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Family And Relationships Episodes

Creative pursuits don't happen in isolation — they happen in the middle of marriages, parenting, friendships, and community. These episodes tackle the real tension between chasing your calling and honoring the people around you, and what it looks like to pursue both without sacrificing either.
375
Feb. 24, 2026

How Gossip and Criticism Can Wreck Your Creator Career

In this episode we explore the danger of offering negative critiques and oversharing in creator circles, in response to a recent IG reel by top BGV contractor Jazmin Crumley.
343
July 7, 2025

Rewrite your Life! How to Pivot your Platform and Reach the Right People with Jackie Bledsoe, Author / Speaker / Coach

Do you want to reach more people with your message, writing or creative gift, but you're worried that trying too hard will risk damaging your closest relationships? Author, coach, and creator of The 7 Rings of Marriage, Jackie Bledsoe, is joining us to share how he's impacting hundreds of thousands of believers while keeping family and God first.
304
Oct. 7, 2024

What Should Creative Success Look Like Next Year?

Tap to send us a text! Quick question: Are you successful yet? And if you're not sure...how can you know when you'll reach true creative success? In this excerpt from our Creative Checkup livestream on Fridays at 1pm on YouTube and other social media sites, we shared some personal reflections on what success actually looks like in 2025 and beyond. Listen, lean in and learn what you might need to do to redefine your success in the coming year. so you don't get stuck trying to reach goals that ...
300
Sept. 9, 2024

Married to the Podcast: Unexpected Blessings on the Way to 300 Episodes w/ Allen and Lia Paul

We never saw this coming...but here we are. 300 episodes later, after starting this podcast on a pool table in our parents' garage, we're commemorating 7 years of podcasting and growing an amazing community. Our 'guest' is the person who knows better than anyone what's it's been like to see all of this come to pass - my (Allen's) wife Lia Paul. While Lia has appeared a few times over the years, she really opens up about her own struggles both as a creative in her own right, and as a support to...
266
Jan. 8, 2024

Starting Over (Again): How Faithfulness Leads to Favor with Jalisa Faye, Singer / Songwriter

From singing for youth services to sharing the stage with Tye Tribbett, this passionate and gifted vocalist reveals how pure dedication paves the way to promotion.
Guest: Jalisa Faye
246
Aug. 14, 2023

Unbreakable: How RAII & Whitney Earned The Trust of Top Artists as Married Vocalists

This dynamic husband and wife team reveal what it takes to earn the trust of superstar artists - while building trust in each other as creative partners.
238
June 19, 2023

Anita vs. Babyface: 4 Steps to Defusing Creative Conflicts Before They Blow Up

Can't we all just get along? In the summer of 2023, two prominent R&B artists had a disagreement during a concert that blew up into a media and creative firestorm. Could this have been avoided, and what can we learn that could help us avoid situations like this? In this Creative Checkup, we delve into the of how conflict can harm more than just your career, and we'll show you a step-by-step guide to navigating creative disputes that will protect your relationships and glorify God. In this ...
222
Feb. 27, 2023

How to Find People Who Make You a Better Person w/ Aaron Walker, Coach

Do you wish you had people in your life who actually WANT to help you grow? If so, you're not alone. Creatives are often stuck in place because they can't maintain healthy, strong relationships with people who can encourage and challenge them. But if you find them and stick with them- they can become your most powerful asset in becoming the confident, high character creative that God made you to be. To help you do just that, we talk to coach, entrepreneur and author Aaron Walker, the visionary...
212
Dec. 12, 2022

How To Manage Your Emotions as an Actor and Creative w/ Andrea Osvart, Actress and Acting Coach

How do you avoid giving in to the emotional rollercoaster of being an actor? All creatives have intense emotional inner-lives, but actors have an especially difficult time handling the ups and downs of an intensely competitive industry. If you've found yourself battling feelings of unworthiness, post-show blues, or insecurity as a creative, the tips you'll hear in this episode with award winning actress, producer and coach Andrea Osvart will help you find wholeness and a path to better emotiona...
210
Nov. 28, 2022

How To Boldly Pursue Your Solo Career While Maintaining Your Ministry w/ Andrea Sandefur, Singer / Songwriter

Do you struggle to find balance between working in church and promoting your own music or art? How do you shift from serving faithfully in a congregation's worship and arts ministry, to sharing your music and creativity as an individual artist? We explore these topics with someone who deeply understands the role of creativity in worship - songwriter, worship leader and recording artist Andrea Sandefur. As a dedicated worship minister in her home state of Alaska, Andrea has found fulfillment a...
209
Nov. 21, 2022

Say "Thank You!" Why You Really Need to Show Gratitude to Other Creatives! [Creative Checkup]

Showing gratitude to the creatives in your life pays off in incredible ways - ways that bless your community and impacts your life as well! In this creative checkup episode, you'll discover the simple but powerful effect that gratitude has on your creative process, your ability to stay inspired, and your collaborative efforts in your niche or creative circle. If you enjoyed this episode, you'll love 6 Major Reasons to Give Thanks for your Creative Career Find it by tapping the link or by sea...
201
Aug. 30, 2022

How to Defeat Creative Discouragement With Life-Changing Conversations!

It's a feeling every creative knows - the discouragement of not having a big idea to motivate us. When this happens, all of your momentum can come to a screeching halt. It's beyond important that you have a big idea to keep you moving toward your God-given purpose as a creative or artist, but without that big idea, you can remain stuck. Thankfully, there is a way to prevent creative discouragement from robbing you of the joy of your creative goals - and the answer is to intentionally seek out ...
200
Aug. 26, 2022

You're Still Here! Celebrating Our Community on Episode 200

Wow! We've made it to 200 episodes...and it's only the grace of God and your consistent support that has made this possible. And on this major milestone, I (Allen) am taking a moment to celebrate a major reason we made it this far...you! Because you keep showing up as a creative who is dedicated to keeping the faith and making excellent art, I want to keep showing up to help you make that possible. That's why our 200th episode is all about you - your consistency, perseverance and patience - a...
185
July 1, 2022

Married to the Music? How We Stay United in Love and Creative Business w/ The Hardens and The Pauls

What's better than getting solid relationship advice from a married musical couple that performs together constantly? How about getting advice from TWO couples whom have enjoyed nearly 40 years of marriage combined - all while making a living as musicians, creative entrepreneurs and content creators? That's what you'll get in this episode, where we had our first ever summit between two married creative couples - host Allen C. Paul and his wife Lia Paul, and John and Ja'Nia Harden of The Harden...
176
May 31, 2022

How To Connect with Like-Minded Creatives Even When You're an Introvert

Ever like you are on an island, all by yourself, when it comes to your creative community? Solitude may be good for a season when we're creating as artists, but it's not good long-term! We need connections and relationships to grow and enhance our creative careers, and we need solid people around us who will encourage our spiritual and artistic growth. If you're new to a genre, area or community, making these connections can be really challenging, especially if you're an introvert! In this tr...
174
May 24, 2022

How to Overcome Negativity from Family and Friends About Your Creative Goals

Have you ever dealt with 'creative haters'? Those people who just look for the negative and remind you why your ideas, dreams or goals aren't going to be successful? That's already a tough situation, but unfortunately sometimes those people are the people who know us best - our friends and family members! In this Creative Checkup training taken from our God and Gigs 360 membership vault, we unpack strategies to help you insulate and protect yourself from negative voices inside your family and...
168
May 3, 2022

How To (Respectfully) Critique a Fellow Creative

It's something every creative deals with - but no creative enjoys. The harsh reality of creative life is that we must face criticism of our work, and that's hard enough. But perhaps even harder is the act of providing honest critiques of other artists in our circle - because we fear our words won't be received very well. So what do you do when you have to tell a fellow creative something they don't want to hear about their work? This question was raised in our God and Gigs 360 Gold membership...
167
April 29, 2022

How to Handle a Busy Creative Life God's Way with Scott LaPierre, Pastor / Author / Speaker

Making God-honoring life decisions may be simple, but it's never easy. Especially if you're a family-focused creative who has so many roles to fill...it can feel like the deck is stacked against you. If you focus on family, career suffers, and vice versa. But there's a better way - and Pastor Scott LaPierre has dedicated his life to helping Christians to find it. Scott LaPierre is the teaching pastor of Woodland Christian Church in Woodland, WA, an author, and conference speaker. He holds an ...
161
April 8, 2022

How to Become Your Own Creative Hero with Fish Lee, Comic Book Illustrator

In every superhero story, the main character has to face tremendous obstacles and overcome them in order to finally become the hero they were meant to be. The same can be said for every creative artist, but especially for our guest on The God and Gigs Show, Fish Lee. He has endured an incredible ordeal in his health and his family, yet he has held on to his creative dream and is now inspiring others with his story. Diagnosed with severe Tourette's syndrome at age 30, Fish was relegated to life...
134
Oct. 7, 2021

Don't Let Isolation Kill Your Creative Calling! (Back to Basics Series #1)

Be honest, creative - are your spiritual, family and church connections as strong as they should be? If not, you're in for a rude awakening. Without solid foundational connections between you, God, your family and your wider creative community, you will find it impossible to maintain a successful, God-honoring and sustainable creative career. Staying Connected is the first of the Seven Service Steps - a blueprint for creative and spiritual fulfillment that we share in our flagship book, God an...
129
Sept. 2, 2021

Anniversary Exclusive: Why Sticking With It Is Worth It w/ Allen and Lia Paul

In this special anniversary episode, host Allen C. Paul welcomes his wife Lia to the microphone to share their journey of entrepreneurship, with all its ups and downs - so that you can learn from their mistakes and remain motivated as you pursue your purpose. Find the full show notes and more resources for creatives at godandgigs.com/129! If you're struggling to decide if you're ready to be a full-time creative, this free workbook is for you! This impactful workbook will help you determine wha...
123
July 22, 2021

How Community Leads to Confidence w/ Tobias Tankard, Jr., Musician

When you're building your creative or musical career, every connection matters - because the people you surround yourself with can either help you grow, or hold you back. As the God and Gigs community heads into its 6th year, we're taking the time to highlight the stories and experiences of our talented and inspiring members, who have embraced the vision and God-centered principles we've practiced and preached. One such individual is Tobias Tankard, Jr., a drummer, producer and songwriter based...
115
May 20, 2021

Pieces of Joy: Discovering the Benefits of Therapy w/ Dr. Aprile Andelle, Psychotherapist

From a life surrounded by the arts, to being in the center of the entertainment world, and then finding her calling as a highly-trained and successful mental health professional - this is the journey experienced by psychotherapist, counselor and mental health advocate Dr. April Andelle. Having experienced the highs and lows of working in the creative industry, she now helps people to achieve better mental health through her practice, podcast and community resources. Dr. Aprile Andelle is a li...
114
May 13, 2021

Crazy or Creative? Changing Our Attitudes toward Mental Health

The word "crazy" is no longer considered acceptable by most...but it seems to fit the way many creatives view themselves. At what point, however, does our creativity actually conceal serious issues that we should be addressing? Let's talk seriously about mental health and how we creatives sometimes cover it up with our 'personalities'. Links Related to this Podcast Episode: Suicide Prevention Hotline - https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ MusiCares Mental Health Awareness Resources - The Gr...
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