Candid Conversations with Dr. Jonathan Youssef

Jonathan Youssef
  • 4.8 (133)
  • CHRISTIANITY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY
Candid Conversations with Dr. Jonathan Youssef

Tough Questions. Powerful Stories. Real Faith. Join Dr. Jonathan Youssef and your favorite pastors, authors, theologians and Christian influencers every Tuesday for conversations about Christ and culture.

  1. Teaching Little Hearts Big Truths About Easter: John Greco | Episode 283

    APR 8

    Teaching Little Hearts Big Truths About Easter: John Greco | Episode 283

    Do you struggle as a parent to help your children grasp the profound significance of Easter while swimming against a tide of pastel eggs and jelly bean overload? In this episode of Candid Conversations, Jonathan Youssef talks with John Greco, whose new children's book, The Easter Lamb, was born from his parenting challenge to explain to his three young sons how God's rescue plan connects Passover to the Cross. Whether you have toddlers fascinated by colorful illustrations or older kids asking tough theological questions, this conversation offers practical wisdom for families seeking to plant Biblical Truth that will root deeply in children's hearts. John Greco is a writer, editor, and self-described Bible geek with an impressive background in Biblical scholarship. He has served as the editor of the He Reads Truth Bible and as the New Testament theological editor for the NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible.

    26 min
  2. How to Live Authentically for Christ with Jinger & Jeremy Vuolo | Episode 282 - part 2

    APR 1

    How to Live Authentically for Christ with Jinger & Jeremy Vuolo | Episode 282 - part 2

    What happens when our desire to be liked becomes a barrier to real community? In part two, Jonathan Youssef continues his conversation with Jeremy and Jinger Vuolo, going deeper into the profound struggles behind people-pleasing—and how God’s Truth sets us free. Jinger shares powerful stories of real-life moments that challenged her desire to appear “put together,” and how letting others into her mess brought healing, deeper friendships, and lasting joy. Jeremy offers honest reflections on walking with Jinger through this transformation, encouraging others to think rightly about their motives and the long-term costs of approval-seeking. Together, they explore the danger of “trading down” meaningful relationships for short-term reputation and how choosing vulnerability can lead to the community we crave. This conversation is honest, relatable, and ultimately freeing—for anyone wrestling with fear, performance, or the pressure to please.

    24 min
  3. The Weight of People Pleasing with Jinger & Jeremy Vuolo | Episode 282 - part 1

    MAR 25

    The Weight of People Pleasing with Jinger & Jeremy Vuolo | Episode 282 - part 1

    What happens when you realize much of your life has been shaped by the need to meet others' expectations? In this enlightening episode of Candid Conversations, Jonathan Youssef welcomes Jeremy and Jinger Vuolo back to the program as they dive into the suffocating world of people-pleasing. Jinger, known from TLC's "Nineteen Kids and Counting," reveals how she discovered a prison of other's expectations beneath her desire to maintain peace. With remarkable vulnerability, she shares how the fear-based theology she was raised in magnified these tendencies and how her marriage to Jeremy was the catalyst for transformation. This conversation isn't just for people pleasers—it's for anyone who's ever wondered if their relationships, decisions, and actions are motivated by genuine love or a need for approval.

    24 min
  4. Truth in a Post-Truth World: Why It Still Matters: Jonathan Youssef | Episode 281

    MAR 18

    Truth in a Post-Truth World: Why It Still Matters: Jonathan Youssef | Episode 281

    In a culture that is increasingly more comfortable with phrases like "my truth" and "your truth," Jonathan Youssef explores the concept of objective truth and why it matters in our everyday lives. This episode examines the logical problems with a "post-truth" mentality and presents compelling evidence for why Christianity's truth claims deserve thoughtful consideration, even from skeptics.

    8 min
  5. Waking the Sleeping Church: Dr. Michael Youssef on God's Final Call| Episode 280

    MAR 4

    Waking the Sleeping Church: Dr. Michael Youssef on God's Final Call| Episode 280

    Is the church asleep while the world crumbles? What if Jesus' ancient warnings to the church are more relevant now than ever? Jonathan Youssef sits down with his father, renowned Bible teacher Dr. Michael Youssef, for an unfiltered conversation about spiritual complacency in critical times. As they explore the insights from Dr. Youssef's new book, God's Final Call, they reveal how Christ's messages to the seven churches of Revelation contain the exact blueprint modern believers need to navigate our increasingly hostile cultural landscape. Drawing from over five decades of Biblical scholarship, Dr. Youssef decodes these prophetic warnings with an urgency that will challenge everything you thought you knew about faith in chaotic times.

    25 min
  6. Dru Hammer: Scandal, Forgiveness, and a Calling Greater Than Wealth - Episode 279 | Part 2

    FEB 25

    Dru Hammer: Scandal, Forgiveness, and a Calling Greater Than Wealth - Episode 279 | Part 2

    In this powerful conclusion of our conversation with Dru Hammer, she openly shares about navigating the controversy surrounding her son, Armie Hammer, finding healing after a public divorce, and how God turned her pain into purpose through the Hammered Heart Foundation.

    24 min
  7. Ministering to the Famous and Forgotten: The Bold Faith of Dru Hammer - Episode 279 | PT 1

    FEB 18

    Ministering to the Famous and Forgotten: The Bold Faith of Dru Hammer - Episode 279 | PT 1

    In this powerful first installment, Jonathan Youssef sits down with Dru Hammer to discuss her remarkable faith journey, from her roots in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to becoming part of one of America's most prominent families. Dru Hammer's life story reads like a modern-day Acts narrative from the heartland of Tulsa to the heights of Beverly Hills. In this episode, she recounts her family's radical conversion to Christianity, her father's unexpected healing ministry, and a divine appointment on a flight that led to her marriage into the Hammer family dynasty. With refreshing authenticity, Dru shares how she bridged two vastly different worlds - maintaining her faith while navigating high society - and how this unique position opened doors to share the Gospel with everyone from housekeepers to world leaders, including her father-in-law Dr. Armand Hammer's transformative journey to faith.

    31 min
  8. What the Western Church Can Learn from the Eastern Church: Tara Shinja (Episode 278)

    FEB 11

    What the Western Church Can Learn from the Eastern Church: Tara Shinja (Episode 278)

    What happens when deep cultural roots meet the life-changing power of the Gospel? Tara Shinja knows firsthand. Raised between two distinct cultures, Tara’s journey is a powerful testimony of God’s transforming grace and the strength it takes to stand firm in the Christian faith. In this episode, Tara shares her family’s story of radical transformation—from a mother raised in foster care yet captivated by Christ's love to her father’s unexpected journey from Hinduism to Christianity, as a child who grew up between two cultures, Tara shares unique insight into the Eastern and Western churches. What You’ll Hear: The challenge of living out your faith in a complex cultural landscape How God’s truth brought clarity and freedom in the midst of confusion The power of prayer and discipleship to impact lives and change hearts Practical tips for sharing your faith with those who are searching, including the power of persistent prayer for the lost If you’re navigating faith in a multicultural world or seeking encouragement to share the Gospel with boldness, this episode is for you. Listen now and be inspired by God’s unstoppable grace!

    49 min
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    4.8
    out of 5
    133 Ratings

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    Tough Questions. Powerful Stories. Real Faith. Join Dr. Jonathan Youssef and your favorite pastors, authors, theologians and Christian influencers every Tuesday for conversations about Christ and culture.

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