Jesus Calling: Stories of Faith

This week, we sit down with Chris Blair, the owner of the Listening Room Cafe in Nashville, a place known not just for great music, but for the spirit of generosity that lives within its walls. Chris came to Nashville chasing a dream, but what began as a pursuit of music slowly became a calling to create space for others—space where stories are honored, community is formed, and giving back becomes more important than getting ahead.
Later in the episode, we’ll also hear from country artist Cyndi Thomson, who experienced a rapid rise to fame with her debut album My World and hit song “What I Really Meant to Say.” At the height of her success, she began to struggle with panic attacks and a deep sense that God was moving her in a different direction. She shares the private process of wrestling with this decision, and how after walking away from her career, her focus became on the one individual over the accolades of the world.

Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned:
Jesus Calling Podcast
Jesus Calling
Jesus Always
Jesus Listens
Past interview: Old Friends Senior Dog Sanctuary
Upcoming interview: Jeremy Rosado

Chris Blair
The Listening Room Cafe
Tootsies
Brian White
Bridget Tatum
Danny Myrick
Hands On Nashville
www.chrisblair.com
www.listeningroomcafe.com

Cyndi Thomson
My World
www.cyndithomson.com

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TrinityCredit – Call us at 1-800-793-8548. Whether we’re helping people pay off their unsecured debt or offering assistance to those behind in their mortgage payments, Trinity has the knowledge and resources to make a difference. https://trinitycredit.org

Interview Quotes:
“At The Listening Room, we connect people with the stories behind the songs. That’s our mission.” - Chris Blair
“Part of the reason that I wanted to start the Listening Room in the first place [was] to bring in and spend thirty minutes to an hour with individual artists and songwriters and really share their story of not just the songs, but how they got started, their struggles, their wins, and all of that.” - Chris Blair
“We went through a lot of hard times in the early days, but that was the early dream of what I wanted people to experience when they walked into the doors of The Listening Room for the first time—that they just felt like they belonged and that they could walk out feeling like they were connected to the stories behind the songs in a way that they had never heard and couldn’t wait to come back.” - Chris Blair
“Because I’d come out of a bullying experience, I didn’t know what I was. [A teacher] was the first person to really call out what God had put on my life. She saw an anointing that I didn’t see, and I needed a teacher like that in my life.” - Cyndi Thomson
“Looking back now, [walking away from my career] was self-preservation, and it was obviously the Lord’s hand on my life. So that decision came with much prayer. I remember having this moment where I was like, Okay, Lord, if you really want me to do this, I need something supernatural from You only.” - Cyndi Thomson
“I think that time with the Lord on a daily basis can either make or break your day. How many times can we call it out by the end of the day, like, I didn’t spend my time with the Lord? You just know it. It just runs so differently when you do.” - Cyndi Thomson
“God really does care about the ‘one,’ and He’ll go to any length to reach them.” - Cyndi Thomson
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Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel!
Audio Episodes: https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7
Bonus Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw
Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer: https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C
Peace for Everyday Life: https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj
Peace in Uncertain Times: https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u
What’s Good? https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj
Enneagram: https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY
________________________
Connect with Jesus Calling
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Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Welcome to this special bonus episode of the Jesus Calling Podcast, inspired by the topical themes from Sarah Young’s seasonal prayer devotional Jesus Listens: Prayers for Every Season. Today, we are featuring guests who speak to themes that all of us might be experiencing in this season of winter. As the days grow shorter and the night longer, we are offered a rare gift: permission to stop. This season can be a challenging time for many, and if you are struggling with low spirits, please know you are not alone and help is available. This episode is an opportunity to honor your weariness, to resist the urge to rush, and to discover the profound healing that happens when we simply let ourselves rest in the stillness.

Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned:
Jesus Listens: Prayers for Every Season
Jesus Calling Podcast
Jesus Calling
Jesus Always
Jesus Listens

Patsy Clairmont
Herman Mendoza
Kristin Smedley
Tamron Hall
Kevin Olusola
Sabrina Greenlee
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*Episode produced by Four Eyes Media*
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This week, we hear from retired Washington D.C. police sergeant and pastor Dale Sutherland, who shares how his faith carried him through dangerous undercover work, false accusations, and ultimately inspired him to launch a ministry that brings hope to families in crisis.
Later in the episode, we’ll hear from Haley Scully, who has spent nearly fifteen years with Hope for the Heart, equipping people to offer compassionate care within their communities. Through her own journey of navigating disappointment and renewal, she’s gained a deep understanding of the struggles others face—and a passion to restore their confidence and hope.

Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned:
Jesus Calling Podcast
Jesus Calling
Jesus Always
Jesus Listens
Past interview: Clarissa and Fiona Moll
Upcoming interview: Chris Blair

Dale Sutherland
Ephesians 2:10
2 Corinthians 1:9
Boost Others
www.boostothers.org
www.theundercoverpastor.com

Haley Scully
Hope for the Heart
www.hopefortheheart.org
The Care and Counsel Handbook

Interview Quotes:
“I’ve been shot at, robbed, and threatened a lot of times. But by God’s grace, I’m here.” - Dale Sutherland
“[Being a police officer] was intense, yes, but the great thing is knowing Jesus the Lord went with me on all those calls. When I got ready to do an undercover, I prayed and asked the Lord for help. I really think any success I’ve received or been blessed with has truly been a result of the Lord’s work and answering all those prayers.” - Dale Sutherland
“The Lord helped me a tremendous amount so that I could do my job but not let my own worries or feelings about what might happen or what has happened—almost like an on and off switch.” - Dale Sutherland
“That time of trying to understand the goodness of God and His calling, in spite of some of the biggest disappointment and hurt in my life, that was certainly a time that I didn’t feel uncertain of Him, but I was feeling afraid and definitely stretched. I had to search through His Word with Him and really dig in to believe that He is good in spite of those disappointments.” - Haley Scully
“When we allow God to use the gifts that He’s given us and we allow Him to shape that, it takes off all the pressure. That’s when the burden is light, when the yoke is on the Lord. I just get to help lead people to His Word.”- Haley Scully
“Whether we are in a village in Africa or we’re in a high rise in Hong Kong, it does not matter where we are, the struggles of the human heart are the same.” - Haley Scully
“We know that people are carrying quite a load as they try to care for others, and we want to help them be the most prepared to do that so they can still have joy in their calling and that they truly can trust in God to be the One to manage these things and be a vessel of help and hope.” - Haley Scully
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Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel!
Audio Episodes: https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7
Bonus Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw
Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer: https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C
Peace for Everyday Life: https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj
Peace in Uncertain Times: https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u
What’s Good? https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj
Enneagram: https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY
________________________
Connect with Jesus Calling
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Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Welcome to a special scripture-focused bonus episode of the Jesus Calling Podcast, where we do a deep dive on the book of Proverbs with author Sherri Hughes-Gragg. Sherri walks us through the wisdom and compassion of God that are on full display in Proverbs, how short scripture passages like these can serve as a touchpoint to bring us back to God, and what it truly means to love our neighbors as ourselves.

Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned:
Jesus Calling Podcast
Jesus Calling
Jesus Always
Jesus Listens

Sherri Hughes-Gragg
The Compassionate Christ
Book of Proverbs

Interview Quotes:
“I think if we only read Proverbs at face value, we are missing a lot of the depth and the richness of the text. And I think that’s true for all of Scripture, actually. When we approach Scripture with the culture and history of the Bible in mind, it really illuminates it.” - Sherri Hughes-Gragg
“One of the things I love about the Proverbs is how practical it is. When I open the Proverbs to read them, pretty much every time something hits me right between the eyes and challenges me, usually about the way I’m loving my neighbor.” - Sherri Hughes-Gragg
“Books like the book of Proverbs have challenged me on what it means to live in right communication with God and my neighbor.” - Sherri Hughes-Gragg
“God really is a compassionate, merciful God. More so than we could ever even imagine. His mercy and compassion are beyond our imagination. And when we begin to rest in that, we then have the capacity and the responsibility to live compassionately with others.” - Sherri Hughes-Gragg
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*Episode produced by Four Eyes Media*
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

In the foothills of Appalachia, Jordan Smith, a young boy from Harlan, Kentucky, found his voice in the hymns of a small country church. Years later, that voice would capture the nation’s heart when Jordan Smith won NBC’s The Voice in 2015. In our conversation, Jordan reflects on how hymns shaped his journey and how prayer and Scripture continue to anchor him through every season of life.
Later in the episode, we’ll hear from Tyler White, also known as DJ TyWy. Growing up on the spectrum, Tyler discovered the power of music to break through social struggles, from singing in talent shows to dancing at school events. Today, he DJs across Florida, including Autism Speaks Walks, using his platform to inspire others on the spectrum. In our conversation, Tyler reflects on perseverance, faith, and how music has shaped his journey and dreams.

Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned:
Jesus Calling Podcast
Jesus Calling
Jesus Always
Jesus Listens
Past interview: Johnny and Donnie Van Zant
Upcoming interview: Dale Sutherland
Jesus Listens: Prayers for Every Season
Jordan Smith
NBC’s The Voice
Psalms
The People’s Hymnal
Gaither Music
www.therealjordansmith.com

Tyler White
Autism Speaks Walks
Love on the Spectrum
CMA Fest
Dillon Weldon
Randy Travis
*Tyler White would like to thank Clay Bradley, President of BMI, his manager Brent Daughrity, the board of directors for the CMA, and his attorney J. Reid Hunter for introducing him to the platforms for writing and recording in Nashville. He’d also like to thank Drew Trosclair, Jeff Garrison, Jackson Nance, and Cameron Bedell for helping him write and produce the songs.

Interview Quotes:
“Hymns are songs that are meant to be memorized and sung together. They’re songs that bring people together, they are songs that are centered around the message of the gospel. They highlight the truth of Scripture. They also bring people together and allow people to experience that truth together.” - Jordan Smith
“When you have a group of people coming together to sing these uplifting messages, to sing these messages of hope, and to sing these messages of the gospel, I think something just comes alive in you, and there’s something profound about it.” - Jordan Smith
“I found myself in moments where worry was stealing the joy of what God was doing in my life. Worry was taking away the happiness that I should feel in doing what God created me to do. I had to learn how to cultivate a consistent prayer life with God in order to remain at peace in every situation. I continually had to come back, sometimes even every single day, to give Him the same worries and fears and trade them and exchange them for His love and His peace.” - Jordan Smith
“I think the beautiful thing about faith and about a relationship with God is that it’s universal and it does bring unity and it does connect us together, but it’s also so extremely personal.” - Jordan Smith
“Christian faith is built on Christ as the foundation, but it’s sustained by Christian community. And we need each other to get through this thing.” - Jordan Smith
“With hard work, perseverance, determination, positive attitude, and faith in God, you can overcome any obstacle and do anything you set your mind to. I say that because really that’s how I’ve learned how to overcome things. I think everybody needs Jesus.” - Tyler White
“With my life growing up on the spectrum, I always say my autism is what’s helped me draw closer to Jesus. And I think it’s very important, no matter what you go through, to always put Jesus first and He’ll help you. I always ask God to use me in the way He’d have for me to be and always make sure that I’m using this to glorify Him, as well as inspire others on the spectrum.” - Tyler White
________________________
Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel!
Audio Episodes: https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7
Bonus Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw
Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer: https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C
Peace for Everyday Life: https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj
Peace in Uncertain Times: https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u
What’s Good? https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj
Enneagram: https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY
________________________
Connect with Jesus Calling
Instagram
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
YouTube
Website
TikTok
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.