The Pivot

Casey J did not intend to be a full-time Gospel artist. She was quite happy in the teaching roles she had worked hard to create. It would seem that God had other plans.

Dr. Russell Moore, is the president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention. He’s also brilliant, funny, wise and kind. This was a wonderful conversation about politics, racism, and why you’re in a family crisis ALL THE TIME.

This chat with Allen Levi was such a gift to me. Allen was a lawyer until his early 40's when he quit to become a singer/songwriter. Since then he's written THOUSANDS of songs, travelled all over, been a small town Judge, and takes care of his family's farm in Georgia. A few years ago he wrote a book, "The Last Sweet Mile", about the year he spent caring for his brother as he passed away.

Missy Wallace founded and leads the Nashville Institute for Faith and Work (NIFW). She became inspired to study faith and work in 2013 after working in Corporate America and then the nonprofit sector for over 10 years each and realizing that work can be a part of God’s unfolding story if we allow him to guide it rather than our false idols.

Eric Brown was pretty lost before he found photography, while on the road pushing cases for a couple bands. Now his images grace the cover of magazines, album covers, and this particular podcast. But Eric's story, and that of his family, forever changed six years ago when they learned their unborn daughter, Pearl, had some serious health issues and would likely not survive. What followed was a series of miracles, and a series of heartaches. 

JJ Heller is a singer/songwriter, mom, and former high school basketball star who is now building a new phase of her career as a full-time lullaby-ist. Ok, that's not a real thing and a bit of an overstatement, but it's a fascinating story how she got to where she is today.

Larry Kloess, founder of Cause A Scene, one of 2015's "50 Coolest Companies" according to Business Insider, built an amazing network of secret concerts for indie artists throughout Nashville's underground. It was all going so well, at least on the surface... and then one day Larry woke up in the hospital, overwhelmed with stress and exhaustion. Two years later, he's one of Nashville's fastest up-and-coming realtors. What?? Larry's on a wild journey and he still sends me a birthday card. You'll love this chat.

Scott Sauls is an author, a thinker, and the pastor of Christ Presbyterian Church here in Nashville. We had a great chat about being clearly cut out for pro sports, working with Tim Keller in New York City, and different types of diversity. We also got to talk about what career and calling looks like when it's not tied to income. As always, Scott is both challenging and encouraging at the same time.

Chris Sligh, artist, worship leader, deep thinker and former American Idol guy, has quite the story to tell. I did not expect where this conversation started nor where it ended up and I thoroughly enjoyed it. 

LISTEN TO THIS ONE. Dr. Jaco Hamman is a South African apartheid draft dodger turned American academic.