with the moment my feet hit the floor.” - Jennifer Dukes Lee

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    *Episode produced by Four Eyes Media*

    Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

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    17 mins
  • The Gift of a Second Chance: Annie Bosko & Danielle Kartes

    The Gift of a Second Chance: Annie Bosko & Danielle Kartes
    Jun 4 2026
    This week, we’ll hear from Annie Bosko, a country artist whose career was gaining momentum when, in the middle of a live performance, her voice suddenly gave out. What followed was a vocal cord injury that required surgery and months of recovery where she couldn’t speak at all. Annie shares what that season of silence revealed, the people who stepped in to help her rebuild, and how she slowly returned to doing what she loves. Later, we’ll hear from chef and author Danielle Kartes. After her family lost everything when their restaurant closed, Danielle struggled to rebuild her life and marriage. Though she vowed never to cook again, she was drawn back to the kitchen. Her attempt to reconcile her deep faith with her practical, food-centric work asking, “How does hope relate to pot roast?” became the foundation for her company, Rustic Joyful Food. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Jordan Smith Upcoming interview: Tim Hawkins Annie Bosko MusiCares God Winks - Song by Annie Bosko California Cowgirl - Album by Annie Bosko Danielle Kartes Rustic Joyful Food. The Best Kids Cookbook: 60 Fun and Simple Recipes to Get Kids Cooking - Book by Danielle Kartes Interview Quotes: “That’s really when your faith is tested the most—when you don’t see the light at the end of the tunnel, but you still have to believe that it’s there.” - Annie Bosko “I was forced—because I couldn’t talk, I couldn’t open my mouth and talk to anyone—to get really quiet, to quiet the outside noise, and forced to really dig deep into what I wanted to do next and what I was feeling called to do to next, which I think is really important because the world will pull you a thousand different ways if you don’t have the internal strength, fortitude, direction in here.” - Annie Bosko “I think when everything’s going really well, it’s easy to forget about consulting with God. But when nothing’s going for you, or when you feel like you’re at your wit’s end and you feel really down on all hope, I think that’s when people have to turn to faith the most.” - Annie Bosko “You have to be on the bigger spiritual plan, path, [or] course for your life that doesn’t look like anyone else’s. That’s really important to sort of tune out sometimes even like your own voices of fear, because I really believe that anytime you’re making decisions out of fear, that’s not in love.” - Annie Bosko “I can carry out God’s plan for me, [and] I think at the end of the day, it’s only you and God [that] know how far you can actually go.” - Annie Bosko “God is still good, and He can still use your story even if it’s broken. God still wants wonderful things from you.” - Danielle Kartes “When I stopped wanting Him to show up in the way that I thought I needed and allowed God to show up in the way that He needed for my life, everything changed as far as my peace and trusting His provision.” - Danielle Kartes “I think that you can strengthen your family bond and your bond with your children by allowing them into your day. I think that it’s really important to just involve your kids in what you’re doing.” - Danielle Kartes “The more time you spend with the Lord, the more time you make for Jesus, the better you feel, even if your life circumstances aren’t changing.” - Danielle Kartes “God didn’t promise us that it would be easy, but He did promise, “I’m going to be with you every step of the way.” - Danielle Kartes ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel! Audio Episodes: https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7 Bonus Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer: https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C Peace for Everyday Life: https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj Peace in Uncertain Times: https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u What’s Good? https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj Enneagram: https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY ________________________ Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Website TikTok Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
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    21 mins