The JOY FM Podcast

Dave, Bill, and Carmen sit down with Abe Bueno-Jallad, who plays “Big James” in The Chosen, during a “bring your mom to work” segment featuring Carmen’s mom, “Mohair,” a devoted fan. Abe shares a line from season two—“Sometimes I don’t always know what I’m doing, I’m just following”—that has grown in significance for him, and discusses how playing a disciple without a dedicated biblical book pushed him to study the Gospels and broader scripture like a detective. He describes the emotional weight the cast carried while filming season six’s crucifixion scenes, compares the cast dynamic to a family cooking Thanksgiving dinner every day, and talks about the show’s reach in Spanish-speaking regions and the Arab world, including connecting with Christian families in Bethlehem. He also notes how the series can challenge viewers’ preconceived ideas about Jesus and mentions fun on-set moments he can’t fully share, including an unused version of the triumphal entry. Connect with us: The Morning Cruise on Instagram The JOY FM YouTube Listen Live: https://www.thejoyfm.com/

Austin Reed Alleman from The Chosen on Nathanael, the Walk on Water Scene, and Filming the Fig Tree Moment On The Morning Cruise with Dave, Bill, and Carmen at The JOY FM, the hosts interview Austin Reed Alleman at Chosen Con, with Carmen’s mom “Mohair” joining after arriving with 11 handwritten pages of notes. Mohair asks Austin which scene has stayed with him most, and he highlights filming the walk-on-water sequence as a dreamlike, large-scale production and teases another impactful Season 6 moment he can’t discuss yet. Austin shares he’s from New Orleans, misses the food, lives in New York City, and notes the walk-on-water scene was filmed in Shreveport, Louisiana, describing the tank, rain, wind, and cold conditions. The conversation shifts to Season 2’s emotional “under the fig tree” scene, where Austin explains his acting training, the time pressure, technical issues, and how Dallas helped him connect to the scene’s significance, including that Nathanael was modeled after Dallas’s life.  

Jordan Walker Ross on Disability, Faith & Healing + Behind-the-Scenes Fun on The Chosen Join The Morning Cruise as Dave, Bill, and Carmen interview Jordan Walker Ross (“Little James” on The Chosen). Carmen’s mom, a devoted fan shares how a scene about healing helped her reframe living with MS, and Jordan discusses embracing his own disabilities after years of feeling boxed in by the industry, the impact the scene has had on viewers, and why faith and healing aren’t always black-and-white. He offers encouragement to those who feel “less than,” describing disability as different, not broken, and emphasizing internal healing from others’ hurts. Jordan also describes supportive cast dynamics, his playful “dad” bit with Jonathan Roumie, and his practical jokes on set.

The Morning Cruise sits down with Giavani, who plays Thaddeus on The Chosen, joined by Carmen’s mom, a devoted fan. Giavani shares that Jordan Walker Ross is the set’s class clown, describing pranks like filling Austin’s dressing room with dozens of small Christmas trees and tumbleweed. He explains how the cast developed their accents using Jonathan Roumie’s performance as a reference and working with a dialect coach, and admits he sometimes stays in character at home. Giavani discusses the challenge and honor of portraying the quieter disciple Thaddeus (St. Jude), including a season five flashback showing his earlier hesitation and how he aimed to portray quiet faith and kindheartedness. They also touch on his Detroit roots, Lions fandom, engagement and wedding planning, and how an injury shifted him from baseball dreams to acting, which he attributes to surrender and trust in God.  Connect with us: The Morning Cruise on Instagram The JOY FM YouTube Listen Live: https://www.thejoyfm.com/

The Morning Cruise interviews Noah James, who plays Andrew on The Chosen, at Chosen Con, joined by Carmen’s mom “Mohair,” a devoted fan. Noah describes his casting journey, including auditioning for the short film The Shepherd, initially reading for Simon Peter, later auditioning for other roles, and learning about a week before filming in Los Angeles that he’d been cast as Andrew, prompting him to grow out his hair and beard. He mentions Season 7 as his last with such long hair and possible future spinoffs. Noah shares he married during Season 3 in 2022 and offered wedding advice to castmate Giovanni. Asked about a favorite scene, he highlights filming the visit to John the Baptist in Herod’s dungeon and its impact, then discusses Andrew and Peter’s supportive dynamic and how it reflects real-life relationships.  Connect with us: The Morning Cruise on Instagram The JOY FM YouTube Listen Live: https://www.thejoyfm.com/

Join The Morning Cruise (plus Mohair!) at Chosen Con as they sit down with Paras Patel, who plays Matthew on The Chosen, with Carmen’s mom—an avid fan—kicking off the questions. Patel shares that he often returns home to Florida between seasons to stay grounded, recalls the lighthearted atmosphere on set (naming Jordan Walker Ross as the biggest jokester), and talks about earning a finance degree before portraying a tax collector. He explains his casting journey for Matthew, including a Zoom callback glitch, a late offer after filming began, and how Dallas Jenkins’ wife Amanda felt a spiritual calling that he fit the role. Patel discusses how portraying Matthew as neurodivergent has deepened the show’s dynamics, strengthened Matthew’s personal journey, and motivated him to amplify awareness and belonging for neurodivergent audiences. Connect with us: The Morning Cruise on Instagram The JOY FM YouTube Listen Live: https://www.thejoyfm.com/

Dave, Bill and Carmen sit down with Dallas and Amanda Jenkins from The Chosen, joined by Carmen's mom, Mohair, their “number one fan,” who brings questions. Dallas discusses the show’s goal of portraying Jesus and the disciples with authenticity and everyday humanity, avoiding distant or overly formal portrayals, and explains how the project grew from crowdfunding while reminding himself it’s “not my job to feed the 5,000,” referencing five loaves and two fish. They talk about challenges in writing Jesus, including making scriptural dialogue feel like natural conversation and ensuring non-scriptural scenes remain true to character and intent with scholarly checks. Dallas explains choices like linking Simon the Zealot to the Bethesda story and portraying Matthew as being on the spectrum as plausible character work. Amanda shares how companion Bible studies and devotionals were created to draw viewers into scripture, noting The Chosen’s impact on Bible engagement and its reach among nonbelievers, and both share favorite scenes. Connect with us: The Morning Cruise on Instagram The JOY FM YouTube Listen Live: https://www.thejoyfm.com/

Join us as we explore Universal Studios with Joe L. Barnes in an insightful and heartfelt interview. Joe shares his journey as a songwriter, the creation of generational worship songs, and how faith and personal experiences shape his music. He delves into his life challenges, the power of prayer, and overcoming imposter syndrome. Joe also discusses the spiritual importance of dinner tables, the essence of true communion, and the transformative message of the Gospel. Plus, get an inside look into his experiences with Elevation Worship and Maverick City, and how stepping out in faith can lead to life's greatest adventures.

In this heartwarming interview, Jordan St. Cyr discusses his journey as a parent, his music, and his faith with Candice. He shares insights into understanding and connecting with each of his children according to their unique personalities. Jordan opens up about the challenges and blessings of raising a child with a rare brain condition and how his faith has been a constant source of strength. He also talks about the inspiration behind his song 'Rescue You' and the importance of seeking God's presence. This conversation dives into the practical aspects of balancing a music career, family, and staying rooted in faith.

In this episode of Talk To Me, Jules and Riley Clemons enjoy a lively conversation about their love for coffee, Riley's strategic approach to social media for mental well-being, and insightful life lessons. Riley shares anecdotes about her early singing experiences, her family life, and the emotional creation of her song 'Jesus Cries'. The discussion ends with a fun Q&A game, revealing Riley's passion for pickleball and her dreams for a blissful retired life full of morning coffees and dinner parties.