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

Want to grow as a WORSHIP LEADER? 
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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.

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▶️ 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 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.

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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.

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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.

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▶️ 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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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.

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▶️ 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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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.

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Matt and Justin on IHOPKC, the Cost of 24/7 Prayer, and Finding Purpose in Pain

Matt Gilman and Justin Rizzo reflect on their years at IHOPKC and the beauty and cost of 24/7 prayer. 

They talk about the emotional and spiritual toll of prolonged ministry, unpacking how bitterness can quietly grow in silence and how isolation during pain often leads to destructive conclusions.

Also part of the discussion is the power of community, counseling, and “detangling” your story with trusted guides who help separate truth from lies. 

Pain has purpose. 

Whether you're walking through suffering yourself or helping someone who is, this conversation offers hope, honesty, and practical guidance for moving from victim to overcomer, without denying the reality of your wounds.

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▶️ 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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The semantics of sacred space has sparked heated debate among worship leaders and churchgoers alike. Are we standing on a "stage" or an "altar"? Does the terminology matter when hearts are surrendered?

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▶️ 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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Creative isolation might be the most common struggle that most creatives face. 

Whether you're leading worship at a megachurch with hundreds of musicians or creating solo from your home studio, the absence of true creative community can leave you feeling adrift and uninspired.

When you make all your decisions in isolation, it can become incredibly challenging and often leads to stagnation of pursuing your gifts.

Waiting for the perfect season, schedule, or set of circumstances to pursue your creative ideas is a trap, and honestly, most of the time it's fear disguised as wisdom.

We need one another.

Follow Jordan Marcotte on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/jordanamarcotte

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▶️ 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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Get early access to my brand-new course, the Worship Leader Artist Accelerator:

https://shorturl.at/XQ31s

Ever been told that it's more spiritual to be "nameless and faceless"? 

What began as a seemingly innocent call to humility decades ago grew and transformed into a powerful control mechanism. 

"Stay faithful, stay steady, and above all, stay small" became the unspoken mantra forced upon many worship leaders, artists, and creatives. 

The biblical evidence overwhelmingly contradicts this mindset. 

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▶️ 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
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