If You Can Hear Me

iHeartPodcasts
  • 5.0 (32)
  • Society & Culture
  • Updated Weekly

We’re all looking for something.   In If You Can Hear Me, Ben Higgins sits down with people from all walks of life—celebrities, thinkers, everyday folks—to talk about what drives us, what shapes us, and what gives us hope.   These are honest conversations about the big stuff: identity, loss, purpose, peace, faith, and everything in between. Some guests have answers. Most are still figuring it out.   If you’ve ever felt like there must be more to the story—this show is for you.

  1. 5d ago

    Paul Young on Grieving Well, Trusting Slowly, and the Photo Album We Keep

    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 pain See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  2. Sep 22

    Michael W. Smith: The Missed Flight, the Uber Driver, and the Sermon

    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 abide See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  3. Sep 15

    One Foot in the Quicksand: Granger Smith on Carrying Other People's Grief

    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 today See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  4. Sep 8

    Why Montell and Kristin Jordan Traded Platinum Records for Prayer and Picture Books

    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 God See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  5. Sep 1

    Jay Pharoah: SNL, Addiction, and the Prodigal Son

    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 fight See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  6. Aug 25

    DOE: I Want to Be God's Daughter, Not His Employee

    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 God See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  7. Aug 24

    Faith, Marriage, And Second Callings with Cody Zeller and Leanna Crawford

    Ben's college buddy Cody Zeller — and his wife, Grammy-nominated artist Leanna Crawford — sit down for a conversation about faith, identity, and what comes after the spotlight fades. Cody spent a decade in the NBA before retiring at 31. Leanna's career is just taking off — a #1 radio single, a sophomore album, and a schedule that keeps her on the road. Together they talk about how they've kept their identity rooted in something bigger than their careers, and how they're preparing to become parents this November. In this episode:- How Cody and Leanna met (and why she made him wait)- 10 surgeries, retirement at 31, and finding purpose after the game- Writing songs from journal entries — and why not every song resolves- The friends and family who keep them humble- What they hope to pass on from the parents who raised them A real conversation between old friends about marriage, calling, and trusting God's timing. Follow the show and let us know what stood out to you. Timestamps:01:39 Welcome & intro02:07 Cody's IU recruiting visit06:18 How Leanna & Cody met09:33 The proposal at Crowder's Mountain11:47 Staying grounded through fame15:46 Prayers answered, prayers waiting19:41 Identity beyond career26:05 Life after basketball31:12 Writing from the journal36:43 Helping listeners feel less alone40:33 Lessons from their parents43:50 Becoming parents See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  8. Aug 4

    Max McNown: I Climb One Step, Not the Whole Staircase

    Max McNown learned guitar in 2022. Three years later, he's selling out venues and releasing his next album. In this conversation, Max sits down with Ben Higgins to talk about the story behind his rise — and why he doesn't credit it to ambition. We get into:- The guitar his dad handed him as he drove off to California at 21- His brother Brock's 5-year battle with lymphoma and what it reshaped in him- The Edmonton show where he realized fans were there for *his* music- His grandfather Dale, forgiveness, and what it means to have a "servant heart"- Staying grounded when the career is moving faster than you are- Why he prays before every show — and what that prayer actually sounds like- His new album *Leave On a Light* (out September 25) and the people it's written for Max is one of the fastest-growing names in music right now, but the through-line of this conversation isn't the numbers. It's gratitude, family, and the quiet decisions that keep a person whole. Listen to *Leave On a Light* when it drops September 25. Timestamps:00:47 Welcome to If You Can Hear Me02:09 The guitar that started it all05:59 Rising fast, one step at a time08:27 Edmonton: the turning point10:56 Street performing and first fans13:22 Providence in a father's gift16:26 Grandpa Dale's wisdom19:03 Forgiveness as foundation22:38 Staying grounded through fame27:44 Music isn't everything29:37 Praying before every show32:00 Living one day at a time35:18 What Brock's cancer taught him38:17 Leave On a Light — the new album See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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About

We’re all looking for something.   In If You Can Hear Me, Ben Higgins sits down with people from all walks of life—celebrities, thinkers, everyday folks—to talk about what drives us, what shapes us, and what gives us hope.   These are honest conversations about the big stuff: identity, loss, purpose, peace, faith, and everything in between. Some guests have answers. Most are still figuring it out.   If you’ve ever felt like there must be more to the story—this show is for you.

Information

  • Creator
    iHeartPodcasts
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    31
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    2026 iHeartMedia, Inc. © Any use of this intellectual property for text and data mining or computational analysis including as training material for artificial intelligence systems is strictly prohibited without express written consent from iHeartMedia
  • Show Website
    If You Can Hear Me

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