The Greg Laurie Show

Cissie Graham Lynch — granddaughter of Billy and Ruth Graham, daughter of Franklin Graham — joins Greg and Cathe to talk about her new book "Stand Steady," her recent nomination as Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, and what it was really like growing up in one of America's most well-known ministry families.

In this conversation:
- Why Cissie says the church has sometimes "weakened" women, and what strong biblical womanhood actually looks like
- The hurricane that inspired "Stand Steady" and the foundation that remains when storms hit
- Cathe on walking through grief after losing their son Christopher, and the prodigal years with Jonathan
- Greg's personal memories of Billy Graham privately — including the "Not you again" welcome mat at Ruth's door
- The four "kings" that quietly rule our lives: Feeling, Trend, Think, and Comfort
- Raising kids in a phone-saturated culture, and Franklin's blunt advice to Greg after Christopher's death

Plus a lighter round at the end — Thai food, blackberry cobbler, Last of the Mohicans, and why Cissie would want one more dinner with her grandmother.

Pick up "Stand Steady" wherever you get your books.

Timestamps

00:00 Cissie Graham Lynch on how culture and the church weaken women
02:03 What kind of woman will you choose to be?
03:26 Growing up a Graham and never wanting ministry
08:17 The hurricane, the foundation, and what remains
11:47 The four kings: Feeling, Trend, Think, and Comfort
14:43 Her mother Jane, the unsung hero
19:13 Fake strength from culture, weakened women in the church
23:13 A word to young girls in the age of social media
30:32 Billy Graham up close and Ruth's sanctified humor
40:12 Walking with Jonathan and Christopher through prodigal years
48:34 Back in the pulpit three days after losing Christopher
57:00 Nominated Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom
01:07:47 Favorites, Thai food, Last of the Mohicans, and Motown
01:21:20 Closing prayers and blessing

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What if 150 years of biblical archaeology hasn't produced a single find that contradicts the Bible?

That's the claim Dinesh D'Souza makes in this conversation about his new book, The Stones Cry Out. We talk about the artifacts quietly coming out of the ground in Israel — including the bones of Caiaphas, the clay seal of a minor character from Jeremiah, and the recently confirmed location of Bethsaida — and why most of this isn't being shouted from the rooftops.

We also get into:
- Why younger generations are drawn to socialism (and how "crony capitalism" fuels it)
- The modern state of Israel as prophecy fulfilled
- Why Dinesh has been publicly challenging Calvinism
- The Pool of Siloam, the Garden Tomb, and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre
- His years inside the Reagan administration
- A lunch with Richard Nixon
- Fried bananas, My Cousin Vinny, and Breaker Morant

Dinesh is a filmmaker, author, and friend, and this one covers a lot of ground — from apologetics to American history to personal stories.

Pick up The Stones Cry Out wherever you get your books.                                                                      

Timestamps

00:00 Cold open
00:18 Welcoming Dinesh D'Souza
00:50 What's so great about America
03:04 Why young people are drawn to socialism
05:04 Capitalism without a moral base
07:03 The Stones Cry Out and biblical archaeology
10:29 The Caiaphas ossuary and Pilate findings
13:44 The Pools of Bethesda and Siloam
16:14 Garden Tomb vs Church of the Holy Sepulchre
18:12 Israel's rebirth as fulfilled prophecy
20:45 The Dead Sea Scrolls connection
22:33 Balaam, son of Beor, and the skeptics
24:58 When unbelief isn't really intellectual
27:05 Atheism as revenge against God
29:20 The problem with Calvinist predestination
32:33 Rethinking total depravity
34:30 Evangelicals, Arminians, and biblicists
37:49 Reconciling free will and God's choice
38:37 Favorite comfort food
39:10 The three films Dinesh is proudest of
41:35 Islam, the left, and a common enemy
43:04 Movies he'll rewatch every time
45:03 Having lunch with Richard Nixon
47:41 Inside Reagan's ranch
49:31 Should Christians send kids to secular colleges
51:14 Advice to a younger Dinesh
53:09 Closing thoughts on The Stones Cry Out

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Rick Rubin is considered by many to be the greatest music producer alive today. His work spans the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Run-DMC, Adele, U2, Neil Diamond, and his legendary American Recordings with Johnny Cash.

He has also become one of the most influential voices in culture. His interviews include Paul McCartney in McCartney 3,2,1 and Jay-Z in the HBO series JAŸ-Z in 8. On his podcast, Tetragrammaton, he recently sat down with Neil Young.

Now add one more name to that list: Pastor Greg Laurie.

In this unusual episode, legendary producer Rick Rubin turns the microphone around and interviews Greg about his life, faith, and the Jesus Movement that shaped him. The conversation moves at the pace of a long dinner between curious friends. Greg answers Rick's questions about faith, baptism, communion, the Holy Spirit, the Sabbath, and whether the God of the Old Testament really differs from the God of the New. He also speaks candidly about losing his son Christopher and what grief taught him about ministering to people in pain.

Listen to the original episode on Rick Rubin's Podcast:
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pastor-greg-laurie/id1671669052?i=1000793610276
Youtube: https://youtu.be/KGR27hIf8Ow?si=v6Zp5ihvgBCQB2Wv 

Timestamps:
00:00 Open
00:06 Welcome and how the Rick Rubin interview came together
04:17 Salt and light: pastor vs evangelist
06:46 Growing up with a Marilyn Monroe mother and seven stepfathers
08:46 Meeting the Jesus freaks and Lonnie Frisbee on campus
11:54 Who Lonnie Frisbee really was
17:00 Chuck Smith, the steady father figure
18:46 Conditions that sparked the Jesus Revolution
23:00 Was it just LA, or everywhere?
25:53 Deepening faith and losing his son Christopher
32:31 Always learning: how understanding Scripture grows
39:51 Learning about Jesus after conversion
42:02 Starting Harvest without meaning to start a church
46:36 Friendship with Billy Graham
50:09 Jesus's teachings vs church theology
51:53 What faith actually is
55:06 The Holy Spirit explained
58:47 When burnt offerings stopped
01:00:43 Baptism and the recent baptism movement
01:03:25 Communion and the Last Supper
01:07:00 How Greg prepares a sermon
01:12:23 Is the Old Testament God more judgmental?
01:15:31 Music, Love Song, and the birth of Christian music
01:22:36 Church as grassroots vs industry
01:25:08 What's stayed the same since Jesus's time
01:27:12 Social media, TV, and the vet with the loaded gun
01:29:34 The Sabbath and resting
01:31:17 Bob Dylan's conversion and Slow Train Coming
01:33:07 Did you choose Jesus or did Jesus choose you?

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What would you have done during the Holocaust? Rev. Jonnie Moore says that's no longer a hypothetical question.

In this conversation, Pastor Greg Laurie sits down with Johnnie Moore—advisor to presidents, humanitarian, and one of the most connected evangelical voices on the global stage—three years after the October 7th attacks on Israel.

We cover:
• What actually happened on October 7th (and why the world moved on too quickly)
• Hamas, Iran, and the reshaping of the Middle East
• The surge of antisemitism on both the left and the right
• Feeding Gaza while Hamas stole aid
• Sharing the gospel with Muslims and Jews
• Why Silicon Valley is quietly calling pastors about AI
• What President Trump is really like behind closed doors
• The best piece of advice Johnnie ever received — from a rabbi

Johnnie grew up moving 20 times before age 12, ended up at Liberty under Jerry Falwell Sr., and now works at the intersection of faith, foreign policy, and emerging technology. His story — and his warnings — are worth your time.

Subscribe for more conversations like this.

Timetamps

00:30 Meet Johnnie Moore
02:03 Growing up in the Deep South after his parents' divorce
03:00 The balloon-animal mentor who taught him business
04:34 Finding faith as his parents' marriage fell apart
06:40 Moving to Lynchburg and landing at Liberty
08:20 How Jerry Falwell Sr. became a father figure
11:54 Three years after October 7th
16:46 What Hamas and Iran were really trying to do
21:14 The genocide accusation and feeding Gaza
26:00 Advising Trump on Iran and the nuclear red line
30:51 Sharing the gospel with Muslims and Jews
41:03 Leading a Jewish friend to Christ on FaceTime
44:10 Why evangelicals must stand against antisemitism now
48:26 Bots, bot farms, and the global information war
53:49 Why so many pastors are afraid to speak up
56:15 Is AI a blessing or a threat?
01:01:23 Why Silicon Valley is calling pastors
01:06:19 AI as therapy and the church's human advantage
01:07:30 Advice to a younger Johnnie: take more risks
01:11:16 What would surprise you about President Trump
01:16:00 The best advice he ever got, from a rabbi

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Cartoonist Butch Hartman—creator of Nickelodeon's *The Fairly OddParents*—sits down with Greg to talk about a career built on drawing, storytelling, and eventually surrender. Butch traces his path from a chaotic Michigan childhood, where cartoons were a refuge, to CalArts, Hanna-Barbera, and the day Ted Turner told the staff they could pitch their own ideas. He explains why limited animation gave Fred Flintstone a five o'clock shadow, why confidence with ink matters more than talent, and why he left Nickelodeon in 2018 to build a studio around *The Garden*—a Christian series he self-funded when no one else would.

Along the way: how tithing broke a stronghold, why he and his wife now pastor a church that started under a tree, and his conviction that if God gives the vision, He gives the provision.

Timestamps

00:00 Prototype plush and the $8,000 Goofy maquette story
01:22 Meeting a fellow artist and Fairly OddParents' 18-year run
03:07 CalArts, Hanna-Barbera and the day Cartoon Network launched
05:16 How limited animation made TV cartoons possible
06:14 Discovering he could draw by tracing Peter Pan on a wall
07:41 Greg's chaotic childhood and the animator with the "magic pencil"
09:04 Butch's Michigan upbringing and retreating into cartoons
10:57 TV dads as father figures — Hugh Beaumont and Mike Brady
12:03 Yellow Dog, brush pens and Mad Magazine influences
16:17 Why caricaturing women is a bad idea
17:34 Drawing fast at Magic Mountain and switching to digital
19:13 First jobs: American Tail, Dexter's Lab, Powerpuff Girls
19:55 Seizing the pitch opportunity that changed everything
21:05 Writing letters to Charles Schulz as a kid
22:38 Getting saved at 35 at Crenshaw Christian Center
24:47 Starting Church in the Park during COVID
25:13 Preaching Esther on a whiteboard
26:24 The Garden: making a Christian cartoon nobody else would
28:52 Giving vs. the culture of self-worship
30:26 Why Nickelodeon won't touch overtly Christian content
31:50 Reaching unexpected people in unexpected places
34:42 Where Butch stands on AI in animation
37:27 Voice acting and playing Dr. Rip Studwell
38:49 Favorite movies and the greatest animated film ever
42:35 Human creativity, arrogance and the last days
44:47 Advice to a younger Butch: don't be afraid
46:13 Go-to Scriptures for anxiety and trust
47:01 An invitation to make Jesus Lord of your life
50:15 If God gives the vision, He'll give the provision
51:32 How Butch wants to be remembered

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What does it mean to spiral—and is it actually possible to find blessings amid devastating loss? On today’s episode of The Greg Laurie Show, Pastor Greg welcomes author and pastor Levi Lusko for an honest—and often humorous—conversation about grief, calling, leadership, and the surprising ways faith can sustain us through the worst life has to offer. 

Together, Pastor Greg and Levi trace their family’s intertwined journeys through ministry, loss, and redemption. From the nostalgia of swapping cassette tapes and youth ministry war stories to the raw pain of losing a child or parent, the two open up about suffering, resilience, and the pursuit of God’s purpose in real life. This conversation is both a balm for broken hearts and an encouragement for leaders, parents, or anyone wondering how to move forward when life gets overwhelming.

Find Levi’s book on loss, Through the Eyes of a Lion, here: https://levilusko.com/through-the-eyes-of-a-lion. 

Check out Blessed are the Spiraling here: https://www.blessedarethespiraling.com/. 

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Want more from Greg Laurie? Visit:  

https://harvest.org/.

Find Pastor Greg on social media:

https://www.instagram.com/greglaurie/

https://x.com/greglaurie

https://www.facebook.com/harvest.greglaurie

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TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 How a Missed Mentorship Changed Everything
02:33 First Meeting: From Fan to Friend
04:33 Youth Ministry: “If You Can Preach to Teens…”
06:38 Choosing Montana Over Harvest: Defining Your Calling
08:05 Walking Through Grief: The Loss of Christopher
12:05 “Seeing Through the Eyes of a Lion”: Lenya’s Legacy
14:09 Navigating Grief: Guilt, Healing, and Connection
16:33 Losing His Dad: “A Different Kind of Grief”
17:51 Writing About Pain: Impact Beyond Tragedy
18:25 “Success Builds Walls, Failure Builds Bridges”
21:44 How Personal Loss Changed Pastoral Ministry
22:09 Honoring Lost Loved Ones by Healing
23:50 Brokenness, Empathy, and Leadership Growth
24:20 Separating Grief: The Laundry Pile Analogy
26:14 Hope in Heartbreak: “They’re Not Lost If You Know Where They Are”
29:09 Parenting and Calling: Raising Kids in Ministry
31:09 Marriage & Hydration: Keeping Relationships Alive
32:27 “Intimacy Is Into-Me-You-See”: Wisdom for Newlyweds
35:20 Message Prep: Connections, Curiosity & “Move It or Lose It”
37:45 Preaching & Writing: The Unique Joys of Both
39:46 Writing Habits: Seinfeld, Deadlines, and Staying Creative
43:06 Staying Faithful: Why I Chose My Church Over Big Offers
45:23 New Book: “Blessed Are the Spiraling” and Midlife Crisis
47:38 From Fire to Significance: Shifting Life’s Focus
51:25 Movement Conference: Investing in the Next Generation
53:18 Learning to Champion Others, Not Compete
55:12 What’s Changed in Reaching Young People
58:16 “Make Your Bed”: Keystone Habits & Authentic Leadership
59:45 The Power of Challenge, Not Coddling
01:00:19 Last Meal? In-N-Out & Good Coffee
01:01:11 Movies, Heroes, and Becoming Yoda
01:02:19 Pulpit Bloopers: Unusual Booty and Other Slip-Ups
01:05:08 Hope, Legacy, and What’s Next

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Frank Turek was near Charlie Kirk on the day he was killed at UVU. A year later, he sits down with Greg to talk about grief, evil, and what Charlie's legacy means for the church now.

From there, the conversation opens up into Frank's new book, The War on Reality (co-written with Phoenix Hayes, with a foreword by Erika Kirk), and the cultural questions Frank is hearing most on college campuses today.

In this episode:
- The night Charlie was killed and what Erika said to Frank at the hospital
- Why the top three objections to Christianity today are all about morality
- The transgender conversation, detransitioners, and what to actually say to your kid
- Why socialism keeps making a comeback on campus
- The rise of antisemitism after October 7th
- AI, hallucinations, and the "Madagascar" test that failed 33 out of 35 students
- Plus: Beatles trivia, desert island songs, and Greg's awkward encounter with Ringo

Learn more about Frank's book at thewaronreality.com.

Subscribe for new conversations every week.

Timestamps:

00:41 Remembering Charlie Kirk one year later
02:26 Why it's not PTSD — it's normal grief
04:11 Evil, eternity, and the ripple effect
07:16 Erika Kirk: "Don't let his legacy die"
09:53 How campus objections shifted to morality
14:10 Is the church feeding the war on reality?
18:34 The trans social contagion and detransitioners
22:03 Questions to ask a child who says "I'm trans"
25:38 Why socialism keeps making a comeback
29:13 Ten reasons Christians must engage politically
32:51 The hidden dangers of AI hallucinations
37:20 The spiritual roots of rising antisemitism
44:09 Go-to verses for stress and suffering
49:42 One last sermon: glorified or horrified
53:35 Beatles rabbit hole and witnessing to Ringo
59:10 Why he wrote The War on Reality

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Today marks the 25th anniversary of 9/11, the day thousands of Americans lost their lives at the hands of Islamic terrorists. Pastor Greg Laurie reflects on this tragic moment in our history, and how a unique spiritual moment was born from it, sharing from his personal experience at the World Trade Center just two days after the attack.

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"This is a tribute I wrote and filmed to remember the impactful life of Charlie Kirk on the first anniversary of his tragic death. Charlie, a follower of Jesus, lived a life worth remembering—and emulating. His courage, conviction, and commitment to sharing his faith made a lasting impact on countless lives." —Pastor Greg Laurie

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Jeremy Boreing on why revolution isn't the answer — and what actually is.

In Part 2 of our conversation, Jeremy makes the case that America doesn't need to tear down the Constitution. It needs to become the kind of people the Constitution was written for. We talk about why every godless revolution in history has ended in blood, why the American founding was different, and why the revolution we actually need is a revolution of the heart.

Then things get personal. We swap favorite films (Braveheart, Ben-Hur, Tombstone, The Godfather), argue about the Beatles, trade Eagles memories from the Sphere, and land on how art — even a small movie with a jazz score — can travel further than you'd ever guess.

We close with the story behind the bent key Jeremy has worn around his neck for 31 years. It's worth staying for.

Timestamps

00:33 Who should run in 2028?
01:51 Conservatism didn't fail — we did
03:33 America's revolution vs. all the others
05:46 Why revolution today would destroy us
07:31 The real revolution is in the heart
08:12 Hardest and easiest people to interview
11:02 Top five favorite films
13:31 Dinner with Churchill, Paul, and Henley
15:33 The hidden hero behind country rock
17:03 Death row meals and Taco Villa
19:12 Desert island songs and the Beatles
23:15 How Ben-Hur led Greg to Christ
26:15 Artists as co-creators with God
27:12 The Wayne Shorter jazz score story
31:01 The story behind the bent key

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