CIA: Contagious Influencers of America

Contagious, Inc.
  • 4.8 (45)
  • Christianity
  • Updated Weekly

CIA: The Contagious Influencers of America Podcast. Meet the Gamechangers, the Influencers and those who are not afraid to show up with a shovel if that's what it takes to move a mountain. Go inside the minds of true American trailblazers who are making a difference by sharing their stories of personal triumph, overcoming obstacles, defeating fear, fighting addiction, and rejecting failure. Hosted by 9-time Emmy winner David Sams.

  1. 20h ago ·  Video

    What If Your Dream Isn't Dead - Just Delayed? (HOPE DARST)

    Feeling like your window of opportunity has passed? Let Hope Darst's story be your encouragement to never give up. Hope signed her first record deal at 39, after two decades as a wife, mom, and worship leader at her church in Nashville. In this candid conversation with host David Sams, Hope traces the whole arc: a desperate move to Nashville at 19 that led to a life-altering encounter with God, years of odd jobs, a chance demo burned onto a CD that landed her a gig singing backup for Natalie Grant, and finally the breakout of her signature song "Peace Be Still" — a song she almost never recorded. Along the way, Hope opens up with striking honesty about depression, an eating disorder, postpartum struggles, and her long journey toward healing her relationship with food and self-worth. Since this interview, Hope's beautiful story has only continued to unfold. Her latest release, the live worship album In the Mighty Name (April 2026), marks a return to her roots as a worship leader, featuring the single "Mighty Name of Jesus" alongside fan favorites like "You Can," "The Blood of Jesus," and her rendition of "Give Me Jesus (Upper Room)." Meanwhile the song that made her an overnight sensation, "Peace Be Still," has now surpassed 50 million streams and earned RIAA Gold certification. Tune in for a conversation that proves God's timing is always worth the wait. This episode first aired January 2024. #HopeDarst #PeaceBeStill #IfTheLordBuildsTheHouse #Worship #DavidSams #KeepTheFaith #ContagiousInfluencer #MightyNameof Jesus

    What If Your Dream Isn't Dead - Just Delayed? (HOPE DARST)

  2. 20h ago ·  Bonus

    You Might Also Like: On Purpose with Jay Shetty

    Introducing CAMILA MENDES: "Perfectionism Was Ruining My Life" from On Purpose with Jay Shetty. Follow the show: On Purpose with Jay Shetty Actress and producer Camila Mendes joins Jay for an honest conversation about the hidden cost of perfectionism, the pressure behind success, and what it took to finally choose herself. Camila opens up about the breaking point that forced her to confront old wounds, heal her relationship with food, reconnect with her Brazilian identity, and redefine what spirituality, self-worth, and love really mean. Together, they explore why chasing perfection often leaves us feeling empty, how slowing down can become the greatest act of self-respect, and why true confidence isn't about having everything figured out, but about accepting yourself exactly as you are. With Love and Gratitude, Jay Shetty A State Farm agent can help you choose the coverage you need. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. Visit: https://www.statefarm.com/  Head to https://wayfair.com right now to shop all things home and get your space ready for less. On Purpose is now Netflix and Spotify exclusive  http://www.netflix.com/onpurposewithjayshetty  https://open.spotify.com/show/5EqqB52m2bsr4k1Ii7sStc?si=33f7898fb334437c JAY’S DAILY WISDOM DELIVERED STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX Join 900,000+ readers discovering how small daily shifts create big life change with my free newsletter. Subscribe https://news.jayshetty.me/subscribe   Check out our Apple subscription to unlock bonus content of On Purpose! https://lnk.to/JayShettyPodcast  What We Discuss: 00:00:00 Intro 00:01:17 What Excites You Most Right Now? 00:01:57 Designing a Home That Feels Like You 00:03:32 The Challenge of Balance 00:05:26 Living One Day at a Time 00:07:24 The Importance of Learning Your Limits 00:10:09 Why Saying "No" Feels So Hard 00:15:08 Revisiting an Old Wound 00:19:56 Holding Two Truths at Once 00:21:10 Growing Up Between Cultures 00:23:12 Returning to Your Roots 00:24:41 Finding Spirituality Later in Life 00:29:44 The Power of Questioning Your Beliefs 00:31:11 Growing Up Without Stability 00:34:37 The Freedom of Imperfection 00:36:27 The Anxiety No One Could See 00:40:03 When You Have to Numb Out 00:41:45 Living With Your Own Worst Critic 00:44:35 Healing Your Relationship with Food 00:46:14 Recovering from an Eating Disorder 00:48:07 Getting Honest About Body Image 00:50:26 The Moment Self-Worth Starts to Crack 00:51:04 Meeting Rudy: The Turning Point 00:54:27 The Work of Becoming Your Best Self 00:57:30 Why You Have to Heal Before You Love Again 01:00:18 Choosing Love in the Hardest Moments 01:04:53 The Problem With One-Sided Love 01:08:20 The Proposal 01:13:08 When You're Aligned, Doors Open 01:14:54 Protecting Your Peace at Work 01:17:09 Camila on Final Five Episode Resources: Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/camimendes  TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@camimendes  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to team@podroll.fm.

    You Might Also Like: On Purpose with Jay Shetty

  3. Jul 23

    AMY GRANT: Blended Family, Faith, and the Day She Mentored Lauren Daigle

    The "Queen of Christian Pop" AMY GRANT is so transparent you'll want to kick back, lean in and listen as she talks about life, love, overcoming obstacles and her blended family with Vince Gill like never before. She even gets choked up so bring tissues! Plus, we went back a decade into our archives for a moment KeepTheFaith made happen and nobody else got to capture: the first time Amy ever met a rising star named Lauren Daigle. KeepTheFaith put the two of them in a room together, hit record, and let Amy mentor a wide-eyed young Lauren on navigating her prophetic success — years before the world knew her name. Hosted by 9-time Emmy winner David Sams and life coach to the stars Tim Storey. Since this conversation first aired, Amy's own story has kept unfolding. Amy's marriage to Vince Gill and the blended family she describes here remain the bedrock of her life, she survived a serious bike accident and open-heart surgery, and channeled that recovery into her first album of original songs in 13 years, The Me That Remains, released this May. She's back on the road through 2026 — and the wisdom she gives Lauren in this episode sounds a lot like the wisdom she's still living by today. This episode first aired December 2018.

  4. Jul 16 ·  Video

    He Lost His Father at 12 and Grew Up on Welfare. HAL DONALDSON Now Runs One of America's Biggest Charities.

    When disaster strikes without warning, hope has to show up fast — and for millions around the world, it arrives on a Convoy of Hope truck. Convoy of Hope is a global, faith-based, nonprofit organization that delivers emergency relief to communities devastated by disaster. Right now, their teams are on the ground in Venezuela, where on June 24 two catastrophic earthquakes of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5, among the strongest to hit the country in more than a century — struck, leaving more than 1,700 confirmed dead, thousands injured, and thousands more still missing. Convoy of Hope is meeting essential needs bringing help and hope to families walking through unthinkable tragedy.  KeepTheFaith Charities has been proud to support Convoy of Hope efforts and other "boots on the ground" organizations providing life-sustaining relief over the years. In this encore episode, host David Sams goes one-on-one with Hal Donaldson, founder of Convoy of Hope and author of "What Really Matters" — from the tragedy that shattered his childhood, to a life-changing conversation with Mother Teresa, to the pickup truck loaded with $300 of groceries that sparked one of America's largest charities. Along the way, Hal reveals how to answer God's call to serve a hurting world without sacrificing your health, your family, or yourself. To donate now to Venezuela earthquake relief, go to ConvoyofHope.org. You can make a difference!

    He Lost His Father at 12 and Grew Up on Welfare. HAL DONALDSON Now Runs One of America's Biggest Charities.

  5. Jul 9 ·  Video

    'I JUST MET MY HUSBAND': Bachelor Star Madi Prewett Troutt — First Date to Wife & Mom

    She went looking for love on national television — and found it in the last place she expected. Best-selling author Madison Prewett Troutt first captured hearts as a finalist on Season 24 of ABC's The Bachelor, but her real love story started with a blind date she almost turned down. In this encore presentation, Madi sits down with nine-time Emmy winner David Sams just as she's stepping into life as a newlywed and releasing her book "The Love Everybody Wants." A lot has changed since this conversation was first recorded — and it's exactly why we're bringing it back. Madi is now a mom! She and her husband, Grant Troutt, welcomed daughter Hosanna Rose in January 2025, after relocating from Texas to Nashville. And she's making headlines again, opening up in recent interviews about biblical submission in her marriage — sharing that submission doesn't mean a wife is weak, silenced, or unequal, but is rooted in mutual respect, trust, and a shared pursuit of the Lord, and that "when you love God the most, then you can love your spouse the best." The foundation for all of it? You'll hear it right here. Before the husband, the baby girl, and the growing platform, Madi had to come to the realization that God's love is really all she needed. She shares the first date that had her calling her mom to say "I just met my husband," why a spouse is meant to compliment you rather than complete you, the dating red flags you can't afford to ignore, and how God can use every rejection and closed door to redirect you to something greater. Whether you're single, dating, engaged, married, or somewhere in between, this is the love story behind the love story — and proof that the love you're looking for already exists. #madiprew #staytrue #keepthefaith #davidsams #contagiousinfluencer #madisonprewetttroutt

    'I JUST MET MY HUSBAND': Bachelor Star Madi Prewett Troutt — First Date to Wife & Mom

  6. Jul 1

    Celebrating America's 250th Birthday with LEE GREENWOOD — The Story of God Bless The U.S.A.

    Is there anything more synonymous with patriotic pride than "God Bless The U.S.A."? As we celebrate Independence Day and the 250th birthday of our nation, we're bringing back this fan favorite — originally released on Veterans Day 2022 — because Lee Greenwood and this song belong on every American holiday playlist. Nine-time Emmy winner David Sams sits down with the Grammy award-winning artist to reflect on the song's remarkable 40-year journey — from being written in the back of a tour bus in 1983 to becoming the only song ever charted in the top five across all genres of music. Lee shares stories from nearly 300 days a year on the road, performing at two presidential inaugurations at the Lincoln Memorial, touring with Bob Hope on his final USO Christmas tour, and what it felt like to watch "God Bless The U.S.A." surge back to the top after 9/11 and the Gulf War. They also dig into Lee's nonprofit work with Helping a Hero — a Houston-based foundation that has built over 200 specially adapted homes for wounded warriors — and the story behind the limited edition "God Bless The U.S.A. Bible," a leather-bound King James Bible featuring Lee's handwritten chorus lyrics alongside the Constitution, Bill of Rights, Declaration of Independence, and Pledge of Allegiance. This Fourth of July Lee's message rings as true as ever: America is the greatest country on the planet — and faith, unity, and hope will always carry us through. #leegreenwood #godblessthesua #america250 #july4 #keepthefaith #davidsams #contagiousinfluencer

    Celebrating America's 250th Birthday with LEE GREENWOOD — The Story of God Bless The U.S.A.

  7. Jun 25 ·  Video

    She Buried a Hero — Now 'American Sniper' Widow TAYA KYLE Reminds America What We're Celebrating

    As America celebrates her 250th birthday, there is no more fitting time to revisit this powerful conversation with one of the most courageous women connected to our nation's legacy of service and sacrifice. Taya Kyle was thrust into the national spotlight when her husband, Chris Kyle, became one of America's greatest war heroes — his story immortalized in the book and blockbuster film American Sniper. After Chris was tragically murdered at a shooting range in Texas, Taya chose to transform her grief into purpose, honoring his memory as a bestselling author, speaker, and champion for military families. In this timeless conversation with host David Sams, Taya opens up about turning fear into faith, tragedy into triumph, and suffering into strength — all while raising her children with the values of the warrior spirit Chris embodied. Her story is a living reminder of what American resilience truly looks like. As we mark 250 years of the American dream, Taya Kyle's journey reminds us that freedom has a cost — and that the families who bear that cost deserve our deepest gratitude and support. Learn more about Taya, her books "American Spirit," "American Wife" and her foundation, Taya and Chris Kyle Family – Service Marriage Strong, which serves military and first responder families at tackf.org.

    She Buried a Hero — Now 'American Sniper' Widow TAYA KYLE Reminds America What We're Celebrating

  8. Jun 18 ·  Video

    No Dad is Too Far Gone: MISS KAY & KORIE ROBERTSON on Phil's Radical Redemption and Legacy

    There's no story quite like a redemption story—and the truth is, no father is ever too far gone for a second chance. In honor of Father's Day, we are opening the archives for a special Encore presentation celebrating the legacy of a true family patriarch, Phil Robertson, who passed away last year. Long before the Robertsons encouraged millions on their hit TV show Duck Dynasty, there was a day when none of this looked remotely possible. The early years were marked by severe brokenness, but Phil's life became the ultimate testament to a fatherhood redeemed by grace. The matriarch of the family, Miss Kay Robertson, and her daughter-in-law, Korie, joined nine-time Emmy winner David Sams to share the raw, behind-the-scenes truth of Phil's radical transformation. If you loved their hit biographical feature film, The Blind, or if you are a dad looking to build a lasting spiritual legacy for your own family, this powerful archive conversation is exactly what you need to hear this Father's Day weekend. Plus, you can watch the new season of Duck Dynasty: The Revival on A&E. #keepthefaith #contagiousinfluencer #philrobertson #duckdynasty #misskay #korierobertson

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CIA: The Contagious Influencers of America Podcast. Meet the Gamechangers, the Influencers and those who are not afraid to show up with a shovel if that's what it takes to move a mountain. Go inside the minds of true American trailblazers who are making a difference by sharing their stories of personal triumph, overcoming obstacles, defeating fear, fighting addiction, and rejecting failure. Hosted by 9-time Emmy winner David Sams.

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