If you’ve ever left a meeting with someone feeling smaller than your calling, tempted to cancel or lessen your vision, and overwhelmed by someone else’s objections, this episode will steady you - and remind you that builders don’t stop at the wall. They look for the door.

Want to grow as a WORSHIP LEADER?
Go here: https://shorturl.at/oqB6x

Want to grow as a SONGWRITER?
Go here: https://shorturl.at/FQAnM

ABOUT THIS EPISODE

In an age of hot takes, fear, and one-track minded leaders, many creators are facing a different kind of pressure. Pressure to scale back. Pressure to play safe. Pressure to call something “wisdom” when it’s really fear.

In this episode, Justin unpacks a recent meeting that sought to derail his creative project, and the five lessons that emerged from it. A candid conversation about courage, counsel, and the pressure that tries to shrink vision. 

ABOUT JUSTIN RIZZO

If you’re new here, my name is Justin Rizzo.

I'm a worship leader, songwriter, and filmmaker based in the Midwest, USA. I'm the founder of the Worship Leader Academy which has helped hundreds of worship leaders grow and develop through online community and one-on-one coaching.

How I got here…

7 yrs old: Love for music began with the recorder.
9 yrs old: Started drum lessons.  
12 yrs old: Parents taught how to lead worship.
13 yrs old: Led an original song at church.
13 yrs old: Vowed I'd never do it again. 
16 yrs old: Began to really love leading worship.
18 yrs old: Became a full-time worship leader.
19 yrs old: Broke my vow and began writing again.
20 yrs old: Recorded my first record.
23 yrs old: Leading began to feel like a burden.
24 yrs old: Blogged about worship leading.
25 yrs old: Started therapy and found healing.
26 yrs old: Called to produce musicals and films.
27 yrs old: Wrote and produced my first musical  
29 yrs old: Started my own production company.

Today: I live full-time as a worship leader and creative. I've written and produced three award- winning musical films, had millions stream my music, and travel the world leading worship and speaking at events.

Support the show

▶️ ABOUT
Justin Rizzo is a worship leader, songwriter, and filmmaker. He is passionate about authentic worship and creativity, focused on bringing glory to Jesus. Justin also dedicates himself to raising up and coaching worship leaders and creatives of all types, nurturing their growth and success. In addition, he owns Firelight Creative, a production company that has produced multiple award-winning musicals and films, and hosts gatherings for creatives both online and in person. Justin travels extensively to lead worship and speak at events worldwide.

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A candid, hope-filled conversation with special guest Andy Squyres about grief, deconstruction, and rebuilding faith through honest art and everyday faithfulness.

Want to grow as a WORSHIP LEADER? 
Go here: https://shorturl.at/oqB6x

Want to grow as a SONGWRITER? 
Go here: https://shorturl.at/FQAnM

ABOUT THIS EPISODE

Worship music and the Christian industry can shape more than songs, they can shape identity. In this episode, Justin sits down with Andy Squyres for an honest conversation about ambition, disappointment, grief, and the kind of faith that survives when formulas stop working. They explore the tension between platform and presence, the pressure to succeed in worship spaces, and how a public flop and personal loss became the unlikely ground where deeper trust in Jesus was formed.

If you’ve wrestled with deconstruction, felt disillusioned with shallow answers, or longed for a faith big enough to hold sorrow and hope at the same time, this episode is for you. Subscribe, share it with a friend who needs encouragement, and leave a review to help more creatives discover the show.

ABOUT JUSTIN RIZZO

If you’re new here, my name is Justin Rizzo.

I'm a worship leader, songwriter, and filmmaker based in the Midwest, USA. I'm the founder of the Worship Leader Academy which has helped hundreds of worship leaders grow and develop through online community and one-on-one coaching.

How I got here…

7 yrs old: Love for music began with the recorder.
9 yrs old: Started drum lessons.  
12 yrs old: Parents taught how to lead worship.
13 yrs old: Led an original song at church.
13 yrs old: Vowed I'd never do it again. 
16 yrs old: Began to really love leading worship.
18 yrs old: Became a full-time worship leader.
19 yrs old: Broke my vow and began writing again.
20 yrs old: Recorded my first record.
23 yrs old: Leading began to feel like a burden.
24 yrs old: Blogged about worship leading.
25 yrs old: Started therapy and found healing.
26 yrs old: Called to produce musicals and films.
27 yrs old: Wrote and produced my first musical  
29 yrs old: Started my own production company.

Today: I live full-time as a worship leader and creative. I've written and produced three award- winning musical films, had millions stream my music, and travel the world leading worship and speaking at events.

Support the show

▶️ ABOUT
Justin Rizzo is a worship leader, songwriter, and filmmaker. He is passionate about authentic worship and creativity, focused on bringing glory to Jesus. Justin also dedicates himself to raising up and coaching worship leaders and creatives of all types, nurturing their growth and success. In addition, he owns Firelight Creative, a production company that has produced multiple award-winning musicals and films, and hosts gatherings for creatives both online and in person. Justin travels extensively to lead worship and speak at events worldwide.

▶️ LISTEN
SPOTIFY
YOUTUBE
APPLE MUSIC
SOAKING WORSHIP

▶️ CONNECT
BOOKING
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WEBSITE
INSTAGRAM
FACEBOOOK
PRODUCTION COMPANY

A thoughtful, Scripture-anchored conversation about Christian storytelling, artistic imagination, and how faith-filled films can reach hearts beyond church walls. 

Want to grow as a WORSHIP LEADER? 
Go here: https://shorturl.at/oqB6x

Want to grow as a SONGWRITER? 
Go here: https://shorturl.at/FQAnM

ABOUT THIS EPISODE

Christian films and shows spark passionate conversations, and sometimes painful ones. Artists trying to honor Scripture while telling compelling stories often find themselves under fire, not from culture, but from fellow believers. In this episode, Justin tackles one of the most misunderstood tensions in faith-driven media: the difference between expanding a biblical narrative for clarity and contradicting Scripture altogether.

If you care about faithful storytelling, Christian creativity, and reaching culture with truth and beauty, this episode is for you. Subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review to help more people discover the show. Then check the show notes for tour dates, Creative Legacy Conference details, and ways to partner with Firelight Creative Productions as we raise funds for our next film, Deborah.

ABOUT JUSTIN RIZZO

If you’re new here, my name is Justin Rizzo.

I'm a worship leader, songwriter, and filmmaker based in the Midwest, USA. I'm the founder of the Worship Leader Academy which has helped hundreds of worship leaders grow and develop through online community and one-on-one coaching.

How I got here…

7 yrs old: Love for music began with the recorder.
9 yrs old: Started drum lessons.  
12 yrs old: Parents taught how to lead worship.
13 yrs old: Led an original song at church.
13 yrs old: Vowed I'd never do it again. 
16 yrs old: Began to really love leading worship.
18 yrs old: Became a full-time worship leader.
19 yrs old: Broke my vow and began writing again.
20 yrs old: Recorded my first record.
23 yrs old: Leading began to feel like a burden.
24 yrs old: Blogged about worship leading.
25 yrs old: Started therapy and found healing.
26 yrs old: Called to produce musicals and films.
27 yrs old: Wrote and produced my first musical  
29 yrs old: Started my own production company.

Today: I live full-time as a worship leader and creative. I've written and produced three award- winning musical films, had millions stream my music, and travel the world leading worship and speaking at events.

Support the show

▶️ ABOUT
Justin Rizzo is a worship leader, songwriter, and filmmaker. He is passionate about authentic worship and creativity, focused on bringing glory to Jesus. Justin also dedicates himself to raising up and coaching worship leaders and creatives of all types, nurturing their growth and success. In addition, he owns Firelight Creative, a production company that has produced multiple award-winning musicals and films, and hosts gatherings for creatives both online and in person. Justin travels extensively to lead worship and speak at events worldwide.

▶️ LISTEN
SPOTIFY
YOUTUBE
APPLE MUSIC
SOAKING WORSHIP

▶️ CONNECT
BOOKING
COACHING
WEBSITE
INSTAGRAM
FACEBOOOK
PRODUCTION COMPANY

A wide-ranging, honest conversation about creativity, faith, business, and why “safe” art often feels hollow. In this episode, we sit down with Josh Scott of JHS Pedals to explore lament in storytelling, empathy in leadership, brand-building from obscurity, and how integrity shapes everything from guitar pedals to nonprofit studios.

CONNECT WITH JOSH
https://www.instagram.com/joshuaheathscott

PRE-ORDER JOSH'S BOOK 
https://www.thirdmanbooks.com/

Want to grow as a WORSHIP LEADER?
Go here: https://shorturl.at/oqB6x

Want to grow as a SONGWRITER?
Go here: https://shorturl.at/FQAnM

ABOUT THIS EPISODE

Josh Scott has built one of the most recognizable pedal companies in the world, but his story didn’t start in factories or feature articles. It started in rural Alabama, in a shed with a hole in the floor, obsession-level curiosity, late-night circuit textbooks, and a stubborn refusal to fake what wasn’t real.

In this episode, Justin sits down with Josh to talk about the long road from burnout and near-miss record deals to church planting, entrepreneurship, and global scale. They unpack why process matters more than product, how pricing communicates value, what perception does to brand trust, and how serving a niche well can grow into a company shipping over 150,000 units a year.

If you’re a creative, founder, or curious skeptic, this episode will stretch how you think about art, calling, and building something that lasts. Subscribe, share it with a friend who needs a push toward honest work, and leave a review with one idea you’ll act on this week.

ABOUT JUSTIN RIZZO

Justin Rizzo is a worship leader, songwriter, and filmmaker based in the Midwest, USA. He is passionate about authentic worship and creativity, focused on bringing glory to Jesus and surrendering our lives to Him. Justin also dedicates himself to raising up and coaching worship leaders and creatives of all types, nurturing their growth and success. In addition, he owns Firelight Creative, a production company that has produced multiple award-winning musicals and films, and hosts gatherings for creatives both online and in person. Justin travels extensively to lead worship and speak at events worldwide.

Support the show

▶️ ABOUT
Justin Rizzo is a worship leader, songwriter, and filmmaker. He is passionate about authentic worship and creativity, focused on bringing glory to Jesus. Justin also dedicates himself to raising up and coaching worship leaders and creatives of all types, nurturing their growth and success. In addition, he owns Firelight Creative, a production company that has produced multiple award-winning musicals and films, and hosts gatherings for creatives both online and in person. Justin travels extensively to lead worship and speak at events worldwide.

▶️ LISTEN
SPOTIFY
YOUTUBE
APPLE MUSIC
SOAKING WORSHIP

▶️ CONNECT
BOOKING
COACHING
WEBSITE
INSTAGRAM
FACEBOOOK
PRODUCTION COMPANY

A pastoral conversation about stillness, lament, and the unseen pressure shaping modern worship. 

Want to grow as a WORSHIP LEADER? 
Go here: https://shorturl.at/oqB6x

Want to grow as a SONGWRITER? 
Go here: https://shorturl.at/FQAnM

ABOUT THIS EPISODE

In an age of highlight reels, viral moments, and emotional spectacle, worship leaders are carrying more pressure than ever before. Pressure to move. Pressure to impress. Pressure to create visible proof that something spiritual is happening.

We talk about:
→ Why movement has quietly become a metric for success
→ Making space for stillness, silence, and lament
→ How social media reshapes our expectations on stage
→ Leading people through grief, doubt, and quiet hope
→ Honoring your church culture while staying authentic
→ Designing worship sets that tell the truth before they proclaim victory

If you’ve ever felt pressure to manufacture emotion, keep the room energized, or compete with what you see online, this episode will reset your perspective — and remind you that faithful leadership isn’t about hype, it’s about presence.

ABOUT JUSTIN RIZZO

If you’re new here, my name is Justin Rizzo.

I'm a worship leader, songwriter, and filmmaker based in the Midwest, USA. I'm the founder of the Worship Leader Academy which has helped hundreds of worship leaders grow and develop through online community and one-on-one coaching.

How I got here…

7 yrs old: Love for music began with the recorder.
9 yrs old: Started drum lessons.  
12 yrs old: Parents taught how to lead worship.
13 yrs old: Led an original song at church.
13 yrs old: Vowed I'd never do it again. 
16 yrs old: Began to really love leading worship.
18 yrs old: Became a full-time worship leader.
19 yrs old: Broke my vow and began writing again.
20 yrs old: Recorded my first record.
23 yrs old: Leading began to feel like a burden.
24 yrs old: Blogged about worship leading.
25 yrs old: Started therapy and found healing.
26 yrs old: Called to produce musicals and films.
27 yrs old: Wrote and produced my first musical  
29 yrs old: Started my own production company.

Today: I live full-time as a worship leader and creative. I've written and produced three award- winning musical films, had millions stream my music, and travel the world leading worship and speaking at events.

Support the show

▶️ ABOUT
Justin Rizzo is a worship leader, songwriter, and filmmaker. He is passionate about authentic worship and creativity, focused on bringing glory to Jesus. Justin also dedicates himself to raising up and coaching worship leaders and creatives of all types, nurturing their growth and success. In addition, he owns Firelight Creative, a production company that has produced multiple award-winning musicals and films, and hosts gatherings for creatives both online and in person. Justin travels extensively to lead worship and speak at events worldwide.

▶️ LISTEN
SPOTIFY
YOUTUBE
APPLE MUSIC
SOAKING WORSHIP

▶️ CONNECT
BOOKING
COACHING
WEBSITE
INSTAGRAM
FACEBOOOK
PRODUCTION COMPANY

A direct, honest conversation about faith, obedience, and the danger of hyper-spiritualizing our decisions. In this episode, we explore waiting on God, discernment vs. fear, obedience without guarantees, and how clarity often comes after movement, not before.

Want to grow as a WORSHIP LEADER? 
Go here: https://shorturl.at/oqB6x

Want to grow as a SONGWRITER? 
Go here: https://shorturl.at/FQAnM

ABOUT THIS EPISODE

So many Christians are stuck, not because God is silent, but because they’re waiting for certainty instead of walking in obedience. In this episode, Justin unpacks one of the most common mistakes believers make: hyper-spiritualizing decisions instead of trusting God with forward movement. Drawing from Scripture, personal experience, and years of creative leadership, this conversation challenges the idea that faith always waits for clarity.

We talk about:
→ When waiting on God is wisdom, and when it’s fear
→ Obedience without guarantees
→ Why God often moves after we step out
→ The difference between discernment and paralysis
→ How this applies to creativity, calling, business, and faith

If you’ve been stalled, hesitant, or waiting for a “clear word” before moving forward, this episode is for you.

ABOUT JUSTIN RIZZO

If you’re new here, my name is Justin Rizzo.

I'm a worship leader, songwriter, and filmmaker based in the Midwest, USA. I'm the founder of the Worship Leader Academy which has helped hundreds of worship leaders grow and develop through online community and one-on-one coaching.

How I got here…

7 yrs old: Love for music began with the recorder.
9 yrs old: Started drum lessons.  
12 yrs old: Parents taught how to lead worship.
13 yrs old: Led an original song at church.
13 yrs old: Vowed I'd never do it again. 
16 yrs old: Began to really love leading worship.
18 yrs old: Became a full-time worship leader.
19 yrs old: Broke my vow and began writing again.
20 yrs old: Recorded my first record.
23 yrs old: Leading began to feel like a burden.
24 yrs old: Blogged about worship leading.
25 yrs old: Started therapy and found healing.
26 yrs old: Called to produce musicals and films.
27 yrs old: Wrote and produced my first musical  
29 yrs old: Started my own production company.

Today: I live full-time as a worship leader and creative. I've written and produced three award- winning musical films, had millions stream my music, and travel the world leading worship and spe

Support the show

▶️ ABOUT
Justin Rizzo is a worship leader, songwriter, and filmmaker. He is passionate about authentic worship and creativity, focused on bringing glory to Jesus. Justin also dedicates himself to raising up and coaching worship leaders and creatives of all types, nurturing their growth and success. In addition, he owns Firelight Creative, a production company that has produced multiple award-winning musicals and films, and hosts gatherings for creatives both online and in person. Justin travels extensively to lead worship and speak at events worldwide.

▶️ LISTEN
SPOTIFY
YOUTUBE
APPLE MUSIC
SOAKING WORSHIP

▶️ CONNECT
BOOKING
COACHING
WEBSITE
INSTAGRAM
FACEBOOOK
PRODUCTION COMPANY

A raw, honest conversation with Caleb Edwards on faith, deconstruction, responsibility, and reclaiming personal agency. In this episode, we talk candidly about creativity, entrepreneurship, calling, money, and why so many people walk away from faith not because God failed, but because unresolved expectations and misplaced blame went unaddressed.

Want to grow as a WORSHIP LEADER? 
Go here: https://shorturl.at/oqB6x

Want to grow as a SONGWRITER? 
Go here: https://shorturl.at/FQAnM

ABOUT THIS EPISODE

What happens when faith collides with disappointment, unmet expectations, and the weight of responsibility?

In this unfiltered conversation, Justin sits down with longtime friend and entrepreneur Caleb Edwards to explore why so many people are “deconstructing” their faith, and what’s actually happening beneath the surface. Together, they unpack the role of personal agency, the danger of exporting blame, the church’s impact, and the tension between creativity, money, and calling.

If you’ve wrestled with faith, burnout, identity, or disappointment with the church, this conversation will meet you where you are, and then push you toward something stronger.

ABOUT JUSTIN RIZZO

If you’re new here, my name is Justin Rizzo.

I'm a worship leader, songwriter, and filmmaker based in the Midwest, USA. I'm the founder of the Worship Leader Academy, which has helped hundreds of worship leaders grow and develop through online community and one-on-one coaching.

How I got here…

7 yrs old: Love for music began with the recorder.
9 yrs old: Started drum lessons.  
12 yrs old: Parents taught how to lead worship.
13 yrs old: Led an original song at church.
13 yrs old: Vowed I'd never do it again. 
16 yrs old: Began to really love leading worship.
18 yrs old: Became a full-time worship leader.
19 yrs old: Broke my vow and began writing again.
20 yrs old: Recorded my first record.
23 yrs old: Leading began to feel like a burden.
24 yrs old: Blogged about worship leading.
25 yrs old: Started therapy and found healing.
26 yrs old: Called to produce musicals and films.
27 yrs old: Wrote and produced my first musical  
29 yrs old: Started my own production company.

Today: I live full-time as a worship leader and creative. I've written and produced three award- winning musical films, had millions stream my music, and travel the world leading worship and speaking at events.

To all of the worship leaders and creatives in the f

Support the show

▶️ ABOUT
Justin Rizzo is a worship leader, songwriter, and filmmaker. He is passionate about authentic worship and creativity, focused on bringing glory to Jesus. Justin also dedicates himself to raising up and coaching worship leaders and creatives of all types, nurturing their growth and success. In addition, he owns Firelight Creative, a production company that has produced multiple award-winning musicals and films, and hosts gatherings for creatives both online and in person. Justin travels extensively to lead worship and speak at events worldwide.

▶️ LISTEN
SPOTIFY
YOUTUBE
APPLE MUSIC
SOAKING WORSHIP

▶️ CONNECT
BOOKING
COACHING
WEBSITE
INSTAGRAM
FACEBOOOK
PRODUCTION COMPANY

Starving is a choice, not an artistic requirement.

That single phrase from Jeff Goins’ book Real Artists Don’t Starve completely changed my life after 15 years as a worship pastor.

For too long, I believed the false story that pursuing creative work meant living in financial struggle, that passion and provision could never coexist. But history proves otherwise. Michelangelo, Shakespeare, and C.S. Lewis weren’t starving loners, they were strategic, collaborative professionals who built sustainable lives around their art.

👉 Whether you’re a worship leader, songwriter, entrepreneur, or dreamer, it’s time to stop choosing to starve. Your calling deserves provision. Your art, and your audience deserve nothing less.

Support the show

▶️ ABOUT
Justin Rizzo is a worship leader, songwriter, and filmmaker. He is passionate about authentic worship and creativity, focused on bringing glory to Jesus. Justin also dedicates himself to raising up and coaching worship leaders and creatives of all types, nurturing their growth and success. In addition, he owns Firelight Creative, a production company that has produced multiple award-winning musicals and films, and hosts gatherings for creatives both online and in person. Justin travels extensively to lead worship and speak at events worldwide.

▶️ LISTEN
SPOTIFY
YOUTUBE
APPLE MUSIC
SOAKING WORSHIP

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What happens when God calls you away from the very success you've worked your whole life to achieve?

For Jesse Reeves, co-writer of worship anthems like "How Great Is Our God," "I Speak Jesus," and "Lord I Need You," that question became the defining challenge of his faith journey.

After 17 years of touring with Chris Tomlin, playing to packed arenas, and helping create some of the most sung worship songs in modern church history, Reeves found himself increasingly troubled by a sermon illustration about King David's anointing. 

In this deeply vulnerable conversation, Jesse shares how walking away from music entirely led to "the dark years" - a season where he wouldn't even allow worship music in his home. But through that wilderness, God was preparing him for a profound rediscovery of authentic ministry. 

Whether you're a worship leader, songwriter, or simply someone trying to follow Jesus faithfully, Jesse's journey will challenge your assumptions about success and inspire you to examine where your true treasure lies. Sometimes the greatest act of worship is walking away from the stage to care for the sheep.

Support the show

▶️ ABOUT
Justin Rizzo is a worship leader, songwriter, and filmmaker. He is passionate about authentic worship and creativity, focused on bringing glory to Jesus. Justin also dedicates himself to raising up and coaching worship leaders and creatives of all types, nurturing their growth and success. In addition, he owns Firelight Creative, a production company that has produced multiple award-winning musicals and films, and hosts gatherings for creatives both online and in person. Justin travels extensively to lead worship and speak at events worldwide.

▶️ LISTEN
SPOTIFY
YOUTUBE
APPLE MUSIC
SOAKING WORSHIP

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Songwriting doesn’t have to be a lonely grind, at the Journey Songwriting Retreat, you’ll find the power of co-writing, grow faster, and find a community that turns your ideas into songs that carry God’s heart. Your voice matters. Your songs matter. And this could be the moment you finally give them the space to come alive.

👉 Space is limited, so if this speaks to you, email me at
[email protected] with “Songwriting Retreat” in the subject line, and I’ll send you all the details.

Support the show

▶️ ABOUT
Justin Rizzo is a worship leader, songwriter, and filmmaker. He is passionate about authentic worship and creativity, focused on bringing glory to Jesus. Justin also dedicates himself to raising up and coaching worship leaders and creatives of all types, nurturing their growth and success. In addition, he owns Firelight Creative, a production company that has produced multiple award-winning musicals and films, and hosts gatherings for creatives both online and in person. Justin travels extensively to lead worship and speak at events worldwide.

▶️ LISTEN
SPOTIFY
YOUTUBE
APPLE MUSIC
SOAKING WORSHIP

▶️ CONNECT
BOOKING
COACHING
WEBSITE
INSTAGRAM
FACEBOOOK
PRODUCTION COMPANY