The Deep End With Lecrae

Dr. Anita Phillips spent 27 years married, went through a divorce, and still woke up the next day believing God is good. That's not a talking point. That's a testimony. In this conversation, the NYT bestselling author of The Garden Within, trauma therapist, and lead pastor joins Lecrae for one of the most wide-ranging, deeply personal episodes of The Deep End yet. They go everywhere. From her unlikely journey starting as a math and physics major, to why she'd rather have a spiritually open Hollywood than a religiously closed church. From why anxiety is actually a scarcity mindset, to the moment she was told in her PhD program that she was "misusing the Bible." From a deep breakdown of why the five stages of grief were never designed for survivors, to what it actually looks like to heal when you have every tool and still hit the floor. Dr. Anita doesn't just bring frameworks. She brings receipts from her own life. This one goes deep. The Garden Within is available now wherever books are sold. __ Step Into Reconstruction: https://reconstruct-u.com/ 📱Connect with us on Instagram! - / deependlecrae 📱Connect with Lecrae - https://linktr.ee/Lecrae Stream the Deluxe Album: / reconstruction 👕 Shop Lecrae Merch: https://lecrae.store/ _____ Apply for your Master's in Counseling or Ministry Today: https://admissions.richmont.edu Stay hydrated throughout your day. Use code lecrae for 20% off at dripdrop.com Sign up for your $1/month trial today at shopify.com/deepend Get 20% off your first order, plus free shipping during the Memorial Day Sale at BollAndBranch.com/deepend Reclaim your faith from OCD. Book a free 15 min call at https://www.treatmyocd.com/

Go to talkiatry.com/lecrae to get matched with a psychiatrist today. I'm excited for this one, fam. Today on The Deep End, I'm sitting down with my brother Country Wayne. Most of the world knows him for the billions of streams, the Netflix specials, and the viral skits that make your "mama's mama" laugh. But when you really look at his history, you see a story that's way deeper and more serious than the comedy he puts out. We're talking about a man who lost his mom at 11, grew up surrounded by the drug game in Milan, Georgia, and eventually became a "doughboy" himself. But even when he was in the middle of all that, he never let what he was doing shake his faith in who he was. What We Dive Into: The Exit Strategy: Wayne talks about how he was trying to get out of the streets the entire time he was in them, eventually picking up a Bible at age 24 and reading it from the beginning. The Narrow Escape: He shares the wild reality of going viral while still "selling licks" and how he finally quit the game just one day before the feds knocked on his door. Faith Over Fame: Why he isn't ashamed to scream the name of Jesus and why he feels he's "endorsed" by God rather than the industry. Real Success: How he manages being a father of 10 and why he puts his business and family's well-being over the hollow parts of fame. Regrets and Redemption: A transparent look at his biggest regret—not doing what he was supposed to be doing sooner—and how losing his mother taught him that nothing in this world is truly "real" except faith. "I just laugh through the fire... I knew I had a purpose and I just knew it was always tied to God." Wayne is a true innovator and a serial entrepreneur who used the skills he learned in the streets to build a kingdom-minded empire. This conversation isn't just about comedy; it's about the grit, wisdom, and divine timing it takes to change your life. Watch the full episode now to see how Wayne turned a mess into a masterpiece. _______________________________________________ 📱Follow our new instagram! - https://www.instagram.com/deependlecr... 📱 Connect with Lecrae - https://linktr.ee/Lecrae 📮 Join the conversation… Exclusive previews, discounts, bonus content, and more: https://deependwithlecrae.com/ Stream the Album: https://music.apple.com/us/album/reconstruction/1828052699 👕 Shop Lecrae Merch: https://lecrae.store/

What does it really take to survive marriage, ministry, fame, mental health battles, and faith... all at the same time? In this episode of The Deep End, Lecrae sits down with gospel icons, actors, and comedians David Mann and Tamela Mann for one of the most raw and honest conversations we've ever had. They open up about their nearly 40-year marriage, childhood trauma, poverty, blended family challenges, public scrutiny, depression, suicidal thoughts, and the faith that held them together when everything else was falling apart. From dumpster-diving as teenagers to standing ovations with Tyler Perry, from silent suffering to healing through therapy and prayer. This is survival, grace, repentance, forgiveness, and love that refuses to quit. If you've ever wondered: – How strong marriages are actually built – What faith looks like in depression, not just success – How to support a spouse who is drowning silently – Why therapy and prayer are not enemies – Or how God redeems the most painful chapters This conversation is for you. _______________________________________________ Chapter Markers 00:00 – When success hides silent suffering 01:25 – Introducing David & Tamela Mann 03:59 – Authentic faith vs. church perfection 05:25 – How their friendship turned into marriage 07:58 – Singing together before fame 10:27 – Realizing adulthood and responsibility 14:23 – Falling in love through friendship 16:31 – Childhood trauma and broken homes 17:50 – Dumpster diving and survival 18:53 – Witnessing abuse and learning anger 21:03 – Choosing marriage when divorce felt easier 23:13 – The night the lights were shut off 26:24 – "The knock at the door" — discovering another child 30:02 – Choosing unity over jealousy 33:39 – Feeling alone inside marriage 37:08 – From Kirk Franklin to Tyler Perry 42:36 – When the worst career moment became the best 46:26 – Fame, generosity, and trauma behind the scenes 49:16 – Working together as husband and wife 55:03 – Depression, shame, and suicidal thoughts 58:11 – "Thousands watched me drown" 59:00 – A wife realizing she missed the warning signs 01:01:37 – Therapy, boundaries, and healing 01:04:29 – Faith that carries you through the night 01:06:19 – Music, success, and staying grounded 01:10:48 – Marriage as shared light, not competition 01:14:09 – What's next for David & Tamela 01:16:21 – Final words of hope and grace _______________________________________________ 📱Follow our new instagram! - / deependlecr. . 📱Connect with Lecrae - https://linktr.ee/Lecrae 📮 Join the conversation… Exclusive previews, discounts, bonus content, and more:https://deependwithlecrae.com/ Stream the Album: / reconstruction 👕 Shop Lecrae Merch: https://lecrae.store/

Exclusive $35 off Carver Mat at https://on.auraframes.com/LECRAE . Promo Code LECRAE Try EveryPlate and get $2.99 per meal on your first box, plus free steak for a month. Go to https://EveryPlate.com/podcast and use code lecraesteak to claim your offer. *Offer varies by plan, one free 10 oz serving of steak per box for 4 weeks with active subscription. Ditch the dinnertime dilemmas with EveryPlate. Download EarnIn now and take control of your pay! When you download the EarnIn app, type in THEDEEPENDWITHLECRAE under PODCAST when you sign up - https://shorturl.at/xDN5n Make Any Day Payday! _ DC Young Fly opens up like never before. In this conversation, he speaks honestly about losing his wife, navigating grief, and what it means to stay obedient to God when life doesn't make sense. This isn't about fame, comedy, or success—it's about weakness, discipline, faith, and learning how to respond when everything changes. DC shares why he leans on God, how obedience has kept him from crashing out, and why mastering your response matters more than trying to control the outcome. This is a raw, vulnerable look at loss, love, and faith in the middle of pain. Let's go to the Deep End! --------------------- Get Lecrae's New Book: https://a.co/d/bU3yXin 📱Follow our new instagram! - https://www.instagram.com/deependlecrae/?locale=en_US%2Cen_US 📱Connect with Lecrae - https://linktr.ee/Lecrae 📮 Join the conversation… Exclusive previews, discounts, bonus content, and more: https://deependwithlecrae.com/ Pre Save the album: https://music.apple.com/us/album/reconstruction/1828052699 👕 Shop Lecrae Merch: https://lecrae.store/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Lecrae goes fully unfiltered in this episode—breaking down the AI-Christian music debate, the motives behind viral posts, political fatigue, Christian persecution, racialized narratives, and the cost of actually following Jesus when culture co-opts faith for its own agenda. From Forrest Frank's comments… to AI artists… to Epstein files… to Nigeria… to Chicago crime narratives… to why Christianity keeps getting used as a weapon… to Kai Cenat publicly praising Jesus—Lecrae processes it all in real time. No script. No PR filter. Just raw, honest reflection on a chaotic week online. If you've ever wondered "How should a Christian think about all this?"—this episode goes there. Let's go to the Deep End! -------------------- 🚨 LECRAE IS ON HIS LAST TOUR 🚨 GET YOUR TICKETS HERE: https://lecrae.com/tour 📱Follow our new instagram! - https://www.instagram.com/deependlecrae/?hl=en 📱Connect with Lecrae - https://linktr.ee/Lecrae 📮 Join the conversation… Exclusive previews, discounts, bonus content, and more: https://deependwithlecrae.com/ Stream the Album: https://music.apple.com/us/album/reconstruction/1828052699 👕 Shop Lecrae Merch: https://lecrae.store/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.