If You Can Hear Me

Chris Harrison is back—and this time, faith is at the center of it. In this conversation, Chris sits down with Ben to talk about The Vow, his new faith-driven dating show premiering November 11th on Fox Nation. It's the first project Chris co-created with his wife, Lauren Zima, and it's a real departure from what he's known for. We get into:- Why younger generations are filling churches again—and what that has to do with dating- Casting Jace, the lead, and why they went looking for a man with faith already in his heart- The spontaneous prayer moments on set that no producer scripted- What "traditional marriage" actually means to the cast (spoiler: not one thing)- Building a show with your spouse without breaking the marriage- How Chris's own foundation held when his TV career didn't Ben also shares his honest take as someone who's lived the reality dating world from the inside. The Vow premieres November 11th on Fox Nation. Timestamps00:25 Welcome to the show02:00 Introducing The Vow03:07 Why faith became the focus06:05 Pushing back on reality TV taboos09:44 Casting a diverse spectrum of faith13:06 Finding Jace, the lead16:47 Removing the reality TV crutches24:39 Prayer as a spontaneous response27:46 The "say Jesus once" Hollywood rule38:07 Unpacking "traditional marriage"42:07 Stepping away and finding Lauren48:07 Working as a married creative team53:40 Building on a foundation that can't be stripped away55:33 If God can hear me: choose loveSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

**Jessica Nickson thought she was Italian and German her whole life. A 23andMe test said otherwise.** In this episode, Jessica (Big Brother 19, The Amazing Race) opens up about the moment her aunt called with news that would unravel her understanding of her own identity—and why her mother still won't tell her the truth. We also talk about:– Going on Big Brother while grieving her father, and the version of herself she doesn't recognize anymore– Meeting her husband Cody on day 5 (and not wanting a showmance)– Raising 5 daughters and mourning the end of the baby stage– How her faith shifted from showing up alone at church in LA to finding real community in Texas– What growth looks like when the internet wants you to stay the same person you were on TV– Letting God fight your battles instead of fighting back Jessica's story is messy, honest, and still unfolding—exactly the kind of conversation this show is built for. Follow or subscribe if these conversations are landing for you. Timestamps00:32 Welcome to If You Can Hear Me02:23 Meeting Cody on Big Brother03:33 Mourning the baby stage08:43 Grief, depression, and losing her dad12:40 What Cody saw in her15:35 Finding a church home in Texas20:13 Responding to online critics24:58 Tips for growth and breaking cycles31:02 Building community and date nights37:03 The 23andMe discovery45:12 Processing her mother's silence52:48 What she's asking God right nowSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Grammy-winning artist DOE sits down with Ben to talk about what it means to be God's daughter, not His employee — and why that distinction changed everything about how she makes music. In this conversation, DOE opens up about:→ Growing up at the intersection of music and faith as a pastor's kid→ The crushing weight of feeling responsible for "the anointing" in a room→ Leaving Forever Jones and her family's legacy to find her own voice→ Why she renamed herself D.O.E. and moved to Dallas with no plan→ Her new album Shiloh, named after her son, and the theme of posterity→ What she actually means when she says "God is good"→ How her dad's 9 AM prayer times shaped a generation of worshipers DOE also shares the honest wrestle behind her faith — the kind that doesn't pretend to have all the answers but keeps showing up in the ring anyway. Her new album Shiloh is out now. If this conversation meets you where you are, follow the show and leave a comment letting us know what landed. Timestamps00:33 Welcome to the show01:35 Growing up where music and faith intersect04:02 The crushing weight of being "the one"06:12 Daughter, not employee08:24 Why she stopped feeling like an employee11:38 Wrestling as a spiritual discipline14:34 Stepping out as Doe17:09 Standing on her family's shoulders19:16 Shiloh the album, Shiloh the son22:22 How her dad made prayer stick26:00 What she hopes Shiloh takes away28:44 What "God is good" really means31:24 Writing songs people will sing to each other34:54 A picture of someone alone with the albumSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kevin Olusola was on track to be a doctor. Yale, pre-med, the whole plan his immigrant parents had sacrificed for. Then God knocked on his heart with something that scared him: music. In this conversation, the 3-time Grammy winner and member of Pentatonix opens up about:- Why he went into music "kicking and screaming"- The power of "no" — getting dropped by a record label 30 days after winning The Sing-Off- How Yo-Yo Ma and KRS-One helped him believe his weirdness was his gift- Chasing accolades to prove he made the right choice — and realizing none of it made him happier- Redefining success as a husband and father- His new children's book, My Voice Is a Beat (out October 13) Kevin's story is for anyone wrestling between the dream they were handed and the one tugging at their heart. 📚 My Voice Is a Beat — October 13📖 Designed to Succeed — available now🎵 Dawn of a Misfit — out now If this resonated, follow the show and leave a comment letting us know what hit. Timestamps00:35 Welcome to the show01:12 Meeting Kevin & intro04:06 Success as an immigrant kid05:22 The Nigerian "holy trinity"09:41 Cello + beatboxing is born13:06 The power of "no"17:38 From Sing-Off win to Grammy22:13 Divorcing the doctor dream26:18 Redefining success for his kids29:36 The Hollywood Bowl moment32:28 My Voice Is a Beat36:03 Balancing family and career40:28 If God could hear youSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Paul Young wrote The Shack as a Christmas gift for his six kids. He photocopied 15 copies at Office Depot. It went on to sell 25+ million.But the story behind the story is harder than the fairy tale suggests: a missionary kid raised by an abusive father, sexual abuse starting at age five, and a three-month affair that nearly ended his marriage. What followed was an 11-year rebuild — the ground The Shack was written from. In this conversation, Paul opens up about:– The real origin of The Shack (and how it accidentally became a global phenomenon)– Why forgiveness doesn't require trust — and why that distinction matters– His 9+ year friendship with men on death row, and what "proximity changes everything" really means– Making peace with his father at 80, and the two photo albums we all keep inside– Living in the present moment as the only real world– Return to the Shack, releasing October 6 Paul's honesty about grief, healing, and what it means to be human is worth sitting with. Follow the show and let us know what landed. Timestamps01:06 Meeting Paul Young01:49 The affair that changed everything04:37 Writing The Shack as a Christmas gift09:02 From 15 copies to a phenomenon16:30 Barnes & Noble comes knocking20:29 Why forgiveness became his message23:30 Releasing his father from expectations28:48 Friendship with men on death row36:47 "Proximity changes everything"41:23 Being present as the only real world47:20 What awestruck by Jesus looks like55:15 Grief, healing, and not building identity on painSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

40 years into his career, Michael W. Smith says he still hasn't arrived — and that's the point. Ben sits down with the legendary singer, songwriter, and now executive producer of *Daniel and the Fiery Furnace* (in theaters September 18) for an honest conversation about faith, family, and staying grounded in an industry built on adoration. In this episode:- The story behind *Worship* (2001) and why it became a healing album for America- Crying through an entire concert in Bahrain — and what shifted- Working alongside his son Tyler, who composed the score for *Daniel*- Why he thinks God only reveals certain things to "deep people"- The rules he and his wife Deb set 40+ years ago to protect their marriage- A missed flight, an Uber driver, and why the interruptions matter- New music, a guitar solo from Dan Huff, and what's coming in 2026 Michael's mentors included Billy Graham and his own father. Now, at 68, he sees his role as fathering the next generation of artists. Watch, listen, and share with someone who needs it. Timestamps00:32 40 years of God moments02:40 Feeling the atmosphere shift04:22 Crying through Bahrain concert07:56 How Daniel movie came about10:06 Watching his son Tyler compose14:09 Why this Bible story hits different17:41 We've got it too easy24:22 Staying stirred and hungry for God26:27 Missed flight, divine Uber ride30:15 Surviving 45 years of marriage33:28 Fathering the next generation35:20 New music and a guitar solo39:18 Teach me how to abideSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Granger Smith spent years thinking he was a Christian. Then he lost his son, and everything he believed got tested. In this conversation, Granger opens up about walking away from a country music career at the height of it, becoming a lay pastor in Central Texas, and what he now calls the "toxic beliefs" that kept him from real faith for nearly four decades. We get into:- Why he left touring, and what "exalting yourself" on stage was actually costing him- The night on his tour bus in Boise that changed his life- What a "pastor's heart" is, and how he carries the weight of other people's pain- The practical guardrails he uses to stay humble as a public figure- The difference between empathy and sympathy in ministry- Why suffering became the hinge point of his story Granger's second book, Poison in the Well: Toxic Beliefs That Kept Me from the Living Water of Jesus, releases September 8. If you've ever wondered whether you're actually following Jesus or just comfortable near him, this one's worth your time. Grab Granger's book wherever books are sold. Timestamps:00:39 Welcome & show intro01:43 Becoming a lay pastor04:04 Discovering a pastor's heart08:00 Carrying the emotional weight11:22 The pull of self-exaltation14:34 Guarding against pride offstage17:53 Running on the right fuel21:49 Saved out of nominal Christianity26:19 Warning signs and toxic beliefs32:14 No Christian community after loss34:38 The night on the tour bus37:38 John 14 and true conversion41:31 Closing prayer: save me todaySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What if the monster under the bed is more afraid of you than you are of him? That's the question Kristin and Montell Jordan asked their son one night — and it became the seed for their new children's book, *Shiloh and the Not-So-Scary Girl Above His Bed*. In this episode, Ben sits down with the Jordans to talk about:• Why fear left unattended in childhood often becomes trauma in adulthood• How 32 years of marriage, ministry, and music shaped their approach to raising brave kids• Montell's journey as a two-time prostate cancer survivor — and what early detection made possible• Kristin's role as caregiver, and how vulnerability protects intimacy• Why humility is the doorway to inviting God into your hardest seasons• The difference between spending time with your kids and investing in them September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. If you're a man over 40 — or you love one — this conversation matters. Grab the book, share this with a friend who needs it, and subscribe for more honest conversations on faith, family, and doing hard things together. Timestamps00:57 Meet Montell and Kristin Jordan01:33 The story behind Shiloh04:57 Flipping fear into empathy09:14 Why fear was the first lesson13:02 Montell's cancer journey15:46 Doing hard things together17:34 Inviting God into the scariest moments21:49 Faith woven into a good story28:08 From heathen to marriage ministry34:27 Investing time with the next generation36:50 Prostate cancer: early detection saves lives42:29 Final cries to GodSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jay Pharoah — SNL alum, impressionist, and star of Fox's Quiz With Balls — sits down with Ben Higgins to talk about the moment he stopped running. In 2023, surrounded by everything he thought he wanted, Jay heard a voice tell him to leave the room. What happened next changed his life. In this conversation:- Why fame and access left him emptier, not fuller- The night he heard "meet me halfway, and I'll carry you the rest"- The addictions he walked away from — and how his father unknowingly echoed the same message- The blue Bible story: a prayer he never spoke out loud, answered by a stranger in Ohio- Why he's cutting language from his stand-up and what he's building toward next- Near-death experiences, the prodigal son, and the freedom of surrender Jay is honest about the version of himself he used to be — and clear-eyed about who God is shaping him into now. If you've ever wondered whether transformation is real, this one's worth your time. Subscribe for more conversations like this. Timestamps00:47 Why fame doesn't fulfill02:44 Meeting Jay Pharoah04:41 Growing up in church, road with Charlie Murphy06:27 SNL and losing his way08:00 The voice in the room: meet me halfway11:30 Getting rid of the room, the Quiz with Balls offer14:37 Why God forgives murderers and thieves17:57 Using the platform as an example22:09 What you have to give up25:00 Cutting the swearing from his set28:21 Freedom, not prison29:23 The blue Bible story37:58 The old version isn't wasted39:12 Becoming a rebel for Christ43:28 Stay in the fightSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Grammy-winning artist DOE joins Ben Higgins to talk about what it means to stop performing your faith and start living it. In this conversation, DOE opens up about being raised at the intersection of music and faith, the weight of feeling like "an employee" of God rather than a daughter, and how she learned to separate the anointing from her identity. She shares stories from her upbringing in a family band (Forever Jones), her father's militant commitment to morning prayer, and the wrestle that eventually shaped her solo career. We also dig into her new album Shiloh (out August 28), named after her son and built on Psalm 22:30. DOE talks about posterity, what she hopes her children inherit from her music, and why insisting "God is good" matters more now than ever. Timestamps:00:41 Welcome & intro to DOE02:33 Faith and music inseparable growing up04:12 Not a slave to the anointing08:35 Wrestling from employee to daughter14:44 Going solo after Forever Jones18:33 Winning the Grammy & new album Shiloh20:23 Why Dad made prayer non-negotiable25:35 What she hopes Shiloh takes away29:42 What "God is good" really means32:21 Reaching back and forward through worship35:06 Picturing a listener encountering GodSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.