Journey to the Stage with Bryan Frazier

On a beautiful Spring afternoon, Andrew Peterson hopped of his riding mower, took a break from tending to his homestead in Nashville, and sat down with me for a wonderful conversation about life and songs, Christ and gardening, novels and Toad the Wet Sprocket, The Rabbit Room and Wendell Berry, clarity and mystery in music, and many other topics. Andrew is a multi-faceted artist who is a singer-songwriter, author, and founder of The Rabbit Room, a ministry that fosters the creative arts within the Christian community. His very successful book series, The Wingfeather Saga, has been turned into an animated series on The Angel Network, where Andrew serves as Executive Produces. This conversation was soul-stirring for me and I believe that fans of Andrew's various projects, and creatives who are not yet familiar with these things, will find this chat inspiring and encouraging. A big thank you to Andrew Peterson for being generous with his time. The Rabbit Room celebrates its 20th year with some wonderful new books and events! To join and support this thriving community, purchase some of its wonderful books etc., click here: https://www.rabbitroom.com/ To keep up with Andrew Peterson's concert dates and the latest happenings with his music and other projects, click here: https://www.andrew-peterson.com/ I hope you enjoy this conversation. If you do, please consider helping me by giving a rating or kind review, and sharing this episode with your friends or on your socials. I do not make money podcasting, nor is it my goal. My purpose is to capture and share the stories of artists. Your ratings, reviews, and shares help that dream become a reality. Thank you from my heart for listening. Journey to the Stage Website: https://www.journeytothestage.com/ Insta: https://www.instagram.com/journeytothestagepodcast/ Twitter/X: https://x.com/Journey2Stage YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAttWGi_zfuuqlYY8qRzABw Omnis Gloria Christo

Hunter James of Hunter James and the Titanic and I had a wonderful conversation of his musical journey, along with his band that is creating some of the best indie music today. The band has captured the sound and soul of Laural Canyon where arguably the richest music in American music history was created. Not only do we dig into song discussion and writing, we listen to some of the great music Hunter and his band is making. A big thank you to Hunter for granting permission to include some music! To keep up with tour dates, buy merch, and get the latest news, CLICK HERE Follow them on FB here: https://www.facebook.com/HunterJamesandtheTitanic/ Follow them on Instagram here: http://instagram.com/hunterjamesandthetitanic Listen to the band on Spotify here: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6iYsi7aijW4OrRErCLvIR6?si=TqK7a76dTCSjfyfN6MYEqQ Listen to the band on Apple Music here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/hunter-james-and-the-titanic/1447925090 See the bands awesome videos here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqsuOw_nm6Q COPYWRITE INFORMATION "Oh, My" written by Hunter James. Used by permission. "Weekend Holds" written by Hunter James and Lizzy Gogolowski. Clip used by permission. I hope you enjoy this conversation. If you do, please consider helping me by giving a rating or kind review, and sharing this episode with your friends or on your socials. I do not make money podcasting, nor is it my goal. My purpose is to capture and share the stories of artists. Your ratings, reviews, and shares help that dream become a reality. Thank you from my heart for listening. Journey to the Stage Website: https://www.journeytothestage.com/ Insta: https://www.instagram.com/journeytothestagepodcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JourneyToTheStagePodcast Twitter/X: https://x.com/Journey2Stage YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAttWGi_zfuuqlYY8qRzABw Omnis Gloria Christo

And we're BACK! After a bit of a break I am extatic to be back hosting the podcast that I love! I cannot imagine a better interview to kick things off with again than with this really great chat that I had with Josh Havens, vocalist and songwriter for The Afters. Two friends met while working as baristas in a Starbucks. They soon discovered some great commonalities- faith, a love for music, and a desire to make music. Soon thereafter, The Afters were born. Since that time, the band has written some of the most popular, anthemic and stirring in all of Christiandom; they have played to packed arenas aroyudn the world sharing the message of God's love and hope. In this wonderful conversation with Josh Havens, we trace the steps of the band's formation, and also his own journey of faith, from his childhood to what keeps him grounded today while spending time on an elevated stage. Josh and I cover a lot of ground and I am deeply grateful to Josh for being generous with is time. And as mentioned in the recording, I am thankful to Buckeye Dan Michaels for reaching out to Josh on my behalf and making this happen. For those returning to Journey to the Stage, thank you for sticking with me through my break. I hope you enjoy this conversation. If you do, please consider helping me by giving a rating or kind review, and sharing this episode with your friends or on your socials. I do not make money podcasting, nor is it my goal. My purpose is to capture and share the stories of artists. Your ratings, reviews, and shares help that dream become a reality. Thank you from my heart for listening. Journey to the Stage Website: https://www.journeytothestage.com/ Insta: https://www.instagram.com/journeytothestagepodcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JourneyToTheStagePodcast Twitter/X: https://x.com/Journey2Stage YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAttWGi_zfuuqlYY8qRzABw Omnis Gloria Christo

In this second and final segment of my interview with White Heart vocalist, Rick, Ric, Rikk, Riq, Ricke, Rhic, Rikcq, Ricque Florian we dig into how the band would painstakingly polish their songs before heading to the studio, and the time Rick didn't want to sing a line from a huge White Heart song. Rick and I talked about how he went from driving a truck for a Michael W. Smith tour to trying out for the band, aided by his friendship with his college buddy, Geoff Moore. We covered other topics and by playing a game to test Rick's recall of White Heart lyrics. Rick was a wonderful and humble guest that is so easy to talk to. I could not be more grateful for the impact of White Heart's music in my life. The band set a high bar musically which I love, but it's the lyrics that touched my heart- so talking to Rick was particularly meaningful to me. I hope you enjoy this conversation. If you do, please consider helping me by giving a rating or kind review, and sharing this episode with your friends or on your socials. I do not make money podcasting, nor is it my goal. My purpose is to capture and share the stories of artists. Your ratings, reviews, and shares help that dream become a reality. Thank you from my heart for listening. Journey to the Stage Website: https://www.journeytothestage.com/ Insta: https://www.instagram.com/journeytothestagepodcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JourneyToTheStagePodcast Twitter/X: https://x.com/Journey2Stage YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAttWGi_zfuuqlYY8qRzABw Omnis Gloria Christo

For decades Fernando Ortega has written and recorded songs and hymns that are filled with profound spiritual truths, great doctrine, that are arranged in beauty and sung with authenticity. I had the pleasure of chatting with Fernando on a Spring afternoon to talk about his latest EP, "For All the Saints," which is a collection of wonderful songs that are congregational in composition and arrangement. What I most loved about my time in conversation with Fernando, was getting to know him. I found Fernando to be genuine and open. We discuss his upbringing and how the experiences of his childhood have become colors he can paint with today in his music, his journey as a musician, songwriter and singer, and so much more. If you love Fernando's music, I believe you will enjoy this meaningful conversation. Please share this episode with the Fernando Ortega music lover in your life! A special thank you to Fernando for his time and authenticity. COPYRIGHT INFORMATION "How Can I Keep From Singing" written by Robert Lowry (music) and Pauline T (lyrics). Arranged and performed by Fernando Ortega. Recording used by exclusive permission. With over 3 million podcasts in existence, being an independent podcaster is VERY challenging, especially for a non-celebrity like me. If you would like to support Journey to the Stage with Bryan Frazier, please consider supporting on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/JourneytotheStage - Journey to the Stage Website: https://www.journeytothestage.com/ Insta: https://www.instagram.com/journeytothestagepodcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JourneyToTheStagePodcast Twitter/X: https://x.com/Journey2Stage YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAttWGi_zfuuqlYY8qRzABw Omnis Gloria Christo

Jesse Terry is one of those artists that stopped me in my tracks. From the first time I played his new album, "Arcadia," I knew I had stumbled upon a very special artist. Jesse's songwriting is simply incredible- both melodically and lyrically. Add to those things a voice that is beautiful, and you have truly found something special. It was a pleasure to chat one lovely afternoon with Jesse as we talked about his journey as an artist and family man. During our chat we play a wonderful song from "Arcadia" titled "Burn the Boats." It is a standout song on an album full of standouts. You can listen to "Arcadia" on all streaming platforms. To access Jesse's store, get updates and tour dates, visit https://www.jesseterrymusic.com/ Please consider supporting Jesse on Patreon for as little as $5 a month and getting some GREAT perks at https://www.patreon.com/jesseterry COPYRIGHT INFORMATION "Burn the Boats" written Jesse Terry. Used by exclusive permission. With over 3 million podcasts in existence, being an independent podcaster is VERY challenging, especially for a non-celebrity like me. If you would like to support Journey to the Stage with Bryan Frazier, please consider supporting on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/JourneytotheStage - Journey to the Stage Website: https://www.journeytothestage.com/ Insta: https://www.instagram.com/journeytothestagepodcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JourneyToTheStagePodcast Twitter/X: https://x.com/Journey2Stage YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAttWGi_zfuuqlYY8qRzABw Omnis Gloria Christo

No one in the world has a voice like Russ Taff. With 6 Grammys to his name and more Dove Awards than one could count, Russ has nothing left to prove in the world of music. With all of that success to stand on, Russ has recorded an album that is as real as it gets. "Cover Story" is raw, beautiful and powerful. Russ and I chatted for almost two hours late Fall 2024 as he began the final stages of producing his new album. What transpired was a conversation that was brutally honest, filled with stories of Russ' past, stories that helped shape the man who Russ is today. In this first of two segments of our conversation, we begin by talking about the new album, which get released on January 31, 2025! Russ and I discuss the brutal childhood he had and the alcoholism he would later battle as an adult. This episode, parts 1 and 2, are filled with hope and redemption. The transparency Russ exhibits has helped countless others have the boldness and freedom they needed in order to open up about their own stories. A big thank you to Russ. We shed some tears together, and laughed together in this episode. Part 2 will be released on Monday February 3, 2025. Buy a download of "Cover Story" or on vinyl at www.RussTaff.com With over 3 million podcasts in existence, being an independent podcaster is VERY challenging, especially for a non-celebrity like me. If you would like to support Journey to the Stage with Bryan Frazier, please consider supporting on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/JourneytotheStage - Journey to the Stage Website: https://www.journeytothestage.com/ Insta: https://www.instagram.com/journeytothestagepodcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JourneyToTheStagePodcast Twitter/X: https://x.com/Journey2Stage YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAttWGi_zfuuqlYY8qRzABw Omnis Gloria Christo

I had the pleasure of sitting with Phil Keaggy and Malcolm Guite and discuss their brand new collaborative album, Songs and Sonnets. This special album is filled with the masterful poetry of Malcolm Guite, whose recitations add life to the the words he penned. The beautiful music Phil Keaggy created for each poem doesn't act as a mere backdrop for the poem, but it helps to create the atmosphere for the spoken words and enhances the listener's experience. Songs and Sonnets is precisely the album the busy world needs. It's the album the racing soul and overextended man and woman needs. This collection of words and music is the pause button we all need. Malcolm, Phil and I discuss the backstory of several pieces, how the project came together, and we chat about friendship, art, Christ, and so much more. In order to get the FULL package, which includes several bonus tracks, purchase the album here: https://philkeaggyfriends.bandcamp.com/album/strings-sonnets A very special thanks to Phil and Malcolm, two of the most delightful men I've met as a podcaster. Thanks to Tom Gulotta for joining us and for putting together such a beautiful package. Subscribe where you're listening and if you enjoyed tis episode, share it with your friends. Thanks you so much. With over 3 million podcasts in existence, being an independent podcaster is VERY challenging, especially for a non-celebrity like me. If you would like to support Journey to the Stage with Bryan Frazier, please consider supporting on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/JourneytotheStage - Journey to the Stage Website: https://www.journeytothestage.com/ Insta: https://www.instagram.com/journeytothestagepodcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JourneyToTheStagePodcast Twitter/X: https://x.com/Journey2Stage YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAttWGi_zfuuqlYY8qRzABw Omnis Gloria Christo

In part one of this in-depth conversation with Petra founder, Bob Hartman, we talk about Bob's early influences and the guitarists that captured his attention as a young musician. Bob talks about his faith journey and the bands he played in before founding Petra. As we work our way through Petra's style adaptation, we dig into the challenges of writing for a new audience. Bob share some of the major struggles Petra endured over the years and how the band almost hung up their instruments at the end of the Volz era. There is much great Petra history covered in this episode, so share it with your friends who love Petra. With over 3 million podcasts in existence, being an independent podcaster is VERY challenging, especially for a non-celebrity like me. If you would like to support Journey to the Stage with Bryan Frazier, please consider supporting on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/JourneytotheStage - Journey to the Stage Website: https://www.journeytothestage.com/ Insta: https://www.instagram.com/journeytothestagepodcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JourneyToTheStagePodcast Twitter/X: https://x.com/Journey2Stage YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAttWGi_zfuuqlYY8qRzABw Omnis Gloria Christo

As the oldest daughter of Country superstar Glen Campbell, Debbie Campbell had a special insight into her father's life and journey in a way that no one else did. In this insightful conversation, Debbie talks about her life with her dad that included many days on tour. She helps us to see Glen when he was off stage, away from fans and away from the spotlight. We spend time chatting about how her dad would unwind, what he liked to do for fun, and how many of her favorite memories with Glen are the times the shared a stage and dung together. If you are a fan of Glen Campbell's music, you will love this conversation which is filled with talk of great songs and great memories. With over 3 million podcasts in existence, being an independent podcaster is VERY challenging. If you would like to support Journey to the Stage with Bryan Frazier, please consider supporting this work on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/JourneytotheStage If you enjoyed this chat with Debby and know of others who might as well, please share it, leave a kind review or rating. Following wherever you are listening is very helpful for an indie podcaster like myself. Copyright Notification: Podcast theme song "Arise and Shine" written by Chris Taylor. Used by permission. To hear more of Chris Taylor's wonderful music and see his visual art, please visit www.christaylorworld.com - Journey to the Stage Website: https://www.journeytothestage.com/ Insta: https://www.instagram.com/journeytothestagepodcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JourneyToTheStagePodcast Twitter/X: https://x.com/Journey2Stage YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAttWGi_zfuuqlYY8qRzABw Omnis Gloria Christo

In this final segment of my extensive interview with Grammy Award winning vocalist and songwriter, we wade into some deep waters. Bryan shares his thoughts as he looks back at the time when he was in the upper echelon of the CCM world. We discuss how Bryan felt like an outsider amongst most of his pears; there is a surprise guest appearance by the legendary Phil Keaggy that made both of us Bryans laugh, and much more. Thank you so much for tuning in. If you enjoyed this chat with Bryan, please subscribe or follow wherever you're catching this. Those things are a free way to help other people find us. Copyright Notification: Podcast theme song "Arise and Shine" written by Chris Taylor. Used by permission. To hear more of Chris Taylor's wonderful music and see his visual art, please visit www.christaylorworld.com - Journey to the Stage Website: https://www.journeytothestage.com/ Insta: https://www.instagram.com/journeytothestagepodcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JourneyToTheStagePodcast Twitter/X: https://x.com/Journey2Stage YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAttWGi_zfuuqlYY8qRzABw Omnis Gloria Christo

Jenn Franklin is an indie artist that everyone needs to hear. Simply put, Jenn is one of the best indie songwriters and vocalists I have come across since I have been hosting Journey to the Stage. With a powerful voice trained in Rock bands, Jenn can bring a great sense of strength to a song. Along with that potency, Jenn has spent considerable time behind the piano crafting songs that are filled with vulnerability and contemplation, sung with a quiet passion. With her vocal ability paired with a deep sense of melody and lyric creation, Jenn embodies all the elements of a great artist. In this delightful conversation, we chat about Jenn's journey as an artist which started before she sang in a biker bar at age 12. We spend time talking about her brand new album, "Truth About Monsters" and play an incredible song titled "As Far As You Go." Jenn Franklin a great artist to back. To get all the latest information about shows, purchase her music and connect with her on her socials, click here: https://www.jennfranklin.com/ If you enjoy these meaningful and insightful conversations with artists like this one with Jenn, please share them with others. Thank you so much for listening to a simple guy who loves music and the people who make it. Copyright Notification: "As Far As You Go" written and performed by Jenn Franklin. Used by permission. Podcast theme song "Arise and Shine" written by Chris Taylor. Used by permission. To hear more of Chris Taylor's wonderful music and see his visual art, please visit www.christaylorworld.com - Journey to the Stage Website: https://www.journeytothestage.com/ Insta: https://www.instagram.com/journeytothestagepodcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JourneyToTheStagePodcast Twitter/X: https://x.com/Journey2Stage YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAttWGi_zfuuqlYY8qRzABw Omnis Gloria Christo

Over the last 20+ years, Emmy Award winning composer Bear McCreary has created a beautiful, powerful and impressive body of work that spans across media forms. With sprawling musical diversity, Bear has composed for video games, television and film, becoming one of the most sought-after composers in Hollywood. Bear's credits include "The Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power," "The Walking Dead," "Battlestar Galactica (2004)," "Agents of SHIELD," and countless more. In this in-depth interview, Bear and I talk about his earliest days, falling in love with the music of movies at age 5. We spend considerable time discussing a teenage Bear's chance meeting with film music pillar, Elmer Bernstein, and how that meeting would change Bear's life forever. We ended our time talking about Bear's debut Rock concept album, "The Singularity." This powerhouse album features musical greats like Slash, Serj Tankian (System of a Down), Rufus Wainwright, Corey Taylor (Slipknot), and many more. As a natural-born storyteller, Bear began writing segments of the story as a teen. "The Singularity" is available on all streaming platforms. A heartfelt thank you to Bear for his time and the wonderful and insightful conversation. A special thank you to Joe Augustine and Marisa Gunzenhauser from Spark & Shadows for greenlighting and logistical help to make my chat with Bear possible. A great way to support artists and composers is to purchase their works. You can purchase a CD or beautiful 3 album colored vinyl version of "The Singularity" by clicking here: https://www.madebymutant.com/release/445917-bear-mccreary-the-singularity Journey to the Stage with Bryan Frazier is an indie and self-financed podcast that was created to tell the stories of great artists, musical legends, and indie artists from across, styles, genres and eras. A no-cost and easy way to support my work is to share an episode with friends and on your socials, leave a kind rating or review, and to follow, like and subscribe wherever you listen or watch. And for all who do those very kind things, I am so thankful. Copyright Notification: Podcast theme song "Arise and Shine" written by Chris Taylor. Used by permission. To hear more of Chris Taylor's wonderful music and see his visual art, please visit www.christaylorworld.com - Journey to the Stage Website: https://www.journeytothestage.com/ Insta: https://www.instagram.com/journeytothestagepodcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JourneyToTheStagePodcast YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAttWGi_zfuuqlYY8qRzABw Omnis Gloria Christo