Episodes

Gospel vs. CCM...who's right? Who's wrong? And does it matter? Today we're tackling this seemingly endless debate on whether CCM (aka Contemporary Christian Music) or Gospel (classic African-American church music styles) should be favored by musicians, and how creatives of all kinds should deal with arguments over "which style is better." Joining us to bring a real musician's opinion to this debate is Levell Hawkins, a producer, songwriter, arranger, singer, director and session musician worki...

Gas prices, shortages, rising interest rates...it seems all the economic news is getting worse every day. And yet, we as creatives have to find a way to stay motivated, financial sound and creatively inspired. How can we do that when life keeps telling us things are going downhill? In this creative checkup episode, you'll learn how to engage your most powerful defense against inflation and other economic pressures - multiple streams of income. While it may seem easier said than done, there's ...

When the bad news about our economy is getting worse...how do you keep your creative career moving upward and onward? According to John Mike, acclaimed producer, musician, clinician and creative entrepreneur, you must start by pushing yourself out of your comfort zone, stepping out in faith toward your goals, and making a commitment to bettering yourself through high-quality instruction and training. John Mike is a husband, father, entrepreneur and music producer who owns and runs educational ...

How do you handle the fear of taking risks as a creative - especially since that's a CONSTANT battle? After all, everything you do as a creative is generally a step of faith. So it makes sense that you need help breaking free of the fear of taking risks so you can operate confidently as a creative. In this episode we'll reveal 3 key mindsets that will help you overcome the fears you're facing as you decide to step out of that job, safety net, or position and into a new creative calling or proj...

Can rejection, criticism and disappointment make you a better creative? Yes, if you ask producer, composer and drummer Jamal J. Moore. From working with Byron Cage at age 18 on his first major tour, to being selected to play on the Backstreet Boys "Unbreakable" tour, Jamal Moore has seen the heights of musical success. But he has also been challenged artistically and personally, and he shares those struggles and lessons with us on The God and Gigs Show. In this encore episode, you'll discover...

Amazon Prime. Netflix. Burger King. What do all of these brands have in common? They all offer subscription / recurring membership offers. And they are just three examples of the thousands of companies who now make consistent income from memberships. As a creative, you now have unique opportunities and access to the tools required to start your own membership based around what you want to share, teach or curate for your audience. In this Creative Checkup from our God and Gigs 360 Q&A, you'll l...

Are you starting to wonder if your current career is actually a creative coffin? No one wants their creative dreams to die while they work to sustain someone else's vision...and that's where our guest, Genesis Amaris Kemp, found herself after climbing the corporate ladder - and being knocked off of it - for 15 years before she stepped into a whole new role as a life coach, author and speaker. In this episode, you'll learn the mindset, motivation and methods Genesis used to navigate through a c...

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...

How do you REALLY earn the trust of your clients, colleagues and audiences? What separates artists who are repeatedly hired and called back, from those who simply wish for respect from their peers and a reputation they can be proud of? Bassist and producer Chris Snowden is a perfect example of a musician who quickly learned the keys to being a trustworthy professional, and now enjoys a successful career as a sideman performing all over the world. In this episode, he shares the essential princ...

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...

Have you ever struggled with the questions of where to perform, how to perform, and why you perform as an artist or musician? In this episode, recording artist, vocal professor and author Julie Kinscheck reveals how her journey to faith in God led her to find her place in the music industry, and gave her the tools to help praise singers and other artists to excel when they step onto stages and platforms across the world. Singer-songwriter and guitarist Julie Kinscheck is a voice teacher, worsh...

What do you do when you have big creative dreams but limited (or non-existent) finances? Many creatives give up on their dreams before they even get the chance to live, because they think a big stack of cash is required to make it as an artist. But that's a sad and unnecessary fate. The fact is that it doesn't take a lot of money to be wildly successful - but it does take savvy, sacrifice and resourcefulness. In this creative checkup excerpt from our God and Gigs 360 trainings, we share key m...

Every creative travels a winding path...but we don't always understand where we're headed, or how our story actually will turn out. Josh Kelley can attest to that...as his path took him from the pulpit to the local pubs as a professional bartender, and finally to a world of words as he fulfilled his desire to write a book and help others to do the same. Josh Kelly is an author, ghostwriter and editor who has been working for over 15 years in the literary industry. His first book, Radically Nor...

Have you ever told yourself "It's gotta be perfect"? There's nothing wrong with having high standards, but many creatives set unrealistic expectations, knowing they'll never reach them. This gives many of us what we feel is a valid reason to put off things that we're working on. But when perfectionism is a mask for procrastination and insecurity, our creative potential is going to waste. And someone is not given a chance to be blessed by your 'imperfect' art. In this creative checkup excerpt ...

In this episode, this passionate financial coach and Dave Ramsey personality reveals how she and her husband Sam paid off an astronomical amount of debt (close to half a million dollars)  while continuing to pursue their creative careers.

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...

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 ...

Working as an creative can take you on a rollercoaster of emotions. There are times when business is booming, clients are calling, gigs are booked, and we can barely keep up with demand for our talents. Then, there's the opposite – when nothing we do seems to be moving the needle toward success. Not only is this a financial concern for many of us who rely on steady work, it can wear you down mentally, creatively and spiritually. It's hard to stay motivated when you don't see results. So, what...

Discover how this world-class drummer and CEO of a revolutionary musician tool built a solid musical and spiritual foundation, and how key principles can guide you on the path to true success as a creative.

Every creative has a never-ending list of tasks piling up in their mind or in their notebooks. While there may be many things crowding up your to-do list every day... ....especially when you want to stay productive creatively... ....there's only 3 things you MUST do. How is that possible? In this creative checkup episode, host Allen C. Paul explains how 3 essential actions can ensure that you end each day fulfilled and feeling productive. If this encourages you, make sure to leave a review...

True or False: Talent is all you need to succeed in today's creative industries. If you ask our guest, Meachum L. Clarke, he would most certainly disagree - and he has the experience and passion to back up his perspective that talent means nothing without embracing your purpose and some key principles. As a producer, worship pastor, gospel artist, vocal arranger and creative coach, Meachum has risen to the highest levels in the music industry and has become one of the most respected voices in ...

What do you do when the very thing you worked for also scares you to death? When creatives dream big, it can be an exhilarating feeling to pursue that dream. But when you start to see the reality of success, it can also paralyze you with fear of the unknown. In this Creative Checkup episode we discuss how to avoid allowing fear of success from getting in the way of your progress as a faith-focused creative. Want more encouragement like this? Make sure to follow and subscribe to this podcast, a...

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...

As we launch our new Creative Checkup weekly episode format, we're sharing a question from one of our 360 members on whether creatives should want to "pray away' the pains that sometimes lead to our deepest creative expressions. It's a question that many of us face when going through situations - whether God wants us to 'use' the thing we're going through as inspiration, or if we're supposed to push past it and refuse to continue to allow that pain to have space in our minds and hearts. If you...