Crosswalk Talk: Celebrity Christian Interviews

Anike grew up with a Muslim father, a conviction that some of the music she was listening to was wrong, and no idea she would one day be the first female artist signed to Reach Records. She looked up Christian remixes, found Lecrae, convinced her family to let her go to a church summer camp by calling it an internship program, and gave her life to Jesus on day three. Two days later, Lecrae showed up at the camp. She had no idea what God was setting in motion. Christian hip hop, the gospel carried in a beat, and what it means to give God your yes even when it costs you everything: Anike shares how a high school biology project turned into freestyle circles at lunch that turned into a full-time calling, why she carries headphones everywhere so people can listen before they realize they're hearing about Jesus, and what led her to change her name from Wande to Anike as an act of obedience to God. She also talks about the new single Holy Girls, inspired by Proverbs 31, what it felt like to record her entry for the Forrest Frank contest on a camera mic at her relative's house and get selected anyway, and why she believes you don't need the perfect setup for God to use what you have. Highlights How finding Lecrae through a search for Christian remixes became the first domino in her entire journey to faith The summer camp permission slip she got her Muslim father to sign by calling it an internship, and what happened on day three Why she brought headphones to school every day as her non-awkward strategy for evangelism What it cost her to give up a Nigerian family's expectation of becoming a doctor or lawyer to pursue music full time Holy Girls, the Proverbs 31-inspired single celebrating women of God who are unashamed, diligent, and fearless Why she changed her name from Wande to Anike and what God showed her through letting go of a brand she had built Recording her Forrest Frank contest entry on a camera mic at her relative's house and getting selected for the album anyway Her new ebook Song Release 101, giving other artists everything she had to figure out alone about releasing music legally Resources / Links / CTA 🌐 Anike website: https://anike.net 📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anike 🎵 Single: Holy Girls 🎵 Single: Contagious 🎵 Forrest Frank collaboration: Jesus Is Alive 🌐 Reach Records: https://www.reachrecords.com/artists/wande 🌐 Follow, share, and explore more of Crosswalk Talk 👉 Follow, share, and subscribe for more faith-driven conversations on Lifeaudio Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Sam Eaton grew up hiding under tables in kindergarten because he was afraid of the world. His father's alcoholism left deep roots of trauma, and years later, after watching four people in his school community die by suicide, he could no longer stay silent about the pain he had carried alone for years. Sam is the founder of Recklessly Alive, a suicide prevention ministry, and the author of the new book You Can Do This: Daily Affirmations to Live Recklessly Alive. He has spoken at more than 250 events across the country, and he opens up here about his own attempt, what brought him through, and why he believes almost everyone who feels suicidal does not actually want to die. Mental health, the lies depression tells, and what Scripture says to the person who doesn't want to be alive: Sam walks through why suicide at its core is simply pain that has outgrown someone's ability to cope, why talking about it openly makes people more likely to seek help rather than less, and how Job and the Psalms show that this struggle is not new to God and has never been a sign of faith failure. He also shares the one simple daily practice that carried him through the months after his own attempt, why community is essential even when you have to push yourself to show up, and what he wants caregivers to know about how to reach the people they love who are struggling. Highlights Losing four people to suicide in one school community and how that became the turning point that broke his silence Why almost everyone who feels suicidal doesn't actually want to die — they just can't see another way through the pain How social media triples the pressure on young people and why three and a half hours a day doubles the risk for depression The one simple daily practice he used after his own attempt — one small thing a day, photographed as proof that life can get better What Job, Jonah, and the Psalms reveal about God's long familiarity with the pain of not wanting to be alive Why struggling with mental health is not a spiritual failure, and why faith and medicine are meant to work together The police officer video that went viral and what it captures about the power of human connection in a crisis moment What he wants caregivers, parents, and teachers to know about how to reach someone who is struggling without having the perfect words Resources / Links / CTA 🌐 Sam Eaton website and Recklessly Alive: https://www.recklesslyalive.com 📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/recklesslyalive 📖 Book: You Can Do This by Sam Eaton 🆘 If you or someone you know is struggling, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7 — call or text 988 🌐 Follow, share, and explore more of Crosswalk Talk 👉 Follow, share, and subscribe for more faith-driven conversations on Lifeaudio Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.